-Author's Note-

Hey guys, sorry to tell you that this is the last chapter of this fic. We have had a ton of fun writing it and we greatly appreciate all of your reviews. We're planning on a sequel that we'll start publishing around January. The sequel starts about one year after the end of this story. We'll publish a few oneshots of what'll happen in that time. We've already gotten a request for a Titus one about his stress over Charlotte being in the capitol which we'll be happy to write. So between now and January like a dozen or so oneshots that are individual character's adventures after the end of this story, then the proper sequel in January. In the time between now and January we're planning 3+ shorter stories to work on for a while that are separate from the world of ADL. Hope you have all enjoyed this ride together, we certainly have.

-RhinoMouse

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Charlotte stood silently in the shadows behind the commander's throne. It was her first day back at full duty since they had returned from the mountain. Her side still ached dully and was tender, restricting her movements when bending beyond what the average warrior could handle. However, she was capable of serving as a common guard. She was also finding it amusing to watch the way she could practically see the hairs rising on the back of the bald sour faced advisers neck at her presence. The other guards had seemingly accepted her easily thanks to her bond with Aden and Tris. It was the stiff adviser who was paranoid and untrusting, he'd do well in Azgeda.

She saw Aden standing with a few of the other nightbloods. She'd found them all to be excellent training partners and looked forward to being back in top shape so she could do so. For now, at most, she just showed them up with her ability to throw knives with pinpoint accuracy. They were a strong group but the way they behaved changed when they were together. They were far more polite and submissive when grouped together or if Titus was passing nearby.

The ambassadors on the other hand made her want to sheath her daggers into something a little more alive. They were foolish, jockeying for position and gains for their clans that didn't matter at the end of the day. Really, she was surprised Lexa had only kicked the one out of a window and that was a story she really ought to ask Aden about sometime.

Her attention snapped to where Lexa seemed to be idly tapping on the arm of her throne. She understood it as her family's bastardized form of Morse code. Shock seemed to roll down to the tips of her toes, she had not known Lexa knew that. Clarke must have taught it to her. It wasn't exactly a secret considering they had been teaching it to civilians in the Ice Nation in order to help with those who shared similar struggles to Dax. Still, it wasn't something that she would have expected Clarke to share with Lexa. Paying attention, she made sure she had the message she was repeating down before she slipped easily out of the room.

She was unsure about why she'd been ordered to Lexa's private chambers but she didn't ask either just quickly doing as told. The passageway was exactly where Lexa had informed her it would be and she easily dropped from the ceiling into the room. Deciding on a defensive position, she found a corner where a tapestry ended, leaving it shadowed and melded herself into it and waited. It didn't take long for the doors to open letting in Lexa, Gustus, and Anya. Charlotte stepped out of the shadows as soon as the doors closed.

"Sweet spirits!" Anya exclaimed as soon as she noticed her. "How do you do that?!"

Charlotte grinned. "An assassin must always be the knife in the dark. They must become one with it. It is their role to be unnoticed until death is already inevitable."

Anya stared at her rather blankly. "Cheery, I'm sure you're full of other hopeful lessons."

"Anya enough," Lexa said clearly wanting to get to business as quickly as possible. "I didn't summon you all here to argue or snark at each other."

"Why did you summon us Heda?" Gustus asked.

Lexa sighed and seemed to tense along her shoulders. "To plan the invasion of Azgeda in the event of Klark failing in her mission."

Charlotte hissed but settled quickly. She'd known this was coming. After all, she'd been told to inform Lexa that the army was within a day's travel of the capitol just that morning via radio. The letter from Clarke rested in her inner breast pocket where it was safe. Swallowing, she spoke first. "What do you plan Heda?"

Anya and Gustus both looked at her in surprise but she ignored them and watched Lexa. Lexa met her stare and replied. "We need an excuse to have our army near the border and prepared to move in without delay. I've already assigned our border patrols to be increased and sent some of our interior security to the border for 'training exercises'. I can't increase the number of warriors on hand without declaring war on Azgeda. The ambassadors are already uneasy."

Gustus frowned thoughtfully. "I thought that was why you were increasing our manpower along the border. You could recall our men along the Floukru border here to Polis. Still Heda, if a war against Azgeda does occur, Trikru alone cannot hope to win, let alone hold the territory."

"He's right." Anya said. "The army would retreat north burning as they went and then sweep down slaughtering us as soon as winter set."

Lexa paused and shifted her shoulder as she seemed to consider her next words carefully. "Klark has informed me that Nia's position is tenuous enough that we have better odds than you think. In the event of the failure of her challenge, her territory and Seth's will still support the coalition in a fight against Nia. The other two regions should not be as much of a threat, and Klark does not even think that Frederick's territory will fight very hard for either side."

Charlotte was surprised at Lexa's knowledge of the situation in Azgeda. The only way she could have gotten that information was if Clarke had revealed it to her. Charlotte had known they were getting close but this was a level of trust she would not have expected. This along with Lexa's knowledge of Dax's code was enough to convince her that Lexa had Clarke's full trust and support. It did a lot to allay her concerns about going along with such treason against the people of Azgeda. "You should be careful who you reveal such knowledge to, not many could have given it to you and it could complicate things if it is revealed too early. Still, Clarke obviously trusts you, so I will trust your judgement as well. She even taught you Dax's code." Charlotte added quietly. "I'm impressed you learned it well enough to signal me as casually as you did."

"Why would she betray her people in such a manner?" Anya asked shock lacing her tone. "It could be a trap."

"It's not." Charlotte said before Lexa could reply. "You don't know what living under Nia is like. I'm sure that Clarke revealed this for the good of our people. So that as many of them could survive Nia's fall as possible."

Gustus reached out, resting his hand on her shoulder. "The girl is right. This information should be kept to ourselves and not shared with any of the ambassadors until we know for sure that Klark has failed."

Lexa nodded. "I know, but I felt that you as my most trusted advisers should know that there was a plan in place in case the worst happens."

"I have known nothing but hate for Azgeda since I was a child, but it pleases me to know that we will not have to fight against those who have so recently aided us in a great victory." Anya said brusquely. "The Azgeda I hated is being destroyed with Nia, the Azgeda I have fought and bled with will make valuable allies."

Charlotte felt a sudden surge of affection for the warriors as she saw Gustus nod his head in agreement, few would have bothered to make that distinction and the comradery it showed warmed her.

"I am glad to hear it. All we can do for now is get as many soldiers as we can to the border so that we can aid our comrades as soon as possible in case the worst happens and there is a civil war. Charlotte, do you have any suggestion on how that might be done?" Lexa asked.

She shifted slightly surprised to be addressed on such a matter. "I do not trust your advisers nor the ambassadors. As much preparation should be done in secret as possible. They would see any attack on Azgeda as an opportunity subjugate our people and get revenge for crimes of the past. I don't think much more can be done then what you have already put in motion. Though it might help if you ensured that those moved to border are those who have fought with us at the mountain and have seen for themselves that Nia's treachery does not represent us all."

Lexa nodded. "A valuable idea. Those men have earned some time closer to home and quite a few of them were injured but I will see if any of them are open to a brief reposting." She walked to the fireplace, her face pensive in thought.

Charlotte considered what else she could add. "If Clarke fails, a civil war will be inevitable. The people love her and would fight in her memory. I think the biggest struggle will be making sure that the fight is controlled and that lives are not lost needlessly in the chaos. Seth and Clarke have done all they can to prepare so that the leadership of the revolt will not break down with her death but it is hard to predict how the people will respond. We don't know if they will follow behind Bellamy or Seth as leaders of a rebellion and honestly your presence won't help. The fact that you have gained the respect of Clarke has convinced the army of your worth but the civilians have not served with you personally. They know only what they hear and Nia has done much to blacken your name in Azgeda. It would help if you showed your allegiance to Clarke by wearing her colors."

"She has a point Heda. The civilians could become an issue if they are not properly controlled." Gustus said, dropping back into advisor mode easily. "If it comes to war, it will be important that we are not seen as invaders but as a rescue force. We will have to think of ways that we can appease the populace and change their view of you. Perhaps as well as wearing Klark's colors, we could also bring gifts to give the civilians to show our good will."

Anya dropped down onto the couch. "You should send Gustus and one of our generals up to support the regions that will stand with the coalition. They can bring with them some of our food that they would normally have to go out of their way to get in trade. Then take Indra with you and head to the Plains. If you have their help you can effectively cut off Nia's faction from outside support. Podakru would sooner die than help Nia. Delphi would aid you as well. Azgeda does not have many friends. If the Plains support you, they will be left alone."

Lexa clenched her jaw. "I can see your point. I can travel with the news and speed the time for the marshalling of our forces."

"And if Clarke succeeds?" Charlotte had to ask. "Clarke has been matched with worse odds and always she has prevailed." She felt the need to point out.

"Then I keep the ambassadors from calling for the coalition to step into the destabilized region." Lexa said firmly.

Anya scoffed. "You just want to run to the rescue of your lover."

Lexa narrowed her eyes. "Are you trying to say something?"

"My apologies, Heda." She said quickly, bowing to the authority Lexa exuded when she truly took command.

Gustus chuckled suddenly. "I doubt that with Klark on the throne, Azgeda will be nearly as destabilized as the ambassadors will assume."

Charlotte grinned and noticed the matching one on Lexa's face. Before she could confirm Gustus' thoughts, the chamber doors were flung open and Titus came storming into the room. "Heda!"

Anya was on her feet instantly and everyone in the room was immediately on their guard, prepared to face whatever threat would force Titus to burst into the commander's private quarters without notice. Especially since she'd ordered the guards to ensure that everyone knew she was not to be disturbed.

"Titus, what has happened?" Lexa demanded. Charlotte realized there was an edge of panic in Lexa's voice that she felt as well. She had to forcefully remind herself that she would have heard if the coup had failed or not via the radio long before Titus could have gotten any news.

Titus' eyes took in the people in the room and seemed to blanch when they spotted her. Focusing on Lexa, he spoke. "I warned you about the assassin." Pulling out a cracked and mangled box, he dropped it on the table in front of the couch. "I found stolen mountain tech among her belongings. We have no idea who she has been communicating with while she was here."

Charlotte's blood ran cold realizing that the box he had thrown on the table was the broken form of her radio. She didn't know how to fix that sort of damage. No radio meant no way of getting news from Clarke, from Bellamy, from the rest of her family. It meant that whichever way the coup went, she wouldn't know till days later. "What have you done?!" She said, stepping forward a knife sliding into her hand automatically.

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Harper felt the brown pigeon that belonged to her land on her arm. Reaching up, she untied the small missive tied to its leg. She knew today was the day, Clarke had radioed to inform them of her approach, of course even without that she would have known. After all, a large army was conspicuous enough that news had begun to arrive of their victorious approach the moment they crossed the border.

Dropping from her perch in her tree, she moved casually towards the chambers of Zola, minister of trade and treaties. She cared little about the weak willed man. However, he did hold power and strings that if pulled by a more dangerous man, could pose a threat to a new monarch. It helped that it would be a mercy to kill the man before he found out that his son had long since been killed and would never be returned to him no matter what he did for Garon.

She acknowledged passing warriors, knowing that it didn't matter if they proved she'd been the one to commit this murder. If Klark failed in her attempted coup, death was guaranteed anyway and if Clarke succeeded, she would be safe from accusation. As she approached the man's office, she saw a warrior approaching without the blue of their forces. It meant he either served Quint, or was directly below Nia. As soon as she was past him, she spun clasping her hand over his mouth and sliding a blade across his throat. He struggled against her for a few hapless seconds before going still. Removing her hand, she pulled him into the nearest room. It was the quarters of a servant, she felt mildly guilty about the unfortunate surprise the servant would have at finding a body in their room but it was her best option. Ignoring her guilt, she hauled the body in and shoved it under a bed.

With that, she moved on till she arrived at Zola's chambers. A quick knock and she entered before being summoned. She saw the man hunched over what looked like reports from his various contacts outside of their borders.

"I didn't tell you to enter hunter." He said with a slight sneer. "What do you want?"

Harper stepped forward, "Nothing you can give me." She said. He reacted too late, startling backwards but she'd already sheathed her knife into his side. Withdrawing it, she sliced through his throat brutally deep, hitting the spine slightly, making it so he couldn't use his last moments to scream. After all, the plan depended on the bodies not being found for a few hours.

Once his body was still, she dragged the corpse and stuffed it under the bed. Then she stared at the blood stains and sighed. She'd have to clean that up in case someone did come looking for the fool.

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Raven watched Echo out of the corner of her eye. The woman wasn't stupid. She had clearly noticed that something was going on in the army. Monty, Leo, and a small contingent of warriors, had ridden ahead of the army half an hour ago. It was also obvious that the warriors who knew what was coming had begun to fall into the mindset of preparing for an upcoming battle. The whole atmosphere was charged and only a fool would have missed the change. It was time for her to depart with those who would stand by in case of failure. It was a contingency plan, built in redundancy. Clarke had dropped back beside her as they rode. Silently, Clarke passed her a cloth damp with something. Looking curiously at Clarke, she tilted her head.

Clarke looked pained by what she said. "For a mutual friend."

Raven grimaced but nodded and moved her horse closer to Echo while Clarke rode back to the head of the line. Dismounting, she internally balked as she greeted Echo. "Doing alright on foot?"

Echo gave her an incredibly unimpressed look. "I'm fine. Raven what has happened while I was away? The men act as if we are marching to war rather than to our queen's side."

"It's not what has happened, it's what's about to happen." She replied. She knew that around half of the men now knew what was coming and keeping her silence no longer mattered, it was too late for that.

The woman frowned and her face suddenly cleared as a look of horror replaced her confused and uneasy look. "No, Klark wouldn't." She defended weakly, turning violently towards the front of the line to look for some sign from her former second.

Raven took a quick step and brought the soaked cloth to Echo's mouth and nose, covering them while wrapping her other arm around her to keep her still. "I'm sorry."

Echo hadn't been prepared and took a startled breath and only managed to struggle weakly before she slumped in Raven's arms. Although, she managed one deeply betrayed look before losing consciousness.

The warriors nearby said nothing as Dax dismounted his horse and helped her lift Echo's unconscious form up over her saddle and began to tie the woman to it so she could be transported easily. Raven was thankful for the silence as she remounted her horse. Her party was mainly made up of seconds and some of the younger warriors. "Move out," She ordered as she pushed her mounts head for the small guard outpost they would be taking over while they waited for news.

Looking over her shoulder, she caught Dax's eye and swallowed her guilt. She didn't have time for it, she needed to have her party ready to make a ride for the territory controlled by Seth at a moment's notice. After all, her and Seth were responsible for holding the line if Clarke lost. Facing forward, she led her group and prayed that she wouldn't be taking them on that break neck retreat in only a few hours.

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Leo sat in his father's quarters across the table from the man and watched as the sorry excuse for a man and father, drank from his goblet while staring him down. He knew it was time to reduce Nia's advisers to just Anankos, after all he knew Harper would have fulfilled her mission and Iago had suffered an 'unfortunate' accident the week before. Finally, Leo decided he'd drunk enough of the poison for it to be setting in properly. "The army proper will be arriving soon. I need to leave if I am to arrive with them formally."

"You're prepared for your role, try not to disappoint me." Garon scoffed.

"I've never had the drive for power you have wished of me." He said calmly. "None of us have."

Garon narrowed his eyes. "You and your weakling siblings will do as you're told or you won't survive as Iago's replacement for long. Do be careful not to be seen leaving."

"I'm sure that Niles will be able to get me out without alerting anyone I was here in the first place." He let his hand rest lightly on the hilt of the decorative dagger his father had given him years ago when he'd first earned his marks. "But that's not your concern."

"You think you can tell me my place? You, who is only now learning to follow my orders." He spat.

"Your orders?" Leo tilted his head with a slight smile. "Since when were you so arrogant as to think I was as biddable as that. It amazes me that you would think I, or any of my siblings, hold any loyalty to you after the way you have treated us."

Garon made to stand up, his hand twitching as if to swing back ready for a strike but the motion aborted itself as his feet seemed to buckle and he slumped in his chair. "What have you done?!" He growled while his body twitched, refusing to move as he commanded it.

Leo stood, drawing his dagger. "I have learned a great deal while in the company of assassins. Your muscles won't be capable of doing what you want for another hour." He reached out grasping his father's hair in a fist while yanking his head back so that he could stare straight into the man's eyes.

"Leo, you will stop this foolishness at once!" He ordered, anger rippling through his voice.

"I don't think I will." Leo said conversationally. "I could hardly believe you were arrogant enough to think Klark would ever ally with you." He spat the last part out. "Did you really think you were helping us merely play at politics and remove a single adviser?"

Garon's eyes narrowed as he growled. "You won't get away with this. Nia will have you and your traitorous general crucified for this."

Leo laughed, it was sharp and without real mirth. "You still don't' get it do you. Nia won't be queen by the time the sun sets." He tapped the edge of his knife against his father's cheek. "She'll be joining you in hell soon enough."

Then he saw it, for the first time he saw his father really saw him without any of his masks of bravado as understanding dawned though his arrogant cruel mind. Leo felt his mouth twist into a cruel smile. "I should thank you father, our family will be a prominent force behind the new queen, but you won't live to see it." With that, he plunged the dagger straight into the man's heart. He twisted it viciously and watched as the light died in the man's eyes. Releasing his hold on the corpse's hair, he stood up and wiped his hands. Without a backwards glance, he stepped out into the hall. He saw Niles and Odin leaning against the wall waiting for him.

"That took a while captain." Odin remarked while pushing himself off the wall.

"Niles see to it that no one finds his body till we can attach it to the wall. Odin, let's go. We need to return to the army before we're missed."

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Bellamy stepped into Anankos' rooms and could feel the hairs on the back of his neck rise. He wondered if he'd survive the next few minutes. The master assassin was standing in the center of the room with two shapes at his back, while Bellamy only had Monty behind him. He didn't bother with trying to play a game, the man would have known as soon as he stepped foot in his rooms what this meeting meant. Drawing his sword in a smooth motion, he settled into a fighting stance.

"Treason then." Anankos said conversationally. "Ah, our resident nightblood's death. Well done, I hadn't put the pieces together till just now. I should have known you had it in you after you killed that foolish one, Murphy was it?"

Bellamy rolled his shoulders, letting them loosen. "You know of a man I murdered in an alleyway years ago but you failed to notice a coup right beneath your nose. So much for being the all hearing ear of the queen."

"I always wondered how deep the bonds between your family ran all those years ago when we first captured you. Now, here you stand before certain death all because you've been ordered to by that blond monster you call sister." Anankos casually flipped his hood back showing the gnarled and scarred face beneath. "You won't survive this boy."

Bellamy ignored the taunt and lunged knowing Monty would protect his back. One of the two shapes behind the man headed for him but Monty easily blocked his approach and engaged with the man. Meanwhile, Anankos had crossed his daggers, catching his blade between them. Bellamy grinned as he saw the second figure move.

Anankos opened his mouth, no doubt to make mention of his odd expression. He wasn't able to get out whatever he was going to say before Burka buried a hand axe into the man's back. Bellamy had no doubts that the axe was settled into a vital organ. He saw and heard Burka spinning Anankos around before crushing his skull open with an overhead swing of a second hand axe. He had a moment to glory in their success, which of course is when he felt his sword ripped from his hands. Raising one arm, he managed to divert the first knife into a glancing blow that only slashed his side and didn't hit anything vital. The second knife slashed upwards and he jerked his head backwards but not fast enough. He let out a scream of pain as he felt the knife slice his face open. Stumbling backwards, his arm that had not been injured diverting a deadly blade, reached up to stop the flow of blood but he could feel the burning of the poison in his face, side, and injured arm.

Ignoring the pain, he smiled as he saw Monty leaping back to his feet from where he'd clearly been sent flying which is what had allowed his opponent past him. The assassin with Bellamy's blood on his blades didn't manage to do more than dodge the first swing Burka made before Monty was on him from behind, driving a knife through his ear. Knowing that the last of their opponents was defeated, he felt his feet collapse beneath him as he fell and hit the ground.

"BELLAMY!" Monty cried, sliding to his side. Monty seemed to turn. "Burka the antidote!"

Bellamy blinked through the pain, blood swimming across his vision. Damn face wounds really bled, he thought idly, before hissing as something that somehow was more painful than the wound itself was poured across his face and then forced into his side and injured arm.

"We have to cauterize it. He needs to be by Nia's side in an hour." Burka said tonelessly while grabbing a torch.

Bellamy twitched as he felt himself being held down and a white hot blade was lowered towards his face. He passed out as a scream erupted from his throat.

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Clarke rode at the head of the lead detachment of her army as they approached the gates of the capitol. Looking at the walls, she knew they would soon either be decorated by the bodies of her men or of Nia's supporters. Clenching the hard leather reins in her hand, she cursed her nerves. If the spirits had any mercy, they would allow her to remain calm through this no matter what way it went. As she passed under the archway, she saw the crowds of people and warriors amassed to greet her. There was a roar as she came into sight.

The people were cheering, some calling her name, others crying out their clan's name with pride. She felt their roar rise up in her veins, boiling with power as she rode through the gates. It was so different than when she'd first come through these gates chained and dragged to the dungeons. Still, she followed that path of long ago, riding toward the central building of the capitol. As they passed, the people pressed in wanting to touch the warriors who had brought them yet another victory, to touch their heir who had protected them once again.

She could feel the press and was mildly amused by how uncomfortable it made Gunter and Dax, who were riding on either side of her. Reaching down, she stroked the neck of her horse hoping to keep it calm even stuck within this crush of humanity. As she moved slowly down the street, she saw the homes and buildings with blue hanging from the windows, some with the hand of Azgeda sewn into the fabric. It filled her with pride that she had done this, given her people something to believe in, and she prayed that she would not be taking it away from them in just a few short blocks.

Arriving finally at the courtyard in front of Nia's seat of power, she turned on her mount. Raising her arm and drawing her sword, she gave out a shout. "AZGEDA!"

The crowd and her army took the cry up, chanting "AZGEDA, AZGEDA, AZGEDA, AZGEDA!" With that roar behind her, she dismounted and entered into the stronghold with Gunter, Dax, Keaton, Selena, and Xander at her back. She strode proudly forward towards the great doors leading into throne room. She gave Dax and Keaton a quick signal with her hand.

Both of them strode past her and shoved the doors open, ignoring the startled looks of the guards who were normally in charge of admittance. The doors slammed open with a great echoing thud and Clarke walked through them and took in the room with careful eyes. Nia sat on her throne, her advisers missing, but so was Bellamy. General Quint stood behind her throne and the guards were a mix of her own and his. She clenched her teeth, letting her face harden. Coming to a stop before the throne, she did not drop to her knee as was required, instead she looked straight into Nia's face and opened her mouth.

"Nia, Queen of Azgeda, as your heir, I challenge you to trial by combat for the title of queen and the right to rule this nation."

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Lexa sat in her throne and listened as Robin the ambassador of Blue Cliff proposed new tariffs on trade moving through the northern pass of his territory. She knew she should be listening more closely, but it had been weeks since Titus had destroyed Charlotte's radio and she was waiting for news of Klark. Either she was the new queen or she was dead. She felt her hands clench at the arms of her throne.

"Which is why an increase of 2% to the existing tariff is reasonable. The burden of feeding the trading houses is unmanageable while Azgeda continues to refuse trade through their southern border." Robin said, his dark purple over coat rustling as he moved his arms to give emotion to his request.

Erika kom Igranrona stood from her seat as Robin returned to his. "Your trade route is indeed valuable but Azgeda is not required to allow trade that they do not partake in to cross their borders. A rise in tariffs of that amount would cripple trade from the outer clans. Already they must pass through more than one clan on their way to the east."

Lexa tuned the debate out again. She knew they'd settle it amongst themselves without input from her. Robin and Erika were both two of her more reasonable ambassadors and the others seemed to be fine with allowing them to be the ones leading this discussion today. She caught sight of Titus out of the corner of her eye where he was standing to her right. A flash of anger burned through her, a part of her wished she'd given permission to Charlotte to kill the man for his foolishness and need to challenge her authority. However, she was Heda and as flamekeeper he was vital and irreplaceable. Truthfully, without the knowledge of Klark that she and the advisers who'd been with her at the mountain had gained in their time there, his distrust of Charlotte was very reasonable.

Before the mountain, before Klark, she would have agreed with him and sooner faced a pauna than allow an assassin of Azgeda into her personal guard. However, the mountain had happened and she had met Klark, and that had changed everything. She was brought back into the present when the doors to the throne room were thrown open and a guard came forward before dropping to one knee before her. "Heda."

Lexa barely shifted but could feel her heart trying to beat out of her chest, had news finally come from the north? "Speak, why do you interrupt a meeting of the ambassadors?"

The man remained kneeling, which was not a good sign. "Heda, riders from Azgeda have arrived. Two of them. They wait for entrance. They claim to have a gift from their queen."

Every person in the room froze. Lexa felt like she'd been punched in the gut, the air leaving her lungs in a barely controlled wheeze. Her familiar mask of Heda fell into place, she couldn't allow anyone to see the fear she felt. "Show them in," She ordered.

No one moved, barely willing to let themselves breath as the warrior stood and exited to fetch the Azgeda messengers. She snapped her eyes to the Azgeda ambassador whose face had gone white as a sheet. Clearly, he didn't know what was happening and feared for his life. Rightfully so. Titus shifted. "Heda?"

She snapped her hand up. "Silence Titus."

The man fell quiet for once as they waited. Charlotte was barely holding it together Lexa noticed, her guards were all tight, ready to move at a moment's notice. Gifts from Azgeda did not often end well. After what felt like hours but was likely only minutes, two warriors approached with a box slung between them. As soon as they entered, Lexa's eyes had been drawn to the box they held and she barely even noticed the presence of the messengers.

Lexa sucked in a harsh breath as she got a closer glimpse of the box. She knew what was in that box. The dried blood soaked into the wood at the bottom was a clear indicator of what was inside. She'd received a box just like this one once before and the memory of that day still haunted her. Standing, she felt herself acting automatically, unable to think properly due to the dread and horror in her gut. "What is the meaning of this?"

The slightly taller of the two warriors spoke but Lexa's eyes never left the box. "A gift from the queen of Azgeda Heda." The warrior turned to their fellow and then pulled the metal lock on the box, allowing the front panel to drop. A head rolled out of the box, hitting the ground with a sick thump.

Lexa couldn't help it, her eyes focused onto it instantly. The blonde hair made her want to retch till she saw the face. The eyes had been gouged out, the ears cut off, and the mouth sewn shut but it was still obvious to her that this was not Klark. Stepping down from the dais her throne was on, she reached down grabbing the head by the hair and raised it to her own level staring at it. "Queen Nia is dead." She stared at the head for a moment before returning her attention to the Azgeda warriors, her heart warmed by the sight of the familiar blue that she now realized they wore. "Long live Queen Klark kom Azgeda, may her reign be blessed by the Spirits"