Our People (the Third Book of the Her Weakness series)

Chapter 31

Clarke's POV

The vastness and beauty of the city is enough for me to be able to push down my frustration. Though I'd love nothing more than to push Lexa into the nearest secluded place and have my way with her, I know we'll have time for that later. It doesn't make the waiting any easier but the thought makes it easier to focus on other things.

I find myself falling a bit more in love with Lexa as we make our way through the cobblestone streets of Polis. There are many people that greet her with happy smiles and when she greets most back by name, I feel my heart melting.

I reach out and take her hand, keeping my hold on her light in case she's not ready to have the people of Polis to see us together. She just tightens her grasp and I see out of the corner of my eye a pale blush on her face and her genuine smile that's incredibly beautiful.

Some of the people that have been greeting her make comments in Trigedasleng along the lines of "nice job Heda" and "she's beautiful".

Before long, we're standing in front of the Commander's building that towers over us. It looks even bigger up close. The guards see Lexa and immediately bow their heads in respect and open the doors for us.

"This is so fancy." Raven gasps.

"It is the Commander's Tower, so it reflects the power and influence of the Heda." Lexa explains, leading us towards an odd looking door.

The guards in front of it open it for us, allowing Raven, Octavia, Lexa, and I in but telling Lincoln, Ryder, and Nix to wait for the next one. The next one? The room behind the doors is incredibly tiny, only big enough to fit the four of us so I can see why they only wanted us to go. But where do we go from here? The guards shut the door again and the box-like room jolts. I grasp Lexa's hand harder.

"It is okay. This is a... I believe the old Gonasleng word for it is elevator." Lexa assures us.

The elevator starts moving up, making me nearly fall on my face at the suddenness.

"I thought you don't have electricity." Raven remarks, studying the box as if it holds the secrets to the universe.

"We do not. A few Commanders ago had an elderly father that lived here with him who was unable to climb the many stairs it took to get to his room. He was old, but an active man and the Heda didn't want to have to move him to the bottom floor. It is the most dangerous and the most vulnerable to attack. This elevator has been here since the first Commander, and that Heda had read extensively on old word mechanics. Using his brightest people, he put this back into operation. At the bottom, there are two people pushing a wooden wheel that pulls this up or down."

"Fascinating." Raven murmurs.

I do have to admit in impressed. That must have taken a lot of time and brain power to accomplish.

The elevator stops suddenly. "What's happening?" I try to keep the panic from my voice.

After so much time in the vast openness of the world, I hate small spaces.

"We are here. This is the main floor." Lexa informs us as the doors are once again opened by guards. We step out and she leads us again. "This is where the meeting will take place, and it is where my throne is. The next floor up is where the Ambassadors sleep, the next above that is where the guests the Commander invites and trusts sleep, and above that is the Commander's floor."

"You have an entire floor?" Octavia asks. "Right, sorry I forget you're the Commander sometimes."

"You will sleep on the floor below me. Clarke, once again, you are welcome to join me or you may sleep on the floor below me."

"I'll sleep with you." I say. "You have a promise to keep."

Lexa frowns for a moment before realizing what I'm talking about. She didn't necessarily promise but she told me we'd continue tonight and I intend on holding her up to that.

"Of course." She clears her throat. "You may get settled into your rooms or explore. Clarke, if you want to you can accompany me to speak to my top advisor, Titus. I am sure he would like to meet you."

That last sentence was an obvious stretching of the truth, but I feel like she doesn't want to speak to him alone.

"Sure. I'll see you guys later." I say to Octavia and Raven.

"Bye, Princess." Octavia calls as Lexa and I walk away.

I groan. I had hoped they forgot that stupid nickname.

Lexa chuckles at my annoyance. "Come, Prisa (Princess). He is bound to be in my throne room."

"Seriously?" I grumble. "You too?"

"You are too beautiful to be anything less, hodness (love) and you are not yet my Queen."

Does that mean...? Does she want to marry me some day? Do Grounders even have a marriage ceremony? Or am I thinking too much on this?

Guards open the doors again and Lexa leads me into a spacious room with a familiar intricate throne strategically placed at the back and center.

"Did you have people bring your throne here?" I question. It looks almost exactly like the one I first saw her in.

Lexa shakes her head. "No. The one you have seen me in is only a replica, one lighter to carry and easily taken apart for transportation."

"Heda?" A masculine voice asks.

We both turn around. The voice belongs to a bald man with tattoos on his bare head in what look to be ceremonial or religious robes.

"Titus."

Lexa's stoic expression is back on her face, but she does not let go of my hand. Titus notices this and frowns. Lexa hasn't told me much about him other than the fact he was her teacher, which I'm guessing means that he's the one that put that "feelings are weakness" crap in her head. This will be an interesting conversation.

And a disapproving Titus appears... Now that exams are *finally* over, I can relax, so this chapter is longer than the last one (sorry about that, it was after taking an ACT work keys test and I didn't want to write as much as I have been) Thank you all for reading and stay awesome!