Fate.
It all began by the seaside, where a young girl was sitting on a rocky hillside, watching the sun dive down into the vast and dark waters of the sea. Her thoughts were far away from all the strange and disturbing things that have been happening to her ever since her mother died – the last loving person in her small world, when no one else took interest in what the girl wanted or where she ever wished to go. She never knew her father – nor, for that matter, any other relatives she might have. Her world was concentrated only around her mother – a very gentle and intelligent woman, who raised her to become a very smart and independent girl. But since her death all that was left – was an empty little house with an old tiny stable, standing on the outskirts of a small seaside town, where most people were simple fishermen or small-time farmers.
The girl – with a very rare name for this part of the country – never took part in the town's life. More than that – she was always distant with the town folk, and never found anyone there to be of interest to her. Most of them didn't even know what her name meant and when she was little, children at the local school used to make fun of her. It was one of the reasons she turned to in-home education. She was bored at school anyways – the program was too simple for her.
With time Agrippina stopped trying to make friends – and books were her friends since then. She loved to read, and when her mother fell sick, she spent long hours by her bed, reading her many of the stories she loved. Her mother listened to her voice with a smile – and with a smile she passed away one evening, leaving Agrippina all by herself.
But all that vanished away every time she went to sit by the seaside, listening to the gentle whisper of the waves and the distant screams of the seagulls that nested on a little island not far away. This was her spot – her little corner of heaven, where nothing else mattered.
On sunny days she took a small basket with home-made pie and cupcakes with her to the hillside, and always sat there the whole day – reading out loud, pretending her mother to be next to her. But on days like this – chilly and dark, with the sky covered in low and heavy clouds – she just sat there, curled in a warm blanket her mother made many years ago, and listened to the sounds of surrounding nature.
Solitude was always complete. But today was a different day.
She first heard a horse neigh nearby, and just as she turned to face the direction it came from, she saw a horse walk out from behind the bushes, that grew down the hill. The horse walked very slowly, dragging behind a young man that seemed dead or, at least, unconscious.
Agrippina rushed down to the horse, whishing not to spook the animal away, but the horse only stopped, when it saw the girl approaching and neighed again, as if calling to her. When Agrippina came up and took the reins, she found that the young man was only unconscious, with his foot stuck in the stirrup. The girl carefully released the limb from the trap and took the horse a few steps away to tie up by the reins to the small tree that barely outgrew the thick bushes surrounding it.
She then approached the rider again and took a look at his injuries. He definitely hit his head – a small wound was still dripping blood, and it seemed that he took a bad fall – his arms and legs were covered in bruises and cuts from the rocks and branches on the ground. No ribs seemed broken, and Agrippina thought what she could do for the poor fellow. She looked at the horse, that was watching her with interest, and an idea appeared in the mind.
-Will you help me out with your rider? – the girl asked and the horse snorted. – I take it as a yes then.
She untied the horse and brought it to the young man. It took her a few minutes to try and pick up the rider, but the horse helped – it bent its legs and came down – enough to put the unconscious young man on its back.
When the horse stood up again, Agrippina took the reins and headed for her house. The horse followed without hesitation.
For the first time Agrippina was happy that her house was once a small farm – the tiny stable for two horses took in the rider's horse, and covered it from the starting rain. Her neighbor – Mr. Higgins, who used to be a war surgeon years ago – saw Agrippina coming up with the injured man and offered help – with help, they both quickly carried the young man inside the house and took care of his injuries.
An hour later Mr. Higgins left Agrippina with a relief – the rider should recover in a day or two – his ankle was only sprained.
By the time he left, the rider started coming to his senses. Agrippina was already sitting next to the bed with a book on her knees.
"Ehm… hello" Faintly said the young man, thinking of how he ever got to this place.
Agrippina happily stood up, dropping the book.
"Don't worry, you're quite okay. You just need to rest." she said, smiling. "Your horse is fine too, it's in the stable. I'll feed it a bit later. You're both in good hands."
"How did I.. we…"
"Your horse dragged you to the beach where I found you two. Doc said you should rest for a few days. Is there anyone I can contact, so that they won't worry? "
The young man's face darkened, and he looked away.
"There's no one" he said.
Agrippina stopped smiling and thought for a moment.
"Well… in this case… you are welcome to stay here until you feel better. "
"Thank you…" he looked at her, and found himself drowning in her deep blue eyes. "I hope your parents won't mind.
It was Agrippina's turn to look away, leaving the young man with a feeling of sudden loss.
"I have none. " the girl said and quickly looked at him with a gentle smile. "Do you like cranberry pie? "
"I'm Bradley. " the young man stretched his bruised hand to her, smiling. "And I love cranberry pie. "
"Agrippina." The girl replied, carefully shaking his hand. "And I'll be right back…"
When she returned with two cups of tea and a plate with sliced cranberry pie, the young man was already sitting up on the bed, smiling:
"Now I know why Fate – my mare – took you so good. She never let anyone near herself, but me." He said, smiling widely. "Agrippina… ancient roman…"
For the first time she heard someone truly know the roots of her name and not making fun! The girl flushed, not knowing what to say.
"Will you read for me?" Bradley smiled, pointing at the book, still laying down on the floor. "I couldn't reach it, but I see it should be something interesting…"
Agrippina left the cups and the plate on the bedside table and picked up the book.
"If you like myths of the ancient world, of course…" She smiled, showing him the cover, saying it was a tome of myths and legends of ancient Greece. "Or I could find something else for you…"
"Are you kidding? Everyone used to make fun of me that I liked myths over everything else… I'd love to hear you read one of those!"
Agrippina couldn't hold a giggle inside and sat next to him, opening one of her favorite myths…
Days passed, Bradley got better and started walking – first bit by bit, until he could walk more or less steadily outside to the porch. It was then that he first realized that Agrippina took all the care for his mare for the time he was unable to do that. His horse never looked better – clean and well-fed, she enjoyed the girl's company, just as he did. And Agrippina, in her turn, enjoyed watching the animal run on the small field in front of the house.
On one of those calm and happy days, Bradley came up to the girl with a proposition to try and take a ride. At first he saw fright on Agrippina's face, but then she smiled and accepted his offer. He began teaching her from the basics, in the stall, with each minute understanding more and more that the girl is catching all of his explanations in a matter of moments. He was more and more fascinated with this very bright young woman. More than that! He was amused that Fate was very gentle with Agrippina and seemed to enjoy playing with her hair.
"Now I know I was right all along, when I woke up…" Bradley mumbled to himself, when they were walking out of the stable.
"About what?" Agrippina heard him! He blushed.
"Emm, well… when I came to my senses… I thought I died and ended up in heaven."
"Really?" Agrippina laughed. "Then where were the angels and all?"
"Well, one of them is right next to me…"
Agrippina chuckled and gave him a kind look.
"And what makes you think I fit for an angel?"
"You're beautiful and smart, and kind… and my mare looks to you, as if you two knew each other all life." Bradley tried to explain and blushed again, feeling awkward.
"Maybe she just found someone, who loves her just as much as you?" The girl replied, petting the horse on the forehead. "And what's not to love in this perfection? Just look at her, she's a beauty!"
Bradley looked at his mare and sighed.
"Ah, you cruel animal, you! You don't even think I will be jealous?!" – he said to the horse and it snorted, as if answering him.
Agrippina laughed at the sight how a man and a horse found an understanding between each other, and took Fate to the fence.
Within moments Agrippina climbed the mare's back and sat up, feeling the reins in her hands.
"So how does it go?" She asked Bradley, and Fate started walking forward.
"Emm… something like that, actually". Smiled the young man, seeing that Fate didn't feel the need to bulk or throw the new rider off her back, like she used to back in the days before he bought her.
He sat on the fence to let his injured limb rest, and started telling Agrippina how to ride. She, on the other hand, was a natural, and quickly understood the basics.
"If I'd known this was so great, I'd find myself a horse earlier!" Agrippina laughed, when she trotted past Bradley, feeling herself free and happy. For the first time since her mother died, she was laughing and smiling.
Bradley was glad to see her smile, because each time she wasn't around him or Fate, her face turned sad and distant, and at those times all he wanted was just come up to her and hold her tight to let her know she wasn't alone.
"I've never seen anyone learn so fast!" Bradley said when they were taking Fate back to the stable. "Are you making fun of me or something?"
"Now why would I do that?" Agrippina laughed again.
"Well, this was a farm once, was it not? And there is a stable…"
"My mother bought the place a long time ago, and we never actually even thought of horses. We used the stable for other needs."
Agrippina unsaddled Fate herself and before she could come out of the stall with the bridle, Fate brushed her head against the girls back, pushing her right into Bradley's arms.
That was an awkward moment for both of them, and they froze for a moment, before Bradley forced a smile on his face.
"Are you okay?"
"Emm, yes. But a little…" Agrippina straightened and looked at the mare. "You are a cruel animal, making fun of me like that!"
"She's never done that before…" Bradley closed the stall.
Fate was looking out of the stall, reaching for them both with her nose.
"Maybe she knows something better than we do." Agrippina shrugged. "Let's go home. She needs her rest and so do you, wounded man. Come on. I'll make us something for dinner."
Bradley felt like a schoolboy, and gladly agreed.
"You cook like a pro! Every time I eat your cooking, I just want to eat it all up with the plate, so I'm all hands for it!"
Agrippina laughed again.
"I guess you'd like some more pie, wouldn't you?" She asked.
"Only if you let me help you this time!" Bradley nodded. "I absolutely must know what you put in there that it makes your cooking taste so great!"
"A little bit of this, a few fresh herbs from my garden, and a few drops of good memories, I guess." Agrippina smiled happily. "My mother used to say that the best dishes come from an easy heart and good thoughts".
While they were preparing dinner, she finally told him of her mother, and he watched with amusement, how warmly and kindly she spoke of her. He then realized how she loved her and what a nightmare it should have been losing her.
Agrippina told him lots of stories from when she was a child and her mother taught her to cook. Some were funny, some – calm and loving, full of wonderful memories. They spent the whole evening talking and laughing together, sharing all the good things they had in life so far, and it seemed that nothing else could ever matter more in the world for them.
When the night fell upon the world, they sat on the porch with cups of tea, continuing to share, while admiring the bright stars that shined down on them from the dark sky.
Bradley then understood that he didn't want to leave this place at all. This girl was smart, beautiful, kind and loving – he saw that just by looking at how she managed to become friends with his mare. And he used to think Fate was wild hearted!
Agrippina leaned closer to him, getting chilly.
"I want to show you something" She said as an excuse. "Look up there. See that constellation? My mom used to call it the Soul. When I was very little and was afraid of something, she took me out here and showed it to me. She said that all good souls end up there and they watch over us whenever we are in trouble. And cry with us when we cry. She also told me that someday she and I will be there too to watch over those, who are living…"
Bradley smiled at the thought – her mother made up a very nice myth for her child, so that it would support her always, whenever she'd see those stars.
"Well, I bet your mom is looking down from there very proud and happy for her girl." Bradley said with a smile. "She raised a good person. Who else would take in an injured stranger?!"
He felt Agrippina bump his ribs slightly.
"You say like I had a choice." She smiled widely. "I was taught to be a helping person, and to leave you out there stranded… was the last thing I'd do."
"Most people nowadays would put distance between. They'd just call the ambulance and forget about my horse most probably…"
"Well then I'm glad that it was me who found you, not someone else." Agrippina smiled, and Bradley found himself drowning in her eyes again.
They sat in silence for some time, before Bradley gathered his strength together and touched her cheek gently.
"I'm happy it was you." He said with a gentle smile. "You saved me."
She blushed, shyly smiling.
"Like I said – you're an angel." Bradley added.
Agrippina smiled again, and it was then their lips touched with a soft and warm kiss.
"I don't want to leave." Bradley admitted suddenly.
"Then don't…" was all Agrippina could answer, understanding that these days with him were the happiest she had for quite a while. And that she felt something beautiful and overwhelming rising up in her chest. She no longer felt neither lonely nor sad, like she used to. She felt free and… truly happy.
He never left. And when they married a year later, Bradley presented Agrippina a beautiful chestnut gelding. Now – instead of spending days at the seaside in solitude – they rode together on the beach, happy that fate brought them together…
THE END.