Chapter 28-Fighting for freedom

Lexa's P.O.V

Lexa swung her sword into a man's chest. She ducks under another swing and stabs her sword into a man's back. The battle has been going on for about an hour and it was clear that Lexa's army was winning. Most of Azgeda's warries were sill recovering from the virus and were weak. Lexa looks at Clarke as she comes up beside her. "We need to push towards the palace," Clarke says before she ducks a swing and stabs one of her swords into the woman's heart. "This battle is won, we need to get Nia before she runs," Clarke says.

"She won't run," Lexa says as they start to move towards the palace.

Octavia's P.O.V

Octavia hit a man's sword away and he stumbled and fell to his knees as he breathed heavily. She looks around the battlefield and saw less and less Azgeda fighters standing. The man stands and readies himself as he looks at Octavia. "You don't have to do this, the fight is over," Octavia says. "Please."

The man let's out a growl as he swings at Octavia who hits the sword away and stabs her sword into his chest. He let's out a shaky breath as he falls to the ground and dies. Octavia stares at the body as she hears footsteps coming from behind. She turns around as a woman's brings her sword down cutting it across Octavia's left eye. Octavia drops her sword as she cries out in pain. She grabs her eye as the woman raises her sword. An arrow goes through her back and she falls to the ground as Raven runs up to her.

"Octavia," Raven says as she grabs her other hand. Blood goes down Octavia's hand as it pours from her eye. "What happened?"

"I lost focus," Octavia says.

"Alright, come on," Raven says. "We gotta get you out of her."

"I can still fight."

"Octavia, come on," Raven says as she helps her move.

Jake's P.O.V

Jake swings his sword across a man's chest. The man falls to the ground and Jake turns as a young boy charges him. Jake hits the sword away and kicks the boy making him stumble. Jake could tell the boy was no more than ten as he turned back as Jake. "You don't have to do this, drop the sword. Alright, Nia can't hurt you."

"She's our queen," The boy says. "I have to protect her," He says as he charges Jake again. He swings at Jake who side steps the boy. "Fight me."

"I won't," Jake says. "I will not," Jake says as the boy charges him again. He swings his sword at Jake who dodges again but the boy swings his sword to the side and cuts Jake's leg. Jake brings his sword down. A gasp is heard as the sword enters the boy shoulder and goes into his chest. Jake looks at the sword in shock as he lets it go and the boy falls back. Jake's hands shake as he stares at the body. He slowly moves forwards and removes his sword from the boy's body. He feels someone's hand on his shoulder and turns to look at Indra.

"This fight is not over, Jake," Indra says softly and Jake nods as he follows her.

Raven's P.O.V

Raven kicks the door of a house open and get's Octavia inside. She shuts the door as Octavia sits down at the table. Octavia goes into the bathroom and finds some bandages. "Octavia, press this up against your eye," Raven says as she hands the bandage to Octavia who takes it and presses it against her eye. "You should live."

"I won't be able to fight, Raven. I won't be able to see," Octavia says softly.

"We'll worry about that after," Raven says. "What distracted you?"

"The man I killed," Octavia says. "He was so weak but he kept fighting, I saw it in his eyes, he wanted to stop but, he was so scared of Nia," Octavia says as they hear the door open. Raven removes her sword and turns around as Luna shuts the door.

"I saw you two come in here," Luna says as she puts her sword away and goes up to Octavia. "You're going to be fine," Luna says.

"You need to be fighting," Raven says.

"The fight is pretty much over," Luna says and Raven nods.

Clarke's P.O.V

Clarke opens the door to the palace and enters. Clarke and Lexa into the palace and shut the door behind them. They walk up to the throne where they see Ontari sitting on the stairs. Her sword at the bottom of the stairs. "Where is Nia?" Lexa asks.

"She fled," Ontari says.

"She ran?" Clarke asks Ontari who nods. "How?"

"After she banished Roan, she had a tunnel made that ran into the woods, in case she ever needed to run, she left before you got here," Ontari tells them. Lexa let's out a growl as she throws her sword down. Clarke continues to stare at the nightblood.

"Why are you still here? I thought Nia would take you," Clarke says.

"She wanted to but I would not let her," Ontari says as she stands. Both women tense as Ontari walks down the stairs and falls to one knee in front of Lexa. "I ask for mercy, Heda," Ontari says. Clarke and Lexa share at look. "But before you make your choice, please, tell me this, is Costia alive?"

"Yes," Lexa says. "How do I know this is not a trick?"

"You don't," Ontari answers after a moment. "I've spend my entire life as a prisoner to Nia. If you let me live, you'll be taking a chance but I swear to you. You will have my loyalty, whether you believe me or not," Ontari says. Lexa looks at Clarke.

"You gave us a chance, it was the best decision you ever made," Clarke and Lexa smirks.

"Stand," Lexa says and Ontari slowly stands. "I will grant you mercy, but there will not be another chance."

"Thank you, Heda," Ontari says as the door opens and Roan walks in with Lincoln.

"We've won!"

Lexa's P.O.V

Lexa and Roan stood on a balcony over looking the city. Clarke had left with Lincoln to find Octavia and Ontari was in a room behind them. "Azgeda is gone," Roan says making Lexa look at him. "Their army is destroyed, it is nothing but farmers left."

"Nia knew that if she lost, it would be the end of Azgeda," Lexa says. "So what now, King Roan?"

"My clan is gone, pretty much extinct," Roan says. "This place, it has haunted me my entire life. Is Azgeda is ever to become a clan that can be trusted, it must be rebuilt."

"How do you plan to do that?" Lexa says.

"I have an idea," Roan says as he turns to look at Lexa. "I ask your permission to allow what remains of Azgeda to move into Trikru lands while I rebuild the clan and rebuild on home, somewhere else."

"I will have to speak with Indra, But I do not see why there would be a problem," Lexa says as she turns to look at Ontari. "You know her better than me. Am I making the right choice?"

"Yes, you are."

Lincoln's P.O.V

Lincoln walks up to Octavia's bed as Clarke puts a bandage around her head covering her eyes. "It's going to leave a badass scar," Clarke says with a small smirk and Octavia chuckles. "You won't ever be able to see out of your left eye again, O," Clarke tells Octavia softly. Octavia nods as Clarke walks away and Lincoln sits down beside Octavia and grabs her hand.

"I guess I'm done fighting," Octavia says.

"Why is that?" Lincoln asks.

"I can't see out of my left eye, Lincoln," Octavia says. "It puts me at a disadvantage."

"Yes, a disadvantage you can overcome, you are strong Octavia, you do not give up. We will figure this out and I swear to you, I will be by your side the entire time," Lincoln says as he lays his hand on her cheek. "You are too strong to give up. You will be one of the best fighters our people have ever known," Octavia nods as Lincoln kisses her. "I love you Octavia Kom Skaikru."

"I love you, Lincoln Kom Trikru."

Jake's P.O.V

Jake sat on the steps to the palace looking at the bodies. He tenses up when he feels someone lay their hand on his shoulder. He looks at Indra who sits down beside him. "I killed a child," Jake says.

"You had no choice, Jake," Indra says softly. "He would not stop, you had to or you would have died."

"He was a boy, Indra," Jake says. "No older than ten and he was forced to fight in a war. To make matters worse, Nia got away."

"We will find Nia and she will die for what she has done," Indra tells him softly.

Jake nods as he runs his hand through his hair. "I keep replaying that fight, trying to think of something else I could have done."

"There was nothing, Jake, we knew it may come to this but it does not make it easier and it should never be easy, if taking a life, a child's life ever comes easy to you, you have lost what makes you human. You feel guilt for what you did, I know you do. You have a pure heart, Jake. It is one of the reasons I respect you as much as I do, as long as you never lose that, we will all be okay. What is coming will be harder than this and we will need that heart," Indra tells him and Jake nods as they sit in silence.

Kane's P.O.V

Kane walks into the throne room as the moon started to rise in the air. Murphy, Aurora, Bellamy, Harper, Monty, Wells, Jasper, Aden, Sinclair, Wick, Emori, Abby, and Otan were already there. He looks at Gaia. "Why are we here?" Kane asks.

"A rider arrived from Azgeda," Gaia tells him. "They won," Kane sighs. "Gustus was lost in a fight though, defending Clarke."

"Does it say when they will be back?" Aurora asks Gaia.

"It says to expect them in the next couple of days," Gaia says. "There is something else, Nia did escape, she could be coming here to try and hurt you, so until the Commander returns, you will all stay in the tower," Gaia tells them and they nod as the door opens and Costia is lead into the room.

"Hi," Costia says. "Why am I here?"

"The Commander won, Nia escaped but she wanted me to tell you something. Ontari is alive and will be returning with the Commander," Gaia tells Costia and for the first time since Costia arrived in Polis. Kane saw a real smile on her face. "She can go back to her room," The guard nods as they lead Costia out. "Get some rest."

Nia's P.O.V

Nia sat in the woods inside of Trikru territory. She had rode all day and she knew she was near Mount Weather. She stared at the fire in front of her as she thought about the events of the last few weeks, she has lost everything, her home, her power, her nightblood. She would get revenge, she would kill Ontari and make Lexa watch as she killed Clarke. Nia looks up when she hears a branch break. Suddenly something is thrown on the ground and red smoke surrounds her. Nia stands and then quickly falls to the ground.

Mount Weather

Nia opens her eyes and quickly tries to stand but hits her head on the top of the cage. She looks around and sees cages filled with her people and she realizes. She was in Mount Weather. "NO!"

Thanks for reading. Next chapter will have a few more scenes inside Azgeda and Nia is inside Mount Weather and her story is far from over. As always suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.