I DON'T OWN ANASTASIA

Summer 1914, St. Petersburg, Russian Empire.

Aleksandr had been in the Imperial army for eight long and bitter years when Germany declared war on Russia. In that time, he, Bogdan, and Lyosha had become thick as thieves. Although they didn't say it very often, they were best friends. After the Kaiser delcared war on the czar, A general mobilization was immediately enacted and millions of recruits began pouring into barracks all over Russia. There was a lot less elbow room and everyone took notice.

"Aw Hell." Lyosha swore. "A man can hardly breathe, there's so many men around here."

"I heard that the cook ran out of food and had to send men out to hunt." Aleksandr agreed.

"Come on men, we just have to bear with it until the war is over." Bogdan said, trying to remain optimistic.

"And that's another thing." Lyosha growled. "I heard that the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary got shot by a Serb. Why are we even getting involved?"

"Because Russia is allies with Serbia." Aleksandr pointed out.

"I don't care, the Serbs killed the archduke, now they have to pay up, getting us involved isn't going to change that." Aleksandr secretly agreed, it he knew better than to question the Czar. However, despite the overflowing, there was reason to be excited. The regiment had been transported to the capital of St. Petersburg to be blessed by Nicholas II himself. The thought of seeing the czar of all the Russia's in the flesh was hard to comprehend for a peasant. They had gone to the Winter palace to receive the Czar's blessing. It was an impressive structure.

"Can you believe that we're actually going to meet Czar Nicholas?" Aleksandr asked. Lyosha sighed.

"We're not going to meet Czar Nicholas. We're going to march up to him, get a small portrait of him. He'll say a few words and then we'll move on."

"Cheer up Lyosha, we'll get to see our Czar in the flesh and I heard that his daughter: Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna will be accompanying him." Bogdan pointed out.

"And I should be excited because...?" Lyosha asked in disinterest.

"Because Maria has had a fascination of soliders since she was little." Bogdan explained as he pulled out a pretty yellow flower from his coat pocket.

"However did you come by this?" Aleksandr asked as he inspected the flower.

"I know a man." Bogdan replied ambiguously.

"You're not seriously thinking of giving this to the grand duchess are you?" Lyosha asked incredulously.

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Her father. They don't call him "Bloody Nicholas" for nothing. One minute, you're giving a pretty young girl a flower, and the next...you're serving 15 years hard labor in the frozen Siberian wasteland." Bogdan's determination faltered.

"I had to trade 3 packs of cigarettes to get this flower, 3!" He argued. "I'm not letting it go to waste." Bogdan thought about the dilemma and came up with a brilliant idea. "What if we were to draw lots. Whoever is chosen has to give the flower to Grand Duchess Maria."

"That seems fair." Aleksandr replied. Lyosha was most reluctant, but in the end he agreed just to get Bogdan and Aleksandr off his back. As they waited in line, Bogdan procured a piece of rope. He then took his knife and cut it into 3 smaller pieces of differing lengths. Whoever got the smallest piece would take the flower. They each took a piece and Aleksandr drew the smallest lot.

"You will take the flower." Bogdan exclaimed as he handed it to Aleksandr. Lyosha patted him on the back.

"It's been nice knowing you my friend." He said. "When Nicholas kills you, I hope it's quick." Aleksandr took a breath as he moved closer in line. As he got closer, he heard the Czar as he blessed the troops.

"God be with you." He said as he handed out small portraits. "St. George will guide you." Bogdan and Lyosha went up without incident. Aleksandr went up and got his portrait. "God be with you." Nicholas said.

"Batushka." Aleksandr said as he bowed his head. As he passed by Maria, he quickly dropped the yellow flower at her feet. She picked it up and smelled the aroma. As Aleksandr turned to look, she gave him a smile.

"STOP!" Everyone turned to see Captain Glaskov marching over to Aleksandr. "What did you drop in front of the grand duchess?" He asked enraged.

"A...a flower..." Aleksandr replied meekly. Glaskov's face turned as red as a tomato.

"A FLOWER!" Without any better options, Aleksandr took off running. "STOP HIM!" Glaskov bellowed as several officers attempted to catch Aleksandr, but he was far too quick for them. As he tried to scale a fence to escape the courtyard, he was caught and brought to Captain Glaskov. Before the captain could make Aleksandr regret being born, he was motioned by Czar Nicholas to bring the lad to him.

"He's doomed for sure." Lyosha whispered to Bogdan as Glaskov took him to the Czar.

"You're dead now, you bastard." the captain exclaimed as he brought the boy before Nicholas Romanov. Aleksandr expected the Czar to be furious with him, but instead the Czar had no anger on his face, only curiosity.

"What is your name boy?" Nicholas asked.

"Aleksandr Smirnoff, your majesty." He replied as he bowed.

"What did you mean by giving my daughter this flower?" He asked Aleksandr.

"If your majesty will pardon, offense was not my intent. My only crime is knowing beauty when I see it." He stated.

"You little bastard!" Glaskov shouted as he raised his crop to beat the lad. Maria shrieked in terror.

"Nyet captain, no offense was given, therefore none shall be taken." Nicholas replied. Glaskov was frustrated at this.

"As you wish...your majesty." He replied as he lowered the crop. Nicholas turned to Aleksandr.

"May God bless you." he replied as he gently touched the boy on the cheek before sending him back to the other soldiers. Lyosha and Bogdan were speechless.

"You survived..." Bogdan exclaimed.

"I suppose my acknowledging of Maria's beauty appealed to his better nature." Aleksandr offered as a well dressed servant came up to them.

"The grand duchess asked me to give you this." He said as he handed Aleksandr an piece of paper. Inside it was a lock of Maria's hair and a note.

"May this token bring you warmth and hope. Marie."

"I'll be damned..." Lyosha said as he let out a long whistle.

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