Chapter Text
Clarke’s mind swam while she stared across the fire toward the other side of camp where Finn and Raven were quietly speaking to each other. First Thelonius had appeared with the message from the Grounders to ‘Leave or Die’. But given that they had nowhere else to go and that Camp Jaha seemed the safest place to be with the electric fence and gates, the Sky People had decided that leaving would be as good as dying. So they stayed, in spite of Jaha’s insistent urgings not to. After the former Chancellor was confined because of his vehement protesting, Kane had returned from the Grounder village next and declared that Indra - the Commander - wanted Finn in exchange for a truce instead of the impending war the Sky People had been anxiously preparing for.
It would be more than a fair trade, wouldn’t it?
But Abby had already pardoned Finn and Murphy their actions at the Ton DC village and the Council had decided not to give Finn up. Clarke could understand that, she honestly didn’t want Finn to die. But their numbers were dwindling fast. Forty seven of their people were still trapped in Mount Weather. And judging by the thousands of torch lights waiting ominously in the darkness outside of Camp Jaha, they were grossly outnumbered. They would need manpower to rescue their people from the mountain. But how many would die because they refused to hand Finn over to the Grounders? Would any of them even survive this war at all?
Clarke’s thoughts kept on running in circles while she considered what the right thing was to do, even though it wasn’t her call to make. Bellamy agreed that Finn would stay and Raven had stood against most of the camp in Finn’s defence. Yet still Clarke contemplated what would happen come morning, when their time was up and that large Grounder army attacked.
“You’re gonna hurt your brain, Princess.” Octavia smirked and sat down next to her, Lincoln following closely after.
The two of them had been inseparable since Lincoln had defied his people and saved Octavia’s life after she’d been poisoned by a Grounder arrow. He was part of the ‘Skaikru’ now and honestly, Clarke would rather have him as an ally than an enemy. Maybe they would even become friends someday... Lincoln doesn’t seem to resent her for it, but Clarke couldn’t quite forget that she’d literally tortured the man to save Finn.
God, the Ground had turned them all into savages. Yes, Earth was survivable, but the things she’d been forced to do in order to continue surviving...
“Are we doing the right thing here?” Clarke asked for the sake of not being alone with her thoughts.
Nobody needed to ask what Clarke was referring to, so Octavia looked down into the fire instead of answering. The girl might not care much for the people who had imprisoned her in the Sky Box for the crime of being born and had executed her mother for birthing her. And Octavia might currently be embracing the Grounder culture, but The Hundred had been through enough to stand together against anything and anyone who threatened them. A massive army wasn’t going to change that sense of camaraderie.
But what Finn had done...
“He killed elders and children.” Lincoln factually stated. “He’s a murderer.”
And of course Clarke knew this. She had been there for the end of it, after all. She had watched while Finn stood over the dead bodies, too shocked at what she was seeing to immediately do anything. Finn had told her that it had been an accident and then he had lead her into that bunker where yet another unarmed body lay.
How could it possibly have been an ‘accident’?
“We’re all murderers...” Clarke uncomfortably murmured.
She had killed all those Grounders outside of the Drop Ship, hadn’t she? Bellamy and Finn had still been out there and she had closed the door unable to wait for them any longer. Clarke would’ve killed them too so that the others would survive. It was the guilt over that choice that made it so difficult to send Finn to his death - yet again - as sacrifice for their people’s safety.
“Why haven’t they called for my head then, for all the deaths I’d caused? All those burnt bodies?” She guiltily asked Lincoln.
Clarke couldn’t just sit there and decide Finn’s innocence when her own hands were soaked in Grounder blood. She would gladly give herself up if it would mean a truce.
“You defended yourself against warriors who attacked you.” Lincoln answered. And it was very clear that though he had been ostracised from his village, he still cared about his people. “Finn massacred eighteen unarmed people who posed no threat to him.”
Clarke could understand Lincoln’s anger. She felt that way about Dante Wallace. But at the moment, they were all trapped at Camp Jaha, surrounded by their enemy, while her people were possibly being bled to death in that mountain, while they refused to give Finn up. They shouldn’t even be fighting each other. They should be standing together against the Mountain Men. It’s what Anya had agreed was best. Anya had said that the Commander would help. That the Commander would listen.
“Would Indra agree to meet with us?” Clarke asked Lincoln. “Anya said that she would help. Her people are in the mountain as well. Together, we might stand a chance.”
“That’s not Indra’s decision to make.” Lincoln answered, looking slightly perplexed.
“But Anya said that the Commander would listen. That she would help.” Clarke frowned, not believing that Anya would’ve lied to her. The woman had been nothing but glaringly blunt during their interactions.
“Heda will listen. Heda will decide.” Lincoln agreed with a firm nod.
Clarke figured that Heda meant Commander in his language and it only made her more confused.
“But you just said that it’s not Indra’s decision to make?”
“Indra is not Heda.” Lincoln seemed to understand where the misunderstanding was, but Clarke was more puzzled than ever.
“But Anya said...”
“Onya spoke true.”
“So Kane...” Clarke abruptly realised where the miscommunication came from, got up and walked into the Ark.
She found Kane with her mother and Major Byrne discussing Camp Jaha’s defensive and offensive capabilities. All three of them looked up at her as though she was intruding and stopped their strategising to expectantly stare at her.
“Sorry.” Clarke mumbled with a sigh, deciding not to remind them that she knew more about the ground than all three of them combined. “I just have a question for Kane. It’ll take like a second.”
Kane just nodded for her to go ahead.
“When you were held captive, did anyone explicitly state that this Indra person was the Commander?”
Kane looked as though he was about to say yes, but then he closed his mouth and tilted his head in thought. After awhile of contemplation he frowned and shook his head.
“I had just assumed that she was referring to herself in the third person. She seemed to be the one in charge, though. The warriors followed her orders without question.”
Clarke nodded sagely.
“Lincoln says that Indra isn’t the Commander. That the Commander might be willing to talk to us; to negotiate.” She hopefully told them; maybe nobody else needed to die. Maybe Finn didn’t need to die for there to be peace.
“So where do we find this Commander?” Byrne asked.
And Clarke realised that maybe she’d jumped the gun and should’ve prepared better before going to them with the information. Her mother still looked at her as though she was a child, instead of the leader Clarke had been required to become to close to a hundred delinquents. And this mistake wasn’t going to change that perception.
“If I find out from Lincoln, will you consider opening negotiations with them?” Clarke bargained.
“We will find out how to contact the Commander.” Abby asserted. “And we will attempt to open negotiations. Thank you for the information, Honey.” She lovingly smiled and even though it made Clarke’s eye twitch, she didn’t say anything to that.
“Though I believe that this Commander might be open to negotiations, Indra had made it very clear that they would require us to handover Finn first.” Kane stated. “I doubt that they would listen to anything we have to say while we refuse to do that.”
He sounded resigned to their fate. That they would fight in this upcoming war. Major Byrne was the one to state that maybe they should reconsider surrendering Finn, Kane rebutted that their people might see it as a betrayal to their own and lose trust in the Council’s ability to protect them in the long run. Abby added that they were responsible for Finn’s life and had already failed him and the rest of the Hundred when they had sent them to Earth. And then the three of them restarted the debate that had been going on for seemingly ever, and Clarke took that as her cue to slip out of the room.
When Clarke finally made her way outside again, she realised just how late into the night it was. In the distance, the thousands of torch lights still eerily flickered as if to remind them all of the threat. Yet most of the camp had retreated to their rooms inside. Perhaps they were hiding, or getting a good night’s rest before their imminent demise. Clarke wasn’t sure, but the only people outside, were a few heavily armed guards walking the perimeter of the fence, Finn and Murphy seated at a table off to the side, and Raven, sitting alone by the fire that Clarke had earlier vacated.
Mustering up her courage, Clarke started walking toward Raven, but stopped when the hair at the back of her neck prickled and Clarke had the unsettling feeling that she was being watched. She instantly spun back around to look at Finn, but he had his back to her – thankfully – and Murphy was staring down into his cup of moonshine as though it held the secrets to life.
Clarke then let her gaze wander up at the Ark Station, noticing for the first time just how creepy it looked, especially at night. When her eye caught movement in the shadows at the top of the large structure, she started and looked around to see whether any of the guards had noticed and then back up again into the eerie darkness.
Clarke stared for a long moment, but noticed nothing more and thought that perhaps it was just sleep deprivation causing her mind to play tricks on her. She couldn’t even remember when last she had slept. Being passed out as a result of a concussion hardly counted. So if not a result of weariness and/or being knocked in the head one too many times, the shadow might have been a bird. But it seemed too big for that... It had been about the size of a man... Yet there was no way that anyone would’ve been able to climb up that high...
Huffing out a self-deprecating chuckle, Clarke just shook her head at herself. She was just trying to stall the conversation she intended to have with Raven with this needless pondering on shadows. Best case scenario was that Raven would kill her swiftly after hearing what Clarke had to say.
“Hey.” Clarke warily greeted and sat down on the opposite side of the fire, hoping that a barrier of flames would slow Raven down enough for Clarke to escape an attack.
“Hey.” Raven murmured, not looking up from where she was staring at the fire as though in a trance.
Nervously, Clarke cleared her throat, and drew in a fortifying breath.
“If you had done something wrong...” She hesitantly started. “And you felt guilty about it...” Raven looked up at her then. “Especially because it endangered your entire people...” Clarke worried her lip while Raven just continued to blankly stare at her. “Wouldn’t you want to make it right? Wouldn’t you sacrifice yourself to protect everyone else?”
Clarke exhaled harshly and braced herself. But Raven remained staring down at the flames. Clarke waited with baited breath as Raven then looked toward Finn for a long moment and then back to the fire again.
“Yes.” Raven finally admitted with a resigned sigh and Clarke finally relaxed somewhat.
She wondered whether she or Raven even knew Finn at all. Clarke could admit that she had been bitter when she’d found out that Finn hadn’t told her about Raven. And then pompously, Clarke had enjoyed the fact that he had still chased after her even though Raven had arrived on the Ground. Clarke had been flattered. She had felt wanted. Clarke had felt loved.
But who exactly loved her? They’d known each other for a whirlwind two weeks before succumbing to their attraction. How could any of that have been real?
Finn was in the Sky Box because his actions had burnt up three months’ worth of oxygen. The three hundred sent floating would still be alive if the Ark still had those reserves. He had taken off his safety harness and the two idiots who followed his lead caused them to crash the Drop Ship without communications. He had flirted with Clarke right off the bat and had even come on to Octavia as well. Finn hadn’t once mentioned Raven, who was so devoted to him that she’d volunteered to go on a probable suicide mission to be with him again. Raven who had punched a man twice her size to defend Finn after what he had done in that village.
And still, Finn would risk Raven’s life, all of their lives, to save his own. And the irony was that should the Grounders attack, Finn would probably be their main target and die regardless.
“I’m going to ask Finn to give himself up.” Clarke tentatively revealed.
Raven slowly nodded, still blindly staring into the fire.
“He wasn’t the one who wasted all that oxygen.” Raven confessed. “It was an accident and he took the blame for me because I’d just turned eighteen and would’ve been floated.” She thickly swallowed. “He saved my life twice that day.”
And all at once Clarke understood why Raven held on so tightly and why she defended so passionately. Maybe Raven had come to the Ground for Finn but also to make sure that Earth was survivable for the rest of the Arkers after what she had inadvertently caused.
Clarke’s heart ached even more, because that still didn’t change anything. Somehow it made it that much worse.
“He’s not Finn anymore.” Raven whispered, and Clarke absently nodded even though she had realised that she barely knew Finn enough to make such a comparison.
“He said that he did it for you.” Raven continued. “He said that he killed all of those people for you.”
Raven looked up with watery eyes, burning with rage. Clarke wasn’t sure whether Raven’s anger was directed at Clarke or Finn or the situation. Probably all of them, and Clarke really couldn’t blame her for it.
“If you ask him, he’ll sacrifice himself for you too.” Raven sneered even while tears rolled down her cheeks.
Clarke swallowed painfully at the knot in her throat, but she didn’t say anything else. She just sat there for a long time after, unable to offer Raven any comfort. Not knowing how to, or whether an attempt would even be welcomed, but also not wanting to leave her alone in that moment. Even now, Finn had abandoned her to go and wallow in self-pity and alcohol.
Clarke had intended to go and speak to Finn, but before she knew it, she’d succumbed to her exhaustion, lulled by the soothing heat of the fire and the flickering of the flames, and had fallen fast asleep, head resting back against the log she was seated against.
"Jus drein jus daun. Jus drein jus daun. Jus drein jus daun.”
The loud droning of over a thousand voices was what woke Clarke from her sleep. After noticing the early light of dawn, she jumped up from her spot at the fire and noticed Raven curled up next to the dying embers. Looking around, Clarke could see Finn and Murphy still at the table, but sleeping with their heads on their arms resting on its surface. The sun was just peaking over the mountain tops and an eerie mist had settled all around Camp Jaha.
Yet Clarke still spotted the two masked Grounders, seated on their horses outside of the gate. Her mother and Kane were busy talking to them.
“We’re not giving him up. We’re ready to fight if that’s what it comes to.” She heard Abby tell the horsemen, who instantly turned around and galloped off.
Shit.
Clarke scrambled to her feet and ran toward Finn.
“Finn!” She urgently shook him awake.
“Clarke.” Finn broadly smiled, blinking sleepy eyes at her and Clarke’s heart clenched with guilt.
“You need to give yourself up.” She cut right to the chase. “A lot of people are going to die because of what you did. It’s the right thing to do.” Clarke tried to convince the both of them.
Finn’s brows knitted together, but then he nodded his agreement and rose to his feet.
“Just thought I’d try and enjoy my last day on the Ground.” He charmingly smiled again and the pain in Clarke’s chest grew only worse.
“Jus drein jus daun! Jus drein jus daun! Jus drein jus daun!” The chanting seemed to grow louder or the army was getting closer. They hadn’t been positioned that far to begin with...
“Go say goodbye to Raven.” Clarke commanded. “I’m going to tell the Chancellor to call off this war.”
Clarke didn’t wait for him to reply, instead she hurried over to where her mother was speaking to Byrne and Kane presumably to get everyone armed and ready.
“Finn’s gonna give himself up. We have to send someone to tell Indra that.” Clarke promptly explained.
Abby still looked apprehensive. Clarke knew it was because her mother had devoted her life to saving people. That sending someone to their death was something which intrinsically clashed with her nature. But then again, her mother also understood sacrifice for the greater good... Clarke and her father were perfect examples of that and now Abby was hesitating out of guilt. Clarke knew that kind of guilt too. Finn had done what he did because of her, it was the reason she felt as though she should protect him, but she needed to protect everyone else too.
“If we don’t let him go, many of us will die in this war. We might all die.” Clarke reasoned. “And then everyone up at Mount Weather will die too.”
Abby looked to Kane, who nodded and then they both turned to Byrne.
“We’ll ask Lincoln if he would go as emissary.” Abby suggested and the Major quickly hurried to retrieve Lincoln.
Clarke let out a sigh of relief, choosing not to look in the direction of where Finn and Raven were quietly talking – saying goodbye. Lincoln and Octavia appeared a few moments later. Word had apparently spread around the camp, because everyone was looking relieved as they filtered out into the dawn even though the chanting outside of the gates was still unnerving enough to keep them from fully relaxing.
“Clarke, I think there’s something you need to know.” Octavia whispered next to her and the blonde turned to her friend, instantly worried at the tone. “Lincoln told me that their Heda –“ Octavia cut herself off with an incredulous chuckle, “- He said that their Heda is... well... different to what one might expect.”
Clarke lifted a brow, trying to remain patient even while she was practically crawling in her skin to get word to Indra that they’re surrendering Finn.
“Different how?” She absently urged, staring at Lincoln and her mother hurriedly talking.
“I dunno why I’m even telling you this, it’s completely fucking ridiculous –
- What was that!?” One of the gate guards suddenly yelled, cutting Octavia off, his rifle pointed toward the sky at seemingly nothing.
Everyone mechanically looked up, searching the bright orange sky and then they all saw the shadow swooping - lightning fast - over the camp, before disappearing behind the station. Lincoln stepped back from Abby then, staring at them with wide-eyed apprehension.
“It’s too late now.” He ominously whispered.
And Clarke wanted to ask him why and what the hell was going on, but the shadow was back, gaining everyone’s attention as it landed, crouched, onto the ground in the middle of camp. The Arkers all stared, frozen in shock, as the figure then straightened up to its full height.
It was a woman, Clarke realised. A tall woman, dressed in the same warrior leathers all the Grounders wore but without the heavy armour. The pommel of a katana was visible from behind a head of long brown curls. But all everyone could gape at though, were her jet black wings that had spread up toward the sky. Clarke’s eyes glittered in awe at the magnificent wings which spanned as long as the woman stood tall. Her back was ramrod straight and her eyes were as dark as night; an inky blackness which overtook the entirety of her eyeballs.
“Heda...” Lincoln murmured in reverence and fell to his knees.
“Oh my god it’s true...” Octavia breathed out in shock and awe.
Angel of Death was Clarke’s last thought, before a cacophony of gunfire broke out, aimed directly at the Heda of the Twelve Clans.