Riding Lesson

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

I awoke the next morning, feeling completely beaten and rung out.

I managed tea and to eat some food to settle my stomach and calm my head.

After a bath, shave and getting dressed I even managed to feel like myself again.

I went out to the stables to get Lenore ready and wait for Alli.

[Allisande nó Dahlia]

That morning I had awoken feeling more light-hearted than usual; today was my first riding lesson with Alain. Smiling, I'd dressed in a riding outfit- Dahlia adepts always had one on hand, even if we never went riding. Being prepared for any eventuality was deeply ingrained in us, though it made our staying adepts that much more expensive. My hair went back into a sensible braid, and as neat as I could get it with my hair curling so profusely; a couple shorter strands around my face always escaped and this time proved no different. Once I looked acceptable to my own eye I went and ate breakfast, something light but filling, and drank a glass of wine to steady my nerves, and then I was off.

Once I'd reached his house and been let in, I made my way to the stables, where I found him waiting. Gracefully I fell into a curtsey and then stood, smiling. "Good morning," I said with a warm smile.

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

I had just settled Lenore's saddle firmly into place and given her to a stable boy so he could walk her around a bit and warm her up when Alli arrived.

"I don't suppose if I said you could stop greeting me so formally that it would stick, would it? You are a friend, not someone who needs to curtsey and such… not that I think anyone should…," I shook my head and took a breath. "Sorry, I'm a bit off kilter at the moment. Hello Alli, you look lovely."

[Allisande nó Dahlia]

Smiling, I cocked my head sideways as I looked at him. "Old habits die hard, I guess," I said wryly. "Thank you- I would say you look as well, but you seem tired and a little hung-over. If you wanted to put this lesson off until later, I would understand."

Turning my head slightly I gazed at where Lenore was being walked, and then down at the kittens that curled around my ankles. Smiling more warmly I stooped and ran my hands over the kitten's backs- it seemed that orange tabby twins were always the first to come and make themselves known. Almost immediately they started purring and I laughed lightly. "It looks like they didn't forget me either," I said with a grin.

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

"I had a bit of a rough night last night, but I am feeling much closer to myself - even more so now you are here," I said, smiling.

I stepped closer to her, bending down and stroking the kittens too.

"You are unforgettable, Alli," I told her, grinning. "I would be worried about them if they had."

[Allisande nó Dahlia]

"Thank you, and I'm glad you're feeling better," I said with another warm smile as I scratched behind one of the twin's ears. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a grey kittenish face poke out from beneath some straw and made my way over to it, pulling the grey and white sibling from the hay, holding him against my chest. After stroking him for a moment I sent him down next to his brothers.

Laughing lightly, I said to Alain, "Be careful- if you pet them for too long they may never stop bugging you to do so. And they can be very persuasive."

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

"Kind of like me?" I said with a laugh. "Perhaps that is why I like them so much, tiny, furry versions of myself."

Carefully, so as not to step on any tiny paws or tails, I walked over and laid my hand Alli's back.

"I am ready whenever you are," I told her.

[Allisande nó Dahlia]

Giving the kittens on last pat I stood and shook out my skirts to get the dust and hay off of them. Turning around to look at Alain solemnly I gave a sure nod. "Then I'm ready," I said, breaking my look of concentration with a slightly giddy grin.

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

Laughing, I took her hand and led her out to where Lenore was. I took Lenore's reins in my other hand and led them both into a smallish paddock. It was used mostly to exercise horses on a long lead and was just the right size for this. I had even had one of the stable boys spread a layer of soft dirt around - just in case Alli made contact with the ground.

I shut the gate behind us and released Alli's hand and Lenore's reins. Lenore was such a sweet, gentle soul that I knew she would be perfect for this.

"I think she missed you," I told Alli. "She keeps looking out the stable doors like she's waiting for someone."

[Allisande nó Dahlia]

"Or it could just be the treats she thinks I represent," I said with a grin as I ran a hand over Lenore's neck. "Though I will have to say she is easy to miss herself." I just managed to refrain myself from crooning over her; after all, I did still have my dignity. My other hand went up to scratch lightly behind her ears and then to stroke her cheek. "I think she missed you while you were gone as well."

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

"I missed her too," I said, stroking her neck.

"So," I said, turning back to Alli, "There are two basic ways to start out - I put you in the saddle, your feet in the stirrups and just start her walking and see where we need to go from there. Or, I can give you some tips and pointers first and let you ask me whatever you might think of, then let you get on her. Neither way is better, it all depends on what you feel more comfortable with. Some people like to just get on with it, some like to prepare more first."

[Allisande nó Dahlia]

Smiling, I cocked my head sideways in thought. "How about a couple pointers on how to get in the saddle for myself and then we go on from there. Unless, of course, that would be impossible for me." In the end I was a very independant creature, and I had heard a little about this process.

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

I had already glanced over her outfit and, though there wasn't really any doubt that she would have chosen wisely, knew it was made for this sort of thing.

"I don't think there's anything you couldn't do once you decided to," I told her, grinning.

I pointed to the slight pommel on the saddle. "Put your left hand here, you can hold on to a bit of her mane to steady yourself. Then, put your left foot here in the stirrup. The last part is the swinging up. The best thing to remember is that it takes more effort than you would think. Use the stirrup like a step and swing your right leg over. Lenore is well trained, she won't move until you tell her to, so all you have to worry about is getting settled in the saddle. Any questions?"

[Allisande nó Dahlia]

My face a mask of concentration, I placed my hands where he dictated and my foot in the stirrup, putting all of my weight onto the one leg as I swung the other over Lenore's back. It was about that moment when I realized how truly high off the ground a horse's saddle was. Smiling nervously I settled myself into the seat of the saddle, wiggling slightly so I could get adjusted to the feelings as I put my other foot into the stirrup on the other side.

Looking down at Alain I wiped my hands on my dress and smiled. Maybe this wouldn't be so hard.

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

I smiled widely, reaching over to pat her thigh.

"Very nicely done, very nice," I told her. "Even with a warning most people don't put enough lift in the first try, that was great."

I kept my hand on Lenore's bridle, not because I thought she would move, but more in case Alli thought she might.

I handed Alli the reins.

"Here you go," I said. "When you are ready, I'll start leading her around slowly. Right now holding the reins is just for you to feel balanced, don't worry about using them to guide her. Once she starts moving, it becomes like a dance. Relax just enough to move with her, but not too much or you will over balance. Keep your feet by her sides, but still."

I put my hand on Alli's thigh again. "And remember, all you have to do is say stop and I will, immediately. Also, remember how sweet Lenore is and that she won't do anything to hurt you, nor will I. Just let me know when you are ready, no rush."

[Allisande nó Dahlia]

Smiling warmly I patted Lenore's neck and then took the reins, holding them loosely in my hands the way that we'd been taught one should. Closing my eyes I let myself fal into a sort of balance, though it was difficult with the horse holding still when I knew her moving would feel so much different.

Opening my eyes I looked around and then nodded confidently to Alain. "I'm ready," I said as I fixed my feet firmly in the stirrups and tried not to clench my legs around Lenore in order to brace against her movements.

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

Smiling, I nodded and turned to face the same direction as Lenore.

I made a soft clicking noise and she slowly, and smoothly moved into a walk. I led her around the paddock, looking back at Alli every few steps to make sure she was doing well.

[Allisande nó Dahlia]

As Lenore slowly walked around the enclosure I tried to counter-balance myself against her movements. It was a little bit like trying to dance on a swinging platform, but at least the movements were regular and patterned. Slowly I was becoming more relaxed and I could feel myself adjusting more naturally to the swaying motions, my balance and sense of self becoming more sure.

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

"You're doing very well," I told her, turning so that I could walk backwards and look up at her. "How do you feel?

[Allisande nó Dahlia]

"Thank you," I said with a happy smile, a large portion of myself still concentrating on my balance a little. "This is actually very relaxing, though once things get more difficult I may retract that statement. I'm sure I'm only doing so well because Lenore is such a good horse." Letting go of the reins with one hand I patted Lenore's neck fondly, then put my hand back where it was on the leather strapping.

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

"The right horse has a whole lot to do with it. I knew you two would get on well," I said, grinning.

We had made two whole circuits around the paddock.

"You feel good enough for me to let her go and let steer?" I asked.

[Allisande nó Dahlia]

With a confident nod, I said, "Well, as simple as it may seem, explain a bit about it to me. You lightly lead to one side and pull on the reins gently, don't you? Such things are explained to us, but never in detail."

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

"Yes, that is the way," I said, nodding. "Lenore also responds to pressure with your legs or a shift of your weight. If you want her to go left, gently press your right leg against her and she will turn left. If you sit all your weight back in the saddle, she will stop - very fast - so be careful. Here we go."

I released the bridle and stepped back, far enough to be completely out of the way, but close enough to jump in if needed.

[Allisande nó Dahlia]

With a nod and a look of concentration on my face I remembered the information and the pattern in which it would have to be done in an almost sing-song mental chant and dance. Keep balance, reins right for right and left for left, squeeze with right for left, squeeze with left for right, don't sit back suddenly. Not even worrying about her pace I steered her in a relaxed circle around the paddock, more concerned with getting the technique correct than doing it perfectly. After all, I wasn't Camellia- there was always time for finesse and finishing at a later time.

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

I felt like clapping, she was doing so well, but refrained in case I broke her concentration. She looked perfect astride Lenore, like a painting of royalty hanging in a palace somewhere.

[Allisande nó Dahlia]

Now that I had the basics pretty well understood- how much pressure I had to use on the reins, how long it took for Lenore and I to respond to stimuli, things like that- I turned Lenore in a slghtly tighter circle until we were circling the area in the opposite direction. After all, I couldn't go my entire life only making turns in one direction. Lenore was either very patient or I was learning- the process went pretty smoothly. Best not to let myself get arrogant, though; I went back to letting Lenore walk in her placid circles, getting used to her gait.

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

"You are doing great," I said, encouragingly. "When you're ready, if you want her to go a little faster, press lightly with both your knees at once. She'll speed up to just a faster walk. You are a natural Alli, you look wonderful up there."

[Allisande nó Dahlia]

"Thank you," I said, not taking my eyes off of where I was going as I gently squeezed Lenore's sides with my knees, her pace changing to a faster walk between one step and the next. Mentally I sped up the rhythm at which my body responded and let myself sink into the pattern. Very little about the outside world intruded on my thoughts at the moment, so my face took on an incredibly focused look.

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

She was doing well enough that I moved over to the fence and climbed up to sit on top. I was on a level with her now and had a better view of the picture as a whole.

I smiled at the look of concentration on her face.

I glanced up at the sun and realized when been here for quite awhile already. I would let her go a little longer before I stopped things for the day.

[Allisande nó Dahlia]

Steering and noticing what Lenore was doing was starting to become second nature, so I started to work a little on finesse, steering her as tightly around corners as I could with her agility and depth perception. Glancing over at where Alain watched me I grinned at him happily and warmly, then turned my attention back to what I was doing. Focusing on the task at hand was always something I'd excelled in; I simply ignored all distraction.