Mythology
Clarke realized that she'd dozed off when she was awoken by voices coming from the other room. She pulled the plug from the drain and screwed the tops carefully back onto the glass jars that Lexa had given her, then stepped out onto a soft rug. Clarke took her time toweling off and dressing herself. She had planned on staying in the bathroom until she was sure that whoever was in the other room with Lexa had left. But, when she heard Titus raising his voice at Lexa, she figured that she and Lexa were in this fight together so she stepped into the bedroom.
Titus' face was already red and worked up. Clarke noticed that his right fist was clenched in frustration. She also discovered that Lexa and Titus weren't alone. A young serving girl of about thirteen stood at Titus' left.
Lexa turned and looked at Clarke as the blonde entered the bedroom. "As ambassador for Skaikru, Clarke needs to learn our ways, Titus. I can't think of a better opportunity."
"Heda, please don't do this. Beja. I've spent weeks preparing Agon to perform the necessary duties ."
Lexa looked to the ginger-haired serving girl. "Mochof, Agon. You may leave."
The girl bowed and did as her Heda commanded but with an apologetic glance at Titus.
"Now Titus, get to your point. Which has nothing to do with Agon's preparations."
Titus's temples throbbed noticeably. "Clarke, will you excuse us?"
Clarke considered leaving but only for an instant. Instead, she moved to stand at Lexa's side. "The Commander has asked me to be her attendant. It is an honor that I do not take lightly. If Heda wants me to leave, she can ask me to."
Lexa gave Clarke one single approving nod. And although her lips never moved, Clarke could see the pleasure twinkling in those green eyes.
"Heda wants you to stay right where you are," Lexa turned to Titus. "You, on the other hand, may leave. I will see you at the procession tonight and not one minute before, Are we clear?"
Titus took two deep breaths and then steepled his hands together. "Yes Heda." He then glanced at Clarke before looking back to Lexa. "I will hold my tongue, if you swear to me that you will do your duty during the festival."
Lexa's spine stiffened. "Have I ever failed to do my duty, Fleimkepa?"
"There are rumors." Titus said between clenched teeth.
"And nothing more. You are excused Titus. And don't worry. I will fulfill my obligation."
"Yes Heda," Titus shuffled out of the room but couldn't resist one last glare at Clarke.
"I don't wanna be the one to say I told ya so, but Titus took the news as I expected." Clarke let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding.
"Thank you for standing by me, Clarke."
"Always," Clarke answered but couldn't look Lexa in the eyes when she said it, she was afraid the Commander would see the longing in her soul. "So what was all that business about your duty?"
"Let's have some tea." Lexa took Clarke by the left hand and guided her to the sofa where she poured them two cups of steaming tea. Setting the teapot aside, she took a stick of incense and lit if off of one of the burning candles, Lexa used the lit incense to bring to life the remaining dozen candles that sat on the table in front of them. Clarke took a moment to appreciate the delicate beauty that was Lexa. In moments like these it was easy to forget that Lexa was also a ruthless leader who could assassinate a political conspirator without batting an eye.
Clarke tried the tea. It was earthy with only a hint of bitterness. "Mmmm, not bad."
"Sprilla, yam leaf, raspba leaf, dama. Sorry, sarsaparilla, yam leaf, wild raspberry leaf, and I'm not sure what the gonasleng word for dama is. But it's essentially a tea to promote fertility." Lexa took a drink.
"Fertility?" Clarke nearly choked on her tea.
Lexa smiled. "Yes, Clarke. Fertility. After Pram Fire, the survivors understood the importance of repopulating the Earth. And since the coming of spring is also a time of great replenishing, our people celebrate fertility on the night of winter's last full moon."
"I see. The Ark was different. Because of our scant resources and life support systems we had a very strict one child policy. But if makes sense that Earth-based survivors would try to have more children."
"Well, not too many because they also had limited resources. But of course in the early days, legend tells us, many of the infants did not survive the harsh environment. The Sheidjus helped."
"But why the festival?" Clarke asked.
"In part, it was a way to honor Bekka Pram Heda for the gift of life she had given our people and a promise that we wouldn't waste it."
A crazy thought occurred to Clarke, her eyes widened. "Is this festival an orgy?"
"No, Clarke. It isn't an orgy. It is inspired by classical mythology." Lexa refilled their tea cups.
"In what way?" Clarke relaxed against the couch back. She was fascinated by this bit of Grounder culture.
"After Bekka Pram Heda realized that the Sheidjus wasn't being inherited by everyone, it became important to make sure that the Natblida reproduce, especially the Natblida women because a Natblida mother is more likely to produce Natblida offspring than a Natblida father.. So on this sacred night, Natblida women take their choice of male partner. Similar to how the Amazon women would raid the neighboring villages of men for their semen. If the Commander is female, then she gets the first choice of partners You've heard of the Amazons of Greek lore?"
"Yes, I know of the Amazons. A race of warrior women. But the Nightbloods are all children."
"Now, yes. But, it wasn't that way before. My conclave was the youngest ever. And no one who hasn't reached adulthood engages in sexual activity. But all adults are encouraged to mate, even the non-Natblida. After the Commander retires to her hut with her chosen lover, the rest of the revelers choose their partners. Most people choose their own mates but sometimes people see an opportunity to explore outside of their partnerships."
"That's what Titus meant by do your duty?"
"Yes," Lexa nodded.
"And the rumors? What rumors was he talking about?"
"That I don't engage in coitus with the men I choose."
"Do you?" As soon as Clarke asked, she realized that it was an entirely inappropriate question. She didn't know why but somehow the thought of Lexa lying with a man irked her. If she was being honest, the though of Lexa lying with anyone other than her, irked her.
Lexa drained her teacup and put it on the table before turning to Clarke. "No."
"Don't you believe in the. . ."
"Not for me. I understand the importance of producing Natblida, I do. But the thought of letting a man touch me in that way or be inside me." Lexa shuddered.
"Hey, it's okay." Clarke sat up and edged closer to Lexa. "You shouldn't have to do that if you find it repulsive."
"The priests. They are always worried about running out of Natblida."
"Then why do they make them kill each other?"
"It's our way."
"Maybe it shouldn't be." Clarke sat her teacup on the table next to Lexa's
"I was right to choose you." Lexa pushed a wayward strand of Clarke's still damp hair behind her ear. Clarke thought for a second that Lexa was going to cup her face but the brunette let her hand fall back to her own side. "We should get started."
"I'm still not sure exactly what is expected of me."
"I told you, I'll explain as we go. I've been doing this since I was sixteen."
"And you've managed to avoid consummation all those years?"
"Costia was my attendant and I always chose a man I could trust to keep my confidence. Lincoln."
"Ahh, I see." Clarke grinned.
"Is this the first festival without Costia?" Clarke had been curious about Lexa's former lover but had never found an appropriate time to bring it up.
"It is. That's why Titus is bent out of shape that I've chosen you. He thinks that it will make people talk about you and me the way they used to whisper about me and Costia. But more than that, he thought I would finally have to go through with the rite or at least that he would have a snitch if I didn't."
A sharp pang twisted in Clarke's gut and gnashed at her heart. She'd been thinking that Lexa had chosen her for personal reasons but she'd only chosen her because she felt she could trust her not to inform on her to Titus.
"So, are you ready to make me an Amazon Queen?"
Even though Clarke felt disappointment down to her toes, she couldn't tell Lexa no. She smiled. "Yeah."
Lexa stood up from the couch and slid the robe from her shoulders. "From now until the ceremony begins you will be my servant and I your Queen. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Lexa."
"Is that how you would address your Queen?"
"No. . um. . . no. . no your Majesty." Clarke stammered.
"That's better. Now, you will draw me a bath which you will scent with the oils you will find in the middle drawer of the vanity. Once you have the bath drawn and ready you will come get me, undress me, and clean me. Any questions?"
"No, Majesty." Clarke lied. She had one really huge question. Why on Earth would Lexa go through all of this pomp and circumstance if she didn't really intend on going through with having sex with the man she chose? But as much as Clarke was curious about why Lexa was going through with the preparations she wasn't about to question it, not if playing along meant she was going to get to not only see Lexa naked but she was going to get to touch and bathe her. Clarke hurried into the bathroom and wondered if she should should take care of the burning ache between her legs before she called Lexa in for her bath. She wasn't sure how she was going to make it through bathing Lexa with her already throbbing clit begging her to relieve it