Chapter Text
The next morning, Alina woke to the sun shining in her face through the gap in the delicate curtains, the warm ray nearly blinding her as she fluttered her eyes open, only to snap them close again and turn on her side, shielding away from it. She was excited as Aleksander would be training her again, teaching her to call her light and increase its power. Alina sat up in bed, looking at the ray of sunshine on her lap, her hands basking in it, and she rubbed her fingers together.
She was still nowhere near as powerful as the other Grisha, and the sun made her think of how little her light. She tried not to put herself down, remembering she was still new to all this and only after a week of training, she wouldn’t be as good as Aleksander himself. he assured her that she would in time increase her power and control and that calling her light would be as easy as snapping her fingers… but it was hard to believe it when it wasn’t happening.
And it wasn’t just that, but she was destined to bring down the dreaded shadow fold, her being the only one to do so. If she couldn’t call her light enough, how would she ever be able to save Ravka and Grisha. Her mind went to what Aleksander said to her yesterday, about this being her home and these people being her family. She didn’t want to disappoint them or Ravka and she certainly didn’t want them to turn on her if she couldn’t do what was expected. If she couldn’t destroy the shadow fold, she’d be the new heretic.
Alina shook her head, shaking the ugly thoughts of that happening away and she slipped out of the bed, padding to the luxury bathroom. She couldn’t allow herself to think like that. It would only hold back her power and her confidence to call it. Getting ready, she washed her face and sprayed on some of the very expensive looking perfume that smelt like vanilla. She had never seen something so intricate and delicate with such a powerful smell. She was still getting used to all the glitz and glam of the little palace and living a rich life she never had.
Alina had noticed her face looked less sickly than she had when she was in England and there was more colour to her cheeks, her eyes bright and less tired and her hair softer and full of moisture. Back in England, her hair was like straw, dry and brittle but since coming to the little palace, it had completely changed. Marie had said it was because of using her power. Grisha who don’t use their powers turn sick and weak. Despite Alina only being Grisha for a week, it had drastically changed her appearance and her health. She felt more awake when she woke up in the mornings and her training had given her so much strength, she didn’t know she could have. She liked this new version of Alina.
Slipping on her kefta, Alina couldn’t help but feel a buzz at the black material hugging her body, her gold sun rays lining her shoulders and sleeves. Only she and Aleksander were the ones to wear black and even though she stood out like a sore thumb in front of everyone, especially at dinner, she felt honoured to wear the king’s colour. And the buzz of excitement increased as she thought about her training with Aleksander later today.
After breakfast, Alina made her way to the front of the palace where she was escorted by one of the guards to the training spot. As they neared the little hut, she heard voices up ahead, one being Aleksander’s. She looked over to see Aleksander and Ivan standing in front of the hut, talking amongst themselves in hushed voices and for a moment, Alina began to turn nervous, wondering what they might be talking about. It was a slim chance they were talking about her but when she got closer and Aleksander noticed her, he immediately stopped the conversation, giving only a nod to Ivan who dismissed himself. As he walked past Alina, he only gave a small eye glance before marching away.
Is he always like that?
Aleksander gave Alina a smile as the guard dropped her off, leaving her with Aleksander.
“Good morning” he greeted, and she smiled up at him, her fingers playing with the buttons of her kefta.
“Good morning” she said softly.
“How are you?” he asked.
“Good thank you, are we going to be training?” she asked, even though she knew the answer. She felt the buzz of excitement with summoning her light and she was interested to see what she could do with it.
“Yes, we are, I’m sorry I haven’t had a chance to train over the last few days” he said, and Alina shook her head.
“Oh no it’s fine, I mean you are the king, I’m sure you have more important things to do” Alina laughed nervously. She didn’t want to come across as being selfish. There was only one of him and he was running the country, he couldn’t spend all his time training a little orphan girl.
“The most important thing I need to do is train you, if you and I are going to bring down the shadow fold, I need to make sure you have control of your power” he said with a smirk as he opened the hut door for her.
Alina couldn’t contain her grin as she walked into the hut, the memory of the first time she called her light flooding back. Alina sat in the same chair as before, slinking down and Aleksander sitting in front of her. His hands rested lightly on his lap, fingers spreading over his knees, the ring on his pinkie finger glinting in what little light there was in the hut.
Alina felt a buzz of excitement as she readied herself to call her light. Aleksander gave her a nod, signalling her to call it. Alina took a deep breath, closing her eyes to focus and she pulled her hands apart, a small ball of orange glowing. She stared at it, the bright ball warming her from the cold, her mouth dropped open in amazement. She looked up to Aleksander who was also in awe.
When she held the ball of light steadily, Aleksander taught her to make it bigger, increasing it in size, the light illuminating the hut. After a few tries, Alina was able to do it with ease.
“You’re coming along well, especially for someone who has only just found out they are Grisha” he said, and Alina felt a blush come to her cheeks.
“Thank you, but I’ll never be as good as you” she shrugged.
“But you’ve only just started training, the more you train, the better you will be” he said and then he thought for a moment.
“When you’re capable of controlling your power, I’m going to give you an amplifier” he said, and Alina looked up in shock.
“Really!” the idea of having an amplifier never even crossed her mind. She remembered him saying that his most trusted Grisha have an amplifier and that he himself was one.
“Yes, it will increase your power for the shadow fold. Even if you can increase it, it won’t be enough to bring it down”. Alina swallowed the hard lump in her throat and shuffled on the chair.
“Can’t you just amplify my power” she asked, her fingers twiddling in her lap. She remembered the first time her light came to the surface, when he touched her and brought it out from deep within. His touch made her feel something she’d never felt before and she almost craved it.
“Yes, but it still won’t be enough. The shadow fold is the largest and most powerful shadow in all of Ravka. In order to bring it down, we have to overcome it and conquer with something greater” he explained.
“I have a team out looking for it. The amplifier I’m looking for isn’t like the ones I’ve given to my most loyal Grisha. My grandfather created these amplifiers so that they are to be worn in harmony and used together. Most people think they are just a fairy-tale, but I believe they are out there and once we find it, it will increase your power”.
“What is the amplifier?” the thought of wearing a piece of dead animal did freak her out a bit.
“A stag, it’s antlers are the amplifier”.
“So, I have to wear his antlers” she said with worry, and he nodded. Alina wasn’t so sure she wanted the amplifier and she shivered at the thought of its bones forged into her skin.
“But we’ll discuss it more when we have a trace on it. It’s very hard to find and I doubt we’ll find it in the next few days or so” he brushed it off and Alina relaxed. For now, she could forget about the thought of the bones sticking out of her skin.
“I sent you letter, I instructed my guards to deliver it to the permafrost and place it in the wardrobe, hopefully your family will find it there” he said as they walked back to the little palace.
“Thank you, I hope so too. I hope they write back as well. I was thinking perhaps when I’m more powerful they could visit” she asked nervously, peaking up at him. Aleksander looked down at her and gave a soft expression to her.
“We’ll see, for now though it’s best you stay hidden, I don’t want to lose you” his hand came up and gently squeezed her shoulder and Alina felt a tingle run down her body.
“I know” she nodded, and Aleksander moved his hand to her back, guiding her along.