Melchior was on the ground, writhing in pain. He tried to get up, but fell back down. Clarke had really hit him hard. Even Lexa, who however did not carry him in his heart and had almost in horror had known how to retain its blows not to kill him.
Clarke had still the clenched fist, she had palpitations, the purple went up to her head, and the rage, such a rage invaded her. She might wonder why a man like Melchior loved Lexa. But the truth was that she understood him, she understood why he was in love with her. How could one not love Lexa, her bravery, her strength, her candor, her courage, her eyes, her look...Everything about her inspired love to those who had the power to see beyond time...
However, if she understood him, inside she was boiling, the blood went to her head, and the understanding did not prevent her from wanting to kill anyone who would dare to show any interest in the young woman. Although she did not want to consider Lexa as belonging to her, no one belonging to anyone, she wanted Lexa to see only her, she was hers, body and soul.
While another has the same desires, his heart had made only one turn in his chest before his fist does not fall with force on the face of Melchior in spite of Lexa is already well banged a few moments before.
Lexa looked at the young woman with a certain amusement, to see it in this state of jealousy was not especially to displease him. However, she helped Melchior to get up by catching his hand.
She had to admit that the young man had more or less convinced her of his innocence. But she still had difficulty assimilating him. She had spent so much time hating him that she hadn't realized that the treachery came from much closer than she thought.
While Lexa helped the young man recover, Clarke was still not sorry, the jealousy didn't seem to want to leave her. Inwardly, she would have liked that it is him the traitor, that would have facilitated the things.
Then suddenly, her reflection took the step on her jealousy. If Melchior wasn't the traitor, then who was? And above all, how long before he was unmasked?
Jealousy gave way to a wave of sadness that gradually invaded him. When would all this end, she thought, when could she finally find Lexa completely, without hiding, without risking her life...
To all this she had no answer, which put her resilience more and more to the test. She was brought out of her thoughts by Melchior.
This one was bending his lips with a cloth that Lexa had given him, this one did not apologize for as much and she had besides no intention of it. Leaning until then on the wall, he sat on the edge of his bed, looking in turn at the two young women who were facing him. He still had the taste of blood in his mouth, a bitter and empty taste.
- What are you going to do about the list, Lexa? Melchior asked.
- Well, that doesn't change my plans for Clarke. From tomorrow I intend to make an announcement in the public square to reveal my marriage to her to everyone.
- People will have to submit to the law, I leave them no choice !
- Lexa! Don't you think about it? We do not know what the traitor is planning, if he launches an attack against you I...
- Clarke, I know what I'm doing. By displaying us to the world, the traitor will be forced to come out of his shadow if he wants to carry out his plans!
- Lexa, I agree with Clarke, doing this is far too dangerous for you, you risk losing your life!
- I will never let that happen! Toisa Clarke to Melchior in order to make him understand that she was his and that it was not his role to protect her, but hers.
- Can I see the list in question ? she asked
Lexa gave it to him. She looked at it carefully, frowning.
- Lexa... there's no need for proof, just the fact that his name is on this list proves that it's him...
- Who?
- Who?" Melchior and Lexa asked in unison, which made Clarke even more jealous as she looked at the young man with murderous eyes.
- Philemon... he's the only one who has reasons to do it, the only one close enough to you and above all... that explains everything...
Clarke had aroused the young woman's curiosity, she was now wondering what she meant by that and why Philemon's name did not surprise her. So Clarke continued her reasoning.
- Lexa... He's the one who...
Clarke had become hesitant, she didn't know how to tell the young woman what she was about to say and how she would react to this revelation.
She then placed herself in front of Lexa, completely ignoring the presence of Melchior who was still trying as best he could to heal the wounds that the two women had just inflicted on him, and took Lexa's hands in hers. The young woman immediately relaxed at this contact.
- Lexa, when you were injured and lost your memory, I was devastated, but determined to do everything I could to get you back so we could find each other...
- But... It was he who suggested that I should go back to Zenaria and pretend I never knew you. And that our marriage alone would serve to ensure that Isarian would never attack Zenaria and vice versa, but that I didn't need to be there for that... That it wouldn't be accepted by the people and that you might be murdered...
- Of course I didn't listen to him and I continued to look after you, and when you finally woke up and looked at me, and didn't recognize me and I was devastated...
- But I was still determined to make you recover your memory, I had to, it couldn't end like that, I didn't accept it, I didn't want to...
- But when I came back to my room in the evening and found a letter on my bed, a letter that threatened you with death if I didn't go straight to Zenaria and never come back, I... gave in...
- You had already lost your memory, you didn't remember us, but you were alive and that was the main thing for me.
- So, not knowing who had issued the letter, I made the choice to listen to Philemon and I left, heartbroken and devastated...
- At that moment, at no time did I think that the traitor could be Philemon. I didn't agree with his choice, but he was the man who had practically raised you since you were a child, for me it couldn't have been him.
Lexa had listened carefully to Clarke's story. Indeed Philemon was the closest person to her, he was like a father. So his betrayal was hard to take, it hurt her deeply. How could someone so close betray her.
Her thoughts were racing in her head, she didn't feel well, her heart was on the verge of implosion. So she did the only thing that seemed to soothe her lately and bring her a semblance of inner peace, she threw herself into Clarke's arms to feel her closer to herself.
Completely ignoring Melchior's presence, she let herself cry in her arms, looking for the comfort she needed and that she found every time she was hugged by Clarke.
This one whispered soft words in her ear, trying to soothe as she could the shock she had to assimilate. To discover that one of the two persons she cared for the most was a traitor, a traitor who had tried to have her murdered, a traitor who had voluntarily taken her away from the love of her life for who knows what reason, was absolutely revolting for the young woman.
Melchior, who did not miss anything of the scene, was depressed, he would have liked so much to be in the place of Clarke, to be the one on whom Lexa could rest in the difficult moments. But it was not the case, only Clarke could soothe his heart and his pain, and he realized that nothing could change that.
So inwardly, he vowed to himself to do everything in his power to help them find each other again. Because it was also that love, to know to disappear when the object of its desire likes another person who makes it happy.
At the end of a few minutes which seemed interminable for everyone, Lexa withdrew from the arms of Clarke. She apologized to Melchior for hitting him and asked him if he had a plan to take Philemon down.
Unfortunately, Philemon did not. But she did have an idea, one that Clarke was not going to like, just like any idea that might endanger Lexa's life.
She proposed that when he spoke in the public square the next day to announce his marriage and his love for Clarke, a Zenarian, an escort should be assigned to keep an eye on Philemon so as to trap the moment when he would act.
He was certain he would act, for this revelation to the Isarian people would be the end of Philemon's power over the young woman. And if she didn't know the reasons yet, she couldn't wait to find out. She couldn't believe that he was the traitor, she absolutely had to know why.
But Lexa came to her senses and quickly explained the situation in the neutral territory to Melchior in order to make him aware of her plan to join forces with Clarke's people to put an end to this odious traffic. He was greatly surprised that such a thing could happen in front of everyone's eyes and bard. But like Clarke and Lexa, he agreed to help them put an end to it.
Then, Clarke wiped the tears of the young woman who had continued to flow of a backhand of the hand, turned to Melchior, and asked him if he could take care of that, to mobilize in the greatest secrecy an escort in charge of watching Philémon.
He told her that he would take care of it immediately. With that, the two young women left the young man's quarters and headed for Alexander's room to inform him of the situation.
When they arrived at his door and knocked, they were both surprised to find Rose at home. It gave Clarke a big smile to know that he and Rose got along so well. They both deserved it. But Alexander told her that it was all in good fun and that he was just talking.
Rose's cheeks turned crimson at the sight of the two young women. She clearly did not expect her and Alexander to have visitors.
After the surprise of seeing the two together, Clarke and Lexa told them about the situation. Alexander was almost not surprised. Indeed, he had managed to get into Isarian by pretending to be one of them in order to find the traitor and help his sister, but in spite of his recent closeness to Philemon, he had already understood that this one had to hide a heavy secret, a secret that he had not yet discovered.
Obviously, this secret had just been uncovered by the two women. Although, thinking about it, he also found it more and more logical that he was the traitor.
The reasons why he did this escaped everyone. But whatever his reasons, everyone agreed that Lexa's plan was too dangerous, that she could lose her life, but she didn't want to hear it, she wanted to confess her love for Clarke to everyone, no matter what the consequences on her life.
- Alexander, Rose, try to have a good night. Tomorrow is a big day and... I need to talk to Lexa alone, so we'll leave you to it.
Alexander and Rose were surprised that Clarke interrupted their conversation. But the Zenarian's brother had learned not to upset his sister or he would receive a masterful correction.
Once gone, he took the initiative to go to Melchior to help him in Lexa's plan. Rose took leave of him and went to her own quarters. And although she had only known Alexander for a short time, she could not help but worry and think about him. For the events that were about to happen could turn out very badly.
With that, Clarke took Lexa's arm and led her away from Alexander's house to her room. Once inside she pushed Lexa violently with her arms. This one took it for a game and had a big smile. But when she saw the frightened look of her companion, she understood that something was wrong.
It was not normal for her to act like this. Her eyes were livid, filled with tears that she prevented herself from letting flow and she had her two fists tightened, sign that she was not in her normal state.
- Clarke, what is it ? tried to ask Lexa by approaching the young woman.
But this one evaded by moving back of a step. This time she could not hold back her tears which began to run along her cheek.
- Lexa... Your plan... it's too dangerous, you might die!
- I don't want to lose you again, I won't survive this time, I refuse to lose you again when we've only just met!
- Why this plan? Why not wait to unmask Philemon? Why Lexa ? WHY?
This time Lexa noticed all the distress in the eyes of the woman she loved. She was afraid of losing her, afraid of seeing her die again. And there she understood, she understood instantly what Clarke could feel and why she reacted like that. Because if the roles were reversed she couldn't help but think that she would feel exactly the same way.
So she did the only thing she thought she should do at the time. She wrapped her arms around the young woman and held her as tightly as she could while whispering in her ear that everything would be okay.
- You can't be sure of that Lexa, Clarke cried with her head nestled in the young woman's neck. If all this turns out badly then...
Lexa did not let her finish her sentence, she went up with tenderness the neck of the young woman with her index finger so that this one faces her, and while looking her intensely right in the eyes, she made her the promise that she did not die and that they would never be separated again. But also that she could not hide her love for her anymore, that it was worth it, that their love was worth the risk.
Her words, although not comforting Clarke at all, seemed to soothe him slightly.
- I love you Lexa, I will give my life for you, so if you die, I swear I will kill you!
The two women smiled at each other, lay down on the bed and fell asleep in each other's arms, anxious and worried, but happy and feeling lucky to be together.
However, Clarke's nightmares, which lately had disappeared, reappeared even more violently than usual. Lexa tried as well as she could to reassure the young woman, but she never really succeeded, to her great dismay. And it is one of the most agitated night that they spent both.
At the first light of the day, the two women, still asleep, heard Nayak's growl, which at this hour was clearly unusual.
Lexa and Clarke, in each other's arms, didn't have time to open their eyes when there was a loud and eager knock on the door. They didn't have time to get up to open the door when it was ruthlessly opened with the help of a battering ram, almost exploding. Lexa and Clarke were surprised to see inside the Isarian guard, charged to come and arrest the two young women.
Lexa landed in front of Clarke in order to protect her, but she didn't have the time to make the slightest move when she was knocked out by four guards who had thrown themselves on her in order to prevent her from making any movement.
Clarke rushed towards the young woman, but she was in her turn knocked out and in her turn, lost consciousness. Nayak, as for him, was directly locked in a cage with the help of a rope that one of the men had managed to pass around his neck.
Two hours later, Clarke and Lexa emerged. Both were immediately relieved to see that they were in the same cell, one of the Isarian cells for important prisoners. The Zenarian ran her hand over her forehead to assess the damage to her head. Fortunately, she had nothing serious. She immediately moved closer to Lexa to see how she was doing, she was only slightly injured, but she didn't understand what was happening to her. She was the queen, nobody would have dared to attack her. But the evil was there, someone had betrayed them, and after Melchior's revelations, no doubt Philemon sensing his end was near had to act.
The two women looked at each other silently. And in their eyes they could see the pain and fear of losing the other. Like magnets they drew closer to each other as if to reassure each other that all would be well, that their world was not over and that all this was just a bad moment to pass.
- What's going on ? Clarke asked Lexa
- I don't know, but as queen, the people in charge are going to hear about this!
While they were thinking about how to get out of there. They saw two people coming, a scarf hiding their face and revealing only their eyes.
These two approached the cell and seemed to give money to the guards so that they would turn a blind eye to their visit. Indeed, these ones left immediately by affirming them that they had only five minutes with the prisoners.
Clarke and Lexa expected the worst, wondering what could be going on.
But they were relieved to see that their visitors were none other than Alexander and Rose. As soon as they heard about Clarke and Lexa's arrest, they had run to Philemon to find out what had prompted the arrest.
- What's going on? asked Lexa.
- Well... Philemon had you arrested for high treason. He mentioned the fact that you had lodged an enemy in your own quarters, in this case, Clarke...
- And Melchior, where is he? Clarke continued.
- When he saw your arrest, he left the castle in a hurry on horseback. But he didn't tell me why. He just said he was going to do what needed to be done to get you out of there.
- Rose, thank you for being here, but you are new here, you shouldn't have come.
- You both saved my life, so it's only fair that I help you out.
Alexander explained why the two women had been taken prisoner. Philemon was using Clarke as a pretext to make Lexa a fallen queen. He wanted to seize power and for that he had waited patiently, decided that the time had finally come. Philemon had prepared his move well, he was at this very moment holding a public assembly to confront Lexa with her supposed crimes. The Isarians, who did not have all the cards in their hands, took up the cause of Philemon, whom they saw as a savior in view of the queen's treachery.
Lexa finally asked Alexander to free them from there and that she had a plan. She had one solution left, the ultimate solution. The one that would put an end to everything.
Lexa gave Clarke her most serious look, told him she loved him and would not let anyone hurt him. Then she ordered Alexander to hurry up and make them escape. Rose helped her break down the cell door and the two women were out of there in less than five minutes.
Lexa ordered Clarke to leave with Alexander and Rose, but Rose refused. Either they would act together or they wouldn't act at all. And when she saw the look on the face of the woman she loved, Lexa knew that it was not worth contradicting her, that to try would only have earned her a stinging failure. So she capitulated to his determination.
She then gave Alexander and Rose the day off and asked them to be discreet as long as possible so as not to arouse suspicion. Obviously, Philemon didn't know yet that Alexander was Clarke's brother and they had to use this ignorance to their advantage.
When they had left, Clarke turned to Lexa. She was scared, she was shaking, she felt like she was reliving the horrible moments that led to her losing Lexa the first time. She didn't want the scenario to repeat itself again and again. Lexa took her in her arms and tried to reassure her as best she could. And for the first time since their reunion, she did not succeed in soothing her.
But they had to pull themselves together. So Lexa took Clarke by the hand and headed for the public meeting that Philemon was holding.
When the Isarians saw the queen arrive, holding Clarke's hand in her hand, they all fell silent immediately. Philemon turned around and saw Lexa, hand in hand with Clarke, his eyes completely dazed. Obviously he had understood that the young woman did not intend to let herself be so easily and that she did not intend any more to hide her love for Clarke.
Lexa let go Clarke's hand and stood by Philemon's side, telling him in a low voice that he would pay with his life for his treason. But the people, past the shock of seeing their queen with a Zenarian, began to make low masses. Protests were heard throughout the ranks. The people didn't understand what was going on, but everyone agreed that a Zenarian could not be here, let alone with their queen.
Philemon stood in front of Clarke and Lexa who were now looking at him with hatred in their eyes.
But before he had time to say or do anything, Lexa pushed him violently, and, addressing the people directly:
- I invoke the supreme challenge! By this challenge, I assume my choices to love a Zenarian, and from our union will come peace between our two peoples! I have nothing more to say, let the challenge begin!
Clarke looked at Lexa in horror. She instantly resented her lover.
- LEXA... you can't be serious ? You... you're crazy, you're going to die!