-December 22/23; Midnight, and into the early morning-
Anastasia and Dimitri is having the time of their lives, gazing into each other's eyes, and smiling brightly as the moonlight and stars beamed through the windows of the grand ballroom, the music echoing through the rafters.
Anastasia whispered softly, "This is the best night of my entire life, Dimitri.", and Dimitri smiled widely, "Mine too, Anya. I think this beats our other memories together, don't you think?", wiggling a eyebrow at her.
Anya giggled warmly, "It certainly does...I love you so much, Dimitri.", breathing softly as they slowed down slightly, and Dimitri looked at her lovingly, "I love you too, my princess, so much that it hurts, in a good way, honest.", before leaning forward to kiss each other for the first time of this night, in slow, romantic style.
Anya then smiled warmly as she rested her head upon Dimitri's shoulder, and Dimitri kissed her forehead softly, swaying together slowly, listening to the music around them, marveling into each other's aromas.
After a few minutes of swaying together, Dimitri then spoke softly, "You know, there is something else that would make this night even better.", and Anya looked up, lifting her head away from his shoulder, "Something else?".
Dimitri smiled warmly, "This.", moving a hand to remove something from his chest pocket, and revealing the chosen ring, and Anya gasped softly in shock and amazement as Dimitri got down on one knee, suddenly stopping their swaying dance.
Dimitri looked up at her, "Anya, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I've never regretted a moment since. I love you for who you are, I love how your eyes sparkle when you get into mischief, I love your smile when you see me, and I love your passion for music. I love it when you banter back at me, and I love it when you are protective of your family, even that trouble-making brother of yours. I've always dreamed of having a life with you, having a family we'd raise, and growing old together. No matter how long it takes me, I'll marry you, wherever we are, so, Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanov, will you be my wife and be mine forever?".
Anya was speechless during his proposal, tears flying and hands upon her mouth, and she nodded furiously, words spilling out as she freed her hands from her mouth, "Yes! Yes, Dimitri, I will be yours forever!", leaning over to kiss him, nearly causing him to lose the ring in surprise, but still remained tight to it as he laughed happily, his eyes twinkling in delight and love,.
Dimitri got up, grinning softly as he put his chosen ring to lay upon Anya's ring finger, the grin getting bigger as the ring fits perfectly, and Anya breathed softly as she gazed upon it, the sapphire blue gemstone twinkling, and the unique braided gold band, "Oh, Dimitri, this was great-grandmother's ring, how did you..?", looking at Dimitri who smiled widely.
"Let's say that your grandmother saw my devotion for you, Anya. She was glad when I picked it out of her jewelry box.", Dimitri chuckled softly, and Anya smiled happily, "I love it. I love you!", hugging him, causing him to hold her tight in his arms.
They pulled back slowly, looking at each other with love in their eyes, and Dimitri then grinned softly, "I love you too, Anya, always have.", and Anya smiled brightly, moving her hands upwards, leaning in as she closed her eyes, and Dimitri responded to her motion, leaning in, and their lips met, passionate and intense for a few moments before pulling out for air, touching their foreheads together as they swayed once more, not wanting to leave the ballroom just yet.
After a few more minutes of swaying, Anya then sighed softly in contentment, "I would never forget this night as long as I live.". Dimitri chuckled warmly, "Agreed. Gods, I love you.".
Anya giggled lightly, "You can't help saying it, can you?". Dimitri grinned softly, "Why couldn't I? I keep thinking that this is all a dream.". Anya smiled wryly, "Then it's our dream together, Dimitri.", and Dimitri exhaled softly at that, gazing deeply into Anya's eyes, and leaned in to kiss his princess, his true love when a roaring shout pierced the air.
"ANASTASIA NIKOLAEVNA ROMANOV!", Nicholas roar-shouted in anger, and the couple snapped their heads around in horror and shock, seeing the Tsar stomp down the stairs with the family frozen and still on the landing, and Anastasia gasped loudly, "Father!", causing Dimitri to hold her closer to him, half-protecting her from the Tsar and half-scared to see such the infamous temper of the Tsar.
Nicholas looked at his daughter, "How dare you betray your family like this?! Get away from him now! He's a kitchen boy, and you're the grand duchess!". Anastasia glared at him, "NO! I love him, and he loves me! I don't care if he's different!".
Nicholas snapped angrily, "This is my house, my rules. You're my daughter, and you are to obey me!". Anastasia widened her eyes in shock before talking back at him, "I am 18 years old, Father! I am old enough to make decisions, and I've decided to marry Dimitri!".
Nicholas widened his eyes, and glared at her, "You won't marry this boy if I have any say in it! You're a princess, and princesses don't marry kitchen boys! If you refuse my orders, I'll have him thrown in the dungeons, and he'll never see the light of day again!".
Anastasia gasped in horror, clenching her fingers into Dimitri's shirt, "No...you can't!", feeling Dimitri's arms tighten around her, and Nicholas exhaled deeply, "Help me by the name of God, I will allow the servant boy to go free, but he's exiled forever from the palace, only if you obey me!".
Anastasia looked torn when she heard that, sobbing into Dimitri's shirt, only looking up when Dimitri spoke softly, "Anya...I have to go...", looking brokenhearted, and Anya gasped softly, protesting, "No, Dimitri! You love me!".
Dimitri sighed deeply, "That's why I have to go.. Please, Anya, for me...you have to let me go...You know I couldn't survive a year or less in those dungeons...out there is little better, but I will know that you are safe here...". Anya stared at him with tears in her eyes, "I don't want to see you die...but I don't want to lose you either...".
Dimitri kissed her forehead gently, "Hey, I love you, and as long as I have my turtledove, I'll be always yours, Anya, I promise.". Anya sobbed lightly as she stared at him intensely, "You won't forget me?".
Dimitri shook his head softly, "I would never forget you, my princess. We'll be together once again, one day. We'll have our dream together.", smiling bittersweetly. Anya sniffled softly, "I love you, Dimitri, always have.", echoing Dimitri's words back at him, and kissed the corner of his mouth, slowly letting go of Dimitri who walked away, and got grabbed slightly roughly by the guards who had appeared during all of this.
Nicholas flared his nostrils angrily, "Take him away, guards. He is exiled from the palace from now on.", and the guards bowed, turning around, taking Dimitri with them to the courtyard and beyond. Nicholas then looked at Anastasia, "Let this night begone, Anastasia. He's out of your life, and you are not to find him as long as you're in my house.".
Anastasia glared at him, "You've ruined my life! I hope you're happy, Nicholas! I HATE YOU!", before running off, up the stairs, pushing past the family, leaving Nicholas shell-shocked at his daughter's words, never remembering a time she actually called him by his real name, always having been called Papa or Father by her.
Marie huffed angrily, "Your father will be so disappointed in you! I know I am! And she was happy, the happiest I have ever seen, and now, well, I am taking her side!", stalking off to follow her granddaughter. Alexei nodded, glared at his father, "Yeah, I really liked Dimitri, and you didn't even get to know him! She really loved him, and you sent him away! I am not talking to you anymore!", heading off to join his grandmother, hating his guilt, but supporting his courage to stand up for his sister.
Nicholas stared in shock before blinking softly, glancing at his wife, "They will cool off soon enough.". Alexandra nodded stiffly, "Perhaps or perhaps not. You have let your temper go too far this time, Nicholas. I hope your heart agrees with you otherwise you'll not be happy. Christmas is to be a time for family, friends, and love, and you've ruined it for Anastasia, and apparently that boy as well.", before turning around to head back to the royal quarters.
The other three daughters looked at their father, with Olga speaking harshly, "And you wanted us to be happy when we courted our husbands as they made us happy. Why not allow Anastasia be happy with him even if he was a kitchen boy? I think those snobby lords got to you or something whatsoever.", before turning around to follow their mother, leaving their father to stand there in confusion, shock, and bewilderment.
Nicholas soon recognized that he's being ostracized by his own family, just for believing that a princess shouldn't be with a kitchen boy when he has forgotten stories about peasants becoming princes when they saved their princesses, etc...He closed his eyes in shame, whispered softly, "What have I done?".