The next morning we rode toward Arkadia. I kept Faya alongside Lexa and Clarke, listening as the two of them spoke in low tones. After a while, o let my horse pull ahead, giving them space.

The air was cold, sharp with the scent of line. Too still. I tugged Fayas mane and jumped down when I saw it.

"Lexa!" My voice tore through the silence.

Our entire army lay scattered across the ground. Slaughtered.

We walked among the bodies. The only sound was the crunch of dirt beneath our boots.

"All bullet wounds" Clarke murmured, crouching beside a body.

"Heda! Haiplana! Come quick!" A guard shouted. Lexa and I rushed over.

"Indra" I breath out, dropping to my knees beside her.

"Heda....Haiplana" she rasped, blood soaking her armor.

"I need bandages!" Clarke demanded

"Stay away. You're one of them." Indra spat weakly, glaring.

"Indra, let her help you" I urged. Someone shoved a cloth into Clarkes hands and she pressed it to the wound.

"Indra, what happened here?" Lexa asked

"They attacked while we slept. Our watch was to the north looking for Azgeda. They killed our archers first. Our infantry couldn't get close. Then they executed the wounded." Indra said, her breath hitched.

"The summit was two days ago. How could Kane do this?" Clarke whispered

"It wasn't Kane. It was pike." Indra spoke

My jaw clenched.
"How did you escape?" I asked

"Bellamy." She coughed

"Bellamy was with them?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

"He wanted to spear the wounded, but they wouldn't listen. He convinced pike to let me live so I could deliver a message." She said

"What message?" Lexas voice was like steel.

"Skaikru rejects the coalition. This is their land now. We can leave or we can die." She coughed out

Lexa straightened.
"Send riders. I call upon the armies of the 12 clans. In a days time, we lay waste to Arkadia and everyone within its walls." Lexa commanded

"Wait. Give me time to fix this" Clarke pressed, starting to turn away.

"Stop her!" Lexa ordered. The guards stopped Clarke in her path.

"What are you doing?" Clarke asked, turning back

"I can't let you leave Clarke" Lexa said.

"So I'm your prisoner now just like that?" Clarke spoke, her voice bitter.
"Yes." She nodded

"Lexa let me go to Arkadia-" she starts
"No" she cut her off
"At least let me talk to Kane. We can bring him here. Indra at the summit Kane told me he gave you a radio, a way to signal him. Do it, please" Clarke pleaded.

Lexas jaw tightened, she glanced at me, I gave a flight nod. Then she gave in.

Later, in the healing tent, Clarke worked over Indra when the flap lifted.

"Octavia?... where's Kane?" Clarkes eyes widened.

"He sent me. Indra thank God." O said, rushing to indras side.

"How did this happen?" Lexa demanded.

"Kane lost the election to Pike. Everything's different." O replied

"Your people voted for this?" Lexa asked coldly

"No. No, I don't believe that." Clarke said quickly

"How would you know Clarke? You haven't been here. Diana would know more than you" O snapped

Clarke ignored her, though I could see it stung.
"Listen to me. The grounder army is gonna be here in less than a day. I need to see Bellamy" she said

"Bellamy was apart of this. He's with Pike. What makes you think he'll help us?" O shot back

"He saved Indra's life" Clarke argued

Octavia glanced at Indra, and she gave a weak nod.

"If what Octavia's saying is true, then pike trusts him. If I can get to him, he can get to pike." Clarke continued

"You can't just walk through the gates Clarke. You've been living with their enemy. If it were me I'd kill you on the spot." Lexa warned

"I can get her in." O said

"I'm coming too" I spoke up

"Diana, no- it's too dangerous. If pike finds you, you're dead" O said, her eyes begging me to stay

"I need to speak with Bellamy. I am going" my gaze locked with lexas until she finally gave me a small nod.

"Be safe Diana" Lexa whispered as she pulled me into an embrace.
"I will. You too." My voice was softer than I intended. When we let go, I followed Octavia and Clarke into the night.

I waited alone inside Arkadia, pacing the length of the small room. I had insisted- if I was to face bellamy, it had to be just the two of us.

The door opened. He stepped inside, and for a moment, his face betrayed shock.

"Now I'm done" O muttered, shutting the door behind him.

"Go easy on O. I had to beg her to get me into camp" I said quickly

"What are you doing here, Diana?" His voice harsh, accusing.

"We need to talk." I said evenly

"Oh, you've decided that? The mighty Haiplana kom uf- who let me think she died, who couldn't say one word to me once she saw me- now you want to talk?" He spat

I bit back the sting of his words.
"I came to tell you that ice nation has paid the price. Blood has been answered for mount weather. It's over." I said

"There it is again. Why do you get to decide when it's over?" He asked harshly

"Because I did my part" I replied

"Your part?" He pressed

"The ice queen is dead. I risked my life fighting for you, for your people. I told you not to trust pike. And now look what happened" I shot

"Why are you here, Diana?" He demanded, stepping closer.

"Arkadia needs to make things right- or the twelve clans will wipe you out." I answered

"Come and try" he said

My voice dropped.
"Tell me, Bellamy. Is going to war what you really want?" I questioned

"We've been at war since we landed. At least pike understands that" he shot back

"Pike is the problem! How do you not realize that? This isn't who you are" my frustration cracked through.

"You're wrong. This is always who I've been. I let Clarke, Octavia, Kane....all of you... convince me we could trust the grounders. And every time, you've proven me wrong. I won't let anyone else die for that mistake " He spat

"Bellamy, if you don't want Octavia- or anyone- dying, you need to listen to me. I need you" I spoke

His eyes narrowed
"You need me?" He asked

"Yes. I need the Bellamy who stood with me in mount weather. The one who wouldn't let me carry that burden alone. The one who wouldn't let me die." My voice softened

He shook his head.
"You left me. You left all of us. I thought you were dead. Tell me- were you ever going to come back? Ever going to tell me you were alive?" He asked

"I was! As soon as Arkadia joined the coalition, I would've been free to visit. I wanted more than to tell you I was okay. You, Octavia, Raven, Monty, harper, miller... you all became my family. I couldn't leave, Bellamy. If I did, none of you would be safe. Arkadia wouldn't be safe. I am Haiplana kom uf. I had to lead" I said, my voice almost cracked.

He scoffed.
"But you are not in charge here, and that's a good thing. Because people die when you're in charge. Everywhere you go, people die." He spat

"I left my people to help you. Even when I was barely alive myself. I risked everything to save you. You saved me, Bellamy- so I stayed and saved you" I shot back

"And yet we had to kill everyone in mount weather, people who trusted me." He said

"I never asked you to carry that. You choose it- because you knew it was the right thing to do. So choose it again. Dont let this destroy you." I almost beg

Silence. His back was to me.

"I'm sorry." I whispered

"For every bit of pain I caused you. But please, help me fix this. I know you want peace. Help me achieve it." I said

His shoulders slumped. When he finally turned, his voice low.
"I'm sorry too" he said

He stepped forward and pulled me into a hug.

For a moment, warmth bloomed inside me. Almost peace. Almost.

Then I felt a prick at my neck.

I stumbled back, reaching up as the world blurred. Bellamy's hand held the needle.

"If you do this.... I die. Don't carry that burden too" I gasped out. My legs gave out. Bellamy caught me.

The last thing I saw were his eyes- guilt, anger, sadness.... And something like hope. But even that hope was swallowed by darkness.