Nottingham Fair

The castle courtyard was decorated with streamers and flowers, the air was filled with joy and laughter. In the middle of the courtyard was a ring, made with wooden fencing that was build in a square like pattern, the wooden fencing was decorated with bunting and streamers. Inside the ring, wooden poles and wings were being set up, ready for the Show Jumping.

In front of the ring, was a big stage with three thrones on. One for the Sheriff Edward. One for his wife, Lillith which was situated on the left to him. And the other, to his left, was for his beloved daughter; Lady Marian. There was a gazebo, that hung Nottingham's colours from the sides, round the top of the stage, covering the top.

Around the rings, to the sides were stalls. A selection with mixtures of treats, confectionery, fruit and flowers etc. Another selection that sold games, toys and jewels. And the last section that advertised different clothing and cloths.

Marian was walking around the edge of the ring, weaving past laughing and dancing villagers. She was wearing beige jodhpur like trousers with long black boots. On her top half, she wore a white blouse with a brown suede leather jacket. Her hair was pinned back into a pony tail with a white satin bow.

She approached a small green booth with a young man inside it.

'Good afternoon my lady!' He beamed happily.

Respectfully, Marian smiled back and closed up the gap between her and the stall.

'Can you put my name down for the show jumping please?' She asked politely looking down at the sheet which held numerous names of different competitors.

The man hesitated. 'I'm sorry my lady but are you sure you want to enter? I didn't think your father allowed you to enter equestrian sports, only allowed you to ride freely?'

'My father has permitted it' She said firmly.

Just because she was the daughter of the Sheriff doesn't mean she can't enter competitions! Errg! Lord, it annoyed her terribly...

The brown haired and brown eyed boy of around 19 sighed and scribbled her name down on the sheet.

'Horse?' He asked, looking back up at her.

Marian frowned. 'Sorry?' Confused, she replied.

'As in, what is the name of your horse you will be competing on?' He rephrased the question.

Marian gasped. 'Oh, excuse me, I didn't know what you meant' She smiled. 'Phillipa. My horses name is Phillipa.'

The boy smiled and returned to the sheet and wrote down some more.

Once he had finished, he handed her a slip of card which had read:

"Name of competitor: Lady Marian

Name of horse: Phillipa

Contestant Number: 16"

After reading, she looked up at the man who had been staring at her, she swallowed, a little nervous at the fact he was staring, and smiled to cover it up.

'Thank you dear' She turned, and walked away towards the stables.


She stroked the white mare's mane and found a brush. She moved the brush across her fur and leant in towards her head.

Marian breathed in deeply. She loved the smell of horses, it made her relax, she felt safe on a horse, it took away any doubts, regrets, stress and anger. She loved them so much.

Finally, she kissed the mare's head and stroked her neck one last time before slipping on the bridle over Phillipa's ears and placed the bit inside her mouth. Then she placed the saddle onto the horses back and Marian pulled up the girth as tight as it would go, fastening it.

'There' She whispered.

She slid her left foot into the stirrup closed to her and pulled herself onto the saddle which was on top of the horses back. She added her right foot into the empty stirrup and found the reins.

With one click and a gentle kick, the horse obeyed and left the stable, into the courtyard of Nottingham which had magically, in the space of 20 minutes, developed into a made rush of laughter, dancing and gossiping...