After watching the retreating figure of Hal disappear over the hill on his horse, you set off again down the road, leaving the tavern, making your way back home. The countryside was very pretty with its tall hedges, overhanging trees and winding country road. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and after your encounter with the Prince, you couldn't stop smiling.

This peacefulness was cut short, as you heard the sudden shrill cry of an animal in pain. Instinct kicking in, your eyes scanned all around you trying to locate the source of the sound. In the field over the fence you saw it, the small head of a horse popping up out of a gully, throwing its head back, letting out another cry of pain. Without hesitating, you climbed awkwardly over the fence, and raced across the field towards the animal.

The horse wined, struggling to get out of the ditch it had gotten itself stuck in. A log had fallen onto it's tail, trapping it, and the animal was struggling to get free. The horse was only small, and you guessed it must be quite young. After managing to stroke the horses neck to calm it down, you crawled down into the ditch. With a lot of effort, you managed to get a grip on the slippery log. Heaving with all your strength, you managed to lift up the long just enough for the horse to yank out its tail. Neighing happily, it reared up on its hind legs, throwing its head back. One of its hooves slipped in the mud, making it stumble, until it accidentally fell backwards, landing onto the log you still held in your hands. You cried out in pain as it slipped from your fingers, crashing down onto your stomach. You gasped and chocked, your hands failing in a desperate attempt to try and push it up off you, but you couldn't lift it.

"Help!", you screamed as best you could, trying to get free. The young horse tried to nudge the log, butting it with its head to make it move, but it didn't budge an inch. "Please, help!", you screamed again, hoping someone, anyone was nearby. It dawned on you that you hadn't seen anyone around, and you were in the middle of a field, the tavern miles away. You tried to keep back the horrible thought about being trapped here, but you started to panic. What if no one came? What if you couldn't get free? You didn't want to be stuck here, or worse, die here. The little horse neighed loudly again, standing up on its hind legs to see out of the ditch, obviously sensing your panic and need for help.

This continued for several minutes, with your strength failing with every passing moment. It was getting impossible to hold up the weight of the log as it crushed down onto you, and there was no one around to help. Your breathing was becoming more obstructed now, panting heavily just to try and get enough air into your crushed lungs. You heard the sound of something heavy, pounding in the earth, getting closer, but you were sure it was just your mind hallucinating. The horse neighed again, only this time, another horse replied back. Your heart leapt in your chest as you heard the canter of hooves getting closer. You hoped and prayed that it was rider out on their horse who was coming, as now all strength had left you, and you could barely breathe.

"Woah there. Steady Joey", a voice called, the sound of the horses hooves stopping abruptly as it neighed again. As you craned your eyes behind you to see, you caught the outline of a man as he looked down into the ditch. "Oh my god! Hold on. I'll help you now", they shouted, eyes widening in alarm upon seeing you. Swiftly, they jumped down off their horse, effortlessly landing beside you. Their brow knotted with concern and panic, they grabbed the log, and lifted it off you, throwing it aside in a cry of strength.

Gasping in relief, you lay on the floor panting, getting your breath back as the gentleman knelt down beside you. "Are you hurt?", he asked concerned, his dazzling blue eyes locked on yours. Carefully placing an arm underneath you, he helped you to sit up, allowing you to see him more clearly. His deep blue eyes stared deeply into yours, shining out from underneath his cap, his jaw clenched tight in concern, making his cheekbones appear razor sharp. After catching your breath back, he helped you to stand, keeping a arm wrapped around your waist.

"Thank you", you said as he helped you out of the ditch, half carrying you at the same time. "It's no trouble at all my dear. I'm just so glad that you're not hurt", he chuckled in relief, holding you close as his horse came over, gently nuzzling against you. "If it wasn't for Joey here, I dread to think what might have happened", he noted, seeing how the animal took an immediately liking to you, neighing softly as you stroked its head. "He's a beautiful animal", you admitted, stroking him as he let his hand slip from around your waist, reaching into the saddle bag on Joey's back. "Here, drink this. You're probably need it", he said gently, offering out his flask to you with a smile. Gladly you took it, as he took off his hat to readjust his hair underneath.

"Where are my manners? I forgot to tell you my name. Captain Nicholls". He offered his hand to shake as you handed back his flask. "Y/N. Thank you for helping me Captain". "Please, call me James", he whispered kindly with a smile, kissing your hand. You felt a little blush come to your cheeks, in both embarrassment and guilt, as you noticed that you'd managed to get his perfectly trimmed uniform muddy from where he'd helped you up. "Are you travelling far? Seems rather odd for someone like yourself to end up here in the middle of no where", he asked, giving Joey a scratch behind his ear, making him neigh playfully. "It's a long story. I'm just trying to get back home", you admitted.

"Well, at least let me help you get a bit closer to home. It's the least I could do", James offered, looking off into the distance, across the vast countryside in the direction you wanted to go. "No, it's fine, really. I have already caused you enough trouble", you flustered, but James simply shook his head, refusing to hear it. "Please, ride with me", he asked, offering out his hand, small wrinkles appearing at his eyes as he smiled at you. Nodding, he took your hand and guided you to stand beside Joey. Putting one foot in the stirrup, and with James' help, you soon found yourself mounted on the saddle, sat in front of him as he placed his arms around you, your back pressed up against his chest.

As he pulled on the reigns and set Joey off at a slow trot, you found yourself smiling as your head rested back James' chest, gently squeezing his arm that kept a safe hold around you. "Nicholls, come on old boy. Can't be having you running off against those Germans can we", a voice shouted from over the brow of a hill, a black horse and its rider galloping towards you. "Just because my Joey is faster than your Topthorn, Stewart", James chuckled towards this new rider as they slowed down on their horse, drawing up alongside you. He wore the same blue uniform as Nicholls, but had a moustache which made you giggle at his funny appearance.

"Let's see then", Stewart announced, and dug his heels into the side of his tall, black horse. The creature reared up onto its hind legs, before galloping off. "Hold on", James whispered into your ear, as he dug his heels into the side of Joey, who neighed and began cantering. Gripping onto the front of the saddle tightly, you rocked back and forth with the motion of the horse as he galloped along, gradually catching up to the other horse. "Take these", James said, slipping the reigns out of his hands into yours, before tightly wrapping his arms around your waist, giving Joey another signal to move on. Holding on tight, you watched the distance between the two horses close up, soon finding yourself riding alongside the other horse, keeping pace. "Impressive. You're a natural!", James shouted to you, kissing your neck as you galloped along, before soon leaving the fuming rider on the other horse far behind.

"Woah, Joey", James soothed, slipping the reigns from you as he began to slow the horse down, until he gradually stopped. You'd reached the end of the field now, a road lying beyond the hedges ahead of you. "This is as far as I can take you I'm afraid Y/N. I'm dreadfully sorry", James said sadly, hoping down off the horse, taking you in his arms, lifting you off its back before gently setting you down on the ground. "I should like to ride with you again sometime, once I return home from the war". Looking up into his smiling, innocent face, your heart sank. He didn't know what fate lay ahead of him in the future, but you did. "Don't go. Can't you stay here? Surely they have enough men going that you don't need to go too. It's not safe". You tried your best to sound convincing, but you knew his mind was already decided. "I'm sorry Y/N, but we are at war. If it means keeping you safe, then I must go and fight. I promise I will return, and then we will see each other again", he said sadly, his hand cupping your cheek. He leant down and kissed your forehead softly, giving you a gentle smile before climbing back up on top of his horse. With a final goodbye smile, Captain James Nicholls galloped off into the sun, your heart breaking.

[Feels! I'm sorry, but my heart breaks every time I watch War Horse, not to mention every single time I read the book or watch the stage show at Nicholls death. Tom did such a fantastic job of playing Cap.N in it, and the final scene just breaks my heart every time. (Plus the film has a memory spot for me as it is the first film première I went to, and I saw him! And he waved and smiled at me)

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