The Stables [afternoon]

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

If there was one benefit to having servants -- and Aravis, between her growing sense of independence and the reminders on her back, didn't really think there were many benefits at all -- it was having someone to groom the dog for her when she was busy with Trenor.

"Ata, really, must you roll in the hay like that?" she sighed, looking over at her dog as his head poked out of a small pile of hay, which was now clinging to his fur. She went back to grooming Trenor, who she fretted might be getting a little fat after being spoiled at home. She'd simply have to take him out more, to fix that.

[open stable is open!]

Comments

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

After his bloody strange sword class with the equally strange instructor, Mat needed something familiar.

"Hello, Pips," he said to his horse, then flushed a little in embarrassment when he realized he wasn't alone.

"My lady," he said, tone mocking as he grinned.

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"Oh, it's you. My day is now complete," Aravis said, grinning back. She nodded to Pips. "Is he yours?"

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"He is," Mat said, patting the brown gelding on the nose. "Meet Pips."

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"Hello, Pips," Aravis said politely. "This is Trenor." She pat her own gelding's nose. "He'll share his apples, should Pips like."

He'd share inasmuch as Aravis had apple control, you see.

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

Pips shifted forward, drawn by the magical word. "He'd very much like," Mat laughed. "Thank you."

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

Aravis produced an apple from her pocket, offering it flat-palmed for Pips. "Have you had him long?"

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

Since the Stone of Tear. Light, it felt like decades had passed since then. "Almost a year," Mat said, nodding. "He comes from a nation famed for their horses."

He gave Trenor an appraising glance and smiled. "Your gelding looks like he comes from good stock as well."

In horses, at least, Mat wasn't just complimenting to get a pretty girl to smile.

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

He still got a smile, anyway. "Thank you. He was a gift from my former roommmate. Karal was blinded, so he gave Trenor to me, since he could no longer ride."

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

Mat winced. "I was blinded temporarily--when someone tells you not to look at lightning, believe them--so he has my sympathies. Riding would be quite a thing to give up."

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

Aravis nodded. "I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't ride," she sighed. "Horses have been part of my life since before I could walk."

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"Oh, good, someone else who doesn't know about cars," he replied, looking relieved. "Horses are fine where I come from, with carts if you have to haul things around, or carriages if you want to stay out of the dust. We don't have cars, or tele-thingies, or electric candles."

Mat was starting to get a little paranoid about being so far behind in terms of understanding.

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"Have you discovered the water indoors yet?" Aravis asked curiously. "That was my favorite, when I first arrived. And the electricity. But I can drive a car, now! I still prefer horseback, naturally, but I can drive!"

In the loosest sense of "drive."

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"Rose is going to get us a car," Mat said eagerly. "I promised not to crash. It should be a laugh. And the water! Bloody beats waiting for servants to draw a bath for you."

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"I know. It's like magic, it is!" Aravis said, eyes wide. "I particularly like being able to hit a small thing on a wall and have it be bright as day inside. It's really between that, the water, and the freedom of modern women's clothing -- I'm not sure which might be the best."

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

Mat grinned. "I've seen women's knees," he said, winking. "I mean, I've seen knees before, I grew up with sisters, but this is different. Normally they're hidden under bloody acres of fabric."

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

Aravis arched an eyebrow before raising her skirt a bit and stretching a leg out, exposing it to her knee. "Heavens be. My virtue is now compromised. Whatever shall I do with myself?"

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"You'll have to bribe me," Mat declared immediately, "so I don't spread tales."

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"Hmmm. What sort of tales? They can't be worse than what's already known about me," Aravis pointed out thoughtfully.

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"What's already known?" Mat asked, leaning against the stable stall. "To me you are still a fascinating lady of mystery. I need to know where to start spreading my vile slander."

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"Mmm. Well, there's the rumor about my having scales under my dress," she told him seriously. "Due to being part dragon."

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"If I continue that rumor does it mean I get to be the only one to see your legs?" he teased.

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"You're not afraid of the scales?" she asked, smirking.

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"Oh, didn't I mention it? I'm a general at home," he said. "I'm very brave."

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"Oooh, I do like military men," Aravis noted. "But I'm not sure it's enough to convince me to allow you the sole privilege of my legs. I do enjoy modern clothes."

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"Even though I am the one who's supposed to be getting bribed, I will note that I'm an excellent dancer as well," Mat replied.

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"More's the pity, then, that I actually rather loathe dancing," she admitted. "What more can you offer?"

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"I'm accounted a more than fair kisser as well," he said with a grin.

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

Ohhhh, it had been nearly a year since she'd been kissed. For that matter, it'd been entirely too long since she'd flirted. It was nice to just enjoy this. "Mmm. By whose account?"

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"I don't carry references," he said with a laugh, "but I think Rose would speak highly of me."

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"So it's not just your own assertion," she said, smiling.

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"Do I strike you as overly boastful?" Mat said, clutching his chest overdramatically. "The horror!"

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"A lady has to be sure!" she said, nodding. "I can't just go around accepting kisses from anyone. My virtue's at stake here, if you'll recall."

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"I'd think a lady with bloody great dragon scales on her legs couldn't afford to be all that picky," Mat teased, leaning in a little closer.

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"You'd be surprised," she said, grinning and going up just a touch onto her toes. "I'm rather pretty, in spite of the scales, you see. Can't entertain everyone who notices that."

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"I'd noticed," Mat said, tone still light and friendly as his hand reached out for her cheek. "Plus there's the title. I'm sure that smooths over most of the objections about the scales."

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"Oh, yes, but I don't want those," she said, smiling lightly as her eyes scanned his face. "I far prefer the men who don't care about the title."

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

He nudged his nose against hers. "Daughter of the Nine Moons doesn't mean anything to you, does it?"

Since he was fated to marry whoever she was, and he wasn't planning to get married for a very long time, and would therefore have to be running very far in the opposite direction.

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"I have no idea what that means," she said, and if her voice was a little low, well, she was a bit distracted.

Again, this was the closest she'd been to a man in nearly a year. It was rather nice. And it certainly was more fun than thinking about any confusion that had sprung up over summer. She didn't need that at all.

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"That, my fine lady, was exactly the right answer," he said before dipping his head to kiss her.

And he hadn't been exaggerating. He was very good at this.

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

Aravis could tell. Aravis could tell all the way down to her toes, and she was a little embarrassed that her knees had gone a bit weak.

Oh, she'd missed this. And she loved that while she, naturally, thought Mat was very sweet and charming and certainly handsome, she felt no need to ask about any relationship.

It was much more appealing to just kiss him back, of course.

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

He rested his hands on her waist, nipped a bit at her lower lip, and let her decide how long this was going to last.

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

In the name of not scarring the poor dear horses, Aravis let it go a moment longer before pulling back just a touch. "Well. You didn't lie."

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

His smile turned just a touch smug. "I didn't," he confirmed. "And you certainly have equal skill." Mat winked. "I consider myself to be successfully bribed, at least for a while. Your honor is safe for, oh, let's say a week."

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"Shall I have to renew the bribe then? Or will the stakes go up each week?" she wondered, still a bit flushed.

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I'm a gambler," Mat replied. "The stakes should always go up."

At least as far as she was comfortable with. Mat was happy just to be noticed.

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

She grinned slowly. She could get used to this.

"I'll keep that in mind. At this rate, you may be exposed to the scales themselves. I do hope you're prepared for that," she said, raising an eyebrow.

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

He laughed. "I'll do my best to quell my terror."