[IC] The Making of a New Queen

[tsubasa]

Anastasia sat in the carriage this time with George and Bon, who sat on her lap. The king watched her, "Why on earth did you keep that thing?"

She looked up at the King then down at the chicken, "That lady gave it to me. It was the least I could do. I'll easily be able to take care of it at the palace... One chicken can be the difference between eating and starving and she gave her to me..." She smiled and pet the chicken before standing and quickly moving to sit next to George, "She's a sweet little thing too."

She took his hand and had him pet the animal. She smiled at him, "My papa had a chicken that attacked me when I was a kid."

George looked at her, surprised, "And that didn't put you off chickens."

She shook her head, "Just mean ones."

She grabbed a piece of paper and her pen and started to sketch Bon. She hadn't had much time to write a letter to Samsul but she wanted to send him something for him to know she was alright. When she finished, she folded it in three then wrote:

Dear Samsul,

We've been busy lately and I haven't time to write you. Have a picture of Bon.

Sincerely,
Anastasia

[pyroman]

More time had passed and Samsul had received the next letter. He was a little surprised by its contents, but he smiled at it nonetheless. It was a lovely sketch of the chicken that she had been given, and Samsul placed it next to all of the other letters that she had given him over the course of the past few months. He had been thinking about many things since she left, and although he had earlier brushed off Gerald for assuming that he had feelings for the queen, he had now fully accepted that fact. He was anxious for her to come back to the castle, not only because he missed her dearly, but also because he had been studying various rituals that Humans went through. Because of who he was, it wasn't very hard to find a forge and have someone craft a golden band, and as simple as it was, he hoped that it would be enough.

[tsubasa]

Anastasia could see the palace in the distance and grinned. They rode through town the people waved to her as she practically hung out the carriage waving back. King George held her hips to prevent her from falling out. She grinned as they rode through the gates and grabbed Bon. She hardly waited for them to open her door before she jumped out. She placed Bon on the ground and Melor came running up to her barking. She grinned and picked him up and held him close to her. She placed back on the ground as he started to wiggle and laughed. She moved away from the carriage to allow George to climb out, as she noticed Samsul. She grinned and ran over to him, practically launching herself at him as she wrapped her arms around him tightly. Her head rested on his chest as she hugged him, "I missed you."

[pyroman]

Samsul didn't know how long he had been waiting there for Anastasia to finally arrive at the castle, but it was all worth the wait when he finally saw her and she launched herself into him and hugged him tightly. He smiled at the embrace and returned the hug and hugged her just as tight. "I missed you too, Anastasia. How was the tour?" He asked as as he looked down at her with a permanent smile on his face. "I was hoping that we could talk of your journey while we had dinner. I had Eric prepare something special for you tonight." He wanted to say so many things to her, but he just had to take it one at a time so that he didn't overwhelm her with everything that he would tell her.

[tsubasa]

Anastasia looked up at Samsul, "It was wonderful. I didn't know that Greenspring was so beautiful. I got to talk to so many people and discuss things that they were having problems with. I would love to do it again... Maybe when I get used having someone else guarding things so that you can come see as well."

She looked over her shoulder at George when Samsul mentioned that he had Eric prepare something special, "Will you be coming?" part of her didn't want him to. She wanted it to be just her and Samsul, like it had been when she was a Princess. George shook his head, "No. I'm not to hungry, you go."

She nodded and smiled at Samsul, "Come on! I want to see Eric!"

She walked quickly to the dining hall and looked at Samsul, "How were things while I was gone?"

[pyroman]

Samsul was overjoyed to hear that King George wouldn't be with them while they ate, and he was thanking his gods to have been given such a chance. Samsul let go of the queen and nodded at her as he followed her to the dining hall. It was getting late, and he was sure that Eric had all of the preparations ready.

"Things have been going well. Me and Gerald have discussed some possible trade agreements with the bordering countries, but nothing will be made solid without your word. It has been surprisingly calm around here since you left and there weren't any large problems that we had to attend to. How was your trip around the country?" He asked her as the two of them were getting close to the door that led to the dining hall. Eric was waiting on the other side for the two of them, and Eric had been fully filled in on the plan that Samsul had discussed with him, as he currently set the food onto plates, and those on the trays.

[tsubasa]

Anastasia looked at Samsul and giggled, "You already asked that, Samsul," She nudged him with her shoulder before they reached the dining hall. Reaching it, she opened the door and smiled, "I didn't know how much I missed this place," She grinned and walked over to her usual seat and pushed out Samsul's, "I think it was good for me... To leave. Before walking around here, all I could think about was my mother and how she is gone. Now," She glanced toward her mother's chair, "I'm just glad that she was once here..." She relaxed in her seat and patted her legs, "Alright, so what is this surprise that you and Eric concocted for me?"

[pyroman]

Samsul only let out a small embarrassed "Oh." as Anastasia told him that he had already asked that question before. He sat down at his regular seat and waited patiently for Eric to arrive. Hopefully the old man remembered what he was supposed to do, and if he did, then everything would go perfectly. He smiled at Anastasia as he began to explain what he and Eric had cooked for them. "Well. I shouldn't let anything out until you actually see it but we prepared som-" He was interrupted by Eric as he came through the door with a smile on his face as he looked at Anastasia. "Anastasia!" He called out as he neared the two of them. "It's been so long since I've seen you! I thought you would arrive a few days from now?" He sighed as he looked at her. "Perhaps my old memory is finally starting to fail me. That would explain why Samsul went through so much trouble to make you a wonderful dinner tonight, though." He smiled at them and looked out through one of the windows. After a moment of silence, he looked back at Anastasia and glanced at Samsul. "Might I ask why you're eating in here, though? It's much too nice of a night to eat inside. How about you two head to the balcony and I'll have some of the other chefs bring the food there! Off you go now!" He immediately started to shoo the two away, and even with a little protest from Samsul, Eric refused to allow them to stay inside with such a beautiful night. After some bickering, with the elder chef, Samsul sighed and looked at Anastasia. "We should just go and listen to him. It seems that he won't allow for us to even eat inside."

[tsubasa]

Anastasia looked to Eric when he called out her name. She smiled happily at the elderly man, "Hello again, Eric." She laughed a little when he said it was making sense now why Samsul had asked him to make a nice meal, "Well, it would make little sense of him to make something for me now when I'm not to arrive in a few days."

She looked toward the window when he did and was taken back by his insistence that they sit outside. She giggled a little when Samsul attempted to refuse the offer, however, Eric would not have it. When Samsul finally gave in and said they should move outside, she nodded, "I think that is a lovely idea."

She took his hand and dragged him toward the balcony. She looked over her shoulder at him, "Besides, he is right... It is a beautiful night."

She walked out onto the balcony and dropped his hand. She walked over to the railing and smiled up at the stars. She loved the stars. Thus her want to always go out and stargaze. However, from the many times she had dragged Samsul into some field or stared at the stars from her window, something seemed different. She turned slightly to face Samsul but continued to look at the sky, "Are there more stars out tonight?"

[pyroman]

Samsul walked with her as she forcefully guided him out onto the balcony. So far, everything was going well, and he hoped that it would last throughout the night. As the two reached the balcony, he let his hand fall back to his side after she dropped it. He walked up next to her and leaned slightly over the railing that kept the two from falling off. He looked up at the stars and knew that there were more than usual out tonight. There were a few extras that made up more constellations that he knew of, and some of the now apparent stars completed some of the others.

"It seems that way, Anastasia. There are many more stars out tonight." He nodded at her as he looked back at her and saw one chef moving a small table out to the balcony from the corner of his eye. Two more chefs appeared with chairs and left quickly and quietly after setting them. He fully looked at the table and chairs that were now there and smiled at Anastasia. "We should sit down and catch up a little. I know that I receive your letters, but I do enjoy when we talk face to face."

[tsubasa]

Anastasia smiled as she looked at the stars, Samsul confirming her assumption, "It reminds me of Fyodor..." She realized that that was the first time she hadn't called her home town home... She supposed that the palace was home now. When Samsul asked if they should sit, she was about to make comment about there being no place to sit, but as she looked, she found a table and two chairs. She blinked a little bit, surprised by their sudden arrival. She laughed a little and nodded, walking over to the table and taking a seat. She looked at Samsul, "We got a chance to pass through Fyodor. I got to have a nice visit with my parents... They even asked about you," She giggled a little, "Wanted to know what the burly man who took you was up to..."

She smiled at the thought of her mama saying that. Then rested her chin on her hands, "You said that you and Gerald were working on some trades?"

[pyroman]

Samsul was a little surprised to hear that her parents were asking about him, but he assumed that it was a little odd for a man to just walk up one day in the name of the queen and take their adopted daughter to the capitol of Greenspring. He wondered about what she had told them about him, but his thoughts were stopped when she mentioned the trades. The Lost Elf nodded to her with a small smile. "Yes. Gerald and I have been working on some trade routes. Surprisingly enough, even Eigas would like to set up a trade route, despite the distance. Other countries include Tyvan, Greyhollow, and even the people of the desert, just to name the larger countries." He smiled at Anastasia with a small nod. "We have become quite popular, Anastasia."

[tsubasa]

Anastasia grinned when Samsul said they had become quite popular, "I'm awfully confused to why... I'm clueless compared to my mother. You would think that they would care to have already set up those trade routes," She bit her lip as she thought, "If we are trading with Eigas... We'll want to trade something that doesn't spoil.... as it would probably rot... They have some wonderful books and are quite good at making them... If we traded for those, the prices on books would drop quite a lot and more people would have the means to read... We'd be a step closer to educating Greenspring..."

She continued to think, "The people of the desert would want wheat and things that cannot normally grow... And they make lovely jewelry," she looked at Samsul and blushed deeply, "Sorry... You wanted to catch up, not discuss trades."

She laughed a little and looked toward the door, "You've yet to tell me what this surprise is."

[pyroman]

"Well it's a surprise Anastasia, and I think that it's the whole point that you don't know until the happens." He smiled at her as he thought about her recommendations about the trade and was happy to hear that she was already thinking about the other countries and what Greenspring could give to them. "Might I know what you have told your parents, though, and how they reacted to it? It would be interesting to hear since we had only talked briefly before I escorted you here." He knew that the food was already prepared and everything, and it didn't take very long for some more chefs, as well as Eric himself, to walk out to the balcony and bring out the tray of food.

Eric smiled at the two and placed the tray down on the table in between the two of them before removing the lid that was resting on top to show the food that he had prepared. Underneath the lid was two plates of salmon, as well as some fresh herbs and a salad for each of them on the side. It was all organized to appear simple, despite that cooking it was quite the contrary. Eric smiled at the salmon and looked at the Queen and the Lost Elf "I hope that the two of you enjoy the dinner. It truly is a lovely night." He bowed deeply to the two of them and left the balcony with the other chefs, leaving Samsul and Anastasia alone.

[tsubasa]

Anastasia was about to answer Samsul's question about her parents when Eric and the chefs delivered their food. She was slightly surprised that so many of them had come out. She had seen Eric bring out food for Samsul, herself, the late Queen, and Melor all on her own. She was curious why these two dishes needed the extra help. She took her plates off the tray and placed them in front of her, after she thanked Eric. She picked up her fork and broke apart the salmon before she got some on her fork, she smiled at Samsul, "I said that for the last six months you were my personal guard and have become my best friend here... That you were recently coronated as head of the Lost Elves... That you were the only person I trusted to leave Greenspring to... and that I hope I can take you there some time," She blushed slightly at the last comment as she bit into her salmon. Her hand rose to her mouth, as she was surprised by the flavor of the food. Swallowing, she smiled, "Oh... Either Eric has outdone himself or I've forgotten how good his food is."

[pyroman]

Samsul smiled at Anastasia as he slowly ate his food and listened to what she had to say to him. He was glad that she had so much trust in him, but he was a little confused as to why she was blushing at the last comment. He smiled a little more at the comment about food and placed his fork down. "I'm glad that you like the Salmon. I captured them and gave to Eric so he could cook them. It is true though. He has outdone himself this time." He smiled once more at her and resumed eating the food. He was sure that he would get serious after she finished eating, but he knew that he had a question to ask her. Samsul slowly moved one arm off of the table and reached into one of the pockets that he had in his current attire. He was hoping for everything to go smoothly, and he wasn't sure what he would do if it didn't. "Anastasia... Can I talk to you about the promise that you made to me before you left..?"

[tsubasa]

Anastasia looked up at Samsul, surprised, when he informed her that he caught the fish the were current eating, "I didn't know that you fish..."

Had he ever gone off and fished? Maybe during one of the times that he went off for free time. So, he didn't always got to the armoury to talk to the other Lost Elves. She was slightly curious as to what else he did in that free time. She looked up from her half eaten salad when Samsul asked if he could talk to her about the promise she had made to him the day before she left. She put down her fork, she was confused as to why he would be asking such a thing. She had kept the promise, although George had been trying to court her on the trip, she didn't let him. So, why was it that Samsul wanted to talk about... Well, only one way to find out. She nodded and wiped the corners of her mouth with her napkin, "Of course."

[pyroman]

Samsul took a small breath as he thought out his next choice of words. He didn't know what to say to her, and any past thoughts about the subject had been thrown out the mental window. He needed to keep calm while he sat there, and over thinking it wasn't helping at all. "Now that you are back at the castle, you are free to be allowed to be courted as you please, but I would like to ask you one thing..." Slowly the man stood from his chair and walked over to Anastasia. He took his hand out of his pocket and held the gold band in his hand. As he got onto a knee, he held it out to her and attempted to appear as calm as possible. "Would you take me into consideration when you decide who you wish to marry?"

[tsubasa]

Anastasia watched at Samsul as he stood, slightly confused on where he was going with. Until he lowered to a knee and asked her to consider marrying him. Her eyes widened as she stared at him, absolutely stunned. He wanted to marry her! The two of them hardly even had physical contact unless it was reassuring and he wanted to marry her! Well, that did explain his distaste toward the thought of her leaving and his request for her not to return to court betrothed to George. She thought about how much she had missed him while she was gone. Everything she saw, she wanted to share with him. She thought about how she had told her parents her hopes to bring him back so that they could meet him. She thought about how long she had been sitting there staring at the man, saying nothing. She slowly started to smile as she tried to find her voice. She whispered, "Yes.... Yes, I will."

She took the ring and slid it onto her hand before she leaned forward and kissed him. It wasn't until she did it that she realized how much she had been wanting to do it. Pulling away, she blushed, "I really missed you..."

[pyroman]

As the silence went on, Samsul was starting to feel worse and worse. The Lost Elf wasn't sure if she was either stunned or didn't have the words to tell him otherwise. He had an increasingly hard time trying to keep up a hopeful face, but all of his thoughts were put to rest as she whispered that she would. He smiled at her and felt like exploding in joy. The feeling only became more intense as she leaned forward to kiss him. As she pulled away, Samsul couldn't help but to have a blush of his own. He nodded at her and was doing his best from exploding in excitement. "I have missed you as well, Anastasia." He said as he slowly began to rise, the smile permanently etched on his face.