Ai Hod Yu In
Chapter 18
A/N: Hey guys! Here's another chapter. Just so you all know, I have been struggling with figuring out how to dictate some of the Trigadesleng from the show. Some of the words aren't very easily recognizable, so if any of you were wondering why Clarke is so iffy about knowing Trigadesleng it is only because of that. When I first started this story, I had planned to incorporate the grounder language a lot more, but due to the limited knowledge of the language I have, I've had to give that up. Still, I do want it to appear as much as possible so I am doing my best with it. A huge thank you to all of you guys who have reviewed so far, as well as following and favoriting both me and this story. It has been a huge motivation to keep going. Now, on for what you all are really here for, the story.
"Ambassadors of the coalition, today we honor our covenant. The clan that stands against one of us stands against us all," Lexa spoke clearly from her position in her throne. All of the ambassadors sat in chairs around the room, and Titus and two guards stood by Lexa. Titus mumbled something in their language that Lexa had told Clarke would mean to bring in Azgeda, and a moment later the Ice nation was escorted in by more guards.
Queen Nia herself looked around the room as she was led in, and once again Clarke found herself surprised by the cold look on her face. It had surprised her when she had spotted them bringing the queen up to the tower, and it surprised her now. This woman had attacked her people, and it made Clarke angry every time she thought about it. It was clear by looking at her that she had no regret for the lives she had ended through her actions, but that did not particularly surprise Clarke. She noticed that the woman's eyes didn't even seem to soften as she looked at her son Roan, forced to kneel to the side for this trial. It was the same calculating look that had glossed over every other person in the room. The queen was forced to kneel before Lexa, and the anger only increased with the sight of her.
"Queen Nia of Azgeda has confessed to the destruction of Mount Weather, resulting in the death of 49 members of Skaikru. Wanheda, what say you?" Titus looked directly at Clarke.
"Skaikru demands justice," Clarke told them all. Queen Nia spoke angrily in Trigadesleng, and Clarke once again realized that she needed to learn more of the language. Still, she could only assume it was something along the lines of 'we don't answer to her.' She didn't even finish before Titus was telling her to be quiet.
"The punishment for your crime is death. Do you have anything to say in your defense?" Titus asked her. All around them, all of the clans were murmuring amongst themselves.
"I need no defense. She does. Today is judgment day. I call for a vote of no confidence," Nia called out.
"Take this Queen to meet her fate."
Clarke was nervous as one of the ambassadors stood up, calling out "No heda no more!" and quickly being joined by more and more of the ambassadors.
"Execute them too!" Titus called.
"Hod op!" Lexa said, glancing around the room at her ambassadors betraying her. Still, she knew, as Clarke too did, that she could not simply kill them all. It simply would make them more determined to oust her, "Let her make her move."
"Commander, what is this?" Clarke asked her, hoping she was wrong.
"This is a coup."
"This is the law. Her law. A unanimous vote of the ambassadors or death are all that can remove a Commander from power." Nia told her.
"It's not unanimous." Clarke told her.
"We don't recognize the legitimacy of Skaikru." Nia hissed at her.
"We do. Yesterday, Skaikru took the brand. They are the 13th clan. This vote of no confidence fails. All these coup plotters will suffer the exact same fate as the Ice Queen." Titus commanded, walking around and gesturing at the other ambassadors.
"She won't take our heads because she knows our armies will retaliate. None of us here wants war." Nia stood up, turning in a circle to look at all of the ambassadors.
"We both know what you want, Nia." Lexa rose gracefully from her throne, making her way slowly closer to Nia, "If you think me unfit to command, issue the challenge and let's get on with it."
"Very well, you are challenged."
"And I accept your challenge."
"So be it. Solo gonplei. Warrior against warrior. To the death." Titus said. Clarke had to look away for a moment, closing her eyes and thinking. A fight to the death? She was not interested in whatever would happen if Lexa lost. It would put Madi herself in danger, and that was the last thing Clarke wanted. "Nia of Azgeda, who do you choose to be your champion?"
"My son, Roan. Prince of Azgeda." Clarke glanced to her right, where Roan too looked surprised.
"Heda, who'll fight for you?" Titus asked. Lexa walked back up to her throne, gracefully lowering herself back onto it.
"Ai laik Heda. No won throw down gon ai." Lexa said. Nia smirked, and Titus and Clarke looked at each other in alarm.
