i used to rule the world

seas would rise when i gave the word

There was little doubt within the ancient Hunter's mind of his proteges capabilities in her horsemanship. The tales of Anastasia's abilities with the reigns of a horse within her hands were perhaps as legendary as her disappearance from Russian society. She was a force to be reckoned with. Still, there was perhaps more than just Anastasia herself that Alexander had such steadfast belief. Rather, he held absolute faith in that connection he was so seeking to forge, within that companionship he so tenderly tended to. He was entirely certain, within that moment, that there was the capability of an undoubtable friendship within them, even if they themselves were oblivious of that which he saw. Calliel, he knew, was already quite fond of the Duchess that so sat with unrivaled elegance upon her spine, and in turn he too knew that the were-female had passed that initial judgement with flying colors. Anastasia needed this perhaps as much as Calliel herself did, and it was that simple knowledge that so brought the smallest simper of satisfaction upon the corner's of the Monarch's lips as he leaned against the wooden railing that surrounded the length of that ring. His intense blue-green gaze remained upon the pair as he watched his protege so push the woman around the ring at an all too comfortable pace. His own gaze was entirely judgemental in nature, so observing what still needed to be tended to and corrected within the young woman whom only just had begun to blossom as the newfound supernatural creature she was.

It was, perhaps, the particularly intense examination of the pair that saw that pleased look so falter upon the man's features. The military man was, at the heart, still the very creator of many of those facets of modern horsemanship - he could tell from the simple shift of his ward and the shift in that ebony mare's gait when something was amiss. It was, however, that poised composure of Anastasia herself that so suggested that, whatever was about to occur, was an action entirely of her own making. That simple fact alone was enough to cease any action from the part of the King, the man content to simply remain where he was at the fence to so watch with a nearly exasperated look upon his features. He was hardly surprised as those footfalls increased in pace, the pair barreling down the length of that arena in a headlong charge for the opposite end. He watched as those hind legs coiled and in that moment, Alexander understood exactly the notion that had so crossed Anastasia's mind, that soft sigh so leaving his lips as they bounded over that boundary and into the grassy fields beyond. She always did enjoy doing things her own way, not that Alexander could terribly fault her on it. It was a trait he himself had, and one he surely had fostered within her over the years she had spent at his side. Still, he knew the woman enough to know well that even her rebelliousness was, in their own way, perhaps a sort of effort to bring some sense of jovialness to their relationship. After all, when was the last time they had so ventured together on horseback through the depths of some foreign country? How could he not obliged her?

The Dark Hunter shook his head ever so slightly before pushing away from the edge of the fence, entirely ignoring any backward glance either of the women might so have provided him. Instead, Alexander left them momentarily to their own devices, returning towards that stable only to look over the horses Calliel cared for with a critical eye. So choosing his own creature for the evening's adventure was hardly a difficult task in the least. It was a stallion he chose at the end, the chestnut creature was exceedingly prideful of that Alexander could tell by appearances alone and yet, he seemed equally as restless, entirely wanting to be free of this barn and rid himself of the excess energy in a fashion that he knew well Calliel herself might enjoy. He always did enjoy the difficult ones. It took but mere moments to place a lead upon the creature and so guide him from the depths of that stall before Alexander took his place upon the horse's back, the creature all too willing to yeild to his command as he urged it into a trot. It hardly took long before he joined the pair upon the grassy expanses, his blue-green eyes offering Anastasia a simple look. "This was not what I had in mind." He stated simply enough and yet, there was not a trace of scolding in those baritone lyrics.