Lexa stooped to pick up the furs she had brought for Clarke, turning back towards Clarke and the horse she froze. Clarke had moved closer to the horse letting her hand glide along the cheek and down the neck oblivious to Lexa observing her actions. As she approached Clarke, Lexa dropped everything on the ground as her feet.
"Would you like to put these on him?" Clarke looked at the pile on the ground and back up at Lexa, her brows scrunching together.
"I think I would rather just stay where I am Lexa." They stared at each other for a moment before Lexa turned to the horse picking up the first item from the pile. Lexa tried not to smile as Clarke continued to stroke the horse's face, talking to him under her breath.
"We can do this can't we? You aren't that scary." Clarke kept talking, distracting herself from the eventual riding lessons. Looking past the brown eyes, Clarke watched as Lexa stretched herself over the back of the horse making sure everything was even. Clarke dropped her eyes to stare at the horse when Lexa glanced over at her. Never had she felt so self-conscience around Lexa. Clarke was never good at looking the fool; even on the Ark she was one of the best students. Before she was put in solitude that is.
"Clarke" Lexa's voice startled Clarke from her thoughts. Stepping forward Lexa stopping herself as reached moved to reach out to Clarke.
"Whenever you are ready" Lexa barely moved her head in encouragement side stepping to allow space for Clarke between her and the horse.
Reluctantly Clarke moved into the space Lexa made for her. Clarke felt awkward, unsure of what she was supposed to do next.
"Lexa… I don't know how…" Clarke trailed off not wanting to admit the last part of her sentence.
"I know. That's why I'm here Clarke, you just have to trust me." Lexa's voice was soft. "Place your hands on his back" Lexa put her hands on Clarke's hips guiding her to the middle of the horse.
"You're going to pull yourself up onto the horse, when your hips are level with his back swing your left leg over and grab his mane." Lexa paused, waiting as Clarke put her hands on the horse. "Ready?" Clarke nodded as a gasp escaped her lips, Lexa was dragging her palms over Clarke's hip and down her legs.
"Bend your knee Clarke"
"I'm going to help lift you up" Lexa responded to Clarke's raised eyebrow. Cupping her hand under Clarke's knee she braced herself lifting Clarke up onto the horse. Lexa let her hand linger on Clarke's thigh as she waited for Clarke to get situated. It took a moment for Clarke to find a spot on the horse and take a handful of mane, shifting under Lexa's touch.
"Good Clarke. You are going to use the reins to guide his head in the direction you would like and use your thighs to add pressure when you want him to speed up. You will need some pressure to maintain balance, but don't squeeze him. I'm going to lead him Clarke, so just work on maintaining your balance."
"Got it" Clarke replies staring straight ahead, taking in a deep breath. Lexa nods, admiring the determination on Clarke's face. Taking the lead on the horse Lexa starts to walk the horse forward. Clarke lurches forward as the horse moves, clenching her legs around the horse, her knuckles turning white as she grips the mane.
"I won't let anything happen to you Clarke"
"I know" Clarke loosens her grip a little, slowly relaxing her muscles.