With the fall of the Darkling, Carol foolishly thought that there would be time to breathe, relax, maybe take stock of the way her life had changed so much. And there had been time, but only about a week or so before new problems starting popping up. Ravka did not want to be united easily. Shu and Fjerda were metaphorically breathing down Ravka's neck. Jurda Parem was circulating wildly around the Grisha abroad. Despite her powers, at her core Carol was a soldier—and she could easily see the battle coming.
So she threw herself into her own training and overseeing the training of the Grisha in the Little Palace. There had been very little ceremony about her taking over the Second Army and she preferred it that way. New faces were arriving frequently, which was a relief from all the allies they had lost in the battle against the Darkling, but they had to get up to speed quickly.
Though as much time as she spends training, she is happy to do it compared to the battles that Nikolai faces every day in the palace. Arguing through meetings and charming diplomats has never been her forte and she's grateful that their king is well-suited to the task. The only drawback to both them being so absorbed in their work is that they don't have much time to talk anymore. After the hell they went through with the Darkling that forged such strong bonds between them, she considers Nikolai her closest friend. Once they got through the obligatory five minutes of flirting, he was an excellent listener and advisor, and always seemed to have an idea for whatever problem she was currently grappling with.
In the middle of her training session, a group of young Grisha start giggling at something behind her. When she turns her head to look, ready to tell off some servant for gawking at their practice, Carol stops and smiles instead. It's rare that the King comes down to their training sessions, but she's happy to see him.
Carol dismisses the other Grisha to a break before walking over to meet Nikolai. "What brings you out to the Little Palace, my King?"
For our own clarity: Grishaverse AU
So she threw herself into her own training and overseeing the training of the Grisha in the Little Palace. There had been very little ceremony about her taking over the Second Army and she preferred it that way. New faces were arriving frequently, which was a relief from all the allies they had lost in the battle against the Darkling, but they had to get up to speed quickly.
Though as much time as she spends training, she is happy to do it compared to the battles that Nikolai faces every day in the palace. Arguing through meetings and charming diplomats has never been her forte and she's grateful that their king is well-suited to the task. The only drawback to both them being so absorbed in their work is that they don't have much time to talk anymore. After the hell they went through with the Darkling that forged such strong bonds between them, she considers Nikolai her closest friend. Once they got through the obligatory five minutes of flirting, he was an excellent listener and advisor, and always seemed to have an idea for whatever problem she was currently grappling with.
In the middle of her training session, a group of young Grisha start giggling at something behind her. When she turns her head to look, ready to tell off some servant for gawking at their practice, Carol stops and smiles instead. It's rare that the King comes down to their training sessions, but she's happy to see him.
Carol dismisses the other Grisha to a break before walking over to meet Nikolai. "What brings you out to the Little Palace, my King?"