CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

The End

The doors opened to the royal chamber as Estelle took a bite out of a perfectly-cooked piece of bread with an ungodly amount of butter on it. Estelle glanced over from her previous gaze, what she hoped was the fire, to where the sound had come from. "Who is it?"

Tamar's voice whispered through the darkness. "The Sun Summoner has come to visit Nikolai."

Estelle smiled and stood up. She placed the bread on a side table by her chair and made her way over. "The King is taking a much-needed nap. Anything I can help w—"

She was cut off by a hug. Alina. It was desperate, tight, as if Estelle had died and come back again. "I'm sorry we didn't get to talk in the barn. Are you really...?"

Sadly, Estelle nodded as they pulled apart. "I can't see a thing."

"Have you tried summoning yet?"

"Not yet," she replied. "But it's still there. I can feel it."

"Good." Estelle could hear something was off about the girl.

"What about you? I didn't hear much about what happened out there."

Alina sighed. "I am no longer the Sun Summoner. My power has been snuffed out from me and lit into nearby otkazat'sya."

"Oh," whispered Estelle. "I'm sorry. Are you okay? Is Mal?"

"We'll both be fine." There was rustling around and Alina placed something into Estelle's hand. "Give Nikolai his ring back for me."

Estelle shook her head, taking it and putting it back into Alina's hand. "He would want you to keep it. Even if you're not to stay here, even if you're not to be his queen, you're his friend. Always will be. He'd want you to have a reminder of that. That much I do know."

Alina sniffed. Maybe she was crying too. "I wanted to talk to him about his plans for the Second Army."

"I'm sure you could send him a letter—"

"And you," she interrupted. "I want the Second Army led by you, David, Genya, and Zoya."

Estelle's mouth parted in surprise. "What?"

"The Star Summoner, leading with one from each Grisha order. It makes sense."

Shaking her head, Estelle was in disbelief. "I'd love to, I really would. You know that. But...I can't, Alina."

"Why not?"

"I'm not meant for war, anymore. Look at me. I'm hardly suited to be a queen, but if Nikolai becomes King and I Queen if we marry, I will have to live up to that. I'm not even sure I can. I can't see, I'm not suited to lead anything." The words, even though truth, hurt. She was a useless Grisha now, unable to see. If she was unable to see, she was unable to do anything.

Alina sighed, but Estelle knew she understood. "Alright. I understand."

From behind her, Estelle heard the footsteps of Nikolai. Slowly, she was starting to memorize his gait, the amount of time between each step and how heavy each one was.

His arm settled on Estelle's shoulder, hugging her. He kissed her cheek softly, before turning to Alina. "You're back."

"You know me."

"I heard something about the Second Army?"

"Yes, there are a few things I'd like to talk to you about."

"In one second." Nikolai turned to Estelle. "How about you get some rest now, hmm? A little trade?"

She smiled. "Okay. Don't overwork yourself." Estelle pointed to where she hoped Alina was. "As soon as he's finished, make him eat some and send him straight to bed."

"Yes, ma'am," Alina's voice came in a chuckle.

"Okay." Estelle pecked Nikolai on the lips, then slowly pulled away, feeling the wall for the way to where the bed was, in the back of the chamber.

It was large, but Estelle wouldn't have cared if it was a mere bedroll on the ground. The moment her head hit the pillow, she went out like a light.

—

Estelle woke the next morning with a gentle shaking. She groaned, expecting that when she opened her eyes, she'd see Nikolai above her, his golden hair and his hazel eyes.

Her heart dropped when her eyes fluttered open and, instead of seeing him, all she saw was infinite blackness. It wasn't a dream.

"We're going to burn the Sun Summoner's body," his voice said softly. "There is an array of different keftas for you to choose from."

She sighed, pulling the covers over her head. "Not now. Five more minutes."

She heard him chuckle, then the bed dipped as he laid down next to her. Nikolai pulled her closer, his arms wrapped around her protectively. "I wish we could, darling. But there are things we must do first."

Estelle knew this. For some reason, she really just didn't care. She wanted to be selfish, just this one time. She wanted a few more hours of quiet before she had to face the crowds.

"I promise you, once this is all over, you can have as much time as you need to rest," he whispered into her ear, snuggling even closer. "I swear on the Saints."

"What did they ever do to you?" Estelle chuckled. "They don't deserve to be sworn upon."

Nikolai grinned, a huff of a laugh ruffling her hair. "Then this I will promise instead. I will give you the time, the rest, the love you need to come back better than before. I will give you everything you deserve and even more."

Estelle flipped around to face him, wrapping her own arms around him. "You're too good to me."

"You deserve it," he insisted. "You're the reason this is over."

"Alina is the reason this is over," Estelle corrected him. "She killed the Darkling, she got rid of the Fold."

"Not without your help," Nikolai said. "Now take the love, because I'm going to give it no matter what." He sighed, and sat up, pulling her up with him. "It's time to get up."

"Did you sleep any more?" Estelle asked as Nikolai helped her out of the bed. He stayed silent. "Nikolai, I told you, you cannot overwork yourself."

"And I didn't, my darling," he said, leading her through the chamber to the table where food was before. It smelled different than yesterday, more breakfast foods than before. "Eat, I'll call the Fabrikators and Genya."

Estelle heard him leave, the doors closing behind him. She reached out her hand, feeling for the food that had been set out. Bread, eggs, sausages, fruit, everything imaginable. Estelle touched a hot plate, hissing as it burned her fingers.

She ate the things she could tell what they were. Bread and fruit, cooked batter into a thin flat cake, a piece of a chocolate cake.

The doors opened again, multiple footsteps walking in. Estelle took a bite of the cake as Nikolai rubbed her shoulder. "Better?"

She nodded, mouth full of cake.

"This is Genya and a team of Fabrikators who'd made special keftas for you," he explained. "I can help, if you need it."

Estelle shook her head. "Go, get ready. Do what you need to do, I'll be fine."

He bent down and kissed her briefly, before leaving once more.

"We have work to do," said Genya. "First you choose your kefta, then we'll make you look alive again."

Estelle laughed. "Thank you," she said sarcastically, but stood up, reaching out her hand for support. Quickly, Genya came to her aid and led her over to the options. "What do I have to choose from?"

Genya took her to the first of them. "There are three. This one is pure silver, with midnight blue embroidery." Estelle reached out and felt it. It was the same material as every other kefta. The embroidery went from the shoulders down the arms and the chest.

"The second is a flipped version of the first. Midnight blue with silver embroidery." Estelle felt the second one. It felt the same as the first.

"The last is made of a regular Summoner's blue with midnight blue and silver embroidery. It could be mistaken for a Squaller's kefta, just so you know," Genya informed her. Again, the third didn't feel any different from the others.

"What would you suggest?" asked Estelle.

"The second. It's eye–catching, but not as out-spoken as the first."

Estelle smiled. "The second it is," she decided.

—

Estelle stood next to Nikolai at the periphery, the Apparat on his other side. She ignored him and his words of praise when they met. Frankly, she detested being referred to as a Saint.

In front of them, the Sun Summoner was tied to the pyre, the Darkling next to her. At least, that's what she was told was in front of them. Alina Starkov wasn't really up there, one of the Soldat Sol had been tailored to match Alina's appearance, to make it seem like she truly was dead.

Estelle wore the kefta she'd chosen, and Genya had fixed her hair and face a bit, helping her look more like the Star Summoner everyone expected.

She didn't know how she was to meet everyone's expectations. The people in Kribirsk seemed to take the news of her well, but there was no telling how the rest of the country would. Would they call her a Saint and worship the ground she walked on? Or would they try to kill her at all costs?

The sound of flames hinted that they'd set the pyre on fire. Nikolai's hand climbed into Estelle's and he squeezed her hand. Almost as if he were saying, "I'm here," again.

Estelle wouldn't have wished it was anyone else.

THE END

OR IS IT?

a/n—well, we've come full circle. Thank you to everyone who's been here and commented, voted, endless other things that have made me feel so supported. I deeply apologize for the long amount of time it too for me to finish this, but I decided to just put them all out at once. If you have any requests for anything else you'd like to see in the future, message me or leave a comment, I will try to see everything that I can. Thank you thank you thank you a million times over and have a wonderful holiday season!!