SW~ Hey guys! Well here's the fourth chapter! Enjoy! And please R&R!!
Disclaimer: Anything you recognize belongs to Tolkien, anything you don't belongs to me (Horse Crazee) with the exception of Tenchi, who belongs to my best friend, Shadow Wolf.
Chapter 4: Looking Up
When I looked up next, Sally was walking into the ring. I flashed her a smile, and promptly lost a stirrup. I fell off a moment later-landing right smack on my ass. I looked up, my cheeks flaming to see Penny standing there just looking at me as only a horse can do. I then glanced at Jen who was just looking from me to the horse. I risked a glance at Sally who was looking at me with this oh-my-gosh-I'm-so-sorry-are-you-okay-look-not really. Actually, that look would have been less embarrassing. She was actually laughing. My confused face only made her laugh harder. Jen was laughing now as well. I just sighed and got up, walking over to Penny. I got back on, walked by Sally and said very seriously, "I don't see what was so funny," but my face must have given me away for I was trying very hard not to laugh. I lost that battle and started laughing and pushed Penny into a canter. The next time I looked back, Sally had started to trot. I passed her and grinned.
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Once I was on and my feet were in the stirrups, I nudged Gus forward towards the outdoor ring. I was just entering the ring, when I looked at Pete on Penny. They were cantering, and Pete actually had a good seat. I wasn't surprised. He must've noticed me watching him, because he looked up and smiled. At the same time, he leaned forward, causing Penny to trip. Pete lost his stirrup and fell off a few seconds later. He landed right on his ass. To top it all off, Penny was looking at him with a how'd-you-get-back-there look, which caused his face to go red. I cracked up laughing.
A minute or so later, Pete was back on. He walked by me and said, in a very serious tone, "I don't see what was so funny." I thought he was mad at me for some reason, when I looked at his face. He was trying very hard-and not doing too well-not to laugh. He picked up the canter again. I controlled my laughter and picked up my posting trot, checking my diagonal. He passed me again and grinned before turning his attention back ahead of him. I smiled watching him ride, he was good. I quickly went back to concentrating on where I was going and leaning back so I wouldn't land on my ass.
A few minutes later, I nudged Gus into a canter, picking up the correct lead. On my second time around, I passed Pete, who was walking. I decided to do the same so that when he switched directions to canter the other way; we wouldn't have to worry so much about steering. When Jen told him to pick up the canter, I waited a second, and then did the same. It would be easier to just do what he did for a while. When we slowed down to a walk again, Jen motioned for me to come to the middle for a moment. I did as she said, and when I got there, she asked, "Would you like to join Pete's lesson for today?"
I shrugged, "Whatever is easiest for you."
"Well, I saw you pick up the canter when he did," she said, watching Pete for a moment, who must've been watching us.
I nodded, "Yeah, I figured it would be easier for us both to go in the same direction at the same time rather than worry about steering."
"I see," she replied, giving Gus a pat, "why don't you join his lesson for today. It would probably be easier, and then if you wanted to you can start riding when he does."
She did have a point as usual. It would be easier if we did the same stuff after the other so we wouldn't have to worry about traffic problems. I agreed, "Sure."
"Alright, then. You can walk Gus around for a minute and then we'll start jumping."
I nudged Gus towards the rail at a walk. 'Maybe this won't be so bad.' I thought to myself, watching Pete on Penny with a smile. 'I'll get to see if he rides as good as he looks.' Then I laughed to myself, 'Maybe he'll fall again, although I hope I don't.' Jen started talking, and I jerked myself out of my thoughts to listen to her instructions.
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As I went around the ring again, I caught myself watching her on Gus more than once. After a minute, I slowed Penny down to a walk. I saw Sally pick up the canter and watched her until she was out of my view. Well, I could've easily turned around, but I didn't want to make it obvious that I was watching her ride, although she probably wouldn't care. I heard hoof beats behind me and then I saw Gus canter by. She was quite a good rider. She slowed to a walk and then Jen said, "Switch direction, Pete!" I promptly obeyed, and out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Sally switch directions as well. "Canter!" was the next instruction which I followed. I raised an eyebrow when I noticed that Sally was cantering as well, but thought nothing of it.
When we slowed to a walk again, I gave Penny a pat. Then I realized that Gus was walking towards the center of the ring, and I noticed Jen mention something to Sally. Unfortunately, I couldn't hear what they were saying. After a minute, I saw Jen watching me, so I turned my attention to Penny, gave her another pat, and then turned my attention back to Jen and Sally. Their conversation ended though, and I saw Jen look at me again- curiosity crossed over her face for a second, but then her face became unreadable. I sighed and pulled in the slack on the reins.
"Come into the middle," Jen said, and I turned Penny towards the middle. I was surprised to see Sally turn Gus into the middle as well, but I figured it was to see what Penny and I were jumping first so she could stay out of the way. Boy was I surprised when Jen looked at me, smiled and said, "Sally's joining your lesson." I grinned and nodded, hoping I didn't let any of the surprise I was feeling show on my face. "For today," Sally added, and I just nodded again.
"Okay, today we will start with the diagonal vertical," Jen said, and I silently thanked her for interrupting the silence, "You can decide who goes first."
Sally spoke up, "You can go first, Pete."
"Alright," I replied softly, turning Penny towards the rail and nudged her into a trot. We went over it with no problems. When I stopped Penny in the middle, Sally nudged Gus into a trot and pointed him towards the rail. I watched her as they approached the jump, even when I felt Jen looking at me. I couldn't keep my eyes off her sitting atop Gus-the gutsy gentle gallant gliding gelding (A/N: try saying that 5 times fast! Thank S.W. for that line!)-it was as though my eyes are being controlled by another. They went over the jump quite well-in fact Gus acted a little bored with the vertical. I said as much to Sally. She explained,
"Gus can jump over three foot six."
"Ah, that explains it," 'Three foot six! Wow!' I thought.
She continued, "But, I have only jumped two foot nine."
I nodded, "So who's jumped Gus 3'6?"
She just looked at Jen, and arched an eyebrow. Jen coughed slightly as if to seem innocent. I feigned a pout and tried to sound impatient, "Well?"
"I did," Jen broke the silence, "last year."
"Ah," I said it again! Where are all the 'ah's coming from?!
"Now you two are going to do that line," Jen instructed, pointing to the left of us. This time Sally went first and Gus didn't seem as bored. Then Penny and I went over it easily. Before I knew it we were going over the entire course. Gus and Sally had already gone. Of course, I watched Sally and Gus go over the whole thing-once again I felt like my eyes were being controlled by someone else.
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"Come into the middle!" I turned Gus around and moved him to the center, noting the look of surprise that briefly graced Pete's features. I was busy studying the jumps when Jen's words yanked my attention back to the middle, "Sally's joining your lesson," at which Pete just grinned and nodded his head slightly. "For today," I heard myself saying. Pete just nodded again.
Fortunately, Jen broke the awkwardly uncomfortable silence, for which I was grateful. She pointed, "Okay, today we will start with the diagonal vertical," she paused slightly to make sure we heard, "You can decide who goes first."
I spoke up, "You can go first, Pete." 'I said that easier than I thought I would. I didn't get tongue-tied, either.' I frowned mentally, 'All though I wasn't expecting to.'
"Alright," was his surprisingly soft reply. 'Gee, that fall might've shaken him up more than was obvious.' He turned Penny towards the rail and picked up a posting trot. I watched as he checked his diagonal like it was something as regular as eating breakfast. They went over it beautifully, but with a rider like Pete seems to be, that was no surprise. Then it was our turn. I nudged Gus over to the rail picking up my trot. I kept my hands light and had to resist looking over towards the middle where Jen and Pete were. I risked a quick glance, however, and almost smiled when I saw Pete watching me. Gus took the vertical quite easily.
Pete asked me why Gus looked so bored going over the jump. I explained, trying very hard not to laugh, "Gus can jump over three foot six."
"Ah, that explains it," was his surprised reply. He looked quite shocked.
I might as well be honest, "But I have only jumped him two foot nine."
He nodded and then asked the question I had been hoping he wouldn't, "So who's jumped Gus 3'6?"
I answered his question with a look and an arched eyebrow in Jen's direction. Jen coughed innocently. I almost laughed at what Pete did next. He pouted and sounded impatient, "Well?"
"I did," Jen broke the silence, "last year."
"Ah," 'Ah must be his favorite word,' I concluded.
"Now you two are going to do that line," Jen instructed, pointing to the left of us. Gus and I went first. Then Pete and Penny did the line, and I watched Pete the entire time. 'What the hell is wrong with me?' 'Yeah, sure he's hot, but I shouldn't be watching his every move.' Next, it was time to do the entire course. Gus did everything with ease, and a time or two, mostly when I was turning corners; I glanced over towards the middle at Pete. I almost fell off in surprise because he was watching me-both times when I looked over. Fortunately, for my pride and my rear end, I stayed on and watched as Pete and Penny rode the course. They did it well, too.
After that, Jen told us to walk the horses around for a few minutes before coming in and untacking. She went back to the office, leaving Pete and myself in the outdoor. I heard hoof beats behind me and turned around to see Pete trotting to catch up with me. I smiled and halted Gus. He noticed I had turned around in the saddle and smiled back-without falling off. My heart did a somersault just then, because I felt slightly odd. I ignored it and nudged Gus into a walk. We walked side by side, just watching the horses until we had gone about half way around the ring. I broke the silence, "You ride really well."
He laughed, "Thanks, and I could say the same about you."
We were quiet for a few minutes until we rode out of the outdoor and up to the barns and dismounted. I decided to see his reaction, "Yeah, well at least I don't fall onto my-" I was cut off by a thwack upside the head. It was most unfortunate that I had taken off my helmet before getting off. Wow, I should've seen that one coming. I rubbed my head slightly, not because that actually hurt, but because that was my reaction. It must be whack-the-Princess-upside-the-head month.
Pete put on a serious face, "Gee, thanks, you're too kind."
It was my turn to be serious, "I know."
Finally, we couldn't take it anymore. We burst out laughing. As he led Penny into the crossties, he asked, "That didn't hurt did it?"
"No, it didn't," I replied taking Gus' bridle off.
I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard a voice right next to my ear, "I do believe this belongs to Gus." His voice was soft and quiet and he must have been only a few inches from my face because I could feel his breath.
"Why are you so quiet?" I asked taking the halter from him and clipping Gus to the crossties. But, Pete had disappeared. Penny was in crossties and her saddle and wraps were off. I sighed and took the saddle off of Gus, and took it to the school tack barn. That done, I picked up a grooming kit and walked quickly back to Gus. Pete still wasn't back. I gave Penny a pat on the neck as I walked by. I began to curry Gus and wonder where Pete had gone too. As soon as I was done with that, I picked up a hard brush and began to brush him. I went around to his other side and noticed Pete was back brushing Penny. 'He must've gotten back when I was currying,' and I was right.
"You probably didn't notice that I was gone, did you?" he asked, glancing over at me.
I looked up, "Yes, I noticed you were gone, I just didn't notice you had come back."
"Sure. Whatever you say," he flashed me a grin.
I just rolled my eyes and continued brushing. I was almost finished with the hard brush when Pete asked, "So, where do you go to school?"
I got out the soft brush and thought, 'Oh, so now he wants to know about me huh?' "I go to a school not really well known around here." 'You can say that again-not around Earth would be more like it.' I screamed at my conscience to shut up.
"And does this school have a name?" he asked and I would have sworn there was a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
"Yes it does," I replied, hoping I sounded sarcastic.
I must've succeeded because he raised an eyebrow and looked up from brushing Penny. He looked at me for what seemed like a long moment. Finally, I knew that I was going to blush under his gaze eventually, and so I just went back to grooming Gus-making sure his regal dark bay coat shone. Being done with the soft brush, I put it away and picked up the hoof pick. Just as I was leaning into Gus to pick up his hoof, Pete spoke up, "And were you ever planning on telling me where you go to school, or were you just going to let me stand and stare at you? Not that I mind."
No sooner were the words out of his mouth than I glanced up, quite furious. Anyone that knows me knows not to talk to me in such a way. Pete obviously didn't. I fixed him with a glare and looked him right in the eye. His face was unreadable, as were his eyes. I couldn't detect any sarcasm this time, although I was leaning into Gus again to pick up his hoof. As I was getting all the dirt out, I replied, "Neither. I'm going to clean Gus' hooves." And I set the first one back down and picked up his hind leg. The tension slowly evaporated. When I was done, I straightened up and put the hoof pick back. Pete was almost done grooming Penny. I smiled to myself and quickly walked to the school tack room and put away the brushes.
I walked back out of the tack room and Pete was just finishing the last hoof. He picked up the set of brushes that he had used and looked at me. "You want to come with me to put these brushes away?"
"Sure," I said easily. Inwardly I was fuming-partly because he had asked me to walk with him, and partly because I had accepted. I wanted no part in any kind of relationship other than friend. The comment he said before still lingered in my mind, most of my fury gone. The walls surrounding my heart were fire and ice, and he hadn't done anything to them-so I was glad. He grinned and began to walk out of the barn. Neither one of us said anything until we almost reached the boarder's tack room and I broke the silence, "So, where do you go to school?"
He paused to look at me for a second, "Since you won't tell me where you go, why should I tell you where I go?" He kept on walking.
"Okay, okay, you're right," I said.
He smirked, "So you're going to tell me now?"
I smiled and looked him in the eye, "Why would I do that?"
His eyes held amusement, "Because I asked you to."
"So," I paused for a second to study his face as he set the brushes down, "That still doesn't mean I'm going to tell you."
He grinned mischievously, "And that doesn't mean that I'm going to stop asking you."
I rolled my eyes and jogged back to the barn. As soon as I reached it, a soft voice spoke, "Now what did you do that for?"
I whirled-he had managed to come up on me and scare me-again. This time, however, he was about a foot behind me. "Why were you talking softly?" I asked, finally able to put the thought into words.
At first he looked uncomfortable, but then he shrugged, "You react faster, and I can see whether or not I scared you."
Laughing and hooking Gus's lead rope to his halter, I looked Pete in the eye and said, "Not many people scare me more than once."
If he was confused at what I said, he did not show it. Most thought I was joking when I let that comment slip (all 4 people that heard it 'In Earth anyway' my brain added)-I was not. I have only really been scared of two people. One is myself, and the other is…… I turned sharply away from Pete and led Gus out to his field. I had the strange idea that I was being watched, and I was. I looked around and found Pete staring after me curiously while leading Penny out to the mare's field. But for some reason I felt that someone powerful was watching me. My brain whispered to me what I had been thinking: Galadriel.
I walked back towards the barn and Pete caught up with me. He spoke slowly, "What did you mean when you said that?"
He asks the one question I didn't want him to-and the one I cannot answer. I replied, hoping to sound casual, "Said what?"
He saw right through the casual tone of the question. "That not many people scare you more than once," he spoke softly, almost as if he sensed he had struck a nerve-'But that's impossible-isn't it?' My brain answered my thought: For a man, but not an elf. I quickly cleared my head of all thoughts and answered him, "That question is to be answered in time-if at all."
I drifted off into my own thoughts of home and smiled when I thought of a dear friend of mine: Strider, as he is known to the mortals. I will just refer to him as a King who is very deadly in any fight, especially with a sword. His skills with a sword are out of this world-literally. My thoughts were cut off, "What is so funny?"
It took a second for that question to register, but I quickly answered, "I was just thinking, that's all." I was glad that he didn't press the subject further, for I might have been inclined to shove him into a pile of horse manure. By this time we had reached the barn, and I merely said, "I will see you next week." He nodded his head to say he had heard me, said, "Okay," and left.
I went back to work, and a few hours later I was almost finished for the day. I looked at my watch-2:00. "Perfect," I said to myself, "now I can go get lunch." I went to the office in search of Jen, whom I hoped was not teaching a lesson. I poked my head in the door. Jen looked up from the desk, "Good, I'm glad I caught you in-between lessons," I told her, "I'm going to get some lunch, okay?" Jen just nodded her head in reply and I left.
I was back forty-five minutes later, and I saw Jen was in a lesson. I decided to go out and watch since I had about an hour before I brought the horses in. Her student was on a little sorrel gelding named Dandy. I watched the girl canter and smiled when I saw the huge grin on her face. "I guess she hasn't cantered much."
I didn't realize I had said that out loud until, "Finish your work already, Sally?"
'At least he spoke up this time,' I thought, 'And I did hear him coming, I just didn't know who it was.' "Yes, I did finish my work, Pete," I replied turning my attention away from Dandy to turn around.
"The girl on Dandy," he nodded his head towards the ring, "has only cantered once before."
"She's pretty good then," I said automatically. 'My elven senses are returning,' I thought to myself, 'and Galadriel said that I would not have such good senses here when she sent me.' I paused to think about that for a moment. 'So I suppose they have found a way to delay-or defeat- Saruman's plan, and that means I will be returning back to Middle Earth soon. That explains why I felt that someone powerful was watching over me earlier.' Out loud I said, "I thought you left."
"I did," was the nonchalant reply.
"Oh," I said as I pondered about my return to Middle Earth and when it was going to be. A voice whispered in my head: Soon, little one. I smiled at the thought of returning home. Although I had only been gone for a month. I glanced at the sky, noticing it would probably rain tonight. My elven senses confirmed it. I said, "I'd better be getting the horses now."
Pete walked with me and said, "I'll help you. I know where most of the horses go. Two are better than one-especially with a storm coming." I glanced at him, wondering if he was the one Galadriel sent, or if it was a lucky guess. If he was the one she sent… I let my thoughts trial off. We parted ways and went to bring in the horses. About half an hour later, we were done, and the horses were eating their dinners. I closed the last stall and sighed. "Tired, are we?" Pete asked softly. This time though, I had barely heard him come up.
I turned around and stopped dead. He was only inches away, but that wasn't what had stopped me. What had stopped me was the scent that reached my nose-woods and cinnamon. 'That's not possible,' I thought quickly, 'he can't be an elf!' I cleared my thoughts and said, "No, not really."
My eyes widened as he leaned in. His face was so close to mine that our lips could almost touch. But they didn't. He spoke, "That's good. Do they all have food?" I could only nod, afraid that if I spoke, I would either: a) say the wrong thing; or b) wind up kissing him instead. And I didn't want to kiss or be kissed by anyone. If it was possible, he leaned in even closer; until I was sure my nose wasn't working right- because I could still smell even stronger now, the scents of woods and cinnamon. 'My nose is going bonkers,' I thought to myself, trying hard not to laugh. I let out a sigh of relief-in my mind- when he smiled softly and pulled away. 'Phew! For a second there, I thought he was paralyzed!' I thought, and then my mind seemed to freeze as realization dawned on me, 'I was the one who was almost paralyzed,' I paused as this soaked in, giving me quite a shock, 'I even wouldn't have minded it if he had kissed me! I'm going soft…no, I'm going bonkers……. No, wait; I'm going bonkers and soft!!' I frowned to myself. I am most definitely losing it. What ever happened to the Kat that would much rather surrender to Saruman than to fall in love?
Then I heard it:
'Don't lose hope, little one. You are still the same as before. Perhaps even stronger now,' said a musical voice in my ear.
'Thank you, milady,' I thought, but I received no answer. I wasn't really expecting to get one though.
It started to pour, with lightning lighting up the sky and the thunder almost making me cover my ears, silently wishing my senses hadn't all ready returned it was that loud. "Well then Sally, I guess I'll see you next Saturday," he said.
"Okay, bye!" I hollered as he ran through the rain to his truck. 'He runs like an elf, light on his feet.' I quickly shook my head, 'He's NOT an elf.' I watched him back the truck, kind of staring off into space.
I was brought back to reality when I heard the clatter of hooves against pavement and Gus flew by me, stretched out into a gallop and headed right for the big field. I groaned, 'Stupid! I forgot he could get out of his stall and forgot to do the bottom latch.' My brain once again chose an inopportune time to add, 'Because you were too worried about Pete.' Without a second thought I took off after Gus, noticing that my elvish speed had returned as well, for which I was thankful. I saw the sleek horse-who was now a sleek, wet horse- standing underneath a group of old trees that successfully blocked out the wind, and he was eating grass. I ran towards him, glad that he was okay. A musical voice spoke in my mind: Perhaps you remember who he is Kat. Many elven horses' spirits are immortal. Get on him and let him take you to an area from which you can return.
It dawned on me then who he resembled. "Gallantry," I whispered, slightly in awe and shock. Gallantry is –in Middle Earth- my mother's noble steed. He snorted and bobbed his head. I looked at him, basically asking his permission to ride him-for in Middle Earth only my mother could ride him, but then again, I'd never tried. He stood stock still, and nudged me softly with his nose. "Diola lle, mellon," Thank you, friend. I said as I vaulted easily on his back-quite grateful for the fact that I'd always been graceful around horses, even for an elf. Gallantry broke into a trot and carried me through a small, densely wooded area until we came to a clearing. I slid off his back and gave him a pat.
I then waited, most impatiently, for Galadriel to tell me what to do. After a few minutes of waiting, I was rewarded, When you return, you will find yourself standing near my mirror. I will be there, and you will see Celeborn later. Here is how you must return. You must sing this song. I listened as the song's words were played through my head, 'Oh, Elbereth,' I thought, 'that is the *worst* song, but-' my thoughts were cut off by Galadriel's voice, The one I sent with you has returned, and is fine. Now, I know that isn't the best song in Middle Earth, but there is no other choice, I'm afraid. If it makes you feel any better, the one that went with you had to sing it as well. I await your return, little one. Ah, well here goes. I began to sing:
I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts
Deedily deedily dee
There they are a-standing in a row
Bumpa bumpa bum
Big ones, small ones
Some as big as your head-
I got cut off there as a brilliant white light engulfed me. When it faded, I stood before Lady Galadriel. She embraced me, I am glad you have returned, Kat. The solution to our problem is not quite final; we are still working on it. But you shall hear it from Lord Elrond in Rivendell, She gave me another hug, Now, you are free to do as you please. Should we expect you at dinner?
"Nay, milady. I shall eat in my room. Diola lle (thank you)," I said before leaving.
A/N: Okay, so tell me what you think. In simpler terms-Review!! Next chapter (5) will be up soon. I am still working on chapter 6 though.
