And so the quartet trots on. Day by day, night by night. Following streams and valleys until the mountains started to flatten out. Trekking across the plains of Georgia to the Turkish border. Sleep was few and far between, as Oliver decided to move as much as possible at night to avoid patrols, particularly of the air variety. Rations became smaller and smaller as the portions dwindled. This eventually led to some pilfering of nearby farms for supplies. At first over the objections of Alexei, who didn't want to steal from his own people. But after much convincing and simple majority rule, he went along with it. The hunting of small vermin supplemented more. But the biggest enemy was boredom. Sometimes there wouldn't be a scare or a tension-creating moment. Combined with how there seemed to be nothing around, led to our 4 protagonists to be dull and dreary. But Oliver did his best to keep spirits up. Regaling the Russians with American Tall-tales, of heroes big and small. And even some family history when appropriate.
"And when the dust settled, my father gazed out from the San Juan heights, and saw how much ground the Rough Riders crossed. And how many Americans were lost that day. But he never forgot the bravery of his comrades, Col. Roosevelt, and Pershing's 10th. My father would stay in contact with each of them arranging reunions, and would be a steadfast Roosevelt supporter till the lion passed away." Oliver concluded around the campfire. Despite the scraggily facial hair that grew, he still had a glint in his eye and a smart smile. Anya and Dimitri were enthralled, but Alexei more so.
"Nice to know Americans can put up a good fight. I was wrong to doubt you Mr. Cross," Alexei commented, "Hopefully your countrymen will fight as hard when it comes to liberating Russia." Once again, Alexei brought up the supposed "invasion" of Russia as part of his rescue. While initially met with winces and excuses from the other three, now it was met silence and an eye roll from Dimitri.
"Of course your Highness," Oliver states flatly. He too was getting tired of saying 'they're just over the hill' and 'they're waiting for our arrival' and other variations thereof. Anya at this point possessed the most dedication to the ruse.
"Don't worry Alyosha, just a bit longer, then we'll be safe and home again," she said sweetly yet strained. The past few days were taking its toll as well on her. Dimitri initially agreed to the ruse as well, but after dwindling food, sore feet, and lack of a bath, he was at his wit's end.
"Kid," said the former conman, with annoyance clear in his voice, "if case you haven't noticed, nobody's coming. We're it and that's it. I'm surprised you haven't caught on yet."
"Dimitri!" Anya scolds.
"Oh come on Anya! The kid has to know and I'm also tired of hearing Colonel Flatfoot over there drone on and on every night with story after story. He said we'd be out of Russia in two days five days ago! I'm losing my mind here! Something has to give!"
"And you think this is the best way?" Anya shouts. They were both standing now. Oliver, taken aback at the flatfoot comment, stands up as well getting ready to separate the two.
"Come on now," Oliver interjects, "this isn't helping-"
"Oh shut it! I can't believe our safety depends on a school boy!"
"OI! I resent that" Oliver replies. "If it weren't for me you'd be dead right now!"
"Oh yeah? Well we aren't rescued right now either now huh?"
"Dimitri! Knock it off, this isn't helping!" Anya says, holding her husband back.
"Mr. Bluthov!". Alexei shouts. The other 3 stop their argument. "I will admit Mr. Cross's methods are unorthodox, but so far he has protected all us admirably. I am closer to being with my family thanks to him. He will get us out. The Allies are just waiting for us to be safe. Once they see us, they'll over run the border and take us in. Isn't that right Mr. Cross?" Although unnoticed, there was a hint of unsureness in Alexei's voice. Oliver just stands there, not saying anything, looking at the ground. He's afraid to answer truthfully, because there's no other way to say they're on their own. "Mr. Cross, please, tell Bluthov he's wrong." Oliver looks to Anya, who shakes her head, the desperation to keep up the charade clear in her eyes. He sighs heavily and turns to the tsarevich.
"There's no invasion, your Highness." Alexei's eyes go wide.
"Wh-what?" his voice cracks.
"There's no Allied Army, there's no invasion, there's no war of restoration. My mission is to get you out of Russia and back to Paris, that's it. I'm sorry to say, but the Soviets will be in charge of your homeland for the foreseeable future." Alexei can't register it.
"But I don't understand. I explicitly said in my letter bring an army. How can you disobey me, the prince regent? Surely father ordered an army to be formed. Right sister?"
Anya could hear her heart shatter. She's been dreading this moment since she learned her brother was alive, and now it's come to a head. For the love of all that is good and holy, she thought, leave her out of it. Was this how she was going to tell him? She couldn't bear the idea of breaking Alexei's heart. She turned her head away. Tears started welling in her eyes. "Sister, please, tell me, father would arrange something grander than this, correct?" Alexei steps towards Anya and turns her head towards him. Anya can see he's on the verge of tears. Which makes her unable to contain her own any longer. She pulls her brother into a hug.
"Alyosha," her tone was gentle, as if consoling a child, despite speaking through tears, "they're all gone."
"What?!" Alexei yells, pushing back from Anya. She keeps her hands on his shoulders. "Nastya, what do you mean?" Alexei looks Anya square in the eyes. "Tell me you're lying."
"Mama, Papa, Olga, Maria and Tatiana. They're all gone. Only you, I and Granmama are left. I'm so-so-sorry Alexei." Anya starts crying like she never cried before. Alexei stands there in shock, then pushes Anya away.
"No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. If you survived, and I survived, our parents and sisters have to have survived too. They're alive, they're alive." Alexei starts breaking down into hysterics. "They're not dead. They're not dead! No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, nO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!" He repeats himself breaking out into a scream, his entire mind and body wrought with agony. As Anya moves to console him, he takes off running. Anya takes off after him, and Dimitri takes off after her.
"Wait, no, don't- keep quiet, or you'll give us…" Oliver tries to warn them about not giving away their position, but realized they needed time alone. He keeps the horses in line, getting ready in case he needs to ride after them. Anya meanwhile is having a hard time keeping up with her brother, who's running a full sprint into the forest. She catches up when Alexei trips over a fallen branch. Anya grabs him from behind and holds him tight.
"NO, GET OFF ME! MAMA! PAPA! SISTERS! NO! NO! NO!." He collapses in Anya's arms at that point, grief overwhelming him. Anya does her best to comfort her brother. Knowing that nothing she could say would improve the situation, she holds her brother close letting him cry. He buries his face in Anya's shoulder repeating, "They can't be gone, it's not fair. It's not fair." Brother and sister cry together, over their loss. Alexei's reaction was completely justified in Anya's mind. Unlike her, Alexei remembered everything. He was living under the impression that one day he would be reunited with his loved ones. His pain right now was imaginable. She stroked his hair, attempting to ease that pain, using whatever little help her touch created.
"Alexei, I am right here. I'm not going anywhere," she whispers to him, "we've both lost everything, but we found each other now. We'll make it through this together. Our family will never die as long as we have each other." With those words Anya made a promise, that she would never let her brother slip away again. Alexei hugs his sister tighter.
"It hurts, it hurts so much," he says into her shoulder.
"It does, and it will. But we must bear it, for their sakes. We must make sure they're never forgotten." Alexei adjusts to place his head on Anya's shoulder, still hugging his sister.
"I love you Nastya."
"I love you Alyosha." Anya kisses her brother's cheek. He was calming down now. They start walking back to where they started. Dimitri at this point sat behind a tree, letting the siblings have a moment. Oliver was still with the horses, tending to them. He had his back turned to royals, giving them privacy. But Alexei had other ideas. Seeing Oliver's back made him think that Oliver was being flippant; that he was brushing off their suffering. How dare he.
"Excuse me sister," Alexie says as he separates from Anya. He starts walking towards Oliver with a hard stride. Anya starts following him, concerned all of a sudden for Alexei's immediate change of attitude. They pass Dimitri, who's surprised at Alexei's determined and stiff step. Dimitri gets up and bumps into Anya.
"Is he alright?" Dimitri asks.
"No, and now I'm worried at what's about to-" her sentence changes into a gasp when she see Alexei tackle Oliver to the ground and start repeatedly punching him. The couple run over. Oliver was blocking Alexei's punches, but the royal was still getting a few hits. Alexei was yelling again.
"WHY DIDN'T YOU AMAERICANS DO SOMETHING?" A punch makes contact. "YOU DIDN'T ENTER THE WAR!" Another hits. "IT WOULD'VE ENDED QUICKER IF YOU DID!" Another. "THE REVOLUTION WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED! WHY DIDN'T YOU SAVE US!?" Another hit. Dimitri and Anya pull Alexei off Oliver, who scramblers away and stands up in a fighting stance.
"We did come you brat! We entered the war, in fact my brother was part of an attempted rescue of your family! But we were too late, yeah, I'm sorry that they're dead, but they're dead. About time you woke up out of your fantasy world; you're better for it!" The three Russians are stunned silent, but aghast. How dare this yankee kid tell Alexei he's better for having his heart broken. Oliver did come off harsh, that is true, but he was angry at Alexei attacking him. That didn't help his case.
"How dare you!" Anya screams. All she could see was red.
"You have no right," Dimitri scolds, "I don't care what rank or badge you have, you don't talk to him like that. You don't know what he's going through." Alexei stays silent, seething.
"Oh don't give me that, I know more than enough how he feels," Oliver counters, "we don't have time for it, get on the horses before we get found." Oliver starts to mount, with the three Russians continuing to glare at him. "Staring at me won't do anything, now get on the god damned horse."
"Blasphemer," Alexei says through gritted teeth. He and Anya get on the same horse. With Anya taking the reins, Alexei rests his head in between her shoulders. Dimitri begrudgingly got on the horse with Oliver, glaring daggers into the back of his head the whole time. It is going to be a long trip back to Paris.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you everyone for you patience and those who are still following this story. The last two years have been very hectic, especially 2020; nothing needs to be said about that year. I got my muse back with Anastasia being on Disney+. He is a long awaited update. Think of it as a Xmas gift. I know I update slow, but I will finish this story.