[IC] The Making of a New Queen

[tsubasa]

Anastasia giggled a little and rose a hand to her mouth as she did, "I apologize for that... oh and I even told you that I wouldn't mind marrying him," she buried her face in his shoulder, "I'm sorry! But maybe if you told me before I left how you felt... I might not have gone."

She sighed and returned her chin to his shoulder, "Of course, it was good for me... getting out and learning about my country first hand."

She smiled at him, "I did you miss you a lot though..."

[pyroman]

The reason that Samsul hadn't told her of his feelings earlier was because he didn't know what they truly were until he saw her dancing with George. His emotions truly surfaced as he heard the king speak about touring Greenspring with Anastasia. He didn't want for the queen to be doing that with a man she only knew so much about. He wanted for him to be in George's spot during the trip, and he constantly thought of his wife to be while he was stuck in the castle.

He smiled back at Anastasia and gave her a small kiss. "I missed you as well, Anastasia. I was always so happy to receive your letters about your travels."

[tsubasa]

Anastasia smiled when he gave her a small kiss. Slowly, they were breaking down that barrier and slowly more and more things about being a couple, something neither of them were used to in the slightest, would be easier for the two of them. She gave him another kiss when he finished talking, "As I was yours about the happening at the castle and Melor."

She finally removed herself from his shoulder, but continued to hold his hand as she grabbed a pen she had brought and their list. She looked at it and tapped the pen against the table slightly, "There are so many choices... Well, for flowers..." She looked at Samsul, "I was thinking... maybe wildflowers. They are beautiful and simple and very easy to come by," She pursed her lips, "As for colours... maybe green... like on your armour and for Greenspring..."

She leaned back in her chair and looked at him, "So what Lost Elf rituals shall we add to our ceremony?"

[pyroman]

Samsul had to stop and think about the rituals. There were several of them that occurred throughout the day, and didn't want for any of his rituals to interfere with Anastasia's. "It's usually customary for the wedded couple to wake up just before dawn, to view the rising sun. They would do the other rituals during the day, but go to sleep as the sun sets." He hummed in thought as he looked back at his wife to be and sighed. "I'm not sure of any others, since female Lost Elve are typically strong and tough warriors in their own right..."

[tsubasa]

Anastasia smiled at him as he mentioned one of the rituals, "I like the thought of waking up on our wedding to watch the sunrise with you..."

She laughed a little when he said he wasn't sure about the others due to the fact that female Lost Elves were strong and tough warriors. She cocked an eyebrow and smirked at him, "Are you suggesting that I'm not strong and tough?" She pretended to be upset by the comment but her smile slowly spread again breaking the less than convincing facade. She giggled slightly and played with his fingers as she shook her head, "I may just sit around signing things now, but I like to think I was strong for a human when I worked on the farm."

[pyroman]

Samsul wasn't really sure what to say when Anastasia called him out on saying that she wasn't strong and tough. The shock factor died off quickly as she began to giggle and play with his fingers. He smiled at his wife to be and nodded at her. "I'm sure that with the work on a farm, you would be quite strong. I only said that because both men and women of my race have the same duties and jobs. We can both be soldiers, parental figures, and other various jobs. Lost Elf women see themselves to be just as strong as the men. This is the often the case, and there are a few women that can even defeat some of the stronger men."

[tsubasa]

Anastasia smiled and nodded, "Maybe if I was raised as a warrior and not a farmer's daughter," She was quiet for a moment as she continued to play with his hand, "Maybe... Your mother could help decide what I could manage... Besides," She looked up at her husband to be, "I really should meet your parents."

All she knew of the couple was that they raised Samsul and that they were alive. Sure, Samsul didn't know much about her Mama and Papa but he had at least sat down with them. He had spoken to them... Even if it was to tell them that their daughter was a Princess and he was whisking her away. She leaned close to him, "I'm sure your mother will have lots of advice for me about you. It would help prepare me for our married life," she grinned, "Besides, I think they deserve to know their son is going to marry the Queen."

[pyroman]

Samsul suddenly shuddered at the thought of Anastasia meeting his parents. His mother would get along with Anastasia fine, as would his father, but he just didn't want to go through whatever interrogation that they were planning for him. He knew that they were expecting for him to marry another Lost Elf, even if they never said it. They were going to know eventually, and it would be so much better if he told them in person rather than just sending out wedding invitations without even meeting them beforehand. He nodded at his wife to be and looked over at the door to the kitchens to see Alex with two lidless trays in his hands.

The teen looked at the two of them with a small and shy smile as he wordlessly placed the two trays down on the table. It was just chicken and vegetables, but the vegetables were exotic and the chicken seemed to have been cooked to perfectly. Alex looked around the room and spoke quietly. "I... I hope you like the food.." He spoke before quickly leaving once more and heading back into the kitchen.

[tsubasa]

Anastasia grinned when Samsul nodded his head, agreeing to allow her to meet the people who raised him. Then Alex entered the room and she looked at the boy as he walked over to them placed their food in front of them before trying to look anywhere but at them as he wished them a good meal. Anastasia bowed her head in thanks, "Thank you, A-" Before she could finish the boy had already tucked his tail between his legs and made a run for it. She watched as he darted back into the kitchen, "lex...."

She laughed a little and picked up her fork, releasing Samsul's hand to allow him to eat freely. She stabbed one of the vegetables and looked it over. It wasn't like any vegetable she had seen, even on her tour of the country. She wondered if they had gotten it from one of the surrounding countries, "It is a shame he ran out of here so fast... I was going to ask if he could grab Eric..." She shook her head, "I suppose that I'm just stuck with you to talk to then...." She smiled at him, "So... when do I get to meet them?"

[pyroman]

Samsul was somewhat surprised at the speed of the teen. He hadn't seen Alex move that fast before, and laughed a little as Anastasia did. He assumed that they were laughing for the same reason, and stopped quickly afterwards. He knew a few of the exotic vegetables that were on the plate, and grabbed his fork to pick them up and eat them. He would have liked to know where some of the vegetables came from, but he could wait until Eric made his way to the two of them at a later date. He smiled at his wife and continued to eat, trying to hold himself down from the thoughts about his parents and her talking to one another. "Whenever you like, Anastasia. Both of them have retired from the staff of knights. They have time, and I'm sure that they'd be happy to see and talk to you."

[tsubasa]

Anastasia nibbled on her vegetable, trying to decide whether or not she liked the taste. Finally deciding she did, she went about eating it while Samsul explained that they could see his parents anytime. If they were retired, that made a little more sense as to why she hadn't seen them before. She hardly saw the Lost Elves who were still on staff as knights. She was slightly curious as to how many other Lost Elves there were. Well, if she and Samsul were to get married, those who could would most likely be there and she would get and idea for just how many there were. When she finished chewing the vegetable, she looked at Samsul as she got another on her fork, "Do you think that we could see them after we eat? I still have some things to sign but they can wait."

She bit into the veggie on her fork and smiled at Samsul, happy to get the chance to meet his parents.

[pyroman]

Samsul was just about to choke on his food when Anastasia suggested that they see his parents after having lunch. He knew that it was inevitable, so he mentally sighed as he continued to eat as if nothing had happened. He nodded at his wife to be with a small smile that seemed pretty realistic. "Sure, Anastasia. You've been working pretty hard since yesterday, and I'm sure that nothing will go wrong if you have a little more time off." He said to her just before biting into the chicken and smiling in delight at the amazing taste that it had. "The chicken is amazing, Anastasia. You need to try it."

[tsubasa]

Anastasia hummed happily when Samsul said that they could, in fact, go see his parents after they finished eating. She nodded when he suggested she try the chicken. She cut into it before she ate a small piece. Much like the salmon on the night Samsul purposed, the chicken didn't look like much, however, it tasted delightful. Anastasia smiled and looked at Samsul, "We've found ourselves quite the amazing group of chefs."

Quickly, her vegetables and chicken disappeared from her plate leaving it clean. When Samsul finished own, she leaned in close and smiled before kissing his cheek, "Shall we go introduce me to your parents?"

She was slightly nervous about it. She wanted Samsul's parents to like her but she found it best not to think about how much she wanted someone to like her and just do her best to be herself. That was half the reason she got through meeting all the Royals without having a minor panic attack. They all knew she wasn't raised as a Princess, so she did her best to be lady like but she didn't worry to much. She squeezed Samsul's hand and stood, "I'm a little nervous..."

[pyroman]

Samsul looked over at Anastasia and smiled at er as he put his fork down on the plate next to the remains of the chicken. He could feel her hand squeezing his, and squeezed her hand as well. "You'll do fine. I'm sure that they'll like you, Anastasia." He knew his parents well enough to know what kind of people they liked, and although Anastasia might not have fit everything they wanted for a wife for Samsul, she only lacked training with a weapon and skills to take out people twice her size. Samsul picked his fork back up and continued to eat what was left of his food. When he was done, he turned back to Anastasia and smiled. "We can go and see them now, if you'd like."

[tsubasa]

Anastasia nodded vigorously when Samsul finished his dinner and offered to go and see his parents. She stood and held his hand in her own. As they walked, she wrapped her free arm around his and rested her on his shoulder. She was nervous and the closer they seemed to get to where ever it was they were going, the more her nerves went wild. Holding Samsul as she did though, kept her remotely calm. Calm enough to hopefully not appear to be nervous. At first she had thought she could treat this like she did the Royals... But the Royals opinion wouldn't stop her from marrying Samsul. She was sure that Samsul wouldn't change his mind just because his parents didn't like her... but they could make them miserable enough that... maybe they didn't want to be together. They reached a door, that she could only assume Samsul's parents were behind. She took a deep breath and looked up at Samsul, "You're really sure they'll like me?"

[pyroman]

Samsul took Anastasia out of the dining hall and back into one of the main halls. He didn't know exactly where his parents would be at the time, but he knew a few places to look for them. Neither of them seemed to really enjoy retirement, as they believed that they could still fight and protect, but the did know better and tried to keep themselves occupied for the time being. Samsul knew the quickest route to the Lost Elf wing, and every time he glanced over at Anastasia, she seemed to become more and more nervous than before. He was planning on heading to their room first, and when he reached the door, he nodded at his wife to be with a small smile. "I'm sure that they will." He said in a calm voice as he opened the door slowly and looked inside to see both of his parents sitting down on some chairs next to a window.

[tsubasa]

Anastasia took a deep breath and smiled when Samsul assured her that he believed his parents would like her. She watched him as he opened the door and slowly the room came into view. It was smaller than her old room, which didn't really surprise her, however, it was still rather spacious. She spotted the two Lost Elves sitting by the window. As she looked at them her hold on Samsul's hand tightened. Suddenly, she was terrified. But she didn't know why, Samsul had already assured her that they would like her. Deciding that, being human, she was already at a great disadvantage for being both weaker and considerable smaller than the others, it was probably best that she try to not look too scared or nervous. She took another deep breath and lessen her hold on Samsul's hand slightly and stepped away from him a little. She looked up at him and smiled before she glanced back at his parents.

[pyroman]

Both of his parents had taken notice of their son as soon as he stepped in front of the door, but in their old age, they needed to find crafty ways to keep themselves occupied. The two of the acted like Samsul and Anastasia hadn't entered the room. They were actually honored to be in the presence of the new queen, and with a couple unnoticed glances, they noticed that the queen had a hold on their son. Neither one said a thing about it as they sat there. They each had their suspicions of why the queen had Samsul in her grasp, but still remain quiet as the sat there. Samsul hadn't caught on, and only waited for them to notice him and Anastasia. If the were thinking about something, then he didn't want to bring them out of their thoughts, so he remained quiet as well.

[tsubasa]

Anastasia kept looking at them as they continued to look out the window. Samsul kept quiet, drawing to attention toward them and she assumed for a reason. She glanced up at him and bit her lip before she looked back at them. As they stood there in silence, the false courage that Anastasia had inflated herself with to meet his parents, slowly started to slip away. She held his hand tighter and moved closer to him again. At this point, she didn't care if they thought her strong or not, she was nervous and Samsul always seemed to help calm her down. Besides, she was a young woman who was thrown into the life of a Royal six months ago who was now running a country on her own... Surely it didn't get much stronger than that... Well, metaphorically. She still wouldn't be able to take on... well anyone in a fight. But it wasn't her fault that she didn't enjoy conflict. Her heart pounded loudly in her chest as she continued to wait for the Lost Elves to acknowledge them. She looked up at Samsul again, hoping that the worry was present on her face.

[pyroman]

Samsul stood in silence as he looked at his parents, both of them staring vacantly out the window as if being lost in another world. Samsul could see Anastasia move from the corner of his eye, so he looked at her and gave her a calm smile as he stood there. He could see worry written all over her face, and wanted for her to be calm while meeting his parents. He didn't know how they would get along, and he only hoped that they would step out of their thoughts to talk to their son and his wife. The smile he gave her was calm and loving as he stood there, and he only hoped that this would all go off without a hitch. He jumped in surprise as he heard a voice that clearly wasn't his own, or Anastasia's.

"If you're going to act like that, Samsul, then I suggest that you step up and Kiss her. Just smiling at her will only do so much." The elderly voice spoke up as his mother turned her head to look at him, seeing the look of shock and embarrassment all over his slightly reddened face. She seemed to have picked up on everything much faster than he thought she would, and it surprised her. The old woman's head turned to Anastasia as she gave her a motherly smile. "Hello Queen Anastasia. I hope you forgive me and my husband, but it gets boring being retired, and we need things to do other than sitting around."