05| FIGHT THE PRINCE

[ Chapter Five ]

❝You're strong. In fact, you're probably the strongest person I know.❞

[Watch the Thrones]

>> >> >>

"Please tell me you've been able to talk her down." Nessa asked Titus, as the two watched Lexa talk to the nightbloods.

Titus shook his head, "If you were unable to do it, then how could you expect her to listen to me."

Nessa rolled her eyes, "You clearly have more experience in this area." She sighed, "She refused to let me take her place and fight Prince Roan. Lexa is stubborn."

Clarke suddenly emerged in the doorway and quickly located Nessa and Titus who were standing in a corner, "You haven't been able to talk her out of it yet?"

"No. But maybe you can." Titus answered, looking at Clarke.

"I don't understand. The Queen's not fighting, so why should she?" Clarke hissed.

"The Queen's strength is not in doubt." Titus answered.

Nessa glanced at Clarke and finished, "Thanks to you, Heda's is."

Clarke gave her an almost sorry look but Nessa looked away quickly to hear Lexa dismissing the nightbloods.

"Lev yo op meija en mema yo in: Yo gada yo rein in kom yo Sheidjus. (Train hard and remember: You are each worthy of your nightblood.)" Lexa told them.

Titus moved forward to escort the nightbloods out, "Natblida! (Nightbloods!)"

Nessa grabbed Clarke's arm before Clarke went over to talk to Lexa. She lowered her voice, hoping Lexa wouldn't hear her, "Please get her to stand down, Clarke. Tell her I can still take her place. I know I don't know you that well, but Heda trusts you and I know she cares about you, so she should listen to you."

"What if she doesn't?" Clarke asks, her eyes burning into Nessa's. Nessa can immediately tell that the girl cares a lot about Lexa despite her earlier disputes with the Commander.

Nessa glances at Lexa before answering, "Then, we can only hope that she survives."

Nessa lets go of Clarke's arm before following the nightbloods out.

>> >> >>

"What's going on?" Nessa raced into the room where she found Clarke standing, her face covered in black blood. Nessa turned to look at Lexa, "Clarke's a natblida?"

"Not Clarke." Lexa shook her head.

Titus answered for her, "A commander from the Ice Nation. Now all of Nia's provocations make sense and we played right into it. She knew you would accept her challenge."

Clarke walked over to the three, "I've never seen blood that color before."

"It goes back to the first Commander. When a Nightblood child is found, they're brought here to be trained, or are supposed to be." Lexa explained.

"Your legacy is no longer secure. There is still time to choose a champion." Titus told Lexa.

"You know I can't do that." Lexa hissed back.

"Heda-" Titus started.

"Leave us!" Lexa instructed him.

Nessa stepped forward, "Heda, please."

Lexa turned around to look at her, "I said no, Nessa. And my answer is still no."

Clarke moved to stand next to Nessa and looked at her before speaking to Lexa, "They're right. You're giving her what she wants."

"Only if I lose." Lexa stated and shook her head, "I know you're just trying to help, Clarke, but there's nothing you can do here."

"I can't just let Roan kill you." Clarke pleaded.

"If that is to be my fate, you must." Lexa insisted, "You're driven to fix everything for everyone, but you can't fix this. I have to do this on my own and you have to let me."

"I won't just sit there and watch you die." Clarke pleaded with her again.

Titus suddenly came back and they all turned to look at him.

"Heda." Titus said, "Taim don kom op. (It's time)."

"No." A small gasp came out of Nessa's mouth as she looked at Lexa.

"Then this is goodbye." Lexa told them and then added, "For now."

She started walking towards the door. Clarke watched her go but Nessa ran after her and pulled her aside, out of earshot and sight from the others. Titus had the good sense to hang back.

"You kill him, Lexa." Nessa told her.

Lexa shook her head, "And what if that's not my fate."

"Well, I don't believe you'll die." Nessa shook her head, "I was wrong before. You're strong. In fact, you're probably the strongest person I know. So, I know you can win this."

Lexa leaned forward, pressing her forehead against Nessa's, "Ai hod yu in. (I love you.)"

Nessa closed her eyes and smiled, "Ai hod you in seintaim. (I love you, too.)"

Lexa leaned back and Nessa opened her eyes before whispering, "Don't you dare let me lose my best friend today."

Lexa didn't say anything but squeezed Nessa's hands before turning and following Titus outside.

>> >> >>

Nessa had seen her fair share of bloodshed. In fact, she was often responsible for that bloodshed. And usually she lived for it. However, this was one of the rare times that she didn't want to watch a fight.

Nessa was standing beside Titus' chair on the dais, right next to Queen Nia. If she reached out her arm, she would be able to touch her chair. And if she pulled out her sword, she could slice off her head, before anyone had the time to stop her. But of course she did neither. Instead, she had to stand, straight as a board as she watched Titus begin the fight, hoping she wouldn't watch her best friend die that day.

"Hashta soulou gonplei, bilaik won hedon noumou: du souda wan op deyon! (In single combat, there is but one rule: Someone must die today!)" Titus began and the cheers were thunderous.

Nessa locked eyes with Lexa who didn't so much as give her an encouraging smile in return. Nessa fought her hands to stay still and not to grab Titus's chair for support. She felt as if she was going to fall right over. Maybe she should. Then at least she wouldn't have to watch Lexa die a bloody death right in front of her.

Nessa's eyes then moved over to Roan's who was looking furiously at his mother. Her head tilted just a tiny bit, in confusion. Maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't kill Lexa.

But, that ounce of hope vanished as Titus announced and then fell back into his chair, "Yo na jomp in. (You may begin.)"

Nessa watched as Roan grabbed his sword and then twirled it around a few times. Lexa walked over and handed her cloak to another guard before locking eyes with someone in the crowd. Nessa squinted her eyes to see Clarke appear at the edge of the 'arena' and take off her hood. Nessa wished she was down there with her instead of up here on the dais where everyone could see her.

Lexa said something to Clarke and Clarke said something back but of course Nessa would never have been able to make it out even if the roar of the crowd hadn't been so loud. Lexa then grabbed her sword and all of the guards stepped back.

Nessa watched as Roan moved forward to strike Lexa but at the last minute, Lexa whirled around and parried the strike. The two fought back and forth for awhile with Lexa giving most of the strikes until Roan blocked her and forced her to her knees. Lexa grabbed the blade of her sword, her blood spilling out along the blade. Nessa held her breath until Lexa finally stood up, forcing Roan backwards.

The two resumed their fighting. Nessa watched as Roan pushed Lexa back down and Lexa dropped her sword. He raised his over her but Lexa quickly moved her legs so she could kick him and knock him oer. Lexa scrambled towards her fallen sword and grabbed it, as well as Roan's which had fallen when she'd kicked him.

Lexa twirled both swords in her hands as the crowd cheered. Nessa watched as Roan got up from the ground and raced over to one of the guards before grabbing the spear that he held. The crowd let out an audible gasp as the Prince of Azgeda, elbowed the guard, knocking him onto the ground.

Lexa was a force to watch as she came at Roan, again and again, twirling the swords around in her hands. Nessa was sure that her Commander was going to win the fight, until Roan suddenly knocked one of the swords out of her hands and sent Lexa staggering back. Lexa looked shocked and didn't recover as Roan took the moment in order to knock the other sword from her grasp. Lexa backed up but wasn't quick enough, for Roan kicked her backwards.

Lexa sprawled on the ground and Nessa was forced to watch Roan flip his spear and stalk towards her. This time, Nessa couldn't stop her hand from gripping onto Titus' chair.

As Roan raised his spear back, Nessa was sure that she was about to watch her best friend die, but at the last second, Lexa rolled out of the way and then kicked Roan out of the way so she could have time to get up. Once he recovered, he came at her again, but this time she was ready. Blocking his shots, she fought him off until she could knock the spear from his grasp, and claim it for herself.

Lexa knocked him to his knees and then hit his chin with the spear, effectively incapacitating him. Lexa glanced upwards for a quick moment where Nessa was nodding at her, encouraging her to end him once and for all. Lexa flipped the spear, slowly, mimicking Roan before stalking towards him. She pointed the spear at his chest, but didn't kill him yet.

Queen Nia suddenly stood up and yelled at Roan, "Gyon op! Taim yu wan op, taim yu nou na wan op kom hainofa! Yu wan op kom bushhada. (Get up! If you die, you don't die a prince! You die a coward!)"

Roan didn't even look at his mother and instead kept his eyes locked on Lexa's. Nessa could tell that Lexa was processing the Queen's words. Roan and Lexa exchanged a look and Nessa could see Lexa mouth something before she moved the spear away from his chest.

Nessa held her breath as the next few seconds moved in slow motion. Lexa turned away from Prince Roan, a small smirk appearing on her face and aimed the spear at Queen Nia. Before anyone could do or say anything, she threw the spear directly at Queen Nia's heart. Everyone watched in shock and silence as the spear embedded itself in the Queen of Azgeda's heart, effectively killing her in seconds.

Suddenly gasps filled the air as Lexa stood tall and announced, "The Queen is dead." She looked down at Roan, "Long Live the King."

Chants of "Long Live the King" and then "Heda! Heda! Heda!" began to fill the air.

Nessa locked eyes with Lexa and a proud smile appeared on her face. If Lexa could defeat the Queen of Azgeda, maybe their people would finally believe that their Commander was strong enough. Just like Nessa, always had.

>> >> >>

Word Count: 1868

Hey guys! I hope you enjoyed! 

What did you guys think? Nessa and Lexa are honestly my favorite brotp but Clarke and Nessa are going to be a great brotp soon! 

I love you all and will see you soon with chapter 6.

POSTED ON:

9. 7. 20