Baron's Story

​In the Garden

Naomi was so happy to see Baron again....

 "I was very disappointed when I woke up this morning, and you were gone, but I've actually had quite a nice day. Your Mother and Winston kept me entertained with stories about you. You certainly had the most interesting childhood. I actually felt envious."

"And to grow up with such beautiful gardens..."

"It reminded me of what you said last night when we were waiting for dinner in the restaurant's terrace garden....I can't believe it was only yesterday......that you loved their gardens because they reminded you of home."

"Now I see what you meant...."

"Your Mother's gardens are spectacular..."

"Just look at all these beautiful flowers..."

"We really need to talk...."

In Need of a Break

Naomi sat down.  "I have so many questions, but I guess we should start at the beginning.  Like, why you were 'visiting' in my time period in the first place."

'That's fair....Well....I was rather unhappy, having just gotten out of what I'd hoped was going to be a lasting relationship. I'd known the girl ever since I was a child...."

"The Princess Grace?'

"Yes.  How did you know?"

"Your Mother was telling me this morning, all about you and your friendship with the King and his sister,
​and how she had a crush on you."

"My Mother can be such a busy body!  
​Yes, we were good friends for many years, and everyone just assumed we'd become a 'couple'"

"...including me."

"But then she told me she wasn't interested in a romantic relationship with me. She said she thought of me as a good friend, and like a brother, and it couldn't be anything more. 

"She left for a while, and met someone else who she fell in love with.  I tried to be happy for her, but I missed her.
​
So I'd get together in the Tavern with the guys after work...."

"but they'd soon head home to their wives and girlfriends, leaving me at the sole attention of the flirtatious barmaids..."

"Saturday nights were spent hanging out with the other single guys who didn't have a date...."

"I suppose I was bored....and lonely. I needed a break.  Take some time for myself. Go somewhere where no one knew who I was. But as First Knight everyone here knew who I was, so there weren't many options...."

"Then Miho suggested she could send me anywhere. As a great and powerful Sorceress, she could send me ANYWHERE. Even to a different time. She suggested the challenge of trying to fit in in a totally alien culture might be exactly what I needed. The idea sounded intriguing, but I had to think about it.  I finally decided that it could be an interesting distraction, and told the King that I was taking a leave of absence.  When I was ready to leave, Miho gave me a special jewel"

"Take this jewel. When you are ready, or need to come back, it will take you home."

"But she never told me that 'True Love's First Kiss' would do the same."

A 'Medieval' Knight

"It must have been quite the culture shock for you.  How ever did you manage to 'blend in'?"

"Well, Miho and I had done some research beforehand. We knew 21st century society was based on money, and that it was required for everything, for food, clothing, and housing. Everyone needed a job. But I had no credentials, no experience in any modern jobs. I was basically going to be an 'undocumented alien'. But we discovered that there was still an opportunity for a knight..... at two places....at a Renaissance Fair and at a Medieval Dinner Theatre. So I went to apply for a job there....dressed like this...."

"They were surprised by my swordsmanship and equestrian skills, but even more impressed that I already had my own 'authentic-looking costume'. So they hired me.

​I was assigned to a beautiful white horse."

"...and they took some promotional photos..."

"It was an interesting job, pretending to be a modern person's idea of what a 'knight' was. And after every performance, we were expected to mingle with the guests, and pose with them for souvenir photos...."

"Have you ever been?"

"Yes, actually.  I remember there was this one really handsome knight, who was busy talking to a little boy who was interested in seeing his sword. I was headed over to watch, but then I got a call from work...."

"...and there was a problem needing my immediate attention, so I had to leave..."

A Camera

"But when I met you, you were a photographer. How does a Medieval Dinner Knight become a professional photographer?"

"Well, when I first arrived, I didn't know much about 'modern technology', and I soon became curious about all those small black and silver boxes everyone said they were taking pictures with..."

"So I thought I'd ask."

"It was interesting because the man thought I was just 'staying in character' as a Medieval knight who didn't know anything about modern technology....but that's exactly what I was. So he very patiently explained it to me. "

"He showed me the pictures he'd taken on it, and let me hold it..."

"I found it fascinating...."

"So with my next paycheque, I went and bought a camera, and a laptop to download my photos onto."

"I had entered the 'modern world'."

Out and About

"I didn't have to go to work until late afternoon most days, so that gave me lots of time to go exploring..."

"...and take lots of photos.."

"There was a coffee shop I'd go to.."

"Where I discovered 'coffee'..."

"...and 'donuts'...."

"...while checking out the photos I'd taken...."

Baron the Photographer

"I loved the idea of a camera....this small box...."

"..and being able to use it to capture images of the world around me."

"So I'd go out exploring every chance I had...."

"Everywhere there was something new to see..."

"Then, back at home I'd download the day's photos."

"I discovered the Internet, and joined a couple of photography groups."

"I learned a lot from them, and started posting some of my photos...."

"I even started winning some photo contests."

the Ruins Garden

"You certainly adjusted to my world quickly.  
​Were you ever tempted to go back to your own time?"

"Yes.  There was one day especially."

"I had been doing some research to see if I could find if there was anything left of my world.....this town....this castle... and one day I discovered where it had been..... and took a trip there...."

"But everything was gone. There were just a few ruins left of the King's castle."

"And all the surrounding grounds had been turned into a Garden...."

"I did take a few photos...."

"But I found it rather depressing to see how little was left..."

"I sat there for a while..."

".. remembering all the great times I'd had there..."

"...and it suddenly hit me, that every person I had ever known and loved, was long gone. They'd all been dead for centuries...."

"I was feeling very 'homesick', and took out the jewel Miho had given me...."

"I seriously considered going back..."

 "But I put it away."

"I wasn't ready to go back just yet."

A Job Offer

"I'm glad I decided not to come back...or I'd never have met you."

"Because, shortly after I got back from my trip...."

"I was having a late dinner in my apartment..."

"...when I received a message."

"It was from a magazine editor. He said that he had been following my work online, and was very impressed with my photos. He said he was always on the lookout for new talent, and was wondering if I'd be interested in trying fashion photography for his magazine?"

"It sounded interesting, so I agreed to give it a try. Then I started looking online to see what other fashion photographers were doing, to see what I liked, and what I didn't...."

"A few days later I arrived at the magazine photo studio...and met the model who would be my 'test subject'."

the Fashion Photographer

"I tried to relax and just have some fun taking photos..."

"The model was beautiful...and very professional....and so easy to photograph...."

"She was wearing the most gorgeous green gown, with colourful flowers all along the edges...."

"The magazine had just signed on a new, young designer..."

"....who specialized in extravagant evening wear, and gala gowns."

"..so they were looking for a new photographer with a fresh approach."

"The magazine editor loved my photos, and over the next few weeks I was commissioned to shoot more of the designer's gowns."

"Then I was told that the designer herself would be modelling one of her own gowns....for the cover...
​....and it was you."

"You mean......that all that time.....you were the photographer taking the photos of my gowns?  
​You were actually working for me??"

"It would seem so.  Although we hadn't actually met... until the day you arrived in the studio."

"And you know the rest..."

the Truth

Naomi seemed perplexed. "Can I ask you something?"

"When we were going out together, I really started to feel something for you. I'm just wondering if ...or when...you would have told me the truth about who you really were?"

"Believe me, I really wanted to. I've never felt about anyone like I feel about you, and it seemed so dishonest, hiding who I really was. When we were together, it was on my mind the whole time..."

"But how could I tell you that I was really a time travelling knight on an extended vacation?  You'd have thought I was crazy."

"I don't know.  I probably wouldn't have believed you.  Although....don't laugh.....remember when you were taking those first photos of me?  I kept drifting off?  Well, I kept getting this overwhelming image of you as a knight....just like you are now...."

"Maybe on some subconscious level, I was picking up on your vibe, and sensing the truth."

"I guess we won't ever know what my reaction would have been..."

"But I sure believe it now..."

"The man I fell in love with..."

"...really is the knight in shiny armour of my dreams.."

*Next - Naomi's Story

​Copyright © 2021  Martha Boers
All Rights Reserved

(return to Favourite Photos 2021)