regency au } { of horse rides and princes

[wellread]

Patience: [she's nervous. She's nervous and she knows the horse can sense her nervousness. Her fingers tighten on the reins as she tries not to panic and spook the horse] Like this?

Derek: Exactly. And don't worry, Thor here is a good horse. He won't go too fast.

Patience: He's still a very big horse. [and she is a very small human]

Derek: You could just ride with Miranda and me.

Patience: [shakes her head] No, I can do it. [she's a big girl, she can do big girl things]

Derek: Then relax. We'll be right beside you, and just let Thor do all the work.

Patience: [nods and takes a deep breath as she keeps edging Thor along]

Derek: [and he will hop up behind Miranda and they will take a nice walk to the forest] It's a beautiful day.

Patience: [nods] How long do you think until it turns to winter? [she's still grasping seasons]

Derek: The leaves on the trees are still green and vibrant. When they change to the reds and browns, we know that winter is on its way.

Patience: [nods slowly] How long until the leaves change?

Derek: I think we have another moon, at least.

Patience: [nods as she goes]

Miranda: And then we go to Mystic Falls?

Derek: Yes, we do. Every year.

Miranda: Good. I like the ball. [meaning the Christmas Ball]

Derek: So do I. Your mother went to it every year as a child.

Miranda: The dresses are so pretty. [she can't go to the ball yet, but she and Patience have snuck out to watch the beautiful ladies as they make their way into the ballroom]

Derek: When you and Patience are older, I'll make sure you both look just as pretty.

Miranda: Can we pretend to be princesses?

Derek: Pretend? You already are. [and he'll nuzzle Miranda's cheek] You're both my little princesses.

Miranda: [and she'll give him a small look because she's five, not dumb] But you're not a king. Therefore we're not real princesses.

Derek: I could find you a prince to marry. [teases]

Miranda: [she considers, because marrying a prince sounds acceptable] Only a nice one.

Derek: Of course. [looks over at Patience] How about you, sweetheart? Do you want a prince as well?

Patience: [she shrugs.] Maybe. Are they as nice as they are in fairy tales?

Derek: Sometimes. But they are just people, like us. They can be good or bad, depending on what they choose to be.

Patience: As long as he's not a bad one.

Derek: Two princes. At least I have time to find you good ones.

Miranda: Lots of time.