December 24, 1908
St. Petersburg, Russian Empire
Alexander Palace.
A thick white blanket of tiny pieces of ice covers all of Tsarskoye Selo and all of Imperial Russia, the trees are naked and the sky is grey casting down snowflakes on the Earth. Inside the palace, the Romanov children are enjoying themselves in the play room where the they would go in and play for hours on end, even all together. The room used to be part of a two story concert all before being converted to another one of the imperial couple's rooms and the children's play room. The room is showered with Christmas decorations, with a Christmas tree at the center floor, Christmas socks hangs on one side each one for Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia and Alexie, cordless perlits hangs across the top all sides of the room with the beautiful colors of red and white also covering the door frames with a circle perlit hanging on the centers. Nicholas, Alexandra and Rasputin supervises the children as they move around in the room, although only Olga and Tatiana are sitting while the 3 other children runs around playing with their toys that they got last year and the previous Christmases before, Olga and Tatiana are having a tea party at a corner whilst sitting on a picnic basket.
"Here you madam Tatya." Olga said, gracefully as she pours the imaginary tea from the tea pot to Tatiana's cup.
"Pleasures all mine, miss Olaya." Replied Tatiana, in the same manner.
As the older pair are enjoying themselves, Anastasia runs over their basket as she plays around with her toy angle.
"Shvibzik!" The older pair yelled simultaneously. As usual the little Anastasia laughs in response. The older pair places the basket to its original position and continues to their little role play without further interruptions.
At a corner, the couple and Rasputin are sitting by watching the children play around enjoying themselves but Alexandra makes sure they don't play too roughly or someone could get hurt, Nicholas is proud of his children especially his daughters, out of all the treasures that he owns its his children that he considers the most valuable after his wife. Rasputin has just joined the family a year earlier, he was invited by the royal family to heal Alexie after they heard the tales of the great Rasputin healing the sick similar to how Jesus Christ in the new testament healed the ill, what separates Rasputin from Christ is his womanizing, he'd been allegedly been in the act with many of his women followers and this would eventually become a factor to the growing hatred around Alexandra.
"Hahaha, little Anastasia never cease to make me laugh." Nicholas said, warmly.
"Oh Nicky, we should teach her how to be a properly lady, I don't like how she acts. If Mama Victoria is still around she would've been displeased." Alexandra said in a concern-serious tone.
"My love, shes only a child, let her be. We should focus on the old pair for the meantime. Our little Olga is already in her adolescence and she still couldn't control her temper. But I always have hope for her as she is my daughter."
"Olga is a difficult character, she talks back whenever I discipline her and even has the audacity to give the person who brought her into this world a cold shoulder after she and I just went through an argument." Alexandra roared, but not enough for the children to hear.
"My dear, its probably just a phase she's going through, we've all been through that age where we want to rebel against our elders. Olga would eventually learn to respect those who have more to it in life compare to her."
Alexandra sighs and looks back to the children. Nicholas is the opposite of Alexandra, what some would call "the fun parent" although he still takes responsibility for granted, especially as a father.
Maria stops at her tracks and looks at the window to see the snow pouring from the sky outside and into the ground, she sticks her face to the window in hopes of getting a better view of outside, Anastasia follows suit, trying to shove Maria off to the side. The little pair starts to fight each other over the same spot despite the room having more than one window, Anastasia grabs Maria's hair tightly making Maria scream in pain.
"Its getting out of hand." Nicholas worries. As he is about to intervene, Alexandra grabs his hand. Nicholas looks at Alexandra confused.
"Let the big pair sort this out, I want Olga to full fill her role as a responsible elder sibling with the help of her already responsible 2nd sister."
Nicholas sighs and sits down, respecting the wishes of his wife. As Alexandra anticipates the big pair stood up from their picnic spot to the little pair at the window, Olga grabs Anastasia whilst Tatiana grabs Maria and the pig pair separates the little pair, little Alyosha stops at his tracks watching the drama unfold.
"STOP IT!" Olga shouted, irritated. The two young sisters ceased their bickering and looks at Olga with startled expression. "There is TWO windows in this room for each one of you, you don't have to fight over this one like dogs fighting over food, do you two understand?" Olga sterned.
The little pair, feeling ashamed, nods while looking down hiding their guilt looking faces. The little pair picks a window for each of them to watch the snowfall outside, Tatiana puts her arm around Olga and pats her and the two smiles at each other.
Alexandra smiles after seeing Olga taking responsibility, never she had seen Olga defused a situation with her anger, although Alexandra hopes that Olga knows how to handle future situations not with her uncontrolled temper.
The Reception Room, Alexander Palace
The reception room is where the Tsar, Nicholas himself, makes his very political, militaristic and economic decisions that runs the gargantuan Russian Empire, the largest nation to ever exist, 2nd to the British Colonial Empire. The Reception room has walls and a ceiling made of oak wood designed with panels as well as the door is designed similarly, the upper half of the wall is covered in green colored fabric that surrounds the room, the floor has a parquet texture and a fireplace sits at the right corner at the front end of the room. Reports have arrived in the palace about the domestic situation of the Empire brought by the intelligence officers of the Tsar. The room is filled with shouting and yelling of the Tsar's ministers on what course of action shall be enacted for the sake of the country, one side opted for reforms to improve working and living conditions of the people which their reformist ideals is further sparked by the communist sentiments on the rise within the country, the other side is made of conservatives who thinks the efforts of Sergei Witte are enough, this group is mainly made up of noble men who are afraid of loosing their lifestyle and title from new reforms where as the other side is made up of intellectuals from the lower classes whom wanted to make a difference and improve the people's lives for the best.
Tsar Nicholas II, for while, have been struggling to rule the massive empire his family created through centuries of political, economical and militaristic techniques. He lacks the necessary knowledge, competence and confidence on which a great leader would have, Nicholas has always been what people can say as timid and swayed, his father Alexander III never gave him the proper training to rule over the massive empire, Nicholas once even admitted that he is incapable of ruling the Russian Empire and the actions and events that have occurred further proved that. the Khodynka tragedy where 1500 people were killed as all were desperate to get their needs being provided in Moscow, the Russo-Japanese war where the Japanese have consolidated their rising power over Asia, the fact that he had been sweeping the problems under the rug and not doing anything about it, and the fact that he made the Duma nothing more than just a club of people with progressive ideals with no real power.
"Sir you must decide this, it will-"
"No no sire, that will destroy the status quo in wh-'
"Your imperial majesty you must th-"
"SILENCE!" Nicholas shouted, slamming his fist on the table. Nicholas sighs and tightly closed his eyes and stood from his seat. "Gentlemen I'll be uhh.. I'll be at the study room alone. I'll return as soon as I get enough tolerance and energy." Nicholas slowly walks out of the room and slowly closes the door. The advisors just sits their stunned and shares looks with one another. As soon as Nicholas closed the door he turned and saw 13 year old Olga standing next to him, her deep blue eyes looking at him with a face of worry.
"Olga... w-what are you doing here?" Nicholas asked warmly, kneeling down to Olga.
"O-h n-nothing father, just walking by." Olga hesitated.
Nicholas nods with a weak smile and stands up "Very well. I'll be seeing you later if you want to spend time." Nicholas said, gently rubbing his daughter's head as he walks pass.
Olga have been listening to the racket going on in the reception room, something Olga has been doing for while. Olga had develop an interest in politics at a young age and have always kept up with the events, especially news that dwells around the political and social climates of Russia as well as other countries, the young Grand duchess have recently began expressed a great deal of concern for the state of the empire since at the age of 12 which is further clues for her on to what the outside world really is, Olga is very sheltered from life beyond the glamor and splendor of noble life that made the children very naïve on what the outside world is like. Olga remembered saying something about being lucky to be born in the time where everyone is kind.
In the big pair room, Olga chats with her sister Tatiana about what she listened to in the reception room.
"-and the advisors which I'd hardly call advisors since they all act like ten Anastasias in one room and father have had enough and just simply walks out to catch his breath."
"Is that so?" Tatiana asked.
"Yes, Tatya. That's what I've heard, loud and clear." Olga replied.
"Olga, I don't know if you should even listen to what they are talking about. What they're doing is men's work, not a woman's." Tatiana pointed out.
"Not true." Olga reacted in a offended expression, "There have been girls who had ruled over their countries! Like uh... Cleopatra, Elizabeth I, oh and Catharine the Great! A relative of ours!" Olga exclaimed.
Tatiana sighed "Oh Olga, why can't you just accept reality and get on with it."
"A reality where a young woman's talent is sheltered and overshadowed? That's not a reality I'd like to live in. I know mama taught us that our role in society is to be more close to home but I sometimes question it." Olga sighed, looking at the window.
Tatiana turns away from her book and to Olga, "You know, I think I remember reading about female artists, novelists and poets. I guess you can put your art talent into a career path. Oh! You can do that in America!" Tatiana gleefully suggested.
"America? The United States of America?" Olga turned to Tatiana with an unsure expression.
"Yes, the U-S of A, as some would call it. I've read that many people go to that country to have wonderful opportunities there, such as starting a business and get rich, simply starting a career, something they call "the American dream"." Tatiana gestured, moving her hands away from each other on a rainbow path.
"I'd rather stay in Russia. I feel more comfortable here than being on another continent on ocean away. I want to go out there and be with the people, help the people and show my care for them. I remember giving a doll to that little girl when we were riding down the road in our carriage, she was delighted." Olga reminisced happily.
"Maybe one day you can. I do want to see the outside world myself as well. I always wonder what wonders hides behind the walls of glamors." Tatiana sighed.
"One day, I pray, one day." Olga looked at Tatiana with a smile.
December 25, 1908
It is officially Christmas eve, the Romanov children quickly runs into the play room where they see the Christmas's tree and the Christmas socks are full of . The children are filled with excitement as adrenaline rushes through their bodies making them so eager to open up their gifts, in particular, the little children. Olga and Tatiana decided to let the younger kids open their presents first. Little Alexie was the first to open his presents with the guide of Tatiana, one of them is a group of toy soldier figurines made of wood, the other is a toy revolver. Anastasia is next to open her presents, she is given a little necklace from the dowager empress, the neckless having a picture of the Dowager empress herself, Anastasia loved it. Maria is the next to open her presents, all of which are a new batch of dolls that Maria wanted.
"Children!" Maria shouted very happily, hugging all of her dollies at once.
"Ok, Olga and Tatiana, its time to open your gifts." Nicholas said, warmly.
"You can go Olaya." Tatiana suggested.
"That's very considerate of you Tatiana." Alexandra commented.
Olga went for the large red box shaped like a rectangle with star texture on it, Olga untied the gift rap and unfolded the paper, there she finds a new book called Dorthey and the Wizard of Oz. Olga gasps and jumps around with excitement.
"Thank you!" She exclaimed.
After Olga have opened all of her gifts, Tatiana takes her turn and opens her first gift from the tree, after untying the gift rap and un folding the paper she finds a polished pearl necklace, Tatiana's faced filled with delight and fascination.
"this is so beautiful!" She exclaimed. Tatiana puts on the necklace "I love it! Thank you!"
After all of the gifts are unwrapped, the children decided to go outside to pay in the snow, as suggested by Anastasia. The children wears their thick coats, Ushankas and gloves and is going to be supervised by a servant. All of the children were dressed up in winter clothing and are now being guided by the servant to the outdoors as soon as the children leaves the rooms, little Alexie is held by the servant up his arms. The little pair could not wait to have a snowball fight which resulted to them starting to run away from the servant and the big pair follow suit to chase the little pair down, the servant tries to catch up with the children, worried that they might get hurt on the way down the stairs. They soon reached the grand stair case of the palace that leads to the ground floor where one of the doors are, the daughters ran past down the stairs unsafely as the big pair tries to stop the little pair, as soon as they reached ground floor the bg pair manages to catch the little pair and stop them.
"Aw..!" Maria whined.
"come on!" Anastasia shouted.
"Wait for Alexie and Eugene!" Tatiana told the little pair sternly.
The servant finally reached the stairs leading to the ground floor, but as soon as the servant carrying Alexie was at the first step he put his right leg way to far from the next set which ultimately resulted him to trip down the stairs, dropping Alexie in the process, both fell 11 steps of the righthand side of the stair case and stopped in their tracks and just layed at the first stop of the stair case.
The daughters gasps and are horrified of what they say, they quickly rushes to the checkpoint of the stair case and there they find Alexie bleeding from the head and the servant laying on the ground with a broken limb and dislocated shoulder, groaning in massive pain.
"Oh my gosh! Alexie!" Tatiana shouted in horror.
"Noo!" Anastasia shouted.
the daughters gathered around Alexie and the servant. Tatiana sat down and puts Alexie on her arms, and lays him down on her upper legs whilst holding him. Tatiana turned Alexie around, there they found that he is unconscious, in a desperate attempt to stop the bleeding, Tatiana takes one of her gloves of and placed it on Alexie's injury where his head impacted one of the steps. Anastasia and Maria started to cry in fear of loosing their precious little brother.
"MAMA PAPA!" Olga yelled.
"Please please stop!" Tatiana cried trying to stop her brother from bleeding out. Tatiana looks up into the ceiling "Please God don't take him away! please!" Tatiana begged as she cries. Tatiana couldn't bare to see her brother in the position that he is, she couldn't bare to see the blood rushing out of the head injury, Tatiana hugs her brother with the back of her coat starting to drench in blood, Tatiana continues to hold her brother whilst sobbing, she felt that she failed, she felt that it was her fault for not standing by with the servant carrying him, I'm a terrible sister! she thought. Tatiana reminisces the day that she saw Alexie on her hands for the first time, on the most joyful day of her life in 1904 holding her brother in her arms and felt motherly love for him.
From this day forward, I shall protect you from any harm. I love you! mwah!
Tatiana bawled, the thought of her younger self making that promises added up to her pain and to the guilt and the responsibility she felt she has on her brother's accident.
"I'm sorry Alexie...! I'm so sorry...!" Tatiana whispered whilst her voice breaks as she sobs.
The family line is now on the stake, with Alexie's accident giving him a severe injury, the fate of the Romanov dynasty and the empire as whole are now at stake. What had started as a joy full and cheerful Christmas morning as turned into a day of despair. The chances of Alexie's surviving are slim but hope continues to hang on the balance. No one knows for sure... if Alexie can live another day...
