Gwynn brushed Fire Dancer with a soft brush, running over and over the flaming hide until it was sleek and dancing with sharp light. Gwynn smiled and patted her mare who snorted gently and butted Gwynn's hand with a velvety nose.

Gwynn produced a peice of carrot and another tid bit of apple. She opened her palm and let Fire Dancer eat the treats happily. Gwynn ruffled Fire Dancer's mane then let it lie flat smiling at the horse.

"Good girl." Gwynn ducked out of the stall and came back with a polished saddle and bridle. Both peices of tack were plain and unadorned by silver or gems but they were still sturdy and full of use.

The page placed the saddle on Fire Dancer's shining back and tightened the girth. Fire Dancer twitched her tail in protest of the tight strip of leather but with a few pats the mare was calmed. Gwynn worked the bit into Fire Dancer's mouth and fastened all the straps.

Gwynn sat in good position. Her shoulders were squared and her hands were steady on the reins. She was a good rider. Fire Dancer perked her ears and stuck her neck out straight taking in breath for a loud bellow. Gwynn tugged gently on the reins and Fire Dancer drew back but a whinny still escaped from her throat.

Gwynn patted Fire Dancer once more and walked her around the lovely palace grounds. Green hills rose above Gwynn and her mount and winding pathways found there way inbetween the hills. Flat ground lay before the stables though, perfect for a run. Gwynn urged Fire Dancer into a trot and canter. Once they were warmed up, Gwynn cueed her mare into a full fledged gallop.

Horse and rider ate up ground. Gwynn's copper hair flew out behind her and Fire Dancer's copper legs flashed through the air. Gwynn laughed and slowed Fire Dancer. Her mare's nostrils expanded in exitment but not too much lack of air. Fire Dancer was a Bazhir horse, trained for stamina.

Gwynn walked Fire Dancer back to the stables, hoping someone would complete their ride with them.

Saxon needed his exercise. Wart sat astride the large gelding, bouncing up and down in the saddle a little with the trot, too lazy to actually ride properly.

Saxon snorted and lowered his head to the grounded. “What’s the matter?” Wart asked. “One of us needs to be in shape. And I’d rather it be you than me.”

For a while Wart had skipped the practice grounds and stables in favor of town comforts and others he’d missed being away, but now he’d thrown him back into a strict practice regiment and diet.

Gwynn caught side of the horse and boy and reined FireDancer towards them. Her mare pranced to the side nostrils flared in curiosity. Gwynn brought her hand up in greeting and patted FireDancer.

Wart gave a crooked grin at the page. "Hi," he greeted, tugging on Saxon's reigns a little trying to get his head up. The horse jerked up and turned to look repraochfully at his rider.

Wart shrugged apologetically at the horse.

Gwynn smiled shyly and patted FireDancer again who pawed the ground and perked her ears at the new horse.

"Hi." Gwynn looked up the boy. "I'm Gwynn of Northwatch."

Wart smiled and bent slightly at the waist in an attempt of a bow while seated on horseback. "Call me Wart, everybody does."

Gwynn smiled back at the boy. She patted Fire Dancer who was busily inspecting Stalwart's horse and pulled the reins. The chestnut mare brought her head back indignantly and snorted, eyeing the fellow horse and rider suspiciously.
"OK. Wart...right." Gwynn looked up at Wart. "And...are you a page? I'm a third year page."

"Squire, actually. I've been mistaken for a page before though." Saxon eyed Firedancer and barred his teeth at the horse. "Down, boy," Wart ordered.

Gwynn blushed. "Sorry...I mistook you for a page..." She grinned at Wart's horse. "Easy, Fire Dancer. Would you like to ride around with me, Wart?"

"Like I said, it's happened more than once before. I am as my mother so delicately put it, compact." He grinned good naturedly at Gwynn. He jerked slender shoulders in a shrug of helplessness. What can you do?

"I'd love to ride with you for awhile, however, Saxon is neither the most gentle nor the most friendly horse especially when it comes to mares. But he'll behave . . . Won't you?" Wart asked looking at the horse. Saxon flicked his ears back in annoyance and bared his teeth, but Wart glared at him a bit more and finally he shook his head, making his tack jingle.

"Good boy."

"It's okay." Gwynn smiled at Stalwart, answering both of his comments. "Fire Dancer's not mean, just...frisky. She likes to go fast, but I can keep her under control, obviously." The page toyed with a strand of Fire Dancer's bright mane. She cued her mare into a slow trot and waited for Wart.

"Good one of us needs to be able to." Wart joked, clicking his tongue to start Saxon again.

The gelding shook his dark brown mane and trotted up to Firedancer.

Gwynn laughed lightly and blew away a loose strand of copper hair. Fire Dancer lunged forward, her breath gained back from the last gallop, and Gwynn tugged softly on the reins, murmering to her mare.
"Easy, Fire." She looked back at Wart and smiled, happy to have a riding companion, even if he was a squire and she was a page.

“So how’s being a page treating you?” Wart asked. “Is milord still as much as a stick in the mud as ever?”

Gwynn shrugged. "It's OK. Genlith..." She paused and thought for a moment and Fire Dancer trotted willingly along. "Genlith is odd no offense to him meant. I haven't gotten in real trouble yet, though. Thank goodness!" The edge of Gwynn's lip lifted in a rueful smiled. "But I seriously doubt I'll get by without. The pages I hang out with are known for being seen in the office. I guess."

Wart laughed. “But without a doubt, they’re the most interesting to be with if nothing else.” He grinned. “Go ahead, offend our good lord. He’s not around is he?” Wart exaggerated the action of whipping around to check for anyone.

Gwynn nodded grimly. "Yes. I cannot help but their friend. They are quite irristibal to be around," she commented, then added, "and to get in trouble with." Gwynn laughed. "Well I sure hope Genlith isn't around." The page slowed Fire Dancer to a walk as the horse gathered sweat.

Wart grinned a little. "Most of my friends are out and about Tortall, there's some I haven't seen since my lord took me on as squire."

Gwynn nodded and brushed back her copper hair that stuck to her sweaty neck. She patted Fire Dancer and reined her to a halt.
"I see. So, in what year of squire-hood are you in?" She asked.

"My last one, thankfully," Wart sighed, "or well I don't know. Being a knight certainly sounds slightly less stressful than being a squire in some ways, but eh, the ordeal and the knighting, but then I get to be a knight. Sir Wart, oh yes, that strikes fear in the heart of many, I'm sure." He joked.

OOC
Um... Sorry for posting earlier. Hayden told me I'm not supposed to yet. I'm not registered. So yeah. Apologizing profusely for random posting.

Gwynn nodded grimly. "Yes. I am afraid of the Ordeal." The page admitted ackwardly. She placed her palm on Fire Dancer's soft, copper hide. Gwynn laughed at Wart's last comment though. "Lady Gwynn? Sir Gwynn?" She brushed back her copper hair and chuckled.