His eyes were dark- so very dark, like the sky on a winter night with no stars. Deep, too, like a puddle on the path that was actually a hundred feet deep, just waiting for some unsuspecting girl to accidentally step in and-

The stable door flew suddenly flew open and crashed against the wall with a loud bang. I jumped and whirled around to face the door, turning away from Baldur. The poor horse neighed and nearly rose at the sudden interruption, shaking his golden mane, his midnight-black eyes wide from fear.

There, in the door, stood-

No. No, no, no. Why him? Why here? Why in this secluded place, so far away from everyone and everything? Why couldn't he just go away and-

"Oh, Astrid," Nikolas muttered, already turning away. "I didn't know you were here. I'll just come back later and-"

"No. Stay."

The words left my mouth before I could stop them.

For a moment, we just stared at each other.

"I-I mean, you can stay. I don't care," I quickly corrected myself, shrugging. "I'm just taking care of Baldur here. I'll be out in a second."

Nikolas said nothing, so I just turned away and went back to brushing Baldur's mane. The damn horse gave me an annoyed huff and kept nudging me, but I kept my eyes trained on him- or rather, I kept them trained away from Nikolas.

After a moment, I heard the straw rustling under his feet, and then the soft whinnying of Nott two boxes over.

Finally, I could let out a breath- and then silently curse myself under my next one. Great job, Astrid. Out in a second, my ass. After I was done with Baldur, I still had to brush, feed and water Vidar, Gefion, Lofn and all the other horses, clean out all the boxes, fill up the throughs from the storage- in fact, I'd probably be working in here for the rest of the day.

But, no, you just had to tell him you'd be right out. And now you're stuck in here with HIM. And after that disaster at the banquet, too. That damned red-haired witch of a jarl's daughter batting her stupid eyes at him all evening- of course he noticed her, she was only two seats over- and of course I noticed, I could see him perfectly from across the hall- and of course HE noticed that I noticed, I could SEE him looking over at me when he thought I wasn't looking, which I was, because I was looking to see if he was looking at-

"Nott's mane is looking beautiful today. So nice and smooth, don't you think?"

I froze.

"W-What? Sorry, I didn't catch that..."

He chuckled, turning to look at me.

"Nott's mane. Look, it's so smooth and soft, like the fabric that merchant was offering at the market last month."

I looked left. Nikolas was standing there, gently stroking Nott's mane.

Her fur really was looking beautiful today, the obsidian-black fur parting around his strong fingers like water in a mountain stream.

Nikolas was looking beautiful as well, his smile parting the little scar across his lips. His golden curls hung messily down the sides of his face, his black eyes sparkling with mirth, his-

No! I shook my head, threw my black ponytail back over my shoulder and straightened my back.

Don't think about him like that. Don't look at him like that.

Don't look at his hands brushing through Nott's black mane, imagining that it was your hair he was playing with like that.

Don't...

"True," I mumbled, internally hyperventilating. "But... I think Baldur's is much more beautiful. See? His mane is like liquid sunlight, and his fur is always so warm to the touch."

Nikolas looked over at me, the corner of his mouth quirked up. He raised a single eyebrow, his stupid black eyes sparkling-

I snapped my head back at Baldur, who was giving me a pleased look- if horses could look pleased, that is. I couldn't think about that right now, as I was too busy keeping my heart from jumping out of my throat and hiding somewhere under a pile of hay.

"I still think Nott's the better horse," he chuckled. "She's small and thin and wiry, but nobody would ever believe how much power, smarts and spite she's hiding behind those sharp golden eyes."

I had to stifle as gasp. Sure, Nott's eyes were golden, but so were mine.

Was he still talking about the horse? I don't think he is, and I don't think I am either.

"Well, Baldur isn't just big and strong as an ox, but swift as the wind- and yet, he's also gentle," I retorted, petting his neck and receiving a happy neigh in response. "No matter how harsh the terrain, he'd never throw you off, and he'd never run off no matter how scared he was. He... makes me feel safe. That's why I... why Baldur is such a great horse."

Gods be damned. My voice had almost dropped to a whisper near the end of that sentence. No way Nikolas didn't see through my shoddy attempt at disguising my feelings there. My face was probably red as burning coals, and any second now, he would ask me what in the world I was talking about and leave and never talk to me again.

Any moment now...

"Nott's eyes are my favorite."

His voice had gone quiet too, and I automatically held my breath so as not to miss a word.

"They're so bright, even when she looks down. When I'm having a bad day, just one look at those shining gold eyes can brighten it up, like the sun breaking through storm clouds. You'd never think it from looking at her, with her dark fur and her temper and everything, but she's... the best horse anyone could ever have, and I'm so happy that she's mine. I just wish that you- that I- I mean, that she..."

Nikolas cleared his throat and sighed.

"Well, you know what I mean," he mumbled.

Without another word, he turned and quickly left the stable, making sure not to look me in the eyes.

I just stood there, motionless, staring at the stable door as it fell shut behind him.

I don't remember how long I stayed there, standing, staring, my hand tightly clenched in Baldur's mane.