[IC] The Making of a New Queen

[pyroman]

Samsul nodded back at Anastasia and continued on his walk, happy that Melor was brought back to her. He felt bad that he had forgetter about the little dog, since as property of Anastasia, he would have to watch over the dog as well. "Please don't worry about it. If he had escaped, I would have continued the search until we found him." He would have sent all the guards in Greenspring a message telling them to look out for the dog if Melor had escaped the castle.

After his words, he walked the rest of the way to her room in silence, and smiled a little as her door came into view. The Lost Elf picked up his pace a little to reach the door faster, and opened it for Anastasia and Melor. "I will see the two of you in the morning. Good night." He said in a light tone as he slowly closed the door after them.

[tsubasa]

It had been nearly two months since the incident with Melor's disappearance. She had been seeing less of her mother. Not that she wasn't making time for her, but Anastasia noted that she was working more and decided to not bother her as much. She knew the woman would abandon her work to be with her but she didn't want to start getting the way. Her lessons had changed from mainly ettiquette to mainly reading, writing, and language. Anastasia was not unhappy with this change. She sat in the garden, writing a letter to Gerald, as he had given her the task to do, in a less than elegant scrawl under the watch of Amul. Samsul was off running with Melor, as per her request. He was taking time off to himself but not as much as she had wanted. So every once in a while, she asked him to play with Melor while she was busy with her studies. This way he got to goof off a bit and Melor got excerise. She wasn't sure if Samsul had caught onto her scheme, but he wasn't one to reject orders, no matter how meaningless they were. It was good for them anyways.

She closed her journal and looked up at Amul, "How long has it been since Samsul and Melor left?"

Amul thought about it, "Nearly an hour."

Anastasia smiled, glad that he had been gone for so long, "Good."

[pyroman]

Over the past two months, Samsul had taken some more time to himself, while also giving Elana regular reports about Anastasia and how she's doing. The queen knew that her time with her daughter was short, and although they saw less and less of each other, she made every moment count. The other King and Queens were becoming impatient with her delaying her visits around the other countries, and she knew that very soon, she would have to leave for some time. Maybe a few months, or even a year or two to stay in hiding. She didn't know, but she had taken every available opportunity to tell her daughter that she loved her very much.

At the moment, Samsul was with Melor, throwing a stick around and playing. He had formed a bond with the little dog, and in a way was his test subject when trying to be more social and outward. It was much more than just throwing a stick now. Sometimes Samsul would order for Melor to chase him around, or even play tug-of war with a line of rope that he... Found laying around in one of the storage rooms in the castle. It had been almost an hour since Samsul left to play with Melor, and he had gotten a little more comfortable with another guard watching her. She was still his objective, but he had also learned to loosen up and put a little faith into her as well.

[tsubasa]

Anastasia reopened her book and spent a small time writing before her hand started to cramp and she decided it was time, she put her book down. She pursed her lips, trying to figure out where Samsul would have take Melor. They probably stayed at the castle. She couldn't see Samsul running off with him into the city. After all, that was quite the ways away and she thought that Melor might need to be carried back. Not to mentino the city was rather busy and the two could be seperated easily.

So, he was at the castle, but where. If he was running with him, he could be anywhere, but Melor normally started to get tired after a while, he was still young and quite small. That meant, he probably wasn't running with him. She narrowed it down to the stables and the small field just outside the castle walls. She stood and smiled at Amul, "Let's go find the boys."

He nodded and the two of them left the gardens. They found them in the small field and Anastasia smiled, quietly running over to Samsul, "Boo!" she said, grinning. Melor dropped the stick in front of her and she knelt, picking it up before tossing it for him, "You seem to have gotten the hand of playing with a dog. And so quickly you learnt too. I congratulate you."

[pyroman]

Samsul hadn't heard Anastasia's quiet footsteps as she made her way behind him, and the surprise of her appearance had caught him off guard. He flinched just the slightest and quickly turned around to face her. He nodded with a small smile after receiving her praise and watched Melor as he chased the stick. His attention was quickly brought back to the princess and he smiled once more. "Thank you Anastasia. I've been putting in effort when it comes to things that do not revolve around my duties, and I hope that it yields positive results."

He was truly making an effort to be more normal, as it kept his mind from thinking about Elana and how she would have to leave soon. Within the next day or two, he was sure about that. He would occasionally go out into town to simply wander and find new things to do, and he had even used some money to but a set of civilian clothes for himself if he would ever feel the need to be out into town for most of the day. Kala had joked about his ongoing "Transformation" and as it continued, he had countered her words better and better with each passing joke.

[tsubasa]

Anastasia smiled at him and held her hands behind her back as she watched Melor attack his stick. She nudged Samsul with her shoulder, basically bumping into his elbow, "I can see you less on the ball though. If I managed to sneak up on you," she giggled, "Although, it hardly matters, even if someone snuck up on you alone out here... I'm sure you could handle yourself," She looked to Amul, who was watching the two quiet since he had yet to be dismissed, "Am I right?"

Amul grinned, "That you are, Princess."

Anastasia nodded, "That's what I thought. Now, enough playing with the dog. It's our turn," She hit his arm lightly and smirked, "Tag!" she yelled before grabbing her lighter skirts and running away. Melor chased after her and she looked over her shoulder, to see how close Samsul was, laughing away.

[pyroman]

Samsul had caught onto the game quickly, but decided to wait a moment or two before deciding to chase after her. He made sure that she was still in his sight, but a large enough distance to make her believe (Even for a small moment) that she could escape his chase. Much like the races with Salmnir and Gale, Samsul would allow her to have a bit of a lead before taking the lead quickly, but would still hold back a little to give her a chance to tag him back.

After his waiting was done, a smirk appeared on his face just before he took off to find her. She was barely in his line of sight, but he was catching up to her at a decent rate. He wished that he could have been clothed in something else so that his movement would be as slow and restricted as they were, but he wasn't going to argue. He could still keep at a quick sprint, and that was all he needed for this chase.

[tsubasa]

Anastasia glanced over her shoulder to see Samsul chasing after. She didn't know why she always challenge him to physical forms of competition. There was no way she would win against him, or his horse. Before were fitter and far larger than her and Gale. But she did. She guess she kind of like losing against him. People in the castle did whatever she asked and she felt if she asked them to race, they'd let her win. It was nice to know that Samsul's own competitiveness out weighed her own superiority, to allow him to let her win.

She glanced over her shoulder and saw him gaining still and started to run a more confusing path, trying to keep him off of her and the game going a little longer. As once he tagged her, all hope was lost.

[pyroman]

Very unlike the others around the castle, Samsul would put out enough energy to win against the princess, and nothing less. The main part of it was because of of his pride and competitiveness, but the other part that kept him from backing down and allowing her to win was Elana. Despite the lessons and the whole change to becoming royalty, Elana still wanted for her daughter to be herself, and having the staff bending to her benefit whenever she issued a challenge didn't help in the least.

He was getting closer, and although the constantly changing path had slowed him down a little, he was still gaining on her nonetheless, and it wouldn't be long until he tagged her.

[tsubasa]

Anastasia stopped looking over her shoulder. She knew Samsul was close and figured if she kept looking it would only slow her down. She turned again when Melor suddenly ran at her, bumping into her legs and causing her to stumble before falling over. The dog seemed pleased with this since he wasn't getting any attention. Anastasia laughed as he kissed her face and sat up. She shook her head, "Melor! I was doing so well."

She giggled and looked up at Samsul. She chest rose and fell heavily as she tried to catch her breath. She smirked, "You're getting rusty, Samsul," she teased.

[pyroman]

Samsul was so close to her, as he had attempted to reach out and tag her, but was unsuccessful with each attempt. With some help from Melor, Anastasia fell over and eventually sat back up. If this had happened months before, then he would have freaked out over this. Luckily, he wasn't like that any more, and instead, slowed down and stood next to her with a small smile just before tagging her lightly. He smiled a little more when she teased him and shook his head. "When you catch your breath, we can try again, and I will catch you much faster. It's a promise."

[tsubasa]

Anastasia laughed, "I have no doubt about that," she pursed her lips, "But you try running in a dress!"

She wrapped her arms around Melor and hugged him to her. She kissed his head before standing and brushing herself off. She looked at Melor, "Since when were you on his side anyways? Hm?"

The dog tilted his head and looked at her innocently. Anastasia shook her own and looked at Samsul before quickly tagging his gut. She grinned, "Now that I'm winning, shall we head back to the castle? Oil you up, make sure you don't get too rusty on me. I was wanting to see if my mother could take a break and have some dinner with us."

[pyroman]

Samsul shook his head with a small smile. He didn't need for her to 'oil him up' since he was always in a great physical condition, but he did enjoy running around with her. It was fun, and it gave him something to do while also being with her. He was sure that Elana would want to join the three of them for dinner tonight, even if she had mountains of work to do, she'd make time for her daughter. He then nodded at her and looked down the hall. "I'm sure that she'd love to join us for dinner. Would you care for a little race to her office?" His smile turned into a grin as he looked at her and tagged her shoulder.

[tsubasa]

The two of them walked back the short ways to the castle. When the reached the halls, Samsul asked if she wished to race to the Queen's office. She laughed, "How terribly unladylike would it be for me to do that? Hm? As the Princess of Greenspring, I don't think I could," She took off her shoes and tagged his shoulder quickly before racing down the hall.

She laughed and only managed to beat him by a millisecond, opening the door before he got the chance. She grinned, "Ha, ha! I win!" She then turned and looked at the Queen they had just disturbed. She smiled at her mother and curtsied, "Evening, Mother. Samsul and I were wondering... if you would like to join us for dinner."

[pyroman]

He didn't expect for her to lead him on and trick him. He was unaware of her quickly tagging his shoulder and racing off, but as soon as he took full notice, he darted down the hall with quick speed and didn't hold back at all this time. Despite this, he still lost in the end, but only barely. He had to stop himself quickly, and by the time he came to a halt, he was already past the door that she was now opening.

Elana was reading over a paper that would involve upcoming events, and since she had already done the proper discreet paperwork with her signature, this paper was only telling her that her time was up, and she would have to leave this world very soon. She sighed a little as she knew that she would be leaving her daughter, but Elana knew she was in good hands. Samsul was more than capable to guard her, and Gerald could assist her with any business relating to the throne or royalty. She quickly folded up the paper and looked at the door as Anastasia entered the office. Elana smiled at her daughter and nodded. "I'd love to. Just give me a quick moment to put some papers away." She opened a nearby cabinet and slid the papers she was just looking at into it before leaving her seat and walking over to her daughter.

[tsubasa]

Anastasia stood at the door, holding her hands behind her back and smiled at her mother as she put her things away. When she stood, Anastasia stepped out of the room to allow her to exit as well. Once she had joined them the three of them walked down that hall. Anastasia looked at her mother, "Excuse Samsul, if he is acting a little strange. I don't think he is used to be beaten," She giggled and nudged him, "Just in a foot race but all the same."

They walked into the dining room and Anastasia took her seat. She smiled at Eric as he came out for them. She giggled a little again, the thought of her realization two months ago that it was this that made her feel like a Princess. She bowed her head, "Good evening, Eric."

[pyroman]

With the mentioning of Samsul losing a race, Elana looked at her daughter with surprise, then smiled at her as they continued. "Oh? Samsul lost in a race?" She directed her attention towards the Lost Elf as he nodded. "You're getting a little rusty, I see." She laughed a little and watched as Samsul went to the door and opened it for the two of them, joining them after they passed through.

Eric bowed to the princess and smiled as he noticed that the queen was with them as well. "Good evening, Anastasia, Elana, and Samsul. What would you all like to eat tonight? Also, is Melor around? I have been trying to cook something that I'm sure he'd enjoy, but I'd need for him to try it first." He explained his situation as he motioned everything with his hands as he spoke.

[tsubasa]

Anastasia looked at Eric and nodded before scanning the dining hall, "He's here somewhere.... Melor!"

The small dog came running out from under one of the tables and over to them. Anastasia laughed as he tried to jump up onto her chair, "Sit, Melor."

The dog sat and looked up at Eric. He knew well that this man always gave him delicious food and was ready for that night's meal. Anastasia looked up at him as well, "I'll have whatever you think is best. I haven't any cravings right now."

When the other two told him what they would like, Anastasia turned to them both. She smiled at Samsul, "He isn't getting rusty... he's just putting his efforts into other aspects of life as well."

She looked to her mother and grinned, "I was writing again today. It still isn't too pretty but Gerald says it is coming along."

[pyroman]

As Melor came into view, Eric smiled and bowed to the dog. "I will be back with food for all of you." He walked away back into the kitchen and finished up the piece of meat that he had been preparing for the dog, as well as some steak for everyone else, that had been properly seasoned and cooked.

Elana had been happy to hear that Anastasia had gotten Samsul to focus on something other than his duties as a guard. She was also happy to hear that her daughters writing was improving. Elana nodded at her and smiled, thinking of how much more important Gerald would soon be. "That's good to hear. A good queen or king should have nice penmanship. I'm glad that Samsul is listening to you when it comes to taking personal time off, since I'm sure he'd find some sort of reason to keep up his work, even when not needed."

[tsubasa]

Anastasia smiled at her mother. She nodded when she addressed Samsul listening to her. She shrugged, "Well, he tends to go off and play with Melor while I am doing my lessons... I think it is so that he can say, he is protecting him rather than goofing off with him."

She giggled and grinned at Samsul. Melor walked under the table, brushing up against all off the legs before sitting down on Samsul's feet. Anastasia looked down and spotted him, laughing. She meet Samsul's eye and shook her head slightly, "If I'm not mistaken, I think he likes you."