Historians

08.

01.28.4010

There is a great unrest among the people of our land. Change is not usually a welcome bedside companion. The future holds an air of uncertainty with how the cards are stacked. Something needs to be done immediately before this unrest gets out of control. It needs to start at the root of the problem...

The council meeting started as per its usual routine. There was an increasing number of politicians voicing a growing concern about her presence in the capitol building. Over the course of the past week, each politician had come back claiming there was unrest over her or rumors which had been spread about her. Something would need to be done to address the ever-growing problem. Sitting back and looking over her notes she counted all the districts that had voiced a concern and she found that the number was only three districts short of showing a concern across every district. What was more concerning was each of the districts voicing a concern was showing a significant amount of unrest due to a lack of food. The districts that had once offered to aid districts lacking food were backing out. This was leading to altercations between townsfolk and guards. People in the towns were growing concerned about being able to last through the winter. This was an understandable concern given that it was only January and the early harvest in the countryside would not be up until April. There had to be a connection between her and the food shortage but the issue was in determining how the two were connected. If you were superstitious you would believe that it was a plight being struck down upon the people because there was a woman trying to take power from men. Logically Anastasia could reason her way through this but that would not be the same for the people. Something needed to be done before the public blamed her for the food shortage they were experiencing.

Anastasia stared down at her notebook going over the pages for what seemed like the eighth time. Still, she could see the connection between the growing fear of her, the lack of food, and the severity of the people reactions to the food shortage. None of the notes explained how the three were all connected. She needed more information. She looked up from her notebook and around the room. Jeremiah was seated behind his desk working on his own stack of paperwork while her father sat in an armchair reading a book. Jeremiah was in charge of the internal affairs of the government's working. "Jeremiah, do you know what Mr. O'Brien is working on today?" Jeremiah frowned looking up from his paperwork. "I am not his secretary, why would I know that sort of information? Or rather why does it matter?" Anastasia rose from her chair and made her way to the door. "I need to ask him a few questions." Her new shadow opened the door for her as she approached it and then proceeded to follow her down the corridor. As she moved down the hallway politicians gave her disapproving looks. It was clear that they still did not approve of her presence within the capital. She tried to pay little mind to the men she passed carefully moving around the ones who stood in her way. It wasn't until her path was blocked that she was forced to stop. She suppressed a grimace as she looked at the gentlemen blocking her way. They all appeared to be roughly around her age. Too young to have succeeded their seniors but old enough to have access to the capitol building like her. " Gentlemen if you'll excuse me I need to be on my way." The one in the center stood only a few inches taller than her and he was the first one to speak up. "You're like a plague, a blight upon our people causing them great distress and untold hunger as you continue to thwart the system." To his right was a man that was slight in height but easily made up for that difference in his width who spoke up next in a wheezy voice. "You should just gracefully back down before any damage is done to cause untold chaos." The last one was fair-haired and about the same height as her. "Really, by now you surely must know that you do not belong here. Really think about all of the trouble rumors alone have caused." Now Anastasia did frown, their words were not untrue, the mere rumors had been enough to cause distress for the masses but there was no clear connection between the two incidents, but she couldn't let them stop her. "Your concern is appreciated, however, we are working to make amends for the masses and to find a solution to the problem. So if you'll excuse me, I need to go meet with someone." The middle gentleman snorted. "DIdn't you just hear us? The solution to the issue is for you to leave." Anastasia sighed and motioned to her guard. "I will not say it again, you are in my way. So you can move and let me continue on to my meeting or I will have you moved." Neil started to move around Anastasia toward the gentlemen blocking her way when they split making way for her. At the opening Anastasia moved forward, continuing on her path to Sheamus' office. Thankfully there were no further roadblocks on her way. As she raised her hand to knock on the door it swung inward and a grumpy looking politician stood to look down his nose at her. "What are you doing here?" The sneer in his voice made it difficult for Anastasia not to cringe. "I need to speak with Mr. O'Brien." There was a quiet groan that could be heard from within Sheamus' office and the politician pushed past Anastasia to make his leave. From the door, Anastasia could see that Sheamus' office was set up similar to the Jeremiahs' office. He was frowning at her from behind his desk but he motioned for her to come in. "Close the door behind you." Anastasia made her way in followed by Neil. "Mr. O'Brien.." Sheamus held up his hand halting her words. "Please Anastasia, I have asked that you call me Sheamus." At that, it was Anastasia's turn to frown. "I do not recall giving you permission to use my first name, but regardless I'm not here to see you as a social call." Sheamus shrugged, "Work work work, all business with you. Anyway, you are here and have my attention so please." He gestured to the seat opposite his desk and Anastasia seated herself. "No one believes that I can do this job." He held up his hand in protest "Not true, you yourself believe it so, therefore, someone even if it's only one believes, but I digress, continue." She rolled her eyes. "I can do this job. By know, you are sure to have noticed the same thing that I have. Everyone is apparently running out of food. Either there is a grain thieving monster, or something else is going on." Sheamus noded "And would this monster have green hair and red eyes? Or perhaps a fuzzy tail?"

"Joke as you might, given your position I'm sure you are starting to see the strain of public hysteria as word gets out that there is a lack of food." He frowned but nodded. "I think it's time that I go out in public. Hiding isn't helping it's leading to unanswered questions, which will only feed the fear."

"That's all well and good, but why are you coming to me about this?" Anastasia fidgeted in her seat wringing her hands. "Jeremiah would not agree with me investigating the matter personally, and I'm certain he would not agree that having me expose myself would be beneficial, and my father would support him." If frowns could turn the world upside down Anastasia's world would be topsy-turvy. "Sitting back and observing isn't going to fix this problem. The masses are just going to get worse, and if it's all going to be blamed on me, I would at least like to say that I tried to fix the issue." Sheamus shook his head "If you would just marry this whole problem would just go away. You wouldn't have to worry your pretty head about these problems." Anastasia stood abruptly and slammed her hands down on Sheamus' desk "I'll be damned if I let some featherbrained man stand by the Gran Seim and pretend to know anything about history. The day I roll over for that will be the day I accept the fall of a great nation." Sheamus lead back in his chair and study Anastasia "Very well I will support you, more because seeing you prove Jeremiah wrong in his opinion will be just as sweet as watching you fail. So either way, it's a win for me. Besides, I've been meaning to get out of the city, and Jeremiah will be just beside himself knowing he's stuck here while you trapeze around with me."

01.28.4010

There is a great unrest among the people of our land. Change is not usually a welcome bedside companion. The future holds an air of uncertainty with how the cards are stacked. Something needs to be done immediately before this unrest gets out of control. It needs to start at the root of the problem wherever that may be. I am glad that I was able to get Sheamus on board with helping me get to the bottom of this issue. Jeremiah does not agree with the plan ahead. He feels that the mess will sort itself out and my father is quick to agree with him. Something suspicious is occurring right under our noses and where they feel that change will eventually take place the risk is too great. The people are simple and when you threaten their basic needs they can easily become a dangerous force. It's clear that hiding me isn't the answer because the rumors are running rampant. Sure there are security risks, anyone who would want to get rid of me could arrange an attack, but there were risks with any job. Finding a way to prevent further damage to the system needed to be the priority. I won't lie, part of me is nervous that I'll be spending so much time in close proximity with Sheamus, but I swore off men. I'll just have to stay strong.

A/N: Don't forget to vote if you enjoyed this chapter! As always leave me a comment. After reading this chapter if you can think of a tag that would work for the book let me know!