A Garden of Her Own

Anastasia wished for nothing more than to dismiss both Lady Lydia and Duke Phillip Vern. However, she knew that now that her fortress of solitude had been breeched, there was nothing she could do to stop the coming intrusion. She could have reprimanded them both, but she knew the Duke meant her no harm. They had known each other since childhood and Duke Phillip Vern had long ago learned to respect and value Anastasia's requests, one of which was her privacy, especially in her garden. Phillip would only come to her if it was absolutely necessary.

Furthermore, the Duke's feelings concerning privacy were matched tenfold. He himself was known to be tight lipped when it came to personal matters. Sometimes even she could not get him to release the desired information that plagued her thoughts.

For as much as she knew Duke Vern, or rather how much she knew she would never know, she still had her doubts about Lady Lydia and her understanding of Anastasia's privacy. However, those doubts would have to be abated until she had time to think later of a decent way to test and inform the young lady-in-waiting.

She would have loved to dismiss Lady Lydia, but knew better than be left alone with a man that she was not related to. So instead she tried to make herself as presentable as possible. At first she rearranged her dress' folds as it cascaded around her and the bench. She then took to sweeping her hair to one side to make it appear as if it had been tended in some manner.

Meanwhile, Lady Lydia took her place slightly behind and to the left of the queen. While Lady Lydia positioned herself accordingly, the Duke took his place at a respectful distance before the queen. He then proceeded to bow before her and waited for her permission to begin.

She looked up, and tried to clear her mind before listening to the Duke. That was always a challenge. When she saw him, she could only see the young boy who had the nerve to tease the princess. The childhood friend who was not afraid of speaking his truth. The Duke not afraid to speak with her about politics, trading and war despite her being a woman. There were many fond memories that accompanied the dashing young Duke. All the more reason to keep the rules at the forefront of their times together.

"Duke Phillip, pray tell what matters are so pressing that I could not even properly dress before hearing them?"

"My sincerest apologies Your Majesty. Under normal circumstances I would not dare encroach on your personal time. However, this morning has presented us with an unforeseen circumstance" He paused in a dreadful lull as he decided upon the correct wording for his next statement. When he finally spoke he seemed troubled and a crease lay between his eyebrows as he looked at her with sincerity and concern. "The Eastern border has been breeched."

All the warmth the morning sun provided suddenly vanished. Not even the Duke's looks could distract her mind from the blatant words marked red in her mind. Anastasia could feel herself pale the more she thought. However, she decided not to let her expression drop until she fully understood what the Duke meant.

"And what precisely do you mean by that." Her voice was a thin crisp line, as she uttered the necessary words to try and get some response from him.

"I mean that the Kingdom of Dreterra has mobilized its forces and in a series of skirmishes has pushed our men back from the Eastern boarder."

Anastasia took in a long draw of air as her mind began to sift through the past few weeks and the multitude of reports that lay sprawled out across her desk in her office. She doubted her own memory as she tried to recall if she had heard of any trouble brewing with Dreterra or near the Eastern Border, but nothing was coming to her attention. So she tempted another question. "Have they yet to declare war?"

"Not yet, but we do not think that it will be long before they do."

A slew of curses began to tease the corner of Anastasia's mind. The last thing she or her people needed was a war. Perhaps there was a way to prevent such a circumstance from occurring. "Has Duke Algear utilized his forces, and at least tried to reclaim the border?"

"Not yet." Duke Vern's voice was growing more and more weak as he responded to the questions of the Queen.

"And why on earth not?"

"Duke Algear is already headed towards the capital for the season. He left several days before the border was breeched. He has been slowed down due to the party he is bringing with him. Because of this, we have no way of knowing when he will arrive, nor if he ever received word of the breech."

"Of course." She seethed as she stood up and began to pace. For she did all of her best thinking when she was pacing. It was also a convenient way to let out the building anxiety presented to her by this news.

She continued to pace, trying to think about the likely hood of a war. She knew that several years ago there had been some rising tensions in the East, but she had appointed Duke Algear there to try and prevent further troubles from arising. She would have never assumed that it had come to such an extreme. There had to be a reason for the sudden outburst. Surely the Kingdom of Dreterra knew better then to assume that Karthia was weak. In fact, Karthia had been in a season of great prosperity thanks to Anastasia and her parents.

Although they were by no means the strongest kingdom, they were by no means the weakest. If Dreterra thought that they would surrender without a fight, they would quickly be presented with a new more realistic thought. Should the Duke not arrive in a few days, she would take control of his forces and mobilize them to secure the border.

A voice broke through her thoughts and brought Anastasia to a halt, "There is something else."

"Of course there is." Anastasia huffed before turning to the Duke, "Well, out with it."

"I received a letter from the Duke a few days ago. He is travelling with his elective for your marriage. He has chosen Prince Taren Liam Ambrose the Crown Prince of Dreterra."