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

Chapter 141

Lexa's POV

As Raven and I head outside, I think about Clarke. I hope she does not mind that she is not waking up next to me too much. Hopefully what I am doing makes up for that in her mind.

My body tingles with nervous energy but thankfully Raven does not comment on it. I know what I want to do today and the pressure I am putting on myself to make this perfect is making me even more nervous than I expected to be.

"You know, after this you have two more steps to do." Raven says. "Ask Abby and then ask Clarke."

I let out a breath. "Do you think she will say yes?"

"Who? Abby or Clarke?"

"Either."

"Well," Raven begins slowly, thinking. "If you asked me this before this trip, I would have said that Abby would have told you to float yourself. But in that last talk you guys had with her, she seemed pretty cool. I'm pretty sure she'll say yes, she knows you love her daughter."

'Pretty sure' is barely enough to ease my nerves about asking Abby. "And Clarke?"

Raven scoffs and gives me an incredulous look. "Dude, really?"

"Please refer to me informally here," I remind her in a whisper.

"Right, sorry. Heda, really?" Raven asks. "It's you and Clarke! You're like relationship goals. If she actually says no I'll eat my left shoe."

"Your shoes are disgusting." I remind her, as if she could forget.

"I know. What I mean is Clarke won't say no. She'll probably cry a lot before she says yes but she'll say yes." Raven says adamantly. "I know I'll definitely be crying."

"You will not be watching." I tell her.

"Yeah, I know." Raven sounds 'bummed.' "I'll just have to listen to how you two describe it and cry about that. Because I know it's going to be really sappy and disgusting. Just think, this is the love story you're going to tell your grandkids about. Grandma Heda's super Extra proposal to Clarke that always makes Aunt Raven cry."

"Grandchildren?" I ask, eyes wide.

"Oh yeah. I call be the godparent to your first kid."

"A God-parent?" I murmur. "First kid?"

"Ask Clarke, she'll explain it to you. And yeah, I can totally see you guys having a ton of munchkins running around."

I am suddenly very glad that we got up really early because there are very few people out to see how their stoic Heda's blushing. Children? I have never entertained the thought of children, Hedas rarely live long enough to marry, let alone have kids. And having kids would put them in danger, so I never even thought...

I shake the ideas from my head. I have to focus on the now. Later today, I can think about this.

"First, let us look for scrap metal for the ring before we discuss Clarke and I having kids." I say.

"Sure thing." Raven gives me a two fingered salute. "Alright, so for the ring... What kind of metal do you want to use?" I just blink in response. "You didn't think of what kind. Okay, that's fine. Lets just look through someone's scrap metal and take what you think you and Clarke would like."

"And we are to have matching ones, yes?"

"Um. I don't exactly know, I didn't exactly study up on Skaikru marriage culture before we left Arkadia. Anyway, I think they should be similar but don't have to be the same."

I nod. We make the turn that leads us into the street the market is on. I look around for a moment and spot someone selling scrap metal and tek (technology). I start walking over there with Raven trailing a step behind me.

I look through the woman's wares. Her scrap metal is all in one large box that I dig around carefully in so I do not get cut by the sharp edges. Raven gleefully looks at the woman's tek, gasping excitedly a few times. I know I am going to be going back with a few things for her.

"Raven," I say, distracting her from drooling over her most recent discovery. She comes to my side in an instant. "What do you think?"

"That looks perfect!" Raven exclaims. "What color of gems are you thinking of putting with it?"

I clear my throat. "Blue on one and green on the other."

Raven just looks at me for a bit, amused. "The color of each other's eyes?" I nod in response. "That is incredibly cheesy. She's going to love it!"

I grin down at the dark gray piece of metal in my hand. "You can pick out a few things here that you want."

Raven's eyes light up. "Are you sure?"

I nod and Raven bounces up and down, beaming. I can tell she is resisting the urge to hug me in thanks. She steps back over to the woman at the stand, looking over the technology with renewed excitement. Raven ends up picking out two smaller things and one thing that looks like a large gun but apparently is not one that shoots bullets, instead shooting a "tranquilizer." Which, once she explains what it could do, I conclude could be useful.

I pay for our things and Raven thanks me a few times, talking about what she could do with what she just got.

We head for a jeweler next. The rocks and gems they sell have little use unless they are put in something like a ring or a sword, but they are beautiful. Though we 'Grounders' may not exchange rings, it is customary to give the intended person a meaningful gift. That person can either accept or reject it, as well as the others hand in marriage.

I have been thinking of what to get Clarke. Since the ring is already something I am going to give her, I think I will give her another gift and present it to her at our bonding ceremony. I will just have to figure out what that could be.

I get some small sapphires and emeralds, already planning the ring in my head as we head towards the blacksmith.

Next chapter, Lexa makes their rings! Since I couldn't really find what I imagine on Google images, I'll just have to explain what it'll look like... And I keep forgetting to tell you guys, but I've decided when book four will start! This current book will end after they are in Sankru. I'll be sure to tell you when it's starting to get close to the end and I'll definitely tell you when it actually ends! One last thing, someone guessed right on where Lexa's going to propose... I won't tell you guys how or anything more than it happens in Trishana, or the Glowing Forest ;) Thank you all for reading and for your amazing comments! Stay awesome!