Regret Nothing ( Santiago--private)

[Nora Elizabeth Middleton]

outfit- www.polyvore.com/untitled_92/set?id=47730372

It would have been ten years today, ten years of blissful marriage, but it did not happen like it happens in a fairy tale. The date was set, the flowers ordered, the venue booked, and even the dress was breathtaking. Two months before the wedding was to take place, it was surprisingly called off, and everyone wanted to know why. Quite honestly, now when she looks back she wishes she would take it all back. Why did they fight, they got so mad at each other, and she threw the ring right back at him. How silly and foolish she was to even be so cruel. She was ready to spend her life with Santiago, and it all just came crumbling down. She would've liked to have had little Nora's and Santiago's running around and riding their ponies, and being just like a prodigy of their parents, but now it seems all just a dream.

She shook her head and snapped out of it once she heard the loud sound system calling out for riders to come to the arena. She felt a tug in her hand, and looked over and saw Arlo grazing on what little grass there was on the ground. Today there was a big show going on in Rosedale, it was the Dover Invitational Championships, and all the top riders from around were competing. Nora was going to be showing Arlo, and two of her best students were competing on the Training level. She heard her walkie talkie go off and she led Arlo over to the ring and watched one of her students jumping. She rested her hands at her side and sighed. Why could she not shake this memory away. Damn it! She stepped away and went to hitch Arlo back next to the trailer. Knowing he would be good and stand there. She walked into the ring, and stood in a spot and watched her student circle her.

[Santiago Alucard Winters]

It was so busy today, all the hustle and bustle. The showgrounds almost always reminded me of a small city. Well if one thought about it it pretty much was and today, I was to be competing for the first time in quite some time. I'd been much too caught up in taking care of my school so I'd decided I needed a break. Cian would be able to handle most of it anyways and if an actual emergency came up he'd know how to contact me. It'd suck, but seriously, Cian was capable, most of the time. I sighed, running a hand through my hair in mild frustration. Perhaps this was a mistake and I should be back in my office making sure everything was running smoothly. A loud snort erupted from the mottled mare that I was sitting on and I rubbed her neck. Widow seemed displeased and once again I was reminded that this mare knew me well enough to know any shift in my moods let alone thoughts.

I sighed, listening to the sounds of the show before nudging my large chestnut sabino mare into a walk towards one of the little practice rings. Things were a bit chaotic, much more than I really wanted to do but I knew Widow and I were to be competing in jumping in a rather short span of time so it'd be better if we were warmed up. It was only a matter of time before there was an opening for us to slip into the ring and ease into a little trot, just to get the blood flowing.

Before long we had started to sail over the jumps effortlessly. We were born to fly together. I was also pleased to notice that the crowd seemed to be thinning which made things so much easier to navigate without worrying about trampling some little kid who was bawling over the fact that their pony didn't wish to jump. Perhaps it wasn't the nicest thing of me to think, but honestly? I disliked it when people couldn't handle their horses. I especially loathed when it was forced upon the kids and they got some high-strung beast that wasn't even suitable as a child's mount. Made me want to smash the parents' heads together. Of course it's not like I hadn't had horses forced upon me, but I loved them at the same time.

By now the training and warming up crowd had all but evaporated. There were a few stragglers but what caught my attention was a woman standing in the ring. I knew she was familiar but from where? She didn't look like one of the female teachers I had under my employment. She looked too old to be a student, and besides that I didn't allow girls into my school. Damn wenches were too distracting, ruined a man when it came down to it. I grumbled a bit, my mare fidgeting. Where the hell did I know her from? It's not like I dated anymore, I'd rather lost all my interest in women and relationships period. There were just some things that never would heal or would feel right.

I nudged my mare into a gentle walk, just to relax a bit and see if I could get closer to the woman to figure out her identity without being discovered. No doubt it was going to be a failed venture but it was something to do until my class ready. We drifted closer until I was certain we'd be seen since she seemed to be watching a rider or two. That's when it hit me and I had the strongest urge to just kick widow into a gallop and get the hell outa here. I didn't want to deal with this, not now. I grumbled and took a deep breath though, steeling myself inwardly. No, I would be the better person, I wouldn't run from my past. Not today.

I pulled lightly on the reins, Widow halting in her steps as I looked down at the woman, my face neutral. "Well it's certainly been awhile hasn't it?" I asked calmly, trying my damnedest to keep my voice level. I was only mildly pleased with the result. There was nothing like a blast from the past to shake you up a bit. This woman I had loved, I was sure of that, but then everything had just gone south. Hell I still even had our rings, which I was certain nobody knew about that save me, unless Cian spotted them however he'd yet to make a remark about them which was a good thing. Now there was one thing nagging at my mind. How had we avoided each other for so long so well? I sighed, shaking my head. That wasn't that important, but what was important was how she was going to react to my appearing near her. I, the Santiago Winters the owner of Rosedale Institute of Equestrian Arts and her ex-fiance. Hell, would she even remember me or was I just another face to her? Only time could really tell.

words: 855
notes: erm sorry if its rambly

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[Nora Elizabeth Middleton]

Nora kept her focus on her riders as she watched one of her students working her transitions around her. She removed the leather gloves that were on her hands, and she held them in her hand. Taking a few steps forward, she snapped her fingers to a beat," That's it Michelle, remember to keep a steady pace with Falkor. Ride to what makes you feel comfortable, and let him know that you are in control. Here's a little tip that I learned. If you feel you cannot control your horse coming up to a jump, wiggle a little with your reins, sit back slightly and count off the beat till you hot the jump," she said watching her student ride up to a jump. " One...two... three. Bam, there you go, see how easy that was. Now go on and practice that. Theresa, come here for a moment and and let me watch you," she called.

A light breeze chilled the air, blowing a few strands of hair into my face, so I took a hair tie and pulled it back into a bun. The sun danced through the trees, and splashed color on the ground. Nora went from having her hands on her hips, to crossing her arms. Theresa came trotting down the long side of the arena on her huge Hanoverian gelding, Titan. Quite honestly, he was too much horse for a girl of Theresa's skill level. She was still green, and Titan jumped like a Grand Pris jumper. Nora tried talking her mother out of purchasing him, but the mother wanted her daughter to train with the best, and ride the best. If she wanted to take Nora's advice, she would have. Nora just tried to hold her tongue, and not argue. That was hard since Nora was sometimes opinionated. She heard a voice behind her, and at first she thought it was for someone else. Then Theresa stopped in her tracks and raised her finger and pointed. Looking like she had seen a ghost.

Nora slightly turned and looked. Her jaw nearly dropped and she looked at the man who she had left all those years ago. At first, her reaction was shock and bewilderment. She had hardly spoken to him since that day, and now here he was. She bit her lip, and fully turned her body around and shook her head and smiled. Santiago Winters, as I live and breathe. It certainly has been a while," she replied and slowly walked towards to railing. Here was the man she was so deeply in love with all those years ago. The man she would have loved to call husband, but who knew if those feelings still resided in her heart. " It's good to see you, I hope life has been good to you."