The life after Raspoutine [Anastasia Movie]

[Care]

Anastasia and DImitri had left Paris behind them soon after their last encounter with Raspoutin. She had left a note to her grand-mother along with the tiara she would no longer wear. The two lovers had decided they wanted to live a peaceful and uncomplicated life, and it wasn't compatible with courtly position, and certainly not as the last heir to the Russian Empire. 

 

They had sold most of their finer clothes, buying sturdy but plain ones. They also bought a packhorse and cart to travel into the countryside. It was not easy for the once orphan girl to retake that persona, and leave behind her family, but she was not true princess material. She wanted to marry Dimitri, and that was impossible as a royal.

 

Dimitri could have returned to his former job as a kitchen aid, but he was too old for one, and it had been quite too long since he actually worked in one. And also, he had no desire for it, there were too many bad memories for him. Anya, she could almost be anything. Now that her souvenir was back, she had access to all the education she once had, as well as all the skills she had to learn as an orphan. Their only problem was that they little as letters of reference if they wanted to work at an estate. Vladimir had written them one, as he could pass for Dimitir former's employer, but that was all. They didn't want to ask any from the Dowager Empress. So they decided to hire themselves as farmhands, at least until they know a bit better French and the countryside. Here, everything was different, the climate, the smells, the customs, and the culture. Helping farmers would let them get used to all this before they decided how they wanted to settle, as well as perhaps get them some references at least.

 

At first, they discussed about posing as an already married couple, but Dimitri was reluctant to rob her of a true one, or of the possibility to change her mind. They only had lived together for a few months, he didn't want to chain her to him. He convinced her to wait until they were settled so that they could find a way to clandestinely invite her grand-mother, Sophie and Valdimir. She accepted to wait, and so they agreed upon this story: They both had fled the harshness of Russia, she would be back to being Anya the Orphan. They had met while working as servants, and had fell in love. They wanted to join some family she might still have here in France, so they had worked hard to win enough to leave Russia behind. His former employer and now friend Vladimir helped them come here to establish themselves. They were looking for work until they could find a place to settle as servants, and to learn the French ways.

 

They didn't want to travel to far from Paris, to stay close to Anya's grand-mother. So they traveled about two hours from the city before stopping in a small farming village. Entering the pub, Dimitri talked with the locals and finally agreed-upon working for them for a few weeks. Little did they knew how much Dimitri was unfit for a farming life. Their trouble started almost as soon as they settled. First, they separated them, as propriety demanded. In small villages, even if lovers and such were accepted and all, propriety were very important. They couldn't live together before the marriage, and certainly not be alone together out of prying eyes. Since it suited Dimitri, as it gave them time to settle themselves, and for Anya to change her mind if it was to happen, they both agreed. They didn't want to displease anyone, and they could wait. Anya was not very eager to go further into their relationships. Kissing was all good, but nothing more.

 

And so they were up to their feet the next morning before the sun was up. For three days, they were mostly learning what to do, Anya with the women, Dimitri with the men. It was similar for everyone, but there were some differences in the labor. Women planted and took out the weeds, man labored mostly on taking out rocks and debris form the field, and then they helped to the planting.

 

As the days passed, Anya started to feel concerned for Dimitri, he didn't seem quite himself ever since they started working in the fields. At the end of the day, he looked exhausted, but more then that. At diner, he would turn away and excuse himself for some time, or make strange faces when he taught no one was looking. She would see him bend over from time to time, when he seemed alone in the field, before going back to work. And last night, he came back from the field with his eyes red and slightly swollen. He pretended nothing was wrong, but she knew it wasn't true. Today, she vowed to herself, to learn what it was.

 

As she joined him in the field, he was apart from the group and turning his back to them all. As she closed the distance between them, she heard a muffled sound as he bent from the waist. She couldn't tell what it was, but it didn't look natural. She made the last few steps to him, and he turned quickly toward her, a strange expression on his face, and his hand massaging his nose. What is it pinker than usual? Hard to tell. Before she could think, she placed her hand over his forehead and he looked at her with irritation.

 

"I'm fihhh...ne." She heard his breath catching, but it could be for numerous reasons, as he jerked away from her. At least he wasn't feverish. "Just a little sneeze, I must have brea-ihhh... ihhhh..." He rubbed at his nose a moment and slowly exhaled. "I'm fine, just a bit of dust."

 

There was nothing more she could do, so she accepted that for now. Maybe he was just tired and none of them were used to that kind of work, or to the french countryside. He bent down to kiss her, and she felt his nose twitch just as they were about to kiss. It sent strange shivers all over her, along with a pleasant sensation. The kiss was so quick that she almost didn't feel it, and then he was walking away briskly. She could hear his breath catching again.

 

A few minutes later, he came back toward the group, as it was time to get to work. He seemed perfectly fine by then, but she would be vigilante. Since they were known lovebirds, it was not really hard to find herself not too far from him that day. She just had to talk with the right woman, and everyone here liked a nice love story, even more, if they could participate.

 

She couldn't neglect her task of the day, but since it was mostly planting and plowing, it was easy to look around and dedicate some of her attention toward Dimitri. 

 

And again, she witnessed it. The scrubbing of his face, his strange mimics and expressions, the pausing in his work as he stood very still for seconds, before he resumed his work... and sometimes he would jerk down up to ten times in a row before returning to work. Somethings was definitely not "alright" with her fiancé. She subtly worked closer and closer to him, with the help and tacit agreement of the other women.

 

As soon as she got close enough to hear him, she could hear his muttering, and his hitching breaths. He had not yet realised she was there, and it was not to displease her.

 

"I'm... nihhh... ihhhh .... not ghhhonna sneeze. Ihhh nhho... ihhhh." Then he brought his hand to his face and rubbed under his nose. "Ihhh ihhhh.... snifff.... iiihhhh.... nhhhh, Ihhh whiill.... snifff.... sniff. Arff, that was closed. God ! It thickles so much."

 

And he returned to work. Every few minutes, she would here his breath itch once or twice, or some sniffling. By then, she was slowly guessing at what was happening. He had not cought once, he didn't seem really sick either. She had had a bed neighboor at the orphanage for some months a few years back that had allergies. Hers were very violent and long, sneezing in rows of 20 to 30 times, but it looked like that as well. And still... he hadn't seemed that much disturbed by the spring when they had arrived in France. Why now then? Had it build up ever since they came here and she didn't notice ?

 

"What is it whihhh ihhhh... AAAAHHHH.... snifff... snifff.... argh... what is it with this place that tickles sohhhh? ihhhh..... snifff.... snifff...." He scrubbed at his face a few more times. Clearly, he felt miserable, but for Anya, it was otherwise. Every itch, every almost sneeze, was awakening something in her. It was also a tickle, but a very different kind, a pleasant one, like a warmth that was travelling all her body, starting between her legs. She didn't understand it, but she liked it.

[sprinkles287]

I’m enjoying this!

[rockbell]

oohhh I love Anya and Dimitri and I can't wait to read what happens next!!!