A Kind of Magic

Forty-Three

Fiona opened the door for Gollum and followed him outside into the dark and windy courtyard, the signs of the recent dragon stand off more visible to her eyes now, in the silvery light of the moon that made its appearance from behind the clouds momentarily. The bright wall of one of the outbuildings was singed and smeared with black, the stone wall enclosing the courtyard was crumbling in one place...

She turned back towards the door when it opened again, allowing the three men who had turned her life upside down to spill outside after her.

Fiona scowled at the trio reproachfully-- was it Annwyn's words that changed their behaviour, making them watch her more closely?-- hoping that it wasn't what it seemed. She was a grown-up woman, an adult used to her aloneness and independence, and if they tried to change it too fast, they would drive her crazy. 

In all honesty, she didn't mind Peregrine's presence or his closeness, but the three of them trailing after her together were two too many.

"We're going to greet our horses," Leodhais said when he noticed her reproachful look upon himself, walking away from her, towards what must have been the stables.

"Come meet my Buttercup," Gilderoy said, smiling, his upturned lips barely visible in the waning light of the moon.

"And Asfaleem and Peregrine's Shadow," Leodhais added from the distant corner. His blond hair seemed to be the only source of light in the deep shadows cast by the outbuildings lining the courtyard, their stone walls almost indistinguishable from the blackness of the night now that the moon had vanished behind the clouds again. 

Fiona followed Gollum with her look, a shadow spun of the night skipping from a spot to another more interesting spot of the gloomy courtyard just like he used to do at home, in the park, apparently perfectly unfased by the change of environment, before she looked towards the sky, closing her eyes as the first raindrop landed on her cheek.

"Come with us before you get wet and catch a cold, you wouldn't want your people to see you for the first time with a red nose and sneezing, Princess," Peregrine whispered in her ear even as his strong arm wrapped around her waist, urging her towards the stables.

His breath landing on her earlobe made her shiver and wish for more... Botheration! she despaired, settling for wrapping her arm around his waist for support as she resigned to his will and reasoning. 

"Will Gollum be all right left alone here?" she asked simply, voice shaking only slightly as she walked at his side.

Peregrine nodded, his free hand landing on his head with a sudden gust of wind, out of habit, in search of the hat he must have left inside.

"I think I know him well enough by now to bet that he won't stroll anywhere far without you," he said, only a moment before the excited dog ran to his mistress' side and preceded the couple curiously into the stables.

The horses were just like their owners, Fiona realised with a giggle, as she recognised each one unmistakably in the tremulous light of the candles which Peregrine lit with a mere touch of his fingers the moment they entered. 

She walked to Buttercup first, a beautiful, large pony, its sturdy grey hooves concealed by long and thick strands of cream and toffee coloured fur. Freddie will adore her, she mused, caressing the animal's pink snout when Gilderoy wrapped his arms around her off-white neck lovingly, burying his face in her silky mane.

Fiona approached the elf's horse next, a creature just as slim, tall, and elegant as its owner. She was tempted to courtsey to the regal beast whose snow-white fur seemed to glow in the tenebrosity filling the stables, which the tremulous golden light coming from the candelabra Peregrine was carrying couldn't banish entirely.