Chapter 7: Temperamental

I had just gotten out of the baths when Maria had run up to me. "Your majesty" she curtsied, "Maria right?" I questioned her, a blush crossed her cheeks and she nodded. I immediately kissed the top of her hand. "A pleasure the meet the woman that raised Princess Aria" I complimented her, only to feel a piece of paper be pressed into my hand. "As it is a pleasure to meet the man that has caught my Princess's eye, but I really must be going." She smiled curtsying again before quickly disappearing.

"That was strange" Edmund commented, I folded my hand over the note slipping it into my pocket as I shrugged. "I'm going to catch a nap" I told Edmund who nodded and left to find Susan. As soon as Edmund was gone I pulled the note back out and examined it.

'Meet me in the stables. ~A'

I couldn't help but grin as I put the paper back into my pocket. "High King" Prince Rabadash's harsh voice cut through the air. I quickly slipped the note back into my pocket as I looked up. "Prince" I made sure to stress that word. He needed a reminder of who he was talking too. His eyes rested on the dark blue sash that I had returned to my arm after my bath.

"I hope today's matches didn't wind you your majesty" Prince Rabadash commented, his tone faking concern but there was smugness and an insult behind it. "Of course not, today was only child's play. I'm quite looking forward to tomorrow, hoping for some stiffer competition" I commented, a sinister smile crossed his lips. "Well then, I look forward to when we meet on the battle field. Good day your majesty" he commented before quickly turning his back, throwing a smug smile towards me before he continued his way down the hallway. I glared at him. I looked forward to meeting on the battle field.

I passed a maid and realized I didn't know where the stables were. "Oh excuse me" I questioned the girl, she looked up at me frightened before curtsying quickly. "Yes your majesty?" She questioned, "I'm trying to find my way to the stables but I'm lost" I told her. She smiled, "it's rather easy to find your majesty. Follow the hall, go through the grand door and the stables will be down and to your left" she told me. I nodded thanking her before quickly heading to the stables. Princess Aria was no undoubtedly wondering where I was.

Finally reaching the stables I smiled at seeing her standing next to a stall rubbing the top of a horse's head as she fed her sugar cubes. "Princess" I smiled at her, she looked up at me. A grin crossing her face as she inclined her head, she still wore her silver crown upon her head. "Your majesty" she replied before going back to attending to her mare. I stepped forwards resting a hand on her mane. "She is beautiful" I whispered and she nodded. "Yes she was my first mare, though she's gotten to old for any serious riding" she whispered. "Then what horse will you ride? I assume that's why you asked me down here" I questioned her and she nodded. "Of course your majesty. I thought you might enjoy a relaxing ride after today." She brushed off her hands before she continued on her way through the stables. She led me to my own horse who had already been saddled up.

"He is rather gentle. I expected the High King's horse to have a little more of a fight in him" She chuckled crossing her arms. "You saddled him up?" I questioned her and she nodded. "He was a complete push over for a sugar cube" she giggled giving him another one. He munched on it happily as he flicked his tail thoroughly enjoying himself. I couldn't help but grin, "Yes he's been that way since he was a foul" I agreed leading him back out of the stall.

She grabbed a saddle and reigns and started carrying them. I quickly grabbed them from her, holding the saddle in one arm and Maule's reigns in the other. She smiled and grabbed some more ice cubes before leading the way out of the stables. "But where is your horse?" I questioned her, she smiled, "he prefers to free run" she explained before opening the coral. "If you'll just set them here" She instructed setting the saddle down on the coral. I did what I was told and watched her. She let her eyes scan the coral before resting on a far off mustang. Black socks, and mane but he had a strikingly warm caramel body.

She put her fingers to her lips and let out a soft, warm whistle. I leaned against the coral watching her. The mustang lifted his head up and looked at her. She smiled and did it again, this time adding a two toned whistle. He shook his head before grudgingly making his way over. Once he came close she offered him the sugar cubes and he greedily took them. "This is Demetrius, he was originally supposed to be a gift to father from the King of Carlormene but he proved to be to wild. Father was going to return him, till one day I had it in my head that I could break him. Needless to say I ended up with a broken arm, father immediately went to put him down but I just couldn't let that happen. Anyway father grudgingly agreed to keeping him. I apologized to Demetrius and after that he had let me ride him." She told me before picking up the saddle and resting it against Demetrius's high back.

I stepped forwards to help her when Demetrius suddenly reared ready to hit me. "Back up!" Aria quickly screamed at me, I quickly backed up to the safety of the other side of the coral. "Sh, it's okay. Sh" She cooed to the wild horse running her hand down his neck. He need unhappily at me and she gave him a sugar cube to calm down. "Sorry about that, he doesn't like anyone around him. Thus resulting in him staying in the coral" she explained putting some reigns on him before opening the coral door. I quickly retreated to my own horse as she put her foot in the stirrup and mounted him on her own. I quickly mounted my own horse. "Well my lady lead the way" I smiled at her. She smiled and kicked Demetrius to life. "Well let's see if you can keep up" her laugh filled the warm air as we quickly gave chase after her.

The two of us racing across Archland territory. She seemed to take her own route. Forging a path through the tall grass and flowers. Her riding cloak billowing out behind her as we caught up to her. She turned to me laughing as we continued to race. I couldn't help but join in, her laughter was contagious. I had a flashback of being back at Aslan's camp. Of just riding on our horses practicing our sword fighting next to the girl's archery. It had been so carefree then, I had forgotten how to ride for enjoyment purposes. Lately all we rode for was either battle or to getting from one place to the next. I felt like I was sixteen again.

We reached a large outcropping and we pulled our horses to a stop. "This your majesty, is Archland" she informed me before looking out over the outcropping. It was gorgeous. The rock suddenly dropped before expanding into the large grassy fields that supported Archland's game and cattle. "It's beautiful" I whispered and she nodded her agreement. "It's the most beautiful place I've ever seen in my life." She whispered, "well then, we should definitely expand that then." I told her making her chuckle. "Yes one day, Father had a unique opinion on that subject matter" she chuckled.

I nodded. "Yes I saw you and your father talking. I assumed he wasn't happy about the sash" I told her smiling down at the blue fabric. "Surprisingly he wasn't upset" she confessed before her cheeks blushed slightly. "What?" I questioned her, she looked up at me shaking her head. "Nothing your majesty" before she looked back out over the fields. "You know I much prefer hearing Peter, especially when we're alone like this" I told her. A smile tugged on her lips but she didn't say anything. Demetrius snorted at my words as we just enjoyed the scenery.