Post by Lady Edfeil on Jul 23, 2012 8:55:49 GMT -5
At least the alarm had nae sounded. That was Master Sergeant Gerben's uplifting commentary after the whole matter was over. It had started innocent enough.
She'd needed a diversion, but with the time to the wedding shortening every day, and so much still to do it felt overly indulgent. So she had decided to set herself to a long neglected task of learning to ride Edeline. Even the journey to the village was becoming hard on Molly, the old white mule that for so long had been her loyal mount. When she had started looking for a replacement over a year ago, many had told her a horse would be needed, and she understood, the queen of Windstorm should nae travel on a pack animal. Still... she nae had been good with horses.
Mayhap though it would work well as a surprise for Gregor, and a sign of gratitude for the gift he had bestowed upon her. Edeline. The gift had come shortly after the disastrous riding attempt she had had with goodman Sinold. Perhaps there was something about her trying to ride a horse that brought disaster, but it had ended in shouts and nearly drawn swords. A few months after the attempt though, Edeline had been brought to Windstorm from Gregor's own estate. She had become acquainted with the gentle Frysian mare over the last half year, but had nae ridden her outside a few short attempts in the paddock with Bertrand at the bit.
Today had seemed like a good idea for a somewhat more adventurous attempt, riding the horse herself. Nae BY herself of course. The Master Sergeant had ridden beside her, a leading rope between his horse and Edeline. And Sergeant Lan had mounted also, even though the excursion at dusk was but supposed to go down the path that sloped along the hill around the castle and back. A short first foray.
It had seemed excessive. It was nae. Mayhap the good part was that there nae had been problems right from the mounting block. She has been aided into the saddle, arranged her skirts and taken the reigns, determined and without panic. They'd crossed into the courtyard even without a problem and even the master sergeant had seemed to relax a bit. He had ordered all work to be stilled for the scant time it would take them to cross the courtyard, in order nae to spook either the queen or the horse. Then.. it had happened. A high whinnying. The sound of hooves clattering as a black battle horse reared high, prancing in a practiced dance, right on the stilled courtyard as the Edfeil rode by.
It was enough. A small, high sound, a tightening of the reigns, the panicked tensing of her legs, the sudden fear of rider that transferred to the horse and Edeline did bolt. They'd nae been prepared for the prancing, for the war horse so close. For an expert horsewoman to set her own horse to a practiced dance just at that moment. They had however been prepared for Edeline to possibly bolt.
It had happened so swiftly. Edfeil had clamped her hands on the saddlehorn, already imagining the tumble down, and the breathless pain that came with it. She saw the still form of goodwoman Sarah within her mind and the severe injuries that might follow. It nae came to that. The rope between Edeline and the master sergeant's horse prevented her from sprinting away.
Ulf's swift reactions had the large gates closed, and unbeknownst to Edfeil, behind her Lan had drawn steel and placed himself between the Lady D'Andra and the queen. If it had been an attempt she would have nae had the chance to finish it.
While Gerben soothed the skittish mare, while Edfeil tried to refind composure, iced words had been exchanged. An exchange, including an offer to wipe out any insult on the field of steel, that had come to a swift ending once the queen had refound composure and mayhap more importantly her feet back on solid ground. The exercise aborted for the day things had calmed down easily. One thing was certain, iffen she wished to be able to ride a horse, she needed practice.
She'd needed a diversion, but with the time to the wedding shortening every day, and so much still to do it felt overly indulgent. So she had decided to set herself to a long neglected task of learning to ride Edeline. Even the journey to the village was becoming hard on Molly, the old white mule that for so long had been her loyal mount. When she had started looking for a replacement over a year ago, many had told her a horse would be needed, and she understood, the queen of Windstorm should nae travel on a pack animal. Still... she nae had been good with horses.
Mayhap though it would work well as a surprise for Gregor, and a sign of gratitude for the gift he had bestowed upon her. Edeline. The gift had come shortly after the disastrous riding attempt she had had with goodman Sinold. Perhaps there was something about her trying to ride a horse that brought disaster, but it had ended in shouts and nearly drawn swords. A few months after the attempt though, Edeline had been brought to Windstorm from Gregor's own estate. She had become acquainted with the gentle Frysian mare over the last half year, but had nae ridden her outside a few short attempts in the paddock with Bertrand at the bit.
Today had seemed like a good idea for a somewhat more adventurous attempt, riding the horse herself. Nae BY herself of course. The Master Sergeant had ridden beside her, a leading rope between his horse and Edeline. And Sergeant Lan had mounted also, even though the excursion at dusk was but supposed to go down the path that sloped along the hill around the castle and back. A short first foray.
It had seemed excessive. It was nae. Mayhap the good part was that there nae had been problems right from the mounting block. She has been aided into the saddle, arranged her skirts and taken the reigns, determined and without panic. They'd crossed into the courtyard even without a problem and even the master sergeant had seemed to relax a bit. He had ordered all work to be stilled for the scant time it would take them to cross the courtyard, in order nae to spook either the queen or the horse. Then.. it had happened. A high whinnying. The sound of hooves clattering as a black battle horse reared high, prancing in a practiced dance, right on the stilled courtyard as the Edfeil rode by.
It was enough. A small, high sound, a tightening of the reigns, the panicked tensing of her legs, the sudden fear of rider that transferred to the horse and Edeline did bolt. They'd nae been prepared for the prancing, for the war horse so close. For an expert horsewoman to set her own horse to a practiced dance just at that moment. They had however been prepared for Edeline to possibly bolt.
It had happened so swiftly. Edfeil had clamped her hands on the saddlehorn, already imagining the tumble down, and the breathless pain that came with it. She saw the still form of goodwoman Sarah within her mind and the severe injuries that might follow. It nae came to that. The rope between Edeline and the master sergeant's horse prevented her from sprinting away.
Ulf's swift reactions had the large gates closed, and unbeknownst to Edfeil, behind her Lan had drawn steel and placed himself between the Lady D'Andra and the queen. If it had been an attempt she would have nae had the chance to finish it.
While Gerben soothed the skittish mare, while Edfeil tried to refind composure, iced words had been exchanged. An exchange, including an offer to wipe out any insult on the field of steel, that had come to a swift ending once the queen had refound composure and mayhap more importantly her feet back on solid ground. The exercise aborted for the day things had calmed down easily. One thing was certain, iffen she wished to be able to ride a horse, she needed practice.