Chapter 9

Clarke is almost mesmerized as she watches Lexa march to her throne, her gaze fixed on long legs as one is crossed over another. Power oozes effortlessly from the commander in such a manner that Clarke has never witnessed before. Green eyes sweep across the room, but never land on Clarke and she wonders if it's because Lexa knows she can read them all too well. Perhaps Clarke would cause her mask to slip.

The subtle twitch of Lexa's jaw tells Clarke that the commander is aware of the attention she is receiving from her, but still her gaze remains unmet. Instead, Lexa glares at her sudden visitors, smouldering intensity almost setting the room alight. Usually, people would shrink underneath those eyes, apologies and excuses tumbling from trembling lips.

Not this time, though. The people from Ice Nation are brave and bold, and probably a little stupid. They stand their ground against their Heda, proud to stand by the side of their Queen, Nia. This is a power play if Clarke has ever seen one, but she doubts it will work. The tall Queen with eyes like silver is no match for Lexa. Clarke would stake her life on that.

"Queen Nia, I was not expecting you," Lexa says, tilting her head in a way that Clarke finds both terrifying and adorable. "When you sent an ambassador to the summit, I assumed I would not see you until Summer."

"You assumed wrong," Nia retorts. Her cool, informal tone alone causes the hairs on the back of Clarke's neck to stand up. She doesn't let her unease show, though, as icy eyes are soon turned on her. "It is true then," Nia says. "Skaikru have joined our beloved coalition." Clarke nods, unsure if the statement is even directed at her.

"It is true," Lexa nods. "Despite the bounty you placed on Clarke Kom Skaikru's head." The room is silent, the atmosphere suddenly thicker than it already was. Clarke, and many others in the room, hadn't expected Lexa to just come right out and say it. Not without solid proof which, as far as Clarke knows, Lexa does not have.

"You dare accuse us of such a thing?" Nia's anger isn't evident in her tone, which is even and cool, but a fire burns behind her usually icy gaze. Clarke stares at Lexa, willing for her to look across. Green eyes comply, flicking over for a brief second. The barely there nod sending a clear message.

I've got this.

...

"You deny it?" Lexa is confident, unfazed by the multiple furious gazes that are focused on her. "You deny ignoring your commander's orders? You deny trying to kill Clarke Kom Skaikru?"

An electric fury flows through her entire body. She knows that Nia is behind the bounty. It's not the first time that the Ice Nation has moved against her by targeting someone Lexa cares about. They were successful the first time, and Lexa will not allow history to repeat itself. The mere thought of Clarke being hurt the way Azgeda had hurt Cost….

Lexa stops herself. She can't allow herself to finish that thought. Her jaw sets firmly as she vows to not show the weakness Azgeda are accusing her of having. She will not allow them to see they have affected her.

"I assume you have evidence to back up this disgusting claim," Nia states, her features becoming smug as she glances across at Clarke. Lexa's blood boils just seeing Nia even look at Clarke, but she's proud to see that Clarke is more than willing to hold Nia's gaze. She would expect nothing less.

"I do." Lexa enjoys the way Nia falters at those words, and also doesn't miss the surprise on Clarke's features. "Bring him in."

Lexa holds Nia's gaze as two of her warriors spring into action, even allowing the tiniest of smirks to pull at her full lips. She's going to enjoy this. Out of the corner of her eye, Lexa can see her warriors drag her evidence into her throne room, the captured, filthy looking man no longer struggling against them like he had in the beginning.

"Clarke, meet the man tasked with delivering your head to the Ice Nation," Lexa says, her top lip curling in disgust as she continues to stare Nia down. She can see the doubt seeping into Nia's cold eyes. "Prince Roan of Azgeda."

"My son was cast out of Azgeda," Nia states. "I have no control over his actions." Lexa doesn't miss Roan's subtle reaction to his mother's betrayal, his head cocking to the side and his eyes boring into the back of Queen Nia's head. It doesn't shock Lexa that Nia would attempt to place all of the blame on her son.

"You have no honor," Lexa says. Her captive audience seem to have mixed reactions and Lexa briefly wonders if this will play out how she would like it to.

It doesn't.

"And you are weak," Nia counters. "Azgeda are doing what you should have done long ago. Skaikru are not our people. They never will be. The sky girl and her people have been killing our people, and you choose to inflict them on our coalition." Lexa watches several heads nod in agreement. She waits for an interruption from Clarke that does not come. Blue eyes seem curious and anxious, not filled with the spitfire strength Lexa is used to seeing.

"Let's kill these traitors and be done with it, Heda." Titus is enraged. Lexa holds her hand up and he falls silent, but he is definitely not happy about Lexa allowing the queen to make her move. Her warriors are itching to drag Azgeda from the room, to protect their Heda from this threat, but Lexa doesn't allow it.

"Commander, what is this?" Clarke finally speaks, allowing herself to take a step forwards. Lexa glances at her, a wry smile on her lips.

"This is a coup."

"This is the law," Nia interrupts. "Her law. Ai gaf seigeda klin hashta nou wichnes." A call for a vote of no confidence. "Nou Heda noumou." Nia's opinion is now echoed by those around her.

Lexa silently watches everything unfold. Clarke attempts to defend her, her and Titus forming an unlikely alliance against Queen Nia. Nia, though, has a rebuttal to every point that they make. Skaikru taking the brand the day before makes no difference. Nia have enough people behind her. She can't take their heads, too many would retaliate.

"Enough." Lexa stands, her teeth grinding together as she allows her frustration to show. "If you think me unfit to command, issue the challenge and let's get on with it." Lexa ignores the quiet sound of protest from those who stand by her. Nia is right. This is her law, she must follow it.

"Very well. You are challenged." Nia has the upper hand, or she at least believes she does.

"And I accept the challenge." Lexa stands still and straight, her full height not quite matching Nia's. The fear in Clarke's eyes is almost insulting, but it is understandable. Clarke has not seen her fight, she doesn't know what Lexa is fully capable of.

She can see the fear build as Titus explains what will happen, but Lexa has no fear. She will fight and she will win, or she will die. That is grounder law and even the Commander is not above those laws. Death does not scare her. If she falls, she will be replaced. A fact Lexa has known since even before her conclave.

"My son will fight for me, and for his place in Azgeda" Nia says, surprising no one. Of course she will not fight for herself. It would be stupid for her to do so. Lexa would kill her in seconds. Roan is a much more fitting opponent.

"Heda?" Titus' voice cuts into Lexa's inner monologue. She knows what he is waiting for. He wants her to pick someone to fight...praying for her to, but that won't happen. Lexa is the commander, no one fights for her.

"Ai laik Heda. Non na throu daun gon ai." The sharp intake of breath that Lexa hears from Clarke tells her that no translation is necessary. Clarke doesn't approve, which is exactly what Lexa expected. She will not be surprised when Clarke inevitably tries to talk her out of this. Titus too, she assumes.

"Skaikru are, of course, welcome to watch," Nia sneers in Clarke's direction. "They can learn our ways."

"That sounds a lot like a trap," Clarke retorts. Blue flashes towards green as she attempts, and fails, to read Lexa's stoic mask.

"A trap? Skaikru are under the commander's protection, are they not?" Nia is enjoying herself now, and she doesn't bother to hide it. "Skaikru are safe so long as Lexa is our heda. For however long that may be."

"Enough." Titus has heard more from Nia that he'd like to. "You will show Heda respect. She is still your commander" Nia's amused eyes land on Titus. It's clear that, in her mind, Azgeda has already won.

"She is. For now."

Clarke blinks back tears as she holds Willow close to her, hoping the warm body snuggled close to her chest will calm her. It doesn't. Her balcony had quickly became Clarke's favourite place to think. It would usually soothe her to watch the city below her, but not tonight. She just keeps replaying today's events over and over in her mind.

Lexa had been challenged, and had accepted it without hesitation. A fight that will only end once someone has died and Lexa hadn't seemed at all fazed in the slightest. Her honour and strength had been questioned, Clarke knows, but this doesn't feel like the answer.

What happens if Lexa loses….dies? What will happen to her? What will happen to Willow? Not just them, but everyone. Would the coalition survive without Lexa? Would peace between the grounders and her people last? It makes her feel furious. Lexa is placing herself in mortal danger, even more than usual.

Clarke shakes her head. She doesn't want to think about that… she can't think about that. Lexa isn't supposed to die. Not like this. Lexa is fierce, and strong, and smart. She's a survivor.

"Clarke."

"Jesus christ, Lexa." Clarke's heart pounds frantically in her chest, "don't do that!."

"I'm sorry," Lexa says. The smirk she is sporting tells Clarke that Lexa is not sorry at all. "I thought you would be expecting me." Clarke doesn't know how to respond to that. In such a short space of time, they had created a little routine without even meaning to. Lexa's night time visits are usually Clarke's favourite part of the day, but also the most stressful.

Tonight especially.

Clarke hates the way Lexa is studying her, her head cocked and her green eyes filling a warmth that Clarke isn't yet used to seeing in there. It's almost as though Lexa is reading her mind and it makes her feel suddenly self conscious.

She turns away, clutching Willow closer to her body. She wishes Lexa had thought about her and Willow before accepting the challenge. Wishes she had said no. At the very back of Clarke's mind, she knows it is not a rational thought. Lexa is the commander. It's who she is. To say no would have betrayed her very character. It also would have guaranteed her death.

"You are unhappy," Lexa says. It isn't a question. Clarke sighs heavily through her nose, staying otherwise silent for another few moments. "I had no choice, Clarke. You were there, you know my ability to command has been questioned. Nobody will follow a commander who won't follow her own law.

Clarke can tell that Lexa has no regrets about her decision… that Lexa believes she has made the right one. Clarke does, too, but it's too hard to admit that just yet. Her emotions won't allow her.

"So a fight to the death is how you prove your strength?" Clarke questions, eventually turning back to face Lexa. Willow grows heavier in her arms, now fast asleep, but nothing feels heavier than her heart.

"This is how we do things, Clarke," Lexa says. "You know this. This is what a leader does, and this is the only way Nia can be brought to justice. She has moved against me many times, and now I plan to put an end to that. To her."

"There isn't any other way?" Clarke knows there isn't, but she still has to ask.

"No, Clarke."

"What about Willow?" Clarke doesn't voice her other question. What about me?

"Willow will always be looked after, Clarke." Intense green eyes say it all. As will you. Lexa breaks their eye contact, her gaze landing somewhere over the balcony and a soft sigh escaping her lips. She's doing the one thing she shouldn't do. She's letting her guard down around the girl who fell from the sky. She's allowing her weakness to show.

"I've sent a messenger to your people. To bring them back. Nia was right about one thing, Skaikru should witness this," Lexa says. "This is our way, and now yours."

"What will happen to them if you lose? They…..We will be targeted. It's not safe," Clarke argues.

"The next commander will not allow that." Lexa sounds so sure of herself that Clarke believes her. Or she at least wants to, anyway. "Clarke, there are people who believe in you just as much as I do. I swear that to you," Lexa says. "My death will not change that."

"You're giving Nia exactly what she wants," Clarke sighs, shaking her head.

"I believe Nia is responsible for the death of Willow's parents, Clarke," Lexa snaps, her frustration bubbling to the surface. The stoic mask has slipped once again around the woman who is so good at pulling it off. "Believe me when I tell you that I am ensuring Nia does not get what she wants. She is responsible for the death of anyone I have allowed close to me."

"And now, yours," Clarke counters. Lexa's mask is back almost as quickly as she lost it, her jaw clenched and her shoulders squared.

"Not if I win."