A World of Our Own

[Princess Katya Fyodorov]

The weather was growing crisper along with the leaves beginning to turn their color. She couldn't recall how long she had been in Demeria by now and if things went as she hoped they would, would more than likely rarely leave the place. There was that doubt however that they would be denied their happiness due to public opinion. After all, they were royals and public opinion tended to matter, whether they liked it or not. After many thoughts and shifting mindsets on the matter, Katya had long ago decided that she cared little about what others thought so far as Tris still held her in the same regard as he had the moment he decided she was worthy of his heart.

Katya had met with his brother and held a positive opinion of the man. The Carlisles were an excellent set of individuals, all different in personality but all held the same noble spirit. Or so she personally thought. Well, things would fall as they were meant to and the young princess was pretty sure that she would just accept things though she wouldn't know for sure until the moment arrived. Still, if she were to be sent away, she wanted both herself and Tristan to have had at least one wonderful memory to hold with them through life. Or at least, she wanted one.

Having sent word to Tristan and having confirmed that he was free for the day, Katya arranged for a picnic for the both of them, away from everything and everyone. She had, of course, let it be known to her older brother what she planned to do lest rumors run rampant. There would be a guard with her, obviously, both for safety and propriety as well. Arranging the food on the blanket spread across the ground, Katya provided her guard with some morsels for his own enjoyment before going back to waiting for the prince to arrive. For this moment of theirs, none would bother them. For once, they would be in a world their own with their worries and sorrows were to be left behind for at least, the afternoon. That world being a well shaded clearing by the lake. The trees framed the place and the lake glittered in such a way that one could almost believe in magic. A perfect setting for their picnic.

On this afternoon, they would not be Princess Katya and Prince Tristan, a pair of royals that would possibly be betrothed by alliance. They would simply be Katya and Tris, a pair of teenagers who had fallen in love with each other despite themselves and everyone else around them.

[Prince Tristan Carlisle]

A day away from the rumors and rising tension at the festival seemed like a good idea to Tristan, who was finding it hard to adjust to possible opposition. That there was going to be such was no doubt, since if he understood it correctly, the initial match was everyone’s favor, and theirs, the lesser one, would cause trouble with the court and majority of the Dukes. Wondering to himself whether or not some of them could be counted on to change opinion in their favor, Tris firmly put the problem aside for now. It would certainly come up again, but for the time being, some time away from all of it was going to help rather than hinder.

“Hello, Katya,” he greeted once he approached the place appointed by the Sarkoszy princess for the meeting, greeting the guard with a brief nod and quietly instructing his own to remain with this one, as well. Going anywhere without would cause more complications than either party needed right now, so there it was. “Thank you for saving me from sheer boredom of today,” he continued blithely, not entirely sure if it was going to be a boredom but figuring he might as well play it up. A new memory in addition to the old ones, plus a good escape was in order, and he had to say he liked the location and the idea itself.

“How are you doing?” He’d been concerned, particularly since he heard both Katya and her sister met with Riordan, and wondered whether it had any weight toward the ongoing negotiations. Figuring that his brother would let him know if it was such, Tris made a mental note to bother Riordan once those meetings were complete and turned his attention back to Katya. Court and its problems could wait for another day.

[Princess Katya Fyodorov]

Katya couldn't help but smile at the approach of the prince she was waiting for. "Hello, your highness," she greeted, unable to drop the title or perhaps feeling like she shouldn't. She was sure Tristan would reassure her that it was all right to do so, an encouragement she would need right then. It was amusing, really. He was the one person that kept her spirits strong. So long as she had his love, what did it matter how many slings and arrows would be thrown her way? Katya was certain she could survive the most horrid of days if it meant that she would be able to see his smiling face at the end of it. A cheesy sort of thought, perhaps but she was in love. She had never been before and it had her thoughts often full of such sentiments.

"You are welcome though I am sure it would have been far from boring," she commented. Certainly her time was not boring. Having to deal with such animosity daily, practically since the day her rat of a brother had disappeared, made certain that days were not dull. Terrible, was the immediate answer that came to her mind and her bottom lip trembled slightly before she bit down on it to stop it from doing so. "Fine," she replied, uttering the one lie told by a majority of womankind when things were obviously not fine. Katya did not want to burden the young prince with how the actions of his countrymen were affecting her. Not mention that some part of her felt that she did not deserve any sort of comfort.

[Prince Tristan Carlisle]

Wrinkling his nose at being called by full title, Tris dropped to ground, deciding he could as well relax and hoping it would help her to, as well. “It’s Tris,” he corrected, almost automatically, given their usual addresses whenever they were alone. “Though if Your Highness would like it we could certainly keep the formality that would be expected,” he continued in a mildly teasing tone that was easy to keep around the girl. Not only was she his age, but she was someone he was in love with, however odd that sounded, so there would be no problem expressing his feelings toward her while they were one on one – or so he hoped. He was fairly certain, however, that the girl returned those feelings, at least for now.

Quirking an eyebrow up, he shook his head and folded his hands behind it, giving her a lightly scolding look. “If it was as fine as what I heard from the nobles, then you must be absolutely having a ball.” He was both teasing and looking concerned, for while he was entitled to his own opinion about the whole mess, he could see Katya wasn’t as fine as she wanted to be seen, at least not to his eyes.

[Princess Katya Fyodorov]

Katya couldn't help but laugh softly at the sight of his wrinkled nose. "Oh, all right then, Tris, no formalities," she teased as she sat on the ground herself. Taking her cues from him, Katya allowed herself to relax. They were on their own, aside from guards for safety and preserved propriety. Even if someone were to come along, what they were doing was completely innocent. Well, for the most part anyway. Smiling softly at just how relaxed he was getting, Katya sighed slightly at the lightly scolding look cast her way. "Oh, absolutely. The time of my life," she said in response to his teasing before growing slightly more serious. "It's difficult but it is only what we deserve, according to many. I can withstand it, no need to worry. So long as I have your love, even if we cannot be together, we'll have this memory, won't we?" She asked, lightly touching his hand with a hint of a sad smile before reaching for a plate and fixing it for herself. "Do you wish for me to serve you?" She asked, preparing to do so in case her gave affirmation.

[Prince Tristan Carlisle]

Well, his ears were probably turning red again at the girl’s teasing, plus the words that followed, but it seemed like it was entirely unavoidable. “Much better,” he muttered, nodding as he settled back, relaxing easily enough as he did so. There was nothing really here, it seemed like, aside from a pair of guards, so that was fine in his books.

Growing slightly concerned, he lifted an eyebrow at her assessment, but decided against commenting right now. “It might work out in our favor, but we’ll have to wait and see,” he said thoughtfully, as he really had no clue to where majority would go. He had no idea what anyone was thinking, and perhaps it was time he found out about it.

“Yes, we’ll have this, that’s true,” he agreed, then curiously glanced toward the girl at the choice of her wording, deciding a lighter tone was needed. “If you wish to do so, you may,” he continued, more amused than anything else. They’d probably find something else to do once the picnic was over – that is if there was nowhere either of them had to be.


Princess Katya Fyodorov