Love & War

Death To The Queen

The next day I walk to the throne room only to stop when I hear a voice I had hoped I wouldn't hear again. Nia has arrived. I take a deep breathe before walking in. She turns glaring at me before looking back at Lexa. I see that she is in chains. 

Nia demands that she wants the throne. I look at the corner to see Skaikru's ambassador not here. Without them the vote will not be unanimous. The ambassadors vote but Lexa points out that one ambassador is not here. That's when Nia challenges Lexa to a fight. 

"I accept." Lexa says. 

"Roan will fight for me. Will someone fight for you?" Nia asks.

"No one fights for me. I fight my own battles." Lexa glares at Nia. 

Nia is then taken to a room to wait for the fight. I step up to Lexa.

"You do not have to do this." I say. She looks at me.

"You know that I have to fight."

"What if I took the throne?" She stands up, walking to the balcony. She looks out at Polis. I step up beside her.

"You said you do not want the throne?"

"I can if you wish it." I say. She looks at me. 

"I remember your father saying you were meant for more. That your adventure would be out there, beyond borders and rules." She points out. I follow her hand seeing pass the tree's. Seeing the mountains. "You will find your path. I believe you made the right choice in giving up the throne." She squeezes my arm before walking in.

Is she right? Am I meant for more? I walk down to the dungeon where Roan is being kept. They let me in without stopping me. I look at Ivon in the corner before walking up to Roan. He stands up, chains around his wrists. I take the key out, Lexa gave me. I unlock his chains, letting them fall to the ground.

"You are to fight Lexa in place of your mother." I look up at him. 

"Lexa will kill me." He says.

"I know." I say, a little sad. I always thought of him as a brother. "Maybe Lexa will show you mercy?"

"I doubt it." He walks around me and out of the cell. I follow him out and back up the tower. I get to my room to find Ontari there.

"What are you doing here?" I glare at her. 

"Nia wishes to speak to you." She says. 

"You tell her I have nothing to say to her." I walk pass her, I take off my belt, throwing it onto the couch. I turn to see her watching me. "Do you think if Lexa dies you will be the next commander?" I ask her. "You will never be commander. You would lead us all into ruin." I march pass her, opening the door and walking out. 

I go outside to walk through the city. Looking at the different stalls. One woman waves at me to come over to her. I walk over a little confused.

"You look like him." She says.

"You knew my father?"

"I use to be a warrior, long time ago. Now my bones are weary. I remember seeing your father many times when he negotiated on his fathers behave. He was a young man then. You have his strength and his wisdom. I can see that." I stare at her, open mouthed. I have never heard anyone talk of my father in this way.

"I have something for you." She turns, opening a box. I step forward to see many jewels. She picks up a bracelet, handing it to me.

"It's beautiful." I stare down at it. 

"Your father traded that bracelet for your mothers ring. He said it once belonged to his mother, and her mother. Had been passed down for generations. He asked me that if one day his child comes to the market, if I could give it to them. At the time he did not know if he would have a girl or boy." She smiles at me. "I hope this brings you peace and joy having him close to you again."

"Thank you." I go to take out my bag of trinkets when she stops me.

"It is a gift." I smile, thanking her again. I walk off, looking at her one last time before looking forward. I place the bracelet on my wrist, staring at it. In a way it does bring me peace. 

I walk back to the main square only to find Roan practicing. I put my hood on, hoping to walk pass him without him seeing. I walk up when he turns his sword at my neck. 

"What are you doing here?" I push my hood off. He grabs my wrist looking down at the bracelet. "Where did you get this?" I pull my wrist out of his hand.

"I got it in the market." I try to walk around him but he stops me. I look up at him, narrowing my eyes.

"That bracelet was lost." He stats.

"Well now it's found." I walk around him only for him to spin me. He stand over me, his face close to mine.

"That bracelet has been in our family for generations. If Nia knew you had it she would cut your arm off." I take a deep breathe before looking at him again. 

"Then we better make sure she doesn't see it. What is so important about this bracelet?" I ask.

"Your grandmother gave it to your father. It was meant for your mother to wear when she became his queen. As you know she never did since she wasn't Azgeda."

"She wasn't?"

"I thought you knew. Anyway when they married your father said he lost it. My mother was outraged. She demanded that your father be banished. Grandfather had her locked up for three weeks, claiming she was insane. Maybe she was."

"So if I wear it, am I proclaiming I'm queen?" I ask.

"In a way, yes." I take the bracelet off, handing it out to him. 

"Take it then." He takes it from my hand, looking at it. I am about to turn to leave when he grabs my wrist, putting it on.

"Your father wanted you to find it. I believe you are meant to have it." Once back on he walks away, leaving me in the square alone. I watch him walk back into the tower, wondering what will happen now.

The next day, hundreds of people crowd the square. A large stage is made for the ambassadors and Nia to sit on as they watch. I stand in the crowd, waiting for Roan and Lexa to come out. The crowd starts to cheer as they walk out. 

I stare at Roan as he bows to Nia before turning to look at Lexa. Titus, Lexa's flame keeper speaks to the crowd and then it begins. Their swords clash as they try to push each other. Roan pushes Lexa, making her fall. He goes to stab her when she rolls out of the way. She kicks him as she rolls away, knocking him to the ground. She gets up, holding a spear to his chest.

"Do it." Roan says. I see her face. She is thinking about it. Nia stands up, angry.

"If you die, you die a coward. You are no prince of Azgeda" Nia yells. I watch Lexa look up and then throw the spear into Nia's chest. I step back slightly, shocked. 

"Long live the king!" She yells looking down at Roan. She helps him up as the crowd cheers. 

"Heda! Heda!" They yell over and over. She looks at me nodding. Now I can go home.