Aleksander's coach pulled up to the clearing by the trees that lead to Alina's wardrobe. The horses came to a gentle stop and Alina jumped out the coach followed by Aleksander. she was in shock from the light show she displayed. How could something like that come from her. She couldn't get over it. She had pinched and kicked herself so many times as they travelled back to, hoping that this was all a dream and that she would wake up in her little bed in the manor. But she was very much awake.

Alina turned to Aleksander and looked up nervously. What did this mean now? He had been waiting so long for the sun summoner and now apparently Alina was it. Was she destined to end the suffering and bring down the dreaded shadow fold?

"I still don't understand, how can this be possible" Alina said, and Aleksander gave a gentle smile down to her.

"I can't answer that, but what I can answer is that you are the sun summoner and that means a lot to me and to everyone here in Ravka".

"Like what" Aleksander took her hands in his and gentle squeezed them.

"I will explain it all tomorrow, meet me by the fountain in the morning" he instructed, and Alina nodded hesitantly.

"Alina, you must keep this to yourself. No one can know that you are the sun summoner, not even your brothers and sisters" Aleksander said carefully.

Would they even believe me if I told them?

They didn't even know about the wardrobe, let alone Alina being able to 'summon' light. The whole thing seems ridiculous, and Alina agreed.

"I won't" she whispered, and Aleksander smiled.

"Good girl" Aleksander let her go and stepped back into his coach. With a snap of the reins, the coach took off in full speed, disappearing into the permafrost. Alina stood for a moment, taking it all in. Ravka seemed to be getting more and more interesting and now with this newfound power, Alina had so many more questions. Would she ever get to a point where she understood everything?

Alina pushed back into the trees and came out the other side and as she did, a commotion could be heard outside the room. Her stomach did a flip as she slowly crept out the room, hearing the voices of Mal and Fedyor.

"I swear she said she was going to her room to rest" Mal said and Alina panicked. Did they realise she wasn't ill and now couldn't find her? The voices came to from her and Genya's room and she turned on her heel to vacate to the bathroom, hoping to make it look like she had only gone in there.

"Alina" Genya's voice boomed, and she spun around in a fright.

"Where the hell have you been, we've been looking for you everywhere" Genya stormed up to her, eyebrows furrowed and hands on her hips as she met Alina. footsteps came running out and Mal and Fedyor skittered across the hallway behind Alina.

"Alina, where were you?" Mal said with a bit of concern in his voice. Alina glanced at all three, her mouth slightly open trying to think of an excuse but she only stuttered and stumbled over her words.

"I… I was resting" she knew she had been caught out, but she hoped that the excuse would at least help her until she could think of something better to say.

"Where, we checked on you twenty minutes ago and you weren't in our room" Genya argued.

Great, nice one Alina

"I went to the bathroom, I thought I might have thrown up" Alina held her stomach, pretending that she genuinely was ill.

"Really, for twenty minutes, we didn't hear you throwing up" Fedyor narrowed his eyes.

They weren't going to stop until they had the truth. But Alina had promised Aleksander she wouldn't tell.

"God, I'm not feeling great, so I went to the bathroom and didn't want to leave until I knew I wasn't going to throw up, now just leave me alone" Alina huffed and stomped past into her bedroom, slamming the door and sighing against it.

It was a poor excuse, but she hoped it would get them off her back. Just until tomorrow until Alina could enter Ravka again. At dinner, it was awkward. The group sat in silence as they munched on their food, vegetable soup with hard bread. Alina often looked up to see Mal looking at her strangely, probably trying to work out what was really going on and Alina would stare down into her soup. She needed to be more careful now. If they found out about Ravka, not only would her secret be gone but Aleksander would not be pleased. And he didn't seem like the type of king to let things slide easily. She remembered when Ivan threatened her when he thought she was trespasser.

At bedtime, Alina and Genya changed in silence in their room with Genya giving glances to Alina every second. She was itching to know what was going on with Alina.

"Look Alina, you have been acting a little strange since we go here, you can tell me what's going on" Genya said sweetly, placing a hand on Alina's shoulder. Genya could be quite nosy and always wanted to know everything.

"Genya I'm fine, nothing is going on" Alina shrugged her off and Genya scoffed.

"Right, so you just happen to disappear everyday" Genya rolled her eyes as she got into bed.

"I'm not disappearing, I told you I'm working on my drawing and today I didn't feel too well" Alina argued. Genya was getting on Alina's nerves, and she wanted to just run back to Ravka and escape their, without the trouble of her siblings and forget all about this life. She wanted to explore this power she had; explore the possibilities it came with. She wanted to learn so much about Grisha and Ravka and Aleksander.

"I'm your sister, you can tell me anything" Genya placed a hand on her chest, pushing for Alina to tell.

"There's nothing to tell, now goodnight" Alina slumped on her side, her back towards Genya and pulled the covers all the way to her neck. she heard Genya sigh and a shuffle in her bed told her she was facing to other way. The sound of their heavy breathing filled the room and when Genya drifted off to sleep, Alina stayed awake.

The early morning came quickly and the birds tweeting woke Alina up. The bedroom was freezing, and it reminded her of the snowy planes and the permafrost. Alina immediately grinned. Aleksander would be waiting for her. Alina turned over silently, looking to Genya's side. She was fast asleep, snoring lightly and wrapped like a baby in her sheets.

Perfect

Padding as quietly as a mouse, Alina took her cloak and exited the bedroom. Looking at the clock, it was around six in the morning and hopefully Genya wouldn't get up for another hour or so. Alina had enough time to meet Aleksander and make it back before they would wake up. Alina had to stop herself from running to the wardrobe with excitement as she needed to be silent so she wouldn't wake her brothers up. The last thing she wanted was for her brothers to find her sneaking out and ask her all sorts of questions.

Alina made it to the wardrobe without making a sound, even as she shut the door and she practically skipped over to it, wasting no time to push through the plush coats and furs hanging and stepping into the snow.

When she reached the fountain, it was empty and quiet.

Maybe I'm early

Alina shuffled into the clearing, walking to the fountain and looked inside, her reflection staring back at her in the clear icy water. Leaves floated on top, swirling around gracefully like they were dancing. Alina dunked a finger in the water, creating a rumble in the stillness of it and glided it back and forth making patterns. She was deep in thought.

You are the sun summoner

Aleksander's voice sounded in her head.

I have waited centuries for you

Centuries was a very long time.

We can finally end that

Was she really the person to end all of this? Was she going to change things for the better?

A twig snapping behind her alerted Alina and pulled her away from her trance. She whipped around but saw no one there and fear built inside her. Her eyes searched through all the trees and bushes to stop the person behind the noise, but she saw no one.

"Aleksander" she called, slowly shuffling forward. Her heart started to beat quickly, and her palms turned sweaty. Another crunch and Alina gasped quickly, jumping out of her skin.

Maybe it's David

Alina took another step closer and suddenly, a large person jumped from behind the bushes, dressed in a muddy brown uniform of some sort. He had a long bearded and a hat nearly covering his eyes, holding a rigged sword in one hand.

He screamed something in a language Alina had not heard and charged at her. Alina screamed and turned to run but her cloak tangled her legs and she tripped in the snow, landing face first. The cold snow stung her face and her cheeks flushed red with fear. The hideous man kicked her on her side, turning her onto her back and Alina coughed as the blow knocked the air out of her.

The gruesome man kneeled on top of her legs, preventing her from running and Alina held her hands out to slap and punch him.

"No, please, let me go" she begged, and the man held up his sword, the light glinting off the blade and blinding Alina. She was helpless. Alina watched with terror in her eyes, tears springing to the ducts and spilling down her face.

A rumble boomed on the floor of the permafrost and the galloping of hooves entered the clearing. Dark shadows ran across the floor swimming through the snow and started to lift off the ground. Darkness swirled around and clouded over Alina and the man ready to murder her. Alina looked past him and saw a figure of black moving towards her, his hands reaching forward.

A sharp swoosh came next, and blood splattered on her face. Alina blinked as she stared up and watched as the man who was about to gut her with his sword, fell into two pieces, his body sliced in half perfectly. Alina scrambled away from the two pieces, blood spilling onto the clear snow and staining it red. Boots crunched the floor and Aleksander appeared in front of Alina, breathing heavily.

"Are you alright" he said softly, and Alina couldn't speak. What had just happened? How did he cut that man in half like that? Was it his shadows? She stared up in horror and Aleksander held his hand out for her.

"Come" he said, and Alina shakily took his hand. He pulled her from the floor and led her to his horse and prepared to mount, Alina giving a look of confusion.

"Wh-where are we going?" she stuttered. Having nearly been murdered only added more questions to her long list she had written in her mind and now she was leaving the one place she knew well.

"To my palace" he said simply.

"But… but I thought you were going to explain to me about all this" she stuttered, and Aleksander turned to her, eyes wide and head held high.

"And I am, but we must get you to my palace first. It's the safest place for you" he said softly, and he reached up to her face his thumb wiping the corner of her mouth, removing the dead man's blood. Alina cringed at the feeling of someone's blood on her and when Aleksander gave her cheek a gentle caress, she relaxed under his touch.

"You ride with me" he whispered and mounted his horse, holding his hand out once again for Alina to bring her on top. Alina glanced once more at the gutted man lying dead in the snow.

He's the king Alina, don't deny him

Alina gulped and took his hand, pulling herself on the horse. She didn't do it as gracefully as Aleksander did and she was slightly embarrassed as she struggled. She settled on the saddle and Aleksander reached around and took the reins, protectively holding her and gave a kick to his steed, trotting off through the forest.

Hey so I hope you like it, what do you think will happen next, please leave a review and let me know what you think