In the bath, Clarke allowed herself to grieve for few minutes, taking advantage of the water to disguise her tears. Then she forced herself to concentrate on the matters at hand. She didn't want to trust Roan, but had no choice. She had some leverage with Titus if she could convince Murphy to stay quiet about the terrible events in the suite across from Lexa's. She shivered thinking of anyone else in the bed she and Lexa shared, and again stopped herself from going further with that thought. It benefited no one, and she had to keep her wits about her to have any chance of saving her people.
Clarke went under the water. Bellamy was so angry and lost. She understood that completely, and part of it was her fault for leaving him alone while she tried to escape everything. The rest was on him, though. She knew there were Arkadians who didn't support what Pike was doing. Finding a way to save them had to be her priority.
She took her time bathing, trying to think of a way to get them out. There were too many variables still in play, starting with the outcome of the Conclave. Clarke questioned whether Roan would continue to protect her if Ontari somehow failed to become heda, and then wondered whether he had somehow rigged the proceedings. She could see him convincing Titus that Ontari was the better candidate, untainted by Lexa's insistence on moving past jus drein jus daun.
And then she wondered what of Lexa would survive on that chip. Would Ontari hear Lexa? Would Lexa speak through Ontari? Could she bear to hear it? That thought sent her under the water again, and she stayed until her brain demanded oxygen. It was all too much. Clarke left the tub, dried herself, and put on the sleep clothes piled on the bench. She went into her assigned bedroom and put her hair into a single braid before laying down to try to get some sleep. Dawn would bring hours of work, and she needed to think clearly.
While Clarke bathed, Roan's healer worked on Murphy. He had Murphy bathe before tending to the many wounds Titus left on his body. Most were too old to benefit from stitches and would leave scars, especially on his face and back. The healer stuffed them with salve and bandaged them. It hurt, but nowhere near as much as getting the wounds had.
When the healer finished, he forced Murphy to empty a mug of dark, bitter liquid. Half an hour later, he was passed out in a comfortable bed.
In the morning, while they waited for breakfast to be served, Clarke asked Roan about Murphy. He got up from the table and gestured for her to follow. Roan led her to Murphy's room and opened the door. He was deeply asleep, and Clarke saw that his back and cheek were bandaged. One of Roan's warriors sat in the room. Clarke nodded that she was satisfied, and held her questions until the door was closed.
"Is he a prisoner?"
"No, the healer said someone should stay with him. He will have a guard, just as you will have a guard."
"What's our game plan?"
"Today, we observe the Conclave."
"I don't want to watch children slaughter each other."
"The rules do not require death, and I have instructed Ontari to spare her opponents, especially Aden."
They stopped talking while food and drink were placed on the table. As they served themselves, Clarke asked, "Why?"
"There has been enough death, Clarke. Did Lexa tell you about Costia?"
"Only that your mother took her and returned her head."
"My mother did that to make a point with Lexa. Everyone knew that Lexa would be heda. She was calculating and ruthless except where Costia was concerned, and there were great fears that Lexa would surrender to Costia, even though Costia was too weak to rule."
"What was her point? I'm a sadistic bitch?"
"That was one of them," Roan answered with a grim smile. "The other was that the heda is alone. Heda can have no attachment greater than duty." He paused to sip some wine. "You made Lexa weak. She made an error in the Mountain, and compounded it by insisting that Skaikru join the coalition. She had many other options, but chose the path she did because of you."
"I didn't do anything," Clarke protested.
"You did a great deal, Wanheda. You took down the Mountain after Lexa abandoned you to Maun-de. She believed you and your people would die. The deal she made was short-sighted. There was no way Maunon would uphold their part of the bargain. As soon as they could be outside, they would have taken control of all our lands and ruled as my mother did. She would have made a deal with them, as long as it meant she had some control over lands beside our own.
"Lexa helped Skaikru survive winter, and insisted they become part of her alliance. She could have simply given Skaikru land and put them under her protection, but she wanted you, Clarke, and knew the way to get you was to elevate your people. Winter would have killed most of them except for Lexa's order that Trikru keep them alive."
"What's your point, Roan?"
"Your people have consigned themselves to death if they do not submit to Heda. Ontari cannot tolerate any weakness in the beginning of her rule. The leaders of your rebellion must die publicly, in our way."
"How does that benefit Skaikru?" Clarke struggled not to yell although she was becoming angry.
"It will keep the rest of them alive. Your mother, your friends."
"One of my friends is following Pike."
"I sorry, Clarke, but he will have to die. You will not be permitted to spare him as you did your lover."
Clarke pushed her food away. "I'm supposed to deliver that message to them," she said flatly.
"Sha. I am sorry for that, too."
"Yeah, I can tell."
"Clarke, I have not lied to you. We have the same goal now, and we can succeed only if we work together."
"Does Ontari know your plan?"
"Sha. She hated and feared my mother. She knows that she did not learn all that heda should, that her exclusion from Natblida training leaves her at a disadvantage. We both know she cannot rely on Titus."
"You don't know the half of it," Clarke muttered.
"Do not keep his secrets. If he is dangerous, we must eliminate him."
"I am dangerous to him," Clarke answered. "Murphy, too."
"What do you know?"
Clarke debated telling him, and decided to keep what she knew to herself for now. "Can I speak to Ontari?"
"No one speaks to the Natblida once the Conclave begins. The only reason I was able to give Ontari instruction was that we had to travel." Roan left the table. "We must go. The Conclave begins shortly."
He led her through the tower. Guards went ahead of them and followed them to the viewing area set aside for the coalition's leaders and ambassadors. Titus didn't see Clarke right away, but she made sure to smile at him when he did. He flushed red and barked an order.
The warrior approached them warily. "Fleimkepa asks under whose authority Wanheda attends."
"He can ask me himself," Clarke barked.
Roan smothered a chuckle. "Mine, as King of Azgeda."
"Tell Titus to float himself," she added before the warrior left.
"Do not antagonize Titus yet, Clarke. He can be a powerful ally."
"He will do everything in his power to keep Ontari from you."
"She will not trust him," he said confidently.
"She shouldn't trust anyone." She stared at Titus, waiting for him to look at her again, but he did not.
Fight after fight took place below them. One by one, Ontari defeated her rivals, leaving them battered on the ground, expecting her to finish them. She followed Roan's instruction and accepted their surrender in violation of the training Nia forced on her. Night was approaching when Aden entered the ring. Clarke's heart sank. If he was anything like Lexa, he might force Ontari to kill him rather than surrender.
It was the longest fight of the day. Aden was unwilling to surrender, and Ontari had instructions not to kill him. Finally, she pinned him to the dirt, her knees on his elbows, her blade at his throat. She leaned close and said something to him, and Aden nodded. Ontari stood and helped Aden stand. He bowed at his waist to her and left the arena.
Clarke saw the rage in Titus' body language. She knew Lexa told him to make Aden the next heda, but Ontari was the clear victor. Her refusal to kill her defeated foes infuriated him. Still, he did his duty and declared Ontari the new commander. She left the arena with him to the crowd's chant of "Heda! Heda! Heda!"