A/N: Hey guys, I'm normally a silent reader of fanfics, and when I do write, I tend to keep them to myself and some friends, but I'm currently super into Bellarke from "The 100," so figured I'd give this a try. Would love any and all comments, as that is inspiring to new writers. Thanks, and happy reading!

Chapter 1

This was a bad idea. No, not even just a bad idea. This was on par with when she fought off Dax while high on nuts, or jumped off the top of that waterfall to follow Anya even though she couldn't swim. If she were still on the Ark, Clarke thought she could be considered certifiably insane.

Here she was, being lowered down the edge of cliff by a harness made from an old tent canvas and some frayed rope, by some skinny girl from Factory station. Clarke scowled thinking about Mel. The girl had tried to follow Bellamy out here for some reason, and had been lucky enough to at least stumble upon Clarke. And Bellamy… Well, he was the entire reason she was in this situation, hanging from a cliff above a lake in an attempt to gather enough seaweed to make a poultice.

The expedition to destroy the radio tower jamming the Ark signals had ended with Abby's decision to leave the tower intact so they could listen to the enemy. Once again, Raven's brilliance had given them a weapon they could use – a leg-up on their enemy. Clarke just hoped it wasn't too late. The 47 weren't just her people. They were her friends, and they needed a leader. No one seemed to realize how dire the situation was, except for those remaining from the original 100.

They had been back in camp for less than an hour when Clarke felt a hand grab her shoulder. Startled, she turned around to punch her attacker, only to hear a, "Shit, Clarke."

Bellamy. "That's quite a right hook you've got, Princess," he says, red blooming on his cheek from her punch.

Clarke suddenly felt self-conscious. "Please, that won't even bruise. Plus, if you can survive the Grounders and Reapers, I'm pretty sure you can take a hit from me."

Bellamy grinned at her, and Clarke felt the corners of her mouth pull up; when he smiled like that, it was infectious. "I'm not so sure. You're a force to be reckoned with. I'd bet on you any day, even against Grounders and Reapers."

Clarke shook her head, trying to get rid of her smile. "Betting on things you don't even know about, Bellamy? I should have known that reckless gambling would be one of your vices. You haven't been up against the Reapers close-range like I have, so I guess I can't fault you too much. Why are you back, anyway? Find a way in?" Clarke leaned forward, focused. She knew Bellamy and Octavia would never stop until they found a way to get to their people in Mt. Weather. She trusted them to do what had to be done, for the good of everyone.

Bellamy grew more serious, and Clarke mused about his sudden change in moods. That's just how Bellamy was, though. He could be almost lighthearted and relaxed one minute, and then intense and dismissive the next. Just when she thought she could pin him down, he would surprise her again. "That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about. We have a problem."

"I'll get Raven, and I think Munroe should be nearly healed by now. If we need more – ," Clarke began, but Bellamy interrupted. "Clarke, wait. No one else can know about this, and I need you to come with me. I can't explain it here."

Clarke's eyes narrowed. She debated fighting him on this, making him explain himself, but one look at his face made her hesitate. Bellamy had really come a long way from the beginning, and she knew that he wouldn't lead her astray. If he wanted to keep this secret, he probably had a damn good reason.

"Do you trust me?" he asked her, searching her face. Yes, she realized. She did. Clarke nodded, and Bellamy seemed to expel a relieved breath that he didn't even realize he'd been holding. "Grab your pack, we need to go now."

"Got it. I'll meet you near the food storage tent. I'll have to tell Raven something so she'll disable to fence. How did you get in, anyway?" Clarke asked, throwing things into her pack.

Bellamy smirked. "Let's just say that one of the guards is a fan."

Clarke scowled, making sure her hair was masking her face, "Of course. I should have known. The ladies sure do you love you, Bellamy."

A large hand suddenly encased Clarke's own, and she looked up to see Bellamy's heated look turned fully on her. She felt her heart thud a little bit, before she schooled herself. This was Bellamy, king of the 100 purely based on his charisma. Well, and his compassion and ability to make quick and hard decisions… He did have a few redeeming qualities, now that she thought about it. His voice jarred her from her thoughts. "Charm can be a dangerous weapon, Princess. It's all about bedside manner. I thought doctors knew that."

She gently extricated her hand from under his. "I think you've got enough charm for both of us. Now go, I'll meet you in a minute." Bellamy nodded at her quickly before he slipped out of the tent.

Clarke quickly penned a note to her mom, leaving it on her pillow where Abby would find it quickly. She might still be mad at her mom, but they were family, and she didn't want to cause unnecessary worry. She knew her mom was still reeling now that Chancellor Jaha was back, and that she was already anxious about Kane.

Clarke finished put the note on her bed before she grabbed her pack to go. She paused as a sudden shadow flitted across her vision. She pushed aside the tent flap to find a girl crouched outside, surprise on her face at being found out.

"Can I help you?" Clarke asked, wondering how much she'd overheard. She'd seen this girl before. She looked vaguely familiar.

"Oh, um, no, sorry. I was just… coming to see if you wanted any dinner. I know you all just got back from your expedition earlier." Clarke's face remained blank, and the girl continued to stammer, "I'm Mel, by the way."

Right. Clarke remembered now. The girl that Bellamy had rescued from Factory Station. "No, I'm fine, thanks. You should get back to your tent. It's getting late." Clarke pushed past Mel, heading for where she would meet Bellamy. If she had turned around, she would have noticed how Mel's eyes narrowed, or how her fists clenched, but instead Clarke crept out into the darkness, ready to follow Bellamy into the night.