𝕭𝖔𝖔𝖐 𝕺𝖓𝖊
𝔖𝔲𝔪𝔪𝔞𝔯𝔶: A high-school project gone wrong sends Astraea Aphelion fifteen centuries back in time, where she has to face a world of dragons, magic, and evil sorcerers. Luckily, she is not alone. In between hardships, she finds a...
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📍 Camelot
⏳ January, 504 AD
"Tyr!" I called the attention of a stable-hand with whom I've become acquainted as he walked past me on his way towards the stables while I was brushing the dark bay mare before our session for the day.
The chubby brunet stopped in his tracks and he turned to me with a grin, giving a courteous nod as he greeted, "Good morning, Lady Astraea."
"I'm not a lady, dude. Please, just call me Astra," I responded with a heavy sigh. A faint blush appeared on his cheeks and he averted his gaze. Can life get any more strange?! I shook my head and switched the subject to the reason why I had called his attention, "Do you know if there's a spare bridle I could borrow?"
"Yes, of course, my lady," he promptly responded, making me throw my arms around in frustration, "allow me to bring you one."
"I'm not a lady, Tyr," I repeated with a pointed look. "And I can get it myself, just tell me where it is."
He gulped and nodded before responding, "You will find a wooden crate in the saddlery where unused bridles are kept."
I thanked him with a small smile and whispered to the mare that I'd be right back before skipping over to the tack room where, sure enough, I found a crate that contained some dirty, old bridles and some spare parts. I picked one that appeared to be in good condition still and removed the bit. I cleaned the dust off the brown leather and then I tweaked some pieces so that the bridle could be used as a side-pull. I'm training the mare my way, after all.
After working with her for over two months, I'd finally given her a name – Cinderella – since I had found her in rags, and now I was turning her into riches. Or that's my goal, anyways. Uther is happy with the progress she's made in that short amount of time, and he even told me that he'd like to pair her up with Morgana, once she's ready.
I'm extremely grateful that I can still have the sense of purpose that horses give me in the midst of the craziness I accidentally got time-transported into.
I finished a short session with Ella in which I introduced her to the bridle and some simple rein cues, and then I returned her to the paddock. Next, I took out Dallas and we went out for an hour-long ride. I've grown to know the woods that surround the castle like the back of my hand – which didn't happen without a few scares when I found myself lost a couple of times. (Don't tell anyone, though.)
After my trail ride with my trusty steed, I set him loose in the paddock and he grazed happily while I gave him a thorough grooming as I hummed Rush's 'Closer To The Heart' to myself.
"Hello, Astra," Merlin suddenly appeared behind me, making me jump and glare at him, but I quickly changed my look of displeasure for a frown when I realised that he seemed more fidgety than usual.
