A/N: This fic was born from the need to write something fuzzy and warm for Darklina ((because oh my god they could have had this. All of this)) and was very much the result of my dear friend's cajoling/prompting/encouragement. The TL;DR of it all amounts to horseback riding is so damn romantic and also what if the Darkling was giving Alina other little gifts gradually instead of jumping straight to hi hello please wear my colors aka the most prestigious and important signal in the entire Second Army. Like, we get it Dorkling. She's precious and amazing and you want to show off. But maybe give her a moment to breathe and woo her with smaller things and some more smoldering moments riding into the sunrise/sunset on horseback together. ((wow, this is the shortest TL;DR that I can manage? I'm sorry y'all))

And then there was drama injected in because, well, I cannot resist. So there will be ups and downs but! it will all be worth it. Promise~

Also this fic was supposed to be short. Lmao way to go, past-fecky

Where Hoofbeats and Hearts Thunder

Alina's schedule was tightly controlled. Coming into the Little Palace without the years of training and experience from childhood onward - never mind the ever looming, seemingly impossible task to address the Fold - she certainly had catching up to do. Any break in the day for something unexpected always came with a certain level of relief. There was only so much of Botkin, Baghra, and bookwork that Alina could take. There was a routine in the army and certainly back at Keramzin, but there were always new marching orders or some new chaos brewing on the horizon to keep it from being total monotony.

At the Little Palace, there was definitely a conscious effort being made to keep Alina focused on her progress with summoning. She didn't envy whomever was given the responsibility to manage the Sun Summoner's day-to-day life. Of all the tasks that the Black General handed out, Alina suspected that one had no great honor to it.

Getting up in the morning, Alina began mentally preparing for yet another trip on the circuitous path of library, training grounds, hut, dinner, back to her rooms. When she unlocked her door though she welcomed the sight of Genya shooing away the troupe of servants who normally were there to get her up. There was also a conspicuous box under one arm in addition to the Tailor's kit which further suggested that today might not be quite as bland as usual. As she closed the door behind them Alina bounced on the balls of her feet.

"Well, you just brightened up. I didn't realize that I had such an effect on the Sun Summoner with my mere presence," Genya teased.

Alina laughed. "You make everyone's day better, Genya," she replied earnestly.

Genya busied herself with offloading her kit and the other box. "Look who's settling into palace life. Learning how to use flattery, are you?" she said as she flipped the lid of her kit open on the vanity. The two exchanged another laugh. Alina settled into her chair and tossed her hair properly over her shoulders. She hadn't quite relinquished her morning routine to the servants who were intended to brush out her sleep-tousled hair or make up her bed. But there was always a little something extra that Genya could do to make her tresses glossy and smooth that Alina didn't mind.

While Genya worked the brush through her hair once more, Alina knew that she was being watched in the mirror. That didn't keep her from eyeing the rectangular package that she could spy on the corner of the bed. Finally Genya relented - after plaiting two small sections of Alina's dark hair into a pair of braids that met at the nape of her neck - and put her kit away.

"Alright, alright," Genya said. "You can run away from your personal Tailor trying to put you on equal footing with the likes of royalty just to see what silly trinket has been sent to your door." There was a laugh in Genya's tone that didn't quite reach her eyes. Alina was too distracted to properly notice, hopping from the chair. She did pause to squeeze Genya in a quick hug, though.

"Thank you," Alina squeaked. Then she was loosening the cord that tied the box shut. Regardless of all the fussing and finery that came from being in the Little Palace, there was a part of Alina that selfishly coveted things that were her own. Food and fancy hairstyles came and went. An orphan always appreciated gifts.

Her mind briefly went to the strange little book with the gruesome fates of the Saints that the Apparat had foisted on her in the Library. Alright. An orphan almost always appreciated gifts.

Alina's lips parted in a small "o" as she uncovered a pair of dark riding boots nestled in the crumpled packaging. Her fingertips grazed over the leather, black and softer than the standard issue First Army boots she had been forced to purchase with her own heavily advanced wages. Even Genya came to look over the parcel, her fine eyebrows raising slightly.

"That explains the note I received last night," Genya admitted. Alina lifted one of the boots to examine the intricate stitching and perfectly untouched soles. They certainly weren't second-hand like her current ones, either.

"Are these made by Durast?" Alina asked. Then Genya's words sank in and she put the boot back down, nestled in the packaging. "What note?"

Genya took the box under one arm and pushed Alina with her other hand over to the dressing screen. "I'm supposed to prepare you for riding lessons. The general wanted you to address your horseback skills," Genya said brusquely. "Or lack thereof, from what I remember from your complaining on your first day here."

"First week," Alina corrected. It had felt like ages before her legs and tailbone stopped aching, or perhaps she had simply acquired new bruises from her training atop the soreness from the long trip along the Vy.

Being directed around by Genya was better than being manhandled by the serving women who still tried to snark about Alina in Old Ravkan, though Alina wasn't fond of having clothes tossed at her in rapid succession as she scrambled to dress. She wasn't able to properly grill Genya on just what riding lessons would entail when she was trying to catch her trousers and pull on hosiery at the same time.

"Why bother with all the Tailoring, then?" Alina grumbled. At least she had already put on her tunic underneath her dressing gown. And she was thankful that her kefta buttoned up and wouldn't completely destroy the delicate plaits in her hair. "It's not like Botkin is going to care that I have rosy cheeks and glossy hair while I'm figuring out a proper canter and trot."

She stepped out from behind the screen to retrieve the boots that Genya had neatly placed by a small stool that she could sit on while putting them on. Alina gave Genya a wary look. "Or is this riding more courtly and less practical? Don't tell me I'm going to have to manage a lady's sidesaddle," she maligned.

That tugged a smile to Genya's lips. "A Grisha is a soldier first. It'll be some time before the King and Queen have the urge to make you tromp around like a good little Sun Summoner. Longer still if the general's request to keep you focused on your Grisha training is followed. I wouldn't fear the sidesaddle quite yet," she said wryly. Alina felt some of her nerves fall away. She could probably handle riding lessons. Those wouldn't rely on her lackluster summoning skills. It would hopefully be more similar to hand to hand combat. Physically exhausting but still learnable. One didn't need to be a Grisha to guide a horse.

Then Genya spoke and all those nerves swelled once more in Alina's stomach and throat. "But you won't be riding with Botkin. You'll be with General Kirigan."

"Oh," Alina breathed. She suddenly wondered if it was too late to throw herself back under the covers and claim illness.

Genya nodded. "Happy you've got a little color on your cheeks now?" she asked. Alina wasn't quite sure if it was a joke or an honest question. Either way, she didn't have an answer for the Tailor.

After forcing down some semblance of breakfast, Alina was brought to one of the side entrances of the Little Palace. She thanked the Oprichnik soldier who had fetched her from the dining hall, feeling oddly self conscious when they merely raised an eyebrow and melted once more into the background of foot traffic on the palace grounds. Alina did not have time to consider whether she was overthinking their reaction or not because her attention was immediately drawn to the pair of horses waiting directly in front of the doorway. Both had already been saddled - which made sense as there clearly wasn't a stable directly adjacent to the Little Palace - and had their reins held by a servant.

Alina found herself rooted in place however as she took in the obviously intentional selection for the horse that she was to ride. She knew the Black General's steed from the long ride to Os Alta, a beautiful, black gelding with tack matching his owner's usual motifs. Alina had not expected - or perhaps had just not considered - that the horse that was selected for her to ride would be similarly styled to her own colors. She marveled at the brilliant white coat that was in stark contrast with Kirigan's horse. It was intentional she knew, yet another clear indicator that even among the Grisha Alina was being set apart.

She still wasn't acclimated to that feeling. It was unnatural. Being Grisha rather than just another Keramzin orphan was difficult enough. Alina resisted the urge to chew on her lip to act on the discomfort. She wasn't alone and she had a certain image to uphold. Never mind that Ana Kuya would have rapped her on the knuckles if she caught Alina chewing on her lip and wringing her hands in front of the Duke's guests.

Her nerves prevented her from managing much more than a flit of a smile on her lips, but Alina did summon a polite greeting for the general. Even more to her relief she was able to mount the white horse without looking like a fool. That was the one skill she'd retained from their harried trek along the Vy.

Holding the reins allowed Alina something to fiddle with and worry with her thumb. At least the tack was a plain brown with simple silver toned hardware. She wouldn't be able to handle any more gifts or overtures of the Sun Summoner's greatness. The General wasted no time leading them out from the yard onto the grounds proper.

Alina coaxed her horse into following. She felt an immediate rush of relief when the horse happily moved into a trot to follow. As soon as the horse moved faster than a walk, Alina was gritting her teeth and focusing on when she was supposed to compensate for the jarring bounce of each switch of the horse's legs.

They went to the far side of the lake with its little man made island in the center, opposite from the practice area for the other summoners. Even with the pressure of being one on one with the general, Alina did not regret missing out on the morning's training. She could see the flare and snap of Inferni flames and the cresting waves of the Tidemakers. Even while squinting she couldn't make out much more than the bright colored dots of the Grisha's keftas . They would have equal difficulty making out the details of Alina's lessons.

The relative privacy was welcomed. "I'm going to take some pride that I'm not being started on a line with a trainer in a paddock," Alina admitted when they stopped in the grassy field that had apparently been selected for the lesson. She had to rein in her horse from nudging and prodding at where Kirigan's was munching at the tall grasses.

"That can always be arranged, but I thought this would be less formal and less stressful than working with yet another tutor," Kirigan replied. Alina didn't miss the wry lift of his lips, subtle though it was. She appreciated the little human moments from the Shadow Summoner. There wasn't time for further chatter as he shifted to direct Alina into the lesson.

She hadn't realized how much she had taken for granted riding with Kirigan on the Vy those scant weeks ago. It was easier to mirror him, seated flush against her, than to post on her own. And handling the direction and speed of the horse on her own was another challenge. The mare was content to trot along and even canter next to Kirigan's. Yet when on her own, Alina struggled to get her to cooperate. After what felt like an age - well over an hour, nearing two - the mare wanted to stand still, not pace back and forth along the lake shore.

Getting to dismount for a break was a welcome relief for both mount and rider. Alina felt remarkably less graceful when she slid off of the saddle than she had felt getting on. She shook her legs to get the sore feeling to abate. And to avoid figuring out what exactly she was expected to do or say now.

They brought the horses down to the water's edge to drink and enjoy the cooler breeze that came across the lake. Alina passed the reins from palm to palm as she waited for her mare to nose at the water. The quiet between herself and Kirigan was getting to her. She was supposed to say something, right?

"I didn't know the Black General was such an expert on horsemanship." Alina blurted out the first coherent thought to come to her that didn't amount to being tired or frustrated by what felt like inadequate level of success with her steed.

Kirigan tipped his head and there again was the wry cant to his lips. "I wasn't aware that I wasn't expected to have interests beyond the war. Is that an impression you hold for all Grisha or just for the Shadow Summoner?"

The undercurrent of teasing allowed Alina some relief that she hadn't said something completely foolish. She replied after a moment's pause, "I never put much thought about either before, to be honest. Grisha always felt so mysterious, so different than the rest of us. And no one knows what to expect about- about you."

She fumbled with exactly how to address him. Enough time had passed since they had last spoken after the presentation in front of the King and Queen where Alina felt once again on the back foot. She let her free hand trail through her horse's mane, keeping her gaze locked down at the ripples in the water that had made their way over from the other side of the lake.

"You know," Kirigan said, "the more that you think about Grisha as being someone or something different, something other, the more difficult it will be for you to settle here."

"I'm doing that again, aren't I?" Alina conceded. She chanced a look up from the water to find him looking not across the lake at the summoners there but instead at herself.

"Is there… anything specific that would help you to feel more at home? I confess it has been a while since we've had a Grisha at your age come to the Little Palace for the first time."

That Alina could answer right away. "No. I don't need anything," she insisted. Then she winced, hearing how ungrateful that might have come across as. "Everything has been fine. Everyone has been really… lovely." Perhaps that didn't describe the cold looks or sneering demeanor from those who thought she was being coddled unduly, but for the most part Alina had been welcomed with open arms among the Grisha. Among her fellow Grisha, she amended mentally.

Kirigan remained silent and Alina turned again to the water and her horse as her thoughts ran their course. "Everyone's… expecting a lot from me. And that on top of knowing that I'm not able to deliver on much of anything right now is…" She trailed off. Her eyes flicked across the lake to where she knew the other, competent Grisha were working with their Small Science without her.

Spinning on her heels, Alina plastered a weak smile on her face. "You really don't need to let me ramble on. I'm sure that you have much more important things to attend to," she insisted.

"I think I can spare a few minutes to ensure one of my Grisha is feeling comfortable in her new home," Kirigan replied smoothly. His horse, however, had grown tired of standing by the water's edge and was moving to try and step past him. Alina snickered as Kirigan muttered admonishments at the gelding.

"We can walk a bit," she offered. She wasn't quite ready to hop back onto the saddle if she didn't have to.

"That may be best if this one has anything to say about it." Kirigan gave his horse another good-natured pat on the nose before gesturing for Alina to lead on. She appreciated being given the power to set their pace.

They meandered along the waterfront, and Alina was grateful for the extra stretching it afforded her leg muscles. Plus it once again afforded her the opportunity to avoid keeping constant eye contact with the general.

"I suppose what I'm still not getting is…" Alina trailed off as she brought her thoughts back into order. "I know that everyone expects everything from the Sun Summoner. But then, on the other hand, it seems like I've been here for weeks without making much progress."

"... And?" Kirigan prompted.

Her face screwed into a frown. "And isn't that the exact opposite of what should be happening? I thought the Fold was the biggest threat to Ravka. I thought that there would be a thousand eyes on me - and maybe there are. Maybe I'm just not taking the pressure seriously. But shouldn't… shouldn't I have done something more than this?"

She looked at the general walking slowly next to her. His expression didn't betray much, but curiosity sparked in his dark eyes. "If you want more pressure, I'm sure the Apparat would be more than happy to provide. He is particularly fond of promising sainthood and never ending demands from the faithful that might suit you," Kirigan replied.

Alina grimaced at the thought. The Apparat slunk around in the most unexpected and unwanted places, or so it seemed Alina. For a man who wasn't a shadow summoner, he was particularly fond of lurking in them. And she had already wormed her way out from several uncomfortable conversations where he had forced the idea of her powers being saintly , which was only underscored with the further unsettling Istorii Sankt'ya that showed what befell those saints.

She stroked her horse's mane. Out here, there was no threat of the Apparat. Just whatever expectations that Kirigan had. He had asserted that they were going to change the world together. How exactly was that supposed to happen when she was trudging between the library and Baghra's hut day in and day out?

"If it's any comfort," Kirigan added, "the King won't renege on his agreement to allow your training to proceed undisturbed for some time. The season will turn and winter makes men like the Lantsovs lazy. Mastering your talents will take as long as it needs to."

"I'd settle for being able to use my talent at all," Alina snorted. Then she blanched. Ravka was relying on her taking her being Grisha seriously. Making jokes - especially in front of the Black General himself - was probably a step too far.

As though he had seen her shoulders tense, Kirigan offered one final olive branch. "Have patience with yourself, Miss Starkov. Ravka held itself together for centuries before you were found. She can hold herself together for a while longer yet."

Alina exhaled slowly and nodded. She wasn't quite certain that she believed him. There was so much at stake, really, but he had somewhat of a point. If she had never gotten on that sand skiff just a few weeks ago, the King wouldn't be waiting around for a Sun Summoner to deliver him from Ravka's woes.

"I didn't answer your original question," Kirigan before the silence settled once more.

"Which one?" Alina said with a frown.

"Well," Kirigan relented, "I suppose it wasn't a question more so as it was a comment. About being interested in horses. I assume you had more to follow with that?"

Alina was grateful for the change in conversation away from Grisha and belonging and the pressures that she and Ravka were putting on her shoulders. "Have you always had horses? Or I guess, is this one yours or the army's?" Alina asked earnestly. It wasn't something that she had much exposure to outside of the cavalry, messengers, and pack horses that were in use in the First Army. Keramzin had few horses and none which were available to the orphans in the Duke's household.

When Kirigan didn't reply immediately, Alina chanced a glance at him to study his expression. He had his head tipped as he thought. "I have had horses for most of my life," he replied. His response was slow and thoughtful.

"As far as this menace here-" he patted the side of his horse's face despite the disparaging snort the gelding gave in response "- yes, you. As far as whether he belongs to the army or to me, I suppose that's a line that doesn't matter much any more. I have given everything I have to the Second Army, for all Grisha."

Alina conceded a nod to that. Yet again they were back to talking about Grisha and responsibilities. She attempted once more to divert the topic. "And what's his name?" She had meant to ask weeks ago but there had been more important considerations at hand, like life or death.

She didn't imagine the pause once more before Kirigan replied, "Harbinger." Alina's eyebrows rose before she could stop them.

"That's… a name," she said with forced lightness.

"You get used to it," Kirigan insisted. Alina nodded politely. Maybe she was still a bit naive or perhaps she hadn't quite gotten desensitized to the way that war was always on the horizon. Maybe if she had a warhorse she would name it something equally intimidating.

With the feeling that any further attempts at conversation might end with more disastrous results, Alina was more than grateful when Kirigan suggested they begin the ride back to the Little Palace proper. She mounted her borrowed horse and successfully kept her in place while Kirigan settled next to her.

"So I take it that was a passable performance, then?" Alina asked.

"For a first lesson, yes." Alina opened her mouth to respond. Before she could formulate the words, Kirigan called over his shoulder, "I shall be expecting further progress in the next."