Disclaimer: I own nothing
Sorry it has taken so long. Been going through some personal issues.
Lexa stood beside Jayde and the Chancellor in the square of the Great Hall. They stood on a raised dais with two large poles. A fire pit blazed to the side of them. The Councillors stood at the front of the dais and all looked rather sick at the idea of what they were about to do. Lexa had ordered it though and ordered their rich crony friends to attend too. She had a lesson to teach as she watched as guards led the two Azgeda Warriors through the crowd.
Any member of the Lake Clan who could walk was there and were yelling and spitting at their feet as they walked past. Many from Polis had turned up to watch too. Lexa had forbid children though, the mere sight of the prisoners all bloodied and beaten this morning would have caused them nightmares.
She watched dispassionately as they were both stripped to the waist and tied to a pole each. Both already looked on deaths door. She had made it so, in return for their information she was ensuring they would pass due to cuts. Not a slow agonising death on the cross.
Once they were tied to the poles she stepped forward along with two large warriors with whips. She held up a hand to quietened the crowd and deathly silence hung over them. Lexa called out "Warriors of the Azgeda, you have been sentenced to death for treason. You will receive fifty lashes, then fifty burns and finally fifty cuts. If you survive this you will be nailed to a cross and hung up until your passing." She paused as a ripple went through the crowd and she gave them the best Heda glare she could muster. She looked menacing in her blood spattered Heda clothes, with her braids and war paint on. They instantly fell silent again.
"Do you have any last words?" She asked them and not surprisingly it was the female who was defiant until the end.
"Long Live Queen Nia"
"You're queen will be dead before Spring starts" Jayde snarled back eyes blazing.
"Begin" Lexa called and the executioners smiled before raising their whips in tandem and swinging with all their might. After crying out for the first few lashes they did not make a sound.
After the lashings both were barely conscious and there was no skin left on their backs. Lexa ordered their pants be removed to allow the burns to be placed on their fronts and legs.
The man did not make it through the burns but his body was still cut to allow the people of the Lake Clan to have revenge.
When the woman appeared to be on deaths door by the tenth cut Jayde took the knife, her people allowing her to make the final cut.
Jayde walked up to the woman who was barely conscious still and took her chin in her left hand.
"You are a brave warrior but a Branwada to pledge loyalty to Nia." She then ran the blade along the warriors throat from ear to ear and stood watching life's blood drain from her. She stepped back and raised the knife indicating the woman was gone and a large cheer erupted from the crowd.
Lexa stepped forward then "Leave them for one candle mark then cut them down. Build a pyre outside Polis walls and let their spirits free at sun down. May they return home and haunt their Queen" she ordered "let this be a lesson to all who go against me" she shot a look at the Chancellor and councillors "My word is law, to defy me brings death. We ride in two days to return to camp" she spun and headed off the dais then, Jayde and her guards hot on her heel.
She returned to the Homestead where she stripped from her clothes and gave them to a servant to be cleaned. She had the hottest shower that she could stand, scrubbing her body until it was pink, washing her hair, cleansing herself of death as best she could knowing more was to come.
Finally she got out and got dressed in jeans and the bomber jacket she wore on the first night here. She wanted to shake off the Heda and just be Lexa. Well at least until after lunch, even then she wanted to have a casual ideas session rather than a formal meeting.
She returned downstairs and found Jayde waiting. They had both transformed themselves, leaving the warriors behind and becoming the person. After leaving the Homestead they went to the makeshift camp at the training grounds. Many approached her with thanks for caring for them and offering them a place in Polis. Jayde assured many also and hugged a few that she knew well.
They spoke to the warriors telling them they could stay and help protect Polis during the war just in case or they could come with them to camp in two days time. When the sun was highest in the sky she returned to her family Inn and leaving Jayde in the dining room to wait for the others she went to her family in the kitchen and told them she was leaving. She would need to inform Costia's parents too she realised as she hugged her family and they organised a large private gathering on the final night there.
Lexa sighed when she realised she would have to invite the Councillors to appease them as they would not have time for a formal dinner. But she also decided to invite Ryon and his family for Clarke's sake. She was fond of the boy. She left the kitchen to find all but Clarke and Abby had arrived. She spoke to her guards who were eating their meals and gave them tasks to go to the Councillors and Ryons family with the invite for the following night. She would see Costia's family herself.
Finally Abby and Clarke arrived. Abby went to her partner and could see she had withdrawn into her shell a bit, her eyes dull. She didn't even stop to think, just stepped up and hugged her lover sighing quietly as she felt Jayde relax into her arms and hold her tight.
Clarke watched her mother comforting Jayde and turned to her wife, noticing she too was affected by that morning executions. She looked freshly showered and by the glow to her skin she realised she had been scrubbing herself hard. Lexa sat before she could make a move towards her so she sat down close beside her and placed a hand on her thigh. Small fingers slipped into her own and squeezed. It was Lexa's way of seeking comfort. They waited for Abby and Jayde to sit before Lexa spoke up.
"We will be returning to Camp not tomorrow but the day after. We need to prepare for war. I want any advantage I can have to make it as quick as possible"
"We may be able to help there, we have a few ideas on how to make explosives" Raven cut in. Lexa nodded
"Good, but I need your help with communications too. I need your help setting up radio links between the clans"
"That could take all winter and require a lot of travelling" Raven whistled as Monty spoke up
"That I can help with. I understand communications better than explosives"
"No, I need your help with the Mountain" Lexa vetoed and everyone went quiet at the mention and stared at her "the Ice nation want to claim it. Use it to overthrow me. Use other missiles"
"But we only had one missile" Maya spoke up confused "He used it on TonDC."
"Only one missile?" Lexa asked "are you sure?"
"Yes, it's why they developed the acid fog. To stop anyone getting close"
Lexa shared a confused look with Clarke. She didn't understand. Why would the Azgeda think there were more missiles?
"Someone from the mountain must have been captured by them" Maya stated "but who? They must have had the treatment before you took the mountain"
"Emerson!" Lexa growled "the one that offered me the treaty. He wore no mask and we know Lincoln killed Cage"
"Piece of shit" Bellamy growled
"If it is him I want him alive to face Trikru justice" Lexa growled and Clarke winced as her fingers were squeezed tight. Lexa was immediately contrite and raised her hand to kiss her throbbing fingers. "Apologies houmon"
"I'm fine. I'll get you back in childbirth" she teased and Abby who had been taking a sip of her drink nearly snorted it straight back out again, hastily grabbing a napkin. Clarke and Lexa tried not to laugh.
"Excuse me. What?" Abby asked
"It is a Legend" Lexa informed. "The last Heda will find her houmon, also a strong Heda, and the spirits will bless them with children to rule generations of peace"
"You know that it's physically impossible for two women to conceive and as far as I know Clarke still has her reproduction chip" Abby stated
"Reproduction chip?" Echo asked
"It's a chip implanted in reproducing aged females to stop pregnancies" Clarke informed Bellamy's partner
"That's barbaric" Echo was aghast "children are a blessing"
"That's rich coming from Azgeda" Jayde shot back
"I am no longer Azgeda I am Trikru" Echo shot Lexa a look, along with the others. Lexa sighed.
"Yes she is. I agree too, children are a blessing"
"Not when you have an aging station that couldn't afford a population burst" Abby sighed. "We were dying as it was"
"OK morbid" Clarke cut in "also in the past. If the legend comes true so be it."
"You will remove your chip?" Lexa asked
"Sha" Clarke nodded "but not yet". Lexa beamed proudly "don't get too cocky Heda. I've said two"
"Four"
"Then you have some" Clarke growled
"You're assuming she won't have all" Jayde put in which effectively shut everyone including Lexa up. The legend didn't actually say who had the child. Clarke couldn't help but laugh at the look on her face. Oh that would be priceless. Lexa was saved by the food appearing as everyone's favourite food was placed in front of them. Clarke rolled her eyes at Lexa's plate piled high with seafood before tucking into her own meal.
After lunch Lexa requested Raven and Wick come with her to speak to the Councillors about the radios while she sent Jayde off to purchase more horses and carts. They would be leaving with more warriors and Lexa was also aware of recent purchases that would need carts to convey home. Even more would be required now with tents, clothes and furs for the Lake Clan warriors. Before departing Lexa told them dinner would be at Costia's parents restaurant to say goodbye one hour after sundown. They would also be having a function at the Inn the night before departing.
Clarke and Abby returned to the hospital to check on their patients and wish them well. They received many thanks from them and staff members. Abby invited the registrar to their function the following night. He thanked them by offering a large bag full of supplies.
They spent the rest of the day walking through the beautiful city, talking to the people and eating some food without spoiling their appetites. They ran into the others at one point and Abby dragged them into a coffee shop so she could enjoy the drink she had come to love. She was very happy to be able to learn how to make it and carried out a large bag of grounded beans to take home.
"Let's hope Jayde has purchased some really sturdy carts" Clarke laughed as they returned to the Homestead just at the same time as the woman mentioned.
"I have purchased several carts and a couple of wagons so that Raven and others don't have to sit on the horses" Jayde informed formally and everyone sighed internally. The woman had just been breaking out of her serious shell and with everything that had happened she had withdrawn again. Abby shoved her coffee in her lovers arms.
"Good. Make sure this goes too and doesn't get wet"
"And if it gets wet?" Jayde asked
"You won't be, for the foreseeable future" Abby grinned and Jaydes eyes widened when she realised what she meant. Clarke groaned and covered her ears while the others laughed.
"I will ensure it stays very dry under several covers" Jayde gulped
"Good. Come find me when you have it secured. I'm planning a shower"
"Mum" Clarke protested.
"What?" Abby protested her innocence and winked at Jayde before sauntering inside. Poor Jayde watched her go wide eyed before practically sprinting for the stables to secure the important parcel. Clarke groaned and headed in with her friends and was greeted by the head servant.
"Skaiprisa, Heda arrived a few minutes ago and requested your presence in your rooms"
"I bet she did" Octavia snorted and Clarke rolled her eyes and ignored the catcalls of her friends as she made her way upstairs. Upon entering their residence she smiled upon hearing the low rumble and hurriedly removed her jacket and shoes. Sauntering into the bedroom she dropped her pants and removed her jumper and undershirts until she was in her underwear and chest wrap. She walked into the bathroom and paused when she found it empty bar the rumbling spa and tens of lit candles.
She felt a presence behind her before thin but strong arms wrapped around her waist and a toned naked body pressed against her own. Soft pouty lips pressed against her neck causing her to gasp.
"We need to work on your awareness of your surroundings. You were so distracted by the spa you did not notice me in the wardrobe." Lexa husked "I hadn't made it to the bath yet" she advised while reaching for the tie of the chest wrap and expertly undoing it.
"You've had way too much practice with that" Clarke grumbled and Lexa smirked
"Only with my own"
"I smell bullshit" Clarke shot back and Lexa paused smelling the air, the nearest farm was miles away, Clarke should not be able to smell anything. She was about to reply when Clarke groaned "don't be literal, I meant you're lying"
Oh
"I am not." Lexa replied
"Well I know Costia can't have been your last" Clarke grinned turning. Her grin fled when she saw Lexa's serious gaze "Lexa" she breathed.
"It is of little importance. I have you now" Lexa smiled and Clarke grinned
"Aren't you lucky?"
"Very" Lexa agreed as Clarke's underwear hit the floor and she took Clarke's mouth in a passionate kiss as she walked Clarke towards the spa.