Ice Warrior (The 100 x Reader)

Chapter 12

Nia shouted “kill her, Andra.”

You heard her, but refused to take your eyes off Lexa, knowing if you did, you would lose your advantage.  You breathed deeply staring at Lexa’s eyes.  You expected to see fear, despair, but instead her eyes were bright, ready to meet death with acceptance and courage.  She met your eyes and a smile crept on her face.  She looked impressed, almost proud as you stood above her. 

“Roan trained you well,” she said, allowing your sword to rest on her chest. 

Roan, you thought.  What would he think of you now?  You wished you could sneak a glance at him, see what he was thinking.  He trained you to be loyal, good, and honorable, but now that you stood ready to kill your commander, you feared you had spat in the face of his training. 

You didn’t move, you just stared at Lexa as she waited for you to kill her.  She was a loyal leader, someone good.  Handing Nia the throne would secure your place at her side, but it would also hand over the entire coalition to a cruel and sadistic woman.  But she was your Queen, you owed her your life and to betray her would mean your own death. 

But you thought of Roan again, and you knew what he would do if he were in your place.  You took a deep breath as you realized what you had to do. 

You dropped your sword, it clanged to the ground next to you as Lexa continued to stare into your eyes.  “I yield,” you said it almost like a whisper, just to Lexa.

“What are you doing?!” you heard Nia shout behind you, “Pick up your sword!”

You said nothing, but dropped to your knees in front of Lexa, “heda,” you said, motioning for her to pick up her sword. 

She looked confused, but dove for her sword and stood above you.  “I’m sorry Roan,” you whispered, praying he would forgive you.  You waited for Lexa’s blow to fall and end your life, but it never did.

“Andra of Azgeda has yielded,” Lexa shouted, “I accept and spare her life.”

You breathed in deeply at her kindness, wondering why she didn’t just kill you.  “Heda, the rules state,” the flamekeeper shouted.

“And I have changed them,” she said matter-of-factly, “Andra’s life is spared.”

She leaned down and held her hand for you, you hesitated but took it, allowing her to lift you up to stand next to you.  You dared look at Nia, her face pulled into an awful scowl that you were sure could petrify the weak. 

“You fool!” Nia shouted at you, “you could have had the throne!”

You looked at Nia, but could not bring yourself to apologize, “Lexa is twice the commander you would ever have been.”

Nia closed the distance between you and slapped you hard across the face, her nails swiping across your skin.  You saw Lexa step to your defense, but out of nowhere a dark shape emerged and stepped between you and Nia as you clutched your face from the sting. 

“Mother,” Roan’s voice sounded as he stood between you, “enough, her surrender has been accepted, the battle is over and Lexa is still commander.”

You couldn’t tell if Roan was happy with your choice or disappointed, but you stepped out from behind him.  “It was my choice,” you said, “I will accept the consequences.”

You stood in front of Nia, knowing she would likely strike you down for your betrayal.  She pulled the sword from her side and rose it above her head.  You waited for her blow, but there was a clang of metal instead. 

You looked up to see Roan, his sword blocking his mother’s blow.  “No, mother,” he said, his strength easily stopping her, “I won’t let you harm her.”

“Roan,” you whispered, but he ignored you. 

“Stand aside my son,” Nia said angrily, “she has betrayed you.”

“No, she has not,” Roan answered, “it was my order.”

You sucked in a deep breath, you couldn’t Roan take the blame for you. “Roan, don’t,” you said, moving in front of him.  You placed both hands on his chest, “I won’t let you do this,” you whispered.

Roan lowered his sword and placed a hand on your neck intimately, “I won’t let you die,” he whispered.  You could tell by his voice that he was scared, that he didn’t know what to do.  Roan was never scared, never unsure, but now was different and it hurt you to have made him feel so helpless.

You turned to Nia but remained close to Roan, “my actions are my own, I told Prince Roan nothing of my plans.”

During this exchange, Nia laughed from behind you, “You have given this traitor your heart, son?”

Roan wrapped an arm around your hip and pulled you to his chest, dropping his sword lower to protect you.  “I won’t let you hurt her.”

Nia lifted her sword, “Azgeda!” she shouted, the other soldiers gathering behind her, “kill the traitor.”

You grabbed your sword from the ground and lowered your stance, prepared to fight, but it was Lexa that now stood in front of you.  “Stand down Nia, your plan to take the throne has failed, be thankful I do not kill you where you stand.”

More soldiers gathered behind Lexa, Nia quickly assessed that she was outnumbered and stepped back, “I will have that throne, you will not be commander for long,” she threatened. 

“Leave,” Lexa commanded, “while I still allow it.”

Nia snickered but mounted the horse that her second brought to her side.  “Traitor,” she called to you, “never show your face to me again, or I will have your head,” she warned. She then turned her attention to Roan, “come son, we will talk at home.”

Roan did not move from your side, “if you have banished Andra, I will join her.”

“Roan, you can’t,” you whispered.

“I must choose where my loyalties truly lie,” he whispered back, “and they have always been with you.”

You said nothing but leaned your forehead against his.  Nia scoffed as she turned and left, the rest of Azgeda’s warriors behind her. 

There was a cough next to you, “Andra,” Lexa said, grabbing your attention from Roan, “we must speak.”

You pulled away from Roan and turned to Lexa, nodding.  She motioned for you to follow her back into the tower and back into her private quarters.