His voice resonated beside her and she felt relief within her. Once again, she had pleased him and in this instance it hadn't taken away from her either. The gray woman could not bring herself to look at him, her eyes focused on the oak, only humming her agreements on his statements. They were starting a family and he deserved every ounce of her commitment. For the first time that day, he was giving her space and she was grateful. If he approached her at that point in time, Jess was unsure of how she would have reacted. When Drestig spoke again, his voice was so low, she almost had to strain to hear, but it was the topic and sincerity that shocked her. The widowed woman could feel his eyes on her and she looked toward the earthy ground, words caught in her throat. He's too kind. The familiar lurch in her chest gave. It was a friendly oak tree that had fallen on him and taken him from her and yet it had also given her Drestig and a family that she never thought she would have desired. Jessie exhaled the pain.

Her dark man spoke again and she closed her eyes, eyebrows furrowed as he spoke about their future. She was so selfish. Jessie was not sure how much time passed between them in the silence but when she finally spoke the thing she could muster was, ”Drestig, thank you.” For understanding she wanted to add on, I love you. But the words caught in her throat. For the first time, she made eye contact with him since they had come to that place and she hoped that her gaze could convey what her words could not. Slinking towards him, exhausted from a days worth of travel, Jessie slumped against his side, her cheek rubbing against his shoulder before slipping peacefully into her unconscious.