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Advent 20 - Elizaveta x 3 http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=7081

Author:	Advent Drabblers [ Sun Dec 20, 2009 7:38 pm ]
Post subject:	Advent 20 - Elizaveta x 3
Sorry this is so late. Before “You majesty...” “But Princess...” “A Belsornian royal...” “My lady...” It went on and on. There was no reprieve. That was the whole point. A Belsornian Princess was always a Belsornian Princess, awake and asleep, morning, noon and night. Even at ten years old Elizaveta was well aware that behaving like a princess was far more important that her own desires. It meant that sometimes Grandfather was scary. It meant that sometimes daddy could not come to tea. It meant that sometimes she had to stand in a receiving line and shake hands with foreign dignitaries who didn't know her and whom she had no interest in knowing, even when she would much prefer to be reading or playing with her dolls house or fishing with a net in the pond. Not that she was often allowed to do the later. Elizaveta was determined that today was going to be different. She didn't want to dress smartly and go and visit Grandfather, nor did she want to go for a sedate drive through the city. She didn't want to look at the snow and the skating, she wanted to be doing it. Her mouth set in a firm line that had Alette looking worried as she brushed her charge's hair and helped her to dress. Elizaveta did nothing however, she behaved with perfect propriety as she was dressed and Alette helped her into her furs and gloves. They went down to where a footman was waiting to take her to her grandfather's carriage. They were going to drive through the city and watch the sports and games at the Winter Fair. This would have been fun if they were down in the crowds, skating, buying sweetmeats and hot chestnuts, playing games but not when watching everyone else have fun from the safety of the carriage. Elizaveta waited until the carriage was parked above the lake. She could see the crowds below enjoying themselves and hear the lively music playing. She ached to go and join them. Shyly she offered her Grandfather a piece of chocolate, holding her breath in case he declined. He accepted and was soon snoozing away. She now had to give his security team the slip. That would be harder, there was no reason they would accept chocolate from her, and none for her to offer them any. Still she must try. She made herself look small and bored and opening the door beckoned the footmen, driver and guard over. “Grandfather is asleep,” she said, and stepped down. Feeling sorry for the child they stood and pointed out a few things of interest to her. That was when she handed round the chocolate. Within minutes they too were asleep, this time sat in the snow. Elizaveta slid down the hill to the lake. The music was entrancing and the sights and sounds of the Winter Fair were so much more entertaining close to. She wondered among the edges of the crowd, being slightly scared and not wanting to loose sight of the carriage. She had no coins to spend, not having thought to bring any, but that did not matter. She could still enjoy the sights, sounds and smells. She only dared stay about 20 minutes, but they were 20 minutes filled with joy. All too soon she thought she should head back and being a kind girl threw snowballs at the driver, footman and guard until they woke up. They all seemed a bit dazed, none of them actually wanting to admit they had been asleep and Elizaveta giggled at their prevaricating. Back in the carriage she waited for her Grandfather to wake up, which he did on the journey home, although he looked decidedly grey. Once home Elizaveta said nothing when Alette wondered how her shoes had got so muddy and how her coat and gloves were wet. She also said nothing when for two days her grandfather was still, grey and to all appearances sleepy. She did however smile rather when her Governesses were unable to teach her the the following day, and she knew it was because the sedatives they needed to put up with her had gone missing.

Author:	Lesley [ Sun Dec 20, 2009 8:15 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Advent 20 - Elizaveta
Advent Drabblers wrote: She did however smile rather when her Governesses were unable to teach her the the following day, and she knew it was because the sedatives they needed to put up with her had gone missing. Love that line!

Author:	Advent Drabblers [ Sun Dec 20, 2009 8:25 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Advent 20 - Elizaveta
After Elizaveta entered the large reception hall that housed the great Christmas party to which they had been invited, accompanied by her daughter Jose and her son Frederic. All were formally though simply dressed, as befitted their position as exiled Royalty. "I don't know why I agreed to this," grumbled 'Veta. "I never go to things like this if I can help it." "Blame Count Rudolfo, Mum," said Stefan. "You know he can always persuade you to do things you'd rather not do." The Major Domo announced them, and they walked up the long room to where the Count was waiting to greet the, Formalities over, they moved away picking up drinks from an attentive waiter and eying the crowd to see if they knew anyone. They hadn't been looking long when another party was announced. "President Paul Hofberg and Mrs Hofberg." 'Veta stiffened. "If I'd known they were invited I'd never have come," she muttered. "Rudolfo knows that, damn him!" A magnificently attired couple advanced up the room, bowing to people on either side as if they were Royalty themselves. 'Veta snorted in disgust at the exhibition, and then uttered an exclamation. "That tiara and necklace, they were Mama's! They were her personal property, not State jewels. Papa gave them to her one Christmas. What right does that woman have to wear them!" "I suspect everything you couldn't take with you went to the State when the communists took over Mum," said Jose. "In which case I can't see why she shouldn't wear them." 'Veta muttered, but let the matter slip, though she was thinking all the harder. The Crown Jewels were one thing, she reasoned, but these were personal jewels, never mind that they hadn't been able to get them from the vault before the Nazis took over. 'Veta felt it her duty to get them back if she could. To her horror they were seated opposite each other at the banquet, and the superior graciousness shown by the President, and especially his wife, brought out the worst in 'Veta. Her early training came to her aid, and the couple opposite found that they simply couldn't compete. All they could do was to retire from the lists with as much dignity as they could muster. After the meal was over, and the dancing had begun, 'Veta laid her plans. Saying nothing to her children, she stashed a convenient small statuette inside the ladies, and bided her time. Her victim finally obeyed the call of nature, and 'Veta struck as she entered one of the cubicles. The lady collapsed forwards over the facility, quite unconscious, and 'Veta whipped the necklace and tiara off and took herself out of the room as quickly as possible. She knew that she had to hide the jewels fast, as the upstarts were bound to accuse her of the theft first, but that was no hardship. She knew this palace well, and had already decided on her hiding place. There was a suitable gap behind the breastplate of a suit of armour, and the jewels slid into the space as if it had been made for them. Just in time too, for the cry went up that Mrs Hofberg had been discovered, and that the jewels were gone. 'Veta joined the crowd as if she had nothing to hide, as indeed she felt she hadn't. Justice had been done, and all the ‘lady’ had to show for it was a lump on the back of her head. The jewels were never hers to begin with. Later, after the furore had died down, the statements given, and the guests released, Jose tackled her mother in the car going home. “How much do you know about all that?” she demanded. “Nothing, my pet. Why should I?” “You were annoyed at that woman wearing those jewels, that’s why!” “Leave Mum alone, Jose,” said Frederic lazily. “You ought to know that she won’t tell you anything she doesn’t want you to know. If she took them, well and good. But badgering her won’t get you anywhere.” ‘Veta smiled to herself. They would be safe in their hiding place till she had a chance to retrieve them, and in the meantime she had been able to convince the police of her innocence, even though President Hofberg had demanded her immediate arrest as the most likely suspect.

Author:	ChubbyMonkey [ Sun Dec 20, 2009 8:36 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Advent 20 - Elizaveta x 2
Go Veta! Thankyou.

Author:	JB [ Sun Dec 20, 2009 8:41 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Advent 20 - Elizaveta x 2
Well done Veta. Would have hoped Jose would have been tougher. I love this line: Quote: still, grey and to all appearances sleepy.

Author:	emma t [ Sun Dec 20, 2009 10:13 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Advent 20 - Elizaveta x 2
I love this Veta has always been one of my fave characters!Well done Any more to come?

Author:	Abi [ Sun Dec 20, 2009 10:45 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Advent 20 - Elizaveta x 2
I always liked Elizaveta!

Author:	Advent Drabblers [ Sun Dec 20, 2009 11:41 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Advent 20 - Elizaveta x 2
“Well it's never going to happen now, anyway,” Elisaveta said a little sadly. “What isn't?” Joey Maynard asked. The pair were sat in the Maynards' sitting room at Plas Gwyn a few days after the princess's escape from Europe. “Me being Queen of Belsornia,” Elisaveta replied, “I mean, whatever your Mr Churchill says it's going to take time to defeat Hitler – and I'm really none too happy about Stalin's actions, he's had his eye on our oil fields for some time too.” “A great pity that,” Joey said, “after all, it would have been good for your people to have finally experienced a reigning Queen. Some of our best monarchs have been Queens – your namesake Elizabeth in the sixteenth century and Victoria of course.” “Well, perhaps it's for the best,” Elisaveta replied, “I would always have felt somewhat guilty about that.” “Guilty? Why would you feel guilty?” Elisaveta remained silent for a time but slowly flushed a rather becoming red, she swallowed hard, “Well, you remember my Grandfather telling us about Cosimo's death and you asking about who the next in line after my Father?” “Of course,” Joey nodded quickly, “and he said that it was you because your Grand Council and two Houses of State had voted to repeal the Salic Law.” “Yes,” Elisaveta paused then added, “they didn't though, they had voted, in secret ballot, to keep the Law. I was never intended to become Queen.” “But how?” Joey looked across at her friend all wide-eyed. Elisaveta smiled, “I may only have been a child of thirteen,” she began, “but I was an adept at playing the game. My Father had told me years before about the Salic Law and its consequences, not only for me but also for him – he was forever being pressured to marry again. I knew that the Grand Council would never vote against it – most of them are, or were, ancient decrepit old men who have probably forgotten how to live.” “What did you do?” “You remember my letters to Arlette? After our escape from Cosimo I wrote to her to let her know I was fine – I also asked her to give my best wishes to her brother – he was one of the stewards that looked after the Grand Council whenever it was in session. It was his job to collect up the votes in a secret ballot.” “But surely, if he changed the votes, people would be able to tell, different handwriting, that sort of thing?” Joey guessed as to the steward's role. “No, because we used a far simpler method – black and white balls, black meant against a resolution, white for. All that Armand did was substitute enough black balls with white so Grandfather thought the Grand Council had voted for the resolution to repeal the Salic Law. It cost me all the money I had, plus some family heirlooms but it was well worth it.”

Author:	PaulineS [ Sun Dec 20, 2009 11:54 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Advent 20 - Elizaveta x 3
Well done Elizaveta. Thanks Advent drabblers

Author:	Sugar [ Mon Dec 21, 2009 12:01 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Advent 20 - Elizaveta x 3
Eta: isn't Elizaveta usually spelt with an S not a Z...?

Author:	shesings [ Mon Dec 21, 2009 12:31 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Advent 20 - Elizaveta x 3
i always wondered why Elizaveta turned up skint.........!

Author:	Cath V-P [ Mon Dec 21, 2009 2:22 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Advent 20 - Elizaveta x 3
What a splendidly talented operator she is! It's rather a pity that Belsornia never had a chance to experience her as its Head of State.

Author:	JB [ Mon Dec 21, 2009 9:25 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Advent 20 - Elizaveta x 3
Quote: What a splendidly talented operator she is! It's rather a pity that Belsornia never had a chance to experience her as its Head of State. Absolutely. Thanks Advent Drabblers.

Author:	ChubbyMonkey [ Mon Dec 21, 2009 5:46 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Advent 20 - Elizaveta x 3
I do rather like cunning Elizaveta! Thankyou.

Author:	Nightwing [ Fri Dec 25, 2009 2:19 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Advent 20 - Elizaveta x 3
'Veta is so great in all of these. And number 2 has definitely become part of my personal canon!

Author:	Kathy_S [ Sat Jan 23, 2010 8:12 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Advent 20 - Elizaveta x 3
Very interesting!

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