I know, its been forever, hasn't it? I'm so sorry, I really didn't intend to leave it on such a cliffhanger but my life kind of erupted, lol. All of a sudden I was so busy and my writing suffered as a result :( Anyway! I wanted to get this up much sooner but obviously getting it up in time for Christmas seemed like the only thing to do :) So, Merry Christmas! I hope you all have a fantastic holiday and maybe find the time to give this a read while you're at it ;)

It's still not finished! There's a few more chapters to come yet, if you can stick with me that is. I will seriously try not to leave it so long next time! I will DEFINITELY finish it though - Clexa will have their happy ending if its the last thing I do :)

Thanks as always to all you guys who read my stuff - its very much appreciated and I hope you enjoy this update. Please leave a review if you can, or drop me a line on my tumblr or twitter :)

Enjoy!

Anya walked to the cliff edge, knowing that would be where she would find her. The little alcove within the mountain face which had always been one of Lexa's favourites ever since she had made the young nightblood climb to it. Anya easily sided around the edge even though it was twilight, knowing every crack and hole in the stone beneath her feet. She knew it well before she had taken Lexa there, always finding the peace that came with it so cleansing. It was the whole reason she had taken her second there in the first place, of course, knowing as she did in her bones that Lexa would become Heda, one day.

Anya approached the alcove quietly and as Lexa came into view it only took a minute to take in her demeanour, the Commander's back straight and hands placed neatly on her knees as she sat on a large boulder and stared out over the precipice. Her face was calm but Anya knew the Commander was anything but. She moved closer and sat down next to her, looking out at the skyline too.

"Pius is asking for you," Anya eventually said in a tone that indicated she was just as pissed off at his incessant asking as Lexa was.

Lexa's one eyebrow subtly climbed her brow but that was the only movement she made. "When is he not?"

They both continued to stare ahead, the night-time hues dancing on the horizon and giving off a purplish, misty effect. Lexa had made no secret of avoiding Pius and anyone else who wanted to give her advice over the last few weeks, and everyone else just knew to give her a wide berth. It had been six weeks since Costia was murdered. Six weeks since Lexa had found her severed head next to their bed and six weeks since Lexa had died too. Or the good part of her, at least. The part that knew how to live. Now she just existed for the sake of her people. To bring peace so no one should suffer a loss like she had because otherwise, what would have been the point? There was no way Lexa was going to let Costia's death be for nothing, but that didn't mean that it wasn't bloody hard. That it didn't mean that her skin didn't crawl with the fact that Nia still lived and worse was now a part of her Coalition, protected and breathing an e.

It made Lexa want to scream and damn the Coalition if it meant she could walk into Azgeda and slit the Queen's throat in front of everyone and honestly it had taken all of Anya's reasoning and Gustus' strength to stop her from doing that very thing, the night before the Queen took the brand. She hadn't slept for weeks and it would only have taken a simple movement, a quick flick of her wrist when Nia was knelt before her to take her own sweet revenge but she didn't, and till this day Lexa still couldn't quite believe that she didn't.

But now there was widespread peace for the first time in all their years of history but in the Commander's head there was only chaos. The war between her head and her heart that she was trying to appease but it wasn't coming easy. Her head knew this was everything she had worked and toiled for but her heart .. well her heart wanted nothing but all out war.

"It will become easier," Anya murmured softly.

That did make Lexa move, this time, and her head turned slowly so her tired, weary eyes could rest on her mentor. "Will it?"

It broke Anya's heart how young Lexa sounded as it had done whenever they spoke in private over the last few weeks. Her chest ached for her young protégé and the pain she knew she was battling. Her only wish was that she could grieve for her.

Anya nodded, her gaze still fixed on the horizon. "It will lessen, and you will move forward stronger than ever."

Lexa's eyes dropped a little, her focus waning as she let her weakness take over, just a bit, now Anya was there to be strong in her stead. "I don't feel strong," she whispered, afraid the wind may carry the words and expose her.

Anya's resolve cracked a little, then, and she wished she had let Lexa kill Nia in retaliation weeks ago, even if it would've only sated her pain for a day or so. She knew though, that Nia wanted that retaliation. She wanted the clans plunged back into war and she wanted Lexa to be the one to wage it and Anya would be damned if the Queen deserved that satisfaction. She knew Nia's time would come, and she knew that Lexa would wield it.

Anya's gaze dropped and so did her guard. "Heda, you are the strongest person I know."

Lexa's eyes dropped to her lap where her fingers had begun to play idly. They suddenly captured all of her attention. "I want her dead, Anya," she forced out through gritted teeth, a lump now forming in her throat. "She does not deserve the life I have granted her."

And this was the battle again, Anya knew, the Commander's heart talking now where her people couldn't overhear it. "She does not. You will kill her, Lexa. But not yet."

Lexa scoffed, disappointed. Her heart not happy with that at all. "Not yet," she repeated with a clenched jaw and retched sigh.

"No," Anya said more firmly. "She will not destroy what you have built. Instead you will wait, and when the opportunity is upon you when she believes she has bested you, you will slaughter her." Anya's eyes lit up on the last two words as an image of a dead Ice Queen lying in her own blood quickly appeared in her mind's eye.

Lexa nodded, transfixed on the eventuality, on the possibility and she felt in that moment like she could survive on that prospect alone. Her hands clenched into fists and she could almost feel the blade in her palm that she would use to slit Nia's throat. Her eyes flicked up to Anya's, the bloodlust inspiring the strength that she felt stir within her gut. "I will."

Clarke closed her eyes. Her palms were sweating, especially the one holding her gun and the only thing she could hear aside from her own breathing, was Lexa's. She swallowed; the anticipation thundering through her and her own shaking was becoming more obvious to her with every second that passed. Clarke knew the chances of dying far out-weighed the ones of surviving but then of course she also knew there was one factor she could always count on, and she was on her knees before her.

Clarke opened her eyes and saw Lexa's wide green ones, steady and sure and confident staring right back at her, even in the impossible situation they found themselves in. How had it come to this? was on repeat in Clarke's mind, along with a thousand what if's and maybe's and Clarke was suddenly very aware of how her chest rose and fell dramatically, like this was the moment everything in her life had lead to. The moment Clarke either killed the woman she loved or sentenced them all to death if she didn't. She could've broke, she would have, in fact, if the corners of Lexa's lips didn't suddenly upturn and a determined, nearly there smirk appear on her face. It made Clarke stop, and within a fraction of a second almost as if Lexa was willing her to act, Clarke instinctively knew what she had to do.

She had to move and when she did, Lexa did too.

Clarke glanced up as she felt a slight pressure against her thigh and it would have made her jump if she didn't know what was about to happen. She licked her lips and pulled the gun away from Lexa's head and pointed it at the warrior who was guarding Dax; the one who held the chain that linked all of the prisoner's restraints together, holding it steady in his thick, strong hands. As soon as the barrel reached his chest Clarke fired, not even taking a moment to aim as she couldn't afford to give anyone time to react and then Dax was ducking down slightly to his side, and Lexa of course was already gone.

She was like lightning.

Even with her hands tied in front of her Lexa easily slipped the concealed blade from Clarke's pants and curled it around Clarke's body as she rolled to the side, using the momentum to fling the blade through the air and impact Nia at the top of her shoulder, just at the base of her neck. And then it was chaos.

Clarke shot the first of the Azgeda warriors that came at her, picking them off one by one until her chamber was empty but that was all the time it took for the prisoners to realise what was happening and jump into action. Dax and Indra moved first, freeing themselves as soon as they felt the chain go slack before ploughing forward to protect Lexa from further oncoming warriors as she moved toward Nia.

It was only a matter of seconds before the rest of the prisoners were free, each of them turning on their guards and wrestling them to the ground however they could, using their fists and grappling for weapons so they could free their wrists entirely. Zeek was the first one free, even in his injured state and he immediately ran for Clarke knowing she would be an easy target once she ran out of bullets. He intercepted one Azgeda warrior who was charging her, sending him heavily to the ground as he took his sword, slicing through another two warriors before he jumped in front of Clarke, taking an arrow to his shoulder blade just in time to stop it from hitting her.

"Zeek!" Clarke exclaimed, surprised to see him on his feet let alone barging into battle.

Zeek stumbled toward her and leaned his weight against her palms as she held them out, trying to steady him. "Get down," he told her, everything going a little woozy as he dropped to his knees taking Clarke down with him.

Bellamy noticed the movement from quite a distance back, just getting done with killing an Azgeda warrior as he was knelt over his body, pulling a dagger out of the fallen warriors gut. Bellamy was breathing hard, his short curly hair falling into his eyes and he quickly surveyed the space around him, his eyes instantly finding Octavia who was over the opposite side of the clearing, fighting beside Lincoln and a few other Trikru. Kane was close to Abby with Miller and Jackson, and Monty and Raven were with Luna and some others, all battling bravely however they could.

Bellamy glanced to Lexa, his jaw clenching a little as she took down every warrior who was standing in her way and then his attention was drawn to Kristof, standing only a few metres from him and Bellamy instantly knew he was the one who fired the arrow at Clarke.

The Azgeda general was getting angrier by the second and he threw his bow to the ground in rage when he saw his arrow strike Zeek instead of Clarke. He drew a dagger from his belt in disgust and then moved toward Clarke with only one thing on his mind. A moment later though Bellamy stepped in front of him, stopping Kristof abruptly and blocking the path to his target. There was a moment of hesitation in the general's eyes and instead of killing Bellamy where he stood he simply gripped at his dagger harder and growled at him when he spoke.

"Move," Kristof ordered, his eyes flicking from Bellamy to where Clarke and Zeek had crumpled to the ground in the distance over his shoulder.

"No," Bellamy responded flatly, taking advantage of the general's distraction to plunge his own dagger quickly into Kristof's chest.

The general's eyes grew wide as his focus moved back to Bellamy, an aura of disbelief circling him as his free hand reached out and gripped at Bellamy's shoulder. His breath caught in his throat as realisation set in, his knees weak as he slowly slumped to them, not believing at all how stupid he had just been.

"Natrona," Kristof spat as he slumped to the ground, his body sliding off the blade as Bellamy stared at him, the life leaving the general's body and then Bellamy glanced around again before he jumped right back into the fray.

Every warrior was engaged in battle, all of them fighting for either Lexa or Nia and although it was chaotic, it didn't last that long.

The moment the blade left Lexa's fingertips the Commander was on a mission. She was determined and she absolutely knew nothing would stop her this time from achieving her goal. As soon as Lexa dived to the side of Clarke and rolled to her feet, the blade having struck Nia and sending her barrelling to the floor Nia's guards sprang into action and went for Lexa. They swung their swords at her but she deftly dodged each blow, ensuring one of the swipes sliced through the rope around her wrists freeing her immediately.

In a single fluid motion Lexa took a dagger from one of the guard's belts and deflected all attacks, parrying them one after the other and swiping back at each guard, disarming and disabling every one that came at her in her attempt to get to Nia. Each guard fell and although some managed to successfully cut at the Commander's skin that was all they were collectively able to do. She moved easily among them, dropping them like flies as Nia gradually backed herself against the far wall having nowhere to run unless her warriors cleared her a path.

It felt like a lifetime for the Ice Queen, panic rampant in her eyes as an eager, bloodthirsty Lexa got closer and closer until the Commander ploughed through the last of Nia's personal guard, the rest of her Azgeda warriors being held back by Indra, Dax and their Coalition forces a few feet away. Lexa slid on her knee's under the blade of the final Azgeda guard, her head tipped back before she straightened to her feet, spinning on her heel and slicing the guard across his chest with her sword and them jabbing at his ribs with the dagger in her other hand.

The guard fell to the floor and then there was just the two of them, Lexa dropping her sword so she was only left with her dagger as her fist clenched tightly around it, her knuckles turning as white as her eyes and Lexa could think of nothing else in that moment other than killing her, in the most horrific way possible.

Nia's hand was at her neck trying to stem the flow of blood that crept around the side of her palm and trickled down her arm in a steady flow. It made Lexa's heart beat faster, her chest rising and falling erratically as years of hatred rolled through her, over and over along with every idea of how Nia might have tortured Costia presenting itself and reminding her, flashing vividly behind her eyes.

Lexa clenched her jaw and bared her teeth as she took a tiny step toward Nia, her body barely able to contain her fury and then in an instant she was on Nia, pinning her up against the wall with the blade across and digging into her throat, Lexa's face glaring up at her mere millimetres away as Nia angled hers up and just to the side.

Lexa was seething, never being as close to Nia as she was in that moment and if she could push her through the wall by pure will alone Lexa would. It felt like her skin was crawling, like every inch of her was itching with blind and unrelenting rage. Her muscles shook and her eyes didn't blink, her breath forcing out between clenched teeth as she felt her revenge finally begin to take over. It felt good, and Lexa surrendered into it willingly. She cared nothing for the proper way of things, then, everything was too good for Nia and nothing Lexa could do to her would ever repair the pain and heartbreak she had lived through at her hand but, Lexa thought, she could make her wish she had never laid a hand on Clarke, as that in the end had been the Ice Queen's undoing.

"My rage would drive me now to hack your flesh away and eat you raw, such agonies you have caused me," Lexa forced into Nia's skin, spitting the words at her as they crawled up her windpipe and scratched at the insides of her throat before she pushed them past her lips. Lexa pressed her blade even harder into Nia's skin. "Even that death would be too good for you."

"So do it, Lexa," Nia whispered, her voice ragged and strained. "Before my warriors overturn yours and your chance is gone."

Lexa stared at her, her eyes darting from Nia's left one to her right and back again as she considered what that could mean. Even though her back was turned Lexa was more than aware that Nia's warriors were in no position to overturn anything. She knew Indra and Dax held the line and her Coalition warriors were holding their own in the battle. All it would take was one shout that Nia was captured and that would be the end of it. No one else was coming to help; Azgeda had fallen and Nia knew it as much as Lexa did.

A smug grin began to form on Lexa's lips and her eyes danced a little with her impending victory before her bloodlust took hold once more. "Azgeda is no match for my Coalition," Lexa hissed, spinning Nia in front of her so she could see the battle unhindered. "Look." She pushed Nia forwards a little, forcing her to see what was happening and then she pushed her to her knees, keeping the blade pressed tightly to her throat. "So the last thing you see is the fall of your nation."

It was all Nia could see and if she chose to think about it she would wonder how the hell Lexa was able to turn the tide in this way but she didn't. She just knelt there and hoped for an intervention. Kristof was still out there, after all, and Roan.

"Hod op!" Lexa commanded, her tone ripping across the clearing causing the warriors closest to her to lessen their fighting. "Hod op!" she repeated, a little quieter this time but no less domineering. "Yu haiplana don teik daun."

The majority stopped and spun to where Lexa was standing, the Ice Queen beaten and on her knees before her.

Dax's head spun around and then back again, easily disarming the warrior he was fighting before he quickly jumped to action after a slight nod from his Commander.

"Down your weapons!" Dax ordered, his voice bellowing across the open space as he moved a little along the line he'd been holding with Indra, not wanting to step too far away from Lexa. "All Azgeda and her allies, your Queen is beaten. Drop your weapons and surrender, or she dies."

For a moment the Azgeda warriors were unsure of what to do. They looked around as if trying to find their next in command however Kristof wasn't anywhere to be found.

"You heard him," Roan interjected, appearing from toward the side of the clearing and then he strode purposefully toward its centre, just as covered in blood as everyone else. He met Dax's eyes and then he looked to Lexa and finally rested his eyes on Nia. "Nomon," Roan said quietly, her throat held tightly by Lexa's free hand and her head bent at an awkward angle making it difficult to speak even if she wanted to.

If she did talk she would order Roan to keep fighting which is exactly what Lexa didn't want and so she pressed her blade heavier still into the flesh of her throat and caught Roan's gaze again to give him a pointed look.

Roan evened out his expression and took in a breath. "Chil yo daun," he shouted over his shoulder, his tone firm and rigid and sure enough every member of Azgeda and those who supported Nia dropped their weapons, the members of Skaikru taking in a collective sigh of relief.

Indra automatically started barking orders at her warriors, getting them to surround their now captured prisoners and usher them into the centre of the clearing. Dax turned and approached Lexa, the anger still raging behind her eyes however after asking her a silent question with a quirk of his brow the Commander stepped back and he took her place behind Nia, quickly tying her hands behind her back and bringing her to her feet. As he ordered a few warriors to take up guard around both Lexa and Nia, Lexa for the first time averted her gaze from the Ice Queen and sought out Clarke who was still not at all far from where Lexa knelt before her.

Immediately Lexa's eyes softened and a different emotion altogether suddenly came upon her, warming her chest and steadying her heart. Clarke was well, she surmised as her eyes roamed quickly over her assessing any possible damage. There was none, aside from a few cuts and scrapes as far as she could tell and to the world Lexa's expression remained the same; stoic, war-beaten and battered as to be expected but not to Clarke. To Clarke there was a smile and a warmth in her eyes that radiated across the distance between them and Clarke couldn't help but smile in return.

Lexa nodded her head, just once, a promise of a discussion they would have later but then she turned around again, the captured warriors all now rounded up and Nia restrained properly to her right. The Commander looked at Indra, still co-ordinating the prisoners and she nodded to indicate they were all unarmed and accounted for.

"This battle is over," Lexa began, having no intention of making any grandiose speeches as those were for announcing victory in Polis. Right then her body ached, her muscles were sore and she was still just about holding back the atrocities she wanted to bestow upon the Ice Queen. There were protocols, however, and now she'd had a moment to breathe she wasn't one to renege on her own laws no matter how much she might be entitled to it. Her shoulders went back and her chin came up, her hand still holding onto her dagger like it was trapped permanently in her fist.

"Nia's reign over Azgeda is at an end-"

"Stumucha," Nia spat, the skin of her neck and shoulder now dyed red with her own blood and she looked like she might drop to the ground if she wasn't being held up by two guards.

"Shof op!" Dax growled, standing just to Nia's right.

Nia however remained glaring at Lexa and continued her slur regardless. "Yu kwelen. Yu na kwelen otaim."

Dax then turned to Nia, slapping her clear across the face. "Pleni!" he yelled at her. "You will show your Commander some respect!"

Nia spat the blood the slap produced to the ground as Lexa came to a stop just a few feet from her, Lexa's nails beginning do draw blood from her palm as she was holding onto her dagger so tightly.

"It is okay, Dax," Lexa said in a tone that betrayed the fury she was feeling. "She has no respect." Lexa's eyes were deadly and she itched to end the life of the woman in front of her. A woman who had brought her nothing but pain and anguish and it would be so easy to just gut her there and then.

It was her own laws that were stopping her. The laws that were in place to allow each person the guilty had wronged to exact their revenge by means of cutting and as much as it hurt Lexa to allow this woman to live a minute longer, she hadn't got this far in her Command by choosing which laws she lived by.

"You are sentenced to death, Nia of Azgeda, for breaking the treaty you were bound to and attempting to overthrow this Coalition."

"I care not for your Coalition-"

Dax slapped her again and this time Nia's head remained slouched to the side, a low murmur coming from her lips before she began to cackle.

The Ice Queen then squarely raised her chin, the grin on her face sickening and mouth completely bloody. "You are no Commander of mine."

Lexa's eyes flared and she went to move forward, her body beginning to shake with the fury she felt as she was beginning to lose all sense of propriety. "Your reign is over, Nia," Lexa seethed under her breath. "You will die, as will all those who follow you so no trace of the Ice Queen will ever remain." Lexa let Nia acknowledge her words before she turned around and took a few steps away to put some distance between them. She tried to take a breath to sooth her chest but it really didn't work.

"But you will remember me, Lexa, I know you will," Nia continued bitterly and then an idea came to her. "Would you like to know how she begged?"

Lexa immediately stiffened, her muscles turning rigid beneath her skin.

"How she screamed and cried and prayed for you to save her?"

Lexa heard Dax draw his sword and so she turned to hold her hand out to him. "Hod op," she ordered, and there was just a moment of silence before his sword slid back into its sheath.

Nia was still staring at Lexa, her eyes narrow and calculating as she attempted to cause as much damage as possible while she still could. "But you didn't, did you?" she scoffed aloud, shaking her head at the memory. "Coward."

"The kill is yours, Heda," came Indra's voice a little way out to Lexa's left and all it took was a quick glance at her people, those who had followed her from the beginning for Lexa to know none of them would hold it against her. That none of them would deny their Heda this kill if she wanted to take it.

And how she did want.

It didn't take much and Lexa was in front of Nia in an instant. Her breathing surprisingly calm and her muscles this time not shaking once.

"She cried for you," Nia still taunted, knowing that this was likely it. Her last chance to do some damage. "But you didn't come."

"No she did not," Lexa responded in a tone that sounded like death itself, her fingers locked in place around the hilt of her dagger.

"Oh she did."

"No," Lexa snapped her reply, her eyes glaring into Nia's waning, bloodshot ones. "She would not give you that satisfaction. She was stronger than you and I combined."

Nia opened her mouth to speak but Lexa had really had enough. The dagger's blade pierced Nia's rib cage and plunged in, Lexa feeling the satisfaction with every sinew of tissue it cut through and then she twisted it, the cry Nia let out ripping through the silence that had fallen over the clearing.

Lexa leaned in to Nia's ear, the venom clearly dripping from her words. "And yet you scream like a wounded animal, a pathetic, lame, soulless animal that is not even worth an honourable death." Lexa angled the blade up and continued thrusting it into her, not caring an inch about her audience or the guttural, cracking noises Nia's body was producing. "You die shamed with no one to mourn you, and I will make sure your name is forgotten so there is not even a shadow of you that remains."

There was a final gasp of air as Nia's body gave out and then she hung lifelessly on the end of Lexa's dagger, her body still being held up by the guards who then both let her go, causing her to slump to the ground with an echoing thud.

The Commander stared for a moment, her eyes taking in every millimetre of Nia's now lifeless body and then she removed her blade and straightened up, her lungs filling with air that felt lighter than any she had breathed before. She wiped the dagger on her thigh and then turned to look over her people, all staring back at her with a mix of horror and pride. "Imprison them all," she ordered flatly, "including the Prince. Tomorrow they will be dealt with."

"Sha, Heda," Dax and Indra responded in unison as Lexa marched across and out of the clearing.

Clarke watched Lexa go and her immediate reaction was to follow her. It was difficult though, getting her head around the myriad of emotions that were flowing through her; everything from fear and anxiety to revulsion, if she was honest, for the way in which she just witnessed Lexa kill Nia. Not that it wasn't deserved, but watching Lexa be so bloodthirsty and ruthless when she knew her to be so soft and gentle underneath it all well, it was a little disconcerting to say the least.

Clarke went to get up but as she moved she jostled Zeek who was still half over her, somewhere between protecting her and being too injured to move.

"Zeek," Clarke breathed as she heaved him off her, causing him to roll onto his back with a fully voiced groan. "Shit, are you okay?" she asked as she got to her knees, quickly trying to assess how badly hurt he was this time. Her hands flew over him checking if he was actually bleeding or just covered in blood. "Are you hurt?"

Zeek groaned again and somehow managed to shuffle up onto one elbow. "Yes," he grumbled. "Are you?"

It was then that Clarke felt something break inside of her. As she crouched there with a barely conscious warrior in her arms, as her friends and new acquaintances milled and organised themselves around her having survived an epic battle and impossible situation did Clarke feel the tension lift and then she laughed. Freely and inappropriately she laughed until Zeek grumbled again and tried to get a little more comfy on the ground.

"I'm fine, Zeek," Clarke finally replied, as if it would be any other way with such a dedicated bodyguard by her side. She brushed her palm over his injured shoulder and he winced and almost curled up in pain. "You've got to stop getting your ass kicked for me, okay?"

Zeek looked at her. "My ass is fine," he retorted. "It is the rest of me that hurts."

Clarke paused as she stared at him, her jaw a little agape as his words sunk in, her expression crinkling in disbelief. "Was that a joke?"

Zeek kept his face straight for a moment or so before a smile broke out across his lips and he laughed too, Clarke chuckling along with him. "You are a bad influence, Wanheda."

Clarke couldn't stop laughing and it was such a great release of emotion it almost brought her to tears but she managed to keep herself in check. As her shoulders ceased their shaking and she pulled Zeek into a sitting position Abby came over to her, immediately wrapping Clarke up in a massive hug.

"Clarke," Abby whispered as she held her daughter close, breathing her in as if she expected to never see her alive again. "Thank God you're safe."

"I'm fine, Mom," Clarke replied softly, her own arms enveloping her mother's waist. "I'm fine."

Abby pulled back and held Clarke's face in her hands, her thumbs running deftly over her cheekbones. "I can't believe it."

Clarke felt the emotion again as she sniffled back a breath. "I know. Miraculous, huh?"

Abby eagerly nodded her head and then she shook it, feeling the weight of emotion too. "I thought we were all going to die."

"Not a miracle," Zeek uttered from his place on the ground as every inch of his body protested. He pulled himself back against the wall but somehow he managed to keep a smile on his face and then he nodded his head toward Abby. "I told you Heda would not disappoint you."

Abby dropped her hands from Clarke's face and exhaled an exaggerated breath down at the warrior. "Yes you did," she smiled as she crouched at his side to check his vitals. "But not even you, Zeek, can tell me you thought she would get us out of that."

"I did," Zeek grinned at her. "I didn't know how but I knew she would."

"Lexa," Clarke whispered and then she turned her head in the direction the Commander had walked off in. "I have to go find her." She turned back to Abby and Zeek. "You'll make sure he's okay, mom?" she asked, backing away slowly.

"He'll be fine, Clarke, but make sure you're careful out there!"

Clarke though was already gone.

Bellamy saw Clarke sprint away from the clearing and went to follow her but a strong hand grabbed his arm and prevented him from leaving. He shrugged out of the grip and turned to see an exceptionally bloody looking Lincoln staring right back at him.

"Lincoln," Bellamy said a little taken aback. "What is it?" he asked, his eyes darting around for a moment. "Where's O?"

"She's fine," Lincoln reassured him. "She's helping Indra with the prisoners."

Bellamy nodded. "Okay, so what do you need?"

Lincoln looked him squarely in the eye trying to gauge what kind of a reaction he was going to get before he just came out with it anyway. "I need to know why Kristof didn't kill you."

Bellamy stopped. "What?"

"The Azgeda general," Lincoln clarified, knowing full well that Bellamy knew exactly what he was talking about.

They remained staring at each other until Bellamy broke eye contact and busied himself by continuing to retrieve fallen weapons from the area around him. "I know who he is."

"Then tell me," Lincoln carried on, keeping just a few feet behind Bellamy. "Why didn't Kristof kill you when you blocked his path?"

Bellamy shrugged. "I guess he wasn't quick enough."

Lincoln laughed, then, short and sharp and it made Bellamy turn and face him. "No. He said something to you. What was it?"

"Look, Lincoln," Bellamy sighed, toying with the blades he had collected. "I can't remember. I saw him going for Clarke so I blocked his way and then I stabbed him. That was it."

Lincoln was looking at him as though he didn't believe an inch of it. "General's aren't usually so easy to kill."

Bellamy shrugged again and held his hands out at his sides for a moment. "Well, maybe he wasn't as great a warrior as everyone thought and maybe I am better than you give me credit for."

Lincoln pushed out a breath but before he was able to speak again Bellamy cut him off. "Just be glad he's dead, okay? The Queen is dead, the general is dead and the Prince is locked up. It's a good day, Lincoln. We did good," and then he patted Lincoln on the shoulder. "Let's just leave it at that." Bellamy pushed past him and headed toward Kane, leaving Lincoln just as suspicious as he was to begin with.

Clarke found her out in the dwindling sunlight, the last remnants of the sun soon to disappear over the edge of the horizon but instead of taking in the fading amber hues, Lexa instead was gazing upward, high above her head and into the vastness of the rapidly approaching night sky. The expression on her face was on the verge of content, her brow only slightly furrowed as if she was half way to searching for something, but also safe in the knowledge that she had already found it.

"Lexa," Clarke ventured softly as she stopped just a few feet from her. Not wanting to startle her or interrupt whatever might be going on in her head.

Lexa didn't move. Her eyes were already closing and so on hearing Clarke's voice she let them fall all the way and her semi-content smile grew into a more complete and fulfilled grin.

It made Clarke tilt her head slightly and then she felt confident enough to probe a little further. "Are you okay?"

Lexa opened her eyes then, and the peacefulness that filled her expression was practically contagious. She felt warm and her heart struck a deep and solid rhythm inside her chest. She felt good and almost renewed, like she was ready to start whatever was to come next. With Clarke. Always with Clarke.

The bloodlust and hatred that consumed her in the clearing seemed to had passed and the Commander was much more like herself or she was at least, the softer and warmer part of herself that she often showed to Clarke.

"We are taught that in death we become the stars," Lexa finally said, her voice sounding just as content as she looked. "You lived amongst them, Clarke," she continued, glancing sideways at her. "You will tell me such an idea is foolish."

Clarke felt the warmth too. As strange as it was in the evening chill. It radiated from Lexa in that moment so Clarke had little option but to share in it and feel just as warm and soft in return. It made her feel optimistic and perhaps for the first time it made the reality of a peaceful, warless future seem like it could actually happen. "I would never tell you that," she responded in a whisper, her lips stretching into a gentle smile to match the one on Lexa's face.

Lexa nodded then, her eyes becoming wide as the stars started to come into view and somehow, her smile spread that little bit wider. It made Clarke glance up too and although it wasn't the first time she'd looked up at the night sky from the ground it felt incredibly different, now. Nia was gone and her allies were imprisoned. Her mother was open to joining the Coalition and no one, as far as she knew wanted to kill her, or Lexa, or anyone else and what a marvellous feeling that was. She knew it must be what Lexa was thinking too and it was indeed an amazing thing.

The sky really did look different in peacetime.

After a few moments of basking in such a beautiful sight with Lexa right there within arm's reach, Clarke turned and looked at her again and wanted to ask about the other thing that she knew Lexa must be thinking about. Clarke had known it as soon as she saw her standing in the shadow of the sun. "Have you told her the Ice Queen is dead?" she asked, her voice as low and as soft as possible.

Lexa's face actually lit up as soon as the words passed Clarke's lips and her eyes danced a little, too. She really was beautiful when she was happy and in Clarke's opinion it really didn't happen enough. "She knows," Lexa answered, honestly appreciating the fact that Clarke would bring up Costia. Such a thing made her heart happy.

Clarke seemed to sense it and so she continued. "She would be proud of you."

Lexa's brow flickered, a little, and her head tilted just to the side. "She would not be proud of my vengeance."

Clarke wasn't certain about that. Surely if anyone deserved vengeance it was Lexa. And Costia. "Are you sure?" she asked with a raised brow of her own.

Lexa thought for a few moments, deciding how best she could phrase it. "Costia was a lot like you," she began, her eyes tilting up again toward the sky. "She would prefer a way where everyone could live."

Clarke pushed out a breath. "Well, Nia made that impossible."

Lexa nodded minutely, knowing it was true.

"Maybe she wasn't that much like me," Clarke started, causing Lexa to glance at her for a moment. "I think your actions were justified."

Lexa's brow rose up again. "You do?"

Clarke shrugged. "Well it was her or us."

"Ah," Lexa breathed, the grin remaining on her face. "So it was simply survival."

Clarke nodded, thinking that assessment was fair. "Two birds," she smirked with an edge of humour, Lexa turning to look at her quizzically needing Clarke to clarify. "One presented an opportunity for the other. Doesn't matter which reason is the truth."

"It does matter, Clarke."

Clarke knew she was one of the only people who Lexa could talk to like this, even if her sudden attack of conscious was grossly misplaced. It was an honour to be able to share the Commander's secrets but Clarke really did think Lexa was being far too hard on herself if she thought she didn't deserve her vengeance after all this time. "You let her live for years after what she did. She wanted to end your Coalition and kill you." Clarke shook her head. "It's not like you had much choice."

Lexa thought for a moment. "Perhaps."

Clarke could still see an edge of a smile on Lexa's lips so she knew this conversation was only semi-serious. Or at least that's what she hoped. "What would Costia think?"

That made Lexa smile fully again, knowing full well what she would have thought. "Costia would look at me and know the truth," she said as she turned to Clarke properly, then. "As you do."

"Well," Clarke grinned, facing Lexa too. "Outwardly we can say whatever we want, vengeance or not. It was her or us."

They maintained eye contact then, just staring softly at each other until the fingers of one of Clarke's hands crept forward and reached out toward Lexa's, linking them together and Lexa accepted the touch fully, glancing down at their now joined hands.

Clarke was troubled, though, her own words making her think over what happened, her thoughts easily returning to when Lexa was kneeling before her at the top of the clearing. "Lexa," she started, her voice going a little scratchy. "How did you know I hadn't already used it?"

Lexa's brow furrowed, lost somewhat at the abrupt turn of conversation. She glanced up and Clarke met her gaze.

"The blade."

Lexa pulled in a small breath as she immediately understood what Clarke was talking about and then she shrugged, a little, as she thought about it. "I did not."

Clarke frowned heavily, a million thoughts accompanied by a million scenarios flashing through her mind at what could've happened if the blade hadn't of been there. Clarke's tone turned but their fingers continued to play. "But Lexa, you could have died."

Lexa could see how uneasy this was making Clarke so she kept her voice as smooth as possible and gently ran her fingers in a soothing motion over the back of her hand. "We all could have, Clarke."

That wasn't good enough though, as far as Clarke was concerned and more and more questions continued to flash through her mind. How did they even manage to capture Lexa, anyhow? It made Clarke pause. "You got yourself captured on purpose?"

Lexa's eyebrows arched and she once again tilted her head to the side. She had to be honest, that much she knew. "An opportunity presented itself to mount an attack from within, rather than from without."

Clarke was startled by that and if Lexa wasn't holding onto her she probably would have backed away. Instead she just glared at the Commander as her eyes grew wide and her mouth fell open, a little.

"An attack from the outside held far too many unknowns. You could have been anywhere; killed immediately upon our attack and Nia could have vanished back to Azgeda. From inside I quickly knew where everyone was. All in one place."

Clarke shook her head, struggling to understand. "But, you can't have possibly known-"

"-If we would all live?" Lexa cut in, trying to appease Clarke's worrisome mind. "No I did not but the chances were better, letting Nia think she had the upper hand."

Clarke was still struggling but in end she just smiled, more or less in disbelief as she couldn't after all they'd just been through bring herself to argue with those big and wide green eyes, looking back at her with such compassion and warmth. But then it wouldn't be Clarke if she didn't question. "But what if I had used the blade?" she pushed, her tone light and her fingers wiggling Lexa's between her own. "What would you have done then?"

Lexa exhaled deeply, her body taking a half step closer to Clarke. "Luckily we do not need to ask ourselves that question."

Clarke just couldn't believe the gamble and she almost rolled her eyes with it. They all could be dead right then the chances of Lexa's plan balancing on such a thin tightrope. "But-"

"-Clarke," Lexa interrupted, leaning into her a little closer. "Life is one big gamble, especially this life. If there had been more guards between us and Nia, if your bullet hadn't found the guards chest. If my throw had been off and I hadn't caught Nia's throat-"

"-Your throw would never be off," Clarke smiled, cutting in herself.

Lexa stopped and smiled as she saw Clarke's smirk, her voice lowering so it merely rumbled between them. "Everything happened as it was meant to. That is why we are standing here right now. We make things happen, or we do not. We choose our own fate and this, Clarke, is exactly where we are meant to be."

Clarke just stared at her, a little bit awestruck and still more than a little confused but suddenly her voice was gone and she was at a complete loss as to what to say. Her chest felt full and the way Lexa was looking at her, like she was the only person who mattered in the entire world and that was why she just risked everything to save her and it honestly made Clarke's entire body feel weak.

It is why she was Commander, wasn't it? Why people like Pius, Dax and Indra would follow her blindly wherever she wanted to take them and why young warriors like Zeek and Sienna idolised her. It was because she risked and because she won. The greatest Commander to ever live, Zeek had said. She will not disappoint you.

Clarke opened her mouth to say something but Lexa shook her head gently and the breadth of her smile simply cut her off. "You ask too many questions, Clarke kom Skaikru."

It made Clarke chuckle. "You only just realising that?" she asked with a whisper, her fingers getting lost in the material at the front of Lexa's jacket as she was overcome with both the desire to drop to Lexa's feet and worship her and slap her hard across the face at the same time. Clarke sighed and shook her head, not at all knowing which one was more appropriate given the circumstances as her fingers almost fisted in the material before releasing it again just as quickly. It was amazing, what Lexa had just done. Defeating both Nia and Azgeda when everything was about to fall apart. It really was miraculous. So gung-ho and risky but yet there they stood; living and breathing and whole.

"What is it?" Lexa whispered as she angled her head down at Clarke, her own fingers moving to rest on Clarke's hips.

"You really are this good of a Commander, aren't you?" Clarke breathed in response, her gaze focusing on her fingers that were now pushing into the fur which lined the edges of the Lexa's coat.

Lexa's voice dropped to a low murmur that practically pulsed through Clarke like some kind of sonic shock. "I do not think I would be anything, without you."

Clarke's eyes fell closed as she felt Lexa's lips ghost against her forehead, Clarke's hands bracing this time in her coat as Lexa's hands pulled her closer. "I doubt that's true," Clarke responded quietly, but if Lexa she ignored it and finally, the desire that won out against those warring others when she felt Lexa's lips against her skin, was the desire to kiss her.

Lexa's right hand left Clarke's hip and she pressed her forefinger beneath Clarke's chin, lifting her face the tiny distance so Lexa could lean down and close the space between them.

The kiss was everything, a culmination of each moment that lead up to this very second; warm and gentle and all-encompassing. It stole the air from Clarke's lungs and she felt her essence reach out desperately, clinging even tighter onto Lexa than her fingers in her coat could manage. Clarke felt like she could stay there forever, as she felt the Commander's presence wash over her right down to her toes and she knew she was safe. That wherever Lexa would go she would follow because she loved her, and God how she'd missed her. Missed her touch and her words and her lips and it had taken this for Clarke to realise that life was too short to harbour doubts. To be so careful as to not trust Lexa with her heart. They could both easily be dead but instead she was lucky enough to be alive and standing there, with such a formidable woman falling in love with her right back and there was no way Clarke was going to take that for granted again.

As Lexa slid her tongue across Clarke's bottom lip to deepen the kiss Clarke reached up with her hand and found the back of Lexa's neck, pulling her closer as she moaned into the Commander's mouth. Lexa's arms enveloped Clarke's waist tightly, her one hand slipping up and under Clarke's jacket, massaging softly at her skin through the thin material of her shirt.

Lexa felt like she was floating away. Lost immediately in the depths of a gentle kiss with the woman she thought she had lost forever. It was difficult to keep the emotion from gathering just below the surface of the Commander's carefully constructed demeanour, but then Clarke had always been good at dismantling her. She couldn't believe how lucky she was. How fortunate to have come through this again but with no great losses on her side and Clarke, beautiful and pliant and alive in her arms once more.

The kiss turned heavy then, as it sunk in just how close Lexa came to not having this and she felt like if this is all she did for the rest of her life, then her life would have been worth it. She whimpered as Clarke massaged the skin at her neck, digging her fingernails in just a little and Lexa felt the shiver like an eruption down her spine. She felt more alive than she had in a long time. The war was over, there were no pressing threats on the horizon, her people by all accounts were happy and there was a beautiful woman who was kissing her back with equal fervour and who wanted to be with her.

How could life get any better than that?

There was a cough to her left and quickly Lexa knew the answer to that very question.

"Moba, Heda," Dax said more than a little sheepishly, ducking his head "Wanheda."

Life would be much better if Dax had better timing that was for sure. Clarke and Lexa's lips parted regretfully but instead of pulling away from each other like before they remained exactly where they were, foreheads touching and still very much enjoying their moment.

"What is it, Dax?" Lexa asked softly, her eyes still closed and hands very much remaining in place.

Dax smiled a little too sillily for a general of Polis who had narrowly escaped death but he had never seen Lexa so soft and he thought it suited her, really. "Forgive me, Heda," he continued with a light cough. "The Azgeda warriors are imprisoned and Price Roan has asked to speak with you."

Lexa sighed, not particularly wanting to get back to reality. "I bet he has," she murmured under her breath, planting one last kiss to the tip of Clarke's nose.

Clarke would have giggled at Lexa's softness if they were alone but she just about managed to stop herself. She smiled instead and Lexa returned it before they parted and turned to face Dax, Lexa's one hand staying at the small of Clarke's back, however.

Dax had never seen The Commander behave even remotely domestic with anyone and it made a flash of warmth erupt through his chest. It took a raised brow from Lexa to get him to continue. "Lincoln also has something to discuss."

"Lincoln?" Lexa questioned curiously.

"Yes, Heda."

Clarke turned a little to Lexa. "What could Lincoln want?"

Lexa remained looking at her general, pressing him for more information.

"He will only speak with you, Heda," Dax offered unhelpfully.

All Lexa really wanted to do was retire somewhere private with Clarke and stay as close to her as possible. Preferably naked and in a bed so she could remind her repeatedly just how important she was to her. Lexa knew they still had plenty to discus and undoubtedly Clarke would question her at some point, over her decision to have Zeek take her out of the battle but for now Lexa just wanted to kiss her, play with her fingers in her own and whisper plans of forever in her ear.

"Your Command tent is also ready for you, Heda," Dax said, pulling Lexa from her thoughts as if he had somehow heard them. "For when you wish to use it."

His lips pulled into a sideways smirk but then he turned away before Lexa could reprimand him for it and then he started back toward the clearing.

Clarke couldn't help her grin either and after a moment the two of them moved to follow him, Lexa's hand slipping from Clarke's back but Clarke kept close enough so the edges of their fingers touched.

"Your Command tent, huh?" Clarke murmured, feeling the need to erase the day completely from her memory.

"Yes," Lexa smiled back at her.

Clarke nodded. "So how long do you think you're going to be?"

Lexa's expression broke out into a full on grin and she knew she was going to have to get that under control before she stood before her new prisoners. She coughed a little under her breath.

"As quick as possible."

Translations.

"Azgeda."

"Ice Nation."

"Trikru."

"Tree People."

"Natrona."

"Traitor."

"Hod op!"

"Stop."

"Yu haiplana don teik daun."

"Your Queen is defeated."

"Nomon."

"Mother."

"Chil yo daun."

"Stand down, all of you."

"Stumucha."

An utterly deplorable person.

"Shof op."

"Be quiet."

"Yu kwelen. Yu na kwelen otaim."

"You are weak. You will always be weak."

"Pleni!"

"Enough!"

"Sha, Heda."

"Yes, Commander."

"Moba, Heda."

"I'm sorry, Commander."

"Wanheda."

"Commander of death."