Beyond Time (closed)

[heartofcourage]

Dylan was struck by the beauty of the place that she had found herself in. The stables were a work of art, something that she wished had survived to her times. Then she noticed the horse sticking his head through the stable door, regarding her as she entered into his domain.

"Hello there, handsome." She answered, reaching her hand on to pet his nose experimentally.

 

[KieranSoares]

The stallion snorted softly as he regarded her with curiosity, pressing his nose into her hand as his large brown eyes studied her. She had the faint scent of his master, so he felt no fear nor distrust.

But he turned his eyes to another figure who entered from behind Dylandra. "Who are you? How did you get into the grounds?"

Behind her towered a creature that she'd only ever heard of in fairy tales, and from Ashien when he spoke of magic. A tall, lithe werewolf of pure ash-grey stood in partial silhouette, a saddle on his shoulder as it seemed he was bringing it in to a horse, and a bridal in his hand. His soft amber eyes were filled with alarm and concern, but no malice, and he was dressed in a leather vest and deerskin trousers with silver earrings and odd tribal patterns dyed into his fur.

 

[heartofcourage]

Dylan gasped and whipped around to stay wide eyed at the creature. She'd never seen a beast like this in her entire life and she was absolutely speechless. It took her a long moment to gather her wits and find her voice.

"I'm...I'm a guest of Ashien." She murmured softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

The wolf's ears flicked at his employer's name and he glanced to Ballas, who seemed entirely fine with Dylan's presence. He nodded slowly and met her eyes again. "Then welcome. My name is Kiva, I keep the stables." Kiva set the saddle aside with the bridle and faced Dylan with his hands comfortably on his hips. "And you are?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"Dylandra." She said softly, looking up at Kiva with that same silent shock as if she were trying to figure out just what he was.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kiva tilted his head, then looked down at himself as if wondering why she was staring. "Is something the matter, Lady Dylandra?" He met her eyes again and she could see worry. "You... don't much like my kind, do you?" Most werewolves assumed such of humans who were shocked by their presence.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I've never seen anything like you before." She said softly, seeing the worry and concern in his eyes. "How can I not like what I don't know?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"Most humans around this world don't seem to care if they haven't seen my kind before. I apologize for assuming." He offered her a smile, then glanced to the horse. "Did you come to ride Hane? He needs a good run."

 

[heartofcourage]

Dylan wanted to ask what he was, but she bit her lip and turned to regard the horse. She nodded to his question. "I was told that he needed a run, so here I am. I think that Ballas will be going with me as well."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Do you know how to ride?" Kiva asked as he brought the saddle and bridle to Hane's stall. He opened up the door and walked the great stallion out before easily heaving the saddle onto his back and buckling it in place under the stallion's belly and securing a harness on his chest. Sliding on the bridle, Kiva smiled and stroked the stallion's face, praising him in a language Dylan had never heard. He handed the reins over to Dylan with a kind smile.

 

[heartofcourage]

"It's been a long time, but my grandfather taught me when I was little." She said as the huge horse came from this stall.

She watched in silence as he was saddled and suddenly the reigns were passed to her. She took them with a nod, looking down at Ballas as he waited patiently for her to mount the stallion.

"But perhaps I might not the one that should right him. If I injured Ashien's favorite steed, I'm not so sure that either one of us could forgive and forget."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Just let him lead, it'll be fine. If you wait a moment, I'll join you with Eona." He motioned to another horse, a white Arabian. "Ballas will look after Hane, don't you worry."

Kiva went to fetch another saddle and bridle, and soon both horses were ready and excited to go. For stallions, they were very well-behaved with each other.

 

[heartofcourage]

It had been a long time since Dylan had been on a horse and she tried not to let her nerves show. Once she was in the saddle and got her barrings, she let out a sigh of relief and allowed the horse the freedom to run. Ballas stayed right by her side just as she'd been told, keeping the horse in line along the way.

 

[KieranSoares]

Ballas and Hane seemed to be, if not friends, good partners. It became clearer by the moment that the two were very familiar and comfortable with each other. Ballas could pull in front or behind the horse and Hane wouldn't break stride or get nervous thanks to their trust. Kiva rode near to Dylan's side, a clearly professional rider. He rode like a cavalryman.

 

[heartofcourage]

Dylan concentrating as she rode, glancing from time to time at the rider beside her. She decided that asking him what he was would probably be rude, so she decided to ask him more about himself.

"How long have you worked for Ashien?" She asked as they drew up next to one another, the horses slowing as Ballas darted ahead to chase after something imaginary.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Ever since Darkwood was built," Kiva smiled at the thought. "I was starving at the time... I saw this place, just finished, and I tried to rob the kitchen. Ashien caught me and knocked me upside the head. Then he gave me a meal, talked to me til he learned I had nowhere to go, and he gave me a job and a home. I live on the grounds near Van, now, hardly a jog from the stable."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Darkwood's always been a special place." Dylan commented, looking over at her companion with a smile. "It has ways of drawing back people back when they least expect it."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Indeed... I tried to leave once, didn't even make it out of the gate." He chuckled brightly.

It was an interesting day with Kiva, he was an absolute gentleman and he taught her all about caring for the horses and the stable. He didn't ask many questions of her, nothing personal as he was sure it wasn't his business.

They were sitting together eating dinner on the steps up to the front door when Ashien came riding back in at sunset on his stallion Gemini, who was Hane's brother. He smiled brightly to see her with Kiva, and he slid down from the saddle. "Evening, Kiva. Milady," he bowed to her with a grin.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Sir Ashien." Dylan said with a grin, putting aside the thick bowl of stew that the cook had made for them. "I hope your day wasn't too trying."

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's always trying with the King and his daughter. I'm afraid she might think that I'm going to court her, and she likes that idea," he shook his head and pulled off his gloves. "Ah, well... I'm afraid I already have my lady to court."

Kiva rose and took the horse for him, and once he was gone, Ashien came to take Dylan's hand to help her stand. He laid a kiss against her temple and smiled softly. "Miss me...?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"Perhaps." Dylan said in a noncommittal tone. "But I don't think I should tell you how much. It might go to your head."

She grinned, teasing him with a gently kiss before she noticed the package tucked beneath his arm for the first time. "A gift for me?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"Perhaps," he answered with a smirk and a mirror tone of her own. "But I don't think I should show you yet. It might go to your head," he slipped past her with a kiss and stepped inside, shooting a grin back at her. He chuckled and made his way toward his studio.

 

[heartofcourage]

Dylan laughed at his comment, following him into the studio, waiting patiently to see just what was in the package that he so mysteriously kept from her.

 

[KieranSoares]

Ashien laid the package aside as he pulled off his cloak, purposely stepping away to allow her the chance to steal it away while he unbuttoned his jacket and laid it across the back of a chair. "You know... the King suspects something of me, being so happy."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, I hope that he does not think you'll be courting his daughter." Dylan answered dryly as she stole the package away, moving towards the low couch to open it. "Because I think someone like get hurt if that was the case."