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

Chapter 28

Clarke's POV

I find myself glad that Lexa has been making us all wake up early, so this morning, while it wasn't great, I am able to stay on my horse without dozing off. Not that I could anyway, the sights are too fantastic. Thankfully, I brought the camera Raven fixed up for me and I begin taking pictures. When we get back to Polis, I'll have a lot of beautiful places to paint.

The rolling hills are gently sloped, not steep like a mountain, but just curved enough to show there's a hill. The grass is long and bends as our horses pass through the strands, since we aren't on any defined pathway.

We go slowly for the first hour so I can take in the sights. The hills go so far that I can barely believe they ever end and the morning dew on them makes them glisten. The sun has fully come up, and the way the sunlight glistens off of the plains is almost indescribable in it's beauty.

"Would you like to go a bit faster?" Lexa asks after I put my camera away in the saddlebag.

"As in canter?" I ask. "That's like when the horse goes just a little faster and it's really bumpy?"

Lexa is silent for a moment while she digests my words. "If by bumpy, you mean that the movement of the horse causes you to go up and down in relatively quick succession, then yes. I believe so."

I shake my head firmly. "No, thanks babe. All that up and down is uncomfortable and makes me nauseous."

Lexa nods in understanding. "Ah. Yes, that happens to many riders. Most do prefer either this, walking as we are now, or galloping."

I grin automatically. "Galloping is fun. We haven't been able to do it in a while, though."

"It cannot be done with our group, not with one horse pulling a wagon. That horse would not be able to keep up." Lexa explains.

"Oh, that makes sense. But we can gallop now?" I ask excitedly.

"Yes, we can. And Clarke, you have been around horses long enough to know when they will be getting tired. We will have to keep an eye out for that, unless we would like to walk back."

I turn my head to look to the faint outline of the village behind us and grimace. "Nope. That would not be fun. Okay, we'll be careful."

"And do not worry, Clarke. If something happens, we can always wait overnight. Most predators are too scared to go near humans and horses, especially if they are traveling together."

I nod. "That is... Only somewhat comforting. Okay! Lets do this! Is it like with Argo and Malachi? Just squeeze with our thighs?"

"They should be trained the same, since they all come from Ingranrona (Plains Riders). Are you ready, Clarke?" Lexa asks.

I grin and click my tongue, squeezing the horse's sides with my thighs. It quickly bursts from it's walk into a gallop, no doubt happy to be able to let go and run fast as it wants. Lexa's laughter follows me, as does she from a few paces back and to the right.

Lexa braided my hair when we woke up in exchange for me braiding hers. As a result, my hair doesn't whip me across the face, which honestly is my least favorite thing about wind and about going fast while riding a horse. Instead, it raises as the horse's hooves push off from the ground, and falls against my back as we land back on the earth.

It's a comforting, almost rhythmic feeling. The wind against my face brings tears to my eyes but for once, I don't mind. My grin is wide and carefree as Lexa pushes her horse a bit harder in order to catch up to mine.

We ride side by side across the hills, turning occasionally in order to slowly make our way back towards the village.

Going fast like this, with nothing in my way, it's freeing in a way I didn't expect.

And with Lexa, she's happy in a way she rarely is unless we're alone. Her laughter rings out across the plains, a beautiful sound to match a beautiful place. She looks majestic riding her horse, but in a different way than when she's usually riding a horse.

Usually, she gives off an aura of power, of strength. That is when she looks regal, as always, and untouchable. Like she's on some other plane, not necessarily better than everyone else but just... Different. Like she's the closest thing you'll ever meet to a goddess.

But now, Lexa seems like the young woman she is. As though the world has never beaten her down, as though she doesn't constantly have the weight of the safety and well being of thousands of lives on her shoulders.

It's amazing to see how easily she moves with the horse, like instead of an entirely different creature, a different species, she almost acts like the horse is an extension of her own body. Like riding a horse is as easy as breathing.

Her cheeks are rosy from the wind and her eyes are twinkling with complete and utter joy. Lexa's smile is almost as big as it was when I said yes to her proposal.

In other words, she still looks like a goddess. But instead of appearing like a goddess who loves the people who worship her and will unleash her wrath on those who do her people harm... Lexa looks like a goddess for justice, perhaps? Warmer, more open. Kind and fair, and merciful. But maybe that's not a good analogy.

Anyway, she looks so beautiful it seems otherworldly. That's what I'm trying to say. In many words. Oh well, I'm in love. Blame that. It's impossible to explain love, just like it's near impossible to explain how much I love Lexa.

Lexa smiles over at me like she knows how mushy my thoughts are. We slow out horses to a walk and slowly make our way to the village, pausing only for a picnic lunch.

Hopefully that was a good chapter? Next chapter, it can go one of two... Well, three ways. One, a bit more in Ingranrona, like everyone eating dinner outside or something. Two, Raven or Octavia's perspective and what they're up to on horseback. Or three, we can move forward and go to the next clan! Let me know if you lovely humans have a preference! Thank you all for reading and for your amazing comments! Stay awesome!