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Nov 13, 2010 22:29:43 GMT -5
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Post by neav on Aug 6, 2010 16:19:04 GMT -5
((Argl, sorry! I thought we were alright riding...))
Neav still could not imagine how anyone could go from being a carpenter's apprentice to a knight... though he was sorry to hear that the knight had found all his family killed. Neav could only imagine how he would feel to arrive at Camelot and find all the horses - his only family - dead. The thought made him shiver all over.
But the comment that people would block terrible memories made him a little uneasy. It couldn't be true for him, could it? Neav gave a small shake of his head. He did not want to try and remember. He did not want to know.
"I'm sorry to hear about your family...." Neav said, perhaps a little awkward. He did not know how to give sympathies to a person.
Neav frowned a little. Lancelot du Lac used severel long and strange words which he did not know... what was feasible, for instance? He did not like to show his ignorance by asking. The only point he had really grasped was that Lancelot felt he could not really comment on battle strategy. That made Neav feel a little foolish. If a knight could not comment, how did he suppose that he could?
Neav searched his mind for something to say, and could not find it. Anything his said might be wrong and show that he did not actually know what the knight was talking about.
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Nov 13, 2010 22:29:43 GMT -5
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Post by neav on Aug 6, 2010 15:51:13 GMT -5
Oh wow, Kazira! I did not know you like to draw. 
I do not understand the bunny costumes... but I do like your drawings.
You draw Neav! He has gone all stiff and surprised, it seems... 
Me, I also like to draw. Would I have your permission I wanted to draw Kazira?
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Nov 13, 2010 22:29:43 GMT -5
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Post by neav on Aug 6, 2010 1:38:08 GMT -5
Neav nodded, still not wanting to speak. He quickly sorted out the halter-ties he had made; they had gotten twisted with all the stallion's prancing about. He thought that he would ride Nobel back, because the white was the most dominant of the three. The other two would follow, and they had the string to be on the safe side. If Neav knotted Gillyflower's reins and ran up her stirrups then she would follow the stallions and though they were in a herd.
He glanced over at Gillyflower. She still stood behind the Prince and Neav did not really want to walk past him in order to fix her tack. He could have beckoned to bring her forward, but now he was worried that would cause more questions of how did you do that. It was a difficult choice.... but in the end Neav did actually gesture for Gillyflower to approach him. She did so gladly, and he fixed her tack so that she could walk riderless and not be in danger.
Then the boy scrambled onto Noble's back - that stallion with a look of forced patience on his face. He had no saddle and was pretty tall for someone of Neav's size, and so there was a bit of scrabbling involved. But soon enough he sat there, and looked over at Prince Arthur.
"We are ready..." he whispered.
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Nov 13, 2010 22:29:43 GMT -5
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Post by neav on Aug 6, 2010 1:13:30 GMT -5
"Are you saying that any of the time before the stables, or other than the stables, was not that important?,"
Neav considered this question as they rode through the forest. Yes, he supposed that was what he meant.
"Yes," he agreed with the knight. "Because I don't really remember...." his cheeks grew a little hot as he realised he would have to explain. Though he did not trouble himself over his past, that did not mean he enjoyed explaining it to others. "I was found in this forest when I was a small child, maybe only four years old. I've been stable-boy since I was six... And I don't remember where I came from, or if I had any family. So that time is not important to me."
He glanced at Lancelot, hoping the knight would not make a fuss of this story. Neav really did not like to talk about it.
So he hurried on to talk about horses again, because it was much more fun. And Lancelot's comment about needing a trustworthy horse in battle made Neav remember something. It was an old observation of his that he had never had enough courage to point out to anyone. But now he felt bold enough to try. Besides, this knight was not at all like other knights. He was kind.
"If I was leading knights into battle," said Neav, not noticing how silly the statement seemed coming from such a small, nervy boy. "I would have them all riding mares. All you knights ride stallions! It is so silly! All it takes is for your enemy to be riding young mares and your horses will go wild for them! They wouldn't listen to you."
There. He had said it at last. He had been sitting on that observation for so long that it was good to get it into the open.
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Post by neav on Aug 5, 2010 18:36:24 GMT -5
Kingfisher did not lower himself to answer Kazira's last remark. He just looked at her, inwardly sighing. Humans.
Neav absently fiddled with Chance's mane. He was no longer frightened of Kazira. Nervous, yes, but not frightened. It was strange how it changed things, learning that the person he was afraid of was in danger of being executed. And that if Neav had really wanted to
he could probably cause the execution himself.
Even if Kazira did not think of herself as brave, Neav thought she was. He could not imagine how it might feel to know you were breaking the law just by being alive.
He considered her last question. It was a difficult one, because Neav was not entirely sure what he had meant. He supposed it had been more than one thing... biting his lip, he tried to explain.
"I... I think I meant that...well - I hate killing things. Telling on you would be the same as killing you myself."
Neav said this almost as though he were confessing a guilt. He did not think how much of a joke his words might seem. The idea that this skinny, nervous, untrained little boy could kill someone with Kazira's skills was laughable. But of course that was not what Neav had meant. Even if the boy had the fighting the fighting skills, he did not have the stomach for killing. He was as nervy of death as a wild horse. Of course it was seen as a girlish weakness, hence Neav's tone of confession.
"Besides," He added, sounding equally guilty. If he had confessed to one weakness he may as well confess to two. "I would have to go as witness before the King and Prince Arthur..." again Neav gave an involuntary shiver. "And... I'd be too frightened."
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Post by neav on Aug 5, 2010 18:20:27 GMT -5
"I'm not actually going to hurt you."
Neav stared disbelievingly, eyes still bright with tears. From his point of view it had looked very much like Prince Arthur meant to hurt him. Hurt him, kill him even! Neav was not used to that kind of torment. Normally when he did things wrong, someone would hit him and call him an idiot, but that would be the end of it. He would be bruised for a few days and then he would heal. He would also know what he had done wrong, and try not to do it again. No one had ever played with him in such a way, trapping him with words and then threatening to draw a sword.
But now the Prince was claiming that he would not actually hurt him. Neav hardly dared to think it might be true. His mind was in such a mess now. He did not know what to think.
Nobel gave him an extra enthusiastic nudge and Neav nearly toppled over sideways. The boy rubbed the horse's nose. It was hard to stay so miserable when he had three great friends comforting him, and Gillyflower looking so silly, staring over the Prince's shoulder with a piece of sleeve in her mouth.
Neav slowed got to his feet, eyes wide and wary. He certainly did not trust the Prince now. Perhaps he never would. But had had managed to swallow back his tears, and realise that they could not stay in the forest forever. Maybe the Prince would give the order to ride home.
Neav did not dare to say anything himself, now.
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Nov 13, 2010 22:29:43 GMT -5
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Post by neav on Aug 5, 2010 16:59:07 GMT -5
Gaius: Even so. You had better make sure that Arthur sees sense. |
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Nov 13, 2010 22:29:43 GMT -5
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Post by neav on Aug 4, 2010 22:31:15 GMT -5
Nimueh: Your childish tricks are useless against me! |
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Post by neav on Aug 4, 2010 18:25:50 GMT -5
Neav was in despair. There stood Gillyflower, a piece of the Prince's sleeve in her mouth, looking rather pleased with herself. There stood Sheer Folly, who had given up tugging at her ties but still stared over at them, alert for trouble. And at his back were three restless stallions, wanting to protect him as one of their own. They were calmer now, but for how long? What if he lost control of his emotions again?
And the Prince was glaring at them all worse than every, demanding an explanation for something Neav knew that he couldn't explain! He did not know why his link with the horses should be so strong.
Neav sat down heavily on the forest floor. He buried his face in his knees, convinced that they were all going to die. Sensing his misery now rather than his fear, Noble and Comet and Rising Sun put their down their tied-together heads to comfort him. Neav lifted his head and he cheeks were wet with tears. He no longer cared that boys did not cry.
"I can't, I can't, I can't!" he cried, to desperate to care if he were rude. "I can't explain because I don't know!"
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Post by neav on Aug 4, 2010 18:07:08 GMT -5
"Yes I know about the law. I know it all to well. But I felt that it was a good idea to tell you what I was. If I am executed then so be it; but I wont go down without a fight."
Neav blinked. It was probably the bravest thing he had ever heard anyone say. Why was she like that? If he was a witch -- or rather, a warlock -- he thought he was run away from Camelot and hide forever. He did not think he could talk of being executed even half as bravely!
"You must be very courageous," he said simply. He watched her with Kingfisher, and something inside him smiled. The stallion liked her. Perhaps he also felt that she was brave. Though he did feel that the kiss was a little beneath his dignity, and snorted at Kazira as she returned to her stool.
The suggestion that he might tell the King, or Prince Arthur that Kazira was a witch rather startled him. He gave a small shiver. Prince Arthur terrified him. It had not been long since the Prince's stallions had run off into the woods... but he would rather not remember that. As for actually going to the King! That was so unthinkable it was almost a joke. And Kazira was smiling again, a little. Had it been a kind of joke? Neav shook his head.
"I never could," he said, not even sure himself if he meant that he could never approach those important people, or if he could never cause someone to be killed. And then, as if he needed a reason for not telling, he added shyly,
"Kingfisher would hate me. He likes you..."
The stallion in question gave a loud snort.
He is a impertinent boy and you are not to listen to him. Thus Kingfisher addressed Kazira. I like no one. I only tolerate.
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Post by neav on Aug 4, 2010 17:37:12 GMT -5
Gillyflower had no intention of letting go. The sleeve would tear before she would release her teeth! Neav looked at the mare with a wild mix of gratitude and fear. He really had believed that the Prince was going to draw his sword and do something horrible. Now perhaps that would not happen... but what if it meant that Gillyflower was now in danger?
"And you said that the animals were calm . . ."
Neav could have cried. Everything he did was wrong, everything he said was wrong. He had only wanted to be helpful and now everything was wrong. And so he said nothing, because there was nothing more to say.
The stallions had finally sorted themselves out and reached Neav. The boy suddenly realised that they meant to protect him at all costs, even if the cost was attacking the Prince. Scared as he was, Neav could not let that happen. So he ran calming hands over Noble and Comet, sent out the feeling to Rising Sun. This meant he had to turn his back on the Prince, but he hardly cared. His mind was with the horses again.
"I am alright," he whispered to them, almost tearful. "Really I am alright. You cannot hurt the Prince. He is important..."
Neav was only saying this because it were true. If the stallions attacked Prince Arthur, it was most likely they could all be put to death. Neav turned back, the stallions disgruntled but stable. They had wanted to fight!
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Post by neav on Aug 4, 2010 17:08:35 GMT -5
A witch! Neav was astonished. When he had suggested it, he had never really supposed it to be true. He listened in silence, fingers wrapped tightly in Chance's mane. A witch!
But.... why had Kazira admitted herself to him? Did she not know that magic was illegal? That if she talked of such things so freely, she would get herself executed? Neav might be scared of her strange outbursts, hated that she could speak with his horses in ways he could not understand... but he did not think he wanted her to be killed.
Neav watched, a little anxious as Kazira made her way over to Kingfisher.
Witches were supposed to be evil, weren't they? But... that could not make sense. Neav might not have trusted himself to spot an evil person when he saw one, but he trusted completely that the horses would know. And they did not mind Kazira.
Even as he watched, Kingfisher was enjoying her petting. That black stallion was the pride of the stables, and he knew it. He accepted Kazira's attention in a lordly manner, giving little more than a snort and a shiver of nerves as the water appeared magically under his nose.
Neav himself could only stare, eyes so wide they threatened to swallow his face. As Kingfisher drank, Kazira continued her story.
At last it seemed she had finished and a silence settled over the stable, broken only by such horse-noises as were part of it.
The fact that Kazira was a witch had knocked his fear and jealousy sideways, somehow. He could not be jealous of a witch. Nor could he be really afraid of her, because she could be executed at any moment. It was hard to be afarid of someone who might soon be dead.
And that bought him back to his first wondering. Did Kazira no know about the law? At last he whispered,
"Magic is illegal. If you tell people, you will get caught and executed."
It really was only fair to warn her.
Oddly enough, it never occurred to Neav that he could get her executed. He was only the stable-boy, and a foundling at that; not really a person at all. So telling him was really the same as keeping silent.
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Post by neav on Aug 4, 2010 0:08:11 GMT -5
Chance did not look up at Kazira as she apologized, just kept nuzzling Neav and nibbling his hair. Neav stroked her forelock with shaky fingers and grew a grip on himself. The strange lady really did sound very apologetic... but what did she mean when she spoke with Chance? Was what it was, the funny feeling he felt in her mind? Chance speaking to Kazira in words?
Now Neav had never been jealous of anyone in all his life. But suddenly he was filled with a raging, unbearable jealousy that this stranger could actually talk with his horses, and that he could not. It was unfair! Neav, who had never hated anyone, hated Kazira in that moment.
"What are you then, a witch?" he said, too miserable to care that he was being rude. Horses were the only thing he had. And now someone could understand them in a way that he couldn't, and it felt like Kazira was taking his friends away.
"I only understand them cos I've been with them always."
Neav glared at the dog. He did not like dogs. They always looked as though they might attack, he thought. And though he felt that for some reason the horses did not fear this one, it would take more than a few words for the deep, natural fear of wolves to be completely quiet. Most of the creatures had their heads over their stalls, nostrils flared and silently watching.
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Post by neav on Aug 3, 2010 23:39:57 GMT -5
Neav was naturally nervous of people, and as easy to scare as a wild pony. At the sight of Prince Arthur placing a meaningful hand on his sword, Neav lost what little control he had over his fear.
He was so frightened that he hardly heard what the Prince said and stumbled backwards as he stepped toward him.
To the horses, it seemed that terror rolled off the boy in a sudden, thick black cloud. Normally if Neav was afraid they simply 'caught' the emotion and behaved that way themselves... but this time it was different. This time it suddenly seemed that Neav was actually a foal under attack from a predator.
Noble reared, pawing the air and gave a wild whinny. The other stallions had no chose but to copy him, stringed together as they were. But as they were not used to the strings and it upset them as they tried to move forward. Confused, they snapped at each other. At the same time, Sheer Folly was tugging hard against the ties which held her to the tree but was unable to free herself. And so it was Gillyflower who reached the Prince first. The mare took the sleeve of the Prince's sword-arm and held it tight in her young teeth.
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Post by neav on Aug 3, 2010 20:53:11 GMT -5
Merlin: Oh just do this Merlin, do that Merlin...
((This game is really really fun!))
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Post by neav on Aug 3, 2010 18:38:37 GMT -5
Gaius: That is a question that has never been posed before, Merlin!
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Post by neav on Aug 3, 2010 18:30:36 GMT -5
Neav chewed his lips, still staring up at the Prince with frightened eyes. Though he had enough of control of himself not to let the emotion seep through to the horses, he was still scared. He half wished that the Prince would just hit him and get it over with! But no, he just stood there, staring down with no expression at all on his face, making Neav wonder wildly just what was going to happen.
He did not really trust himself to speak, feeling whatever he said it would be the wrong thing... but nor did he quite dare to stay silent when the Prince was demanding answers from him.
"No, no... it isn't! It - it isn't a habit at all. It was - was - " Neav struggled to find a word for just what it had been. What he felt was that it had been the best thing to do for the horses, under the circumstances. But he could never dare to say that! " - a... mistake?" He finished, somehow making it sound like question.
There was no doubt that Neav was well intimidated. He was a of a very nervous nature when it came to people, and it did not take much to frighten him. It was only when the boy was protecting horses that he was filled with a strange bravery. He was utterly hopeless at standing up for himself, against anyone.
"I - I didn't mean to - at all..." Neav continued, hoping that agreeing with the statement would be the right thing to do. "I am sorry... truly..."
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Post by neav on Aug 3, 2010 18:06:26 GMT -5
Neav bit his lip, not sure what to say to Kazira's comment on last names. So he said nothing, half wishing that she would go away and leave him to his work. Neav never did have an easy time with people, but this strange lady seemed harder than most. Now she was smiling at him again, and... her gaze shifted to Fair Chance. And then she spoke to the mare as though in reply to some comment. Neav stared, wondering for the first time in Kazira was slightly mad. Horses did not speak words, or really even understand them. It will feelings and tones that they knew. If Neav was feeling tremendous love for a horse, it would have made just as much sense to the creature if he said "Oh, gobstoppers!" instead of "I do love you."
This was how he thought it, anyway.
But then he got the shock of his life, for the strange lady jumped up and hugged him, spinning him round as though he were her closest friend. Neav was astounded. No person had ever shown so much affection for him in all his short life. It frightened him more than any anger could.
He staggered back when he put him down, pressing himself close to Chance's side. He not understand what she meant... Chance sent waves of protection and sweet reassurance over him, and Neav felt a little better. But there again was that strange directed feeling in the mare's mind. That frightened him more than anything ever could. Never had his beloved horses done anything that Neav had not been able to understand.
Chance was saying, rather reproachfully,
There. You have frightened and you promised you would not. Our boy can be as flighty as a foal. He does not understand you, he does not know of your sorcery. Tell him that you speak to me, and tell him how!
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Post by neav on Aug 3, 2010 17:35:17 GMT -5
Neav paled under the Prince's stern expression. Now that his beloved horses were not in any fear or danger, his curious courage and authority had vanished. He was nothing more than a small boy who realized he had done something wrong and that there would be trouble for it.
He shook his head in answer to Prince Arthur's question, eyes as wide as a frightened foal's.
"No! N- no. Hardly - hardly ever. Ex - except sometimes," Neav stuttered, rather incoherently. His body was tense, await the blow he was sure would come; people normally hit boys when they did bad things. "But I- I didn't mean..." He trailed off miserably, suddenly feeling that nothing he said now could make much difference. What would the Prince do to him?
Gillyflower shifted uneasily where Neav had left her. Sheer Folly anxiously pawed the ground and the stallions snorted and stamped. They were catching his fear.
Neav sensed this and struggled to control his emotions. However the Prince decided to punish him, he would not complain. He knew he had done a very bad thing by giving such orders. The difference of rank between stable-boy and Crown Prince was astronomical. Neav knew he should not really even by riding with this man.
He did his best to send out reassurance to the horses, and they calmed. This made him feel a very little better. Whatever happened to him, his first duty was always to the horses. And they were all here, all safe and so Neav felt he could deal with what would come.
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Aug 3, 2010 15:39:54 GMT -5
Post by neav on Aug 3, 2010 15:39:54 GMT -5
So happy that I pleased you, Sir Prince.
L is for..... Lance!
That pointy stick that knights use to poke each other with, until one of them falls off their horse.
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