"You have to listen to me, the council waits for a decisions tomorrow at sun rise. If you don't have one, a mutiny will not be overlooked, Clarke. I know these aren't the times of those we have read in books, the time of 'Pirate's. But their methods were strong and very efficient. You know they won't hesitate." I shook my head at her words, gripping my fists tightly at the edge of the wooden war table. I closed my eyes taking deep breaths as I heard her come closer, the body heat almost unbearable. I remembered the pain in my right temple and pressed a hand to it. I inhaled more slowly, taking in the smell of Polis. The wood fire and fresh fruits. Somewhere far away from war. Far away from that dark place that likes to form in my head. "Clarke, this is the only way you can possibly help your people. I have been playing this game for a very long time. I know that you know it is necessary." Her hands were at my face, gently holding it as her thumbs brushed my cheeks. I give into it, relaxing and placing my own hands over hers. I sigh into the palm of her right, kissing it softly. I opened my eyes and looked to her, hoping for her to move forward and kiss me, but I was met by a small hesitation and the falling of her hands.

"This is no time for weakness." There she was again. The once before 'Commander' and her soulless expressions. I hope one day she understands why I want to punch her again like I did last night. She makes me want to slam her against walls and beat her to a thread of her life, but I want her to hold me and help me protect my people. Or at least show me how.

"Clarke, please. Let me give the order for the warriors to march to your people's camp and take them. We need to look hostile to your people in order to protect them. The threats from the North and the Fox Tribe will only increase if they know of our affiliation with the Sky People and the stronghold of the alliance. Which is you. If it gets to such extreme measures, I'm afraid it'll be too late to save any lives then. We mu-", I cut her off, raising my hand and meeting her stare. "You are my advisor and a leader to my warriors. But you, not under any circumstances, have the right to overthrow my decisions and ignore my orders. You aren't the Commander anymore, Lexa." I stepped forward, pushing her body to walk back as the proximity between us shrunk.

"This is my regime. These our my people now and these woods our in my possession. I'm quite unfortunately in charge. Did you forget? I am the legend that fell from the sky. I earned my title, even if I didn't want it or feel uncomfortable in it, I know that I have to bear it. You taught me, don't you remember? Which is why you are my advisor in war times. Times like these. You are to listen to what I have to say, and then maybe outside of this tent and in our bedroom you can have control. But here, what I say goes." She was pinned harshly against the vine sewed pillar like many others that held up the white roof of the room. "Go. I'll send for you when I have made my decision." I saw the clenching of her jaw and the gulp she struggled on taking down before she gave a small nod and left the room. I watched her, my eyes roaming over her body for a moment before looking away.

She was built. Strong. Smart. Everything I could have asked for. Then she was ruthless, pushing, and hard headed. Everything I needed but did not exactly feel like dealing with. Lexa was my advisor, yes, she helped me after her fall as commander and I let her. She taught me the ways of war but it was nothing like she had taught me when we were plotting against the Mountain. Before the betrayal. She told me of the tribes outside of the 12 Clans. She told me the stories of all their ancestors and their rise to such a deathly position of power. Being Commander was not as high as being a ruler. A ruler governs and makes their own Commanders. A ruler is what I was now being pushed to be.

These people want me on the throne. A throne as old as the Nations itself. They believe I am the ruler that was spoken of in the tales of Legends told long before I came from the sky. A woman who ruled so powerfully and so viciously, the God Zeus himself put her in a test. A battle of three with a winner of won. And her name was Athena.


It was dark, the darkest I had ever witnessed in the fairly large room. The window that was to the left on my side had a drape of brown cloth over it, trapping the moonlight behind it. I turned to my other side, scooting closer into the sleeping brunette as I squeezed into her chest and tangled are bare legs. This woke her but only enough for her to open her arms, allowing our naked bodies to tangle in on another before the steady breathing came again. I made gentle kisses along her throat before closing my eyes, blocking out the heaviness I felt in my body but not my head. It was sleep deprivation. My body was weak, aching for healing and maybe a trip to the Celestial river. I wrapped an arm over Lexa's waist before letting my mind finally drift off along with my body. Tomorrow I finalize my decision. Tomorrow I get to see three of my people again. Maybe a little bruised, maybe a little broken, but always so powerful.

Tomorrow I get to see my friends.

Such a foreign word on a fresh tongue that's tasted nothing but blood and the stairs that take me to The Archon Throne.