AN:
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*adds a pinch of fairytale rules to the cauldron filled with soap opera drama (that the last bits of plot still try to fight) and stirs*
"Perfect."
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One of my ambitious plans for misclassification (and you know there were many) was to wrap up 2nd arc before my exams, and then take a nice break before jumping into 3rd . Oh well. I guess i'll now hope the hiatus between them won't be as long as the one after chapter 7...
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Thank you so much for the comments and reaching out on tumblr. It really makes my day, reading what you think. Fingers-crossed the plot won't be that illogical now that we enter the last two chapters of the second arc *gulps*
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'What, just like that, no ceremony?'
Alina just knew that if she didn't have so much plotting on her mind, what with the future of their whole nation depending on her, the search for the Stag would last forever, dragging like the first time, back when she killed time arguing with her General about silly amplification. (Well, maybe not silly, but she had to admit that she'd rather bond with the bones of the magnificent creature herself instead of seeing the Darkling give it to Grigoryevna, even before she'd learnt the girl was an imposter.)
Instead, it seemed like Mol tracked the Stag in a blink of an eye.
It was as if some all-powerful entity that controlled time and space suddenly decided that Alina shouldn't get an opportunity to plot any further than she managed so far.
The Darkling looked all smug and, dare she say, radiant when he peeked through the tangled twigs of the trees to see the Stag better. No ceremony, indeed – it wasn't even night! The scenery was all wrong, without snow or... anything climatic, really. Just an ordinary, deciduous forest, bathed in afternoon light.
And yet, even when the great Morozova's Stag was simply... munching grass on the clearing, it looked as glorious as when it found them on a snowy night. That otherworldly impression was intact in the light of day, and when the Darkling reached slowly towards the creature, a sudden idea had Alina grab him rapidly.
"Don't!" she hissed and licked her lips nervously when the Darkling turned to her, bewildered.
Of course it would not be as simple as killing the mythical Stag and getting away with its power - she couldn't believe the thought hadn't come to her sooner! It still wasn't too late to slightly change the plan, even as complicated as hers.
"Alina, now is not the time-" General began, but she quickly cut him off, ignoring the muttering of others behind them, and dragged him down to whisper frantically into his ear.
"If we kill it, the bones might become an amplifier as good as any ordinary doe. Haven't you read any old stories? There is a power in sacrifice, yes. Grisha spent years killing for their amplifiers, sure. But look at this creature and tell me it was born to be Morozova's Amplifier and amplifier only."
When the Darkling still stared at her without a word, Alina sighed and decided to be patient.
"A white stag... chased through the woods and captured at last-"
Finally, those beautiful gray eyes of his shone with understanding, "- will grant your wish in exchange for freedom..."
She nodded and smiled so wide it made her cheeks hurt. Alina felt like she could kiss him now, damn their audience. That was it, that was the moment when prevented her from taking a drastic step and redeemed his own arrogance-
"And we will wish for an amplifier that can give us control of the Unsea!"
Oh, boy.
When they finally were allowed to follow the General and his Inferni to the clearing, of course keeping both respectful and tactical distance, soldiers and Oprichniki alike couldn't help but feel awed. There was something bordering on a holy icon in this scene – a gorgeous white stag, standing still beneath the golden rays of sun, waiting for his two chosen to approach. Grisha split up – the General coming from left and Inferni from right, both moves somewhat predatory. But even the menacing Starkov was no match for the miracle – when she touched the silvery fur, she looked unbelievably tender and nothing like a soldier.
Quite the picture they made, the white stag and blue-clad maiden. She was whispering something to its ear, stroking its neck. And the Stag let her, seemingly ignoring the sinister presence of shadows forming a thin, deadly circle around them.
Eventually, Starkov let go of the creature and moved slightly away, as if to make space for the Darkling. Everyone held their breath, until... the Stag slowly bowed its magnificent antlers before the Black General. Without hesitation, the man placed his hands on them, and most of the members of the hunting party shivered involuntarily when something utterly wrong spread from his palms.
Starkov's shoulders sagged in relief.
Soon, the ring of shadows melted away, the Stag led its herd out of the clearing... And the Darkling was left, holding the Cutoff antlers in his arms.
Aleksander had only but a moment to present the bones to Alina before David trotted towards them and took the antlers over like an overprotective mother. It was probably the most excited he had ever seen the Durast - when the man was happily running towards the campside, cradling the bones in his arms like a baby. The sooner they were prepared for Amplification the better – knowing Aleksander's luck, each second the antlers spent away from the Sun Summoner they were losing power.
Ignoring the otkazat'sya trackers showing off to Zoya and his Oprichniki, Aleksander offered Alina his arm and led her slowly towards the tents in a manner befitting the most formal court assemble, although with less personal space than accepted.
So, even without a deadly Cut, the Stag's amplifier was now in his hands... Perhaps the creature's power would be salvageable in a few dozen years.
"I'm lucky to have you," he muttered to her ear, expecting Alina to protest. As usual, she did the opposite of what he imagined, replying with that cheeky smile of hers, "Yes, you are."
His heart skipped a bit. So, she's saying she is his.
Saints, sometimes he hated the way she made him feel. He could barely remember what his life looked like without Alina Starkov at his side. At this point Aleksander was so used to this weakness that he didn't even hear his mother's hateful voice. He knew all too well he was acting like a lovesick boy. At least, thanks to Vasylissa Grigoryevna's overall useless presence in Os Alta, he knew his feelings weren't unreciprocated. Now, if only he stopped being such a coward-
Alina cleared her throat, cutting off his inner rambling.
"Funny, I forgot to ask... What do you want David to Fabrikate the antlers into?"
"There is only one shape that they can make," he scoffed, "And so the Sun Summoner shall wear a necklace."
Aleksander made a point of not looking at the locket she always wore, the one he deliberately never asked about, now revealed by a sloppily tied open-front of her traveling kefta. The shade of lapis lazuli went so well with her complexion-
"So, no gauntlet, no fancy bracelet, no... crown?"
"Never for her."
When Aleksander finally stole a glance to his right, his favorite Inferni's was wearing a surprisingly guilty expression before it turned to that infuriating blank mask.
He probably should up his game soon.
Well, she tried. Alina really tried, but of course the Darkling always knew better.
Her soveren was apparently worried that the Stag's magic would wear off (he and his ideas, really!), and the hunting party was quickly wrapped up.
Almost all the trackers left to join the nearest contingent of the First Army heading east, while Grisha and Oprichniki were making their separate way to Os Alta.
David and the lovely bones took over the carriage completely, the Durast lost in a genius act of half-creation, while the Darkling's guards tried to catch up with the General racing his Vasya against Alina's Morozko, the two Summoners careless in their childish glee, albeit from different reasons.
A night before they were to triumphantly reach the capital, despite the Squallor among them, they were forced to find shelter from the thunderstorm in a half-ruined inn. The Darkling's complains during dinner turned into demand to finally see David's progress with the antlers.
Alina took a deep breath, exchanged expressive glances with her best friend – Here, now? With all of them watching? – and nodded, ever so slightly.
They wouldn't have any other opportunity before the capital, and now was the time to act.
Nazyalensky was busy muttering sweet nothings with her Mol at the back, those of the Oprichniki that weren't laying half asleep on the tables were watching the entrances of the inn... and her Darkling was practically vibrating with the excitement, like a child the night before the Sankt Nikolai's Day. Alina herself was so anxious, she could eat a whole jar of honey without sharing.
It will be over soon... she's doing it for his own good... he will come to see Alina was right...
She made a decision and she was going to stick with it. It wasn't just about them, the fate of the whole Ravka could depend on few magical bones, really-
David arrived with a fancy wooden pyxis. Where did he even got it? Never mind, those were Materialki secrets. What mattered was that he took off its apex to reveal the antlers.
"Beautiful," two Summoners whispered in unison. One corner of Alina's mouth rose.
It didn't look much like she imagined - instead of two semicircles, the bones were Fabrikated into thick, irregularly textured collar with part of the original antlers spread out like wings on the front. Alina could almost see herself wearing it-
But the warning warmth of her locket brought her back to reality.
David stood, probably as nervous as she was, his face betraying nothing but his hands gripping the table on the left side from the Darkling. Time for distraction.
"I haven't learnt until recently that once upon a time the Grisha used amplifiers as courting gifts," she said in a low voice. Immediately, his gray eyes were on her. (David took a deep breath-)
"Had you known it, would you've done some things differently?" he inquired.
Alina felt a strange, sharp pain in her chest. (- and reached for the most amazing material a Durast could have asked for.) "I would have."
The Darkling's eyes brightened and he opened his mouth, but was interrupted.
"But what's done is done. And perhaps it's for the best. I know how to help you best-"
(He raised the antlers, building up the final command, and the rapid movement finally caught the Darkling's attention. But the arrogance and the weakness and trust and naivety all slowed down the shadows, so David could reach his General's neck with the necklace made on his command – with Alina's wish.)
The collar opened up as easily as lover's arms, the bones caressed Shadow Summoner with longing, and the amplifier welcomed its Grisha, closing behind his neck. Two separate forces, both different and alike, called each other and clashed.
(All was well.)
There could be no losers.
(David fell on his knees.)
The Darkling leaned on a table and cried out.
Alina took his hand, but quickly let go. She would need to be careful for some more time, his own amplifying abilities were almost out of control.
For a short moment, she wondered if she hadn't made a dangerous mistake, but dismissed the thought when she saw vulnerability in her fearless leader's gaze.
Vulnerability and betrayal.
"It's all on me!" She rushed to explain when all the present Oprichniki realized something was wrong and rose up. Nazyalensky was babbling something in the background, Mol all forgotten, but Alina ignored her and focused only on her soverenyi. "I swear on the Fold and all that's holy, I did it for your own good!"
He didn't seem to have heard her. The Darkling stared at his own hand and the shadows pouring from it. She straightened.
"You must see that this was for Ravka too. Before the Solstice festival is done, I will give you a proof. You have to trust me-"
"Why oppose me?" His hands were now clenched into fists and she noticed the slight shiver in his voice. Leave it to her Darkling to misunderstand everything!
"I hope you will see it as the gift it is," she replied, then bowed, as deeply as she never would to a Lantsov King. "Moi soverenyi." She waited like that, listening to Zoya's shrieks of outrage and watching David's stoic form from underneath her lashes.
"-the, the- the gall that she has... General, please, surely now you realize how inadequate a soldier Starkov is... Such a crime deserved a court-martial... To gather all the Councillors..."
Alina bit her lower lip but remained silent.
He finally spoke.
„Quiet, Zoyka. Remember who's the General here." She noticed the shadows calm down and lazily twirl around his long legs (not that she took time to admire her soveren's legs, oh no!) before she dared to raise her head a little and bat her eyelashes innocently.
"Now you, Alina," his voice lowered to an intimate whisper. "What to do with you..." The Darkling stroked his neck thoughtfully and she almost choked when her locket decided to send strange electricity through her. When this was done, she was having a Healer appointment!
"My little plotter... You've been so busy, cooking it up for Saints know how long. I think you deserve some rest." He cleared his throat and announced to everyone, "We shall settle it tomorrow morning. Sleep well, friends, there is a big day ahead of us."
"Dima," he nodded at one Oprichnik, "You will lead Miss Starkov to a secure single room and make sure she is not... disturbed."
The last thing she saw that night was General helping David up and murmuring something to him with quite nasty smile.
"-for year and a day. That is my final decision." Aleksander awarded his jury with a pleasant smile and settled back on his chair. They were leaving soon and the gospodyni promised him a freshly baked, delicate sernik after breakfast. He couldn't wait.
"This cannot be, moi soverenyi!" Zoyka cried out. "How can making her your Oprichnik enough of a punishment for what she's done?! She forced an amplifier on you, an amplifier that you've planned for someone else! She corrupted your Durast, although I've never really liked him, there is something creepy in the way he stands like that-"
She stopped her rant to point at poor David, innocently standing in the corner holding his newest project. It took less than a night for the talented Materialnik to finish the modification and Aleksander just could not wait to see it in use.
"Now, now, Zoyka. Stripping Commander Starkov of her titles and certain benefits coming from her position for longer than a year would simply be too much after such a little... misunderstanding. I know her well enough to find a weak spot that won't end up deadly for the Second Army. Do not forget that despite her youth, Miss Starkov has already somewhat become a hero for both divisions..."
It was perfect, really. Nobody would say he was favoring Alina if he did punish her so dramatically. At the same time it wouldn't hurt Ravkan forces... And Aleksander would have her close enough to notice the next time she began some grand scheme. Close enough to make sure there won't be any harmful repercussions.
So it was with the condescending smile that he heard out both Zoyka's arguments and Alina's yelling once she was let out of her isolation and presented with new kefta.
She said she was doing it for his own good? Well, so did he.
He did it for her, he mused, tracing the shape of the antlers around his neck absentmindedly.
And for Ravka. For Ravka too.
After two weeks of nothing, the Black General came back to the capital with some shiny jewelry that was supposedly that great courting gift that the women of Grand Palace have been gossiping all this time.
Vasilissa Grigoryevna knew better – one of her benefactors didn't seem to happy that the man arrived with not just his usual gray-clad guards but also a woman – that woman – this time wearing that silly uniform in a shade darker than a storm sky, bluish graphite so dark that it was almost black. (Vasya might not have been an expert on Grisha fashion, but everyone knew that the Darklings have never allowed anyone to wear their color.)
But, strange enough, it was not his companion that caused Vasya's benefactor to rage as much as his new accessory did. It was a strange, bone-white necklace, wrapped tight around the Darkling's throat and displayed proudly by unlacing two silvery buttons that used to keep him perfectly modest. Judging by the sheer superiority that the man has been emanating with lately, their plans might have been endangered...
Being granted a few days of freedom from the King made it much more annoying to be forced after such a short period of time to dance again to his tune. Add to that his dramatic argument with Alina, making sure nobody suspects he was unwillingly Amplified, and finally handling the so-called 'gift'... Aleksander definitely deserved that nice and long bubble bath. It was some relief for his sore muscles and itchy skin beneath the collar, but what he truly needed was his bed... His big, soft bed... That was currently being occupied. Well, at least half of it.
Because on the unusually neatly made part rested nobody else but Alina Starkov, dressed to the nines in kefta that he had David remade into an Oprichnik uniform, Grisha edition. (Aleksander briefly toyed with the idea of removing any Inferni embroidery completely, but then he wasn't that cruel. He knew how hard Alina fought for hers.) She was ignoring him, reading a thick tome and looking quite homey indeed, even with one of her blades resting between her and his half.
They had halves now, apparently.
(And Mother would surely develop a heart condition if she knew.)
"Are you comfy?" he dared to ask.
Alina let one of her eyebrows rise and continued to pretend to read. "I was just following your instructions. Guarding my Darkling like a good little Oprichnik."
Oh, how she burned inside! She wasn't a temperamental teen anymore, though, and it was the only thing keeping the General's quarters from burning down. That, and of course his precious private library.
"You're welcome, Alina!" he hissed and turned towards the wardrobe.
Perhaps they have gotten mostly away with what was a case of quite serious insubordination, but that didn't mean she had to play nice or be thankful for a degradation! If he wanted to act like he owned her, fine. See how he'll enjoy it.
She turned the page stoically, but observed from the corner of her eye that the Darkling decided to disrobe further. She knew he had night clothes, and if he thought he was disturbing her then he was wrong. If only she could get rid of that stupid blush!
He sat on the bed finally and she had to reign in her stubborn hand that itched to touch the pale expanse of skin. She could almost feel his fierce gaze on her-
"Alina..."
She turned another page and sniffed.
"Alinka..."
"What?!" she lashed out.
"You're holding it upside down..."
Alina dropped the heavy tome and glared at the amused man. He had no right to look so-
Oh, she was weak. So weak for this smile. But it truly lightened up his whole face, and who could blame her for taking a break in her righteous indignation? She will find new ways to disturb him with the use of her new... position, the very next morning. Now they both could rest safely.
Alina yawned and muttered, "Just wait until the Solstice... I'll show you..."
Ignoring the shadows pooling beneath the door, she turned off the Inferni light and heard him fidget beneath the silky covers.
"I'm keeping this sword where it is!" she threatened.
Who knew the Darkling liked to cuddle? Certainly not Grigoryevna. With satisfied sigh, she placed her palm possessively on him. She felt comfortingly safe and... happy. Not uncommon for the Little Palace, and yet, there was something different about it.
Now, if only she knew what circumstances she would wake up to.
AN:
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The chapter was meant to be longer, but when i reread #13 it was SUCH a long monstrosity that I just had to cut it off here :)
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One of the things that deserves way more page-time than I wrote them is definitely Oprichnik!Alina. Heck, I might one day even write an AU like that, but outside misclassification.