#Friesian horse training

[insipid-drivel]

Warhorses: Which horses are actually good candidates, anyway?

This post is in honor of @warrioreowynofrohan, who asked the question in the comments under my guide, "Horses: Since There Seems To Be A Knowledge Gap". Their question, "Given what you said about too much weight breaking a horse’s spine, how did that work with knights in plate armour?" is one I'm going to try to answer here, since the answer can be very nuanced depending on where and when you're talking about.

Also, while I was a stable hand for years as well as a rider, I never had the opportunity to directly learn more ancient styles of tacking, horse training, and combat, so I don't have any direct experience to draw from with regard to horses used for military purposes. I'm still gonna do my best here with what I know, and research what I don't.

As I've covered in the past, large horses (draft horses) make less-than-ideal warhorses, and so do carriage horses like the elegant and dramatic Friesians.

Let's begin by addressing this from the perspective of creative writing. For you writers and content creators out there, an essential part to the continuity of any historically-themed work you do involving horses will be depicting breeds of horses that didn't exist before a certain time in history. I'm going to approach this question from the stance of, "Medieval-type era warhorses". Horses were used in warfare as late was World War II, but actual horses you ride into battle with knights and archers and bannermen? We actually have to drop the subject of specific modern breeds altogether aside from using them for comparisons.

When discussing warhorses, various cultures have approached them differently. Some cultures will value a specific type of horse above all others, such as the Mongolian Steppe Horse or the American Mustang. Other cultures, which may be from biomes and territories where multiple types of horses are needed for different forms of warfare and tactics, value whichever horses can get their jobs done without their riders getting killed.

Carrying vs. Pulling:

Horses have been used in warfare since as far back as 4000 BC, but their first applications were more as chariot horses. Humans have been riding and working with horses since before we even had stirrups to more easily ride them with! As archaeologists and anthropologists make more discoveries, the more we learn that we humans have been working closely with horses since before we had specialized tools to ride them with. The very first warhorses pulled chariots or carts, which is much easier for a horse's anatomy to handle compared to carrying a heavy weight like an armored rider on their backs, which puts stress directly on their spines where they have very little supporting muscle for supporting a lot of heavy downward weight.

Warhorse Size Categories:

Really, any breed of horse can apply to a niche in warfare if it's needed enough. Even very small, delicate horses have had their place in the history of human combat! Before I continue, it's important to know that there's a unique unit of measuring a horse's height. Rather than measuring a horse's height in centimeters or inches, they're measured in units called "hands". A single "hand" = ~4 inches/10.16cm, and a horse's height is measured based upon the distance between the bottom of their hoof to the tallest part of their shoulders, just at the base of the back of their necks. We don't actually include neck length/head height in a horse's measurements with traditional measuring.

Another rule of thumb: The average horse cannot safely carry anything heavier than about 30% of their total body weight. This is a serious factor to take into mind when deciding on a type of or breed of horse for a mounted warrior of any kind: You need to factor in the OC's starting body weight, and then add on the weight of armor, weapons, and any armor the horse itself may wear along with the weight of its tack.

Light-Weight Horses:

A few examples of lightweight horse breeds whose ancestors have historically been used in combat are Arabians, Barber Horses, and the magnificent Akhal-Teke. Lightweight and delicately-boned horses like those are best applied for military maneuvers that require precision, speed, and endurance, and the rider themselves should specialize in some form of combat or reconnaissance that doesn't require them to wear heavy metal or laminated armors. Archers are good candidates for riding smaller horses, or lightly-armored swordsmen like an Ottoman Janissary.

Central-Asian and North African horses also benefit from having a higher tolerance for hot climates. They can absolutely suffer from heatstroke and cardiac arrest from being forced to run and work in extreme temperatures and should always be provided with the same protective measures in a heatwave as any other horse, but they have a little bit of an edge over horses descended from freezing and temperate climates.

Medium-Weight Horses:

Medium-weight horses started showing up in the archaeological record around about the Iron Age, where chariot warfare was becoming an increasingly utilized form of mobile combat, and people needed bigger, stronger horses capable of pulling heavier loads - such as a chariot with two passengers rather than just one. As cultures began to develop heavier-duty armors made of metals and laminated materials, it also became important to breed horses that were tall and stocky (muscular and with relatively short spines compared to their height), and therefore more capable of carrying riders in increasingly heavy armor. Medium-weight horses were also essential at the dawn of the gunpowder age when the cannon came into use in siege warfare for pulling the heavy, iron cannons into position.

Medium-weight horses are really where we see the beginnings of knights and other warrior classes on horseback come into the forefront of warfare. When you have a horse that's big and strong enough to carry heavier armor and heavier weapons along with a rider wielding them, you have a much deadlier force at your disposal. Strikes from a sword or spear from the back of a galloping horse basically results in a sword capable of cutting through enemy soldiers like a hot knife through butter.

Important Note: Traditionally, cavalrymen wield blunt swords when attacking from a charging horse's back. When a horse is charging at full speed, the sharpness of a blade becomes less important than the blade's ability to stay in one piece when it impacts hard armor and bone. A blunted edge basically turns a cavalryman's sword into a thin club that's better at holding up against smashing through multiple layers of armor and bone compared to a thinner, more delicate sharpened edge that can shatter from a high-speed impact.

Heavy-Weight Horses:

The direct ancestors of modern draft horses, such as the Shire Horse, only began to appear around about the beginning of the European Medieval Era, and were far and away not even close to the enormous sizes of the draft horses we have today. Any horse counts as a "Heavy-weight" classed horse if its weight exceeds 1500lbs/680kgs.

Heavy-weight horses were really more bred for pulling enormous weights rather than carrying knights. While yeah, there is some evidence that suggests that heavy-weight horses were used by heavily-armored knights, historians argue a lot about whether it was a rule or an exception (such as with Henry VIII, who continued to ride well after he had begun to weigh more than 350lbs/158kgs, and even went to war in France in his final years on horseback). Generally speaking, medium-weight horses tend to be the right balance of agile and strong for carrying someone that's going to actively be fighting. Heavy-weight horses were bred to be a lot more tolerant to the chaos and frightening stimulation of the sounds of battle, but medium-weighted horses generally tended to be more suited to moving efficiently through dense packs of soldiers and weaving around other horses.

Ponies:

While actually being the smallest class of warhorse, ponies were essential when it came to carrying cargo and working as pack-horses. In certain forms of terrain, such as mountains, large horses pulling big carts full of supplies or soldiers could often be extremely impractical. In situations where an army needed to move on foot and form a narrow line in order to travel, ponies were able to traverse much narrower and rougher terrain while carrying smaller loads to their destination, when heavier horses would struggle more under their own weight and dexterity.

Europe-Specific Terminologies:

If you're a writer reading this and writing a piece set in the European Medieval age, there are specific terms used for the different classes I listed of warhorses above that I'm gonna list:

Destriers: The Destrier was a universal term for the iconic knight-carrying, jousting horse. They were also sometimes referred to as "Great Horses" due to their reputations in combat settings. Destriers could have just about any appearance, but were rarely taller than 15.2 hands, or 62inches/157cm. They were capable of carrying heavily-armored knights (although knights in full plate mail rarely rode into battle and stayed on the horse the entire time - they tended to specialize at grouping up and killing a lot of footsoldiers swarming them at once and preventing breaks in defenses from being overwhelmed by an oncoming army; in the case of Edward the Black Prince, we have substantial evidence in the form of his surviving brigandine that a mounted soldier or knight was more likely to wear chainmail and brigandine with a tabard on their body with their arms, feet, and heads the most heavily armored in plate when they intended to fight on horseback, making them a little lighter and more maneuverable, but I may be waaay off base there because I'm thinking of more of Italian soldiers who used full plate and how they applied it in battle more than any other example) and wearing armor themselves.

Interestingly, the sex of a destrier was often chosen strategically. Stallions (horses that haven't been neutered) are more aggressive, and could both act as combatants on their own if their knight was dismounted or killed, but could give away an army's location if they were attempting to move stealthily. Stallions whinny and shriek a lot when they're horny or arguing with each other, which is most of the time.

Mares were often chosen by Muslim armies for being much less vocal, and therefore much more capable of stealth. Geldings (neutered males) were the preferred mounts of the Teutonic Knights, a Catholic military group, since they couldn't be stolen and used to breed more horses for the enemy army.

Coursers:

Coursers were the most common Medieval European warhorse. It's important to remember that in Medieval Europe, most armies were almost entirely comprised of common men - serfs subject to the will of their landlords, not far removed from slaves in many ways - who couldn't afford the highly-prized and expensive Destriers. Coursers were usually a bit lighter than Destriers, but were still strong enough to carry someone wearing armor. Coursers were also a little more utilitarian, because they were also sometimes used in hunting as well as warfare, so they had a valuable use outside of warfare that the owner could benefit from.

Rouncey:

A rouncey was an all-purpose horse that could be used for leisure and travel-riding as well as be trained for war. They were a lot more likely to be found on the farm of a serf or independent farmer of some kind, as they could fill a lot of different roles depending on what they were needed for. Their sizes weren't really important as much as their ability to get the job done.

It's also critical to remember that, when talking about warhorses, we're usually talking about eras long past. In general, thanks to resource availability and incredible advances in medicine, modern humans are significantly taller, and therefore heavier, than people from the European Medieval era and prior. While fatness was valued in many cultures for its suggestion of wealth, most working-class and serf-class people worked intensely physically-demanding daily lives just to maintain their own homes. They were a few inches shorter on average than we are today, had greater fluctuations in body fat distribution depending on how harsh or bountiful the harvest season had been and the season in which a war was taking place (the average person's weight would swing by 30lbs or more on average every year prior to the industrial era), and cavalry were usually chosen based upon skill in the saddle as well as physical size when considering the application of medium or heavy armor being placed on the horse's back and body.

[edgeray]

Hello Again, Ray! 🐴 Anon here once more. If you're OK with writing it, could I please request a sequel to "How to (Horse)Ride Into Your Heart".

This time, the plot involves Reader helping Arlecchino & Nyx (her Friesian mare) practice Dressage. Arlecchino is already getting good at performing Dressage techniques thanks to Reader's teaching skills. Arle cuddles with Nyx and gives the Friesian sugar cubes as treats for doing so well. Arle also taught the Friesian Nyx to rear up on her hind legs, much to Reader's surprise and delight. Nyx is rather irritated at being made to rear up on her hind legs, but Arlecchino soothes the Friesian down by giving her a cuddly hug.

A little while later, Arlecchino decides to enter a dressage competition with Reader's support. Soon enough, Reader happily helps her Friesian Nyx & her girlfriend Arle train & practice for the Dressage competition. Nyx gets her mane braided by Arle too.

Naturally, Arlecchino & Nyx easily win the dressage competition, especially thanks to Nyx being taught by Arle to rear up. Reader congrats both Nyx & Arlecchino for winning. Arlecchino wants to enter more dressage competitions and she asks Nyx if she is alright with that. Nyx happily nickers in agreement as Arlecchino laughs & cuddles with the Friesian horse.

I am more than happy to provide any assistance if you need any help with writing this. Thank you again, Ray!

How to (Horse)Ride Into Your Heart Part 2

(Arlecchino x Fem! Reader)

A/N - Part 1 link here Hi 🐴 Anon! Nice to see you again. Whoo… part 2, alright. I had to consult my horse-girl friend again for help ^^. She provided me with a lot of stuff that I probably won't be using for my own comprehension sake but it's the thought that counts <3. I tried my best to write this! Thanks for spelling out the whole plot! It makes it a lot easier. Otherwise, I would not know how to write this haha. 🫶 hope you enjoy thisI am so sorry this took so long to post out… forgive me if I get any terminology wrong or this is inaccurate.  Content warnings / info - author pretends to know what dressage is or how to write horses, arle is ooc, reader is fem!, 1.1k words

“That was a nice job!” You applaud as you clap, a bright smile on your face as your Friesian horse, Nyx, trots towards you, with your girlfriend riding her. “Really nice. I told you that you're a genius.” 

Your girlfriend slightly grins, and as she approaches closer you can see a faint flush on her cheeks. She slides off of Nyx, before petting her mane. Nyx nuzzles against her in response. 

“I'm nothing of that sort,” she dismisses the comment with a wave of her hand. “You're just a good teacher and Nyx is well… Nyx.” 

Nyx knickers, and sometimes you swear that she can understand the two of you. You wouldn't be surprised, Nyx is a magical beast of her own, you suspect. You nod your head in response, understanding completely with Arlecchino's sentiment. The Friesian struts towards you, nudging you with her muzzle. 

“You want treats, Nyx?” Arlecchino offers and the horse lets out an affirmative neigh. You let out an amused huff and reach into the pouch that's attached to your belt, opening it to reach for the sugar cubes–Nyx's favorite. You offer a few to Arlecchino. 

Your girlfriend gently strokes the horse's withers with one hand as she holds out her other hand for the horse to eat from. 

“How were my techniques?” Arlecchino asks as the horse chews away. 

“It’s getting pretty good. A few more hours of practice and you'll have them nailed down like I do. I'm honestly surprised you were able to get her to rear her legs.”

She bobs her head as a gesture of acknowledgement. “Good surprise?”

“Yeah. It's impressive. Nyx doesn't like doing it a whole lot.”

“Consider the sugar cubes as a bribe,” Arlecchino states with a playful glint in her eyes. She turns to the black horse again. “All done, Nyx?” 

The horse exhales through her nostrils as a sign of ‘yes.’ Arlecchino slowly wraps her arms around the Friesian's neck gently, embracing her. 

“You did great today. Good job,” Arlecchino softly praises Nyx, to which your heart melts at the sight and you wordlessly coo at the adorable scene. Nyx and Arlecchino have gotten along so well in the almost-year that they knew each other. Contentment fills you with the knowledge that your girlfriend adores your horse so much, giving her the attention that Nyx deserves.

You join the embrace with the other two, and the three of you remain like that before you eventually pull away, and you glance at the skyline. Seems like it was approaching dawn. Best call it a day. Arlecchino notices as well as she says “Should we lead Nyx back to her stable?”

“Yeah.” Grasping Nyx’s reins, you guide Nyx back with Arlecchino by your side. Once Nyx is secured and comfy in her stable, the two of you give her your final cuddles for the day (and Arlecchino sneaks in one more sugar cube) before the two of you head to your house, a quaint yet snug establishment connected to the horse pasture. Arlecchino moved in a month or two ago, so now the two of you share the space.

“Feel like making dinner?” Arlecchino asks you as she clasps your hand in hers while you two walk.

You shake your head. “Not up to it. You okay with yesterday's leftovers?” 

“Mhm. I'm glad we didn't burn down the kitchen making pasta.” 

“We didn't burn down the kitchen…” you giggle sheepishly. “We… just lit some stuff on fire.” 

Arlecchino hums and pecks you on the cheek. “Sure. Let's go with that story, dear.” 

Even with the hundreds, if not thousands of kisses you've shared with her, you still can't help but flush. You two finally enter the house; you prepare the silverware and utensils while Arlecchino takes out the leftovers from the fridge and reheats them in the microwave. 

“Say, I was thinking about something,” Arlecchino starts as she waits for the microwave. 

“Yeah?”

“You know when you first took me to your Dressage tournament?”

“Mhm. What's up with it?”

“Well… I asked you to teach me how to dressage because I thought I'd want to enter those tournaments myself.”

You cock your head but a grin spreads across your face. “Really? That's great Arlecchino. I'm sure Nyx would love it.”

“You wouldn't mind that I'll be doing it with Nyx?”

“Of course not. Nyx loves you as much as she loves me. We practically share custody over her,” you joke but the message is stated clearly. “I'd love to help you guys train for it.” 

“I think it's more me that needs training,” Arlecchino comments with a light chuckle. “Do you know when the next nearby Dressage competition starts?” 

“I think in a few months. Guess we better start training as much as possible.” 

“Nyx won't enjoy that too much,” your girlfriend jests. 

“She gets her sugar cubes, she'll be fine.” 

— 

Competition day comes rather quickly. Arlecchino polished up her technique with Nyx where the Friesian horse rears up on her own hind legs, along with some other techniques that you taught Arlecchino how to do; Nyx already knows how to do these ones considering these were the ones you taught Nyx when you previously competed. 

It felt bizarre and out of place to be the spectator this time. You've always been used to being down here, leading Nyx and showing her off, but you aren’t competing this time. Though with this strange feeling, there’s this undeniable pride inside of you, for your girlfriend. You’ve personally trained the two of them, you know that they're both going to do well regardless of where she places. 

Seeing Arlecchino step out with Nyx down here, you couldn't help but cheer, even over the sports commentator. Arlecchino turns her head towards the direction of your voice and gives you a handsome smile, one that makes you want to scream that she's your girlfriend to the whole world. Seeing her down there, you couldn't believe that this was her first time from the sheer confidence she exudes–unlike your first time when you competed. That's just like her. Able to overcome anything, just like how you know she'll win this competition easily.

And she does. Each technique is flawless and the audience's cheers are deafening when she performs the one she personally taught Nyx– the rearing. That's why it comes to no surprise to you when Arlecchino wins. 

“I can't believe you won your first competition ever,” you laugh as you launch yourself at the competition winner, squeezing her in a tight hug, before gently wrapping your arms around Nyx’s neck, stroking her mane. “Still hungry for the taste of victory?” 

“Hm… I was considering doing another competition. What do you say, Nyx?” Arlecchino smiles as she turns to the Friesian, stroking her withers. Nyx nickers happily, nuzzling in between the two of you's faces. You and Arlecchino laugh, enjoying one another's company and glory. 

[emry-stars-art]

Massarati was a courting gift to andrew from abram after he realized they were courting one another

My face reading this omggggggg

(Gonna put this up top instead of at the end; find the royal au writing masterpost here 💕)

So this is the 4800 words of fluff; @jtl-fics was bouncing a LOT of ideas with me about it and everything was so sweet 😭🥰 you can read it here! :D or continue on this post for the sparknotes version from Abram's pov (minus the picnic date tho 👀), and let’s showcase my inexperience with horses ✨

THIS IS GREAT I done got myself a little by making Maserati a rescue case… like Abram’s probably right about what happened to her though I didn’t fully decide on it (I’m also making up everything about horse breeds in this universe thank youuu). He’s out one day for whatever reason and comes across this horse in no pasture that’s tall, clearly made for working, but it’s far too skinny. A little skiddish, but not enough that Abram can’t approach after a while of trying. It’s a familiar breed under the dirt and malnutrition.

He doesn’t even bother seeing where it might have come from. He fashions a makeshift lasso/bridle thing from rope and takes a few hours calming the horse enough to bring it back with him to the castle, leaving it in one of the smaller/less used stables with plenty of food and water before going to find Day or someone else that might be able to help. She doesn’t look impressive at first, obviously. But with lots of help and lots of time from Abram taken in secret to the stables, she slowly starts to get better. She gains weight, she gets readjusted to people, she lets him take care of her coat and hair.

At some point, Andrew insists once again on keeping Abram nearby when Abram is having a worse night than usual. Panicking easily, generally unwell. (Andrew is also wondering why Abram is suddenly spending so much time away, why he won’t tell Andrew where he’s been or what he’s doing. It’s completely in his right to do it, so Andrew never forces the issue, but it’s such an obvious switch from his normal behavior. Right when Andrew thought he could start leaning into the courting, it feels like Abram is pulling away and it hurts a little. He gets worried.) Abram can’t sleep, and Andrew won’t sleep until Abram does, so they lay on his bed with Andrew resting against Abram’s lap, relaxing or reading or tracing scars with his fingertips. It’s a long while before Abram asks, unprompted, “Did you ever have an ideal horse?”

Andrew gives him a look.

“I mean… a dream horse. Maybe when you were little, something you always wanted.”

Andrew makes a small noise. “I think most kids do.”

“Right. So did you?”

It takes more convincing than that, lots of Abram assuring Andrew that it’s not stupid, he’s just curious. He’ll tell Andrew his next. And finally Andrew tells Abram of when he was young, living with the Spears, and would fantasize about being anywhere else. He’d take a horse as black as night so no one would see him when he ran away, a horse that was strong and fast enough to take him wherever he wanted to go. He used to imagine it would carry two, so he could take his governess with him, but that was before she left. It was all child’s play, anyway. It didn’t matter now. (Abram’s horse wasn’t so detailed, but he said if he had to pick a coat color, he was very happy with the blue roan he was given.)

So the next time Abram goes to the stable he looks at her, sees how well she’s bulking up, sees again how much larger she is than the Friesians he’s used to from Evermore. She looks even stronger than those already capable horses. When she’s healthy she can certainly carry two riders and more besides, and her endurance is like the horse equivalent of his own. Her coat is getting shiny again, sleek like black oil.

When she’s healthy and ready, Abram trains her. He again has help, of course - there are people who’s jobs it is to take care of and train the castle’s horses and it isn’t him - but she has an undeniable soft spot for Abram. They get her used to being fully decked out in nice tack and equipment and whatever else. Abram holds her steady to get shoed. The veterinarians/au equivalent make sure she stays healthy and the stable master grows more impressed with her every day. She’s not your average horse, he tells Abram. She’s smart. There’s real intelligence in those eyes.

Abram could not be happier.

By the time the twins’ birthday comes around she is ready to go. Abram spends the morning before his work begins making sure she is as sparkling as he can get her, all ready for her favorite stable hand to take her to the main stables later while Abram attends the prince at the festivities. The stable hand is going to put her in her new tack, too, the beautiful white set Abram spent a good chunk of coin to have commissioned. The horse is perfectly well mannered around people now, though only Abram and a handful others can ride her. Abram only plans his evening because he knows she lets anyone ride alongside him - if Abram deems them worthy, the horse won’t protest. It isn’t trust he ever takes lightly. He’s pretty certain she’ll end up allowing Andrew every privilege she allows Abram. He is so excited and so, so nervous for that night. She’s as perfect as she could possibly be, but Andrew has gotten Abram so many wonderful gifts. This is the first time Abram has returned the favor with such intention. Hopefully it’s good enough. (She is.)

Oh also in case you’re wondering. Andrew only needs a new horse because his beloved GS was finally retired, GS is old and now gets to spend the rest of his days in nice pastures where Andrew feeds him lots of treats 💕 every like is one sugar cube gods bless

[too-many0-0fandoms]

F1 drivers as horse breeds (Part 3)

Retired drivers/other people :)

(If you have any idea for who you want to see, feel free to dm me :) )

Oliver 'Ollie' Bearman

For Ollie I imagine him being a large and friendly soul. I ended up on a Clydesdale because I thought a Shire was just a little too robust. Clydesdales were bred because people wanted a smaller Shire with prettier movement. I imagine Ollie being the cuddle-horse of a petting zoo for children. Just imagine him gently moving around all the small children and thriving in the attention <3

Torger 'Toto' Wolf

Tall, dark, handsome and looks amazing in white. Sound familiar? Toto’d definitely be either a Friesian or a Friesian x Arabian cross. A gorgeous mover that can be quiet hot-headed. The star in the dressage ring!

Christian Horner

Christian in my eyes is the epitome of an Arabian; determined, intelligent, sneaky, cooperative yet not ;) I imagine him being the older stallion at a well respected estate that’s like the showpiece of the stable. Maybe also trained in dressage or driving? (And obviously not as inbred as some horses can get nowadays)

Sebastian Vettel

Seb is a Haflinger! These guys are cheery and joyful, but also love working. And his mane/hair just matches perfectly :3 I imagine him being a pretty successful dressage pony that loves to guide new kids on their journey to the higher levels.

Kimi Raikkonen

Kimi is (also) a Finnish Horse! I imagine him and Seb being leased out at the same estate and them just being best friends. Everyone knows that where Seb is, Kimi is also. Where Seb is a the joyful, energic pony that needs a lot of work before he can settle down and actually start moving, Kimi is the complete opposite. Calm and collected, he easily gets into work. Together they like to relax in the sun in their meadow. And they also look a like a lot so imagine the newer kids having difficulty telling them apart! :)

Nico Rosberg

For Nico I imagine him being a racehorse, maybe even at the same stable as Lewis :3, but being different. Like him being an Akhal Teke. This gorgeous breed from Turkmenistan is so shiny and gorgeous, but they can also really excel in racing. I imagine him being the underdog for most years, everyone calling his owners crazy for even considering him, but Nico putting down really solid times. And everyone keeps doubting until he wins a grand slam as the fourth horse in history to do so, because I imagine Lewis also gets like 3 or 4 grand slams. His owners promptly retire him and he becomes one of the most successful breeding studs while also enjoying his retirement :)

[theteasetwrites]

Merciless Beauty

Chapter 1: Your Eyes Slay Me Suddenly

❧ Pairing: Knight Daryl Dixon x Princess Reader ❧ Era: Medieval fantasy AU ❧ Pronouns: she/her ❧ Warnings: mentions of blood/gore and violence ❧ Word Count: 5.3k

❧ Before You Read...

❧ Glossary

❧ In This Chapter: Duke Richard of House Grimes and his knight, Sir Daryl, arrive at King Ezekiel's court, though they do not know why they've been invited. Meanwhile, things are not well in the kingdom of Alexandria as a new threat begins to terrorize its citizens. Despite this, the princess dreams of seeing the world outside the castle walls by which she is imprisoned. She meets someone who she thinks might be able to help.

❧ A/N: Well, here it is. The first part of this weird ass thing I'm writing. I realize that this is super cringey but do I care? Well, a little, but you know what, I am having so much fun writing this and learning about medieval stuff so I am happy with it. I will link a "Before You Read..." page so that you guys can get a little more background info about what I'm trying to do here. I know this is kind of a weird AU and stuff so I have some disclaimers in that link. I've also included a link to the Merciless Beauty Glossary, which lists definitions for some of the terminology I will be using throughout the series. I recommend having that document open as you read as you can use it to quickly refer to in case you come across a word you are not familiar with.

Beyond gentle slopes of overgrown emerald pastures rose tall, imposing battlements of limestone, with tiny silhouettes of guards poking out of each crenel. From this distance, they looked hardly menacing, but the king’s guards were diligent, and their prowess in battle was not to be underestimated. 

The duke raised the blue flag of Alexandria, signaling to the guards that they were no threat. In response, a guard reached over the wall to wave the same flag.

“They see us,” remarked the duke, pulling on the reins of his golden horse. “Here.” He handed back the worn piece of cerulean fabric to the knight who rode by his side. “Strange customs, but I don’t blame them.”

They moved upon their horses in a dignified trot, the knight’s ebony friesian stallion trained to mirror the movements of the steward’s palomino steed. 

“They should be afraid,” said the knight. “The world is a dangerous place. Can’t believe they’ve held out this long.”

The duke flashed him a knowing look, that almost seemed to curl into an amused crack of the lips. “Sir Daryl,” he said, “I’ve always admired your optimism.”

The knight adjusted his feet in the heavy iron stirrups. He’d never quite get used to his lord’s jests. “Sorry,” he spoke simply. A man of few words, Richard always said. 

“It’s all right, but you’d be advised to put on a cheerful face for the king. Joviality goes a long way with his type.”

“His type?”

“Unlike you, my friend, King Ezekiel is known for his… good humor.”

Daryl scoffed from the corner of his crooked smirk. “Thanks… What does the king want with you, anyway?”

Richard’s brows knit together in another amused expression of faux offense. “You think I’m not able to acquire a king’s favor? Careful, knight, you’re a free man now, but you could be downgraded to villein if necessary.”

Of course, the serious knight knew that such a threat was meant in good humor. Ten years of loyal servitude to the duke was more than enough reassurance. 

The men continued onward, their horses plodding through moors that seemed to stretch on forever. The castle couldn’t come closer for Sir Daryl. He was dreading it, the pomp and circumstance of it all. But then, he knew that when he became a knight. It wasn’t the typical story, in fact. He wasn’t of any kind of good birth, his parents being poor and rather unsuccessful merchants in some other kingdom he’d purposefully forgotten the name of. 

No, he wasn’t a nobleman’s son or a squire. He’d earned his title almost reluctantly, through his triumphs and battle prowess in the First War. That is, the war that preceded the Scourge. 

A knight’s duty was to protect a lord, of course. He’d managed a position as the protector of Duke Richard’s land, just outside of Alexandria. In exchange for his protection, the knight had a place to live, and not a bad place at all. It was better than any decrepit wooden shack he’d lived in before, and, as far as nobility went, the duke was not a bad man. In fact, he was a good man, and that was hard to come by in times like these. 

“But it’s odd,” Richard continued, “I don’t know what the king wants with me. I know he wants me to join his court, but I’ve heard he hasn’t invited anyone to court in ten years, since it broke out.” It, of course, was always understood as a reference to the plague that killed ordinary men with a gruesome fever, then brought them back as snarling, rotting walking dead men that feasted on the flesh of those who were unlucky enough to still be alive. 

No one knew where it came from, but many thought the curse was nothing short of the wrath of God Himself. It was the only explanation in a world completely devoid of comfort. Though the idea that a supposedly benevolent god bestowing such a pestilence upon his so-called beloved children was hardly comforting. In these times, people took what they could get. 

“Maybe he just wants your wonderful company,” Daryl replied, sure to speak with a sarcastic lilt to his gruff voice. 

“No, no,” Richard said. “It doesn’t make sense. Ezekiel and I have only spoken a few times… You know, there’s a princess.”

Oh, yes, everyone knew of the princess, of course, though no one had seen her in years. The gatehouse of that castle hadn’t opened in ten years. No one had come in, and no one had gone out. Until now, of course. 

“There’s always a princess,” Daryl huffed. “What does that have to do with anythin’?”

“Well, she’s got to be a woman now… I’m sure the king is looking to wed her to someone.”

Daryl flashed a suspicious glance at the curly-haired man, who returned the look with a steady shake of his head. 

“You think he wants you to court her?”

“I don’t know, but if what they say is true, the princess is the most beautiful woman in Alexandria. Some say beyond Alexandria, too.”

It was odd for a man of Richard’s age and status to be unmarried. His wife had died six years ago in childbirth, along with the child. It wasn’t an uncommon occurrence, but it was a great tragedy in the duke’s life. The knight couldn’t see him remarrying at all after that, but if the king was going to offer his daughter to him, he would be a fool not to accept. 

“Women with that kind of beauty are hard to come by,” continued Richard. “And royal, too. Hell, the princess is the king’s only child. That means… I could become king when he dies.”

“Gettin’ ahead of yourself,” chided Daryl. “We’re not even at the gatehouse yet.”

“Welcome, my friends!”

The king extended his arms wide, about as wide as the grin upon his countenance. He crossed the great hall, the steps of his pointed poulaines echoing off the grand high ceilings. The king’s hand clasped jovially upon the duke’s shoulder, but the gesture quickly turned into a hearty embrace. 

“It’s good to see you,” said the king. “It’s been too long, Richard.”

“It has.” 

The duke raised his eyes to gaze upon the magnificence of the hall. Though the exterior of the castle may have appeared quite imposing, the great hall was warm, welcoming, even. Elaborate arrangements of strong wooden arches upheld the roof, complete with intricately designed corbels to support them. Draped from the high stone walls were long blue banners bearing the royal family’s crest, no doubt made from the finest threads. Tapestries depicting mythical creatures and romantic scenes of knights going to battle or courting ladies were on full display, too. The hall was illuminated by the gilded light of what seemed to be a hundred or so candles, some upon sconces, others upon tables and in iron chain chandeliers. The pungent aroma of honey and elderflower tickled at the uninitiated noses of the two travelers, and, sure enough, in the king’s hand was a fine pewter goblet, which no doubt must’ve been brimming with a particularly pungent, sweet smelling mead.

“Come!” exclaimed the king. “Have a drink! This is cause for celebration.”

The loud bravado in the king’s voice must’ve alerted the court as finely dressed nobles began to pour in from the arches and the upstairs landing. As the duke and his knight followed the king to his banquet table, just in front of his imposing bronze throne, the court gathered in greater globs. Murmurs began to permeate the great hall, and the knight could just feel an army of eyes laid upon him and his lord. It wasn’t a feeling he reveled in. 

“We’ve already had our feast,” said the king, sitting himself comfortably at the head of the long wooden table. “But I can have a servant bring you something. Only the finest dining here.”

“We’ve already eaten. Just a drink is fine for now, your majesty,” said the duke. As he sat, the loyal knight followed. 

Daryl felt bear, having been made rid of his greatsword and his cloak by the guards at the entrance to the keep. There were few places outside of his home that he felt safe enough without either. 

“Ah, libations!” exclaimed the emphatic king. He held his goblet high for emphasis. “This is the finest mead in Alexandria and her surrounding kingdoms. It comes from a monastery, I’ve been told. They raise bees there, isn’t that fantastic?”

The knight and the duke exchanged a glance. They had no idea what to make of the king. He was so full of merry, the likes of which they hadn’t seen in years. Perhaps it was the mead, but Richard knew the man was jovial. Still, it was a kind of shock.

The servants arrived with intricately detailed pewter pitchers full of the honey wine, filling their goblets to the brim. The excesses of wealth and royalty were foreign to the knight. Duke Richard was wealthy, yes, but not like this.

“So,” spoke the king, “I trust your journey through my kingdom was pleasant? No dead ones crossed your path?”

“Not at all,” said Richard. “Your kingdom is quite safe, it seems. Those tall walls will keep anything out.”

“Hm, yes,” agreed Ezekiel. “But you can never be too careful. No one’s left the castle in ten years, I’m sure you know. It’s better to be safe.”

That reminded the duke. He intended to ask why the king had invited him to court, but before he could speak again, the boisterous king looked to Sir Daryl with an enthusiastic curiosity. 

“This is your knight?”

“Yes, this is Sir Daryl.”

The king settled back in his chair, stroking the gray corkscrew hairs upon his noble chin. “Ah, I’ve heard of your gallantry in battle, how you earned your title. My father knighted you, didn’t he?”

Daryl looked to his steward, wordlessly asking for permission to speak. Richard nodded. “Yes, your majesty,” spoke the knight. His voice was raspier than usual, having been silent for so long since arriving at the castle. After all, what could a knight possibly have to say? His only duty was to protect his lord, as a vassal. He was of lower rank than Richard, and, though he never much cared for the details of hierarchy, it was in his best interest to know his place.

“How grand! Well, gentlemen, I do hope you find this court to be a fount of merriment in these dark times.” He gestured to the surrounding great hall, and the people who watched with bated breath as they clung to the monarch’s every word. “Everyone has been so eager to meet you. This is a momentous occasion. A toast!” The king stood to his feet, raising his goblet high. Others followed suit, of course, as the two newcomers sat overwhelmed at the king’s table. “To Duke Richard and his knight, the first additions to court in a decade of strife.”

“Huzzah!” 

With a long drink of his mead, the king met the duke with wide eyes, then removed the cup in a near panic, though it was a jolly panic. “I almost forgot! How could I forget? My daughter, (Y/N). Elizabeth! Fetch my daughter!”

“Yes, your majesty.” The mousy young maid with flaxen hair frantically ascended the staircase with great haste. 

Richard straightened in his seat, clearing his throat. The knight could tell he was nervous, but he couldn’t understand why. A princess was hardly anything to be nervous about. It was the king the duke needed to impress, he thought. 

“Minstrels!” the king exclaimed, gesturing towards the troupe of musicians across the great hall. There were three, each dressed in colorful garb and feathered caps. One held a lute, the other, a flute, and the third, a tambour. “Play something for the princess’s entrance. Something… delicate, but dignified, like her.”

“Yes, your majesty!” one of the minstrels replied.

Yes, your majesty, seemed a rather common phrase around here.

Then, from atop the stairs appeared a young woman.

You heard the musicians begin to play their little tune—a soft, simple tune that seemed to evolve with each step you took. Each step was calculated and precise, partly because that was how you were trained to walk, and partly because you were careful not to trip over your gown. Your father had instructed you to wear your best clothes the last few days, though you weren’t sure why. You’d heard of a duke coming to court, but it was hardly of any interest to you. Why should you care? Why should you welcome an outsider when you haven’t been able to leave this dusty old castle in years? 

“That must be the duke,” whispered Margaret. She followed your every move, as a lady-in-waiting was supposed to. 

“He’s handsome,” Michonne whispered back. 

You shushed the ladies out of the corner of your mouth. They were much too excited for their own good, much more excited than you. 

At the base of the staircase, your father held his hand out to you, beaming at your beauty. Tonight, you wore your favorite champagne-colored surcote, made from a heavy silk, with long, flowing sleeves that split at the elbow to reveal the pure white lace-front gown. The décolletage was modest, but deep enough to reveal just the beginning of your cleavage, formed by the tight lacing that held your chest in place. It wasn’t quite in vogue these days, but then again, nothing was in vogue these days. 

As you took his hand, you realized that the duke and his knight were standing for you. Of course they were, but their new faces caught you off guard. You knew everyone in court so well, it was strange to see two strangers standing for you.

Your father lifted his hand, in turn raising your arm to show you off like a prized mare. With knitted brows and a quivering lip, you flashed him a confused expression. He’d never introduced you like this before, but then again, he never introduced you to anyone before. 

“Gentlemen,” he said, turning his attention to the duke and his knight. “I present to you my daughter, (Y/N), Crown Princess of Alexandria.”

The men each bent over to bow before you, and you took in their appearance with great interest. It wasn’t often you had new faces to study.

The duke was well-dressed, wearing a damask scarlet doublet that must’ve cost a fortune, with tight-fitting wool hose to accentuate his lean legs. It would be remiss not to note how handsome he was, with a head of lush curls and a short, well-trimmed beard to frame his salmon-colored lips. If it weren’t for his title and his clothing, you could tell the man was a noble just by looking at the shape of his nose, aquiline and strong. Yes, he was handsome.

But just beyond his shoulder, your eyes were pulled like magnets to the knight. His clothes were more muted, but made from a fine material. A plain black wool tabard draped over his broad shoulders, his waist cinched with a fine leather belt, strapped to which was a lone misericorde, the dagger which you knew from your studies to be what knights used to deliver the final death blow to an enemy. The sharp tip sent a shiver down your spine as you wondered briefly if he’d ever had to use it. 

Though his coloring was similar to the duke, both having hair of brown and eyes of blue, their similarities ended there. The knight had a much more tired face, world-weary. It was difficult to see clearly, given the shadows created by the long wavy locks of hair shrouding his visage, but he appeared to have a reddened scar trailing from his brow to his cheek, crossing over his left eye. 

From what you could see, he looked nothing like any man you’d seen before. He was weather-worn and hardened by the world, at least, that’s how he looked. He must’ve seen such terrible things, you thought. In the fine lines of his face, you could begin to make out an image of the world outside. Here was a man who must’ve known its ins and outs like the back of his hand, must’ve been so brave to have survived this long outside the walls, fighting the Dead.

Though your face was softened by curiosity, the knight’s was stoic and cold. He seemed somehow both distant and alert, aware of his surroundings despite his reluctance to be surrounded by them. The duke’s kind face was much more welcoming, but, for a moment, you were held hostage by the knight’s narrowed, serious gaze. 

“Your highness,” said the duke. “I am Duke Richard of House Grimes.” He turned to gesture towards the knight. “And this is my knight, Sir Daryl.”

A curious name for a curious face, you thought. Still, you tried to maintain your focus on the nobleman.

“It is an honor to meet you, milord,” you replied. “The court has been anticipating your arrival.” Though I haven’t. “Oh, these are my ladies-in-waiting, Lady Margaret and Lady Michonne.”

You brought the ladies forth, each of them curtseying before the duke. It gave you a moment to look upon the knight again. 

“Pleasure,” the duke said to your ladies. “And… may I say, princess, you’re just as radiant as they say.”

You looked wide-eyed at the king, who smiled bigger than he had in years. The blush that blossomed upon your cheeks was not one of flattery, necessarily, but slight embarrassment. “Oh… They speak of me?”

“Yes. Common people often praise your beauty. Many would sell their land or their livestock for the chance just to get a glimpse of you. I must admit, it would be worth it.”

A whirlpool of emotions formed in your belly, mostly confusion. You’d never been complimented quite like this before. “Well… Thank you, milord. That’s very kind of you to say.” Swallowing hard, you turned to your father, who seemingly expected you to return with an equal compliment. “Father, I’m going to retire to my chambers for the evening.” You turned back to face the duke. “Goodnight, Richard. I hope your stay in court is pleasant.”

Your father’s smile faded with your announcement, but he nodded as he tried to offset his disappointment. “Of course, my dear. Goodnight.”

At length, you sat before your vanity to remove your jewels while Elizabeth prepared your bed as usual. She hummed to herself the same little tune the musicians had played earlier for your grand entrance to meet the duke. Removing your translucent veil, you got to work undoing the circles of elaborate braids and removing the genuine pearls laced throughout when a rapping came at the door of your chamber.

“My dear, it’s me,” said your father. “May I come in?”

Oh, for pity's sake. 

You turned on your stool to gesture towards Elizabeth. “Let him in,” you said. “I can undress myself tonight. Goodnight, Beth.”

The young girl nodded before opening the door for the king. He thanked her as she left, while you straightened up to no doubt receive a tongue lashing for your less than friendly reception of the newcomers. 

“(Y/N),” he sighed, sitting at the foot of your bed as he adjusted his gold trimmed velvet robe. “My dear… I must say I am a bit disappointed that you didn’t sit and speak with the duke tonight.”

“Well, father, I… It’s hard to be excited about these new guests when I myself haven’t been outside the castle since I was a girl. And now, all of a sudden, you’re letting in some nobleman and his knight? Why?”

To the king, it was obvious, but to you, it was totally unclear. There was much about the world you still didn’t know, and though you were knowledgeable, on account of your royal tutoring, you were still naïve in many ways. 

Your father stood as he sighed, piecing a long, gray-black dread lock behind his ear. “Well, I was hoping…” He shook his head, then crossed over to you, taking your hands in his as he looked at you with that adventurous sparkle in his eyes. “You liked Richard, didn’t you? He was charming?”

You were caught off guard by the question, but you shrugged and nodded with a half-smile. “Why, yes. He’s charming.”

“And handsome?”

“Well… Of course. He’s very handsome, any woman would think so.”

“So…”

“Father, are you… trying to ask me if I want to court the duke?”

“Yes,” he laughed in relief that you caught on without him having to explain. “Richard is a good man, one of the best nobles left. He’s wealthy, too. Though I was always hoping for a political marriage for you, as long as the man is at least a noble and a suitable husband, I think this kind of match would be good for you. In fact, we could move Richard here, that way you never have to leave the castle, and—”

“Father!” you exclaimed, shocked by how excited he was at this idea without even hearing your thoughts, of which you had many. “I’m not ready to marry!”

“But you’re twenty-six, my dear.”

Standing to your feet, you shook your head and pulled out the remaining braids in your hair. “I’m just not ready. The duke is… He’s perfect, but I’m not interested. I can’t explain it, it’s just not a match.”

“But you’ve hardly spoken to him!”

You didn’t need to speak to him to know, you just knew. It was impossible to explain. All you knew was that it wouldn’t work, and that marriage was simply not in your near future. You had other priorities, other… curiosities. Love was not one of them, except in your fairytales and love poems. You had a hard time believing love could be any better than that. 

“Father, please. I’ve told you how I felt, and I’m sorry if you brought this man here just for me, but I can’t force myself to try with someone who doesn’t interest me in that way.”

He crossed the room with a soft step, his face morphing into an understanding smile. “I know, darling. I’m sorry to have upset you. I would never force you into a marriage that didn’t please you, I just… I just want you to marry a good man. Well, so long as he’s a noble, at least.”

Your father was never a traditional king, but he still insisted on some things, and one of them was that you would marry well. Well meaning high status. Some things were sacred.

“But if the duke isn’t to your liking,” he continued, “I won’t force it.”

“Thank you, father. That means a great deal to me.”

“Good.” His hand cradled the back of your head to bring you forward, allowing him to bestow a fatherly kiss upon your forehead. “Someday, you will make a great queen. A better ruler than me, I am sure.”

“Father,” you laughed. “You are a great ruler. The people love you. Everyone loves you. That’s what matters.”

“My sweet girl,” he said, now holding your cheeks to admire your pretty, delicate features. You were truly a princess through and through. “You’re the most precious jewel in my crown.” An old phrase he’d said to you since you were a little girl. The man was so sentimental, a trait you admired greatly. “I bid you goodnight.”

As he headed back towards the door, you began to think freely, with your mind returning to the knight beside Richard. Daryl, you recalled his name. You’d never heard a name like that, nor seen a face like that. 

“Father?” you called out to him just before he could leave.

“Yes, my dear?”

Looking down, you toyed with the fine silk fabric of your surcote, prefering to study the rich champagne color than to face your father as you asked, “Tell me about Richard’s knight.”

The king’s brows furrowed, his head tilting to the side in a display of curiosity and confusion. “The knight? Sir… Daryl, I believe?”

“Mhm,” you mumbled, still nervously rubbing the garment between your fingers. To clarify, you lifted your gaze to your father. “Well, I mean… I was just curious. You know how I have a fascination with knights and things of that sort.”

The king shook his head with a warm, deep chuckle. “Oh, daughter. Well, I don’t know much of him, other than that he is brave, loyal… He was knighted by your grandfather, you know. Just a few years before he passed.”

“And he is of noble birth, like Richard?”

“No, no,” he replied. “Not at all. His parents were lower gentry. He earned his title in battle, a rare feat for a knight, as you know.”

Indeed, most knights were born to nobility, becoming pageboys before the age of ten, then promoting to squire in their youth. After years of studying under an established knight, the squire would then undergo the dubbing ceremony. He’d learn the code of chivalry, and he’d pledge allegiance to a lord, offering military services in exchange for a fief, or land. It seemed that Sir Daryl must’ve met many of these requirements, but he certainly wasn’t a noble. 

“That’s quite interesting,” you said. “I knew he seemed different. Well, goodnight, father.”

“Goodnight, my sweet.”

When the candlelight was extinguished, and the only sound left in the dead of night was that of the crickets chirping and the toads ribbeting, you were left in solitude with your thoughts. These thoughts were not new, of course. They were visions of the outside world, beyond the castle walls and the walls of the kingdom. They hung somewhere between consciousness and dream, but your thoughts were intentional, purposeful. You thought of the trees, the flowers, the little streams. You thought of the deer and the birds and the butterflies, every beautiful thing you hadn’t seen since the Scourge began. That plague had taken everything from you, your mother, your freedom, your peace of mind.

Others had it much worse, of course, and you knew that, but that didn’t ease your heartache. There were many nights you cried yourself to sleep, hoping your father couldn’t hear, for he did what he did for good reason—he was terrified of losing you, his only child. 

But tonight, you didn’t cry at all. In fact, there was a strange sense of hope nestled in your heart, something you hadn’t felt in so many years. At first, you couldn’t put your finger on it, but as your head and your heart began to work together, you realized—it was the knight.

Not only was the knight a new addition to the court, but he was brave, a fighter. He would surely help you escape. 

Escape was something you’d thought of before, but now, it seemed within reach. Of course, you wouldn’t leave forever, just a day. Just a day outside the walls, breathing in the fresh air, feeling the soft grass underfoot. There wasn’t anyone else. The guards all pledged such strong allegiance to the king, they would surely inform him of your plans if you asked. The others weren’t skilled in combat, couldn’t keep you safe. No, the only solution was the knight. He would help you. Surely, he would help you. 

In your alone time, you often walked the corridors of the keep, as there wasn’t much else to do when you weren’t occupied by your books or your needlepoint. Today was no different, though the court was still excitable over the arrival of the duke last night. 

You tried to ignore that, instead keeping yourself in your thoughts as you wandered aimlessly, until your father’s panicked voice resounded from inside his cabinet, adjacent to his bedchamber. What you made out were the words, “How could this happen?!”

Curiosity overcame you, your boredom having been relentless. You looked around the corridor for a moment, ensuring no passersby would see you. The guards were at the other end of the hall, facing away from you. If you were quiet, no one would see you pressing your ear to the ornate wooden door. 

“Constable,” your father huffed, “are you quite sure?”

“Yes, your majesty,” spoke Lord Constable Aaron. “There have been reports of mysterious cloaked knights extorting citizens throughout the kingdom. They demand crops, livestock, women… They threaten murder if they don’t get their way, my liege. We had some isolated incidents in the past, but this past month, they’ve been happening more frequently.”

“And you didn’t think it of import to tell the king?” questioned Lord Chancellor Gerald. “There hasn’t been crime like this in Alexandria since we closed our gates.”

“I didn’t want to worry his majesty with incidents of petty crime,” responded the constable. “But now… Well, a boy has been killed.”

“What?!” your father exclaimed. “Who?”

“Thomas Webb, son of the innkeeper, James. He was only sixteen… I’ve been told it was…”

The constable trailed off, his voice becoming shaky as he spoke. 

“Speak, Aaron,” demanded the king. 

The constable cleared his throat, then lowered his voice. You pressed your ear harder against the wood of the door, so much so that you feared a splinter. 

“Apologies, milord… It—it was a gruesome death, the likes of which we haven’t seen in Alexandria since the Dead breached our walls. But this wasn’t a dead man, it was a knight in black armor, their leader. We could hardly identify the boy, his head was… Well, your majesty, his head was obliterated.”

A small gasp escaped your lips, your hand quickly reaching up to catch it before it alerted the guards. 

“By God,” uttered the chancellor. “What kind of knight are we dealing with?”

“A knight wouldn’t commit a crime like that,” spoke an at first unfamiliar voice, but you quickly identified it as that of the duke. “No, not any kind of true knight. A dishonored one, maybe.”

“It’s of no concern to me what this man’s status is,” said the king. “All I care about is protecting my people. Constable, I need strengthened security across the kingdom, especially in the merchant district. Something tells me these marauders are targeting the middle and lower classes. I also want tighter security at the outer curtain. No one should be entering or leaving the kingdom without my permission, and if they’re entering clandestinely, there must be a blind spot or a chink in our armor. If the living can get in, the Dead can, too. Get it sorted. There will be no more of this… obliterating in my kingdom, understand?”

“Absolutely, your majesty. We’ll double up our defenses. This won’t happen again… Oh, and… There is one more thing.”

“What is it?” asked the king. “I have very little time for idle conversation today, constable.”

“Yes, yes, of course, your majesty, but… Well, this is quite important. The knight in black armor left a message with one of our guards, just before he… chopped off his arm.” 

Your lips trembled with fear. How could a man do such a thing? And this man was in your kingdom, hurting your people. It was horrifying. That poor guard, you thought. That poor boy… Oh, that poor, poor boy. 

“Good lord!” huffed the king. “All right, what is it?”

The constable cleared his throat as you heard a crinkling of paper. “Your majesty,” the constable read from the letter, “let this be a first warning, an introduction of sorts. My name is Sir Negan of House Smith, my people are the Saviors. If you cooperate with me, there will be no more bloodshed, but if you go against me, I will plunder and pillage this pretty kingdom until the streets are soaked red. I ask, or demand, rather, for one thing: your daughter.”

~

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Series Masterlist Next Chapter ➳

[coravonblyssen]

Cora's horses, 2024 fall

Bluebell Fairytale "Faer"

Age: 10

Breed: Selle Francais

Sex: Gelding

Height: 160cm

The second horse Cora ever bought after moving to Jorvik. She got him from another horse trainer at Jorvik Stables who wanted Cora to find a nice horse to advance in jumping with. With Rosy still being a foal now, Faer is who Cora fulfills her soul rider duties on.

JS Ever dream of me "Eden"

Age: 7

Breed: Friesian horse

Sex: Gelding

Height: 168cm

Anne and Cora bought him as a "6 month anniversary gift" for themselves. So he is quite a recent addition to the family. Cora has always wanted to own a Friesian but wasn't thrilled about the breed having its signifigant capacity in dressage. Anne however got excited so now they share him with Anne teaching him all the technical dressage stuff while Cora goes on trail rides with him and takes pretty pictures.

Bewitching Roseblue "Rosy"

Age: 2 months

Breed: JWB Starbreed

Sex: Stallion

Height: Still growing

Rosy's reincarnation. Still just a small small baby foal. He was bred at the Silverglade equestrian center. Good luck brought her to Cora soon after the previous Rosy passed. The morning before Halloween Baroness Silverglade tried to sell him to Linda when Linda was looking to buy a future jumper for when Meteor retires. Immediately upon meeting Rosy Linda started experiencing strong headaches and passed out on the stable grounds. When Linda woke up Cora and Anne came to pick her up and she insisted they'd check on the foal. They quickly noticed how strongly he attached himself to Cora's side and Rhiannon was called in the same day to confirm it was indeed Rosy.

Past horses

Goldenleaf Trailblaze "Stelle" & Skygazer R "Rosy"

Stelle was only with Cora for a few months for training purposes after which she was sold to Jorvik Stables as a lesson horse.

Rosy was attacked by Erissa soon after her release from the brambletween. Rosy's body was unable to fight against Erissa's chaos magic despite the soul riders' and druids' best efforts to heal him. He passed away the same night in his sleep.

[atarahderek]

Disney Horses

Disney has never tried doing a franchise focused on their equine characters, and I am disappointed. So here is a partial compilation of Disney horses--namely the ones I think would be the most marketable--just in case Disney should ever change their mind on that point and wants a reference guide to which horses they should include in the line.

Major (Cinderella, 1950)

Major is a gray stallion who is temporarily transformed into a coachman for Cinderella's night at the ball.

Samson (Sleeping Beauty, 1959)

Samson is a gray stallion belonging to Prince Phillip. He is shown to be fast and fearless, and he hates distractions and detours.

Captain (101 Dalmatians, 1961)

Captain is a gray draft stallion who lives in the English countryside. He is instrumental in aiding in the rescue of Pongo and Perdita's puppies, and helps provide them with shelter and protection during their trek back to London.

Frou Frou (Aristocats, 1970)

Frou Frou is a flaxen chestnut light draft mare belonging to Madame Adelaide Bonfamille of Paris, France. She is a close friend of Duchess and her kittens. She is the only mare to be prominently featured in a Disney animated feature film with a specific storyline. Fantasia (1940) features a pegasus mare in one of its sequences (the mother of Peter Pegasus).

Philippe (Beauty and the Beast, 1991)

Philippe is a flaxen chestnut Belgian draft stallion who belongs to Maurice and Belle. He is very cautious and skittish, but bravely returns with Belle to the Beast's castle to find her father.

Achilles (The Hunchback of Notre Dame, 1996)

Achilles is a gray warhorse who belongs to Captain Phoebus. He is trained to respond to commands the same way a dog would, and even knows how to sit and heel. He appears to get along with Frollo's Friesian stallion Snowball, despite their owners being on opposites sides.

Pegasus (Hercules, 1997)

Pegasus is a pegasus stallion belonging to Hercules. He is white with a blue mane and tail. Pegasus isn't the most intelligent horse, but he's very loyal and courageous.

Khan (Mulan, 1998)

Khan is Mulan's faithful black stallion. He carries her into battle against the Huns.

Bullseye (Toy Story 2, 1999)

Bullseye is a chestnut stallion who serves as Woody's loyal steed in the children's show that spawned the toy line Woody is part of. In the Toy Story films, Bullseye is Jessie's closest friend and ally.

Buck (Home on the Range, 2004)

Buck is a bay stallion belonging to Sheriff Brown. He is incredibly egotistical and admires the bounty hunter Rico until he learns Rico is working for the notorious Alameda Slim.

Maximus (Tangled, 2010)

Maximus is a light silver Andalusian stallion who loyally serves the Captain of the Guard, acting as both his mount and his right hand man. He is intelligent, brave and fiercely patriotic. He dedicates his life to protecting Princess Rapunzel on all her adventures.

Angus (Brave, 2012)

Angus is a black Shire stallion who serves as Merida's mount and best friend. He has good judgment and hates having to carry Merida into danger, but will do so if the cause is just.

Sitron (Frozen, 2013)

Sitron is a brunblakk (brown dun) fjord stallion who belongs to Prince Hans of the Southern Isles. Despite his owner's sinister nature, Sitron is a polite, friendly horse with fast reflexes and an instinct to protect.

Fidella (Tangled the Series, 2017)

Fidella is a bay draft mare who belongs to Cassandra. She is fast, strong and brave, and Maximus develops a crush on her. Fidella does not come from a feature film, but this list desperately needed another mare.

The Nokk (Frozen II, 2019)

The Nokk is a Scandinavian water spirit tamed by Elsa. It serves as her mount. While it is Elsa's friend and allows her to ride it, it is still very wild and will drown trespassers on the Dark Sea.

[callsignbaphomet]

As much as I wanna keep writing there's too much noise tonight, so we'll touch up on a small subject. Writing this thing during that time (1700s) means I get to talk about the boys's horses and pets.

Jelani had, during that time, a Friesian (male) named Einherjar. Damn thing would not let anyone else near it, kinda had a bit of an attitude and liked to bite, he'd tolerate Loke riding him for short periods of time. The mane and tail were both long and very thick and the horse was completely black giving it an intimidating appearance.

Loke had a draft of unknown origin, mixed with who the fuck knows what. It was gray with light gray mane and tail and feathers on its lower legs. That horse did not give a shit about anything, he was abnormally chill. Which is a recurring inner joke I got running that all of Loke's horses were just like that™. His name was Tanngrisnir.

Loke also had two pigeons: Siri (secret) and Hila (trick) that were used a lot to send messages.

And because Jelani and dogs go together like peanut butter and jelly of course he had a dog. He had a male Norsk elghund (Norwegian Elkhound) named Úlfr that never left his side and he'd take with him everywhere. That furball was highly trained, fearless, lethal and an absolute derp of an animal.

I've spent the last few hours looking up the history of horses in colonial America and I'm pretty sure I got things somewhat accurate. If not, well, I tried lol.

[mbrainspaz]

I should not have a horse right now. I know that. It's the biggest universal fluke. I ended up with him because during a year when I was sick and depressed and had 8$ to my name I found some boomers' email addresses on google maps and they thought I looked trustworthy enough to babysit their ranch. 3 years later I spent every last cent in my bank account to buy a horse they'd been taking care of for a boarder who hadn't visited in 5+ years. I was still boondocking in a leaky trailer at the time. It was an insane thing to do, and I only did it to secure my place in the local horse industry (so I told myself). Did I mention this horse is a semi-retired Grand Prix trained Friesian. I didn't ask for that. I thought if I ever got a horse it would be a $1 thoroughbred or a quarter horse nobody wanted. What's even wilder is that owning a horse did get me another job. When I needed it the ever-mysterious Rich Horse Lady Network landed me a 2 year gig with free board where I was able to recoup and make more connections that dropped me back in the art/tech industry just as the last ranch job collapsed beneath me. I still can't afford a horse but for the next day, week, month, year... however long this fever dream lasts, there's not a thing I would've done differently just to have another heartbeat of this alternate timeline I hijacked where I got to live my dream—even though I can barely afford a place to live.

The way my life has been going I might never have a horse again, but I tell myself that's alright. I already had one more than I should have had.

He was born when I was 5 years old, and it could've been the same night I remember holding my black horse plushie at a sleepover and wishing with every fiber of my being that it would come to life. The magic worked. It just took me 20 years to find him.

[shalomniscient]

I actually do have several different (head)canons/alternate universes of Equestrian Cinnabar.

One where she has both her Arabian stallion Chevalier & her Friesian stallion Cocytus. Also where she competed in a variety of equestrian sports & disciplines.

One where Cinna would only have/ride a Friesian horse (who still would have been named Cocytus or something different like Knight or Prince.) and just performs Dressage.

(Your) One in which Cinnabar does Eventing with her thoroughbred named Paladin. (I love your headcanons, especially the emphasis on the bond between Cinna & her horse)

Another one where Cinna still has/rides her thoroughbred Paladin, but she plays Polo instead.

One where she trains to perform Classical Dressage with her Andalusian or Lipizzan(er), either one of them could be named Caina or Crete.

One where Cinnabar is just a stablehand / ranch worker.

That's all I thought of so far. I might expand on a few of these in the future. Congratulations on getting Acheron and I hope you're having fun with her!

- 🏇

hey 🏇 anon, sorry for taking several centuries to get around to this ask alshdkskdjskdjs but POLO CINNA ??? YES ??? omg maybe serpent's eye is like a notoriously good polo team, and their up-and-coming star player is cinnabar 🤩🤩🤩 she's super young but already playing position 4—the prime defensive position, and god is she a NIGHTMARE to go up against. cinna does NOT let anyone pass her 😤😤😤 hell yeah that's endura baby 💪💪💪

also stablehand cinna has potential to be vv cute, i feel. like the start of a hallmark christmas movie LOLLL

[kbluebirdart]

Hello :) In reference to your latest ask post, I especially adore the hc that TP Zelda would ride a Friesian. That horse breed goes along swimmingly with her. Do you think TP Zelda enjoys/performs Dressage on/with her Friesian. Since BOTW Zelda loves racing, I thought dressage would be something that TP Zelda would enjoy doing. I also think that TP Zelda would have taught her Friesian to rear up on commend. The imagery of a dignified princess on a rearing Friesian is pure bliss.

Thanks for asking! Anon.

I hope so! Horse riding is associated with nobility and kinda a noble sport.😅

I look through the information about dressage, is a sport of horse riding performed to show how well-trained the horse is depending on the rider, something similar to show the bonding between a horse and a rider.

If we look back to during Ganondorf's horse riding fight, She showed a bit of how professional she is in her horse riding. (shooting arrows on horse riding is not easy to do!)

Then YES, I think she would enjoy dressage because...why is she so good at it? or good at everything even Sword fighting. She is just pure perfect😩

[number1spongebobfan]

Thomas & Friends International Engines in their animal forms

Ashima - Siamese Cat with train wheels on her legs

Vinnie - Puma with train wheels on his legs

Carlos - Red Knee Tarantula with wheels on his 8 legs

Raul - Llama with train wheels on his legs

Axel - Belgian Warmblood horse with wheels on his legs

Frieda - Friesian Cow with train wheels on her legs

Gina - Turkish Angora cat with train wheels on her legs

Etienne and Ivan - hamsters with wheels on their legs

[starshinedragon]

SSO Upgrade: DRESSAGE

1. HORSES: -> Ones you can do dressage with: typically dressage horses, like Friesians, Lippizaners and the Jorvik Warmblood Starter horse. The special dressage moves are only animated on these ones.

2. PLACE: -> Dressage training (the 9 levels) is available at: Silverglade Manor Riding Arena, Pine Hill Riding Arena, Von Blyssen Manor Riding Arena. -> Dressage Championships are held at the Shoreline Equestrian Riding Arena.

3. TESTS: -> Riding real tests inspired dressage routines, 20 moves each. -> Each of the 3 places have slightly different tests, so in total: 3x9 = 27 tests will exist in the game. -> 9 levels: First walk, trot, canter, backup, then new skills unlocked after completing each test. New moves: extended walk/trot, trot/canter half-pass, walk/trot shoulder/haunches in, flying change, piaffe, passage, walk/trot/canter pirouette.

-> Gameplay: A, Map of the move on the side, name and pace of the move, colour coded: Walk, Trot, Canter, Back B, Lines on the ground guiding you as in SSL: Legend of Pandoria and Star Stable Spring Riders C, Lower levers are slower to change to the next move, in higher levels you almost have to memorize the test to anticipate the next. D, You collect stars by riding over them in the correct pace, just like in SSL 3.

-> Dressage dailies: randomly in one of the three Riding Arenas, random routine of the 9 levels, reach a minimum points in a test. The RNG only gives you tests you have already completen in training.

-> Dressage championships: a level 9 routine in Shoreline Equestrian Riding Arena, each player in a phased ring, best score wins. You can only take part in a Dressage Championship, if you have already completed the Grandmaster (level 9) test in each of the 3 Riding Arenas.

4. LEVELS: (names inspired by, but not accurate real levels) 1. Starter -> Moves: Walk, Trot, Canter 2. Beginner -> New move: Backstep 3. Novice -> New move: Extended walk, Extended trot 4. Training -> New move: Walk/Trot Shoulder/Haunches in 5. Intermediate -> New move: Trot half-pass 6. Advanced -> New move: Canter half-pass 7. Expert -> New move: Flying Change, Counter Canter 8. Master -> New move: Walk Pirouette 9. Grandmaster -> New move: Passage and piaffe

Example: a Grandmaster test

1. Working Canter A -> I Halt, Salute 2. Trot I->H, Extended Trot H->F, Trot F->A 3. Walk A->K, Extended Walk K->M, Walk M->C 4. Back 5 steps at C 5. Trot C->E, Extended Trot Circle at E, Piaffe E->V

6. Canter V->L, Flying Change at L, Canter L->I, Flying Change at I, Canter I->C 7. Walk C->H, Walk Shoulder in H->E 8. Trot E->F, Extended Trot Circle at F, Trot F->K 9. Trot Haunches in H->K 10. Walk H->B, Pirouette at B, Walk B->M, Pirouette at M, Walk M->B

11. Canter B->K, Canter Half-pass K->X->H 12. Canter H->R->V, Counter Canter V->B 13. Flying Change at B, Canter B->R 14. Trot R->H, Trot Half-pass H->X->K, Trot K->B 15. Back 5 steps at B

16. Extended Walk B->H, Walk H->M 17. Passage M->F 18. Trot F->V, Trot two half circles V->L->B 19. Canter B->C, Canter Circle at C, Canter C->F, Flying Change at F 20. Canter F->A->I Halt, Salute

[littlegirlwiththeblueribbon]

MY SPECIAL INTERESTS:

✸ Cryptids, Cryptozoology

✸ Aliens, Abduction Phenomena, UFOlogy

✸ Ghosts, Paranormal Phenomena

✸ Fortune Telling, Psychic Readings, Tarot

✸ Astrology, Zodiac, Horoscopes

✸ Alchemy, Past & Present Chemistry

✸ Astronomy, Space, NASA

✸ Oceanography, Marine Biology

✸ Dinosaurs, Fossils, Paleontology

✸ Speculative Evolution & Biology

✸ Lost Civilizations, Cultural Extinction

✸ Animal Classification (Taxonomy)

✸ Taxidermy, Animal Death Studies

✸ Birds, Especially Corvids & Birds of Prey

✸ Passenger Trains, American Railroads

✸ Passenger Ships, RMS Titanic, Queen Mary

✸ Nuclear Power, Radiation, Radioactivity

✸ Radios, Radio Waves, Radio Towers

✸ Conspiracy Theories, Denialism

✸ Government Scandals, FBI Cover-Ups

✸ Urban Legends, Folklore, Internet Hoaxes

✸ Religion, Catholicism, Cults, Scientology

✸ Doomsday, Apocalpyse, Pandemics

✸ Meteorology, Weather Patterns, Predictions

✸ Petrology, Mineralogy, Faceting Gemstones

✸ Botany, Herbalism, Horticulture

✸ Mycology, Mold, Penicillin

✸ Toxicology, Poisons, Neurotoxins

✸ Historical Crimes & Unusual Punishment

✸ Elizabethan Era History, Fashion, Culture

✸ Shakespeare, Plays, Musical Theatre

✸ Theatre Design, Stage Management

✸ Filmmaking, Cinematography, Sound Design

✸ Composing, Soundtracks & Scores, Lyrics

✸ Theremins, Synthesizers, Electronic Sound

✸ Figure Skating, Artistic Roller Skating

✸ Fonts, Typefaces, Typography

✸ Graphic Design, Advertisements

✸ Defunct Amusement Parks

✸ Antiques, Appraising, Restoration

✸ Clocks, Watches, Pocket Watches

✸ Puppetry, Muppets, Vintage Puppets

✸ Stage Magic, Escapology, Mentalism

✸ Dime Novels, Pulps, Westerns & Sci-Fi

✸ Postmodernist Literature, Dystopias, Utopias

✸ Hellenism, Greek Mythology, Greek Classics

✸ Portuguese, Basque, French, Latin, Greek

✸ Secret Codes, Ciphers, Shorthand

✸ World War I, World War II

✸ Horses, War Horses, Lusitano, Friesian

✸ Cowboys, American Wild West

✸ Pirates, Golden Age of Piracy

✸ Vexillology, World Flags, LGBTQ+ Flags

✸ Sapphic, Lesbian, Queer Women History

✸ Fado Music, Women’s History in Portugal

✸ Book Translations, Translators

✸ The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas

And, apparently, organizing things nicely in list.

Ask me about any of these, I love to share!

Of course, I have many other interests that I don’t consider my special interests; just these are the ones I study religiously and devote the most of my time to.

UPDATED 12/9/23.

[viktoropalmoon]

viktor is a horse trainer which is how i account for the amount of horses i have in game but here are the ones who are (currently) owned by him

silver darling, adult tovero jorvik warmblood mare. the horse he was originally assigned when he arrived at moorland stables. helped viktor build a lot of his confidence and accompanied him on many soul riding missions despite not being his "true" soul horse

brave trouble, adult strawberry roan american quarter horse gelding. a stubborn horse who he took on at moorland stables since no one else could get through to him. brave was eventually sold to another owner but then put back up for sale. when viktor mentioned wanting to ride western, josh found brave for him and viktor ended up keeping him for good (vaguely based off a starter horse i had on a very old alt account)

thyme, young dark bay tobiano irish cob mare. viktor's soul horse who he's fiercely protective of and rarely brings on soul riding missions. he raised her from being a foal and brought her to jorvik when he moved there from ukraine. not his soul horse in the magical guardian horse sense but certainly his soul horse in every other aspect (heavily based off my real life horse thyme who i would actually die for)

dice, adult black tobiano irish cob gelding. came to viktor after he was injured. viktor had also recently been injured and, as well as suffering from a lack of confidence, had hidden himself away from the world. both of them helped heal each other (based off a horse i used to ride)

rio, young bay tobiano pintabian gelding. a horse viktor trained for the jorvik rangers. for a while he was his assigned horse for ranger activities, up until viktor started training kitty and rio was assigned to another volunteer ranger. after a pretty bad accident and the volunteer ranger leaving jorvik, rio lost a lot of confidence and viktor took him back on, eventually becoming his permanent owner

kitty, young mantle ember black jorvik wild horse mare. another horse viktor trained for the jorvik rangers. her personality makes her very difficult not to love, but despite how cute she is she lets almost no one ride her other than viktor and she will follow him around like a lost puppy given half the chance

runestone, adult sooty dunalino north swedish rune runner mare. a gift from the druids. accompanies viktor on his longer trips across jorvik and is also trained to pull carts and carriages. has a natural instinct to protect viktor's herd of horses and will also protect any other horses no questions asked

storm cry, adult black friesian gelding. another horse viktor looked after at moorland stables. he's viktor's main horse for competitions and shows. he bought him quite soon after moving to jorvik but after a bad accident on a ride he was captured and stolen by mr anwir for dark core with the intention of turning him into a dark horse, but after a few attempts to no avail the plan fell through and mr anwir intended to use him for his experiments. viktor found him again when him and madison freed nightdust and the other horses and he finally returned home

"the gray star", eternal songsorrow mare. a mysterious horse that haunted the waters of mirror marshes for centuries, known for being particularly ruthless and dangerous. viktor had an encounter with her after being thrown from a particularly skittish horse he was training, and injuring himself. despite being one of the more violent songsorrows, she chose to save viktor and when people set out to capture her to prevent any further fatalities viktor stepped in and took her home. they resented each other at the beginning, but there was no other choice. while viktor was trying to train her, they got caught up in a soul riding mission and narrowly escaped injury. after that, the two begun to bond and it became clear she was viktor's guardian horse

misty, adult woodear mare. a young woodear who got separated from her herd, but shares a very strong connection to the primeval trees and the lignos and interacts with them the same way she would with other woodear. despite this, she was immensely lonely until viktor found her wandering the forgotten fields and brought her home where she developed unique ways to communicate with regular horses and people. she shares a particular bond with the gray star as she's not repelled by the songsorrow's song like most horses (see here for that headcanon)

gardenia, eternal sylvan unicorn mare. incredibly shy and secretive, she rescued viktor and the horse he was riding from a heavy snowstorm. she usually stays hidden during the day, coming out at night and interacting with viktor and his herd and never straying too far from his home

currently unnamed, young black warped brindle soul steed mare. a funny little creature who keeps following viktor around. please drop name ideas in the replies or reblogs or my asks if u want

[silly-fox-in-sox]

An old friend lost his mare recently, so here is a little portrait to remember her by.

She was originally our 4H leader's horse. Our club went to a big open house at a super fancy Friesian+Akhal-teke (random, I know) horse farm. Her husband wanted to show some support, so he put a few dollars into their raffle. Lo-and-behold, he won! The prize was the winner's choice of 3 akhal teke weanlings. So that's how I got to know Talka the Teke. Eventually their neighbor/one of the club members grew up and bought her from them, since he had helped raise and train her since she was just a baby.