HELLSING CHRONICLES
SAPPHIREWYREN
CH 33: How I met Your Baskerville
Disclaimer: I do not own Hellsing
England 1611 AD
As a future witch hunter and Hunter for the King, Integra needed a horse made for war, not just any horse, but one made of fire and spirit. A horse that was smart enough to heed commands quickly, but also intelligent enough to make their own decisions. A horse that was loyal enough to fight for and beside their rider. Sure the Hellsing Estate's stables had many horses but they were chargers for hunting, thoroughbreds for racing and beautiful breeds such as the Palomino, the Ahkal-Teke or the Arabian were used as carriage horses or in ceremonial parades. So Integra was at the annual Grand Horse Fair with Walter to find such a horse. Walter knew next to nothing about horses, he just knew he would rather not be on one and was not happy that Integra decided to ride a horse to the Horse Fair, something she found amusing,
When they arrived at their destination, the smell of horse was everywhere, but so were the sights and sounds. Sellers and buyers could be heard arguing over prices. Many buyers had bought their head grooms or those they believed to be an expert in horses with them to avoid being ripped off or paying too much for a horse that was not worth the money. The two of them walked through the grounds looking at horse after horse, but Integra didn't choose any of them. It seemed that the kind of horse she was looking for wasn't there.
As Walter was about to suggest they leave, they heard a roar from the crowd gathered around a fenced-in paddock. On investigation, Integra and Walter saw a man painfully picking himself off of the dusty ground and a large black horse on the other side. The man had to quickly roll to the side as the horse decided that it was a good idea to try and trample him. "That bloody horse tried to kill my brother!" one onlooker shouted. The crowd groaned again as the man quickly left the paddock. Another rather large man decided to give riding the horse a try, but catching it, proved harder than it looked. The man would run towards the beast only to skid backwards away from its threatening hooves. The horse finally stood still and the man jumped into the saddle only to be launched from it like an arrow. A third and a fourth and a fifth man tried to stay on the horse but they were all no match for him. People went away with injuries ranging from mild to serious. "What an unruly beast," said Walter, "they might as well put it down."
"Unruly, yes" replied Integra, "but beautiful."
"Now Sir Integra, I do not consider myself an expert on horses," said Walter, "but I am very sure that how pretty it looks has nothing to do with how useful it will be. Don't let the flowing mane fool you, that is a dangerous animal and a menace. The poor sod selling it would get more money, if he put it down and sold it as dog food or glue." When the butler received no reply, he looked around to see where Integra was, only to see her getting into the paddock, "Sir Integra! Have you gone mad?" he exclaimed. A large burly man stepped into Walter's path and with a wicked grin said, "Once you're in, the only way out is on a stretcher or if the devil throws you out."
"But…"
"No buts about it, she made her decision. Be ashamed when she comes out all broken." However, the look on the man's face said that he was looking forward to a show. Though Walter could threaten that if a future King's Hunter was hurt in the paddock with a vicious beast it could lead to the possible execution of the owner of the horse, it also could be argued that Integra chose to go in and that no one forced her. Walter sighed, he could only hope that Integra knew what she was doing because he didn't.
To the horse, Integra just looked like another foolhardy human that could tame him, until he looked into her ice-blue eyes. Both horse and woman stared at each other, willing each other to back down. The onlookers were quiet with anticipation, anxious to see what would happen. Suddenly Integra ran towards the horse and vaulted on his back. For a moment the animal stood with a stupid shocked look on his face. Integra patted his neck, "I'm up here." The horse turned in a circle in direction and then in the other, as if trying to figure out what had just happened. Just before the horse was about to start bucking, Integra said, "We could do this the hard way or the easy way," The horse tried every trick in the book to unseat his rider and failed. "If you want to do this all day, that's fine with me, I've nothing planned." The poor beast was exhausted from all the others trying to ride him. Sweat covered his black coat and he was breathing heavily, the horse decided that the woman won-for now. Turning to the owner, Integra said, "He's perfect, I'll take him. Walter pay the man."
On the way back to the estate, Walter gave the black horse a sidelong glance, before turning back to the papers that the owner had given with the proof of sale. He was a three-year-old Friesian also known as a Belgian black. His temper came from the rough *breaking in and his natural temperament. The reason for him being sold was that he had bitten the owner's wife. "Baskerville, what a strange name," said Walter. The horse turned his head to the butler's direction. "At least he's smart enough to know his name." Baskerville snapped at Walter. "And smart enough to know when he's being insulted" chuckled Integra. Walter sighed, he knew that the grooms back at the stables would have their hands full dealing with Baskerville, as it seemed that Integra was the only that could control him. "Are you sure that you don't want to get another horse, sir?" asked Walter.
"I am not getting another one Walter, so please stop asking." The butler could only sigh again and he could have sworn that Baskerville gave him a smug smile. Once at the stables, it was just as Walter predicted, the horse started rearing and kicking again. One of the grooms picked a nearby whip, but was stopped when Integra said, "Whip my horse and you will lose that hand." Then giving Baskerville a hearty slap on the rump, the blond said, "Behave yourself and there might be some pears for you, Baskerville." The horse's ears perked up and he followed another groom obediently into a nearby stall.
Later that evening Integra bought Baskerville the promised pears and patted his neck while he ate them. "You're going to be a pain in my ass, aren't you?" Baskerville gave her a look that said 'hell yes'.
"Good, I love a challenge."
After the horse was done eating his treat, Integra led him out of the stable and together they galloped through the estate's spacious grounds. Walter saw them pass from one of the windows, "I tried to convince her that beast was no good after seeing how he was at the fair."
"I believe Sir Hellsing knows the kind of horse she bought" Philip smiled. "They will be fine, after all Baskerville looks as if he will be able to handle himself just fine. They will make a formidable team."
"Yes" agreed Walter, "but they have a lot of work ahead of them."
Chapter End
Author's Note: I have always wanted to write a fic of how Integra found Baskerville; after all he is an important part of the story.
*Breaking in- that is training a horse usually around the age 3-4 to wear a saddle and bridle and to carry a person on their back. This may also include pulling different size carriages. There might be different terms, but I learned this from reading Black Beauty and books by C.W. Anderson.
I hope you enjoyed!