Where I stand (Open)

[maggie95]

A thunder of hooves pound on the earths greenery. The hooves pound loudly from miles around as a beautiful white andalusion horse carries a young maiden over the course of the ground. Her brunette locks flow behind her like a waterfall flowing down the rocks of a river. Her keen brown deep eyes gaze ahead of her as she holds onto the set of reins in one hand, the other holds lightly onto the satin stallions mane. His own mane flowing through the air. Clarice let her head tip back in full enjoyment closing her eyes as she embraced the feeling of feeling like she was flying. Her eyes opened as she leaned it back into place and she grinned though not revealing her pearly whites.

Clarice leaned forward side saddle was hard to keep at a full out gallop but she would deal. She clicked the roof of her tounge and the stallion surged forward up the hill leaving marks of bare dirt in the path of the emerald grass. Seconds later too fast for Clarice to fully get the thrill of flying the top of the hill came up fast and Clarice pulled lightly on the reins gaining the other hand on the other set of reins and leaning back slowing the horse down. "Easy," she cooed sweetly before the handsome steed slowed into a walk and she pulled him up to a halt at the top.

She gazed over the beautiful land though remembering that others had suffered among these hills made goosbumps arise from her silky skin. She smiled once more shutting her eyes for a brief moment before letting go of the reins and sliding from the saddle onto the floor of the earths surface. Clarice stood a couple of inches away from the stallion though he made no motion to move as she began to walk away and then perch herself towards the middle of the hill and sit down keeping her legs bent and holding them close so her riding dress wouldn't get dirty. She sighed as she propped her hand onto the ground behind her holding herself up and then looking around. It was a beautiful day and she was lucky enough to had gotten one of her fathers horses and ride out to this beautiful landscape. It was magnificent.

[allison]

It was a day before she had to depart to the Saxon's. For the first time in five days, she was no milking her mini vacation for all it was worth. Most of yesterday had been spent flattening her backside on one of the castles upper story windows, before Queen Guinevere had interrupted her lazy relaxation with a couple rounds of archery and a discussion into her mission. Today had been busy. Getting her supplies together, the papers from Arthur detailing the 'reasons' for visiting the Saxon's as a 'diplomat', sharpening her knives, and now getting her horse, she affectionately called Dice.

He was a more of a pony then a horse, a barrel on short but powerful legs. His fur was shaggy, russet in coloring, his eyes a dark brown. Dice was built for stamina and speed rather then the opposing force of a warhorse, and could outrace those long legged stallions as easily as a hawk shoots past a peacock. Stubborn too. Aly had spent the better part of the hour teaching the little horse manors, for he had a wicked mind, not unlike his master. He took a delight in bucking strangers off, and usually managed it quite easily. He didn't try to throw Aly off, not after being dragged into a chilly winter river the first time he tried.

Currently, he was side stepping up the hill, Aly keeping a firm hold of the reins incase he tried to jerk them out of her hands again. At the moment, he was being suspiciously docile. To her surprise, a saddled horse was standing atop the hill, a young women reclining beside him. It was winter after all, the air was chilly and threatening snow. She was dress rather regally as well, riding dress held carefully off the ground so it wouldn't be tarnished with dust. Not like Aly, whose black breeches were covered with horse hair, dirt, and metal shavings. The white blouse was nothing special, and the only thing which was out of place was the rich, dark blue jacket. Still she could have easily passed off as a mere commoner, although she was a little to clean. Her hair, shoulder length blond hair, was pinned on one side behind her ear to keep it out of her blue eyes.

Dice whickered loudly, straining forwards against the rein's. Just as quickly Aly jerked back, hissing threats under her breath. The horse stopped straining, now walking forwards with the upmost dignity and poise as a shaggy almost-pony could manage. Curious, she allowed the horse to trot forwards, until she stopped him about three feet away from the stallion and rider. "Collecting dust?" Aly asked, voice serious despite the sarcastic choice of words. Aly was not the type to care about other people's emotions or feelings. Sure, she could put on an excellent act if the need arouse, but it was a mere facade. Neither did she take much pleasure out of insulting others. Her mind and emotions were kept secret, head full of cold calculating intelligence. No fluttering and interrupting emotions for her. Her prior comment had not been aimed as an insult, a mere jest.

[maggie95]

Clarice hugged her legs to her chest, her eyes forward towards the horizon. The clouds promised snow in the next twenty four house but that didn't hold back Clarice. She sighed in contentment as Windlessly nuzzled her shoulder with his greying muzzle. His velvety lips and prickly muzzle playing with her hair. She smiled raising a hand and rubbing the center of his forehead. He drooped his eyes at her touch and sighed as well only opening them for a moment at a time before Clarice released her hand and he walked a few feet away to graze on the greenery.

A cold gust of wind whooshed past Clarice's face. Her face grew tense from the chilled winds. The sun was still up but it was becoming gloomy from the clouds above that warned of snow fall. The satin stallion snorted loudly stepping a few inches closer to his master before looking towards her, his soft kind eyes looking at her before shaking his head gaily and snatching up grass again. Clarice pushed back her brunette locks the a strand had come from the tied up long hair.

Ever since she was a little girl peace was her best friend. She'd often come out to a open pasture like this with a steed and a good book or perhaps a drawing book to sketch the beast while it grazed. Though most found her as a quite handsome young lady Clarice didn't much pay attention she'd rather be alone than be in a large gathering though often she wouldn't mind having some fun herself. She was hard to crack though, a smile perhaps and maybe a little laughter would escape her finally chiseled lips but nothing more.

The soft beatings of thunder made Clarice raise her head, at first she thought it'd be Windlessly but was satisfied when he too was there and looking behind her. Clarice tucked back another strand of loose locks looking next to her now as horse and rider gliding up the hill in one rhythm. A girl sat upon the steed and came feet away from that of Clarice. Thou she wasn't alarmed Clarice released her legs and stood up brushing off her petty coat and grasping onto the stallions reins. Her eyes set on the girl atop the horse. Collecting dust? Clarice gave no smile but only looked towards the girls face then back towards the horizon where the sun was escaping in little rays from the snow powdered clouds.

"If you would call this. Than yes I suppose." She said now giving a small smile that increased on the sides of her mouth though not showing any teeth as her soft pink lips covered them.

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[allison]

Dice stepped forwards another half step, dark brown eyes plotting something in the depths. Aly's finger tightened around the reins, pulling the small horse to a halt once more. The devious creature no doubt had some wicked plan in the back of his equine skull, and Aly was on her guard if he tried anything. She liked the horse. He was intelligent and clever, able to manipulate the stable hands into leaving his stable unlocked as they went to give him food or water, and then getting them to chase him around the court yard. Aly would watch his antics from the opposite side of the court yard in her limited free time, avoiding doing any work, like catching her own horse.

Aly free time was practically nonexistent. When she wasn't hunched over on a mahogany table with her fellow spies - discussing, sometimes violently, tactics and information - she was observing the inhabitants of the castle, picking out Saxon allies and spies, gaining a broad knowledge of the castles inner works. She could tell you the name of ten different nobles having affairs, three who worked for the Saxon's, eight who committed murders, and all those who gambled and those who had actual honor and integrity. She wasn't an enforcer, if one wasn't a risk to Britain, she wouldn't bother to turn them in. Sure, she could use most of the information to manipulate the nobles and influential people, with all the dirt she had dug up.

She tilted her head curiously to the side as she observed the girl, face calculating, lips quirked up into a small, dry smile. The smile was neither friendly or unfriendly, decidedly neutral in emotion. The women before her was quite young, probably in her mid teens. Her clothes were elegant, no doubt the child of a noble. And yet she was out her in the wilderness, not fawning over the young men who practiced swordsmanship or giggle with packs of her fellow nobles. She was probably an intellect, shy and quiet, preferring being alone in nature then with company.

"Vegetation on a cloudy day must be fascinating," Aly commented after a couple moments of silence, not quite looking at the girl. Her tone was sardonic, though it implied no insult. At that moment, Dice jerked forwards, black lips pulling back from his ivory teeth. Quick as a whip he stretched his neck out, biting the other horse smartly on the rear. "Basta!"

[/i] Aly said sharply in Italian, smacking Dice on the side of the neck and pulling him away. Still, a wry smile curled her lips, no making an attempt to bite back the humor she felt at the incident. "My sincerest apologies," She said. "He can be so rude sometimes,"[/blockquote][/size]