[hr][hr][center][img]http://fontmeme.com/embed.php?text=Elizaveta%20Romanova&name=IndentureEnglishPenman.ttf&size=100&style_color=a187be[/img]
[img]http://67.media.tumblr.com/b92d0d7c43ae4cdb6795435782b2bc56/tumblr_nhq6pkG7aH1ts118io1_500.gif[/img][hr][i]Interacting With:[/i] [@Kyrisse][hr][/center]

	New arrivals, Elizaveta knew she had been a tad ahead of schedule when she arrived but she preferred it that way. Some enjoyed coming fashionably late but that was not her way. She liked to see each one enter, to be able to watch them and see their differences. The crown princess of Trelins had been the only one that seemed to arrive before her. Elizaveta couldn't help but smile at the sight of her hair, not that it was comical but that she wore it so well and how it seemed to fit the sparkle in her eyes. Elizaveta would never have felt comfortable in such a shade but it worked for Isobel. 

	Then after her many had arrived. The first was Niklas dressed befitting that of someone who belonged to a house that ruled over such a large military force. Tilting her head to the side as she peered from her seat she cocked a brow, it was more formal than she would have expected but to each their own. He seemed to great the others warmly, which was kind. She would have to greet him later, she felt it would be rude to walk back out to the greeting line to introduce herself while he was greetings others just because she had arrived before him. 

	Turning her attention she watched Henry enter and watched him intently as he quickly made a beeline for the table of food and chose a few sweets. It seemed that he was not too interested in greeting the rest that had arrived, making his greeting short and too the point. He looked like he was enjoying the treats that were laid out for those that were arriving with the smile he was holding on his lips. The smile seemed genuine but when it came to good food how could one not smile? Some luxuries in life could brighten up what was sure to be a stressful situation. She was sure she would partake eventually but as another entered her attention was drawn elsewhere.

	Her eyes brightened she watched Sade enter. She had read much on the country of Udawen and was intrigued by it and by their princess. It seemed like such a polar opposite to her own. The warmth, the colors, the music, the people; all alive and seeming to be embracing life. She had to admit that the music they were known for was not her most treasured but it made her happy to listen to it while she studied about the nation. It just seemed to have a feeling to it that brightened the soul. She would most definitely have to make time at one point to try to get to know Sade.

	As Mai arrived Elizaveta's jaw would have dropped if she were the type to go slack jawed. She looked like a walking doll, absolutely stunning. The red, a color her grandmother all but forbade her to ever wear was worn with pride. As much as a delicate doll that she looked like Elizaveta had no illusions that the woman was not strong in her own right. Elizaveta knew first hand how it was when war tore a nation apart and to loose all those that were the ones that were closest to oneself. It gave the Grand Duchess a strength that she rarely showed, she deducted that Mai could be much the same. 

	As Cara entered and walked into the room after the formal greetings were taken care of, Elizaveta continued to watch the parade of royalty. She had to give the fiery haired woman kudos for the gown she wore, it set off her eyes brilliantly though she was surprised that Cara had chosen a gown. From what Elizaveta had read, which was not much on the woman's fashion choices, she did not take her for one that would enjoy them much. Though she had to admit, even though she was not brought into the Royal Spotlight like most, she seemed to fit in well even if she did stand out. There was a strength to her that she respected. She wanted to go say hello, like she wished to with the rest, but she remained where she was. More still had yet to arrive and she didn't want to miss a one. Each entrance was truly educational. 

	Next was Feora and Elizaveta smiled softly. She was far taller than she had imagined, and seemed rather imposing when though she was dressed in lace. The lace oddly made her seem even stronger, like it was a contrast to the woman itself. Wulfswinth was known for its military force and Elizaveta had to assume that with such that she had to potent constitution to be in control of such. Seeing her step falter she wondered why and then turned her head to remember that the woman's betrothed had already arrived. She could not fault her though for the misstep. Had Nikolai been there when she arrived she probably would have done the same. 

	Her attention had been diverted and when she heard a voice her head turned slowly to look up from her seated position to see her own betrothed standing before. She was truly grateful to be sitting or the small misstep that Feora made would have seen like a perfect toe point to the full out face plant Elizaveta was sure she would have personally taken on seeing him there. She had been expecting to meet him that day, had gone over the situation time and time again in her mind; trying to work out various scenario's and what she would say but it did not matter how much one planned, life liked to catch one by surprise. 

	Rising from her place as she held her clutch before her she smiled warmly to him, even if there was a bit of nervousness roaming through her azure eyes. Her head bowed respectfully towards him for a moment before she looked back to him. [color=a187be]"It is a pleasure to finally meet you Nikolai, please call me Veta,"[/color] she said in a soft voice, her accent heavy with that of her homelands. [color=a187be]"And yes, of course,"[/color] she said kindly as she motioned for him to join her before seating herself once again, her ankles crossing and tucking just slightly beneath her chair as she sat on its edge. 

	[color=a187be]"If you will spare me a moment before we get to the awkward small talk, I have something I have brought for you,"[/color] she added in a light voice with a delicate chuckle as she opened her clutch and pulled out a [url=https://img1.etsystatic.com/140/0/12119327/il_340x270.910824239_hpcl.jpg]small leather bound journal[/url] that looks well written in. Running her fingers over it she glanced back over to him and bit her bottom lip lightly before composing herself fully. [color=a187be]"I was trying to figure out what would be an appropriate gift to my betrothed on our first meeting. An arduous task to say the least. What does one get for someone they do not know but must know?"[/color] she said before holding it out to him to allow him to take it. 

	Her palms flashed for a moment as she held the book out to him. Callouses built up on the skin from years of hard labor with helping to rebuilt her nation. There had been rumors in the press that she took a hands on approach to her nation, being in the trenches to personally help rebuild homes and towns when she could. It seemed those rumors were true. Yet there were also a few ink stains on them, which seemed odd. Once he had taken the book she rested her hands back in her lap and took a breath before she explained the simple gift. 

	[color=a187be]"I once read that you enjoy mythology. In Noslainia we have many stories, handed down from generation to generation about how the empire was forged and the world around it. It is something still held very dear to my people. I wished to share that with you as the future Czar. You will have to forgive me, we had none written in your nations language so I had to translate it and write it out myself. It is only one story currently but I hope to add to it over the years for you,"[/color] she said in a thoughtful voice. She hoped that it was well received. She had thought of giving him one of the Faberge eggs her nation was known for but she wanted to give him something more personal without crossing a romantic line on the first meeting. Within the pages was Elizaveta's script in black ink, the same stained color that was on her left palm. Within the pages was the following mythological tale of her people....

[center][b][color=a187be]The Tale Of Brizknik[/color][/b][/center]
	[i]In the olden days, spoken of through the sagas, there were tales woven and spun through the lips of storytellers; legends that became the history of the country of Noslainia, romanticized accounts of their antiquity of their creator Rozhanitzi and the other gods. In such one woven web was the tale of Brizknik and the Lebed'.

	Deep beneath the obsidian broken glass surface of deep frozen waters lay the creature Jahelen; a vile beast that slithered his way through the bleak abyss guarding the entrance to the underworld. The realm of the fallen who were forbidden a place with the Rozhanitzi in the sky. Brizknik was said to possess fourteen heads, one for each of the great gods, which rested a top of long necks that weaved through each other like snakes. Each of the heads shielded in razor sharp scales that covered rows of gnawing teeth that could rip through the hulls of the greatest ships like a hot blade to flesh; searing with such a cold that is burned like molten steel. Its serpentine body twisting and cutting through the water like a harpoon through the air, driving it towards its prey and target. Quickly devouring any such that would dare try to enter the underworld un-summoned.

	Though after eons of devote service to the Under God Flikz, Brizknik grew bored. The mortals had learned to keep their distance from such a foe and it left Brizknik nothing to fill the time of eternity. That day, the day which the beasts blood lust could no longer be contained it surfaced; breaking through the tides and ice of glaciers above. Ripping into the air and bent on destruction of any sort. It wanted a battle and it would have such. This was what this monster was created for and without death coming to its door step it would seek it out like the moth to the flame.

	The Gods fought with such ferocity that they were sure to slay such a beast but when gods create their own demons, their demons become more than the gods themselves. This dark being was formed to keep all from being able to slay its mighty form, even the gods in case of an uprising. What could be done on land or sea to slay such a creation? The answer lay not in the sea or on the land but in the air. The simplest of creatures, the most pure of spirits; the Lebed'. Winged creatures that fluttered on snow-like feathers through the air.

	Flocks of them hovered above, out of reach of Brizknik's mighty jaws and then they struck. Nothing but pin pricks to this great monsters hide but one can die a death of a thousand such nips. And so it was, the Lebed' drove Brizknik back beneath the waters surface, back to its den and post to the underworld. One small crystal beak peck at a time, it was driven under. The Lebed' warned Rozhanitzi that Brizknik would rise again and his wrath would not be contained when it happened. 	[/i]