CHAPTER TWO
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"WHAT BUSINESS do you have here today, Indra?" Dria questioned, raising her eyebrow defensively at the woman that stood in front of her. It appeared as though she was out of breath — she had been in a hurry to get there.

"I need to speak with the Commander," she rushed out, peeking around Dria and Anan, visibly eager to get past them to Lexa.

Anan crossed his arms and leaned over slightly to block Indra's view. "Lexa is very busy. Whatever this business is, it must be cleared with us first," he explained, expression begging for understanding from an old friend. "Per the Commander's orders."

Indra gave him a challenging look before exalting a sigh and standing taller than before. "The Ice Nation's army has crossed into Trikru's borders. The Commander needs to know. Now," she hissed. Dria's eyes went wide and Anan nodded at her, the both of them beckoning Indra to follow them.

"I'll get the Commander," Anan told them, before turning left down the hall to locate her where she would be training the nightbloods. Lately she had been spending a lot of time with them, Dria not understanding herself. But she was no commander, Lexa was.

All she could hear were the sounds of her own footsteps echoing down the hall paired with Indra's. War with Azgeda? Long ago had been the time of their rivalry. Nia was still just as stubborn and rueful, but at least they had the coalition. But no longer. Now, they had truly declared war.

Pushing on the wooden doors of the throne room roughly, she waved the guards away and paced about the room angrily. "There's still time," Indra assured in a steady tone, Dria about ready to flip something over. "It only happened hours ago. If we act fast, war may not be our only option."

"Is it not always the option with that woman? Nia is doing this because she wants to display her power, not because she is angered over us making deals with her son," she rambled, the rage practically radiating off of her. "This has to be some kind of power grab."

"She thinks Lexa is weak. For Queen Nia, it's the perfect time," Indra rationalized, her bitter tone in complete agreement with the fuming girl in front of her. Taking a few deep breaths, Dria collected herself. The doors opened once again and Lexa entered with Anan and Titus in tow.

"Anan says you have important news, Indra," she spoke immediately, sitting on her throne with a disturbed expression. Indra nodded respectfully and bowed her head before Lexa.

"Yes, Commander. The Ice Nation army has crossed Trikru borders only hours ago," she explained once again, Lexa's face darkening as she did so. The room was silent for a moment as she sat deep in thought. Old wounds, Dria thought.

"Thank you, Indra. Your haste in the matter is appreciated. I will deliberate," she finally said, calm and collected. That was the thing about Lexa, she was calm when it mattered and could think rationally despite all that was going on.

"Heda, I implore you to make a decision soon," Titus warned, glancing at Lexa gravely.

"And I will let you know when I have," she snapped. "For now, leave me."

The group shuffled out, but Dria lingered around for a moment longer. "When you seek my counsel, I will give it. But there is something I thought I should mention," she uttered quietly, slowly making her way around the room until she was directly in front of Lexa's thorne. She bowed her head for her commander just as Indra did. "Reston came back from patrol early this morning to inform me that Prince Roan has been spotted just mere miles from Polis."

Lexa looked down at her feet for a quicky moment before telling her with a miniscule smile, "You know you need not bow, Dria." There was another pause before the inevitable. "Did he succeed?"

"Yes. Clarke kom Skaikru was with him. Captured, but alive," she informed quickly, trying to read her face for something, anything. When it came to Clarke, Lexa could get...clouded. "They should be arriving soon."

Once again, the Commander nodded absently and gestured to the door. "Thank you, Dria. That will be all for now," she told her, as if she had summoned her there. Dria, however, immediately made for the door and exited the room.

Her new destination involved several high ranking guards in the Commander's army, but she was interrupted when she reached the end of the hall one floor beneath the throne room. "There you are," Potoa's flat voice commented. Dria stopped and crossed her arms, attempting not to appear too tense. "It is later. You said you were considering?"

"I am just not sure you've given me enough reasons," Dria said easily, shrugging pointedly to exaggerate the point. "Not enough good ones, anyway. Being a natrona is some serious business."

"I am well aware. But I know you've heard of Queen Nia's advance into Trikru territory," she retaliated with a wicked grin. Dria nodded. "This is a mark of Lexa's weakness. It is only a matter of time before she falls."

"As you've said. I am a busy woman, Potoa. When I have made a decision, I will come to you," she snapped, looking directly into her leering eyes. It was best to keep her on the hook as long as possible. She would play the game as long as she needed to.

"I see," Potoa sneered. "Very well. But time is running thin." And with that, she whipped around the hallway and left Dria standing alone, trying to plot just how exactly they were going to get their people through this.

__________

Dria stood beside Indra, Titus on the other side of Lexa's throne as they awaited the arrival of the infamous Wanheda. Reston had informed them the moment they had reached the horizon of his guard patrol.

Footsteps echoed in the hallway outside and several guards entered with Roan and Clarke in the very middle. Clarke's face was masked with a sack, Roan looking to the Commander intently. She simply sat there, waiting for the definitive proof that he had completed his task.

"Wanheda, kom ai don swega klin," he announced, pushing her down to her knees while looking quite proud of himself. Without any hesitation, he grabbed the bag and yanked it from her head. Clarke, in all her familiarity, was revealed, looking confused as ever. Her bright blue eyes searched the room in panic, clearly adjusting to the harsh lighting.

Her hair ran down her tattered clothes, streaks of red running through it with tangles and clumps of dirt. The gag in her mouth rendered her speechless.

Lexa stood slowly and looked down at her, pleased at the fact that she had been retrieved without showing it. There was still the matter of what they had done to her and her people at Mount Weather.

"Hello, Clarke," she greeted somberly. Examining her state, Lexa's expression turned bitter and she tilted her head to look up at Roan. "The deal was for you to bring her to me unharmed."

"She didn't come easy," Roan answered simply.

"I expect not," Lexa agreed, glancing back down at Clarke, knowing her will to survive. A few moments passed where they all stood in silence, Roan growing impatient.

"I've done my part," he spoke, moving his arm in Clarke's direction. "Now do yours. Lift my banishment." Dria clenched the hilt of her sword, still next to the throne.

"I'm told your mother's army marches on Polis," Lexa said, looking him in the eyes challengingly. Dria wanted desperately for Nia to pay the price for this. Her banished son was none of her concern.

"That has nothing to do with me," Roan answered, his stance becoming more tense at her words. "Honor our deal."

"I'll honor our deal when your queen honors my coalition," Lexa refuted quietly, not moving an inch as her voice rose in volume while she went on, "Lock Prince Roan of Azgeda away."

The guards that stood near Titus, Indra, and Dria stepped down from the throne platform while Roan seethed, the satisfied look on his face now a million miles away. He did not speak a word as the guards shoved him toward the door and escorted him out of the room quietly.

"What of Wanheda?" Titus questioned.

Lexa threw her arms up in a dispersing gesture, ordering, "Leave us."

The three of them exchanged a look, Dria tempted to protest, but remembered Anan's guidance and shut her mouth. She gave Clarke one last deadly stare before leaving the room. At least one of the most important pieces on the board was now in their hands.

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TRANSLATIONS:

Natrona — Traitor

Wanheda, kom ai don swega klin — Wanheda, as promised