Inspired for Stormpill's Second Best!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Grisha Trilogy nor Shadow and Bone. I only own the plot of the story.
Chapter One – Fedyor
The moment Genya uttered the words, Fedyor knew they were a lie.
Alina's sulking, she didn't want to come since she's jealous Lady Svetlana is doing the demonstration.
The heartrender had to bite his tongue when his husband, Ivan, snorted and shook his head muttering under his breath about Alina, even though he could see some kind of conflict in Ivan's eyes at the mention of the other Sun Summoner. Fedyor wanted to say something, but he knew that his husband was in the mood to be difficult just by looking at him, so instead bit his tongue. Ever since Svetlana had come, everyone had spent more time with the Fjerdan Sun Summoner and abandoned Alina, constantly putting her down since the other woman had more experience with her light than Alina. However, Fedyor had grown to care for the young half Shu woman, who just craved to belong and be accepted, and had stayed by her side. He knew how Alina felt about the Winter Fete, he had even seen her practice for her performance. She had been excited about it that morning when he spoke to her, so this sudden turn about made him suspicious.
He waited until Svetlana's demonstration, which honestly didn't impress him, as he personally knew than Alina's light was much stronger, before he left to go check on the girl. With a murmured whisper to his husband, Fedyor left the festivities and headed up towards the Vezda Suite where Alina had been housed upon her arrival at the Little Palace all those months ago. He could feel her heartbeat as he got closer, feel the sorrow and hurt in it, which made his heart ache all the more as he realized Genya had turned on Alina like everyone else.
He knocked on the door, "Alinochka?" he asked softly.
A loud gag answered him and Fedyor pushed into the room with a frown, eyes seeing the rumpled bedding and the candles flickering in the bathing room. He went over to the door and pushed it open to see Alina slumped against the toilet, face flush and hair in disarray as she gagged, acid falling from her lips with water. Sympathy rushed through him, and he dropped to his knees, reaching out for her, "Alina," he murmured as he rested a hand on her shoulder. She pressed into his hold and lifted her head once she was done, "Fedya," she muttered hoarsely, the diminutive falling from her lips without hesitation.
He used his ability to ease the nausea in her stomach and she slumped again him tiredly, "Are you alright?" he demanded, his power slowly pushing into her, looking to see what was wrong. Grisha didn't get sick. Yes, Alina had wasted but now that she acknowledged and used her power, she should have been perfectly healthy. As his power slid into her, Alina shuddered as she raised her head, so their eyes met, "I don't know what's wrong. My stomach had been upset the last couple of days, but I thought it was nerves about the Fete," she whispered.
Fedyor's heart skipped a beat at her words and a lump grew in his throat as he pushed his power through her, urging it towards Alina's womb, a sinking dread building in his gut.
It had been one night. One night after Svetlana's arrival, when Ivan had been neglecting him and Alina's heart had been breaking as her friends withdrew from her for the other Sun Summoner. They had drunk way too much and their inhibitions had lowered and Fedyor had tumbled into her bed. He couldn't lie and say it had been just once, when it had in fact been multiple times in a single night. They had both felt awful the next morning and swore it would never happen again. Fedyor had confessed all to Ivan, unable to keep such a secret. Ivan had been angry yes, but he had also felt ashamed he had neglected him so. He had promised it would never happen again and Alina had always made it a point since, not to spend time with him alone. They were always in someone's view. Alina had also gone out of her way to stay away from Ivan. If they did meet, she dropped her eyes, curled in on herself and left as quickly as possible. Her heart beating with shame and fear, which Fedyor had seen conflict Ivan when he noticed it.
His husband was a good man, but he was also a complete bear to people he didn't know well.
Everything had happened so fast when Alina was discovered and Ivan, who had felt a small smidge of hope when Alina had lit up the Fold all those months ago, had been disappointed as her training had not progressed fast enough. It was Fedyor alone who knew the struggle Alina had to overcome and conquer over the last few months. He had tried to temper Ivan, tried to explain but his husband was not the patience sort and Alina's slow progress had made him cruel. Svetlana's arrival had not helped any as the girl was older than Alina, knew about her powers longer, demonstrated control that Alina did not have, so favor had shifted.
All except him.
Now, Fedyor's heart was in his throat as his power slithered into Alina's womb, the girl shifting uncomfortably as it slowly expanded through her and Fedyor's heart dropped with fear and jumped with excitement as his power brushed over the small, developed heartbeat, of a three-month-old fetus. His body shuddered as the implications of such an event, fell over him. Alina was one of the Sun Summoners and she was not married. To have a child outside of wedlock, was considered hearsay by the Church and Fedyor could only imagen what the Apparent would do once it was discovered, not to mention the General.
Well it was clear Svetlana held the General's favor, Fedyor was a heartrender and the General's heart didn't lie whenever he was around Alina. It always skipped a beat or pounded when their bodies brushed together. With Svetlana, there was attraction but not the same way it was with Alina. Fedyor could only imagen what the General would say when it was discovered that Alina was pregnant. His rage would know no bounds, not to mention, he could order her to terminate it. She was too far along to do it safely but there were ways to force a miscarriage and Fedyor couldn't say with certainty that the General would not resort to those methods.
Not to mention, Fedyor's life would probably be forfeit when it became known he was the father.
The flash of rage, at the thought of killing his child, made Fedyor's heart ache as he realized he had a choice to make. He looked down at the girl cradled in his arms, noticing her swollen eyes from crying and the wheezing from vomiting her guts out repeatedly. He soothed her with his power and then met her eyes, his wide with both awe and fear, "Alina," he breathed, making her look up at him with soft golden doe eyes, "you're pregnant."
Anyone would have seen the shock and fear flash through her on those words, but as a heartrender, Fedyor felt them, and it was like a knife to his chest. It didn't surprise him that she was shocked, he was shocked. It was honestly extremely shocking that he had not noticed the heartbeat before now. It was strong as it echoed its mothers and Fedyor couldn't help the longing nor the sudden rush of love he felt towards that little heartbeat. He had never expected to have children, he had married a man after all but now that it was happening, Fedyor was shocked by how much he wanted that.
The fear was understandable too.
Alina had firsthand experience about the General's cruelty. They both knew he wouldn't hesitate to make her terminate the pregnancy, not to mention what the Apparent would say. Her fear was not unfounded and Fedyor couldn't say anything to sooth her of it, as that fear now beat in his chest as well.
So, there was just a few problems with the situation.
One, Ivan. Oh he could only imagen what his reaction was going to be when Fedyor told him but everything inside of him said it would not be good. His husband would never agree for Alina to have a miscarriage, but he would also not appreciate a third person, one he didn't choose, being part of their relationship. And this child, was going to bind Fedyor and her together for the rest of their lives. In all honesty, he had no idea how his husband was going to handle this situation.
The second, was the Apparent. Alina wasn't married. She was part-Shu and not of noble birth. The General had withdrawn his protection of her, as he courted Svetlana. The Apparent could declare her a heretic for going again the Saint's teachings and have her legally killed. She no longer hadn't he backing of the other Grisha and many thought her weaker than her sister summoner. That meant Alina was in danger and no longer safe in Os Alta, or even Ravka.
The third was the General. Svetlana might be the safer bet, but Alina was more powerful. Fedyor knew that from experience. The first time Alina used her power, she cut a hole right through the Fold. Svetlana had only ever lit up the Grand Palace, not to mention Alina had learned how to use her gift offensively, where Svetlana did not even attend lessons anymore. The moment the General learned he was wrong, which would happen as Alina's powers continued to develop, he would do anything to woo her back to him. Even at the cost of her pregnancy or child.
So, Fedyor now had to decide.
Stay with his General and potentially lose his child or take matters into his own hands, abandon everything he had ever known or worked for and run with Alina, in order to keep her and their child safe.
The sound of both their heartbeats beating in sync with his, made Fedyor's decision the easiest thing ever.
Ivan knew something was going on the moment Fedyor arrived back in the ballroom, heart beating with anxiety and fear as he gestured for him. He abandoned his spot by the General and headed for his husband, eyes narrowed and unease in his gut. Fedyor grabbed his arm the moment he was in reach and led him towards one of the empty conference rooms, slamming the doors closed behind him. Ivan turned to look at his husband and stopped, confusion running through him at the sight of Alina, pale and shaking, wrapped in her blue and gold kefta, sitting at the chair on the other side of the table, heart rolling with unease and fear.
Her eyes met his, shame, confusion and fear in her eyes, before they dropped, and she wrapped her arms around herself protectively.
He turned back to his husband to demand answers, only to stop when he saw the look of Fedyor's face. It was a mix of determination, sorrow and pain. His heart was beating in sync with Alina's, and he did not offer his power in greeting to Ivan the way he normally would have. The unease he had felt earlier, rose higher and he looked between the two of them, seeing Fedyor hovering over her protectively as Alina tried to shrink in on herself.
"What happened?" he demanded, when the silence became too much.
Fedyor ran a hand through his hair and looked at him apologetically, "Ivan, I need you to remember it was an accident and to know that I hate to cause you pain, but I don't regret it," he said, eyes tearful as seemed to find his confidence. Ivan stared at his husband, confused beyond understanding at his husbands words but also unable to speak as Fedyor continued to speak, "Alina is pregnant, and the child is mine."
It took a few minutes for the words to sink into Ivan's mind and when they did, his head snapped over to Alina and he shoved his power into her, making her flinch with surprise as it went directly to her womb. Instantly, Ivan heard the heartbeat and felt the growing limbs of the baby. She was over three months along and it had been the same amount of time since their night together. Shocking, it wasn't anger that was the first thing that slid through him but jealously. Alina could give Fedyor the one thing Ivan could not, and he felt jealous even as his power soothed her upset without any thought, knowing that Ivan himself would never harm a child.
His eyes met hers, and a tear leaked down her cheek, "I'm so sorry Ivan, I didn't mean for this to happen," she said apologetically, the sincerity practically pulsing off of her. Any heartrender who knew to read the human body would sense it and while Ivan wanted to be angry, how could he when it was a miniature Fedyor growing inside of her? Something he had dreamed of over the years but never expected to happen. He could feel the under current of excitement in Fedyor but also the fear and desperation, which instantly brought his attention back to his husband and he stared at him intently.
"What's going on Fedyor?" he asked softly, gently reaching out with his power to sooth his husbands anxiety.
Fedyor backed away, "We're in danger," he breathed, barely moving his lips.
Ivan raised a brow, "What do you mean?" he asked cautiously.
"She's only seventeen and not married," the younger heartrender bit out.
Ivan's head snapped over to Alina with surprise, "You're only seventeen?" he asked with disbelief. It was so shocking. Grisha weren't considered of age until they were twenty-one. It also occurred to him why else that would cause problems and why Fedyor was so afraid, "You power hasn't settled," he realized, fear building in his gut as it hit home what Fedyor was trying to tell him.
He knew everything the General was planning for the Sun Summoner. About the Morozova's amplifiers, the General's plans for the Fold and the coup against the Tsar. For it to work, the General needed the most powerful Sun Summoner. Svetlana was twenty-two, settled into her power, which is why she had more control. Her power would not progress much more, which Alina still had four years before she would reach her full potential. A potential which would be so much more powerful than Svetlana, as it was already proven that Alina could tear a hole through the Fold. Just from seeing Svetlana's demonstration earlier, Ivan knew that the younger girl was so much more powerful.
Normally, this would have seen Ivan rushing off to inform the General but now, looking at Alina, pregnant with his husbands child, knowing her age and how Small Science was unpredictable until maturity, he was fearful. He could remember the General's orders from that morning. After the Fete, Ivan was supposed to spread discord about Alina among the Grisha, to make sure Svetlana had all support and Alina had none. Those orders had been suspicious when he first received them, why would they ignore such a powerful tool, but Ivan had been determined not to question it. However, Genya had lied to them earlier, much to Ivan's confusion, and now Fedyor was involved in the situation.
The General would order the pregnancy terminated the moment it was discovered. It would reflect badly upon Svetlana if her sister summoner was pregnant out of wedlock. It would look badly upon the General too, as though he had no control over his own soldiers. Alina would have no choice but to suffer a controlled miscarriage. Ivan would never see that done to a woman nor would he hurt his husband in that way or allow anyone else too. Alina might not have been his favorite person, but she was still Grisha and one thing they were all taught at the Little Palace was that as Grisha, they were never alone.
This revelation and knowledge sank into him, and Ivan moved before he thought about it, dropping to his knees in front of her. She looked back at him wide-eyed, and this close; Ivan could tell she was actually quite beautiful. She was no longer the wasting, shaking leaf of a waif that he had escorted to the Little Palace all those months ago. She was flush with life from the use of her power and her pregnancy, making her very beautiful. He reached out and took her hands, "Alina Starkov, I offer my most sincere and deep apologies for the way I have treated you. I was not aware of your age, and I felt that you were purposefully ignoring your gifts. I should not have treated you the way I did, and I can only apologize and promise it will never happen again," he said sincerely.
Another tear leaked down Alina's cheeks, "Thank you," she whispered, squeezing his hands. "I accept you apology, as long as you accept mine in return."
He nodded and pulled away, moving over to his husband with a determined look on his face, "What are you going to do?" he asked fiercely.
Fedyor's demeanor had softened as he witnessed Ivan's apology and Alina's regard for the heartrender and he folded into Ivan easily, embracing his husband for a few seconds before pulling away, "We need to leave the Little Palace and Ravka. As long as the General thinks Alina is weak, she's safe but the moment her power settles or she's sent to the front, he'll realize he was wrong. She'll never be safe," he muttered, quietly so Alina couldn't hear him. Ivan understood he didn't want to panic her. Not to mention, Ivan's heart also lurched as he was aware of the plan for the Sun Summoner and he would never permit the mother of Fedyor's child to be treated in such a way, nor someone so young.
No one had ever mentioned Alina's age. Not once in the six months she had been among them, had Ivan ever heard her age. He had assumed she was older, ever since her explosion in the Fold, but now… the power of her summoning as her sun had rushed to save her life but then the little control, she had despite Baghra's teachings in the Little Palace, made so much more sense. Shame curdled his stomach as he remembered the way he tormented her and eagerly followed the General's commands to isolate the girl from the other Grisha after Svetlana's arrival. It burned at him now, as he looked at his husband and at Alina, now that he knew, he could see the youth in her, the innocence of someone who had not lived a long life yet.
His stomach curdled as he thought of what the General would do when Alina's true power was revealed. He wouldn't hesitate. He would set Svetlana aside and place Alina in her place without hesitation. He wouldn't care about her feelings nor the rumors or speculations that would float about by courtiers or the other Grisha. As long as he had his Sun Summoner and she fell in line with what he wanted. After observing Alina for months, she would never roll over for him. Her will was just too strong, she had spine made of Grisha steel, made apparent by everything she had gone through since her arrival and then Svetlana's.
She would never willing accept the General's power over her.
Not to mention, the moment he ordered her child dead, Ivan had no doubt that Alina would try to kill him. He knew without doubt that Fedyor would help her. He could feel it, their love and will to protect the newly acknowledged baby in her womb. Ivan could feel the love he had for this child, one he never thought he would get to have and knew that the General could not learn the truth of Alina, not until she was older, and the child had been born. She would have more protection that way, as no one could order the death of child without being considered a monster, not to mention the child could potentially be a Sun Summoner like their mother, which would be a boon.
What they needed now, was time.
He looked at Fedyor, "What's the plan?" he asked, mind made up. He was loyal to the Grisha and his General, but Ivan had vowed to the Making to stand at Fedyor's side and he would always hold that vow more important than any other. This girl was the sun incarnate and she was pregnant with his husbands child, and by the Making, it was also his child. They had long ago talked about taking a third and having children, promising to love and care for it, no matter who the blood father was. She might not have been Ivan's choice but by circumstance, she was now the mother of their child and Ivan would stand at her side just as he would stand at Fedyor's.
Fedyor's whole body relaxed, and the fear eased as Ivan's word reassured him that Ivan would always be on his side. He looked at Alina, who held a hand over her stomach, but eyes were staring at them with determination. Originally, Fedyor hadn't want to involve his husband. He hadn't been sure Ivan would be on his side, would turn on the General, but Alina had urged him to give Ivan a chance. If he tried to turn on them, Fedyor could heartrend him to sleep and they would run as far and fast as they could away from Ravka. It seemed that Alina had better judged his husband than Fedyor and that shamed him. But he had also seen and heard what Ivan had said behind Alina's back and knew that he felt loyalty to Svetlana, but it seemed those fears were unfounded.
He smiled brightly at his husband, "We need to bring the Tsar here. He's the only way we can get away without the General hunting us," he said, Alina's heart pounding with anxiety as she remembered what Fedyor had told her earlier and his plan. It was something even Ivan didn't know and Fedyor could only imagen how all this was going to be taken once the truth was out.
Ivan stared at his husband for few seconds, wondering what was going on in that handsome head, before he nodded.
The two heartrender's slipped back in the ballroom in time to see the General leading Svetlana out, towards the War room. That was an unexpected boon as they were trying not to draw attention to themselves as they maneuvered the room to where the Tsar was sitting speaking with the Ambassador's of Fjerda and Shu Han. The Tsarina was on the dance floor with the Kerch Ambassador and Fedyor breathed a sign of relief as the three people they were hoping to avoid were otherwise occupied.
They approached the Tsar, who looked up the moment they were in view and Ivan was surprised to hear his heart skip a beat as his blue eyes rest on Fedyor, who bowed once they were close enough, "Moi Tsar, may we beg a private audience with you? There is something you must know," he murmured, Ivan bowing at his side, suspicious about what he was feeling in the Tsar and Fedyor, as their hearts were telling a different story to their faces.
"You are Kirigan's Second in Command are you not Lieutenant?" Tsar Pyotr asked as waved them back to their feet.
Ivan nodded, "I am Moi Tsar," he agreed, falling into a parade rest in front of them.
Blue eyes flashed with suspicion, "Why is Kirigan not here if it is important enough to send his second and third command during festivities?" he demanded.
Fedyor twitched at his side and Ivan looked at him out of the corner of his eyes, not surprised that three nobles across from them had also noticed. The tsar looked at Fedyor and Ivan was surprised to see the longing in his blue eyes. It was not sexual, Ivan could immediately tell that, but it wasn't something he thought he would see in the Tsar eyes, nor did he expect to feel the shift in his husband emotions, the desperation, fear, hope and affection at the sight of it.
A light sign left Fedyor, had Ivan not been beside him, he wouldn't have heard it, "Moi Tsar, the General is otherwise occupied as a team of trackers have arrived with news from the Fjerda border and we must speak of something without him," he murmured softly, so not to be heard by the courtiers around them.
The Tsar raised a brow but rose from his seat, motioning for the two ambassadors to follow, much to Ivan's confusion but Fedyor's relief. No one paid any attention was the two Heartrender's escorted the three men from the room, to distracted by the racket coming from the other side of the room. They only caught the eyes of one, a Grisha in a purple kefta, whose eyes raised in surprise as he saw the two men escorting the Tsar out and followed, suspicious about what was going on, especially with the Ambassador to Shu Han and Fjerda following.
Candles flickered in the hall as Fedyor led the way to the room they had left Alina in and Ivan brought up the rear, making sure no one was following them. The Materialki that had followed, made sure to stay out of range as the men all entered the dark chamber, the door left open the tiniest crack, enough for one dark eyes to peak through once everyone was in the room.
The room was pitch black and Ivan could feel Alina's nerves as they arrived. This was the moment everything could potentially fall apart or go exactly as he and Fedyor were hoping. He could feel the three men's confusion but before anyone could speak, light appeared from across from them and lit up the features of Alina, in her blue and gold kefta, dark hair a waterfall down her back, and the warmth of her sun brushed over them. He could hear the men gasp and even Ivan's heart jumped as the warmth covered him. Svetlana's light had not felt like that, it had only been bright. But Alina, just the little orb, made them all feel like they were standing under the morning sun.
With smooth movement, another small sun appeared, and Alina began her demonstration. Her hands were smooth and fluid, not over done and flamboyant like Svetlana's, but hard and true, a command as Alina maneuvered her light. Two suns became four, then six, then eight and Alina spread them out around the room in a perfect circle, the Tsar's eyes shined with delight and the two Ambassador's were speechless as the true power of the sun shined over them and then Alina threw her hands out and the sun exploded with light, warmth, as though they had been blessed by the very sun itself.
Two hands, that Ivan could not stop staring at as they commanded a power he had never seen nor felt before, came together and brought the sun back to her, smothering the room back into shadow. Fedyor had been standing beside the oil lamp and was quick to turn it up, illuminating the room and the Tsar moved before anyone could stop him. He strode across the room and cupped Alina's cheek, to her surprise, awe across his features, "Why were you not presented at the Fete malen'koye solnyshko?" he demanded softly.
Little sun, there was no more accurate nickname for her Ivan thought.
Alina looked up at him wide-eyed even as her heart raced, "General Kirigan felt that Lady Svetlana would delight everyone more moi Tsar," she whispered, heart beating with fear. Fedyor and Ivan were monitoring everyone's heartbeats and Ivan was afraid that the Tsar would punish Alina for speaking the way she had but instead the Tsar dropped his hand and looked back to the two of them, Fedyor vibrating at his side, emotions a complete mess as he watched everyone.
"Why?" the Tsar demanded.
Ivan answered, "We do not know Moi Tsar. Up until just before the celebration Alina was supposed to demonstrate her power but something happened in between. The General order Alina not attend, we are unsure why. We are going on the theory that because Lady Svetlana has more control over her gift, as her power had settled as a mature Grisha, he chose her as she was the more powerful Summoner. However, as you just witnessed, Alina is far more powerful and has not settled into her power-," he was cut off.
"What do you mean she had not settled into her power?" The Fjerdan Ambassador asked curiously, eyes of awe on the girl as she fiddled with her fingers, staring down at the ground.
Shockingly, it was the Tsar that answered. "Grisha do not finish settling into their power until they are twenty-one years old, when they come of age. The Lady Svetlana has just celebrated her twenty-second birthday, not two weeks ago, and thus will not grow more powerful. But Miss Alina is still a girl, her power is still developing. What you just saw, was just a taste of what her power will be once she reaches adulthood."
Fedyor nodded, "Alina is only seventeen years old," he pointed out gently.
The Shu Han ambassador looked over at the girl with surprise, "How long have you practiced your small science, Miss Alina?" he asked curiously.
Alina looked up, surprised at being addressed before she answered, "I have only known of my gift for just over six months," she said softly.
The three nobles looked surprised, "So little time?" the Fjerdan asked.
She nodded and looked down again, "I did not want to be Grisha," she admitted, "when I was a child, my mother told me to hide it. She knew that being the Sun Summoner was a dual sword. On one hand, I could destroy the Fold, unite the three Kingdoms, save Ravka but I would always be hunted by the people who did not want that or wanted to control my power for their own. So I hid and buried it, because that was what was going to protect me. My mother was killed in a raid in Dva Stolba when I was six, they were Shu soldiers looking for Grisha. When one of the men grabbed me, she used her small science to protect me, she was an Inferni. She was killed for it, and I ended up in the orphanage in Keramzin. When the Grisha came, I remembered what my mother told me, I would always have a target on my back, so I hid. The power stayed buried until that day in the Fold, I was trying to save my brother."
All five men could only stare.
"What?" breathed the Tsar.
Alina looked down ashamed, "I was a little girl, and I believed my mother. She died protecting me and I couldn't let her down. She had always planned to bring me to the Little Palace when I was older, but she fear what someone would try to do while I was too young to defend myself. I was going to announce myself to the testers that came to Keramzin when I was ten but then I heard one of the Grisha talking about the Sun Summoner, the expectations that would be placed on their shoulders and how they would be hunted. I decided to wait, until I had reached maturity but then the crossing… I wanted to… I tried to save them…" she trailed off.
It was silent for a few moments before Fedyor broke it, "Well I guess your reaction on our way from Kirbrisk makes a lot more sense," he said bluntly, making everyone chuckle as it broke the tension.
A blush covered Alina's cheeks and Ivan's chested tightened as he remembered that journey. The fear that had beat in Alina's chest the whole way, how it had made him furious, thinking she was afraid of them, her own people. But looking at everything from her perspective, hearing about her mother and Alina's childhood, more things made sense and Ivan again burned with shame. He had never given the girl a chance. He silently promised, to himself, that he would do better, not just because of the baby but also for Alina herself.
The Tsar looked at Alina, "You have only practice for six months and your power is far more than Lady Svetlana's. I'm surprised that your General is not aware of this," he said, looking to the two heartrender's.
This was it.
Fedyor took a deep breath, "He is not aware of it because it would place Alina in danger," he said softly.
Everyone shifted, tension rising, and the Tsar looked between the three Grisha, "Why?" he demanded.
Fedyor took a deep breath and stepped close to the Sun Summoner, hands at the ready to protect her should it come to that "Alina is pregnant with my child," he announced bluntly.
Silence reigned for a few moments, before chaos erupted.