A/N:
I'm terrible at updating and I am aware of that, so sorry. I was also trying to write longer chapters but I'm giving up on that.
Translations are in parentheses in italics. (Like this)
Disclaimer: Everything that I didn't makeup belongs to their rightful owners.
Chapter 1
At the front gates of Lord Alexander of Whitehorn's estate sat a cloaked and hooded rider atop a black stallion. The horse pacing restlessly at the sudden stop of travel, rider effortlessly shifting with the horse's movements; an expert rider, the rider's eyes trained on the fast approaching lanterns. Well placed gravel crunched under expensive riding boots, and then finally stopped as the lanterns reached the gates.
"Who goes there?"
"Well, what a wonderful greeting to give a family member," was the sarcastic accented reply. With that the rider dismounted and led the anxious mustang to face the Lord, his son, and the guard that had spotted the duo speeding up the road to the estate. Bare feet meet the wrought iron gate, and then the mysterious figure straightened, the hood to the black gold embroidered cloak fell back to let waist length perfect spirals of black hair free, emerald green eyes glittered with mirth glowing in contrast the warm cinnamon of her tan skin. She was dressed in a comfortable pair of breeches and a loose dark green blouse with gold embroideries, cloak tied loosely around her neck. There were gold bangles jingling on her wrists, similar anklets, some thin gold rings on her fingers but one ring stood out a roping gold band with a square cut emerald nestled in; she wore a small diamond nose ring, in her right ear she had two diamond rings in the lobe and one in the cartilage atop her ear, in her left ear there were three diamond ring in the lobe.
"Alegra! Lo siento, lo siento! Abra la puerta!" (Alegra! Sorry, sorry! Open the gate!) Lord Alexander commanded his servants, but only got questioning looks in return. His son and niece quietly laughed at his mistake, and shared knowing glances. Finally Alegra look pity on her uncle gave him a boost.
"Tío, esta hablando Español," (Uncle you are speaking Spanish.)she told him with laughter in her low melodic voice. Alexander's eyes widened and he laughed at his own mistake then calmly repeated the order in Common. As the iron gate lifted Alegra's massive horse hid behind her, she muttered something along the lines of 'big wuss' to which he snorted indignantly. Smirking Alegra shook her head at the fact that her horse hid behind and then acted as if he was King of the world, and walked up to her uncle when she got to him she gave him a hug to which he let out a surprised 'umph', Alegra was well aware of the fact that she hugged hard but her uncle would just have to get used to it. Releasing her uncle from her steely grip she turned to who she assumed was her cousin the boy in front of her had her uncle's crystal blue eyes and silky look to his hair but where her uncle's hair was brown this boy had bluish black hair, his skin was by far not the tan of hers but looked as if it would if he spent more time outside. Overall they looked related, Alegra had a good inch or two on him even if she was barefoot and he wore brand new riding boots.
"I'm going to take a guess and say that you must be my cousin," Alegra stated smiling slightly.
"Yes, Alexander but you can call me Alec."
"Alegra, but if you wish you may call me Ali," she said bypassing that offered hand and enclosing her cousin in a bone crushing hug, and to her surprise he hugged her right back not as strongly as she did but as hard as he could, little did he know that when she hugged people she held back her true strength. They could tell that they were going to get along wonderfully, well for them anyway maybe not for everyone else. Alexander ushered his niece and son away from the gate and towards the estate's castle, the horse following on the heels of his mistress. On the way to the castle they stopped at the stables, or more like Alec, Alexander, and the hostler stopped forcing Ali and her horse to stop.
"I'll take care o yer horse miss."
"He is my horse I will take care of him, and he has a name."
"Prima (cousin), his job is take care of the horses and their tack," explains Alec calmly.
"I have no tack," she states bluntly. True to her word looking at her horse there was no tack, not even a rope. Ali patiently explained that people in her country rode bareback.
"Wait what is your horse's name?"
"Rey." (King)
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It was agreed that Rey would be let free in the empty pasture for the night, and that Ali would be given the room with the view of the pasture. The trio was now walking silently across the grand entrance and up the stairs that hugged the curved wall of the entrance. Before they reached the top Alec cleared his throat, receiving a raised eyebrow for Ali.
"Mother has some court ladies over, and-"
"And my appearance will tarnish their innocence etcetera; I am not to greet them at this time. I've heard it all before," Ali finished with scorn. "Well, no actually Father, Mother, and I were hoping that you would greet them now because we feel they need to accept that women can and will become knights."
Ali smirked, she quite liked that idea. She tilted her head to the as if to say 'lead the way' and they did. These court ladies were in for a big surprise, if they thought that they were going to meet a 'proper' young lady.
