Stable Boy

Utala Parade

Today was a big day for Zach and Zoe. Today was the day of the Utala Parade. This was the day nearly all their horses where rented to people in the parade. It was two am and Zach and Zoe where already up grooming the horses. They were very tired but they knew it would soon be worth it. They each gave themselves their own duty. Zoe was to refill the food and water troughs, cut the grass in the huge field and then collect as many flowers as she could. Zach was to clear the horses stable then clean them and groom them.

Both of them were knackered by seven, when almost everyone was up preparing, as they looked around they saw people decorating their houses and practicing songs. Zach loved watching everyone singing and dancing. As Zach finished grooming the last horse Zoe came out from the field with the last basket of flowers. Zoe smiled

"That's the seventh big basket" She said smiling.

"Great! Lets start decorating" Zach cried with excitement. Zach got out some stools and put them down. Zoe grabbed one and put it by the end of the stables. She continued to hang flowers on the roof. Zach winded some around the fences on the field.

"This is going to look amazing" Zoe screamed shaking with excitement.

"Its around nine now, we have plenty of time, lets go to the bakery and see what my brothers got" Suggested Zach stepping down from his stool and his tummy rumbling. They each took a few coins and made there way to the bakery, it was only a few stores away.

They stopped at an old, wooden, decaying shop with a small wooden sign saying 'Bakery'. They opened the door, which was hanging off its hinges, to see Zachs brother and his friends frantically running around making as much food as they possibly could.

"Hey Dante" waved Zach. Dante, his brother, didn't look up from the dough he was flattening out.

"Hey Zach what can I do for you" Dante replied keeping full eye contact on the dough.

"We wanted to buy some bread" Smiled Zach walking along the cracked, dirty floor boards up to the crumbling wooden counter. Dante swept his midnight black hair back and put the dough to one side.

"Sure which one do you want?" said Dante while resting his arm on the counter. Zach and Zoe looked at each other to tell the other one to decide.

"I don't mind what we get" Zach said.

"Ok then can we get the normal sized seeded bread" Zoe pointed at the bread full of seeds. Zach didn't really like the seeded bread but he was so hungry he didn't even care if it was poisoners. Dante lifted it up from the small shelf it was on and put it on the counter which couldn't take anymore weight.

"7 coins" Dante said frowning.

"7!" yelled Zach. "I'm not paying 7! Number one that's a rip off and number two I'm your brother !". Dante looked at him still frowning.

"Its what everyone else is paying and your my younger brother" Said Dante stubbornly.

"Dante just give him a discount and get back to making your bread!" yelled one of the other bakers. Dante rolled his eyes and gave Zach and Zoe the bread for five coins. They left happily nibbling on the bread and walked right back to their stables.

They sat down next to each other and Zoe rested her head on Zachs shoulder. Soon a few customers came a long and rented the well- groomed horses. A few moments later they heard horns blow from the castle. The Parade was starting! Everyone started to cheer.

They both rushed to the castle but they were way at the back of the crowd. Horses came galloping past. After a few horses came through with knights dressed smartly on their backs the royals started coming through.

First the youngest, Jessica who is only  13, Then the eldest, Isaac who is 24, then the middle prince, A-A-Alex... his brown eyes shining in the sunlight, his brown wavy hair swaying in the wind, his smile is just the most handsomest and don't forget his teeth blinding white. Zach had seen the prince before but something just felt different. Suddenly he felt a pair of wonderful eyes lay on him and when Zach got back to being conscious he saw the prince! Staring at him! Zach felt his face go red and quickly looked away. Zach didn't care about the other royals going passed he just chased the princes horse without even knowing it.

Zoe realised Zach was gone and started popping her head above the crowd to try and find him. The only thing she saw was different browns, blondes and ginger heads squished together. Zach was pretty small so she knew it would be hard to find him.

Zach followed the crowds of people and chased the prince's horse. Every few seconds he would feel the prince's eye on him and blush. They went all the way round the kingdom through the narrow alleyways to the wide roads. People where singing and dancing and laughter could be heard all around.

The knights stopped back at the kingdom and all the royals got off their horses and stood by the bright majestic castle. Everyone cheered and music could be heard from all around. Zach was at the very front of the crowd looking past all the knights arms as they were acting as a human fence. He felt the princes eyes once again lock on his but this time the prince had a small smile on his face. The crowd got heavier and heavier squishing people against the knights which stood their ground firmly. Zach' neck was squished against one of the knights shoulders and he started to suffocate. The prince looked at him in shock as Zach choked.

"Guard!" the prince yelled but because of the cheering he wasn't heard. The prince called out again but once again he wasn't heard. The crowd fell silent when they watched the prince run up to Zach and unhook his neck from the knights arm. The metal had scraped the front of Zach' neck and it was bleeding heavily. The prince clicked his fingers and a small plump woman hustled over to him.

"Take this boy to the nurse and get him cleaned up" The prince said looking down at Zach sternly. The prince called a knight to help the maid carry him and soon they were off. Zoe pushed to the front of the crowd shocked to see Zach being taken away.