Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters but this story plot belongs to me.
This is an attempt to rewrite Lexa's death out of the show. It's a short story but the best thing about it is Lexa will never die here.
Context: Arkadia is part of the Coalition. Pike has been contained and is awaiting his trial that will most likely send him to prison for life. His followers have finally seen reason and have put their loyalties back to Chancellor Kane. Bellamy Blake has been put in prison as well for killing the 300 warriors. Clarke is still Ambassador, and Lexa is still Commander. The Nightbleeders are alive. King Roan rules Azgeda and keeps Ontari on check. The ground is finally at peace but the threat of ALIE still looms over them. Jaha is a silent force to be reckoned with.
Polis meets Arkadia 1: Ambassadors' Updates
It's a quiet day in Polis. The market is littered with a few people here and there. Not many are out to buy because of the light rain sweeping over the capital. The tower stands tall; the grey sky contrasting the bright flame that has been lit to signify that official business is taking place and that the Commander is not to be disturbed. The council of the Commander has convened for the weekly updates of each Clan. Within the summit room, the thirteen Ambassadors sit around a table facing the throne of the Commander. Quietly, each one reports peace and cooperation among their own poeple. It is a good day. Lexa is confident that peace in the city has been restored and she intends on keeping it that way. Behind her, the sun can be seen sinking into the horizon, making the rain clouds even darker.
"We've got Pike and Bellamy Blake in lockdown." Clarke is the last to announce. The ambassadors seated next to her all nod in approval. She clears her throat and swallows her nerves. Among the thirteen seated before the Commander, Clarke is the youngest but her people pose the most threat to the Coalition. She takes a deep breath before continuing her announcement. "Pike is no longer a threat. We have a new chancellor. Chancellor Kane will keep the peace and will honor the Coalition. Despite this, I have news of a new problem." Lexa's eyes focus on Clarke. She was not prepared for this report. Arkadia has just been contained and not even a few days after, a new problem is at loose? Lexa tears her gaze from Clarke and looks instead to each Ambassador, thinking about which among them have harmful intentions against Clarke. "Former Chancellor Jaha has been distributing chips among my people. It's nature is still unknown. We're not sure if it's good or bad but it seems to have an effect on the memories of the people. Jaha claims the chip removes all feelings of pain but we have observed some who have taken it, forget some- poignant memories." Clarke continues, remembering how Raven described it as some form of mind control but she couldn't say more over the radio. Clarke decides on not announcing more than this. The Council of Ambassadors will know when she is sure of what this is.
"Your chancellors have the tendency to stray and do harm, don't they?" The ambassador from Trishanakru scoffs. Clarke begins to rebut but she holds her voice.
"Enough, Golind. I will not have my Ambassadors disrespecting each other." The Commander raises her hand and all eyes and ears refocus on her. Golind mumbles an apology. "What are your plans, Ambassador Clarke?" Lexa continues.
"With your permission, I plan to ride back to Arkadia as soon as possible to help." Clarke says.
"Your request is granted." She says. "And I will ride with you. In my absence, The Flamekeeper will sit among you and assume some of my duties. Decisions on Clans and warriors will remain under my power. Is this clear?"
"But Heda, this newfound peace is fragile." Titus begins, "Surely, Skaikru can rely on their Ambassador to resolve this meager issue? We need you here."
"This newfound peace is fragile, yes, and the one thing that threatens it is the very thing that I am riding away to destroy while it is but a seed." Lexa explains. "Besides, it is time that Arkadia meets her Commander. I give my trust to you, my Ambassadors, to keep the peace while I ride to Arkadia." Lexa gives Azgeda and Trishanakru a long look while she says this.
"Yes Commander." They all reply. They rise and bow down to Lexa before she dismisses them. Clarke stays behind. The summit room seems bigger now that only Lexa and Clarke remain.
"When do we leave?" She asks Lexa.
"Dawn. With the storms this season, it will take more than a day to get to Arkadia." She says. "Tonight, you will prepare me by telling me everything about your people. I need to be ready and I want to know everything about everyone. Including Bellamy Blake."
"We need to send a bird to Arkadia ahead of us so they can prepare for you. With this weather I'm not sure I'll be able to get a signal for the radio." Clarke suggests. Arkadia may be in peace but it doesn't mean that the people are not in chaos. Two chancellors in a span of months has no precedent. She neglected to announce this but Pike is a restless prisoner and has not accepted his mistakes.
"No." Lexa says, sitting down on one of the chairs around the table. "Let our entrance be a surprise. I want to see the true Arkadia. Not the one that is put up only in my presence. We will bring guards during the trip but I am sure that your people are no longer hostile."
"What do you plan to do when we get there?" She asks Lexa, fearing for Bellamy's sake. His crimes were not against Arkadia so his sentence is to be given by the Commander and selected people to from a council for trial. Bellamy needs to be punished, yes, but not killed. Clarke wonders if jus no drein jus daun is truly accepted by the people of the Coalition. Bellamy will be the first to test their strength to abide by the new law of the Commander.
"You tell me." Lexa says, quickly catching on Clarke's anxiety about Bellamy. "This Bellamy is different from the one you talked about when we were in battle with the Mountain Men. That Bellamy was brave and he saw reason. He was a good warrior, not a rogue one. He is ours to punish but a fair trial means he needs to be defended. So tell me. What does Bellamy Blake deserve after killing warriors who were sent to him to protect your people?"
"He's been mislead." Clarke begins but she wonders if she is the best to speak about what happened. She wasn't even there. She has heard about Bellamy's allure to Pike's regime and she no doubt remembers the anger and blame he has placed on her for leaving but should she really defend Bellamy for this crime? Indra was at the doorstep of death when they found her. Even today, weeks after, she cannot even sit up to eat.
"I don't know enough to take a side on this but I know Bellamy." Clarke pauses. "I knew him. And I trusted him but this- this betrayal and rash decision to kill is not something I would force you to forgive. Maybe if I could talk to him again,"
"The last time I sent you to talked with him, he detained you. Octavia had to save you and deliver you back safely to me." Lexa sighs. "I will speak with him."
"And then?" Clarke asks.
"Then the council and I will decide his fate." Lexa says. Clarke sinks into the chair next to her and cradles her face in her palms.
"You still care for him?" Lexa asks, "Even after what his hate has made him do?"
"I'm tired of being responsible for his actions." Clarke says, finally speaking out the truth about her distaste for him and for the things he makes her feel. "I had to fight tooth and nail for the ears of the 98 kids we were sent down here with to listen to reason and not to his propaganda of 'Whatever the hell we want.' He's changed for the better since then but he can be mislead. I can't help but feel responsible for creating that Bellamy who killed your people. He said it was my fault because I left. Because I couldn't stay after what I had done to the Mountain Men. He said that people die under my watch and he's right, they do and maybe it's not their fault because the common denominator is me." She sinks down on the table after a while, Lexa's arms pull her into an embrace and Clarke rests her head on the crook of her neck.
"Bellamy was wrong to say that." Lexa says. "To put the guilt of his actions on your shoulders. He's wrong. You're doing the best you can and they should show gratitude."
"I don't want you to have to deal with his mess too." Clarke says, pulling herself away from Lexa. "He's my problem."
"You forget about my promise." Lexa smiles, "I swore fealty to you first. If he's a problem for you, he's my problem too."
The sun has disappeared the moon is beginning to cast a dim light over the summit room. The candles are being lit by Lexa's handmaidens. They go around the room, making it brighter and calmer. Clarke and Lexa spend the night preparing for their trip. The clouds continue to rain down on the capitol, making the night cold and the people sleepy. It is quiet now, only the scratches of coal against paper makes sounds. Clarke is drawing a map of Arkadia. Marking every exit she can find in case they need to make an escape. She feels weird detailing escape plans on the very same infrastructure she grew up in but things are different now. Lexa's safety is her number one concern.
"It's like a maze in there." Lexa says, pointing at the Ark.
"When I was a child, I used to get lost walking from my classroom to our home even though it was just around the corner." Clarke recalls. The Ark is a metal maze, made with winding halls that were meant to maximize surface area, not only for space but also for oxygen transportation. Hospital wards and classrooms are strategically placed in areas where oxygen levels are high to aid healing and learning. In smaller places where people need not stay for long periods like bathrooms or containment closets, oxygen levels are a bit lower. Lexa studies the map until it's image is branded in her mind. When the wind blows the candles away and when Lexa begins to feel cold, they move into the Commander's Chambers to sleep.
When the dawn comes, Lexa wakes next to Clarke, the bed is littered with loose pages of paper marked with her writing and Clarke's sketches. Beside her, Clarke is still sleeping, her head resting on the same pillow Lexa was using.
"Wake up, Clarke." Lexa says but Clarke only shifts in her sleep, making the sea of paper on the bed rustle and crumple. "It's time to go." She places a gentle hand over her head, sweeping away her hair from her face. She thinks about what's in store for them after all of this is settled. They have been hiding behind the guise of meetings and private consultations to spend time together. Titus knows the truth but what will the rest of Polis think? Will they accuse her of replacing Costia, their beloved Costia who was taken too soon.
Polis might never learn to love Clarke as much as they loved Costia. How could they? Costia was one of us while Clarke came from the sky, and brought with her her people who have caused more harm than good. Lexa shakes her thoughts away. Why should she trouble herself with the thoughts of others when the only thing that matters is that she loves Clarke. She knows Clarke in ways that the people of the Ground and the Sky will never know. As Clarke sleeps, Lexa plants a soft kiss on the back of her palm. Clarke wakes and Lexa holds on to her hand as she opens her eyes. "It's time to go." She says again.
"I feel like I've only slept for a minute." Clarke says but she rises. Lexa lets go of her hand and she notes how gently Clarke touches the place of her hand where she kissed her. Lexa rises from the bed and begins to gather the papers together. She will need these to study for the trip over to Arkadia.
"What will happen to us?" Clarke's soft voice breaks the silence. "When we come back from Arkadia and when everything has been said and done. What about us?"
"Then I will introduce you to my people and you will introduce me to yours." Lexa smiles and moves in to kiss her, the papers, momentarily forgotten.