Nimue fairly danced with joy at Maric's suggestion.<br/>" All I have ever ridden  was a dragon. I have never had  been astride a war horse." her voice was filled with awe and reverence.<br/><br/>She squealed with joy and then stopped outright. Suddenly the little maid stood on tiptoe and pressed a soft kiss on the knight's lightly furred cheek.<br/><br/>"I can not thank you enough for this gift," she said solemnly. "While I am cared for here, there is no special gifts given, especially to an acolyte."<br/><br/>By the time they reached the meadow to join the stallion and the dragon, (who had managed to sneak back to the meadow while Nimue was inside searching for supplies), Nimue had gone quiet, pensive and still. Standing at the side of the great steed, Nimue began to shake but not with terror but something else.<br/><br/>" The last time someone did something special and sweet for me was the night before Dafydd was killed by the Vikings. He had worked long and hard in the field that day and I had fixed us a small meal of forest stew, filled with many bits and pieces of vegetables but little meat," she explained. "He came in weary to the bone but holding a small bouquet of sunflowers. After he had eaten the meager fare, he set the dishes aside and stood behind me to rub my shoulders."<br/><br/>She bursts into tears.<br/>"I know he was tired, his shoulders had sagged and the bandages on his hands that he used to protect his skin was soaked through with blood in several places, but he took time to find flowers and to rub my shoulders."<br/><br/>She stopped and dashed the tears with the back of her hand. The she turned a bright smile toward Maric,<br/><br/>"And now you are going to let me ride the horse. Isn't the Goddess good to me? Well, aren't you going to help me get on?"