As she spoke to her friends, Clarke was glad to see that they weren't getting drunk. They all seemed a little uneasy, and she did her best to allay their fears. She told them that Miller was in charge, but she would be around if they needed her, and repeated the gist of Ontari's speech many times to reassure them.

Clarke's palm began to itch, and she knew Ontari was near. She finished speaking to the last two Arkadian refugees and stood. When she turned, Clarke saw Ontari watching her from a few feet away. The light wasn't bright enough to make out her eye color. "Do you need something, Heda?"

"I need many things, Wanheda. I came to ask how your people fare."

"They are well. Thank you for everything."

"Do you need anything?"

"No, Heda."

"You need only ask."

"Mochof, Heda."Protect you.

"Join me, Wanheda."

Clarke nodded. Happy.

Ontari walked out of the feast hall and down two flights of concrete steps. Clarke followed her out of the tower into a garden. It was empty, but they could hear noise from the feast hall and the sounds of celebration in the streets. Ontari signaled the guards to remain at the tower.

She and Clarke walked side by side on the manicured paths.

"I am not fond of feasts," Ontari admitted.

"Why?"

"They are loud, and there are always fights. Nia made me fight the winner of each."

"Why?"

"To make me strong."

"And angry." Not with you.

"Sha," Ontari sighed. "I do not understand what is happening, Klark. My thoughts are not my own."

"Is it the commander spirit?" Yu, Klark.

"Perhaps. It happens most often when I am near you, although when I am not around you, you, you are in my thoughts."

"I don't know what to say." Ain.

"Can I trust you, Klark?"

"You can."

"Haihefa Roan speaks highly of you, but Titus says you are the cause of Lexa's death."

Spicha. "Says to whom?"

"Only to me. I forbade him to say it again."

Protect you. "Be careful around Titus."

"What do you know?"

"He has his own agenda." Lexa snorted in Clarke's head. Ron ai ridiyo op.

"Klark, I will not let him hurt you. You can speak true."

"All I can say is be careful." I will protect you.

"Why do you not speak my name? We are alone. Are you still angry about how I treated you at Nia's direction?"

"No, you didn't hurt me."

"Then say my name."

Beja. "Ontari." Ontari took Clarke's hand and stopped her. She dropped to her knee. Clarke tried to free her hand. "Please don't." Ai hod you in, Klark.

"She compels me."

"Please, don't," Clarke repeated. Ai hod yu in, Klark. Osir keryon ste teina. She knelt so she and Ontari were face to face. "I don't know you. You don't know me."

"I know you, Klark." Ontari put her hand on Clarke's cheek, ignoring how she flinched. "Your heart holds no weakness."

Clarke covered her mouth to muffle her sob. Tears streamed down her face. Ontari moved to both knees and let go of Clarke's hand. She pulled Clarke close and held her while she sobbed.

"I'm sorry, Klark. I did not wish to leave you. You must be strong until we meet again."

"Stop."

"I cannot leave while you are so sad."

"Beja, Ontari, hod op."

"Ai laik Leksa. Yu get ai in."

Clarke tried to get away, and when that failed, she beat her fists on Ontari's back and continued to sob on her shoulder. Ontari rocked them and held Clarke until Clarke calmed a little. "Ai keryon now ban yu op."

"Stop, please stop. It's not fair to Ontari and it's not fair to me. It's not fair to you. I released your spirit."

"We will be together soon, Klark. You will find the way."

"What way?"

"Jus drein jus daun."

"That's not the way. We agreed."

"Jus drein jus daun," Ontari repeated. She stood, bringing Clarke along, dropped her hands to Clarke's thighs, and lifted her. "You will sleep tonight."

Clarke was still crying, and buried her face in Ontari's neck. Their guards saw them coming. One went ahead to clear the way so that no one saw them. The others surrounded them as Ontari carried Clarke to the lift.

By the time it reached the top floor, Clarke's chronic exhaustion caught up to her. She slept. In Heda's suite, a guard turned down the covers before leaving them. Ontari laid Clarke in the bed. She removed Clarke's boots and jacket and removed her boots, jacket and outer shirt before getting into bed and bringing Clarke to lie beside her. Clarke threw a leg across her, secured one hand at Ontari's hip, and sighed against her collar bone.

100 – 100 – 100

The sky was just beginning to brighten when Clarke woke. It was the first full night's sleep she had since Lexa's death, and as she woke, panic set in when she realized she was in bed with someone. She recognized Ontari and recalled the night before. Clarke felt terrible for Ontari, who was losing herself to the A.I. That raised more questions than Clarke could catalog, much less answer.

She began to slowly disengage from Ontari. Ontari made a cross noise and pulled Clarke closer. Clarke sighed. The physical comfort felt wonderful, but Ontari deserved better than to be the A.I.'s pawn. "Stop thinking," Ontari said.

"I have a breakfast meeting," Clarke said, hoping Ontari would let her go.

"No one will be up for hours yet."

"Please, Ontari."

"No, Klark. It's been so long."

Clarke couldn't help her uneven inhalation, but she was able to prevent tears. Ontari returned to sleep, but her grip on Clarke was unbreakable, so Clarke began to ponder some of questions keeping her awake. Was Lexa ever real, or was she just the manifestation of the A.I.? How could the A.I. override all the things that made a person, the experience and chemistry, but leave enough for that person to be recognizable to anyone who knew her? If the A.I. was consuming Ontari, would it lead her to the same conclusions it led Lexa to? How did it affect her brain chemistry? What memories did it take, and what of the ones that were left? If the A.I. turned Ontari into Lexa, could Clarke still love her? If Titus realized what was happening, what would he do? Could the chip be removed without the carrier's death? How long would it take for the person to return to herself? Would the long-term effects of removing the chip be any worse than those of leaving it in?

Each question led to another, and none had answers. At least Clarke heard only her own thoughts. Lexa's constant whispering was thankfully absent. Ontari slept deeply, and Clarke slowly moved out of her hold. She picked up her boots and walked to the door. She looked back for one second before leaving, and her breath caught in her throat. If Clarke didn't know better, she would have sworn that Lexa slept in the bed, all loose limbs and dark curls, tattoos and scars. Clarke jerked the door open and ran for the lift.

Ain = mine
Spicha = liar
Ron ai ridiyo op. = Speak true.
Osir keryon ste teina. = Our souls are entwined.
Ai laik Leksa. Yu get ai in. = I am Lexa. You know me.
Ai keryon now ban yu op. = My soul can't leave you.
Jus drein jus daun. = Blood must have blood.