Alexei Romanov
Royal
His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
Posts: 3,550
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Jul 15, 2010 21:49:59 GMT -5
The sleep I had thought to get had never come, but that wasn’t a surprise. Unable to spend any more time lying in bed, I rose and dressed, gathering my things.
In the kitchen I had a cold breakfast and gathered my provisions as well. Then out to the stable where I saddled my mount and settled the packs into place.
I led him out into the courtyard, our breath mingling to form clouds in the still dark air. I swung up into the saddle and looked at the house once more; saying another goodbye to my brothers though this one was silent. With gentle pressure from my knees, I urged my horse forward, letting him find his pace while he warmed up.
Still in the city, I couldn’t let my mind go blank; there was too much that needed focusing on. That meant I couldn’t stop thinking of Sabrina. I ached for the feel of her in my arms, the feel of her breath against my skin as she slept within their circle. Humans had an endless capacity for pain it seemed, one would think I was numb by now, but I wasn’t even close. I hurt down to the marrow of my bones, the loss of her something I would never be rid of.
And now I was leaving my home for a second time and I had nowhere to go truly. I was pointed towards Ruskovia because there was nowhere else for me, but that wasn’t home now either. I had no place in either world, no place anywhere. My father would brand me a failure and I doubt he would trust me with a unit of new soldiers, much less put me at the head of war parties like I had been. Vlad would snicker and snipe, having one more thing to use to show his superiority over me.
My mount and I passed through the white walls, sleepy guards looking at me with surprise, but not stopping me. Once outside the walls, I felt tears in my eyes again, and I let them fall unheeded. I thought if the little ruined house I had been going to rebuild for Sabrina, the plans rolled up and locked in my desk at the house. That was going to be the place we escaped to for time to be ourselves, to be with each other.
She would find someone to rebuild it for her, I had no doubt. Gathering up the reins, I urged my horse to a faster pace, unwilling to die at a slower pace.
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Fydor Romanov
Royal
His Highness, Prince of Ruskovia, House Romanov *Voted Member of Best Storyline 2010*
Husband to Lessandrie de Mereliot; youngest child of Nikolai and Ivana Romanov
Posts: 1,170
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Post by Fydor Romanov on Jul 25, 2010 14:18:45 GMT -5
I had spoken to Lessa late into the night, and so when morning came I was a bit slower to rise. Once I was up, I discovered Alexei had already left. I cursed and hurriedly packed. I left everything frivolous except my D'Angeline dictionary. I even had to leave Lessa's painting behind, but I knew that I would be coming back in the City of Elua one day soon to fetch it.
Once on the road, I thought about the night before. Lessa had understood my want to support Alexei, and had promised to come visit me and my family in Ruskovia in the summer. I just knew that Father would like her. He had to like her, for I was going to be with her whether he supported me or not. By next winter, Lessa and I would be married and snuggling up together before a fire. That was the dream that kept me warm as I rode to catch up with my brother.
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Alexei Romanov
Royal
His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
Posts: 3,550
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Jul 25, 2010 18:55:45 GMT -5
Dusk was beginning to fall by the time I gave in and decided to make camp. I found a protected spot in the lee of a hill and began to make camp. I hobbled my mount and collected wood for a fire. I’d done a bit of hunting while I road and had a couple of hares to roast. I skinned them and set them on a stick to roast as I them as I then set about setting up the rest of my camp.
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Fydor Romanov
Royal
His Highness, Prince of Ruskovia, House Romanov *Voted Member of Best Storyline 2010*
Husband to Lessandrie de Mereliot; youngest child of Nikolai and Ivana Romanov
Posts: 1,170
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Post by Fydor Romanov on Jul 26, 2010 0:14:35 GMT -5
It was nearing nightfall and I still hadn't caught up to my brother. He must have been flying. But I came around a hill, and my mount's ears pricked up. I looked around again, and spotted Alexei's horse hobbled through the trees. I smiled and headed over. "Brother?" I called in Ruskovian so that I didn't startle him.
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Alexei Romanov
Royal
His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
Posts: 3,550
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Jul 26, 2010 1:53:43 GMT -5
I’d heard the approach of hooves and was standing in the shadow cast by a tree when I heard Fydor’s voice.
“Fydor?” I replied, stepping into the light but not yet sheathing my sword.
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Fydor Romanov
Royal
His Highness, Prince of Ruskovia, House Romanov *Voted Member of Best Storyline 2010*
Husband to Lessandrie de Mereliot; youngest child of Nikolai and Ivana Romanov
Posts: 1,170
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Post by Fydor Romanov on Jul 27, 2010 22:31:23 GMT -5
"Aye it's me," I replied, keeping my mount calm as my brother appeared from behind a tree. "Mind some company?"
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Alexei Romanov
Royal
His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
Posts: 3,550
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Jul 28, 2010 0:00:55 GMT -5
“Not at all,” I said, smiling and sheathing my sword. I moved closer to him. “The rabbits almost done.”
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Fydor Romanov
Royal
His Highness, Prince of Ruskovia, House Romanov *Voted Member of Best Storyline 2010*
Husband to Lessandrie de Mereliot; youngest child of Nikolai and Ivana Romanov
Posts: 1,170
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Post by Fydor Romanov on Jul 29, 2010 1:05:04 GMT -5
"Good, I'm starving. You didn't even give me time to eat lunch, the way you were riding," I said with a good-natured, teasing smile as I swung down and led my horse over to Alexei's.
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Alexei Romanov
Royal
His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
Posts: 3,550
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Jul 29, 2010 1:18:28 GMT -5
“I’ve a long road ahead,” I replied. “Besides, you should have packed something to eat in the saddle.”
I chuckled and moved towards the fire. “What are you doing out here anyway?”
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Fydor Romanov
Royal
His Highness, Prince of Ruskovia, House Romanov *Voted Member of Best Storyline 2010*
Husband to Lessandrie de Mereliot; youngest child of Nikolai and Ivana Romanov
Posts: 1,170
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Post by Fydor Romanov on Jul 29, 2010 18:36:59 GMT -5
"I'm going with you," I replied simply as I unloaded and hobbled my mount. "One last visit home."
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Alexei Romanov
Royal
His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
Posts: 3,550
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Jul 30, 2010 0:27:41 GMT -5
“What about staying with Lessa?” I asked, unable to hide my surprise. “I mean, I am more than glad for your company, but what about her?”
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Fydor Romanov
Royal
His Highness, Prince of Ruskovia, House Romanov *Voted Member of Best Storyline 2010*
Husband to Lessandrie de Mereliot; youngest child of Nikolai and Ivana Romanov
Posts: 1,170
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Post by Fydor Romanov on Jul 30, 2010 23:04:02 GMT -5
"She's going to come up once travel is easier, meet the family," I explained. "I was planning on bringing her up for a visit this summer anyway. Then I can say I did my duty, marry her, and never look back."
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Alexei Romanov
Royal
His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
Posts: 3,550
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Jul 30, 2010 23:09:09 GMT -5
“Then I am very glad for the company,” I said, smiling and clapping him on the shoulder before moving to the fire and checking the rabbit. “Perfect.”
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Fydor Romanov
Royal
His Highness, Prince of Ruskovia, House Romanov *Voted Member of Best Storyline 2010*
Husband to Lessandrie de Mereliot; youngest child of Nikolai and Ivana Romanov
Posts: 1,170
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Post by Fydor Romanov on Aug 1, 2010 2:20:49 GMT -5
I laid down the saddlebags by the fire so that I could have something to lean against. "Yes well, the City wouldn't have been the same without you."
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Alexei Romanov
Royal
His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
Posts: 3,550
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Aug 1, 2010 14:30:45 GMT -5
His mention of the City sobered me and my smile faded.
“I’m going to miss it,” I said softly as I took out a knife and cut the rabbit away from the sticks, laying the pieces on a metal plate I had brought with me.
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Fydor Romanov
Royal
His Highness, Prince of Ruskovia, House Romanov *Voted Member of Best Storyline 2010*
Husband to Lessandrie de Mereliot; youngest child of Nikolai and Ivana Romanov
Posts: 1,170
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Post by Fydor Romanov on Aug 1, 2010 22:22:49 GMT -5
He began to serve up the rabbit, and I fetched my bowl from my packs. "Maybe you could come back for a visit when Lessa and I marry," I suggested, then stopped myself. "I'm sorry, this is probably the last thing you want to talk about."
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Alexei Romanov
Royal
His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
Posts: 3,550
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Aug 2, 2010 2:00:42 GMT -5
"I am so happy for you Fydor, I really am; you and Lessa both. I will never come back here though, I can't," I said, feeling the pain beginning to rise again. I closed my eyes and fought against it.
"I will always love her with all my heart," I whispered. "I can't be where she is.'
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Fydor Romanov
Royal
His Highness, Prince of Ruskovia, House Romanov *Voted Member of Best Storyline 2010*
Husband to Lessandrie de Mereliot; youngest child of Nikolai and Ivana Romanov
Posts: 1,170
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Post by Fydor Romanov on Aug 2, 2010 12:15:31 GMT -5
The only part of Ruskovia that I missed was my mother and sisters. I wasn't really going back to visit them. This was why I was going back. My hand went to his shoulder, and I gripped him bracingly. "I understand," I said lowly. "We Romanovs are never fickle."
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Alexei Romanov
Royal
His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
Posts: 3,550
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Aug 2, 2010 15:22:32 GMT -5
Opening my eyes, I gave him a sad smile, but gripped his arm in thanks.
“Who would have ever guessed that as little as I wanted to come here in the first place, I would be leaving my heart here when I returned home,” I said, chuckling in a pained sort of way. Then I shook my head.
“Enough already with that, tell me more about your wedding. Are you having it in the City or in Eisande?”
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Fydor Romanov
Royal
His Highness, Prince of Ruskovia, House Romanov *Voted Member of Best Storyline 2010*
Husband to Lessandrie de Mereliot; youngest child of Nikolai and Ivana Romanov
Posts: 1,170
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Post by Fydor Romanov on Aug 3, 2010 21:36:09 GMT -5
"Marsilikos, I think," I replied to his question. "Lessa wants her father and brother to be there. She's looking after most of the details, I don't much care if we invite the right dignitaries as long as we get married. I would have preferred an earlier date, but we picked early autumn so that I could take her to meet Father first." I didn't mention that I was going to ask Alexei to be my best man, he had made it clear that he wasn't coming back to Terre d'Ange and I didn't want him to feel any worse about the whole situation.
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Alexei Romanov
Royal
His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
Posts: 3,550
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Aug 3, 2010 22:03:16 GMT -5
“You know mother is going to push you to get married at the family chapel,” I said, chuckling as I set the plate of sliced rabbit between us.
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Fydor Romanov
Royal
His Highness, Prince of Ruskovia, House Romanov *Voted Member of Best Storyline 2010*
Husband to Lessandrie de Mereliot; youngest child of Nikolai and Ivana Romanov
Posts: 1,170
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Post by Fydor Romanov on Aug 10, 2010 12:41:15 GMT -5
I grinned to hear him chuckle. "I have no doubt," I replied. "Maybe she'll be happy with a compromise of a blessing in the family chapel. I don't think Lessa would mind that."
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Alexei Romanov
Royal
His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
Posts: 3,550
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Aug 10, 2010 16:39:47 GMT -5
“That would be very nice,” I said, nodding and taking a piece of rabbit. I took a bite, enjoying the juiciness and flavor.
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Fydor Romanov
Royal
His Highness, Prince of Ruskovia, House Romanov *Voted Member of Best Storyline 2010*
Husband to Lessandrie de Mereliot; youngest child of Nikolai and Ivana Romanov
Posts: 1,170
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Post by Fydor Romanov on Aug 11, 2010 17:25:33 GMT -5
I speared a slice of rabbit on my belt knife to transfer it over to my bowl. "I haven't told them yet," I admitted after we ate in silence for a moment. "It was going to be in my next letter home."
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Alexei Romanov
Royal
His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
Posts: 3,550
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Aug 13, 2010 18:19:43 GMT -5
“You could always send one ahead if you want to be spared having to break the news in person,” I said, smiling at him between bites.
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Fydor Romanov
Royal
His Highness, Prince of Ruskovia, House Romanov *Voted Member of Best Storyline 2010*
Husband to Lessandrie de Mereliot; youngest child of Nikolai and Ivana Romanov
Posts: 1,170
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Post by Fydor Romanov on Aug 19, 2010 22:19:54 GMT -5
"I'm hoping that Father will enjoy the thought of getting rid of me to a worthy candidate," I replied, grinning but no longer able to really mean it.
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Alexei Romanov
Royal
His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
Posts: 3,550
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Aug 20, 2010 12:19:19 GMT -5
“He will be proud of you,” I said, looking up from my rabbit and at him. “I am proud of you Fydor.” I didn’t mention that my failure would only highlight the success that Fydor had managed. I knew he loved Lessa, and that was why he was marrying her, not to please father.
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Fydor Romanov
Royal
His Highness, Prince of Ruskovia, House Romanov *Voted Member of Best Storyline 2010*
Husband to Lessandrie de Mereliot; youngest child of Nikolai and Ivana Romanov
Posts: 1,170
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Post by Fydor Romanov on Aug 21, 2010 12:41:25 GMT -5
I paused in eating, his words having a profound impact on me. Of all my family, Alexei's opinion was the one I valued most. "Thank you brother," I said, though the words seemed pitiful.
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Alexei Romanov
Royal
His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
Posts: 3,550
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Aug 21, 2010 23:07:44 GMT -5
Smiling, I reached over and gripped his shoulder. “I am proud of you for many things, Fydor. I am honored to be your brother.”
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Fydor Romanov
Royal
His Highness, Prince of Ruskovia, House Romanov *Voted Member of Best Storyline 2010*
Husband to Lessandrie de Mereliot; youngest child of Nikolai and Ivana Romanov
Posts: 1,170
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Post by Fydor Romanov on Aug 23, 2010 18:17:39 GMT -5
I reached up and clasped his lower arm with a smile. "It is my honour Alexei, truly. You have taught me so much. You gave me the courage to leave Ruskovia, and find a better life for myself."
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