The closer they got to Polis, the more Clarke dreaded the return. There were so many things that she needed to do and she looked forward to none of them. She glanced at Raven, riding with her head down, then at Murphy on Raven's other side. He was, as he had all along, keeping an eye on them. She sighed when the open city gates came in sight. Beyond them she could see Polis' residents waiting for her.
They went first to the stable, where a groom took Clarke's horse and a guard her saddlebags. Outside the stables, the Natblida waited in the same orderly lines they had when swearing loyalty to Clarke. Clarke smiled at them and crooked her finger to summon them.
Order immediately went out the window. Even Aden ran for Clarke. When they saw Raven, the volume increased and half of them went to her. Clarke was to busy to look, but Murphy was relieved to see both of them smiling and talking to the kids like they always did.
Fair trotted up last, in a formal robe. When Clarke saw her, she stood up.
"Fleimkepa asks you to go to the arena, Heda."
"Why?" Clarke wanted a bath and a comfortable seat.
"The people wait for you there."
"Mochof, Fair." Clarke crouched so they were eye to eye. "I'm glad to see you."
"Mochof, Heda. We missed you."
Clarke stood and held out her hand so Fair could lead her to the arena.
The Natblida circled Clarke and Raven like they were already guards. Murphy and their guards trailed behind. The Natblida were more efficient at keeping space between Clarke and the crowd than her guards. The crowds became denser as they neared the arena, so Clarke let the Natblida lead her down side streets to avoid some of it. She hoped her guards were paying attention.
The first thing Clarke saw in the area was Lexa on a dais, dressed in formal robes and braids. She studied Lexa as she approached, and didn't realize until she was walking up a red carpet that Lexa stood beside the throne.
Lexa bowed deeply. "Heda, I am so happy you have returned safely."
"Mochof." Clarke discreetly looked around. "What's all this?"
"Part of your Ascension."
"Let me guess, this is part of the no choice menu."
"Klark," Lexa began.
Clarke cut her off. "Let's get this over with."
"It is customary for Heda to give a speech."
"You could have warned me." Clarke sighed and walked to the edge of the dais.
"People of Polis and members of the Coalition, I stand here to tell you what I learned.
"Rock Line, Blue Cliff, and Shadow Valley were defeated when they attacked Polis, in great part due to the efforts of the Natblida and Raven kom Skaikru. Together, they built and placed dozens of traps, tripwires, and mines, and built hundreds of small weapons we could throw or launch. These weapons were a hit with our troops as they allowed them to keep the enemy at a distance. Unfortunately, Heda Ontari fell in the battle.
"You know the Natblida." Clarke gestured around her where they stood at attention and noticed for the first time that the other guards were Skaikru, properly armored and armed, with Skaikru blue trimming everything. Clarke bit her lip to keep from smiling, but winked at Miller, standing with Monroe and Harper behind her throne. "They are still children and have much to learn. Fleimkepa asked me to hold the Flame until they are old enough to choose the next heda, and that is what I will do."
Clarke looked around the arena, turning so she saw everyone. "You all know me. You know I will do my best for you. I will fight for you and protect you and do everything I can to make life better for all of us. I cannot do this alone, or with only the Fleimkepa. You must help me.
"Lander kom Rock Line, Cian kom Blue Cliff, and Tuck kom Shadow Valley are in our jail now, waiting for their sentences. I know the penalty for treason is death, and they know, too, but there are extenuating circumstances that explain the actions of two.
"I know there are many stories, but you know that I speak true. There are witnesses here who can confirm everything I am about to tell you." Clarke stopped for a moment, took a deep breath, and started again.
"After Titus murdered Lexa, Ontari became heda. At her Ascension, she shared her blood with me, as I will do with you later. Soon after, we both began to hear Lexa speaking in our heads. At first, I thought I was losing my mind, but we figured out that the natblid made a connection between us that Lexa used to tell us we would resurrect her, and that she would return to Polis to be Fleimkepa.
"At the dinner for all the kru leaders, we explained everything. Lexa spent hours beforehand speaking with all of them, and thought everyone believed as she did. At the feast, Lander kom Rock Line demanded Lexa issue a challenge to Heda Ontari, as if he had not heard anything we said or had the right to demand a challenge. I made him apologize to Heda and Fleimkepa. Lander did not take this well."
A titter went across the crowd. Lander's reputation was well known.
"The next morning, while Murphy kom Skaikru en Azgeda and I were training with Alba kom Azgeda, Lander sent his gona to circle the training ring. He then entered the training ring and demanded an apology, which he did not get, and attacked me. I did not harm him, but after Heda arrived and ordered us to separate, he pulled a dirty trick and was sent to the cells by Heda. She took his hand the next day, finding it a fair punishment for raising his hand against her twice.
"As you know, Lander gathered allies and attacked Polis. Ontari fell on the last night of battle. Two days later, I received the Flame. The next day, I left Polis with Kemp kom Azgeda and many gona to bring them back to Polis." Clarke paused again and wished for some water.
"Cian kom Blue Cliff was the first captured. He would say nothing in his defense and asked only to say goodbye to his family, which I allowed. The next day, Tuck com Shadow Valley and Lander kom Rock Line were captured.
"When I spoke to him alone, Tuck told me that Lander kidnapped his children and held them hostage to force an alliance. He sent troops to imprison Cian's family in their home with the threat of violence. Both families have young children, and Lander took advantage of their bonds to coerce Blue Cliff and Shadow Valley to join him."
The crowd muttered angrily about that, and Clarke raised her hand. "I'm almost finished. Cian helped us by showing the directions in which Lander and Tuck ran. Lander ran to hide, but Tuck was headed to his family. Our scouts captured both of them the next day.
"After the scouts returned with Lander and Tuck, I took a detachment toward Lander's capital. We were ambushed on the road, but escaped without injury. I sent a message calling for the armies. Trikru was first to arrive, followed by Azgeda and Floukru, thank you. The Plains riders met us on the road through Blue Cliff. We divided our troops and ended Rock Line. I did not want to do it, but Lander forced my hand.
"Joining the Coalition is not something to be taken lightly. The agreement is that we are all responsible for keeping the peace and helping our neighbors. If you have disagreements with another kru, have your ambassadors bring them forward. I will listen and try to find a solution that does not involve weapons or dying. Sometimes, we will have to agree to disagree. We don't all have to be best friends, but we are allies, and will act like it."
Lexa stepped up beside Clarke. "Klark kom Skaikru, Skaiheda, Wanheda, is Heda."
The crowd roared its approval, but became silent when she raised her hands. "Heda belongs to all of us. She protects us, shares in our joy and our sorrow, swears to lay down her life for us. She swears this by her blood. On this day, she shares her blood with you, as she will on the last."
Lexa called each clan and one by one the highest ranking member present walked the red carpet. "Yujledakru. Ingranronakru . Defilkru. Podakru. Sangedakru. Floudonkru. Trigedakru. Azgeda. Skaikru." Each representative knelt and offered a palm. Clarke cut each one and squeezed a few drops of her black blood into it. She said a few quiet words to each leader when he or she rose, giving Roan, Luna, and the Ingranrona and Trikru ambassador a bit of extra attention to reinforce that cooperation would be rewarded.
When everyone was seated again, Clarke stepped up. "Now we have some ugly business to conclude. Lander will die today. I wish we could kill him six or eight times for all the damage he's done, but he'll get a undeservedly quick death."
Before the crowd could get worked up over that, Clarke said, "I don't feel that we can execute Cian and Tuck with clear conscience. They did what they did to save their families. Their gona understood this and voluntarily followed them. Like I said before, they understand that they should be killed for their actions, but I don't believe that. Before I decide, I'm asking your opinions. Should Cian kom Ouskejon and Tuck kom Louwada Kliron be executed?"
Clarke stepped back by Lexa to give everyone time to think it out.
"This is dangerous," Lexa said quietly.
"This is the beginning of democracy," Clarke answered. She looked around, noting whose decisions were made and whose were not, and gave them a few more minutes before she went to the front of the platform again.
"Should Cian be executed?" Clarke asked. "Sha?" There was more noise than she expected. "No," garnered significantly more noise. "Cian will be spared and the Fleimkepa and I will come up with an appropriate punishment.
"Should Tuck be executed? Sha?" The volume was the same as it had been for Cian, and as before, the no vote was much louder. "Tuck will be spared and the Fleimkepa and I will come up with an appropriate punishment." She leaned close to Lexa for a moment and asked, "Feast?"
"All day tomorrow." She smiled at Clarke. "There is much to celebrate."
"It's a start," Clarke agreed and returned her attention to the crowd. "Lander is being brought out," she said, and saw guards scramble toward the Tower. His death will conclude our public activities today. Fleimkepa tells me that tomorrow is a feast day," she added with a smile.
"While we wait," Clarke continued, "I want you to know who consistently stood with Ontari and I. Please come down here when I call you. Roan kom Azgeda. Murphy kom Skaikru en Azgeda, Raven kom Skaikru en Azgeda. Marcus kom Skaikru." She turned and looked at Lexa. "Lexa kom Trikru." Clarke held out her hand, and smiled when Lexa didn't hesitate.
She kept holding onto Lexa as she greeted their friends, then had them all face the crowd. "These are the people I ask for help. These are the people who didn't let their disbelief sway them from doing as we asked. These are the people who you can go to if I'm not available."
She saw Lander being dragged in. "Please stay while I do this," she asked them. No one spoke but no one moved. When he was thrown at the base of the dais, Clarke looked down at him. "This is your last chance to speak."
He spit toward her and was cuffed by the guard. Clarke sighed and pulled her sword from her back. While she walked to him, the guards pulled him onto his knees and held him there. Clarke took one more deep breath before speaking. "I declare Lander natrona. The punishment is death."
The guards moved to a safe distance. Clarke took one more step forward and swung her sword. Lander's head landed in the dirt on one side of the red runner while his body fell toward the other. Clarke took one step to the side and shoved her blade deep in the dirt before replacing it in its scabbard. She looked at the crowd one more time. "Mochof. We're finished today."
She turned to Lexa again and held out her hand, and again Lexa took it. Clarke went behind her throne, smiling hugely at her honor guard. "You look awesome."
Harper and Monroe just stared at her, still digesting the details of all they heard. Miller grinned back. "Knew you could do it."
"Thanks. Is this a full time gig for you guys?"
"I think we're mostly decorative," Harper said. "But that's OK, we're not done building yet."
"Klark," Lexa said softly.
"Yeah, I know, they're waiting. I'll see you guys soon. We'll sit down and talk. In the meantime"
"We know how to find you," Skaikru finished in unison.
Lexa giggled and Clarke nodded, smiling as she accepted their teasing, before turning to greet what looked like all of Polis.