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“Are ye ready then?” Conner asked as he cupped his hands together. Olivia moved to the saddle and using Conner’s hands as a step, mounted the horse with ease. Grabbing the reins, she settled into the saddle as the servant stepped aside, giving her leave to ride.
“Take her around a bit and get used to her a moment. I want to make sure she’s a good fit for ye before we take off.”
Olivia tapped her heel into the horse’s side, instinctively, the horse cantered for her. She couldn’t help but laugh at the way the horse moved. It was as if the mare had been bred just for her. Everything about the white horse was majestic, from its flowing white mane to the way Olivia got it to trot and eventually gallop.
“She is wonderful,” Olivia gasped as she pulled the reins back. The horse stopped slowly and as if it knew its place, dipped its head before Conner.
“Then we are ready,” Conner said, moving to his horse and mounting effortlessly. He circled around Olivia and met her on the left. With an arched eyebrow, he nodded to the open path before them.
“Try to keep up,” he said as he dug his heel into his horse’s side and took off.
Olivia narrowed her gaze and smirk. She leaned forward, grasping the reins and drove her foot into the horse’s side. The horse neighed and took off like a bolt of lightning. She laughed as she passed Conner and noticed his wide, surprised expression.
“Let’s see if ye can,” she called over her shoulder as she over took him.
The road opened before her like never before. The sky lingered over their heads, untainted for miles. With the wind blowing through her hair, she leaned forward, pushing her horse harder. Surprisingly the horse met her with the same enthusiasm and practically begged to go faster.
Taking the horse’s lead, Olivia snapped the reins. In a flash she over took Conner and passed him with a laughter that she hoped echoed behind her.
“Ye daenae ken where yer goin’,” Conner called to her. His voice was muffled from the wind swooshing past her ears. She eased up a bit until he caught up and laughed as he came up beside her panting.
“Where did ye learn to ride like that?” he asked. By the shock on his face, Olivia knew he was impressed with her skills.
“Perhaps there is more to me than meets the eye, aye? Just like Gale here,” Olivia said, rubbing the horse’s neck.
“Gale, is it?” Conner asked as he looked at the horse. The horse seemed to be a bit peeved by Conner’s tone and stepped to the side, trying to push his horse away.
“Be polite,” Olivia scolded Gale.
“She certainly matches yer personality, doesnae she?” Conner laughed as they trotted through the glen, letting the fresh air fill their lungs.
The castle was grand and all, but it had become heavy. Being outside and in the fresh air renewed Olivia and Conner’s spirits as they enjoyed the birds flying above them and the cool breeze that flowed down the green, emerald hills.
“We’re almost there,” Conner said as they rode up the hill. Olivia’s heart shot to her throat as she scanned the valley. Stretching out before her was a winding stream that sparkled in the sunlight. It looked like a river of gold cutting through the green hills. In the corner of her eye, she noticed Conner slipping off his horse.
Carefully, Olivia slid down and grabbed the reins to tie them off to the fallen tree to their left.
“This place is magnificent,” she said as Conner grabbed her reins from her hands and led her horse next to his.
“I often come here to think,” he answered. “Well, nae as much as I liked to, but I came here often as a child. I fished in those waters and pretend I was Robert de Bruce. My sister would frolic about the edge of the water,” Conner said as he pointed to the sandy bank running along the river’s edge.
Holding his hand to her, Conner smiled. Olivia slipped her hand into his as she pulled in a deep breath of the fresh, clean air. Her heart fluttered as Conner gave her a slight tug.
“Where are ye takin’ me?” she asked as he started cutting through the tall grass.
“Dae ye nae want to see it closer?”
“And what of the horses?”
“They’ll be fine up here, I promise. They are tied off and nay one comes out this way, so they’ll nae be stolen.” Nudging his head to the bottom of the valley, Olivia hesitated a moment. Seeing the vast open space reminded her of her childhood and all the many adventures she wished she could go on.
It didn’t take her long to decide if she wanted to go. With a spring in her step, she followed Conner through the ribbon thin trail. A small piece of her heart skipped and jumped as they made the trek down. With each step she took, she found herself slipping from the weight of the world and into a fairy tale.
The babbling of the brook filled her ears the closer she got as Conner helped her over the rocks and fallen trees that littered the path. Only when she stood on the banks of the river did she realize just how incredible the place truly was.
“Look,” Conner said in a hushed voice as he jerked her closer to the ground. With wide eyes, Olivia scanned the other side of the river. Her heart stopped the moment she laid eyes on the great stag stealing a sip from the river.
“That is lovely,” she whispered as Conner hovered closer to her. She couldn’t help but smile at the creature, watching it as if she’d never seen anything more stunning in her life. She had heard legends of a great white stag as a child. How seeing them were omens and that only maidens pure of heart could touch them.
