*You are either going to roll your eyes at the last piece of dialogue or you're going to slow clap in approval. I did both...but honestly it was just begging to be written!

Chapter 42:

Lexa's face fell she hung her head. She took a deep breath. Nia was going to get what she wanted. She was going to have Lexa's head, Lexa's people and Lexa's coalition, but she won't have Clarke, she told herself. She couldn't abandon the girl. To do that would kill her. Lexa wouldn't survive letting Clarke down a second time. Either way she would die. I vow to treat your needs as my own, she reminded herself of her promise to Clarke. She barely made it through last time she left her. She felt like a part of her had been missing since they had been separated again. Her mind rushed back to the countless times she looked out over Polis and thought about stepping off the ledge. Letting the ground meet her to end her suffering.

I would die a thousand deaths for you, she thought. It was another promise she had made to Clarke. Lexa looked down at Octavia and smiled sadly, Octavia shook her head.

"No, we'll find another way," she said shaking her head insistently.

Lexa shook her head, "There is no other way. If there is, I cannot see it. I'm going to give her what she wants, only when Clarke is free and you are leaving camp. You must get her clear of this. You must get her to safety. Our men are still fighting you can slip away." As if on cue more gunshots rang out into the night.

"Let us help you." Lincoln spoke up bowing his head slightly in respect.

"You've done enough. You both have," Lexa said laying a trembling hand on Octavia's shoulder. Lexa slowly rose taking a few steadying breathes. At least she could see Clarke one last time. She ignored the sounds behind her of what she could only assumed was Octavia making wild grabs trying to hold Lexa back.

She slowly made her way out into the open and into the light of the fire. The warriors that had come to protect the Queen were parting ways allowing her to pass staring wide-eyed at the commander. Lexa noticed how they quickly closed in behind her preventing her from retreating. Lexa held her head high her hand on her sword, poised and ready should anyone make a move against her. She expected it, she knew it was coming she just had to be ready for it. She would at least be smart about surrendering herself.

She stopped a few feet away from Nia. "Where is she?"

"Who?" Nia asked and Lexa growled.

"Where is Clarke? I want to see her. You let her go and when she's safe I drop my sword."

Nia sneered at Lexa, "Giving it all up for your weakness this time are we?"

Lexa gritted her teeth trying to ignore the dig, "Lets get on with it shall we?"

A warrior darted out from behind her she swung and struck him down before he got close enough to land his weapon. A second moved and she felled him too in one quick strike.

Nia held up her hands, halting any more advances. She smiled and Lexa swallowed the urge to use her sword to remove it. She knew doing so would kill Clarke. There were too many warriors around her. She'd never get her out of here alive.

Nia made a motion to her men beside her. One headed into the tent and shortly returned dragging Clarke out forcefully. He threw her to the ground at Nia's feet in front of Lexa. Lexa didn't move she watched as Clarke laid limp looking up at her. Her eyes full of warning. Her look telling Lexa not to move. Another silent conversation passed between the two. Lexa saw cuts on Clarke's face, she felt rage fill her as she tore her eyes from Clarke and glared at Nia.

"Release her, when she's out of sight I drop my sword."

Nia made a sound with her lips like she was scolding a child, "No dear, that's not how this will work. You drop your sword and the girl walks free after. You kneel before me and accept your fate and she goes free."

Lexa stared at Nia not giving anything away. She remained silent, she didn't trust Nia, but she was blind to any other option.

The man beside Clarke kicked her in the ribs and Clarke gasped in pain before going limp again.

"For every moment you resist the more that happens," Nia said coldly as the man kicked Clarke again.

"Wait!" Lexa sighed as the man was bring his foot back to strike again. All she knew was she had to stop it. She stepped forward quickly and closed the gap. She fell to her knees more so to get closer to Clarke than to obey Nia. She then laid her blade on the ground in front of Nia's feet. Lexa kept her eyes on Clarke the entire time. Her eyes were burning with unshed tears. She wanted to reach out, she wanted to touch her one last time. She wanted to wrap her in arms and never let her go.

"Silly girls," Nia said softly drawing her sword and raising it, "Don't you know that love is weakness?"

The question wasn't even out of the Queen's mouth before a flurry of action was taking place. Lexa kept her eyes on Clarke waiting for the blow, in the same instant she watched Clarke's eyes turn dark blue with determination. The blonde twirled on to her back revealing a small hooked blade as she sliced at the man's legs bringing him to the ground in a howl of pain. Lexa heard crashes and gunshots ring out around them as Clarke stood and pulled her gun that was concealed under furs out. She cocked the pin and pointed it at Nia freezing the Queen in her swing and her men in their tracks.

Lexa stood up grabbing the sword from Nia's hand, she looked at her for a moment before smiling and answering Nia's question as she turned to look into Clarke's blue eyes, "Not ours."

BANG