Second Chances - Resurrection

Chapter 12

Lexa gave us horses as a show of good faith in honoring the truce. We returned to camp to find a bit of chaos. Octavia was screaming at Bellamy about how the truce wasn't broken and Bellamy was yelling about the attempted assassination of our leader. "She isn't back yet and there isn't a guarantee she will return." He screamed.

The tension around camp was so palpable I could hardly stand it. "She will return. The truce isn't broken. You watched as Lexa executed the man who tried to kill Clarke. You witnessed her speech about peace with us. You heard it yourself Bell. Don't stand there and pretend you didn't or that it didn't happen." Octavia turned and saw me. I could see the relief on her face and watched her whole body relax. She was holding on by a thread and everyone's fear was shredding the amount of calm and assurance she was able to convey.

"Bellamy." I called to him over the cheers of everyone in camp. I jumped off my horse and gave the rains to Murphy. "I want everyone to know, the truce between us and the grounders stands. As you can see the Charlotte took good care of me with the help of the grounder's healer Nyko. We will uphold the truce we have agreed to. We will not be the ones to break it. Bellamy I would like a word." I started walking toward the drop ship with Bellamy following behind me. I could hear Octavia telling everyone to get back to work.

"What were you thinking?" I asked him as soon as we got inside. Raven was working and doing her best to ignore what was happening right behind her.

"They tried to kill you Clarke. How can you still stand with them when they want you dead?"

"They don't want me dead. Neither Anya nor Lexa ordered the assassination of me and they executed the one who threw the blade and banished the other two. They want peace too. Why are you so against this peace with them?"

"I don't think we need them and they are dangerous. We can't trust them Clarke."

"We do need them Bellamy. We will not survive without setting up a way to trade for the goods we need and in order to do that we need to have a truce and to be at peace with them. I will not apologize for doing what is best for us all but please believe me when I say we need them. Winter is getting closer everyday as is the time for the Ark to come down. We don't have enough winter provisions for us let alone for everyone else. Without them it will be a toss-up of if we starve or freeze to death first. Is that really what you want. You are so focused on not being able to trust them that you can't see what they can do for us. Look around you the next time you are standing in the middle of camp and tell me which of our people you are ok with sacrificing for your high ideals and assumptions. The truce stands."

I turned my back on him and went to ask Raven about the Ark and when they are coming down. I heard Bellamy leave.

"Tomorrow is Unity Day. We are setting up the viewing in the middle of camp that way everyone will be able to participate. Jaha wants a word with you but I'm sure it will be more of the same. Fall in line he is the "CHANCELLOR". He is still really upset you will not follow him and we are choosing to follow you. In fact, he is trying to start decent among us by telling some that you are not here for their best interest and only for the power they are giving you. He is adding fuel to the fire by asking where you are and if the truce that almost got you killed was the best way to go. He is actively undermining your decisions and has been saying he will not keep the truce you have agreed to. Some are refusing to talk to their families because of the rhetoric they are spewing. He is starting it, up there, before they get here and their children turn them to your side."

"Great, that is just what I need. It's September 30th already. The cold is already here and will only get worse. Add snow to that and we will be freezing soon." I just shake my head. I don't have anything to say about what he is doing. It's not like I didn't know he would do it but I was hoping he would realize how different the rules are down here but the only thing he cares about is his power. The irony isn't lost on me. Everything he is saying about me is really about him. "He is the one who will not give up power or realize the rules will change as soon as they get down here."

"You will figure it out Clarke. We see everything you have done for us and are actively doing for us. Plus, we know how hard it is to survive down here they don't. Reality will slap them in the face soon enough. They Exodus ship is due to drop tomorrow. Jaha is sending the guard first with a few council members to try and bring us to heel. Your dad talked to me and asked me to pass on a few tidbits. Apparently Jaha wants to make an example of you. He wants to have you shock lashed in public for your disobedience and rebellion. He is concerned about the amount of campaigning Jaha is doing up there against you. He said, it's all vary subtle but it's still happing. Little things here and there but enough to turn people away from you and most will not listen to kids anyway no matter what."

"It's ok Raven. Like you said, it doesn't matter what he says up there. The truth will hit them soon enough and I will not join back up with them. If some of the 100 wishes to go, that is their choice. I will not force them to stay nor will I force them to go."

"That's just its Clarke. The more we hear from them the more the 100 agree with what you have been saying all along. The council believes us to be expendable."

"Also, we find we want our opinions to be heard since we are here surviving. Their absolute belief that we know nothing because we are just kids is degrading and arrogant." Monty said from behind me. "I have talked with a lot of people the past few days and no one is leaving the 100 to go back to them. You are our leader Clarke and we will go where you tell us to go." I just smiled at him. Nothing more needed to be said but with everything that was relayed it did confirm we will be meeting in a neutral place. I will not allow myself or my people to get captured by the Ark. They would just imprison us again. Tomorrow the campaigning begins. I just wish it was a better mixed group then just the guard but they have family too and some of the guard have children already in my camp and standing strong behind me.