Life and Times In The Court of the Goddess (Lodja)

[Libby]

Old thread here

Vladimir might have been rather emotionally turn after he woke up the morning after his night with Viktoriya. He'd never been a person to sleep around, it wasn't as though he hadn't had offers after all he was a handsome young man and since transfering into the Marines he'd bulked up, the smart uniform helped turn heads too. He had at first a sense of guilt, had he taken advantage of his Queen, if he had that would be unforgivable but after all promises had been made, he helped her get pregnant and she ensured that he got to marry Anna Immich, one of the Queen's Ladies in Waiting. As he lay pondering his situation he felt her move next to him, he wasn't sure what he should do or how he should act after all she was a married woman.

"Good Morning" he said sheepishly wondering whether he should have added "Divine Majesty" but decieded that it felt awkward. She strecthed and rubbed her eyes, make up slightly smeared she waited for the world to come into focus, a combination of a hangover and early morning fatigue making it difficult.

"I'm going to shower" was her only words, Vladimir was rather surprised, not by her ignoring him so much but by the fact it was the first time he'd heard the Queen refer to herself other than "We". She slid herself out of bed and Vladimir admire her slender body as she disappeared into the bathroom, at this point was he supposed to leave or wait to be dismissed? They had taught him many things during officer training about ettiquete and the like but nowhere did they cover having an affair with the Queen. He made his mind up, he should probably be gone before the Queen returned and so began scouring the bedroom for his clothing, it took him quiet a while and so by the time he was fastening up his shirt and hadn't noticed her approach him until he felt her slightly damp hands on his. "That was more an invitation to join us" she began unfastening his shirt reversing his earlier process. "You see we may have been drunk last night but what we said was not the drink" He had second thoughts for a moment, but his dates so far with Anna hadn't been going great, and the age gap between them worried him. She would surely have her choice of husbands being but an heiress to a Duchy and a Lady in Waiting and that meant she would probably have little interest in a minor noble, this was his shot at his dream marriage. "All you need to do is ensure we get with child in the next two months"

Once more as any good officer devoted to his Queen would do he did his duty.

[Libby]

In a months time Queen Viktoriya would mark her first anniversary of being Queen and it had been a hectic year, she'd created the Network of Crowns, hosted the amendments of the Uppsala Convention and been part of forming the CNN, she'd also become the first Lodjain Queen in hundreds of years to deploy her troops outside of the nation. She could be rightfully proud of what she'd achieved, Lodja was open to the world and taking its steps towards becoming a central part of global politics. Just two things had escaped her, the first was a happy marriage. She knew that was more down to luck than anything, it was tradition a Queen's first husband was selected by the Conclave and clearly the political wrangling had seen the High Priestesses nephew Baron Roman come out ahead on that. Viktoriya had hoped that over time she would get to love Roman, he was certainly a handsome enough man, but there wasn't the feintist hint of love in their relationship as he seemed to have more interest in drinking and gambling, she suspected he also had taken a mistress, perhaps even more but that didn't annoy her too much, it was kind of the norm amongst royalty and the Goddess was hardly one to frown upon such actions.

What did annoy her though was the second thing that escaped her and that was a child. There was a tradition that within the first year of her marriage the Queen would conceive a child, Roman's lack of attention to their marriage had made that difficult and when he did grace her bed his performance was sub par, usually he was so drunk she was amazed her even managed to get his socks off. That had lead Viktoriya to take matters into her own hands and with the aid of a charming Marine officer called Vladimir she'd been playing her husband at his own game. That had been two months now and despite Vladimir's attempts she was still not with child, he was however much more charming and caring that her own husband. There of course had been a deal struck, Vladimir had a desire to marry one of the Queen's Ladies in Waiting, in return for him providing her with a child Viktoriya would arrange the marriage, but now she was having second thoughts, after all Vladimir in just a few months had shown her much more tenderness than Roman and the law did permit a Lodjain woman to take more than one husband, perhaps she would make him husband number two.

She was musing her first year over in her head as she sat inside her private physicians room on the Isle of the Goddess, she was nervous her periods had been irregular since becoming Queen, the doctor put it down to stress and the lack of day to day routine but wasn't worried having taken bloods and done various other tests, it had lead to her getting her hopes up more than once. She sat nervously waiting for the doctor to complete her test, it was almost now a monthly meeting but previous times she'd already known the answer. She sat on the edge of the seat as the doctor waited for the doctor to wash her hands and the test results to come through. By the time the doctor had taken the seat the two strips had changed colour. "I'm delighted to say your pregnant, may I be the first to congratulate Your Divine Majesty" the doctor had a wide smile, she'd known how desperate Viktoriya was to conceave and with the first anniversary of her coronation looming she could see the Queen's face showed a sense of relief.

"Please do not tell anyone just yet" the Queen had breathed a sigh of relief that she had around a month in hand and she was in the family way, all that was left was a decision. It was tradition that the Queen named a single King even if she married multiple men, and that tradition held that it was the father of her first child, in her mind Roman didn't deserve that honour to stand alongside other great King's of Mundus such as King David of East Moreland. That thought made her a little sad, she had still held in the back of her mind a distant hope that they would marry and raise a platoon of children however she knew there was no chance of that, not with Roman around. She could however make Vladimir an offer beyond his wildest dreams, she knew he was keen to advance his families lineage by tying it to the highly influential Immich family, but surely he would see the Tar connection even greater, especially if it made him King. She would speak to him tonight when he shared her bed again, although this time it would merely be for her pleasure.

Viktoriya thanked the Doctor and made her way outside to find her Warriors of Gaia bodyguard waiting for her, they accompanied her everywhere within the Palace while she had specialist agents for her time off the Isle and for watching the security of the rock on which it was based. As she exited the doctors rooms her staff stood up from the benches that lined most of the corridor. "Any news Your Divine Majesty?" Lady Anna Immich asked eagerly, she was a keen traditionalist and knew it would be as though a curse had hit her nation if the Queen didn't get pregnant soon.

"We must reflect" the Queen replied in an icey manner, just as she had on many other occasions. Anna seemed disappointed, surely the Queen would have been excited if a child was growing inside her. The group followed the Queen as she made her way down the corridor, soon they reached a section of the Quad, an enclosed garden which had a walkway around the edges, their were many gardens like this in the Palace but The Quad was the largest and the Queen often liked to pass this way after the visits to see her doctor. She stopped, as she often did to speak with an old man called Tostig who maintained the garden here, he was a Pleb but had been a member of the military who had been spotted by Queen Sonja tending a garden outside his married accomodation on a base, she loved the way he'd used the limited space to make an oasis of colour and had wanted such a thing for here, and so far he'd spent the last thirty years doing exactly that. "Good afternoon Tostig" the Queen said merrily as she approached the man who was focused on his work.

"Your Divine Majesty" he gave a low bow and it was clear his aging spine suffered from it, every day he bowed and everyday Viktoriya eased him up and told him he should take things easy. "I have something for you" he beamed and disappeared off to the wheelbarrow returning with a single White rose, "The first of this year, it's called a Queen Rose and Her Divine Majesty Queen Sonja always asked for the first to be brought to her, she believed it to be good luck" he handed it towards the Queen who noticed the care that had been taken with its presentation, the thorns removed and it placed on a piece of silk, she took it and smelt it, the rose was beautiful and she put it into her hair.

"Thank you" she smiled as she took his arm and began to stroll the garden keen to see what the row of roses looked like. As they reached them at the centre of the garden she noticed a young apprentice of Tostig working on them pruning them with secaters. He got up off his rubber mat he was kneeling on and bowed to the Queen. She couldn't recall his name but she would chat with him a while, after all he was taking great care of her favourite place in the palace. She approached and the youngster kept his eyes lowered. "Hello" Viktoriya said as she approached, she was now only a few meters away, "We wanted to thank you for...." she didn't finish the sentence as the boy had lunged forward the secaters in his right hand plunging them deep into the Queen's neck, blood sprayed and a burly Warrior of Gaia sprung forward tackling the boy as Lady Anna, quickly being covered in the Queen's blood grabbed her monarch gently lowering her to the ground. Viktoriya's hands instintcively went towards the wound to pull the secaters out.

"No" A Warrior of Gaia knelt down and pulled her hands away knowing the blades acted like a plug stopping the Queen bleeding to death. A look of sheer panic in the 18 year old Queen's eyes. Behind them Lady Jasmina was crying, she'd never seen anything like this before and as Anna's white dress began to turn pink Jasmina fiented leaving Tostig to care for her, he too had gone deathly pale. More and more people were flooding into The Quad as the Warriors of Gaia radioed for help.

"Release the Goddess" the boy yelled as he was lifted to his feet and dragged away struggling. "The vessel known as Viktoriya is cursed, the Goddess should be released, find a host worthy of Sessifet" the boy was screaming as he was lifted and hurried away from the scene by four burly strangers. The Queen's Security Agents had now arrived, while the Warriors of Gaia were supposed to be responsible for the Queen in the Palace walls the Agents felt they had to respond and one was carrying what was known as the crash bag, essentially a military surgical bag with everything a medic would need, including IV drips of blood matched to the Queen. Withourt a word they pushed the Warrior out the way and set about their work, only when ready did one of the Agents delicately remove Anna's shaking hands from the wound where she'd been trying to apply pressure like she'd once read you should. She was hesitant and nervous about moving, what if it meant the Queen bled to death.

"Shhhhh. Its ok...its ok Anna" the agent soothed her, "You've done good, let me sort her out now." Anna nodded and backed away slowly as the agent set about their work, she stood her hands covered in the Queen's blood and the front of her dress now pink. She walked away her mind numb and slowly sat on the grass rocking as she hugged her knees while praying that Sessifet would save the Queen's earthly body.

[Libby]

Even before the Queen's damaged body arrived at Gaia Military Barracks things were swinging into action, the Security Service were currently removing from the Island of the Goddess anyone seen as not neccessary, it was a protocol everyone knew about but never expected to be carried out and now the black vested agents frog marched rows of cooks, stewards and even musicians down to the docks where several military vessels were waiting. Each person would be searched when they reached the other side and then questioned, it would be a mammoth task but it had to be done. After two hours all that was left on the Island were the Conclave who had been brought here for safety, alongside them the six leading members of the Priesthood. The Conclave were meeting in the depths of the Palace, not the usual nice airy room overlooking the sea. Besarian sat next to the empty chair that the Queen sat in, he looked around the table noticing the pale faces around him, now was his time to step up and take the lead. He stood, "I believe we should take a moment to pray for Her Divine Majesty" he said looking at Raisia who was sat at the far end of the table, "Could you say a few words?" he asked her taking his own seat as she stood and nervously began praying, tears rolling down her cheeks as she did.

The Lord of the Conclave sat his head lowered as the High Priestess spoke, he waited once she returned to her seat and then having spent the time starring at a spot on the stone floor to make his eyes water he raised his head and stood, tears in his own eyes. He made a great play of using his thumb and forefinger to wipe them before taking a deep breath. "Excuse me" he said pausing for a moment. "I do not enjoy this but our nation stands at a delicate moment." he looked down at his notepad, which in truth had nothing but random doddles on it. "We must prepare for the worst, now with our nation part of the international community we need to be seen to have no power vaccum. When Queen Sonja died we had time to reflect and think on her successor, now we have nations relying on us, looking at us for guidance." He wondered if anyone was buying his bullshit but continued anyway. "I believe therefore that we must immediately secure Lady Jasmina Danailov and prepare her for incase the worst happened. She is a noble lady in high standing, she is already familiar with the duties of the role of Queen and I believe she is 18 for two more weeks." He knew of course, he'd been sharing her bed for the last six months on and off and she'd been his original choice for Queen but the damn Conclave had gone for Viktoriya in greater numbers, which was one reason why Besarian had councilled Viktoriya to get rid of the aging Lords, they couldn't be counted on to do as he said.

Dragan Knežević, the nations Finance Minister bit his tongue, he was about to ask whether Besarian's decision came from his romance, he'd worked it out a few weeks ago that the Lord of the Conclave and the young Lady in Waiting where lovers but that on its own was of little concern, relations between the nobles on the island weren't exactly unknown. He would bide his time however and so therefore sought to involve himself. "My understanding is the Queen is in a medical coma, I'm not a medical man but I believe they can last some time" he looked around as if challenging anyone to correct him but none did. "We won't know what condition she'll be in, or if she'll even regain consciencess" He switched his gaze to Raisia as the High Priestess she was best positioned to lead the way forward on what he was about to ask. "What happens if she remains in a coma, or if she is brain damaged?" The table all glanced at the woman waiting a reply.

"I....we....I believe I need to consult with our scholars, I am unaware of any texts relating to this manner" those around the table began to look nervous. Potentially Lodja could have a Queen unable to rule for many years, the comprehension of this caused a prolonged silence. "Perhaps we should consider the issue of if she is brain damaged witholding treatment?" A gasp went around the room.

"No" Dragan said banging on the table, "I for one will not be involved in killing the Goddesses choosen host, and I'm frankly sickened you of all people would suggest it" he pointed at Raisia as if to accuse her of the murder already. "Should it come to it we must know what the texts would have us do, and we must until that time govern as we do when between monarchs." He didn't like that, it gave Besarian far too much power but who was Dragan to argue with the law.

"Very well" Besarian tried to seem as though this was something he was doing grudgingly. "This is what we shall do, I shall order Lady Jasmina brought her immediately, should Queen Viktoriya die within two weeks we shall immediately announce her as Queen, any objections?" None came, it was after all a sensible decision. "In the meantime the Priestesses will begin putting together a shortlist of potential new Queens, but this shall be kept between us, any objections" again the room remained silent, it would make sense to begin the long process now so that disruption would be kept to a minimum. "Finally should the Queen be unable to return to rule we shall abide by High Priestess Raisa's judgement on the best cause of action."

"No" Dragan interjected, "The Goddess will let us know what course of action to take, while Queen Viktoriya draws breath then she is our Queen." the table was split half nodded in agreement while others seemed still unsure. "I shall do all I can to ensure that Sessifet is the only one to determine the fate of our Queen."

"Very well" Besarian conceeded, "We shall conveen again to discuss the matter should it become a reality. In the meantime I ask you all to do what you can to keep the nation running smoothly while we pray for Her Divine Majesty" he called the meeting to an end and headed back to his room, accompanied by three Security Agents each armed with assault rifles as opposed to their usual handguns. He closed the heavy oak door and put his papers on the desk. He sat for a moment contemplating his next move, a smile spread across his face and he lifted his phone and rang the Security Desk. "Hello, I want the foreign ambassadors escorted to the mainland, tell them we can't spare security considering the situation, apologise and suggest they go to their mainland embassies." Several nations that shared close relations with Lodja, such as Ui Cenneslaig enjoyed the right to place any noble ambassador as a resident on the Island of The Goddess, and while most didn't make permanent use of their rooms one did, Prince Lennox of Ui Cenneslaig, a man Besarian knew also enjoyed Jasmina's favour. He had only a small window of oppurtunity and the last thing he wanted was this Celtic Prince working his way further into Jasmina's good books.


One the barracks the medics had been working in surgury for several hours, removing the seceteurs and then patching up the bleeding had been a nightmare, they'd got through nearly all their reserves of blood and had even sent a helicopter to go and get more from the nearby civilian hospitals. The Four Ladies in Waiting were sat nervously in one of the hospital blocks wings, they'd been told to go back to the Island but refused after all their Queen might need them. Viktoriya was not yet out of the woods and the four girls sat holding hands jumping nervously at every opening door.

When the door next opened it wasn't a doctor or nurse hurrying to or fro but Angelina Evanov One of the Queen's Security Agents. She walked quickly over towards the Ladies as two more agents appeared each with a sub machine gun. "Lady Jasmina, I'm under orders to bring you to the Island" she gave her order firmly, a throw back to her time as an NCO in the military. "Come along" she half turned but Jasmina didn't want to leave. "Take her" Angelina instructed the two men who lifted her to her feet and frog marched her out the room as she protested. Angelina walked a few steps ahead, "The Conclave demanded this" she began explaining, "They wish you to be protected for in case the Queen dies, they intend to name you. Until such a time as we know the Queen's fate you shall be confined to the Island" she informed her as they headed to the roof where a military helicopter awaited.

[Libby]

The sand was warm under her feet and then all of a sudden a burst of cold water splashed on her, she squelled and jumped up as her father ran backwards away from her and Alana, the two little girls scurried after him as he easily kept just out of reach, after around twenty meters he dropped the small bucket the girls used for making sandcastles and a few meters beyond that he slowed down and grabbed his two daughters lifting them onto his shoulders. "No....no Daddy" a four year old Alana squelled knowing what was about to come as their father carried them towards the sea, on the other shoulder the six year old Viktoriya squirmed to get free but their father was strong and easily carried the two girls into the sea before throwing Viktoriya off his shoulder into the sea and then ducking in himself still holding Alana.

Viktoriya surfaced from the sea, spitting salty water from her lips as Alana squelled once more as the cold water hit her face. She was a decent swimmer for a four year old but still her father kept a hold of her, the sea on the Isle of Tar had a habit of having some strong currents and the last thing the Duke of Tar wanted was his youngest daughter being washed out to sea. Viktoriya paddled in circles around them in the crystal clear water, although a stronger swimmer than her sister she still held her chin high above the sea not wanting to get another splash in the face. The three of them played in the waves for a good half an hour before their mother appeared with three great white fluffy towels drapped over her shoulder and some fruit juice on a tray. The girls ran towards their mother hand in hand as their father followed, each girl was handed a towel and told to dry themselves. Viktoriya flung the towel overherself, she loved the way the fluffy material felt against her. Suddenly she felt strong hands moving the towel over her making sure to dry her long dark hair. "There, you'll get cold otherwise" her father said as he pulled the towel back over her head. Viktoriya watched it fall and then screamed, it was red, she looked down to where it lay on the sand covered in blood and ran her hands down her neck and onto her chest, she peered at them and they were covered in blood, she screamed again but no sound came out and then everything went black.


Jasmina had been wondering what lay in store for her and checked her phone every few minutes keen to get word of what was going on with Viktoriya. She didn't consider the Queen a friend as they hardly ever spoke beyond the essentials of work, but she liked her. Viktoriya was nice and kind, she clearly didn't fully enjoy being Queen but she was doing something great for the nation and now Jasmina was nervous. Had anyone ever refused to host Sessifet? She didn't know but she suspected not, after all it carried great honour for their family and great oppurtunities, beside not many 18 year old girls wouldn't want to live the luxury lifestyle that came with the job. She had been deeply disappointed when she'd come second in the election nearly a year ago, but she wouldn't have changed anything now. She thought about how things had gone for her, a young, niave even, young girl who only had the influence her fathers small estate would bring. Now she was the lover of the most powerful man in Lodja and a Ui Cenneslaig Prince, one a man she knew was useful to her and her family and the other a man she had genuine feelings for. Perhaps it wouldn't be bad being Queen, she could probably persuade Lennox to become her husband, after all he would have no issue marrying her in Lodjain law, his own nation may have something to say but that could be fixed, his first wife would be a potential stumbling block but she could simply be sent back to the Celts. Alternatively Besarain wasn't a bad choice, her was rich, charming, very intelligent but sadly a manipulator. It was Besarian however who was first into her room. "I'm so glad your safe" he gushed as he ran a hand through her long red hair pulling her close enough to kiss. "I don't know what I would have done." She pulled away but permitted herself to stay in his embrace, while not a patch on the strength of being in Lennox's arms at that moment it felt safe. "The Conclave have asked me to brief you, we are planning for your coronation."

"Viktoriya's dead?" Jasmina gasped a hand covering her mouth.

"No......did you want her to be?" Besarian said cooly. "She can't last long sadly" the fake concern was easy to see through for Jasmina, but somehow she expected it. "She lost a lot of blood, I'm sorry" he even seemed to have a fake tear in his eye.

"I'm not ready" Jasmina mumbled.

"Nonsense, a beautiful young woman, intelligent, gorgeous, someone able to twist the world round their finger" he ran a hand down her cheek. "You are perfection" he kissed her neck. "The goddess wants you.....the people want you." Jasmina felt his hands on her body. "I can make it happen" he whispered, "I would do anything for you" She wasn't sure if she had heard him right but she remained silent as he undressed her, it was preferable to his suggestion of treason.


Dragan considered himself to be a Cultural Sessifetian, what he meant was he wasn't too sure if he believed it all, the fact that a living Goddess existed inside a teenage girl, however he knew that it was a system that had kept the Queendom together and his family in wealth. It was odd then that at this time of crisis he found himself on autopilot wandering the corridors of the Palace. His footsteps merrily doing their own thing as his mind raced on what the country should be doing. It therefore came as a surprise when he found himself walking into the Shrine of the Goddess, the large central carved tree dominating the brightly coloured circular room, he took one of the chairs mounted to the wall and sat with his head tipped back, the rear of his head cooled by the subterranian wall. He closed his eyes, should he be doing something, did someone need him to say or do something. Politics wasn't really his thing, he enjoyed playing about with finances, using the wealth his actions could generate to improve his nation, he didn't like the power games and he could see them developing and he knew he'd perhaps be dragged into them. It had surprised him he'd spoke out in the Conclave meeting and he laughed at how religious he'd sounded. It was only then that his senses recognised he wasn't alone. For a while he was worried that he may have betrayed something while his subconcious ran rampant.

"Hello" a girls voice came. She had been sat cross legged beneth the tree on the far side of the room, she stood now and walked over sitting back on the floor between Dragan and the tree. He recognised her, she was Darya Natalka. She was a young girl who lived in the Palace thanks to being studying at the small school for noblemans daughters on the island. Her father was some high up Baron who Dragan had discovered spent more time worrying about the stock market than his daughters happiness.

"Hello again" Dragan smiled, he'd meet her stood on his favourite childhood rock ledge a few weeks back, it had been some old nostalgic evening where he just wanted to stand on the islands rocks watching the night sky and hearing the sea, it appeared Darya dressed in her pretty ballgown had the same feeling having been left to attend alone thanks to her father. "What you doing down here alone?" he asked, he had expected the place to be empty what with the island being cleared of all but non essential people.

"The High Priestess had me kept on the island, said the Goddess spoke to her about me......oh no....." the girl began to cry, "Please don't say the Queen's dead" she had realised what her being left behind when the other girls from the school had left meant. Dragan sighed, the games had begun, Besarian had his horse backed in Jasmina and the High Priestess clearly had picked Darya.

"I've not heard anything and I suspect they'd tell the conclave first" he tried to sound reassuring however if Besarian and Raisia had already starting manouvering he couldn't be certain of that. "You not want to be Queen?" he asked as the young girl seemed to calm down.

"Not like this" the girl stood and sat next to him, "Not after a murder, no one deserves to die like that, and it's Alana's sister, it would feel odd." Darya was a close friend and a year older than the Queen's young sister Alana and the two had become thick as thieves , if it hadn't been for her being told she needed to be kept under guard here in the Palace she'd have been trying to reach Alana to see if she was ok. "Can you do me a favour" she asked.

"A potential future Queen who would already be in my debt" Dragan hated himself as soon as he said it, the words sounded like something Besarian would say, "Sorry" he hung his head in shame at his actions, "Go on" he stood and began pacing around the tree.

"Find out how Alana is please" Dragan nodded, it was a simple enough request and one he could fulfil. "I shall let you know." he stopped walking, a low brach close by had a pink ribbon hanging from it and Dragan took his old military units ring off and used the ribbon to tie it securely to the tree, he had no idea why but he placed a hand on the bark and spoke quietly. "Accept this ring as an offering, one of many to the Goddess, please spare the body of Viktoriya Tar........and should she die send strength to Alana and the wisdom required to Darya to guide her in this troubled time." he waited before removing his hand to find the young girl next to him, she took hold of his hand and on tip toes kissed his cheek gently in a sisterly way.

"Thank you" she smiled and turned to leave, as she reached the bottom step she turned back round, "Your the kindest person I've meet on the island.....you shouldn't work for that Besarian, he's a bad man" she disappeared up the steps, already it seemed Dragan's prayers for wisdom were being meet, perhaps that would be a bad omen.

[Libby]

The Doctors at the barracks had been meeting for the last hour, it seemed the Queen wasn't in great shape, she'd lost a lot of blood and that clearly was going to have serious impacts. What also concernened them was the news they'd just discovered from the royal physician, "You know Doctor it would have been nice to have this information before we packed the Queen full of drugs." the lead surgeon yelled as he paced the staff room. "We've probably just damaged her unborn child."

"Look" Dr. Kristina Lagounov snapped, "The situation is difficult but the Queen's life has to take priority, the Goddess selected her for a reason the only person who can let Queen Viktoriya die is the Goddess. We must do whatever is within our power to preserve her." The team weren't so sure.

"The systems we have in place mean we can, unless the situation changes, keep her on life support for months, that will give the child chance to be born." Another medic spoke up, many of them believed that the Queen would have wanted to keep the child alive and as such were preparing for how they could essentially use the Queen as a living incubator until the fetus was viable.

The arguments went back and forth for several hours until a junior doctor asked a question no one had thought of yet, "Has Baron Roman been informed?" the group looked around at each unsure before Lagounov broke the silence.

"No, I don't believe he has." Kristina made her way out into the lounge area where various members of the Queen's family and household were gathered, the Queen's mother and both her husbands sat nervously, the Queen's mother was pregnant herself and due to give birth any day now. Tears streamed down her face as the two men tried to console her. In the corner of the room Princess Alana sat being held in her fiancee Thikon's arms as she watched her mother. One face was noticably missing, the Queen's husband, Baron Roman.

The Baron had been enjoying a little trip to one of the island resorts when the news broke, the security agents had taken him back to his hotel room and helped sneak the pretty little brunette who was in his bed out the hotel via the back door before packing his belongings and heading to the heliport to get him back to the Palace of the Goddess. Roman didn't know how to react, he felt no sadness, Viktoriya was someone he occasionally ate dinner with, sometimes travelled with and even less often had sex with. He was more concerned with his status, as the Queen's husband he had significantly increased his influence within the nation and he'd used that well making himself rather wealthier and his lifestyle more comfortable, that being lost was what worried him. As his helicopter landed he could see the press gathering, that worried him too, he knew he didn't look upset and so did his best quickly to try and muster up some tears. As he exited the helicopter journalists yelled to him but he kept his head down and walked quickly into the barracks. He was immediately taken to meet the doctors who explained the situation, it was all a mess of jargon to him and his head was spinning until the words, "Your wife is pregnant.....you're going to be a father". The words hit like a lightning bolt.

"How long?" Roman asked, as the answer came he felt his heart sink, "A month" he repeated the answer, it meant she'd taken a lover, beaten him at his own game. He didn't think she had it in her to do such a thing, it wasn't that she had taken another lover, he knew that would probably always happen at some point in their relationship but what amazed him was how it had been done in secret, she hadn't even told him. He wondered who the father could be, but it probably wouldn't matter, if he handled this right he would be seen as the father and that was all that mattered.
 

[Libby]

Vladimir was back at the Palace of the Goddess when the news came through and he felt his heart sink and his knees buckle, his affair with the Queen had been kept a secret for the last two months, and while he knew that perhaps for her it was all about conceiving a child he hoped that she had at least some feelings for him, as he had developed them for her. He had viewed the situation initially as a mere opportunity to advance him own and his families fortunes but now he knew that even if, and he knew it was a remote if, the child was born he would never be its father. It was obvious that Baron Roman would tie himself to the child as by doing so he ensured his own families ties to the royal family for the next five generations. It was a strange rule that essentially said that traces of the royal blood of Sessifet would remain within the family for that long, a kind of parting thank you from the Goddess once her hostess had died. Vladimir felt sick to his stomach and he thought what he could do, he could obviously go to the media and claim he was the Queen's lover, but somehow that felt disrespectful, he could just try and force his way to see Viktoriya at the barracks but she was surrounded by tight security and the chances of that working would be next to none.

At the barracks themselves the Queen's Ladies in Waiting where coming to terms with what the situation meant, all but Jasmina who was closeted on the Island of the Goddess. The rest of them sat in the relative rooms just outside the Queen's private bedroom, silence hung heavy in the air as the three women sat with tear stained faces. Anna had served the Queen's of Lodja for close to a decade, she'd grown from a awkward older teen into a graceful intelligent woman, probably more use to the monarch than any Foreign Minister, she had turned down numerous advances for good marriages, even from Vladimir who now shared her grief, all in order to serve the Goddess. Next to her sat Roksana, she was a more carefree spirit, thankful for what the role brought her in terms of luxury and pleasure, but she knew that Viktoriya was a kind of caring person who had dedicated her short life to making Lodja better and she had been proud to serve her. Finally there was Stasya who sat staring out the window, she was the shortest serving Lady in Waiting and had much in common with Roksana, or did, now as she watched Roman try and play the grieving husband she couldn't buy it. She knew of the Baron's affair with Roksana, it wasn't as though it was anything unusual in Lodja, people where pretty liberal about the sanctity of marriage, but now it was the way that Roman was acting as though he was madly in love. Stasya thought about what would she do if she was Viktoriya lying there, would she want the doctors to turn off life support or would she want them to give her all the time in the world. She imagined who would be at her bedside, her parents obviously, but she found herself hoping King David of East Moreland would be and that his grief would be more genuine than Roman's. Had she fallen for him? She knew she liked him, found him attractive and knew that sharing the bed of an influential King would have its rewards but as the two had exchanged Skype chats and messages she found herself longing to be with him more and more.

Back at the Palace an argument was brewing as the Conclave hastily meet to discuss the news that they were never getting their Queen back. "It is a sad reality" Lord Besarian continued after several moments, "That Queen Viktoriya is not coming back to us, as such we should be thinking about the needs of the country."

"THE QUEEN IS THE COUNTRY" Dragan Knežević, the Finance Minister and a pious follower of Sessifet slammed his fist on the table. "The Queen is all that is good about Lodja and we must not let it slide away."

"It's already gone" Besarian retorted as he sat slumped in his chair, "It went the moment she lost consciousness, now all that we have is a box, a shell, and within it is trapped the spirit of Sessifet, trapped like a rat in a trap unable to set itself free. It is a test from the Goddess, she is asking us to set her free. I for one believe we must immediately turn off the Queen's life support and crown Lady Jasmina as the new Queen."

"Oh....and that has nothing to do with the fact you've taken the young girl to your bed." Dragan glared at him. "The Lady is your lover and you think you can control her." Besarian had got to his feet, he suspected that people knew of his seduction of Jasmina but such matters were never brought up in the Conclave, it was rude to discuss who shared your bed.

"Gentleman" High Priestess Raisia interrupted, "We can not have the Conclave at each others throats" she began pacing the room, "Allow the Holy Sisters to meet, we shall consult with the Goddess through our meditation and prayer and discover what she wishes." Dragan had little choice but to concede, the Holy Sisters were the organisation that ran the religious aspects of the nation, five of them, six if you counted Raisia. They would meet discuss the evidence and then reach their own opinion, and that would be law, the fact that Raisia was the Aunt of Roman hopefully would mean little, but Dragan had no intention of finding outc

[Libby]

It had now been a week since the Queen had been rushed to the military barracks and time was running out for Besarian to get his lover Jasmina the throne, in just seven days she would turn 19 and be excluded from being the Queen. He had hoped to have persuaded everyone that the best option was to have turned off Queen Viktoriya's life support by now, however the child she was apparently carrying meant that had been made practically impossible. He lay in bed with Jasmina quietly dozing tucked into his chest, he was staring at the roof, his mind playing through different scenarios that could still reach his preferred outcome but each seemed to have insumountable roadblocks. He had considered asking the Prince of Ui Cenneslaig for help, after all they did both share the affections of Jasmina and no doubt it would help the relationship with Ui Cenneslaig to have Jasmina on the throne. He however wasn't sure Lennox would view them sharing Jasmina the same way a Lodjain would and perhaps a jealousy could tarnish any chances there.

A few doors down along the corridor where the various government officials had quarters in the Palace    Dragan Knežević was hosting a private meeting with some of the influential Lords of the nation, he was trying to gauge where they stood on the matter. "Look Dragan" one of the older nobles, a Duke from one of the island provinces, explained, "Besarian is the Lord of the Conclave, I've studied many legal documents, the only person who would have more power than him would be the King......and well we all know that thanks to Roman's slow seed we've got a mess on that front. Besarian is the legal leader of our nation for at least the next eight months, then if all goes to plan we have King Roman until the Queen dies."

"You sure that's what the courts would say." Dragan was pacing the room, he was sure that Besarian would try and do something to get Jasmina the throne and he wasn't ruling anything out. He wanted to find a way to challenge the man's power an it wasn't going well.

"I was the court for 40 years" the Duke replied sternly, he had been one of the nations top three judges for close to four decades before retiring and he had an encyclopedic knowledge of the law and felt annoyed this young minister, not even a Duke, would dare question his knowledge. "Look the closest that has ever come to this was in 1815 when the Queen was knocked out when a sailing boom hit her in the head, it took two weeks for her to die, but before slipping into unconciousness she gave orders that the Lord of the Conclave take her seat in the council. That is exactly then why Besarain will be granted the Queen's powers. That however doesn't run to being able to sentence someone to death without a trial, which effectively withdrawing medicial care would be. He has to sit it out knowing that if this Jasmina isn't made Queen he runs the gauntlet of controlling the next Queen.

"So we need to find a way of reigning him in." Dragan rubbed his beard as he continued pacing. "Visiting monarchs are granted permission to sit in the Conclave are they not?" Dragan remembered the Arda Tuluva visit earlier in the year when the Queen had sat on an equal footing with their Empress during the Conclave meeting.

"That is correct, Viktoriya herself set the precident." the Duke agreed.

"Excellent. I believe we're due the planned visit of King David of East Moreland......we ensure it goes through." Dragan was now stood still and smiling. "We ensure that he takes pity on us and we push him to offer guidance, I'm confident he's a good man and he'll not let the Queen be killed." He thought for a moment more. "Ladies and Gentleman I've some research to do." he watched while the group made their way out and then locked his solid oak door and turned his laptop on. Dragan made it his mission to find all he could out about King David, it wasn't hard the internet was full of things and then he spotted it, gossip stories of King David and Stasya Pelagiya out and about in Northfort during her visit there, he laughed as he saw her described as "a Lodjain servent", her family where wealthy nobles and she held a position of high honour, it was always difficult for foreigners to grasp their culture. He looked at the photo, the pair smiling and laughing and then the photo of Stasya sat at a restaurant table with the King taken by the paparazi, her hand on his arm. He had found his new weapon and so he stood and made his way down to the corridor on which the Ladies in Waiting rooms were located, the picture folded up in his pocket. He knocked three times on Lady Stasya's door and it opened partly. "Lady Stasya may I have a moment of your time?" he asked, "It's a matter of mutual benefit."

She opened the door and waited for him to step inside. "What can I do for you Dragan?" She asked, she hadn't spent much time in his company but she'd heard tales of him being rather less devious than most Lords who lived on the Island, some put it down to the fact he was a second son while others that he had spent time living abroad.

"Best to not beat around the bush" he sat down on the edge of a table and smiled. "How many times have you shared King David's bed?" he watched her face and knew instantly that his instincts had been correct. "I'll not tell anyone, upon my families honour" She knew herself that she'd been found out and there was no point hiding things.

"Many times" she smiled as it felt good to let go of the secret.

"Does he love you.....I know you don't love him." Dragan knew the type of woman Stasya was, her body was a weapon to get her what she wanted and she knew how to play men.

"I think he has feelings for me, I wouldn't say its love but I could make him. I think in time I could love him but on my side its lust because of his power.....and he's not exactly lacking in looks." she laughed. "Why?"

"I need you to do my a favour, the King is coming here soon." he saw Stasya's eyes light up and thought perhaps she did hold some feelings beyond her lust and political games. "I need you to get him to stay as long as possible and sit in on every Conclave meeting."

"And if I don't?" Stasya pouted.

"I'll get Besarain to offer either Anna or Roksana to him for his stay, you know the tradition and my understanding is David is very traditionalist, he may not bed them but he wouldn't turn down their company and that means no sexy time for you" he raised an eyebrow. "Agree to help me and I'll ensure it is you that Besarian orders to share the King's bed during his stay....well if he wants you, but I think we both know you'll make sure of that." Stasya had a devlish grin.

"I live to serve the Goddess" she replied leaving Dragan in no doubt that if it helped her own agenda she'd drive a dagger through the Queen's heart without a flicker of hesitation.

"We have a deal." Dragan stood and offered his hand, Stasya shook it and repeated the words.


The next day the King arrived from East Moreland, it was a trip that started with all the pomp and ceremony that would have been afforded had Viktoriya been there and once the formalities had been completed the King visited Viktoriya and spoke with the press, it was all going rather smoothly. As the Conclave and Queens household entertained him to lunch it was time for Dragan to make his move. "Perhaps Your Majesty would do us a favour." Besarian had been sat talking with the High Priestess but his ears pricked up now. "We're all a little lacking in royal thoughts so to speak" Dragan noticed the nervous look on Besarains face as he wondered what the finance minister was up to. "Perhaps during your stay you'd help guide us through some tough decisions and sit in on our Conclave. I don't wish to take away your free time here but I believe we sorely need it."

David hadn't expected that and had been spending most of the dinner exchanging longing glances at Stasya who was sat a few places away. He had tried engaging her in conversation but Brayan Coxovich, the Science Minister was keen to ask David all about some East Moreland speed record or something. The King had been making polite but bored conversation annoyed that he couldn't speak with Stasya. "If I'm invited and you think it important I'd be happy to help. We like to think of Lodja as close friends."

Besarian spoke first before Dragan. "I don't intend to impose" the Lord began, "Your stay here is as our guest you're not here to work Your Majesty"

"I don't mind" David nodded. "It would be an honour to help" Besarian knew he wasn't now capable of disuading the King and so grudgingly accepted he would have to now try and manipulate the King of East Moreland as well as the other Ministers. The group sat and enjoyed several more courses before it was time to leave. Besarian stood once more there was one courtsey that the Queen always extended visiting delegates and Besarian had to do so now publically. "Your Majesty you know our traditions, therefore while you stay here I would like to offer you the companionship of Lady Roksana for the course of your stay, she will ensure you have all you require during your stay." Dragan now had to work quickly before David replied he would of course accept but then make every excuse to not be alone with her, that was his style comply with their traditions but then maintain his morals.

"Lord Besarian may I make a suggestion. Please Roksana don't take this as a slight, but Lady Stasya would be a better choice, after all she does owe King David for his hospitality when she visited East Moreland, and I believe she speaks some Morelandish, is that right Your Ladyship" Stasya confirmed she did with a broad smile and in Morelandish which brought a wide smile to David's face, that was enough for Besarain, if Stasya could keep the King's attention he may just miss some of the Conclave.

"Excellent suggestion....Lady Stasya please attend to the King's needs" she nodded her acceptance but that was to be expected as afterall this was the equivalent of the Queen giving the order. As the group made their way to their rooms to prepare for the afternoon Stasya escorted the King back to his chamber, as they walked she slid her arm through his, at first he pulled away.

"Don't be silly David" she chided him, "We can do this here and no one will look twice, after all your being a gentleman escorting a Lady in Waiting and I'm fulfilling my duties by showing you to your room." he relaxed and enjoyed the walk and conversation as they made their way to the Royal Guest quarters where she unlocked the door. As the King entered she followed and closed it behind her slipping the bolt on and pulling him into an embrace. Their lips hungerily found each other as they wrapped their arms around each other.

"Wait" the King said as she reached for his belt. "I have that Conclave thing this afternoon" he protested as she returned to unbuckling his belt.

"Its in an twenty minutes, we've time" the resistance of his arms faded and he began pulling her towards the bed that looked out over the sea. 

[Libby]

King David of East Moreland swung his legs onto the floor and stood up. "Where you going?" Stasya asked as she rolled onto her stomach.

"Grab a quick shower before I have the Conclave." he said as he gathered together the various parts of his suit that littered the bedroom floor.

"I'll come and rub your back" Stasya said mischiviously as she leaned on one elbow watching him from the comfort of the huge four poster bed.

"Probably not a good idea" David looked at his watch, he had just a little more than five minutes, thankfully the Conclave room was situated just a little further up the corridor from the guest suites. He looked back and admired her naked figure stretched out across the bed and wished he didn't have to go but tore himself away to grab a quick shower. As he got dressed and began tying his regimental tie he felt her behind him, her lips on his neck as her soft hands slipped over his taking over the task of fastening the tie, the knot loosely done she slid around to face him and tightened it making sure it was straight, her lips quickly caught his.

"Very handsome" she smiled as she walked away wearing a robe, "I'll be here when you get back" she opened the balcony door the breeze making her long dark hair flutter. "Then you can scrub my back" she teased as he headed for the door. "Don't be long....I'll be lonley" she added.

"What are the chances of the quickest Conclave meeting ever?" The King asked as he admired her once more before slipping out and making his way to the meeting arriving bang on time.

"I trust Lady Stasya has helped you settle in" Besarian asked as he showed the visiting King to his seat at the top of a set of seats but on the opposite side to the throne usually occupied by the Queen.

"Yes" David felt himself blush. "She's been a great help" he added as he got settled, the chair was much more comfortable than the ones he had for the council meeting back home but Lodja did after all express luxury at every chance, while in Northfort it was hoped to make meetings as quick as possible. Over the next three hours the meeting covered everything from the condition of the Queen to issues of a crop blight on one of the islands. No decision was made quickly with each of the nobles involved explaining the impact any actions would have upon them before suggesting solutions. The King at one point had to get up and have a walk around the room to ease his wounded back.

"You OK Your Majesty?" Dragan asked as the King walked down the steps.

"Yes fine thank you....old war wound" the King explained as he massaged the small of his back.

"Ah, do you need a Doctor I can call one" Dragan watched the King as he continued walking, he had heard that the King of East Moreland had been an actual combat soldier, something he couldn't imagine any Lodjain royal doing, after all the fancy clothing would get splattered in mud and filth. His attention was brought back to the room as Besarian made an announcement having heard his mobile phones vibrate function go off.

"Your Majesty, Ladies and Gentleman" he began standing at his position in the centre of the long table. "I have just been informed that we have a situation" the message had come from Gaia military barracks, "We have a young man called Vladimir claiming he has been having a relationship with the Queen and that the child she carries is his." he looked around the table, "He has just been restrained at the medical block at the base."

"How the hell did this nutter get onto the base." General Lubos Kubik was already reaching for his tablet and phone to begin yelling at people about a lapse in security.

"The man is a Marine officer, apparently a very good one" Besarian was looking at the wealth of information being fed to his smart phone as he relayed it. "Part of those trained by the Morelanders, minor noble family, was based here on the Isle for the last three months." Besarian took his seat again and continued scrolling through the message while trying to think, if it was true it strengthened his hand, it would mean Roman couldn't become King as that honour was only given to men married to the Queen who had fathered a child with her. As a result of Roman being disqualified from being King it would mean that for as long as Viktoriya was alive he would be dictator of Lodja, now obviously he prefered the thought of the Queen dying in the next few days and then his puppet of Jasmina would assume the throne.

"Excuse me" King David was stood at the bottom of the steps, he'd learnt much of Lodjain culture in the last year and while he was surprised Viktoriya had potentially kept an affair secret he knew Lodjains wouldn't see this as a scandal at all. "Is it likely anyone can verify this man's claim, I mean it'll take 8 months to be able to do a DNA test, and as a father he'd have decisions to make wouldn't he." Besarian nodded the Kings words thankfully backing his own.

"I think I may know someone" Besarain grinned. "We can summon the Ladies in Waiting, they'll likely know what was going on. If you want any gossip in the palace they're better than any Red Legionnaire your Majesty" he chuckled at his own joke and issued orders for Lady Jasmina to be summound before the conclave.

It took the Conclaves administrative staff 20 minutes to find Jasmina, she was of course giving Prince Lennox his regular Lodjain lesson, an arrangement that conveniently had been concocted to allow the two lovers to meet regularly since Lennox had based himself in Gaia. The young red head Lady in Waiting had been in his bed when the phone call had come and she dressed hurridly and made her way along the corridor towards the Conclave. It was a long narrow corridor that connected the ambassador suites with the Conclave room and Jasmina composed herself as she walked unaware of the woman coming round an adjoining corridor, Jasmina bumped into the dark haired woman and the pair fell over. "Oh, I'm sorry" she said as she gathered herself.

The other woman was to her feet first and recognised the Lady in Waiting. "You Whore" she snarled and slapped Jasmina hard across the face. "I had heard rumours my husband was fucking you but now I know, why else would you be leaving our corridor"  Princess Martha of Cantabria snarled and grabbed Jasmina by the hair dragging her towards the wall where she was pinned by the shoulder as Martha struck her again drawing some blood from the girls lip.

"STOP!" a voice came from down the corridor as one of the security agents approached witha  drawn gun, then their levelled aim dropped recognising the Princess, it would be a huge diplomatic error shooting an ambassadors wife, but to shoot a Princess would have been a disaster. "Sorry Your Highness" the man said as he watched her release a shaken Jasmina. "I meant no offence" Martha turned and headed off towards her rooms, clearly aiming on giving Lennox a piece of her mind. "You OK" the security agent asked Jasmina as he took his handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed at the blood.

"Thank you" Jasmina had tears running down her cheek as the man helped her along the corridor, he radioed in that Jasmina would be about ten minutes and helped her compose herself. "You won't say anything will you?" the young woman asked nervous of any issues she may have caused between the Cenneg and Lodjain camps. Trying to put that out of her mind she entered the Conclave room where she was told the news they had recieved.

"Lady Jasmina" Besarian asked in a soft tone, "We need to know, did this Vladimir ever visit the Queen's bed?" he sat back waiting for the answer, Jasmina didn't reply at first unsure if her answer would be a betrayal of the Queen. She gauged the faces of the Conclave and King David and then noticed Besarian  mouth the word "Yes" at her, she knew he was playing some kind of power game and that she was perhaps part of it whether she wanted to be or not, while she wasn't sure exactly what she believed he loved her and wouldn't betray her.

"Yes, many times" she looked down at the ground as they room began to fill with muttered voices.

"Thank you Lady Jasmina" Besarian motioned that she could go. "Conclave, Your Majesty, I believe that the best course of action is that we give Baron Roman no say in what happens to the Queen from here on in, he may not be the King even if she stays alive long enough to give birth." inside he was celebrating, in one fell stroke he had sidelined Roman for the next few months at least. "I'm going to head to the barracks to meet this Vladimir" he announced as he drew the meeting to a close.

"I'd like to come with you." David announced to which Besarian was forced to give his approval, he'd have prefered to see the boy alone but there was always likely to be a chance for that, he still had a few more moves left and only four days to make them.

[Libby]

As Besarian, King David and the security agents reached the wing housing Queen Viktoriya they could already hear yelling, the sound of a man tussling with others. As they entered the wing itself they could see a man dressed in camoflague fatigues pushing back against a door clearly trying to keep the armed men from getting in. Upon seeing the scene the Lodjain security agents pushed the King and Besarian back, they couldn't be sure whether the mad man in fatigues had a gun, at least he was only in the room next to the Queen, they'd been able to keep him from entering that one at least.

"Get the hell out" one of the Warriors of Gaia yelled as he tried forcing a crowbar between the door and its frame, the constant rattling of the door made it more difficult. As they watched on a group of four of the Military Police assigned to the base pushed past giving the Lord of the Conclave and a visiting monarch little regard. They carried sub-machine guns and one of them a large sledge hammer, the three men with machine guns pointed them at the man through the window while the other began slamming the heavy metal hammer against the door. The first slam put a hole into it but not much more, it took a good minute to free the sledgehammer before taking a second swing, it was clear the men hadn't done this kind of thing before.

"Woah, woah" King David yelled out bringing everyone to a stop. "I'm assuming this is Vladimir yeah" the group of Police stopped wondering what was happening. "Hey!" David shouted at the window, "Vladimir" the man just stared. "You think you fathered Viktoriya's child yeah." the King figured best just to get things over and done with.

"The child's mine, that bastard Roman wouldn't go near her, he didn't love her like I did." the men yelled back as he approached the window to face the King. He was clearly drunk and they could see a bottle of vodka on the table.

"Ok" David said, "That's why we're here" he pointed to Besarian who seemed more than happy to let the King get on with things. "We've spoke to Ladies in Waiting who confirmed your affair.."

"It wasn't an affair, we loved each other" Vladimir banged his hand against the window as though adding emphasis to his words.

"Ok, they confirmed your relationship" David corrected himself. "We're here to work out what we do, after all if your to be a father to a Prince or Princess we need your input don't we?" David turned to Besarian who looked rather bored by the whole thing. The Lord of the Conclave simply nodded his approval, frankly he didn't really care what happened to this Vladimir, he would never get any real power and beside if they proved Roman wasn't the father the longer Viktoriya stayed on life support the better.

The three men talked for about half an hour before Vladimir finally opened the door and was immediately bundled to the ground by the armed police, he could be heard screaming all the way along the corridor and outside. "We'll put him in a cell until he calms down and then I'll speak to him." Besarian smiled as they made their way in to sit with the Queen. Besarian thought it was strange that David sat down next to the bed and began chatting to the Queen, but he remembered that the former Queen of East Moreland had once been in a coma, but she was only in one for a week, Viktoriya was never waking up. "We could do with knowing who the father is sooner rather than later." Besarian asked the medics as they went about their daily tasks. In Lodjain law in this situation it made a great deal of difference to the holder of power and Besarain needed to prepare for this.

"It has risks, but we can do it." the Queen#s physican announced as the Lord of the Conclave gave the order to proceed.


On the Island of the Goddess things had been rather quiet, everyone was off either at the barracks or ensuring the smooth day to day running of the country. With everything within his power needing the Queen's approval, which now meant Besarians, there wasn't a lot Dragan Knežević could do. He decieded that he'd have a wonder down to the small inn that sat near the quayside, it was mainly the realm of the Plebs who staffed the island but Dragan was no stranger. He walked down the corridor heading towards the Palace's main entrance, he had to pass the garden where Viktoriya had been stabbed and felt a sense of nerves as he walked past. Something caught his eye and form a moment he thought it was his mind playing tricks on him, he half turned and it was clear this was no trick. There in the garden was a girl, dressed in a baggy white t-shirt and grey jogging pants, her feet bare she was elegantly twirling on the grass. In her hand she held her mobile phone and a lead from it went to ear phones she was wearing, her moves were graceful and elegant each limb as extended as far as possible, she lept her legs scissor kicking as she seemingly floated in the air. She landed effortlessly her momentum carrying her into the next move, as she stopped her latest turn she spotted Dragan. "Oh shit" the girl said louder than she thought she had, a side effect of the headphones. She stopped and removed them. "I'm sorry, please, please don't tell the High Priestess" the girls short blonde hair slightly masked her face.

"Who are you?" Dragan asked recognising her but not 100% sure.

"My names Tatiana My Lord" she was looking down at the ground nervously. Dragan recognised her now, she was one of the four candidates to be the next Queen.

"Don't worry Lady Tatiana" he smiled, "I'll not say what I saw." she breathed a sigh of relief, "I don't think you should be doing that here though" Dragan said grimly, "Thats the spot where the Queen was attacked" he saw Tatiana's eyes widen and she once more began a stream of apologise as she gracefully hurried over to the open sided corridor as though the grass was about to set on fire.

"I am so sorry" she was taking the headphones out of her ears and wrapping the cord around the phone. "I promise I'll not do it again. Its just a love dancing and the place seemed so peaceful and beautiful I could see it from my rooms window and....well I couldn't resist."

"It's fine, just perhaps if you wish to be Queen not really regal." Dragan laughed trying to imagine Viktoriya acting the way he had just witnessed this girl act but the laughter faded as he realised he hadn't known the real Viktoriya he'd only ever known the facade she had built. "You sure you want to be Queen, after all there will be expectations about how you act. You'll be expected to conform to a certain way, a certain standard" he began escorting her back towards her room.

"Why?" she asked.

The question took Tatiana a little by surprise, it was just accepted that a Queen of Lodja had to act a certain way. "I...well...its how its always been done." he supposed that was the best answer that he could come up with but truth be told he wasn't sure if it was the right one, perhaps he should ask the High Priestess. He wasn't really deeply devout, he followed the faith more out of expectation than belief but supposed he should begin taking more of an interest now he was likely to be part of the process.

"That doesn't make sense" the girl said as they reached the door of her appartment. "I mean if the Goddess is the one that chooses wouldn't she choose someone who was the perfect fit, someone who was well.....naturally like the way she wanted to be. If she picks you she must like you, she must want to be with you rather than just use you........but maybe that's just me" she shrugged and opened the door. "Thanks for not telling" she made her way inside and shut the door locking it behind her. She unwound the headphones putting them back in her ears she opened her music app on the phone and selected one of her favourite artsists Lady Gaga.

"I'm gonna marry the night
I won't give up on my life
I'm a warrior queen
Live passionately, tonight"

She began singing as she started dancing once more her feet taking off from and landing silently on the cold stone flooring.

[Libby]

She couldn't believe it, her family had stood to gain so much if only everything had gone to plan. It had taken years of planning, carefully manouvering her way to the top of her choosen profession and then like in a good game of chess moving her pieces into place to secure her aims. If it hadn't been for the stupid gardeners apprentice then she'd never be in this situation. That was why she made sure her first visit of the day was to the young mans cell, he had been taken to a military base outside Gaia in order to be safely kept in custody. Over the last ten days he'd had various meetings from the police, the Warriors of Gaia and even a few of the Conclave all wanted to get their heads around why someone would attack Viktoriya, after all she'd done a lot to help the Plebs since becoming Queen and this boy was a member of that social group, he only stood to gain from her being Queen, his future was now uncertain, not that it would be a long one. As she sat visiting with him she sneaked the poison into his cup of tea, it was slow acting and by the time they'd worked out what had happened she'd be long gone.

She had left the cell and made her way outside and was half way out of town before she saw an ambulance go screaming down the road, no doubt on its way to the assasin who now probably lay dead in a pool of his own coughed up blood. The thought of his suffering pleased her as she drove to Gaia Military Barracks, she was no stranger there either, often visiting the troops or attending ceremonies of note. She was waved past with no checks and parked her car right outside the bases medical centre where Viktoriya was being treated. She locked her car and made her way inside speaking to several of the staff as she went, they were a lovely bunch who had done so much for the stricken monarch and you had to admire their dedication to caring for what was essentially a vegetable. She was shown into where the almost mannequinesque girl lay, she seemed so peaceful, her skin almost like porcelian, the Ladies in Waiting ensuring she was freshly washed and her skin cared for even in these conditions. It was almost a shame to spoil the unblemished flesh but the 9mm bullet splattered blood across the pale skin that ran in riverlets from the hole in the middle of Viktoriyas head. "You bitch" Raisia Chowynk, the High Priestess of Sessift, muttered as alarms rang and staff tried to break down the door. "My nephew was going to be King and because you couldn't keep your legs closed you ruined that, you had one job" she knew her time was running out and so placed the pistol on the Queen's stomach and pulled the trigger. The Security Guards expecting any threat to come from outside raced to the sound of the second gunshot and peered in, as one of them drew their own weapon they were slower than Raisia who placed the pistol in her own mouth, the taste of the salty gunpowder being the last thing she experienced as a final shot sent her to meet her Goddess in the ever after.