arrowbythebooks:

A small grin started to tug on Magnus’ lips. He’d managed to at least get more out of Alec than a standard answer, it gave him hope that just maybe he’d get the other to smile.

He didn’t speak up again until they reached the stables, Magnus finding his horse immediately and waving away the stable hand who’d immediately started to fetch the tack. “I was planning on going to the woods. Unless the danger of thorns is too great for you to allow such a thing.” He hummed as he took a saddle and began to strap it onto his horse.

Going to his own horse,Alec actually snorted at Magnus’ words. He simply shook his head, saddling his horse with practiced hands. It was routine for him, at this point, and he was able to get his horse ready rather quickly. He had been riding since he was a child.

“The woods seem fine enough. I’m fairly certain that I can handle a few rogue thorns.” Alec couldn’t remember the last time he’d actually joked like that. Especially not with royalty. It was all so new, but he couldn’t say it was a terrible thing. Magnus was certainly a charmer.

Once his horse was ready, he mounted up with a widening smile. It seemed it wasn’t too hard to prompt Alec into acting like they were both just average people.

“I’m glad to hear it. After all, I don’t think thorns are particularly deadly.” He hummed softly. “But anyway, shall we go?”