The Angel of Small Heath

1904

The wind blew lightly across the field of wildflowers, tickling the petals gently.

Across the camp, the sound of galloping horses echoed across the land as they rode freely in the fresh fields.

 It was a gypsy paradise, and it was exactly where the Shelby family was headed.

At fourteen years old, Thomas Shelby was a tall boy, his features in the midst of changing into an adolescent. With beautiful dark hair and striking blue eyes, he was the replica of his mother. 

"Where has that boy gone off to?..." Mrs.Shelby thought out loud. They had barely made camp and her second oldest son had already disappeared. 

"Where else!? to the horses of course," Aunt Polly laughed. It was hard to separate Tommy from horses, they were his first love. You would usually find him down at his Uncle's yard tending to them.

"Arthur! Go find your brother. Make sure he's  not getting into any trouble" 

Huffing in reply, the seventeen-year-old ambled away. He curses his brother in Shelta under his breath.

*

Tommy crept slowly and cautiously across the field his eyes set on a beautiful white Stallion who stood grazing under a fairy tree.

He studied the horse curiously it looked to be occupied by something behind the tree. Swishing its tail every couple of minutes like it was amused.

Creeping closer, he kept quiet not wanting to spook the horse.

"Cheval, Cheval" a voice echoed through the field.

Pausing Tommy stopped to listen again..."

"Cheval, Cheval! Pomme" 

Unfortunately, Tommy was too focused on the mysterious voice to notice another horse had crept up behind him. 

A huff of air blew his hair upwards causing him to freeze. Slowly he turned coming face to face with a strong obsidian stallion. Steadying his breath Tommy took in the beauty before him.

Lifting his hand slowly he waited for the horse to make the first move. With his full attention on the horse, he missed the soft padding of feet drawing closer to him.

"Qui es-tu?" a sweet voice called out.

Startled, Tommy turned around seeing no one. "Who's there?"

"Moi" 

Looking down he finally noticed a small girl standing under the head of the white stallion. Her White hair blended in with the horse. Meeting her eyes he drew in a sharp breath, he had never seen eyes that color before. She was beautiful in an enchanting kind of way. Her aura attracted everything around her.

Tilting her head he watched as her stark white hair flowed down hair back, framing her beautiful tanned face. The girl was stunning, there was no doubt about it.

 Moving closer he noticed wild flowers placed delicately in her unruly curls. Her startling silver eyes were encased in long dark eyelashes that stared directly into his soul. 

They searched for an answer he didn't know the question too. Tommy had never seen a girl this striking before, and it didn't help that she was the same age as his sister...or younger.

"Who are you?" he called out, studying the way the horses flocked to her side. Giggling when one tried to eat a flower in her hair, she playfully swatted it away before turning her attention back to him.

"Quel?"

Huffing at her reply, he held out his hand for her to take. Furrowing her eyebrows, she shook her head in denial. 

"Come on! I'll bring you back to camp. Your mother and father are probably worried about you" he told her sternly, beckoning her forward.

Not liking his tone, she pouted her plump lips subconsciously, moving closer to the stallion. 

"No?" 

"Non" she exclaimed shaking her head again.

Sighing he looked back to the camp, just over the hill. It was going to be hard communicating with a girl who couldn't understand a word he was saying and vice versa. 

"ok, okay" he mumbled. Pointing to himself, he pronounced his name slowly. 

"Tómmy" she repeated, receiving a grin in return.

"Yes! And you" he asked pointing at the little girl now.

Smiling at the game, she pointed at herself repeating her name. 

"Aurora," he said out loud, getting himself a clap of approval. 

Tommy laughed, it was very easy to entertain the young girl. Walking forward he tried his luck with petting the obsidian stallion. 

"They like you, huh?" he asked, looking at the horse nuzzling her face. 

"Cheval" she repeated pointing to the horse.

"Horse" he understood, smiling.

Holding out his hand again, this time she accepted. Waving goodbye to the horses who neighed after her, she skipped beside the young teenager. His slow steps were still too fast for her little legs.

Sighing quietly he stopped walking, bending down he quickly picked her up. Setting out a startled gasp, she giggled patting his face.

"Beau" she exclaimed tapping his face again. 

"Beau?" he questioned in confusion. Only to see her nodding in agreement. Sighing he carried on walking, listening to the girl as she began to sing a sweet lullaby.

 Reaching the top of the hill, he set her down. Laughing as she ran down the hill at a startling speed. He jogged after her. 

Her hair flew behind her glittering in the sunshine, she looked like an angel.

Butterflies swarmed around her, they seemed to be drawn around her... as if by magic.

He looked around in awe as the girl let out cheerful giggles. 

This girl was special, she was the optimum of wild and free.

Thomás Shelby would forever remember the day he met his Aurora. It was engraved in his mind as the best day of his life.