Murphy was passed out in his chair beside the fire. Clarke stoked it again before heading out for her morning training. She didn't want to leave Lexa, but until they had a plan to deal with Titus, she had to stay out of sight.
"I did not expect to see you this morning, Wanheda."
"I missed you, too, Alba," Clarke answered.
This session was her first in winter. Everything hurt more, and she had to be careful of her footing. Clarke hadn't lost much during her time away because she spent much of her time practicing and sparring with Murphy and the guards while Abby and Raven worked.
When she was finished, Clarke returned to the Tower. She stopped at Skaikru's floor and stayed with them long enough to assure them that all was well, and bounded up the stairs to Azgeda suite.
Murphy wasn't by the fire, and breakfast waited on the table. Clarke filled a plate, grabbed two mugs and a pitcher, and took it to their bedroom.
Lexa was asleep. She still slept more than might be considered normal, but Abby and Raven agreed it was part of the process. Clarke put their breakfast down and woke her. They ate and snuggled afterward.
It didn't occur to Clarke until nearly lunchtime that they weren't going to see Ontari or Raven today. After they ate, Clarke showed Lexa the trunks holding her things. Lexa spent the rest of the day sharpening weapons and keeping the fire stoked while Clarke began to wade through the paperwork that accumulated in her absence.
When she tired of it, Clarke sent Roan a letter suggesting that he return to Polis. It went on top of the pile of outgoing correspondence and Clarke pushed the rest aside. She went to Lexa, who looked up and smiled. "Finished?"
"For now. I'm going to soak in the tub."
"That sounds like an excellent idea."
"There's plenty of room," Clarke invited.
A long nap followed the bath and they made a late supper from the food left on the table before returning to bed.
100 – 100 – 100
Murphy joined Clarke for training the next day, and when they returned, Ontari and Raven were seated at the table with Lexa. Murphy cleaned up quickly and decamped to eat with Skaikru.
When they finished eating, Ontari asked Lexa how she wanted to deal with Titus.
"He is a traitor," Lexa answered. "He should die like one.
"Do we wait for Roan?" Clarke asked.
"No," Lexa replied, but Ontari said, "Yes."
"We don't need them here right away," Clarke said. "They'll come anyway once they hear Lexa is alive."
"Wait a minute," Raven interjected. "What happens if the other clan leaders want Lexa back?"
"They will not," Lexa said confidently. "I will see to it."
"I am Heda," Ontari said.
"You are," Clarke and Lexa affirmed.
"They're gonna talk and say all kinds of crazy shit," Raven pointed out.
"Commander of Death here," Clarke said while raising her hand. "At least once it worked both ways. Or I went wherever Grounders go in the afterlife and brought her back. Either way, there is no down side. We don't have to explain anything. Let them talk."
"I do not wish to wait much longer," Lexa added.
"We can pay him a visit when you are ready," Ontari offered.
"No," Clarke said. "We need to plan this. The ambassadors need to witness his reaction when he sees Lexa. They need to hear him admit he tried to kill me and set Murphy up to take the fall. There needs to be no question that all of this is legitimate. Tomorrow morning in the throne room. Get the ambassadors in there and then bring him in and let him have it with both barrels."
"Dramatic. I approve," Raven answered.
"Let him have what?" Lexa asked
"The truth," Ontari replied.
Clarke smiled at her and nodded once. The table was quiet for a few moments.
Lexa was the first to speak. She looked at Ontari. "The Natblida are happy."
"They are. We learn from each other," Ontari answered.
Lexa smiled for a moment. "I will continue that.
"I look forward to it." Ontari turned her attention to Clarke. "Skaikru did well in your absence, but they waited for you to return. Miller is a competent seken."
"I'll try to see them for a bit longer today."
"Take your time, Klark. There are rituals I must complete."
"You aren't strong," Clarke began.
Lexa stopped her. "I am strong enough. They are not dangerous, but do require time." Lexa took Clarke's hand. "I will be here before it is time for supper. Skaikru needs you."
After a few seconds, Clarke nodded. It would be the longest they'd been separated since Lexa's resurrection. She knew she had to get used to spending time away from Lexa. Duty required it.
"We will dine here tonight," Ontari announced.
"I need to check on my minions," Raven said and pushed away from the table. She leaned over and kissed Ontari's cheek. "Bring the kids by later. I know they have a million questions."
"Always," Ontari agreed, smiling easily.
Clarke watched them and wondered whether she and Lexa had changed as much as Ontari and Raven.
Like Raven had, Lexa kissed Clarke's cheek. "I will return in a few hours," she promised, and covered up in a cloak before following Raven from the room.
Clarke rushed through the morning's paperwork before heading down to meet Miller. She was surprised to find Skaikru's assigned floor empty. Only Miller was there, waiting with a notebook
"Hey, Clarke, glad you're back."
"Me, too, Nathan. How's everyone been?"
"Busy." He opened the notebook and passed it to Clarke. She skimmed the pages, which listed where each member of Skaikru was apprenticed or working. None of them, she noticed, were with Trikru. Maybe Lexa's return would soften their attitude toward Skaikru.
"Great," she said with a smile when she finished reading.
"I know you just got back," Miller started hesitantly.
"Yeah. If Roan's given an answer, I haven't reached it yet. Don't worry. We'll work it out. How'd you make out riding herd on everyone?"
"It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be," Miller admitted. "Marcus was a big help."
"Good. I know you did a good job. Heda said you're a competent seken. That's high praise from her."
Miller ducked his head for a moment. He'd worried the whole time Clarke was gone that he would commit some unforgivable error. Clarke's return was a relief; the praise, even secondhand, added to it. "So what's next?"
"You tell me. What do you need from me?"
"Nothing right now. We just need to know what's going to happen to us."
"I don't think there's anything to worry about. I'll keep working my way through the paperwork and if Roan didn't answer, I'll ask again. We'll figure something out, I promise."
"Ok," Miller responded with a nod. "Where were you?"
"I can't tell you yet." Clarke sighed. "As soon as I can, I will. You know that."
"Yeah."
"Anything else?"
"Can't think of anything."
"You know how to find me if you need me."
Miller nodded while Clarke stood.
"I'll see you soon," she promised, and headed back to her other duties.
100 – 100 – 100
Lexa was as good as her word. She was back in the Azgeda suite with Clarke before it was fully dark. Murphy was next to arrive, his arms full of the evening's beverages. Ontari and Raven arrived soon after, and Clarke's guards brought them food a bit later
This meal wasn't rushed. They again discussed plans for the next day. The ambassadors had been notified. Ontari checked the throne room to make certain it was in order. They decided that the Natblida should attend, too, and that all of their personal guards would be there as well. "Better safe than sorry," as Raven put it.
There was no more talking to do, no more decisions to make, so Ontari and Raven excused themselves. Murphy left, too, after snagging two bottles of Azgeda's best liquor. Clarke and Lexa spent time in the bath before retiring for the evening.
She wanted to sleep, but her mind kept raising all the things that could go wrong with their plan. Clarke tried to stay still, but couldn't, even with Lexa wrapped around her.
"There is nothing to fear, Klark," Lexa told her sleepily.
"But"
Lexa pushed up and stopped Clarke with a kiss. "There is nothing to fear," she repeated.
"Promise?" Clarke whispered.
"Promise," Lexa answered and kissed her again.
After that, Clark was able to rest.
100 – 100 – 100
The audience chamber was full when Clarke arrived. What had been quiet conversation quickly became a buzz of rising inflection as the other ambassadors commented on her return after months of absence.
The room fell silent when Ontari entered. Everyone waited for her to take her seat on the throne before sitting on the benches.
"I called you here today to address a matter of great importance," Ontari announced while their guards slipped in to the room and took their places
"As you know, Azgeda bandrona has been absent. You have asked many times where she and the other Skaikru are. Today, you will get answers." She nodded at the guards on the door and they opened it.
Raven, Murphy, and Abby entered the room. A minute later, Titus was admitted. His hands were shackled and he had a guard on either side. He had a satisfied expression showing his belief that he would be freed.
"Today, you will learn how Heda Lexa kom Triukru died," Ontari proclaimed. To Titus, now at the base of the throne dais, she barked, "Kneel."
He complied quickly, still believing he was safe.
Ontari looked at the assembly again. "You will remain silent until we are finished."
Despite the order, a whisper rippled across the room.
Ontari ignored it. "Murphy kom Skaikru en Azgeda, ron ai ridiyo op. Speak true."
"I was lost," he began. "I voluntarily left Skaikru with our former chancellor. He led our group to the City of Light."
"Bah," the Sankru ambassador scoffed.
"Silence," Ontari ordered.
"What we found there…" Murphy drifted for a few seconds before refocusing. "The City of Light is real. I was fortunate to escape. I met some bandits, and joined them because I didn't want to return to Skaikru and banditry was better than starving, at least until I got caught.
"When the guards searched me, they found a computer chip, a small piece of plastic with embedded instructions. Jaha gave it to me at the City of Light and I stuck it in my pocket and forget about it. When the guards found it, they knocked me out.
"I woke up in a room with no windows, tied to a chair. I know now it was Titus who tortured me because he didn't believe how I got the chip. He said it had the Commander's sacred symbol on it and there was no way I could have it without stealing it. He tired of beating me and getting no answers, so he left me there for two days. Guards came then and took me to Skaiheda's rooms in the tower. They locked me in there."
Murphy paused to take another deep breath. He hated this story, hated telling it, but it was necessary. "When Skaiheda came, she began to treat my injuries. The door opened and Titus came in uninvited. He had one of our weapons, and he used it to try to kill Clar, uh, Skaiheda."
"He lies," Titus yelled. One guard slapped his head while the other applied enough pressure to prevent him from standing.
"This is your only warning," Ontari told Titus sternly.
"He said a lot of stuff about Skaiheda making Heda weak, that Heda would believe him when he told her that another Skaikru killed Skaiheda with a gun. He fired at Skaiheda. I don't remember how many shots, just that he had terrible aim.
"The door opened again. Heda came because she heard the shots. Titus was still trying to kill Skaiheda, and he kept missing her. One of the bullets hit Heda Lexa in the chest. She died in Clarke's bed while Clarke tried to save her.
"He carried Heda's body away and ordered guards to keep us in there. It was hours later that he had us taken down to the basement and locked up. I don't know how long we were down there before Haihefa Roan came to release Skaiheda. She insisted he free me, too." Murphy nodded at Ontari again and sat again
Raven stared at him, then at Clarke, who stood when Murphy finished. "Murphy speaks true," Clarke began.
"Titus has never liked me. He refused to accept change and challenged Heda at every opportunity. He thought I made Heda Lexa weak because she began to move away from constant warfare and began to work on making lasting peace across all Alliance lands. When I asked why Heda Lexa would believe that Murphy was the aggressor, he said, 'Skaikru weapon, Skaikru thief.'
"He was aiming at me, and I threw a small table at him. It hit his arm just before he fired, and that was when Heda Lexa opened the door." Clarke closed her eyes, seeing again that terrible moment.
Ontari allowed her two breaths before prompting her, "Continue, Bandrona."
Clarke took a deep, shuddering breath and stood straighter. "The bullet hit her just under her sternum." She put two fingers on her chest to show where. "There was no way to save her. I tried so hard. Titus took her body and locked Murphy and I in the room with guards on the door. It was dark when they dragged us down to the basement. I don't know how long we were there before Haihefa Roan arrived.
"He told me that he intended to continue making peace, that talking with Heda Lexa made him to see the wisdom of that path. He made me Azgeda's ambassador and ordered me to help Heda Ontari any way I could."
Clarke looked Ontari in the eye. "I have done my best to do that." She looked around the room and made eye contact with each ambassador. "You all know me. You know that I have assisted Heda and helped her to treat each of you fairly. I know you don't like me, but you all know that I speak true."
The other ambassadors nodded. Despite ignoring many of the niceties, her deals with other clans were aboveboard, both on behalf of Azgeda and Ontari. Clarke kept her word, something more valuable in their worlds than any wealth.
"Titus, what say you?" Although phrased as a question, it was an order.
Titus tried to rise, but the guards prevented it. "You will take the word of Skaikru over that of your Fleimkepa?" he asked incredulously.
"Speak now," Ontari ordered him.
"Skaikru lies."
Lexa dropped her cloak before taking the steps to stand beside Ontari. "Skaikru speaks true," she said.
The room erupted. Titus was stunned, eyes wide, mouth moving but no sound coming out. Ontari gave them time before bellowing, "Silence!"
When they complied, she looked at Lexa. "Continue, Fleimkepa."
Titus' mouth closed and opened while Lexa began to speak. "Skaikru speaks true," she repeated. "Titus fired the weapon. I was not his target, but he killed me nonetheless. Wanheda returned my life, and Heda made me Fleimkepa. I declare Titus natrona for his actions."
Ontari turned to Titus again. "I declare Titus natrona," she repeated. "His crime will be punished in the Trikru way."
"Death by a thousand cuts." Lexa said and nodded to the guards.
They jerked Titus to his feet and when he objected, struck him until he stopped struggling and verbally objecting.
When the door closed behind him, Ontari surveyed the chamber. "We have a new Fleimkepa but nothing else has changed. Fleimkepa Lexa will perform her duties. I will perform mine. You will perform yours. There is peace and it will continue."
"What about Skaikru?" Trikru's ambassador asked.
"What about Skaikru?" Clarke answered. "Skaikru ended Maun-de. Skaikru freely shares its knowledge. Heda killed those responsible for the ambush of your warriors. If Trikru wants something more, ask."
Lexa stared the Trikru ambassador down. "Trikru wants nothing more."
"Sha, Heda," he answered.
"Fleimkepa," she corrected.
"Sha, Fleimkepa."
"You are dismissed. Tonight, Titus will face death by a thousand cuts."
The ambassadors didn't leave. Some went to Lexa, others to the small Skaikru contingent where Raven and Abby fired questions at Murphy and Clarke.
"Later," Clarke promised them, and turned to deal with the ambassadors.