I can't feel my body! I completely underestimated this whole cavalry thing! I thought it would just be like, riding horses and swinging a sword around. I already know how to do those things! But I wasn't prepared for the hell I had to go through today! Right from the moment I woke up this morning it was hell! First of all, I had to get up before the sun rose, who does that? Although I will admit, getting ready for the day is a whole lot easier when you don't have to worry about corsets to tie up and long hair to brush!

So I went to the mess hall with all the other boys. In school in the future, I'd avoided boys like the plague because they were all a bunch of ruffians and I was afraid of one of them hurting me by accident. These boys reminded me a lot of them, only they were certainly not high school boys, these were men. The food, while to most would have seemed unappetizing, I practically cried tears of joy at seeing. It looked like the slop they used to sell in the school cafeteria! Completely unrecognizable as food! It was wonderful! But then my troubles began.

First thing we had to do for training was run. Now I'm no athlete, never did sports or anything, and being in this time period has let me be even lazier and more out of shape than usual. I'd hardly run half a mile and already I was huffing and puffing. But I couldn't just slow down! So I ran, keeping up with the rest of the men as best I could, even if I did stay towards the back of the pack. I thought maybe after the running we'd get to tack up and ride but no, they made us get down and do 100 push ups instead. And then after that, we had to do 100 sit ups! And finally, they taught us how to shoot a gun, which was an event that pretty much showed I am the absolute worst shot in the whole cavalry!

Now I'm so physically and mentally tired from it all that I can't even remember what they told us we're doing tomorrow! I suppose it doesn't matter much, it's not like I'll be able to get up and find out. I don't think I'll ever be able to get up ever again! So here I lay, staring at the roof of my tent. I think I'm missing dinner, which is sad because all that training starved me.

Suddenly I hear voices outside my tent. I'm sure it's just people going into their own tents and going to sleep, but one set of footsteps in particular stops outside my tent "Private Phillips?" they ask. I know that voice! It's Charlie! What's he doing here? I call him in and he pokes his head into my tent, smiling cheekily "Mind if I hide in here?" he asks. Well that's certainly a random request, but I merely shrug and tell him sure.

He crawls into my tent and sits cross legged, taking his cap off "I didn't wake you did I?" he asks. I shake my head "Nah. What are you hiding from though, if you don't mind me asking?". He glances over at the tent entrance before looking back at me "I'm hiding from Perkins! The man scares the living daylights out of me and apparently he wants to have a word with me about something. I don't want him to find me" he explains. I can't help but laugh "That sounds like a silly reason for the Lieutenant to be hiding" I say. He smiles "Well let's just keep it a secret alright? Wouldn't want Jamie to find out about it, he'd make me regret it". I go back to staring at the ceiling "Your secret's safe with me" I finally say.

Charlie reaches into his pocket and pulls out an apple, taking a bite out of it and swallowing before asking me "Rough day today?". I nod "Was a bit of an indoor lad, didn't get out much. I'm afraid I'm not really in the best of shape" I admit to him. He gives me a sympathetic smile "Don't worry, I'm sure you'll get into the routine of it all soon enough. The training really isn't so hard once you get used to it. I wasn't much of an outdoor person either to tell the truth". I sigh "I suppose you're right. I'm a good horseman though, I want to get in the saddle" I tell him. He nods "Soon! By the end of ext week you'll be riding every day" he tells me, taking another bite out of his apple.

We continue to talk, Charlie is a very open, friendly person and I'm glad he's fast becoming my friend. Finally I just have to ask "So, why did you chose my tent to hide in over all the others?". He smiles sheepishly "Well I don't really know anyone else in the regiment yet, besides Jamie and James of course. But they wouldn't hide me from Perkins very well would they? So you were my last resort. It's alright though isn't it? We're friends now right?" he asks. I manage to get myself to sit up at last, although my head is pounding "Sure, we can be friends. You're the only one I know in this regiment at all".

Suddenly we realize it's grown dark "I'm sure you're safe from Perkins now" I tell him. He nods "Indeed, hopefully I can slip back to my quarters without being spotted. Thank you for hiding me" he says, holding his hand out, I shake it "Don't mention it, I liked having someone to chat with" I tell him. Finally he puts his cap back on, and with a final goodnight, he slips out of my tent and scampers away into the night. I lay back down on my back and I'm just beginning to drift off to sleep when I hear a yelp of someone getting caught by Perkins in the distance, I can't help but smile. Silly Charlie, I'm glad to have made friends with him of all people.


Finally we get to ride the horses! Today is our first day, and they're testing us all individually to see how well we can ride. This should be easy for me! I pat Sparks' neck and smile "We'll show those boys who's boss today won't we?" I ask him. He nudges me and I feed him an apple core before putting his bridle and saddle on and leading him outside.

I'm actually a little nervous, I've become a target in the regiment because of my size and because I'm not very athletic. Just yesterday someone tripped me in the mess hall and caused me to fall and drop my dinner. It was so embarrassing! But I'll show them today that I'm just as good as them! I pull myself up into the saddle and line up with everyone else in the regiment. Out of the corner of my eye I see James and Charlie head into the school, while Jamie mounts up on Topthorn and approaches us.

Sparks stands quietly under me as Jamie tells us exactly how things are going to go today. The more he talks, the more nervous I feel. I wonder how Sparks jumps, I wonder how I jump! I haven't jumped anything very high, I stopped taking riding lessons after vaguely learning how to jump over small cross rails. I know for a fact that we will not be jumping cross rails in there! We'll be jumping big jumps! I comb my fingers through Sparks' white mane to quell my nerves, I know the proper form for jumping though. I know what I'm supposed to do, I read enough horse magazines to know that. Can I execute it though?

Suddenly everyone is turning their horses and heading towards the entrance of the school. I arrange Sparks' reins in my hands before turning him and asking him into a trot after everyone else. I have to ride perfectly, heels down and head up. I can do this! Already I can see some of these guys have horrible posture, with their hands way up high as they try to direct their horses. I pat Sparks' neck, he must be so happy to have a rider who knows what they're doing!

We're all told to get on the rail, and to walk our horses. That's easy enough, but already I can see some people struggling with this task. I let my eyes wander around the arena. James and Charlie are in the process of building a jump, and Jamie is sitting on Topthorn, watching us all with an eagle eye. He suddenly barks the order to change direction on the spot. Oh shoot! I totally forgot, I have to know maneuvers too! I don't know any dressage! Still I stop Sparks on the spot, I press with my inside leg and pull on his left rein, asking for the turn. To my surprise Sparks turns on his haunches and with a click of the heels he's off walking again.

A glance over at Jamie shows that he saw it, and is pleased. Oh Sparks is going to get so many carrots when we're done! He was either very well trained, or can read my mind. Perhaps a little bit of both! Once everyone is eventually going in the opposite direction is tells us to go into a trot. That's simple enough, I just hope I can keep Sparks collected enough. I shorten my reins and ask him into a trot, trying my best to keep my heels down and keep myself seated firmly.

I seem to be more successful than some of the others, one rider kicked their horse too hard and it took off on him. James stepped in front of it and grabbed the horse's reins, but the stop was so sudden it caused the rider to lose his balance and fall off. I decide to stay focused on Sparks, I am riding as best as I possibly can and I want to keep it that way. I keep my hands light, trying to remember everything I'd ever been told by my riding instructors, everything I'd ever read about riding horses. I try to remember riding my own pony back home, and everything that seemed to work in riding him.

Once again we're asked to change directions, only this time he just wants us to do a circle. I quickly circle Sparks around and have him trot in the opposite direction. A few more men seem to have trouble with this task, they're bouncing all over the place as they try to steer their horses in the right direction. I do have to take note though that some people are actually riding decently. Next Jamie orders us all to have our horses do a piaffe. I know what that is, but once again I'm at a loss on how to perform it. I press with my legs but pull back with my reins.

Sparks seems to understand what I'm trying to ask, and does the piaffe, trotting in place with his neck crested. I loosen my reins slightly, giving his mouth a break. Next Jamie asks for a passage, which despite my best efforts I can't figure out how to ask Sparks for it. I just have him keep a collected trot and wait for another command to be given.

Now Jamie sends the order for the canter, but adds that anyone who doesn't believe they can safely control their horse must stop and come into the center. About half the men pull into the center, and one or two more fall off their horses once they start cantering. I keep my reins short as I ask Sparks into a canter. He's getting quite a bit of air as he canters, which makes me slightly nervous. He must be excited about something, but what? Jamie suddenly asks for a change of direction with a pirouette. I decide to ask for it the same way I asked for him to turn on his haunches, but I don't believe we got it quite right, and nobody else seems to have gotten it either.

We canter around the ring, waiting for Jamie to give another order. He asks James and Charlie if the jump is ready and nods, ordering everyone to make a line on the rail. Once we're lined up, he orders us to each jump over the jump. One by one, riders charge their horses towards the jump. Some of them make it over, some horses knock a rail down, and quite a few either have refusals or fall off their horse. Finally it's my turn, I pat Sparks' neck and whisper "Alright my bonny boy, you've got it. Nice and steady". We get in the center line and I have him charge towards the jump. Either we'll make it or we won't, I don't know how to collect for a jump!

I pull on his reins slightly as the jump approaches, I'm kind of scared! Sparks pulls on the reins though and continues heading for the jump. With one powerful bound he's soaring over the jump. I lean forward and hang onto his mane, and keep holding until we're both safely on the other side and cantering away. I let out a sigh of relief, I made it! I'm alive! I look over and see Charlie smiling at me ear to ear, however some of the guys who have been teasing glower at me, as though making the jump sealed my fate and made me their number 1 enemy.

After the last rider attempts the jump and makes it, Jamie announces that based on our performance, we will be divided into different groups and will have to ride for a certain number of hours every day depending on how well we did. As he announces the ranks I comb my fingers through Sparks' mane. Finally he dismisses us, and I ride back towards the stables a happy girl. He said I was one of the best riders in the group! And I was grouped with the others who had also ridden well. I get to train with Captain Nicholls, and thank the lord for that! If I was stuck with Jamie I wouldn't know what to do!

I cool Sparks down before leading him into his stall and untacking him. I find a rag and begin rubbing down his white coat. As I groom him I don't notice Captain Nicholls come to my stall door. "Hey, you're friends with Charlie aren't you?" he suddenly asks, I jump slightly as I turn to face him "Oh, yea. How did you know?" I ask. He chuckles "I heard him talking to you in your tent a few days ago. I was supposed to find him and drag him to see Perkins, but I didn't have the heart to do it" he admits "Charlie is not very good at hiding". I shake my head and turn back to rubbing down Sparks "I suppose not" I reply.

He walks over and rests a hand on Sparks' neck "I'll tell you a little secret. This was my horse before I got Joey" he says. I look up at him, he's at least a foot taller than me "Really?" I ask. He nods "Yes, he was an easy ride. He knows commands by ear, which is why I believe he performed so well today. He heard Jamie give orders and simply waited for you to start the commands for them" he explained. Oh, that makes sense. I patted Sparks' shoulder "Why did you get Joey then?" I asked him "If you don't mind me asking".

The Captain shook his head "Joey's a fine animal, I needed a match for Topthorn. Your horse is a great one, but he's not as young as he once was, he's not the fastest in the regiment. But he's a stayer, quiet and obedient. You'll take good care of him won't you?" he asks. I nod and smile "Definitely. You'll get to see him yourself anyway, I'll be in the school with you" I tell him. "Well then, I'll get to keep an eye on how well you treat him then" he replies. We talk for another few minutes before Perkins barks that he wants to close up the stables. I give Sparks an apple and a carrot before shutting his stall door and walking out with the Captain towards the mess hall.

A very successful run in the cavalry so far, maybe it's not as bad as I thought. I've made friends with two high ranking officers, and I found out I've got the best horse ever! Still, my heart aches for two men who should be here with me. My fiance wouldn't have even let me be here, but then again, with him at my side I wouldn't want needed or wanted to be here. And dear Thomas, I bet if he saw me now he'd have a heart attack. He tried so hard to make me a lady, a real first class lady. I feel myself choking up but I swallow it back, that life is behind me now! It has to be, I want it to be, it, I turn and begin heading towards my tent as I feel waves of tears coming on, it needs to be.


WAR HORSE YEA! Sorry, I just saw that music video... now it's stuck it my head. If you haven't seen it yet, you need to. Your life depends on it. Well, not really, but it COULD! Or something...

Anyway, here's the next update for this. Imma takin my time, and also there's a hurricane coming, so don't expect updates for quite a while. Okie Dokie? Great. Also, don't forget to review! Cause how am I supposed to know if this is any good or not if you don't tell me so? Ok, we done? This it? Awesome. Ok, review, and THANKS FOR READING!