Stables

Coralie's eyes went wide, "but when my mother was my age, she had already bore my brother Pierpont," she sighed. She looked down and petted Andromeda, "I pray that I am a good mother...and pray harder that I can bear children," she shook her head. "I have heard such sad stories of women whose marriages were created because they were thought to be able to bear children...and it failed them."

She threw her head back and laughed. "Oh, monsieur...could you imagine little me with my hair tied and wearing men's pantaloons, riding wild horses?" she smiled at the thought.

She thought for a moment and quickly nodded. "You are right, again, monsieur, I do not think she has ever been very happy." She laughed at Christophe's blushing, finding it an endearing side of him she thought would take a long time to see. She found herself glad to have a friend such as he, who could give her such wise advice about things.

She covered her mouth, eyes wide as Christophe stopped himself from cussing. Yet it was not from shock. She burst into laughter.
"Christophe, I fear you remind me too much of my brother!" she laughed. "He always curses and stops himself in my presence, though I hear it under his breath!"

Coralie suddenly struck a thought of inspiration, and she looked to Christophe with a great smile on her face. "Christophe...may I see you ride?...surely you have some tricks you learned" she smiled.

She laughed, nodding, "yes, I fear you should make quite a village cryer, selling your wares bottle after bottle," she laughed.

Coralie laughed, giving a wave and shaking, "you are forgiven, good sir," she giggled.

Coralie smiled brightly and found herself blushing a moment as Christophe lowered her to the ground. She hurredly moved to the wooden fence and leaned against it as she watched Christophe take the horse into a gallop. She smiled as she watched him riding tall and masterfully, knowing precisely what to do.

Coralie watched Christophe ride with the grandest of smiles upon her face. He was a very good rider, and a handsome one at that, and she found herself blushing, yet thought nothing of it. She was more impressed with how easily he made it look.

When he completed a backflip she gave a squeal of excitement, her eyes wide as she began to clap.

"Goodsir Christophe, that was the most brilliant thing I have ever seen!" she clapped, her mouth agape.

She smiled, laughing, "oh, but I think I should love to!!' she clapped. Her eyes went wide and she gave a gasp, "oh, Christophe, you should do performances!!" she smiled, "it would be so very impressive to all, and, and you could even perform for the court or even his majesty!"

Coralie threw her hand over her mouth and laughed, picturing soldiers doing tricks off of their horsees in the midst of battle.

She smiled, eagerly, "do you truly think I could?" she tilted her head.

Coralie smiled at the idea, "I hope i can," she grinned, "perhaps I'll be wearing pantaloons soon enough," she laughed.

She tilted her head, looking at Andromeda with a smile. "What was the army like?" she looked up at Christophe. "I often wonder what Pierpont is doing."

She clasped her hands together, watching Andromeda paw at the ground. "Ohhh, I hope I can, I think I should love to learn."

Coralie looked up to Christophe as he spoke, her eyes wide as she nodded, listening, her heart sinking a little as she thought of her brother Pierpont in such conditions. She even began to wonder if he perhaps had someone which he loved whom he thought of while so far from home.

She gave a nod, giving a sigh. "No wonder he often returns disheartened and missing our family," she spoke. She looked up at Christophe, "but I can see that from you, it shall make him all the more stronger."

Coralie nodded, smiling. "Alright, monsieur."

She nodded, again, giving him a serious look, though she could not hold it and began to laugh. "I will," she smiled. "And I shall remember that when I see you, to treat your as my brave sir knight," she smiled, again.

Her heart stopped and her eyes opened wide. "Oh, no!" she placed her hand over her mouth...

I walk outside in the cold and frosty air with a warm red and green coat wrapped around me as I enter the stables. The horses are covered with warm blankets in their columns. I walk to a snowy white mare, gently petting it's head. I hear a voice coming from behind me as I turn around quickly as if I was in fright.

"Oh, Christophe, I-," she gave an exasperated laugh, smacking her palm against her forehead. "I forgot I was supposed to send a letter to my parents and brothers, and her majesty asked some of us to help her with her winter dresses," she shook her head, her hands against the sides of her head.

She gave a laugh, "oh, I think I am too late," she sighed. She began to pace one direction, then went another, tapping her forehead with the palm of her hand, "think, think."

She stopped and turned to Christophe, giving a sigh. "I think I have to go goodsir." She suddenly felt sad. She had such a nice time learning to ride and in Christophe's company, that she seemed to forget everything.

Coralie hurried forward and threw her arms around him as best she could, burying her face in his doublet. "Will you promise to visit my chamber, and I can play for you and show you my marionettes?" she mumbled through the cloth of his doublet.

Coralie gave a giggle, her arms still around him. "Ohh, thank you, thank you, thank you goodsir," she smiled up at him. "And thank you for teaching me," she smiled, "I hope to learn some tricks from you, yet."

As he retied the hood over her head she found herself giggling with closed eyes, liking that Christophe reminded her so much of her brothers.

She looked up at him, grinning, taking a step back. She dramatically pulled at the sides of her skirts and dipped into a low curtsey, "good day, brave sir knight," she grinned up at him.

Coralie hurriedly ran out of the stables and back toward the palace...

Juliette Dupont wrote:

I walk outside in the cold and frosty air with a warm red and green coat wrapped around me as I enter the stables. The horses are covered with warm blankets in their columns. I walk to a snowy white mare, gently petting it's head. I hear a voice coming from behind me as I turn around quickly as if I was in fright.

Pierre was happy. For the first time in a long time he was actually....happy. And, he knew it would never last. But, hey, he wanted to enjoy it while it lasted. "Isn't she a beauty," he said, as he smirked. Pierre leaned against the wall, crossed his arms, and smiled at the young woman.

The voice was of a gentleman. He is quite a handsome fellow for a man like himself to be in court. My eyes wandered around the horse as I responded: "Oui, indeed she is".And then I turned my attention to him.