The sun rose over the snow covered city of Moscow. It was a lovely morning as always but things had not been so serine in the palace as the servants hustled to prepare the celebration feast in honor of there new prince. In the midst of the preparations was the queen herself dressed in a beautiful red sarafan with golden accents and atop her head sat a matching kokoshnik with a silk veil over her bright red hair. Married women where not allowed to show there hair in public. She gazed lovingly down at the little prince who was very much sound asleep in her arms. He shifted in his fur lined blanket so as to be closer to her and she kissed his head. The tender moment was however soon broken by a young maids words.
"Your highness this is the menu the cooks have prepared for the feast. They would like your approval before they begin."
"Thank you Katya."
Sofya said to the maid as she looked it over. The maid smiled at her Tsarina and the prince. She was well loved by all in the castle for her fairness and generosity towards them.
"It all looks splendid Katya, inform the cooks that they may begin there preparations."
She curtsied
"Thank you your highness."
With that she dashed off as a pair of carpenters came to the queen bearing an ornately carved cherry wood cradle lined with plush red velvet. They placed it before her and bowed.
"Your majesty we over you this gift on our behalf and on that of the Tsar who commissioned it."
She beamed at them.
"Thank you kind sirs for this beautiful gift. Thanks to you my son shall sleep peacefully though the night."
The men smiled and watched there beloved queen place the sleeping infant in the cradle. He did not stir at all but continued to blissfully dream.
"It's perfect. Thank you ever so much."
The men bowed again.
"It is no trouble you're majesty not after all the good you have done for the people of Moscow. May the Lord lengthen your days as well as your husbands and may your son bring you much joy."
They then wished her good day and she went back to preparing the grand feast. A few hours later the streets where filled with the sounds of horses and shouts of men. The boyars had begun arriving for the feast. The first to arrive was a short man with blonde hair streaked with white, a chubby cherub face, sparking blue eyes and a small faint mustache. He was dressed in a velvety red tunic with brown pants stuffed into fine black leather boots. A long blue fur lined vest was worn over the long red tunic. Around his middle was a yellow sash with tasseled ends. His name was Klimt Vorishilov one of the Tsar's most trusted boyars and a hero of the Tartar wars. He got out of his troika along with his wife Ekaterina who carried a bundle in her arms. They had also been struggling to have there own children and now, like the tsar they had a child of there own. The next to arrive was a stocky bull of a Cossack dressed in his traditional coat and hat. He had a large handlebar mustache that reached the entire span of his face. His bushy eyebrows sat above his storm grey eyes filled with merriment as his three children struggled to get out of the sleigh at the same time.
"Boys one at a time!"
There mother Maria scolded. They laughed and ran off towards the grand palace door. She threw up her hands in mock despair.
"Oh Semyon what am I going to do with those three holigans?"
She exclaimed as he hugged her and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Love them just like you love me pchelka(1)"
"Oh stop it you!"
She laughed as they both headed inside where they where greeted by Sergo he kissed each one of them in the traditional Russian greeting.
"Klimt, Ekaterina, Semyon, Maria! It's good to see you all!"
"It's good to see you to Sergo you old goat! How are the new parents?"
Semyon asked
"There well thank goodness, but you should see Ivan! It's amazing that such a tiny woman can give birth to such big baby!"
Sergo told them as they walked down the beautifully painted hall and up the stairs to the dining room.
"How big is he?"
Maria asked. Sergo motioned with his hands.
"Oh my! He is a big boy!"
"Da! He will definitely grow up tall! Well here we are! I have to go down and greet the others."
Sergo said
"Toast master again eh Sergo?"
Klim said
"You know it Klim!"
With that he left them and they entered the ornately painted dining room. The table was already beginning to be laden with food and was set for the feast. In the far corner they could see the Tsarina near a cherry wood cradle with stags carved into it. Semyons sons ran over.
"Boys don't run!"
Maria scolded them. They stopped in front of the cradle and looked down at the sleeping babe.
"Hello children."
Sofya said to them. They all looked up at her and then bowed.
"Hello your majesty!"
The boys said in unison as there parents joined them also bowing in respect.
"I trust you are well your highness?"
Kliment asked as he kissed her.
"I am doing wonderful Klim and please, call me Sofya, you all are practically family after all!"
She said with a warm smile on her face.
"Oh look at him! He's so precocious!"
Ekaterina exclaimed as Ivan yawned and opened his Icy blue eyes to look up at her.
"Hello there malen'kiy prints!" (4)
She cooed to him. Maria joined her in doting on the babe who looked up at them in wide eyed curiosity. Meanwhile the men had begun to chat with there Tsar who had just recently arrived to check on the preparations. As they where talking another guest arrived from the south west. He, like Kliment, was blond but he was taller and broader with a thicker mustache and blue eyes. He had a rather mellow demeanor to him. He was dressed in a silky blue robe lined with white ermine fur with a tall furry white boyars hat. His name was Vyacheslav Molotov boyar of Alexin. Unlike the others he was not by nature a warrior but a diplomat who gained his power though the quill instead of the sword. He turned to his pregnant wife Polina and helped her out of the troika.
"How are my girls doing?"
He asked affectionately.
"We are doing fine vachi. Now let's get inside its freezing out here!"
She replied to him as she tried to walk faster. The next to arrive was a man of short stature, receding black hair and snake like eyes that looked around in an ever vigilant manner. he was dressed all in black and he was alone unlike the other men. His name was Lavrinty Beria boyar of Riazan whom was suspected of having an alliance with the tartars during the war. The only problem was that no one could ever prove such a thing. All the Riazan records had perished in a fire during the tartars advance on Novgorod. Beria looked up at the palace and grimaced. He did not like Tsar Joseph or his wife. He thought him far too lenient with the people and now that there was another son born to him it made it all the more difficult for the Riazan boyar to gain more power. However Beria was not the only one who wanted to gain control of Muscovy. There where five other boyars who desired the Muscovite throne. Lazar Kaganovich boyar of Tver, a tall slender man with sort dark brown hair and a short yet thick mustache. He was known for his heavy handed method of ruling his surfs and viciously oppressing any who revolted against him. Nikita Krustchev boyar of Novgorod-Seversk, a heavy set Ukrainian man with blond hair and blue eyes. Jolly in nature, he enjoyed partying and drinking far too much for his own good. Gregory Malenkov boyar of Pskov, another heavy set man with dark hair and brown eyes who was very submissive to those around him. Andrei Zhdanov boyar of Briansk a man with short dark hair and a small mustache whom was known for his musical talent more so than his ruling abilities. and Leon Trotsky boyar of Novgorod, thin man with a great bush of hair on his head and the only boyar to outright defy the Tsar and live.
All five had designs for gaining power over all of Muscovy. But there where obstacles in the way of this. The first of which was the Tsar himself followed by crown prince Yakov whom was already betrothed to a Lithuanian princess. Another thing was the combined armies of Muscovy and the boyars loyal to the crown who where lead by two very capable generals Gregory Zhukov and Konstantin Rokossovsky whom was seen by many as a foreigner because of his polish ancestry. The only way for these men to gain any form of influence in the royal family would be to have one of there sons or daughters to marry into it. Lavrinty waited in the entrance hall for his co conspirators to arrive as he paced back and forth. The palace door opened to reveal two heavyset men dressed in the silken attire of boyars. They greeted Beria warmly though they where very suspicious of there snake eyed conspirator.
"It is good to see you Lavrinty!"
Krustchev exclaimed.
"Same to you Nikita. How are things in Seversk?"
"All is well! The harvest was good and everyone has plenty to survive this blasted winter."
Lavrinty nodded before turning to Malenkov
"And how are things with you?"
"All is well in Pskov if you must know."
Lavrinty snorted at this as the door opened once more to reveal The tall boyar of Tver followed by the short boyar of Briansk. The others greeted them and the four men began to make there way to the dining hall.
"This boy could be a threat to our goals tovarishchi. We must keep a close eye on him."
Lazar said and the men agreed with this. Even though Ivan was just a babe he like all babes would grow up and become a man one day. And if he was anything like his father they would be doomed to live in his shadow. They entered the dining hall to see that the others had arrived and where warming themselves with freshly brewed tea from a nearby samovar and vodka poured out in small glasses by the servants. A small crowd had formed in the far corner which they could only assume was where the newborn prince was. They pushed there way through the throng to see there young rival looking around at all the surrounding faces in fascination. However when the innocent blue orbs met with snake yellow he began to cry in fear. Sofya, hearing her sons distress, came swiftly over to his bedside and picked him up in her arms.
"There there moy podsolnukh, don't cry, mama is here."
She cooed to him as she gently rocked him in her arms. At hearing his mothers gentle voice, the beating of her heart, and felling her warm presence surrounding him, Ivan grew quiet. His mother beamed down at him as he stretched and yawned. She turned to Lavrinty with a glowering look. But before she could say a word a servant announced that the feast was ready. Everyone ate and drank with much merriment. Discussing old times and telling grand tales of there youth.
"There they where, the tartars, wild men of the East. Riding there swift horses they where advancing upon Viatika fast! There flame tipped arrows ready to shoot into the wooden fortress walls!"
Kliment said before taking a swig of his vodka.
"What did you do?!"
Semyon's youngest son asked as he set in his fathers lap eyes wide with wonder.
"Well you see I'm a very smart man. I had told my men to throw water all over the walls so when they fired there arrows the walls didn't burn!"
"Wow! Then what?"
"Then he charged out the city walls with his Calvary and dove those tartars back."
Semyon said and ruffled his sons hair.
"Hey! This is my story!"
Kliment whined
"Da but you have told it hundreds of times klim."
"No I haven't!"
"Yes you have!"
"Haven't!"
"Have!"
"Would you two idiots shut up!"
Joseph called to them in a stern yet playful manner. The others laughed at the kings words all save for the conspirators who simply chuckled lightly. This however was soon forgotten as the grand doors to the room slammed open to reveal a frantic looking servant. He quickly ran over to his kings side all while exclaiming at the top of his lungs.
"YOUR HIGHNESS! YOUR HIGHNESS! THE HIGH KING AND QUEEN OF NELVANIA ARE HERE!"
Joseph rose to his feet.
"Then don't just stand here shouting boy go fetch them here!"
The young man frantically bowed before running off to go do as his king bade him. The Nelvanians where a magical people from another realm that very few knew how to get to but those who had been said it was a most glorious place. Almost like the garden of Eden it was with its lush forests and grasslands. The inhabitants where a mix between human and animal and they lived for hundreds of years. There rulers however where the longest lived having been there when the earth began all those eons ago. The young man soon returned and behind him the king and queen. King Stefan was a creature unlike any seen on this earth. He had the body of a man with the hooves of a goat. His head was like a horses but with the nose of a deer. Atop his head was a pair of great horns like an antelope and from his back a large pair of featured birds wings. But this was not the most remarkable thing about him. It was the fact that his body was made of the sunlight itself that was awe inspiring. His wife was also made of a light but hers was of the moon hence her name Luna. She like her husband was part human but she was a wolf in facial features, tail, and feet. Both where dressed in long fur lined robes with there crowns on there heads. There glowing pupiless eyes looked towards the Tsar and his wife and they smiled.
"Greetings your highnesses. We have come a long way to see the young prince."
The deep yet gentle voice of Stefan proclaimed as all those before them bowed in respect and reverence. The church patriarch Nicolas was prostrate before them and he spoke on behalf of his rulers.
"Oh great elementals of the mystical land! Ones who's eyes have seen the glory of God! Tell us why have you sought out the young prince? Surely he is of little importance to beings as great and mighty as you!"
"On the contrary."
The serine voice of Queen Luna replied.
"This little one is very special. He has a gift given to few humans."
Joseph and Sofya looked between themselves and then back at the Nelvanian royal couple.
"Do you mean that our son is blessed with magic?"
"Indeed he is, a very special kind of magic."
They turned to see another elemental enter the room. This one was a fox but her body was made of the ice and snow. She was the elementess of the ice and snow Xue-Feng. She approached the Tsarina and held out her hands.
"May I see the young prince?"
She inquired. Sofya hesitated for only a moment before placing Ivan into the arms of the elementess. Ivan awoke from his nap to look up into the gentle orbs of ice. Ethereal snowflakes fell around him and he reached out for them.
"Sweet little prince my gift to you I now give. The snow and ice are now yours to command. May they protect you and keep you safe from harm forevermore."
She said before taking some of the snow that made up her body and drawing a snowflake on his forehead which unlocked the child's gift. He smiled and giggled up at her before he was handed back to his mother and the snowflake on his head melted away.
"Take very good care of him oh king and queen for one day he will be great."
The snow vixen said before leaving.
"What does she speak of?! He is 3rd in line to the throne!"
Lazar said rising from the banquet table in an outrage. Luna looked in his direction, her glowing eyes subduing him to a degree.
"She speaks of things destined to happen. Things that are in the futures mist."
She turned back to the babe whom was now sleeping in his mothers arms once more.
"Only time will tell how this little one will become great."
The queen said with a smile.
"Shall you be staying oh great ones?"
The patriarch asked.
"No we have things to attend to back home but we intrust the child's soul to you Nicolas."
Stefan said to him
"Of course your highness. I will shepherd him as the Lord shepherds his people."
He said with a final bow to the divine rulers before they departed in flashes of light. Everyone was quiet for the longest time before Svetlana broke the silence.
"How come Ivan gets magic?!"
She whined and the others laughed.
"Oh moy vorobey(2) that's because your mama and I don't have magic. But Ivan's mama does."
Joseph explained to his daughter who's expression turned to one of understanding. But then changed to a pout.
"It's still not fair."
She grumbled. Joseph chuckled and kissed her cheek. His daughter brought him so much joy with her adorable expressions and antics.
"Would moy vorobey like to dance?"
He asked her. Her expression changed to that of joy as she jumped down and dragged her papa out to the dance floor. Everyone watched with smiles save the conspirators whom where whispering amongst each other.
"We will most definitely have to keep an eye on the prince now."
Lavrinty commented.
Andrei nodded as did the others.
"Those Nelvanians never say such things without reason. You remember there prophecy about Alexander Nevsky?"
"Who could forget! It's written in the royal books of ancestry!"
"We must find a way to insure that the young prince never becomes great."
Krustchev said before taking a swig of vodka.
"Perhaps we could have him killed?"
Malenkov suggested
"We could but we would have to make it look like an accident."
Lavrinty said.
"No we cannot kill the child not while Joseph lives. It is far too risky. Let us wait and plot so that when the time comes we will be ready to take the throne."
Lazar cautioned as he used his magic to swirl the vodka in his goblet.
"After all my magic is not yet strong enough to take on the mat' medved.(3)"
"But worry not tovarishchi."
He said as he made the vodka writhe in the air before him as though it was in pain. He smirked sadisticly
"Soon we shall be the ones ruling all of Muscovy."
(1) bee
(2) my sparrow
(3) mother bear