The third book in the Ascension Series.
After the destruction of Mount Weather and the end of The Shadow Bloods, Commander Lexa mourns the loss of Clarke Griffin.
Unbeknownst to Lexa, Clarke survived the fall of The Mountain and has made the heartbr...
We both fought our fatigue on the long ride to The Capital. Adrenaline and a sense of urgency was the only thing keeping us awake. In the distance I saw The Great Tower of Polis rising up into the sky, the flame on top of it burning brightly like a beacon of hope. My heart skipped a beat, knowing that this was the place I'd shared with Lexa, where we'd fallen in love. A mixture of fear and anticipation hit me, but I knew I needed to focus on why we were now returning to The Capital. We slowed our horses as we saw a figure approaching on the path ahead. I recognised her as she rode closer towards us, Octavia had honoured her brothers request and met us at the rendezvous point. The Skaikru Warrior halted her horse in front of us, cautiously looking us up and down before she broke the awkward silence, "A part of me didn't believe Bellamy, yet here you are as I live and breathe!" "Its been a complicated time, O." I offered. "Indeed. I'm sure resurrection is a difficult task or maybe it's easy, I wouldn't know. I'm use to people staying dead when they die," she sarcastically said. "I guess even death didn't want me," I replied coldly. "From what Bellamy tells me, it won't be long before death comes for us all," Octavia spoke seriously about the matter at hand. She'd always been direct even when we were growing up. To some degree I always appreciated that about her, even if she came across as abrupt at times. "Can you get us into Polis and to Lexa, unseen?" I asked "She'll be on her way to The Flamekeepers Temple to meditate within the next hour. I can get you there but it's likely you'll cross paths with Gaia and The Order. You'd better hope Lexa is willing to listen to the words of a dead woman that broke her heart and a Natblida that dishonoured the blood of The Commanders. Believe me when I tell you Clarke, she's not the same person you left behind." Octavia warned, her words cut like a knife. As we headed towards Polis, I became overwhelmed by guilt. I thought by allowing the world to think I was dead, it would have made the lives of the people I loved less complicated. I see now that I was wrong.
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As we approached the outskirts of Polis, Octavia led us to a hatch hidden in the woods. She moved the foilage from the top of it and unlocked it. "We've been mapping the service tunnels underneath the city since The Mountain threatened to lay siege to Polis. Turns out there's a maze of access points from before the bombs fell. This one will lead you straight into The Skaikru Embassy. Lock this hatch from the inside, follow it straight on and unlock the hatch at the other end. Here's the key. I'll take the horses to the stables, wait for me in The Embassy. Under no circumstances go wandering around on your own." I nodded at Octavia and took the key from her. "Thank you for doing this," I offered. "Don't thank me just yet. This situation is beyond precarious for all of us now involved." she coldly answered. I understood Octavia's point of view. There was every chance she could be stripped of her position of Ambassador and banished from Polis for helping us. I was mindfull to follow her instructions. As Luna and I made our way through the tunnel we both felt apprehension of what we were about to do. A part of Luna knew that returning to Polis could cost her, her life. "Promise me you'll see this through, Skaigada. That if Lexa's hand is forced to end my life for returning to Polis, you'll do everything you can to find a solution to what The Clans face." I looked at her not willing to accept her words, "We're in this together. I won't allow death to be your fate on this day, not whilst I still have breath in my lungs," I spoke defiantly. Luna smiled back, "I see why Lexa fell in love with you. You both have such a strong sense of conviction." "You mean stubbornness," I replied. "No, I mean conviction... but maybe a little of that stubbornness also," she grinned. We reached the end of the tunnel and unlocked the hatch. Before opening it I turned to Luna and spoke, "Are you ready?" "Sha. Ogeda!" She nodded, ready to face what lay ahead.
