SEPTEMBER 1912
I woke up and I tried to get up. But I was pulled back into the bed I was laying on. The covers knocked off me and I saw straps which held me down. I felt Terrence's words echo in my head. 'Good luck little cousin thingy thing.' He sounded scary. I tried to wriggle but it didn't help. The woman on the chair in the corner of the room started waking up. Then I noticed all the Religious Symbols.
"Excuse me miss, where am I?" I yelled at her. She adjusted to the light and went pale. She rushed out the room and I heard the door slam. I lifted my head to see if anyone else was there. "Help!" I yelled in Russian.
I laid in silence, looking at the ceiling. I then heard the door creak and footsteps. Cian was there with Kiki, The Tsar, Tsarina, Dr Botkin and Anna. Mama came up with tears swelling in her beautiful eyes as if they'd explode and leak into tears. She kissed my forehead. "Oh Astrid, I thought you were getting better but I suppose I was wrong. I have telegram Father Rasputin so you will see him twice a week in church. He is also praying for you." She told me, I looked at the Tsar.
He wasn't on the verge of sobbing like mama was but was hurting and didn't show it. "Okay, doctor Botkin will give you some medication now." The Tsarina told me softly. She took my hand and rubbed it when I saw the big needle coming, I squeezed her hand with all my might when I felt it prickle my skin. She kisses my head. "Cian will stay with you." She said, "I must prepare your sisters for the ball." They all left except for Cian. Kiki begged to stay. "Be good Caoimhe." He grinned.
"How long do I have to be here?" I asked Cian, he paused. "Until the Empress comes for you." He replied. I groaned. He unstrapped me but I heard guards outside. "I'm sorry, they told me to do this all." Cian admitted. I didn't hold it against him. Hard to say no to a Tsar and Tsarina, we sat quietly playing games until he was informed Alix was coming. He strapped me to the chair and sat with Kiki silently.
The Empress came in with ladies in waiting holding ball outfit things. "Un strap her, she needs to get ready for the ball." She ordered and I was unstrapped. I was then taken and they did my hair and made me wear loads of rubies and gems with expensive jewels.
(Hair but imagine it blond)
"Where are we?" I asked. "In King Georges and Mary's palace. They offered us to stay after your.. incident." The Tsarina said as we walked. We reached double doors and mother turned to me. "Apologise to Olga because she cried all night thinking it's her fault." Mama says, I nod. All of us wore the same dresses but different hair styles, I saw Olga. I don't know why I should say sorry. She started it.
"I can't wait to have my hair up when I'm 16..." Tatiana was jealous of Olga. Olga turned to us and greeted mama. "Hello mama." Her sentence slowed when she saw me and her eyes widened and the room went silent. I choked out an apology and Olga smiled at me. "It's okay! I'm just glad your okay." Olga hugged me, the room returned to its former chaos. Mama seemed on edge. "Caoimhe, go find your brother and Dr Botkin, alright?" Caoimhe happily sprinted to find them. Anna and mama began speaking but Olga pulled me away.
"Hi Astrid! You look so pretty, how are you?" Olga started a conversation which was nice. "Thanks, I'm okay." I replied, Kiki, Cian and Dr Botkin returned. "It will begin working very soon." He said. I heard him but Olga asked me, "are you okay?" She asked. "Yes. I am okay." I replied, the ladies checked my hair was in place. Others made my face not red and sprayed fragrances in me until the Tsarina ordered them to stop. I started feeling a funny feeling in my body. I heard Terrence's volve for a split second.
"It felt weird. I hated it, hopefully you don't get that fate.."