Blodreina

Watch The Throne

(Italics is Trigedasleng)

Sage's POV

Early this morning, before Lexa had her guards wake me up, the Ice Queen challenged the commander to a fight to prove her worthiness to rule over the clans. However since her strength isn't in question she gets to select Lexa's opponent, no matter how unfair it might be, so obviously she chooses her own son. While this might be something to worry about since there's an obvious size difference the commander is apparently eerily calm about all of this. Unlike Titus. He's worried sick and ended up being the one to wake me up this morning, even helped with cleaning my wound, all so he could talk about this with me. There's no way either of us can talk her out of the fight because it'll make her look weak. Even more so. However, although it's hard for me to admit it, we wouldn't be in this position if she didn't have an obvious soft spot for my best friend that the queen can exploit. If it were me then I'd be dead already. We may be close but their bond is unbreakable and something that she knows is extremely dangerous. She knows that not killing her makes her look weak. That it'll make people lose faith in their commander because they're supposed to be ruthless and cunning, not caring and showing their true feelings. They want someone who isn't afraid to get their hands dirty or won't show anyone mercy even if it means killing someone that they should care about. Instead they're getting the opposite and hopefully this fight, if she wins, will show them how wrong they all are for doubting her strength once again. Ending the conversation because it's getting us nowhere and only stressing the Flamekeeper out even more I tell him something that he doesn't want to hear. That Clarke, and only Clarke, can convince the commander to not fight against Prince Roan. Neither of us have that power. But with how determined she seems to prove people wrong, even the blonde might not be able to sway her enough. With that he left me alone in my room and went to talk to the woman who knowingly and sometimes unknowingly holds all of the power in her hands. The only sounds I can here from my room are the doors to the throne room repeatedly opening and closing as people angrily walk out of the large room. However the last time they closed, it was because Clarke had finished arguing with Lexa over the fight. She failed to convince her. So she's obviously mad. Which means my presence in the room is needed. Lexa needs someone with a level head near her before the fight and surprisingly I'm the only one in this tower who can provide that for her right now.

Not even an hour into us sitting quietly in the throne room alone does Titus, Clarke, and a few more guards loudly burst through the door once again. After an hour of silence we have finally calmed down and their entrance only made us both very angry. More distractions is the last thing that she needs. This time they're all worried and the reason for it is all over my best friends face, black blood, from the Ice Queen's own Natblida that will replace Lexa. Now everything that's been going on has started to make sense. All of the choas was leading up to this. She wanted this fight to happen. She was hoping that once again the commander would have a weakness. Because unlike last time she has someone to take the throne that she and her son cannot hold themselves. She also has someone that can beat Lexa in a fight. Everything is going according to her plan perfectly and there's absolutely nothing we can do about it. We played right into her hands like complete idiots and now Lexa has no choice but to fight and we have no choice but to face the fact that she may die today. All because we were focused on the wrong thing and the Ice Queen knew that she'd never kill Clarke. However Titus and Clarke cannot accept the idea. That she's okay with dying today and possibly giving the throne over to a Natblida from the Ice Nation. That she's okay with taking such a huge risk today. They're begging her to choose another champion to fight in her place but no one is better than she is or will hold up her own legacy well enough in a fight. But again, she has no choice but to fight, everything we've done and things that they made her do have lefd up to this very moment and she's going for it. This argument lasts up until the very moment the fight is about to start and instead of saying something encouraging to the blonde before leaving Lexa tells her goodbye. Just in case she dies today. Tapping my arm she has me follow her and Titus out into the makeshift arena instead of staying behind. For one she knows that Clarke will try and convince me to do something stupid and two following her around constantly is an expectation as her second.

Going out into the arena she motions for me to stay mear Titus this time since only two can fight today. Surprisingly he shows me exactly where to sit, and he does this with a small sympathetic smile as well. Although I'm putting up a wonderful front he knows that this has me extremely nervous, especially since there's no telling what Ice Nation will do to me after is she loses. They're not very accepting of my people. Sadly however my seat is two over from the Ice Queen and the moment we made eye contact while I sat down all I could see was her deep hatred for me. Which is a look that's easily reciprocated much to her surprise, she really thought that I'd cower away. That I'd be way too scared to push back against her. So instead of shooting me another icy glare she just slightly nods her head, although keeping up her facade well enough that no one else had noticed it. With everyone packed around the arena or sat in their proper seats Titus finally starts to calm the massive and very loud crowd so the fight can begin. "In single combat, there is one rule, be the last!" Sitting down they both walk to their respective sides of the arena to retrieve their selected weapons. Roan's side is filled with Azgeda warriors, yelling loudly for their banished but favorite prince while Lexa's side has her Natblida's standing at attention. But while the commander slowly drew her weapon someone or something distracted her momentarily. That very person making my heart sink because they're the only ones wbo can affect her that way. Someone that shouldn't be here to begin with so that the fight can go as smoothly as possible. It's Clarke. Exchanging a few words she finally fully unsheathes her sword that alone making the crowd cheer loudly. That's exactly when Roan striked but she knew he was coming and easily dodged his attack and cut his arm, but he too became distracted by the blonde. Something's going on between the three of them.

From there the fights pace picks up dramatically. With their shared level of skill this was expected but it's already obvious their fighting styles are different and will play directly off of each other's weaknesses. Roan uses his power while Lexa uses her finesse. She'll plan out her attacks more thoroughly while he's hoping his sheer size will help him win easily. Obviously it gives him an advantage but not a big enough of an advantage where she's left useless. Each and every attack they throw at one another is skillfully blocked with a perfect counterattack afterwards, although those are all blocked as well. The only attacks that land are their punches when they pull away or if they get hit with the butt of their sword, but those attacks aren't severe or damaging. However Lexa dancing around and toying with him starts wearing away at his patience so when he has her pinned down he doesn't hold back. Slowly he forces her closely to the ground, thinking that he's finally got her, but once again she does something bold. Grabbing onto the sharp end of his sword she uses both of her arms to push him away and in the process opens up a deep massive gash in her hand. While she's drawn blood from Roan already this is the first time he's gotten any out of her and right away the color difference between theirs is shown. His is red and hers is black. Although he's considered a prince he doesn't have any royal blood. Showing the difference between the clans queens and kings in comparison to everyone's commander. You don't need the royal blood to rule, but to lead. After them both getting knocked down multiple times and even stealing weapons from nearby guards the fight is almost over with Lexa on top of Roan. Holding a spear to his throat his mother stands up and threatens him one last time, that if he doesn't get back up and defeat her that he'll die a coward. Her words, instead of motivating him, make him give up completely. He knows he'll never win with her. That she'll threaten him for the rest of her life. Which is why he when looks up at Lexa again he does so with a new sense of calm instead one of fear or anger that we all had expected. He doesn't care. For years he's been trying to het her approval and no matter what's accomplished she doesn't care at all. So why would he give her a victory he didn't want. But at the same time he accepted his fate, Lexa sealed his mother's and threw the spear at her instead, taking everyone in the arena by surprise. Not even giving him a second to register what had happened she pulls him to his feet and says loudly.
"The Queen is dead! Long live the King!" Those bold and courageous actions alone ending the fight and making everyone in the square cheer out her name. At the same time they make me unknowingly let out a deep breath that I didn't know I was even holding.