Chapter Forty Seven: A New Start

I blanched visibly as I climbed out of the Land Rover and surveyed the huge house. My heart leapt to my throat and my hands shook slightly.

"Lil, are you alright?" Belle slipped her arm around my shoulders and hugged me.

I nodded and rubbed my eyes tiredly. "Can you show me where Jewel's stable is?"

Belle smiled and nodded. "We even got her a name-plate for the door that matches our horses'. The only difference is in the corner, there's a carving of a lily." She said softly as we unlocked the trailer.

I grinned at Bella and patted Jewel's neck. "Hey sweetie. How was that huh? Your new stable awaits!"

Bella had disappeared with Jewel's hay-net, leaving me standing on the driveway with a horse standing patiently next to me.

Jasmine poked her head around the trailer and motioned for me to follow her. I did as she asked and clicked my tongue, urging Jewel into a steady trot.

I eventually caught up with Jasmine and followed her into the airy barn, filled with row upon row of stables, each with an inquisitive face poking over the half-door and watching as I led Jewel to a middle stable.

"Ta da!" I heard Cass cry and my eyes wandered over the sight, drinking it in slowly.

Jewel's rugs had been placed carefully over the rug rack hanging from the wall, her straw bed had large, squashy banks and a thick layer of warm straw covered the floor. Her bright red hay-net had been hung from an iron ring on the wall and a large red bucket stood in the far corner, brimming with cool water. One of Jewel's red feed buckets, which had been personalised by me and a black marker pen, sat next to the water bucket, filled with a bran mash for my horse. On the door was indeed a name plate with a small lily carved on it.

I smiled and felt tears prick my eyes. Jewel whickered softly and pulled me gently to her feed. I obliged and unclipped her lead rope and head collar. Fastening them to the end of the rug rack, I looked back to see the Figgs, Cassie, Remus, James and Sirius watching me expectantly.

"I… I… I don't know what to say, other than thank you from the bottom of my heart." I whispered softly as I locked Jewel's stable door.

Cassie and Belle stepped forward with their arms held out towards me.

"Come here you silly moose." Cassie said softly.

I smiled and embraced them both, holding them as if I would never see them again.

"Um, Lil? Breathing is a good thing." Belle wheezed as I let go.

I grinned, suddenly feeling much better. "Do I get a grand tour of the house then?" I asked cheekily.

"Sure chica." Jasmine replied.

Philippe smiled. "We'll let Belle do the tour. If you need anything, Bella knows where it is."

Bella rolled her eyes as her parents wandered away with their arms around each other.

"Since we're in here, let's start with the horses. Follow me." She strode off to the end of the barn and stood outside a large stable, waiting for us to saunter over.

"This is Abracadabra, the first stallion Dad ever bought." I looked over the door and came face to face with a 16.3 hh dark bay stallion with a white snip and two white socks.

We moved along.

"These three are Allegro, Adagio and Aramis. They're all sisters, sired by Ab, of course." She pointed to the three stables next to each other.

"Over here we have Bandit, Bourbon and Cameo." She continued.

I'll make this easy for you and list their names, gender and breeds in order of stables.

Abracadabra – stallion - Andalusian

Allegro – mare – Andalusian/Thoroughbred

Adagio – mare - Andalusian/Thoroughbred

Aramis – mare - Andalusian/Thoroughbred

Bandit – gelding – Connemara pony

Bourbon – gelding - Friesian

Cameo – filly – Dutch Warmblood/Andalusian

Cherokee – colt – Andalusian/Haflinger

Comet – gelding - Lipizzaner

Dakota – mare – Tennessee Walking Horse

Dream Weaver – mare - Hanoverian

Eclipse – filly – Andalusian/Hanoverian

Evening Star – mare - Arab

Faruq – colt – Andalusian/Camargue

Gold Rush – gelding - Thoroughbred

Gypsy – mare - Camargue

Hurricane Jane – mare - Thoroughbred

Irish Song – mare - Percheron

Jaipur – stallion - Arab

Kiss of Kings – colt – Arab

Lady Blue Eyes – mare - Thoroughbred

Lotto – gelding - Hucul

Made You Look – filly - Camargue

Mercury – mare – Don Horse

Nakida – filly - Lusitano

Obvious Intentions – mare - Tersky

Painted Beauty – mare - Lusitano

Phoenix – stallion - Camargue

Pure – gelding – Vladimir Draft Horse

Questionable Loyalty – colt – Orlov Trotter/Arab

Rain Dancer – colt - Arab

Rembrant – gelding - Barb

Serenity – filly - Lusitano

Shadow Dancer – mare – Orlov Trotter

Sweet Melody – mare - Mustang

Tamara – filly – Mangalarga Manchador/Lusitano

Tigger – gelding – Quarter Horse

Tourniquet – stallion - Lusitano

Twist of Fate – colt – Percheron/Camargue

Unbridled Pleasure – stallion – Orlov Trotter

Valentine – mare – Russian Riding Horse

Vogue – filly - Arab

Wildfire – filly – Arab/Thoroughbred

Xena – mare – Orlov Trotter

Yogi – gelding - Arab

Zaya – colt - Thoroughbred

Zorro – stallion – Mangalarga Manchador

As you've obviously noticed, there is atleast one horse with a name for each letter of the alphabet. Quite ridiculous really, but fun all the same. In total, the Figgs own 47 horses, most of which have either won many or will go on to win many prestigious shows.

Eventually, Belle managed to direct us all to the house.

We went in the back door, which led through the large, spacious kitchen to the pretty dark-wood/light-walled dining room and then on to the sitting room, which was furnished with cream leather sofas and a deep blue carpet. A dado rail separated the two different coloured wallpapers, one deep blue and the other a rich cream.

Bella led us past a heavy oak-wood door, but shook her head when I pointed it out.

"That's Dad's study. No child is allowed in there unless summoned." She replied.

On the back of the house was also a large conservatory, filled with exotic-smelling plants.

As we climbed the stairs, a young man appeared at the top of the steps.

"Hiya Ara, who're your mates?" He asked. His hair was the same colour as Belle's, but cut short and his eyes were a warm hazel.

"Hey Alec, these are my best friends from school. James Potter, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black and you know Cass and Lil. Guys, this is one of my older brothers, Alec." Introductions were made and Cassie nudged me.

"Lucky cow." She whispered slyly.

I flushed and averted my eyes from Alec, whilst simultaneously smacking Cass lightly on the arm in reprove. "Shut up." I hissed back.

James caught my eye and I thought I saw an unnamed emotion flit across his features, but when I blinked, it was gone. Must be my over-active imagination.

"You said one of your brothers. Do you have more?" James asked, turning to Bella.

She nodded and moved to let Alec down the stairs. He brushed my arm and I felt a shiver of excitement go up my spine.

"Sean, Pharrell and Alec. Sean's married with a baby on the way, Pharrell's just got engaged and Alec has been with his girlfriend for 2 and ½ years." Belle explained as she led us to my new bedroom.

I stepped inside and the walls turned a faint pink. The large window provided lots of light, plenty for me to paint by. The bed was a four-poster with thin white drapes and cool white covers. The furniture was all white, with the exception of the hi-fi. It was a bright sparkly emerald colour. I smiled.

"It's a mood room sweetie." Cassie breathed softly.

Belle grinned slyly. "You've just been embarrassed. Wonder what, or should I say who, by?"

Cassie smirked and threw her arms around me.

I giggled and then froze.

In the far corner was something draped in swaths of white cloth. I approached it slowly and gently pulled the material away. There stood my easel, with the painting I'd been in the middle of.

I spun around and the room changed to a bright, happy shade of yellow. "Thank you!"

A/N: Hey guys, how you doin'? What do you think of this chapter? I'm not uploading ch. 48 till I get 5 reviews.

Please.

Lots of love

M

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