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

Chapter 37

Clarke's POV

After Lexa and mine not so silent alone time, we head down, off of the wall in order to find Octavia and Raven to see if they want to walk the wall with us. We approach the door/entrance into what's left of the castle and I hear a feminine grunt.

"We are entering the castle." I say loudly. "Please don't scar us for life." I have my hand over my eyes. "Are you both decent?"

"Morally? Debatable. Clothes-wise? Yeah." Raven says.

I uncover my eyes to see Octavia is massaging Raven's leg. That must have been why I heard a grunting noise. I know Raven carries a lot of tension in that leg.

"Hey Griff, Commander Heart Eyes. What's up?" Raven asks.

"We were just wondering if you would like to walk along the wall with us." Lexa says.

"Walk along the... That sounds pretty boring." Raven admits.

"I think they mean along the top of the wall, Rae." Octavia says.

"Oh, right. That makes more sense. Sure. Just let me..."

Raven starts putting her brace back on. Octavia gently smacks her hands away to do it herself. She does it quickly and efficiently and I wonder how many times she's helped Raven put it on in order for it to look so easy.

"You will let us know if you're hurting or need a break, okay?" Octavia orders as we walk out of what's left of the castle.

"I will, O. Promise."

Octavia nods but I know she's still going to keep a close eye on her girlfriend just in case. Raven doesn't exactly have the best track record of telling us that kind of thing. She's getting better and has been for a while, but it's difficult for her to break out of the mindset that asking for help is weakness. I mean it's not and I know I've talked to her about this, as has Lexa and definitely Octavia.

Raven has to pause every few steps for a short break as we go up the stairs. "Sorry, stairs just suck." She apologizes.

We all make certain to give her reassurances and encouragement. It's better once we make it all the way up the stairs. Raven raises both her hand up in victory.

"Are there any more stairs? I swear, if there are I'll kick their asses." Raven threatens.

"Babe, they're stairs. I don't think you can."

"Watch me," she grumbles.

We still stop every once in a while, but mainly because we want to take in the view. It's beautiful up here.

Luckily, there aren't many stairs. They seem to be only when there's an incline or dip in the ground, so it's not too often. So Raven is fine, up until we get closer to the entrance/exit to the outer wall. That's when there's a sharp incline with maybe twenty or so stairs going up. Raven, who happened to be at the front of the group, stops in her tracks and stares helplessly at the stairs.

Raven lets out a deep breath and turns around to face us. "Don't worry about me, I'll just go back." She frowns at the sight of the other set of stairs, the one she would have to go down.

"Or I have a better idea." Lexa says. "Raven, how do you feel about being carried by me?"

Raven chokes on nothing, her eyes wide. "You... Lexa, you're sweet, okay? But stairs suck butts. They always have, always will. And you're willing to not only climb these, but climb them while carrying an entire human adult?"

"Yes," Lexa answers simply.

"Dude." Raven lets out another breath, running a hand through her hair. "Okay. I don't know, Lexa."

"I am offering to, Raven. If you do not want to, or do not feel comfortable with this, just let me know." Lexa says gently.

"It's not that, it's just... Why?" Raven asks, sounding confused and frustrated.

"You are one of my best friends, Raven. I like doing things for you." Lexa states earnestly.

Raven later denies there were tears in her eyes when she finally allowed Lexa to carry her (though she drools over Lexa's arms for actual days afterwards).

***

That night, we all sleep well. Mainly because we're tired, and despite the lumpy rocks, our tents and furs help now that we know how to maneuver them in order to be comfortable.

We leave the next morning, with Lexa dragging me out of bed, then us dragging Octavia and Raven out of bed. We get on the road and make pretty good time to the city. Especially since it looked so far away from the castle.

The houses are made differently than what I have ever seen. It's made of some sort of smooth looking stone, made perfectly into squares and rectangles and all kinds of shapes.

"This place receives a lot of heat, and building the homes from rock helps keep them cool." Lexa explains.

Along the top, on the roofs of the houses, there are reddish-orange clay tiles. It's beautiful, especially in the light of the setting sun.

Someone is waiting for us at the entrance to the town, their hands folded behind their back in an offensive  (as in the opposite of defensive) position I have seen Lexa use many times.

"Heda. It is good to see you again." The woman says kindly.

She has short black hair, like she cut it all off last month and is growing it back kind of short. Lexa dismounts from her horse.

"Mai, it is good to see you too."

Lexa's tone is formal but friendly, so I'm assuming she's not close enough to Lexa to be a friend, but is close enough to be an ally.

"This is your partner?" Her eyes flick to me and she smiles. "It is good to meet you, Clarke kom Skaikru. Your reputation precedes you."

Huh. Not many of the clan leaders have said anything like that, even though I have lead some of their people in an army to free Lexa from Nia. I like her already.

Next chapter will probably be the last chapter in Boudalan! In other news, guess who can legally drive alone now?? This girl! I passed my drivers test today! Though when I post this, it'll be yesterday... but still! I have to work on parking and stuff, but I think I did pretty good otherwise! Which is perfect timing since I'm leaving home to go to college on the 21st of August... Anyway! Thank you all for reading and for our amazing comments! Stay awesome!