The events in this chapter are slightly inspired by Brat Farrer, just so you know, but it just called to me. Fun, fun, fun. Yay. Ok, I'm done now. Read, my pretties, and do feel free to review.
-3- First Fight
This time around, Lucius was decked out in full riding gear; jodhpurs, boots and a loose, long-sleeved shirt complete with waistcoat and padded gloves. He was awaiting Narcissa in the stables to take her out on the horses. It was three days since the tea party, and he was determined not to be outsmarted by the girl again, as he felt he had been at their first meeting. He adopted another casual pose, one leg draped over the paddock fence, reclining on a bale of hay as he waited for her to arrive. He felt, however, once he had settled, that a piece of straw to chew would complete the look of a country hick, so he hurriedly rose from the hay and began instead to help the stable House Elves to get the horses ready.
"Dobby and Happy is doing this, Master Lucius," one of the elves squeaked. "Master Lucius isn't needing to dirty his clothes."
"Nonsense, Elf," Lucius snapped. "I am quite capable, thank you. Go and do something which is actually useful." He snatched the saddle from the tiny elf and began fixing it on himself.
"Very good, sir, we is leaving." Dobby piped, bowing manically on his way out of the stable.
"Good morning, Mr Malfoy," a cool female voice said behind him. He turned slightly.
"Ah, Miss Black, may I say that you look perfectly ravishing and eminently suitable for this morning's activities," Lucius said graciously. She was wearing a floor-length russet skirt and scarlet basque with a balloon-sleeved white shirt underneath. There was a lot of pale white bosom showing. Her hair was done in a French braid and her lips were blood red. She looked like a whore from the eighteenth century, but somehow managed to pull the look off admirably.
"Please, I am perfectly capable of riding in a skirt," Narcissa demurred.
"We have no side saddle. I am afraid a Malfoy expects his wife to be able to ride properly," Lucius challenged.
"Indeed. I require no saddle, Mr Malfoy, but if you feel more comfortable with one, then I will of course use one also," Narcissa smirked.
"Oh? I was only bothering with the niceties for your convenience, my dear Miss Black. Let us delay no further then." Lucius removed the saddle swiftly from the bay mare the House Elves had chosen for Narcissa. "Perhaps a more magnificent animal would suit you better, also," he invited.
The two of them drifted towards the animals, and Lucius selected his favourite black stallion, Cobra, and led him to the entrance, where he tethered him in readiness. He then returned to capture the feisty new mare that had been named Viper for her vicious tendency to run against the side of a fence or under low branches to throw her rider off. All the Malfoy stock was named after snakes. He brought the horse towards the waiting Narcissa.
"Only the finest for you, Miss Black," he said smoothly. Narcissa eyed the beast, and decided that it came up to scratch – it was indeed a beautiful animal, honey-gold and shining.
"If she is the best you have," Narcissa said casually. Lucius grinned; he could tell she was impressed.
"Are you absolutely certain you require no saddle?" he offered again, more to annoy her than anything else. She sent him a scathing look, and swung herself without assistance onto the horse's back. He raised his eyebrows and followed suit on his own steed, preceding her from the stables and into the yard. Determined to exhibit his fine horsemanship, he led Cobra twice around the roomy paddock at a canter, poised elegantly on his back, and finished by teasing the horse into rearing up in what he knew was a very dramatic manner. Arriving back next to Narcissa, he was pleased to note that she could not quite conceal the admiration in her eyes.
"Tell me, Mr Malfoy, do you have a pathological need to impress every single girl you meet, even the ones you despise?" she asked. Lucius started. This was more direct than he had expected.
"Where did you get the impression that I either despise you or seek to impress you?" he asked.
"Must I answer that?" Narcissa asked, looking bored. "I would prefer to actually do what I came here to do rather than banter with you all day."
"By all means," Lucius invited. "We can go through the orchard, across the bridge or along the river, whichever you prefer."
"I would prefer across country," Narcissa decided. "Is that acceptable to you?"
"Naturally," Lucius replied. This would mean riding across the lawns and towards the forest; let her see then how superior her horsemanship is.
They rode in silence, each intent on outriding the other. Lucius was irritated that his skill was not as superior as he had hoped, but impressed despite himself at her poise and command; she had no difficulty in remaining perfectly seated. He also enjoyed a little more than he would have chosen, the sight of her stockinged legs and booted feet underneath her full skirt, which was hitched up out of the way. He was an arrogant man by nature, and could not resist a little show of skill, performing a small jump over a hedge instead of taking a roundabout route. Narcissa scowled as she rode parallel to the hedge, waiting for an opening; he had not given her enough warning to perform a jump herself. He felt a little better having bested her, and had a sudden and unexpected stab of conscience about the risk he was putting her at as they approached the first few scattered trees. Although she had proven to be a good rider Viper could be quite vicious and several of the grooms who had tested her had returned with broken limbs or at the least ugly bruises. Displeased as he was with the prospect of marriage, he did not think it would help to antagonise Narcissa more than a little, and he felt that maybe he should start making an effort to get on with her a little more. He turned his horse a little so that he was riding closer to her. She half-glanced at him and spurred her horse on, overtaking him.
"Damn," he whispered. "Wait, we need to turn right here," he called, but she did not slow; the wind was in his face, so he doubted his voice could carry far enough for her to hear. He sped up to try and intercept her before reaching the forest. She must have heard his thundering hooves if not his yell, because she sped up even further.
"Why does she have to be so stubborn?" Lucius cursed again. He slowed deliberately and veered to the right instead of pursuing, in the hope that she would realise and follow. She saw him; he saw her hesitate, then continue forwards into the thickening trees.
"Damn her! Narcissa, wait," he called. "Don't go in there." It was too late, though. She was already in and he would have to follow. It was a sunny day but the shadows were deeper under the canopy of trees, and in the increasing gloom he could not see Narcissa. Slowing to a trot he glanced around him. All he could hear were his own crunching progress. Then, to his far left, he heard a scream. Immediately he veered off course in that direction, moving swiftly into a full gallop. Within a minute he heard the whinnying of a horse, and saw a flash of scarlet and blonde through the trees. Heart in his throat, he slowed and moved towards the scene, half expecting a prone figure, pale and bloody, on the ground.
What he found was an irritable young woman, skirt torn across the back, dusting herself off and checking the damage.
"You low bastard," she hissed when he came in close.
"W-what?" Lucius said, taken aback. "I followed, didn't I?" he added sulkily.
"Oh well done, Malfoy, do you want a prize?" she snapped.
"I don't know what your problem is; you were the one who ran off," Lucius regrouped.
"You knew she would try and knock me off. I could have been killed," Narcissa whispered furiously. "That would have made things very convenient for you, I suppose."
"Are you insane?" Lucius yelped. "Just because you fell off your horse don't go pinning it on me. I tried to warn you not to go into the woods, but you were too arrogant to listen."
"Warn me? Guilty conscience, Malfoy?" Narcissa asked venomously. She winced slightly as she adjusted her skirt.
"Are you hurt?" Lucius asked, very gallantly he felt, considering his treatment.
"Do you care?" Narcissa retorted. Lucius scowled.
"Fine, feel free to suffer in silence then," he snapped.
"Oh stop playing the wounded party," Narcissa said impatiently. "I hit my shoulder, but it's fine, thank you for your concern."
"Can I look?" Lucius ventured. Narcissa's eyes snapped to his face and her mouth twisted.
"You can go get-" she started furiously, but winced again, and took a deep breath to calm herself, closing her eyes and probably internally counting to ten. Lucius waited patiently. Finally she reopened them and pulled her shirt off her shoulder to inspect the damage, grudgingly allowing Lucius to slide off his own horse and join her.
"Just a bruise," she said brusquely.
"Even so," Lucius said, drawing his wand. "Episkey." Immediately the bruised skin cleared. Narcissa flexed her shoulder tentatively and did not wince. She nodded curtly in thanks and swung herself onto Lucius' horse.
"You can ride the death horse back," she commanded.
"You're making a big fuss over nothing," Lucius singsonged, but he complied, and they rode back to the manor in silence, Lucius taking the back position and enjoying the sight of her bright blue panties through the tear in her skirt which she had, apparently, forgotten about.
