Blooming Camellias And Fallen Aspen Trees - Blog Posts

Blooming Camellias and Fallen Aspen Trees [Chapter 2]

The princess walked through the halls of the castle with a smile on her face and a skip in her step. She got to pick her own personal knight! Anyone she wanted and her father couldn’t complain! Not like he would anyway, but the fact it was said out loud was reassuring to her. She had taken some swordsmanship lessons with her older brother when they were both young so she could protect herself fine, but the idea of always having someone by her side was nice. It’d be like a friend for her! She certainly didn’t have many of those, definitely none she saw on the regular besides family and her servants, so she was excited at the thought.

Camellia walked through the halls and eventually got outside, looking around at the training grounds of the knights. She looked around at the knights training with one another with a smile, sitting on a bench. A knight with dirty blond hair walked over and stood by the princess, talking in a friendly voice,

“What are you doing here, your highness?”

“Oh, Adam! Hello!” Camellia turned to the man with a smile. “Father told me I should have a personal knight. And said I could pick whoever I want! I’m just looking to see who would be best!” Adam laughed slightly, and sat on the bench with Camellia.

“Woah! Anyone, huh? Whoever you pick will be honored! Who do you have in mind?”

“I have no idea yet!” The princess smiled and looked at the other knights training, who all seemed to be training with one another. She paused when she noticed a knight training a ways away from everyone else, practicing his sword swings alone. “Adam, who is he?”

“Hm? Who?” He looked over to where Camellia was facing, then he blinked in surprise. “Oh, him? That’s Sir Aspen. He’s one of the knights who lived in the neighboring kingdom previously… He’s a really good swordsman, just he seems intimidating to most of the other knights… Don’t think it helps that he keeps to himself-”

“That’s not very kind!” She stood up from the bench. “People avoid him because he’s intimidating? He’s new to the kingdom! Who has shown him around?”

“Me, your highness.” Adam raised his hand, and Camellia huffed.

“I’m gonna go talk to him! He can’t be as intimidating as you say!” She turned on her heel, and walked through the training grounds, not listening to Adam’s words of concern as she walked with a strong intent in her step.

“Hello there. You’re Sir Aspen, right?” Camellia leaned into the man’s view, as he stopped swinging his sword.

“Yes..? And who are you? Why are you talking to me?” He spoke in a rather deadpan tone, but his words didn’t seem to be rude in any way. He saw how the people looking at him in disdain switched to looking shocked before quickly looking away. Aspen put together that this woman was at least not a commoner like himself from that alone.

“I’m Camellia! You can just call me Camie if you’d like!”

“Camie…” He spoke the name, still just as monotone, seemingly testing the name on his tongue.

“Yeah, Camie! And what I wanted…” She smiled gently. “I just wanted to talk to you! So I can see what kind of person you are!”

“You shouldn’t bother, I’m just a commoner… And I’m from the neighboring kingdom we have bad relations with…” He swung his sword once more. “Everyone else knows better than to get close to me.”

“That’s nonsense!” Camellia quickly shook her head, and Aspen stopped swinging his sword once more to look at her, confused.

“It is?”

“It is! It doesn’t matter your status, or the land you came from! You’re a knight of the kingdom, just like everyone else here!” Aspen turned fully to look at the woman, sheathing his blade.

“I’ve never heard anyone say something like that... Especially not to me. You’re very kind, Camie.” The woman in question smiled, but Aspen shrugged all the same. “But you still shouldn’t get too close to me, The other knights may start treating you differently.”

“They wouldn’t!” She smiled genuinely, folding her hands behind her back. “Just a hunch, is all.” Aspen raised an eyebrow at her words, but left it alone.

“I… see.”

“Oh, my! I’d better get going! Have a good rest of your day, Sir Aspen!” Camellia spoke quickly, then she walked back the way she came while waving goodbye to Aspen, and then to Adam before she went back into the castle. Aspen then walked over to Adam after she was out of sight.

“Who… was that…?”

“That was… Princess Camellia.”

“WHAT?!”

I figure while working on the next chapter I can show two other characters for the future! So we have Adam (another young knight) and Florent (Camellia's older brother)!

Blooming Camellias and Fallen Aspen Trees [Chapter 1]

The kingdom of Luralia was a beautiful place, beautiful fields, flowing rivers and waterfalls, and lush forests throughout the land. The kingdom was a prosperous one, and the people of the kingdom were happy, whether noblemen or commoners. The royals of the kingdom were considerate of the people, and seemingly cared about everyone living in the kingdom no matter their status.

The princess of the kingdom stood before her father, who sat on the throne, and she seemed to look confused.

“Father, if I may be so bold, but why now must I need a knight to be my guard? There have been no concerns or questions before.”

“Unfortunately, one of our neighboring kingdom’s seems to be quite displeased with how we do things here, so I just want to take extra precautions here…” He got up from his throne and stood in front of his daughter, cupping her cheek with a hand. “I know you’re very capable, Camellia my dear, but I just want you safe… You can pick whichever knight you’d like.” Camellia’s long ears twitched at that.

“Really? You’ll let me pick? No matter who?” When her father nodded, she grinned. “Alright! I’ll go watch the knights at the training grounds! I’ll let you know when I pick one! I love you, father!” And then she left the throne room with a smile, waving as she did. The king returned the wave with a smile.

“That went… Better than I thought it would. I hope she picks someone she can get along with…”

I figure my first post on here should be what I'm working on, so meet Camellia(Camie) and Aspen! A princess and her newly assigned personal knight! Their story is a work in progress-