The arrival of the Romanovs

[Alexei Romanov]

My new carriage seemed vastly empty with just me inside, but I knew once my brothers and sisters arrived it would be pleasantly full. Designed and painted in the Ruskovian style, the Romanov crest emblazoned on the side, it drew a lot of attention as we pulled into the harbor.

The ship bearing most of my family was set to arrive soon, and I’d been sure to get their early. The carriage for their baggage drew to a stop behind us as I stepped out and stretched my legs. It felt good to be able to walk around a bit, the last part of the trip from the City had been a bit long.

I’d arranged better lodgings on the return trip, not wanting to tax my siblings after their already long journey.

Looking out over the water, I saw the sails of a ship approaching and nearly shouted with joy when I saw the Romanov crest flying from the flag. I had missed my family and they were finally here.

[Olga Romanova]

I couldn't say without falsehood that I enjoyed the sea voyage; luckily I'd managed to keep from being seasick, but even a royal ship could pall after a few days.

I stood on the deck for our arrival, ignoring the heat in the air as I looked over the landscape. So much green it almost burned the eye, and at home it wasn't quite out of the winter season yet! With as much dignity and little irritation as I could muster I waited for the docking to be completed, then went to look to my brothers and sisters while our bags were being unpacked from the holds. I'd seen the carriage and Alexei beside it, and smiled with a wave, but there was things to be done, and likely he'd understand that.

[Sergei Romanov]

Ugh, gods.

Give me a bronc any day, wheeling and whirling, bucking, rearing, trying to unseat you til you were flying ass over applecart through the air. I'd have preferred being slapped again by the girl who fancied me, when I'd told her I was leaving for Terre d'Ange. Hells, give me the damn plague - anything but this boat. I was sure I was as green as I felt, able to keep less than half of anything down that I ate, even now at the end of the voyage.

I was leaning over the railing when a shout that the dock was sighted came, and I looked up eagerly, anxious to be off this gods be damned vessel. Another hour went by before we were docked and able to get down back onto land again. I gave Olga a grin as I hurridly made my way down, as happy to see Alexei as I was to leave my motion sickness behind.

[Fydor Romanov]

I came up to the deck when I heard the docking process begin, only to see Sergei sprint for solid ground. I grinned. My poor brother had been green the entire trip, but I had loved it. Who could grow bored when you could get in the way of the sailors?

I spotted Alexei’s figure on the shore and grinned again. He was decked out in D’Angeline finery already. I waved with another grin, then almost walked into Olga. “Need a hand with anything sister?” I asked, more than cheerfully. I was itching to go down and greet Alexei, but I had promised myself that I would look after my sisters.

[Olga Romanova]

Sergei- poor brother, none of the remedies I'd suggested had worked, and I understood completely his wish to be away from the ship. Fydor's question, though, made me smile and I shook my head, knowing he was likely quite eager to be away as well. "Thank you for inquiring, brother, but it's only a matter of rounding up our sisters now," I told him honestly. "Please, go down and convey my greetings to Alexei for me- and pass on Mother and Father's words as well."

[Svetlana Romanova]

I was reading in my berth when the call came that coast was in sight, and I’d been so focused in my discovery of Pucsyn’s new writings, that I had to finish my page before I went on deck. In truth, I was glad to see the journey over, for even if I hadn’t been sick, I longed for more open spaces than the berth of a ship, no matter how luxurious our father the Tsar’s fleet was.

I knew my brothers and sisters would not wait to be on deck – we were all eager to see Aliocha once more, and all eager to set foot on land, for one reason or another. I was eager too, but I wanted to do this right, so I set the book down after I’d finished the prologue of Ruslan and Ludmila, and took my shawl, for the marine breeze could be perhaps cool.

I made my way to deck, and found Sergei already hopping off, my heart leaping in relief to find him full of life. No doubt he would find pleasure in the D’Angeline horses, no matter how different from ours they could be. No doubt, he was glad to have finally arrived.

It was with wide eyes, though, that I met the coast of Azzalle, and for a moment I stayed in admiration, for it seemed to be straight out of the poetry I’d just set aside.

On seashore far a green oak towers,
And to it with a gold chain bound,
A .learned cat whiles away the hours
By walking slowly round and round.
To right he walks, and sings a ditty;
To left he walks, and tells a tale....

I smiled, wrapping my arms around my self, and waved at Alexei, taking a moment to admire the scenery before I strolled over to where Olga and Fydor stood. Still, Antsalia had not appeared, and I wondered if she’d been lost in the dreams of her music.

[Fydor Romanov]

Olga knew my mind immediately, so I kissed her on the cheek. "Thanks Olga," I told her with a smile. Lana came just as I was heading to the gangplank, so she got a grin before I went down to see Alexei.

[Alexei Romanov]

I returned waves and noticed Sergei and Fydor disembarking first.

Grinning wide, I stood near the end of the gangplank, arms extended wide. “Dabró pazhálavat’ bratz!” welcome brothers I called out loudly, my voice booming across the dock even with the noise of the ship being unloaded.

My man was already directing the transfer of the luggage, so I paid it no mind.

[Svetlana Romanova]

I returned Fedya’s happy smile, watching him leave, and went to stand by my sister’s side. Let the men find each other first, gather us women together, nothing wrong with that. I stayed quiet a moment, smiling, taking in the new weather, the new air.

“I will stay with you, until Alia comes, if that is well with you, sister?” I asked softly, letting my voice almost sing the gentler offer.

I could tell it in her air, she was focused on the task, ever the one to care for all of us. I was just behind her in age – if it was anyone’s duty to second her, it was mine. I didn’t voice more, for she knew I was at her disposal for sharing her tasks. Across the distance, Alexei’s voice carried our native tongue to my ears, and I smiled. He never forgot where he came from, and that was well.

[Olga Romanova]

Svetlana was obviously happy to be here- and not just because of our kin. Perhaps this was the land of her dreams, though having never seen it I couldn't be sure. "Of course," I replied in a steady tone. "I don't think it should be terribly long in any case, and then we can go down and see what Older Brother has planned for our return trip."

Gods, but Lana has a shawl on- and it was nearly sweltering! Well, she'd always taken chill more easily than the rest of us. "If she insists on making us wait too much longer we'll go and find her."

[ant]

I was beneath deck when we docked, as I'd been most of the trip. Unlike Sergei I's had no physical problems with being on the ship, my sea legs came quickly and the rocking never made me nauseated. But a strange discomfort had come over me as soon as the coastline disappeared and it had stayed with me, to a greater or lesser extent ever since. Surrounded as we were, by nothing but the vast waters I felt at once trapped and like I had nothing to anchor me to the earth... or rather, the ship.

In any respect, I wasn't going to risk coming above expecting land only to be confronted by the sea, so I waited until I was sure we'd made landfall before emerging. With my violin in hand I came topside, and had a short lived moment of relief to see solid land, before relief was quickly swept away by amazement. So much green, for the first time the Spring movement of the Four Seasons seemed just as powerful as the Winter.

I smiled to see my brothers on the shore, as I made my way over to my sisters, "Gods, Lana, are you not dying of the heat?" I asked, suddenly having to make a conscious effort not to tug at the neck of my dress. Perhaps Summer was a more apt tune.

[Svetlana Romanova]

I nodded at Olga’s words – she spoke the words of reason, as usual. “I don’t think it will be necessary,” I observed quietly, seeing the familiar figure of Antsalia coming about. Of course, her violin in hand – as indispensable to her as my books were to me – that made me smile softly in understanding, but I had to force myself to keep smiling when her first words came forth. She meant no harm, she’d just never learned to be as well composed as Olya. I just prayed she didn’t address the nobles of this land the way she did me, for it would reflect poorly on the family.

“Darling sister,” I replied softly, “I should think I would not bear the shawl if I didn’t feel the chill of the wind.” With that, I turned to my inner world, letting Olga deal with Antsalia. This day, I wanted to enjoy the wonders of this new place, and rejoice in finding my brother again, in Sergei’s relief from the torment of the seas, in us all being reunited. The thought made me smile softly. I held no grudges.

[Sergei Romanov]

Thank the gods! The moment my foot hit solid ground, I felt better mentally, even if my stomach sloshed as if it wanted to empty itself again.

I closed the distance to Alexei with long strides before clasping his forearm to my palm, my other arm going around his shoulders in a sweeping hug. "It's been a long time, brother," I greeted him with as I stepped back, grinning despite the settling churn of my belly.

[Alexei Romanov]

“Far too long,” I agreed, smiling wide. It was so good to see them again. As much as I thought I’d missed them, I didn’t realize how deep it ran until seeing them again.

“From the look of you, I think perhaps we’ve no worries about you running off to join the d’Angeline navy,” I teased, unable to let the peaked look Sergei sported go uncommented on.

[Olga Romanova]

When faces with adversity, even in the form of misunderstanding, Lana ran to her worlds and dreams; she was the escapist of us, and though I didn't understand it quite I accepted it, though I sighed inwardly and gave Salia a sympathetic look, for I was near to burning alive myself. "Once we're on land the breeze should dissipate," I replied in a calm tone and with a pleasant smile. "In fact, we should be heading down now, to speak with our brothers. Please, do come; I would like to be in something that moves in an understandable fashion on wheels as soon as possible."

[ant]

"Well then you have my envy, love." I said dryly even as Lana wrapped her worlds about her like a wholly other shawl.

"Yes, gladly." I said to Olga with a smile of agreement, waiting to follow my elder sisters off the ship. I quickly spotted Keesa's crate, already on the shore and was glad I'd be able to let him loose at last. He'd been kept crated for the vast majority of the long jorney, to keep him out of the sailors' way and to keep him from scrapping with the ships ratting dog. Though by the logic of the former surely Fydor should have spent the trip in a box.

[Fydor Romanov]

I hugged Alexei, pounding him on the back. "Gods it's good to see you again brother." I said with a wide grin. "Poor Sergei did indeed lose the battle with his sea legs. He's been rather entertaining the entire trip, in a sad sort of way."

I gazed about the new land in the grip of spring already. It was marvelous.

[Svetlana Romanova]

Silently, I waited for Olga to move. She was our lead, the oldest of us – I’d follow her as protocol dictated. Besides, she and Aliocha had a special bond, and he was likely more than eager to see her, to see us. The gentle smile on my face was not erased by any further comment – I’d barely registered my sisters’ words, save Olga’s invitation to disembark, which I wasn’t displeased with in the least.

It was time to see something else than a never changing berth. I couldn’t help but be amazed at the coast and how green it was, how the waters were calm. I’d heard that Terre d’Ange was diversified, and the thought filled me with wonder.

A small shiver crept up my spine, and the distant thought that I may have caught a fever floated in my mind before I dismissed it. I preferred to wait before I became alarmist.

[Olga Romanova]

Everyone seemed to be ready, with Antsalia looking eagerly down and Svetlana silent beside us- time to depart, and I was eager to, but I also didn't wish to come back on board for any reason, including something being forgotten. Once the ship set sail it would have to be sent for, and given the varying weather between home and here it could be as much as nearly a year before the chance came for another ship to bring it back.

Looking around slowly I then took careful, graceful steps toward the plank that led down to the shore, hand resting on the railing for balance in my skirts and heels. I was never unnerved by heights, but I was still glad to be on land after the swaying of the walkway with only open ocean underneath it.

Once before Alexei I curtsied respectfully, but quickly, and then rose with a smile. "Greetings after a long parting, Brother," I told him with a wry look that showed my humor. "I am glad to see you are well- though far too thin, I think."

[Svetlana Romanova]

Once Olga had started her descent, I followed, careful not to cause the gangplank to wobble. I wasn’t overly concerned with balance myself – skating had ensure I had more of it than less, but in the event it wasn’t the case for my sisters, I didn’t want to be a disturbance. I gathered my robes about me, lifting them delicately to render the exercise easier, though careful not to show more than the ankle of my boots, for it would have been unseemly.

My feet touched the ground and I felt a strange sort of relief I hadn’t quite expected, though I also felt a strange sway, as though the earth was moving more than the sea. I took a breath and stifled it all, walking to my brother and curtsying, my smile sincere and my eyes full of mirth, though for now, I stayed silent, letting my elders speak before I did.

[ant]

As near on Lana's heels as I could be without crowding her, or even seeming to, I made my way down the ramp with my skirts held very slightly aloft so I could see the tips of my toes as I took each careful step. Such actions were second nature to us, and I noticed each of my sisters take some variation of them. And then, for no particular reason, I wondered how my brothers might fare in heavy skirts and slender heels, and smiled slightly.

The I looked up and actually saw my brothers, the three of them, and my smile grew. Stepping up beside Lana I too curtsied, smoothly setting my violin on the solid earth as I did. Rising I waited, silent and patient, for my turn which, as the youngest daughter, was always last.

[Alexei Romanov]

I laughed deeply at Fydor’s commented after having returned his hug with equal enthusiasm. Ah gods I had missed them.

“I’m certain is was all just an act for your entertainment, Fydor,” I said with a grin.

Then the girls were upon us and I turned my smile to them.

“Greetings sisters, and welcome to the land of the angels,” I said, smiling as I bowed to them. “Though I must say the land was misnamed before you all arrived.” My spirits were too high to not continue the playful banter. “As for my waistline, it’s the lack of Ruskovian cooking that has me wilting away. You should see the food they eat here, lovely but not enough to sustain a child through a cool autumn day.”

[Olga Romanova]

"Well, perhaps that is something a sister can remedy without too much trouble," I replied with a wider smile, glad to see my dear older brother. "When we reach your home, is it possible I could speak with whichever cook you have employed as to such, provided it isn't stepping on your toes with regards to the meals you've informed them to cook?"

[Alexei Romanov]

“Olga, when we get to the home I have purchased for us, you have my permission to run it as you would any estate back in Ruskovia,” I told her, smiling.

I focused my attentions on Lana and Salia for a moment. “What, all this time and I don’t even get hugs from you two?” I teased.

[Svetlana Romanova]

Salia and I were standing by our brothers and Olga, and I knew to keep quiet, to wait for my older sister to be done fussing over Alexei’s regimen. I did agree – he seemed a little bit thinner, but seeing as I was myself a source of undeserved anguish when it came to dinner, I expected perhaps there were other reasons – the weather, mayhap, or additional exercise? Life here, no doubt, was very different from that which we were used to back home.

It seemed so strange to think of back home. I knew I missed it already, though I was curious of my new surroundings. A tinge of sadness to complement the joy of our reunion, and it made it all the more sweeter. I’d felt myself blushing when Alexei called us girls angels, though I knew it likely wasn’t for me – I had too little to account for, in truth. Still, I smiled, and spared Salia a friendly glance as we both waited. When Alexei gave us leave, though, I didn’t wait and wrapped my arms around him, careful to leave space for my little sister to join in the embrace – our brother had arms wide enough for the both of us, and I never minded sharing. “Oh, I missed you, brother!” I said softly, smiling even wider if it was possible.

[ant]

I followed Lana quickly into Alexei's embrace, going high and wrapping my arms around his neck, since I was tall enough to do so. "Yes, brother. You're much too slim." I said dryly, as I squeezed him tight. Since my complete lack of feminine curves was a constant topic of discussion and source of vexation, I was certainly in no position to scold Alexei, who was still a great bear of a man, if perhaps not one ready for winter.

[Alexei Romanov]

I wrapped my arms around them, hugging them tight – though not as forcefully as I had Sergei and Fydor, for I would likely break them if I did.

“I missed you too,” I said, smiling. “And I am sure that it was all the pining I did for my family that has me so thin, I should fatten up in no time.”

Chuckling, I nodded towards the carriage. “Shall we get out of the heat and onto somewhere that you all can relax and recover?”

[Olga Romanova]

"I know I would appreciate that a good deal," I replied. "The heat is most bothersome; do they even have winter here, or does the summer merely make this place a desert of dessicated grass and barren trees?"

My hair was bound back in the signature many-banded tail I always wore, and I was glad for the breath of a breeze over the back of my neck, though I did my best to hide my growing discomfort. Later, when Alexei and I had time to speak privately, I would tell him the personal messages I'd been entrusted with.

[Alexei Romanov]

I kissed Lana and Salia on the top of their heads and then released them.

“Come,” I said, motioning them all towards the carriage, the door held open by one of my men. “I’ve arranged for rooms at the finest inn in town. We will begin the journey to the City in the morning. I thought you might all like a night on stable ground and sleep in soft beds before you began traveling again.”

[Svetlana Romanova]

Poor Olga didn’t see the beauty of the place, so unaccommodated that she was with the temperature, and inwardly, I was thankful that my body had never taken as well to the cold. Perhaps this place would be a lesser source of chills for me than our home, though I also knew that I’d not find the equivalent to my cherished Odessa in Terre d’Ange.

Nothing was ever perfect, I mused as I stepped out of Alexei’s embrace. I had smiled shyly for his kiss atop my head, and then looked at him with grateful eyes, and said softly, “Thank you, brother.” In truth, I would welcome the rocking motions of the carriage – the ground was too stable, and I felt light-headed. Soberly, I put my hands together proper as I waited by Salia for my older sister to hop in the carriage.

I looked at Sergei and Fydor, and smiled softly. One would likely enjoy the rest and the meal, while the other was fair brimming with excitement. No doubt they would be grateful as well.