She awoke. Staar was still sleeping soundly. The horses felt troubled. There was a disturbance in the air, but Tymber dismissed it as she walked to Potter's homely cottage. She looked in the window and saw Martha readying lunch. Martha saw her peek in and opened the door to let Tymber in.
"Tymber," Martha said, "you slept well. We weren't sure to wake you for breakfast. Daire told us that you hadn't slept well these past nights."
"Well," Tymber replied, "I feel very rested now." she smiled lightly.
"Would ye help me set the table?" Marth inquired.
Tymber set the plates out, taking her time. "Where's Daire?" she asked.
"Upstairs talking to Potter." Martha said. "Ye know, he seems a bit distracted."
"Distracted?" Tymber asked.
"Yes." Martha replied. "Well, I suppose that's normal. After all, he will be leaving his hometown. He's lived here his whole life, ye know."
"Really?" Tymber asked, starting to set the cups down. "Where is his family?"
"He has none." Martha replied. "Mother died when he was just a young child. Father couldn't afford to keep him. Just left one night. He's stayed with us ever since. He helps out around the farm, and we fed him in return."
"How terrible that his father just left him!" Tymber exclaimed.
"Well, it's nothin' unusual. Might as well pride myself on being lucky enough to have found a wonderful husband that loves his children dearly." Martha smiled and went on tossing the salad.
Tymber placed the last napkin down and stood a moment in thought. This wasn't the first time she had thought of her father. But this was the first time that she admitted to feeling sorry for herself.
"What about you, child?" Martha asked. "Where is your family?"
Tymber crumpled the napkin in her hand. "I have no family." she told Martha.
Martha didn't reply. She looked at Tymber as Tymber stood there scowling, shook her head and went back to buttering the croissants.
Footsteps erupted as Daire and Potter noisily came down the stairs. Daire looked at Tymber and she quickly avoided his gaze.
"Serah! Peewee! Come and get your lunch!" Martha called.
The two children came giggling down the stairs.
When they ate lunch, they ate it in silence. Daire sat across from Tymber this time. Tymber was glad. The uncomfortable feeling of his hand in her's after what had happened the night before might be too much for Tymber to bare.
When they were done, Daire excused himself and went outside. Tymber turned around in her seat and watched him walk to the stables.
"Are ye done, Tymber?" Martha asked.
Tymber looked down at her empty plate and took her croissant in her hand. "Yes'm." she said. "Please excuse me." She ran outside.
She had almost made it to the stables when she thought for a moment. What would she do once she was in there? Would she apologize, again, for what happened the night before? She felt Daire's uneasiness. She didn't know quite what to say to him. She felt around her and noticed that Staar was awake. He was awake and aware.
Sliding her back down the outside of the stable wall, she sat on the ground. She closed her eyes and saw the blackness.
Staar? she called.
Tymber, you are here. I knew I felt you come. Staar said. Your mate speaks to me.
May I come into your mind for a moment? I'd like to hear for myself what he has to say. Tymber said.
You are welcome in my mind, so long as you ask. Staar approved.
Tymber tugged ther link and felt her mind flow into his with a rush. His vision wobbled some, but she steadied herself and let it still. Staar's eyesight was not good. Colours weren't to be found, except red and yellow that appeared dull. His hearing, however, was exceptional, and Tymber foud nthat she didn't just hear Daire, but she heard the sound of his jaws scrape as he opened and closed his mouth, and the sound of his tongue as it touched the back of his teeth. She heard the rustle as he brushed his hair off of his forehead with his hand. She listened to what he said.
"She said that you could talk to her; understand her. Does that mean you can understand me?"
Staar cocked his head. Tymber's thoughts traveled to Staar's and then he nodded. He only understood because Tymber understood.
"You can!" Daire's eyes widened. He regained his composure. "Then, I trust you understand what happened lastnight."
Staar nodded again.
"You know, it scared me. I still don't know what happened. I really like Tymber --- alot. But I don't know anything about her. I know she's nice, and that she loves animals. And I know that she's practical. She has a way of daydreaming, where she'll just drift off to another world. She sometimes even seems somewhat depressed; sad; that I want to make her happy. And she's beautiful.." Daire looked away and imagined. "She's so beautiful, that the Gods must have crafted her out of stars. So lovely that the sea would part to let her through were she to not have a boat. So gorgeous that she makes me want to sing a million songs." He looked back at Staar. "Are all of these things enough? Should her history really matter? Do I deserve her love as much as I want it?"
Tymber wanted to cry. He loved her.
Staar's hesitation was so strong that it felt like a cutting edge on Tymber's mind. He was never like this. He had an answer to every question. A solution for every doubt. And there he sat, staring up at Daire, unanswering, wavering in his decision, not knowing what to do.
I will never love him more than Staar. He had heard that thought the day before. Never, she had said.
Staar nodded.