Masquerade Madness : T. Holland

3

Tom escaped from the palace, every one was bothering him with details about the up coming ball. When it should be, what kind of ball should it be, who should be invited, and lots of other questions, one after the other. It'd been like that all morning for him. So whilst the lady who had been questioning him turned to speak to the other lady, he quietly dashed.

He raced down a few unknown hallways, leading him to the stables. He knew it was childish and silly but he honestly couldn't care less. He just wanted to get away from it for a bit. He saw his horse be put back in it's stall, having been just fed and brushed and finish having it's hooves trimmed.

Quietly he snuck into the tack room and grabbed a bridal, rushed back to his horse, slipped it onto it's face, then jumped on it's back. Not bothering with a saddle. And took off. He had been gone for a few hours, just letting his horse wander wherever he pleased. His horse began to trot down an old beaten path.

Dirt now leading the way instead of parted and flattened grass. They splashed into the stream, his horse stopping in the middle of the flooding stream to take a drink. Tom looked around from mounted atop his trusty steed. A feeling of deja vu washed over him, he felt like he had been here before but he couldn't remember where or when.

His horse let out a snort, cocking it's back leg, not moving from the gushing water. He sighed, laying upon his back, resting his head on the haunches of his horse. He was nearly asleep when his horse decided that it would be the most opportune time to dash off. You let out a scream as the black horse galloped towards you.

Pffbbt

You opened one eye then another to see the beauty's face centimeters from your own. His big soft lips nibbled against your hand, seeing wether you had any treats. "I am so sorry," Tom began to apologise profusely to you, hardly moving a muscle before his horse obeyed him and walked backwards a few feet.

You didn't know how to respond, but you felt the roaring heat of a blush spreading like a wild fire on your face. "What's your name, miss?" He asked suddenly, gawking at you as if trying to place your name.

"I,it, it's Y/N." You stuttered out nervously, looking down to the ground before catching a small glimpse of the horse and it's rider once again. He smiled softly, almost sadly but you didn't see that.

"I'm," he hesitated, "I'm Stanley." He rubbed the back of his neck nervously, he remembered you instantly but it seemed you hadn't a fathom of an idea who he really was. He was dressed in normal clothes, his head was covered with unruly curls, and his face was dashed in freckles from being out in the sun for so long. You two began chatting for a few minutes, and he hid who he really was excellently​.

"He's great with everything​," he began talking about his horse, "apart from butterflies. He's scared of those." You giggled softly, a butterfly drifting down upon your hair. Within seconds they were a small blur as his horse dashed away from the extremely intimidating butterfly.

"Gee thanks pal," he patted his horse's neck, "I know they frighten you, but couldn't you have at least tried to face your fears? I was talking to y/n. Did you see how beautiful she'd gotten?"