Disclaimer: I own nothing of Tolkien's amazing work, nor do I ever even dream to foreshadow it's greatness with my puny, pathetic fantatic obsession.

Note to the Reader: I know what your all thinking.(graon) Allorais starting yet another story. Your right, I am. I've wanted to give my hand at a Legomance for ages. I could care less that there's thousands of them and I will probably get flamed for adding another to the list. I'm mostly writing this for my own pleasure. But for those of you who actually like these kind of stories, I hope you enjoy it. :)

There is a index at the bottom for Horse terms.

And, before I get flamed for this too, Legolas does not enter this story until Part Two.

Extended Summary: Victoria's life was crushed by her brother's death and since then her life has collapsed around her as her parent's fears for her safety resulted in the destruction of everything she held dear. Now,years later, she has to battle with obstacles of all kinds, including herself, to fufill her dreams, and when unexpected events cause her to leave her world behind, can she ever love again? Legomance.

Rating: This fic is rated 'T' for mild language, violence, and some mild innuendo.

Chapter One

Expectations

"That horse is a monster Vic! I want him out!" shouted my father in fury. I sat on my horse Talorta's back while he screamed and fumed at me. Talorta could care less, as could I. If I was anything, it was stubborn and I could ride this lecture out.

It was something about me that my parents had always noticed, competitive, competition, pride, adrenalin. Four words that were what I lived on. To describe me, well, that was easy. I was stubborn yes, but naive about the world. A world that had been cruel to me these last few years. Yes,this was me, Victoria Nightengale. I preferred to be called Vic. I suppose Tom-boy described me well enough.

And this was where my story began, though I didn't know it. Right now I wasn't thinking about much else besides my father's temper... and I rolled my eyes as he continued his lecture, now I really wasn't listening... at all.

My mother liked to say I had been born fighting from the beginning. What was worthy of my desire, I fought for it. I liked to think of myself as fearless. Mostly. I was country through and through, slow to trust, and even slower to speak when around other people. I didn't like change. I loved horses, they had been in my life since age two. It was all I ever thought about and dreamed about. I basically ate, slept, rode, and dreamt horses. School falling somewhere in between. Sure that sounds great, but in times like this... it made me mad angry.

"Vic are you listening to me? Didn't you hear what I just said? I want him destroyed."

My head jerked sharply and Talorta's head bobbed up, as if he knew what my father had said clear as day. My father's facehad reddened withrage and his mouth was pressed into a thin line. His voice flat. I blinked uncomprehendingly at him."What?"

"You know what I mean Vic."

"You can't Dad! He's mine." My hands were trembling despite my brave words... and I pulled back on Talorta's reins to back him away from my fuming father.

"No, he isn't. He's no one's. He murdered your brother for God's sake!"

A shiver ran down my spine as I watched my father, his eyes blazing and full of anger as he stared at my 17 hand Appaloosa Stallion. "It was an accident Dad, and you know it." I said softly, unable to believe what he was telling me.

Yeah, that's why my old man hated horses so much now. My older brother Zach died a year ago after he fell off Talorta. It had been an accident, but my parents hadn't seen it that way. And they were never the same again. It had been Zach's fault, they knew it, I knew it. He had been careless, the jump had been too high. And he died as soon as he hit the fence, his neck snapped. But his death had not killed my affections for Talorta, for after the accident, he had been partly blinded, for he had crashed head first into the fence, and only jumped still because of me. I think he could see shadows, dark shadows. And he was nervous around my father, quite frankly I didn't blame him.

"Your brother died because of that thing, and he dies... tonight." my dad screamed, he was turning red from the effort. I didn't say anything, instead walking back over to the course to study and prepare to jump it. And he grabbed my leg and pulled me from the saddle. When I hit the ground, Talorta shied away and then stared, starting to tremble. I sat in the dust, stunned as my father gripped my arm and dragged me to my feet.

"You will obey me. That horse diesand if you won't... thenI'll do it myself." He hissed.

I wrenched my wrist away from him, my father's grey hair was standing on end, his brown eyes inflamed. I wanted to scream at him, I wanted to tell him that he would never hurt Talorta. But I couldn't, my words would not come. My mother ran out of the house screaming for us to stop.

"This ends tonight Victoria. After supper." He hissed before he jerked away and stormed into the house. My mother looked on helplessly at the two of us. Trying to decide whom to speak to first.

I glared at him with uncheck fury, stabbing imaginary knives into his back. Then turned on my heal and ran to Talorta who buried his huge head in my chest as I rubbed his neck to calm him down. I didn't turn when I heard my father slam the door, nor my mother calling after him, "Henry, wait!"

But I knew she wouldn't stand up to him. She was terrified of Talorta, terrified I would die too. She would side with him. But I knew I wouldn't. Talorta and I were close, he was the closest friend I had ever had. And sometimes I hated Zach for dying the way he had. Talorta was still resting his head in my chest, as if trying to hide his massive body. He was aleapord Appaloosa. He waswhite except for the tiny, black spots sprinkled here and there along his sides as if he'd gotten under the wrong side of a paint can.He was 15 this year, I had known him since he was a foal. I was 18, and legally allowed to take care of myself.

And my father would never lay a hand on my horse. He'd have to kill me first.

Surprisingly enough, I didn't eat dinner. I sat by Talorta as he grazed in the field. We had a huge 20 stall barn, at one point, my parents had been top breeders and trainers, all that changed when Zach died. Now the fields and stalls were empty, like the reminders of ghosts. I could still hear the horse's whinnies and knickers. I could still hear them gallop over the fields. I looked up at Talorta, his spotted nose was resting on my head. I smiled and reached up to pat him,

"You're a good boy. You didn't kill anyone." He breathed softly though my long brown hair which was falling out of a loose bun. He stood lazily above me, we trusted each other with our lives. He had been mine, but Zach had wanted to ride him that one day, showing off for his friends. I had loved Zach with all my heart. After me, the doctors said Mom could have no more children, so it was just the two of us, we were only two years apart, and a piece of me died when Zach did. It hadn't been right. Nothing was right anymore. Didn't my father see what he was doing to me? I loved both of them more then life itself. But I loved Talorta too, and sometimes he was the only thing who could remind me of Zach.

I had a sort of sixth sense. I had expectations, I could feel when things were going to happen. It always was an asset to me. But it failed the day Zach died. Talorta nibbled on my hair and I laughed softly and patted his nose.

"It isn't grass love. Sorry." He snorted, showering me with a rain of snot. "Thanks man, I love you too." I said softly.

Then he dropped his head to a patch of grass by my side and started to graze. I had decided then what I was going to do. I stood up and patted Talorta's side, my jaws working as I thought, my blue eyes stealing glances around the deserted barn. There was work to do- and there would be no turning back now.

I deserved better then this. I thought fiercely to myself. I wanted to follow my heart, like Zach always used to tell me to. I thought the obstacles in my way would be events and people beyond my control. I never dreamed they would be my parents. Talorta's hooves made hardly any noise as he walked up the ramp into the horse trailer. I had resorted to this, running away. Dad hadn't carried out his threat, but he was planning to kill Talorta this morning, while I slept. I heard him talking last night. So I was running away. I wondered what Zach would think of me now... I shook the thought off as a dog shakes water from it's body. I couldn't think about Zach right now.

Zach was dead.

I had been forced to hire someone, I couldn't bring myself to steal my parent's truck. The driver started the pickup as soon as I seated myself at his side and pulled out of the driveway. He stuck a grubby hand out for a down payment as soon as we were on the road and I grudgingly handed him his money. He had a stick-like face with high cheekbones and a wild look in his eye. I didn't like him, but what choice did I have?

I had never expected that things would come to this. My parent's, or my horse. Why did they have to do this to me? I had decided to take Talorta to show, to perhaps prove to them that he wasn't dangerous. And that maybe they'd take us back in, so it wasn't really running away. I would only run away if they said no, and from there I didn't know what I would do.

My sixth sense hadn't kicked in yet, so I was on my own now. But when it did, this time my gift didn't work so well, and something happened which I would have never expected. Everything was going wrong.

I pushed a stray lock of my wispy brown hair behind my ear. I had blue eyes, and my complection was weather worn, tanned. My hand rough from continuous outdoor use, and my tall, wiry frame was well suited for a rider. I placed my hands on my knees and began to drum my fingers on them.

The way to this show was taking a lot longer then I would have thought. Where was this guy going? I glanced at the road, my eyes bore confusion. It was deserted, no other signs of life in view. What happened to the high-way?

Suddenly the truck stopped, the driver turned to the key. "Why are we stopping?" I asked, forcing the nervousness out of my voice.

His dark eyes caught mine, I didn't like the glint I saw in them. "Your kinder pretty aren't ya? Ya know that?" the first words he had uttered to me the entire time, and them made me start to tremble. He slid along the seat closer to me and I rose my hand to strike him, he grabbed my wrist. Fear welled up inside my chest, Talorta started to bang on the trailer walls.

"I think we should..." I didn't get to finish as he held out his hand again.

"I need more money."

"What for? I've given you plenty..." He caught me off in a kiss. I pulled away gasping. "I want more money, if'n you don't... you'd better be prepared for some lovely company."

I reached for my pocket as he leaned again, and I felt something incredibly hard. "Too slow." He murmured and locked me in a kiss once more. I grabbed the hard thing and smashed it to his skull. He slumped to the floor, lifeless and I scrambled away, glancing at the object in my hand. It was a pistol. I dropped it like it had burned me and slid out the car, running to the trailer.

How much time did I have until he awoke? Would I be able to stop him again? He was strong. But I was strong too. My mind countered back. My fear was turning into panic, my sixth sense starting to go crazy. I tacked up Talorta as fast as I could, my hands shaking with the effort. How I wanted my parents just then. Why was I here? Was it worth it? Soon as Talorta was saddled I grabbed some food for myself and shoved them into my saddle bags along with some feed for Talorta. How long had it taken me? A cold sweat broke out on my forehead. I glanced at the truck, but I didn't see any movement.

I mounted quickly, spurring Talorta into a gallop. What I didn't expect was for my sixth sense to fail me as I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder. And the loud shot of a gun. Nor did I expect the bright flash to appear before us, nor the darkness that claimed my consciousness as Talorta galloped into the light.

Index of Horse Terms

Hand: Measurement used to measure a horse. One hand Four Inches.

Stallion: Non Neutered male horse over the age of four.

Jumps: Type of competitive riding, jumping over obstacles at a range of height from 8 inchesto sometimes 7 foot for pro's.

Appaloosa: Breed of horse, commonly an Indian Horse. Famous for it's unusal, spotty color.

'Tacked Up': Term for saddling up your horse.

That's about it, Feed back is appreciated. If you have any questions, please leave them in your review or else email me. :)

Thanks again to my Beta, Kiann!

TO BE CONTINED...