Chapter 24: Quality Time

Cephera woke cuddled into Loki's side and Shiaji pressed against her back. Together they got up and dressed for breakfast. Seeing both of them come to the table seemed to please everyone. "Your trip went well I take it?" Thor said to her. Cephera flushed slightly knowing everyone was aware she didn't go home for the reasons she'd told the gatekeeper.

"Very well." She replied. Thor smiled at her and took a large mouthful of his eggs.

"Perhaps the next trip you take Loki will go with you." It was Odin who spoke. He rarely spoke toward Loki or their marriage. Frigga had always told her that Odin didn't want to give Loki any extra reasons to ignore Cephera and so he was keeping a safe distance.

"Perhaps." Loki replied smoothly not looking at Odin. The awkward relationship between them could be felt and seen by everyone around them. Cephera hoped one day that relationship could one day he repaired even just a little. Right now she was more concerned for her own relationship.

"How is your sister?" Frigga asked politely.

"She is well. I miss her but it's time I learned to live my own life. That's what my father told me when I was to marry. He's right." Cephera nodded.

"You had never spent much time away from your sister then?" Thor inquired.

"No. We spent every moment we could together. Before I was adopted she almost died for me." Cephera remembered those times well. Her and King Yorin had not always gotten along. When they first met he saw Cephera as an obstacle. He felt Cephera was holding her sister back because the only thing in life Seraphina cared about was Cephera's health and happiness. He had on several occasions threatened to kill her and in one moment he had actually tried. Had Seraphina not threatened her own life Cephera would have surly been killed by the king.

But in the end he realized the best way to keep his daughter at his side and loyal to him was to accept Cephera and that's what he did. Thinking back Cephera wouldn't have changed a thing. Her relationship with King Yorin had only become stronger with each passing year. Cephera listened as the conversation moved off her and onto Thor and Jane. Apparently things had been strained between the two as he was a god and her a human.

Thor was struggle with the fact that Jane was on the fence about a future between them. The thought of a long life and becoming an Asgardian was daunting to her. Cephera could agree with Jane. Going from thinking you're going to live a short life to finding out you are going to live for a very long time was a bit of a mind scramble and hard to grasp. Odin didn't say much on the topic of Jane. It seemed Odin would rather Thor left her to her life and his son move on but he didn't voice it.

Breakfast ended and Loki guided Cephera from the meal hall. They had agreed to spend more time together and today was the beginning of that. She followed him all the way outside to the stables. "You said you had never rode a horse on your own before. Today you will ride with me into town. I have a gift for you." He said to her. Cephera couldn't help but smile and she was happy he helped her on his horse himself this time. The last time she'd gone on horseback with him had been there first day after marriage.

Loki climbed up behind her gripping the reigns his breath ghosting her ear as he did. It was hard to tell if he had done so on purpose but she couldn't help but smile wider. He set off at a soft trot. "Can you guess where I'm taking you?" He asked into her ear.

"Umm. Well you mentioned my having not ridden a horse on my own so maybe you're fitting me for a saddle." She said. She shrugged.

"Not a bad guess but I'm sure you can do better." He teased. Cephera could tell he was trying to find a natural movement between them. A way of talking to one another and interacting that fit them without being awkward. She liked his teasing and so this worked well.

"Well the palace has plenty of horses so I doubt you're getting me a horse." She said thinking.

"All the horses in the palace have been used. I want you to have something new." Loki told her.

"I'm getting my very own horse?!" She said surprised.

"You are." He admitted. He sounded amused by her enthusiasm. Shiaji purred in her ear from her opposite shoulder and Cephera gave off a happy giggle.

Cephera pursed her lips together and wriggled backward slightly pressing herself closer to him. "But I like riding with you." She said playfully.

"You are to much of a distraction for that to happen all the time." Loki groaned. "Keep that up and we'll not make it to the horse breeders this day." His warning made her giggle but she heeded the warning and pulled herself further from him once more. They rode through the town to a farm area Cephera and Shay had visited once in there explorations.

"Princess!" The man said approaching with his wife. "My Prince." He said sounding a little worried. "To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit?" The farmer, Lord Shinx, eyed Loki mostly.

"I'm here to purchase a horse for my wife." Loki replied sounding all business like.

"I have just the horse." It was Lady Shinx who spoke up beaming a cheery smile. "I remember your first visit here there was a certain mare you seemed to have an eye for." Cephera was surprised the lady remembered. It was true. There had been this one horse she had seen prancing around the yards. She was black with white along her chest and belly. Cephera liked how wild and free she seemed. While all other horses were just chilling around her she was at a constant run. It was her energy that caught Cephera's attention.

"You still have her?" Cephera asked excitedly.

"We do." Lady Shinx said clapping her hands together.

"Let me see it." Loki said looking between them. With a nod they all followed the lady and her husband to the back where the fenced yards awaited them. Like the first time the horse she liked was running around the whole fenced area. Her mane flowing around her.

"There she is." Cephera told Loki grabbing his arm and pointing.

"She looks wild." Loki commented not sounding happy.

"Oh please Loki! Look at her. She's just so free!" Cephera pleaded. Loki looked directly down at her before looking up at the owners.

"Has anyone successfully ridden her?" He asked. There was an exchange of looks between the husband and wife.

"No my prince. She is a little exuberant." The Lord said looking nervous.

"Dangerously so?" He questioned.

"With some careful training and a good bit of work and time she could be quite a prized steed my prince. She had not harmed any of my workers but she just doesn't stand still for long." It was obvious the man hated to tell Loki this. He seemed desperate to impress. Loki looked back to Cephera once more.

"Are you willing to take the time to train the horse with my instructions?" Loki asked her.

"I have a lot of patience and I am willing to take the time." Cephera said nodding vigorously.

Loki removed coins from his pocket and handed them to the farmer. "There is coin in there to cover the horses expense, a saddle to he fitted to both the mare and her rider and also a delivery fee to have the animal brought to the palace stables tomorrow morning." Loki said directly to the farmer.

"Tomorrow my prince?" He said surprised.

"Is that a problem?" The man swallowed.

"It's only that the saddle may take a while." He replied looking frightened. Cephera hadn't realized people feared insulting Loki so much.

"Deliver the horse tomorrow mourning. Take my wife's measurements and we will collect the saddle in two days time." Loki negotiated.

"Thank you my prince." The man said with a bow his hand clutching the coins.

(Loki)

Loki had decided that morning that he would take her out for a horse. Loki enjoyed riding and if he wanted to find things to do with her he would have to show her something's he enjoyed and the same went for her. He allowed her to choose their second place to go and of course she asked to go to the beach. Loki had agreed but there was a little secret that he hadn't told her when they had first visited. Today he would show her.

He helped her down off the horse to the sand below. She rid herself of her shoes quickly and sighed when the sand slipped between her toes. "Come." Loki said walking down the beach to a small overgrown trail. It was clear not so many people came here anymore. "Myself and Thor would come here as children." Loki told her. "I think it is a place you will enjoy." He added. They walked through the overgrowth until they reached a rockier area. Loki noticed she walked carefully across the rocky area but she didn't seem to mind her bare feet and so he didn't see the need to offer her help.

They finally reached an area that was up higher than the water below. The water was being fed by a crystal clear stream cascading down a rocky cliff and the pool below was very large. Cephera stood there her mouth gapping wide. "It's beautiful!" She said hopping on her feet with great enthusiasm.

"And it's safe for swimming." Loki told her. He grinned as he removed his coat and top. She wasn't long following suit. Soon she was wearing only her underwear and Loki stripped down to nothing. He eyed her panties and she took the hint and removed those to. From this height loki jumped as he had when he was just a boy. He hit the water safely and as he surfaced he looked up to his wife. She was laughing before she took a running jump. She landed a few feet from Loki and when she surfaced she wiped off her face and laughed again.

In an odd way she made him feel younger. Her love for the simple things reminded him of his childhood. The years where the smallest things amused you and brought you joy. Loki swam to her in a few strong stroke and place his arms around her using his legs to keep him from going under. "How old are you?" He asked her. He couldn't figure it out. He'd been trying on his own but he simply just couldn't put a finger on it.

"Ummm like 810ish." She said biting her lower lip. Loki knew he was staring at her with his mouth slightly ajar.

"How do you keep you childlike whimsy?" He questioned. He would have never pegged her that old.

"My sister. She was always the very serious one and she indulged my whimsical ways because it brought her joy. She protected me against a lot of life's obstacles. Always taking in the hardships. After our ordeal finding out about her real father and after our mothers death I tried to find things in life that brought me small joys. I learned to look at things a little differently. When I was adopted King Yorin also indulged my whimsy." She tried to explain her best and Loki knew it was clear she'd been slightly over protected.

"I must agree that your outlook and playful ways are a breath of fresh air but I also must be truthful and say that sometimes they can be irritating." Loki said.

"I know." She said. "I try to act differently depending on the situation but it's hard to break away from the child in me." She told him.

"Well you are free of your sister and I will not always indulge you as those around you have but I am sure there are things about me you will also not always enjoy." He grinned. He felt free in this moment. He kissed his wife as the current moved around them and afterward he continued to enjoy the waters even having a challenge to see who could swim closest to the water fall against the current.

Ahhh. Some nice time together! I really enjoyed writing this. I'm trying to find ways they can spend time together without getting cheesy. Lol

Please review. I love reviews!

- Twifan 1987: fatherhood would suit him however he doesn't see that yet. ;P

- Nightmare of Cat: there are many feels to come!

- Loki's Dreamer: haha. It is the worst but yeah not bad at all. Lol

- Lightning and Ice: thanks!

- Benfan 1: my story followed the movie verse so he does know he is a frost giant. As for what causes his trepidation that's for a later chapter.

- Spazz123: I'm so glad to hear that! I'm glad I managed to write more than one story you like!

- Guest: Only Thor, Odin and Frigga know Loki is Jotun. Not even Shay knows as they had never told anyone else and now that Loki knows its up to him who he would want to tell. It will become brought to light later.

- Akera Writer of the Night: it was not directed at you. You amuse me :)

- Reneemm: Loki is certainly trying harder to be more considerate.

- Poodle Warriors: I thought it was a good start as well. Something balance and believable.

- Exploding Sushi 15: Loki and romantic I'm not sure matches. I don't see him as the wine and dine, hearts and flowers kinda guy but I'm sure he'll find things to do. As for typos, no worries I have lots of them too. Lol

- Gfor098: that's not actually the reason. It's only part of it. You'll see. ;P

- 88 Dragon 06: thanks. Loki defiantly handled himself better this time.