Another Beauty and the BEAST story

Chapter IX

I am flying through the forest, safely on Philippe's saddled back. He whinnies happily, enjoying the snow whirling around his hooves as he lets his body explode in speed among the watching trees. The air resistance hits me in my face, and all I do is hold onto the reins tightly and laughs happily. A large fallen tree approaches, and as Philippe takes off from the ground, time slows down. I experience the moment to the fullest. The way Philippe models his body to send us flying, and then to catch us when we hit the ground on the other side. The way his mane, tail and my own hair flows like running water in the air. And the way my whole body lights up with the same euphoria I know Philippe is feeling; genuine joy. 

Time starts again, and we continue sprinting between the trees. I holler at the top of my lungs, yelling out my joy as we do so. Trusting Philippe completely, I let go of the reins, sit back into his saddle and open my arms uncovering my chest towards the sky above, closing my eyes. My own breathing echoes in my ears, together with Philippe's hooves thundering against the ground. 

And then she catches up.

Her braid is whipping at her back, her face plastered in the same big smile as my own. Her snowy white stallion runs with ease at Philippe's pace. His long mane and tail glitters like the snow around us, and his eyes are as bright as a frozen lake. Puffs of air is visible now and then from his nostrils. She rides with perfection, without either reins or saddle, while wearing her usual white dress. Her big horse catches up and gallops next to us, and I grin widely at her, showing all my teeth. She responds with the same smile, playing across her face and enlightening the dimple in her right cheek. 

And then she pushes some snow off a branch, and it hits me in the face. Elsa continues on, laughing, and urges her horse to run faster. He does so, disappearing ahed, with snow whirling behind him. I laugh, accepting the challenge, grabs hold of the reins again and bends down towards Philippe's ear.

"We're going to get them, aren't we, boy?" I whisper, and he whinnies approvingly before increasing the length of his leaps. I hold onto his mane, and hangs on as we chase after them. Faster and faster, we leap through the snowy landscape around us. We work together, man and horse, completely enclosed in the adventure and excitement we're living. 

The forest ends, and a field of snow opens up. Elsa is calmly galloping ahead of us, looking back and sticking out her tongue towards us. But when she notices our speed, her grimace disappears. Once again she urges her horse forward, as we begin catching up in rapid speed. We fly across the vast field, leaving behind only separate prints of our existence. The prints are far from each other, implying the speed of the horses. 

But as the forest appears at the end of the field once again, we still haven't beaten Elsa, and I admit defeat. As our horses walk back towards the castle, pulsing through the deep snow next to each other, I breathe almost as heavily as Philippe. 

"Told you that you couldn't beat us," Elsa mocks and pats her horse on the necks. He neighs lovingly at the affection. 

"We were close," I defend Philippe, though I know that it is hopeless. She won't let go of this win for weeks. The snow glitters like fallen stars around us, completely untouched this far into the forest. The isolation of Elsa's castle had bothered me when I first arrived, since it limited my options of escape, but now, a few weeks later, the remote castle deep within the forest had become a home to me and Philippe. 

Then, suddenly, Elsa stops her horse dead in it's tracks. She whirls around frightened, and fear and desperation reflects in her turquoise eyes. 

"What's wrong?" I ask, alarmed by her reaction. I pull Philippe's reins, forcing him to stop. 

"We need to go," she whispers and urges her horse into a trot. I follow cautiously, and that's when I hear them. Voices. From people. My whole body stiffens at the sound of other people's voices, and my first reaction is to turn around and greet them. But I look ahead, seeing how Elsa trots away into the forest, finding comfort in the cover it gives. And as much as I would like to see someone I recognize, I follow her away from the humans and back to the lifeless objects.