A/N - Ok guys so usual thanks due because you guys are incredibly amazing and I honestly and truly couldn't write this without you all! Now, about the chapter, this one was hard. The hardest so far actually and I really stressed over the different elements of it and I am actually quite pleased with how it came out. So please enjoy, and let me know what you think! :) xx
With a quick word from the guard at the elevator, she sighed in relief, Clarke had only just returned to her room so she still had time to catch her. She flung the door open wide and stepped in, a wide smile on her face at the prospect of seeing Clarke again, even if it was only for a few more stolen moments.
And then Lexa's blood ran cold.
Standing in the center of the room was an unknown man holding one of the Skaikru's guns, aiming it straight at Titus' chest. She stepped forwards to attack him from behind and that's when she caught sight of her. Clarke's body was crumpled to the ground, devoid of everything that had made Clarke who she was, all that was left was a shell with a single gunshot wound in her chest. Lexa didn't have to get closer to know that she was dead.
The Skaikru, who she saw now was nothing more than a boy really, opened his mouth but she had no interest in what he had to say and her knife jutted out of his chest without any conscious thought.
Wait, her knife? She hadn't been carrying that when Titus had...Titus had...
She fell to her knees in front of Clarke and pulled her body close, as the boy's hit the ground somewhere behind her. Desperately she searched for any sign of life but there were none.
"Heda, I am sorry, but now you see. The people Clarke fought so hard for are the ones who killed her."
Lexa nodded, Skaikru would pay for killing Clarke. She stared down at the woman she loved but had never told, and just for a second it was as though everything warped and it was her own face staring back at her.
Skaikru killed Clarke? Abby would surely never have allowed that... Wait, this bullet wasn't meant for Clarke, not really.
Titus knelt beside her and placed a comforting hand on her arm, tear filled eyes looked to him for guidance, flinching back at the red gash across his throat that disappeared in the blink of an eye.
No. At that single word everything started flickering like a video monitor with a bad connection, the elements of the scene slipping away until all that was left was Lexa holding Clarke's body. This isn't real. She wiped her eyes and squared her shoulders, laying Clarke down gently, standing up turned her back.
To find herself standing at the doors to her throne room, faced by the full force of all the commanders that had come before her.
"Leksa kom Trikru." The nearest boomed, she recognized him instantly as the commander she had inherited the spirit from, he was always the one who came to her to give council from the others.
"Why have you shown me these images?" She snarled angrily, refusing to back down under his gaze.
"You have forgotten yourself girl, you may be the current avatar of the commander line but you are just one part of a whole, and we do not approve of your actions."
"Well I don't approve of your attitudes towards the peace I have achieved. A peace that none of you were able to manage." She bit back, keeping her voice level with difficulty.
The room erupted into angry outburst but one noise rose above the din, a light feminine chuckle that carried across all their shouting.
The ranks of commanders split down the middle to reveal the throne, the inky night sky visible through the open window behind it. In the shadows sat the first commander, who was seated in the place of honor that they had all held in life, but only she could claim in their deaths.
Leaning forward, light was cast across the Commander's face, "I like you Heda Lexa. You have a fire and ingenuity that is a trait all too unique to the Skaikru."
The other commanders bristled at the implication that one of their own could share any link to the invaders from the sky, but the Commander waved her hand and they all fell silent, crooking a finger she beckoned Lexa towards her.
Lexa instinctively went down on her knees in front of the woman sitting on the throne, bowing her head in respect, "Heda."
Rebecca smiled inwardly, she had watched over all of her true born descendants, but none had been more of a reminder of her own people than Lexa of the Tree People. Her brain just wasn't wired in the same way as the rest of the night bloods, who had always hit first and asked questions later. Lexa's decisions may have always been swift, but they were nothing if not carefully calculated.
"On your feet, Commander." Lexa did as she was bid, as Rebecca gazed around at the others, "Leave us."
There was a moment where a tangible wave of shock went through the room, but then they did as they were told, filing out under the stern glare of their true leader.
Rebecca relaxed and finally allowed herself to smile at Lexa now that the other, more vengeance minded, warriors had left them alone. "It is good to finally meet you. After so long since I walked the ground I find it tiring to interact often with the one carrying the chip."
"Chip?" Lexa asked curiously, reaching a hand to trace the raised scar on the back of her neck.
Rebecca shook her head quickly, "It doesn't matter what it is called or the legend now attached, it does what it is meant to and there is no denying the truth in that... There comes a point where we must all make a choice Lexa, about the person you want to be. The vision the other commanders showed you was what would have happened had you got to Clarke's room thirty seconds later. They wanted to shock you out of this devotion you have for her, I allowed them to try because I hoped they would fail."
Lexa was confused but passed no comment, listening intently to the older woman who was still smiling down at her.
"What none of them know Lexa, is that I fell from the sky, in the same way Clarke did. Polis was built around the wreckage of MY dropship."
Lexa's eyes widened and Rebecca nodded in confirmation, "Our line started in the sky, the same as the Skaikru's, and we were meant to stay and join with them but unforeseen circumstances forced me down alone."
Rebecca paused to stare at the girl who had never ceased to amaze her. "You are on the right path Lexa, don't forget it and don't give up. And know, I am proud of you."
Lexa's eyes flickered open to see the sun just starting to rise over the horizon through her window.
Immediately she rolled to the side to check Clarke was still there, sighing in relief when she came face to face with her and could see the visible rise and fall of Clarke's chest.
Leaning down to kiss her forehead lovingly, she slipped from the bed and padded across the room to lean on the thin ledge that created her balcony, staring out at the city she loved. Her hand went to the back of her neck, gently feeling the raised bump there, the...chip as Rebecca had called it. Tonight had been the first time she had ever spoken with the first Commander and she had not been disappointed. The woman had radiated a still kind of power that left no illusions as to who was the authority in that place.
I am proud of you.
Such a simple phrase, but one that Lexa had only ever heard once before. The morning of her conclave when Anya had dressed her in her armor and given her her own sword to use in the ceremony.
Take this, you're not my second anymore. Today your fate will be decided, but I'm not worried, you're the best second I have had. Fight well Lexa, I am proud of you.
She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, today the clans were gathering for the start of the tournament she had organized. After this week, she would tell Clarke about what Rebecca had said.
For the first time since the sky people had arrived a weight lifted from her, she was doing the right thing, and she had confirmation from The Commander herself.
Jus no drien jus daun would stand, no matter who tried to oppose it.