hi hi hi!!! i saw that you were open to shadow and bone requests and i was wondering if youâd be willing to write a nikolai lantsov imagine? just imagine princess!reader being forced into an arranged marriage with the second son of the king of ravka, and instead of going through with it she runs away. she then stumbles upon a particularly charming privateer who just so manages to win over her heartâŚâŚ
Enchanted
Request: hi hi hi!!! i saw that you were open to shadow and bone requests and i was wondering if youâd be willing to write a nikolai lantsov imagine? just imagine princess!reader being forced into an arranged marriage with the second son of the king of ravka, and instead of going through with it she runs away. she then stumbles upon a particularly charming privateer who just so manages to win over her heartâŚ
and: btw I saw your post about sab season 2 and i would like to request something with nikolai. i dont really have any ideas but i love that blonde boy so anything that you'll write with him is going to make me happy- but if its angst please im begging for a happy ending im already depressed because im reading rules of wolves
and: omg omg omg enchanted x nikolai sounds so perfect đ literally written for him
Hi! I absolutely adore these requests, thank you for sending them in. And sorry for the long wait, Iâve been a bit busy. And please bear with me while I try and get the hang of writing for Nikolai, this is only my second time. Also, this request was combined with two others, I hope thatâs alright, and sorry for anyone whoâs request was altered a little bit to fit this story. Iâm happy to accept another request if you donât like this one. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this!Â
(Warnings: arranged marriage, swearing, very very brief angst, very vague suggestive content, drinking, let me know if i missed anything)
â
You had nearly begged on your knees when you found out you were to be wed, pleading with your parentsâ advisors.Â
You were no fool. You knew that one day youâd have to marry, and you were prepared to do your duty. A Princess isnât awarded the luxury of a choice, and you knew any match that was made probably wouldnât be from a place of love. But you never thought your parents would be prepared to ship you off to a man none of you had ever even laid eyes on, and thatâs including the advisors.
A second son, and a rumored bastard at that. It was all happening too fast, and you werenât having an easy time processing it.Â
âYou canât send me! We already have an alliance with Ravka, why send me still?â
One of the men had stood, trying to ease you. âYou must go, Princess. We may have an alliance, but our forces need to be strengthened. Prince Vasily is already spoken for. Marrying you to Prince Nikolai is the fastest way.â
âI am told he is charming, if it is any consolation,â another man said, though his voice was firmer. âIt is time, Princess, for you to do your duty. You will marry.â
You finally relented, your fate beginning to set in. âThatâs it, then. When will I be expected to leave?â
There was a moment of silence, and an awkward shuffling of feet as the advisors stood. And then one of the men spoke, sending dread running through you like ice in your veins.Â
âYour arrival is set for the end of the week. The King and Queen are expecting you.â
â
The journey passed far quicker than you had anticipated. A trip like that should have been grueling, yet each moment felt more fleeting than the last. By the time you arrived on Ravkan soil, you would practically be theirs. Upon your arrival, you were escorted to the Great Hall to meet the King and Queen.Â
âMoi tsar,â you curtsied, keeping your eyes low. âMoi tsaritsa. It is an honor.â
The words tasted sour on your tongue, but you spoke them anyway. The King and Queen were not known to be the kindest of people, and youâd rather spend your time in a foreign country on the good side of the sovereign.Â
âPrincess,â the King greeted as he stood, his eyes racking your body. âYou are as beautiful as they say. My son will be pleased. Unfortunately, your arrival has preceded his. He attended a meeting with our generals, and is set to arrive in a few days. The wedding will be in a fortnight. Until then, please enjoy our hospitality. I look forward to this new found alliance between our great countries.â
âAs do I,â you said, forcing a smile.Â
â
As the days passed, you grew more uneasy. The weight of your duties were beginning to drag you down, and you didnât know if you could bear the burden any longer.Â
Nikolai had yet to return to court, but with his inevitable arrival looming, it became harder to face each day. You were practically alone in the castle, having yet to make any friends. And you doubted the arrival of a Princeâthe subject of scandalous rumorsâwould do anything to lessen the loneliness and fear you felt every night.Â
One evening, the pressure became too great.
Despite your duties, and the anger you knew both countries would feel towards you, you fled. It was a rash decision, and a stupid one at that. But it was the only option that could give you your freedom, so you took it.
It led you all the way down to the harbor, which you briskly made your way to with little more than the clothes on your back.
Your window of opportunity was closing, and you took it. In mere hours, someone would notice you were missing from your room. Guards would be sent all throughout the palace, and theyâd track you down if you werenât quick enough. One way or another, you would marry the second Prince of Ravka. Youâd be forced to. And although the thought of being alone in an open country you knew next to nothing about terrified you, it was less terrifying than the thought of being trapped in that castle forever.Â
So you went. Fled, more accurately. All the way to the harbor, in nothing but a dress and cloak, with a bag of coins hidden in your skirts.Â
As you approached the harbor, the shout of guards could be heard in the distance. âSpread out! She cannot have gone far.â
The Kingsguard.
You felt your chest tighten as you quickened your pace, pulling your hood over your head. You rushed as inconspicuously as you could, clambering to get as far from the palace as possible. Suddenly, you felt a hand on your wrist.Â
âWhatâs the rush for, My Lady? Youâre going to hurt yourself running in those shoes,â the woman said, her brows furrowing.
You stopped in your tracks to take her in, realizing she was standing next to a much larger man. She had axes sheathed at her waist, and a confused but intrigued grin.Â
âPlease, excuse meââ You stuttered out, trying to pull away.
âThereâs no need to be afraid,â the man said, in a tone much gentler than his appearance. âWe mean you no harm. What are you running from?â
âI need to get away from here, and fast,â you pleaded, deciding to trust these people who stopped you.Â
âThat wasnât an answer to our question,â the woman said, easing her grip.Â
You let out a frustrated sigh, turning to look over your shoulder before turning back. âPlease, Iâll pay you whatever you want. Just let me go. I have to get out of here, and quickly.â
The woman shared a glance with the man, and for a minute, you were beginning to think you had been found out. They somehow recognized you, and would know that the castle guards were looking for you. If that was true, the pair didnât show it, looking back at you.Â
âWe have a ship,â the man finally said, gesturing behind him. âAnd a captain. A name youâd perhaps recognize. Sturmhond.â
Sturmhond, you thought to yourself. The richest pirate on the True Sea? What was he doing in a port in Ravka? You shook your head, having no time for questions.Â
âWould he grant me safe passage? I can pay, I have the means. Please, I need to know if this is my only option of getting out of here. I havenât done anything illegal, I promise. I just need to go.â
The woman laughed, her relaxed disposition beginning to ease you. âIllegal would have been more fun. Donât worry, Princess. Weâll take you to our captain. Youâll be safe with us.â
Your eyes widened, and you stepped back to retreat, when the man raised his hands in surrender.Â
âWe mean you no harm, Princess. Clearly, youâre in trouble, and we have the means to get you away from the palace.â
âTrust me,â the woman said, offering you her hand. âWe have no wish to return to the palace.. Iâm sure our captain isnât too keen, either.â
You looked between the ship and back at the castle uneasily, when you heard another shout coming from the guards marching through the village. You turned towards the man and woman, who you just realized looked very similar. Siblings, perhaps, who had just gotten back from a journey at sea.
âSturmhond is quite the character, but heâs a good man. You have my word,â the man said.Â
âAlright,â you said, making your decision as you took the womanâs hand. âIâll go. Thank you, uhâŚâ
You trailed off, making the man smile. He led you towards a nearby ship, helping you climb your way onto it.Â
âIâm Tolya, and thatâs my sister Tamar. Weâre part of Sturmhondâs crew. Come along, heâll want to meet you.â
They quickly led you aboard a ship, ushering the crew to cast off. The crew looked around with confused faces, but listened anyway. As the ship slowly left the harbor, you were led downstairs to the cabins below.Â
âCaptain,â Tamar called, knocking on the first doorway below deck, before opening the door herself.Â
âDo you want to tell me why my ship is moving away from the dock?â Sturmhond asked without turning around, shuffling through his cabin as he pulled on his coat.Â
You cleared your throat. âThat would be because of me, I think.â
Sturmhond turned around at the sound of your voice, his eyes widening as he took you in. âI donât believe it. Good evening, Princess. I do hope you are well. Tamar and Tolya have treated you kindly, I expect?â
You shrunk under his gaze, letting out a nervous chuckle. âIs my title that easy to spot? Youâre the second to figure it out, is it something Iâm doing?â
âTamar has a keen eye,â Sturmond shrugged, grinning. âBut youâre also wearing an evening gown fit for court, and the jewels around your neck could buy a small country. Those things arenât exactly subtle, darling. Even with that cloak.â
You nodded, still nervous but relaxing with his calm demeanor. âI was told you could grant me passage away from the palace? I can pay, I donât expect you to do this out of the kindness of your heart. But seeing as weâve already left the harbor, I donât think you have any other option but to take me with you. Unless you intend on throwing me overboard into the bay, although Iâll thank you kindly not to do that.â
âIn that dress? Youâd sink to the bottom, darling. Thereâs no need to worry, Princess. Youâll stay dry on deck, that I can assure you,â he chuckled, motioning for you to sit.Â
âWeâll inform the crew our trip has been extended,â Tamar announced, pulling Tolya behind her to leave the cabin.Â
You sat in the chair on the other side of Sturmhondâs desk, and he sat across from you. He offered you a kind smile, one that surprised you. You had heard plenty about the infamous privateer. You hadnât expected him to be this young and handsome. His reputation matched that of an old tycoon, not of what appeared to be an ex soldier. He looked at you with curiosity, motioning for you to speak.Â
âSo, would you like to explain to me why my ship is sailing back out to sea? Not that Iâm upset or anything, I was dreading my return to Ravka myself. But as I understand it, you were asked to come to Ravka to strengthen a political allianceââ
âAnd how would you know about that?â You interrupted, raising a brow.Â
He smiled, shrugging. âI have my ways. It pays to know lots of things about lots of things. Including which Princesses are being married off to far away royalty.â
âDo you know him?â You asked, your voice a little unstable. âThe Prince, I mean. Nikolai. I could hardly find anyone who knew him, and any knowledge of him was limited. I went into this alliance blind, thanks to my parents and advisors.â
Sturmhondâs grin widened as he nodded. âI do know him, yes. We were briefly acquainted some time ago.â
âAnd?â
âHeâs alright,â Sturmhond laughed, leaning back in his seat. âDashingly handsome. A bit cocky for my taste, perhaps a little spoiled, but what royalty isnât, right? No offense.â
You smiled, shaking your head. âNone taken.â
âI suppose youâre lucky in that youâre set to marry him, and not the Crown Prince. Vasily isâhow should I put thisâwellâŚâ
âA bastard?â You finished, making Sturmhond chuckle, nodding.Â
âHe is, yes. Nikolai is, in another manner of speaking, the same as well. Is that why youâre running? You donât want to risk your reputation on a second son who may not even be the second son?â
Sturmhond looked at you through curious eyes, although there was a little apprehension in them. A little vulnerability that you didnât quite know what to make of. You shook your head, inadvertently easing his thoughts.Â
âItâs just rumors, Sturmhond. Whether there is any truth to them, I donât know, and I donât care. History records names, not blood. A true Lantsov or not, it doesnât matter to me. Itâs not Nikolaiâs fault who his true parents are, and he shouldnât have to bear the consequences of their actions. All that matters to my parents is what he means for my country. His reputation doesnât affect that.â
âAnd what matters to you?â Sturmhond asked, his eyes softening. âYour secrets are safe with me, and I promise to not throw you overboard for whatever your answers are. Why are you running, Princess?â
You sat in silence for a moment, letting out a heavy sigh. Sturmhond politely waisted for you to start, nodding encouragingly for you to speak.Â
You fiddled with your hands in your lap nervously. âNikolaiâs blood doesnât matter to me, truly. All that really matters is that he has a kind heart, and he makes living at Ravkan court for the rest of my life more bearable.âÂ
Sturmhond nodded as he listened intently. You continued.
âFrom what I hear, heâs a perfectly good man. Compared to my list of options, he was probably the best I could have hoped for.â
âWas? Or is? Do you intend on running forever? Seems like a waste of time in what is already a fleeting existence, Princess,â he said quietly.Â
âI know,â you nodded, growing frustrated. âI donât know why I did it. I just thought about being alone at court for the rest of my life, and even the promise of a semi decent Prince wasnât enough to ease my fears. I just wanted control over my own life for once, you know? My own freedom. It was a rash decision, I admit. But it seems to be working well in my favor so far.â
Sturmhond nodded, standing up from his desk to pour two glasses of whiskey. You downed yours the second he placed it in front of you, deciding it was better to let the second one sit when he refilled your glass.
âAnd Nikolai? What are his thoughts on the matter?â
You shrugged, fiddling with the glass. âI donât know. He hasnât been at court since I arrived. I have yet to meet him. Although, once he hears of me running, Iâm sure any first impressions he could have had of me are ruined.â
âI donât know about that.â
You raised a brow, coaxing him to continue. âReally? Why is that?â
âFrom what I hear, Nikolai isnât really one for court, either,â he started, shrugging. âHe runs when he gets the chance, too. Why do you think heâs away from court so often?â
You pondered the thought for a minute. âI donât know. I always assumed his duties took him elsewhere. Heâs not the Crown Prince, so he doesnât need to remain in the palace. He serves in the First Army, doesnât he?â
Sturmhond nodded, grinning. âHe does. Or, to put it more accurately, he did. I think he just loiters around neighboring countries until his Mother forces him to come home and make an appearance now.â
You chuckled, letting out a deep sigh. âIsnât that a treat? Coming home for the first time in months, only to find out your bride to be has run away.â
âWith a face like that, I doubt heâll care much about anything once he sees you.âÂ
You felt the heat creep to your cheeks at his words, setting your eyes to your lap to avoid Sturmhondâs heavy gaze. You could practically hear the smirk in his voice as he breathed out a laugh.Â
âBesides, Iâm told the Prince isnât expected back at court for a few more days. Plenty of time for you to decide whether or not you want me to turn this ship around. Who would I be to deny a Princess?â
You smiled, your voice soft. âAnd if I donât want to turn around?â
âWell, youâre paying me. I donât really care either way, Iâll take you anywhere you want to go,â he said, grinning as he topped your glass off. âBut just between you and me, Iâd do it for free. Anything for a pretty face like that. Just donât go telling everyone I said that, I have a reputation to maintain.â
You laughed, nodding. âDonât worry. Your secret is safe with me.â
â
You spent the next few days on the ship, feeling more and more at ease the further you made it from Ravkan shores.Â
At night, you longed for home.Â
Not for you parents, or any of their advisors. But for your own bedânot on a constantly rocking shipâand the familiar trill of the birds outside your window on dewy mornings. For the library in the East Wing people seemed to forget was even there, and the soup the cooks would make when a chill was in the air. For the gardens midmorning where you could escape to when you wanted to avoid all the guards constantly watching you.Â
Sturmhond did a good job at keeping you distracted from saddening thoughts, though. It was sweet of him, really. Making sure you had someone with you during the day, taking all his meals with you in the evening.Â
Your time on the ship was the most relaxed you had been in a long time, actually, which you attributed to him.Â
Sturmhond had quite the representation amongst high societyâor any society, reallyâand he certainly met your expectations. He was charming, and attractive. Clever and ambitious, like everyone said he was.Â
You hadnât expected him to be as attentive as he is, however. He seemed to really enjoy a new guest on the ship, one that could keep up with his banter. He didnât make you feel like a burden like your parents so often did, actually including you in his daily routine.Â
Tolya and Tamar were great, too. Kind, and funny. Fiercely loyal and protective, both of their captain and of each other. They were the kind of friends you hoped to make during your time in Ravka.Â
So far, it was off to a good start.Â
As the days moved on, you found yourself growing closer to Sturmhond. You tried to stop yourself in the beginning. Despite not wanting it for yourself, you were engaged to Nikolai. Falling for another man wasnât exactly a good thing for your future
But that damned smile.
His ridiculously attractive smile, and his stupid mop of hair that had only gotten longer from his time at sea. The infuriating way heâd look at you and make you want to shrink away from his gaze, but you could never bring yourself to look away. The obnoxious green emerald ring he wore that could probably buy a small village.
He had charmed you, despite your reservations, and you were practically head over heels. It scared the absolute shit out of you.Â
Tamar had of course noticed already, confronting you about it one night after dinner. She joined you on deck, sitting next to you on a crate as you watched the stars twinkle in the sky. They were so visible out at sea, away from all the lights and clutter of the cities.Â
âYouâre not hiding anything from me, you know,â she smirked, sneaking your flask away to take a few sips from it.Â
You feigned innocence, shaking your head. âI donât know what youâre talking about, Tamar.â
âCome on, darling. Letâs skip the bluffingâŚyou like him. Itâs so obvious.â
âSaints, I hope not,â you groaned, scrunching your nose up at the thought of Sturmhond finding out.Â
Tamar grinned at your embarrassment, chuckling. âDonât worry. I may not swing that way, but I know the look when I see it. Heâs all puppy dog eyes and desperate looks of longing when he sees you. Itâs gross, really. I can actually hear his heart skip a beat when he sees you. He likes you, too. Iâd stake money on it.â
You swallowed down your excitement, trying to think rationally. âDonât even joke about that, itâs not funny.â
âIâm serious! Youâre a catch, Princess. He may be my captain, but heâd be a fool not to want you.â
âThatâs sweet of you to say, but we can stop there,â you nervously chuckled. âWe donât need this going to my head. Iâll do something stupid like staying on this boat forever.â
She grinned, nudging your shoulder with hers. âWould that be so bad?â
â
The next few days, you couldnât get Tamarâs words out of your head. You went on with your routine with Sturmhond as usual, trying not to put much thought into it.Â
Your feelings for him were true, thatâs for sure.Â
And when youâd catch him looking at you from across the deck, youâd swear by the look in his eye that he felt something for you, too. What it was, exactly, you didnât know.Â
But it was something.Â
On your last evening before you had to make a decision about where you wanted to go, you skipped dinner. You couldnât bring yourself to go along with your usual banter with Sturmhond, beginning to feel guilty about just how close and comfortable youâd gotten with him.Â
You still had a duty to your country and your family, which meant at least a little to you. Plus, it wasnât fair to make a promise to Prince Nikolai, only to leave him hanging when he returned to Ravka.Â
You were leaning against the deck railing, watching the way the moonlight bounced over the still waters. So lost in thought, you almost didnât register Sturmhondâs approaching footsteps.Â
âA bit chilly for stargazing, isnât it?â He asked, coming to stand next to you.Â
You turned to see him, smiling when you noticed he was wearing his signature blue coat. You couldnât remember a time since you met that he wasnât dressed to the nines, no matter what time of day it was.Â
âYou know, for a pirate, you donât really look like one.âÂ
He grinned, gently correcting you. âA privateer, darling, not a pirate. Thereâs a difference, I assure you.â
âAh, a privateer. How could I have forgotten?â You chuckled, hugging yourself in an effort to shield your arms from the biting cold. âBut seriously. The emerald on your finger is the size of a walnut, and that coat is fit for royalty. I find it hard to believe a privateer does well enough to afford things as nice as those.â
âMaybe Iâm just good at my job,â he retorted, that signature smirk on his face.
It was enough to stir butterflies in your stomach, making you turn to look back out at the water. His gaze lingered on you a moment, and you could feel the heat creeping up to your cheeks under the weight of his stare.Â
âYouâre cold,â he observed, breaking the silence.
âIâm fine,â you tried to say, but Sturmhond interrupted you.
âI can practically hear your teeth chattering,â he laughed, shrugging his coat from his shoulders. âHere. Seeing as my coat is fit for royalty, as you say, I think itâll suit you better.â
âSturmhondââ
âPrincess,â he mirrored, smirking when you relented, letting him place it around your shoulders.Â
âThank you,â you said softly.
You turned away from the water to face him, leaning back against the bannister. His eyes flitted up and down your form at his coat wrapped around shoulders, before his eyes met yours. He took a seat on the crate behind him, leaning back and settling into the post next to him. It was quiet a moment before he finally spoke.
âYou werenât in your cabin at dinner. Where have you been?â
You sighed, fiddling with the sleeve of his coat. âThinking.â
âThinking? About what?â
âAbout my future,â you said shakily, shoulders slumping. âBoth the imminent one, and the one to follow based on what I decide tonight.â
Sturmhond nodded, seemingly lost in thought. âIâve been thinking about that, too, if Iâm being honest.â
You raised a brow at his words. Heâd been thinking about your future? Heâd been thinking about you? The thought was both intriguing and terrifying, and you hoped the confusion on your face wasnât too apparent.
âWell, IâŚIâm sorry, what?â
âYour future directly impacts me,â he quickly corrected, suddenly steeling his face and meeting your confusion with his usual grin. âWhere you go I go, remember? You are paying me, after all.â
You tried to hide your disappointment, forcing a smile. It was a foolish hope to have, that heâd think something more of you. But it wasnât a hope you were ready to give up.Â
Not just yet, at least.Â
He seemed to notice your disappointment, brows furrowing. âHave I upset you?â
âNo,â you quickly replied, trying to brush it off with a laugh. âNo, itâs not you. Iâm just not quite sure what I should do. I know you need an answer, and Ravka needs an answer, butâŚI donât have one yet.â
âWhy?âÂ
You shook your head, sighing in frustration. âEarlier, I had more than halfway made up my mind. I value my freedom, but I think I value my dignity more. I donât think I could go anywhere and face anyone, knowing Iâve turned my back on my duties. It may have not been a promise I made for myself personally, but it is a promise I had every intention of keeping.â
âThen whatâs stopping you?â He asked, a genuine look of concern on his face.
His eyes softened on you as your face fell, and you turned away from him as you felt heat creep up to your cheeks. You could hear him stand and approach you, but you couldnât bring yourself to look at him.Â
âPrincess?â He asked, only worsening your embarrassment.Â
He spoke again, finally getting you to acknowledge him. âYouâre worrying me, darling. Surely it cannot be that bad.â
âBut it is,â you groaned, pressing the heels of your palms into your eyes to stave off the tears you could feel brewing.Â
âTry me,â he said gently, carefully placing a hand on your arm. âYou can tell me the truth. Whatâs stopping you from returning to Ravka?â
You could feel his touch even through the coat, which struck you like a punch to the gut when you remembered it was, in fact, his coat you were wearing. And to make it worse, that damned grin was on his face as he spoke with such a genuine kindness in his voice that it made you want to cry.Â
You finally met his eyes, taking a sharp breath. Shit, you thought to yourself. You were really going to admit it. He eagerly awaited your response, which you finally managed to utter.Â
âYou.â
He sucked in a breath, withdrawing his hand. He looked up at the sky for a moment, before taking another breath and turning back to you.Â
âMe?â He asked.Â
âYou,â you said again, exasperatedly laughing. âYou, and your ridiculous clothes, and your infuriating charm, and your kindness and ambitionâŚthat damned smile.âÂ
Sturmhondâs cheeks flushed, and he took a step back, although he was grinning like a fool. He couldnât stop himself if he tried. You didnât dare speak, waiting for him to say something. After an agonizing moment of silence, he leaned against the bannister, letting out a chuckle.
âWhat?â You forced yourself to ask, preparing yourself for his answer.Â
âSaints, PrincessâŚyouâve gone and done it now.â
You shook your head, your heart dropping to the pit of your stomach. âWhat?â
âYouâve managed to outdo me. On my own ship. Quite the feat, Iâll give you that,â he laughed, still grinning.Â
You narrowed your eyes, still shaking your head. âSturmhond, I donât have a fucking clue what youâre saying to me right now. Will you do the honor of enlightening me, or are you going to stand there grinning at me all night?â
âYou like my grin,â he mused, making you flush.
He spoke again, saving you from your embarrassment. âAnd it just so happens that I like yours, too. I like all of you. Very much so indeed, Princess.â
Your heart lurched into your throat at his words, and you had to grab ahold of the bannister behind you to keep yourself steady. He placed his hand over top of yours, his palm warming yours.Â
âI cannot believe you beat me to the punch. Itâs rude to upstage a captain on his own ship. Youâre lucky youâre royalty. Iâll allow it just this once.â
You had just now calmed your breathing, beginning to take in the weight of his words, and what it meant for you both. âSturmhond, Iââ
âI have a confession to make,â he suddenly said in a very serious tone, startling you. âI donât mean to interrupt you, but I must tell you something before either of us share something we canât take back.â
âAlrightâŚâ You said uneasily.Â
Carefully, he took your hand in his, giving it a squeeze. You let him hold it, waiting for him to speak. Absentmindedly, you comfortingly ran your thumb along the back of his hand, silently reassuring him.Â
âMy name isnât Sturmhond,â he finally said, the nerves in his voice the worst you had ever heard them.Â
Trying not to jump to any hasty conclusions, you nodded, squeezing his hand once more. âAlrightâŚif it isnât Sturmhond, then what is it?â
âWell, technically it is, but it also isnât. Itâs just a nicknameââ He rambled, and you placed your other hand on top of his to stop him.Â
âI gathered that much. What else are you trying to tell me? Go on, you can say it.â
He took a deep breath, his voice soft. âItâs true that people call me Sturmhond, but Iâm much better known for my birth nameâŚNikolai. Nikolai Lantsov.â
The realization struck you like a bolt of lightning. You tried not to flinch in his grasp, but you knew he could feel you stiffen. You cleared your throat, feeling your voice begin to grow hoarse
âNikolai LantsovâŚas in Prince Nikolai Lantsov, second son of the Ravkan throne? Moi tsarevich,â you croaked out, attempting to curtsy.Â
âPlease,â Nikolai said, holding both your hands in his to keep you from bowing. âThere is no need for such formalities, darling. If anything, I should be the one bowing to you.â
You stood up straight, shaking your head. âWeâre long past that, donât you think?âÂ
He chuckled, nodding. âI suppose so.â
The reality of your situation began to set in, and you couldnât stop yourself from chuckling along with him. He smiled at the sound, raising a brow.Â
âWhat is it?â
âI suppose my little dilemma is solved then,â you said, shrugging. âI was beginning to spiral, thinking my annoying habit of not being able to contain my feelings had ruined any decision I could have made. But of courseâin your usual fashionâyouâve managed to upstage me. As is your right, it is your ship, after all. Well, I suppose thereâs no decision to make now. At least, I think there isnâtâŚright?â
Any nerves you had mustered up were immediately squashed when Nikolai brought his hands up to cup your face, running his thumbs across the tops of your cheeks.
âI wasnât lying when I said Iâd take you wherever you wanted to go. All I can hope now is that youâll allow me to join youâŚwherever that is.â
You brought a hand up to rest against his wrist. âDonât you want to go home? Youâre expected back in Ravka any day now.â
âI love my country, but Iâm in no hurry to return. Youâve told me multiple times how dreadful court was for youââ
âThat doesnât matter,â you quickly said, squeezing his wrist.Â
âOf course it does! I cannot ask you to return to a country youâll be miserable in for the rest of your days for a man you barely know.â
âItâs a good thing you arenât asking, then,â you reaffirmed, giving him a smile. âI told you. I made a promise, and I intend to keep it. I said that I was afraid I would be all alone at court, and that I was afraid the man I am promised to wouldnât want a life with me.âÂ
âWhat a fool heâd have to be to not want that,â Nikolai joked, making your grin widen.
You continued to reassure him, not convinced that he was believing your words.Â
âYou say that youâll follow me wherever I go. Well, I want to go with you. Wherever that is. And I want you to go home. I may have not known you for long, but Iâve been around you long enough to know that you wonât truly be content if youâre tied to my wishes. And I know youâre too stubborn to admit that, so Iâll tell you my wishes, and I need you to believe me. I wish to be with you. I wish for you to return to wherever feels like home, and I wish for you to take me with you. If thatâs Ravka, then Ravka will be home. Court will become much more bearable with you there. And if it begins to become too much, I know a certain privateer that can whisk us away for a few days.â
He was doing it again. Smiling like an idiot. He seemed to be in disbelief at your words, this being one of the very few times in his life that he couldnât find the right words to say.Â
âI didnât mean to trick you, Princess. I should have told you who I was from the beginning.â
You shook your head. âI donât blame you, Nikolai. If I was given the chance, I wouldnât have told you who I really was, either. At least, not until I knew I could trust you. I would have done the same as you did. Itâs alright.â
âI canât believe my luck,â he grinned, taking your hand. âHow is it that my betrothed managed to stumble upon my ship the very hour I returned to Ravka?â
You shrugged. âI donât know. Iâm not one to believe in fate, and it sounds impossible.â
âNot impossibleâŚimprobable,â he corrected, smirking when you playfully narrowed your eyes up at him.Â
You rolled your eyes, but you couldnât help but smile at your turn of luck. âAre we doing this? Are you going home to Ravka?â
âAre we going home, you mean? I canât be expected to abandon my betrothed when she turns out to be the single most invigorating person Iâve ever met, now can I?â
âYou cannot,â you agreed.
A comfortable moment of silence passed between you both, and you looked down at his hands as you held them in yours. The familiar glint of green on his finger made you chuckle.Â
âI knew it, by the way,â you added, grinning. âThis coat and that ring are far too ridiculous for a privateer. Theyâre fit for royalty. Fit for a Lantsov.â
âAm I to understand that youâre not interested in a Lantsov emerald for your engagement ring?â He asked, smirking when you quickly shook your head.
You laughed, pulling his hand closer to inspect his ring. âI said nothing of the sort. I was merely observing how ridiculous it is, as well as this coat. But Iâm still wearing it, arenât I? If Iâm going to be married to a ridiculous man, I should begin preparing now, shouldnât I?â
He narrowed his eyes, playfully jutting his chin up at you. âYou just like the coat and want to keep it. Itâs alright, darling, you can admit it. We can have your own fitted for you, all you have to do is ask.â
Nikolai gripped the hem of your sleeve, tugging you closer by the arm of his coat. You let him pull you, chuckling nervously when he drew you nearer.Â
âI admit nothing, only that my future husband has a taste I will have to acquire. But Iâm sure Iâm up for the task. We have all the time in the world now, donât we?â
âWe do,â he smiled, settling his hands around your waist. âAlthough Iâll have to admit, I donât think we know each other well enough to become husband and wife.â
You tensed under his hold, and he quickly retracted his statement, shaking his head. He didnât give you enough time to truly panic, interrupting your train of thought.Â
âAnd thatâs perfectly fine, darling. Like you said, we have all the time in the world to get to know each other. I think Iâd like to take advantage of that starting now. After all, it is our last night on the ship, isnât it? At least, I assume it is. I expect youâll want to set a course for Ravka now. Unless youâd rather I get down on one knee, and make a big show of it first. I can do that, if you wish.â
âI certainly wouldnât stop you,â you chuckled, letting your hands rest on top of his as your tone shifted to a more serious note. âAre we really doing this, Nikolai? Returning to Ravka? Getting married?â
He smiled wider, a twinkle in his eye as he looked down at you. âIâve wanted you since the moment you stepped foot on my ship, the second I laid eyes on you. And Iâve wanted you more every day since. Iâm not one to believe in fate either, but I do think the Saints may have gifted you to me. Who knows what I did to deserve it, but you most definitely wonât find me questioning their will if youâre the result.â
You felt your heart swell at his words. He was right. Of all the ships in the harbor, his was the one you found yourself on. Of all the captains in Ravka, he was the one who took you in. The man you were supposed to marry, and you found yourself falling for him long before you even knew who he truly was. If that isnât fate, then what is?
âIâll take all the influence from the Saints I can get when it comes to explaining to your parents why Iâve disappeared right out from under them,â you said with a groan, leaning into him.Â
Nikolai chuckled, holding you close. âMy Mother will forget all about it when she sees my future safely secured with marriage. There is no need to worry, trust me.â
âI may not have to worry about her, but I do need to worry about Tamar,â you said, letting out a pained chuckle. âI think she staked money on our little situation.â
âShe most definitely did. I expect Tolya will be paying up when they hear the news. Who should break it to him?â
You grinned, shaking your head. âI think that duty lies with you, as my future husband. If Iâm going to have to listen to Tamarâs endless bragging about being right, then you should have to take half the burden in the form of telling Tolya. Thatâs how marriage works, isnât it? Half and half. Itâs only fair.â
It was his turn to groan now as he pinched the bridge of his nose with one hand, taking yours in the other.Â
âAlright, Iâll do it, but you have to accompany me. I think your presence will help soften the blow. What do you say, darling? After allâŚitâs only fair.â
You narrowed your eyes at him, squeezing his hand. âIf I must. Youâre lucky youâre pretty, Lantsov.â
âDarling, Iâm lucky for a lot more than that,â he smiled endearingly, and you couldnât help but smile back.
â A/N - Hi! This is SO long, Iâm so sorry. And Iâm so sorry for taking so long to get this out, Iâve been busy and had no time to write. But I finally forced myself to get this done, and now I have more time to write! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this, let me know what you think! Thank you again for the requests :)
























