Anna and the Gardener's Gift

Her mother had died in service to the Romanov family. Young and strong as she was, she succumbed easily it seemed to the plague, in a matter of just five days. At the time, Anna felt sure it was a ruse, to escape the difficult life they shared. Several days went by and eventually Anna realized that it must not have been. For by now, her mother would have come for her and she did not. The servants and maids, who all loved her mother deeply, were unsure what to do with Anna. She could see them all whispering, staring, weeping for her and she despised it. After several days more of fuss and murmurings she found herself being woken in the night and half-carried, half-run to the nearby stable. It was a cold, dark night and she could not remember ever being outside at such an hour. The faint light of the sliver moon was barely enough to guide them from the castle along the well-worn trail. Huge shrubbery banked both sides of the path, dark and thick and silent as they hurried through. It was so quiet, as if even the cedar of the hedge had been sworn to secrecy that night. Suddenly barn doors swung open with barely a sound and Anna was grabbed roughly and swung high up, then carried by strong firm arms. She could not have escaped had she wanted to. A small cry of fear escaped her lips and a quick hand slapped over her mouth. Feeling more curious than afraid, she did not make another sound nor did she squirm to get loose. In the dark they moved hurriedly through massive space for several minutes before coming to a stop. She felt herself being passed up to another pair of hands and carried gently not roughly along. She spotted a small light ahead and at this point she was lowered down to walk. Anna led her captors into a room of sorts that was dark with deep recesses and tresses that loomed large overhead, giant beams of strength. There were few items to see in the space, most notably a candle burning in each corner. Peering at her were several faces, at least ten, and it pleased her to see that she knew most of them. Among them was Galina and Vera who tended the kitchen fires with her mother, and Alex who worked on the grounds. Lev the stable hand, her dear friend and Helena, her mother’s best friend since childhood were also in attendance. She peered back at each one, with no one saying a word until finally she turned to Lev, hands placed firmly on her hips and said “Now, what’s this all about Lev?”