Makarovia? Where The Hell Is That? Freshman Year - 21. Chapter 21

“Things here are far from perfect,” Peter said carefully. “It’s no utopia.”

“No, of course, it isn’t.” I nodded. “There are people who live here that might not be nice at all.” I shrugged. “I’m sure there is.”

“There are problems here.” Queen Alla began, “in the cities and towns…it is easier, but there are some…” she stopped.

Olek nodded. “There are some in the more remote parts of Makarovia…hard to believe, but true. They are…what’s the word for,” Olek paused thinking, “Пустельник, in English?”

“Hermit,” I said.

“Thank you.” Olek grinned. “…there are some that are almost hermits. Winter comes and we don’t see or hear from them until Spring. Some die. There are families that have issues…we see abuse of all kinds. They get stuck in their homes for weeks…” Again, he was looking for a word.

“Cabin fever?” I asked.

“Yes.” Olek sighed sadly. “The crimes are not that many. My people were busy.” He waved to the small windows at the top of the room. “Now, the weather is nice. That’s when everyone prepares for the times the weather isn’t nice. They must prepare or die. Crops are planted, the hermits hunt and preserve to store. They are busy during the warmer weather because they can be cut off for months. The cities and towns are not as bad…if they get supplies, but if the supplies can’t get here…they have can’t get what we don’t have.”

“Do we have anything to reach these people?” I asked.

“Limited,” Olek replied. “It needs to be a sturdy…” he wasn’t getting the word again. English was another language among his collections he spoke. Makarovian, Ukrainian, Russian…he spoke English, yes, but I imagined he could speak some French and German, “those vehicles with the tracks to travel in snow.” He did his hands in circular motions to indicate an oval track.

“Snowcat?” Drew grinned. “Really, Your Majesty, you’re doing fine.”

Olek nodded as he pointed at Drew. “Yes. Snowcat. Thank you. I know English, but some words…” he shrugged.

I nodded. “Well, I’m sure all those military people can help this Winter. They will probably be bringing in equipment to do just that.”

Peter touched his brother on his hand. “Olek, Eric and I said we’d be here for you. We’ll help you out.”

Olek nodded in frustration. “I know, but it will be the end of August and you two will be flying back to Northeastern. You have to get the education to help anymore in the future.”

“And we will.” Peter nodded.

“Surely, there are men here you trust to help you.” I more like asked because Olek couldn’t do everything.

Olek nodded. “Yes, we just have to get things in place for them to do their jobs.”

“Olek,” I said. “I’ll talk with David Burke. He may be able to help more. They are here to help Makarovia. That would help Makarovia!”

“General David Burke? The American?” Drew asked.

Peter grinned. “Eric’s American boyfriend.”

I rolled my eyes at that. “He’s straight as an arrow and kissed me to make a point he’s willing to change. Don’t let Peter fool you. That’s all.” I explained why.

Drew laughed. “Its good thing he did it when he did, kissing you in a year means a death sentence.” He shook his head. “That sort of unwelcomed familiarity with a member of the ruling family, he could lose his head!”

“It proves…people are listening,” I said.

My grandmother came in and froze as we were laughing. “Okay, what did I miss?”

Now it was getting closer to this…event. People were always asking if I was nervous. I wasn’t! Not yet. That day Jori came and finished my two suits. That’s right, two. He forbade me to wear the same one for the dinner and the proposal.

“The dinner isn’t televised,” I argued as he pressed my lapel down.

“So?” Jori said. “I have a reputation!”

I looked as Peter had to try on his and I saw…he was fine, but not…quite right. He smiled, but…it sounds corny, but the light wasn’t in his eyes. “Okay, do your thing. I’ll wear them.” I said almost absently but was still wondering about Peter. Once Jori got the measurements done and added…whatever. I changed back and walked to Peter, taking his arm. “Okay, what’s wrong?” I knew there was something, but what?

Peter turned with a smile, but it faded when he saw me. “Yes, the rule.” He chuckled. “I’m not ready to talk about it.”

I nodded. “Okay, but I’m here for you,”

Peter gave an upwards glance and sighed. “No, don’t misunderstand me…” he took my arms and hugged me. “I want to, but…” he shook his head. “I can tell you things I never thought I could. I trust you more than anybody. I need the words…” He looked at some of the others around and motioned toward the door. “Can we go somewhere more…private?”

“Do you want to go to our room?” I asked.

“Sure.”

Once in our room, he went to the couch in front of the fireplace and sat. Sitting beside him I waited as he sorted through his thoughts to figure out and how to say what was on his mind.

“Please, understand what I’m saying,” Peter begged. “Since Olek said what he did at breakfast, I am feeling regret, guilt and…” he threw his arms out in frustration. “I don’t know!”

Now, I was worried. “About?”

“Olek.”

“Olek?”

“You will tell me my feelings are silly, but…”

I pulled his face toward me to make him look at me. “I would never do that,” I assured him. “You’re having feelings. Silly or not you are having feelings.”

“When Olek was talking about some of the problems with Makarovia, I felt…responsible for a lot of his pressure.” He shook his head again. “Olek feels responsible…for everything! He worries about the help we’re getting from the United States, England and the rest, but he ran the country, too. Little things like overseeing that those in the remote parts are seen and helped if needed.”

“Your mother helps.”

Peter nodded. “She does…with schools, medical needs and things like that, but overseeing those…”

“That’s who he is,” I said simply.

“I was here!! I could have helped!” Peter shouted pointing at the floor. “I mean, I was here, in this very room for years!!” He said angrily. “I should have gone to school earlier. I was twenty-five! I could be here now, have a degree and really help Olek. I wasted all those years!!”

Okay, my humor kicked in. “Then we’d have a bigger problem.”

“What problem?”

I shrugged. “I wouldn’t be here.”

Peter's head went back at little as he thought. “Oh, yes, you wouldn’t be.”

“I might be marrying Ted.”

Peter’s eyes grew. “He’s engaged to Amanda!” He shot back.

“And blonde!” I pointed out, reminding him I didn’t like them. “You know how I’m sooo attracted to them,” I said sarcastically.

“You think I’m being silly.”

I shook my head. “Peter, I do not! I don’t think that at all. I’ll tell you what I do see.” I smiled pulling him closer for a kiss. “You are a very smart man. You’re kind and you think of others first…I don’t know what your experiences were with what you had at twelve until recently from that condition…you were afraid, but were willing to step outside that fear and go to a school to help Olek. A country you’d never been to, to help. Why? Because you love Olek and Makarovia more than you were scared. Mostly Olek.” I chuckled. “Our mother told me your father was the same way. He made himself responsible for Makarovia, so does Olek. Now, you’re taking responsibility for Olek. I know you love Olek and want to help him. Don’t you think finishing your education will do that?”

Peter nodded with a chuckle. “Yes. I was thinking, maybe I should stay here this Winter and help more.”

“I see.” I nodded as I looked in his eyes deeper. “You could…you could help him a little for a year or so…or you can finish getting your degree and help a lot in three years.”

Peter chuckled as he pressed his forehead against mine. “I told you, I was being silly.”

“One more time.” I wrapped my arms around him. “How you feel, is how you feel. What you’re feeling is not silly, it just is.” I pressed my lips to his gently. “I love you, Peter. You heard what you already know Olek has done and it just…” I tapped his chest over his heart, “hit home. Regret is a part of being human…you use that regret to make sure we give Olek the help needed. The way I see it, we will have things covered. Olek handles all foreign matters, trade, your mother…” I saw him about to object, “sorry, our mother handles domestic issues like health and education, you are going to handle city development and I was assigned to oversee this new mining and new industrial issues. Keep them in line and safe.”

Peter smiled as I kissed him again more intensely. “You’re speaking to Makarovia.” He said to me. “Have you thought of what you’ll say? What you said at the table was good.”

I nodded. “I’m not worried about public speaking, I can do that. I’m Katrina’s grandson.” I chuckled as he smiled at that. “She passed to me the lack of fear about speaking up.” Peter chuckled. Then I looked in his eyes. “Right now, you’re regretting because of what you did or didn’t do in the past.”

“Self-pity.”

I nodded. “You know what it is, you know what you’re doing. I guess you need to decide either stay there and just react, or take action.”

Peter bowed slightly and nodded. “You’re right.” He looked at me embarrassed. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be.” I smiled. “You care, not just about your brother, but your mother, me and Makarovia. You’ve got a mother that loves you, a brother that loves you and a fiancé that adores you.” I kissed him again. “We’ll be fine.” Pulling him closer, he lowered us on the couch, arms just knew where to go and we again were connecting. No sudden urges, no wild passion, but just a simple gentle embrace…a cuddle as I held his warm, solid form next to me. Nothing could feel so right compared to this.

“I love you, Eric.” He said burying his head against my neck and tightened his hold on me.

My fingers ran through his black hair. “I know,” I said softly into his ear, kissing it. Passion is wonderful, but love…was priceless. Being close to that one person you care about more than anything or anyone is indescribable. Peter needed me.

I was finding out more about this country and more about the Ivanov men. Understand, they were strong men, but somehow, this intense sense of duty was just buried so deep in their very souls. Queen Alla told me that her husband, Olek the First, had been the same way. He needed her to keep his head on straight and just to be support behind the throne. To the man, her Olek was, not the king of Makarovia. I was beginning to see my role in Peter’s life was going to be the same. He was no means a weakling, he wasn’t some little shy thing cowering from bullies. He saw a need and realized he needed to do something, instead of hiding from the world. To me, that said more about him than anything. I realized I needed him just as much. I was getting more determined that Olek get this kind of support, too. He’d been functioning for years alone. Queen Alla was here, Peter was here and I would be there for him, but he needed someone to confide in that he trusted. I could do as much as I could, but he needed a life mate! I moved as Peter moved to make himself more comfortable when there was a knock on our door.

“Yes?” Peter sighed looking up from me.

“Whatever you’re doing…” we heard Jori, “hurry up, we need to be ready. Dinner is in two hours. You need to put these suits on.”

Peter chuckled and went to the door, straightening his hair as he opened the door. “We were just…talking.” He grinned at the tailor. “We can bath ourselves.”

Jori held the suits up. “I want to make sure they look right. I have…”

“…a reputation.” Both Peter and I said with him.

We did bath and get dressed. Jori had to make sure…they hung right? What? He measured both of us dozens of times. It was fine!

Going downstairs, now the palace great area was filling with people coming for dinner. This was not even the event, but just a dinner to welcome those coming for the event. Makarovians and many other countries were here and many languages could be heard as the hum of conversations could be heard. The people of Makarovia were not rich, but they dressed as well as they could. Some suits were nice, some showed age. Some were not fitting well as they may have been borrowed. Ladies in dresses and the delightful sound of those many conversations carried up as we took the main stairs down. There were some uniforms there, the blue of the United States Air Force and the Royal Air Force and one German and French. I spotted General David Burke and Helen Burke, General Edmond Hammond and I spotted a grey-haired woman next to him I knew had to be Eloise. I saw Drew Humphries and Wayne Jenkins standing near them, hands joined just like Peter’s and mine were.

Getting to the floor area, I heard. “My GOD!!” Turning I saw my grandmother walk over in a nice dark blue gown, her face showed shock.

“Grandma?” I asked surprised.

She walked over and pulled my arms out as she shook her head. “I knew this…but…” her eyes started to tear, “you always did, but…you look just like your grandfather! I mean, the spitting image!!” She smiled. “Your father is there, too, but…dressed like that. You look like Theodore…so, handsome!”

I grinned. “Thanks. Grandpa was a handsome man.” I hugged her.

Grandma looked at Peter. “Both of you! Handsome, handsome, handsome!”

“Thank you.” Peter bowed slightly. “You look lovely.”

Then, no one expected it, but there was…a boom. Muffled by distance, but it was a boom and heard. Not in the palace, but it sounded close…somewhere outside. Conversations stopped and all heads turned toward the sound which told us…nothing.

“What was that?” Grandmother asked no one.

“I’m sure we’ll find out.” Peter in reply to no one. He looked as no one was too worried and we were asked to go on to dinner. Something had happened, but we didn’t know what. We sat at a table with King Olek, Queen Alla, my grandmother, Wayne and Drew. Conversations were good. This was where the proposal was taking place, so there were cameras over to the side covered until the following day.

The dinner was nice, but I noticed about an hour later when a man came over to David Burke and Edmond Hammond in dress uniform, their country’s uniforms. The American airman leaned in say to David and Edmond quietly who looking up surprised as did Edmond. Then a man came to Olek and whispered to him. Olek got up and followed another uniformed man.

“I’m going, too,” Peter said to everyone at the table. “Excuse me.” He put his napkin down and rose.

I got up.

“Stay. It may be nothing.” Peter said looking at me.

“You’re not going to see nothing and you know it,” I said taking his hand. “Where you go, I will go.”

When we went down in the palace we got to a room where…it wasn’t pretty. Drab walls and a desk, but iron bars held two people. A dungeon!? Not quite, we were still a few stories up, and I knew there were rooms down here for villagers in the past during an attack. The room had been turned into a holding area for…I don’t know…prisoners? There were some less than nice people even in Makarovia.

Inside the cell…behind the bars were two dark-haired men in their twenties. One looked a little dirty from ash and soot; there was a place that was reddened from a burn. The other man, with glasses, was just dirty and there were cuts on his face and the beginnings of bruises. They both had uniforms of the RAF, but they were also the same ethnic group; Iraq, Iran or somewhere in the Middle East. There were four military police members here with rifles that stood by.

“…friend was killed.” General Hammond was now a full General! A nice man that was grandfather was gone. Now, he was an angry, pissed off military leader. He would have scared me! “What did you hope to accomplish by this action!?”

Olek looked up at Peter and me, he grinned tightly and grim then came over. “You two don’t need to see this.”

“I think we do, Olek,” Peter said smiling at his brother as he touched his arm. “You’re my big brother, but…I’m grown up. Now, what happened?”

Olek nodded. “It was a car bomb. They tried to get in through the gate, but we stopped them.” He sighed. “Fortunately or unfortunately, the third member blew himself up with the truck and bomb.”

Then the two looked up and saw Peter and me jumped up rushing to the bars and began shouting in whatever language they naturally spoke.

General Hammond got this look of almost pure hatred in his eyes as he swung a balled fist so fast, so hard, knocking the man back against the far wall where he slumped down…stopping him and his friend from shouting. The man on the ground was bleeding from his nose, which I could see was broken. “Now, if you have a point to make,” Edmond said quietly, a sharp contrast to his face. “Trying making it in English so we understand? I know you don’t speak Makarovian.” No. Edmond was no one’s grandpa right now!

“What is happening here is against Allah!” The one standing said angrily. “It is against the Qur’an. A man can not marry a man!!” Then he said something else in that language and the one word I got was “infidel.”

Olek frowned and walked forward. “According to you.”

“It is written in Qur’an!!” The man said again. “Even if you don’t believe in the Qur’an, it is against nature! Union is between a man and woman!”

Olek nodded. “So, anything that’s against nature, is wrong.” He reasoned walking up to the bars.

“Yes.”

Olek looked at the man and grabbed his glasses from the man’s face, dropped them on the floor and stepped on them, crushing the glass. “Then you are as against nature as they are! From the looks of the lens, they were pretty thick, so you should be blind. You should have died because you can’t see. You can’t hunt, you can’t work, but you defied nature by wearing those!” He walked closer. “I gather you have family and I bet there are those in your family that have pacemakers, artificial valves, take medicine for high blood pressure or high blood sugar. All of those are in defiance of nature. We’re not animals! We don’t mate by instinct! We can choose who and when. We evolved! How is love wrong!?”

“What they are doing is wrong!”

“Then Allah will handle it!!” Olek shouted as he began to breathe harder. “Forty virgins!? I’m hoping he burns in Hell!! I don’t follow your religion and I don’t believe in the god you worship! I want him brutally raped in his virgin ass by forty of the biggest hairy male demons from now until the end of eternity!!” Olek was getting angrier and breathing harder. Both Peter and I reached for him and pulled him back.

“Olek,” Peter said quietly.

“We knew there were some people wouldn’t like this,” I said to Olek. “Calm down. We’re fine.”

“If I could, I’d send you to the afterlife myself!” Olek said. “Never threaten my people and especially NOT MY FAMILY!” He turned to General Hammond. “I want them out of here! Do what you have to with your men, but they go! Tonight! Right now! Get them out of my kingdom!”

General Hammond nodded with a slight bow. “They will be gone, I promise.” He looked at the two. “I’m gathering your friends and questioning them to see who all was involved. You will be on a transport in an hour. There will be stiff charges, I can promise that. You’ve embarrassed me and my command, embarrassed your king and country. You are British!! Of that, I am ashamed.”

I walked up behind Edmond. “Just do me a favor.”

Edmond raised a quizzical eyebrow.

“Please, stay on our side,” I said.

“You may count on that,” Edmond said nodding.

Peter and I then pulled Olek out of the room and headed back up, but we didn’t go back to the dinner yet. Peter led him up to the roof area that looked over Stryia. Where he’d taken me that first night here. He brought Olek in a tight hug and just held him.

“Calm down, Olek,” Peter said quietly. “I’m fine. Eric’s fine.” He squeezed his brother, then pushed back a little to see in Olek’s eyes. “Other than those two and the one that died, was anyone else hurt?”

Olek shook his head. “No. Just them.” He looked up and took a deep breath, then looked at me with a smile. “That was pretty upsetting.”

I walked over and joined them, hugging both Olek and Peter. “It was, but as I said, we knew this could happen. It won’t be the last attempt.” I walked to the edge and waved at the evening at the many lights of the town below. “You’ve done a great thing for Makarovia, but this is going to be a new world for many here.”

“I hope we can survive,” Olek said grimly.

I smiled. “Makarovia will, because we,” I waved at all three of us, “will make sure of it. Now, there are a lot of people downstairs eating without us.” I put my hand on Olek’s arm. “We’ll be there to help, Olek. Makarovia will survive.” I noted that his color was good again.

Peter nodded. “We should get back.”

The next day was a little more chaotic preparing for this event. People were rushing through the palace and there were more voices below. I got my good clothes on. This time, it was a tux. Peter came over, looking damned fine in his and sat by me as I channel surfed through the news. I should have known the BBC would have it covered. They were here!

Louis Garner was the reporter on the screen, set up in the palace below us as he gave his report. “…the bomb was set off before any real damage was done to the palace in Stryia, Makarovia, where today, Prince Petro Ivanov of Makarovia will propose to Eric Richards of Charleston, South Carolina of the United States.” He looked up. “Investigation continues as Islamic Extremists are said to be responsible for this attack. No word from the palace in Makarovia except to say the proposal is taking place today as scheduled. This…proposal is a long-standing tradition in Makarovia where the couple will become engaged and Eric’s position will become Earl of Stryia as he begins his yearlong engagement to Makarovia and its people. The subsequent marriage will take place in a year-”

Peter held up the remote and turned it off as he leaned in on me. “Thank you, Eric.”

My eyes widened. “Thank me? For what?”

“Sticking by me,” Peter said softly. “You never backed down. From the moment you suggested we become friends that first week…you’ve never left me.”

“Of course, not.”

“Even with all this…” he waved at the TV and activity that we only heard a little up here.

“I’m marrying you, Peter,” I said again. “Not Prince Petro. You. You’re my best, dearest friend. I’ll always be at your side. I love you.” I looked in his eyes. “Do you believe me now?”

He nodded. “I do.”

“Remember that phrase in a year.” I chuckled as I kissed him quickly.

We were escorted down to the same great room we had dinner in the night before, but now, the tables were gone and there stood hundreds of people dressed in the finest…as they could afford. All gathered on two sides of the checkerboard floor. On the side of a carpeted runner that made an aisle people stood waiting. Camera crews were setting things up to begin as the time finally arrived as various reporters were prepping to tell everyone what was happening. Queen Alla, dressed like always, gown with gold glittery things on a sheer covered dress and hair perfect came up beside us with Olek. Olek dressed in that tux on and red sash and the Makarovian crest hanging as a medallion around his neck. Both had their crowns on. Olek handed Peter his.

“You get yours in a year.” Olek winked at me. “It’s just ceremonial anyway.” He shrugged.

The conversations flowed until a man I’d seen occasionally who worked with Olek on Makarovian affairs went to the raised area.

“Presenting, His Most Royal Majesty, King Olek Ivanov of Makarovia.” The man said in English as he waved at the door at which we stood. There was no orchestra, but suddenly some majestic music began as Olek walked down the aisle toward the raised area. “Presenting, Her Most Royal Majesty, Queen Alla Ivanov of Makarovia.” The music continued. “Presenting, His Royal Highness, Prince Petro Ivanov of Makarovia.” Peter gave my hand a squeeze, kissed me and walked down the aisle. “And now…presenting,” no there wasn’t a drumroll, “Eric Richards, from Charleston, South Carolina of the United States…soon to be Prince Eric Ivanov of Makarovia!” He waved to me. Okay, now I had those butterflies everyone had asked about. Cameras turned as did every face there and I walked down the aisle. Queen Alla stood on the left and King Olek on the left. Peter waited for me at the center as I stepped up to the raised area next to him. Olek came over putting his hand on my back.

“About a year ago, my brother went to school in the West…where he met someone very special. Having gotten to know Eric, I was so happy my brother found someone to love who is smart, but clearly loves my brother.” His eyes narrowed angrily. “For what happened last night, I will say this…no one attacks me, my family or my country. I don’t care if you don’t approve. Mind your own affairs!” Then he smiled again. “Since we got to know Eric, he has proven he will be an asset to Makarovia. His plans will go forward. This marriage will happen.” He looked at me. “Do you have words for Makarovia?”

I smiled. “I do. A year ago, I didn’t even know where Makarovia was!” I said raising my hands helplessly. “Makarovia? Where the hell is that!?” I shook my head. “Which is a damned shame.” I smiled at the faces that weren’t so certain. “I get here. I love this country!! You as a people know about give and take. For a long time, you certainly know about takers. Powers that come in a take what you have….because they want it. The takers will take everything…your things, your home, your freedom, and even your very lives! Why? Because they don’t agree with you? You might have been Jewish or a Gypsy…” I looked back at Peter, taking his hand, “or like many here in Makarovia; like Peter and me. What I see here in Makarovia…are givers. Givers of lives, of freedom, a place to get away from the takers…who hid people during a great war keeping them safe. You’ve done this for generations!” I waved back at Olek. “I saw a man, he is a giver. He gives his time and even gave up his personal life for a people he truly loves! No one can deny that.” I waved at Queen Alla. “I see this beautiful woman that gives her time to help the people of Makarovia with education and health services and many other things needed and just as pretty inside as out. She is a giver.” I smiled. “I meet this man…who is kind and gentle that loves me and has the most beautiful soul. I love Peter. He is asking me to marry him and become a part of Makarovia. I will do that gladly, but know this…” I stepped back beside Peter. “I will work hard to bring Makarovia into a brighter future and into the twenty-first century. He and I will work side by side to do whatever we can for this amazing country, but understand…my first priority…” I said, “is always going to be him.” I looked at Peter. “I will be at your side, we will make this country a shining example to follow, but I’m marrying you, Peter. You are Prince Petro Ivanov of Makarovia, but I marry you, Peter…when you ask me.” I grinned. “I love you, Peter. I want to spend my life with you. Together we’ll make this country the jewel to be seen the world over.”

Peter’s eyes sort of glistened as he reached in his pocket and then dropped to his knee and at first, his voice cracked a little. “Eric Richards, will you do the honor of joining my life and becoming my husband? I love you. I need you in my life.” He opened the box to show the ring that had the wide ring with the Makarovian Royal Crest on it. Then he said quieter. “I love you.”

Reaching down I took his face in my hand. “I will definitely marry you, Peter. I love you, too.” I said pulling him up as he took the ring out and slipped it on my left ring finger. He gave a quick sniff and leaned in kissing me gently. “Now, I’ve asked you.”

“You know my answer.” I grinned. “But…” I said loudly, “yes!!”

The room was filled with applause.