Glossary: Moye Serdtse - My heart, Sol Koroleva - Sun Queen
After that party, we had time to prepare and things were getting down to the next fete. Aleksander had a meeting with Ivan as I just sat there listening. He wanted to have Alina open the next tunnel instead of me once we found her amplifier which didn't bother me. Still, after these meetings, he walked over offering his hand to me.
"I remember saying we'd go for a horse ride, Moye Serdtse." Aleksander said as I took his hand with a nod as he led me out of there. I was glad he didn't have to leave yet but I knew it was coming that we'd be separated again before the winter fete so I took the time to enjoy what was going on right now.
As we made it to the horse stable I was unsure but two people brought out two horses as he handed me the reins of one. I took it as I smiled while we walked out and I noticed he didn't have his kefta on. "You don't have your kefta." I said as I got up on the horse that was ready and watched him get on his horse. "I don't need it where we're going." Aleksander said
I smiled at his words knowing that was true, as long as we were together it wasn't bad. No one dared attack the general of the 2nd army. I was putting my faith in this as I sighed looking forward. Once we started having the horse go in a gallop with him leading I watched the surrounding area. It was peaceful and that was what I liked most about this place. While we were heading to our destination though I noticed a fire and stopped.
"Aleksander." I said as he stopped and looked at what had my attention. "A fire, should we head back and get a few tidemakers?" Aleksander asked as I questioned it too. "Could we..take care of it together?" I asked as he stared at me. I was a tidemaker and Sun summoner, if people were going to start respecting me as both this was my opportunity to show them their Sol Koroleva was more than a sun queen.
Aleksander seemed hesitant but I knew why, people didn't know he was a walking amplifier. We didn't announce it and I knew we were connected. Without a second thought, I headed for the fire and felt that he followed as I got down. I saw people were shocked to see me as I approached putting my hands together as I used my tidemaker abilities to get rid of the fire. I felt the stags amplified power helping me as I watched it but I still struggled.
Am I not enough? I thought
I was worried about this as I felt a hand on my shoulder and that already amplified power got a bit stronger as I saw the fire get extinguished. I put my hands down as I smiled, then I looked up seeing Aleksander. People would just assume he was there for comfort for me, that there was nothing more to it. The villagers who were approaching stopped as they bowed. I didn't like it, my smile faded knowing this wasn't what I wanted.
"Please, don't." I said as Aleksander just stood there and they looked up at me. "Sankta Amira, is truly a blessing from the saints." Some of them said. I knew there was no way of talking them out of this but I knew there was so much more to go on. I wanted them to appreciate both sides of me and this was the risk of doing so. "I am just a Grisha with a Dual gift from the saints." I said as I put my hand out to help one of them to their feet as they took it.
It was then that the girl who'd taken my hand, she'd gotten on the ground but she noticed my ring. "Sankta Amira has married, such a blessing." The woman said as she noticed my kefta, the darkling symbol over my heart on the kefta and she showed respect. "May the Saints bless your union."
The Dual Saint and the starless saint, how ironic. I thought
"Thank you." I said as I talked with the people for a bit before we went back on our horse ride. "You truly have a way with people, do you truly not wish to rule them?" Aleksander asked as I looked at him then looked forward. "I don't like the idea of people bowing to me. I want to be able to talk with them and not be bowed to them." I said as he slowed his horse so I followed while we were out. "Grisha needs new opportunities." Aleksander reminded me as I knew that was true. "People want the fold destroyed and we are deceiving them." I reminded him
You knew this, you know I won't kill the volcra. But maybe that would be what might put them to peace. I thought
We went to a few places and I was happy during our time outside the little palace. Still, it was getting dark so we had to return to the little palace and I was hesitant on going back but knew it wasn't going to do any good. As we kept going there was a lot on my mind but we were in this together so that was always there.
"Do you think Alina's amplifier will be found?" Aleksander asked and I looked at him before thinking about it. "I think the moose will be. It just might take some time." I said but then I thought about his past. "Aleksander." I said as I noticed him looking at me and I looked him in the eyes. "If..If your first love was still alive, do you think we would still be where we are?" I asked, for the first time I saw him stop and I stopped looking at him wondering if I'd crossed the line. He seemed in thought but also in pain at the memory of her but he looked at me. "Yes, I believe we would."
After he answered we went to the little palace and things were back to normal. Meetings and things were happening, we had the time he could make for us and then as I figured. He was called away for a week before the Winter Fete. He took my hand kissing it as he looked at me. "We will be traveling soon, so hopefully Alina gets stronger soon." Aleksander said as I looked at him. "Can I go with you?" I asked knowing he took me that time after my presentation but not since.
Aleksander kissed me as I kissed him back "I wish you could, but I need you here. I need you to help her so she can make the tunnel this time and you don't have to hold this burden coming." Aleksander said against my lips. I looked at him knowing what that meant, he was going to attempt it. He was going to kill the first General and possibly west Ravkans as well and he didn't want their blood on my hands.
Wouldn't it partly still be on my hands with you holding the stag bone in your hand? I thought
"Hopefully you come back soon." I said as he was seeming to hesitate to leave. I knew we'd grown very close since our wedding day but duty still called. He was General of the 2nd army and I couldn't change that no matter what. When he had to leave I felt sad but I knew this was best.
As I watched his carriage leave, I knew this was almost best that it kept our relationship on better terms. It wasn't easy but I knew that sometimes if he stayed too close it may become unhealthy for me to want to be at his side every moment. I soon closed my eyes as a tear fell and wiped it down before I walked to the hall where my family was. Dad was there and saw me as he seemed worried.
"Is everything ok?" Father asked, I nod but knew that I might have to sneak Alina out if the moose was found. I knew what Aleksander was plotting and I knew I needed my dad. "There's a moose, it's going to be found but I need you to..take everyone home. I'll meet you there after the fete." I said as my father walked over to me looking serious. "You snuck out the last time at the last winter fete, you don't think he might be prepared?" Father asked as I nodded. "I don't have a choice. I need to do this for Alina." I said
Father understood and I knew I had power here but that was going to wait as father soon left with everyone. It would be different than last time because I was going to be getting Alina out, I was going to let her find this moose with whoever the tracker was that finds it. Aleksander didn't want the moose but if I left he would follow me to the ends of the earth.
We'll have to do this again. I thought
I slightly wished that those people who were there when I escaped last year would show up and little did I know they would be. Still, I kept everything under control and got things done. David from the materialeki asked what I wanted my kefta dress to be and I answered that it should be black with my design and symbolize the Dual Summoner. He asked what Alina should have and I looked at him.
"Blue, sun summoner design." I said as he bowed before leaving.
Time went by as I was planning, the day of the winter fete arrived and I was not happy about any of this. Alina had improved but this was getting ridiculous that we had to make performances for the nobles. We are people too, The Grisha are people who had small science powers but still. Every year performing seemed tedious to me now that I was something more.
I tried to relax looking over his map and the picture of the first army General. I heard the doors open and footsteps as I sighed a bit. I figured it was Feydor coming to give an update from Ivan, but that thought went away when I felt arms around me. "You seem tense, Moye Serdtse." Aleksander said in my ear. Turning around I claimed his lips in a kiss as he picked me up and placed me on the end of the table where the map was not kissing me back.
"Welcome back, Aleksander." I said as he looked at me, our connection was clear he could just tell I was in a bad mood. I didn't want to talk about it but he kissed my forehead. "I don't like the performance for the winter fete either, and if you're going to run off again to help find another amplifier. I am going to track you down like last time and we will go through this whole thing before heading back to the skiff." Aleksander said
My eyes widened knowing he was ahead of me, he knew my plan before I'd even said more than two words. It was true I planned to sneak Alina out but he sighed. "How did you.." I started but he just looked at me. "Our connection is getting stronger, guessing your moves has become easier." Aleksander said
You have gotten that far. I thought
There was a knock and when we both looked it was Feydor with a few Materialeki bringing in boxes for the fete. "Your keftas for you and your wife." Feydor said as he left with them. Aleksander looked at me for a minute before walking over to check what they'd brought. I got off the table walking over to see what they made. All the other Grisha were always excited as I took my Kefta dress and went to get ready then walked out.
"What do you think?" I asked as I knew his approval was always appreciated as he took in the kefta dress. It was not to my liking, these keftas were getting to be too much for me but I had tolerated them all this time. Aleksander walked over as he pulled me to him once again claiming my lips in a kiss. "you look ravishing, Amira." Aleksander said as his words made me blush.
"The Queen hired another circus to amuse everyone, would you like to go out there?" Aleksander asked as I smiled and nodded. He walked over to where we kept my cloak and he picked it up before walking back putting it around me. Then he led me out as we went to check it out, it was different this time. People recognized me and he insisted my hands were kept in the cloak since the royals didn't know.
At some point, I stopped to look at something and we got separated but that was where I had to figure out how to find him. I kept walking till I walked into someone and when I looked I saw it was one of the people from last time. "Jesper." I said remembering his name and looked around before looking at him again.
"Hello Amira, I see you returned to the little palace after your escape. How did your Solo mission go?" Jesper asked, I knew this man had assisted with my escape last time but Aleksander was around here somewhere. "Partially failed, I made it to my parents but I failed to kill the amplifier. Guess I'm a big softie." I said as he laughed a bit but looked around and I followed his look seeing Inej.
"You three are on another mission? what is it?" I asked as he looked at me, I was the prize they let go. "Jewels, gold, hiding from people?", " I asked as he cleared his voice. "We heard there's another sun summoner. Though there's still a hefty price on your head." Jesper said as I shrugged a bit.
I was gonna say more when I had to turn around and he walked away as Aleksander found me. "You shouldn't run off." Aleksander said as I walked with him and showed him what it was. "You were distracted by this plush in the shape of an animal?" Aleksander asked as I sighed, "Maybe I wouldn't feel lonely if I had a pet to be with me when you're not here." I said
Jesper, Inej, and Kaz are here, they are after Alina. I can use this to my advantage. I thought
As we soon attended the winter fete after Genya took to tending to my makeup for the night and hair since I now had two hair things I needed to prepare for what was to come. As usual, the fete did not disappoint but it was what I expected. All the Grisha had to do something so when it was my turn Aleksander led me up on stage as I used the sun in one hand and water in the other and tried my best to make my routine different from last year. In the end, people loved it regardless cause I didn't need mirrors to help me. I knew I could introduce her as I smiled.
"Tonight, we have a special performance for you. I'd like to welcome her up here on the mantle with Alina Starkov." I said as everyone applauded while she walked over. We'd worked on a joint routine and at first, we had our lights swirl together before I let mine go and she used hers to hit mirrors while everyone was surprised.
I smiled at her performance, but then I noticed Aleksander was looking at her. I suddenly felt very envious and bothered by this as I led Alina away. I couldn't be around Aleksander at that moment as I sighed. "Are you ok Amira?" Alina asked as I nodded. We kept walking and I had to get something from his war room as I walked in seeing two men.
"Who are you?" I asked as Alina walked over "Mal." Alina said as she went over hugging him and I watched as he hugged her back. The other soldier left as he looked at me, seeing the general's color on me. "Is she your friend?" Mal asked Alina who nodded but looked at her wrist and gasped. Mal looked as he noticed whatever it was "Are those my initials?" Mal asked as Alina looked at me. I walked over to see the MO on her wrist. "Yes, I believe so." I said
I started to gather with a bag as I knew there was not a lot of time, Aleksander had already angered me and I needed to find this moose for Alina. "You're the tracker who found the moose?" I asked as Mal nodded. "Then we need to get moving." I said as Alina was confused. I walked over to an area as Baghra was in on my plan knocking on the area just as I stepped back when it opened.
"Come Amira, you don't have long." Baghra said as we went through and I knew exactly where I was going. Alina followed behind and I figured that the crows were already working on getting out again. "Marie, Nadia and Nico?" I asked Baghra as we walked, "awaiting you, they've asked the trio to help." Baghra said as I nod
We had a change of clothes as I walked behind the wall getting out of my kefta for the fete and walked out in my regular black kefta and clothes underneath. I looked at Alina as Baghra gave her different clothes as she went to change and then came out. "This plan is risky, Amira." Baghra said and I looked at her. "I know, he's already aware I'm going to do this." I said as Alina was shocked but I looked at her. "We have a short opening." I told her
Leaving through the tunnel we didn't have long as we made it and snuck into the carriage as it started to move. This time it wasn't as obvious so we were able to get away and we waited as it traveled. I fell asleep in the carriage which wasn't hard to do but as I dreamed, it was in that dream I saw Aleksander.
"You can't run, Amira. There is nowhere you can go that I can't find you." Aleksander said as I turned from him in the dream. "I am not running, I am doing this for us or maybe I am doing this for her." I said as I felt him pull me to him in the dream. "Her or us?" Aleksander asked as I looked at him, I remembered my anger and how angry I was. "Why were you staring at her?! I thought it was supposed to be you and me no matter what!" I yelled at him as he was speechless. I got free as I started to wake up "Don't come in my dreams unless you have an answer!" I told him
I woke up when we stopped and I got out first seeing the crows, I was glad to get away but I also wanted to cry. "Hello Amira." Inej said as I was glad to see her and I nodded. We had a talk, as far as they knew they didn't know where I was going. I told them there would be a skiff and they'd want to be on it. Alina got out "You know these three?" Alina asked as I nod, "they kinda helped me out last time."
When we separated from them it took time but we were able to get to the woods, Nico was the one to notice. "What happened?" Nico said as I looked at him and looked up at the sky. "Nothing." I said as he laughed a bit. "Nothing? Yeah, right. You get mad and you make decisions without thinking fully. So, what happened?" Nico said as I just shrugged
Now we find the moose and after that the fate of west ravka I guess. I thought
Marie and Nadia walked over when we found a place to camp out, Baghra had funded our leave again as we sat there. "Why are you upset?" Nadia asked as I looked at her and sighed. "He was looking at Alina with her powers." I said, Marie, put a hand on my shoulder. "It was Alina's first performance so maybe he was surprised." Marie said
I shrugged not wanting to talk about it but after a couple of days we went on to keep going. Mal led as I knew this wasn't for me but if Alina couldn't do it then we had to figure out another plan. Days went by and I looked at my wrist seeing it bare as I traced his initials to feel better. It was all I could do to not run back to the little palace. When we camped out in the woods was when it was time.
I decided against it and traveled to my family's house with Marie and Nadia as we stayed there. Nico decided to help Mal and I wouldn't stop him, still, I laid in my bed waiting for their return. My mood was just neutral for a bit as I sighed. Getting a bath felt good though as I smiled till there was a knock on my family's house door. Looking at my wrist, I saw his initials vibrant so I knew he'd found me.
wasn't hiding. I thought
When I got out and dressed as I walked out I saw him there, but instead of running to him, I walked to my room. I heard him coming after me as he had my wrist. "Amira, wait." Aleksander said as I looked back. He pulled me to him as his hand went on my cheek and his thumb gently grazed over the skin. "I was just surprised." Aleksander said, "It's not the same as you, it never will be the same."
I believed him as I pulled him to me and kissed him, though I heard the door open and we both looked seeing Alina, Mal, and Nico. "Well you two made up." Nico said as he walked over and went to wash off. Alina showed the amplifier but she looked like I had when I hesitated to kill the stag. She'd done it but that was where it ended on everything.
"Alina, the nobles will need to return home soon. Maybe, you could assist on the next skiff." Aleksander said as he looked at me "Right, Amira?" I knew his plan but I had to keep quiet. "Right, show them you can do what I can." I said to her as she just seemed hesitant but nodded.
