That is enough.
Thyra has every stitch of a smile on her face as she turns around you one final time, admiring the riding outfit that cascades down your body. The deep blue wool of riding pants so wide-legged they appear to be a skirt when standing, drowning you from the waist down held up by a leather strap. Ripples of blue embroidery cover the plains of your chest and back, detailed with hand sewn jewels in places where water has the option to settle in the cream of the cotton. With sleeves hugging your skin to your wrist Thyra strayed from silver in placing golden bands around your upper arms, forearms, and fingers. The jewelry framing your face continues the statement as sapphires drip from golden chains, cascading from braids in your hair which keep it from your face.
“It’s simple, but elegant.” Thyra says as you admire her work in the mirror.
You laugh, “I don’t know if I would ever refer to gems and gold as simple.” You turn your hands over, fingers now wearing nothing as Thyra changes her mind.
She slips light blue leather gloves onto your hand and places the three rings back onto your left hand as she smiles, “I suppose that is true, though compared to your previous ensembles I must categorize this fitting as simple.” Two more rings are placed on your right hand before she straightens your shirt from behind. “Simply elegant, My Goddess.”
“Thank you,” you hum. “You’re entirely too good at what you do, Thyra.”
Her smile beams as you follow her from your dressing room and into the hall, your hair falling behind your ears.
Loki waits for you a handful of steps from the entrance of your bedroom with his maid, his own riding attire impossibly similar to yours. Though his riding pants are far more fitting, the dark blue wool creeps up to his waist and is secured with a leather belt. His tunic is an off white cloud of cotton that is structured with a vest, panels of embroidery hug his ribs. You think how you’d like to join them as his arm extends in an invitation, his golden accessories a mirror of yours as he has three on the right hand waiting for you.
“Goddess,” Loki says with a nod, “Are we prepared for the ride along the river?” His eyes shine from the sun on his left.
You take his hand as he places your palm on his arm. “Entirely, thank you.”
As your feet follow his stepy your gaze doesn't leave his figure. He steps and you notice the dark brown boots he wears, similar to yours, except they have etchings on the toes of butterflies. You smile to yourself and look up to see Loki smiling down to you as you follow Thyra and his maid towards the stables. Loki dawns gold as well; some rings fall from his ears, chains dip from his neck with blue gems, and a simple gold band with a slight shape of two horns just in the middle rests atop his head which forms his hair a bit tighter around his face.
His smile falters for a moment as he looks at you, a small question in his brow.
“Yes?” you ask.
He parts his lips and pauses to think before saying, “I thought you would be wearing a crown. It is an official outing so the entire court will be wearing symbols of their house.” His eyes look up to his forehead where his own simple crown sits before he taps the golden crest pinned to his vest. “Though, I know how much you detest the court.”
You ponder for a moment, “I suppose I have no crest to support.” You shrug, “I haven’t chosen any of my own clothing today, so I can’t answer much else other than I will be perfectly okay without a crown. I just want to enjoy the ride.”
Loki tuts, “It is not a matter of if you will be content without one, Goddess.”
You roll your eyes, “Is it ever?”
He smiles down to you as he reaches out and nods, a question of if he may touch your hair. As you nod yes you hear Thyra scold Loki, “Prince, if you destroy the braids on the Goddess’ head I shall be undoubtedly upset with you.” Her threat becomes a little more quiet as she remembers the body she scolds, Loki smirking at her.
You laugh at him and agree, “I stand by Thyra, if you ruin my hair the entire castle shall riot and rob you of your tea and books.”
Loki fakes a pain in his chest, “You would do such a thing over braids?”
“I am offended you see them as only braids, you foolish prince.” You tease him, a faux argument in your tone.
Loki sighs and looks to Thyra, “If I hand you the piece I’m offering and you place it in her head just correctly, will this be sufficient enough to keep my peace?”
Thyra looks at you as you shrug and smile. She agrees to the terms and Loki pulls a band of golden wire from the air on his left, placing it in Thyra’s palms. The wire wraps around your head and allows the jewels Thyra placed earlier to remain, complimented by the deep blue gem that is suspended in the center of your forehead. Wires twist and bend like vines back into your hair, the chains Thyra hooked into braids earlier now look as if they’re roots to the crown.
Loki watches as Thyra moves some hair this way and that, ensuring everything is where it is supposed to be before she pulls back from you.
You look up to Loki, “Better?”
The look in his eyes envious, he sighs, “Exquisite.” Loki insists your hand return to its home on his arm as you continue to the stables, entering only moments later.
He walks you to a box in the middle of the left row of stalls where a tall speckled horse stands near the front, jaw working on a bit of grass in its mouth. You release Loki as he walks closer, hand running down the face of the animal and smiling to himself. “This is Saga. She is one of my favorite companions, and a great conversationalist.”
You smile and nod shortly to Saga, “A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Saga.”
Loki smiles and his chest moves with a laugh as he nods to the horse to your left, “That is Embla, I’ve prepared her for you today. She is an incredibly fascinating creature as well.”
You smile and nod once to Embla, “Good to meet you. I hope we can be friends.” Your hand runs down her face as her tail flips. You smile and nod, “I’m glad to hear it.”
You follow Loki from the stables to the side yard as two hostlers finish saddling your horses. Odin stands amongst a crowd of nobles as he sees you emerge, a bow in your direction is followed as you step closer towards the group. You smile, nodding once to Frigga and Thor before returning your attention to Odin as he speaks.
“I regret we did not get too much of the conversation I was hoping we might have during breakfast. Won’t you allow me the honor of riding in my party to allow the chance?” Odin glances at the lack of space between your body and Loki’s, “I know Frigga would adore the chance as well as she has been starved of your company today.”
You smile politely, “Of course. I’m eager to know what topics we strayed from, and to witness such a family of riders at work.”
Odin nods once more with a smile and walks towards his horse as it emerges from the barn followed by the rest of the first parties. You mount with assistance from the stableman, a watchful eye from Loki continuous before he mounts his own horse beside you. You follow his lead in riding behind the Allfather, Mother, and Thor. Your party waits in comfortable small talk as the rest of the company mounts, lining up in their stations for the ride into the woods.
Though the woods are within an eyeable distance, they appear as an illusion as you ride for minutes across the fields of Asgard. The small gallop your party takes in quiet across the expanse seems almost unbearably boring as you approach trees that widen to the width of a tower. The brush had seemed a reasonable scale from the overlook of the palace, but near the edge the trees become a wall of security.
You look up and around as you enter the forest line, the brush pulled back from a path of dirt. Your horse follows those around you with your lack of steering, a simple hand on the reins to pull back if necessary, but an intention of exploration in the grasp on the leather. The trees sway and sigh in the wind as various parties distance themselves every few people in an attempt at a semi-private conversation. Leaving you with Odin and Thor, Frigga and Loki ride just slightly in front of you.
“It seems you are an experienced rider, Goddess. Are you enjoying Embla?” Thor’s question is supported in a sincere grin of enjoyment.
You nod, “Not so much experienced, just trusting. I find it is the best way to approach any experience. Embla is very well, we seem to be in agreement for now.” You return his smile, “How is your morning until now, Thor?”
“I’m enjoying myself quite well, thank you.” Thor dips his head to the side as he chuckles, “Though I would love to be going faster than I could walk myself.”
Odin sighs and shakes his head, “Do children ever slow to appreciate the pleasantries in life, or must that be a stage I’m not privileged to witness as a father?”
You laugh, “I wouldn’t be one to ask, I’ve no children of my own. Though I understand both the excitement and the peace.”
“I would hope so,” Thor says, “As they are your excitement and your peace.”
Your brows furrow, “They are mine?”
Odin’s eyes flicker to Thor, a warning.
“Are they not?” Thor asks.
“I’m unsure of what it is you are insinuating or attempting to explain. I apologize,” you clarify, “would you be able to resolve my confusion?”
Thor’s eyebrow twitches up, an annoyed shock on his face, “Goddess, are you not The Goddess. It is how my Mother and Father have announced you; it is what you call yourself. I’ve been taught about The Goddess, we all have.”
You swallow, your shoulders swaying with the motion of your horse as you look from Thor to the path ahead of you. “I have not called myself anything, I’ve simply responded.”
“Is that not the same?” Thor questions, his horse one away from yours as Odin rides between you.
“That is enough.” Odin’s words fracture the determination in Thor, his question remains to the wind as you ride in silence beside Odin and watch Loki’s back.
Loki turns once, twice, and a third time to look at you as well as he talks with his mother. The third time he smiles at you and you smile back, a nod to him as he turns to respond to his mother once again. Thor falls behind your place joining the warriors he typically spends his time with.
Odin’s words barely rise above the sound of his horse’s hoof on the compacted dirt as he speaks, “Thank you for joining our festivities, Goddess. I did not see your arrival, though I am glad you are able to spend as much time here as you have allowed.” His gaze forward, Odin becomes almost a man.
You watch him as you talk, “I apologize, Allfather. I did not intend on interrupting your reign or life.”
“I know,” he says, “Frigga has told me.” Your silence hangs heavy for a moment before he clarifies, “My wife tells me only what I am intended to know, what I knew prior but didn’t truly comprehend. I know nothing to the extent your Seer does, Goddess, do not fret.”
“I would not fret,” you warn, “I do not tend to allow things to happen that I wish not.” You ride in silence beside Odin, your horse falling into step with his horse until Loki pauses his horse allowing Odin to continue with his wife.
Loki smiles at you, “Won’t you allow me to stray from this line with you? I have something I’d like to show you.”
You pull your horse from the path, allowing the party of many to walk by as you contemplate. You hum, “How much trouble will this cause, God of Mischief?”
He smiles and turns his horse from you, laughing as he begins to walk into the trees, “Enough.”
You smile and tap your Embla to pick up speed, following the image of a god on a horse into the woods.