Chapter 4: Rose

"As ladies of the future queen of Russia, you are here to represent your Princess and your country." The prude women spoke. "You are expected to uphold the standards of the Russian court. Foreign dignitaries will see you as a representation of Turkey. Which one of you speaks Greek?" She looked at the four girls in front of me.

"Uh…" Natalie spoke as of us looked over at her. "I suppose I do." she said pushing back her curly black hair.

"You will entertain the St.'s cousin. He speaks very fast and has no teeth." She said in disgust. We all burst out laughing as the women left the room.

Soon we threw ourselves into a whirlwind of fine silk dresses and bright russian colors. I found myself in a navy gown that showed off my figure. Natalie sat in her periwinkle gown as Mia tried ruthlessly to tame her curls.

"It's no use." Mia finally said exasperated. Her effort had gotten her almost nowhere. "She has too much hair!"

"No she doesn't. You aren't getting anywhere because you're trying to fight her curls instead of working with them." I finally spoke. I moved to take Mia's place. "They should be used to frame her face, not pulled back all the way." I spoke, moving Natalie's hair as I did so. When I was done, her hair hung elegantly down her back.

"She looks almost a woman grown!" Lisa commented, looking Natalie over fondly, as she brushed down her own forest green dress.

"We all do!" Jill smiled, twirling in her own pink gown. "I bet we'll all be married in a few months time." she smiled, her light brown hair flowing in silky waves around her.

"Oh but don't you only have eyes for one?" Lisa smirked, teasing her younger sister. "What was his name again? Lee?"

"I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about." She blushed, before turning away and crossing her arms.

"Oh? Then who gave you that necklace? I know it wasn't father. Mother would be absolutely livid if it had been." Lisa smiled pointing out the flower charm hanging around her neck.

"Oh? How come this is the first time I'm hearing of this boy?" I asked looking at the four girls around me. "Tell me jill? Who is he?" My attention turned to the youngest of the group.

"His name is Lee Donahue. He isn't a lord but his family is wealthy." She insisted, sitting down next to me. "He is kind and caring. He cares nothing of my status and only wishes to have me as I am."

"That's wonderful Jill." I smiled, taking her hands in my own. "Why didn't you bring him to court?" I asked.

"I did not know how you would react." She said, her head tilting downward. "I thought you might be mad. It is hardly ever that a princesses lady marries before the princess herself."

"Jill, I have been engaged since I was four. My wedding will come soon enough. You on the other hand, have found a man who loves you and wants to marry you. I see no problem in that." I said. Her eyes glanced up to meet mine, to see if my words where true. "Send for him. I would love to meet him."

"Of course!" She smiled. "Thank you so much Rose!" She hugged me tightly.

A man cleared his throat at the door. "I am sorry to disturb your majesty, but a note has arrived for you." He bowed deeply, holding out the small parchment slip in his hand.

I stood to grab it from his grasp. The wax seal held the crest of the crown prince of russia. "Wait outside the door." I said to him as i snapped the seal in half. The man left the room workout a word.

"Who is it from?" Mia asked, lounging of one if the plush chairs.

"Prince Dimitri." I smiled over at her.

"Princess Rosemarie,

I would be honored for you to join me for a walk in the gardens tomorrow afternoon.

Prince Dimitri."

"Well what does it say?" Lissa asked, trying desperately to view the not over my shoulder.

"He wants to take a walk through the gardens with me." I smiled at his messy turkish scrawl, moving away from Lissa.

"When?" Jill asked looking up from her own letter. Wow, that girl worked fast.

"Tomorrow afternoon." I replied, sitting back into the lounge chair I had occupied earlier.

"You are going, right?" Mia asked leaning next to me.

"Of course." I said simply. "I want to actually know the man before I have to marry him." I smiled.

"And he is going to be your escort to the princess's wedding next week, correct?" Lissa asked, a playful smirk playing across her face.

"I don't know. Maybe. It all depends on how things play out." I replied nervously. To be quite honest, I hadn't the slightest idea as to whether Dimitri and I would even get along.

"Did you even see the way he looked at you?" Natalie said, sitting next to me. "He's already had over heels for you. What could possibly go wrong?"

The next day I dressed in a simple fuchsia gown, letting my thick curls hang over my partially exposed shoulders. In the turkish style my makeup was thick, lining my eyes. A simple nazar hung around my neck as I ran my fingers through my hair one last time.

"Stop fussing, you look fine." Lissa said, reaching for one of my simpler headpieces. "He isn't going to know what to do with himself when he see's you."

"I really hope this goes well." I muttered as Lissa tried to secure the headpiece to my head. "No… leave it off. Just pin the front of my hair back." I instructed. She did as I was

"Why? You're already engaged. This can go horribly and you will still be the next queen of Russia. You will still stop the conflicts between Russia and Turkey. You have nothing to worry about." Mia said, fluffing her hair in the mirror behind me.

"I actually want to get along with the man I marry." I replied. "And what about you? What are you up to today?" I asked looking at her reflection.

"Oh you know, the usual. Trying to catch a rich lords eye." She smiled and looked at me. "Like I said. You will be just fine. He'd be a fool to not be completely head over heels for you."

I smiled as a knock on my door broke the atmosphere and nerves settled in my stomach.

"Don't worry Rose. Everything is going to be fine." Natalie reassured me as I made my way to the door, where a woman was waiting to escort me to the gardens.

When she smiled the scar on her cheek twisted into an odd shape, and her long black hair hung down her back. Somehow her blue eyes reassured me that everything was going to be okay.

OOH! Tahsa has made an appearance! I almost have the next chapter done! I will post it to when I get... lets say 50 reviews. That's just 15 new reviews!

Blow me away guys. For a little insentive, here is you sneak peak for the next chapter.

"The flowers are lovely." She ran her fingers over the petals of a nearby rose.

I plucked it from the stem and placed it in her hair, above her ear. "A rose for my beautiful Rose." I said.

She looked down, blushing. "Thank you Dimitri. That is very sweet of you." She looped her arm through mine as we began walking again. She spoke of the convent and of her family excitedly, gesturing her free hand every so often. Her laugh quickly become one of my favorite sounds.

Well, there you have it folks! Let me know what you think! Also I need a name for my lovely readers let me have your ideas. I will pick my favorite and the person who has come up with it will get a shout out!

Love you all

Yours Truly

ThePeridotMoon**