Horses and Daydreams
Interlude 5
T.A 3006
Draco had managed to put off horse riding lessons for five years since he arrived, he had never went near the horses and he was perfectly fine with walking around the forest on his herb hunts and occasional musing wonderings. But it seems his ever faithful friend Lord Elrond had finally had enough of his senseless averting of horse riding.
During their usual scheduled time for lessons –a façade for Elrond to shrug his duties in the pretence of teaching Draco valuable information about Middle-Earth which soon turned into adventures into the forest and nice long walks in the gardens- Draco had walked into Lord Elrond’s office and if his reflexes weren’t fast enough he would have been hit in the face by a tunic thrown to his face by the lord.
“Change quickly dear Draco, I will teach you to ride a horse.” Elrond’s voice was full of mischief and he had a glint in his eyes.
It was times like these that Draco was reminded that Lord Elrond was the father of Elladan and Elrohir, the biggest mischief makers he had ever known, next to the weasley twins.
Draco scowled at the elf, “I told you before, I’m fine with walking.”
Elrond sighed at Draco’s insistence, “Why is it that you wish not to ride?”
Draco had never told them the reason the first time they had offered to teach him horse riding and he had refused, he knew Lord Elrond wouldn’t hold anything against him now if he didn’t tell him. Draco mumbled his reason as he looked off to the side and not at the Lord.
“Pardon?” Elrond said as he leaned forward and tilting one side of his face closer to Draco.
“I was being a bloody idiot to a hippogriff and got kicked.” Draco blushed a deep shade of red as he remembered his foolish actions when he was young.
“Hippogriff?” Elrond asked.
“A creature with the top half of an eagle and bottom half of a horse. I was being an arse and provoking it and I got kicked and-”
“And now you are scared of four legged animals.” Lord Elrond cut him off and finished for him.
Draco nodded reluctantly and waited for the elf to laugh. The laughter did not come but instead a hand was laid on his shoulder, “Well then you should have no fear, our horses are gentle and tame, so long as you do not provoke it, though I trust you have learnt your lessons once?” Elrond raised one eyebrow at the wizard.
Draco stamped down his first reaction to lash out at the lord, “I’m not that stupid anymore.” He grumbled.
Draco heard the warm laughter now, he gave a weak smile in return.
“Yes now, change, I shall await you outside.”
With that, the lord left the room and Draco stared at the simple cream brown tunic he was given, there were also a pair of knee high black riding boots by the door. Draco sighed once more then stripped off his robes in exchange for the tunic, slipped off his slippers and stuffed his feet into the riding boots.
He folded his robes and looked around, he opened the door, “Lord Elrond, where shall I leave my robes?”
“Leave them on the table, I shall have it sent to your rooms later.”
Draco deposited them on said table and went to join the lord. They walked to the stables with light chatter, when they arrived, Elrond greeted the stable helpers and spoke to them in Quenya, Draco could understand most of what he said though 5 years wasn’t nearly enough to completely pick up the language. If they spoke slow enough he could puzzle it out.
“This is Melu, and this is Feir. Melu is gentle and shall take great care of you Draco.” Feir butted his head against Elrond’s palm that was gently caressing his head, Draco supposed that was his horse.
He looked over at Melu, she was of charcoal coat with a jet black mane, Draco hesitantly lifted his hand to her muzzle, when she walked forward and placed her muzzle on his hand Draco took a step back in shock. He went back to stroke her forehead, she nuzzled against his hand, Draco smiled, she was gentle indeed.
Elrond watched as the young wizard got to know his horse, he had a feeling when Draco finally learnt to ride, he would be spending much time with her. He led Feir out first, assuming Draco would follow.
Elrond brought them to a wide clearing. “Watch, Draco.”
With a hand holding the reins, Elrond placed his foot on the stirrup and swung himself up and over the horse, gently setting himself down onto the saddle, “Be gentle when settling, you do not wish to injure your horse.”
Draco nodded, he walked over to Melu, “Would you stay still for me Melu?” the mare nickered and tossed her head, Draco supposed that was an affirmative.
He grasped the reins in his hand as he saw the lord do, placing his left foot on the stirrup, he swung, and he would have toppled off the other side were it not for Lord Elrond’s hands holding him onto his horse, “Balance yourself!” Elrond called to him and snapped Draco from his shock of almost breaking his bones again, he quickly righted himself.
“Sorry.” Draco felt a light flush on his cheeks, this was turning out to be a very embarrassing experience.
“No need to apologise, it is common misstep.” Elrond patted Draco on the back, “Keep your back and shoulders straight, hug your legs onto your horse, gently.”
By the end of the day Draco’s muscles were sore and protesting, he could barely walk and he had stumbled once, which prompted Elrond to laugh and take pity on the young wizard and slung his arm over Draco’s back to half carry him to the bathing chambers.
“Are you able to return to your rooms by yourself?”
Draco nodded and waved the lord off, “Pleasant evening Lord Elrond.”
Elrond nodded, “I will have an attendant bring a change of robes, pleasant evening.”
Interlude 6
T.A 3008
Draco sighed in exhaustion as he sunk down onto his bed, the healers were particularly busy today, a host of guards had returned with rather extensive injuries. They had met a large band of Orcs and managed to slay all but in turn were greatly injured, luckily none were sacrificed.
Draco had taken up a permanent employment as healer’s assistant, brewing and researching when the healing rooms weren’t busy and running around helping the healers when they were. There was much to learn despite not being able to perform the elves’ magic, 6 years in and he still more often than not refers to their medical tomes when looking over a patient, just to be sure. He had started a year after his arrival, wanting to do something with his time and a clean, cool environment was much more preferable than hunting orcs out in the wilderness.
Draco tossed and turned on the bed, feeling exhausted but restless. He had been unable to spend time with Lord Elrond today. Their meetings were scheduled for alternate days, and he had not seen the lord the day before or today. Draco didn’t know why, but it left him feeling a tad bit sad and longing. What was he longing for? He didn’t know, he just felt it.
Maybe it had become such a routine, meeting with Lord Elrond, that a disruption in it would upset him. Yes, he supposed that was it.
He was tired, but he had the sudden urge to take a short walk in the gardens, to bask in the moonlight. He got up and patted himself down smoothing out wrinkles in his night robe before leaving his room.
The gardens were empty, most had already gone to sleep, those who were still awake would only be so with purpose. Draco sat down on one of the many stone benches and looked up towards the stars.
He was thinking how nice the night was, it would be nice to be walking in the gardens with Lord Elrond right now as they have done in the past, perhaps with a goblet of wine in one hand and talking about simple things, a pleasant relaxing walk. Draco made a face at himself, did he disrupt his routine so much that if he didn’t spend time with the lord soon, he would be seeing him everywhere he went?
He shook his head and stood up, a late night snack would do him some good. He walked quietly and undisturbed to the kitchens. He picked a few peaches and grapes from the crates and dropped them onto a basket, he carried his supper out and walked towards one of the balconies overlooking a waterfall. He sat on the ledge of the balcony and placed the basket beside him. He moaned as he bit into the peach, the sweet juices filling his mouth, if only he had some wine to wash it down. His mind subconsciously went to thinking perhaps he should pay the Elven Lord’s room a visit and see if he was up for some late night port. He managed to stop himself before he actually swung off the ledge, Lord Elrond was probably sleeping, what was he thinking?
He spent the rest of his snacking time categorising the herbs and animals parts he currently had and planned a list for the next time he went out to hunt in the forest. Perhaps Lord Elrond would fancy a ride with him to deeper parts of the wood or perhaps just a ride for pleasure, he was looking forward to it.
Draco sighed, he didn’t want to think any deeper into his sudden odd longing to spend time with Lord Elrond, he should just head to sleep. He dropped by the kitchens to deposit the basket and went back to his rooms.
Slipping off his outer robes and untying his braids, clad only in his light inner robes he slid under his blankets. He didn’t need to count sheeps as he was already quite tired. Right before his eyelids closed fully and his mind shut off, he had a sudden thought of how comfortable it would be if a certain elf lord and his body heat was beside Draco on the bed right now, he could sooth his fingers over soft dark hair and snuggle his body close to a muscled chest and feel safe in those strong arms, he fell asleep.