Our Journey (the Fourth Book in the Her Weakness series)

Chapter 18

Clarke's POV

The hand I have pressed to my mouth muffles a quiet squeal I let out. Lexa's awed expression, the reverence in her gaze, is enough for me to melt. That, paired with the fact she's on one knee, proposing to me... I don't have words. And I'm dying of happiness inside because I know Grounder tradition. I know what this means for us, for Lexa.

Grounders are pretty traditional in the fact that marriage is seen as a forever thing, like soul mates. You bind your soul to the person you love, become partners in this life and the next. And the next (etc.).

And marriage, it isn't as... Whimsical? I don't know the right word for it. Divorce is rare. It only happens in extreme cases, mainly when one person is abusing the other, emotionally or physically. Partnerships like this, like I said they're forever. So a proposal only happens when the person proposing is certain they want to spend the rest of their life, and all their next ones, with that person. It's not taken lightly, not in the least. Honestly, I think it's a beautiful concept.

So for Lexa, this means... This means she wants to be with me, forever. In every reincarnation of us. I'll be hers, and she'll be mine in everyone's eyes. Forever. And we'll find each other in every life, in every universe... For eternity.

A tear leaks out of my eye as I stare down at Lexa, who's gazing up at me with wide, hopeful eyes. Right, I haven't answered yet. I'm glad she's patient and understanding. I lower my hand.

"Yes. Yes, of course I'll marry you." I choke out, my tears making my throat tighten.

Lexa's face lights up in a brilliant smile and she stands. She carefully slides the ring on my left ring finger. Lexa lifts my hand to her lips and presses a gentle kiss to my knuckles. I take a moment to study the ring.

The ring itself a dark gray, faintly shining in the glowing light of the butterflies and the moss, but not overly shiny, which I like. Embedded in the metal is three small emeralds and I look up at Lexa's nervous gaze.

"This is beautiful," I say. "Did Jaree make this?"

"No," Lexa answers. "I made it, as well as mine."

I smile at her. "You made your own ring. Pretty confident, huh?"

Lexa shakes her head, placing her hands gently on my hips. "Not really. I was very nervous, I think you could tell."

I chuckle. "Yeah, I could. I had no idea what could shake you up that much."

"Now you know." Lexa murmurs.

"Now I know," I nod. "So, um. Why emeralds?" I ask, cocking my head to the side.

"They are green. Mine has sapphires." Lexa says and I understand almost instantly.

"Our eye colors. You sap." I say lovingly.

Lexa smiles softly again and I squeeze her hands. "I still cannot believe it, niron (loved one). You said yes." She turns serious for a moment. "Clarke, you do understand our culture, yes? You know that this is forever?"

"I know that I'll always find you in this life and the next." I say. "Osir keryon ste teina kom nau (our souls are already entwined)."

"En nau osir na op tai choda (and now we will be bound to each other)." Lexa responds, resting her forehead against mine.

It's such a soft, loving moment that I don't expect it to be broken by my fiancée's (!!!) snickering. I raise an unimpressed eyebrow at her.

"Moba, ai hodnes (sorry, my love). You just had a butterfly land on your head." Lexa chuckles.

"I can't believe a butterfly ruined our romantic moment." I sigh over-dramatically, making Lexa's smile widen. My expression gentles at the sight. "Ai hod yu in (I love you)."

"Ai hod yu in sentaim (I love you too)." Lexa murmurs.

We stay there, standing and swaying slightly like we're dancing in place. I close my eyes, reveling in this moment, in the fact that she's my fiancée now (!!!), in the fact that now we have forever. Lexa hums a song under her breath as we sway. I recognize the tune but I can't quite place it.

"Dance with me, meizen (beautiful)?" Lexa steps back and holds out her hand to me.

I grin and nod and she pulls me close. We slowly twirl, my cheek pressed against hers. It's the best moment of my life so far. I'm in the arms of the woman I'm in love with, who just proposed to me, in a beautiful forest with glowing butterflies. It can't possibly get better than this.

And I stand corrected, because a moment later Lexa begins singing the song. Her voice is gorgeous, soft in all the places the Commander doesn't often let herself be, and it stirs up an almost overwhelming wave of love for her. I rest my chin on her shoulder, listening to her sing.

"Wise men say, only fools rush in. But I can't help falling in love with you." Lexa sings.

I don't even try to hide how I swoon. This song, this was one that came on the first time we danced together to a century old iPod, back after we saved our people from the Maunon (Mountain Men). I'm surprised and impressed that she remembers the song, we only heard it that one time as far as I can remember.

"Shall I stay? Would be a sin? If I can't help falling in love with you."

I join her for the rest of the song, our voices blending together in a beautiful harmony. My raspy voice compliments her smooth, higher one and vice versa.

"Like a river flows surely to the sea, darling so it goes, some things were meant to be. Take my hand, take my while life too. For I can't help falling in love with you."

And so we continue, dancing in place and singing this old song that somehow fits us perfectly.

Did not expect the dancing or the song, but hey! I nearly cried! The version of that song (Can't help falling in love with you) that I love is when the dude from Twenty One Pilots sings it (I looked it up, his name is Tyler Joseph). It always cheers me up and makes me cry. With happiness, of course. I hope this turned out as well as it did in my head! :) Thank you all for reading and for your amazing comments! Stay awesome!