#all I’m saying is there’s a superior Tidemaker

[juliaswickcrs]

The Darkling’s Tidemaker in S2 having to use an amplifier to create three tiny little ice daggers

vs

Reyka creating an ice shield, shattering a man’s hand, and using the cut WITHOUT an amplifier

[thebadgerclan]

The General’s Visit

Pairing: Aleksander Morozova x reader

Requested by Anonymous

Summary: General Kirigan finds more than his troops’ progress on his visit to Kribirsk...

The news had spread like Inferni fire around the Second Army camp in Kribirsk: General Kirigan was coming.  Word was that he wanted to observe how his troops were doing, see their training regiments for himself.  The letter had arrived in your superior’s office with the Darkling’s seal, the sun in eclipse, and you along with the other two highest ranking Grisha were summoned to Lieutenant Ivanov’s tent.

Lieutenant Ivanov was the head of your regiment, a powerful Tidemaker selected by General Kirigan himself.  Below her were three captains, one from each Order of the Grisha.  You were Captain of the Corporalnik, a heartrender, which made you the highest ranking of the three captains.  You had 20 soldiers under your command, 10 heartrenders and 10 healers, each with varying strengths and talents.  But one thing was consistent: they all wanted to impress their general.

“Get your soldiers in shape,” Lieutenant Ivanov commanded.  “They need to look the part as well as act it.  Pristine, strong, well groomed.  I expect to see naught a hair out of place.”  “Yes ma’am,” the three of you replied in unison.  “General Kirigan arrives in two day’s time.  Be ready.”  You and your fellow captains spent the next two days patching keftas, tidying your quarters, and training hard.  Finally, the morning of the Darkling’s arrival came, and you could say with confidence that your soldiers were ready.

You stood alongside your men and women, red kefta buttoned, hair swept back, hands folded at your back.  The other captains did the same, and Lieutenant Ivanov stood before her soldiers.  The black coach rolled into camp, and all of you stiffened.  You watched as the oprichniki stepped from the coach, opening the door for the Darkling.  General Kirigan stepped down, the air of regalness surrounding him.

“General Kirigan,” Ivanov greeted, extending her hand to him.  “Welcome to Kirbirsk.  We are honored by your presence here.”  “I am honored to be here.  I must admit, I’m eager to see my soldier’s progress.”  “They’re doing quite well.  Might I introduce our captains?  This is Captain L/N, head of the Corporalnik.”  “Moi Soverennyi,” you greeted, shaking his offered hand.  “A pleasure to meet you.”

Kirigan’s gaze softened when he looked at you, his whole demeanor changed.  His heart was racing; he’d never laid eyes on a more beautiful woman.  “The pleasure is all mine, Captain.”  He brought your hand to his lips, brushing a kiss over your knuckles, and you gasped.  It’s just chivalry, you thought.  The other captains were men, General Kirigan would not kiss their hands, you were sure of that.  But what if it’s not just chivalry?

Of course you thought the General was handsome, you’d have to be blind not to.  Every woman and a fair amount of men pined for the General, they all wanted to earn his favor, to turn his gaze in their direction.  And you’d done just that, in the few seconds you’d been in his presence.  Your heart was pounding, and you used your power to slow it; you could not afford to be a blushing girl right now.  You were a captain of the Second Army, and you would behave as such.  

***

General Kirigan met the captains of the Etheralnik and the Materialnik, but his thoughts remained on you.  Aleksander had met countless women in his centuries long life, but none of them were nearly as beautiful as you.  You were a vision, powerful and strong too.  “Would you care to see our training regiments?  The Corporalnik are working in the clearing at the moment.”  Of course, part of his trip was to see his soldiers train, to see how they lived and the progress they were making, but he couldn’t stop the leap his heart gave at the prospect of seeing you again.

“I would be delighted,” he replied, following Lieutenant Ivanov into the clearing.  You were walking amongst your soldiers, barking orders as you oversaw their drills.  “Petyr, twilight!” you called, and a young man raised his hands.  The girl before him dropped to the ground, unconscious.  “Alexei, stupor!”  Another soldier raised his arms, and the boy before him dropped into a daze, as if drunk.  You nodded to the woman next to you, and she released a wild rabbit from a cage.  “Ana, down!”  She raised his hands, and the rabbit fell, dead in its tracks.

“Well done,” Aleksander praised, and your soldiers snapped to attention.  “Thank you, sir.  They’ve made excellent progress.”  “I can see.  May I have a word with you, Captain?”  “Of course,” you replied, following him a few feet away from your soldiers.  “Forgive me if I’m too forward, but you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever had the privilege to meet.”  The complement set your heart racing again and a blush to your cheeks, but you smirked.

“I’m sure you say that to all the captains you meet, General,” you said.  “Oh I assure you, only to the exceptionally beautiful ones.  And at that, only the strongest and most powerful ones.  Do you by chance have an amplifier?”  You nodded, pulling the tooth of a fox from beneath the collar of your kefta.  “Since I was 12.”  “Impressive.  Would you perhaps like to have dinner with me tonight?”  You smiled, looking at your boots.  “Thank you, sir, but I can’t.  We’ve only just met, and I dine with my men most nights.  But please don’t think me rude, sir, I appreciate your offer.”  “Of course, of course.  Maybe once we get to know each other more?”  You laughed softly.  “We’ll see.”

***

As the week went on, as Aleksander observed the men and women of Kribirsk’s Second Army, he only fell harder for you.  Not only were you stunningly gorgeous and incredibly powerful, you were kind, sweet, and personable.  You were one of the first at your soldiers’ sides when they were injured, you encouraged them when they were struggling, you praised them when they succeeded.

You’d been deeply flattered by the general’s offer, but you’d declined nonetheless.  You wanted to say yes, to leap into his arms and declare your love for him, but duty called, and you were also slightly wary.  If you were going to tumble with the general, you wanted to be sure he truly felt the way he claimed.  General Kirigan had attempted to ask you to have dinner with him, to go on a ride with him, to tour the village with him, but you’d denied him every time.

At this point, you were playing hard to get.  You knew that the Darkling’s feelings were true, that he was in love with you, but it was just a bit too fun to give up the charade.  But on the fifth night of General Kirigan’s visit, Fedyor arrived at your tent.  “The general wished to see you,” he said, and you stood, following him to the large black tent.  Fedyor paused just outside, the Darkling clearly wanted to see you alone.

You entered the tent, eyes adjusting to the dim light.  “General, you asked to see me?”  “Yes,” he said, rising from his desk.  “I did.  Captain, I was wondering; I’ve offered my company to you several times, yet you turn me down.  Is there a reason behind this?”  His eyes glinted in the candlelight, and you stepped closer, smiling.  “Well sir, my duty is first and foremost to my soldiers.  There is little time for much else.”

“I see.  But would dinner with me be too arduous a task?”  The Darkling slowly strode closer to you, and your heart leapt into your throat.  “Perhaps not,” you said, inching closer yet.  “But what would my men think?  I wouldn’t want to be seen as playing favorites.”  General Kirigan huffed, playfulness gone from his face.  “Don’t you see, Y/N?” he asked, using your given name for the first time.  “See what, sir?” you teased back.

But Kirigan was done playing; he stepped forward and took you into his arms, kissing you deeply.  His arms were tight around your middle lips firm against yours, holding you tight to him.  He kissed you for a long time, and when he pulled back, you were both breathless.  “I’ve been wanting to do that all week,” the Darkling said, forehead against yours.  “General-”  “Aleksander.  Please, call me Aleksander.”

“Aleksander, I…” you trailed off, unsure of what to say.  “I love you.  I am in love with you, Y/N.  Come to Os Alta with me.”  He wasn’t sure where the proposition came from, but he was sure of his words.  “I want you with me, love.  Come to the Little Palace with me.”  “What about my men?”  He adored your dedication to your soldiers, and Aleksander kissed your forehead.  “I’ll help you find a new captain.  I can’t bear the thought of being apart from you.”

You went on your tiptoes and kissed him again.  Aleksander held you tighter to him, deepening the kiss.  “I love you too,” you said against his lips.  “I love you, Aleksander, I love you too.”  Aleksander held you for a while longer before leading you to a settee, offering you wine.  “So,” you said after a while.  “Did you find everything you were looking for on this visit?”  Aleksander kissed your forehead.  “That and more, my dear.”

[amiramorozova]

Dual Summoner and the darkling pt. 7

Noticing it was getting dark I got up and stretched a bit as I still felt the shadows close. I closed my eyes knowing shadows were drawn to the light. I knew so much more than people thought I did but I had to get through this on my own. I knew eighteen wasn't far away and I was going to make it no matter what as I opened my eyes.

"Papa, Mama. Allow me to escort you back to the front of the little palace. I am sure Baghra has gotten you a ride home." I said

"Ok Amira." Mother said

We started to walk towards where I sensed the shadows and I felt them leaving as if they were backing away. I felt this shadow before but when I looked at my father he didn't even seem to feel them. I wondered if I had a connection to the general as we walked. It was a quiet walk but since we were starting to have a hard time seeing I put my hands together and had light come to my hand as we walked. I could see that shadows were going faster and I figured the general had come out here to see me.

he might know now. I thought

Still, we kept walking and when we came to the training grounds I noticed it was empty, all the other tidemakers were in their rooms. I knew that there was no more hiding if I was found out and when we had light I let mine go. I knew that I was strong enough. I no longer fainted when I used one after the other, still I led them to the front of the little palace where Baghra was with a couple of Grisha Soldiers.

"I made arrangements for you both to get home safely if your daughter ever gets to meet the King and Queen you will both be there to attend." Baghra said

"Thank you for being a good teacher to her." Mother said

"Of course Amara, she's a good student and I promised your husband his child would be safe in my care." Baghra said

"She's improved well." Father said

"With much more training ahead before she could do much more in the time to come." Baghra said

I watched as they got on the horses and left to go home being followed by the Grisha soldiers. I waited until they were gone before I looked at Baghra. So many things were going through my mind when it came to her intentions for me and the future of Grisha.

"Those Grisha soldiers, aren't they loyal to General Kirigan?" I asked

"No, those ones are loyal to me. They don't want to be General Kirigan's pet. Do you still want to be his pet?" Baghra said

I scoffed at her words "Me? I'm no one's pet and I am certainly just a tidemaker." I said with a cracked smile knowing Baghra knew the truth.

"Good Night Amira." Baghra said

I turned to walk away and waved bye "Good Night Baghra." I said as I walked into the little palace.

It was dark, darker than usual like shadows were around and I stopped for a minute knowing this wasn't right. I had been feeling shadows since I was in the training area so I knew he was close by even when I wanted to ignore it. The risks were here and I knew to get to my room I would need my light. So I put my hands together and made a small thing of light as I started to walk.

Is he testing me? I thought

I knew that the shadows were drawn to the light and I could feel that I was drawn to the shadows. I watched as those shadows kept away from me while I walked but the feeling of being watched lingered. I wondered exactly what was happening when I felt someone push me up against the wall, my light still in my hands but I couldn't see them.

"Let me go." I said

No answer to my answer

I started to panic some and the sun within me responded to that as I was about to scream but then I felt something cover my mouth. I questioned if some stranger had gotten into the little palace but then I felt a hand on my arm that I could tell was wearing a ring. Having seen those who live here I realized quickly who was in front of me. When I felt his other hand on my arm of the hand that held the light it dawned on me what was going on. The shadows started to fade somewhere I calmed down and that feeling of being drawn to the shadow overcame me as I felt him start to move away.

"I didn't mean to startle you." General Kirigan said as he let me go and I closed my hand with the light

"You could have just said it was you General." I said

General Kirigan put a hand under my chin and had me look at him and I knew even if he didn't say it I was found out. This pull between us was clear to me as the sun was drawn to shadows and shadows to the light of the sun, two sides of a coin that would always be drawn to one another. I wanted to deny it all and just run but my legs would not move from where I stood.

"And you could have come to me about your powers of the sun Amira." General Kirigan said

"I.." I didn't know what to say. Years of hiding felt like a shame now and the truth was I knew he'd figured it out by how I approached the shadows.

There was a moment where I lost my sense of what I was doing and I actually got close to him as I leaned up close. The idea to kiss the one who would be eternal, my equal was something that had come across my mind a few times but as usual I chickened out as I turned away.

"Sorry, I have no idea what came over me." I said as I started to walk away

"Amira." General Kirigan said as he grabbed my wrist, pulled me back and kissed me right there in the hallway.

Part of me was in shock and the other part of me gave in as I kissed him back right there in the hall. Sun and Shadow meeting at night sounded too good to be true and of course, being a dual summoner I was not completely found out yet. If the occasion would arise that everyone finds out there was so much more that would go on. Still, I snapped back to reality fast remembering he's my superior in the army and I took a step back.

"Let me see if I have this correct. Dual Summoner, powers are possibly limitless and you know about me?" General Kirigan asked

"I.." I had no answer. "Good night General." was all I could manage

I rushed to my room with my back to the door once I had gotten in there, my heart raced a bit knowing that wasn't supposed to happen. I wondered now that he knew how long before the others found out. Would he tell the 2nd army what he found out about me and their already jealousy about how I am treated gets worse.

they would literally hate me if they knew about this...I am no one's pet but I am not his favorite either. I thought

I walked to the bed forgetting about changing as I fell on the bed and went to sleep. This night had been tiring enough and I just wanted to sleep before anything else. I wanted this to be just some nightmare I hadn't woken up from as I closed my eyes to sleep.

a dream...this has to be a dream that he kissed me..if not I will have to tell Nadia and Marie like I promised. I thought before falling asleep