THORKI

AWAY

Fear.

It was what had woken him again. He hadn‘t slept the whole night. No matter what he tried, he kept tossing and turning. Sighing, he turned to look out the big, gold-framed balcony doors beside his bed. The dawn was breaking. Soon, he had to be in the big hall, leading the kingdom until their ruler comes back.

„He will come back. He will…“

His throat constricted as the cold fist of fear wrapped it’s gruesome grip around it.

He dressed in the dark. His formal wear was only granted an annoyed glance. Then he strode out of his chambers, clad in a soft linen tunic, fine wool breeches and his riding boots.

He knew his destination and his big strides carried him there in mere minutes. When the scent of hay and horses filled his nose, he inhaled deeply. It had calmed him down since he was a young prince. It was his hiding place. Nobody looked for the noble, arrogant prince in the place that was dirtier than everything else.

He picked up three apples from a barrel at the big entry before he shut the gates again. Taking a bite of one of the apples, he walked calmly towards the far end of the stables. The two stablehands were used to seeing him here- more often just lately - so they bowed quickly and resumed their work when he walked by.

In the last bay, there she was. The beautiful, white mare, Magni. And, hidden behind her underneath a heap of straw, her foal, Hófvarpnir. He was born six weeks previous and as strong as his mother  and his father, Svađilfari, combined.

She walked towards him and put her soft nose on his shoulder, nudging him to make him give her the treat she knew he was hiding behind his back.

Chuckling softly, he held up the apple.

„Good morning to you too, Darling. You are a bright one, aren’t you?“

He fed her the apple and slipped inside her bay. The foal eyed him suspiciously but, he could smell the apple on him, so he trotted over to his side to wait patiently.

He ruffled his mane and held out the apple.

„Here you are.“

He fed the remainder of his own apple to the mare and sat down on the cool stone floor near the exit to the meadows on the back of Magni’s bay.

For a while he sat there, only staring outside. Watching the sun rise from behind the trees.

The foal laid down next to him, blowing his hot breath on the hand that rested on his knee.

He smiled weakly, but furrowed his brows. He felt hot tears stinging in his eyes.

He missed him. More than he probably should.

It wasn’t only his brother he missed. No, he missed his love; his strong arms around his body, his sweet words whispered into his ears in the darkest nights, his assuring gaze on him when he fullfilled his duties - even his booming laughter when he caused mischief again.

It brought a sad smile to his face.

He had been gone for month now. He had left him behind. Them behind.

Him, because he had to take over the position of the ruler until his return. His mare, because she carried an heir to the famous bloodline of their stables. She hadn't been suited for battle in her condition.

And, now her foal was born, their master still has not returned.

He had sent messages. The battles had taken some unexpected turns. They were trapped on another realm, their forces depleted to only a fraction of their former strength.