Grounded

Chapter 16- close call

LEXA'S POV

I have never felt prouder.  The battle has been going on for at least 20 minutes and she has taken down person after person yet still refusing to show her self tire, and I know that this is for the clan leaders, to show them her true strength. Still she is carrying on, twirling round and slicing her blades through the air with ease, making sure to not kill anyone instantly, I understand she wants to give them another chance to join us. After another ten minutes all of them were on the ground and she stood in the middle sheathing her swords and standing proudly.

"I GIVE YOU ONE LAST CHANCE, PLEDGE LOYALTY TO THE COMMANDER AND HER COALITION AND YOU MAY LIVE, IF NOT I WILL GRANT YOU RELEASE."

To my surprise, only two of those on the ground rose to kneel before me and once they had pledged their loyalty I allowed them to stand by Raven and the remaining members that chose not to fight. Though this obviously further enraged Clarke that barely anyone was willing to join us.

"VERY WELL".

She once again unsheathed a blade and placed it against the nearest boy's throat, "PLEDGE LOYALTY OR YOU DIE", however he did nothing but smirk up at her, which makes my heart drop to my stomach, and then my whole world stopped. It happened so fast. I recognise the boy from the other night quickly rise behind her, the one that tortured her and plunge his blade into her back and it emerged through her stomach.

No no no this can't be happening. I feel my whole world slip away as her eyes go wide with shock and she looks up to me as a small tear falls down my cheek, and for once I cannot control the anguish that is clearly visible on my face. I can't lose her, she can't leave me. I glance towards Anya and find her watching me, the same pain visible on her face and I quickly glance back towards her and mouth 'please don't leave me' and I pray that she understands.

Her eyes quickly narrow and she gives me a slow but sure nod and lets out bellowing battle cry.  Quickly looking down at the blade emerging from her stomach she grabs it tightly, making blood drip down her hands and once again my heart seems to stop. She yanks it further through her body so that most of the blade is showing through her front, reaches back for the hilt and quickly spins around, slicing straight through the boy's stomach and he drops straight to the ground with a look of horror painted on his face.Once she is steady she reaches back and quickly yanks the blade from her body and holds it in front of her in a stance, standing tall as if she had not been stabbed.

"I SAID THAT YOU HAVE ONE LAST CHANCE, SWEAR YOUR LOYALTY OR DIE", most are still staring in shock at Clarke, clearly confused but terrified of what they had just witnessed and my chest bursts with pride as all but 5 stand, bowing their head to Clarke and then quickly make their way to bow and pledge loyalty to me, then return to their people next to Raven, she once again turns to glare at the remaining 5 in front of her.

"DO YOU REFUSE TO BOW TO THE HEDA?!!"

Her only response is them charging towards her with weapons in hand, but once again she takes them down with little effort, seemingly unrestricted by her wound, the only sign of it being the blood soaked patch on her armour, she once again stands strong in the middle of the fallen, quickly drives her sword into the ground in front of her and kneels onto one knee, bowing her head and screams "HEDA".

After the battle my chest couldn't stop swelling with pride as I heard each leader chanting for Clarke, following Anya's loud shout and as I tear my gaze away from Clarke I look to Anya and see her staring back with a clear sense of pride that mirrored my own and I realised I had not seen pride visible on her face since the day I had ascended and became Heda and I realised, Clarke had done it. She had earned the respect from each and every clan, including Azgeda with is usually the hardest clan to impress. Maybe this didn't have to be so hard anymore, after this battle I know she will be accepted by most, we no longer have to be afraid.

I quickly raise my hand to silence and stand from my throne, making sure my voice is loud enough for all to hear, "you have fought well Clarke, I accept you as one of my people and as such I offer you a place in Polis. If you still wish, I will initiate you into my coalition, YU LAIK AI KRU". With those words she rises and thrusts her sword into the air, causing an eruption of chants from the clan leaders once again as I give her a small smile, never breaking our gaze.

I could not be happier, I could never have imagined this day to go better, she showed them her true strength, she earned respect which can often take years for warriors to do, with this I know that she is the one. I know that it is early but I also know that from this moment on, I will always love her, no matter what challenges we face nothing can ever change that. I finally understand; love is not weakness, it is my greatest strength and I swear to never lose sight of that again.

I quickly enter a tent that had been set up, the tent that Clarke is in and as soon as I see her, my breath hitches and my heart slows down. In this moment the entire world falls away, the surroundings, the chants coming from outside and it is just us. Her eyes are weary but her body is stood strong, her hair is still held back with braids but her war paint is completely smudged, but still she looks perfect to me.

"Lexa I-"

I don't want to waste anymore time, I quickly cut her off by rushing over to her and crashing my lips on hers, using my hands to cup her cheeks, at first she seems shocked and does not move, when I am about to move back and apologise I feel her body relax into mine and she reaches her hand to caress my face as I move one hand down to her waist and pull her impossibly close to me. Eventually she breaks the kiss and rests her forehead on mine, "I hate to break the moment but I may need to get my wound seen to", she says chuckling.

Wait.......I had completely forgotten that Clarke had been stabbed, how could I forget Clarke, "Oh my god Clarke, how bad is it?! Does it hurt?! Do-".

This time it is her turn to interrupt me, as she grabs my cheek and crashes her lips down on mine, and once again the world around us completely falls away and I begin to relax into her body, my lips smiling against hers as her touch sends shocks through my entire body.

"I'm fine Lexa but I would rather not bleed out all over the commander" she says with a chuckle.

"But-", I try to speak but I am quickly silenced as she places a finger over my lips.

"I'm sure you have to say goodbye to the clan leaders, I will go to a healer and wait for you in your tent, we can speak then."

I give her a slow nod because I know that nothing will change her mind once she has decided, so I place one last gentle kiss on her lips and slowly leave the tent, I know I will have to have a longggg meeting with the leaders but I don't know how I will be able to concentrate on anything other than Clarke, but Anya will be there to support me.