It was something I could do to remember you by. I didn't have a lot of those to pick from.

I know. I just don't think of 'illiterate' as a special thing about me to be commemorated and held on principle.

Well, dyslexia is a condition a lot of people have, and I don't think most of them have your self-esteem issues over it. I think picking fights on their behalf is something worth doing.

Yeah, that's reasonable, I just hate the thought of being known to history as 'blond, dog, dyslexic' - it is not an important thing about me, it's not something I want people to know to feel like they understand me...

Don't worry, I've also picked enough fights over other social justice issues that no one's going to put it down to "Idaia must have a dyslexic loved one" instead of "oh, it's Idaia being Idaia again."

I love you.

I love you.

I promise you that blond, dog, dyslexic is not and never has been how I think of you.

Wasn't in doubt.

I'm so glad remembering you by things isn't a salient motivation in my life anymore.

Me too, he says emphatically.

She sighs happily and leans into him a little more. Every now and then she gets an almost-vertiginous feeling of wondering disbelief that she has her husband back, that he's here and warm in her arms with his hands on her and mm...

You know what we should do? We should celebrate by having sex in every room of the place.

That is exactly what we should do.

Somehow I didn't think you would object!

It's a big house. By the time they've made substantial progress on this project Tyelcormo's siblings have reached out to ask if they can visit.

Idaia is slightly nervous but not in a way that causes her to have any objections to visiting family.

What are you nervous about?

That I'll accidentally treat them in a way I would have back in Valinor that pushes a trauma button or something.

I think they'd rather be treated that way than have you walking on eggshells.

Okay, then I won't.

We've been out in the world awhile. We mostly function.

I have higher aspirations for my loved ones' emotional health than 'functional'.

That'll be good for us, I think. We mostly haven't aspired higher than that.

I don't know if I know how to translate that aspiration into something actionable for anyone but you.

Getting the Silmaril back and founding a new civilization beyond the reach of the Valar. 

I'll do my best to help with that.

...Wait, does that mean we're leaving the planet?