Once Upon A Rose - Chapter 2

Dec 13, 2024

Just in time for Fairytale Friday! 💜🌿🧚‍♀️

We’re reading Once Upon A Rose, the first book in our Enchanted Fairytale collection.

Chapter 2

The next morning, Celsiana woke up early and decided to wear one of her gardening dresses rather than the gowns she usually wore when visitors came to the castle. She put on her oldest hat and gardening boots, then went to meet the girls. They were all in their best dresses with their hair done up and looked as nervous as ever.

“Thank you for coming to visit me,” Celsiana said as she walked into the hall. The girls seemed surprised by her outfit and one even smiled slightly. “I thought since it was such a beautiful day, we could spend some time in the gardens. I was just finishing a project in one of the rose beds. If you’d like to help me, I have some clothes you could wear. I’d hate to see you ruin your beautiful dresses.”

The three girls glanced at each other, then nodded. “I like gardens,” one of them said. She took a step forward and curtsied. “My name is Janine and I would be happy to help you.” She smiled.

“As would I,” said another. “My name is Laurena.” She blushed, then added, “Your Majesty.”

Celsiana smiled. “There’s no need to curtsy here. And please, call me Celsiana. We are not in official surroundings, and I would like you to be my friends.”

The third girl giggled, then nodded. “Sorry, I’ve been so nervous. My name is Avaleen and I’m very happy to be here, Your…Celsiana.”

They all went to Celsiana’s room and found gardening dresses to wear. In no time, they were having a wonderful time digging in the dirt and planting herbs around the roses.

“This is fun,” said Laurena. “I never imagined I’d have such a good time today.”

“This is a beautiful garden,” Janine said, stopping for a moment and looking around. “You have such lovely flowers and herbs. Do you also have a vegetable garden?”

“There’s one on the other side of the castle, but I spend most of my time here.” Celsiana looked at the other girls, realizing they probably had vegetable gardens at home. “Why don’t we go over there and look around?”

“I’d like that,” Avaleen said. “My mother sells our extra produce at the market. I’d like to see if you have anything we haven’t grown in our own garden.”

“Of course,” Celsiana replied. “Let’s go look.”

The girls hurried along the path and around the castle. As they reached the gate to the vegetable gardens, they heard someone clearing his throat. “Pardon me, Your Highness, is there anything I can do for you?”

“My friends and I…” Celsiana began and smiled. “We have come to see the vegetables.”

“But Your Highness,” the man said, bowing, “you spend your time in the flower gardens. These gardens are not as pretty.”

“We would like to see the gardens,” Celsiana replied. “We will try not to be in your way as you work. In fact, why don’t you take a break and have a cup of tea?” She smiled and led the girls through the gate.

“Um…thank you, Your Highness,” the man replied. He waved at the other gardeners and they went around the castle.

“It must be nice to tell people what to do,” Laurena said smiling.

“Actually, it gets rather tiresome,” Celsiana replied, “but today, it came in handy.”

The girls giggled and walked around the garden beds. It was a very large garden, divided into areas. There were fruits and berries, cooking herbs, a few edible flowers and a wondrous variety of vegetables.

Avaleen walked from one area to another, mentally keeping track of all the varieties. She finally turned and asked, “Do you think I could write some of these down, Your…I mean, Celsiana?”

“Of course,” Celsiana replied. “Why don’t we go have some lemonade and scones? Later, I’ll have one of the gardeners give you a complete list if you like.”

“That would be wonderful,” Avaleen replied smiling. “Except, I doubt we’d be able to find very many of these plants.”

“Then, you must take some starts home with you.” Celsiana looked at the other two girls and then back at Avaleen. “If you’d like to go home, I can have them sent over tomorrow…but if you’d like to stay, I have guest quarters here in the castle.”

“I would love that,” Janine replied. “I’m sure we all would, but we have chores at home we have to do. Our parents depend on us.”

“That’s understandable,” Celsiana replied, trying not to show her disappointment. “Why don’t you all come back tomorrow, and I’ll have the plants ready for Avaleen to take home with her. Would you like to come back?”

“Oh, yes,” Laurena said, clapping her hands together. “This was a wonderful afternoon.”

The others nodded in agreement, then they all went back and changed into their nice dresses again. Celsiana walked with them to the castle gates, and they each hugged her as they left. “You are the nicest princess I’ve ever met,” Janine said, then laughed. “Of course, you’re the only princess I’ve ever met.”

“I still appreciate the compliment,” Celsiana replied smiling. She waved to the girls as they left, then went back to her room. She had to get ready for dinner, and her parents would expect her to be dressed appropriately.

Read another chapter next Friday!

And here is a Kickstarter by our friend…the author/artist D.L. Gardner. She has a special “Make 100”campaign planned for next month, but you can follow it today.