Darkling's pov:

After I had told her to rest until we got there I wasn't sure she would but as she did I adjusted so she'd be comfortable. Seeing her vulnerable reminded me why I needed to keep her safe no matter what. Ivan seemed unsure about my intentions with this Grisha girl but I had already decided that I would earn her trust.

"Are you sure she is the one to tear down the fold?" Ivan asked

"Not alone." I said, "and not right away but she is powerful and I can use that."

"If you plan to claim her, might I suggest a necklace." Ivan said

I showed Ivan a necklace made by the fabrikators that I already planned to give to her once I was ready to lay claim to her. I didn't want to rush her but I knew that she would want something in return so I had already placed the other one on myself for her design the sun and the water so she would know my truth.

When we arrived and she woke up I led her out where we were met with the general of the first army. He noticed her and I told him I wanted his best to show her around when a boy was brought forward. I didn't find a problem with it until she spoke up.

"Nico" Amira said

"Hello Amira." Nicolas said

"You know each other?" I asked

"We were neighbors and friends before I was sent away." Amira said

I kept my calm knowing she wore my color and this was just a human childhood friend. She was eternal and she should be with someone who is eternal back. Still, I let her go off and get the tour but Ivan followed them. I tended to the business and kept the other Grisha busy as I promised her a bit of freedom and I'm a man of my word.

As I was finishing up Ivan came in telling me they were talking about everything. The fact she could open up to a friend she hadn't seen in years and I was trying so hard to get her to be like that bothered me. I walked out to see where they were when I saw him feeding her some food they had in the first army.

We arrived this morning, I didn't even think about it. I thought

"Amira, let me show you where the tent is. Let the tracker tend to some other things for a bit." I said and offered her my hand.

Once she put her hand in mine I helped her up and led her away from the tracker to get her situated. I helped her inside and showed her the inside of the tent as I knew she wasn't used to such things.

I have to move quickly to claim her as mine. I thought

Amira's pov:

I took in the surroundings of the tent. It was spacious and enough that we could get by with this arrangement. I could always hang with Nico later but I knew there were risks being out here. I just wondered why we had to do it sometimes but he seemed rather calm.

"How long will we be out here?" I asked out of curiosity "I would rather not inconvenience you."

"a week, and you are not an inconvenience. I can find time to do my work and have time for you as well, Amira." Aleksander said

"A week?" I said surprised

"You have worked nine years straight with hardly any breaks, a break is what you have earned." Aleksander said

"But the king said.." I started as he put a finger over my lips "the king said get you ready, Baghra does not rest with her training and if you keep pushing you will over work yourself."

I knew there was so much more and he seemed to be hiding something from me so I wasn't too happy. He sighed as he led me out and then turned me in a direction that even Nico hadn't been in. It was there I saw it in all of its horrors. The Fold, I'd never seen it up so close but I knew I wasn't going anywhere near it.

"We won't be on the Skiff, but people are crossing into it in two days." Aleksander said

"Oh. I've never seen it so close." I said

"Some of the Grisha with us are assisting with the first army getting across." Aleksander said and I just looked at him

We lost soldiers due to the fold and yet they were still going through with the Volcra. I had never noticed and I must have started to shake cause he turned me around and sent me off on my way.

"Go find the tracker, come back at night." Aleksander said

"Aleksander." I said

"Go Amira." Aleksander said

I went off to find Nico and when he found me I crossed my arms seeing he was looking at a map. I looked at him curiously and he laughed a bit as he led me around some more. We talked about a few things and I caught up with him a bit more.

"So really, you wear the black general's color. Are you his?" Nico asked

"I am not, I am just a Grisha with a unique power." I said staying true to the answer I had given previously. "I think he wants me to be though."

"Do you want to be?" Nico asked

"I don't know." I said

We walked and talked till it was getting dark and I knew that I should be getting back. Nico ran off for a second before escorting me back over to the tents as I saw Aleksander waiting for me. When he returned he came back with a butterfly Iris, it was my favorite cause it was shaped like a butterfly and a lilac color as I took it.

"You remembered." I said

"Butterfly Iris, you said it was like the butterfly you saw when we were little." Nico said

"yeah I know." I said, "good night Nico."

I walked over to Aleksander looking at the flower and I didn't even notice he seemed rather displeased. He led me in the tent as he had some things there.

"Some of the heartrenders brought fruit and some food for tonight." Aleksander said

"How nice." I said

I was happy at the moment to be away from the little palace, all my worries and responsibility were not even there. We had some of the food but since we were going to be there for a week we monitored how much. I knew this week was going to be very interesting.