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chapter six, Naira

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EVERYONE WAS NOW IN LEXA'S THRONE ROOM. Lexa sits in her throne, Titus stands beside her, and Nova stands in the audience. The 13 ambassadors, featuring Clarke and Roan, sit in attendance also.

"Ambassadors of the Coalition, today we honor our covenant. The clan that stands against one of us stands against us all" Lexa says looking over all her people before she stands to her feet. Titus waves and the doors open and Queen Nia, flanked by two guards, enters.

They walk forward to stand in front of Lexa and push Nia to her knees.

"Queen Nia of Azgeda has confessed to the destruction of Mt. Weather, resulting in the death of 49 members of Skaikru. Wanheda, what do you say?" Lexa questions and Clarke looks back at Nova who stares back at her before Clarke turns her head steps forward.

"Skaikru demands justice" Clarke orders as she stands in front of Queen Nia who looks to Clarke in disgust. "Ice Nation does not answer to this girl" Nia states under her breath but everyone caught it.

"Silence. The punishment for your crime is death. Do you have anything to say in your defense?" Titus asks with his arms crossed over his robe neatly as he looks down at Queen Nia.

"I need no defense. She does. Today is judgement day. I call for a vote of no confidence" Nia orders and Titus scoffs as everyone in the room watches. Nova watches intently as Queen Nia is Queen of Azgeda which where Naira is from.

"Take this queen to meet her fate" Titus states and Nova let's out a relieved sigh because Naira won't have to worry about her anymore and neither will Nova.

Two guards' step towards Queen Nia, but one of the Ambassadors stands and begins a chant.

"Commander no more!"

Nova looks around at the other ambassadors who begin to chant, and she realizes this is a coup, she remembers Fio talking about this. Titus looks around in disbelief ordering them to leave while Clarke looks around frantic looking to Nova first. Lexa is the only one who looks overly collected.

After a while, Lexa does a hand symbol and looks Queen Nia in the eyes. "Let her make her move."

Nova moves past people and stands next to Clarke. "What is this?" Clarke questions looking to Nova. "It's called a coup" Nova answers looking around as Nia starts to stand.

"This is the law, her law. A unanimous vote of the ambassadors or death are all that can remove a commander from power" Nia states looking to Lexa.

"If you think I'm unfit to command, issue the challenge and let's get on with it" Lexa states as she slowly walks down to meet Nia face to face. "Very well. You are challenged" Nia states and Nova let's out a sigh. "And I accept your challenge."

"So be it. Single combat. Warrior against warrior to the death. Queen Nia of Azgeda, who do you choose to be your champion?" Titus questions and Nia looks over to Nova with a smile on her face.

"She goes by the name of Iris. Bring her in!" Nia shouts and the doors opens revealing two Azgeda guards dragging a bruised Iris in the room.

"Iris? Iris! No!" Nova shouts and rushes towards Iris placing her hands on her shoulder.

"Iris? Are you okay?" Nova asks frantically scanning her body.

Nova removes the gag from Iris's mouth and places Iris's face in her hands.

"I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have left" Nova says as tears fill her eyes.

"What the hell are you doing!?" Nova shouts as she turns around to face Nia. "Giving Iris the chance to become Heda like she should've years ago" Nia answers and gasps are heard all around and Lexa looks at Iris in disbelief and sadness as they used to be like sisters.

"Iris let Lexa win. Everyone here who was there the time of the battle knew Iris would have won. Now, it's her time to shine" Nia says as Iris and Lexa look to each other.

Nova takes a deep breath turning back to Iris wondering where Naira is during all of this. "I'm sorry. I couldn't stop them" Iris says as tears roll down her cheek. Nova's face drops as the doors open once more revealing a guard holding a body covered in a sheet in bridal style.

Nova's breathing becomes uneven, and she covers her mouth as tears fall down her cheeks uncontrollably.

"N-No! Please, don't tell me she's-- NO!" Nova screams as she watches the guard uncover the body revealing a lifeless Naira.

"Naira? Naira!" Nova shouts as she goes up to the guard and pushes Naira's hair out of her face.

"My baby..." Nova whispers as she feels tears drip down onto her lips and onto Naira's cheek.

"Oh- Naira.." Nova whispers as she hears Iris sob softly behind her. Nova sniffles and covers Naira's face back up then slowly turns around to face Queen Nia.

"How could you? She was a little girl!" Nova shouts and Nia scoffs "She was mine. She ran away. I don't know where you came from but running away as a night blood means you get punished by death! Her parents did and so did she" Queen Nia states and Nova looks into her eyes with anger and sadness.

"You killed... a child. She didn't belong in this life" Nova whispers as more tears fall down her cheek. "She did belong. She just wasn't strong enough to deal with it" Nia states stepping to Nova and looks down to her. Nova felt like she couldn't breathe. She only knew Naira for a few months, but that little girl became her world.

She trained her, taught her to sew, taught her how to catch fish, taught her how to use a cross bow, told her life story growing up.

Naira ended up being one of the reasons for Nova's existence because after a while Nova only wanted to live for her. Naira was the only one who understood Nova on a personal level, and now she's gone.

"Anyways, who will fight for you, Lexa" Nia says changing the subject not caring about the lifeless child in the room and the grieving people around.

"I'm the commander. No one fights for me. Not now. Not ever. Bring it Iris, let's see if you still got it" Lexa says with no remorse. Clarke walks down to Nova and places a hand on her shoulder.

"Come on" Clarke whispers and leads Nova to her room with a large window and a nice bed and decorations. Nova felt like she was hyperventilating, and she threw off her crossbow and snatched off her weapons belt letting her sword clash on the floor.

Nova kneels on the floor and sobs uncontrollably putting her hand on her chest. "Nova..." Clarke whispers helping Nova stand to her feet and face her.

"I loved her. She was my-- I loved her" Nova cried putting her hand over her mouth.

"Okay, Take a breath. She loved you too" Clarke stated bringing Nova into a tight hug. Tears ran down Nova's face, but her face dropped into a serious one as Clarke hugged tighter and one tear fell down her cheek.

Clarke then pulls out of the hug and cups Nova's face making Nova's breathing start to settle down as she looks into Clarke's eyes. Clarke looks back into Nova's eyes and realizes this is the way she looked when her mother died. The same reaction. Just a different person.