The Crown's Obsession (WN)

The castle was big; the large space within it made it appear to be empty in Madeline's eyes. And the house that she had back in the village was small with less space that felt warm with her family in there. The question about his family didn't go away from her mind as she doubted she had ever heard about the King's family. And though Madeline's curiosity rose along with the black wings that had appeared behind Calhoun's back, she decided not to question about it as it would only make it look like she was interested in him.

It wasn't her intention to give out wrong ideas, and she quietly continued having her breakfast. They finally stepped out of the dining room to walk out and behind the castle to reach the stables. She heard the neighing of the horses that were tied in their compartments.

A man appeared to bring out a stallion which was black, pulling its reins to stop it in front of King. The man bowed his head who was in his late forties, a small belly that stretched over the front of his shirt.

"Good morning, my King," the stableman bowed his head, "Sir Theodore told me you wanted Robin ready for a ride."

So this was Robin, thought Madeline to herself. When the King had mentioned the name 'Robin', it had made Madeline wonder if this person Robin would be jumping off the cliff with them.

"It's been two weeks since I took him out. Today is a bright day, it should be good to spend some time outside," said Calhoun, stepping forward to go near the horse and ran his hand over the horse' neck as if to pet it and the horse neigh in response, "Isn't it?" Calhoun asked and turned towards Madeline.

"Yes, it's a bright day," she agreed. When the stableman's eyes fell on the lady who he had not seen before, he bowed his head, and Madeline returned it. The King often brought many females as his company, and it seemed like it was another lady. But this one looked sober than the others that he had seen before.

Calhoun introduced the horse to Madeline, "This is Robin, my stallion. Have you ever rode a horse before, Madeline?" he asked her.

"I do," and on Madeline's response, Calhoun looked impressed.

"Good," responded Calhoun and his words weren't taunting. Still looking at Madeline, he ordered the stableman, "Get the finest mare we have in the stable for this fair lady, Walter."

Madeline looked alarmed. Was she going to ride one? The stableman left their side, and she looked at Calhoun. She had only hopped on the horse three or four times before which needed someone's assistance. Maybe riding wasn't the right word as it was more like she was walking.

"Scared?" asked Calhoun, his eyes shined by noticing how the gears in her mind were turning.

"No," answered Madeline. She was, but she didn't want to show him any weakness.

Calhoun turned to his horse, petting it to say, "It is okay if you are. You can ride with Robin and me."

The King was relentless when it came to his words towards her, and somewhere Madeline was scared. "I will be fine by myself," answered Madeline.

She was not going to sit with him, on the same horse. Yesterday, she had shared more than enough time with him, maybe she could take the horse far far away to make an escape? Madeline thought to herself. She wondered if it was possible. Perhaps not today, but if she earned his trust where he would let her go by herself, she could do it...Madeline didn't want to jump into a quick plan where she didn't know how to proceed after that.

But before doing that, she would have to think about her family. Calhoun was capable of doing anything, and she had to keep that in mind. If he had helped her father and was going to help her sister in getting a suitor, he could also snatch them away, to turn it worse than what was there before.

Walter, the stableman, came back pulling a brown mare, patting its neck to make it stand next to the stallion.

"Her name is Bonnie. She is gentle," said Walter before stepping away from the horses.

"Thank you, Walter. You can leave," Calhoun shooed the man away so that Madeline could mount on the horse with only his eyes to witness, "The horse is all yours," he stated. Placing one of his feet on the stirrup, Calhoun sat on the saddle to wait for Madeline to take her seat on the brown horse.

She stared at the brown horse, moving closer to it to raise her hand to pat its neck in the same way Calhoun had done to his horse. Madeline knew how to keep herself still once she would sit on the saddle, but in the past, she had always used someone's help to get on.

Her eyes moved from the saddle to the stirrups, her hand still petting the horse before finally letting it go. Madeline hoped to get her footing right and not fall. Calhoun who was looking at her, leaned to the side to ask,

"Need help?"

Madeline was too stubborn to ask for his help. She tried to get a good grip as she placed her foot on the stirrup, pushing herself up, but the horse was tall for her to reach. Were the horses back in the villages small? With the dress that she wore, she couldn't go hopping on the horse as there were chances of her dress moving in an awkward position.

She tried again but she couldn't. If she knew this day would come, Madeline would have learned to sit on a horse effortlessly.

Feeling the eyes of Calhoun, she looked up to meet his eyes. He had a teasing smile on his lips when he said, "Take your own time. I am enjoying watching you."