Reinette felt the bed shift slightly as DĂșlinnor took the space next to her. He watched her for a moment, before he left a lingering kiss along her jaw. She felt herself sigh in contentment at the action, her eyes fluttering closed for a little while before snapping open to gaze upon his now upright form as he spoke. "Perhaps you would like to join me for a walk? I've a surprise for you but I'm afraid that I could not bring it within the city."
Reinette laughed slightly, her voice melodic and light as she spoke. "Yes. Of course, I'd love to join you. You cannot tempt me with talk of surprises and expect me to not come along, now can you?" Her eyes were twinkling with mirth as she took hold of his now outstretched hand and let him help her from the bed.
"I shall meet you in the sitting room when you are ready." Reinette watched DĂșlinnor as he left, her happy smile still lingering on her features as she moved from his room to her own old one. She was quick to slip into a warm bath, and scrub off whatever unpleasant things remained on her skin from sleeping for four days. Finally, one she was done with her body and hair, Reinette dried off and made her way to her collection of dresses, finding a silk and lace gown with elbow length butterfly sleeves. After slipping into the dress, Reinette found herself in front of the mirror, clasping the necklace that DĂșlinnor had given to her so long ago around her neck.
But she didn't pull away from the mirror straight away, instead getting lost in the image reflected back at her. There truly was a difference in her appearance, and while it was clearly her own face that was staring back at her, it felt foreign to her all the same. Reinette reached out her hand, letting her fingers brush against the reflection before her. She almost expected the reflection to flinch and move away, as if she was touching the face of another. But the only image reflected back at her was that of her own confused visage. She turned away after a moment, telling herself that one day she would get used to the changes that had occurred, and it would seem to her as if it had always been that way.
Her eyes turned down to the ring that adorned her finger, then. And the bright smile that Reinette was known for once again crawled its way onto her face. Yes, she reminded herself, she was engaged to marry DĂșlinnor. Things were changing, but they were changing for the better.
Reinette was soon joining DĂșlinnor in the sitting room, following him out of the home that they shared and taking his arm as she fell into a comfortable pace beside him. She was immediately accosted by her senses as soon as they made their way out of their home, though. Everything was definitely different to her - the world around her was brighter, the smells around her were fuller, and the sounds about her were definitely louder. But DĂșlinnor did his best to keep her mind concentrated instead on what he was saying, engaging her in the way that she so loved as they talked.
Soon, the two found themselves at the rope bridge. They crossed it - Reinette, without much assistance. She was quite proud of herself in that moment; her balance had greatly approved, and she'd only needed a bit of help from DĂșlinnor towards the end of their crossing. She silently celebrated that little victory, though she did not inform DĂșlinnor of how very proud of herself she was, as she knew that it wasn't entirely her own doing, but rather, it had a lot more to do with the changes that had happened to her instead.
The blonde walked beside DĂșlinnor for a short while longer, the stables finally appearing in front of them as they progressed. Reinette wondered momentarily what the surprise could be, and why it would need to be all the way out near the stables. But her questions were soon answered as they came to rest in front of Rochiril's stall. Her eyes turned to DĂșlinnor's as he spoke, and she could feel the tears beginning to prickle at the sides of her golden orbs.
"Reinette, I had thought... that since you are staying in Middle Earth, that perhaps you would benefit from having a horse of your own." He was smiling at her, in that way that he did when he was presenting her with something. The way that warmed her heart and set her skin aflame all in the same time.
With shaky fingers, she slipped up the latch that separated her eyes from viewing the beautiful creature held within. Almost as soon as she saw Rochiril's nose pushing towards her, eager to smell who had come to visit, she found herself crying and laughing all at the same time. The horse seemed to instantly recognize who it was on the other side of the stall, and was pushing her nose into the palm of Reinette's hand. The young woman immediately pressed her forehead against Rochiril's own as the beautiful mare bowed her head, letting out a puff of air in greeting. Reinette felt herself laugh as she pulled away from the horse that had carried her over countless thousands of miles, that had protected her as DĂșlinnor and Aglaron had done, as well. She could almost feel the happiness as being reunited emanating from the proud creature before her.
But she soon turned to DĂșlinnor, quickly pulling him into an embrace and crashing her lips against his own. She didn't care if there were any stable hands nearby that might see their public embrace - she couldn't care less if she was being indecent or way too 21st century for Middle Earth to handle. She wanted the ellon, whom she loved more than life itself, to know just that - that she thanked him more than words could express for the gift, and that she was beyond elated, beyond happy.
Pulling from DĂșlinnor with a laugh as well, she wiped the lingering tears from her eyes and cheeks, smiling brilliantly at the Elf before her. "Thank you, DĂșlinnor. Thank you... This is an amazing gift, really. I," her eyes turned to Rochiril, who whinnied in agreeance with the previous statement. Reinette laughed slightly, before turning back to DĂșlinnor, and continuing. "I could not think of a better way to wake from four days of sleep."
She regarded him for a moment longer, before speaking. "What made you decide on Rochiril, though?" She was happy for the decision; she didn't want him to get the idea otherwise. She had just wondered where the idea had come from. The horse beside them tossed its head slightly at the sound of its name, its dark eyes watching the two, but settling finally on Reinette with a calm sort of resonance hidden somewhere inside. It was clear that Rochiril was loyal to Reinette, and that the love that she had for the proud and strong mare was easily reflected within the horse.