Chapter Text
"Gōngzhǔ, please come with me."
The lady Xin persuaded as she watched her mistress dance in the open space of the Xuan hall. A hall, made especially for Princess Alina or Lin Ye-Kir Huang personal activities. One included her dance rehearsals and other activities involved her swordsmanship, Gong Fu practice and quiet meditation.
Lin Ye gently raised down her arms and dropped to the floor like an elegant swan. "What is it?" She asked her loyal handmaiden. Both ladies were out of breath. Alina however, composed herself and stood up dignified to face her.
"Forgive the interruption, the empress calls for you to be ready soon."
A deep frown graced her face. The whole reason she was here dancing was to clear her mind from the announcement last night at dinner. She was nineteen though. The youngest of her sisters, at an age where she would be to old to be wed.
She grabbed the robe to her thin Hanfu off the floor and left with her lady trailing behind her to the Zhen hall. Her little corner of the world. The proverbs, "love", "light" and "strength" detailed in dark letters above her. Every time she walked out, she whispered them like prayer. Reminding her about how she should be everyday. For what she aspires to be. The light for everyone as she holds the strength to continue with such a decision.
The love for her sisters was unparalleled and now, as she sat in front of her mirror with boxes of hair pins, accessories and the new dress laid out for her, she was expected to love a monster.
"I wish for my ninth daughter, Princess Lin Ye to be wed to the Dark General in Ravka."
The chopsticks in her delicate hands, clattered onto the bowl of rice. "Mǔqīn" She whispered, eyes horrified. Her sister Bai Lin gently clasped her hand over her mother's wrist, "Why him? Why not another prince?"
"There are the Lantsovs aren't they?"Jiějiě, Bai Fengxi reminded her. She herself was engaged to a high lord who was a prince of Fjerda. Alina never opposed her mother's decision but for this one, she had to speak up. Which met with a loud thump on the table that forced the three princesses into silence.
"The rest of your sisters are either engaged or wed, now it's your turn. I will not have daughter turn twenty and still unmarried."
"Mother I don't-"
"I know how it feels, this is an alliance. You depart tomorrow and wed within the week on Ravkan soil."
"So, she won't have a traditional Shu wedding?" Bai Lin's eyes watered for her little sister, she grasped her hand under the table. Alina had always wanted a marriage in her ancestral soil, where she could be in a red gown with jewels. The way her sisters had. With grand flare, trumpets, several bows to heavens, the red thread of fate and more. Her soon-to-be husband wouldn't share the same values as her.
Without hearing more, she politely excused herself and left with a storm raging under her feet.
Alina was dressed up in a white and gold gown that made her seem more like a virginal offering than a sacrifice. It wasn't a Hanfu or Kimono either. It was more Ravkan than anything that represented Shu culture.
"This is beautiful." She comments as she takes a spin in the luxurious fabric.
"My lady, the palanquin is ready."
And so was she.
There were representatives from Ravka present at the end of her journey in her palanquin. She could tell, there were many who didn't hold any Shu features, nor adorned silks or had long hair. Instead they wore heavy colour fabric with clashing colours and embroidery. They looked cosy, she felt awfully underdressed. Thankfully, there was robe inside the carriage she had to switch into.
One bore a friendly smile, with warm brown eyes that matched his hair. He wore a deep crimson that really suited his complexion. "My lady, I am Fedyor, one of General Kirigan's, Corporalki."
She thought for a second. "A heart render?" She knew the Ravkan terms to an extent. When she had excused herself from the informal dinner the previous night, she had decided to read up a little about the Grisha and the second army in Ravka. After all, that was her husband's domain and she should know about what he leads as his wife.
Wife.
So intimate. And so trapped.
"You know about us?"
"I figured I would do my research. Are we heading towards the fold?" She asks, though already she knew the answer clear as day.
***
She was both terrified yet intrigued by the absolute devastation the fold was. Covered in a wall of shadow, a blanket that smothered through the border. Something so similar to the powers of her future husband. A man who commanded the shadows around him as the God of death did his souls.
"How are you finding it?" Fedyor politely asked as he saw the princess looking very timid atop the deck. The skiff was half ways through and pretty soon she would see the light of Ravka peering through.
"Terrifying, but also curious. Such an impossible anomaly existing in a land where fairytales are few."In Shu Han, almost everything was from legends, myths and gods. Well, so much that had been told to her growing up.
She almost itched to extend her hand and feel the shadows wisp through her fingers. She suppressed a shudder but she jolted when a loud screeching echoed through the sky like lightning. "What is that?"
"A Volcra. They exist in the fold, and feed off any passengers who are to loud." Fedyor answered and then gestured to the doors behind him. "You would do well to stay below deck for your safety."
Alina looked up at the faceless creatures crawling into visibility, she figures with her light sword she could take it. With her ability, she could raise a barrier that could protect the passengers aboard from the demons waiting to attack. Instead, she agree with Fedyor and sat amongst the beds belowdeck. Hoping to get a little more rest before they docked.
***
Finally the Princess Alina Lin Ye Kir-Huang, set foot on foreign soil for the first time in her life. The smell, the fields, even the air, was completely different. There was no Vishnu to guide humanity with his avatars, or any of the old Phoenix's that soared the skies protecting the people below. This was a Kingdom without heavenly guides.
A Shu Princess just descended.
The Sun Queen has returned.
The carriage ride was quiet and surprisingly not to long. Fedyor had helped her out of the small boxed walls of black and onto her feet. Her long cloak gliding down with her frame.
A friendly woman in white appeared to greet her, "Hello, I'm Genya Safin your imperial majesty, I'm to be your tailor and guide in the Little Palace."
"Nǐ hǎo." She greeted in Shu, hoping the lady before her would understand. The red head smiled and curtsied. Alina knew enough to not reciprocate to someone who was not of a high station. She would greet on her knees, not bow at the waist.
"Am I to meet their majesties just yet?"
"Yes, they would like to see you and after you may depart to your chambers and rest from your long travels."
"Thank you, please, show me where I may greet my hosts."
Genya had helped remove her cloak and give it to a passing maid, she adjusted the Princess's hair and helped freshen up her make up. "The Queen is not a fan of Shu eyes."
She inhaled, "She may be, though I am not. I am quite proud of my heritage." The red head smiled and gestured for the guards to open the doors to the throne room.
Whilst the outside of the Grand palace looked tacky and frankly, ugly, these chambers within, seemed polished, delicate and irrefutably unique.
They were not like home.
As she stood presented before them like a cow at a farmers trade sale, she did her best to make her most polite impression.
"Your majesties, Imperial Princess Lin Ye Kir-Huang of Shu Han. Ninth daughter of Empress Ye Xin Huang and Emperor Xin Wei." The regal court usher had announced. A small smile graced her lips, proud of her title and gently curtsied in proper Ravkan etiquette.
"Moi Tsar." She spoke in fluent Ravkan. In a polished accent that had traces of Shu in it. If she was going to be apart of the court, she unfortunately had to appeal to their pre conceptions of her race.
The Tsarina looked her over from head to toe. The lovely flawless skin, the gold and white gown that made her look like she would fall over in the wind. Petite frame with hugging breasts that men would go wild for. Long, very long, silky dark raven hair in lose curls framed with a small tiara on top.
"She is beautiful." It sounded like a compliment, but there were traces of a passive bitterness in her words that made Alina keenly aware of what the Queen thought of her.
"Thank you, My lady." She smiled
The Tsar looked all but impressed. She was pretty face. Pretty body too. But he had other uses for her. "The general should meet you now."
Alina's lips parted. In the journey, she had forgotten she would be expected to meet him today. She had no time to wonder what he'd look like. When she could hear the doors open from behind her.
She didn't want to turn around. Didn't want to look back. The curiosity in her was overwhelming. Her husband was in the room. And most likely, had her in his sights.
"Moi Soverrenyi." He spoke softly. Breathlessly. It made her almost shiver. Eloquence. What delightful taste, he spoke like a distinguished noble with kindness. She knew, he was everything but.
"See your bride General Kirigan, she came all this way for you."
She clenched the billowed sleeve over her wrist. If he asked her turn, she couldn't deny him. She bit her tongue. Take a deep breath.
She did.
And then she looked upon the face of her betrothed.
Handsome. Her face contorted surprised. She visibly looked blown away. He was so young. Handsome. Dark. Dressed in black, but in a way that made him so elegant and regal.
The contrast between them was shocking. One in gold and white with the powers of the sun and the other in black and silver, with the shadows as company.
She heard he was a monster. Haunting the shores in Shu Han, travelling like a ghost in the essence of the night. Ruthless. Merciless. And he had very likely taken lovers and brides before.
"Your highness," He bowed, and oh, how she had the urge to race her fingers through his dark locks. Her heart raced as he picked up her hand and gently kissed her knuckles. Dark eyes focused on her.
It wasn't just her heart racing, she could feel her pulse quicken unnaturally. Her qi wasn't tamed as well as she hoped. She could almost feel the sunlight race to the tips of her fingers. She closed her eyes and called the power back as she focused her mind on the memory of her master. The very one who told her, control is but an illusion. Discipline is everything.
Gently, she pulled her hand out of his grip. "General Kirigan." She muttered.
"It is a pleasure to have you here."
"It's all me, thank you."
King Pyotr spoke up, interrupting the non-existent conversation between the couple. "I expect the two of you will be wed within a week. I only permit that you do not break the alliance the Empress agreed to."
"Yes Moi Tsar, we will act as expected."
The court was dismissed and Princess Alina bowed once more out of respect. The general had gently made a path for her outside the large doors. Away from the eyes of the curious courtiers and Grisha who whispered about their general marrying a Shu woman.
"I hope your journey faired well." He spoke, as he ascended the stairs, she slowly walking behind him.
"Yes, the Grisha kept me good company and protected me well in the fold."
A smile graced his lips. "Have you met with Grisha before back in your homeland?"
"I had once. Then my mother found it and I never saw a dear friend ever again." Truthfully, she loved her mother, but she lost a great friend because of her. It saddened her deeply. She feared for the girl she lost and how she might lose her life as well, if she had ever found out.
He stopped in his tracks, "I'm sorry. Living in Shu Han as a Grisha is a death sentence. For what the Empress orders." He tried to put it as delicately as possible and she saw right through the masquerade, it was no manipulation. The Darkling despises the horrors on his people. As she does hers.
"I understand my lord, I was not blind to the horrors in my country." For she had witnessed far more than he could ever know.
They turned down a corridor, where less Grisha walked by them, more guards were posted outside. "That is very wise of you to know. This is my personal wing of the palace." He stopped before a bedroom. "This is yours."
"And after we are wed, will this still be mine?"
"No, I ask my wife to share mine." He says low, still holding the same confidence as before. Alina had never once heard something nearly indecent before. She held many lovers in the past but none had dared implied something quite dubious.
That is what she was meant to do was it not. Hold the alliance, marry the Darkling and share his bed nightly.
She paused, resting her hand on the door knob, "Zàijiàn, General." Stepping into her bedroom and closing the door behind her with a thud.
She sighed as she leaned against it. The first day held so much. The princess wasn't sure if tomorrow would go as peaceful as he hoped.