Two Warriors.

Chapter 2: The Death of The Commander.

It wasn't customary for a warrior to visit their Second if they had gone to Polis to begin their training to become Commander. Nothing was to effect the preparation a Nightblood was to undergo there. The three pillars of The Commander, compassion, wisdom and strength were the backbone of leadership and traits I knew Lexa already possessed.
Word had reached me that she was excelling in her training, yet her fiery Trikru nature was at times testing the patience of The Flamekeeper known as Titus. I expected nothing less from a girl who once took down a man twice her size with only a wooden staff after being told she was too small to fight like a true warrior. Lexa always had a strong will.

I remember the day we all saw the red smoke rising into the sky and heard the sound of horns echoing across the land. This meant only one thing, The Commander had died, shot dead by men in radiation suits whilst hunting in the woods.  He had tirelessly been waging war against those who dwelled inside of  Mount Weather. This enemy of the Grounder Clans had been abducting our our people for many years, performing experiments on us inside of the Mountain. They were unable to walk in our world, the radiation from when the bombs fell keeping them bound to their subterranean home.
His death was a message to us all, "continue to fight against the mountain and we will do more than take your people in the dead of night, we will destroy your way, your culture, the Spirit of the Commander!"

The death of Heda meant that the conclave would soon be upon us. Lexa would fight to the death against the other Nightbloods for the right to ascend, to become the next Commander. I rode to Polis to seek an audience with her before combat. The conclave was a brutal trial of skill and combat. Only the strongest warrior left standing would be worthy of becoming the next Heda.
I met with Lexa as she readied herself for battle. In some ways she had changed since I last saw her, she had an almost regal nature about her. She had grown even stronger but still maintained that Trikru heart. It was this day I gave her the sword once carried by her father. She held it with such pride but felt saddened that she must use it to strike down those she had trained with. I remembered my words to her that day,
"You all stand in honour in that arena, all of you facing your destiny. Death will not be an easy companion today, Lexa. If you wish to show your sorrow then do it the warriors way, do it with the warpaint you wear upon your face."
I watched as she scored black lines from her eyes,
"Black tears for the ones I must kill. May the fates be merciful!" Lexa uttered before she walked into that arena, her head held high, holding tightly to her fathers sword, ready to fight.