Chapter Text
Chapter 1
The Winter Fête had been a source of anxiety for Alina. General Kirigan had not said it and had tried to shield her a bit, but from everything she had overheard in the weeks leading up to it, it had become clear to Alina, that her performance on that evening was crucial for Ravka in general, and for the wellbeing of the Grisha specifically. Genya had called it a signal of hope for them all, some of the other Grisha she had overheard had been even more enthusiastic and the servants that were waiting on her, had gossiped and enthused about the new hope that the sun summoner would bring. The new era she would ring in with her power.
And the royal family had made their opinion quite clear as well. The tsaritsa… well, Alina had been invited to have tea with her just a few days prior, and it had been made clear what was expected of her.
Thankfully, everything had gone without a hitch, her performance flawless and the nobles in the Grand Palace had been visibly awed
And afterwards? General Kirigan, no Aleksander, had brought her flowers and taken her to his chambers.
His hands had touched her reverently, his lips touched hers and she had opened under the delicious pressure that he put on her lips with his. Sure, Alina had kissed men before. A peck here and there, a kiss once or twice, but never had a kiss felt this all-consuming and electrifying.
Until then, Alina had not known how exhilarating it was to be in a man’s embrace, had only known the stories that some of the other girls in the First Army had talked about their beaus, and while it had not sounded bad back then, they also had made it sound like a very quick and one-sided experience. But Aleksander? He had cradled her face in his hand like she was something precious, while he stole the breath from her lungs and carved himself into her heart.
And she had gripped his hair, had pulled him closer to her body, had allowed herself to get lost in that moment, to wish for more than just his lips on hers, his hands pressing them closer to each other.
But then someone had knocked at the door, just when her lips had begun to tingle delightfully, when the fire that he had lit everywhere he had touched her, had created the most wonderful feeling she had had in her belly.
Aleksander had excused himself and promised to be back as soon as he could. And then, after kissing her once more, so that her knees were weak and her mind only mush, he had left her in his rooms.
And what gorgeous rooms they were. Alina had never been in such fine rooms before coming to the Little Palace, she had heard from the luxuries the Duke of Keramzin was supposed to have in his residence during her time at the orphanage, but all this? First, the suite in which she now resided and then Aleksander’s sprawling rooms? This was unlike anything that Alina had ever experienced. Sure, the Zvezda suite was beautiful and beyond any luxury that Alina had experienced so far. But they did not feel like a home yet. But these? Aleksander’s rooms felt lived in, with the rows of books on his shelves, the stacks of paper lying around, and the trinkets strewn all over the room. It was not untidy, but a room well lived in, with signs of a frequent presence and regular usage for many of the objects in it.
She began exploring the books on the shelves, glancing over the war table - not that she wanted to concern herself with that or the Fold now - and finally sank on the lush dark green settee. She fidgeted for a bit, not knowing what to do. What did one do in the rooms of a man who has kissed oneself to the brink of sanity, but then left abruptly? Especially if that man was, technically, one’s superior in the army? Well theoretically, Alina had never been sworn in the Second Army, so was he even her superior officer? Kirigan had just told her that her First Army days were over and nothing more.
The dim room seems so vast without another person here. A bit unsettled, she abruptly rose again and walked over to his desk. Not knowing what to do while waiting. (Waiting for what exactly? Her heart beat a little faster when she thought about just picking up where they had left it.) Aleksander’s desk was organized but stuffed. At least a dozen letters were awaiting him tomorrow morning, probably diligently organized by Ivan beforehand. Which reminded Alina of her own letters back in her rooms. Three dirty, slightly tattered letters from Mal had arrived this morning. Probably lost on the way, or just stored a dozen times, before they could be sent from wherever he currently was. She wondered how many of her letters had reached Mal.
Her thoughts were interrupted when a loud noise thundered through the room. Probably through the whole Little Palace. Then in short succession, a second one, nearer; the windows of the room shook softly. Alina could hear a faint, clear sound coming from the vibrating glass. What was happening?
The door to the war room flew open and one of Aleksander’s oprichniki stormed in and grabbed her arm. “Miss Starkova, we have to leave now.” This sparse information was the only one given to her, while he dragged her out of the door and then onwards into the dark corridors of the Little Palace.
Chaos reigned there.
People were screaming, and running as soon as she came down from the floor where Aleksander and herself resided.
Another loud bang came while she was running down the stairs, and it felt like the whole building shook under her feet. Alina was not the only one having to hold onto the next best thing. In this case, the staircase. Some others were not as lucky and took a tumble down a few steps.
Only then did it hit Alina what this was. The noise left a ringing sound in her ears, the feeling like she had been hit square in the chest, the way the window glass is vibrating and bursting, and the whole building shaking under their feet.
Bombs.
That’s what they had told them during her meagre First Army training in Poliznaya. With bombs, one could bring houses down and demolish people in a small firestorm. As the inferni could, Commander Ryvost had said with a sneer. Only... since arriving at the Little Palace, Alina had never seen an inferni using their fire like this.
As soon as the last quakes had stopped, Alina picked up the nearest child and ordered the two oprichniki that were accompanying her to do the same. They had to get out of there as fast as they could, and the children, especially the little ones, were so much more likely to fall behind or cower in fear.
Alina flew down the stairs with the first child in her arms. Down, down, down. Out of the main door, where she was able to hand the little girl to the next Grisha that was there.
In she went again, the two oprichniki her constant shadows. Alina could not imagine leaving anyone behind. If there was anything she was able to do to help, she would do it.
How long this continued, how often her two shadows protested at her going into the building over and over again, Alina did not know. She carried and accompanied almost a dozen children out herself, some had to be carried, and some just needed someone to lead them out of their rooms. And her two guards probably helped twice as many as she had.
At long last, it seemed that there were no more children to be found, and Alina did not go in again.
It was absolute mayhem outside as well. Alina had barely noticed it in her many ins and outs of the Little Palace. A lot of Grisha were running around, some tidemakers trying to quench the fire. Others tried to bring some of the younger Grisha to safety. Some of the servants were darting around aiding in things or bringing themselves to safety. Somewhere in this, Alina was sure, were Aleksander and his trusted aides, coordinating everything, trying to get everyone to safety.
At some point, Alina noticed, that she had lost her guards. Or they had seen that she was surrounded by Grisha and safe and had left for more urgent duties.
She just slumped near one of the smaller garden structures a bit later, where it was a bit quieter, and tried to gather her bearings. Alina was still in her elaborate ceremonial kefta from the Winter Fête, her hair still in a fancy updo with ornate jewellery woven into it. It felt like the Winter Fête, her performance, as well as the kiss she had shared with Aleksander in his chambers, were weeks ago instead of hours.
But by now, Alina was feeling the weight of the gown, the drag of the heavy stones in her hair, the leaden feeling in her body and the lack of sleep. The sun had not even risen again, but she was bone-deep tired.
At some point, she might have napped for a few moments, but Alina jolted alert again as she thought that someone had called to her. At this, she got up and dove right back into the chaos.
“Miss Starkova.” So, she had not misheard it. Someone was calling for her.
“Sun Summoner.” Another voice cried for her in the chaos around her. But when Alina turned towards the direction she had suspected, there was no one.
There were so many people, how should she find the one who was calling her name?
Someone grabbed her arm in the scramble, and she was pushed and shoved a bit further until she was standing somewhere near the stables, where it was a bit quieter. But who was it who had dragged her here? Alina tried to turn, tried to face them, but before she knew what was happening, something hard and heavy came down on her head. This was not how it should be. She should be safe here, under the Black General’s protection. This was not right, was the one thing that shot through her head. For a brief moment, Alina wanted to cry out for help, only then she was hit again.
And then there was only darkness and Alina knew no more.