Guardians Rising

2: Horse Riding

Wispy clouds draped the horizon, edging a clear blue sky with white cobwebs. The sun shone brightly overhead as the four siblings readied their arrows. They notched, pulled back, and fired. Except for one, they all hit their marks. Merida took the weapon from her brother, notched an arrow and shot the target dead center from 100 yards away. "That's how y' do it, Hamisch," she said. She handed his bow back to him and left the boys to practice. "Hubert, tell mum I'm going out!" she called as she headed from the archery range to the stables.

"I will!" Hubert shouted back. Merida shook her head, knowing he would probably forget within the next five minutes.

She entered the smelly stables and traipsed over to Angus's pen. Then she waved away the stable hand who tried to help her with her horse. "Leave off, lad!" said Merida. "I c'n do it m'self!" She knew that Angus's new saddle was heavier than his first one and that she would have difficulty lifting it, but her pride would not let her accept help. She fumbled with it for a second, then with a small grunt of effort heaved the great leather thing onto the horse, who then proceeded to snort in discomfort. Merida groaned inwardly as she realized she'd forgotten the saddle blanket. She hesitated for a moment, then said, "Why don't you take a break and go eat somethin'?" The boy grinned, bowed, and hurried away. Merida sighed, then redid everything, double-checked her work, and leaped onto Angus, her cloak clasped about her throat and her bow and arrows in the quiver at her back.

The wind whipped at her hair as she sped through the trees, golden light pervading the air. This was always her favorite part of the week. After she and her mother had come to terms concerning her betrothal three years ago, she no longer had to be perfect. She wasn't as wild as she had been, but she was now allowed more freedom than before. And that was the best part of all.

She laughed as the trees swept by. The leaves were turning red and gold in the late autumn sun, and she felt like she was in Heaven. Angus whinnied happily as his mane rippled in the breeze.

A few minutes later, they came to their favorite spot on the cliff, and Merida dismounted. "Here we are, Angus," she said, smiling. "And I'll just get that saddle . . ." her voice faded as she unfastened the bridle and removed the saddle. Angus proceeded to roll about in the long grass. Merida sat down with her legs dangling off the cliff edge.

"Whoooo-whooo!"

She started, looked about, then got up and turned around . . . and gasped.

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