Falls

Rivaini

The Fates smile kindly on you.

Rivaini forces the line of her lips to curve upwards in appreciation of the grullo’s words, though the silver bay was not able to mask the flicker of pain that she felt as their meaning sank in. Yes, she had been very fortunate to survive her crossing - but Iscariot had not been as lucky, and she was just beginning to truly grasp that she would never see him again. In addition, it was disconcerting that her mind should reject the reality of an event that Rivaini had experienced firsthand. Loss and the grief that inevitably followed were uncharted territory to the russet Andalusian - not unlike the islands she had ended up on. Without anyone to explain that it was entirely normal to feel a degree of denial about the death of a loved one, the confusion it caused only added to the burden of emotions that already weighed heavily on her.

Rivaini felt brittle and bleak and dangerously close to breaking.

Sapphire eyes had drifted from the stallions to the copse of trees in the distance, as if Rivaini could will herself into the shadows there on the strength of her gaze alone. Unfortunately, she could not think of a way to politely extricate herself from her companions. How did one tell a stranger that their concern was appreciated - treasured, even - but only served to increase the depths of her despair? In the secrecy of her mind, Rivaini attempted to piece together such a phrase that didn’t sound rude or ungrateful, but she couldn’t, she just couldn’t repay their compassion with such bitter coin. So instead she held her silence until Solomon’s question, parted her lips to reply, and felt the wall she’d so carefully maintained to hold back her tears crumble.

”I- I don’t know,” the silver bay responded with bald honesty, feeling foolish at the confession. She had put so much thought into how she and Iscariot would make their escape - why had she never considered where they would go, once they were free? ”My brother and I, we were leaving home together, but he- he didn’t make it.” She didn’t elaborate on what the latter part of this sentence meant, but perhaps - given the obvious distress Rivaini was feeling - it was unnecessary. Of course, what she was experiencing went beyond normal grief. A part of the bay mare blamed herself for her brother’s death. Keeping Iscariot safe had been her purpose, her self-appointed task… and she had failed.

The young boy was addressing her, and RIvaini checked her tears with a wrenching effort. Rivaini had been young not too long ago, and still remembered all too well the struggle to find her place in the world. She hoped that Sauron would find his, but understood that even more important than a land to call home was a friend to confide in, and to be a source of comfort in life’s darker hours. Iscariot had always been her solace, just as she had always been his... ”And you, Sauron,” the woman replied, bowing her head respectfully so that her pale forelock flowed in front of one blue eye. ”Perhaps you would consent to show me these lands you speak of, when my strength has returned.” Rivaini wasn’t exactly seeking a permanent home yet - her mind was still struggling to come to terms with all the turbulent changes in her life - but exploring more of the world she’d been thrust into sounded like a welcome distraction. If it served the dual purpose of helping the boy grow into his own, then it would repay in a small way the great kindness that had been shown to her so far. Plus a part of her did yearn to belong somewhere, as she had never truly belonged back home.

Only Iscariot had made her feel like something than she’d known might be possible, and she was determined that the dream would not die with him.

mare / five / silver bay tobiano / andalusian mix / 15.3hh