A couple days have gone by and the Darkling did not dare to show his face here in the Little Palace.

Me and Mal have been catching up and I learned more about Nikolai and his crew's back stories. Turns out Nikolai's Sturmhond appearance was modified by a tailor. He said he will reveal his true appearance to us later. He said his Sturmhond appearance was less handsome then Nikolai.

He was so full of himself, its kind of annoying, but I like him. He's a loyal friend.

Tolya and Tamar became part of my personal security. Whatever that in tales. Nikolai worried that the Darkling would try to kill me or come after me so some protection was required. It really wasn't that bad. They gave me space, became my friends. It was kind of fun.

Things were going well until Nikolai proposed something to me. And it was marriage.

Me and Mal were sceptical. But he did say I can continue to have a relationship with Mal and be married to him. It would be an alliance between us, the Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea and future King of Ravka. It would make Ravka stronger if the Sun Summoner was Queen.

I've never dreamed of becoming Ravka's Queen. But if its best for the county, shouldn't I marry.

Mal would never be fine with it. He wasn't okay with me marrying Khal Drogo, as part of a deal I made with Viserys Targaryen.

He sold me into it. I don't know how it happened but it was to protect my friends. I have always hated the fact, many have used my friends against me as leverage. But not Khal Drogo. He soon burned Viserys with molten gold.

It was difficult to watch but was necessary as he would have taken me back and I did not want to leave at that time. Even if he did take me back I always assumed he would make me his slave. I never wanted that.

I told Mal about Nikolai's proposal. He wasn't happy but somehow understood. He said since I already married Drogo and he is very far away from me, Nikolai would not be a big problem. We didn't talk about the marriage later. Nikolai didn't set a date. I'm glad. The waiting would have killed me.

Nikolai told me that a party was soon to happen. It was to announce our marriage plans. My heart pounded, i was very nervous for him to announce he was crowned Prince of Ravka and was marrying the Glorious Sun Summoner and Khaleesi.

The party would be tonight. I was given a beautiful black dress by Genya. She specially tailored it for me. It was no sleeved, with silver Cross over patters on the chest. The long dress showed off my shape. I wore a silver head band and some parts of my hair were braided and pinned back of the head band. My hair was brushed, perfectly straight. I wore very little make up with winged eye liner. Genya stood behind me as we watched my reflection in the mirror. I saw Genya looked amazing too. She chose not to wore a Kefta but a beautiful red dress. It showed of her arms and was stringed back from her neck. The dress had no back, showed off the shape of her breasts and was flowy to the bottom.

"Alina, stop finding it unbelievable and be prepared to be decked up practically every day now." Genya said snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Ugh, that sounds exhausting." I wined.

"Beauty is pain. But seriously how do you feel, nervous? Scared?"

Genya came up behind me and held my shoulders, her face coming to rest in the crook of my neck. "I feel scared, excited, worried and anxious."

"I get scared and excited. Why worried and anxious?"

"Worried, Mal will hate me when or if me and Nikolai marry. Anxious because when the announcement is made, who's to say the Darkling won't hear about it and come to kill all of you and take me." I hugged her hand close to my cheek. "I can't lose you guys. Your all I got, aside from some people in the Dothraki."

"You wont lose me. Plus if the Darkling does come here, we'll be ready. Your not going to lose us. Okay?"

Genya had so much hope in her. It sounded like a mother's voice. The thought made me smile. "Thanks Genya. Hey does that mean you forgive me for not telling you about my scars?"

"I guess I do. I just don't understand why you don't want to heal them completely. You know I can get rid of them." She said reminding me of the time she healed the scar that used to be on my hand. I got It when I cheated on the Grisha test when I was younger. I kept it close to me because it was for Mal until I surrendered in the Darkling's seduction and had it erased.

"I'm keeping them to remind me i have to keep fighting. So no other Grisha woman ever goes through what I went through in Fjerda."

"That's honourable."

***
We walked into the ball room. Many dignitaries faced us, faced me. As we walked in. It reminded me of the ball the Darkling held where he kissed me.
Hopefully Nikolai doesn't do the same. It also reminded me of the Winter fete.

I ignored my memories and saw everybody crowded around. But I couldn't see Nikolai. I wondered if his true appearance came out. A boy with blonde curly hair and beautiful blue eyes came up to me. I recognised the eyes, they weren't that different to Sturmhond's.

"I don't believe it." I said out loud. Many people watched us. We had to be on our best, royal, behaviour.

"Your grace." He said, honouring my Khaleesi title. As Queen of the Dothraki, the Sun Queen and now future Queen of Ravka.

"No call me Alina, Please."

"Nikolai!"

I was right. It was the real Sturmhond. Sturmhond had a way of talking that made me want to shoot someone, preferably him.

Nikolai took my hand, gently and lead me near the rear of the ball room. I knew a demonstration was coming up. Tolya soon Introduced us and made the announcement.

"We are here to announce the Wedding of your Crowned Prince Nikolai, the future King of Ravka."

The people looked at Nikolai. Who nodded, his face gleaming in the light. He wore a beautiful sun shine smile.

"And Alina Starkov the Sun Summoner, the Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea. The Sun Queen."

The rest of the speech was drowned out to me and soon came my demonstration time. I started of conjuring balls of light and soon forming a big star in the sky. It lit up the entire room with a beautiful golden glow.

My wrists started to tingle, and something felt wrong. I quickly pulled back when I sensed the Darkling pulling on my powers. I was hoping the news of our wedding would be kept confidential and away from the Darkling.

Everyone in the ball room clapped even Mal who wore a smile on his face. He looked blown away. He's never seen such a big demonstration of Grisha power. I hope he's not upset. I need to talk to him later. He caught my face, looking slightly concerned.
He mouthed some words to me. "You okay?"

"Yes my love." I mouthed back.

***
Me and Nikolai met up after the party, he said he wanted to talk to me. His words surprised me.

"It doesn't make any sense, you proposed to me Nikolai." I stated furious with him.

"With interest for Ravka."

"How awful must you find me?"
I was glad that he might not marry me but I was also offended did he deceive me. Lie to me.

"It's not you. Your clever and beautiful and unpredictable."

"But it's not the same. You won't love me you won't let yourself."

Would it be, not even as friends. I didn't want his love. Mal's love is all I need. But was Nikolai manipulating me to gain popularity or something more from me and didn't he look jealous when he saw me and Mal together on the night we reunited.

"Love is irrelevant to people like us. A privilege we do not share. We cannot succumb to feelings, as much as I wish otherwise." Nikolai said coming towards me. I was confused. So he did have feelings for me. He wasn't using me, he just had other motives. I realised because of the Darkling, I am paranoid.

"I want to kiss you... But I won't. Not until you're thinking of me instead of trying to forget him."

He said surprising me. I knew he was referring to the Darkling. I could never forget him. That's the problem.
He soon left me in the middle of the hallway until I heard clapping of someone from a distance. I thought it was the Darkling but instead it was Mal who must have heard our entire conversation.

***
Published: 20:58pm 2/1/2022
***
Note: Some of the sentences that are in italics are the words of Leigh Bardugo. From the book series. They are not mine.

I take no copyright in her words. I just included them to continue the story and I realise that some of this chapter must have sounded like Reign show.

That's because Francis is Nikolai. As Sturmhond was Henry Vii from the Spanish Princess.

I hope you keep reading the story.