The Children of When (Complete)

Chapter 11: Meeting the Horses

Belle was so excited she wanted to sing out loud. They'd suffered through Mr Kafoops' history lesson, and she'd only had to nudge Raff once when he started snoring. Mr Kafoops had informed them that the elective class was on that afternoon, and all three of them had chosen Equestrian Studies.

They'd eaten a quick lunch - much to Raff's disgust, who was stuffing food in his pockets as they left - and headed to their rooms to get changed. As they entered Leah's room, Belle's eyes fell on the most amazing outfit she'd ever seen, laid out neatly on Leah's bed. A snug-fitting pair of beige pants and a white shirt lay underneath a pair of gorgeous black leather boots. And then her face fell. There was no outfit on her mattress. She dropped down onto her bed and tried not to look hurt, but Leah had already noticed she didn't have one.

"Stay right there," Leah said as she dashed out the door. Within seconds, she was back, wearing a huge grin. "I think you'd better come with me."

Belle pushed herself up off the mattress and followed her out the door. Leah swept open the door to Belle's room with a flourish, and indicated with her head for her to have a look.

Tears welled up in Belle's eyes the minute she stepped inside the door. The room was beautiful. It was filled with stuffed animals and trinkets, and clothes burst out of the cupboard. On the bed, laying on top of the gorgeous butterfly covered quilt, was a riding outfit exactly the same as Leah's.

"How...?" was all she could say, as she turned to Leah and hugged her. "It was you wasn't it?"

Leah tried to look innocent, but laughed instead. "I simply made sure the right people knew about a situation that needed fixing."

"I'll never be able to thank you enough," Belle said, as she walked around the room, touching things to make sure they were real. "I can't believe it!"

"Wow, I'm impressed," Raff said from the doorway. Both girls' jaws dropped when they turned to look at him. He wore the same snug-fitting beige riding pants and white shirt they had been given. His black boots were fitted to the knee, and Belle had to admit he looked impressive. Leah was blushing, and busily pretending to straighten the stuffed animals on the bed.

Raff shook his head. "So, are you two gonna get dressed, or are we gonna be late, and miss out on choosing the best horses?"

Belle shooed them both out of her room... her beautiful room, she corrected herself, and changed her clothes as quickly as she could. She kept getting distracted by things she hadn't noticed when she'd first come in. Like the exquisite crystal horse figurine on the shelf, and the small rug on the floor beside the bed that matched her butterfly quilt perfectly. She wanted to sit and soak up the sight of all her new and amazing possessions, but she knew Leah and Raff would be waiting, and she wouldn't miss picking her horse for the world. She pulled on her boots, amazed at how well everything fit, and raced out the door.

Leah and Raff were waiting in the corridor. She smiled to herself as she noticed the awkward looks they were throwing at each other when they thought the other wasn't looking.

"Come on, let's go," she laughed, linking arms with each of them and almost skipping out the door.

* * *

There were no other students in the meadow when they arrived. Apparently, they were the only ones to arrive this week who'd signed up for Equestrian Studies. Belle was so excited she could hardly breathe as they walked up to where Mr Trotter stood waiting for them.

"Ah, here you are. Raff, Belle and Leah right?" They nodded. "Excellent, I'm Mr Trotter, and I'm very pleased you have chosen Equestrian Studies. I'd like you to spend the next ten minutes wandering around the meadow and getting acquainted with some of the horses. I'm not sure whether you've had a chance to see any of our horses up close, so you may not have noticed they have wings. So... not only will you need to learn to ride your horse on the ground, you'll also have to learn how to stay aboard while flying. I'll call you back when the time is up and we'll see if we can match you up with the right horse. Choose wisely, and have fun!" he said as he smiled and shooed them away.

Belle was still reeling from Mr Potter's news about the horses having wings as she walked down the meadow. She was a bit disappointed none of them were black, like the horse from her drawing, but she hadn't really expected to find him here.

Leah and Raff were heading off in opposite directions; Leah towards a pretty brown horse with a white streak down his face and Raff towards a big grey with a shaggy coat. She sighed, hoping the awkwardness between them wouldn't last. It was exhausting just watching them.

The vibration of thundering hooves under her feet alerted Belle to the impending arrival of two more horses racing up the meadow, one pure white and the other as black as night. The white one wheeled off towards where Leah was standing, while the black headed straight towards where she stood. No way...

Belle was staring at the magnificent creature from her drawing, and he was thundering up the meadow towards her. The horse's dark black eyes were fixed on hers, and he slowed to a walk as he came closer, his breathing laboured and nostrils flaring. Belle stood mesmerised by his appearance. He nudged her gently, as if inviting her to say hello.

She reached out and rubbed his velvety nose, beyond understanding, or even caring, where he had come from, or how this was happening. He whickered softly in greeting, and Belle wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him.

Their emotional greeting was interrupted by Mr Trotter calling them back. Reluctantly she unwrapped her arms from around the horse's neck, and turned to head back to where Mr Trotter was waiting. She had only taken two steps when she felt a nudge on the back of her neck. Turning back, she was surprised to find the black horse following her, trying to look innocent of the crime of nudging her.

She laughed, rubbing her hand along his soft neck. "Ok, I suppose you can come too," she said against his nose, and they walked back together.

She was busting to talk to Raff and Leah about what had happened. Leah was walking towards them with the white horse beside her, whilst the big grey began pushing Raff towards them, with Raff turning around every couple of steps telling him to 'quit it.'

Mr Trotter looked a little perplexed, scratching his head like Raff did when he was thinking. He cleared his throat, looking around at the three of them and shaking his head. "Well, now I've seen everything! It seems it won't be necessary for me to help you choose a horse. Instead, the horses have chosen you."

He turned to Leah first. "We call this beautiful lady Solange, which means 'the solitary one'. As far as I know she is the only Pegasus crossed with a Unicorn born in the last five hundred years. I have never seen her come to the meadow on choosing day, so I can only assume she has been waiting for the right person. It would seem that person is you, Leah." Solange whickered as he finished speaking, as if she agreed with what Mr Trotter had said.

"And Raff, I couldn't have chosen a better match for you. Rogue is a Greyneth, which means he is both swift and strong and will certainly keep you on your toes. He doesn't suffer fools, and has been known to reject a few students who thought to choose him. I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun together."

"Finally, Belle. I have not seen Midnight in many years. I heard he had returned to the Forever Forest, where most of the Adonians originated. Yet here he is, and he has attached himself to you. I am looking forward to becoming reacquainted with him. I have missed him. He will definitely look after you."

"I'll leave you now, so you can spend some time with your new friends. Don't forget to change before dinner; riding gear is not considered suitable attire for the dining room. Good afternoon children, enjoy your free time. Your first riding lesson will be on Sunday, which should be interesting to say the least. Oh, and I feel it would be best if you don't mention today's... ahem... unusual events to anyone else. You each simply chose the horse you wanted, and that's the end of it." He shook his head one last time, then turned and walked back to the school buildings.

Belle, Leah and Raff all started to talk at once. They laughed, agreeing with Belle's suggestion that they sit and tell their stories one at a time. Belle threw her arms around Midnight and hugged him. Thank you, she whispered into his ear, and he nodded his head up and down as if he understood.