A/N: So this started out as just a tiny fluff piece about a sassy Clarke and then it turned into a shitstorm of a headcanon session. TW: for some mild violence and mentions of character death. It isn't too gory but still just in case.
Lexa places a soft kiss to Clarke's forehead and wraps her arms tighter around her houmon. The word and the meaning of their bond brings a smile to Lexa's face.
For the longest time Lexa could never imagine her life going this way. The life of a Commander is supposed to be a solitary existence, a life of duty to her people. Clarke has changed Lexa's perspective on that matter in so many ways. Lexa knows she's a better leader to her people because she has someone to remind her of her goals, even on the bad days.
Before Clarke she was merely existing to serve her people, but now she was thriving. Everyday she worked harder to achieve peace for her people and to finally bring an end to the mountain's tyranny. She knows when that day finally comes she will stand victorious with Clarke by her side. Together they will slay the mountain.
Today is Ascension day and soon Polis will be alive with activity as the sacred day is celebrated. Most of the ambassadors have already arrived in the days leading up to the celebration. The city is filled to the brim with all its additional guests.
Lexa knows that soon she will be called away from her bed, away from Clarke, to share a meal and speak with the Ambassadors. She has many duties to perform for her people during the morning, but her afternoon belongs to Clarke.
She longs to see the wonderment in Clarke's eyes as the celebration gets into full swing. This will be Clarke's first Ascension day and Lexa wants to make it special. Although, Clarke had assured her the night before that getting her out of training with Anya for the day was all she needed to make this her second favorite day.
Smiling at the thought Lexa allows herself to be lulled back to sleep for a few more hours wrapped up with Clarke.
The city is practically buzzing with energy this morning. The kids are out playing, vendors from all twelve clans are in the markets calling out to the passersby enticing them with rich smells and bright colors of their products.
The last time Clarke remembers the city being this alive with energy was on the day of her union with Lexa.
Since Lexa had managed to get Clarke the day off from training with Anya - something she planned to show her appreciation for later- Clarke decided to go to the markets for the day and pick up a few items.
Clarke spends some time talking to the resident candle maker, about the new scents the older woman has been incorporating into her candles and which ones she would recommend for Heda. Clarke decides to indulge Lexa's obsession and purchases some of the new scents to surprise her with when they meet up in the afternoon.
Happy with her purchase and knowing Lexa will be even more excited about it than she is, Clarke continues making her way through the marketplace. She makes a few more stops and picks up a few more things for herself and Lexa.
On her way back to the tower Clarke hears whimpering and decides to see where the sound is coming from. She follows the noise down an alley and stops in her tracks. She spots a man with a knife to a boy's throat and she slowly reaches for her own weapons, taking advantage of his back being turned to her. Clarke, knife in hand, starts quietly stalking towards the man trying not to alert him to her presence. She doesn't want him to startle and hurt the kid.
Unfortunately while she's focused on the rescue mission she misses the other presence in the alley. By the time she senses him it's too late as she feels something heavy come down on the back of her head and her world goes black.
Lexa's meetings are finally done for the day, she's relieved to be out of there without any of the usual squabbles. She's ready to enjoy her afternoon with her wife.
She makes her way back to their bedroom and is about to go have a quick wash and change her clothes when there's a knock at the door. She calls for whoever it is to enter and has to stop her eyes from rolling when Titus walks in.
"I told you Titus, my duties for the rest of the day are with Clarke." Lexa tells him.
"I'm well aware of that Heda, but there is a family that is demanding an audience with you." Titus answers and Lexa can tell something isn't right.
"What about?" she asks brows raising.
"Clarke." the name is all she needs to hear before she's out the door and moving towards her throne room.
She bursts through the door and startles the already upset boy. His parents scramble to bow their heads once they realize her presence.
"There's no need for that, Titus says you have something to tell me about Clarke?" she speaks keeping her voice level and controlled.
The young boy, Boghdan, as he introduces himself tells her the story of what had happened in the alleyway. About the two men, one who'd threatened him with a sword while the other hid in the shadows. Lexa's blood ran cold as he described how the one hiding in the shadows had stalked up behind Clarke and knocked her to the ground, before his accomplice let him go and they made off with Clarke.
"I tried to stop them Heda, but they were just too big." the boy cries dejected.
Despite her emotions Lexa tries to comfort the young boy. "You were very brave Boghdan, can you tell me if you recognized them? Was there anything you can tell me about the men?"
Boghdan nods his head and wipes his tears. "They were Azgeda."
Lexa has to swallow down the bile that rises in her throat and fight back the cold dread that washes over her at his words.
"Are you sure?" she questions.
"Yes Heda, they have the raised markings on their faces like all Azgeda do." He confirms.
"Thank you Boghdan, I promise this information will help us find Skai Prisa." Lexa hopes that her words are true. "Just wait here a minute okay."
The boy nods and Lexa turns to Titus indicating for him to follow her out of the room. "Find the Ice Nation ambassador and bring him to me immediately. Tell Anya and Gustus I need to speak with them." She orders.
"Yes Heda." Titus bows his head before going off with two guards to find the ambassador."
Lexa walks back into the throne room and asks Boghdan a few more questions to try and gather as much information as possible.
Anya and Gustus arrive as soon as they are made aware of the situation. Together the three of them are led back to where the attack happened. Lexa finds one of Clarke's knives on the ground amidst a scattering of candles and Clarke's favorite berries.
"I don't care if we have to tear the city apart and start a war, find her!" Lexa roars out her order, her blood boiling over.
"We will." Anya swears and Gustus grunts an agreement. The two take off to round up their best scouts and hunters to pick up the kidnappers trail.
Halfway back to the tower a runner let's Lexa know that Titus had found the Azgeda ambassador and that the two are waiting in the throne room.
Lexa pushes through the door swords drawn. "What is your Queen up to Quint!" she demands thrusting the blade against the man's fat neck.
"My Queen has done nothing Heda." the smug man answers.
"Where is Clarke, I know your people took her!" Lexa snarls.
"Why would they do that Heda?" he asks not even flinching. "Our fealty is to you and the Coalition. It is possible the Sky Girl's mind has finally returned to her and she has simply run away. Do you really want to destroy your own Coalition over her?"
Titus steps in at that moment. He can see Lexa is getting worked up by Quint and she needs to step back. "Heda, we must consider the possibility he is not aware of his Queen's actions." he speaks to her quiet enough for only her to hear.
Lexa steps away from the disgusting excuse of a man before her and walks out towards her balcony. She let's the cool air calm her racing mind. Titus could be right that Quint is unaware of Nia's plan, she certainly wouldn't trust that oaf with any secrets so why would the Ice Queen.
She feels Titus' steady presence behind her. "What should I do Titus?"
"Trust in the abilities of your people and in Clarke's training." Titus answers in a rare moment of comfort. He knows where Lexa's mind is going to, images of Costia fresh in his own mind. Right now he needs to be steady and guide her.
"I don't care what you have to do Titus, he doesn't leave until Clarke is found or he gives up what he knows." Lexa tells him.
"Are you sure?" Titus asks.
Lexa turns to face him, fire in her eyes. It's all the answer Titus needs. He walks back into the throne room and orders the guards to arrest Quint and bring him along with him for further questioning.
If anyone can get the truth out of Quint, it's Titus. Lexa knows he's got very specialized methods of garnering information even if someone is less than willing to cooperate. She just hopes Quint talks or the hunters and scouts find out where they've taken Clarke before it's too late.
Clarke startles awake, her eyes frantically scanning the room as she tries to regain her bearings. It takes a minute to realize she's not in Polis anymore or at least she thinks she isn't, she can't be sure.
Another minute and the memories of the little boy being held at knife point by the Azgeda man. Then a cold chill runs down her spine at the throbbing in the back of her head where his accomplice must have hit her over the head from behind.
She needs to figure out where she is and get out of here. She just hopes she hasn't been out long enough for them to have gotten her back to the Ice Nation already.
Taking a deep steadying breath Clarke realizes they've tied her hands and her legs, but they haven't tied her down to anything. She just has to find a way to cut the ropes loose and she may be able to get out of there.
She closes her eyes and starts to listen, it's quiet out, no sounds of people or animals. She's definitely outside of Polis. Taking another inhale comes up with familiar smells of grass, pine trees and primrose. The flowers are some of Lexa's favorite and Clarke knows hardly anything grows in the practically barren Ice Nation territory and that thought relieves Clarke. She still has a chance.
Suddenly she hears footsteps outside and she stills her movements. She hears voices next and it has to be the two men from the alley, they seem to be discussing their plans. Now more than ever Clarke is grateful Lexa and Anya had insisted she learned Azgeda's trigedasleng dialect.
"We can't stay here much longer, they'll know she's missing by now." one of the men says.
"They don't know who took her and where from, we have time." his accomplice answers him. "We'll wait until the celebration is at its peak and then we will go. Heda can't escape her duties."
"The boy saw us!" the other man argues. "We let him go!"
"He was of no consequence and killing him would have had an army at our backs. She is the key to our freedom, once the Queen has her we will be back with our people."
"And if we are captured before that we will be tortured and killed by Heda."
"We won't be captured, they don't know where we are. Now just go and check on her, she should be waking soon."
Clarke, after loosening the ropes around her legs, immediately takes back her previous position evening out her breathing to feign sleep. The approaching footsteps stop right next to her and Clarke bides her time. She doesn't flinch as he checks her for a pulse, she's relieved when he finally steps away from her.
As she hears him turn to leave she strikes. Jumping to her feet she lunges towards him wrapping her bound hands around his neck. Pulling back as hard as she can squeezing his windpipe as he struggles to break free. Clarke pulls her arms up and the man finally drops.
Clarke releases her old and grabs his knife striking the deathblow. She's breathing heavy from the exertion, but she needs to get her hands loose before his partner comes in to check up on them.
Just as she makes the last cut on the rope the other man comes rushing in. Upon noticing the scene he lunges for Clarke before she can even react and she prepares for an impact that never comes. The man drops to his knees and falls face first to the ground in front of her.
"Thanks, but I had that under control." Clarke says to Lexa as she comes into view.
Lexa simply comes up to her wrapping her arms tightly around Clarke. "Are you okay?"
"Yes Lex, I'm fine. I promise." Clarke answers melting into her wife's hold. "How did you find me?"
Lexa pulls away just slightly to look deep into Clarke's blue eyes. She holds Clarke's face in her hands, searching for any signs of injury. "Boghdan, the boy they were holding, told us what happened."
"Is he okay? They didn't hurt him right?" Clarke asks remembering the small boy.
"He's fine, more worried about you than himself," Lexa assures her. "Once we got to the alley the scouts and hunters were dispatched and quickly picked up the trail. Whoever those two were had no experience."
"Luckily or I may have been a lot closer to Azgeda by now."
Lexa's jaw tenses at the truth in Clarke's words. They were fortunate this time. Clarke notices the distant look in Lexa's eyes and pulls her into a soft kiss. The kiss seems to draw Lexa back to reality.
"Did the two of them say anything about Nia's plans?"
Clarke thinks for a moment replaying the snippets of conversation she heard. "I'm not sure she had anything to do with this. They talked about gaining their freedom and being with their people again."
Lexa looks at the two bodies at their feet. "They were banished."
"It appears so." Clarke replies.
"Heda," Anya calls from outside the old tunnel. "The perimeter is secure, have you located Clarke?"
A second later Anya, Gustus and Ryder appear weapons drawn and eyes scanning the area for any threats. Noticing the two men on the ground they sheath their weapons.
"Gustus, we will be taking them back with us." Lexa says indicating to the men. Titus has been holding Quint this entire time and she wants to find out everything he knows about those men.
"I thought we didn't have training today Anya." Clarke snips as she walks out of her room to be greeted by her mentor waiting outside the door.
"You are correct we do not have training today and you know why I'm here." Anya answers pushing off the wall she'd been leaning against.
"I'm just going to the markets Anya, it's been a month and they were rogues. I don't need a protection detail." Clarke huffs and stomps past Anya.
The older blonde follows her into the elevator. It's been a month since the kidnapping and Quint had confirmed that the two men had in fact been banished by Queen Nia for trying to raise a military coup against her. After she banished them the two had sworn their vengeance and hadn't been seen or heard from again.
Lexa had been loathe to believe his story, but considering their inexperience in the kidnapping, and her previous experience with Azgeda bounty hunters, she had no choice but to believe Quint and let him go.
Titus had reset both of Quint's dislocated shoulders after the interrogation. They'd kept him in Polis under watch for a week until he was able to travel back home.
In the time since then Lexa had been more vigilant with Clarke, despite her wife's protests. Guards had been assigned to keep watch over her, even if from a distance. If Lexa wasn't with her then Gustus, Ryder or Anya would be, under some ridiculous guise to keep her company.
Anya for her part had stepped up their training and incorporated some interesting tactics to keep Clarke on high alert. Clarke was less irritated by this as she'd seen it coming the night of the rescue when Anya had scolded her for getting kidnapped by two incompetent fools.
She's taken to the new training and extra bruises in stride. She never wants a repeat of what happened, but she still feels that Lexa is going beyond what's necessary in her efforts to keep her safe. She's a warrior just like everyone else and she should be treated as such, not a defenseless child. "Even I have guards with me Clarke" is the frustrating reasoning Lexa uses whenever Clarke complains.
The elevator reaches its destination on the ground floor and Clarke strides out. "Seriously Anya, don't you have something more important you could be doing with your time?"
Anya grits her teeth and continues walking behind her second. She's biding her time until they're out of the tower. She's had just about enough of Clarke's attitude and it's obvious Lexa has been less than forthcoming with Clarke.
Annoyed at the lack of answer and still being followed, Clarke turns to face Anya ready to confront her. Anya has her pinned to the nearest wall arm twisted behind her back before she can even blink.
"Head over heart," Anya says into her ear. "You went into that alleyway never once being aware of the situation all you saw was the boy and you could have been killed."
Clarke stops struggling against her hold as the words sink in. "If you died then Lexa would have died with you."
"No she wouldn't." Clarke says regaining her fight. "Her spirit is strong." she won't let anyone talk down Lexa not even their mentor.
"Do you not know how much she loves you?" Anya questions letting go of Clarke.
"Of course I do, what kind of question is that?" Clarke spins to face Anya face full of rage.
Anya merely shakes her head. "Come on goufa, you have much to learn."
"But it's my day off." Clarke sulks, but follows.
"Where are we going?" Clarke asks once they are beyond the markets and out the city gates.
"There's something you need to see and I hope it will open your eyes." Is Anya's vague reply.
Clarke's shoulders slump and she continues to follow along quietly. Anya's always been a physical mentor not one to take you on field trips.
A quarter mile later Anya finally stops in front of a large imposing willow tree. The tree is beautiful and stands alone in its majesty. Clarke wishes she had her drawing supplies to capture it's magnificence.
"It's a beautiful tree but what does it have to do with anything?" Clarke asks confused.
"Just like you and Lexa have a quiet place, this was Lexa and Costia's peaceful place," Anya starts to explain. "After Costia's murder at the hands of the Ice Nation, I watched Lexa crumble and become a shell of herself." Clarke's stomach starts to sink. Lexa had never mentioned this place to her.
"She never let anyone know how much Costia meant to her or how much pain her death caused her. She held her head up high and continued working towards the coalition. She blamed herself, her weakness, for getting Costia killed."
Anya turns to face Clarke, her eyes heavy with emotion. Costia wasn't only Lexa's love, she was also one of Anya's closest friends, almost like a sister. They both lost someone they cared about that night, but Anya was allowed to grieve while Lexa had to remain strong for her people.
"On the hard days when her heart would try to overtake her head. She would come out here and spend hours under this tree, no matter the weather, she would just meditate and when she was done she would return more focused."
Clarke takes in Anya's words looking at the tree that meant so much to her wife and her former lover. Clarke knew about Costia and that Lexa loved her. Costia still occupied space in Lexa's heart even if she didn't bring her up past their initial conversation about the girl. Lexa isn't one to bring up the past.
"When you came along she tried to fight her feelings, but she couldn't and she insisted on resisting them until you were trained." Anya reveals and Clarke thinks back to her first few months on Earth. Finally having an explanation for Lexa's apparent moods before the start of their relationship.
Her heart soares and breaks at the same time. Lexa spent those first months making sure she never gave up in her training and helped her when she could. It's what brought them closer together.
"Once I assured her that you could handle yourself in any situation I had thrown to you is when she finally felt comfortable enough to open her heart to you."
Clarke runs her thumb over the hilt of one of the daggers Lexa had given her. The gift given to her for good luck on her first hunt and as a symbol of the beginning of their courtship.
"I know you are not happy with this arrangement Clarke," Anya acknowledges. "But you are her second chance and those are rare in this life. Lexa deserves the happiness she has found with you and if I have to spend my last breath ensuring that then I will."
The weight of Anya words almost knock Clarke to her knees. She's overwhelmed by a need to be with Lexa, there's a lot they have to talk about. "Thank you for bringing me here Anya. I needed this."
Anya just nods, looks back at the tree once more and then turns back towards the city limits.
Clarke immediately heads to the throne room where she knows Lexa will be. She stops her strides long enough to confirm with the guards that Lexa is alone inside. They mention Titus, but he's used to her barging in by now and as she'd expected his only reaction is an exasperated breath.
"Skai Prisa, is there something I can help you with?" He grits out in greeting.
"I just need to speak to Lexa, alone." Clarke insists.
"She's on the balcony." He tells her before leaving the room, guards in tow.
Usually Clarke would be amused by Titus' obvious dislike of her and having to follow her orders, but today she has a different focus.
"Lexa," Clarke calls making her way out to the balcony. Lexa has her back to Clarke as she watches over her city. The only acknowledgement Clarke receives is Lexa relaxing her shoulders.
Clarke walks up behind her wife and wraps her arms around her. She feels the tension seeping out of Lexa's body at the contact. "I love you."
Lexa turns in Clarke's embrace. "I love you too Clarke, not that I am complaining, but you weren't exactly happy with me when I left this morning."
Clarke kisses Lexa's cheek and squeezes her wife to her a bit tighter before pulling back, looking her in the eyes. "I know and I'm sorry, I know you're just trying to keep me safe."
"To the best of my ability." Lexa confirms running her hands up and down Clarke's back.
"We need to talk."
"We can talk about anything Clarke."
Clarke's next words are measured, her gaze scrutinizing. "Even Costia?"
Everything goes silent for a moment. Lexa's face remains it's stoic mask, but her eyes run a complete gamut of emotions. Determination is the one Lexa finally settles on. She pulls away from Clarke only their hands staying connected.
"Even Costia, but not out here." Lexa tugs Clarke forward and the two make their way to their bedroom. "Nobody enters, not even Titus." Lexa tells the guards stationed outside the doors.
They sit on their couch bodies facing each other, knees touching. "Anya took me to the tree this morning." Clarke confesses.
"Now you're curious?" Lexa prods.
"Yes," Clarke nods. "Costia is important to you and she still occupies space in your heart, I want to know more about her and I think it's time you finally talked about her."
Lexa takes Clarke's hand pulling it to her lips and planting a soft kiss on the warm flesh. "I think the two of you would have gotten along, both strong willed and kindhearted."
Clarke notes the soft smile on Lexa's face and she can feel her own smile mirrored back. "I met Costia when I was seven years old. She was beautiful even back then, hair dark curly hair shone in the sun."
"Her mother was the fisa for the natblidas and we'd had a particularly brutal training that morning." Lexa chuckles at the memory her eyes distant as if back to that time.
"Costia wanted to be a fisa too, so her mother brought her along that day to help out. While her mother looked after the my sparring mate, she decided she would bandage me up, despite my protests."
"I definitely would have liked her then, you need someone to look after you." Clarke jokes and Lexa laughs along with her.
"After that day Costia would always accompany her mother to watch us train. Overtime we grew closer and she declared us friends one afternoon." Lexa continues.
"Any free time I had was spent in her company. She took interest in my training as I took in hers. She taught me about medicines and I showed her how to use a sword."
"I always thought Titus taught you that stuff. At least with the way he carries on." Clarke speaks at the new information.
"He did as well, but Costia was a much more patient and effective teacher when it came to that field of studies. She was always excited to show me the things she learned and her enthusiasm was infectious." Lexa clarifies.
"How'd she take to your lessons in swordsmanship?" Clarke asks.
Lexa laughs a bit at the question. "She took it on from a more tactical aspect, she hated to lose and so she studied my movements and adapted her own style. She was really good at picking up those small details, something else she taught me before Anya refined the lessons."
"Did she ever beat you?"
"She came close," Lexa answers lifting her shirt and pointing to a scar on her body. "She drew blood and dropped the wooden sword to review my injuries."
Clarke traces her fingers over the scar, one she'd seen a million times and attributed to her wife's many battles. Now she sees the mark in a new light, a tangible representation of the only other woman that Lexa loved.
Lexa clears her throat regaining Clarke's attention. "She was always there for me, no matter what. I remember there was this one boy he was massive for an eight year old and I could never defeat him. I expressed my frustrations to Costia and she came by and watched our training for a week."
"She figured him out, but she wouldn't tell me," Lexa says a small smile on her lips, shaking her head. "She forced me to watch him sparring and asked me to evaluate him and see what he was doing to win and in talking it out with her I finally realized how to win."
Clarke was intrigued by this and squeezed Lexa's hand letting her know to continue.
"He used his size and strength to end the matches as soon as possible, he had no stamina, all I had to do was run him around long enough then strike."
"And you won." Clarke surmises.
"Much to his everlasting frustration. I became the only person he couldn't beat." Lexa gloats.
"I'm surprised there's enough space in this relationship for me with your ego." Clarke jokes and Lexa shoves her lightly.
"You're one to talk." Lexa retorts. "It was never my intention to fall in love with her, but over the years our relationship blossomed beyond either of us could have expected. Titus wasn't pleased."
"Of course he wasn't." Clarke rolls her eyes.
"He's traditional," Lexa defends weakly. "He would always say love is weakness, but she was my strength, especially during my conclave."
The conclave is something Lexa didn't speak about much. All Clarke really knew was that once Heda died there would be a conclave of the nightbloods and from there Heda's spirit would choose one as it's vessel.
"The only people allowed to view the conclave are the Fleimkapa's and the mentors." Lexa starts to explain. "After every round you have a short reprieve before the next one starts. Costia would be waiting for me, she would clean me up, treat my wounds and remind me of my strength. I carried her into ever round with me and faced every challenge with her words as my fuel."
"And you came out on top." Clarke finishes when Lexa falls silent. A deep sigh and a nod is all the answer she gets from her wife. "Lex, it's okay if you don't want to carry on."
Lexa shakes her head. "No Clarke, you are right we do need to speak about this. I just need a moment."
Clarke stands up from her spot, she goes over to the table and pours each of them a cup of water. She hands Lexa her cup and watches her take slow sips of the cooling liquid. Once they both finish Clarke returns the cups to their place.
Lexa wraps herself around Clarke once she's back on the couch. Clarke runs her fingers through Lexa's braids trying to comfort her. She can tell they're getting to the difficult part of the story and Lexa needs the physical comfort to get through it.
"After my conclave, Costia was as much of an advisor to me as Titus, Gustus or Anya. We would go to the willow tree and talk for hours about anything and everything. Even if I didn't want to talk about such things she would always find a way to make me talk." Lexa continues to reminisce.
"I allowed myself to forget we were not yet at peace," Lexa's voice trembles tears starting to spill from her eyes, dripping onto Clarke's shirt. "I had a meeting with Luna, one of her scouts had come back with some information from the south. I thought it would be a nice trip for Costia's first time out of Polis, once our business was over we could spend some time by he sea. She was excited to go and we had everything planned."
Clarke continues to stroke her fingers through Lexa's hair, careful not to muss her braids. She plants a few soft kisses to Lexa's forehead waiting for her to resume.
"A few days before we were to depart her mother became ill. She had to stay and take care of her and I offered to push the trip back a few days, but she told me to go ahead and she would come along once her mother had recovered."
The tears are flowing more freely now from Lexa's eyes but she presses on. "By the time the scout had gotten to us, it was too late. They'd come in the middle of the night, killed her mother and taken her."
Lexa stops then and stands walking over to the doors leading out to their balcony and stepping outside. She leans heavily against the railing taking in deep breathes and letting the soft breeze of the spring day waft over her.
Clarke is quick to follow and wrap her arms around Lexa. She pushes her hair off her shoulder and kisses the crook of her neck. "It's okay Lex, I'm here, just breathe."
Together they take a few breathes, both their eyes closed as they find a rhythm. " The day after my arrival back to Polis, I received a gift from Nia." Lexa spits the Queen's name like a bad taste in her mouth. "It was Costia's head."
Clarke has to brace herself as Lexa falls into her. Turning her body completely she sobs into Clarke's neck letting out everything she's been bottling up since that night.
"I couldn't… that was my fault… I shouldn't have left her. I shouldn't have loved her." Clarke's heart breaks for Lexa. She holds her tighter wishing to absorb all the pain.
"I couldn't retaliate and avenge her because that would have meant destroying my… our coalition, everything we'd been working towards since my ascension."
"Victory stands on the back of sacrifice." Clarke whispers and Lexa nods into her shoulder before pulling back and wiping her eyes dry.
"To win the war against the mountain, the clans need to be united." Lexa says. "I am sworn by duty to do what is right for my people, but I promised myself as soon as this war is over, Nia will pay for her crimes."
Clarke holds on to Lexa her own tears flowing. The two spend what feels like hours wrapped up in each others arms.
"I never expected to find love again and then you came into my life." Lexa speaks softly into Clarke's ear. "I couldn't bare it Clarke if anything were to happen to you because of me."
Clarke holds Lexa's face in her hands and kisses her forehead and her cheeks. "I love you Lexa and I will always come back to you. I'll take the guards, if they'll keep your mind at ease, but I'm well trained you made sure of that."
"I did and I hope you don't see the guards as a reflection of your skills. They are there solely for my peace of mind." Lexa assures.
"I know." Clarke whispers against her lips.
"I take it everything is resolved?" Anya asks Lexa as she returns to the throne room later on that afternoon.
"Resolved not yet, but certainly in a better state," Lexa answers. "Thank you."
"My duty to you extends beyond just protection," Anya replies. "So what happens now?"
"I have a few ideas, her talents shouldn't be wasted."
"You aren't suggesting what I think you are?"
"I just may be."
Anya chuckles and shakes her head. "They'll both kill you."
"It's a risk I'm willing to take. It will ensure her continued safety." Lexa says taking her position on her throne as the ambassadors walk back into the throne room.
