Secrets of the Heart

Chapter 11

Leonardo has already tacked up Echo for me, and he's nearly finished tacking the horse he chose- Bella. She's an Andalusian Mare who was found on the Italian border. Her name literally translates to 'beautiful' in Italian. With her pristine white coat and flowy mane and tail, that is the best word to describe her.

He picks out a ratty old saddle, and I chuckle at him.

"Don't use that old thing! Go pick out one of the palace saddles," I order. He willingly complies, rushing back to the tack room and retrieving a beautiful gold lined saddle.

I'm about to make a sarcastic remark, but the smile on his face causes me to just let him be.

When he's finished tacking, we lead the horses out of the stable and onto the dirt road.

"Now you can't ride too rough, princess. Remember that you're still recovering."

"Is that an order," I coyly ask.

"Just a suggestion."

I climb up onto Echo, and wait for Leonardo to mount Bella. When he does, I click my heels causing Echo to move into a slow walk.

Leonardo follows behind me, but I motion for him to bring Bella up beside Echo and I. When we are lined up, I bring Echo into a trot, and turn him down a dirt road that leads to the forest.

Leonardo gives me a strange look, but follows.

When we are completely out of sight from the palace area, I turn towards Leonardo.

"I'm going to do something I'm not supposed to, so please don't tell anyone," I whisper.

"Whatever you say," he laughs, although he looks extremely confused.

I swing my leg over Echo's back, so that I am no longer riding sidesaddle. Them I dig my heels into his side so that he takes of galloping. Ignoring the barely existent pain in my side, I ride carelessly, passing trees and bushes and even a stream.

Eventually, I stop, and notice that Leonardo is not far behind.

"Are you crazy? You could have fallen and reopened your wound! Imagine me having to explain that to the king and queen!"

"Calm down, I didn't fall off. I'm fine," I laugh. He still looks angry but doesn't say anything.

I turn Echo back towards the palace and decide to head back. Though I hate to admit it, I should take it slow until I get back into the habit of riding.

The rest of the ride is silent, but not in an awkward way. It's a comfortable silence, if that makes sense.

When the stable comes into view, a feeling of sadness takes me off guard. Soon I'll be back in the palace, bored out of my mind.

Maybe I'll go see Alice.

Before I know it, we are at the stable and I'm dismounting. Leonardo takes my horse and leads him to his stall. I take a seat and wait for both horses to be put away so I can say goodbye to Leonardo.

When he comes around the corner, I stand up.

I start to walk toward him, but as I approach, I trip, and start to fall backwards toward the ground.

I feel a set of strong arms catch me, and let out a sigh of relief that I am not going to have to explain to mother why I have my head split open.

I open my eyes that I never realized were closed, and see a pair of blue eyes looking back at me.

Our faces are so close, and a part of me wants to close the distance. He starts to lean down towards me, and I go into panic mode.

On one hand, a voice inside of me is saying that it's wrong. That I need to run away and never see him again. I'm engaged to Pier, this should not be happening.

But the other voice is saying to forget about Pier. This voice wants me to close the distance between us.

And I don't know which to listen to.

Our faces our less than an inch away when I reach my hand up and put a single finger to his lips, as if hushing him.

"I can't. I-I'm with Pier. I- I just can't," I whisper, before running out of the barn. Tears spring to my eyes, but I don't look back. Because if I do I'll have to run back to him.

I need to see Alice. She'll know what to do.

A/N

This is where it gets interesting.

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