Chapter 22

Everyone looked at the young blonde man standing at the door, except for Alina who was looking down. She was experiencing some cramps in her stomach which she thought was from eating her food to fast, she looked back up when the Apparat asked, "And who are you?"

The young blond man laughed, "I'm the other heir and no I prefer being a privateer. As the heir I am Nikolai Lanstov as the privateer Strumhold" and he smirked.

"You may not have a choice.." the Apparat started

Nikolai walked into the room and was followed by he General, Nikolai walked up to the Apparat, "I hated you as a child, always thought you were a bad man, (the Apparat tried to say something) no shut up old man. We watched you in the square getting the people excited that the beautiful Sun Summoner would be the next Queen."

Alina blushed at the comment and took a quick look at the General who kept his face straight and was looking at Nikolai and the Apparat.

"So if something happens to the new Queen we all know it was you. But to be honest I think it's time for new blood on the throne, someone who care for the country all of it not just those who are of higher rank. And I don't want this life I ran away once I got the chance and I will shout from the hill that I support the new Queen"

"What about if you married her" the Apparat said

The General step forward but Nikolai had seen this and slapped the Apparat face, the man was crouched down holding his face. Nikolai bowed over and said, "No, as beautiful as she is she will never belong to me she will always be destined for another"

The Apparat got up, " Are you talking about the General?"

Alina was starting to feel off and she wanted to end this meeting, so she interrupted, "Gentleman the hour is late and it has been a long day you are all dismissed except for the General"

Everyone bowed and started to leave the room the Apparat tried to stay but Nikolai dragged him out and closed the door.

Alina turned to the General, "You are late"

"I'm sorry my Tsarina we didn't have a squaller to help sailing we had to rely on the wind."

"Well since you were so slow I had to rescue myself" Alina teased

"I'm sorry my Tsarina," Aleksander smirked, "How can I make it up to you"

"Well my General since I am now your Tsarina I command you to come over her and loosen this ugly thing Vasiliy called a dress"

Aleksander walked up behind and started to unlace the dress slowly, watching Alina squinted underneath his present. The bodice was still on Alina but the sleeves had dropped down, Aleksander put his hands on both Alina's arm and he kissed her shoulder. Then he slowly moved his nose from where he kissed her running it up her throat to Alina's ear, Alina slowly moved her head to the side to give him more space. And she began to moan under his ministrations when Aleksander reached her ear he whispered, "I missed you my sun" and kissed her cheek.

Alina went to turn into his arms when she heard, "So you both are finally reunited, the Shadow and Sun Summoner?"

"Mother" Aleksander growled as he moved his hands to Alina's waist as if to protect her.

"You are silly girl if you think my son would allow .."

"Mother enough, Alina and I have spoken about aligning our plans. We want the same thing.."

"So, it's we now. Love has made you weak boy"

"No Baghra, love makes us stronger because it unites us because we are willing to fight more. If you want to talk about weakness, it's the loneliness that makes us weak" Alina replies. Both Baghra and Aleksander gasped at the last part and looked at each other

Alina then gasped and started to curl into herself holding her stomach snapping Aleksander back to her, "Alina what .. are you in pain"

Alina nodded as she started to drop onto the floor, Aleksander helped her onto the floor, "Please.. the babies" she got out before she grabbed onto his shirt and held it tightly as another contraction hit Alina realised it wasn't the food she was in labour

"Aleksander is she pregnant?"

"yes 16 weeks, mother"

"Lie her down her down on her side, sooth her I will be right back. Get her to take some deep breaths, she has done too much today in her condition. The healer will be able to help if she is having contractions"

Aleksander did what he was told, Baghra ran to the door and asked the guard to grab a grisha healer for the Tsarina.

"Alina you and the babies will be fine just breath in and out deeply" Aleksander said rubbing one hand on her stomach and the other was cradling her head.

Baghra came back with some water, "Drink this Alina it will help"

Aleksander lifted Alina's head so she could drink the water when Alina finished, "Thank you" Alina said and another contraction hit her. They both can see the pain in Alina's, Baghra piped up, "Alina it will be okay the healer will help stop the contraction you just need to relax for now they will be here soon"

Next thing Patty and Nina come running in both Baghra and Aleksander moved away but Alina grabbed Aleksander.

"Go and sit at her head she needs you" Nina told him

Aleksander nodded and lifts Alina's head onto her knees, the girls turned Alina over and Patty began to run her hands over Alina's stomach, Alina felt her bump starting to soften and the pressure leaving.

Patty spoke up, "Alina you have done to much today, and getting injured."

"What?" Aleksander asked lifting his head

"The Tsar atacked me I was healed by Enkh-Amgalan you know him" Alina said quietly

"Alina" Aleksander but his forehead onto her, "if something was to happen to you"

"I'm okay, Aleksander" Alina whispered back to him

"General, Alina you are okay for now but you need complete rest for a couple of days"

"I can't"

Aleksander opened his mouth but Nina cut in, "Alina the babies were stressed, your body was stressed you have had a lot happen to you. A few days of rest is what your body and the babies need you need to do this. Everything else can be taken care of you need this"

Alina looked at Aleksander, "I will get Freydor and Ivan (Aleksander had noticed him in the meeting a bit surprised he was still alive but grateful he was) to look after everything and I will rest with you"

Alina nodded with tears in her eyes she was upset she was hurting her babies but she didn't want to let the country down.

"we helped Genya prepare the Queens room since she has cleared it out if you would like to use it for now" Nina said

"Thank you" Aleksander said as he began to move around to pick Alina up.

"I'll show you the way General, we even retrieved both of your clothes so you can stay there till you are ready to do what ever to the castle"

"Let Alina heal then we can have a look at what we can do" Aleksander replied notice Alina starting to fall asleep in his arms.

When they got to the room Alina was fast asleep Aleksander asked Nina to grab some sleep wear for Alina so he could take her out of the horrible dress and she can rest. Once Nina left Aleksander undress Alina to put her in a lose night dress and placed the cover over her.

Aleksander was watching her sleep and turn to see his mother there, "I'm sorry Aleksander, I never wanted you to go through what I went thru with your father, but he never looked at me like you look at her and the other way. I see true love coming from you both"

"Thanks mother she means so much to me"

"And she is pregnant how?"

"We were together before you whisked away, I found out thru Patty when I awoke after surviving the fold. Patty had done a test before we went in the fold on Alina and never got to tell us. Alina found out whilst she was being tortured by Nina that she was carrying twins"

"Twins? But you never .."

"Got anyone else pregnant, no mother I have slept with many. I just assumed .."

"Or maybe it proves that you and I were meant to be Aleksander" Alina opened her eyes.

"I will let you both rest, congratulations on my grandchildren" Baghra smiled then left.

"Well that's my mother for you" Aleksander looked shocked then frowned at the smile which he hadn't seen in over a century.

"Aleksander come to bed with me, we have missed you too much"

Aleksander got up changed into his night shirts and then crawled into bed with Alina. " We so need to paint this room" Aleksander said

"We will talk about it later" Alina giggled she hated the colour

"Yes we need sleep" Alina turned and cuddled in to Aleksander and the both feel asleep