《A Trek of Love and War》 Chapter I Baur Farm Chapter I As the sun''s beams began to peak over the hills, Borimir wiped off his face. The tender winds blew past him as he looked up toward the hills, littered with pines. Though morning seemed to just now arrive, he had been working for an hour already, baling piles of hay onto his old wooden cart. As he heaved another bale onto the cart, a bird caught his eye, its chirps echoing around the farm. Borimir saw it fly over near the house and then over to the field of flowers his mother so passionately guarded. He paused, planting his pitchfork into the ground to admire the property. Baur Farm was a sanctuary along the banks of the Miljacka River. The fields of wheat glimmered like gold in the sunlight, while the flowers painted the earth with strokes of purple, red, and yellow, resembling the hues of the evening sky. The river flowed gently nearby, its serene blue waters mirroring the cloudless sky above. A barn of gray stone and weathered white wood stood proudly, sheltering the cattle that grazed upon the lush grasses. Among them, Vuk, the prized horse of the Baurs, boasted a coat of light brown and white, his presence adding to the farm''s rustic charm.Willows lined the banks, on either side of the small creaking dock that was used for fishing, their long branches dipping gracefully into the calm water. In front of those willows, a barn of gray stone and weathered white wood stood proudly, home to a few cattle that grazed the patches of grass scattered on the land. The roof was a patchwork of repairs, evidence of years of hard work and maintenance. Inside, the sweet smell of hay mingled with the earthy scent of the animals. Borimir then glanced behind him to see the heart of Baur Farm, his house. The pale walls were adorned with ivy, and its windows draped with light red curtains and showcased his mothers flower boxes, orange and yellow lilies filling them. Above lay a crimson tiled roof, though minorly worn down, sharply contrasted the greens of the land, whether the deepest pine or the lightest grass. The front porch, with its creaking wooden boards, was often visited by the cool breezes from the river. A stone chimney overlooked the entire farm, sharing companionship with the Bosnian pines and spruces. It was a symbol of everything that Borimir cherished. Every day he would rise early to tend to the farm, and though the work was tough, he loved it. For all nineteen years of his life, whether it was milking plump cows, picking fresh crops, or simply repairing the dark fences that bordered the farm, Borimir felt a great sense of purpose in this little corner of the world that bore the name Baur. After he finished filling the cart with hay, he rolled it down to the barn, watching as the river flowed calmly. The rich blue water matched Borimir''s eyes, a gift from his German mother. His dark hair and strong build were from his Serbian father, whom he resembled very much. Stefan Baur, had been a towering figure in Borimir''s life. A man of few words but great deeds, Stefan was known throughout the region for his strength and kindness. He had built the farm from the ground up, instilling in Borimir the values of hard work and integrity. He entered the barn, much to the delight of the cattle, who started mooing at the sight of food. Their names were Annabelle, Max, Rosie, and little Bell, who had been born only two years ago. They were fine cattle and had never caused Borimir trouble, except Max, whose clumsiness sometimes found himself stuck in a fence. He laid the hay into the feeding trays, then grabbed a large pail and walked toward the river. The water was cool and clear, reflecting the cerulean sky above. As he filled the pail, he heard a voice from a distance. ¡°Borimir? Borimir? Breakfast is ready!¡± It was his mother, shouting from the farmhouse. He turned and saw her standing by the back door. Anna Baur was a small, aging woman with pale blonde hair and a smile that would warm the hearts of any who saw it. She had a firm yet gentle strength and had been at Borimir''s side for every hardship he faced. She went back into the house. ¡°Coming, Mother!¡± Borimir replied, pouring the water into a trough and then heading to the house. The scent of breakfast grew stronger as he got closer, and he started to run up the hill, the aroma causing his stomach to growl like a bear. As he made it into the house, he saw his mother standing behind the table holding some plates. She was wearing a white shirt with bluish-gray stripes, and a pleasant long skirt, the front having a floral pattern, the back a deep royal blue. The kitchen was small, but his mother ruled over it as a queen, from the rustic cabinets which held her prized spices, to the pantry where the produce of the farm was stored. ¡°Morning, Ma!¡± he said, his face glowing with joy as he bent down to kiss her cheek. ¡°Good morning, Borimir,¡± she replied, setting the two plates down. ¡°I see you¡¯ve been up even earlier than yesterday,¡± she said jokingly. Borimir chuckled. ¡°Well, the fields can¡¯t tend by themselves now, can they,¡± he said, sitting down in one of the pine chairs he had made just a few weeks ago. ¡°Besides, there''s no better way than starting a day off with a bit of hard work.¡± ¡°You sound more and more like your father every passing day,¡± she said. There was a bit of silence. Borimir''s father had been killed in a fire a few years ago. Stefan''s untimely death had been a devastating blow to the family. He had been trying to save a little girl who was trapped in a burning house. The house had collapsed before he could make it out, and the memory of his father''s bravery and sacrifice lingered everywhere on the farm. Borimir grieved him more than anyone, but he was determined to run the farm just as his father would have, to make him proud. He sat, staring down over the table, his face motionless. After a while, his mother, who wanted to lift his spirits, said, ¡°Here, have some breakfast,¡± placing sizzling juicy bacon on his plate, along with two pieces of crusty bread, topped with home-churned butter. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said, his smile returning to his face. His mother then fixed herself a plate of bacon, bread, and eggs, which Borimir never ate. The two said grace and began eating, Borimir finishing off bites with a cup of tea, his mother straight black coffee. The meal, while simple,was delicious, some of his mother''s best. At times he wondered what would¡¯ve happened if his father hadn¡¯t married such a skilled cook. ¡°So is there anything you want to talk about,¡± she asked, looking up. Borimir paused, eating, and said, ¡°yes.¡± Ever since he began going to town regularly, Borimir began to wonder and create a political identity. It became something of a hobby of his, and something he could share with friends he had in the city. In much the same way his father was, he was a nationalist, a proud supporter of republics and democracies, and deeply anti-royalist. If there was one thing that he loved talking about more than anything, it was about his views on the world. After chewing another piece of bacon, he asked, ¡°Do you ever think about the empire actually falling? Where we could finally use our voice and govern ourselves?¡± She looked at him thoughtfully and replied, ¡°Yes, all the time. Why?¡± ¡°Well, it''s just something that intrigues me. We¡¯ve only ever heard of democracy and its freedoms, but I wish I could live in it. No more power through bloodlines, but power through the people.¡± Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. ¡°You already know my stance on the issue of governing,¡± his mother started, ¡°both me and your father dreamed of a day where the different groups of the empire came together as a strong and united nation. He would say it would be the European version of the United States.¡± ¡°A melting pot,¡± Borimir said, cutting her off from eagerness, ¡°where we set our cultural differences aside, and have the commonality of national pride connect us.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t interrupt me!¡± she snapped, slamming her hand on the table. After a second, her anger passed and she continued, ¡°But yes, exactly.¡± There was another silence, the two avoiding eye contact. He had always had a habit of injecting his words when people weren¡¯t finished speaking, and no other person fell victim to this more than his mother. Shame fell over his mind like the gray clouds of a storm. With a sigh, his mother said, ¡°I fear that day will never come, and it will only be a dream in the minds of millions in the empire.¡± Borimir finished his meal and got up, saying, ¡°Well, at least the seeds of those ideals are being planted, and that we are tending to them as we do to our fields.¡± His mother nodded in agreement. Borimir collected the plates and began to clean up the dining room. They chatted about other topics¡ªthe gracious weather, news from friends¡ªbut both were thinking about the future, and what might come to the people living in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. When they were finished, Borimir said, ¡°I have to go into Sarajevo. I¡¯ve needed a new pair of shoes for a while now, and our ax broke while I was cutting that dying pine over by the stable.¡± ¡°Alright, but I need you back here as soon as you can, remember your sister is visiting, so I need all the help with the house as I can afford.¡± ¡°Yes mother,¡± he said. The two hugged each other and said goodbye. ¡°Thank you for breakfast,¡± he said. ¡°You''re welcome, now get going,¡± she replied. As he turned toward the door, he saw his mother¡¯s loving and passionate eyes glance at him. The two smiled, then he walked over to the stable. Borimir entered to find Vuk already awake, pacing around the small pen in which he slept. ¡°Hey, Vuk,¡± Borimir called softly. The horse whinnied in response, his ears twitching at the sound of Borimir¡¯s voice. Borimir approached the pen and patted Vuk¡¯s neck, feeling the smooth, warm coat beneath his fingers. ¡°Ready for a trip into town?¡± He let out with a neigh, and shook his head, as if he was saying yes. Borimir leapt onto Vuks sattle and the chestnut mane strode out of the stable, and onto the road that led into Sarajevo. It was a place of his childhood, so many times had he traveled up and down that road, whether for errands, parades, or just to walk down to see the beautiful scenery of the Miljacka river. And on many of those travels, Vuk and his sister, Heidi, had been there to keep him company. He thought about his sister a lot, and he was relieved that she was coming, for he missed her deeply. Heidi Baur was older than Borimir by four years, and she was the funniest, cleverest, and most stubborn person he¡¯d ever known. As Borimir was the exact image of their father, his sister was the exact image of their mother, golden blonde hair, blue eyes, and the prettiest face that had so warmed his heart. She had that same Baur determination that Borimir and Stefan had, often helping Borimir with the farm work when they were littler. They were inseparable, and though they would argue and mess with each other from time to time, they still loved each other. Heidi had married a year ago to a doctor named Otto, and the two moved to Linz near his family. He was wise and sharp, but shy and humble, quite opposite of Heidi''s bold nature, but nevertheless they were a very loving couple, complimenting each other near perfectly. Borimir quickly became friends with Otto, whom he thought of as a brother he never had, one time fixing his arm after he had dislocated it after falling off a tree. Otto was quiet about politics, preferring to discuss medicine and religion than any other topic. Borimir hoped he too would be coming, wishing he had asked his mother when he had the chance. After a calm ride, Borimir made it into the bustling city of Sarajevo, first seeing the banks laying on the banks of the Miljacka, before making his way into the center. It was a beautiful city, rich in its history whether it was forged by the Ottomans or Austrians, and having a great diversity of peoples living inside of it. Borimir also loved exploring its bazaars or houses of worship, always discovering new paths and buildings that he hadn¡¯t seen previously. He dismounted Vuk, and tied him to a post near his friend Gregory''s general store. ¡°See you in a bit,¡± he said to Vuk, as he walked into the store. The scent of the lavish soaps Gregory''s wife had made for sale, filled Borimirs nose, as he was greeted by the sight of farm tools, clothes, spectacles, hats, canes, watches, anything you would ever need. And of course he was greeted by the hearty voice of his friend. ¡°Borimir! What a pleasant surprise, how¡¯ve you been,¡± Gregory said cheerfully, reaching to shake his hand. ¡° Oh you know, the usual, just working away. Is Marie here?¡± Borimir replied. ¡°Not at the moment no, she is at home tending to Fritz,¡± Greg said as the two shook hands. Greg was a big man, who always seemed to have a smile on his face, his cheek rosie red. A pair of big round glasses sat above his rounded nose, and had a long brown mustache below. He was wearing tan overalls, with a green shirt and red tie to match. ¡°Well tell her I said hi,¡± Borimir said. ¡°Of course,¡± Gregory replied, ¡°and what might you need, finally leaving the farming life to work here?¡± he said with a chuckle. Greg had always joke about having an extra hand around, and thought Borimir would be a great store clerk. He laughed. ¡°No, not today I¡¯m afraid,¡± Borimir said, ¡°I¡¯m looking for some new shoes, and an ax.¡± ¡°I see. Well you know where the shoes are, pick out any that you like. As for the ax, we got a new set of tools just last week in the back. I¡¯ll go to the back and get it for you,¡± Gregory said gleefully. ¡°Thank you,¡± Borimir said. ¡° And you say you need another clerk. You''re the most thoughtful store keeper in Bosnia.¡± Gregory let out a hearty laugh, ¡°You got me there. The only reason I want you to work for me is because you''re an absolute joy to be around. You know that right? Here let me get you that ax,¡± and turn to the back isles. Borimir walked over to the section of shoes that were set in rows based on different colors, sizes and manufacturers, very well organized, something Greg held in high regard. A pair of black boots made from the Czech Bat¡¯a company caught his eye, and he tried them on. They felt very comfortable, and firm. While he took them off, Gregory had arrived with the ax. ¡°Here you are, Borimir,¡± he said, handing over a very magnificent piece of blacksmithing. Its polished smooth cedar handle was easy on the hands, and the blade was glistening with the candle light that filled the store. ¡°I¡¯ll take it,¡± Borimir said. ¡°Great! Let me check you out.¡± Borimir handed him some kronen, and was about to head out when Gregory said, ¡°Hey, be a bit careful out there. There''s been some tension in the streets, both me and Marie can feel it. There have been rumors of rebellion around, and I want to make sure you''re safe.¡± ¡°Thanks. So long as Catherine doesn¡¯t show herself near me, I won¡¯t get rowdy.¡± Gregory laughed, ¡°I¡¯ll be seeing you later Borimir. Goodbye¡± ¡°Bye Gregory, hope to see you soon as well,¡± Borimir said, and he walked out the door. He began to head towards Vuk, but as he walked he looked around. There weren''t as many people as there usually were, and those who were out were either silent, or talking quietly, trying to hide their discussions from the outside world. He stopped for a split second and spotted Gavrilo Princip, another young teen that he met before, but never really became friends with, sitting over by a coffee house with another man. He had heard him talk about the downfall of the Empire, and his deep hate for the royal family, but Borimir thought he was too extreme and socialist to be taken seriously. Borimir did learn earlier that he would be leaving Sarajevo again to go to Serbia. Borimir opposed socialist ideals. He thought that it wouldn¡¯t work, and that while it sounded good on paper, it would crumble any nation that tried to apply it. Too good to be true, he thought to himself, it would just make the people lazy, and without dignity. He turned back onto the sidewalk to Vuk, when he ran into a woman accidentally. The two fell to the ground, Borimir scraped his elbow, feeling blood dampening his shirt sleeve. His head started to ache. As he was getting himself back up, he went to the lady to help her up. ¡°Ma¡¯am here yet me¡­¡± but he stopped. He was stunned. For the woman he had run into, happened to be his rival. She, in his mind, represented everything wrong with the royalty that controlled the Empire. Princess Catherine von Rosenburg Chapter II Catherine von Rosenberg Borimir felt an overwhelming sense of annoyance, swirling with a little anger at the sight of Catherine. He pulled his hand away from her, as if nothing even happened, as she started to get up, dirt now covering her light purple dress. He then heard a knocking behind him. It was Gregory, laughing. He had seen Catherine walking down before he had left the door. Borimir shrugged his arms confused. ¡°You didn¡¯t warn me!¡± ¡°I thought it was funny. After all you two first met here, haha!¡± he said, his voice hindered by the glass window. ¡°Well it isn¡¯t,¡± Borimir said, aggravated, looking back down at the lady lying on the hot cobblestone path. Catherine was a young seventeen year old noblewomen, attending a boarding school in Sarajevo. Her long walnut brown hair, fair pale skin, and light red lips, were kept to the highest standard. She picked up her white hat, straightened her posture, and quickly turned to Borimir, revealing her piercing green eyes. She was piping hot red. ¡°Of course it was you, honestly how audacious does one have to be!¡± She yelled. ¡°You didn¡¯t even bother to try to help me up!¡± ¡°First off,¡± Borimir said casually, ¡°It was simply a mistake. And secondly, I did try to help you, until I realized it was you, because why would anyone of your high rank ever need help from some half Serb like me,¡± he finished sarcastically. ¡°You absolute¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± Borimir said abruptly, ¡°I am no absolutist, Catherine. Maybe you hit your head a bit too hard.¡± ¡°How dare you interrupt me while I¡¯m speaking,¡± Catherine snapped, ¡°for someone who claims to want the people to speak up for themselves, you don¡¯t seem to yet others get their say.¡± ¡°You¡¯re one to talk. I don¡¯t mean for you or the nobility. I mean the common man, so we can vote for those whom we want to rule, and have freedoms that the Americans champion. No more bloodlines, birth rights, or oppression!¡± he replied passionately. ¡°What part of that don¡¯t you understand exactly?¡± he said boldly. ¡°Ha! Do you simply think that you and your kind can begin to understand the complexity of governing? Without an understanding of the ways by which we rule, your people would dissolve into anarchy. Only a strong unifying leader can maintain control!¡± Catherine said, raising her voice with each sentence. ¡°You really think that Franz Joseph is a unifying figure,¡± Borimir said in bewilderment. ¡°That old relic is knocking at death''s door, detached from the people and the realities we live in! He¡¯s terrified of change, terrified of losing his precious power! He suppresses our ethnic identities in favor of his Germanic vision! He cares more about the Hungarians in the north rather than acknowledge the aspirations of the Czechs, Slovaks, or us southern Slavs!¡± Borimir at this point was nearly yelling, his voice drowning with emotion. The two stood there in silence for a moment, their eyes staring at each other, as if they were about to draw pistols like the days of old. Their vigorous ideals clouded both of their minds, each thinking of what made the other flawed and weak, with some insults added in the fray. Then Catherine, now more calmly said, ¡°You don¡¯t know what you''re talking about, which proves my point. Franz Joseph has been keeping this empire together longer than we have been alive. He recognizes that some groups need a firm grip and others more autonomy in order that they don¡¯t tear each other apart. Without him we would be like the Ottomans. You know that they are weak and mismanaged. Anarchy would plague the nation if it weren¡¯t for him, and you and I both know that.¡± Borimir let out a sigh, growing tired of the discussion, and simply replied, ¡°It¡¯s just a matter of time, that there will be not one, but two sick men of Europe,¡± turning around and finally heading to Vuk. ¡°Ignorant fool,¡± he heard Catherine mutter under her breath. Her footsteps echoed on the quiet street, fading away. Borimir untied Vuk, hopped on his saddle, and they began to trot down the streets of Sarajevo. As he rode Vuk up the Miljacka road all he could think about was Catherine and their abrupt and ill mannered argument. It was not the first time the two had unleashed each other''s views like a verbal war, and unfortunately, Borimir thought, it wouldn¡¯t be the last. Previous engagements had grown so large that at times crowds came along to hear the battle of ideologies. Borimir represented democracy and the will of the people, while Catherine portrayed the embodiment of the Austrian royal family. Though from a minor branch, she was as aristocratic as the emperor, ignoring the very people they were meant to rule over, for high titles and privilege. These meetings, if you could call them that, were often on display during the spring and summer months, before Catherine would return to her family for the winter months. Borimir didn¡¯t understand why she came back every year, thinking that a noble such as herself would hate this Slav corner of the Empire. Maybe she actually loved visiting so much from school and she planned to stay after her education. Maybe she was to observe the people in Sarajevo, in case rebellion tore through the land. He didn¡¯t care what the reason was, all he cared about was that she was there, there to shove ideas which he thought were destroying the nation down his throat. He began to try and clear his mind from the incident, and thought of what he wanted to do with his sister. Borimir could talk with his sister till the end of time, once even speaking for an entire night as children over stories that they created. Heidi, much like Otto, didn¡¯t have much interest in the realm of politics, but would listen to Borimir¡¯s rants and discuss matters which he felt were important. More than anything though, he wanted to hear of what life was like outside of Bosnia, Borimir himself hadn¡¯t gone as far as Croatia. He wondered about Austria and its contrast and similarities between the two regions, whether it be political or not. Borimir started to smile, pondering the questions he would try to not barrage Heidi. As his mind cleared from Catherines words, he took a moment to enjoy the scenic views of the Miljacka once more. It was now a little past noon, plenty of time to spare to arrive home. Borimir breathed the fresh air, and felt at peace. He almost fell asleep on Vuks back, rocking him gently like a mother to her baby, only to awake to the sound of birds and the gushes of winds. The pair arrived back at the Baur farm to see Borimirs mother setting a pie out of the window seal, waving at them. Borimir waved back, and rode Vuk about into his pen in the barn, and headed back up the hill to the house. ¡°How was the town?¡± she asked as Borimir entered the door. ¡°Oh the usual,¡± he said as if he was bored, ¡°a certain someone was also there that''s all.¡± ¡°Oh that''s unfortunate,¡± she replied, ¡°now come here and clean, and sweep, the kitchen. Also I want you to fix your sister''s room, and make it look presentable. I am going to finish dinner.¡± ¡°Yes ma.¡± His mother had heard all the details of his and Catherine¡¯s discussions, and though she supported his political views, she thought it as immature, just teenagers doing what teenagers do best. Argue. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Borimir spent the evening riding the house of dust, bursting out sneezing and coughing from the particles, tears forming in his eyes. He arranged the table in a neat manner, folding smooth creamy white napkins in little triangles, placing the cobalt blue plates, the finest they owned, onto the table. Next to the plates lay an array of shiny forks, spoons, and knives, all of which he had polished. As the sun set, sending its final beams of gold light upon the farm, Borimir went upstairs to his sister''s old room. It was one of the larger rooms in the house, a small oak bed, a gift from their father, lay in the middle, a wall to its back with windows on either side. On top was a magenta woolen blanket, knitted by their mother when the family used to have sheep that tragically drowned, and plump white pillows, clouds for your head to rest on. To the left a polished wooden dresser, empty except for the two photos that stood on top, one of Heidi, and one of the family, all of them looking as if they were from a different world without color or emotion. Borimir took it all in before he made the bed, and swept the floors. He also fixed the drapes on the windows so they were even. After he was done he jumped onto the bed, a creaking sound filling the room, and began to wait. It was silent, only Borimir and his thoughts about his sister and Catherine. For though he did despise their heated arguments, he couldn¡¯t help but find her attractive, with that luscious hair, and elegant dresses that she loved to fashion. Her emerald eyes were hard to break away from. But what was he thinking, he couldn¡¯t simply let his eyes blind him. Behind the beauty Catherine exposed to the world, was in a privileged Habsburg, who didn¡¯t have a care in the world for the people that lived in their nation. As Borimir was conflicting with himself, a sudden noise broke the silence. It was the sound of a horse walking on the road, and of a woman humming. Borimir leapt from the bed and rushed down the stairs as fast as he could and opened the door to see his one and only sister. She was mounted on a black horse, about the size of Vuk, if not a bit smaller. Heidi herself had on a vibrant blue dress, accompanied with a white scarf and matching pair of gloves. She dismounted, but was almost knocked over by Borimir, who had run up to hug her. ¡°Oh Heidi, it''s so good to see you!¡± Borimir cried. ¡°Here let me get the horse over to the stable.¡± ¡°It''s good to see you too brother,¡± catching her breath, ¡°I see you haven¡¯t changed a bit since I saw you last.¡± ¡°Well,¡± he started with a grin, ¡°my muscles are bigger,¡± he said, flexing his right arm while grabbing the reins to Heidi¡¯s horse. ¡°Really? I don¡¯t see a difference!¡± she replied amusingly. Borimir¡¯s face turned slightly annoyed, which caused Heidi to laugh as she walked to the door, greeting their mother. He rolled his eyes and smiled, and then the black stallion to the stables. After tying him up and feeding the animals, he returned to the house, seeing that the two ladies had already sat down for dinner. ¡°Come on Borimir, I¡¯m hungry,¡± Heidi said eagerly. ¡°Not before we say grace,¡± their mother said sternly. ¡°Of course mother,¡± the two said in unison. Their mother was always strict about praying, and had made it her mission to see that both of them kept good faith. She was not overbearing though, and both Borimir and Heidi held firm in their beliefs. After they finished their prayer, they dug into the meal. She had made their favorites, ?evapi grilled to perfection for Borimir, and Krompiru?a for Heidi, the top layer appearing to look like edible gold. She had also prepared Pita, which was another family favorite, and Baklava for dessert, its aroma tempting Borimirs nose. ¡°So Heidi,¡± Borimir began, ¡°how was your trip down here?¡± ¡°Oh it was wonderful, the countryside was just beautiful on the train ride, just as I remember it.¡± ¡°You got to ride a train? Lucky,¡± Borimir said with jealousy. ¡°Where did you get the horse then?¡± their mother asked. ¡°Oh, a friend of mine from town is leading it to me, uh Karla. You remember her right mother?¡± ¡°Do I ever! She was such a sweet little girl when you two were at school. Oh how I miss those days when you would all run down that old road after lessons ended, excited to roam around the property and making up adventures.¡± Borimir, who at this point was trying his hardest not to look bored then quickly asked, ¡° how is Otto doing? ¡°He has never been better. He finally was able to open his own clinic in the city, we use the upstairs as a house. He has been busy, and he wished he could come, but he couldn¡¯t afford to leave his patients. People think he is the best doctor in Linz.¡± ¡°That''s great to hear,¡± Borimir replied in a rush, ¡°what is it like in Linz?¡± ¡°It is marvelous, also impossible to describe with just words, you truly have to be there. The food there is as every chef was as talented as mother. The buildings are works of art, in fact we live right by Alter Dom, its cyan domes always peaking through our bedroom window. The streets are filled to brim people walking in all directions at once, whether to see the historic castles, theaters, or simply to work, it''s just, oh so breathtaking, you have to come visit sometime!¡± ¡°What''s the political situation there?¡± Borimir continued, his eyes wide and jaw opened, picturing everything his sister described. ¡°That''s enough Borimir,¡± his mother said, ¡°eat your dinner, and give your sister a chance too as well.¡± The three finished through the meal, and devoured the Baklava, Borimir and Heidi¡¯s faces sticky from the syrups. Borimir then collected the dishes and cleaned the kitchen, as Heidi and their mother sat down in the common room. ¡°So have you considered having children?¡± their mother asked excitedly. ¡°We have been trying, but nothing yet. I really hope we can start a family, you know it''s always been a dream of mine,¡± Heidi responded, her voice backed with optimism. ¡°It would be funny if there was another Heidi in the world,¡± Borimir said, taking a seat in the old recliner, ¡°in fact I don¡¯t think the world could handle it.¡± Heidi smiled, ¡°the world couldn¡¯t handle another Borimir if anything.¡± The two laughed loudly, even their mother started up, ¡°I think that both of your children would be too much for the world to bear,¡± which caused them to laugh even louder. Borimir then started cracking jokes, with Heidi and their mother filling the room with laughter, Heidi whipping jokes herself. After a half hour of joyous chuckling, the room became calm once again. Heidi turned over to Borimir and asked, ¡°Who is this Catherine that you¡¯ve mentioned to me about in your letters,¡± her face curious. ¡°Oh she is just a princess that lives in Sarajevo, we have argued about the rule of the empire for sometime now, in fact we just had one such encounter today.¡± ¡°Princess?¡± Heidi said puzzled, ¡°how did you start having debates with a princess?¡± ¡°Well, just after you left, about a week, I was going into town to help Gregory with loading some products and such. As I was about to head into the store, I overheard her yelling at a Polish man, Alfred Budny, a friend of Gregs. Anyways she was insulting him simply because he was Polish, and he had sneezed in her general direction. I saw this and went over to defend the man, and tell her off. I started to say, ¡®Hey leave him alone, mind your business,¡¯ and she turned around and said something to the likes of, ¡®who do you think you¡¯re talking to,¡¯ to which I responded with, ¡®some woman living in Sarajevo.¡¯ Catherine then went on a rant about her title or whatever, and one thing led to another and we started to just argue. I grew tired of it and stormed off into the store. We have had many encounters since then, I am shocked we run into each other so often, I don¡¯t know why.¡± ¡°Maybe you secretly like her,¡± Heidi teased. ¡°Yeah right. That''s like a dog falling in love with a cat,¡± Borimir replied, chuckling. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± said Heidi, ¡°you seem to meet an awful lot.¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t like that,¡± Borimir started, now defensive. ¡°Then why are you turning red?¡± ¡°Heidi, stop it, please. I¡¯ve heard enough about this Catherine to firmly say that the two seem incompatible with each other, unless it involves yelling at one another. As for his red face¡­ it is awfully hot in here.¡± ¡°Okay, okay,¡± Heidi said, still smirking. Borimir let out a yawn, ¡°I think I¡¯m going to head off to sleep.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± his mother said. Borimir walked to both his mother and sister and hugged them both before heading up stairs to his bedroom. It was a bit smaller than his sisters, but it was just as comfortable. He brushed his teeth, took off his shirt, and hopped into bed. But he again couldn¡¯t stop thinking about what Heidi was saying. There was no way that he liked Catherine. They hated each other, and had never met on equal grounds before, their views wouldn¡¯t let them. Borimir sighed and said to himself, ¡°she is nothing more than an autocrat, no heart for anyone but her family and power,¡± and then fell asleep, dreaming of the future.