Chapter Five
The sun hadn't even begun to shed its light when Arien was startled from her sleep by a pounding on the door. Crawling groggily out of the soft bed and opening the door, she resisted the urge to slam it shut when seeing the Prince smiling broadly on the other side.
"Are you ready?" he asked. Bafflement crossed her face.
"Ready for what?"
"You said you would help me tame Arestel, remember?" he reminded. "Legol--I mean Prince! The sun, herself, hasn't even awaken and you plan on taming her now?!"
Legolas looked at her as if waiting for her point. But when he saw she had no more to say, he nodded.
"Yeah."
"I wouldn't be surprised if the horse was still sleeping."
"She is."
Arien looked at him as if he was insane.
"Let me get this straight...you're planning to tame this mare."
"Yes."
"While she's sleeping?"
"Goodness no! That would be folly."
She looked at him, once more, like he was a madman.
"Then why are you waking me up this early?!"
"To prepare, of course. Besides, I must meet with my father by noon."
"Prepare.....how?"
"To ride. I want her to be used to having both you and I riding her. That way if I'm not here and she needs to be taken somewhere, you can ride her if need be. So I figured we should pick up a halter and lead rope before heading out."
"Well you've just thought of everything, now haven't you?"
"Well not everything..."
With a sigh, which was conveniently followed by a yawn, Arien finally gave up questioning his actions. After all, somewhere in that blonde head of his he must have thought of something that makes him think waking her before dawn was a genius idea....and he was the Prince. Why not follow along?
"Okay, Legolas. Give me five minutes to get dressed. Then we'll head down to the barn and get what we need before heading out."
"Umm...well no. Not the barn. I wouldn't have awoken you so early if we could have just stopped by the barn to get the tack we need..."
Turning to face him, she had a skeptic look on her face.
"Then what exactly is your plan?"
He hesitated, opening his mouth but not letting any sound come out. Arien crossed her arms.
"Why is it that the look on your face hints to trouble?"
"Oh no, no, no! I swear, we won't get caught!"
Arien gave him a surprised look before shaking her head and laughing. Won't get caught? Now she knew he was up to some type of mischief. Gazing up at him and meeting his pleading eyes brought a smile to her face as she said the words that would surprise not only him but every elf in Mirkwood.
"Alright. I'll help."
Legolas' jaw dropped.
"What was that?"
"I said I'll help....as long as we don't get caught." she stated, reminding him of his promise.
A sly grin slowly crawled it's way across his face.
"Little Miss Innocent is willingly accepting to do something behind the elder's backs?"
"Yes, yes. Now don't rub it in and let me change or else we'll never make it out of here."
"Okay. But be quick." he replied, shaking a finger. She nodded and quickly returned to her room, changing into an old riding tunic and pants that the stable keeper had given her not long ago. Then grabbing a small carrying bag that she originally used to carry her journal around when going places, she emptied its contents and stepped outside, shutting the door quietly.
"What's that for?" the Prince asked.
"Could you keep your voice down?" she hissed. When he nodded, she answered his question. "I've got a plan since I figured you hadn't thought of one yet."
Legolas blushed, confirming her accusation.
"Uh huh, that's what I thought." she whispered. "Listen. Are you able to borrow a horse if we return it by dawn?"
"It'll have to be before dawn. Once the sun begins to rise, our stable hands begin to work."
"Well then does that mean I'll have to be there by then?" Arien asked, remembering what she was assigned in order to live in the castle. Legolas shook his head.
"You don't have to work until next week. And even then, you'll be considered a minor and probably just feed certain horses and muck out stalls."
Arien nodded, obviously expecting something like that, before turning back to the true situation on hand.
"Okay, then we can't stall. We need to move quickly." she stated, walking silently and quickly toward the main hall and out the entrance. Legolas followed with ease. From there, the Prince led them down to the stables and quickly awoke a young thoroughbred stallion, leading him from his stall and out into the open. All the while, both Legolas and Arien continued to speak soft, kind elven words to the horse in hope that he would stay calm and cooperative.
"Okay." Legolas began, pausing as he mounted the horse and helped Arien do the same. "Now what?"
"Go down to the village and stop by the eighth flet on the left." Arien ordered from behind. The Prince nodded before speaking to the horse. Immediately, the steed bolted through the gates and off the castle grounds in a swift canter. From there it was downhill a bit before passing through the wide, grassy pathway and into the village. Gradually slowing to a walk, Legolas counted the flets before stopping under the eighth. Turning to Arien, he spoke.
"What's the point in this?" he whispered. "These people obviously don't own any type of horse."
"No but they sell tack. I promise you that I know what I'm doing. You're just going to have to trust me."
"Fine. But how do you suppose we get the tack?"
At this, Arien smiled before dismounting.Climbing silently up the flet ladder, she walked over to a side window and opened it. Legolas watched with confusion written on his face as Arien made a clicking sound with her tongue....that is until Curuwan appeared through the window.
"Oh no, no way. Curuwan?! Couldn't you have done a little better than that, Ari?"
"For the love of Mirkwood, Legolas. Hold your tongue for once!" Arien called back down. Curuwan looked out from the window and down at Legolas.
"You came here with the Prince?!" she gasped.
"Yes, yes. Curuwan, we have a favor to ask of you.".
"The Prince has a favor to ask.....of me?" her eyes lit up at the thought.
"Well the Prince and I, if that's any matter to you at all." Arien stated. "We need a halter and lead rope to borrow for Legolas' horse."
"Of course! Anything for our dear Prince." Curuwan replied, flashing a smile down at Legolas. The Prince forced a half smile before turning his head away and rolling his eyes.
But she didn't notice. Instead, she disappeared back into her room to appear moments later with a small halter and lead rope.
"Umm....it will have to be a tad bigger." said Arien, looking at the halter in Curuwan's hand.
"Nonsense, I've seen Legolas' horse many times. This would fit perfectly!" she beamed. Arien looked nervously at the Prince, eyes pleading for help.
Legolas sighed and dismounted before climbing up the ladder. Stepping around Arien, he plastered on one of his infamous, charming smiles while looking directly at Curuwan. Needless to say, she nervously smiled back.
"Curuwan." he addressed.
"Yes, Prince?"
Leaning against the frame of the window, he gave her a friendly, innocent look.
"See, there is this horse of mine that I've been training...with of course, Arien by my side observing and learning." he glanced Arien's way and she smirked. "But there's one problem we come across." he pointed out, looking at her to see if she was listening. Curuwan was staring dreamily at him, ears open and paying full attention to every word and syllable that escaped his lips. He tried his best to keep a straight face as he continued. "It's a very confidential project that only so many people know about. And if we buy public tack that's larger than any horse you've seen me ride, people will start to question. That's why we--no! I. I am asking you for this great favor. Will you lend us a lead rope and halter for a good sized mare? About sixteen hands?"
"Oh, of course!"
"But you must keep this a secret! Can I trust you to keep this secret for me?"
"It will stay with me to my grave." she swore, giving him another toothy smile.
He returned the favor and thanked her sincerely.
Turning back, she rummaged through a trunk in her room before pulling out another halter and lead rope much larger and longer than before. Handing them to Legolas, the Prince placed them in Arien's bag before thanking her once more and turned to leave.
They quietly said their farewells and both Legolas and Arien mounted the stallion once more, this time galloping back to the stables and making it back just as the sun began to rise.
Leading the horse back into his stall and brushing him down, Legolas turned to Arien.
"Ari, could you help me get his halter back on?"
"I thought I was just watching and observing, Sir Legolas." she gave him an angered look. Legolas returned it with his pleading one.
"Come on, Arien. I didn't mean it!"
"Then you shouldn't have said it. I don't appreciate being referred to as your little student or dog. I don't follow you around unless I have an extremely good reason."
"Alright, I'm sorry. I won't do it again. Will you help me now?"
"Nope." she crossed her arms.
"Stop acting like a child! Arien, we're going to get caught! Please!"
She only shook her head. Sighing, the Prince gave up and struggled to both hold the stallion's head and place its halter on....without much progress or success.
Arien tried not to laugh as a stable hand walked up and looked at the Prince as if he had surely lost his mind.
"Prince Legolas, what are you doing with Halin's horse?"
Legolas turned to him, a blush spreading across his face. He began to stutter and Arien smiled vengefully. When nothing audible came from the young Prince's mouth, the stable hand continued.
"Halin needs his horse now, Prince." he stated. Arien gave the elf a questioning look.
"Where is he going?" she asked.
"That is not your business, little girl. Do not put your nose where it shouldn't be."
"Excuse me?"
"Your excused."
"No! I think I deserve to know!"
"And for what reason would that be?" the stable hand smirked.
"Because he's my father!" she said, changing her voice to a demanding tone. Legolas raised an eyebrow in surprise. Arien never countered an elder...or so he was told.
"What?" the stable hand gasped, his eyes wide. Recognizing her description, he bowed and begged his forgiveness. "I apologize Ma'am. Please forgive my ignorance. I did not know."
Arien gave him a questioning look before letting her anger take back over.
"Oh lift your head up and stop begging. You're no lower on the totem pole then I am. Now if you're honestly sorry, tell me where Halin's going and why he needs his horse." she said, placing her hands on her hips.
"Rumor of another attack has reached the ears of the King. For safety, he's sending out Halin and his troops to examine the situation and prove whether or not the rumor is true. If all goes well, they should be back in a few months." the stable hand explained.
The look of sadness that washed over Arien didn't go unnoticed by Legolas. He looked sympathetically at her.
"And as for you, Prince Legolas. What exactly are you doing with Halin's horse?"
Arien heard the question and hadn't the heart anymore to see Legolas suffer. She knew that if he let the stable hand question him too much longer, the secret of Arestel would soon be revealed. And she couldn't let Legolas lose something so precious to him just because she was aggrevated with him.
"He knew about Halin needing his horse this morning and decided to wake him early and take him on a quick ride in order to wake him and warm him up before Halin must ride." Arien answered the question for him.
Legolas, again, gave her a surprised look.
"Oh...okay then. Why didn't you say so in the first place?" he asked, looking at the Prince.
"Umm...it was a surprise. I asked Arien to help me so we could work quickly and no one would find out. Right?" he turned to Arien and she nodded.
"That is correct."
"Well here." he walked into the stall. "Let me take his horse from here. I'll be sure to tell the Colonel of your kindness and efforts." he stated. Legolas thanked him before exiting the stall and motioning for Arien to follow him out of the stable.
"Thank you." he said to her as they headed toward Arestel's field.
"I did it for the sake of Arestel more than your own."
"Well whoever it was you did it for, I still appreciate it gratefully."
"Well that's good. You should." she said, looking up at him with her arms still crossed.
"I told you, I'm really sorry about what I said earlier."
She glanced up at him and sighed.
"Then deflate that ego of yours and stop thinking so highly of yourself."
At this, Legolas was extremely taken aback. Never in his life had an elf ever said such a thing to him. Much less some elven girl two centuries younger than him. He didn't know what to say.
So, wiping the astonished look off his face, he acted as if her comment had gone unheard and continued on deeper into the field, giving a piercing whistle as he walked.
Immediately they were greeted by a whinny and the sound of hooves pounding against the ground. Arestel quickly made her way over to them, nudging the Prince gayly as she pranced beside him. He spoke some kind words to her before leaping up upon her. Arien looked at him in shock.
"I thought you said we were here to break her into letting us ride her?" she asked, watching as he had Arestel trot up to her.
"No, I said we were going to train her to let you ride her. Not me." he corrected, holding out a hand. She shook her head.
"Nuh uh."
"Oh come on."
"Legolas, that's a wild horse!"
"So were all the horses you've ridden until they were tamed."
"Well then I'll wait until that one is tame."
"Arien, you are supposed to help me tame her. Not just watch me."
"Not this morning, I wasn't. Remember? I'm to watch and observe."
"I'm sorry about that! You know I didn't mean it. I won't say that ever again so let it go. Now mount with me. I won't let you get hurt."
Arien hesitated.
"That's a very big horse. I'm not so sure about this..."
"Look, Ari, if she trusts me then she'll let you mount. Now you won't get hurt."
She looked nervously up at him.
"Promise?"
He smiled sincerely.
"Promise. Now come on." he held out his hand again. This time she took it, mounting in front of him. Untrusting of the creature below her, she grabbed a tuff of mane in her fist and held on tightly.
"Calm yourself. She won't harm you." Legolas reassured as he began to trot around.
"What's the purpose of the halter and lead rope if we aren't using them?"
"We'll save them until tomorrow. So you may work with her."
"You mean we. So we may work with her."
"No.......I mean you. As in, just you. I will not be here tomorrow morning. That's why we went to get the tack today unstead of tomorrow."
"I can't come out here by myself!"
"Sure you can. You know how to get here." Legolas veered onto a trail that led in a circle through the woods and back.
"What if she shys from something while I'm out here with her? I could be trampled by a skitish beast and no one will ever know."
Arestel snorted in disapproval and Legolas laughed.
"She'll listen to you. I promise. She knows you're with me."
"Why are you so confident in your horse, Prince? Even I trust myself over my mount."
"Arestel knows more about whether or not it's safe to ride than any elf would. Even a man's horse has that ability. Hasn't anyone told you to let your steed be your guide?"
"Well yes.....but I never heeded it."
"Well maybe it's time you should." he smiled, hopping over a fallen tree. "You never know. Someday you may be placed in a situation where your life is placed at the hooves of your horse. If you don't trust your mount, then what will you do?"
Arien pondered this for a minute before changing the subject. But little did she know that Legolas' words would soon mean much more than just simple elven wisdom.
The sun hadn't even begun to shed its light when Arien was startled from her sleep by a pounding on the door. Crawling groggily out of the soft bed and opening the door, she resisted the urge to slam it shut when seeing the Prince smiling broadly on the other side.
"Are you ready?" he asked. Bafflement crossed her face.
"Ready for what?"
"You said you would help me tame Arestel, remember?" he reminded. "Legol--I mean Prince! The sun, herself, hasn't even awaken and you plan on taming her now?!"
Legolas looked at her as if waiting for her point. But when he saw she had no more to say, he nodded.
"Yeah."
"I wouldn't be surprised if the horse was still sleeping."
"She is."
Arien looked at him as if he was insane.
"Let me get this straight...you're planning to tame this mare."
"Yes."
"While she's sleeping?"
"Goodness no! That would be folly."
She looked at him, once more, like he was a madman.
"Then why are you waking me up this early?!"
"To prepare, of course. Besides, I must meet with my father by noon."
"Prepare.....how?"
"To ride. I want her to be used to having both you and I riding her. That way if I'm not here and she needs to be taken somewhere, you can ride her if need be. So I figured we should pick up a halter and lead rope before heading out."
"Well you've just thought of everything, now haven't you?"
"Well not everything..."
With a sigh, which was conveniently followed by a yawn, Arien finally gave up questioning his actions. After all, somewhere in that blonde head of his he must have thought of something that makes him think waking her before dawn was a genius idea....and he was the Prince. Why not follow along?
"Okay, Legolas. Give me five minutes to get dressed. Then we'll head down to the barn and get what we need before heading out."
"Umm...well no. Not the barn. I wouldn't have awoken you so early if we could have just stopped by the barn to get the tack we need..."
Turning to face him, she had a skeptic look on her face.
"Then what exactly is your plan?"
He hesitated, opening his mouth but not letting any sound come out. Arien crossed her arms.
"Why is it that the look on your face hints to trouble?"
"Oh no, no, no! I swear, we won't get caught!"
Arien gave him a surprised look before shaking her head and laughing. Won't get caught? Now she knew he was up to some type of mischief. Gazing up at him and meeting his pleading eyes brought a smile to her face as she said the words that would surprise not only him but every elf in Mirkwood.
"Alright. I'll help."
Legolas' jaw dropped.
"What was that?"
"I said I'll help....as long as we don't get caught." she stated, reminding him of his promise.
A sly grin slowly crawled it's way across his face.
"Little Miss Innocent is willingly accepting to do something behind the elder's backs?"
"Yes, yes. Now don't rub it in and let me change or else we'll never make it out of here."
"Okay. But be quick." he replied, shaking a finger. She nodded and quickly returned to her room, changing into an old riding tunic and pants that the stable keeper had given her not long ago. Then grabbing a small carrying bag that she originally used to carry her journal around when going places, she emptied its contents and stepped outside, shutting the door quietly.
"What's that for?" the Prince asked.
"Could you keep your voice down?" she hissed. When he nodded, she answered his question. "I've got a plan since I figured you hadn't thought of one yet."
Legolas blushed, confirming her accusation.
"Uh huh, that's what I thought." she whispered. "Listen. Are you able to borrow a horse if we return it by dawn?"
"It'll have to be before dawn. Once the sun begins to rise, our stable hands begin to work."
"Well then does that mean I'll have to be there by then?" Arien asked, remembering what she was assigned in order to live in the castle. Legolas shook his head.
"You don't have to work until next week. And even then, you'll be considered a minor and probably just feed certain horses and muck out stalls."
Arien nodded, obviously expecting something like that, before turning back to the true situation on hand.
"Okay, then we can't stall. We need to move quickly." she stated, walking silently and quickly toward the main hall and out the entrance. Legolas followed with ease. From there, the Prince led them down to the stables and quickly awoke a young thoroughbred stallion, leading him from his stall and out into the open. All the while, both Legolas and Arien continued to speak soft, kind elven words to the horse in hope that he would stay calm and cooperative.
"Okay." Legolas began, pausing as he mounted the horse and helped Arien do the same. "Now what?"
"Go down to the village and stop by the eighth flet on the left." Arien ordered from behind. The Prince nodded before speaking to the horse. Immediately, the steed bolted through the gates and off the castle grounds in a swift canter. From there it was downhill a bit before passing through the wide, grassy pathway and into the village. Gradually slowing to a walk, Legolas counted the flets before stopping under the eighth. Turning to Arien, he spoke.
"What's the point in this?" he whispered. "These people obviously don't own any type of horse."
"No but they sell tack. I promise you that I know what I'm doing. You're just going to have to trust me."
"Fine. But how do you suppose we get the tack?"
At this, Arien smiled before dismounting.Climbing silently up the flet ladder, she walked over to a side window and opened it. Legolas watched with confusion written on his face as Arien made a clicking sound with her tongue....that is until Curuwan appeared through the window.
"Oh no, no way. Curuwan?! Couldn't you have done a little better than that, Ari?"
"For the love of Mirkwood, Legolas. Hold your tongue for once!" Arien called back down. Curuwan looked out from the window and down at Legolas.
"You came here with the Prince?!" she gasped.
"Yes, yes. Curuwan, we have a favor to ask of you.".
"The Prince has a favor to ask.....of me?" her eyes lit up at the thought.
"Well the Prince and I, if that's any matter to you at all." Arien stated. "We need a halter and lead rope to borrow for Legolas' horse."
"Of course! Anything for our dear Prince." Curuwan replied, flashing a smile down at Legolas. The Prince forced a half smile before turning his head away and rolling his eyes.
But she didn't notice. Instead, she disappeared back into her room to appear moments later with a small halter and lead rope.
"Umm....it will have to be a tad bigger." said Arien, looking at the halter in Curuwan's hand.
"Nonsense, I've seen Legolas' horse many times. This would fit perfectly!" she beamed. Arien looked nervously at the Prince, eyes pleading for help.
Legolas sighed and dismounted before climbing up the ladder. Stepping around Arien, he plastered on one of his infamous, charming smiles while looking directly at Curuwan. Needless to say, she nervously smiled back.
"Curuwan." he addressed.
"Yes, Prince?"
Leaning against the frame of the window, he gave her a friendly, innocent look.
"See, there is this horse of mine that I've been training...with of course, Arien by my side observing and learning." he glanced Arien's way and she smirked. "But there's one problem we come across." he pointed out, looking at her to see if she was listening. Curuwan was staring dreamily at him, ears open and paying full attention to every word and syllable that escaped his lips. He tried his best to keep a straight face as he continued. "It's a very confidential project that only so many people know about. And if we buy public tack that's larger than any horse you've seen me ride, people will start to question. That's why we--no! I. I am asking you for this great favor. Will you lend us a lead rope and halter for a good sized mare? About sixteen hands?"
"Oh, of course!"
"But you must keep this a secret! Can I trust you to keep this secret for me?"
"It will stay with me to my grave." she swore, giving him another toothy smile.
He returned the favor and thanked her sincerely.
Turning back, she rummaged through a trunk in her room before pulling out another halter and lead rope much larger and longer than before. Handing them to Legolas, the Prince placed them in Arien's bag before thanking her once more and turned to leave.
They quietly said their farewells and both Legolas and Arien mounted the stallion once more, this time galloping back to the stables and making it back just as the sun began to rise.
Leading the horse back into his stall and brushing him down, Legolas turned to Arien.
"Ari, could you help me get his halter back on?"
"I thought I was just watching and observing, Sir Legolas." she gave him an angered look. Legolas returned it with his pleading one.
"Come on, Arien. I didn't mean it!"
"Then you shouldn't have said it. I don't appreciate being referred to as your little student or dog. I don't follow you around unless I have an extremely good reason."
"Alright, I'm sorry. I won't do it again. Will you help me now?"
"Nope." she crossed her arms.
"Stop acting like a child! Arien, we're going to get caught! Please!"
She only shook her head. Sighing, the Prince gave up and struggled to both hold the stallion's head and place its halter on....without much progress or success.
Arien tried not to laugh as a stable hand walked up and looked at the Prince as if he had surely lost his mind.
"Prince Legolas, what are you doing with Halin's horse?"
Legolas turned to him, a blush spreading across his face. He began to stutter and Arien smiled vengefully. When nothing audible came from the young Prince's mouth, the stable hand continued.
"Halin needs his horse now, Prince." he stated. Arien gave the elf a questioning look.
"Where is he going?" she asked.
"That is not your business, little girl. Do not put your nose where it shouldn't be."
"Excuse me?"
"Your excused."
"No! I think I deserve to know!"
"And for what reason would that be?" the stable hand smirked.
"Because he's my father!" she said, changing her voice to a demanding tone. Legolas raised an eyebrow in surprise. Arien never countered an elder...or so he was told.
"What?" the stable hand gasped, his eyes wide. Recognizing her description, he bowed and begged his forgiveness. "I apologize Ma'am. Please forgive my ignorance. I did not know."
Arien gave him a questioning look before letting her anger take back over.
"Oh lift your head up and stop begging. You're no lower on the totem pole then I am. Now if you're honestly sorry, tell me where Halin's going and why he needs his horse." she said, placing her hands on her hips.
"Rumor of another attack has reached the ears of the King. For safety, he's sending out Halin and his troops to examine the situation and prove whether or not the rumor is true. If all goes well, they should be back in a few months." the stable hand explained.
The look of sadness that washed over Arien didn't go unnoticed by Legolas. He looked sympathetically at her.
"And as for you, Prince Legolas. What exactly are you doing with Halin's horse?"
Arien heard the question and hadn't the heart anymore to see Legolas suffer. She knew that if he let the stable hand question him too much longer, the secret of Arestel would soon be revealed. And she couldn't let Legolas lose something so precious to him just because she was aggrevated with him.
"He knew about Halin needing his horse this morning and decided to wake him early and take him on a quick ride in order to wake him and warm him up before Halin must ride." Arien answered the question for him.
Legolas, again, gave her a surprised look.
"Oh...okay then. Why didn't you say so in the first place?" he asked, looking at the Prince.
"Umm...it was a surprise. I asked Arien to help me so we could work quickly and no one would find out. Right?" he turned to Arien and she nodded.
"That is correct."
"Well here." he walked into the stall. "Let me take his horse from here. I'll be sure to tell the Colonel of your kindness and efforts." he stated. Legolas thanked him before exiting the stall and motioning for Arien to follow him out of the stable.
"Thank you." he said to her as they headed toward Arestel's field.
"I did it for the sake of Arestel more than your own."
"Well whoever it was you did it for, I still appreciate it gratefully."
"Well that's good. You should." she said, looking up at him with her arms still crossed.
"I told you, I'm really sorry about what I said earlier."
She glanced up at him and sighed.
"Then deflate that ego of yours and stop thinking so highly of yourself."
At this, Legolas was extremely taken aback. Never in his life had an elf ever said such a thing to him. Much less some elven girl two centuries younger than him. He didn't know what to say.
So, wiping the astonished look off his face, he acted as if her comment had gone unheard and continued on deeper into the field, giving a piercing whistle as he walked.
Immediately they were greeted by a whinny and the sound of hooves pounding against the ground. Arestel quickly made her way over to them, nudging the Prince gayly as she pranced beside him. He spoke some kind words to her before leaping up upon her. Arien looked at him in shock.
"I thought you said we were here to break her into letting us ride her?" she asked, watching as he had Arestel trot up to her.
"No, I said we were going to train her to let you ride her. Not me." he corrected, holding out a hand. She shook her head.
"Nuh uh."
"Oh come on."
"Legolas, that's a wild horse!"
"So were all the horses you've ridden until they were tamed."
"Well then I'll wait until that one is tame."
"Arien, you are supposed to help me tame her. Not just watch me."
"Not this morning, I wasn't. Remember? I'm to watch and observe."
"I'm sorry about that! You know I didn't mean it. I won't say that ever again so let it go. Now mount with me. I won't let you get hurt."
Arien hesitated.
"That's a very big horse. I'm not so sure about this..."
"Look, Ari, if she trusts me then she'll let you mount. Now you won't get hurt."
She looked nervously up at him.
"Promise?"
He smiled sincerely.
"Promise. Now come on." he held out his hand again. This time she took it, mounting in front of him. Untrusting of the creature below her, she grabbed a tuff of mane in her fist and held on tightly.
"Calm yourself. She won't harm you." Legolas reassured as he began to trot around.
"What's the purpose of the halter and lead rope if we aren't using them?"
"We'll save them until tomorrow. So you may work with her."
"You mean we. So we may work with her."
"No.......I mean you. As in, just you. I will not be here tomorrow morning. That's why we went to get the tack today unstead of tomorrow."
"I can't come out here by myself!"
"Sure you can. You know how to get here." Legolas veered onto a trail that led in a circle through the woods and back.
"What if she shys from something while I'm out here with her? I could be trampled by a skitish beast and no one will ever know."
Arestel snorted in disapproval and Legolas laughed.
"She'll listen to you. I promise. She knows you're with me."
"Why are you so confident in your horse, Prince? Even I trust myself over my mount."
"Arestel knows more about whether or not it's safe to ride than any elf would. Even a man's horse has that ability. Hasn't anyone told you to let your steed be your guide?"
"Well yes.....but I never heeded it."
"Well maybe it's time you should." he smiled, hopping over a fallen tree. "You never know. Someday you may be placed in a situation where your life is placed at the hooves of your horse. If you don't trust your mount, then what will you do?"
Arien pondered this for a minute before changing the subject. But little did she know that Legolas' words would soon mean much more than just simple elven wisdom.