The Grand Dutchess Anastasia

Home, Love, Family, and Loss

Glittering jewels everywhere, beautiful gowns, dramatic chandeliers. The Grand Dutchess Anastasia danced to her hearts content, admiring her beautiful sisters, and the royal life she was born into. Her father, Czar Nicholas Romanov the II bowed, asking her for a dance.

"A dance, my princess?"

"Of course, Papa!" She was almost surprised. When she was born, the family was expecting a son, so she wasn't the favorite daughter by any means.

Nicholas danced with his lively youngest daughter. He picked her up and spun around, her adorable laughter filling his ears.

Anastasia's grabdmother waved to her, beckoning her to come to the throne. "Papa, can we dance again later? I want to spend time with Grandmama before she has to go away."

"Of course, sunshine." He kissed her forehead. Little did he know, he would never get that dance.

Anastasia practically ran into her grandmothers arms. Grandmama was the only one in her family who truly knew her. She of course had Dimitri, but he was a kitchen boy. "I had something made for you, my dear." The loving old woman pulled a beautoful green and gold bejeweled box out of her purse, along with a necklace that had a small flower charm.

"For me? Is it a jewelry box?"

Dimitri was watching his best friend dance. He would never admit it, but he had a huge crush on her. They were always up to no good, whether it be playing pranks on his father, the cook, or hanging out under her mothers nose. He watched her run up to her grandmother, receiving some kind of box. Dimitri took a bite of his apple before feeling hands on his shoulders. "Dimitri, you belong in the kitchen!" Ah that phrase. The one phrase he hated most in the world. Every time he was caught having the slightest bit of fun with the Grand Dutchess, his father would just pull him back into the kitchen.

The Dowager Empress handed her granddaughter the necklace, showing her how to open the music box. "It plays our lullaby!" Anastasia exclaimed, oh how she missed her grandmama when she went away.

"It's for when you go to sleep. You can pretent it's me singing." The regal old woman smiled down at her favoeite grandchild, as she began singing softly to her.

"On the wind,
Cross the sea
Hear this song and remember,"
Anastasia joined in, adding her own little harmony at the end.
"Soon you'll be
Home with me,
Once upon a December."

"Read what it says." She instructed her granddaughter.

Twisting it so she could read the insceiption, the princess spoke, "Together.. in Paris.." Smiling wide, Anastasia hugged her grandmama as tightly as she could. "Really? Oh, Grandmama! Thank you thank you thank you!"

Later that night, the ball had ended, and the Dowager Epress had a carriage awaiting her outside, but one little girl wasn't having it. "Grandmama, you can't go! You said you would stay a little more!" The girl of eight held on tightly to the old woman's coat, praying she wouldn't leave again. The Dowager patted the pleading peincess on the head.

"Darling, we'll be together in Paris soon enough. Now then, I cannot let my carriage wait any longer, dear."

"Do you have to go?" The sweet thing reluctantly let go of her grandmother's coat, playing with the beautiful necklace she was given earlier that night.

"Yes. It's past your bed time now, dearie. Go with your father off to bed." With that, Anastasia walked back to her father, who picked her up and took her to her room. He layed her in bed, tucking her in sweetly before kissing her forehead. "Goodnight, sunshine." She smiled at him and kissed his cheek, before drifting off to sleep.