A/N: Alright, yet another long update. Most of the fact it has to do with me being lazy. But Galinda Girl pointed out a few questions that I'm happy to clear up. I tried to make the names of the characters in the story correspond to Romanov family members. Like Olga is Olya and so on and so forth. I wasn't trying to make them French at all. Also, I noticed a typo by saying Tariana's eyes were blue. But I meant to say Malia. Ah well. On with the chapter!


Esmeralda gaped in awe at the beauty of the Court of Miracles. The colored tapestries hung from nearly every wall. The women's skirts were swirling around in a pinwheel of different colors as they danced. Some of those who were in no mood to dance socialized by the table of food, talking animatedly as they held goblets filled to the brim with cheap alcohol. In another corner, a puppet show was being put on for the Gypsy toddlers, who watched with fascination as the cloth characters acted in front of a backdrop.

"I think Alawi is watching the puppet show," Malia noted, pointing out their brother sitting cross-legged in front of the caravan putting on the show.

"I don't want to watch the puppet show! I want to dance!" Esmeralda said. Grabbing her sister's hand, she pulled her through the crowd, skipping to the beat of the musical instruments being played. Giggling as they tried not to trip on loose cobblestones, they made their way over to their older sisters and their parents as the song ended.

Olya and Tariana were whispering to one another, grinning from ear to ear. Olya was the eldest at fourteen. Sometimes Esmeralda thought that she could be bossy. But other than that, she was fine. Tariana was twelve and had blue eyes like Malia.

"What are you guys whispering about?" Esmeralda asked with interest.

"Oh nothing," Tariana said, feigning confusion. Olya snorted accidentally as she laughed. Her mother, Alondra, silenced her immediatley by a quiet glare that clearly said That noise was quite odd. A farmer would've mistaken you for a sow if you were in the vincity of a farm.

"How's my Esmeralda?" her father Niklaus asked, picking his youngest daughter up and swinging her around. He had a kind face with a bushy brown beard and big brown eyes. Esmeralda's mother, smiled as the green-eyed girl squealed giddily. Suddenly, a very majestic song was playing throughout the Court.

"Come, let us all dance now!" Olya exclaimed, practically yanking Tariana's arm off as they went into the crowd. Shrugging their shoulders, the Gypsy King, his wife, and youngest daughters soon followed after them. Esmeralda hadn't been dancing for long when a voice called to her.

"Hello, darling!"

Esmeralda caught sight of her Grandmother Maite sitting in a chair slightly elevated above the crowd. She was waving a wizened hand and beaming at her.

"Grandmamma!" she cried. Before she could reach her though, her father swung her around one last time. Oblivious to the fact that her tiara had fallen out of her hair, she hurried to Maite.

"Aren't I pretty, Grandmamma?" she asked, curtsying slightly.

"Yes, you are," Maite chuckled, tapping the young girl's nose with a gnarled finger. Reaching into a pocket that had been sewn on her skirt, she pulled out a blue necklace. Esmeralda would've looked at it in greater detail, but something caught her eye. She spotted a scrawny boy around her age, staring at her. He was biting an apple and looked like he was trying not to get caught doing something wrong.

"For me? Is it a dream catcher?" Esmeralda asked in awe. Before her grandmother could respond, an angry voice shouted "Clopin! You need to be working at the puppet show!"

"No dearest. Look closer," Maite instructed. Squinting her green eyes, Esmeralda could make out a bunch of symbols.

"It's a map!" Esmeralda gasped.

"Yes my darling. When you wear this woven band, you hold Bucharest in your hand," she said, putting it around her neck.

"But how will I know where to go?" Esmeralda asked. Her Grandmamma smiled, as if they were going to share a secret.

"Just remember this song," Maite said. And with that, she quietly began to sing:

On the wind

'Cross the sea

Hear this song and remember

Soon you'll be

Home with me

Once upon a November

"We'll be together in Bucharest one day, Esmeralda. I promise. But until then-" she paused, taking off her ring that had a green stone in it, "I want you to have this."

"Really?" Esmeralda exclaimed, unable to contain her happiness.

"Yes. I feel like I can trust this with you. And look! The stone matches your beautiful eyes too."

"Thank you!" gushed Esmeralda, hugging Maite. Inhaling her cinnamon-like scent, she was comforted. Even though they'd be miles away, Maite had promised that they'd be together again one day. Knowing that she had some of Maite's most prized possessions, Esmeralda knew she'd be able to wait.


A/N: I don't own the song "Once Upon a December", but I slightly changed it. Thanks so much for all those who reviewd and I hope you review again! And to those who haven't read this yet, hope you continue to follow the story!