Chapter Text
Her mom just didn't understand that things were different now. It wasn't like the Ark, where a person's life could be planned out safely. Where you had some idea of where you would end up the next day.
Things change too rapidly here, for that.
"This alliance will fall apart as soon as we rescue our people from the Mountain Men," Lincoln confirmed.
The council shifted nervously at the idea. While some, mostly Kane, were convinced they could handle any aggression from the Grounders, Clarke disagreed. No, she knew better.
Bellamy had been so confident when they'd gotten guns, and that didn't get them far. Especially since the adults at Camp Jaha were convinced they could carry on as if they were still in space.
Things had changed. They were different now.
As expected, Kane laughed it off. "The Commander isn't stupid enough to attack us. Our technology is superior in every way."
"They know this world," Lincoln argued. "You are newcomers. "And they have the benefit of numbers. And allies. The neighboring tribes may not be friends, but they will side with a Grounder long before a Sky person."
Kane looked like he was about to reiterate his statement, so Clarke cut in.
"Is there another way?" she asked. "At an alliance."
"What do you mean?" Abby asked, frowning.
"I mean," Clarke began. "Our alliance right now is because of a common enemy. And that kind of treaty can't last long after we defeat them. So, Lincoln. Is there another way to make an alliance with your people?"
He frowned, pondering ideas. "There are a few," he conceded. "But I don't know how... agreeable they will be to you."
"Tell us," Clarke continued.
"The most common," he began. "Is surrender. You would offer all your peoples and lands to be under the Heda's control. Your council would lose power, and you would be her clan. It would mean you are safe."
"Absolutely not," Kane snapped. "This is ridiculous. If they think they can-"
Clarke cut in sharply. "And the other ways?"
Lincoln frowned. "The only way for long term peace... And keeping everyone's stations... In a situation like this, where you are asking to claim her land?" He paused. "I can only see a Union being the answer. A Union between a Sky person and the Heda."
"A Union? As in marriage?" Abby asked. The council began to mutter amongst themselves. "To who?"
"Someone equal to her rank," the Grounder began. "And she would have to agree. The proposal must be made in a specific fashion."
"Equal rank? You're saying someone on this council?" Kane began. His eyes shifted around the table to the various faces. "Most of us are already wed."
"They must not be Unioned," Lincoln said. "Unwed, and without children."
"The only one here who fits that description is Kane," Abby snorted. "And after your experience with the Commander, I doubt either of you would accept those terms. We need to find another way."
"There is another," Lincoln said hesitantly. At Abby's incredulous gaze, he turned his attention to Clarke.
"You must be joking," Abby snapped.
"Traditionally," he began quickly. "The Heda should not be Unioned, or be Unioned with one she cannot bear children from. It prevents her from being away from battle. Clarke bears a similar rank to her, and she has no children."
"I'm not sending my daughter to an arranged marr-"
"I'll do it," Clarke cut in.
"Clarke!" her mother snapped.
"You said there was a specific way to ask?" she continued, ignoring her mother. "Explain it to me on the way to my tent."
Lincoln nodded gravely, casting a glance at her mother before following her out.
---
"You must never look away from her eyes," Lincoln explained. "To do so admits lower status. She will have you killed. No one below her may even suggest a Union."
"Great, don't look down, what else?" she nodded.
Her tent flap opened and her mother entered. "Lincoln?" the older woman asked. "Give us a minute."
The former Reever glanced at Clarke, and at her nod he left.
"I'm not a kid, mom," Clarke began, before her mother could say anything. "We both know this is the only way to keep everyone safe."
"It's not the only way," Abby argued. "There are others who could offer a Union. Octavia, or Raven, or-"
"Stop," Clarke snapped. "None of them are on the council. Lexa wouldn't accept them."
"Then we'll fight the Grounders!"
"We can't let any more people die becau-"
"I can't lose you again!" her mother interjected brokenly. Abby closed the small gap between them, taking her daughter in her arms tightly. "I've lost you so many times... Not again."
Clarke allowed the contact for a moment, as uncomfortable as it was. "You lost me the moment I came down here," she said quietly. "I've changed. This place... I've needed to. And I won't let more people die because I'm too afraid to do this."
Abby let go of the girl, retreating a few steps. "Clarke... You're no longer a child. I understand that. And you're a great leader. But... Do you understand what you're getting into? An arranged marriage? With a Grounder?"
"I'll do what I have to do." She swallowed past the sudden lump in her throat. "But... I'll wait to propose it to Lexa. Until... Until I think there's no alternative."
"What do you mean?" her mother asked, frowning.
"Lexa won't attack us for no reason," she explained quietly. "She'll do it if she thinks that we are a danger to her people. Or if her people view us as a threat. We'll see how to next few weeks go... If her people are peaceful, we may be able to negotiate peace another way."
"So you'll only marry her if her people hate you?" Abby asked incredulously. "That's suicide."
"That's the safest path," Clarke mumbled. "Send Lincoln and Bellamy in. I have to explain the map of Mount Weather to them."
Abby's jaw clenched, but she nodded. "I hope you know what you're doing."
Clarke nodded. So do I, she thought.
---
She made the final decision after their escape from the monster.
Clarke should have known that Quint would follow her. That his calm in the face of his commander belied a rage. Directed at her.
"For my brother!" he roared.
Lexa's knife in his wrist made her want to cry out in relief, but she held back.
Afterwards, after the monster's attack, and their escape, when they sat by the fire, Clarke made her choice.
She turned to face Lexa, kneeling down to face her directly. The commander's eyebrow rose in question. Clarke reached into her pants' waistband and pulled out her pistol. Lexa followed the movement, but did nothing to stop it.
"My only weapon," Clarke said quietly. She unloaded the clip and threw them both out of her reach.
Understanding dawned on the Commander's face, and she frowned. "Clarke..."
The girl clenched her jaw, holding her hand out expectantly. "May I see your knife?"
"Clarke, do you understand what you're doing?" she asked, her gaze boring into the blonde's. Nevertheless, she reached to her side and took hold of her dagger, setting it in the expectant hands.
"I know," Clarke confirmed in a whisper, eyes never leading the Commander's. She reached up with the blade, severing a chunk of her hair. "A part of my body." She held it out for the woman to grab.
Lexa stared at it, weighing the situation. "That is supposed to be a braid," she said. Clarke felt a moment of panic, but held it back. The commander took the lock gently, pressing it to her knees as she manipulated the strands to the desired shape. When she at last held a braid in her hands, she looked expectantly at the Sky woman.
Clarke nodded, offering the knife to Lexa.
The Commander took it, raising it to her head where she severed one of her own braids. She held the three items in her hands for a moment, before addressing the blonde. "Why are you doing this, Clarke?"
Clarke swallowed. "This treaty will only last as long as the Mountain Men do," she said. "We both need it to last longer than that."
"A Union cannot end, Clarke. You are binding yourself to me for your lifetime. You would do that for your people?"
"The question is," she diverted. "Will you do it for yours?"
Lexa smiled, but it was sharp. "There has been enough blood between our people," she said finally. "Let the last be ours." She took the two strands of hair and twirled them together, securing them with a small strip of leather she took from her head. Once completed, she held the knife to her palm, cutting shallowly.
Clarke took the blade, following suit.
Lexa gripped the hair in her bleeding hand for a moment, then clasped Clarke's own, trapping their hair between them.
After a moment, the soaked lock was thrown into the fire beside them.
"This was just the first step," Lexa said quietly. "My people will expect a ceremony. Gifts presented on behalf of your tribe to mine. A gift from you to me. We shall do the same, of course."
"Yeah, I'll take care of it," Clarke said, nodding. "Thank you."
"Do not thank me, Clarke," Lexa sighed. "As you said... It's for our people."
"I'm glad we have an understanding," Clarke replied, standing. "Come on. Let's get to camp. The cage won't hold forever."
The phrase, of course, led her to the epiphany of the Grounders in Mount Weather. And the way Lexa smiled at her when she continued her thought made her wonder if the Union was just about their people.