A Curse For Life Pt.3: Interlude

In the split second it took Maria to blink, she remembered all this. She now looked about the room. It was filled to the brim. It was colourful and vibrant, more so looking from above. Maria still wore her kind and gentle smile. Although, now, it was something consciencously being done. Not a separate action of her physical body, seemingly, from her spirit, or soul.

During the year that passed, from the time of Stephanje's departure from her world and her acceptance of Alexander's proposal, nothing much happend. The preparations begun, surely, but nothing was causing a buzz or a stir.

Alexander truely loved Maria. He knew that she had chosen Stephanje over him first, but the point was, he was going to marry her. He was close with Stephanje. In a way he was slightly put down for being second choice, least of all to his cousin, who didn't much care for marriage anyway. As children Stephanje and Alexander would talk about how Alexander would only want Stephanje to be the priest to marry him, and crown him Tsar, and when he did so, he'd make Stephanje is only council and Patriarch too. Alexander smiled. The first of the promises was going to be fulfiled. Stephanje would marry him. Whilst his ego was wounded, he didn't heal it, he thought, instead, how it must have been for Stephanje to turn down the Princess. He was away on duty when his cousin had left to attend the Cathedral. Everytime he heard the bells ring, he'd look to them and think of his cousin looking out from one of the towers towards Tsarskoe- Celo.

Maria returned to Denmark. She was measured up and with that her wedding dress soon to be the talk of Europe. It, as per custom, was hand- made. It would be made of pure silk, and take the entire year to make. She would, however, be the prettiest picture in white;
(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Feodorovna_(Dagmar_of_Denmark , for an image of Maria, in her dress).

Since both Maria and Alexander had been rehearsing for their marriages for a while now, it was mere revision of the Russian Orthodox marriage liturgy Maria had to do. Out of all the things that still had to be done, Maria needed to be named. Of course, she had to convert from Lutheranism to Orthodoxy. Thus, she had to take up a name that would be reflective of the Russian life ahead of her, both socially, and religiously. Hence, she took up the name Maria Feodorovna. She was invested with the title Her Imperial Highness the Grand Duchess upon her acceptance of Alexander's proposal. Soon, however, and sooner than even Maria herself realised; She would be taking up the title, Her Imperial Majesty. This didn't sink in till Maria was on her way to the Imperial Cathedral in the Winter Palace, to be married.

Over the course of the year, Maria made it her duty to learn the Russian language, so that she could relate to the Russian people a lot more. It was this news about their new Tsarina that the Russian people were drawn to. Her determination, and devotion was heard of, and appreciated. Thus, over the course of the year, the Russian populace would grow to adore the Grand Duchess, and this bond would last, through hell and high water, as the saying goes.

c. John Apotsis 2008- 2009