Alina

Grytia - midwinter

Warm sunlight filled the chamber, bathing the blue floor tiles in a soft gold hue. Servants flowed into the room, carrying large chests filled with silks and gold, gifts from Tristan for both Alina and her newborn. Her favorite gift was the new wooden crib lying next to her bed, an exquisite piece of artwork covered in intricate carvings of wings and vines, and canopied by sheer white silk. Victor was still too young to use it though, and Alina as well was in no hurry to let him sleep away from her arms.

At the thought, she drew him closer to her chest and closed her eyes, indulging in the overwhelming sense of peace that enveloped her as he lay between her arms, a tiny warm being with tiny hands and tiny feet.

My son. The word sounded foreign in her head. It felt surreal. But it was true. Here she was, carrying her own son between her arms. Tristan's son.

Her heart swelled with a new surge of love, and tears filled her eyes.

More footsteps thudded into the chamber as servants came and left, finally causing Victor to stir, and he started whimpering in harmony with the chirps of birds hopping at the window sill.

Alina was not surprised to find Kat coming to visit her, carrying with her a small silver locket as a gift for Victor. But what did surprise her was finding Maggie and her flock entering her room as well, though she doubted they had come to visit her for any reason other than mere curiosity.

"Oh isn't he the sweetest little thing!" Nora squealed as she hurried towards the child, causing Alina to draw him closer against her chest for protection. "Can I hold him?"

"No!" Alina snapped.

"She's right Nora," Maggie smirked as she strode towards them, her once long glorious black hair now reduced to an ugly and uneven cut ending right above her jawline. "With the number of plates and cups you drop every day, I wouldn't trust you with carrying a new born child!"

Alina closed her arms further around Victor, wondering what Maggie's true intentions were.

"How adorable!" Maggie leaned in for a close look at Victor, her cropped hair brushing her plump cheeks. "Lord Tristan must be very happy to finally have a boy... Oh, I almost forgot." She then stood straight and took out a small wrapped cloth from her pocket, before handing it out to Alina. "This is a small gift, from me, Lizzy, and Nora."

"A gift?" Alina inspected the gold embroidered white silk cloth before she looked up at Maggie suspiciously.

"Why yes of course. It's the least we could offer to celebrate Lord Tristan's son. We would have even thrown a huge party, if it weren't for that royal bitch –"

"Maggie!" Lizzy gasped.

"Well she's a bitch, do you deny it?" Maggie frowned at Lizzy before she turned back to Alina. "Look, Alina. I know you and I have never been friends in the past. It's true I never liked you, I even hated you at times, and I wished you'd be gone from Lord Tristan's household. But with that bitch Sophia here now things have changed. Everyone knows what a danger you are to her. You have Lord Tristan's love, and now you gave him this child..." Maggie smirked down at Victor. "Sophia will not remain quiet for long, and she will do everything to keep you and your child away from Lord Tristan."

"And what does all of this have to do with you Maggie?" Alina frowned.

"Simply, I need to choose a side. As you can see Sophia and I did not get along too well." Maggie gestured towards her cropped hair.

"She did that to you?" Alina's eyes widened. "Why?"

"My long hair offended her." Maggie's eyes narrowed with resentment.

"She forbids anyone from copying her style." Nora rolled her eyes.

"Yes, so red dresses and long black hair are forbidden in this castle," Lizzy added.

"But it's not your fault you were born with long black hair." Alina frowned at Maggie, for the first time ever sympathizing with the girl.

"Well if that's the case she should cut Lord Tristan's hair too," Kat said with a completely straight and unamused face, that for a moment Alina thought she was being serious. It was only when Maggie burst into laughter, followed by Lizzy's and Nora's giggles, that she realized it was a joke.

Alina laughed along with the girls who had once been her enemies, and their loud laughter had caused Victor to start wailing.

"Oh the poor little thing!" Lizzy cooed.

"Did we disturb him?" Maggie pouted.

"I guess you did," Alina chuckled while she rocked Victor gently within her arms.

Maggie shifted closer, and her fingers touched the boy's cheeks, gently caressing them. Alina stiffened while she still kept her arms drawn protectively around Victor, though she tried not to show Maggie any hint of distrust. Maggie and Sophia might be enemies, but Alina was still not sure if that was reason enough for her to trust Maggie.

Victor cried louder, and Alina had to change his position, breaking Maggie's touch.

"I think he needs to feed," Alina said with a formal smile.

"Oh!" Maggie straightened herself and took a step backwards, apparently taking the hint. "Well, we're not going to disturb you any longer, we'll be leaving now." She smiled. "And if you need anything please do call for me!"

"And me too!" Lizzy smiled stupidly.

"Let's go now girls." Maggie grabbed Lizzy's hand and turned around, followed by Nora.

"That was awkward," Alina said as the three girls left the room, and Victor had grown quiet as he started feeding.

"It was indeed," Kat agreed.

"Do you think I should trust her?"

"I think you should be careful. While I am not completely surprised that she would team up with you against Sophia, I wouldn't trust she won't betray you with the first opportunity if her interests changed."

Alina looked ahead, pondering Kat's words.

"Anyway, I'll go check if lunch is ready yet. Is there something in particular you wish to eat?"

"Check if there are any strawberries, and –" Alina paused as the door swung open, and her heart thumped as she found Tristan entering the room. A wide smile broke on her face, though she was not sure if she were happy to see him, or because she was happy to see that he had brought Merina along.

Alina had not seen Merina since Alexander's incident. And with Sophia feeding the little girl lies about her, she knew she had little chance to gain the girl's love once more. But perhaps with Tristan back, things might change. Perhaps Victor would bring them close again.

"How's my little boy doing?" Tristan smiled as he walked to her and bent to land a kiss on Victor's forehead, with Merina still in his arms. Then he turned to kiss Alina's lips.

Merina whimpered, and squirmed, obviously not happy to be there.

"Hello Meri," Alina said with a hopeful smile, though she knew what to expect. Merina only turned her face away against her father's chest.

"Come on Meri, what did we say?"

"I don't want to," the girl whimpered.

"He's your little brother, just look at him," Tristan said.

Alina felt a stab to her heart and tears stung her eyes. Apparently Sophia had not only succeeded in turning Merina against her, but she had also turned the girl against her new born brother. A mere newborn who was not yet a day old. He did not deserve to be hated! Most of all, he did not deserve to be hated by his own sister, a mere five year old child at that. Alina had seen a lot of evil in her life, but Sophia was truly the most evil of them all.

"Look, there. He's cute isn't he?" Tristan cooed, and Alina noticed that during her loss in thought, Merina had already turned towards Victor and was now watching him with caution.

"He's so little," Merina mumbled, still shying away within Tristan's embrace.

"Yes he's a baby, just one day old! Look at his hand." Tristan reached out for Victor's hand, and the tiny fingers started curling around his huge thumb.

"His hand is so little!" Merina exclaimed, her earlier mistrust now slowly fading as the small infant had caught her interest.

"What do you think? Do you like him?"

"Mhm..." She nodded timidly.

"He's your little brother, so you have to take care of him you know?" Tristan said. "And then when he grows older he will be a great knight and he will take care of you too."

"Alright..." she mumbled, before she stretched out a hesitant hand and touched Victor's face. "He's so soft," she giggled. "Can I carry him? Like Misha!"

Tristan laughed out while Alina frowned in confusion.

"Misha, her doll," he explained.

"He's not a doll, Tristan," Alina chided.

"Don't worry, I'll guide her," he assured, before he reached out to take Victor and placed him within Merina's arms.

Alina smiled, her heart warming at the image before her. Tristan holding Merina as she sat in his lap, his arms protectively encasing her while she in turn held Victor protectively within her arms. For the first time, she felt like she had a family of her own. A happy little family. Even though Tristan was not her husband, and Merina was not her daughter. But Victor had brought the four of them together.

A knock at the door broke her brief yet pleasant thoughts, and as she looked up towards the intruder, her world darkened once more.

Mira walked into the room, the once plain and invisible servant, now dressed in long flowing chiffons of coral pink and sparkling gold. A reminder of how well Sophia paid her for her services.

Thin layers of gold chains with several flower pendants decorated her chest, and long gold earrings dangled from her ears, brushing against her neck. Pink rouge painted her lips, matching her dress, and deep black lined her green eyes. Her short brown curls had grown into soft waves, teasing her bare shoulders, with a few thin braids pulled at each side and gathered at the back of her head.

Alina clenched her jaw and glared at Mira. Mira turned her eyes away, deep unease showing on her face. She cleared her throat as she approached them.

"My Lord, I have come to take Lady Merina," she said.

"And why in the heavens would you do that?" Tristan looked up at her with a raised eyebrow, further intimidating her.

"It's the wish of Her Highness, my lord."

"Well go tell Her Highness that Merina is not going anywhere."

"But my lord, Her Highness will get mad at me and... and..." Mira stammered as Tristan shot her a long stare, as if daring her to say another word.

"You will go to Her Highness, and you will tell her that Lord Tristan does not wish to give Merina back at the moment. I am sure she will understand, and she will not get mad at you."

"Y... Yes my lord, of course..." she stammered before she turned to Alina. "Alina... umm...how are you?"

But Alina did not respond, and she only looked back at Mira with an unnerving stare.

"I... I have something... for you," Mira continued in a shaky voice. "I didn't get the chance... to congratulate you yet, so... here." She stretched out her hand, presenting a small wooden box. "It's... a gift... from me."

"Was that Sophia's idea? So you can get back on my side and regain my trust? So you would go and snitch on me again!" Alina shouted, scaring Victor who started crying.

"I swear that was not what happened!" Mira cried. "I did not snitch on you."

"Then how did Sophia know that Alexander and I were at the inner courtyard?"

"It was just a coincidence."

"A coincidence! Was it also a coincidence that you were the only one who knew we would be there at that specific time? And a coincidence that she had all her guards and ladies in waiting ready behind her?"

"Please Alina, you have to believe me. I have nothing to do with what happened to Alexander!"

"That's enough!" Tristan interfered, his firm voice bringing both girls to silence, while Victor's wails grew louder. He turned to Mira with a cold stare. "You go back to your Mistress, now."

"Yes my lord," Mira sobbed, before she turned and hurried away, her coral chiffon skirts ruffling behind her.

"What is going on Alina?" Tristan asked, while Alina held a wailing Victor up and patted his back to calm him down. "And what does she have to do with Alexander?"

Alina sighed, not sure where to begin. She drew her arms closer around Victor and took in a deep breath. She looked at Merina who still lay in her father's arms, and as the girl looked back at her, Alina's heart ached anew as she saw a trace of mistrust still lingering in those round grey eyes.

"Sophia had taken them all away from me," Alina muttered.

"Them?" Tristan frowned at her in confusion.

"Alexander, and Mira... and Merina!" She looked up at Tristan with determination.

Well he had asked, and she was going to tell him everything.

She was going to tell him everything he wanted to know, and everything he didn't want to know...

***************

How did you feel about Maggie's behavior? Do you think she's being honest with Alina?

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