- A U R O R A -

Bonding

After my dress fitting Genya had to attend to the Queen and Zoya was at training. I thought of going to Aelks or Ivan and Feydor but I knew they were busy in a meeting. Plus I really wanted to spend more time with Alina so I headed to her room. It was in the floor below mine so it didn't take long to get there. I knocked on the door gently in case she was sleeping. Not a second later the doors flew open and I was met with a sad sun summoner.
"Alina what is it?" I asked coming inside and closing the doors behind me.
She immediately clung into me sobbing into my shoulder. I held her knowing that's all she really needed right now. We sunk to the floor me still holding her. I couldn't think of anything that would calm her so I did the only thing I knew how to do I sung to her. It was the only thing I remember about my parents, anytime I was upset she would hum this song to me.
I rocked her back and forth humming softly. After a while her sobs softened and her body stopped shaking. I didn't want her to lay on the floor with me so I gently took her hands and pulled her up. She complied with it as I led her to her bed. She laid back on her pillow and I sat next to her playing with her hair.
"It's to much, it's to much," she said looking at me.
Her eyes were red and her face was puffy.
"What's to much Alina?" I asked holding her hand.
"This," she gestured to the room then herself.
"Being the sun summoner, being this world hole to destroy the fold, the pressure of failing, I failed you and I'm failing Ravka."
"How did you fail me Alina?"
"Back at the carriage Zoya was right I should have protected you. I mean I'm the sun summoner and I couldn't even protect my friends."
I smiled at the word friend, I never knew how Alina felt about me but this settled my nerves.
"No, you didn't fail me lina you're even newer to this whole grisha thing than I am and I still haven't fully settled. So I can't imagine how you feel right now."
I played with some strand of her hair noticing that it hadn't been washed for awhile. Then an idea occurred to me.
"I know what will make you feel better," I said getting up and running to the bathroom.
I turned the water to the tub on and added my favorite thing.
Bubbles.
On my first night bubbles were what made me happy so maybe they could do the same for lina.
I went back to her bed and helped her up, she looked confused at my tactics.
"Trust me on this one bubbles make everything better." I said smiling helping her take her robe off.
I turned around so she could take the rest of her clothes off and get in the tub. I heard her mutter an okay so I turned back around.
"Can I wash your hair?"
She nodded so I grabbed some shampoo and poured it in my hand. I wetted her hair before rubbing a generous amount in her hair.
She relaxed when I started to scratch her scalp and leaned into my touch. I noticed her playing with the bubbles after I finished washing her hair. Then a bright smile appeared on her face knowing that someone had cared enough to do this for her.
"You were right about the bubbles rora, they do make everything better."
"Told you, now come on let's get out before the water gets cold."

I gently combed through Alina's now dry hair and started to braid it. Then a knock came from the door. I walked over to it and was meet with Genya.
"Hello dear, will you both come with me?" She asked taking my hand in hers.
Alina came over to us and offered her hand to me, I took it so now I was the middle of the two woman.
"I wanted to show you something," Genya said walking through the halls.
Suddenly I felt Alina's hand slip away, I turned back and found her string out the window.
"It's like butter week," she said clearly remembering something.
"What's butter week?" I asked pulling Genya over to where Alina was.
"Back in Keramzin the nobles would bring carts of cheeses and pastries, orphans weren't allowed to go but me and Mal used to sneak out."
She looked at Genya and the two had a silent conversation with their eyes.
"Please Genya can I have this one thing before everything changes," Alina practically begged.
"What if someone sees you and recognizes you and Aurora what if the General finds out you left."
"Please Genya I've never seen anything like this," I asked taking Alina's side.
Genya looked down and sighed. "I'm going to regret this but fine but both of you need to change into something less recognizable."