The Tale of a Princess and her Knight

Cordelia was just ten years old when her father, King Edgard, gave her a personal knight. Sir Nicolas was only one year older, making him eleven years old. Currently, Princess Cordelia, King Edgard, Sir Nicolas and his father, Sir Vladislav are in the throne room. “Cordelia,” the King starts, looking down at his daughter. “This is Nicolas,” he motions towards the young male child, who is standing in front of his father. Cordelia looks up at her father, confusion evident in her face. “Okay,” the Princess speaks, “And what am I supposed to do with him?” She asked her father. The King gave a nervous laugh, glancing at Cordelia. “Nicolas is going to be your personal guard. In two years time, he’ll be training with everyone his own age.” The King said this as if he was a proud parent. The King loved his daughter, but he wished he had a boy instead. Cordelia’s mother, the late Queen, died giving birth to Cordelia. The late Queen’s death broke the King. After the funeral, he stayed in his office, throwing himself into his work. Indifferent, the Princess huffs, not liking the idea of having someone watch over her. She’s been doing just fine without a guard or a babysitter. She’s old enough to take care of herself now. “Fine,” Cordelia says, starting to walk towards Nicolas. “But there’s going to be some rules. I don’t want to see or hear you. You must be twenty steps behind me at all times. Got that?” Stunned, Nicolas just nods. He didn’t expect the Princess to be this brazen. With his nod, she walks straight out of the room. As instructed by the Princess, Nicolas waited a bit before leaving the throne room to follow her around. “I never saw the Princess like this before, your Majesty.” Sir Vladislav states. Vladislav knew Cordelia all of her life, he was just in the shadows. “Yes, neither have I. This can only get interesting for the two of them. At least my dear daughter will have a friend, she’s been lonely since there’s not many children in the palace.” It was true, the only children in the palace were from servants or the knights who lived deep inside the palace. Meanwhile, the Princess is running around outside with Nicolas chasing after her. He knew he should say something, but he stopped himself due to the rules the Princess set between them. As Cordelia was running up a hill, she fell down just to lay on her back. Huffing, her guard stops right below the hill. “You can come up here, dear guard.” Spoke Cordelia as she moved her head into the ground just to look at him. He doesn’t move from the spot he’s standing, not sure if her words are a trap. After waiting for a couple seconds, Cordelia just sighs, “suit yourself future knight,” she says in a teasing manner. The Princess just lays there, watching the clouds move. “For a future knight, he sure is obedient,” she thought to herself. She didn’t really mean the rules she put for him; it was just a joke. Being a Princess, she doesn’t have many true people who she can trust. Him taking her joke rules seriously wasn’t something she thought would actually happen. Hearing the dinner bells from the palace after a while, Cordelia quickly stands up, brushing off her gown. “Come on knight, dinner time. I believe you’ll be joining us from now on for meals.” Nicolas didn’t want to get on the Princesses' bad side, they’ll be spending a lot of time together anyway. He decided it’d be better to be silent during his time being her guard so he doesn’t accidentally offend her. “This is boring. You may speak, Nicolas. You know, I should give you a nickname,” with her own words, Cordelia starts to think. “Hmm,” she starts, “Maybe Nico?” Pondering the name, she turns sharply, startling him. “Yes, you shall be called Nico from now on.” With a wide smile, she nods triumphantly and starts to walk again. “Princess,” Nico starts, being cautious with his words since he can finally talk. She just hums in response but then speaks. “If we’re to be around each other a lot, I give you permission to call me by my name. Cordelia.” “Alright princ-” realising the mistake he was about to make, he quickly corrects himself as she gives him an annoyed side eyed look. “Uh, I mean Cordelia. Since you gave me a nickname, may I give you one too?” He questions. It was only fair in his eyes for him to pick out a nickname for her since she did the same for him. Pondering his question, Cordelia nods enthusiastically, “Yes, you can give me a nickname.” With her words, they made Nico happy. He didn’t have friends since all of his memories were training with a wooden rod with his father. “How about Lia?” With his words, her eyes light up. “Yes, I love that. Call me Lia from now on only when we’re alone.” She flashed him a big smile. She didn’t have any friends, just like Nico. Being a Princess is everything she’s known in her life. Walking through the forest, Lia starts humming a song that Nico has heard many times. Silently, he started humming too. Lia noticed Nico’s humming as they walked and a small smile spread across her face. She didn’t like Nico at first but in these couple hours, he grew on her. Through the forest and now at the kitchen door, they enter the palace. The Princess was beloved by all the staff, she was the only child of the King after all. “Dinner is being served, Princess Cordelia. His Majesty is already in the dining hall along with Sir Vladislav.” A maid tells Lia as she enters through the door. Only acknowledging the maid with a simple nod, Lia scurries towards the dining hall. She knows she’s late for dinner, the hill that she loves to lay on is at least half an hour walk from the palace. Through the palace grounds, through the forest and into a clearing. She’s been going to this hill ever since she can remember; it’s her space away from the palace life. Now at the dinner table, her father starts to speak, “You’re late, Cordelia. At least Nicolas was with you or I’d send one of my guards to find you.” He was just worried for his daughter, but Lia didn’t see it that way. To her, Edgard was an overbearing father who wanted to keep her inside. Lia was his only daughter and the heir to the throne since he has no other children. “Yes father, I know I’m late for dinner. Nicolas and I were just outside getting to know each other since we’ll be spending a ton of time together,” was her reply. With a hum from the King, everyone started to eat. They were waiting for the two children to come to the dining hall to eat. “I’m glad to see you two getting along so well, Princess. His Majesty and I were worried you two would constantly fight.” Sir Vladislav took a pause to allow Lia to speak. After a moment of her not speaking, he continues. “Speaking of Nicolas, maybe he should board in the palace to protect her highness, your Majesty.” Looking over at Vladislav, Edgard nods while cleaning the side of his mouth. “Yes, I was just thinking about that. What are your thoughts, Nicolas? Cordelia?” Looking over at the children, they both nod. Chuckling, he talks again, “It’s settled then. I’ll have a room prepared close to Cordelia’s room to ensure he can protect her the best he can.” Lia and Nico look at each other and smile. They’ve gotten close during their time on the hill. It wasn’t much of an interaction but it was enough. As they finish dinner, everyone stays at the table. “Well,” Vladislav begins. “I believe it is time for Nicolas and I to take our leave. I wish to continue to train him with a sword until he can train with the others. Always have to keep the new recruits training, even if they’re not of age yet.” “Yes, you both are dismissed. I want a few words with Cordelia anyway.” The two males bow at the King and exit the dining hall. As the two males exit, Edgard starts to speak. “Cordelia, I see right past the act you two are putting up,” he begins. Lia was about to speak but he cut her off. “You didn’t fool anyone. What did you really do today, Cordelia?” Edgard questioned his daughter. He saw right through that act and that made her pout. With a small whine, knowing she was caught, she replayed what really happened during that day. After Nicolas left the King’s office, he followed Cordelia; or tried to. The young guard went searching all over the palace to find the young Princess. He searched every hall, room and corner for her but he didn’t find her. Meanwhile, while Nicolas was trying to find her, Cordelia was hiding. Her hiding spot was at the hill. That part was true but she started running towards the spot while Nicolas being an obedient guard. Cordelia saw him as an obedient puppy; willing to listen just to not get into trouble. While laying on the hill, he finally showed up after almost an hour of searching for her. “ahh,” Cordelia starts to say, “The puppy guard has arrived. Let’s see if you can find me again.” Not giving him any room to reply, she runs off into the forest, going deeper in there. She made Nicolas chase her like this the whole time until she stopped. Cordelia starts to turn around and head back to the palace just as she hears the dinner bells ring. The whole time Nicolas has been following the Princess, she’s been hiding and making him run to find her. It’s been a game of cat and mouse. Cordelia didn’t want a guard, she didn’t ask for one. He was just dumped onto her like an unwanted pet. She was fine without a guard and she’s determined to prove it. The only thing that didn’t change was the two giving out nicknames for each other. How it happened was different though. Cordelia allowed Nicolas to find her and demanded he call her Lia while alone and she’ll call him Nico. Everything else was false. With the real story coming to light, Edgard shakes head. “Cordelia, you should try to get along with Nicolas.” He started to say, “He’s going to be around you a lot. Wouldn’t it be easier to get along with him?” Shaking her head, Cordelia huffs. “No father, I don’t need a guard. I’ve been doing quite well without one.” “Oh really?” Edgard raises an eyebrow at his daughter. “What about that time you were stuck in a tree and it took me sending out Vladislav to find you? Or how about-” Cordelia interrupts him, “Okay okay, I get it. I’ve caused trouble in the past. But it’s been awhile since I have.” It was true that she’s been getting into trouble. One time she was stuck in a tree and another time she was missing for a few hours; she was just at the hill laying there during that time. The hill has a special place for her. Edgard told her a story while she was younger about a hill that her mother loved to go to. Every chance she got, she went to that hill. After the story was told, she went out and searched for the hill, knowing it might be a lost cause. It wasn’t a lost cause since she did find the hill and now uses it to get away from the palace life. Edgard knows his daughter goes to that hill, he knew from the moment she started leaving the palace regularly. He didn’t say anything to her about it since he knew where she was. “The way you and Nicolas looked at each other gave the way you were treating him away.” Edgard stated. Even at dinner it wasn't as it seemed. “To ensure the Princesses' safety, I believe it’s best for Nicolas to stay on palace grounds. What do you think, my King?” Vladislav asks. Seeing how the Princess looks at his son, he was nervous about suggesting such a thing. To his words, Cordelia gives Nicolas a disgusted look. She obviously wanted nothing to do with him and having him stay inside the palace means she’d see him all the time. More than what she wanted. “I was just thinking that. I believe the room close to my daughters is not being used at the moment; he can stay there.” Giving her father a fake smile, she tries to make it not happen. “Father,” Cordelia starts, “What’s wrong with the quarters for the guards? He can stay there instead.” “Cordelia, how would he protect you if he has to run that far just to get to you? It’ll be easier to have his quarters near yours.” Huffing, she knew it wasn’t going to work. “Fine, father.” Was her only reply. If Edgard wants something, it’ll happen. That’s how it’s always been; he is King after all. Noticing the tension in the room, Vladislav excuses himself and his son from the table so they can do their evening training session. “That meant nothing, father. I just don’t get why I actually need a guard,” she whined. “I already told you, Cordelia. For your safety.” He was getting tired of repeating himself. “Go get ready for bed. This conversation is over.” Without another word, Cordelia heads up the winding stairs, down the hallway and into her bedroom. Reaching behind her, she unzips her dress as it falls down, revealing a white chemise. All the noble ladies her age wear a chemise under their dresses as they won’t be exposed. Changing out of her chemise and into a floor length nightgown with frills on the shoulders, she lays in bed. As she falls asleep, her maids bring out a new dress and chemise for Cordelia to wear. Gathering the worn clothes, they exit the room, allowing the Princess to sleep. Running in a barren land, the ground looking like melted lava, something is chasing after her. She doesn’t know what or who is chasing her, she just has the feeling of being chased. Fear is all she could feel in that moment. In the dream, all she heard was roaring, feeling heat on her skin. She didn’t feel comfortable in her own skin, as if she had another skin underneath. Edgard never told Cordelia the true story of how they met. The story told of a woman and a man falling in love at a ball the woman's family hosted. It was partially true, but not fully. The heat on her skin made beads of sweat form along with running for what seems forever. Her shoes were lost far back as she’s currently barefoot. Her dress lost the volume it used to have as layers of lace under the extravagant skirt which adorned silver and gold beads and elegant designs. It was a beautiful dress, every lady complimented her on it; despite having alternate motives. The roaring got more and more quiet the farther she ran. Looking back, she saw a brick castle with a huge creature on top of the walls. She was too far away to make out what exactly the creature was but all she wanted was to run as far away as possible. The dream seems to skip as it feels like she’s now soaring the sky. All that was seen below was trees and the occasional river. The roaring stopped and the heat against her skin was gone. The air against her felt better than the previous scene in the dream. This dream felt so real though. Maybe it wasn’t a dream. It couldn’t be, right? After what felt like seconds in the dream world, she dived and landed in a palace that looked familiar. She knew this palace but her mind is blank on how she knew. A faceless male figure emerges from the entrance as she runs into the arms of the faceless male. It was an intimate reunion it felt like. He held her as she held him. It was like two lovers who were kept away from each other. A single, loud roar is what woke Cordelia up in the middle of the night. Looking at the clock next to her bed, it read twelve thirty five. It was past midnight and she woke up from a sound in her dream. What did the dream mean? Did the dream mean anything? Shrugging it off, Cordelia got out of bed and to the water pitcher the maids leave in her room each night along with a cup. Meanwhile, Nicolas had a similar dream but from a different perspective. Hearing the faint loud roaring from the training ground, he rushes towards the entrance of the palace. The woman standing in front of him is a faceless figure. He doesn’t know who she is or why but love starts to fill his whole being. The faceless woman runs into his arms that he didn’t notice they already moved to receive a hug. Wrapping his arms around this woman, they held each other for what seemed like forever. Now entering the palace hand in hand, the woman placed her opposite hand over her stomach as blood seeped between her fingers. His dream didn’t last long as the image of the faceless woman bleeding scared him awake. He immediately recognized the palace in the dream; it’s the same one he is currently sleeping in. He didn’t want to be the Princess’ personal guard, his father just made him take the position. Only being a year older than her made him the perfect candidate; it also helped Vladislav is the King's personal guard as well. When the King married the late Queen and became officially crowned with such a title, he was just nineteen and the Queen eighteen. At thirteen, Vladislav became the King’s guard while in training. Though he was older, Nicolas being eleven is the perfect age. Not being able to sleep, Nicolas laid there in his bed, thinking about the events and what occurred. Vladislav and Nicolas left the dining hall, allowing the two royals to talk. With a hand on his son's shoulder, Vladislav leads Nicolas to the training grounds. “Nicolas, you’re going to deal with a lot while guarding the Princess. Assassination attempts,” he starts to attack Nicolas, once with a punch. “Poisoning of food and drinks,” another attack but a kick aiming for the head. “Even other royals from other countries who wish to see the end of our country,” grabbing a wooden dowel rod, Vladislav swings, aiming for the torso. Nicolas has been perfectly deflecting and dodging each attack from his father. Dodging the punch, putting up his arm as his forearm is kicked and jumping backwards avoiding the wooden dowel rod. The rod was used to mimic a sword or any weapon so it’s often used in their training. Vladislav threw a wooden rod at his son, indicating they’re going to be fighting with these rods today. Nicolas caught the rod as if he’s been doing it for years beyond his age. Ever since he can remember, he’s been training with his father. At first, it was just running around the training grounds, using the equipment in the gym and the basics of how to throw and receive a punch along with defense. Loud sounds are heard as the males' wooden rods are clashing together in the training ground. Wood clashing, occasional grunts, and instructions to make Nicolas’ movements better. After a while of clashing wooden rods, Vladislav makes the move to end this spar. Swinging the rod upwards after clashing, causing Nicolas’ rod to rise vertically, he swings the lower half, hitting his son's torso. After making contact with his torso, Nicolas is pushed down with the rod. Laying on the ground in defeat, panting, he gets up with the help of his father. Every time they spar and train, Vladislav wins and Nicolas loses. He doesn’t go easy on his son, he has been training him to guard the Princess after all. As Nicolas was thinking of the training spar with his father, he fell back to sleep. He knew he had to beat his father eventually, but right now he doesn’t mind losing. He’ll beat him in his own time and when he’s ready. The next day, Cordelia’s maids ran around her room; opening her curtains, getting a clean rag and water basin so she could clean herself of the night sweat. “Princess, please wake up. His majesty is waiting for you in the dining hall for breakfast.” The head maid said as she ripped the blanket off of her; the king's orders. Cordelia is difficult to wake up as she rather stay in bed instead of getting ready and eating breakfast. If it was up to her, she’d lay there until noon. Groaning, she rolls out of bed with her hair a whole mess. Every piece of her hair is in every way a mess while a knot sits on the back of her head as if it hasn’t been brushed in a while. Strands of hair are sticking out from the left and to the right. Letting out a yawn, she gets out of bed, heading straight for the water basin to wash the sleep from her face. After getting dressed with the help of her maids, she sits at her vanity allowing another maid to brush out her rats nest of hair. “What’s for breakfast?” Cordelia asked, knowing it’s the same thing every day. Cinnamon rolls with powdered sugar, fried and scrambled eggs fresh from the farm, bacon freshly cut and pasta smothered in a garlic butter sauce. It’s the food they eat a lot throughout the day. She didn’t mind it but she wished they could make something else for each meal. The maid told her exactly what she knew for what was for breakfast. After her hair is done, she heads to the dining hall while everyone that saw the Princess bowed or curtsied when they saw her. Entering the dining hall, her mood immediately changes when her eyes fall on the very being she despised. It wasn’t his fault, he was made to be her guard after all, but she still didn’t like him. Breakfast was silent, a thick tension in the air as Cordelia made obvious she didn’t like Nicolas. Half way through breakfast, she lost her appetite. Her hatred made her feel unwell. Excusing herself from the table with the excuse of not feeling well, she heads seemingly towards her room but quickly changes course and goes straight to the hill. Not even half an hour later, Nicolas followed her to the hill and is now sitting at the base of it. They don’t speak the whole time they’re around each other until Cordelia had enough of the silence and spoke. “I don’t need a guard. I don’t need you in my life. I was doing just fine without one.” “Princess,” Nicolas starts, knowing she isn’t going to like that he is talking. “It wasn’t my choice to be guarding you like this. If I had the choice, I’d be spending all my time training with my father till the day ends and when I turned of age, I’d go and fight in a war. I never wanted to be around you, I never wanted to guard you. This position was forced upon me.” With the last of his words, they were both fuming. He stood up and started to head towards the forest going to the palace. How dare he speak his mind and just walk away? She was a Princess! He shouldn’t have done that! A loud, frustrated scream is heard from the hill as Nicolas stays in the tree line, out of view. He knew that would happen. No one told her off like he did, it was the first. None of the staff or knights were brave enough to tell the Princess off since they had to show respect to her at all times or the King would do something about it. Pacing about on the hill, her mind is running a marathon with thoughts. Cordelia told him not to speak and to be a certain amount of paces behind her from the beginning. At least he’s obeying her words now. She knows he’s in the tree line, it’s not that hard to spot him from the top of the hill. He broke the no talking rule and just told her off! She knows what her position entails; staff, maids and knights, are meant to be respectful at all times no matter what she or her father tells them. She didn’t like to be told off, it wasn’t her. This wasn’t her. She never felt such anger in her life before; she never had a reason. Nicolas is making her feel emotions she never had to feel. Everything was handed to her and she loved that, she was daddy's Princess after all. Cordelia knows she’ll be taught to govern her kingdom when the throne is passed down to her, along with the dreaded marriages. She didn’t want to think about marrying some prince from a different country; all she wanted was to rule without someone by her side. She believes she’ll do just fine without a distraction. Her father got married early on, before being crowned King, but she wanted to be crowned Queen and then married. Deep down, she knows that isn’t going to happen but she’s staying hopeful. Nicolas felt the same way as the Princess, not wanting to marry. Though unlike Cordelia, he doesn’t want a marriage at all. He saw how marriages work and he didn’t want to end up like his parents. His birth parents that is. Nicolas was an orphan before Vladislav took him in as his own. The late Queen brought home a child one night when she visited her fathers kingdom. The story went, as she was riding away from her fathers castle in a carriage, an infant was left in the middle of the road. The late Queen stopped the carriage to rush out of it and gathered the baby up. A note was written and attached to the blanket wrapped around the infant. The note stated they couldn’t take care and feed their newborn son for they were in poverty and living off of what they can produce from their land. The late Queen took the infant home to the palace and allowed Vladislav to raise him as if he was his own. She trusted Vladislav dearly, he knew of the kingdom she grew up in while her husband, until her dying breath, knew nothing. The story told to Nicolas was that his birth parents fell apart as soon as his birth mother became pregnant with him as his birth father wanted nothing to do with the seed growing inside of his wife's womb. Due to the story told to Nicolas, he doesn’t want to be married and knows just how to avoid it. At eleven years old, he planned to be all into his work and no distractions. At ten years old, Cordelia knew what she wanted. At eleven years old, Nicolas knew what he wanted. Some say they’re too young and they’ll eventually change their minds yet that day never happened. All these two kids want to do is be themselves by themselves; without anyone in their life. One doesn’t want to get married right away while the other doesn’t want to get married at all. Throughout the day, Cordelia stayed at the hill while making Nicolas bring her meals to her. She didn’t want to come back to the palace just yet; she was still angry at Nicolas for his words. No one asked for this to happen, she knew that deep down. Cordelia knew she was blaming the wrong person but the person to be blamed was family and a King therefore she didn’t want to be angry at her own father. Her own heart won’t allow her to be angry at her only family left. Nicolas calmed down and knew he wasn’t to be blamed. He knew from the start but it made him angry he couldn’t do anything about it. Throughout the week, it was the same thing over and over. Cordelia wakes up, getting ready for the day, eating breakfast and going straight to the hill. Next year, Edgard planned on starting to train his daughter to take over the throne so she’ll be ready when she turns eighteen. Twelve is the normal age for a King or Queen to train their heir to take over since it takes awhile to meet everyone below them and get used to the papers. It took Edgard years to train; be who he wanted to.