Hello readers of the fanfiction world! I come to you with great news! I have decided to continue Rose's Bloodlines! Not only this, I am re-editing the chapters I had already uploaded, as well as continuing with my writing. I was inspired to continue this after finishing The Ruby Circle. It was honestly all my hopes and dreams for the VA world put in one book. And so, in an attempt to trick myself that the VA world isn't over (even if it is only just for now) I am going to write everything that happens after Last Sacrifice and during the Bloodlines series into this fanfic. Enjoy!

(Please note that updates to this fic will not be regular as I'm currently in my last year of high school and need to focus on my studies.)

Disclaimer: I do not own the VA world and some of the plot, they belong to Richelle Mead.

Chapter 1

It was only a week since Lissa's coronation, but already I'd been beginning to realize that the peaceful life I had been picturing was still just a fantasy. Once Lissa had become queen, it had seemed as though all of our problems were finally solved, all our enemies diminished. Oh how I wish that were true.

Four days ago there had been a mass gathering of both royal and non-royal Moroi out in the courtyard near the church – the one Eddie and I had been forced to serve our punishments by clearing. This mob had been protesting loudly, evidently against Lissa as the demanded Rufus Tarus take her place as ruler of the Moroi. Luckily, guardians had been able to disperse the crowd before they became too rowdy, but the message to us had been clear. The conflict wasn't over yet.

Dimitri had actually been one of the guardians down there who had to break up the crowd. I had been with Lissa in her office at the time, though not on duty. I was still being kept off active duty for a couple of weeks until I was given the all clear by the doctors. It was irritating to me, just sitting around, so instead I tried to make myself useful by helping Lissa go over all of the laws that Tatiana had passed when she had ruled. In Lissa's office neither of us heard a thing, but Dimitri had been on his way to Christian's room when he was asked by some passing guardians for assistance with the horde. He had had to help separate the crowd and he heard firsthand all that was said.

"How big was it?" I asked him as we lay in bed that night, wrapped in one another's arms.

"What?" he responded in confusion.

"The mob today. How many people were there?"

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Nearly fifty. Both royal and non-royal. There were no dhampirs though."

"That's a lot of people," I said, surprised at the numbers. "Was there anyone there that you knew?"

"There were a lot of Tarus's present, of course. Rufus wasn't there himself, but a lot of his relatives and friends were. Quite influential people."

"And the non-royals?"

"No one I knew. They were predominantly royals."

I sighed I annoyance. Worry coursed through me over Lissa's safety. My forehead wrinkled in concern and Dimitri kissed my cheek tenderly. "Don't worry Roza, that group is a minority. Lissa will be fine. Especially when she has you around."

I rested my head on his shoulder, apprehensive of what was to come.

It was only yesterday when a menacing letter was sent to Lissa, demanding her resignation as queen. The letter also went as far as to explain how 'they' would fight until 'they' had gotten what 'they' wanted (I was assuming that there was a group of them, seeing as they kept using the royal 'we'). Their main demand was for Lissa to abdicate and allow Rufus to rule as King.

"People hate me, Rose. How can I rule when I am despised by my own people?" Lissa sighed.

"Quite easily," I said darkly, angered by the letter. "I can name plenty of world leaders that are hated by their own people."

"I don't know," she said looking distraught. "I thought this was going to work out. Maybe I'm just not good enough for this. Maybe I really should step down…"

"And let Rufus take your place? You think that if you're not good enough to be queen, then Rufus is good enough to be king? I don't think so," I scoffed. My next words came out more comfortingly. "Liss, you are perfect. The Moroi public loves you. This group is only a minority. You shouldn't listen to these bastards, hell Tatiana wouldn't have. They're complete lowlifes, they don't understand anything. You've been queen for less than a week. Of course people are bitter that their favourite candidate didn't win the election. You're strong Liss. Stay strong and ignore these assholes."

"You're right," she said after a moment. "It's only been a week and I'm already being asked to abdicate by acrimonious royals."

"Listen to me Lissa. You will be the best queen that the Moroi have ever seen. Just stay strong. I'll help you," I promised her supportively.

She smiled, showing all her teeth and her fangs for once. "Okay. But remember, you promised to help me will all of this. Besides, it's your fault that I got elected anyway. I wouldn't have even run as a candidate if it weren't for you and your wild ideas." She laughed and I grinned, happy that she was no longer feeling so down.

I decided not to mention the fact that it hadn't actually been my idea at all, but rather Viktor Dashkov's idea. It would have ruined the moment.

This morning there had been a meeting amongst the royal guard in relation to the anti-Lissa group. Hans called for it, inviting me (even though I wasn't on duty for at least another week) and Dimitri (because he was guarding Christian, who had also received a similarly menacing letter).

"As you are all aware by now, there's a group who seem to be very opposed to the election of Queen Vasilisa. Therefore, I think we should be more conscious of her safety within Court as well as when she leaves the safety of the wards," Hans stated. "We have changed around the guard. You guys here are the best of the best. You are the most talented and most trustworthy guardians within our ranks. It is your job to not only protect the queen from Strigoi, but also treat everyone as a suspect. After what happened to Tatiana, we know that murder amongst the Moroi elite is once again a serious threat and that the corruption and betrayal amongst royals is something that must be taken seriously. That is why we have reassigned you all these important roles – you are the most reliable and gifted guardians."

"So what should we do?" asked Steven Glint, an older but experienced guardian. He was allocated to be my main guarding partner for when I was allowed to finally start active duty again.

"Be alert for everything. Do not let the queen out of your sight, and make sure you regard all Moroi as dangerous. Although she has many aficionados, she also has enemies that oppose her role." Hans then went into detail with tactics and plans, explaining how we would have to be prepared to battle and perhaps even kill Moroi who were deemed a threat towards Lissa. We all listened in grim silence.

"Remember, this is different to anything that's happened in recent Moroi history. We need to be ready for anything," Hans finished. "You may leave. Except for you Hathaway. Belikov. You two come will me, the queen wishes to speak with you."

Dimitri and I exchanged glances, and I saw the surprise in his eyes mirroring my own.

"Sure thing," I said.

We walked with Hans to the door that led to Lissa's chambers.

"What's this about?" I asked Hans.

"No idea," he responded.

I was baffled over why Lissa might call us officially to her chambers. Hell, Dimitri and I had planned to come over later today anyway. Why not wait for us to come then?

Lissa met us in the doorway. Stepping aside she said, "Come in."

"What's going on?" I asked her, bemused.

She just smiled at me mysteriously and gestured towards some chairs. "Sit." Taking a seat facing us all she said, "Yesterday, Rose told me how Dimitri had yet to visit his family and tell them that he is once again a dhampir. I'm asking you, Guardian Croft, if Rose and Dimitri may be excused from duty for perhaps a week so that they can go to Russia and visit Dimitri's family."

Surprise flooded through me and I looked at Dimitri, whom had his guardian mask plastered on his face. Only his eyes showed me the longing he had to visit his family again. I looked back at Lissa and felt a grin stretch across my face. Her eyes sparkled with happiness.

"Why are you asking me, Your Highness?" Hans said wryly. "Whatever you say undermines my decision. Not that yours is very different to what I am suggesting."

"Lissa," she corrected him. "Are you saying that they can be excused from guarding?"

"Well, they'll have to do some paperwork to make up for it," I let out a small groan "but I see no reason for them not to visit Belikov's family."

"Then it's settled. Rose and Dimitri, you can leave on Monday night and come back to Court two weeks later," Lissa smiled.

Thank you for reading! Please feel free to review, PM or tweet me lunicornn. I'd love to talk to you!