ASCENSION: BOOK 1.

Chapter 14: Three Warriors.

This was it. The moment the entire Grounder Nation had waited for. Three warriors remained, three warrior would fight for the right to ascend to The Throne of Polis. A new Commander would rise on this day.
The three stood facing Gaia, Aten Kom Floukru, Ontari Kom Azgeda and Lexa Kom Trikru, water, ice and earth.
All warriors were given only one hour to have any injuries attended to and to prepare for the second and last round of the conclave. If any of them were tired or in pain, none showed it. Any hint of weakness would be exploited by the opposition.
The sound of drumming rumbled around the arena and then silence as Gaia spoke, "Through the dark the flame lives on. The body passes but the spirit is strong. May the spirit choose wisely."
The Natblidas bowed their heads in respect and turned to face each other before the order to attack was given. In that moment the unexpected happened. Ontari threw her sword into the body of Aten. It hit him with such force, that his black blood splashed across the arena floor before he even hit the ground. This kind of attack was frowned upon in the conclave but it was not against the rules of combat.
Angered by such a cowardly attack, Lexa rushed at Ontari with her sword. The Azgeda warrior dived out of the way towards her own weapon, pulling it from the bleeding body of Aten. She quickly rose to her feet ready to fight the Trikru warrior.
Steel clashed on steel as earth and ice battled with all of their strength. Lexa's skills with a sword were far superior to Ontari's. Nia's training was good but not good enough to face a warrior of Polis and of Trikru.
Ontari knew this and searched with all of her might to find a weakness in her opponent. As Lexa pushed her blade and her body weight  against Ontari's to gain the upper hand, the Azgeda warrior noticed blood dripping from Lexa's hand. The spear wound in her shoulder had begun to become problematic, blood now running down the length of her arm. Ontari wasted no time in exploiting Lexa's injury.
She slammed her fist into Lexa's shoulder, forcing her to drop her guard. Lexa winced in pain as Ontari repeatedly hit her shoulder with the hilt of her sword. She fell to her knees in agony, but Ontari never ceased her attack.
I looked on in horror and attempted to fight through the crowd to stop the battle. My mother held me back. She shook her head, knowing that this was the way of the conclave, that I would be killed for intervening. Tears streamed down my eyes as I stood helpless and watched my Trikru warrior face death. Her black blood now covering the arena floor.

How could it end like this? How, after everything could The Spirit Of The Commander choose Ontari? Anger surged through my body as I saw a devilish grin play upon Queen Nia's face. She watched with delight as Ontari delivered blow after blow to Lexa's body, convinced her Natblida would be victorious, that she'd get her Azgeda Commander after all. As Ontari's attacks went from bad to worse, it seemed that Lexa's compassion in convincing the clans to allow the Natblida to Fight, would be her demise.
Ontari eventually slowed her strikes, as fatigue started to set it. Lexa took every blow, every ounce of pain, but something didn't feel right. I'd fought with her, seen first hand how Lexa defended and attacked with utter precision. She was tactical, always thinking ten steps ahead of her enemies, she wasn't a warrior who would lay down without a fight.
As Lexa's body rested on her hands and knees, blood dripping onto the ground, Ontari took a moment to taunt her opponent, "This is the mighty Lexa Kom Trikru? I'm underwhelmed. I expected more."
Lexa glared up at her, a knowing grin blazed through the blood and warpaint. She grabbed a dagger from Ontari's boot and swiftly thrust the blade deep into the side of the Azgeda warriors body. Ontari stood in shock at what had just happened, looking at Lexa in disbelief.
Lexa got to her feet and pulled out the dagger, grabbing Ontari by the throat, "If you're going to try and hide additional weapons in an attempt to win your conclave, do it better. I expected more, Azgeda."
Ontari's eyes widened, realising that Lexa had allowed the attack to continue for so long in order for Ontari to weaken. Lexa had seen the blade when she first fell to the ground. There was a plan, Lexa always had a plan.
She let go of Ontari and watched as she fell to her knees, clutching at her wound as the blood spilled from her body. Picking up her sword Lexa held it to Ontari's neck. She watched as the Azgeda girl looked over at Queen Nia who sat in disappointment and anger at Ontari's failure. Looking back as Lexa, Ontari had accepted her fate, "End this!"
Lexa nodded, knowing that Ontari was done with this life, with being a pawn in The Ice Queen's constant play for power, "Yu gonplei ste odon, Ontari Kom Azgeda." She brought the blade down on her neck, taking her head from her body. The crowd roared, but Lexa was left with one last task that weighed heavy on her heart.

Exhaused from battle, she walked over to Aten who was barely breathing on the ground. Blood had pooled around his body, as his life faded away. Kneeling beside him she looked at the Floukru warrior with such empathy. He smiled up at her, a calmness in his eyes as he awaited  deaths embrace, "Is it over?" He quietly spoke.
Lexa nodded, "Almost. I'm sorry you weren't given a chance, Aten. You deserved a warriors death."
He smiled back at her, "This was to be my fate, everything happens for a reason in this life. I believe you were always meant to be the next Commander, Lexa. Even when we trained together, I knew it, Luna knew it." His voice quivered at the mention of his sister as he continued, "Promise me you won't let The Order hunt her down. I give you my life for her's."
Lexa knew Aten was slowly dying, but she still had to make the kill to end the conclave. She'd trained in Polis with both of the Floukru twins and although she could never bring herself to agree with Luna's decision to run from The Conclave, she had a great respect for her brother. A life for a life, she thought as she made a vow that would allow Luna to stay safely far away from the repercussions of her actions.
Aten closed his eyes, ready to leave this world. Lexa took Ontari's dagger and gently pushed it into Aten's neck. He let out a sigh as his life came to a close, now at peace from this brutal existence.
The conclave was over, The Spirit Of The Commander had chosen. Lexa Kom Trikru was the last Natblida standing. The crowd continued to cheer as I saw Lexa search the crowd to find my face. I pushed through the masses to the edge of the arena and locked eyes with the woman I loved. She smiled and I felt as though we were the only two people in the world standing there.
Gaia announced Lexa as Takoma's successor and her guards guided Lexa away before we could speak. I wanted to hold her in my arms, take care of my warrior woman, but I knew I had to give way to tradition. Lexa had survived and was about to become our new Heda. I was so proud, but hoped in my heart the traditions of her new status wouldn't be the very thing to pull us apart.