The First Mikaelson Heir

"Shall I get you into your ball gown, miss?" Asked Daffodil, my maid.

"No, I think that's okay. I have not even chosen for myself so I must do it tonight after my bath, but for now will you help me into one of my many dresses, one that I could ride in." I asked.

I don't really know how to describe what happened to me that night. A woman her name was Lexi. Her name was so new, and her face so kind my guard dropped. She took me in and raised me with the help of her household. She loved me like my family could not, but she never questioned my decision to stay close to the town I grew up in.

Once dressed I went straight to the stables to my horse Storm. I had been in the barn by myself, tending to the horses so that William our stable boy could have a rest when the horse ran in frantic. I managed to calm him and soothe him, and ever since he has only ever been loyal to me.

He turned his head and watched me as I approached as if he heard me think of him. He was as red as fire, with a beautiful mane, by far the most spectacular horse I had ever seen, Storm was fast. My Lexi had originally placed him as a coach horse, but he was faster than the others and threw a coach off balance once. He didn't like to be bridled, or to have anything on him, so I always made sure to respect his conditions and rode him without a saddle each time.

"Are you ready?" William asked me. It wasn't right for me to make him sacrifice everything for just one stupid birthday wish that I didn't even need, and so I told him continuously, but he ignored me.

I couldn't even remember riding to him, I must have been so deep in thought.

"Yes. We must go and return with many a time to spare for the ball." I told him.

It was still quite early in the morning for activity, and yet the whole town seemed to be bustling around in the streets.

In mere minutes on horseback, we made it to the welcome sign of the town and rode out. It seemed as though we had been riding forever till we saw another welcome sign up ahead, but were shocked that when we read it, it again said Welcome to the River Town of Marlow.

We went round more times until I stopped.

"William, we have returned to this sign six times, going in the same direction," I told him.

"What is going on? I don't get it."

"Neither do I, but someone is obviously just trying to make us out to be a fool, so we must go home now and prepare for the ball, pretending as though nothing has changed until we can spare another moment to try again." I dismissed, riding off with great haste.

On the way home I stopped once for carrots. I thought I had heard someone behind me, but when I looked there was no one. So I rode home, bent down low over Storm's back so that he could feel my presence, and I whispered low in his ear so that he would push faster, and he obeyed like he only would for me.

When we stopped in the stable, I groomed him well, fed and watered him. I was stroking him, thanking him for taking care of me always when I heard something.

They weren't there a second ago but were in an instant and in that instant, I felt a horrible piercing in my heart, that made me scream in pain, and Storm shake in terror, the first time I had ever seen him afraid.