The Stables, Wednesday afternoon

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

When Karal had left Andrew, he'd gone down to the stables and he'd been there ever since. Being with Trenor made him feel better, no matter what was happening, and he'd spent the day polishing tack and his horse until both gleamed.

As he leaned on the stall door, his realisation from earlier came back to him. "Altra, do you think you could go and find Aravis?"

:I don't want to leave you alone,: the 'cat protested.

"I'll be fine, Altra. Please? Trenor and I will hear anyone who comes by."

Grumbling, Altra went, Jumping out. Ten minutes later, he Jumped back. :She's on her way.:

Karal nodded and tacked Trenor up, before leading him out of his stall.

[ooc: just for the person that was fetched, please.]

Comments

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

Aravis wandered down a few moments later, shrouded in a cloak (that, frankly, would probably have been unnecessary for people who were not babies about temperature.) "We just got through with winter," she grumbled as she entered the stable. "Stupid island. Hello, Karal."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Trenor whickered happily when he saw Aravis, stretching out his nose towards her, and Karal hid a smile. "Hello, Aravis," he said, one hand on Trenor's neck. "I could do with a little less winter, as well. I just went through six months of it!"

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

Aravis gently stroked Trenor's nose, smiling. "I certainly don't envy you. It's times like this that I actually miss my damn desert."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Hopefully the island will not decide this is a good place to stay." Karal took a deep breath - this was going to be harder than he'd thought, but it was the right thing to do - and gathered up Trenor's reins. The horse was leaning besottedly towards Aravis, eyes half-closed in happiness. "Aravis, would you hold out your hand, please?"

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

Aravis frowned in confusion, but held her hand out obediently.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal set the reins in her hand, then gently closed her fingers around them. "He is yours," he said softly.

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

Aravis stared, sure she'd heard him wrong. "What?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Trenor curved an ear at Karal and snorted, and Karal stroked his neck. "I cannot ride him if I can't see, not anywhere outside of the stableyard, it's not safe, and he could get hurt. There is no way for him to carry Altra and me so that I would be able to see forward."

He smiled, and it was sad. "Altra could ride on his rump, but then I'd only be able to see where we'd been. He is a good horse, one of the best I've ever seen, and he deserves better than to spend the rest of his life as a pasture ornament. And he loves you. With all the times you've spent with him, spent caring for him, you are as much his person as I am."

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"I -- "

It was fairly rare for Aravis to not know precisely what to say. "...he will always be yours, Karal. But I'll care for him. And keep him active. But he will never not be your horse. I'm happy to take him, though, if this is what you truly wish."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Thank you," he said on a sigh. "And I would like to help care for him while I'm still here, and if you don't mind, ride him in the yard occasionally," he said quietly. "There are some things I learned from the Shin'a'in that I'd like to teach him. But when I leave, he should stay, and when you leave, return to your world with you. I will miss him," more than he could say, "but there is no one else in any world I would trust him with more than you."

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

She smiled softly. "He'd like Archenland," she said gently. "If that is where I go. And you will, of course, visit him any time you like. And of course I don't mind you caring for him or riding him. Not in the slightest."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal smiled. "He liked it when we were there, spoiled thing." He tugged on one of Trenor's ears and the horse shook his head, making the bridle jingle. "I'm not sure why I tacked him up, but it just felt like I should."

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"Something to do with your hands," she suggested softly. "I used to go out and tack up Hwin and brush her when I needed to feel better."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"That is what brought me here in the first place." He ran a finger under the bridle's cheek strap. "I should untack him, unless you want to ride?"

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

She considered, and offered, "Or you could. Just around the yard. I could lead him. Or, I mean, we could ride together. If you'd like. It's not as though I'm large enough to take up too much room on him anyway."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

He brightened. "You wouldn't mind? He could carry us both easily, and I'd, I'd really like that."

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"Of course I wouldn't mind," she said, smiling softly and reaching out to touch his arm. "Any time you like. Though, really, now is an ideal time."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Then lead the way, and I'll follow," he said, clasping her fingers briefly. "Could we go to the beach, do you think?"

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"It's a bit cold," she said doubtfully. "We're in some frightful snowy place now. But yes, if you think it won't be a problem."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

He frowned. "No, you're right. Perhaps the Preserve, where we'll be out of the wind?"

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"That sounds perfect," she decided, even though she didn't like the preserve. On horseback, it wouldn't be a problem.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

It did, even if it was going to be strange not be riding Florian. With a quick smile, he followed Altra to the main door and pulled it open so Aravis could lead Trenor out.

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

She did, carefully and gently, smiling softly. "You'll have to tell me if we go too fast."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"I will," he promised. "Thank you, Aravis."

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"No thanks needed, Karal," she said softly.