Chapter Five
Disclaimer: I don't own anything from the Never Ending Story, and I'm not making any money from this fic
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Ok... We need to try and find you a horse," Atreyu told Rhiannon.
"Why?" Rhiannon frowned. "What's wrong with both of us riding Artex?"
"Artex won't be able to carry a double weight for long," Atreyu explained, trying to be patient. But his words sounded bitten off in a tone that was more like a growl. What is it about this girl? he wondered. Half of the time, I want to hit her... But the other half, I'm not sure exactly what I feel.
Rhiannon looked down. "I was only asking," she mumbled.
Atreyu sighed. "I'm sorry, Rhiannon," he said. "I'm just a little on edge. I don't like this quest at all. We know hardly anything about what it is we're supposed to find."
Rhiannon hesitated, then, "Would you really have tied me up and gagged me if I'd carried on complaining on the way here?" she wanted to know.
Atreyu looked at her. "What do you think?"
Rhiannon paused. "Yes, I think you would have," she said finally.
Atreyu nodded. "You weren't making things easy for me," he told Rhiannon, not really looking at her. "I already had to bring you to the Ivory Tower. I would have gagged you. And tied you up."
"But you should understand how I was feeling at that moment," Rhiannon protested. "I just found myself in a world that shouldn't exist outside of imagination! I was confused."
Atreyu gave Rhiannon a sideways glance. "Do you admit that this world is real, then?" he asked.
Rhiannon hesitated. "I don't know," she eventually admitted. "I really don't. I'm sorry, Atreyu."
Atreyu didn't reply. Instead, he said, "We're at the stables now."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It was well into the late afternoon when Rhiannon and Atreyu rode out of the city. Rhiannon had found a suitable horse - a black one with a white star on her nose called Moonlight.
I'm going to get saddle-sore, Rhiannon thought, shifting slightly in her saddle. She didn't say anything to Atreyu, though. He wouldn't be happy if she started complaining.
And suddenly Atreyu's happiness means so much more to me?
Rhiannon guided her horse closer to Atreyu's, and asked, "Atreyu, what exactly is that necklace you're wearing?"
"It's the orin," Atreyu explained, still looking ahead. "It's the symbol of the Empress' power. It can grant wishes, and whoever carries it speaks for the Empress."
"That design was on the cover of the book I was reading before I came here," Rhiannon said thoughtfully.
Atreyu glanced sideways at her. "What was the book about?"
"I don't know," Rhiannon admitted. "I... came here before I started reading."
Atreyu opened his mouth to say something, then closed it again as a look of horror came into his eyes. Rhiannon heard the beating of wings behind her. "What is it?" she demanded.
"Duck!" Atreyu yelled. Then, before Rhiannon could react, he leaped at her, knocking her off Moonlight.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read and review, please!