fandomhighdorms | The Stables and around about the place: Monday morning [before workshops]

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The Stables and around about the place: Monday morning [before workshops]

Karal was at the stables extra early this morning. Having actually slept well for the first time in a week made this much easier, as did the fact that he was hoping Molly might join him. He'd left her a message, inviting her, so he would just wait and see.

He tacked up Trenor, leaving the girth loose, and hopped up to sit on the top rail of the fence, idly scratching Trenor's neck while he waited.

[ooc: Karal's here for Molly, but open before that if you like. I am totally shattered from tired, so I be going to bed soonish, but SP is yay.]

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Molly hadn't gotten Karal's message until it was too late to call him back last night. She had, therefore, gotten up extra extra early so that she could hopefully catch him before he left to riding. Since she wanted to be comfortable while riding, she hadn't worn anything special beyond a nice, casual shirt. However, she had left off her hat and spent quite a bit of time brushing out her hair this morning.

Rushing into the stable, Molly skidded to a stop when she saw Karal. She smiled and continued over to Trenor's stall. "Good morning, Karal. I'm glad I didn't miss you."

Karal smiled when he saw her. "Molly, good morning," he said and hopped down. "I was not sure if you would be coming, so I thought I would wait. I am glad you're here"

Molly stopped in front of him. "Thanks for waiting. I didn't get your message until it was too late to call back. I didn't want to call after you or your roommate were already asleep."

"That was probably wise. I wouldn't have minded, but I would not want to wake Aravis." He smiled shyly and turned to lead Trenor out. "But I would have waited until I had to go to my workshop."

Molly chuckled and went over to hold the stall door open for him. "You're lucky I got your message then. I don't have any workshops today and probably would have slept until lunchtime."

She turned to the horse. "Good morning, Trenor," she greeted cheerily.

Karal led Trenor out, and the horse snorted and shook his head, then reached his nose out to Molly, expecting good morning pats.

"Well, you will be able to go back to bed after we ride," he teased. "I would hate to keep you from your sleeping."

Molly reached up to pat Trenor, automatically scratching him under his noseband. She grinned at Karal. "No need to worry about my sleeping habits," she said. "I can fall asleep anywhere."

He chuckled, watching as Trenor pushed against her hand. "He does like you," he said. "And if you truly can fall asleep anywhere, I am envious. I spent the last week not sleeping much at all." Karal smiled brightly, and added, "But that is over, I think. Shall we ride in the Preserve?"

"I like him too." Molly grinned wider at Trenor and scratched harder. "It's a good thing he likes me," she said. "I wouldn't want him to throw me off.

"The Preserve would be nice," she said then gave Karal a mild look of concern, trying to judge if he was covering. "You're all done with the stuff you were working on last week? I hope everything turned out okay."

"He would never do that. He is too well mannered, even if he is fidgety at times." Karal met her look of concern with a reassuring smile. "I am and it turned out well. Very well." There was no possible way he could contain a grin, which was more than part awe, but he didn't know how to explain what had happened, so he settled for, "I know that I made the right choice. Ready to go riding again?"

Molly smiled, completely reassured. "Yes! Let's go riding!"

Karal nodded and led Trenor out of the stable, stopping by the mounting block to tighten the girth and run the stirrups down. "It will be easier this time. You can get on by standing on the block, then you simply step onto Trenor. Once you're settled, I'll get on behind you." He paused and added hesitantly, "If that is still all right? I think you'll be more comfortable in the saddle."

Molly nodded and stepped up onto the mounting block, trying not to think to hard about how much she'd liked riding that way last time for fear of blushing. "It's all right with me if you're okay with it." She looked over at Karal and grinned after she stepped over onto Trenor. "I won't be able to see much from behind you after all."

Amused, Karal laughed and shook his head. "Somehow I think that won't lessen the experience in any way. And I am quite okay with it," he assured her. More than okay with it, actually, and he glanced down at the ground for a moment. "I just want you to enjoy the experience." He flipped the reins over Trenor's head and offered them to Molly. "Will you hold them while I mount?"

"Certainly." Molly took the reins and made sure she was settled in the saddle properly.

The mounting block was easier on both Karal and Trenor, so he climbed up and slipped one leg over, settling behind the saddle. "I must get a pillion pad," he muttered, automatically reaching around Molly for the reins as Trenor stamped one foot and backed up a few steps. "Trenor, stand."

Molly's stomach fluttered when Karal put his arms around her, but she steadfastly ignored it. She gave up the reins to him and gripped the saddle tightly when Trenor moved unexpectedly. "Is he okay?" she asked.

"He is," he promised, gathering up the reins. Trenor stopped, but flicked his ears back and forth. "He is just impatient." Karal nudged him into a smooth walk, blushing just a little, but enjoying Molly's closeness. "You're not wearing a hat."

Molly was glad she was sitting in front of Karal because she blushed deeply now. "No," she said calmly. "I don't think I'll be wearing them as much anymore."

"Then we will definitely ride in the Preserve, to keep the sun off you." He turned Trenor's head in that direction and they set off at a brisk walk, Karal keeping a close eye on Molly, ready to steady her if she needed it. "Have you decided you don't like them?" he asked curiously, pretending not to see the blush.

"Oh! No," Molly said, starting to lean back into Karal a little. "I just... I'm sixteen now and I want to..." This was hard for her to explain. She turned just slightly and looked up at Karal. "I don't want people to treat me like a little girl anymore."

"You can lean on me if you like," he offered and flushed. "So you keep your balance," he added, thinking about what she had said. "That makes perfect sense." Karal met her eyes, trusting Trenor not to run into anything. "There is a rite, in Karse. Children place something symbolic of their childhood on the fire and watch it burn. It is a way of marking the transition from child to adult, of recognising it." He looked away, swallowing hard at the memories. "It changed, for a time, but it has been restored to what it was."

Molly studied his face when he looked away, but didn't ask about what was obviously something uncomfortable for him. "I don't know that I'd want to burn my hats," she said. "I was just thinking of putting most of them away in a box or something."

It surpised him into a laugh and Trenor snorted and shook his head, lengthening his stride as the entrance to the Preserve came into view. "No, you shouldn't burn them. They're very nice hats, and you might want to wear them again. I just meant...I do not know what I meant." He smiled down at her. "Just that I understand, I guess. I promise I won't treat you like a little girl, because you are not one. If I do you should throw something at me. Gently though, please."

Molly chuckled. "I will throw a hat at you," she teased.

Turning to face forward again, she leaned back more again Karal. "So did you end up working all weekend or did you make sure to stop at least for a little?" she asked as she took in the view of the Preserve. High on the back of a horse really put things in a different perspective.

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