Ai Hod Yu In

Chapter 19

Clarke walked into Lexa's throne room to see her sat with many children, all of them speaking softly in their language. She made her way over to stand by Titus's side.

"Talk her out of it yet?" she asked softly, turning to look at him.

"No, but maybe you can."

"I don't understand, the queen's not fighting, why should she?"

"The queen's strength is not in doubt. Thanks to you, Heda's is." Titus looked at her, and Clarke felt a pang of guilt. Titus was right. This was on her, "Natblidas!"

Titus walked up to the children, and it finally occurred to her what this was. All of these children had the strange, dark blood of commanders. Lexa was counselling them in case she died tomorrow. All these children, and Madi could have been one of them. Clarke tried to think what Madi would like when she was older, and it scared her more than a bit to come face to face with the life her daughter was supposed to live. She felt a pang of guilt, that she couldn't help these children too. All of them stood up proudly, showing no fear. The youngest of them was maybe eight, but it was likely that he would be dead in a few days time. All but one of them likely would be dead, really. They all got in a line and began to follow Titus out, but Lexa stopped one.

"Aden, stay." The boy was perhaps 12 at the most, with blonde hair and dark eyes. He stood proudly, head held high. He was braver than most, "Clarke, this is Aden. Aden is the most promising of my novitiates. If I should die today, he will likely succeed me. Clarke worries about her people. Tell her what will happen to them when you become Heda, Aden."

"If I become Heda, I pledge my loyalty to the 13th clan." Aden said.

"Thank you. Now, go join the others," Lexa told him. He bowed his head before walking away, "See? Nothing to worry about."

"I'm sorry if I'm worried the fate of my people lies in the hands of a child." Clarke felt a pang of sadness for Aden. He was so young, too young.

"Then you worry for nothing. I've sent Indra to raise an army from the villages near Arkadia. Your people are protected as I vowed they would be."

"This is not just about my people. You don't stand a chance against Roan."

"You've never seen me fight."

"No! But I saw him kill three men in the time it took the first one to hit the ground. I don't want to see you die today, Lexa."

"If you're right, today's the day my spirit will choose its successor and you need to accept that."

"Like hell I do."

With that, Clarke turned on her heel and stormed out.