Chapter thirteen

Disclaimer: I do not own OUAT or any of its characters. I am simply borrowing ideas and developing my own for creative writing purposes.

Notes from me: just a short chapter this time. Don't forget to leave comments to let me know what you thought; I really appreciate your opinions! Happy reading- whatisarose100

"Are you sure that's a horse and not a dinosaur?" Emma stood with her mouth agape at the huge animal that was currently trotting towards her.

Charming clapped his daughter affectionately on the shoulder. "Emma, here we have trolls, dragons, fairies and magic, but no dinosaurs."

"The only downfall to this place," Henry mumbled from where he stood brushing his horse. The three of them were in the corral that attached to the stables, accompanied by two guards who stood idly by; observing everything, but being positive to stay out of the way.

The King laughed in agreement with his grandson. "Trust me, Emma; this is a regular sized horse. She's no bigger than Henry's." He gingerly walked over to the animal and reached his hand out for her to sniff. She gently pressed her muzzle to his hand and he rubbed her down gently. "Her name is Erue." He took her reins and led her over to Emma, who stood still as a statue against the wooden fence.

Emma had never been around horses very much, or at all, really. The biggest animal she's been up close and personal with was a Great Dane. A horse and a dog were two very different creatures.

Charming stopped just in front of Emma and encouraged her to hold out her hand. She did so hesitantly. Erue stood before her; a magnificent mare, of glistening white with a single black spot between bottomless dark eyes. She was absolutely beautiful. Emma thought that if she touched her, her hand would soil the beast's perfect coat. She gently placed her pale hand on the horse's nose. She was surprised at how warm and soft the leathery hide. Erue's white coat gave Emma's pale hand more colour than she usually had.

"See? She isn't biting your hand off." Charming placed a hand on her back and guided her forward so that Emma's shoulder bushed against Erue's neck and her mane tickled Emma's ears and nose.

"She seems really nice," Emma said leaning closer to the mare's side.

"She is, mom. I've been around her in the stables while I was with Ash. She's really well behaved and gets along with all the other horses and everyone who comes in."

"And she is very brave, so she won't be skittish around novice riders."

"Novice, right." Emma cleared her throat. "So when does the actual learning to ride part come into play?"

"It already has. Gaining the trust of your mare and trusting her in return is step one."

"Really? That seems simple enough."

"Try feeding her now." Charming suggested and Henry handed her a green apple from the burlap sack he seemed to always have with him while he was around the stables.

Emma took the apple in her hand and turned it over and over, uncertain how she was supposed to feed it to her horse.

"Just hold it in your palm and press it close to her lips. She'll sniff it then take it from you. Try not to jump; she won't hurt you." It felt strange to have Henry coach her on how to handle this large animal. She did as she was told and even giggled when she felt soft lips tickle her hand, being sure to pick up any crumb that may still be there.

"Well," she sighed, "that wasn't so bad." Emma smiled over at her father and son. "She was really gentle."

"Told you she would be." Henry came over and patted Erue's side like he'd been brought up around horses.

"So, step one: gaining and giving trust, done. Step two?"

"Well, step two would be to muck out and wash her stall."

"What? Are you serious?"

"Very serious. If you want to really learn to ride, you need to learn how to take care of your horse."

Emma's shoulders slumped and she let out a groan of annoyance. "Fine. What do I do?"

****SWANQUEEN****

The stable smelled like straw and leather and warmth… and manure. Emma found that despite the underlying stench of manure, she enjoyed the smell. She could understand why Henry liked spending so much time here.

She poured the water from the bucket into the trough in Erue's stall. The stunning mare gratefully began drinking the cold well water.

Emma thumped down on a bale of hay she had just spent ten minutes pushing, pulling, rolling and carrying into the stall.

She had done it. It had taken her over three hours, but she had managed to muck out the stall, lay out clean straw and saw dust over the ground, put fresh hay up in the rack for eating, pulled up water from the well outside and added a few additional bales of hay against the walls.

She wiped at her brow. Now she had to clean the horse. How the hell was she supposed to do that? How were you supposed to wash an animal as big as a car?

She sat bolt upright as an idea suddenly popped into her head. She would wash the horse like she washed a car!

Emma stood and grabbed the bucket and rushed outside to refill it from the well. Maybe she could get used to this place quicker if she applied what she knows here.