The Wishing Star

Chapter Three (Lessons)

The next morning, after a night of tossing and turning, Lizbeth was up and getting dressed for her first riding lesson. She was so excited that she would be able to finally ride a horse after all the years of longing to ride. She first made a trip to the pub. She had to get food for her cats. Hopefully, there would be some leftovers from the pot roast from last night to give them. They so liked roast beef.

Finding herself lucky, she gathered some chunks and went back to her rooms. She would wake her sister up and give Riah her portion of the meat. Her cats are always hungry.

"Good morning sis. How was your night?" she asked her sister, Riah. Noticing that the cats were both gathering for food that she had for them, she put some on plates and separated the cats. Tigger liked to eat more than his share of food.

"Alright. Yours?" Riah asked right back. She didn't like when her sister woke her up so early and trying to make her have a positive outlook on life so early in the morning.

"Dismal. I couldn't sleep because I was so excited. I have my first riding lesson today and I must get going. First I have to feed Cup and Winks. They'll be angry at me if I feed Tigger and Meg and not them." With that, Lizbeth left her sister's room and went back to her room. She was bombarded by two hungry tom cats. They demanded their breakfast and a chance to go outside to "exercise".

"You can exercise, but don't get lost and don't bother anybody. Go and check whether you are the only cats around or if there are more. Possibly even a female or two." Lizbeth ordered her two felines. Setting their breakfast away from each other, she got her things together and headed out. She had an appointment at the stables.

~~~~~

The stables, at this hour were empty. Tristan liked it that way. He was a little apprehensive that he would be teaching somebody riding lessons. The only person he had taught to ride was his little sister back in Sarmatia. That was almost 15 years ago. He had just finished teaching her when the Romans came for him and all eligible young men.

He was just finishing the thought when he heard somebody come in. It was Lizbeth, he found, after turning around and motioned her forward into the dimly lit stables.

"Good morning. I hope that you had a good sleep. But judging by the way your eyes look, I wouldn't think so. Probably to anxious for today, I imagine." Tristan remarked. The sheepish grin she gave him was his answer. She hadn't slept a wink.

"You're right. I was too excited. I've been looking forward to this since I was 6. But I've been in love with horses for my whole life." Lizbeth told him. Looking around, she found that they were the only ones in the stables. "So, which horse am I going to ride?"

In answer to her question, Tristan led her to one of the occupied stables. Inside was a medium sized black gelding. It was love at first sight for the both of them. Reaching out her hand, she cautiously moved forward until the horse moved the rest of the way to nuzzle her palm.

"Good work. First thing to know is that sometimes it takes a gentle touch, especially for this one." Tristan remarked.

"Why especially for this one?" Lizbeth asked. She was stroking the horse's neck, getting acquainted with him.

"Because he was ill treated as a youth. The former owner, before he became a knight's horse, used the whip freely and abused him otherwise. Percival, the knight who rode him, died before he could fully gentle him. So to my knowledge, this horse has only been ridden by a few men and mistreated early at life." Tristan told her, looking at the way the horse was nuzzling around her, looking for treats. "But it appears that you've found a friend for life. He'll treat you like he owns you. That, to a horse, is paramount to that he'll love you till he dies." He said, walking up and proceeded to teach her how to saddle a horse.

Lizbeth found that working with Tristan was fun. She knew that not everyone thought that, but she didn't let it faze her. Tristan was her favorite knight and nothing could sway her from that.

After they finished saddling the horse, Tristan thought something was amiss. Then the thought came to him. The horse didn't have a name.

"What are you going to name him?" Tristan asked her, not knowing what names flew around in her head.

Lizbeth thought for a moment, thinking through all her names that she thought was cool. "Daemon. Roughly translated meaning "Protector". I think it suits him." She muttered, looking at her new friend. "I've always wanted to name my first horse, if I ever got one, that name."

Tristan considered the name. She was right, Protector would suit him. "Daemon it is." With that he proceeded to teach her the types of movement the horse goes through. The walk, canter, trot and gallop. They only got to the canter when he decided that she would probably be sore about now and called an end to the lesson for today.

"I think that we should stop for today. We don't want you to be getting so sore that you can't walk later tonight, do we? You'll have to work tonight. If you're able, maybe we could do this again next week? If I'm not on a mission that is." He suggested, looking forward to the week ahead.

"That would be fine. I'm already feeling sore in places I never knew existed. But I wouldn't mind coming here everyday. Just so Daemon won't forget me and doesn't feel abandoned. Maybe even bring him an apple or two. Maybe a carrot." She said, trying to get down but not succeeding.

Feeling hands around her waist, she looked down. Tristan had come up to her and was helping her down. Moving her hands to his shoulders, she moved her leg over the horse's neck and with his assistance, got down.

Tristan loved the feel of her body under his hands. He quickly banished the thought before it could magnify into something more. Lowering her slowly, he enjoyed the feel of her breasts against his chest. And by the tightening of her fingers on his shoulders, so did she. Having put her feet on the ground, he was loath to let go.

"Thank you, Tristan. I wouldn't have gotten myself down if it weren't for you." Lizbeth's voice was a little breathless and husky. She never lost eye-contact with him. His eyes were the most amazing color of brown. They were almost hazel.

Tristan's answer was equally husky and breathless. "You're welcome. And I hope that you'll join me today in going to town for some items you'll need for your weapons lesson tomorrow."

She gave a shy smile and her eyes spoke directly to his. "I would love to join you." The message her eyes were sending was 'I would love to kiss you.'

Giving her an answering half smile, he inclined his head. Their lips met for a fraction of a second and they both felt the sizzle between them. Parting slightly, Tristan took time to look in her eyes for an answer to the question to his. Finding the answer, he gathered her more closely to him. The kiss this time, was full of sweetness and tenderness. Maybe just a little bit of love. But it was a little too soon to tell.

Finally, not sure he can control himself, Tristan pulled his mouth away and stepped a little bit away. "We had best be going now. We wouldn't want to be in the way of the others when they come here."

With that, Tristan helped her put Daemon's tack away and they walked together, hand in hand to the marketplace.