Regina grabbed her horse's halter and jumped on his back, in too much of a rush to use a proper saddle or bridle. Not to mention an act of rebellion against her bloody mother. Daniel watched from the doorway, a stoic façade set in place. Regina didn't even glance his way as she blew out of the barnyard and into the open pastures. She had to get out of there before she did something else her mother would find displeasing.
Finally she reached her tree. The apple tree standing alone in the middle of a field surrounding her estate. For a second she merely leaned against her horse, allowing his mane to dry her tears, until she could hear hoofs beating behind her, drawing closer. As soon as they stopped they were replaced with the sound of boots hitting the dirt. And then strong arms surrounded her, pulling her from the strength of the horse into the arms of the man who never failed to calm her.
Regina's eyes rose until they found his face, his lips tilted in a sad smile. Sad because she was sad, but trying to help her understand that he was there for her. He would always be there for her. They rose from his lips and to his eyes. She simply stared into them, seeing all the emotions and feelings she had for him returned in that one look. No words were necessary. It was enough to just be in his presence and feel him with her.
Her arms encircled his neck, her fingers tangled in his hair as she stood on her toes to kiss him. His lips moved with hers. Not in longing or desire, though that was there, but in comfort and love. She could never thank him enough for that. She could never even hope to try. Instead, when she pulled away from his lips out of necessity for oxygen, she looked into his eyes again. "I love you," she spoke softly so as not to disturb the stillness and the silence that separated them from the world.
His smile brightened at her words. They rang with nothing but truth. Of course he had always known that what they had was true love, but hearing it was something different entirely. His mouth crushed against hers, filled with a passion only true love could create. For a moment it seemed as if the world revolved around them and nothing else mattered. His forehead rested against hers as he whispered back, "I love you."