Eyes Of Lia (Slowly Editing/Updating)

Complexity In the Stables

-.-.-. Chapter 3 -.-.-

I WOKE UP earlier than normal and found myself sleeping on my window ledge.  I yawn and stretch, and get up and change clothes.  I change into another dress, along with leaving my hair loose and left untouched over my back and shoulders.  I put away my available plans and grab another apple and set off to begin my morning studies that were soon accompanied by the morning chores.

Father refused to send me to school, despite my efforts to say I needed the education, he would always refuse.  Demanding that I didn't need an education, as I wasn't going to use it ever.  I wouldn't become the queen anytime soon.  After I turned eleven and still was sick of not having a school to go to, I felt left out and was desperate.  So I reached out to my own resources, teaching myself the way of the world, from a large complicated book I stole from the book merchant. However, because I didn't have anybody to help me with my studies, I often times would be left feeling frustrated and unaccomplished but never once was I fully discouraged to stop.   After I finished my studies, this time feeling good about being able to figure out complex questions, I hear Sarini call me down for breakfast.  Today wasn't my day to go down and join the family, because it was the first Wednesday of the month, Sarini said it was the most stressful Wednesday because that is when father has all his important meetings and he didn't need me stressing him out even further so.  I push myself up out of my makeshift bed and unwrinkled the fabric before making my way down the large staircase. 

"Good Morning Sarini." I smile down at her as I step down the final few stairs.  

Her response was beyond pleasant, hissing at me. "Why are you down here? It is the first Wednesday of the month Lia."  

"Is it? Whoops, I am terribly sorry." I walk past her, pushing her to the side and out of my way.  I needed to finish phase one of this plan. 

I make my way to the grand dining room, a large rectangular wooden table was filled with multiple dishes, making sure we walked away without any trace of hunger until the afternoon. I looked around seeing father and Hanna talking quietly to themselves.  I swallowed my anger and decided to put on a bit of a show, maybe they could change their minds.  I can maybe convince them that I can be known by the town as Lia the not-so-dead dead princess.  We were soon joined by Sarini, who sat beside me and began talking about her morning endeavors, such as going to the market place to surprise the family with a fresh pie for the evening meal.  After her endeavors were spoken of, we ate in complete silence, nobody said anything.  

I decided to not do anything to get me in trouble for this morning, instead I would clean my room and continue on with my morning chores.

Afternoon meal was served and participated in that as well, I normally do.  After eating I walk to the stables, in there were many flashy and beautiful beasts, with high heads and flared nostrils.  All trembling with anticipation and ready for the afternoon buzz.  After admiring some of horses I make my way to the only horse that truly had my heart.  When I stand in front of her stable confinement, I see that the top of the door was scuffed and open, I smile to myself.  She was out, again.  Almost in perfect synchronization in my thoughts, I heard a shrill and multiple yells and curses.  I follow the noise and see the little hellion run away from the hot headed stable men.  Holding back my childish laughter, I watch completely amused  with her antics.  The white mare bounded away from every rope and man she saw, her head held high the entire time and her nostrils flared, tail high.  As she trots past me, I see a look of mischief flash through her eyes, as she kicks up her heels and bucks around.  This was the attitude of one of the kings' personal favorites, even if she was unapproachable.

The stable hands always told father that he should get rid of the nuisance, but he refused.  She was the product of his star stallion, Paradox another high strung horse.  The small mare could get to everybody except Ol' Gus, Gus was a large man with a large heart.  Gus would reach out to any horse and he could successfully train them for whatever he wanted.  I have never seen him use a whip, or any object that would inflict harm on any beast he trained.  Gus then taught me a few tricks about the animals and I used them to my advantage often times, causing trouble with the stable men, and giving Gus a good laugh.  

I whistled shortly, and waited patiently as the white beauty skidded to a short stop on her heels and made a quick turn, knocking a stable man over.  She snorts in my direction and hold her head high, and points her ears, aware of my presence now. 

"Well don't you like getting in trouble?"  I smile at her, as she nuzzles my extended hand and sniffs my pockets, trying to find the hidden treats.  After not able to find any she pushes against my chest as I began to pet her head.  She was our third Arabian we  currently owned, the first being Paradox and the second being another mare, who has calmed in age. Like her mother, this young mare took the dainty characteristics, and like Paradox, she was stubborn and very spirited.  Which is probably why father refused to get rid of her, she was so much like Paradox.  Paradox was a large Arabian, with the need for speed.  He could out run almost any horse in the stables, with the exception of his youngest own kin. 

"What do you think you are doing?"  The stable man yells.

I look up and dropped my hand and raised an eyebrow.  "Excuse me?"

"Get away from that thing!" He yells a whip in his hand.

The white mare's muscles tensed and she threw her weight to the side, knocking me to the side.  I look up at her body language, noticing her pinned ears.  She quickly advanced on him and kicked up her heels putting on a show to keep him away, assuring that he was on the ground, far away from her.  When she is done she trots over to me and I lead her over to the tack section of the stables, tacking her up without a fuss.  She wouldn't.  I mount her and together we walk out of the stables.  The stable man must have gotten up by the time I tacked her up and was walking out of the stables as he once more began to chase after the mare, and calling for help.  Accusing me for stealing the horse.  I pushed slightly on her with my legs and made a noise of encouragement, so she knew she could advance onto a faster gait.  We weaved through the crowd of people, while still staying in the castle's walls not advancing through the gates and towards the village.  Suddenly another man with a whip jumps out at me from the corner, and another finally caught up with me.  

"Get off that horse!"  The man at the front, a big man with a dirty face, and missing teeth called out.  I don't respond until the man on the mare's rear slurred, "Get away from that ol' beast, she is nutin' but trouble.  She be going  back to 'er stable." 

I look trying to see a way to exit.

"You are stealing the king's horse!"  Dirty face called out.

"Yeah! The king with go off with ye' head!"  The other gestured to his head and made a soft noise, imitating the machine's noise as it would 'go off with ye' head'. 

"Why would the king kill his own daughter?"  I ask defensively, anger creeping into my voice.

"What other daughter? He has one and only one, Sarini! What are you to do child? Run back to your poor family and brag on how ye' got I ride with good ole' whitey here....."  Dirty Face says as Drunk advances slowly.

"Step away from that child."  A loud and booming voice said, I sigh and feel myself relax as the horse side steps.  I silently thank my luck.