I am nothing if not a women of my word. Here is chapter 5.
65-70 REVIEWS FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER
Chapter 5: Dimitri
This was bad, very very bad. Who on earth allowed Tasha to be the one to escort Rose to the gardens? It's not like I could send her away. I wasn't allowed to be alone with Rose until we were married.
"What's wrong?" Rose asked as we walked through the garden. "You seem distracted."
"Oh." I looked at her. "I'm fine." I reassured her, trying to avoid looking back at Tasha, who was following 10 paces behind us.
"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.
"I'm surprised my sisters haven't bombarded you yet." I laughed. "I remember them dressing you up."
She laughed brightly. "Yes, I believe they used to call me there little turkish doll."
"Yes well… I'm sure they'll find you eventually." I smiled looking over at her. She was stunning. Her skin was the color of caramel candies that we had made during the holidays and her eyes were like pieces of chocolate. But her hair was what kept my attention, it was long and silken, every once and a while I would imagine running my fingers through it.
"Do you hear something?" She asked, looking over at me. I felt red fill my cheeks. Why was I blushing? I was the Crowned Prince of Russia, I didn't blush. I listened intently, hearing the rustling of leaves, the sound of Tasha's footsteps behind us and… giggling?
"I think it's coming from over there." I said noticing movement in it's leaves. Rose picked up her skirt and marched towards it.
"She's coming! What do we do?" A panicked voice carried through flowers. It was followed quickly by a loud thump. "OW! Lissa!" The voice whined.
"Shut up Natalie!" Another voice hissed. "They'll hear us."
"Too late for that. We heard you laughing on the other side of the courtyard." Rose smiled, greeting whoever was waiting.
"She is so childish." Tasha hissed, walking up next to me. "You need a real women, Dimitri, not a little girl."
"Tasha." I warned. She had no right to say those things about Rose.
"What? It's true and you know it. Rose acts childish because she is just that, a child. You need a women to rule beside you." Her blue eyes narrowed into ice cold slits.
"Maybe, but Russia needs to secure an alliance with the Turks more. She is a kind girl, Tasha." I smiled looking back to Rose who was helping pluck leaves and twigs from one of the girls hair.
"This is why you don't hide in bushes and spy on people in the gardens." She said playfully
"I was not saying that she isn't a nice person. I'm sure she is wonderful. I'm just pointing out that she doesn't have what it takes to be the Queen of Russia." Tasha placed her hand on my shoulder. "I have what it takes to be your queen, Dimitri, and you know it."
"Yes, everything except a title and a country backing you." I ground out, shrugging off her hand.
Her eyes narrowed once more. "You barely even know her. Soon you will see that I was right and come crawling back to my feet, begging me to take you back." She spat angrily.
"That is enough Tasha. This hardly concerns you." I said, trying to keep my head level.
"Is everything alright?" Rose's voice floated over to us.
"Of course Your Majesty." Tasha smiled, causing her scar to twist against her skin. "I was just having a word with my prince." He voice was sickeningly sweet.
"Really? Is that so?" Rose asked, her tone matching Tasha's. "Tasha, was it? Can I let you in on a little secret?"
Tasha looked startled for a moment before answering. "Of course, Your Majesty."
"Though I don't believe titles matter all that much on character, I will tell you one thing." Rose smile before continuing, a mischievous glimmer in her eyes. "We are royalty, and we do not beg at the feet of people like you."
Tasha's mouth stood agape, looking over the girl who stood before her. She tried forming words but couldn't quite make the sounds to speak.
"Close your mouth dear, you'll catch flies." Rose smiled, placing a gentle hand on Tasha's shoulder. Tasha did as she was told and slammed her mouth shut. "Now, my ladies are here, so your services will no longer be needed."
"Oh, but you still need a proper escort." Tasha pointed out again.
"As I have pointed out, my ladies have agreed to do so for the rest of the time." Rose gestured back to the two girls who stood behind her. "This is the part where you curtsy, say 'Thank You, Your Majesties,' and walk away. Or will I have to talk with the queen?"
Tasha's eyes narrowed in anger. "Of course not, Your Majesty." She curtsied before us. "Thank you, Your Majesties." She added before rising and walking off, her hands clenched in fists of rage.
"I'm sorry about that." Rose turned to me. "I just couldn't stand the way she was talking about me."
"It's fine." I said quickly. "It was just Tasha being Tasha."
"Is she always like that?" The curly haired girl behind Rose asked. She turned red when she realized her mistake. "I am so sorry. I didn't mean to intrude."
"It's fine." I laughed. "Really. And the answer is yes. She thinks that she had some important title because she was Moria's sister." I sighed.
"Well if no one else will say it, I will." The tall blond one cut in. "That women is positively dreadful."
"Agreed." Rose spoke firmly. "I have just realized that you have not been properly introduced to my ladies." Rose blushed bright red. "This is Lissa and Natalie." She smiled at the girls.
"It is a pleasure to meet you both." I smiled lowering my head to the girls.
The one with curly hair, Natalie, I believe, blushed uncontrollably. "The honor is all ours Your Grace." She curtsied again.
Lissa elbowed her in the side. "It's 'Your Majesty'! Get it right." She hissed. "I am so sorry for her improperness, Your Majesty."
"It is quite fine. Please Lady Natalie, call me whatever you wish. Any friend of Rose is a friend of mine." I chuckled.
We began walking again, Rose's ladies keeping a good distance behind us.
"I'm sorry for how I behaved with Lady Tasha, earlier." Rose sighed looking down.
"Why?" I asked completely confused. "I liked that you were able to stand up for yourself. I haven't met many girls who would do that."
Now it was her turn to be confused. "You did not find it improper?" She asked, her eyebrows furrowing together.
"The future Queen of Russia has the right to behave improperly whenever she pleases." I let out another low chuckle. "You should ask my mother to tell you some of the stories from when she was young. I'm sure that would give you plenty of ideas."
"Really?" She smirked. "Let me guess, sliding down banisters and flashing the guards?"
I couldn't hold back my laughter. "Never mind, it seems you have enough wild idea's of your own."
"I am not just pretty dresses and tiara's, Dimitri. The sooner you learn that, the better of we will be."
65-70 REVIEWS FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER
To my lovelies who reviewed to today, thank you all so very much! This was such a fun chapter to write and I hope that shows through. Now, I do not have the next chapter finished but I will do my best to do so before I leave.
Before I post the next chapter I want 65-70 reviews on the story as a whole. If that happens before I get back then I will post it as soon as I am infront of my computer to do so.
I love you all
ThePeridotMoon
