Seizing Bullets

Lexa stared ahead as her horse carried on down the path to Arkadia, with Indra and Titus on horses either side of her and an army trailing behind them. She kept her face impassive as she felt Indra and Titus looking at her every few seconds.

They would be at Arkadia by dawn, with the army ready to announce that it wanted blood. They had to give Clarke time to get treatment; she couldn't go after Pike in the state she was in. Lexa gripped the reins more tightly as she thought of Clarke. She had been so weak at Polis. The risk to her health on this excursion alone would be severe and Clarke was going back to a place that saw her as an ally to the enemy. Perhaps this was as reckless and foolish as when Clarke had tried to break her way into the Mountain with no army to support her...

'Heda-'

'Be quiet, Titus.' Lexa demanded harshly, without looking to him.

'We should make camp, Heda.' Indra said. 'Before the sun sets. We can leave before dawn and get there in time.'

'The first sight that will greet Skaikru will be our armies, as it should have been weeks ago. You know this, Heda.' Titus urged.

Lexa slowly turned her head towards him, her face murderous.

'We will achieve peace.' Lexa said, little more than a menacing whisper. 'Once Arkadia is secured from Chancellor Pike, your fight will be over.'

Lexa turned to Indra and gave a slight nod. Indra pulled her horse round as they all halted and gave a shout that they should set up camp. Within seconds, everyone was off their horses and Lexa's tent was being erected at the side of the road where guards stood protectively.

Lexa remained on her horse as everyone set about their tasks. She felt the radio that Octavia had left her, pressing under the clothes. Octavia had managed to provide a very hasty lesson of how to use it but until Octavia, Clarke and Murphy were inside Arkadia and had stolen a radio for themselves and could send a message then there would be no communication. They were isolated from one another and yet required to work in perfect unison. Lexa did not take for granted the trust that Clarke was placing in her.

It was another half an hour before fires were roaring along the road and the tent had been fully set up, complete with Lexa's bed and throne. She dismounted her horse in silence and entered her tent, Indra and Titus following behind. Lexa turned back and glanced to the guards and they understood the silent command to leave them.

Lexa waited a moment before speaking. Indra still looked as though she was still struggling from her own bullet wound and Lexa tried not to think of the pain Clarke was in, although it was a helpless task. Indra would want vengeance against Pike and she was already wearing a look of hunger but Bellamy had already recognised that she could be used as a tool for manipulation. Titus, however, represented all that Skaikru feared. He wanted no alliance and had been the one to hurt Clarke and John Murphy. He would have to stay by her side, as unusual as it was for the Flame Keeper to go to war, but Lexa also did not want him out of her sight. There would be no battle, this was to be an illusion and so there was no risk of Titus entering Arkadia anyway and causing yet more havoc and he would be dealt justice just as soon as this was over.

She exhaled in annoyance as she thought of the policy of jus no drein jus no daun. As long as Titus lived, he would be a threat and disposing of the Flame Keeper was no conventional task. As long as he lived, even in prison and in Polis, he may be a rallying point for anyone who was opposed to Skaikru's position within the Coalition. Lexa forced herself to dismiss this concern; she still had time to come up with a solution for these far off problems and she had to focus on tomorrow.

'Indra,' Lexa spoke with complete control as she finally broke the silence, 'you will not be present on the front line.'

'Heda-' Indra started to protest but Lexa held up her hand for silence.

'I do not wish for Skaikru to see any potential allies facing them. If this illusion is to work then the picture offered to them must be carefully constructed.' Lexa replied. 'We are not going to war and therefore you should not feel aggrieved at being left out.'

'Yes, Heda.' Indra nodded, but Lexa knew that she had her doubts. 'What of Titus?'

'He will stay by my side.' Lexa responded instantly and without looking at Titus. 'It will provide the impression of unity against Skaikru and I wish for his activities to be strictly monitored.'

'What if the plan fails?' Indra asked.

'Then there will be a new one.' Lexa dismissed.

If Clarke was discovered as a spy and as an attempt assassin, Lexa didn't know how she would even be aware but this was Clarke. Clarke who never gave in and always had a plan, and Clarke still had allies around her. She may not know of Clarke's friends that well, but Clarke did and she had to trust that.

'Clarke will be with her people now.' Titus spoke up, his voice wavering. 'It is where she belongs. We cannot trust-'

'I do trust her.' Lexa responded, her voice made of steel.

Titus could not see beyond Clarke's Skaikru roots but regardless of Clarke's loyalties she would never agree to follow someone such as Pike. Clarke's reactions were always to protect everyone, to always keep them safe and Pike was a man who brought war, death and suffering to anyone who he thought was beneath him. Even without their own personal relationship, Clarke would never ally herself to Pike.

Titus opened his mouth to argue but Indra rounded on him angrily.

'Have you not done enough? Have you not disrespected our commander enough?' Indra challenged.

'I did-'

'What you wanted.' Indra hissed. 'That is not what it means to serve Heda. You have disgraced the Commander of the Blood and you have committed treason against our leader, against the very best of Trikru.'

'Indra,' Lexa started softly and Indra looked at her in surprise, 'you need not worry. Titus has chosen his fate. He will disgrace us no more.'