Hunting

You know what I find funny? A seven-year-old walking through the freezing cold because his eccentric grandmother decided that today was a good day to go hunting and bring along her grandchild.

While I do agree this is some nice good bonding time, I'd much prefer it in the comforts of my bed and where the snow can't go past my window.

Believe me, I really tried fighting back with perfectly reasonable excuses such as being too young or I could get sick, but do you know what was her excuse? That she did this with her father when she was also young and I need to stop being a worrywart.

At least there is a good side to all of this, this hunting expedition has a lot of guards and if my grandma's bragging during our conversations are even 50% true then I should be safe during this trip.

My breath turns into mist with every exhale and my teeth are chattering way too much for them to be healthy, my grandma's body heat is alleviating my problems and to think I was embarrassed to sit in front of her on the saddle, I'm happy she was adamant that we stay together on the horse.

Looking around I see ugly hunting dogs, I should create the husky, I've always wanted a husky in my past life and what better excuse than being the Prince of one of the coldest countries in Europe? I could also get a nice alias the 'Husky Prince', not a bad name.

However, I can't entertain myself with my inner thoughts forever, this hunting trip is taking too damn long.

"What's the matter Paul? You shouldn't get annoyed when hunting. Ruling is very similar to hunting and this hunting trip can give you a nice insight into how to rule", It seems she noticed my annoyance.

"This sucks!, I'm out here in the freezing cold to shoot down some damn animal, I don't want to come here ever again!", I shouted and after my outburst, everything is quiet, too quiet, I look around and see the retinue accompanying us looking at me and every time I direct my gaze to them they quickly look away. I can see everybody's expression but my grandmother behind me.

"Oh, I see Paul, well I'm sorry that I ruined your day, I'm sorry that I made a mistake again", the beginning was audible but the end was quiet and a bit shaken.

I didn't think that a childish comment could bring down my grandmother, I just said it so she didn't bring me on a hunting trip a second time. However, thinking about it I was a little too mean.

Before I could apologize I heard my grandmother's voice again, "Well I think we should set up camp here", before I could say something my grandmother dismounted the horse and walked to a tree line.

I fucked up, didn't I? I dismounted the horse with the help of the nearby retinue and was dazed, I didn't know what to do, until a man came up to me and tapped me on the shoulder.

"Excuse me, Prince, my name is Alexei Orlov, you may not know me but I have been a loyal servant to the Russian Royal Family and I can't help but suggest that we should camp by a warm place, maybe next to the fireplace after its done being built?", I didn't pay attention to anything but the mention of the name Alexei Orlov, this was the man Russia would owe for her Black Sea.

After the campsite was built and the fireplace was ready, I sat down on a makeshift seat made from a tree trunk, Alexei Orlov sat next to me and started the conversation.

"I have heard a lot about you Prince from Her Majesty, she always brags that she has such a smart and loving grandson, perhaps the scene that I just witnessed was an accident? I know that Her Majesty may be a bit eccentric but she does truly love you. Her Majesty never had the opportunity to marry and bore children, her parents died successively and her fiancee left her before they could even marry, life has been quite hard on her. Your father Peter never interacted with Her Majesty and he has never chosen to rectify that, anytime he visited Her Majesty was for his benefit and nothing else, I can never forgive such a man, at least your mother Catherine has shown respect to Her Majesty".

Well it seems I'm a horrible grandson, I already knew the troubles my grandmother went through and I was still a prick.

"Hmm, it seems an outsider's help was all you needed. Well young Prince I think you know what course of action you must take, into the tree line and turn left".

Following the directions I came to a clearing, its empty save for a lone figure.

My grandmother sat on a log staring into the distance, I took a deep breath and moved forward, my little seven-year-old steps led me next to her and I sat down on the log, looking at the same horizon the utter silence was scattered by a few words.

"You know I brought your father Peter when he was 15 on a hunting trip, he claimed it was 'one of the worst days of his life', second to when he found out that he needed to learn Russian and convert to Orthodox, ever since that day I never brought him out to another outing".

"Paul when you were born I separated you from your mother and brought you under my care, it was a selfish decision of mine as I wanted to take care of you, then proceeded not to visit you for your first four years, heh I'm a terrible grandmother aren't I?".

"Ah what a troublesome grandma I have, while it is true that you are careless, you are not terrible. I would like to spend more time with my grandma but if I don't like this hunting trip then I can't lie to you, perhaps we can find other hobbies we both like"

"What great deed did I do in my life to have such a filial grandson? Oh, the sun is setting?", her last question made me change my focus from her to the spectacular view awaiting me.

The snow combined with the bleeding crimson sunset truly was a sight to behold, we sat there for a long time until the set had completely set.

"Well it's getting dark, let's go back Paul. Wait, before we go back wipe the dirt off your clothes, wouldn't want to embarrass yourself now would we?"

"Quite hypocritical Grandma as we both just sat on the same log"

"Difference is I'm wearing already brown clothes and you my grandson are wearing blue clothes, now stop moving so I wipe off the dirt".

After a quick pat down we went back to the camp and enjoyed an average meal, average when compared to what the chefs in the palace cooked but for some reason it tasted really good when I was with my grandma.