As a rat crawled across Lexas leg, she jerked awake from her sleep as it sunk his teeth into her skin. The rat scurried into the darkness of the dungeon as Lexa shoved it away. Lexa was locked in a small cell at the bottom of the dungeon. The dungeon smelled of blood and urine, and was very dark. The smell along with the thought of never seeing Clark or Aden again made Lexa feel constantly nauseated. The only source of light were the four torches that line the halls of the dungeon. Lexa persistently heard the pain and cries of the other prisoners in the dungeon, some of which had been there for years. 'Please! Feed me, I'm so hungry' or 'Kill me! Please, relieve me from this misery,' we're just some of the things she would hear from the other prisoners. The prisoners were given food once a day and it was always the same; a hand full of cold oatmeal. They were not even allowed a bowl or spoon. The oatmeal was scooped into their hands.
In the darkness, Lexa thought about her life at the castle as a young child. She grew up on the north side of the castle, on the same side where Indra lived. When Lexa was five, Indra began to give her bow and arrow lessons. Indra was 19 at the time and was a motherly figure and Lexas eyes. Indra was one of the few women of the castle who knew how to shoot a bow and arrow and Titus allowed his daughter to train with Indra since she was so persistent in learning.
Five was also the age when she met Clarke. Many of the castle girls made fun of Lexa because she was the only girl who wanted to learn to shoot arrows. However, Clarke always stood up for Lexa and did what she could to protect her from the bullies of the castle. 'You act just like a boy,' the girls would say. 'You should change your name from Lexa to Leroy.'
'You're just mad because you got no marks on our sewing class,' Clarke would respond. 'Too bad you won't get to be a graceful princess when you grow up.'
Clark and Lexa hung out together every day after classes in the castle when they were growing up. Clark would take Lexa to the gardens and teach her about all the different flowers and plants. Lexa would take Clark on adventures throughout the castle and show her all of the secret passageways that she had discovered.
Lexa pulled herself from her thoughts as she began to feel a growing nauseating pain. She had a fever and was trembling from the cold dungeon. Before she knew it, she vomited the handful of oatmeal that she ate just a few hours earlier.
Titus worked tirelessly to allow Lexa visiting rights. After an entire weeks worth of work, Lexa was finally able to have visitors. Upon hearing the news, Clarke immediately headed toward the dungeons. She grabbed a torch and carefully hurried down the corridor of the dungeon. The floors were made of rough uneven rock. If one was not careful, it was easy to cut and slice your foot. The floors were also wet and very slippery. When Clarke reached the end of the corridor, she found Lexa sitting on the ground behind the bars of her cell.
"Lexa," Clarke trembled.
Lexa stood up weakly and walked over to Clarke. Clarke placed her hands on Lexas cheeks through the bars of the cell.
"Lexa, you're burning up," Clark said worriedly. "Here, drink this."
Clark pulled out a pale of water from the sack and passed it thru the bars to.
Lexa drank the water as if she had been dehydrated for days. As she drank, Clarke noticed that Lexa looked about 10 pounds lighter.
"Here take this as well," Clark said as she passed Lexa bread, grapes, and cheese.
"There's going to be a trial," Clark announced. "You're going to have a chance to talk and present your case. At the end of the trial the head-nobles will vote on your fate."
"We have to win the vote Lexa," Clark choked as her eyes watered.
"We can win it Clarke," Lexa said. "We already have one vote in my favor with my father. I need you to talk to Abby. We need her vote."
"Of course, I'm already working on my mom. What about Marcus?"
"Marcus is stern and is a stickler for rules and the law. I doubt that he would vote in our favor." Lexa said. "But talk to Indra, I think you can convince her to vote in our favor as well. All we need is three out of the five votes to win."
Clarke stared at Lexa, terrified for her fate.
"Hey. Clarke it's going to be ok." Lexa said reaching through the cell to hold her.
"I've missed you so much," Clark whimpered. "It's all my fault that you're here."
"No. No, it's not" Lexa assured. "I'm going to get out of here and we're going to be ok. You just have to talk to Abby and Indra. I know you can convince them."
"Ok," Clarke said drying her tears.
"How's Aden," Lexa asked.
"He's not bad, but he's been better. He hasn't eaten much since you've been gone. He's very worried." Clarke explained.
"Tell him not to. Tell him that I'm going to see him soon and that he need not worry."
"You have to go now Clarke," Lexa said. "You have to go talk to Abby and Indra. We're running out of time."
Clark placed a kiss on Lexas lips.
"I'll be back," she said. See grabbed a torch and ran to do her job to free Lexa.
Clark went to see her mother first.
"Mom." Clarke wrapped her arms around her mom to return the hug. "I know what it seems like, but you have to trust me that there is a reason behind everything."
Abby looked in her daughters eyes unconvinced.
"We need your help." Clarke pleaded "Can you please vote in Lexas favor, please."
Abby looked surprised at Clarke shocked that Clarke would ask such as thing.
"I don't know if I can Clarke. It depends on how the trial goes. If she can prove her innocence then I will vote in her favor."
"Please mom, do it for me," Clarke said.
"Tell me the truth Clarke," Abby said grabbing her daughters shoulders. "Did she kill Kyls?"
Clarke hesitated at the question. She never wanted to lie to her mother but Lexa was her heart. But as the same time, she trusted her mom and she was wary that the truth would come out in the trial.
"Yes." Clare barely managed to say. "But she did it for me…. Kyls… Kyls molested me, mom. And he… he promised to do it as often as he wanted."
Abby was appalled at Clarkes words and she was at a loss for her own.
"Why would he do such a thing?" Abby asked outraged.
"I'm sorry Mom, but I….. it's just something that I cannot share." Clarke claimed. "I wish I could but I…. I just can't."
"Why didn't you just tell us? The head-nobles would have handled it. We would have handled everything."
"It wasn't that simple, Mom," Clarke uttered. "It's more than what it seems."
Abby stared quietly, conflicted on what to do. Her face and forehead were scrunched, as she pondered on what was the right and most just decision to make.
"Please, mom. Please know that Lexa would have never killed him unless it was for a valid reason," Clarke went on. "If you won't do it for her. At least do it for me. Please. I love her and you know how she makes me feel."
Abby continued to stare as she gathered her thoughts. As a head-noble, it was her job to serve justice in the court. Being a head-noble meant that you were one of the most powerful and influential people in the entire Kingdom of Eesii. Abbys reign had been just and fair thus far and she wanted to continue this reputation. However, this was her daughter and she knew that Lexa was the one who made her happiest.
"Ok, Clarke. I'll vote in Lexas favor," Abby nodded.
"Thank you Mom," Clarke breathe. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
Clark headed to the North Tower to see Indra. She knocked on her door and heard Indra say come in. When she walked in, Indra embraced her immediately.
"I heard about everything," Indra said. "Are you ok?"
"I'm holding up but I'm more worried about Lexa," Clarke replied. "The trial is coming up and she needs your help."
"You don't have to explain anything," Indra confirmed. "I've watched Lexa grow up since she was a small child. I know she would have never done this without a valid reason."
"So can you vote in Lexas favor at the trial?" Clarke asked.
"Without a doubt," Indra affirmed. "She definitely has my vote."
Lexa was pulled from a cell and her hands were cuffed. The guards put shackles on her feet led her to the court. The shackles on her feet were put on a bit too tight and it was a bit painful to walk but she marched on. As she walked the corridors of the castle, she saw the crowd of people gathered on both sides. As she walked, she heard whispers and people pointed as she passed by. She spotted Aden and he ran toward her to give her a hug.
"Lexa!" Aden wailed.
"Aden" Lexa yelped.
But before he could make it toward her, one of the guards grabbed him and carried him away. He kicked, screamed and yelled but he was no match for the guard due to his small size.
"He's just a little boy!" Lexa yelled.
One of the guards grabbed Lexa by the hair and roughly tilted her head back.
"Quiet noble killer," he voiced.
Lexa entered the courtroom and saw the 5 nobles at the head of the court. She took he spot on the stand and looked at the crowd of people before her. In the front of the crowd was Clarke.
The court leader stood to begin the trial.
"In this court of law, under the oath of the Kingdom of Eesii, you must promise to truth…"
As the court leader spoke, Lexa drown out the sound as she focused her eyes on Clarke. She couldn't help but think about how much she loved her and how Clarke would manage without her if she was sentenced to death. She was then pulled from her thoughts when the court leader asked her the first question.
"Lexa, did you kill Kyls, son of Pike?" The court leader asked.
"No," Lexa said as the crowd murmured
"Where were you on the night Kyls was murdered?" He asked
"I was in Clarkes room as usual. And when I left, I went straight to my room."
"Were you there the whole night?" he asked.
"Yes," Lexa replied.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we will now call our first witness to the court," he announced. "Donna Chyn, please rise to the stand."
Donna was one of Lexas servants. She had grown to really like Lexa over the past 10 years of serving her.
"Donna, where was Lexa on the night of the murder?" the court leader asked.
"She was in her room as usual" Donna lied.
"Did she come in later than usual?" he asked
"No, she arrived at the same time she usually does. When she arrived, I was placing wood in her fireplace as it was cold this particular night."
In reality, Donna helped Lexa clean off the blood from her hands that night. Donna, as well as many of the other servants, knew the cruel ways of Kyls, especially to those who he considered "below" him. Therefore, she was glad that he was gone. Lexa truly did her a favor since Kyls had abused Donna in the past.
"I call our next witness, Foldolfo to the stand."
Foldolfo was the man who asked Kyls to sign the papers the night of the murder. When Lexa asked him for help, he agreed without question.
"Foldolfo, did you enter Kyls room the night of the murder?" the court leader asked.
"Yes," he replied. "There were some very important documents that needed to be signed."
"Did you see or talk to Lexa the night Kyls was killed?" asked the court leader?
"No, I hadn't spoken to Lexa at all that day," Foldolfo lied.
"I call our last witness to the stand, Mary Cunningham."
Mary was Kyls servant who ran the bath water the day of the murder. As she walked to the stand, Lexa noticed that she had a huge bruise on her face and several bruises on her arm. She looked very distressed and Lexa could see that she was shaking.
"Mary, were you in the room the night of the murder?" the court leader asked.
"Y…Yes," Mary trembled.
"Did you see Lexa in Kyls room the night of the murder," asked the court leader.
"Y…Yes," Mary made public.
The crowd burst into whispers and murmurs. Clarkes heart raced.
"I… I saw her as I left from his back door," Mary continued. She was hiding near the door of the back entrance. I left and saw nothing more."
The crowd continued to whisper and Clarke looked over at her mother and Indra and trusted that they would stick with the plan. Titus, Abby, and Indra were all they needed to win the vote.
"Shes a liar!" someone yelled from the crowd.
"I think she's telling the truth," another person screamed from the crowd.
The crowd seemed to be in much disagreement.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the court. There are no more witnesses." The court leader announced. "There will now be a vote of the 5 high-nobles. Murder of a noble is punishable by death. If you wish the death of Lexa please respond 'I.' If you do not wish the death of Lexa, please respond 'Nah.'
"Pike, what is your response?" he asked
"I," Pike said without hesitation.
"Indra, what is your response?" the leader asked.
"Nah," Indra said nodding at Lexa.
"Marcus, what is your response?" the leader asked.
"I," Marcus replied.
"Abby, what is your response?" the leader asked.
Abby hesitated. She glanced over at Lexa and then glanced over at Clarke.
"Nah," Abby finally answered.
At that, a weight was lifted off Clarkes shoulders. She looked at Lexa with a smile and Lexa smiled back. Lexas father was the only vote left. Clarke knew that this was a true victory for Lexa.
"Titus, what is your response?"
Titus looked over at his daughter. His glance comforted her and Lexa gave him a smile.
"I," Titus replied looking away from his daughter.
The crowd gasped.
Titus, Lexa's own father, voted against her.