Unexpected

Stables and Sleipnir

I stared up at Loki as we walked away from the seamstress' work room, watching intently as the disguise of Odin faded from Loki's features. He was smirking to himself, pointedly not looking down at my glare until I nudged him, finally forcing him to look over at me as I followed him through the halls.

"I can't believe you just left me in there." I scolded. "I have no idea what I'm doing, you can't just disappear on me like that.

The corner of Loki's lip rose higher into a deeper smirk as he raised a suggestive brow at me, "Would you have preferred it if I stayed with you then?"

Warmth flooded my face as I thought back on how I'd been clinging to the silky fabric of my dress, barely managing to maintain my modesty as Bil had circled me, measuring everything from hips to bust to my ankles. Quickly I shook my head, dropping my eyes from his face, "No."

"I assumed so." Loki chuckled, "Anyways, Bil has been a trusted seamstress of the court for years. I knew she would take care of you."

"And what about my phone?" I asked, trying to brush away my thoughts of Bil and my discussion and the mortification of me clinging fabric to my chest and the thought of Loki being there to witness it all, "You said you had business with the inventors? Did you take my phone to them?"

"I did." Loki linked my arm with his again, which made me smile despite myself. It seemed to me that he wanted to be in contact as much as possible, as if he were trying to make sure that I was no illusion and that I was truly here in the flesh, "They were intrigued by it to say the least. Midgard technology is not something they come into contact with every day. I figure that if they cannot figure out how to recharge its 'battery' that I could see about getting it to the dwarves. They've created weapons of power in times past, including Mjolnir, they can figure out your device as well."

I pulled my mind from wondering what Nidavellir dwarves would possibly look like, "I hope so."

"Now that you have seen the seamstresses, our tour can really begin." Loki commented as we came to familiar large doors with guards standing on either side. Loki nodded to them and they pushed the palace entrance open, letting blue skies and sunlight shine in, "I thought we should start with the grounds as it is such a lovely day."

I had to squint against the midmorning summer sun, allowing Loki to lead me towards what I assumed to be stables. Several groomsmen and servant boys were milling about with feedbags, piles of hay, and leading magnificent horses by leads and reins. A pair of Einherjar in their golden armored uniforms rode in through the palace's main gates on chestnut horses, looking like they were coming back from a patrol. As they approached, they hailed Loki and then me, calling me their 'lady', which was a term I realized I'd have to get used to.

Loki smiled, walking up to a fine black horse with a spot on its forehead that was being brushed by a groomsman. He stroked its neck gently. Watching him I couldn't help but smile. It was nice to see his handsome, sharp features look so soft as he made a comment to the groomsman.

"He's so pretty." I said, stepping up to pet the horse as well and raising my hand to run my fingers through its long, neat mane that was black as Loki's.

"It's a girl actually, a mare." Loki corrected.

"Oh!" I blushed, "Well, she's pretty then."

"A very nice horse indeed. She's a messenger horse, swift and with a good amount of stamina." Loki explained.

"I kind of forgot until now how much you liked horses." I said softly so that the groomsman couldn't hear me, "When did your interest in them start?"