I couldn’t hide the joy I felt at Döguns arrival. My body sent out an involuntary shudder as my belly rumbled with hot, musty breath and the soft guttural nicker that came with it. Apart from our first meeting, he had never tried to rule me, tell me what to do. He respected me, and my strength.

I sighed. my strength. In a sense I feel I have lost it. Standing atop a hill in the freezing cold and muddy shores surrounding me, foal by my side, stallion walking to my side. I was not trapped in the literal sense, no boundaries or force held me here, no force bar love. I had never been strong enough to withstand it. Love brought me more trouble than hate ever had. Hate is quick and sharp, once over it never affects you again. Love however, was something different. If one who loves you hurts you, you can’t hate them no matter how hard you try, and that hurts the most. The pain of love stays with you forever, until your own dying day.

”Dögun” I breathed in reply, my body relaxing at his touch. I pulled my head down to the foal at my feet and whispered his name, like an oath that could never be broken, ”Rökkur”. The tiny, frail foal, opened his eyes. Staring blearily at the two horses. ”meet your father”. He clacked his teeth in response, warily eying the other horse he would learn as father. I could not hold my happiness at my son, a smile played on my lips and I looked at Dögun as my foal begun to stand.