The Duty to Your People
Lexa strode along the Skaikru corridors, with Titus struggling to keep up in her wake. People jumped into the walls as they saw her, quick to let her pass but Titus was looked at by the passers-by with a mixture of fear and contempt. However, Lexa did not miss the two she passed by who nodded to her and then to Titus.
He would judged as a traitor for going against her wishes which almost resulted in disaster. One of those bullets could have easily hit her and left the Commander dead early by the hand of one of her own people. Skaikru were still viewed as outsiders, even with Pike’s fall. This new threat had united both Grounder and Sky People again but Lexa knew that for many it would be an uneasy alliance after the massacre. Clarke had won admiration for being willing to offer herself as a sacrifice, and in her attempts to bring about peace for the Grounders, but the rest of the people from the Sky were still viewed with mistrust. Titus then would likely be forgiven by many, and the lingering resentment about Skaikru would likely risk burning bright again. Lexa knew she would have to tackle it at some point, but she hoped the truce could hold out long enough to beat ALIE.
Lexa stepped inside one of the smallest side rooms and she watched as the guard closed the door behind Titus, leaving mentor and former student alone. Lexa’s gaze hardened as she looked upon him. He was weary from everything, his eyes were red and his face gaunt. Lexa had never seen him like this and she felt as though she was almost intruding upon some intimate moment for him. He had always been strong as her teacher. As he taught the lessons to the Nightbloods about avoiding and shunning weakness, he had always sought to appear the epitome of control. She had been too young and had held too much admiration for him to ever see his anger and rash choices as anything other than his confidence with control. She missed that innocence. Now, all she could see was Clarke falling and hear the loud snap of the gun as he pulled the trigger.
‘You are to remain here,’ Lexa said eventually, trying to adopt her usual Commander tone but her voice cracked ever so slightly.
Titus looked at her, shocked.
‘Heda,’ he croaked, ‘where will you be going?’
Lexa bit her tongue for a second, fighting an inner conflict. He would follow her to hell, and she still believed that but if he was caught within his duty then Lexa had to protect her people and especially, Clarke.
‘That is not your concern now.’ Lexa replied, stoic and Titus visibly flinched. ‘You will still, however, perform your duty to me.’
‘My duty is to the Flame,’ Titus said weakly and Lexa’s eyes flashed dangerously.
‘I am the Flame,’ Lexa hissed.
‘Not yet, Heda.’ Titus replied. ‘You are its carrier. I follow the Flame.’
Lexa barely contained her exasperated sigh. His bargaining could not work. She lived by the Flame, and Raven would know enough about it. They needed more than legends now but she did the devotion of Titus to serve.
‘You will be protecting the Flame by remaining within Arkadia,’ Lexa commanded, ‘the control of ALIE is the greatest threat our people face and her only goal is to capture the Flame.’
‘Then I must stay with you, Heda!’ Titus shouted, his voice booming despite his exhaustion. ‘You cannot put your life in the hands of these-‘
Lexa held up her hand for silence and Titus clamped his mouth shut. Lexa may have found it mildly comical if she wasn’t so worn from this same old battle. She had heard it from every one of her advisors and ambassadors, not to mention from Titus himself at least a dozen times before.
‘ALIE has no idea of our plans. She believes we are gathering strength behind these walls to defend ourselves. She thinks we are trapped and it will serve us to let her think that.’ Lexa explained. ‘You give that to her.’
‘If I’m here…’
‘Then she’ll assume that I am too,’ Lexa nodded.
‘And you will have already gone?’
Lexa nodded.
‘Titus, I know what I ask you and my people-‘
‘We will serve you, Heda.’ Titus said, taking Lexa aback as he sank to his knees. ‘If this will truly protect you, if ALIE is to come here then I will do what I must and I will do it gladly.’
Lexa flicked her eyes away briefly, swallowing the tight knot in her throat as she felt her eyes burn. When she looked back at him, it was to see a single tear rolling down his cragged face.
‘I will serve you Heda,’ Titus repeated, ‘and I’m sorry. I only thought-‘
‘I know what you thought, teacher,’ Lexa interjected softly, ‘but you were wrong; love is strength.’