Since the last incidence nothing has happened. They've been planning their wedding and it's coming up this week. With both the families visiting and every royal known to man dropping by for it it's been hectic. Just last week Natalia ran into the Dutch princesses who were oh so happy to teach her their dances. And remarkably, where all the best places to hide from responsibilities. And she certainly used this to hee advantage. She finally saw Steve after 5 days of them both being shuffled from place to place away from each other.
"I met the sweetest group of girls the other day. They said they were you cousins from the Netherlands?"
"Cassandra, Amy and Mysi? Yeah. They are the best. Did they show you the crawl spaces?"
"They did! They're such amazing girls!"
"Nat!" She heard her name called by Wanda who was running fast towards her, skirts billowing behind her.
"Guys you will never guess what just happened?!" The young princess stopped to catch her breath.
"What?" Steve asked laughing at his sister.
"Stop laughing. It's not funny. Somethings happened! I don't know what but the adults are all convened in the banquet hall and they've had guards guarding the entrances. I think something has gone terribly wrong!" The girl grabbed their hands and started pulling them towards Steve's room. Every one of their friends had gathered there and looked up from the vents. From there they could hear everything that was being said inside the banquet room. They all sat down and listened.
"Wanda said something was wrong?" Nat whispered as low as she could.
"We overheard a couple servants taking about how something happened in the woods. Something terrible. A sacrifice had taken place."
"They said there were animals, people strung up stabbed and stripped like cattle. It's scary that there's something out there waiting." Maria said clinging to Sam.
"Like Pagans?" A soft voice asked.
"Lena?" Nat got up and grabbed the young girl settling her in her lap. Steve pulled them both back and they all sat by the vents listening in on the secret conversations of the adults.
It was something strange because they couldn't understand what was happening. Nothing was making sense.
That night when everyone started getting up they were stopped by knocks on the door.
"We searched everyone's chambers and none of you were there. Not even the little one." Sarah said.
"We heard something from servants. It didn't sound safe."
"Well you're right about that. It's not safe here for the moment. If you'd all like to stay together we can arrange that but it would need to be a bigger room, separate for the girls and boys. Or and this was the agreed upon solution- we stand guards outside your doors and around the halls."
"Do you think those people on the woods- if the rumors are true- might get into the castle?"
"We don't know what to think. All we know is we need to protect you all."
"Natalia and Yelena will stay with me. If that's fine." Steve asked looking at the redhead in his arms.
"How about that Lena? Wanna stay with Steve tonight?"
"Stevie?!" The young girls big blue eyes looked up at her sister and soon to be brother.
"Yes with me." He smiled at her.
"Yes!"
"Okay so that's settled. Unfortunately we'll have to retire early. The guards want everyone in their rooms locked and safe within the next few minutes."
"Okay. See everyone tomorrow?"
A chorus or 'good nights' and 'see you' rang throughout the room as all left for the safety of their rooms.
Meanwhile Nat, Steve and Lena were sitting getting ready for bed. He had given them the bed so he could watch over them while they slept.
When the lights went out and the breathing of the two girls above him slowed he got up and sat keeping an eye out for any signs of danger.
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YOU ARE READING
Long May They Reign
RomanceNatalia is the Tsarina of Russia hidden away at a convent in France. Her family was slaughtered & the royals of America hid her from the rebels who threatened her life. In exchange she is to wed their son Steven when they come of age. That was 12 ye...
