From Katling to Katya

[King Anatoli Fyodorov]

Anatoli could scarcely believe that Katya was his little Katling a decade ago. Time flew entirely too quickly, he had come to realize. It was not a unique realization by any means as it was shared by many his age. Yet, it still spoke to him. Time was moving forward and there was nothing he could do to stop it, as much as he wished he could. It wasn't so much that he wanted to live forever but more that he felt he hadn't enough time to enjoy the moments worth experience. A faint smile formed on his bearded his face as he moved toward the forest in search of his little daughter. He was turning wistful in his old age. Who would have thought?

"Katling!" Anatoli called out toward the wood, his voice deep and booming. Surely, it would pierce through the many trees of the wood and seek out his daughter. It was not an angry call by any means. It was just his manner of summoning her. He learned through experience that it was the best way to get her attention. He never did know what nook or cranny in which she would be found, after all.

Princess Katya Fyodorov

[Princess Katya Fyodorov]

Katya had been spending a bit of time with the mare that she had come to regularly make use of during her stay in Demeria. She was growing quite fond of it despite it not belonging to solely her. As far as she could tell, it was for the general use of those that did not have their own steed, such as foreigners like herself. Or perhaps she was mistaken, she did not know for sure. Either way, she was grooming the beautiful beast and enjoying the affection the horse seemed willing to give. An idyllic scene likely, for any witnesses to what she was up to. One that was disrupted by that all too familiar bellow which had her smiling instead of jumping, as she probably would have done were it anyone else doing so.

Stashing away the equipment she had been making use of and making sure the mare was comfortably back into her spot among the other horses, Katya made her way towards the direction the bellow had come from. “Shout louder, Papa. I'm sure the next country couldn't hear you," she teased affectionately, quite used to being summoned this way.
King Anatoli Fyodorov

[King Anatoli Fyodorov]

"Don't tempt me, little one," he pointed a finger at her before a smile bloomed across his face. "I will even get a horn and blast it all day if it means you'll come to me all the quicker. I care not who hears me." Granted, sometimes discretion was the better part of valor, but ... honestly. Anatoli had no need for such silly concepts. If people were going to hear him, so be it! If they wished to take advantage of it cause him some harm, he'd make them pay thricely.

"How are you, hm?" He eyed her, taking stock.

Princess Katya Fyodorov

[Princess Katya Fyodorov]

Katya could all too easily picture her father blasting a horn as a means to summon her. An image that had her lips twitching into a smile. As her father eyed her, the offspring eyed him right back. “I’m doing just fine. The better question is, how are you?” She asked in turn. Katya was certain she was doing much better than either of her older siblings. Anya carried a heavy weight on her shoulders as she kept taking the blame onto herself, even though it was entirely Nikolai that was to blame. And Demetri, Katya had no doubt that he would be asked to become heir. A dream that had not been his and taking him away from the path he had been set on. Yes, everyone seemed to be worse off than her.


King Anatoli Fyodorov

[King Anatoli Fyodorov]

"Me? Oh, I'm just fine," he answered her in turn and adopted her general stance. The two of them had an interesting relationship, to say the least. "Well, fine ... is a relative term with all things considered. There's, ah," he gestured between the two of them, "a great deal we need to talk about. I have news that affects Demetri, possibly Anya, and then, of course you. The pieces are all different." He gestured in no particular direction. "Care to walk with me?"

Once they were under way, "But first, tell me. How is your time here?"

Princess Katya Fyodorov

[Princess Katya Fyodorov]

A great deal to talk about seemed to be an understatement. So much had happened and they were nowhere near done yet. “Of course, Papa,” she intoned when he gestured for them to walk. Walking alongside her father, Katya was quietly amused at the difference in sizes. There was no way her father could ever escape notice and she was sure the entire court had already become well aware of the Bears arrival in Demeria.

“My time here has been quite pleasant, all things considered. I find the country fascinating and the people. I like to think that winning the archery tournament has earned me some small measure of respect among the people. At the very least, they’ve been made aware that I’m not an idle, pretty princess. I’ve also made a friend of the younger Demerian prince,” she decided to go with. Katya was somewhat aware that she was protected from the harsher side of the court due to both royal status as well as her friendship with Tristan. People had to be blind not to notice that each blushed at the mention or sight of the other. Such as she was doing now.

King Anatoli Fyodorov

[King Anatoli Fyodorov]

"I'm glad to hear it," and it was true. The family had been undergoing a great deal of difficulty that he was pleased to see at least one of his children seeking out happiness. No good parent ever enjoyed watching their child suffer. A hand came out to pat her shoulder affectionately when she spoke of the archery tournament, but he did pause at the mention of the Demerian Prince. "Ah, yes. Prince Tristan. I've heard," he eyed his daughter then, but there was no judgment in the look. He'd get to him in a moment.

"I've decided to renounce your brother," he stated suddenly, "He is no longer Crown Prince. In fact, I'm striking him from the register." The decision had been a difficult one. "It may be harsh, but the damage his actions wrought have been severe. Striking his knight, fleeing from Triadon? ... No." He shook his head, "I cannot allow such a display of cowardice to be associated with our family. Our position is difficult as it is, both here and back home."

Anatoli never believed in coddling his children. Life Sarkozsy, though rich, was not easy. They had to be prepared to face the full brunt.

Princess Katya Fyodorov

[Princess Katya Fyodorov]

Katya smiled at the affectionate pat to her shoulder and silently noted the pause at the mention of the prince. He had heard? Katya had to wonder exactly what he had heard. Thankfully, she was saved from her father witnessing her going red with his own eyes by his sudden statement about Nikolai. She had expected as much and truthfully, no longer saw .. that man .. as a brother. Katya could not claim one who behaved so dishonorably as a sibling.

“I have only one brother. His name is Demetri,” she stated in return to this to show she had already accepted what would happen as well as the fact that she did not see the man as a brother. Katya was not one to take betrayal well, and betrayal by one that shared their blood was the worse thing she could imagine. No, Nikolai would not find any mercy, sympathy or compassion in the youngest Fyodorov.

King Anatoli Fyodorov

[King Anatoli Fyodorov]

Hearing Katya say those words was surprisingly painful to Anatoli. It was hard to pinpoint why. Perhaps it was the clear anger and resolution behind her words. He had not been present in the days leading up to Nikolai's flight from his duty. He had to wonder if something more happened. "Did you have any idea why he did what he did? Did you see anything?" While Katya had dismissed him, Anatoli could not let go of him quite so easily.

It was difficult for him. Nikolai was his eldest son. All of their hopes had rested on him and Anatoli did his best to prepare him for his responsibilities. But, apparently, he had failed. Now all hopes lie in Demetri and Anatoli would not see him fail, too.

Princess Katya Fyodorov

[Princess Katya Fyodorov]

Katya considered her fathers question, wondering exactly how to answer. There had been several different factors that she felt had let to Nikolais betrayal. "I think there were quite a few factors, Father. His inexperience with women, for one. I'm not saying he should have been a cad but it would have helped if he had learned how to talk to them. He also could not overcome his own pride and grew angry at Anya or myself if we tried to offer him advice. He also did not respect the princess' wish to be left alone after what I assume to have been one of their disagreements. He aggravated the situation by forcing his company on her when she clearly did not wish for it," she, of course, could not tell her father how she knew these things and she did not wish to further humiliate Princess Emmaline by divulging the kiss that had been forced upon the poor woman by a drunken Nikolai. So, Anatoli would have to do with the short version of what she had seen though she was sure it was more than enough for her father to see the pinpoints of everything that had gone wrong.

King Anatoli Fyodorov

[King Anatoli Fyodorov]

It was a frank and rather interesting revelation on Nikolai's behavior. "Hm," his eyebrows rose, thinking it over. "I suppose I should have spent more time with on how to speak with women. Or, bah, we should have exposed to him more of them back at home. I felt forced to keep him away from the daughters of the dukes and boyars since it would undoubtedly give them the wrong idea. You know how much they would have loved one of their daughters to sit on the throne as tsarina. Bah," he wave his hand dismissively.

"But, we did our best, didn't we? We all tried to help him ... " It was clear that Anatoli was pained by what had transpired.

Princess Katya Fyodorov

[Princess Katya Fyodorov]

Katya did indeed know how some of the dukes and boyars could be. Any one of them would have welcomed the chance at raising their standing. The hard truth was that they could speak of what-ifs until they were blue in the face but nothing would come of it except unneeded stress and strife. Her father had done his best but in the end, Nikolai, as well as herself and Anya, were their own people with their own choices and no one could have foreseen Nikolais.

Katya did not like the pained look on her fathers face and it had her wrapping her arms around him in comfort. "Yes, we did all we could to help him. No one could have predicted that he would react in such a matter or that he would allow his personal pride to overcome his duty." The worse thing of it all, for her, was that the strained relations between the Princess and Nikolai could have been resolved soon enough if he had simply followed the advice he had been provided. It was all so...unnecessary.

King Anatoli Fyodorov

[King Anatoli Fyodorov]

It was completely unnecessary. Anatoli was convinced that the whole ordeal could have been prevented if he had merely been present from the beginning, to guide his son down the right path. Yet... that was an impractical way of thinking. Ultimately, Nikolai would have been on his own and it was better to see his failure now than when he took the throne. The relations between Demeria and Sarkozsy were now heavily strained. Yet, Anatoli did not yet give up hope. Repairs could be made, though he was prepared for those repairs to take a long while. Perhaps, for the time being, Anatoli would have to look elsewhere for support.

The gesture from Katya was warmly comforting, his large arm moving to wrap around his precious daughter's shoulders. "Regardless of what has happened," he said quietly, "We shall have to move forward. We have our work cut out for us. We are not viewed favorably by this Demerian Court. That has to change." How that would change, Anatoli was not entirely certain.


Princess Katya Fyodorov

[Princess Katya Fyodorov]

Katya did not yet think all was lost herself. It would be a long, winding road with obstacles but she was confident that they would be able to overcome them. She was not adverse to the hard work that would be required. She would do anything to ensure her family's honor was intact and freed from its current tarring.

Katyas mind calculated things as her father wrapped his arm around her.

"Of course, Father. And you can count on me to do what I can to help. I was thinking perhaps a gentle hand might help turn the tides in our favor? Anya and I could attempt friendly connections with the individuals that are among our generation. And Demetri could attempt to connect with the heirs of the Duchal houses as well as the Crown Prince. That way, if nothing can be done now in terms of an alliance, then perhaps we could sow positive seeds for the future? Prove we are loyal and good allies to have or something along those lines."

She trailed off then, wondering what her father would think of it. It was just a suggestion after all and she had already made a friend or two out of simple friendliness. But she was intelligent enough to realize how some friendships could have added benefits aside from pleasant company. It was also entirely possible that her idea was childish and silly but even then it could perhaps set her fathers mind whirring with his own ideas.

King Anatoli Fyodorov

[King Anatoli Fyodorov]

Anatoli truly something more solid than friendships and promises of better relations in the future. Granted, he quickly realized that he was being unfair and unrealistic in his expectations. The pressure of growing famine in their homeland and the increasing protests from the boyars weighed heavily on his mind. Yet, Katya did have a point. There was no point in rushing and pressing hard their suit. "Yes, yes," he grumbled quietly and let out a breath, "I feel that you are right in this matter, Katling. I have heard that the Crown Prince is favorable to our condition, and I would like to maintain that. If he and Demetri can become friends, then so much the better. I will encourage Demetri to do so."

Anatoli paused, "I will not be able to stay in Demeria for very long. I will be staying for the duration of the tournament and then I must go home. Our people are growing restless and I must do what I can to keep them calm. What I need the three of you to do is help us find good relations elsewhere. If we can't find a great deal of help from Demeria, then we must set our eyes on Linten, Treniata or Montenoire. Perhaps things are not so soured yet..." He frowned darkly, remembering his eldest son's damned failure.


Princess Katya Fyodorov