It was with happiness that the two women fell asleep in each other's arms. The danger that hovered over them did not seem to affect them. Their love was there, and that was the important thing for them.
Nayak was next to them, at the foot of the bed, sleeping peacefully. They had been sleeping for several hours now. Neither of them had realized that it was already daylight, even though it was still early morning.
Lexa woke up first. She smiled fondly as she saw Clarke's naked body still asleep beside her. She passed the back of her hand on the back of her lover who was sleeping on her stomach, the blanket barely covering her until the bottom of her kidneys. And even asleep she could not help having a shiver which traversed her body to the touch of the hand of Lexa.
She woke up in her turn, turned around, and was immediately caught by the emerald green eyes of Lexa who looked at the young woman with tenderness.
- Hello you...
- Hello you...
The two young women blew a laugh at the pleasant surprise of having pronounced her words at the same time. Lexa leaned in to kiss her beautiful when she realized that the sunlight had risen.
Immediately she got up hastily, almost in panic. They had slept too long and Lexa had to go at dawn to prepare Agathe and Lucile's departure.
Clarke tried as well as she could to calm the warrior and to reassure her. She smiled when she saw Lexa banging her foot on the corner of the bed while trying to put back her night clothes.
Nayak, on the other hand, looked doubtfully at his two mistresses. He looked as much amused as Clarke was watching Lexa getting tangled up in her movements which became less and less assured as time went by.
Clarke, she, had to remain there anyway, so she looked with amusement and tenderness her lover who did not know any more where to give of the head.
This one turned around, saw the amused look of her companion and looked at her, asking her implicitly with her eyes not to make fun of her anymore.
- I would not allow myself to make fun very dear, but know that... I have a rather amusing vision of the queen of Isarian in panic...
Clarke got up in her turn, she was still completely naked, Lexa did not see her coming towards her. She turned around to be able to say goodbye to her companion, she still had difficulty to say to herself that it was her wife, but little by little the idea made its way inside herself, and that was very pleasant for her.
But while turning over, she found herself in front of the naked body of the young woman and she could not prevent herself from swallowing in front of this sight. She wanted to move back of some steps in order not to have this temptress to take the power on her, but Clarke advanced by waddling in front of her, enjoying the trouble that she inspired to the young woman.
- You... are diabolical Clarke... she managed to stammer while stammering and while trying not to let her glance trail on the splendid sight that offered him the naked body of her lover.
- I know...
- Please... don't come near me anymore...
- Why?
- You know very well why...
At a moment when Lexa couldn't move back, she was leaning against the front door of the room and she was at Clarke's mercy.
This one put her two hands on the door, on each side of Lexa's head, so that she couldn't escape from her. Her chest was only a few millimeters away from the warrior and the trouble of Lexa amused her more and more. This nearness, this complicity, she realized now how much she had missed it. And she did not want to let escape any more the heat which united them in the past.
- Clarke, I must leave, I must... prepare the departures of Agathe and Lucile and I...
- What is it?
This time it was too much, Lexa couldn't stand it anymore, Clarke had abused her seduction power on her and she cracked completely. She grabbed Clarke's wrists, turned her around, and put her against the front door, making the young woman laugh a lot, satisfied with the effect she was producing on the queen. The hands above her head, the lips of Clarke were quickly invaded by those of Lexa which were posed with avidity on his, provoking in both young women shivers and sighs of pleasure. The passion never seemed to want to leave them. How could two stars like the moon and the sun live without each other, they simply could not. Just like the love which united the two women, they were really complete only together.
Then Lexa attracted her companion on the bed, pushed her on this one, lay down with delicacy above her while touching sensually the body of this one. Clarke closed the eyes from now on, she wanted to benefit from every caress, every sweetness that Lexa was getting for her.
But whereas Clarke began to lose foot, and that her heart was on the point to explode, Lexa got up of a good and moved in haste towards the front door before this one regained its spirits.
- Huh, what? So this... is really unfair Lexa... Clarke almost shouted, her body still shaking and shivering.
- I know... sorry, but it was the only way for me to leave this room affirmed her while making him a wink and opening the door.
Clarke's disappointed look amused her a lot. While leaving, she could not help biting her lips and congratulated herself internally to have resisted herself to the desire which consumed her to take possession of Clarke's body.
But she had unfortunately to satisfy her obligations of queen and to prepare the departures of Agathe and Léonie.
Clarke who had sat on the bed let herself fall back heavily on this one when Lexa was gone, holding her head in the hands, but not being able to prevent herself from showing a blissful smile on the face.
While closing the door behind her in order to return to her room and to put on an outfit more suitable than her night clothes, the young woman, too busy to be seen, did not notice, hidden behind a pillar, a man with a black look who had not missed anything of the scene of Lexa leaving Clarke's room. He hid quickly when the queen passed by the pillar and she did not notice him, too busy with her thoughts entirely turned to the young woman.
When Lexa returned to her own room, the man turned away, fist clenched and eyes that would have flashed if they could have. Obviously, the scene he had witnessed was unbearable for him.
Lexa took only a few minutes to get ready. When she went out finally, she crossed Melchior who addressed to her only one simple glance without even greeting her. She did not notice this impudence and preferred to go directly into the large living room where Rose, Agathe, Léonie and Lucile were waiting for her.
A large wooden table decorated this one intended for the reception of the meals of the people living in the castle. And a vast choice of victuals was above, seeming to delight the guests who were there.
When Lexa arrived, she greeted the four women as well as Alexander and Philemon, to whom she nodded in greeting. She ate with them and none of them dared to ask why Clarke wasn't there as well, remembering Lexa's words about him the day before. Only Rose knew her true identity.
The queen noticed that Alexander seemed to be getting along very well with Rose, the two were engaged in a discussion that seemed to take up their lives and several times the queen caught them laughing.
About an hour after this breakfast, Lexa ordered two escorts to get ready to escort the two women who had decided to leave.
She greeted them warmly. This did not fail to surprise those present, as the queen was far from having this kind of attitude with anyone in normal circumstances. But they had all experienced things together and it was unthinkable for Lexa not to greet them in another way. Then they left peacefully, not without having received the encouragement of Clarke from Lexa, reason for which they had embraced them in order to be able to deliver this message in all discretion.
Then, Lexa, taking advantage of a moment of respite after the departure of the two women to go to see Clarke who was still in the room.
She knocked lightly on the door and entered, her glance was immediately caught by the azure blue of the eyes of Clarke who made her share of her most beautiful glance. She couldn't help but smile widely at the sight.
When she closed the door, she took however a serious air and remained upright near this one, the hands placed behind the back.
Clarke was immediately concerned and approached her cautiously.
- What's wrong Lexa?" Clarke asked herself with concern.
- I... I think I just had an idea to stop the threat that is hanging over us...
- What do you mean?
- Well... I think we both know who the traitor is, Melchior... he's only waiting for one thing, to take over...
- So law or no law, tonight, I'm going to go to him and I'm going to force him to confess his treachery, even if it means "roughing him up" a bit...
- I can't live with a sword of Damocles hanging over my head Clarke, you don't deserve this, WE don't deserve this!
- I may not have memories of us anymore, but I know how my heart feels about you, I know how I feel when you talk to me, when you touch me, when you love me...
- And I won't live another day without living this love in the open. If it is because of our marriage that peace exists between our two peoples, then it is more than time to establish this peace in time and no longer on a razor's edge.
- You have confided in me that only your father knew about our marriage, as well as Philemon, so it is time for us to let everyone know. Everyone will have to come to terms with it, I won't ask their opinion. The law is the law, it's the same for everyone. And it is clearly stated that if two leaders of enemy camps were to marry, no matter what grievances one has against the other, it must stop immediately.
- Of course it won't be easy, and there will surely be tension between our two peoples. So I also had another idea to establish a lasting peace, a REAL peace...
Clarke's face was getting brighter and brighter as Lexa's words went on, and the young woman noticed that it was getting harder and harder to concentrate on Clarke's smile.
- Clarke... would you please stop smiling so much ? I won't be able to finish otherwise...
- Well, madam the commander! affirmed Clarke by taking a false serious air what almost made burst of laugh Lexa who nevertheless managed to contain herself.
Decidedly, the heart of the two young women beat in unison and it was quite difficult for both to contain themselves when they were one in front of the other. Lexa continued her story, however.
- Clarke, you and I both know that the neutral territory is sacred to your people, as well as mine.
- We have therefore common interests to make it last and that no crime is committed there.
- However, you and I know what is going on there, and I am convinced that your people will want justice as much as I do, and to put an end to all ignominy there!
- I believe that this is what will bring about a lasting peace between our two peoples. I will go to Zenaria, and propose an alliance to them in order to stop this traffic of human beings there. And no matter how much we don't like each other, they will also want to put an end to this.
- And then we will take the opportunity to start peace negotiations, and not only through our marriage. No one knows about this except your father or Philemon, so we will have to announce it as soon as we have succeeded in making Melchior talk about his treachery and that no more danger will hang over our heads because of him.
Lexa had now finished speaking, she was waiting for the reaction of Clarke who had stopped smiling and had taken a look full of seriousness and sincerity.
After a few seconds where neither of the two women had sketched the least movement, Clarke rose of a jump in order to embrace Lexa in her arms which answered this embrace with fervour. They stayed like that for a few minutes, neither of them realizing yet that the end of the tunnel had never been so close as at this moment.
They both sat down on the edge of the bed, Nayak still lying at the foot of it. He seemed to have understood that it was better not to disturb them.
They lay down side by side, they did not dare to make any movement. Deep down they were a little afraid, this whole crazy story was about to end, but they were heading towards the unknown. But it was a good fear, a fear that made them happy and incredibly serene.
- Lexa?
- Yes?
- During our night, when we were escaping and we were with Rose, Agatha, Lucile and Leonie in the cave, you had a dream about us... What... what was that dream?
The question seemed to disconcert the young woman. To tell the truth, she hadn't really thought about this dream, because she thought it was just that, a dream... But now that Clarke was bringing up the subject, she started to think. She then turned to Clarke so she could look her in the eyes.
- I... well we... we were in a cave, but not the one we were in the last few days, the one where you healed me of my wounds the first time, and we... we were eating a simple meal and then we... well we...
Clarke had a huge smile at the evocation of this dream and at the trouble of the young woman who had the purple which went up to her cheeks of shame to have dreamed to Clarke in this way...
A tear began to roll down the Zenarian's cheek and she literally threw herself into Lexa's arms and she hugged her tenderly asking her what was wrong and why she was crying.
- Lexa... it was not only a dream... this cave, this meal, it was... it was our secret place where we often met, our refuge, the place where we are loved so many times...
- It was not just a dream Lexa, it was a memory, a memory of us, you begin to remember, it is ... wonderful ...
The young woman was now crying her eyes out, she could no longer contain herself. To know that the memories of Lexa returned little by little, she had dreamed it so often desired of the deepest of her soul. Her heart was coming back to life. It was filled with hope, love and joy again and Lexa was responsible for it. She was responsible for his well-being, just as she had been in the past.
Lexa moved away from Clarke to sit on the bed. Clarke did the same and the Isarian queen turned to her to wipe away the young woman's tears as well as her own that were also beginning to fall. She took Clarke's hands in hers and looked her straight in the eyes.
This look was different from all the others, it symbolized the reborn hope, it symbolized the love between the two women, it symbolized a whole, the whole of life.
- Is this a memory? Is it? Finishes by asking Lexa whose heart at the edge of the implosion threatened to stop net so much it beat fast and strong inside its chest.
- Yes Lexa, a memory, I... if the memory starts to return to you then...
She did not have however the time to finish her sentence that Lexa placed her lips on those which made him so much desire. The heat which invaded their body at this moment was so intense that it threatened to consume them on the spot. This kiss carried away all on its passage. Their doubts, their fears, their world...
This kiss was wild, intense, desirous, feverish and they fell on the bed facing the intensity of this one which transported them in a world where nothing else existed except one and the other.
Lexa found herself quickly above Clarke. She moved away a moment from the lips of this one to plant her eyes in his and admire the woman who was in front of her. She caressed Clarke's cheek with tenderness, putting back one of her hair strands behind her ear. The young woman was like that, full of tender attentions towards the person who made her heart beat so intensely.
- Clarke... I...
- I love you Clarke... I love you more than life itself, I never thought I would feel such strong emotions for someone. You are the soul of my heart and my life and I don't want to hide anymore, I want to let the whole world know... Let everyone know that I am yours and that we love each other.
Clarke's eyes were again reddened by tears, these words, they had waited for so long, these words that they thought they would never hear again were there again, out of the mouth of the woman she loved more than anything.
She did not know what to answer, then as an evidence she sealed again her lips to those of her lover. And it is in a feverish and intense embrace that they devoted body and soul to each other.
After their lovemaking, they had the smile with the lips, they were finally happy, their life had become almost complete. It only remained for them to "push" Melchior a little to make him confess and then they could finally consider the future under a new light.
- Clarke, we are in the middle of the afternoon, I believe that it... would be necessary to get up...
By looking at the young woman to wait for her answer, she was blown by her beauty, and the space of a second, she wondered if she would manage to resist to the young woman if this one decided to make her lose her head again.
But this time, almost to her surprise, she did nothing of the sort. She simply got dressed, her thoughts surely turned to the better future that awaited them and a smile on her lips that did not let her go, provoking several tenderized glances from the queen of Isarian.
Lexa left the room alone, Clarke was officially still her prisoner, and as such, she was not to be seen.
The rest of the day passed normally, Alexander had almost finished his grand council training and was getting more and more friendly with Rose. Leonie was just starting to settle in a wing of the castle with Rose until she could find a place of her own. Philemon was going about his business as the queen's first advisor. As for Melchior, he was being watched like milk on fire by Lexa, who was waiting for the right moment to put his back to the wall for his actions.
Then the night came to fall. The queen joined as soon as it was possible Clarke so that she could come with her to confront Melchior.
For the occasion, Clarke had put on the traditional Isarian clothes in order to go unnoticed if anyone had noticed him.
Melchior was staying in a wing of the castle to the east. When the two women arrived at the door of the castle, they saw that he was there by the light that shone through the door.
They checked that no one was there and Lexa entered Melchior's apartment without knocking. This one, lying on the bed still in his clothes, seemed lost in his thoughts and got up hastily when the two women burst into his house.
- What are you doing there? Get out immediately!
- You don't have to give me orders, I am the queen!
And before Melchior had the time to make any movement, Lexa drew her sword and hit him with her free hand while Clarke kept watch so that nobody would surprise them. He got up with difficulty, the lip in blood. But he didn't have the time to do anything else that Lexa took him by the collar in order to tackle him to the wall to hit him again and again with the pommel of his sword.
He tried as well as he could to get rid of his hold, but Lexa was a much better fighter than him.
- Now you are going to tell me why you are the Isarian traitor!?
- Q... What? What the hell are you talking about? I'm not the traitor!
Lexa hit him again, obviously, he had not convinced him. This time, he fell heavily on the ground, breaking during his fall a mirror which broke in thousand pieces.
- Damn Lexa ! It is not me the traitor ! He tried to convince.
This time he succeeded in pushing back violently Lexa who wavered for a second.
Clarke was about to intervene in order to help him when Melchior succeeded in seizing his sword in order to place it under Lexa's throat, making Clarke freeze instantly with terror at the idea that the woman she loved was maybe about to die.
But against all odds, Melchior reiterated his words and that he was not the traitor.
- I am not the traitor Lexa, I... I could never hurt you, not... especially not you... Lexa... Melchior said while dropping his sword.
- What do you mean by that, when you say especially not to me?
- Because I've spent the last few years looking for the Isarian traitor! That's why you saw me go out into the forest last time to meet this man.
- He was one of the men responsible for eliminating Clarke. It took me months to track him down, and I had to leave him a large sum of money to convince him to sell me his sponsor.
- Unfortunately, he didn't know who it was, he was only able to provide me with a list of names he had worked with in the past and that he was convinced that one of them was the sponsor in question.
Clarke and Lexa were shocked, finding it hard to believe that what Melchior was saying could be true.
- If what you say is true, prove it! Shouted Lexa who this time had placed her sword at her throat!
- I'll show you the list, it's in a wooden box in a drawer of my desk.
- But...
- But what?" asked Lexa doubtfully.
- But one name in particular could make you...
- Don't tell me what to do and give me that list!
Melchior went to his desk, and pulled the wooden box from his desk and handed it to Lexa.
Lexa almost snatched the box from his hand and opened it to take the parchment that was inside.
When she opened it and saw the list of names inside, she froze in place, clutching the scroll with all her might, her eyes blank. She didn't feel good at all, she couldn't believe what she had just read, no, it couldn't be possible. All her years, all this time, she couldn't believe it.
So Lexa hit Melchior again. At the time, she preferred to spend her anger on him, she could not stop hitting him. Clarke intervened then and stopped the last blow which was going to fall down on the man. She planted herself between her and him so that she does not kill him. She placed her arm on his shoulder, which had for effect to calm immediately the young woman. Her look, her eyes, they had an instantaneous calming effect on Lexa. Clarke had this power on her. This power to calm her, to make her serene and in peace.
When she regained her calm, she thanked Clarke and finally helped Melchior to get up.
Then she stared at him intensely and finally asked him why she would believe him.
Melchior then looked at the queen. He had lost his superbness, no more sound dared to come out of his mouth, he was sweating, he was breathless, but still ended up saying the bottom of his thought.
- If... if I did all this Lexa, it's because... because I am madly in love with you Lexa!
- From the first day I laid eyes on you I knew, I knew I wanted to belong to you, to serve you...
- But I soon realized that you would never love me, that your heart belonged to someone else, to Clarke...
- So I dedicated my life to serve you, and to love you in the greatest of secrets. And yes, I was obnoxious to you, but I had to be, I had to build this character so as not to arouse the suspicions of the people on the list.
- If they thought I was against you, then it would have been easier for me to get closer and unmask the traitor.
- But that was not the case, and I have not yet found any proof, to my great regret...
Lexa had taken a step back, so surprised was she by Melchior's statement. She had really expected everything but this. She could not find her words, did not want to find words. Clarke was everything to her, and whatever Melchior's feelings about her, she didn't care. But now she felt a mixture of sorrow and pity for him. He had to live with the constant pain of never reaching the object of his desire.
Clarke, for her part, was equally stunned by Melchior's statement. She clenched her fist, an immense feeling of jealousy was invading all her being. A feeling that she never thought she would feel as strongly as at this moment. And in spite of the situation, in spite of the fact that obviously the traitor was not Melchior, she advanced towards him and hit him with all her strength, almost making him faint on the ground.