Chapter 9: The Bond that was Never Known

Minka walked through the halls of Peterhof Palace, searching for Alexei. "Toddlers are so hard to chase," Minka mumbled to herself, turning to go inside his room. "Oof! Your Highness, I am so sorry," Minka gulped when she looked up and saw the Tsar. "It's alright, Minka. Here, let me help you up." He grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet. "Has he run off again?" Minka nodded. "I thought so. Don't be afraid, Minkalina, it's alright."

Minka then noticed the kindness the Tsar was showing. She spoke, "This is weird." The Tsar raised a brow, "What is?" Minka sighed, "You being kind. The most I ever got back in Ufa was a 'Great job, Minka. You screwed up again. You're an ungrateful brat. Be glad you eat at all. I don't care if they're just kitchen scraps, now stay in that closet and don't make a peep. There are better things to do than be a little pest. I don't care if you're the older child, you act like you're five years old. Stop being so annoying.'"

Minka nervously chuckled, "I apologize." "Don't apologize. Minkalina, come in here for a moment," Nicholas spoke gently. "But Your Highness, I need to find—" "You can find him in a moment. He can't have gone far in the palace on those short little legs." Minka laughed quietly. "And besides that, he's probably with Anastasia." Minka giggled. "I want you to meet someone, Minkalina. Then you can go find Alexei." Minka sighed, "Alright."

"When did you start calling me 'Minkalina'?" Minka pondered as she followed the Tsar. Nicholas responded, "I just thought of it. Since you are still a bit weak I thought I would start calling you that. I have yet to know your middle name, so would it be best if I called you Minkalina, and you will be considered a member of the family. I hope you don't mind." Minka blinked, "I don't mind at all." Nicholas softly smiled, "I knew you wouldn't." "So who did you want me to meet again?" Minka asked in curiousity.

"Minkalina, this is my mother, the Dowager Empress." Nicholas stood beside a tall, older woman. "She used to be the Dagmar of Denmark." Minka bowed and said, "Nice to meet you, Your Majesty." "You must be Minka," she smiled at the child. Minka nodded. "Stand up, child. You'll kill your back if you stay like that." Nicholas chuckled at his mother's words. "You're right, Nicholas, she does look like Anastasia."

"Yes, but a little bit taller," Nicholas remarked as he helped Minka stand up straight. "Mama, I've actually been thinking, since she still is recovering, I'd take her as a child until she was better. She went through so much. The girl was locked in a closet and was barely fed. I've already taken to calling her Minkalina... I was considering having her middle name being Nikolaevna, but that would most likely be confusing to her. Alexandra did say that her middle name was something that started with a 'V'... maybe Viktoriya." Minka nodded when Nicholas had said her middle name correctly. Not many people have.

"That's a wonderful idea, Nicholas," his mother put a hand on his arm. "You should know what's best." Nicholas chuckled. "Come along, Minkalina. I'll help you find Alexei before showing you your room." "Alright," Minka spoke quietly. The Tsar and Minka walked out of the room and down the hall, Minka shivering as she looked in each room. "Are you cold, Minkalina?"

Minka looked up at the Tsar, "I'm always cold. You have to remember, I barely have anything on me. I'm practically skin and bone." Nicholas chuckled sadly, "I am sadly aware of this. You poor girl, only eating kitchen scraps that were thrown to you through a closet door." Nicholas took Minka's hand, "I'm so glad Anastasia made me aware that you were out there. I don't want to imagine what would have happened if I didn't. I couldn't leave you out there to die of cold."

Minka smiled sadly. "Thank you... for taking me in," she spoke. He smiled at her. "My pleasure. Come closer, Minkalina." Minka stepped closer to Nicholas, looking up at him. He stopped walking, then she did the same. They could see Anastasia and Alexei at the end of the hall. "See, I told you he'd be with her," Nicholas laughed. Minka chuckled. "Here," Nicholas picked her up. Minka squealed and wrapped her arms around his neck. "That's better. Now you're not as short as you were!" Nicholas exclaimed. Minka giggled.

"Not that you were short in the first place," Nicholas corrected. Minka giggled once again. A smile came to his face as he exclaimed, "You have the eyes and laughter of a Romanov!" Minka blushed. Was he serious? "Minkalina Viktoriya Romanov," Nicholas spoke to himself, still holding the thin child in his arms, wanting her to be safe and warm.

Minka chuckled. "I think I'll teach you how to dance. Well, the girls will more than likely join in. Would you like that?" Nicholas murmured. Minka nodded. "I thought you would. We can do it as soon as you get well, how about that?" "That would be nice. Thank you, Your Highness," Minka spoke softly.

Nicholas set Minka down for a moment. He had no idea how thin the girl really was until now. He could see the girl's bone structure beneath her skin. "The most important thing is that you eat," Nicholas explained, a look of concern plastered on his face. "And there will be no 'but's," Nicholas added.

"Yes, Your Highness," Minka mumbled. "Come on, you can't get in trouble if you're with me." "Where are we going?" Minka questioned as she took his hand. "To your room," Nicholas responded. "My room?" Minka looked up at him. "Yes, Minkalina, your room. Remember?" Minka's brows furrowed, then she exclaimed, "Oh!" Minka giggled. "I'll take that as a yes," the Tsar chuckled.

Minka yawned softly. Her eyes grew heavy. She blinked tiredly. The Tsar took note of this and wasted no time. He carried the girl to her room, laying her down.

He covered her with a blanket and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Sleep well, Minkalina," he whispered. Nicholas walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. He started to walk down the hall when Anastasia started to run toward him. Nicholas, hearing the soft pit-pat her shoes made on the tile floor, turned around quickly.

Anastasia was holding Alexei. "Papa, Alexei wanted to see Minka. He was begging me all morning," the Grand Duchess spoke. The Tsar, Nicholas, smiled down at Anastasia, who was holding his only son. "I'm afraid he will have to wait. I just put Minkalina down for a nap. Perhaps when she wakes," he explained. Nicholas turned his attention to Alexei, "I'm sorry."

Alexei reached for the Tsar. Nicholas took him from Anastasia's arms and sighed. "Let's go," he whispered. "Where are we going, Papa?" Anastasia queried. "Well, we can go to the study, if you'd like," he grabbed her hand as they walked down the hall, Alexei on his hip. "Alright," Anastasia giggled. "When will Minka wake up?" "I don't know, darling. Minkalina's tired, so it might be a while."

In her sleep, soft whimpers escaped her lips. Terrifying images loomed in the girl's mind. She could hear the screams of German doctors mixed with the yells of her father. She could see the closet door, taste the rotting scraps, smell the rotting flesh and bone. The girl cried softly, unaware that the study was just five doors down from where she was sleeping. She could hear Nicholas's footsteps, and sadly not even that could put her at ease.

Nicholas slipped inside the room, being sure to close the door behind him. He walked over to her and brushed her hair out of her face. "Minkalina," Nicholas whispered. "Minkalina! It's alright, you're safe here." He spoke softly to the child.

Minka shot herself awake as soon as she heard the Tsar's voice. She wrapped her arms around him. Nicholas took her in his arms, now seeing what the girl needed most was a loving family. "Shh, shh, you're safe now," Nicholas cooed, making sure the girl was comfortable. "I don't want to close my eyes again," Minka sobbed. The Tsar shook his head

"Shh," he whispered. "It's alright, it was just a dream." Minka buried her face in the crook of his neck and sniffed. "It scares me," she mumbled. "I don't want to sleep again." "You're safe, Minkalina," Nicholas assured her, rubbing her back. Minka continued to cry. Nicholas lifted her and sat down on the bed, placing her on his lap. "It's alright, I'm here," he cooed softly, stroking her hair.

Minka felt comfortable with this man. It was as though the father she had since birth had left, leaving nothing but a memory. She had found the love she never had. Nicholas continued to comfort her, making promises he knew he could keep.

Minka felt herself unwillingly drifting off to sleep. She blinked, trying to keep herself awake. She readjusted her position, sitting with her head on his chest. "Sleep, Minkalina," he whispered. "You need it." Minka mumbled, "But I don't want to sleep." Nicholas chuckled, "But you need to, my darling. Now close your eyes."

Minka protested. She didn't want to sleep. Every time she did, it was as though flashes of fire were taking over. She just wanted the nightmares to end. She wanted her brother by her side. She wished her family had come to Petersburg instead of staying in Ufa. She now knew what the nightmares were telling her. There was a connection between the Vaganov twins even since birth. As they aged it became clear that they couldn't be separated for more than four hours.

Minka murmured, "I want to see Gleb." "I promise you will soon, Minkalina," Nicholas whispered. She looked up at him. "I miss him." Nicholas rubbed his thumb on her cheek. "I know you do, darling." Minka stared at the wall, still fighting to stay awake.