It was late in the evening and Anastasia was preparing supper for her and her father. They could never afford much so the menu was very limited. She decided to boil some potatoes and pig's feet to make a stew. Her father enjoyed her cooking. Ray wasn't the greatest cook and sometimes she wondered how he survived without her all these years.
When Anastasia was a child her parents and her were living in another village a hundred or so miles from Belfast Village. Her father went to war and she stayed behind with her mother. Ray was away for over a decade and was believed to be dead. It turns out he was just lost in the war. A few months ago Anastasia was working as a barmaid in her village when out of the blue Raymond Steele showed up after all of these years. Anastasia's mother had passed away by then so Anastasia opted to move with her father to Belfast Village where he's lived for years now.
Anastasia served the stew into two wooden bowls and handed one to her father. He thanked her and they dug in.
When they were finished and Anastasia was putting everything away her father came up behind her.
"Anastasia...I think we should leave this place. After your altercation with the King it's just a matter of time before he brings chaos to our doorstep."
Anastasia turned around to face her father.
"Where would we go? We haven't any currency."
Ray tried to give his daughter an encouraging smile.
"I can sell my forge. That should fetch for a decent price. We can travel by foot until we find a new place to settle."
Before Anastasia could reply she heard a woman's scream outside.
Ray ran to the window and peered out. He saw the King's soldiers walking through the village with torches.
"Their coming Anastasia. You need to get out of here. Their coming for you."
Ray grabbed his daughter's hand and led her out the back door of their little hut. They were running through the village now.
Anastasia looked around in shock. There were soldiers everywhere kicking in villagers doors and beating the villagers. She struggled to keep up with her Father.
Big arms engulfed Anastasia and she was ripped out of her Father's hands.
She kicked and clawed at her assailant but it was no use. He was too strong. She was being dragged away to a carriage. All she could see before she was thrown in the carriage was her father on her knees screaming her name before a soldier punched him in the face.
Anastasia was sobbing on the floor of the carriage. She could feel her tears and snot dripping all over her hands.
"Enough." A masculine voice shrieked at her.
Anastasia hesitantly looked up and met the eyes of King Christian. He was glaring at her, with a hint of a smirk on his face.
"You dare insult the King of Ireland and assume that all will be well in the world? You ignorant girl. This is no ones fault but your own."
"What are you doing to my father, to the villagers?" She sobbed into her hands again.
The King said nothing for a moment.
"If I didn't need the crops your little village produces I would burn it to the ground with everyone in it. However- they will be spared- for now."
Anastasia held onto a glimmer of hope.
Christian continued.
"As for your father. Well you will never see him again. You will never see your village again. Congratulations peasant, I officially own your body and soul."