Author's Note: I have gotten an overwhelming number of requests to write more about characters and situations from my Elements arc. To those of you who I have not yet informed, I am currently working on my next arc involving the Pevensie children, Nath, Lain, Adem, and a surprise guest ;) It will be 6 chapters long, and I plan to do several arcs involving those characters and many others from my arc. Thank you all so much for making that story so popular.

As for this chapter, I am going to appease a different sort of request. One loyal reviewer, and a good friend, asked me to do a oneshot about Phillip's time that he spent with Lasaraleen. So, my good readers, here it is. I do hope I did the young lady and Stallion justice and I hope you all enjoy what you are about to read.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the lowly plot idea

91. Birthday

Days had never been very lazy since Phillip had been sold to Lasaraleen. There had always been things to do. In the morning, less than an hour after dawn usually, Phillip would be awoken by a stable hand. It was usually a young boy, no older than Queen Lucy back at Cair Paravel. He was a small creature with a tussle of black hair and dirt on his beige rag clothes. He had an incredibly gentle hand, a very smooth voice, and a perky attitude. Phillip liked him a lot and always looked forward to seeing him.

The boy would wake up each horse individually and with a touch of personalization depending on the horse's temperament. He would wake Phillip by brushing over his ears and tickling him under his chin. It was a very slow, peaceful way to be roused and Phillip enjoyed it immensely. Once he had been woken up, the boy would give him his morning feed and give him a half hour to himself before returning and loosing Phillip to his personal run. His paddock was separated from other stallions by a dozen feet or so, but he never felt isolated or bored. His pasture was well equipped with shade, food, and water, and the Horse would usually spend several hours playing, napping, and just generally enjoying his surroundings. Several times a day, Edmund would creep into his thoughts, and when that happened Phillip would stand beneath his shade tree and allow nostalgia and worry to wash over him.

It was usually during those quiet moments that Lasaraleen's favorite servant would come to fetch him. She was a tall woman with fine robes and a firm but comforting hand. She would halter Phillip quietly and lead him to the stables where a couple of older stable boys would saddle him up. Once he was ready, Lasaraleen would be fetched and she would ride him for a couple of hours.

Once their lesson ended, Lasaraleen would return to her home and Phillip would be sent to his stable and they would have their supper. After dusk, once the city gates had been closed and it was too dark to see a person clearly, the Tarkheena would find her way to Phillip's stable and enjoy his company until she was fetched by her father a few hours later. She was always accompanied by at least one guard, but she talked low enough and they were far away enough that it felt as though they were completely alone. Phillip took great pleasure in the nightly chats, and it seemed she did as well. Every now and again she would cry and he would hold her close until she had calmed down, but usually the topics of conversation were light and very amusing.

However, that wasn't at all the order of things on one particular day. That day, the only thing that was the same as before was the hour at which Phillip was woken. The stable boy, accompanied by one of the older boys, woke and fed Phillip as always. After he had had his fill of grain and hay, the older stable hand led him out of his stall. Rather than take him to his pasture, he was tethered to a post outside. He waited patiently, albeit curiously, as tack was fetched from the barn. Rather than his usual saddle, he was fitted with a very beautiful, ornamental piece. Gold and silver were laid into the leather. The headband of the halter was encrusted with diamonds, and gems of multiple colors adorned the rest of the headpiece.

Utterly confused, Phillip allowed himself to be led up to Lasaraleen's palace. He was hitched to a very over-the-top carriage that looked as though it was made of solid gold and worth more than the Tisroc himself. Next to him, also in the process of being hooked to the coach was a chestnut mare, Phillip's double if she had had his same star. Her entire body was a beautiful brown, save for a fleck of white on the heel of her rear left coronet. Phillip had heard about this mare from Lasaraleen before. The white circle was a sign of good luck and she was Lasaraleen's father's favorite horse.

Once he and the mare had been fastened in, they were left alone with a single stable boy for a good half hour. At first the horse and Horse stood their awkwardly, pawing at the ground in boredom. After a good five minutes of silence, Phillip decided to strike up a conversation.

"What is your name?" He asked, making sure to keep to soft nickers and such rather than speak the language of the Humans.

"My master calls me Aini." She said simply, looking straight ahead rather than at him.

"My name is Phillip, though the humans here call me Siraj."

"You don't look like a Siraj."

Phillip resisted the urge to pin his ears. As far as Calormen names went, he had somewhat liked his. "What do I look like then?"

"Gilad."

"Which means what?"

"Camel hump." The smirk in her voice was clear, and this time Phillip did pin his ears.

"Are there any decent horses in this place? So far I have spoken with a sour Stallion and now you."

"Lighten up. I was only teasing. You are a handsome thing, and seeing as how you are tied to me, you must be very popular and likeable. Are you Lasaraleen's new mount?"

"I am. I am assuming you are her father's?"

The mare nodded. "His favorite pleasure mount."

"I see."

A few moments of awkward silence passed before Aini thought of something to talk about. "So where do you come from? You don't sound like a Calormen horse."

"I'm not. I was bought at an auction. I used to live in Narnia."

"Narnia?" Aini's ears perked and she tossed her head slightly in excitement. "I have heard wondrous things about that place. Animals roam free and live their own lives among all sorts of fascinating creatures. I have only ever seen a couple of Talking Animals in my life, and a very queer sort of thing that looked half human and half sheep."

Phillip smiled. "It is a beautiful land, and most creatures do live free. Some dumb animals – no offense meant, it's simply a term for those who cannot speak the Human tongue – live in the care of the humans, but most live freely and happily. I lived at Cair Paravel and was the Just King's favorite mount until we were separated and I was stolen from him and sold."

"I am sorry."

"It is alright, my lady. I will see him again, I am sure."

"Indeed."

"If I may ask, do you know what is the occasion that we are dressed so importantly?"

"No one told you?"

"I'm afraid I don't have many horses to speak with other than my neighbor, and he is not very keen on giving me information about this place."

"Ah, I see. Well, if I remember correctly, today is the Tarkheena's birthday. It is tradition – or maybe just a fancy of hers – to ride through the city with her in the carriage."

"I see. Well then, I will be on my best behavior."

"Good choice. Once I saw a young stallion snap at a man on the street. He was sold the very next morning to a merchant. Horses bought by those sorts of people live hard lives, and it is a cruel insult to be sold to one of them."

"Poor creature."

"Yes." Aini sighed.

Before the conversation could continue further, a large crowd swept over the carriage. Lasaraleen and her parents got into the transport and a burly, well-dressed man perched himself on the driver's seat. Dozens of servants lined themselves up neatly in front and behind the carriage, creating a sort of barrier around the noble family. With a sharp snap of the reins, Phillip and Aini marched on and followed the men and women into the city.

The party toured through the city for nearly three hours. It was mostly uneventful, though at one point a child tried to touch Phillip and pandemonium broke loose. Several guards swarmed the petrified girl and shoved her back into the crowd where she ran for her mother, sobbing. Phillip pinned his ears at the unnecessary display of strength, but there was nothing he could do about it. Aini, too, seemed unimpressed with the men, but kept her mouth shut and temper in check.

Once the parade had finished, Aini and Phillip were unhitched and led to their stables. Phillip was given water and a light snack of apples before being released into his run for the rest of the day. He was fetched a bit later than usual for supper, but he didn't mind. After dusk, as usual, Lasaraleen crept her way to his stall and let herself in.

"You were wonderful," She said quietly, patting Phillip's neck. "Most horses would have spooked at the rush of guards. I knew you were my favorite for a reason." Phillip nuzzled Lasaraleen lovingly. His ears perked up in pleasure when she giggled. "You're a good stallion, and you really seemed to do well with Aini. Perhaps I can arrange it with my father for you two to have some babies. They would be stunning, would they not? I've always had a fondness for chestnuts."

Phillip blinked and struggled to keep himself from stiffening. Having foals? And with a dumb horse? He wasn't ready to be a father. He hadn't planned on having children until he met the right Mare, which he didn't believe would happen for several years to come. Having children with dumb horses was unheard of in Narnia. It was considered foul and dirty and lower than even allowing a Human to ride a Talking Horse. Even Phillip, who adored having Edmund on his back, would never consider having foals with a dumb horse, no matter how pleasant she was.

"Oh I must go ask my father tonight! I'm sure he would be delighted. He does like you, though he has only ever seen you from afar. He says you have a beautiful gait, and you do." Lasaraleen squealed in delight. "I shall go ask him now. Isn't this exciting? You could be a father, and sire an entire line of new horses. My very own line! I will see you tomorrow, Phillip!"

Phillip watched as Lasaraleen raced off, utterly horrified. He hoped, more than he had ever hoped for anything before, that her father would say no. Eventually the hoping died down and Phillip forced himself to relax. There was naught he could do about it, and he knew it was pointless to worry. So instead he focused his thoughts on the day's happenings and eventually slipped away into a pleasant dream.

Author's Note: So, do you think Phillip should be a daddy, or should I spare him the humiliation?