Chapter 27-A coward's choice

Nia's P.O.V

Nia was woken up by someone knocking on her door. She stands up and walks up to the door. "What?" Nia asks the guard.

"A scout was found," The guard tells Nia who nods as she shuts the door. She grabs her sword and exits the room. She walks outside to the center of the capital where a Trikru scout was put on his knees.

"This is what happens when you listen to Lexa," Nia says. "You get caught and now I have to kill you."

"She's going to kill you," The scout growls.

"She will join you soon," Nia says before she swings the sword taking his head off. The body falls to the ground. "Throw him in the forest," She says before she walks back towards the palace.

Lexa's P.O.V

Lexa opened her eyes and looked around. It was still dark outside and Clarke was gone. She stands up and walks away from the bed and looks at Clarke who sat at the war table staring at the map. "What are you doing?" Lexa asks her.

"Thinking," Clarke answers as she turns to look at her. "I can't sleep."

"Clarke, there isn't anything left for us to do. We have to wait for the virus to spread and then we'll attack," Lexa says as she lays her hands on her girlfriend's shoulder. "What's bothering you? Is it Gustus?"

"No," Clarke says as she turns her head to look at Lexa. "Do you regret leaving us alive?" Clarke asks Lexa who stares at her.

"Of course not, why would make you think that?" Lexa asks.

"Everything that has gone wrong, it happened because of us, you guys had peace before we fell to the ground. I know you've lost respect of some of your clan leaders because you left us alive and because of us. I mean wouldn't it have been easier to kill us when we fell?"

"Easier, yes," Lexa says as she bends down in front of Clarke and takes her hand. "But it would have been the worse mistake of my life. Has my choice caused problems, yes it has, but they have all been worth it. Clarke, you gave me something I lost so long ago. You gave me a family, I have my two annoying sisters in Raven and Octavia and a father in Jake. But even more importantly, you gave me the will to want to live. Before I met you, I was the Commander, I wanted Lexa to die because it was easier. But you made me want to live, with you I don't have to choose. I would rather die than lose you and I will never regret giving you guys a chance because it will always be the best decision I have ever made," Lexa says before she kisses Clarke's hand. "Okay?"

Clarke nods with a small smile. "I love you," Clarke says.

"I love you, too," Lexa says. "I have loved you for a long time," Lexa says. "Now please, come to bed."

Clarke nods as Lexa leads her back to the bed.

Nia's P.O.V

Nia walks out of her room and looks at her guard as he runs into the tower. "What are you doing?"

"It was a trap," He tells her. "The guard, people are getting sick."

Nia stares at him for a moment before her eyes widen. "She send him here to spread the virus," Nia realizes.

"Our last scouted just returned, Heda. The Commander will be here by tomorrow morning," He tells her. "The virus is spreading like a fire."

"Get all of our able men and get them away, they need to be able to fight! GO NOW!" Nia shouts at him and he nods as he runs out of the palace. Nia walks through the palace until she reaches Ontari's room. She slams her first on the door. A moment later Ontari opens the door.

"What is it my queen?" Ontari asks.

"Be prepared to leave, tomorrow," Nia growls.

"What? Why would we leave? The Commander is coming to us. We'll win."

"No, we will not, she has sent a virus, she has defeated us without even being here and I do not plan on dying at her hands."

"We can't abandon our people," Ontari says. "You said that if we lose it would be the end of Azgeda. We cannot abandon our people. We—"

Nia grabs her throat and slams her into the door. "You listen to me, I am your queen, you do not argue with me. You are alive because I allow, you will become Commander because I allow it. Do you understand me?" Nia growls and Ontari nods as she gasps for air and Nia throws her to the ground. "Be prepared to leave by morning and if you talk to anybody, I will make you wish the Commander had killed you," Nia growls before she walks away from the room as Ontari stands.

Murphy's P.O.V

Murphy walks in Sinclair room. "Knock, John," Sinclair says as he works on the arm.

"How's it coming?" Murphy asks.

"Why am I making this, John?" Sinclair asks as he turns and looks at the teenager. "The truth."

"I'm just trying to help us," Murphy says. "I'm making sure we're safe. Right now that is all you need to know. Don't you trust me Sinclair, the last seven months, everything I have done has been to keep our friends safe."

"I can't make anything to advanced. I don't have the right technology. I can make a simple prosthetic."

"Can you make it so the end can we changed, a fake hand, a knife, a small sword?" Murphy asks Sinclair who nods. "Make that."

Sinclair stares at him for a moment. "I'm trusting you, John."

"I won't let you down," Murphy says before he leaves the room.

Abby's P.O.V

Abby walked into Costia's room. "Doctor Griffin," Costia says as she lays on the bed. "What do I owe the pleasure."

"I have to check your wound," Abby says.

"My wound," Costia says with a scoff. "It's a stump that your bitch of a daughter gave me."

"She didn't have a choice," Abby says.

"Is that what you tell yourself?" Costia asks. "She didn't have a choice, do you know how many people she has killed? No, you want to think that she is the same little girl that came to the ground. But she isn't, she's killed, she enjoyed it. I mean, it's hard not to, the power you get from taking another life—"

"Shut up," Abby says.

"It's amazing, watching the life leave their eyes, seeing the blood flow from their bodies, seeing the blood drip from your blade. There is nothing better."

"I said shut up!" Abby shouts and Costia grins.

"You wanna hear the best part, doctor Griffin. She did all of that, managed to still hate you and fall in love with a woman who has killed more people than I have, then most people alive."

"What are you talking about?" Abby asks.

"Come on, you're not that blind, Clarke and Lexa. You see, I was with her, years ago and I promise you, she will be the end of your daughter. She helped kill the woman I once was, she'll kill your daughter, tear away every piece of her soul until there is nothing left. My advice, take your daughter and run," Costia says with a smirk.

"You're wrong."

"You know I'm not," Costia says. "You don't need to check on my wound, I feel great," Abby doesn't say anything as she turns and leaves the room.

Raven's P.O.V

Raven rode towards the back of the group. "What's on your mind?" Jake asks as he rides up beside her.

"We just sentenced, who knows how many people to death, children among them. When we attack tomorrow, they are going to be weak. It won't be a fight, it will be massacre," Raven says.

"I know," Jake says. "When we came down to the ground, I never knew that this is where we would end up."

"I don't regret it."

"I know. I know this won't be the last fight we'll be in. We're going to have to do things that we don't like to survive, Raven. This is one of those things, the most important thing is that we keep our humanity, we don't let what we do during war change who we are, we don't let it turn us into darker versions of ourselves," Jake tells her.

Raven nods as she looks at Clarke who was talking to Lexa with a smile. "You're worried that might happen to her."

"Of course I'm worried about her, she's my daughter and I still can't say I agree with sending those soldiers to their deaths and she suggested that we do."

"Clarke has spend most of her time on the ground in Polis, with Lexa. She has learned more than us about warfare and everything that comes with it. That is why Lexa and Anya trust her ideas. Just trust her, Clarke might as well be our Commander," Raven says and Jake chuckles as they continue to ride.

Nia's P.O.V

Nia looks at a guard as he walks in. "What is it?" Nia asks.

"The scout that left with Ruby, he was found dead. None of scouts have seen Ruby near the Commander's army."

Nia slams her hand down on the chair. "That bitch abandoned us!" Nia shouts. "Get out there, the sun is setting, that dumb bitch will be here by morning. How much of our army is still about to fight."

"About half, maybe less," He says softly.

"If any of them try to run before morning, burn them to death," Nia tells the guard who nods as he leaves.

Ontari's P.O.V

Ontari sat in the room as the sun began to rise and she heard horns. "Let's go," Nia says as she pushes the door open. "The Commander is here, I will not be here when she is done killing our pathetic army," Nia says.

"No," Ontari says. "I'm not leaving."

"You do not have a choice, Ontari. You will never have a choice. You are alive—"

"I am alive because of my blood!" Ontari shouts as she turns to look at her. "That is the only reason I matter to you but I will not follow you! Not anymore! I will sit right here and if the Commander decides that I should die! Then so be it!"

Nia removes her sword. "YOU DO NOT HAVE A CHOICE!"

"I do," Ontari says as she removes her own sword. "I would rather die than spend my life on the run with you."

Nia swings her sword at Ontari who quickly blocks it and kicks Nia in the stomach making her stumble back. "I will kill you!"

"I am a better fighter than you. Run Nia," Ontari says as the horn is blown for a final time. "They're here."

Nia glares at her and puts her sword away. "I swear to you, I will come back, and I will make you regret betrayed me, Ontari," Nia says before she backs out of the room and begins to run. Ontari let's out a shaky breath as she drops her sword and sits down waiting for the Commander as she started to hear shouting outside.

Thanks for reading. Next chapter the fight in Azgeda, Lexa makes a choice regarding Ontari and learns of Nia's mistake, the war comes to end. As always suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.