Hey Everyone! I'm so sorry it took me this long to post the next chapter. I made sure this one was pretty long to make up for it. There's probably only one more chapter to go after this so thanks for sticking with me. I hope you all like it! Enjoy!

Chapter Text

Clarke groaned as she slowly opened her eyes, blinking a few times to catch her bearings. Her body had been so exhausted her sleep was dreamless, which she was extremely thankful for. She felt the arm that was wrapped around her waist tighten and a small smile spread across her face at knowing who she was being held by.

That smile was quickly replaced with a grimace though, when she turned and jostled her injured shoulder. Lexa shot up from the bed and gently grabbed Clarke's body lowering her back down on the bed and into a more comfortable position.

Once done, she quickly reached to the bedside table and held a glass of water to Clarke's lips, helping her to drink. "Are you alright?" She asked, putting the cup back onto the table when Clarke was done.

"I am since you're here," Clarke said, her voice a little rough.

"If you need me to fetch your mother or Nyko I-"

"Lexa, the only thing I need is you," Clarke said softly before reaching up to caress her lovers face and pull her down gently until their lips met.

Lexa returned the kiss lightly, not wanting to injure the blonde further, but she felt all of the tension in her muscles relax as she continued to mold their lips together. She broke away for air but left her forehead connected to the woman's below her. "I'm so glad you're ok."

"I'm glad you are too. You did it. You beat her," Clarke said proudly.

"I swore to myself that I would make her pay for all she's done. I'm glad that time is finally here," Lexa replied honestly.

Clarke eyed Lexa, only just now realizing that she was in her full heda gear, and noticing that there was a lot of noise from outside the tent, "What time is it?"

"Well past midday," Lexa answered simply.

"It's almost time for Nia's trial," Clarke stated and Lexa answered with a nod. "And mine."

Lexa wrapped her arms around Clarke protectively. She wasn't going to let anything happen to Clarke. She had already spent the majority of her day with Luna figuring out how she was going to announce to the coalition what she had found out about Clarke and the prophecy, and they both agreed it would be best to announce it during her trial, when everyone would be present. All Lexa had to do was tell Clarke the plan. "Yes but I promised you that I would get would get you out of this situation and-"

"No buts Lexa. I have to face what I've done," Clarke cut her off. "I know you want to protect me, and I love you even more for it, but you're the Commander Lex. You have to do what's right for your people."

"And I will, but Clarke," Lexa tried to tell Clarke about the prophecy, about her being Queen, but Clarke stopped her again.

"Please Lexa, let me say this," Clarke begged, and even though Lexa knew she shouldn't let Clarke continue without knowing the truth, she couldn't argue with the blonde and nodded her head to let Clarke speak.

"We both knew it was a possibility that my identity would be discovered. You know what happens to assassins," Clarke sighed. "Deep down I think we both knew this would be the most likely end." Clarke's eyes held Lexa's gaze and she smiled sadly, "With everything I've done, I probably deserve this."

"Clarke," Lexa tried, but a soft finger was pressed against against her lips.

"Please, let me say this" Clarke whispered, knowing how difficult it was going to be for her to continue if she let Lexa stop her now. "You deserve love Lexa. You deserve a happy life in the peace that you have built. Don't let my death stop you from living. You deserve happiness, even if it's not with me."

Lexa shook her head rapidly her eyes filling with tears even though she knew Clarke was not going to face death at the end of her trial, "Clarke don't be ridiculous. You're not-"

"I love you Lexa. Promise me you'll always remember that."

"I promise, but-"

"Heda, it is time," Indra's voice interrupted from outside the tent, and Lexa groaned at once again being interrupted. Why wouldn't anyone let her speak?

"I'll be there in just a moment Indra," Lexa replied before turning her attention back to Clarke.

Clarke grabbed onto Lexa and pulled her in for as tight a hug as she could manage before pressing one last kiss to Lexa's lips. "I love you. I always will. Now go be Heda and bring peace to your people," Clarke said moving Lexa along without allowing her to linger.

Lexa quickly found herself outside of Clarke's tent and huffed in annoyance. She would just have to surprise Clarke along with everyone else when her trial came about who she was and what prophecy she fulfilled.

/

It had taken quite a few hours for the trials of Nia's followers to be completed. There were a good number who remained loyal to their queen and they had been punished for it. All of Nia's high ranking generals had faced death by a thousand cuts. The punishments of her warriors had been split. Some faced death, and others only a set time of work labor. It depended on whether or not they showed remorse and what the people of Azgeda said about them.

Lexa was pleased to see that many of the citizens of Azgeda had been able to come forward and either vouch for against the life of each of those being tried. Lexa took their word seriously, but made sure not to make any rash decisions in case one citizen was just trying to settle an unfair grudge on someone who didn't deserve a harsh punishment.

Overall, the trials had gone well. Every threat had been neutralized and she could see the unity in the crowd in the clans before her. It wasn't lost on her people that once Nia and her followers in Azgeda were finished, there would be peace.

But now it was time for the final trials. The last group was set to come on the stage, the same stage that Nia had erected in her attempt to turn the clans against Lexa was now being used to end Nia's reign of terror, and many of the warriors from the coalition were present to watch.

Lexa stood tall and proud on the stage with Indra beside her as she called forth the last two set to stand trial. Lexa watched as a guard led Nia and Clarke, both bound, up onto the stage. They were both led to the posts that were already present on the stage and were tied to it.

Nia protested the entire way, her face still bruised from Lexa's earlier assault, shouting out at the crowd, ordering them to free her, while Clarke followed quietly, resigned to her own fate. She knew she would have to face punishment one day for the things Nia made her do. She wasn't scared, she was ready.

Once the guard finished with her, he left to help the other who was still trying to secure Nia, and Clarkes eyes immediately searched out green. Their gazes locked quickly and Clarke gave her a small nod before they drifted to see her mother, Roan, Raven, Octavia, and the rest of Skaikru in the front row of the crowd.

Lexa watched as Clarke was secured to the pole. She had made sure that Clarke had been given enough medicine so that she wouldn't be in pain, but would still have a clear head, and she had instructed the guard to tie Clarke to the pole without putting any strain on her injured shoulder.

She watched as Clarke's eyes sought out her friends before Lexa's eyes drifted to Nia who had finally been secured to the pole.

"Nia kom Azgeda," Lexa's voice boomed across the stage. "You have committed treason against the coalition that you sworn to abide by, and have committed numerous crimes against the citizens of your own clan and others. How do you plead?"

"I don't need to defend myself to you," Nia growled. "You are weak and foolish, and you will pay for it one day."

"If no one wishes to defend her," Lexa left her statement open, allowing anyone the opportunity to step forward. Her eyes swept the crowd, slowing on the clan leaders of the clans who had previously allied themselves with Nia.

None could even hold her gaze, knowing they were lucky to still be alive, and allowed the trial to continue.

Nia growled in frustration seeing the clans that were supposed to be supporting her too afraid to do anything, and she realized that there really would be no way out of this for her. Everyone who followed her was already dead and everyone else was too scared or weak to do anything about it. At least she would still have the last laugh when the Commander would end up having to kill Clarke for her crimes as well.

"Then I find you guilty. I strip you of your title as Queen and sentence you to wamplei kom thauz kodon," Lexa couldn't help but smirk as she said it. Nia had caused her so much pain, from the time she had killed Costia all those years ago up until now, when she was finally getting what she deserved.

The warriors in the crowd shivered at their Commander's tone and the feral look on her face, but they cheered knowing justice would be done today.

"This doesn't change anything," Nia yelled confidently. "You still have to try the woman you love, and when you carry out her fate, and your strength crumbles, I will have won."

"You've won nothing," Lexa replied, equally as confident. "Let me show you. Clarke kom Skaikru, you are being tried for the crimes committed by the assassin known as The Shadow. How do you plead?"

Clarke stood as tall as she could in the position she was tied in and replied with a strong voice, "I am guilty."

The crowd gasped as they watched Clarke admit her guilt. Not many people who found themselves tied to the pole admitted to what they had done.

"You were coerced into becoming the Shadow, forced to kill for her to protect your clan, is that not true?" Lexa questioned.

"It is," Clarke answered, "But I still committed the crimes."

Lexa cursed Clarke's honor, but wasn't surprised. She turned towards the crowd, "Does anyone wish to speak on her behalf?"

More voices than she actually expected came forward, but she only cared about one and she nodded towards Luna to allow her onto the stage.

Luna stepped forward quickly and bowed towards Lexa before speaking loudly, "Clarke should not be punished for her crimes. Nia's treasonous acts found her in an alliance with the last living man from the mountain. He gave her access to the weapon that decimated TonDC. Nia could have used it to destroy any one of our villages, including Polis," Luna started off.

She needed to ease everyone into supporting Clarke and understanding that she was not to blame for all that she had done, but had done it to protect the lives of many others.

The crowd gasped in shock as more of Nia's treachery was revealed. There were already rumors of the threat of the missile. and that Clarke had been coerced into becoming The Shadow, but none had been confirmed until this moment.

"She did what anyone would have done in her situation. Protected the lives of her people," Luna continued.

Lexa nodded along as her eyes searched the crowd, noticing many warriors seeming to shake their heads along with Luna's reasoning as well.

Nia pulled against her restraints as she yelled at Luna, trying to convince the clans that Clarke was a murderer who should be punished, but her argument went ignored and she was even shut down by a few warriors in the crowd, including Raven and Octavia, who yelled back at her telling her to shut her mouth, only enraging the ex queen further.

"But most importantly Heda, I cannot allow you to sentence our Queen to death," Luna finally revealed.

The crowd all seemed to quiet from their enraged yelling and began to murmur to one another in confusion.

"The prophecy given to use from Prahmheda Becca has finally begun."

Many voices from the crowd shouted out, some in confusion and some in support of what Luna was saying, but there were still a few that Lexa noticed that didn't seem swayed to Clarke's side. But she also noticed that many eyes were wide with surprise but hope at the possibility of the prophecy being true. So far their plan seemed to be working.

"Let me explain," Luna said, and the crowd all quieted again to hear her explanation. They knew that she was one of the most proficient leaders when it came to their laws and legends and they trusted her knowledge. "A prison of rock, in a place of death, a shadow looms," she starts the prophecy. "The mountain was a prison to those inside, but it was a place of death for us that casted a shadow across our lands," Luna explained the first portion.

She continued, "From that shadow another will rise to take down its creator," she said the second verse. "The Shadow rose after the destruction of the mountain, and it's creator is tied to that pole right there," Luna pointed at a wide eyed, slightly pale Nia.

The crowd booed at her and before she could try to protest again, a guard stepped forward and tied a piece of cloth around her mouth to keep her from speaking anymore.

"And the last part of the prophecy, to lead beside the Commander to a world of peace. A light from the shadow, a love for eternity, the Commander and her Queen," Luna finished her eyes imploring the crowd to listen to her words and believe her.

Luna's gaze returned to Lexa's and she smiled, "I speak the truth Heda. The time of the Commander and the Queen is upon us. The time for peace has finally arrived. Our Queen should not be punished for the crimes of another."

Luna angled her body so she was facing both Lexa and Clarke, who was still tied to the pole, and dropped to one knee, bowing her head.

The members of the crowd gaped at the scene before them before Roan stepped forward. "All hail the Commander and Queen," he yelled before dropping to his knee.

Zora and the members of Skaikru were quick to follow, proudly chanting the same as Roan before dropping to a knee, and soon after that the entire crowd dropped down, bowing before their two leaders.

Lexa approached Clarke slowly. Her eyes were wide as she took in the kneeling crowd. She couldn't believe this was happening. "I told you I would get you out of this," Lexa said, snapping the blonde out of her daze.

"You could have warned me," Clarke said as Lexa untied her hands and freed her from the pole.

Lexa raised an eyebrow and smirked, "I tried. You wouldn't let me talk."

Clarke blushed and ducked her head slightly, "Fair enough." She leaned forward and kissed Lexa lightly before turning back towards the crowd in awe. "What do we do now?"
Clarke questioned, but before Lexa could answer a man in the crowd rose to his feet.

Clarke eyed him for a moment before turning to Lexa questioningly, only to find her glaring at the man who was standing, disrespecting them both.

"I'm sorry Heda," the man said and many heads in the crowd snapped up to see who had dared to speak to the Commander at this moment. "The Shadow killed my brother, and I cannot bow to her," the man said with regret.

He had been waiting for this moment his entire life. Every grounder had hoped to be lucky enough to be alive during the time of the Commander and the Queen, but he just couldn't bow to the woman who had killed the only family he had left.

Clarke's smile faded as she stared at this man who she had obviously caused a great deal of pain. She took Lexa's hand and squeezed it once before reaching for Lexa's hip, grabbing her dagger, and jumping down from the stage. She slipped the dagger into the sheath she still had on her hip and slowly approached the man.

"What is your name?" She asked softly.

"Simon," he replied as she approached him, stopping right before his feet.

"Simon, I am very sorry for what I've done," Clarke apologized and the man could tell she was being sincere, but that didn't bring his brother back.

Clarke knew an apology would never be enough, but she wanted to give this man something, an opportunity for justice. She slowly reached to her hip to pull out the dagger.
The crowd watched in anticipation, wondering what was going to happen, and were shocked once again when Clarke held the hilt out towards the man. He reached out slowly, taking it from her grip and stared at it for a moment before looking at her questioningly.

Clarke looked him in the eye, "I may have been forced to serve and kill for Nia, and while it may not make me guilty, it doesn't make me innocent. It doesn't bring back the lives of those I took, and for that I will forever be sorry. I will forever try to make up for what I have done, and I will do everything in my power to lead beside Heda to a world of peace. But first my slate must be wiped clean, and you must be able to have your justice. So take a cut. Mark me so I will forever have the reminder of the lives I took, and the reason for why I should keep fighting for peace. Mark me, so you may have justice for your brother."

The man stared at Clarke with wide eyes, before they drifted to the Commander who was glaring daggers at them both, and he swallowed thickly.

Clarke turned to see the glare on Lexa's face so she spoke loudly, "Anyone who has suffered by my hand and wishes to take a cut may do so, and will be pardoned for it afterwards. Know this, this is the only chance I am offering with a full pardon. Let us all wipe our slate clean."

She turned to Simon, "Follow me," she said and she turned to walk back to the stage, with Simon slowly following behind her.

She reached the top and approached Lexa. "Stop glaring. I need this as much as he does." Lexa's eyes softened, but Clarke could tell she was still angry. "I love you," Clarke whispered, and she watched as the anger finally left lover's her eyes.

"Fine, I will allow it," Lexa replied, even though she knew she wasn't the one allowing anything. Clarke was the one in control.

Clarke smiled and kissed her cheek before approaching the pole she had been tied to earlier. She instructed one of the guards to tie her to it again and called Simon forward and anyone else who wished to make a cut.

Five more people made their way onto the stage. Simon approached and looked into Clarke's eyes, "Thank you, for giving me this justice. I can understand why you and Heda will be the two to bring us peace." He slid the blade across Clarke's arm before stepping away, and walking towards Lexa. He held the blade out towards her to return it and bowed to his Commander, before quickly making his way off the stage.

The five others who stepped onto the stage all made their cuts and Clarke had them each tell her who they were cutting her for so she could remember.

Once they were done, Lexa quickly approached and released the blonde from her bindings. "Nyko will see to you-"

"Not yet," Clarke said. "We have one more thing to finish," she said as her eyes shifted towards Nia. The ex Queen was red with fury and a large purple vein was protruding from her forehead, but nothing could be heard from her passed the gag in her mouth.

Clarke smirked at her before looking back at Lexa. Lexa nodded and turned to the crowd, telling those who wished to take a cut to line up. She turned back to Clarke and handed her the dagger she had stolen earlier. "You first," She offered.

Clarke nodded and took the blade from her lover's hand, and approached the Queen. "I never imagined that our roles would be reversed, me the Queen and you the prisoner. I can't say I'm mad about it though," Clarke said as she delivered a long cut across the Queen's stomach. It matched one that Nia had placed on Clarke a long time ago.

She backed away and moved to stand behind Lexa and watched as everyone stepped up to make their cut, including Roan and many of the members of Skaikru.

After a little over two hours, the nine hundred and ninety-ninth cut was placed, and Lexa approached the Queen. She was still alive, but barely. Slowly, Lexa removed her sword from its scabbard and approached her greatest enemy. "Hunger for power, torture, destuction, war, it never wins. You could never win Nia. This is for Clarke, and for Costia, and for the rest of my people who I promised to protect. Yu Gonplei Ste Odon," she said before her blade entered the heart of the Queen.

And with that, Queen Nia was dead and the time of The Commander and Queen could finally begi