A/N: Hey guys. I am so sorry about the complete lack of an update yesterday. It was one of those days were everything went wrong, and then when I opened the file to start writing the chapter I just fell asleep at my desk, which fyi is painful haha and now I have a cramp in my neck. Also then I woke up this morning and I am so ill right now that it feels like the room is spinning, :( but I fought through it and wrote this for you guys :) Cause I love you all! Btw, thanks for the really nice reviews last chapter, don't forget to let me know what you think of this one! :) xx

Aden walked into Lexa's room hesitantly, being met with the sight of Luna and Ontari conversing at the couch in the centre of the room.

Ontari looked up and smiled when she saw him, "Come and take a seat Aden. We're just waiting for Lexa."

The boy sat down quickly, "Why has she brought us all here?"

"Because it's time we stopped our people needlessly slaughtering each other." Lexa's voice rang out as she swept into the room.

"We're having the discussion about the conclave now then?" Ontari asked with interest, having wondered when Lexa was going to bring it up now that everything was peaceful throughout the city and they were home.

Lexa nodded as she sat down in the single chair, the three of them sat in a row on the couch.

"If I died today, you three would be expected to fight to the death tomorrow. Which is frankly ridiculous, even if Luna kept her night blood a secret, you can barely walk Ontari and the rest of the night bloods are just children. I will not leave this world knowing that my death will have the cause of many others."

Aden looked between them confused, the only one who wasn't previously aware that this conversation was coming, "But won't that make the clan leaders angry?"

Leaning back, Lexa smiled at him, "Perhaps, but it doesn't matter, I have the first commanders blessing."

Luna looked up to stare at her in shock, "The first commander has spoken to you? There hasn't been a report of her speaking to a Heda for over seventy years."

"Well her silence has broken, Rebecca believes in the world I am trying to create, and she has given her blessing for the changing of the conclave. I have already shared my intention for the two of you, Aden and Ontari, to rule once I am gone."

Aden smiled proudly, although Ontari looked troubled, "Lexa, how are we meant to convince the ambassadors of the truth of what you say? Some may simply not believe that you of all Heda's have been spoken to by the first of our bloodline."

Sighing, Luna looked across at Lexa, "She has a point, some may claim that you are lying to further your own ends."

"I agree." Lexa said simply, pulling at a loose thread on her armrest, "But it will be yours and Roan's job to convince them otherwise. You are both clan leaders and have the second and third largest clans respectively, your power and support will aid me in this and prevent any major opposition. Even if the other nine clans banded together, they could not defeat our four."

"Four?" Aden asked in confusion.

Ontari smiled at him, "Trikru, Azgeda, Floukru and Skaikru. The four of us together would make an unbeatable army, especially seeing as our lands are all grouped and the others separated by the forests, lakes and trees of our clans."

Luna leaned forwards, "So we back you, you pass through this new rule, and then what?"

"When I die, the new conclave is carried out, instead of a fight to the death, the night bloods fight in matches until someone yields. It ends when one night blood emerges victorious." Lexa said quietly, looking into the candle flame that was reflected in her eyes, sat on the table in front of her.

"What happens to the night bloods that don't win?" Ontari asked curiously, unsure of how this fitted into Lexa's plan for her and Aden to lead together.

Lexa looked back up to her, having expected the question, "The second best becomes the new Heda's General, and has almost as much power as the Commander. Decisions will happen with fair discussion between the two, but of course, Heda gets the last say in what happens. The others continue in high ranked roles, including training the next class of night bloods, on the next conclave, they have a decision of whether to fight or not. Under this new structure we will have larger classes, so we will be able to set a minimum age for those fighting in the conclave. Once a Heda dies, their General can rule until the next conclave, reducing the risk of chaos in the interim."

"You've put a lot of thought into this." Luna remarked.

"Yes I have," Lexa nodded, "And I've also thought a lot about why you need to keep your night blood a secret Luna. Otherwise, your backing may lost some of its weight if the ambassadors believe you are supporting me because of your own personal investment. As is, they will see no reason why you would care who won the conclave, but that would change once you revealed who you are."

"Understood." Luna agreed easily, having never regretted her decision to walk away and leave behind the prospect of becoming the Commander.

Aden had been listening carefully to what was being said, and once there was a lull in the conversation he sat forward and waited until Lexa noticed him to start speaking, "What about the three pillars of being Heda?" He asked quietly, answered by a quizzical look from the three older girls, "Well, we're taught about the important of the three pillars. Wisdom, compassion and strength. But then only strength is tested in the conclave, if you're going to change the conclave, couldn't that be one of the things that gets changed."

Lexa smiled at him brightly, "I think you have just proved your own wisdom Aden, that is a brilliant thought and one I agree with wholeheartedly. Of course we will have to discuss everything before-"

There was suddenly a knock at the door, and the voice of one of her guards called through from the other side.

"Heda! Heda, you're needed in the square, a fight has broken out between a group of Trikru and the remains of the Desert Clan living in the city."

Lexa took a deep breath before smiling at the others, "We will continue this at a later date, thank you everyone, for your support and input into this matter."

Without another word she stood up and swept out of the room.

"She didn't look happy." Aden murmured to Ontari who laughed and shook her head.

"No she didn't did she? I expect that that is the worst thing about Lexa's job, having to constantly pull apart grown men acting like squabbling children."

Luna smiled, "It is why I have no issues denying my own night blood, being Heda is balancing the needs of hundreds of thousands of people, I would end up insane."

Ontari grinned and clapped Aden on the shoulder, "Looking forward to that being our responsibility one day?"

"What is the meaning of this?!" Lexa shouted as she caught sight of her clan surrounding a handful of the desert threateningly.

"Heda, they threatened you." One of the Trikru defended immediately, soon silenced by Lexa's hand as she stalked past him into the small circle.

Sighing she noticed that it was a group of young warriors, the oldest no more that twenty at most.

"Speak true, did you threaten me?" She asked quietly.

The leader of the group shook his head immediately, "We were in the city when it was attacked, we had nothing to do with what the rest of our clan did."

"Are you telling me the truth?" Lexa asked, her striking green eyes examining his as he nodded earnestly.

Stepping back she motioned for the crowd to disperse.

"A word of warning to you all! What is past is past, we do not blame children for the crimes of their leaders."

Then she walked away, ordering one of her guards to arrest the man who had claimed that her life had been threatened, perhaps a night in a cell would make him more truthful.

Lexa yawned as she walked through the door of her room, tired and ready to just sleep, but she was met by the sight of Clarke sitting on the balcony looking more melancholy that Lexa had ever seen her, so she fought back her sleepiness and walked over to her girlfriend, sliding down next to her.

"Am I a burden to you?" Clarke asked quietly, as Lexa's eyes snapped up to meet hers.

"Of course not Clarke! Why would you-" Lexa started.

Clarke sighed, "All the trouble that you have gone through can be directly traced back to me. You were in a death match against Roan, you got shot, Bellamy attacked the city and caused more deaths for your people, you were nearly shot again by that man at Arcadia, you got ill because of us, the Desert clan turned on you. And those were just the recent problems. Tell me, have you dealt with more stuff that you haven't even told me about?"

"Clarke-"

"Have you?"

Lexa dipped her chin reluctantly, "Some still believe that I should have ordered Skaikru wiped out. Where's this coming from Clarke?"

"I just wanted to protect my people, so I kept asking more and more of you. And it wasn't until I really sat down and thought about it that I realized how horrible it was for me to do that." Clarke said tearfully.

"Clarke I would give you the world." Lexa said, confused as to what she should say.

Shaking her head, Clarke gripped Lexa's arm, "Don't you see that that's the problem? You give and give and I just take. I offer nothing to you but more problems."

"No!" Lexa cut in harshly, seizing hold of Clarke's hands and holding them firmly. Startled, Clarke looked up at her properly. "I need you Clarke. You are my heart, without you I am nothing more than the Commander, I had forgotten how to smile until you taught me. You have given me a family and turned this tower into a home, where I am being constantly accosted by siblings and a nephew that I was never aware I had, and Aden things of us as his parents now, did you know that? Without you, these halls would be dark and empty."

"But-" Clarke started to protest.

Lexa cupped her cheek gently and kissed her softly and sweet before pulling back, "I was so alone Clarke, for years I was so alone with no one I loved. I will gladly fight through any problem if I get you, all I want is you. And you give me so much just by being here with me, I don't need you to do anything else Clarke, I just need you to stay and love me."

"I do love you." Clarke breathed quietly, relaxing her grip on Lexa's hands slightly, "I don't know why I suddenly feel like this but...I guess I just needed to know that I was worth it."

Lexa laughed tiredly, "Believe me, you are worth all of it Clarke, and I will never ask you for anything you can't give. Now please, come to bed, and if you still wish to discuss this tomorrow then I will be more than happy to indulge you."

Clarke nodded, suddenly realizing how tired Lexa looked, "Ok then." She got up quickly and pulled Lexa towards the bed, who collapsed in exhaustedly.

Pulling Clarke closer to her, she sighed contently as she wrapped her arms tightly around the blonds waist, "If you really want to know how much I need you, ask Luna about the discussion we had this morning."

Clarke smiled as she felt Lexa's strong arms settle around her, making her feel safe and loved, "You know, I don't think I have to, I just needed to here it from you."

"Clarke?"

"Yes Lexa?"

"Go to sleep or I will leave you for the Pauna to eat."

Laughing slightly, Clarke did just that, closing her eyes and placing her hands over Lexa's as she easily drifted off to sleep.