Meanwhile Anya had gone directly to Clarke's rooms to see how she was faring after Titus's abhorrent outburst in the Throne room earlier. Clarke was of course upset, not for herself but for Lexa, Anya was gratified that her friend's loyalty to Lexa was so firm, so unwavering, her love so entrenched, her care unyielding.

Clarke did indeed wish to be alone but before Anya left she had to ask how things were progressing between herself and Raven. Anya had long ago revealed that the pair had shared some lovely kisses forty odd days ago when Raven had been in Polis. Since then they had written to each other and Anya had intended to travel to Mount Weather but had yet to secure the opportunity. Anya had been certain that Clarke would invite Raven to the wedding, but each being so loyal to their friends, neither haad revealed that they each knew that a wedding was on the horizon.

"I am very happy to hear that things are progressing, how can I help, Anya? Anything at all?"

"Will you invite Raven to the wedding?"

"Of course. What else?"

"This is just a very important time, I must be available to Heda, perhaps after…"

"No, Anya, yes it is an important time, but this isn't war, Lexa has plenty of people around her just now. And you are important, both to Lexa and to me, and Raven is important to me. I can arrange for you to go and collect Raven in a cart for her comfort prior to the ceremony. Would you like that, Anya?"

"I would. Mochof, Clarke." "I owe you, remember?"

Clarke had a soak and tried to prepare herself for Lexa's return in the evening, "be her touchstone." She wanted to be strong for Lexa, somewhere she could bring her upset, seek care and comfort, take her rest and be healed, ready to be sent back out into the world again as Heda.

Clarke wore some loose cotton pants, her wrap covered by a tight fitting singlet and a loose cotton shirt over the top. Barefoot, she poured herself a glass of wine and stood looking out over Polis as she braided her hair. It was getting late, the sun was setting and Clarke expected Lexa back soon, she was disturbed by a scuffle at the door and went she approached with her hand out, in preparation to open it, the door actually burst open nearly knocking her over. As it was she was shocked at the violent outburst and stumbled backwards, and then shocked again as she saw it was Titus!

He looked truly mad, his face was ashen, his pupils dilated, he was agitated in the extreme, sweating and shaking and then she noticed the gun. He pushed the door closed behind him and aimed the pistol at her, he was shaking so much she thought the chances of a bullet hitting her actually quite low. Not that the thought served to calm her reaction. She shuffled backwards and her hands and feet while Titus opened and closed his mouth and kept adjusting his aim as she moved.

"You have ruined Heda. Before you came she was strong, a strong person and strong leader. Love is weakness and you have tempted her with your body and undermined her with this Wanheda foolishness. She is Heda not you! You will never take Heda from her people, from us, not while I am alive!"

He pulled the trigger and Clarked screamed, the bullet went god knows where, she was unharmed but frightened. She couldn't even bring herself to respond to his claims, he pulled the trigger again, it was too late for that. Clarke couldn't believe her luck, she had escaped a second bullet. She was back up, trying to avoid tripping on the furniture, keep moving she thought, it had worked so far. And then the double doors opened for a second time and both Clarke and Titus were caught unaware.

As Titus spun around to see who had entered the room he must have squeezed again and Clarke thought she saw the look of shock on Lexa's face before she heard the shot go off. Clarke and Titus looked at each other for a split second and then Clarke dashed across the room and caught Lexa before she hit the ground, "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, Lexa." Time seemed to slow and Clarke's senses became sharp, a clear plan formulating in her mind.

"Help me get her to the bed." Titus picked Heda up as requested and placed her on the furs. "You're going to be fine," Clarke looked at Lexa, ripping off her shirt and pressed it against the wound in Lexa's gut, immediately it was not enough, "Get something to stop the bleeding." Titus must not have been good in emergency situations, Clarke pointed to the wardrobe, her medical supplies were in there and shirts, anything to staunch this bleeding.

"Don't be afraid," Lexa said, watching Clarke. Clarke was trying to compartmentalise, this was Lexa, but she was also a Medic, she could do this. "I am not afraid," she stared Lexa down, "Stay with me." Clarke knew Lexa was losing a lot of blood, "Stay with me," she commanded Lexa, as if the force of her conviction could somehow contribute to a medical intervention. Shirts were pressed to the wound and moments later tossed into the corner, landing with a splash, and replaced with another,

While Clarke was finally feeling like she was having some success, she noticed Titus standing next to her, working away at some little leather wallet with what appeared to be surgical tools. The realisation felt surreal to Clarke, he was a preist not a healer and whatever that fuck tools those were he would not be getting close enough to Lexa to use them, not if Clarke had anything to say about it.

"Titus, what are you doing? Get away from her, Titus or I will kill you myself right here and now." When he refused to step back Clarke eyeballed him hard, one hand on Lexa's bullet wound and one snaking down to Lexa's hunting blade, finally he accepted his fate. "See, Lexa, I've got this," she smiled down at her, trying to give her something to hang on to in case Clarke's medical prowess wasn't enough.

Somehow a guard who had thought she had heard gunshots, came looking, she noticed the double doors to Clarke's suite hanging open in an unusual manner and came to investigate. "Help me," Clarke called, her voice quavering badly, "Titus has shot Heda, I need Healers," The guard backed up hollering all the way down the corridor.

Clarke was not at all distressed by the unusual black blood of the Nightbloods that had been spurting out all over the place, although it did make it difficult to see what was actually happening inside her stomach. The bleeding had tailed off and Clarke began to do what she knew her mother could do better; assess the damage, retrieve the bullet and sew her up. As soon as people began filing into the room, Clarke began barking orders, I need more light, I can't see, light candles and bring them closer, I need my medical bag, in the wardrobe, I need boiled water and alcohol from the kitchen and you there, start ripping up those sheets."