Coffee and Books 2

The Countryside - Part 3

Warning: mature content

After dinner we do the dishes and then we return to the stables. Inside the tack room, where nobody can see us, Loki changes our outfits to something more suitable for horseback riding. When your boyfriend has that kind of magic, you almost don't have to pack a bag anymore. Not that the clothes he conjured up for me are regular equestrian garments, not for Earth anyway. I'm now wearing breaches of supple, dark leather, underneath a black tailored jacket made of a heavy knitted fabric. Loki is wearing something similar, but of course in his usual black and green. He even gave us riding boots.

I can see Loki is a practiced horseman by the way he handles Hunter. Even though horse and rider have just met each other, Loki seems to have some natural dominance over the animal. And my dark haired prince really enjoys it, he is smiling the whole time. I'm glad Paul gave us the chance to go riding, it's nice to see Loki do something he knows and feels at ease with. Although the God of Mischief is a master at adapting, I know it takes an effort to adjust to this new life here on Earth.

It doesn't take long before we're both ready to go and we mount our horses.

"Lead the way, my lady," Loki says courteously, taking the reins of Hunter to make the large horse walk next to my pony.

The farm is beautifully situated in the middle of a network of long winding roads on top of dikes. The dikes frame the different fields and orchards, some parts are very old, thick trees lining up along the sides of the road. We ride next to each other at a slow pace, enjoying the views.

"Your country is beautiful, my little wolf," Loki says, looking up at the crowns of the trees that touch each other above our heads.

"I'm glad you like it," I answer. I love seeing Loki this relaxed. The past few months he has been very busy preparing the move to Norway for his people and he has been under a lot of stress. It's not easy to move hundreds of people at the same time. Of course, he's not doing it all on his own, but Thor has other duties with the Avengers, so lots of responsibilities fell to Loki and Heimdall. These two weeks here with me in Holland are like a vacation, right before the actual transatlantic move from New York to Norway.

We don't talk much, we just enjoy being out with the horses, surrounded by the beautiful countryside. My pony seems to be content with our leisurely pace, but the black gelding is a bit restless. He's got some energy to spare.

"May I?" Loki asks, and I nod my consent.

He gives Hunter some more rein and the horse doesn't need his rider to spur him on to pick up the pace. The black gelding gallops along the grassy shoulder, kicking up some grass clumps on places where the ground is soft. Loki doesn't push the horse, he just lets it run at his own speed. When Daisy sees her friend running off she starts to go into a trot, but the black horse is too fast for her and soon she's back to her normal walk again.

I pat her on the neck. "Don't worry, Daisy. The boys will be back soon."

The horse whinnies as if she understands me and we continue down the road. I've lost sight of Loki behind a turn in the road, but before long the dark horse and rider show up in my view again. When we reach each other we stop in the middle of the road, our mounts almost pressed together. Loki pushes his hair back from his face, both horse and rider look a little heated from their run.

"By the gods, I've missed this," he says, smiling from ear to ear.

He leans over and places his hand on my saddle, steadying himself so he can kiss me.

"Thank you for bringing me here, my little wolf."

"You're welcome, babe," I answer, giving him another kiss before he straightens in his saddle again. "We've got to turn back, the sun will be setting soon."