Once Upon A Rose - Chapter 6
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Finally, we have the next chapter of our story.
Chapter 6
Celsiana had made her way into the village three or four times a week for the past few weeks and still had not gotten caught. She enjoyed her time with her friends ‘on the outside’ as she thought of it. She didn’t know how long it would last, so she planned to make the most of her free days.
She’d never regretted posing as a boy during her visits until she had a meal one afternoon at Avaleen’s house. They had just sat down to eat when a young man joined them.
“This is my brother, Nicholas,” Avaleen said.
Celsiana nodded at the young man, as Avaleen explained, “This is my friend, Cecil. He’s been helping me with the garden.”
Nicholas didn’t take much notice of his sister’s new friend and opened a book to read, but Celsiana couldn’t help glancing over at him. He was tall with dark hair and green eyes. Actually, he looked a lot like Avaleen, but Celsiana hadn’t realized green eyes could be so intriguing.
She did her best not to talk too much. Avaleen’s mother hadn’t paid much attention to her daughter’s work in the garden, and her father spent most afternoons in his shop building furniture. However, Nicholas was another story.
“How are the plants doing in the garden?” he asked Avaleen. “Did those new ones you got from the castle make it worthwhile to assign part of the space to them?”
“Well, if you weren’t gone all the time, you’d know the garden is doing very well.” Avaleen glanced at Celsiana. “We’ve had great luck with the new plants.”
“I hope you don’t think we can pay you for your help,” Nicholas said, looking directly at Celsiana. “We aren’t wealthy, so I hope you’re all right working for food.”
“Food’s just fine,” Celsiana replied in as deep a voice as she could manage.
Nicholas shrugged and went back to his book. “My brother is studying with some of the masters in the next village,” Avaleen explained. “He doesn’t often grace us with his presence.”
“Leave your brother alone,” Avaleen’s mother said, smiling slightly. “He needs to study.”
“Or he could help in the garden,” Avaleen said, not able to resist prodding her brother.
Celsiana shook her head slightly, but no one seemed to notice.
“Fine,” Nicholas replied, setting down his book. “Let’s see what you and your friend have accomplished since I’ve been gone.”
Celsiana followed Avaleen and her brother out to the garden, where he stopped and whistled softly. “You have gotten some things done,” he said, looking at Avaleen and smiling. “Not bad.”
“I’d say it’s great!” Avaleen replied, arching an eyebrow. “Do you want to see the new plants?”
Nicholas followed them over to the other side of the garden and had to admit he was impressed. “I’ve only seen some of these in books. How did you get the starts?”
“The princess is my friend,” Avaleen replied, glancing over at Celsiana, “and when I asked her, she gave them to me.”
“Enjoy it while it’s lasts,” Nicholas replied, a bit sullenly. “I used to be a friend to Prince Trevor, but once he got old enough to take on his royal responsibilities, he didn’t have time for his friends anymore.”
Celsiana didn’t remember ever seeing Nicholas at the castle, but she wondered if he and her brother used to go hunting together. That seemed to be her brother’s favorite pastime.
As if reading her thoughts, Nicholas said, “We used to spend time hunting with some of the other boys in the village. The prince was a bit spoiled, but not a bad sort until one day, when he told us he didn’t have time to enjoy childish pursuits any longer.” Nicholas shook his head. “Too bad, but it wasn’t realistic that we’d remain friends for long. Royalty has to stay with royalty.”
Avaleen looked over at Celsiana, then back at Nicholas. “Maybe you chose the wrong royal to be friends with,” she said, then started pulling some weeds. Nicholas shrugged and went back into the house.
“Avaleen,” Celsiana said quietly. “I would never abandon you or my other friends.”
“You’ve been a true friend to all of us, Celsiana. That’s why I want to ask this.” Avaleen looked closely at her friend. “What’s going to happen when your parents decide you’re old enough to marry?”
“I hope that won’t happen any time soon,” Celsiana replied thoughtfully. “My father has occupied his time with diplomatic negotiations, and my mother spends most of her days catering to the visiting princesses. Until my brothers marry, they won’t be too concerned about my future.” Or so she hoped.
Read another chapter next Friday!