Hey guys, I'm sorry to leave you on a such a cliffhanger, but it had to happen and I'm sure there will be more in the future. I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint. Please, leave any comments you have and let me know what you think. Thanks so much for reading, I hope you all like it!
Octavia was pacing in front of the Commanders throne. Lexa was seated upon it and Titus, Indra, and Luna were standing before her. They were all trying to absorb what had happened a few moments ago. "Oh this is bad. This is so so so bad," Octavia was saying to herself as she continued pacing.
"Seken, chil yu au," Indra scolded.
Octavia stopped her pacing and looked up into the eyes of her mentor, "What are we gonna do?"
"There is nothing to do," Titus spoke up. "Heda and Wanheda will fight to the death and that is the end of it."
"Are you kidding me?" Octavia growled. "That is not happening."
"Octavia, chil daun," Lexa ordered from her throne. "Titus, shof op."
Octavia turned her attention to Lexa, "Commander, you can't seriously fight Clarke to the death."
"I don't think she has much of a choice," Luna supplied sadly. She liked Clarke, and she knew how much Lexa cared about her, but she just didn't see a way out of this.
"Are you telling me you could kill Clarke?" Octavia questioned, eyes never leaving Lexa. "Because I can promise you that she won't fight you. She'd rather let you kill her than her kill you."
Lexa sighed deeply. She knew that Octavia was speaking the truth, but she also knew that it wouldn't be that simple. "I'm afraid you may be wrong." Octavia raised an eyebrow and prepared to argue, but Lexa continued. "Nia has been preparing for an opportunity like this for probably over two years. She would not waste her opportunity by giving me an opponent who would so easily surrender and lose to me."
"Maybe she thinks that you would be the one to surrender. Maybe she thinks your feelings for Clarke will keep you from killing her," Octavia said.
"No, she knows that I would choose the coalition over my feelings. I've done it already," Lexa replied.
"Costia," Luna said.
Lexa swallowed and nodded. "Nia took her to try and learn my secrets, but Costia didn't tell her anything, so she changed tactics. The coalition was still new and fragile. After she joined the coalition, she gave me Costia's head. She wanted me to lash out, to break my own rules and in turn the coalition, but I couldn't do that. I let her get away with it, and no punishment or revenge was found for Costia. All to keep the coalition together and to keep the people at peace."
"That's awful," Octavia whispered after a moment of silence.
"There is something here that we aren't seeing. Nia has some sort of plan, but I do not know what it is," Lexa said, frustrated, changing the topic from her dead ex love.
"Maybe we should try to talk to Clarke," Octavia suggested.
"No, Nia would not allow that. We are opponents, and aren't supposed to see each other before the fight. Besides, she will likely have guards posted inside and outside of her room. We would never be able to get to her," Lexa answered.
"So what do we do?"
The room was silent for what felt like a very long time before Lexa spoke up. "We kill Nia."
"What?" Octavia questioned.
"Heda, that is not wise," Titus said and then he received a death glare from the Commander.
"We couldn't kill her before. Why would we able to do it now?" Octavia asked.
"She is right Heda," Indra said. "We would need proof that Nia broke your laws, proof that she was working with Emerson and threatening one of the thirteen clans, and we have none."
"But we do," Lexa said. "Clarke, or more specifically, Wanheda."
"What are you talking about?"
"Wanheda is highly respected and feared amongst all the clans. She will have sway with the people. She spent a lot of time in Azgeda with Queen Nia. They will believe her story. We couldn't use her before because she was still trying to protect her people. She couldn't let anyone know about Emerson or the missile because if Nia found out she spoke, Nia would use it. But now Nia knows Clarke spoke. She will use the missile anyway, which means that Clarke will be willing to tell the people about Nia's treason," Lexa explained.
"I don't understand," Octavia said, still confused.
"Nia told Clarke that if she spoke about the missile, it would be used on Arkadia. Even if Clarke speaking out were to result in Nia's death, Nia would have orders in place and the missile would still be used. Clarke had no option but to keep quiet, which is why she didn't tell anyone about Emerson and the missile. When I found out about Emerson on my own, she was forced to talk. Then Nia found out, which means she is going to use the missile to punish Clarke for her disobedience. Clarke no longer has to keep quiet and we can use her to convince the clans that Nia has committed treason," Lexa explained further.
"Ok so we can use Clarke. Does that mean you can stop the challenge from happening?"
"No," Luna answered for Lexa. "The challenge was made in front of multiple clan leaders and the leaders of Blue Cliff and Podakru didn't argue with it. We can't stop the challenge, and we can't kill Nia before it starts either. If we were to do that, it would make Lexa look like she was weak and trying to escape the threat that Nia poses."
"So if the challenge is going to happen, what good does Clarke speaking out do us?"
"We will have to start the trial. The fight will begin, we will have to make it look good to lower Nia's guard, and then I will strike. When she is dead, Clarke and I will tell the clans what happened and we will instate Roan as Azgeda's new king. It won't be easy, but it is the only option that I believe we have," Lexa said.
The group stayed in the Commander's throne room a while longer and hashed out the details of the plan. It was risky and close to impossible, but it was their only choice. When they were done, they all split off to their rooms to get some rest before tomorrow.
/
Clarke was standing in the alcove she had been in before her trial with Roan. She was dressed in similar gear, armed to the tee with all of her weapons. She had her warpaint on in the same design that Lexa had given her for her trial, but in Clarke's opinion, the servant that did it for her didn't do it as well as Lexa had.
She was nervous and her body still hurt from the beating she took yesterday. Her face was still bruised, but at least some of them were covered by the warpaint. Her ribs were aching, but they were wrapped tightly so they didn't feel as bad as they could be feeling. She was used to random beatings though, and she was accustomed to fighting while injured, so she knew that they wouldn't hold her back during the challenge.
That leads her to her next problem. What the hell was she going to do? If she killed Lexa, then Nia was going to let her kill Emerson and get rid of the threat of the missile, but could she really kill Lexa? Lexa was so important to the coalition and Clarke loved her beyond anything she could have ever imagined. How could she kill the woman she loved? How could she not and allow her people to suffer for it? If she did kill Lexa, would Nia even honor the deal she proposed? Clarke was at a loss. She didn't know what to do. She had tried for the past two years to keep her people safe. Could she really throw all that away and let Lexa kill her? But would her people actually be safe if she did what Nia was asking?
Of course through all of her thoughts, her own life was never a concern. She honestly didn't care about herself as much as she did about Lexa and her people. She was a monster, she had accepted that a long time ago, and death was something she deserved and something that she didn't fear. She did fear for the safety of others though and she was trapped in a situation with no good options.
Clarke was so lost in her own thoughts, she didn't notice the person approaching from behind her. At the last second she sensed someone approaching her and she spun around, prepared to pounce, but instantly stilled as the person behind her removed their hood. "Lexa," Clarke breathed in relief. The Commander stood in front of Clarke in a black cloak over her clothing with her warpoint perfectly applied to her face.
Lexa took a quick step forward and framed Clarke's face in her hands, her eyes scanning over the visible bruising. Her eyes flashed with anger and her body tensed, but Clarke leaned forward and captured the brunettes lips in a soft kiss, instantly relieving the tension in her body. "Not that I'm complaining, but you're not allowed to be here," Clarke said after she pulled away from her favorite pair of lips.
"I know," Lexa admitted. "But I had to see you."
Clarke's body relaxed and she wrapped her arms around the taller brunette so tightly, it seemed like she was trying to merge their bodies together. That would make things easier, wouldn't it? Lexa returned the hold, reveling in the feeling of the woman she loved in her arms, but someone calling out the blonde's name snapped her out of her bubble. Lexa released her hold on Clarke and looked into her shimmering blue eyes. "Clarke we don't have any more time," Lexa started and the same voice called out for Clarke again. Lexa put her hood on. "Make it look good," was all Lexa said before she started to walk away.
Clarke watched as Lexa started to leave and she scrambled forward grabbing the brunettes arm, "Lexa, wait." Lexa turned around to face Clarke, "I love you," she said.
Lexa smiled at her and leaned in for one more quick kiss, "I love you too."
"Clarke," the same voice called out, now recognizable as the voice of Roan. Clarke turned towards the voice for a moment, and then turned back to where Lexa last was, but the spot was empty. Roan approached her as she stared at the empty spot on the ground, "You okay?"
Clarke shook her head, snapping out of her haze, "Yeah, I'm good."
"It's almost time. Are you ready?" He asked
Clarke nodded, "Yeah just give me a minute."
Roan nodded and took a few steps away to give the blonde some space. Clarke thought back to Lexa from moments ago and something stuck out. 'Make it look good.' Well what the hell does that mean? Does Lexa have some sort of plan? Did she think that Clarke was just going to let Lexa kill her without a fight and didn't want her to? Letting Lexa kill her had been her first thought, and before Nia's offer, that was the plan, but now she didn't know what she was going to do. Was Lexa telling her not to surrender herself? Did she just want to put on a show? Why did that incredible, gorgeous woman have to be so damn cryptic? Clarke was still going over possibilities when Roan approached her again, "Clarke, it's time."
Clarke nodded and started to follow Roan towards the arena. "If I die," Clarke started. "Make Azgeda better."
Roan turned to look at her and nodded slightly, "I will, but Clarke please don't give up out there. But whatever happens, I will make you proud."
"Thank you Roan. For everything," Clarke said and she pulled her friend into a quick embrace.
"No, thank you Clarke," he said before he stopped at the entrance to the arena. He locked eyes with her and gave her an encouraging nod before walking away.
Clarke watched him leave before turning and facing the entrance to the arena. She took a deep breath and focused on what was about to go down. Whatever Lexa meant, Clarke would have to trust her. She was going to put on a damn good show and see what happened. Hopefully, Lexa had a plan and the answer to her problem would just magically fall in her lap and she wouldn't really have to make the decision on her own. Whatever happened out there, someone was going to die. This really sucks.
/
Clarke was standing in the center of the arena with Lexa to her left. Everything looked just like it had for her trial. The stage she was facing was where the clan leaders were all seated upon their thrones, and Titus was standing on the far side of the stage. The only difference from her trial and now, was that Lexa's throne was empty.
Clarke looked to the right side beside the stage where Octavia, Raven, Abby, Bellamy, and Lincoln were standing. Bellamy and Lincoln had returned early this morning, just in time to watch the fight. Lincoln was covered in a light sheen of sweat and he looked a little uncomfortable in his stance, but other than that they looked okay. For that Clarke was relieved.
She looked and watched as Roan approached the group and they all seemed to welcome his presence. She smiled slightly as he said something that made Raven and Octavia smile. It wasn't much, but it was something and she was glad her friends were getting along with him.
She studied each of their faces and saw worry across the faces of her mom, Bellamy, and Lincoln, but Octavia and Raven didn't seem to be too worried. Clarke didn't know what to think of it, but she didn't have much time to think about it as Titus started to speak.
"Hashta soulou gonplei, bilaik won hedon noumou: do souda wan op deyon," Titus started. He raised his arm and pointed at each competitor before swing his arm in a chopping motion, "Yo na jomp in." Titus finished and then he sat down in his own seat.
Clarke and Lexa walked to opposite sides of the ring. Clarke pulled out her sword and then glanced onto the stage towards Nia. Nia gave her a curt nod, urging her to do what needed to be done, before she returned her gaze to her opponent. In that moment she realized she wouldn't, couldn't, kill Lexa. Trusting Nia was too big of a risk and killing Lexa was just something she couldn't do. But that didn't mean she wasn't going to make this fight look good.
Lexa took her pauldron off her shoulder and handed it to one of her guards before pulling out her own sword. She locked eyes with all of Clarke's friends and nodded to them.
While Lexa had her back turned, Clarke charged forward. Lexa watched as Roan smirked and the eyes of Octavia and Raven widened. She turned her body to see behind her and felt a slight cut on her back. It wasn't deep and the armor took most of the damage, but Lexa was still surprised.
Clarke smirked and took a step back into the center of the ring and Lexa followed behind her. "Really?" Lexa asked as the two began to circle each other.
"Hey, I'm fighting for my life here," Clarke said, but her tone was slightly joking. "Are you going to tell me what your plan is?" She had come to the conclusion that Lexa had some sort of plan to get them both out of this situation alive and she was going to trust Lexa. And hey, if her trust was misplaced, if Lexa was playing her, she wasn't worried too much about her death. Although she really didn't think that Lexa was playing her.
"I told you, just make it look good," Lexa replied.
"I don't want to hurt you," Clarke said.
Lexa smirked that annoyingly arrogant yet undeniably attractive smirk, "You won't."
Clarke scoffed and decided the time for talk was done. She had to make this look good and she had to at least get some sort of hit in on Lexa for that comment. Lexa blocked her attack and pushed forward with her own, each one blocked by Clarke.
Lexa had to admit she was impressed. It was one thing to watch the blonde in action, but to actually face her and see what she was made was impressive. This girl had real skill.
The two went back and forth for a while, neither really getting much of a lead, when Clarke made a move she wasn't expecting. Clarke reached to her arm and pulled out a thin metal blade and used it to slice into Lexa's forearm. Lexa grunted in pain and backpedalled as Clarke advanced on her.
Lexa brought up her sword and blocked a few attacks while still backpedalling, then Clarke's advances stopped. She smiled smugly at Lexa, "I warned you."
Lexa rolled her eyes and grumbled something to herself before launching herself at Clarke. Clarke walked backwards, blocking each of Lexa's strikes when her ankle buckled and she dropped. Lexa wasn't expecting it and her next strike connected, cutting across Clarke's abdomen.
The fabric of Clarke's armor ripped and blood slowly began to cascade down her stomach. The wound wasn't deep, but it still stung. Lexa seemed to freeze for a moment after the strike, but Clarke needed to keep her going. She didn't know Lexa's plan but she knew this fight needed to look believable, and the Commander doesn't hesitate. "I'm fine," Clarke gritted out. "Keep going. Beat me down. Make it look good."
Clarke's words snapped Lexa out of her daze and she advanced on Clarke. She wasn't fond of the idea of beating the woman she loved, but she had to make this look good. She used the hilt of her sword and smashed it into Clarke's nose. Clarke fell flat on her back and blood gushed out, pouring down the lower half of her face.
Lexa placed the tip of her sword to Clarke's chest directly above her heart and stared down into her favorite blue eyes. Clarke was down, time for the next part of her plan.
She was snapped out of her thoughts by Nia who stood from her throne, "Gyon op! Taim yu wan op, Taim yu nou na wan op Wanheda! Yu wan op kom bushhada!"
Lexa's eyes flickered from her love beneath her sword to the enraged Queen as she spoke. Oh how she hated Queen Nia. Lexa's eyes returned to Clarke's as she looked up at Lexa. She showed no fear, and Lexa was proud of her strength. "Whatever your plan is," Clarke started. "Get it over with."
Clarke honestly didn't know what to expect. She was pretty sure that Lexa had a plan and she was willing to go along with it, but if Lexa didn't have a plan this was it. This was how she was going to die. Looking into the eyes of the woman she loved, Clarke figured if she was going to die, this wouldn't be the worst way to go. She urged Lexa on and waited for the brunette to dish out her fate.
"I love you," Lexa said before pulling back and launching her sword across the arena towards the stage. It soared through the air towards its intended target, but it didn't hit. It would have, but it seems Nia was expecting Lexa to make a move like this and she grabbed a random guard and pulled him in front of her body to use as a shield to save herself.
The crowd gasped as they watched the guard drop dead, blood trickling from his mouth. Clarke rolled over to see what had happened and she looked up at the stage. Lexa's intent to kill Nia immediately became clear, but Clarke didn't have any time to remark on it as the entire arena descended into chaos.
Nia seemed to be planning for something like this to happen, or maybe she was planning a hostile takeover of Polis once Clarke killed the Commander during the challenge. Either way, the Azgeda in attendance along with Azgeda's allies all pulled out weapons and raced towards the Commander and her guards.
The Commander's guards, being the best warriors available, reacted quickly taking out their attacking enemies while closing in to keep their Commander safe.
Unfortunately, due to the bonding that was supposed to be taking place, Polis was filled with a lot more Azgeda warriors than usual and they were all descending on the arena, attacking anyone in sight.
"Clarke, get up," Lexa said, pulling Clarke up to her feet and then turning to take out an Azgeda warrior that was charging her. Clarke returned to her feet and fought by Lexa's side taking out all the warriors that were charging at them.
Every clan had warriors fighting. Most of the warriors had no idea what was going on. All they knew was that Polis was under attack and it was their job to defend the city and their Commander.
At first the fight was clearly going Azgeda's way. The surprise of their attack clearly gave them the advantage. The warriors of the coalition however brought the fight, and Azgeda's advantage soon faded.
The entire arena was in chaos and no one could move around much or see far ahead of them through the sea of bodies. "We need to get to Nia," Lexa called out. Her intent had always been to kill Nia and she wasn't planning on deviating from that plan now. Her guards around her along with Clarke, Octavia, and Bellamy all nodded. Lincoln, Raven, and Abby had cleared out once the fighting started, not being able to fight.
Lexa's guards paved a path to the stage along with Clarke and Skaikru beside her. When they approached the stage, Nia along with the some of the other clan leaders were gone. She used the height advantage from the stage to scan the arena and find her target. Nia was surrounded by four guards and they were heading to the gates of Polis. She was retreating.
Lexa growled as she watched her greatest enemy flee and escape from her grasp. Then her eyes swept over the rest of Polis. It was clear that Azgeda was outmatched. The fighting was dwindling and those warriors that were still living were fleeing behind their coward of a Queen. It seemed even the citizens of Polis had joined the fight, helping to outnumber and outmatch the Azgeda warriors.
Lexa and those around her returned to the fighting and eventually it was all over. When Polis was secure, Lexa sent out her healers to help all those that were injured and she called for a meeting with all the clan leaders at sundown, and then she ran to find Clarke.
Clarke grimaced as a bandage was wrapped around her abdomen, but she jumped up from her seat when she saw the brunette coming towards her. She leaped into her arms and kissed her, not caring about who might see. Lucky for them there wasn't really anyone in the area. "That was a dangerous move, and you shouldn't have done it," Clarke chastised.
"I wasn't going to kill you. I had a plan, it just didn't go as I had hoped," Lexa replied. "It doesn't matter now," Lexa said shaking it off and wrapping her arms around the blonde. "You're free."
Clarke pulled out of Lexa's embrace as that realization sunk in. She was right. For the first time in two years, Clarke was free. She smiled for a moment relishing in her newfound freedom before she sobered up. Yes she was free, but her people were still in danger. "There's still work to do," Clarke said. She wasn't going to completely relax until Skaikru was safe and the threat was gone.
Lexa knew Clarke was right so she didn't push. "You're right. Let's get to work."
/
At sundown, Lexa was seated in her throne. Only seven of the thirteen clans were present. It was a surprise for most that so many clans allied themselves with Nia, but if that is what they believed was right, then so be it.
Lexa was seated in her throne with Indra and Titus behind her. Clarke was standing off to the side, not exactly sure where she should be. "Tonight did not go as planned," Lexa started her speech to inform her people of what was going on. "I recently learned that Nia has betrayed us all by threatening other clans in this coalition. Wanheda, if you would inform the other clans of what you told me."
Clarke swallowed and stepped into the center of the room, in front of Lexa's throne. She told the ambassadors of Emerson and the missile and the threats that Nia had made. The clan leaders were enraged at Nia's betrayal and were calling for her blood. It seemed Lexa was right. Wanheda's word was enough to convince everyone of the Queens treachery.
After Clarke's explanation, Lexa spoke again. "It is clear that those leaders who are not present have aligned themselves with Azgeda. I declare them all enemies of the coalition. Tonight we rest; recover from tonight's attack. Tomorrow, we go to war."
"Jus drein jus daun," the other clan leaders all chanted and they cleared the room. Tonight they would rest as ordered. Tomorrow, they had a war to plan.