Silence consumed the tower as Lexa strode through the corridors. Four guards flanked her on either side, wielding swords and pole arms. Her own swords were sheathed across her back. Twitches shot through her fingers when she stepped into the elevator. An attack inside the tower had never happened in her people's history. Not only that, but on the nightblood's floor. Please let them be okay. The ground beneath her dipped and Lexa steeled herself. Whoever walked those halls that wasn't a guard or nightblood was dead to her. Lexa had been pushed far enough.
The ride down seemed to take an eternity. Each floor they dropped past seemed to move by at a crawl. Lexa clenched her fists together and lowered her head. Now was not the time for her to be impatient. For all she knew, the nightbloods were fighting for their lives below and they needed her at her best. The guards to her side stood solemnly, each gripping their weapons tight. Titus advised her to take more with her, but Lexa declined. Whatever fighting force had made its way into the tower undetected could only be small. And they will wish they hadn't ever come here when I am done.
At long last, the elevator jolted to a halt. Lexa's guards moved to open the doors and she drew her swords in one, swift motion. Slowly, she stepped out into the long hallway before her. Almost immediately her heart sunk. Blood soaked the floor with the guards that were normally posted there. Their bodies lay limp against the walls, heads slumped to the side. Each of them had their swords by their side, stained with blood. Whose, she could not tell. Please... no... she thought to herself. All of her being prayed for the nightbloods to be okay.
Further down the hall she heard the all too familiar clang of sword fighting and her heart sank. Not bothering with the rest of the rooms in the hall, Lexa ran straight for the nightblood rooms. With each step the fighting only intensified and she broke out into a sprint. Her guards behind her called out for her to slow down, but she disregarded them. Most of those nightbloods in there she had trained since they were knee-high to her. She personally looked at them as her responsibility and loved every single one of them.
Lexa reached the door at the end of the hall and burst through it. Immediately her focus was drawn by a man dressed in cloth covered armor. He fought in the center of the room, battling what Lexa assumed was a nightblood. She didn't hesitate a moment later and lunged forward to attack the man. The assassin noticed her lunge too late and Lexa's sword pierced through his back.
A gargled cry of pain erupted from the man as he fell to his knees. It didn't matter to Lexa. This traitor had brought weapons into Polis, attacked her tower, and threatened her nightbloods. In one swift motion, Lexa withdrew the sword from his back and kicked him to the ground. Let him bleed.
Lexa looked back to her guards for a moment, and all were standing at the door, mouths agape. In that moment her heart felt like it had an anchor dragging it downwards. She knew what would be behind her when she turned around. Steeling herself, Lexa spun to look at the rest of the room and her heart shattered. Inky blood lay splattered across the floor and walls. All of the nightbloods lay dead before her, many crowded together in a failed attempt to save each other. I failed them...
Lexa's knees buckled and she fell hard to the ground. Any pain she would have felt didn't register at all. The only thing she could focus on were all the dead children before her. Mixed in with the nightbloods were the bodies of the assassins, swords by their side. The children never stood a chance. Weapons were forbidden in the nightblood quarters, though at present she wished that law had never been made. Tears streamed down from her eyes and her hands went limp, her swords slipping out of them to the floor.
Across the room she caught glimpse of Aiden's face and her tears only worsened. From the moment he arrived in Polis she knew that he would have been the next Heda. And now... he's gone. Lexa tried to clamp down on her emotions but it was too much, seeing him dead like that. "I failed you all," she cried. Oblivious to anything else in the room, she half-crawled over to Aiden's body and brought his head to her lap. She knew that she was showing vulnerability in front of her guards. She didn't care. Her hands gently swept away the hair on Aiden's face and a few of her tears dropped onto his forehead. "I swear to you," Lexa whispered, drawing him close. "Jus drein, jus daun. Someone will pay dearly for this."
"Heda...?"
Lexa snapped her attention behind her, eyes still watery, to see Ontari still standing there. In her grief and disbelief, Lexa must have forgotten about her standing there. The girl looked exhausted, was barely standing, and loosely held a sword in her hands. At least one survived, Lexa thought, relieved. She gently lowered Aiden's body back down to the ground and rose to her feet. "You were fighting these assassins when I came in," Lexa recalled. "Are you hurt?"
Ontari shook her head from side to side. "I... I did the best I could," the girl cried, lowering her gaze to the floor. "I tried to protect them, but we were unarmed."
"It's okay," Lexa consoled. While she did not like Ontari at all and had her suspicions about the girl, she was the only nightblood left. Regardless of Nia's plans with the girl, their culture required Ontari to be kept safe. "Tell me what happened."
Ontari was quiet for a long time. It didn't surprise Lexa given the circumstances. She figured the girl wasn't any older than thirteen or fourteen. Having to face down a massacre like that would shake anyone, including herself. Lexa opened her mouth to let her know that it was okay, and they could talk about it later, when Ontari spoke.
"It happened so fast," she began. "Everyone was relaxing while waiting until it was time to sleep. We heard some noises outside the door and a couple of screams." Ontari paused and pointed towards the door. "They started banging on the door... and it was so loud."
The nightblood started to cry and Lexa moved closer, though she refrained from offering a comforting hand. There was still a limit to the kindness she could openly show the nightbloods, even at moments like this. "Go on," Lexa encouraged.
Ontari took a couple of steadying breaths before she continued. "They burst through the door and everything seemed like a blur. They just started... attacking." She pointed to the bodies closest to the door. "A couple of them tried to fight right away, but... they didn't... stand a chance. One of the attackers lost his balance during an attack and he lost his sword." Ontari motioned to the sword in her hand. "But it was too late," she sobbed. "They all tried to fight so hard but they were unarmed. I killed the man who fell but it was still two swords against one. The few of us left tried to fight. I don't remember much after that. At some point it just dwindled to me and I..."
Lexa held up her hand to stop Ontari. She had heard brought her some measure of comfort to know that the nightbloods went out fighting. She lowered her head to offer a quick prayer and the sword Ontari held caught her eye. There's no blood on it, she realized. "How did you kill the man you took that sword from?" she asked. Something wasn't right. Lexa remembered seeing the bodies of the assassins. They all had their swords.
"I... stabbed him through the heart, Heda," Ontari replied.
Liar. Lexa walked over to her swords, picking them up. While bending over to pick them up, she looked over the room again. All three bodies still had their swords next to them. All of the blades were soaked in blood, except the one Ontari held.
"I'm sorry, Heda."
Lexa knelt down on one knee and started breathing heavily, hands tightening on her swords. She finally understood Nia's plans. This whole time, she had been worried Ontari had been sent to kill her. Looking around the room, it was now clear exactly why Ontari had been brought to Polis. This is all my fault, she realized with horror. It had been her decision to allow Ontari to be around the other nightbloods.
All of the dead nightblood faces stared straight at Lexa. Their cold, dead eyes judging her for failing them. Her grip on her sword hilts tightened until her knuckles were completely white. Nia had finally gone too far, and Lexa had the reason she needed to obliterate her. She hated war and the lives that would be lost, but she had no other choice. I will no longer stand by and be insulted. Nia is going to die.
"Heda, are you okay?"
Lexa sprang to her feet whirling around and thrusting her sword straight at Ontari's heart. Her attack landed right on target, a gasp escaping from Ontari. The guards in the room stared at her in awe, though she ignored them. Rage filled her bones. "You should have ran while you had the chance, girl," Lexa seethed. Ontari raised her head to lock eyes and Lexa pushed the sword deeper into the girl's chest. "I am going to conquer the Azgeda, and this time I will leave with your Queen's head."
The only expression on Ontari's face was one of pure shock. Lexa had no doubt the girl thought she would get away with her lies. She almost did. If she hadn't cleaned her sword I wouldn't have known. Black blood dripped from Ontari's mouth and she watched the girl slowly dying before her. She had no doubt the Commanders of old would be proud of her in this moment. Ontari finally went limp and Lexa kicked her to the ground, sheathing both of her swords after the girl collapsed.
Lexa's guards hadn't moved from their positions, all staring at her. "Ontari was part of the group sent to assassinate the nightbloods," she stated. "They were on orders from Queen Nia. The Azgeda are no longer part of this Coalition, and there will be war." She moved to leave the room, and after a few moments her guards followed. "I am going to the throne room. Send word to the ambassadors. There will be a gathering in one hour." They all stepped back into the elevator and Lexa took one last look down the hallway. Nia is going to suffer for this. The doors shut and Lexa closed her eyes, trying to calm the raging storm within her.
Lexa stood at the foot of her throne, watching as the various ambassadors and people filed in. Not a hint of emotion showed on her face. She also donned her usual face paint to hide any evidence she had been crying. Now was a time to send a message and tears would take away from it. Once again, she had to throw on the guise of the Commander and hide her inner turmoil.
The ambassadors all took their respective seats when they entered the room. All were present, but Lexa's eyes never left the Azgeda ambassador. She wondered if he was involved in Nia's plot. Her mind kept traveling to several floors below with Aiden and the rest of the nightbloods. Emotion briefly cracked through her resolve and her hand clenched slightly. That was all she allowed before she clamped back down. The time to be angry would be soon, and she would unleash her fury.
The last of the ambassadors took their seats and Lexa stepped forward. "Ambassadors, I have summoned you here because there has been attacks on the Conclave," Lexa began, staring down the Azgedan ambassador. He looked slightly uncomfortable under her stare, and she took a small pleasure in that. He will have to wait, for now, she thought. "Skaikru today threatened our people. They will try to steal a village from us. That will not happen."
Even though Lexa herself was from Trikru, she could not speak for them. Instead, she had Indra there to speak for their people. "This is a farming village. They have some warriors, but not enough to stand against Skaikru guns."
The Plains Riders ambassador shifted forward in his seat. "What is your command, Heda?"
Lexa motioned to Indra. "Indra will take three hundred warriors to defend the village. I have been generous to Skaikru. No more." Lexa looked each ambassador in the eyes before she continued. "Should Skaikru fight for the village, we will advance on their city. After discussions with Indra, I do not believe all of Skaikru want this war. We will starve them out until they give up their leader."
There was much chattering between the ambassadors. She already knew which ones would object. Blockading the Skaikru would not be popular amongst the more violent clans, though she had a plan for that. After some discussion, all were nodding in agreement with her plan, except the Azgedan ambassador.
"You summoned the armies of the twelve clans to have them sit and do nothing?" The Azgedan ambassador spoke up, rising from his chair. "You did the same at the Mountain. Wanheda stepped up to do what you failed to."
The whole room went silent and all eyes stared at Lexa. The nerve of the Azgeda to question her like that only fed the flames within her. At least she now knew where the ambassador stood in terms of Nia's planning. Time to throw a wrench in your plans. Indra made a move to stand from her chair but Lexa raised her hand, staying her. She would remind them all of who conquered them to begin with. "I did summon the army of the twelve clans. They will not be sent home, however. Just before I called you all here, there was an attack in the tower."
The dynamic in the room swayed suddenly, everyone in the room whispering and looking at each other. Attacks in Polis were extremely rare, and unheard of in the tower. "Silence!" Lexa yelled out. Her grip on her emotions was waning and seeing the smug look on the Azgedan ambassador's face only further inflamed her. The room fell silent and she took a few more steps to stand in the middle of the room.
The next part was going to be hard for her to say. She steeled herself as best she could to break the news. "Four assassins, including the newest nightblood girl, Ontari, infiltrated the tower. They murdered several guards and... all... of the nightbloods." The room was so silent Lexa could drop a piece of cloth and it would be the only thing that could be heard. "They are all dead now, the last two by my hand. Before they died, I managed to pry out of them who gave the orders."
The smug look was gone from the Azgedan's face and Lexa could not contain herself any longer. Grabbing a spear from a nearby guard she tossed it as hard as she could at the Azgedan. Her toss connected and plunged through the mans chest, making it halfway before finally coming to a rest. "Queen Nia gave the orders to murder all of the nightbloods!" she roared out.
The room roared to life as everyone sprang from their feet. Most stood, yelling at the dying man. A few took it upon themselves to pick up the Azgedan chair, ambassador still in it, and carry it past Lexa's throne. In one smooth motion, they tossed it out of the window with a yell. I am coming for you, Nia. "Azgeda is now an enemy of the Coalition. I call upon the armies of the eleven clans. When they arrive in Polis, we go to war."
The roars from the crowd grew even fiercer and Lexa nodded. She gave Indra a look and then made her way to the exit. Before the events of the next couple of days, there was something she needed to take care of. Perhaps her last chance before going to war, Lexa made for her room and prayed that everything would be okay.
Clarke sat in a chair by the window, enjoying the cool night breeze. Various fires burned throughout the landscape, like small beacons of hope. It was a soothing sight for Clarke to look at. She still wondered what happened earlier in the day when she had been forced to return to the tower. Whenever the guards would come in she would ask them, though they refused to answer. From her room she had seen some commotion happening and could hear yelling throughout the tower, but that was as much as she knew.
She was easing back into her chair when she heard the door to her room opening. Jumping from her seat, she saw Lexa entering her room, alone. The Commander wore a simple black dress with her trademarked war paint on her face. She hadn't seen Lexa dressed like this before, and she was shocked. Lexa looked more like a human and less like a warrior.
It was only after a few seconds that Clarke realized Lexa was carrying a bundle of cloth in her arms. Taking another look at her face, there was also a sadness in Lexa's eyes that Clarke wondered about. Moving from behind her chair, Clarke moved towards Lexa. "What's going on? Is everything okay?" she asked, trying to get answers for questions she had all day.
"No," Lexa answered softly. The Commander tilted her head slightly as she spoke. "Your people brought back the bodies of two messengers. They killed them."
Clarke stood in shock. That must have been why she had been forced back to the tower. If they had come to Polis to do something like that, they were definitely armed. But why would they do that? "That doesn't make any sense," Clarke responded. "My mother would never let them do that."
"It was your leader, Pike," Lexa replied curtly. "He was here. They gave us their bodies and then threatened us with war." Clarke could see the fury in Lexa's eyes as she talked. "Tomorrow they will try to take a village by force. I've sent an army to stop them."
Why are they doing this? She had worked so hard to get a tentative alliance with the Grounders before the Mountain. Everything she had heard from her time in the refugee camp and Polis had told her that the peace had been holding. "And what happens if your army loses?" Clarke forced herself to ask. She already knew the answer.
"I will form a blockade and starve your people out until they give me this Pike," Lexa seethed. Clarke was honestly surprised with the answer. She expected total annihilation. "You have had more influence on me than you know, Clarke. Interacting with you and others from your kind has shown me that not all of you want war. I will give them the chance to avoid that."
Clarke was stunned. She knew what was expected of the Heda in Grounder culture. War would be expected, especially if blood were shed. To avoid that as the first option, Lexa would come under major heat. "I... didn't expect that," Clarke said. She knew right then what she needed to do. "If there's still time, I want to go back. Perhaps I can talk them out of it."
Lexa shook her head. "Indra is already on her way to the village. If you want to return, it will be when she does." Lexa moved to sit on the nearby bed and Clarke followed. "She has been in contact with some of your people, which also helped my decision. I will let you know more when the time comes."
Lexa looked down at the ground and Clarke could tell there was something more going on. "What aren't you telling me? What else happened? I heard shouting through the tower today."
"There was an attack." Lexa's words were so soft that Clarke could barely hear them. "The nightbloods... Nia... sent assassins. They're all dead."
Clarke's jaw dropped. She had watched a few of the training sessions from her tower window. All of them were children, and very important to Grounder culture. Lexa had always seemed at ease when coming back from training them. "I'm so sorry," Clarke said, placing a hand on Lexa's shoulder. She felt relieved she had gotten over most of her anger towards the Heda. Nia's plans had gone too far and she would never have endorsed the murder of children.
"They will be avenged, though, which is why I am here," Lexa said, turning to Clarke. "There will be war. I have thrown the Azgeda out of the Coalition and will march on them when the armies arrive." Lexa's hands shifted to lay on top of the cloth bundle in her lap. "I don't know what will happen to your people throughout this. I can't promise you it won't come to war."
Lexa raised her head and looked Clarke straight in the eyes. "I have hurt you, Clarke. I never wanted that." Lexa unfolded the cloth bundle and gripped onto something underneath. "You earned this before and I think it is time for you to have it back. I cannot swear fealty to you, but I can make your needs my needs. Consider this my promise to you." Lexa pulled out a sword from beneath the cloth and Clarke instantly recognized it.
"My sword..." Clarke muttered. She gently took it into her hands and held it dearly. It instantly felt so familiar in her hand and she didn't realize how much she missed it. "Thank you," she whispered to Lexa, looking back up at her. "I accept. If you betray me again, Lexa-"
"I won't," Lexa cut her off. "You have my word, Clarke kom Skaikru."
Clarke unsheathed the sword slightly to look at the blade. She was surprised by the sharp glimmer coming off of the steel. It looked like it had been reworked, though she didn't have to ask who did it. "I wanted to kill you for so long," she opened up. "I almost did, back at the refugee camp when you came to look for me. I'm glad I didn't." Clarke sheathed her sword and laid it across her lap. The only thing missing now was the other weapon Lexa had of hers. "What about my dagger?" Clarke asked.
Lexa tensed for a moment, clutching at the cloth for a moment. Her gaze never wavered from Clarke's though, and it didn't take long for her to speak. "When you want it," Lexa replied, a tenderness in her voice.
Clarke nodded, understanding what Lexa really meant. When you want me. At one point she wanted to be in a place to feel that way. Now, she hoped again to feel that way. "Okay," Clarke replied in an equally soft voice.
Lexa stood and gathered up the cloth on her lap. "I can't stay, but thank you for listening, Clarke."
Clarke gave a small smile and nodded. Lexa turned to walk out the next moment and she watched her until the doors were closed again. All alone, she gripped the sword tight to her body. She had survived so much to this point, and now another war was right on the cusp of happening. For the first time in a while, though, she had hope. She would be ready for when Indra returned. It was time for her to step back into the spotlight. Clarke Griffin didn't need to hide anymore.
A/N: Hey all, thanks for reading, and sorry for the long delay between chapters! A question I have for you all is this: would you be interested in watching me write a chapter live? I was thinking of setting up a Google Doc that you all can view while I write for maybe an hour or so. Would that interest anyone? Message me/leave a review and if enough people seem interested, I'll set a date that I'll put in my profile. Thanks again for reading!