*Two months later*

After father had regained back his strength to lead the Grisha, things changed. Council members disappeared, searches for the Saint that summoned sun were carried out.

He had met little to no resistance when taking the Ravkan throne, the biggest threat being my disapproving stare.

I looked on as people just, accepted the change. Watched as no one said anything, as no thought was spoken about the logistics of what was happening.

The grand palace was all but abandoned, its only purpose was receiving the otkazat'sya council that had to meet, refusing to use the little palace, the residence of the new tsar.

I didn't mind that those meetings were held in the grand palace, it helped bring a scence of normality to the days.

My father knew me better than to mention the possibility that I could take the title of tsarevna. Knew I would outrightly refuse, and refuse I did.

"I am not a princess," I had told a minister that had mentioned the matter once, "That is not my title, I am a soldier, a warrior and a student, the daughter of a general that just so happens to be king and that is that."

I was the youngest resident of the little palace for a while, until newly discovered Grisha started to be discovered again, my friends at Keramzin still safely hidden, but for how long? Saints I hope Luka's ride didn't crash.

I began to distance myself from my father, unable to look him straight in the eye for too long. As much as it pained me to admit it, I was scared slightly of what he'd become, in some ways he was kinder, sort of, but I could see his patience slowly fraying with evey report that came back empty.

Ravka was now thriving.

He was not.

I laid awake in my bed, unable to sleep. Its been days since we last tried, I thought to myself, it's worth a shot.

I closed my eyes and reached out searching. I could feel my father in his study, still awake at the late hour, but he wasn't who I was looking for, if I wanted to talk to him I could just walk down there.

I reached out further, looking for something, anything, then finally there, a small strand of hope. Not the light like I had wanted but something that brought me equally as much relief and joy.

I opened my eyes and almost believed I was in that stuffy little hut again, except it was different, more open and less cluttered. And there sitting hunched over a fire was someone who I hadn't know if I'd ever see again.

"Baghra," I breathed in relief.

She looked over at me and if I wasn't mistaken she looked relieved when she heard my voice. "You survived," she commented, going back to poking the fire with a stick.

"So did you," I responded stepping closer, "Luka- is he-" I trailed off.

Baghra huffed, "That boy is like a weed, a good one, blooms wherever he's put. Yes he's fine, missing home but fine."

I sighed in relief, good that was good.

"Ale- your father," Baghra started, "He felt weak- I couldn't feel him for some time, he's not- is he?"

I had never heard her sound so hopeless, "He was injured, crushed by the church and weakened from the use of merzots," her face paled ever so slightly, "But he recovered, and now he's- well you know what he is now. His plan worked."

"And the little saint, how's she taking all this," she questioned.

I had a look of confusion on me, not that she could see, "Alina?" Baghra nodded, "She- well she got away, I thought she would be with you lot."

Baghras head snapped to mine, "Escaped to where?" When I didn't answer she started mumbling to herself, the words sounding slightly foreign to me, was that ancient Ravkan?

If Alina wasn't with Baghra and Nikolai mabey she was still stuck under the church, progress on removing the rubble was going slow, who knows how much oxygen she had left.

"Rena," Baghra slowly cut through my thoughts, "Rena listen to me," my head snapped up to hers, "She's not with us, do you know where she went?"

I shook my head, "There was a trap door at the top of the alter, I didn't see much but an inferni said he saw her and Oretsev jump down it."

"Good, that's good," I heard Baghra mumble to herself, "Let's hope it leads to somewhere safe."

I couldn't hold my thoughts in any longer, "But- but what if she's still stuck down there, what if it was just some sort of safe room and their all slowly running out of air."

"Possible," Baghra said, then as if she read my mind starting to panic, "I'm sure she's fine dear," that was new, "She's a strong girl that one, and even stronger Grisha, more than she knows."

I wasn't totally assured but pretend to be convinced, even without her sight Baghra wasn't easily fooled but it seemed to do the trick.

"Now shoo," Baghra huffed, swinging her cane, "Before someone finds you and puts two and two together."

I nodded, "Alright, I guess this is goodbey then."

She laughed, "You're not going to come back?"

"Well- I uh- I didn't think you'd want me to."

She raised an eyebrow, "Contrary to popular belief I do actually enjoy your company Rena."

A small smile graced my features and I couldn't help myself, with quick steps I crossed the room and hugged her, after the initial shock passed over her she gave me a squeeze back.

Saints, I never knew it felt this good to be hugged.

"Thank you," I whispered into her shoulder.

One last small squeeze and she pushed me away, "Alright, alright, now off with you."

I stepped back, ready to return to my body, "See you later," I held in a small laugh, "Babushka."

"Why you little-" and I was gone.

The next few days after that I had a small spring to my step around the palace, although I tried to suppress it some still noticed the slight change.

"What's got you suddenly all smiley" I heard someone playfully questioned from across the room.

I was in the small lounge across from the dining hall, enjoying the warm fire and reading a book on the enormous, soft couch.

I tilted my book down to see the inferni from the night of the battle, who'd I learned was named Igor, settle into an armchair near me.

"How could you tell I was being, as you put it, 'smiley' my face was being blocked," I questioned him.

He shrugged placing a cushion on his lap, "You've been acting strange all week, well not strange, just different, happier."

"Mabey because I didn't have to see your stupid face as much," I stuck my tongue out at him jokingly and returned to my book but before I could get back to where I was the cushion that was previously resting peacefully ontop of Igors lap was now in my face.

I put down my book and looked at him, picking up the cushion that was thrown at me. Calmly I stood up and made to look like I was leaving, but instead as I passed where he was sitting I hit him over the head with it, running away from his promised backlash laughing.

We went on like that for a while throwing and hitting each other with the stuffed fabric until they were thrown everywhere.

"You know you can be very annoying," he teased as we circled each other around a coffee table.

"That she can," a cool voice echoed from the shadows. Igor straightened up, bowing respectfully as I groaned and threw a green cushion at my father standing in the doorway. He let out a small quiet chuckle as he walked over and placed it back on the couch, "If you don't mind Rena, I need to talk to you."

The sneeky little weasel, he knew I was avoiding him but I couldn't exactly outrightly refuse, let alone right infront of Igor, "Of course, just let me-"

"Leave it," he interrupted walking away, making it obvious I was to follow.

I cast a look to Igor that I hope conveyed my message of "Sorry," and followed my father to his study.

Ever the gentleman, he opened the door for me, closing it once he was inside. "You've not asked about your little friend," he started, "So I suppose that means you know what happened."

I nodded, no point in lying now, "I let him out, he was no use to you anyways."

"And then?" He questioned, "Where did he go?"

"I'm not sure," I answered honestly, "It seems I got off a stop early on that one," I cast a stare at him, he knew what happened.

"Hm," was all he had to say.

After a while I couldn't bear it, "You haven't asked either," an eyebrow raised from him, "About your mother."

He closed his eyes as if in pain.

"You can't just pretend she doesn't exist," I pressed, "Whatever lies your brain has come up with to keep out the hurt there's always going to be a small part of you that loves her," after a moment of silence, when I was sure he was listening I added, "Because she loves you too."

"It's in the past," he took a deep breath, "And none of this matters anyways, its not what I wanted to talk to you about."

"And what would that be?"

"You don't want to stay cooped up in here, correct?" I nodded, "There's a team heading out to a place called Caryeva, there's some bussiness that needs to be taken care of and they need someone small and stealthy," he looked me up and down as if I hadn't understood, "You up for it?"

I thought it over, Caryeva was near the Shu border and likely packed at this time of year with races in full swing, I looked back up to him, "When do I leave?"

Ahhhhhhh hey guys, omg I can't believe this is the last chapter.

No need to worry I have decided that I WILL be continuing with Rena into Ruin and Rising (hence the slight cliffhanger) but unfortunately that probably won't have as steady an update schedule and won't be released until I get my summer holidays from school.

To everyone whose been here from the start (you know who you are) thank you so much, you guys are the real ones, and to the readers who joined a bit later or even just now I love you guys to the moon and back aswell!!

When I uploaded the first chapter of this on a whim I was in the middle of an online English class, bored in lockdown and new to the Grishaverse, thinking I'd be lucky of about 50 people to read the mess I uploaded. Now I'm back to in person classes, an absolute Grishaverse fanatic and we're (as I'm writing this) sitting on 66.5k reads in total, around 2.5k votes and just over 3k comments. That absolutely blows my mind.

You people have been nothing but supportive of me and my story and I can't wait to continue it on into the next book. Just as an FYI when I do start to upload Rena's next work I will update this story so if you put it in your archives it won't be cluttering up your library but you'll still get a notification when it'll be updated and then you'll know the next one is out :)

Also, ahhhh I get to check the completed box for the first time, this is so exciting to me!!

Once again I love you guys and I'll miss having these little convos with ye, until next time besties,