Unicorn Rider

 

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Chapter 1

 The land of  Valhalva was sprinkled with white powder, it seemed to glitter and twinkle as the sun caught it. The trees leaves were coated with frost, and fell every now and then, they landed on that white without a sound. The once lively river had come to a stand still as a sheet of ice now covered it, the elves of the forest could be found skating around its lake or up and down the river itself. 


The dragons had migrated to a warmer climate, so the villagers livestock were safe except for the bite of the cold.  The small city of Dragons Fury was located in the middle of no where, two great stone dragons guarded the wooden gates, the town was guarded with great high stone walls, many houses and business' lined the paths. A great keep stood in the middle with fires burning in almost every room. Its rooves made of the finest tile. The fountain with a rearing dragon was frozen over, the water held in place waiting for its time to fall. 


The cold villagers wandered the streets, huddled over keeping their coats shut and maintaining their heat, the wind whipped up around the square almost making an elderly woman slip on the ice. Far from the town and any town a figure was galloping across the frozen ground, their steed white as the ground, its mane and tail long and fluttered in the breeze, its silver armour glinted as they galloped across the land catching the low sun. It's rider was covered from head to toe in silver armour, not a single feature could be seen, except for a long shimmering white lock poking out from the helm. 


Deep within the walls of the keep their ruler Boralious was pacing up and down. He was a great burly man, he liked his food. A great beard drenched in wine covered his chin, his hair shoulder length and greasy. His clothes were well tailored and consisted of purple and gold, a gold chain kept his spotted cloak on. "Why isn't he here yet?" He asked looking at his advisor who was an elderly gentleman, he wore all black, his hair greying, he looked almost like a stalk, he had a rather  unsettling large nose something any stranger would gawp at in his presence.


"Perhaps she's lost, or maybe she's held up by the creatures of the forest." He replied lifting his head high acknowledging the fact that their guest could be a peasant. 


"That is quite true, I just hope they don't get caught in the blizzard that's on its way, we need their help," Boralious said. 


"I'm sure they will get here on time." The advisor said pouring another chalice of wine.


The silver figure nudged their steed on till they good see the great spire of the cathedral in a the city of Dragon Fury. "Rider approaching," one of the guards called from the guard tower, the gates opened with a thunderous roar, and the rider began to ride to the keep, everyone staring at them and their steed, they were the most unusual pair in Valhalva. They galloped under the spiralling path till they reached the top and Boralious emerged with his advisor in toe. 


They both looked the rider up and down. "I must say you're not what I expected." He said.

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Chapter 2

 They turned their head to the side. "Not what you expected?" Their tone almost suggesting they were insulted. They leant forward and swung their leg over the back of their steed and landed on the ground with a rather rattled thud. Boralious gazed at the figure he swore he could see their eyes glowing from the darkness of their helm, it was a gentle purple. 


"Remove your helmet warrior." The advisor demanded. They did as they were told, they unbuckled the chin strap and slid their helmet off to reveal a young rosie cheeked elf, their hair long and white, it had been all braided and tied into a high ponytail, her eyes a lilac purple, her pupils in the shape of a waxing crescent of the moon. Her lips small and petite but pale, her armour hugged her and her long white cloak with fur on the inside dragged on the floor. 


"Do forgive me my lady, I didn't realise you had such beauty." The king said dropping to his knees taking her hand and kissed it. 


"I am no lady, I'm  just an elf and a servant to you." she said and pulled her hand out of his grip. "what did  you call me here for?" She asked. 


"Well Quelastia I wanted you to train my men in your ancient ways of combat." He t Li her. 


"I only taught the mounted division." She said taking off her gloves and walking into the hall and headed to the fire. The king and his advisor followed. 


"And so you shall be assigned to the cavalry." The advisor told her. 


"You have enough horses?" She asked looking over her shoulder slightly, her eyes rolling back in her skull, as she looked at the two men. 


"No, we don't, we lost half of the horses we had in our last battle." The advisor replied. The king and Quelastia stood in front of the hearth, it looked like the gaping jaw of a dragon ready to disintegrate them with its flames. 


"Please sit," the king said offering her one of the mahogany chairs in front of the fire. Quelastia collapsed into the chair on the left and the king sat on her right. "Wine?" He offered. 


"I don't like wine I find it dulls the senses." She rolled her silver ring around her finger so the amethyst now faced away from them. 


"How many of you are there left?" The advisor asked rather ignorantly. 


"I am the last of my kind, the others were hunted down like dogs, their unicorns killed for their horns, if a unicorn dies so does their rider. We are bound." She said, her eyes locked with the kings it seemed he had tears glittering in them. 


"We shall protect your beast, he will be locked up with all the other horses, we have the finest security." The advisor said. 


"He's not a beast his name is Babylont, named after where he was born in the south, and where our bond began." She said.

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Chapter 3

  She was shown to her quarters located on the north side of the keep above the stables. From here she could keep an eye on her mount, she saw him now grazing with two other horses, one black Friesian mare and her foal, he lowered his nose to the young one and the little one lifted his head to meet his muzzle. Quelastia walked from the window, she found her eyes gazing at her new surroundings this was different to her home in the forest. The walls were made of stone, there was tapestries hung on the wall, a four posted bed sat in the middle, a wine rug sat underneath. 


She had a chest of draws and a wardrobe. She walked further back in her chambers and came to a bathing area, there was a deep dip in the floor and on either side she had different oils to choose from, to her this was foreign she couldn't fathom why she couldn't bathe in the lake nearby. She collapsed on the stall and stared at herself in the mirror. 'What am I doing here?' She runs a hand through her hair, and decides to explore the keep, she keeps to the shadows even if her eyes betrayed her hiding place but the last time she was in a place like this she had been caught, and almost killed so people could get to her unicorn. 


 She was cautious and kept her footfalls as quiet as she could, she found herself wandering out onto a balcony, it had an arch of ivy above the door, and it twisted around the stone in and out of the holes, Quelstia rested her elbows on the stone, it was uncomfortable and rubbed her youthful skin, she fidgeted till she was comfortable and happy. She gazed down at the bustling town no one aware who she was, she saw children running and up and down, playing with wooden hobbie horses, some even had unicorn ones, the boys were dressed as knights who were chasing the girls who were dressed as the elves, her kin. 


This both made her smile but also made her eyes glitter, it had been a while since she had been around her kin, it was rare these days to find a group of elves or even a family. In the great war for the territories between Mercury falls and Whistling Willow most of her kin had been slaughtered, hunted, she was injured but lucky to escape, the bear man, the spirit of the forest took her in and cared for her, healed her. He even took care of Babylont to the best of his abilities, he had been stabled with the snow stags they had migrated down from the mountains to the bear man to be taken care of through the summer. 


"Quelastia!"a voice exclaimed from behind and made her jump. She turned, and there stood the kings advisor.


"How may I help you?"she asked. 


"The king has asked for you to meet all the men, they're in the courtyard waiting."He said. She nodded and followed the man back through the keep and outside where every man was lined up and in armour, she looked them over and noticed how thin their armour was. 


"How do you expect them to be protected in such flimsy armour?" she asked turning to the king. 


"This is the best armour in Valhalva," the advisor said. Quelastia scoffed to herself. "Just because you're the last of your kind doesn't mean you can criticise us." The king bellowed. 


"I apologise sire, you're right."She answered, her gaze still not meeting his. The king rested a hand on her shoulder.


"It's okay child you will learn our ways," he said and gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. She looked up and gave him a soft smile, the king walked up the steps and stood above everyone else. "Gentleman this is the famous warrior I have been talking about, she will teach you everything you need to know." He paused as a soldier lifted his arm into the air. "Yes Cedric," he called. 


"Do we get to see her mount?" the boy asked. 


"Not until. . ."the king cut her off. 


"Yes, call Babylont." The king demanded, Quelastia sighed. She closed her eyes and lowered her head and using her mind she called him, the unicorns eyes opened immediately he pushed himself to his legs, used his teeth to open his door and then galloped to the courtyard, he came from behind them, the soldiers all turned their heads; as he walked closer the crowd parted and allowed the beast through, everyone staring at him in awe. Quelastia found herself smiling. A soon as he was in front of her she touched his snout and he bowed before her. 


She gripped his mane and pulled herself onto his back, she turned him and now he faced the men, he gave a gentle tug on his mane and he reared up, all the men cheered and knelt before her.

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