p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"21./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Clarke felt the coolness slide under her skin as she rushed after Octavia, Raven, and Bellamy who was way ahead of all of them./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""I thought they weren't going to cooperate?" Clarke asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"When Octavia explained that the Grounders, all emthirteen /emclans were stationed outside Mount Weather Castle, Clarke's hear skipped a beat./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""I'm still so confused." Heaving out, Clarke shook her head, eyes focused on the strong body moving like a blur ahead./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Let's get to the tech room and I'll explain" Raven bit out, steps faltering slightly. Noticing, Clarke fell in step with her, trying to hide the concern in her eyes. Raven didn't take well to pity, or any embrace of empathy from anyone./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"They met the end of the hall and turned right to a brightly lit room. Computers, screens, and buttons galore decorated the desk, floors, and even the walls of the room. A massive screen laid before them, Lexa and Luna front and centre in what seemed to be an intense exchange of words./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Am I dreaming?" Clarke breathed out./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""No. This is the revolution. It's what it's always been and how it was meant to be." Octavia said, smiling wider than she'd ever seen./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Last I checked, Lexa was getting ready to betray us and Luna sent a single boat with enough supplies to last a day at war. What happened?" Wick questioned, eyes scanning the screen at the massive army well beyond the camera's view./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""There's Lincoln!" Octavia rushed out, mentioning something of a warm welcome./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Raven moved beside Wick, playing with a few knobs and pushing a few keys. Through the screen they heard a lock unhinge, and both Grounder Leaders stared ahead. Eyes piercing through the camera lens./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Kane did not go see Lexa. We have located him to be inside Arkadia."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""What?" Clarke shrieked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""When Lincoln left, he told O that he had to go fight for his people. We assumed he was leaving with Kane but Kane had already left. We saw no sign of him near or in Polis. We even reached out to Luna who claimed she never saw him. But, she told us that her people were suffering. Drones had found their rig, dropping explosives around the water."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""How'd they find her?" Bellamy asked. Clarke turned towards him. He's been deep in thought this whole time, arms crossed at the chest. His signature move./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Peeling her eyes from his toned forearms, she looked to Raven hoping for an answer./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Not too sure. They could have always known? They could have followed you guys from the last time you went? They could have a spy on the inside?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""That's a lot of theories."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Shrugging, Raven continued, "Whatever it was, it worked in our favor. She told us she was coming our way with supplies, weapons, and soldiers."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Please tell me you didn't give our information out to her with anyone able to intercept!" Bellamy's expression grew worrisome, something no one had seen in a long while./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Of course not! I told her to find Lincoln. He would lead her to where we are."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Clarke raised a brow, "And Lexa?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"This time Raven shrugged, giving a pointed look to the brooding tower of a man standing between them./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""What?" he gruffed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Wick's laughter startled them. "Sorry," he gasped, "One of the soldiers tripped." He pointed at the screen as the army of men and women began to filter into the castle./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"As Clarke watched them, something clicked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Lincoln!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Raven faced her, confused, then suddenly, brows lifted. "Lincoln!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""You sent him there! You knew Kane wasn't going to Polis!" Clarke shot out, pointing her finger at him in accusation. "Poor O, you let her believe he was leaving her."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Bellamy shook his head, the black mane flopping as he leaned back on his heels. "Lincoln needed to go talk to his Leader on his own. If O knew, she would have wanted to go with him. Lexa needed to understand what is at stake and who we are. She needed to hear what the future means for us from one of her own. Kane drafted a treaty. Once the war is over, and when we win," he paused, sighing, "She will take her rightful place as Chancellor."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""What?" both Raven and Clarke shouted./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""It's not up for debate." He stated, not bothering to look either of them in the eye. "I have to meet them."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"With that, he walked out leaving two stunned girls, and Wick behind./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Clarke turned to look at Raven, "I'm seriously getting so tired of these neck snapping plot twists."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""You and me, both."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"The main lobby was filled to the brim with soldiers knee deep in weapons and backpacks filled with more, well, weapons. Lexa and Luna were nowhere to be seen, but from the echoing voices coming from the Grand Hall, she figured they were discussing the impending doom of war, with the King himself./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Alright, everyone let's move to the lower level. We have room enough for everyone to get settled. A meeting will take place later tonight." Nathan Miller called out to the group./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"At the top of the large stairs, Clarke leaned to one side, glancing down at the Alpha Squad leader who began guiding people further into the castle./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"A somber voice called out in a different language, grunting at the end of his speech. Probably translating what Miller had said. Everyone else grunted in response./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Let's go!" Miller called out./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"One by one, the soldiers marched on. And as they did, Clarke's heart thumped to the rhythm./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"She stood at the top of the stairs, fingers clenching the railing as her thoughts continued to race. Unsure of what's going on anymore, one thing remained clearer and clearer. War was coming./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"At the thought, the double doors to the Grand Hall whipped open. First to exit was Luna, who met Clarke's eyes almost immediately. She gave her a knowing smile, seldom, but strong./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Clarke nodded in greeting. Behind her, Lexa followed, also seeing Clarke right away./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""I see you've decided war is the answer." Lexa cooed, a feral smile taking form./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""It appears the leaders have decided for me."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Here I thought you never followed the leader," Lexa smirked, pausing to look behind her, "well except for one."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Trying and failing to remain calm, Clarke's eyes narrowed. To her dismay, Lexa merely chuckled and continued to walk off, Luna in tow./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Engulfing a heavy breath, Clarke climbed down the rest of the steps, and into the Grand Hall. The first thing she saw was the floor to ceiling windows, big and bright. The room was well decorated, all of the glitz that this entire castle was made of. The room was bigger than the council meeting room back in Arkadia./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Her eyes then immediately went to the man who has encompassed every thought she's had since she's met him. He looked lost in thought while in the middle of the room, stood Lincoln and Octavia, deep in conversation./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""What's going on?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"All eyes met hers. Octavia looked back at her brother, then at Lincoln./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Everything is set in place," she said, determination laced in her words. "We are not leaving tonight, instead we are leaving tomorrow. At daybreak."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Clarke felt suddenly dizzy. "I'm still so confused."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Octavia and Lincoln exchanged a look. As if understanding each other without speaking, Octavia intertwined her fingers with Lincoln's and together they walked past Clarke and out of the room. The thud of the door closing behind them shook her bones./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Bellamy," she said. His name felt sweet, soft on her lips. She saw the lightness in his step as he walked closer to her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""This is it." He started, clearing his throat. "No more lies, no more leading you on or hiding."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Her entire being was shaking now. Knees knocking together as anxiety rode from the depths of her stomach to her heart./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""What?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Everything was planned."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Clarke continued to stare at him with a blank expression./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Clarke, how did you find the Dropship that day you ran away?" He asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Clarke took a step back, "I didn't know until a while back. My dad."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Bellamy nodded, "And what was the final straw that made you come seek us out?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Clarke thought back, the image of men and women, and children in the hospital. Talking about dying, about being caught by Jaha. The image of her father./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""What are you saying? Planned, what is planned Bellamy?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"For the first time ever Bellamy's eyes were glistening, as she looked into them, she saw they mirrored her own. Fear was eating at her, all she wanted was answers. Real, God-damn answers./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Clarke from the beginning, we were after you." He began, "We planted the bait and you took it. From finding the map to the Dropship, to the people you saw in the hospital, the injustice. We opened your eyes to it."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Stammering, she shook her head. "N-no, I chose to c-come. Whose we?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Your mother, and me, and Kane. We were at a dead-end when your father passed. Polis was getting restless, Lexa looking for any excuse to attack but it would have ended up worse than we ever feared. We had to find a way to get everyone on the same page. We need time to build our army, make the alliances needed, get more intel from inside Arkadia."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""You used me?" tears were now streaming down her eyes, scowl etched across her face./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Jake started something, but we needed you to follow through with it. With you coming here, it set a fire under Jaha. He was led on to believe you had intel, you knew a lot more about Jake and the rebellion that could be used against him. He kept his focus on you, he didn't notice what we were doing on the inside. He didn't even pay attention to his own son."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"At the mention of Wells, Clarke's eyes widened./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""How did he die?" she all but yelled. Bellamy refused to look at her, then./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Tell me!" she seethed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""He was suffering, Clarke. He was lonely and turned to substance to ease the pain."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"A sob cut through. "Me," Clarke said barely above a whisper, "I k-killed h-"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"She fell to her knees./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" "Listen, you have helped us so much. More than you know. It was you that moved this further. I-" Bellamy leaned down, arms reaching out for her. She moved out of his grip./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"With enough strength she looked into his eyes, saw the hurt lingering there./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""G-glad you got what you wanted out of me," she spluttered, tears and snot becoming one./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""No, baby," he began coming nearer, "Clarke-" he stopped as another one of her sobs met his ears./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Clarke's heart fell, more than it had already at the softness of his tone. It changed nothing. He played her. Her mother played her. The entire world has played her. The thought crumbled anything she had left./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"A few beats passed while she caught her breath. "Why are you telling me this now?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Because we are going to fight. And, you need to know what you're fighting for. You need to know the truth. I can't die not having told you."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"She wasn't sure how she managed, but she rose to her full height, and rushed out of the room leaving a broken-hearted man behind./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Her tears blurred her vision, but she didn't care where she ended up. There was only one thing that rang deep within her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"She was wrong./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"War was not coming./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Was is here. And she was the bitch that brought it./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"21./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Clarke felt the coolness slide under her skin as she rushed after Octavia, Raven, and Bellamy who was way ahead of all of them./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""I thought they weren't going to cooperate?" Clarke asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"When Octavia explained that the Grounders, all emthirteen /emclans were stationed outside Mount Weather Castle, Clarke's hear skipped a beat./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""I'm still so confused." Heaving out, Clarke shook her head, eyes focused on the strong body moving like a blur ahead./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Let's get to the tech room and I'll explain" Raven bit out, steps faltering slightly. Noticing, Clarke fell in step with her, trying to hide the concern in her eyes. Raven didn't take well to pity, or any embrace of empathy from anyone./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"They met the end of the hall and turned right to a brightly lit room. Computers, screens, and buttons galore decorated the desk, floors, and even the walls of the room. A massive screen laid before them, Lexa and Luna front and centre in what seemed to be an intense exchange of words./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Am I dreaming?" Clarke breathed out./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""No. This is the revolution. It's what it's always been and how it was meant to be." Octavia said, smiling wider than she'd ever seen./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Last I checked, Lexa was getting ready to betray us and Luna sent a single boat with enough supplies to last a day at war. What happened?" Wick questioned, eyes scanning the screen at the massive army well beyond the camera's view./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""There's Lincoln!" Octavia rushed out, mentioning something of a warm welcome./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Raven moved beside Wick, playing with a few knobs and pushing a few keys. Through the screen they heard a lock unhinge, and both Grounder Leaders stared ahead. Eyes piercing through the camera lens./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Kane did not go see Lexa. We have located him to be inside Arkadia."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""What?" Clarke shrieked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""When Lincoln left, he told O that he had to go fight for his people. We assumed he was leaving with Kane but Kane had already left. We saw no sign of him near or in Polis. We even reached out to Luna who claimed she never saw him. But, she told us that her people were suffering. Drones had found their rig, dropping explosives around the water."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""How'd they find her?" Bellamy asked. Clarke turned towards him. He's been deep in thought this whole time, arms crossed at the chest. His signature move./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Peeling her eyes from his toned forearms, she looked to Raven hoping for an answer./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Not too sure. They could have always known? They could have followed you guys from the last time you went? They could have a spy on the inside?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""That's a lot of theories."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Shrugging, Raven continued, "Whatever it was, it worked in our favor. She told us she was coming our way with supplies, weapons, and soldiers."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Please tell me you didn't give our information out to her with anyone able to intercept!" Bellamy's expression grew worrisome, something no one had seen in a long while./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Of course not! I told her to find Lincoln. He would lead her to where we are."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Clarke raised a brow, "And Lexa?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"This time Raven shrugged, giving a pointed look to the brooding tower of a man standing between them./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""What?" he gruffed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Wick's laughter startled them. "Sorry," he gasped, "One of the soldiers tripped." He pointed at the screen as the army of men and women began to filter into the castle./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"As Clarke watched them, something clicked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Lincoln!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Raven faced her, confused, then suddenly, brows lifted. "Lincoln!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""You sent him there! You knew Kane wasn't going to Polis!" Clarke shot out, pointing her finger at him in accusation. "Poor O, you let her believe he was leaving her."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Bellamy shook his head, the black mane flopping as he leaned back on his heels. "Lincoln needed to go talk to his Leader on his own. If O knew, she would have wanted to go with him. Lexa needed to understand what is at stake and who we are. She needed to hear what the future means for us from one of her own. Kane drafted a treaty. Once the war is over, and when we win," he paused, sighing, "She will take her rightful place as Chancellor."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""What?" both Raven and Clarke shouted./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""It's not up for debate." He stated, not bothering to look either of them in the eye. "I have to meet them."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"With that, he walked out leaving two stunned girls, and Wick behind./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Clarke turned to look at Raven, "I'm seriously getting so tired of these neck snapping plot twists."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""You and me, both."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"The main lobby was filled to the brim with soldiers knee deep in weapons and backpacks filled with more, well, weapons. Lexa and Luna were nowhere to be seen, but from the echoing voices coming from the Grand Hall, she figured they were discussing the impending doom of war, with the King himself./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Alright, everyone let's move to the lower level. We have room enough for everyone to get settled. A meeting will take place later tonight." Nathan Miller called out to the group./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"At the top of the large stairs, Clarke leaned to one side, glancing down at the Alpha Squad leader who began guiding people further into the castle./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"A somber voice called out in a different language, grunting at the end of his speech. Probably translating what Miller had said. Everyone else grunted in response./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Let's go!" Miller called out./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"One by one, the soldiers marched on. And as they did, Clarke's heart thumped to the rhythm./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"She stood at the top of the stairs, fingers clenching the railing as her thoughts continued to race. Unsure of what's going on anymore, one thing remained clearer and clearer. War was coming./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"At the thought, the double doors to the Grand Hall whipped open. First to exit was Luna, who met Clarke's eyes almost immediately. She gave her a knowing smile, seldom, but strong./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Clarke nodded in greeting. Behind her, Lexa followed, also seeing Clarke right away./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""I see you've decided war is the answer." Lexa cooed, a feral smile taking form./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""It appears the leaders have decided for me."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Here I thought you never followed the leader," Lexa smirked, pausing to look behind her, "well except for one."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Trying and failing to remain calm, Clarke's eyes narrowed. To her dismay, Lexa merely chuckled and continued to walk off, Luna in tow./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Engulfing a heavy breath, Clarke climbed down the rest of the steps, and into the Grand Hall. The first thing she saw was the floor to ceiling windows, big and bright. The room was well decorated, all of the glitz that this entire castle was made of. The room was bigger than the council meeting room back in Arkadia./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Her eyes then immediately went to the man who has encompassed every thought she's had since she's met him. He looked lost in thought while in the middle of the room, stood Lincoln and Octavia, deep in conversation./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""What's going on?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"All eyes met hers. Octavia looked back at her brother, then at Lincoln./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Everything is set in place," she said, determination laced in her words. "We are not leaving tonight, instead we are leaving tomorrow. At daybreak."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Clarke felt suddenly dizzy. "I'm still so confused."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Octavia and Lincoln exchanged a look. As if understanding each other without speaking, Octavia intertwined her fingers with Lincoln's and together they walked past Clarke and out of the room. The thud of the door closing behind them shook her bones./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Bellamy," she said. His name felt sweet, soft on her lips. She saw the lightness in his step as he walked closer to her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""This is it." He started, clearing his throat. "No more lies, no more leading you on or hiding."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Her entire being was shaking now. Knees knocking together as anxiety rode from the depths of her stomach to her heart./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""What?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Everything was planned."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Clarke continued to stare at him with a blank expression./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Clarke, how did you find the Dropship that day you ran away?" He asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Clarke took a step back, "I didn't know until a while back. My dad."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Bellamy nodded, "And what was the final straw that made you come seek us out?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Clarke thought back, the image of men and women, and children in the hospital. Talking about dying, about being caught by Jaha. The image of her father./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""What are you saying? Planned, what is planned Bellamy?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"For the first time ever Bellamy's eyes were glistening, as she looked into them, she saw they mirrored her own. Fear was eating at her, all she wanted was answers. Real, God-damn answers./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Clarke from the beginning, we were after you." He began, "We planted the bait and you took it. From finding the map to the Dropship, to the people you saw in the hospital, the injustice. We opened your eyes to it."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Stammering, she shook her head. "N-no, I chose to c-come. Whose we?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Your mother, and me, and Kane. We were at a dead-end when your father passed. Polis was getting restless, Lexa looking for any excuse to attack but it would have ended up worse than we ever feared. We had to find a way to get everyone on the same page. We need time to build our army, make the alliances needed, get more intel from inside Arkadia."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""You used me?" tears were now streaming down her eyes, scowl etched across her face./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Jake started something, but we needed you to follow through with it. With you coming here, it set a fire under Jaha. He was led on to believe you had intel, you knew a lot more about Jake and the rebellion that could be used against him. He kept his focus on you, he didn't notice what we were doing on the inside. He didn't even pay attention to his own son."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"At the mention of Wells, Clarke's eyes widened./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""How did he die?" she all but yelled. Bellamy refused to look at her, then./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Tell me!" she seethed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""He was suffering, Clarke. He was lonely and turned to substance to ease the pain."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"A sob cut through. "Me," Clarke said barely above a whisper, "I k-killed h-"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"She fell to her knees./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" "Listen, you have helped us so much. More than you know. It was you that moved this further. I-" Bellamy leaned down, arms reaching out for her. She moved out of his grip./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"With enough strength she looked into his eyes, saw the hurt lingering there./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""G-glad you got what you wanted out of me," she spluttered, tears and snot becoming one./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""No, baby," he began coming nearer, "Clarke-" he stopped as another one of her sobs met his ears./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Clarke's heart fell, more than it had already at the softness of his tone. It changed nothing. He played her. Her mother played her. The entire world has played her. The thought crumbled anything she had left./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"A few beats passed while she caught her breath. "Why are you telling me this now?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;""Because we are going to fight. And, you need to know what you're fighting for. You need to know the truth. I can't die not having told you."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"She wasn't sure how she managed, but she rose to her full height, and rushed out of the room leaving a broken-hearted man behind./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Her tears blurred her vision, but she didn't care where she ended up. There was only one thing that rang deep within her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"She was wrong./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"War was not coming./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif;"Was is here. And she was the bitch that brought it./p