Russian Mystique (On Hold)

Once upon a time, there was a young boy born to a royal Russian family in Moscow. His name was Nikita Zadorov and he was set to be the next king. From the moment he was born, there was something special about him. And it wasn’t his handsome, boyish features either.

No, Nikita was special for another reason. And many people knew about him and that he was next in line for the throne. There were some who wanted to take it from him.

It was a quiet day in Moscow. Everyone was at home, awaiting news of the queen who had gone into labor that early morning. She had been whisked away by her ladies and the midwife was called. King Sergei Zadorov was pacing in his study with his friend, Alexander or Alex, who was sitting calmly in the armchair in the corner.

"Sire, your pacing is going to drive me mad," Alex said looking up from his book.

"Xenia is strong. She'll be all right."

"What if this child isn't a son?" Sergei asked. "The people will think she failed me."

"You mustn't think like that," Alex said. "You'll just have to keep trying until you do get a son." Just then the door opened, and the wet nurse for the new baby, Anastasia, came into the room.

"Well?" Sergei asked her.

"A son, Sire," she said with a smile.

Sergei gasped out a laugh before hurrying to the bedchambers where he was wife was taken to. A son. Xenia had given him a son.

The wet nurse looked to Alex with a concerned look on her face. "The queen has grown ill. The midwife requests your assistance," she said and Alex was up out of the seat with the young maid behind him.

Sergei was cradling his new son while Alex tended to Xenia. "She has a fever," Alex said. "She must not have any contact with the child. It's a miracle she didn't pass it to him while giving birth. Remove him from the room, quickly,"

Sergei left the room. He took his son to the nursery where Anastasia was folding blankets.

"The queen must not have contact with Nikita at all. You must look after him until my wife is better," he ordered.

"Yes, my lord," she said dipping into a curtsy as Sergei placed his son in his crib.

"Moscow has its prince, it would be a shame to lose him now. Take care of him..." he said trying to think of her name.

"Anastasia, sire," she said.

He nodded, before leaving the room. Anastasia walked over to the crib to look over the prince. She felt tears forming in her eyes as she thought of her own son. She had only a few days with him before a fever took him. She would hate for the queen to lose her son to a fever as well. Then again, it would be a miracle if the queen survived the fever herself.

Nikita started to cry and instinct had her pick him and she undid her ties on her dress to feed him. Her bosom was still full of milk from her last pregnancy, a reason why she was chosen as a wet nurse for him. The infant prince drank from her as she sat there trying not to think of her son. She never got the chance to do this with him. He was immediately taken by a healer when his color was not right. When he died, she went into a depression. Her husband had died when she was five months pregnant. The queen had taken her in as a handmaiden after that.

Anastasia wasn't even from Moscow. She was from the distant land of St. Petersburg, a distant land still in the same country. It was known as the land of Dragon Breeders and Fur Traders. She had planned to move back with her own son.

The King was busy with his wife. He hadn't been by since he left the prince with her. The whole castle was waiting on news of the Queen and seemed to pay no attention to the nursemaid and infant prince. It was a few more sleepless nights before Queen Xenia finally recovered from the illness. A miracle indeed.

She was very weak, but feeling much better. Anastasia was allowed to let Nikita see his mother once again. A few more days past and then the Queen had her strength back. She was told to go outside and get some air from the doctor and Alex. So the next day Xenia actually left the castle with Nikita to go to the market. King Sergei would've had a fit if he found out. But she’d still done it. She was only following the doctor's orders.

Anastasia often took care of the baby and dressed him for travel. She would wrap him in a blanket and grab some diapers, putting them in a satchel. She would then put the satchel around her and pick up Nikita. He whimpered, prompting her to shush him. "It's okay, dear Niki," she said. "We're going to see the Queen, your mom." She kept him close to her and headed toward the front of the castle, where Xenia and Sergei were waiting.

It was the first time in a while that Sergei accompanied his wife on a trip. And she was fully healthy by now. It truly was a miracle at the hand of God.

Xenia packed a saddle with food and put it on her husband's horse as well as her own. She found the sling a woman gave her to carry her son better and she put the prince into it and climbed onto the horse. She started a slow gallop so she wouldn't jostle him and headed into the town of Moscow with Sergei at her side.

As the Zadorovs went through town, they were waved at. Suddenly another man entered the kingdom on a slick black horse. The man on horseback wore a black hooded cloak and he guided his horse purposefully to the side of the queen’s. He reached out and swiftly snatched Nikita from the sling.

“Stop him! He has the prince!” Sergei shouted, flicking his reins and galloping after the kidnapper, who headed back toward the entrance. Guards surrounded him though and halted his escape. Sergei came up and snatched his upset son back.

The thief grunted with his failure and managed to get past the guards and escape on his horse. He vanished into the trees to the side of the small village and castle.

Sergei cradled his crying son and made it back to his wife, who took Nikita back from him. She looked like she’d been crying, but lit up when she took Nikita back from him.

“Come on,” Sergei remarked. “Let’s get back to the castle. I think we’ve had enough time outside today. And we’ll have the guards try to track down that man who tried to kidnap little Nikita.”

And sure enough they did. They returned to the castle and got off their horses. The queen took her son back inside and waited for Sergei to come in.

“Xenia, I think we should get him a playmate.”

“You mean a brother? You want me to bare another son?”

“No, not quite. I suggest that we adopt someone. This guy can be Nikita’s adoptive brother and he can keep an eye on the young man. If he is in danger of being kidnapped like this, we should try everything in our power to keep him safe.”

“But he will grow up and he can fend for himself.”

“It won’t be the same, Xenia. I have someone in mind anyway. There is an orphan boy named Valeri Nichushkin in the land of Chelyabinsk. He is one year older than our Nikita and he will make a great older brother.”

“Valeri Nichushkin? Are you sure this is the best thing?”

“I’m positive. We will be able to take care of two sons. It can be done. Val will be Nikita’s brother and best friend and keep him safe. They will grow up together and it will be wonderful.”

“I guess we can test it out.”

“That’s my girl, trust me Valeri will fit in great!”

And in the next few days, Sergei sent Anastasia and Alex out to get the young orphan, adopt him and bring him to Moscow. They did so and over the next years Nikita grew up with Valeri, thinking of him like a brother. Even though he was adopted. But Valeri loved Nikita and Nikita loved Valeri, often calling him just Val.

Notes

I'm happy to introduce this second new story to you. I've been wondering what Val and Nikita would be like if they were brothers and now I've got the answer, so I present this tale about Valeri Nichushkin and Nikita Zadorov as two brothers. :)
I hope you like this one like the other one.
Oh, and poor Zady, "Zadorov" means "Misfortune"...


Next up: The Event That Leads to Mackenzie's Appearance