It was a warm day, the sun was shining and for once Ylainr had nothing to worry about. A young girl with copper hair as bright as that sun and blue eyes as colourful as the sky it sat, Ylainr sat enjoying a rare moment of peace and relaxation. Days like this were few and far between for her, the training that she had undertaken took up almost all of her time, but that was okay because it meant more time with him.
Ylainr had come to the new Jedi training camp, set up by the last remaining Jedi Luke Skywalker, when she was just a young child – her parents having died and left her an orphan. Luke saw potential in the young girl, not as a Jedi, but certainly as someone who could grasp the combat side of things. And she had done just that far and above Master Skywalker's expectations she could fight just as well as the Padawans he was training. The place had become her home, the people around her were the new family she needed and Ben…well, Ben was hope for the future. As children, they had bonded quickly – Ben had been sent away by his family, something he knew they did for him but he couldn't help that small feeling of resentment that brewed in the back of his mind. Ylainr however had no family, the two shared a loneliness that brought them together. Now, they were both young adults who rarely spent time apart except when they had to and this had not gone unnoticed by Luke. Her current situation was one which she felt completely content with, but yet she longed for more. The adventures she had heard about from Luke, she wanted that. She also wanted something she feared she could never have and that was Ben. Love was not the Jedi way, yet she knew she loved him more each day she was with him and he felt the same about her.
As she sat, she heard the sound of soft footsteps coming towards her –
"I do hope you're not about to ruin my peace" she said without moving.
"One day, I'll be able to sneak up on you without you hearing" Ben replied with an almost sulky tone to his voice, as he approached and sat beside her, staring out at the same spot Ylainr's gaze was fixed upon.
"You couldn't if you tried" she smiled and turned to look at him, but his face was expressing something she knew he was trying to conceal. "Ben? What's wrong?"
Trying to return to his usual self, Ben smiled back at her and took her hand. "Nothing! Nothing is wrong, I just…"
"YLAINR!" Ben was cut off by the loud and very excitable shout of a young girl called Rey, who came running over the two of them and jumped into Ylainr's lap.
"Well now, look who it is! My goodness you've got a lot of energy today little Rey, today is your day to relax!" Ylainr hugged the child, she was like the younger sister she had never had and she adored this little, troublesome girl who seemed to adore her just as much.
"I don't know how to relax. Does it mean I have to sit and stare at things like you and Ben? Because I don't think that's very exciting" Rey said in such a sincere way for a girl so young. Ylainr and Ben laughed at her.
"No Rey, not quite. You'll understand the value of peace and quiet when you grow…" Ben tried so hard to be happy and not to show the conflict running through his head. Something was coming which these two girls he cared so much about were so unaware of, and it was his intention to keep it that way. Ylainr recognised that conflict in his face, this was so out of character for him and she needed to know what was causing him this pain.
"Rey darling, why don't you use that energy to run all the way home, I promise I will come and see you later and we can play until we fall asleep, how about that?" Ylainr said softly, but with a small hint of urgency. The child rose from Ylainr's lap and hugged the both of them before running off back the way she came.
"Ben, what is it? Something is wrong I can see it in your face, we've known each other too long for you to lie to me. Please trust me?" She spoke calmly, but just as he could not conceal anything from her, nor could she conceal the genuine fear in her voice.
"I can't. There is something I have to do. Can you do something for me?" he stood as he spoke, looking down at Ylainr who sitting so innocently in front of him, he stared at her face almost as if she was the reason he had to do whatever it was he was speaking of.
"Anything, what do you need?" she rose and stood in front of him, putting her hands on his face.
"I need you to walk away from the training camp. I need you to trust what I'm asking you to do, just start walking away from it and carry on walking" he spoke sternly with a desperation for her to do as he asked. Ylainr's face turned to one of confusion.
"Ben, why do I need to –"
"Just do it. Please, I need you to trust me now like you always have" he held her face in his hands the same way she held his. As he spoke he put his forehead to hers and there was a moment of silence between them. Ylainr thought for a moment, she felt like she should press him further for answers and dig deeper but instead she agreed to what he had asked, simply answering with a small nod. She kissed Ben on the cheek before turning towards the opposite direction of the camp and beginning to walk without thinking too much on it. She turned one last time to look at him, either because she feared something was about to change or for a small piece of reassurance; he gave her one final smile and she smiled back before heading on her way. The smile faded from his face once she was out of sight - Ben could sense the fear and confusion in her, but he had to do this. It was the only way to save her from what was coming.
