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Primrose went into her room and changed into the only pair of pants she owned. They were black and form-fitting, nearly small enough to fit a young boy. She removed her dress and put on a beige tunic that was loose and flowy. It would do well for riding.
“Are you done yet?” Protego’s voice came from the other side of the door.
She adjusted the buckles of her riding boots and promptly exited the room.
“You’re so impatient,” she teased.
They headed through the castle’s halls, down the stairs, and out a back exit. Primrose moved the metal slider, opening the door, revealing a lush pasture of grass with stables visible in the distance.
“I thought you weren’t allowed outside the castle?”
“I am, just not too far. I’m not a prisoner,” she reminded him, walking towards the stables.
“What happened?” he questioned concernedly.
“I … It’s a difficult story to tell. I mean, it’s traumatizing.” She looked down at her feet.
“You don’t have to tell me unless you want to,” Protego replied, placing his hand on the small of her back for a moment.
“Thank you. I want to have fun today; I don’t wish to think of the darkness from my past.” She smiled at him.
“Everyone deserves a little bit of fun sometimes.” He smiled back, revealing his perfectly straight white teeth.
“Not everyone,” Primrose groaned as she opened the rust-colored stable door.
“Like who?”
“Hugo Mercer.” Primrose spat out.
“And why doesn’t he deserve to have a good time?” Protego asked, walking towards the tall black mare.
“He’s my betrothed. It’s an arranged marriage, and he’s a pig.”
“Oh, that guy. But wait…pigs seem to be nice creatures.” Protego eyed her.
“Well, he’s a not-so-nice one, okay? Now let’s ride.”
Primrose walked up to the horse and placed the saddle that hung on the stall’s wall onto its back. Fixing it onto the mare, she used its reins to guide the animal towards the outside of the stables.
“Drusilla is a good horse. She’ll treat you well.” Primrose smiled, rubbing the mare’s face.
“Absolutely not. I am not getting on that beast.”
“Beast?! There was abasiliskin the castle the other day, and you’re afraid of a horse?” Primrose mocked.
Protego glared at the animal before turning back to Primrose, “I am not afraid. I am… unskilled.”
“How about this! I will lead, and you will ride behind me.”
“Alright,” he agreed, grimacing.
Primrose jumped up onto the saddle, and Protego followed suit, less gracefully. She tucked his right arm around her waist and under her chest. Primrose led them through a large open field just east of the castle, holding onto the reins. She could feel his warm breath against the back of her neck.
“This isn’t so bad,” he said, using his free arm to touch her thigh.
“Oh yeah?” she asked and lightly kicked Drusilla, amping up their speed.
Drusilla galloped forward, full send. Primrose could feel Protego squeeze her tighter as the gorgeous mare made quick circles of the field. They raced around for a while, Protego holding onto her even tighter at every turn. As they reached a forest of luscious pine trees, Primrose turned the reins back towards the stables. Drusilla gradually fell back into a trot, and Protego’s breath steadied, his body tense behind her. Primrose felt something harden at her back, and she turned as red as the stables, hoping he didn’t know she noticed.
