Alina snuck back through the wardrobe, her cloak blowing behind her and as soon as she shut the door, the harsh wind ceased, and the cloak dropped. Aleksander had given her this cloak and she felt giddy just thinking about it. Alina couldn't stop the grin on her face as she crept back to her bedroom. The door was just down the hall and as she neared it, a door creaked open behind her.
A short gasp came from Alina, her stomach flipping in knots as she spun around.
"Alina" a tired Fedyor shuffled out of the bathroom and rubbed his eyes, blinking to focus on Alina.
"Fedyor, what are you doing up?" she whispered. Her hands were shaking dramatically under the cloak.
"Going to the toilet… what are you doing up?" he said, and Alina struggled for an answer.
"I was…".
"And why are you dressed?" he said with confusion, taking in her appearance.
Alina knew she had been caught out, but she desperately didn't want to tell them about Ravka. She wanted it as her own little secret.
"I was cold… and I was going to the toilet as well but obviously you were in there" she pointed out and Fedyor gave her a funny look.
He was about to say something when another door opened and a tired Mal came out.
"What's going on?" he yawned, and Alina looked at him with worry.
"Nothing, Fedyor is hogging the toilet" Alina said quickly, taking the chance.
"Well keep it down, I'm trying to sleep" Mal didn't even take notice of Alina's cloak and dragged himself back to bed. Fedyor gave a roll of eyes before following Mal, leaving Alina standing in the hallway. She let out a sigh and turned to enter her room.
That was a close one
Alina had stashed her cloak away under her bed. She didn't want Genya to see it and have her ask loads of questions about where she got it from. The group never got any gifts from the orphanage, and she didn't want her to think she had stolen it. It was a beautiful cloak and Alina couldn't stop touching the fur around the neck. It made her think of the sexy black clad king in his own cloak. He dripped of power and control.
Alina wondered what all the different colours meant. It obviously had something to do with their powers. She made a mental note to ask Aleksander about it next time. She was a little sad she wouldn't be seeing him today but that didn't stop her from entering Ravka again.
Alina knew she had to be careful. She didn't want the others catching on to her sneaking out all the time. Last night was a close call and if Fedyor hadn't been so tired, he would have interrogated her more.
The group were outside, playing in the garden. Mal, Genya and Fedyor were having a game of catch with one of the cricket balls Professor James had. He was quite the player when he was younger. Alina however sat against a tree with a piece of paper and a pencil, sketching away. Her mind drifted to Ravka, and she found herself drawing the beautiful trees and bushes, the stone covered fountain. Her pencil glided along the paper, etching out the little berries on the bushes and the intricate details on the fountain.
"Alina, come join us" Fedyor shouted as he caught the ball. Alina looked up from her drawing, watching as the three of them laughed and joked. Alina wanted to just escape back into Ravka but instead she put her drawing down and joined them.
After lunch, Mal and Genya were in the library, reading a book each. Fedyor was in the kitchen helping Mary bake some biscuits, but it was more of Fedyor annoying Mary while she did all the work. It was a perfect time for Alina to sneak away.
"I'm going to work on my drawing guys" she called.
"Okay" Genya and Mal said simultaneously in monotone voices. They didn't even look up from their books to Alina and she dashed off upstairs. As she ran up the stairs with excitement, she jumped out of her skin as she ran into Professor James.
"Oh, professor James, I'm sorry, I didn't see you there" she said in a fluster and Professor James chuckled.
"Not to worry dear, why are you off in such a hurry" he asked curiously.
"Oh, I was just off to work on a drawing of mine, it's my passion" she said, and Professor James held up his finger.
"Ah, wait right here" he spun around and disappeared into his study. Alina tapped her foot waiting for him and wondered what he might be doing. Every second she stood here; she was missing Ravka. professor James came back out of the study, holding a box.
"Here" Alina took it and opened it. inside were various pencils, chalk, graphite, oil paints, oil sticks and some brushes. They were old and they looked used and abused to the core, but Alina liked that. It showed that these supplies had been loved and used for many pictures and memories.
"I know they look a little… used, but I would love for you to have them. My gift to you" he said sweetly.
"Professor, I don't know what to say, thank you so much" Alina smiled, and Professor James shrugged his shoulders. It was one of the best things ever given to her. Alina would cherish these. Anyone would turn their nose up at them, but Alina knew she was going to make some of the best memories with these.
"It's nothing really but I know you will get some good use out of them as well".
"I most defiantly will" Alina said, and Professor James gave a nod before waltzing down the stairs.
Alina pulled her cloak around her to keep the cold out and she walked through the permafrost. She admired the forest around her, taking mental pictures so she could later draw more of it. She thought back to Aleksander's words about her drawings. She felt a little nervous about giving him one of her drawings. What would he think about them? If she gave him the landscape drawing of the fountain, would he think it was terrible? would he tear it up and throw it into the inferni's fire out of disgrace?
She hoped not. As she walked further, the familiar purple coat flashed against the white and Alina grinned as she jogged over.
"David" she called, and David looked up. He was carrying some logs in his hand, and he smiled as he saw Alina.
"Alina, you came back" he said happily.
"Of course, I can't stay away from this place, how have you been?" Alina asked.
"I've been good thank you… oh wait, did I invite you to lunch. I'm so sorry Alina I completely forgot, I- ".
"Oh no David you didn't don't worry, I was just visiting again" Alina laughed gently, and David sighed in relief.
"Oh Saints, I would feel terrible if I had forgotten. Well since you are here, why don't you come back for some tea" he offered.
"I'd love to hear let me help you" she held her hands out for some of the logs and David passed over a few. He led her back to his little cabin and dumped the logs outside on the porch.
"I was out getting a few supplies, been running low on firewood and food" he said as he unlocked his door. Alina watched as he took out a funny looking key. In fact, it wasn't in the shape of a key at all and looked more like a cube of metal. He waved it across the door handle and the door clicked open, allowing them to enter.
Alina helped start the fire, throwing in the firewood while David made the tea. The fire sparking in the back made her think of the inferni she met last night.
"So did you explore Ravka then?" David asked as he sat down in his chair.
"I did. It truly is a beautiful forest. I wanted to explore more but then I got lost and wasn't sure where to go and then I tried to go back the way I came but couldn't find where my tracks were and then I met- "Alina stopped as a voice echoed in the back of her mind.
Best to keep this between you and me
She remembered Aleksander's words. She had promised not to tell anyone they had met. She didn't want to break her promise and she certainly didn't want to anger the king of Ravka. even though David was a perfectly nice man, and it wasn't as if he was going to tell anyone. But a promise was a promise and Alina was sticking to it.
"Met who?" David pressed and Alina stared at him for a minute before coming up with an answer.
"I met… I met a family of beavers. They were adorable".
Really Alina, beavers. That's the best thing you could come up with
"Oh really, I haven't seen them around here" David chuckled softly, and Alina plastered on a fake smile. At least he believed it.
Another close call Alina
"Well not only that but my brother nearly caught me coming back from Ravka" Alina said, and David gave her a shocked look.
"Oh no, what happened?".
"Well, I was coming back, and he was in the toilet, and he saw me out of bed of course. And I was dressed in my normal clothes instead of what I wear to bed. Luckily, he was too tired to even care though. I managed to get away with it, but I think I need to be more careful" she said, staring into her teacup.
"Aren't you going to tell them?" David asked.
"Not yet. I may be sounding selfish, but I like that I'm the only one to know about this place. I'm sure they probably won't even believe me anyway" Alina huffed.
"I'm sure that's not true" David stood to refill his teacup.
"Well maybe not, but I'm enjoying coming here on my own. I'm so use to us doing things together, it's nice to have my own thing" even though Alina spent a lot of time lost into her drawings, it was still nice to have her own little secret no one knew about.
"We all have that… say where did you get that coat from" David said as he poured the tea into the cup. Alina looked at her black cloak and once again thought back to Aleksander.
"Oh, I actually found it in Professor James's wardrobe. It's funny how I was looking for something in the first place and then ended up finding Ravka instead".
"It certainly looks warm, at least you won't freeze to death" Alina laughed softly. She loved how easy David was to talk to and how friendly he was. He was caring and sweet and was glad to have met him.
Alina stayed for some lunch and more tea while they chatted on. They could have easily talked for hours but Alina realised the time and knew she had to be off.
"Well, so be careful on your way home. You'll have to show me these beavers next time" Alina laughed nervously. She was hoping there actually was a family of beavers to show David otherwise she'd had to think of something else to say. She defiantly didn't want to let it slip she had met the king.
"Oh, yes… well let's hope they come out" she said nervously and exited his cabin.
"Goodbye Alina" David waved, and Alina waved back before disappearing.
David collected the empty cups and plates, putting them in the small sink on the far side of the cabin. He cleared the table, wiping it down and went back to wash up the dishes. The soggy rag on the side was still wet from earlier and as he was about to start scrubbing, a knock on his door startled him.
He threw the rag into the sink and padded back over to the door. Perhaps Alina had forgotten something.
"Did you forget something Alina" he said behind the door and opened it with a smile, but it instantly vanished as he stared at the tall, black cloaked man standing on his porch, his Heartrender beside him and guards behind.
"Hello David".
Hey so I hope you like it, what do you think will happen next, please leave a review and let me know.