Chapter Text
One month later
It was turning out to be another tense council meeting. Only fifteen minutes in and Bellamy was already anxious to leave. After finally finding some survivors from Agro Station, they faced a logistics problem. How were they going to keep everyone alive through the winter?
Bellamy ran a hand over his face, trying to find a more reasonable reason to not move into Mount Weather for the winter other than I don’t want to live in a place where I killed everyone when commotion at the gate interrupted them.
They all stepped outside just in time for Miller to run up to them.
"What's going on?" Kane asked.
"There's a group of grounders at the front gate. They want to talk to Bellamy."
There were about fifteen of them and most of them were on foot, leading horses pulling carts. At the front was a familiar face, Echo, sitting tall on gray horse.
"Did the commander send you?" Bellamy asked, walking up to the unopened gate.
"No," she answered. "We've come in defiance of her."
Bellamy raised an eyebrow and looked over to Kane, who nodded back.
"Open the gate."
Echo stood in front of the council, explaining the discourse between the grounder clans.
“Nothing is as it was," Echo said. "The alliance between the twelve clans is fracturing. We united to better protect ourselves from the mountain men but now there are no mountain men. Many warriors feel that the commander denied them of their right to seek retribution for the wrongs we have suffered. Many of the other leaders are worried about creating an enemy of the sky people. The queen believes that breaking the alliance with the sky people was a mistake given the outcome of events. It brings dishonor to our people but also distrust. If she is willing to break on alliance what is stopping her from breaking another?"
"Why exactly are you here?" Abby asked. "We're not looking for another war."
"War is inevitable. That said, neither are we. The commander may have united the twelve clans but she does not control us. The Ice Nation is extending a hand of friendship."
"Why?" Abby asked again, her voice was hard and her tone was clipped.
“Because friendship is the only guarantee of peace." Something softened in her eyes, just barely noticeable. "And also because Bellamy saved my life when he had no reason to and I have done the same for him. As individuals, we’ve created a bond of friendship. And I believe that, as a people, we could do the same."
"What exactly would this friendship entail?" Kane asked, finally speaking up.
“The queen does not want to see such a strong potential ally to die from cold and starvation. My men and I are here to help you through the winter."
Everyone exchanged looks while Echo kept her eyes on Kane.
"If you could leave us for a minute, we'd like to discuss this among ourselves."
"Of course," Echo bowed her head as she left the room.
"What do you two think?" Kane asked, directing the question to Octavia and Lincoln after the door was closed.
"The Ice Nation are a ruthless people." Lincoln told him.
"More ruthless than your people?"
"Yes."
"Clarke told me some of the things Lexa shared with her about the other clans. Ruthless would be putting it lightly." Abby said.
"With their help though, we'll have better odds at surviving the winter, right?" Octavia asked, directing her question mostly at Lincoln. He nodded back at her.
"Why did you save her?" Kane asked Bellamy.
Bellamy pauses, searching for an answer that would satisfy them. There hadn't been a strategy to it, it had just been an instinct.
"Because she was scared."
Octavia rolled her eyes and scoffed at him. They had had many talks about his hero complex and he had a feeling he was in store for another once this was over.
“Do you trust her?” Kane continued on, ignoring Octavia’s outburst.
Bellamy nodded. “She saved my life, too.”
“Marcus, you’re not seriously considering trusting these people?” Abby interjected.
“I don’t think it really matters in the long run, does it? They’re already here and we do need their help.”
Abby looked at him sternly but didn’t argue. The matter was settled.
“I don’t think anyone was really expecting you to be so reasonable,” Bellamy said as he walked Echo back to the Ark to finish their meeting.
“You sky people should stop underestimating us.”
“I think we’re starting to get that.”
“I’m surprised Clarke isn’t here with you,” Echo said as they walked back into the Ark.
“No, she didn’t come back with us. And we didn’t tell anyone that we’d seen her.”
“I won’t say anything then.”
“I’d appreciate that, thank you.”
Bellamy opened the door to the meeting room and allowed her to enter before him.
“You need to stop,” Octavia said as she barged into Bellamy’s tent. She had hoped to find him still asleep. Even though he never told her, she knew he had been having nightmares almost every night since they left the mountain.
“Stop what?”
“The whole risking your life to save others thing. You need to stop. I can’t lose you, okay? We can’t lose you. With Clarke gone-”
Bellamy walked over and hugged her. “You’re not gonna lose me, O.”
“I am if you keep nearly getting yourself killed by acting like you don’t matter. You matter, Bell.”
Bellamy hugged her tighter in response. Honestly, he wasn’t completely sure what his purpose was on the ground if he wasn’t protecting people regardless of what happened to him. He went into situations knowing that he could die, but knowing that he was protecting someone-saving someone-is what kept him alive.
“Do you ever rest?”
Bellamy looked behind him and saw Echo walking towards him.
“Not lately.”
She hummed in acknowledgement as she came to stand next to him.
“What are we looking at?”
He had been staring out into the forest. If he had been on guard it would have looked less suspicious. As it was, he had just been standing around with his hands in his pockets. He had been waiting. It seemed to be what he did when he had any free time; waiting for Clarke to come back. It felt completely pathetic.
“Nothing, just staring into space. Clearing my head.”
“I see.”
They lapsed into a companionable silence for a while before Echo turned to face him.
“What was it like, living up there?” She nodded her head upward, toward the sky. “Was it easier?”
“No. There was never enough of anything. Not enough food, not enough water, not enough air. Everything was rationed and regulated. If you broke a law, you were executed. No room for mistakes. No second chances…” Bellamy trailed off. “It's better down here.”
She said nothing in return. The silence between them now began to grow uncomfortable. He could feel her staring at him, studying him.
“May I stay with you awhile?”
Bellamy nodded.
She wasn’t Clarke, but it was nice to have someone by his side again.