SPOILERS AU were Clarke didn't run away at the end of season 2. Disclaimer: I own nothing.

A week after Mount Weather, Clarke opened the flap to Lexa's tent not knowing what to expect. There had been no conflicts since the—since Mount Weather, but there was no way that peace would hold for long. She had fought and fought to delay this mission. They had to get the 44 well again. They had to see what supplies could be scavenged from the mountain. The chancellor should be the one to discuss treaties. None of them held. She was the one who had to go, the grounders saw her as the leader. No one else would do. Every day that passed was also one more day closer to something that could start another war.

"Clarke." She pretended she didn't hear the commander's whisper from her throne as she bent into a stiff bow. The guards from the ark followed, her. Today was a peace discussion, formalities must be followed.

"Commander, you are well."

Lexa seemed to have gained her composure. "As I trust you are. We have not expected a visit." Her war-paint was gone, as good a sign as any Clarke could find. Indra was a statue behind her Heda, hand resting on her sword.

"I came in hopes of finding a more permanent treaty for peace." Clarke nearly growled. The guards tensed, both hers and Lexa's. What was the point of being here? The commander's word was worth less than her spit. No treaty would last, but a delay still meant lives saved. At least for a little while.

Lexa did not say anything for a long time. "That may not be possible." She finally breathed.

Clarke clenched her fists to keep from lunging at the woman. "What more do you need to give a simple order to your people?"

Indra drew her sword. Lexa shot her hand up, forcing her back. "It is not a simple order. My people have lost a great many to the Skaikru. They have lost a great many to the mountain as well. Now with your machines and your control of the reapers, you are not so different in their minds."

"You have killed how many people of the Ark!"

"I did not say it was solely on your hands!" Clarke began to pace, Lexa watching her each step. "I want peace as much as you do, Clarke. Trikru, however, calls for blood."

"Then make them stop calling you—"

"Clarke!" Lexa shot up from her chair cutting her off. She knew Clarke understood the ways of her people. Blood must have blood.

"They have had their blood. How much more do they need?"

"Heda," Indra laid her hand on the back of the throne, finally letting her sword swing loosely at her side.

"Ai will nou!" She hissed back.

"Heda, it is the only way." Lexa sank back into her chair. "Peace is peace. War is war. Chose."

"Who is the commander here?" Lexa almost screamed back at her general, chest heaving. "Leave us." She said after a while.

"My guard stays." Clarke demanded.

"I said we must be alone!"

Clarke had never seen such a huge storm of emotion inside of one person all at once. The force of Lexa's storm nearly hit her in the gut. "Stay by the entrance. No one come in or out without my say so. Do not disturb us for two minutes. Past that, come in with guns at the ready." Clarke ordered her troops out with Indra's without taking her eyes off the commander. Once they were finally gone, she took a step closer to Lexa. "What is this treaty?"

"Blood must have blood. The only way around spilling it is to share it." Lexa conceded.

Clarke stared at her bewildered, after all they had done at the mountain she want to share—"Marriage. A marriage alliance."

"That is what your people call it."

"You can't be serious." She scoffed. Lexa didn't respond. "First you kiss me to get me to trust you just so you can turn around and—"

"That kiss was real!"

"I don't give a damn what it was!" Clarke heaved. "There is no other way to agree to a peace?"

"None Trikru will respect."

Clarke ran her hand through her hair. This was too much. "I will talk to Lincoln and Octavia today."

Lexa shook her head. "It cannot be them."

"You have no right!"

"I have every right to save as many of the lives of both our people as possible! Lincoln is more Sky Person than Trikru now, and too low in rank besides. It must be us Clarke."

"This is how you win a girl over? Marry me or my army will kill everyone you love." Lexa tried not to notice how that left her out of the "everyone."

"This is not how I would have preferred it, but what is a ceremony next to lives?"

The tent flaps burst open and the Ark guard surged in, their guns all trained on Lexa. "Don't." Was all she needed to say for them to lower their weapons. "We shall have this ceremony. For those we love."

"For those we love."