Chapter 11

Dxun/ 16 BBY/ 3 years after Contingency Order: 66

As the sun rose from behind the waterfall, the glossy rush of water glowed with a brilliant red. Mist billowed at the foot of the hill and lofted over the river's surface, carrying over the grassy banks of the clearing deep in the forest. The fog surrounded a rather small, half-cylindrical tent pitched off the bank of the river. Beside the tent, a small fire pit emitted smoke from last night's cookout. Keilbourn emerged from the canvas tent. He tugged down at the hem of his light tunic as he breathed in the morning air. Ten miles out from the compound of Clan Ordo, Keilbourn always thought this place to be the most beautiful on all of Dxun. Piled by the fire pit, his armor mingled with Iella's on the grass. He suddenly felt smooth arms wrap around his chest and her head rest on his back. He turned towards her and smiled.

"Morning," she said blissfully.

"Morning," he replied while looking down into her green eyes. "You know, you never really look right whenever you're not heavily armed," he mused playfully. She laughed and held him even closer. He kissed her forehead then pulled back. He walked to the pile of armor and crouched beside it. He rustled through the rucksack in the midst of the armor and pulled out a wrist-chronometer. "Oh, it's just about time," he exclaimed as he leapt up.

"For what?" she asked.

"I got a surprise for you," Keilbourn grinned. "Arm up." She watched him dive back into the tent. A smile spread on her face. If he had a surprise for her, she knew she would like it. After a matter of minutes, the both of them trekked away from the waterfall, both entirely encased in their Beskar armor. She followed him through the woods to the woods on the other side of the river from the main trail back to the compound. Soon the vegetation around them began thin out to another clearing. The rush of the waterfall could still be heard from where they stood. Keilbourn stopped at the edge of the clearing, standing akimbo. Iella paused where she stood, amazed by what she saw. Before them in the heart of the clearing was a large three story structure. The base of the structure was as the foot of a pyramid. On top of the flat landing was a narrow structure on the development. Surrounding the rim of the open landing was a railing and on either side of the top structure was a door. Facing them at the foot of the building was a larger door. "It's something, isn't it," Keilbourn admired.

"I've never seen this before," she said in amazement.

"It may have been buried by foliage," he replied. She looked at him with wonder. Her curiosity and suspicion grew with every moment. "Come on, follow me," he beckoned as he strode forward. He arrived to the closed door at the foot of the building. Keilbourn pried open the door easily, sliding it to the side, careful to make sure it wasn't lost in the wall. He glanced back at her, winking from behind his helmet then beckoning with a flick of his head before stepping inside. Iella didn't know quite what to expect. She at least assumed the inside to be run down and dilapidated, with wall panels ajar or missing. She expected a musty smell from years of being lost in the midst of the forest. As she stepped inside, she was shocked and surprised by what she saw. The entire inside, though dark and unlit, was cleaned. The interior showed no sign of being filled with the jungle and the smell was clean and soothing. The main room was large and empty with massive, walls which leaned inwards with the rest of the bottom structure. Along the wall to the left a large staircase climbed to the second level.

"It's nice huh?" he asked with his arms outstretched in a presenting manner.

"Sure is something," she replied as she turned her head about in wonder.

"Here's the best part," he said; barely able to contain his enthusiasm. He strode to the wall and approached a control panel. Keilbourn flicked a switch, his anticipation building just as her curiosity peaked. Suddenly the inside seemed to welcome them as the warm radiance of the sun leaked through the large metal shutters on the outside of the large transparisteel panes which served as side walls of the bottom structure. The inside no longer seemed like a cold, closed, metal box, allowing Iella and Keilbourn to see the beauty of the forest outside.

"What is this place?" Iella asked with wonder.

"Well, I'm not really sure what it used to be," he said as he approached her and reached for both of her hands. "But I can tell you what it will be." She smiled from behind her helmet, slightly beginning to follow his train of thought. "The upstairs has a large room fit for two and as well as ten smaller rooms along the hall." Keilbourn removed his helmet and lowered it to the floor then held her hands again. He looked into her eyes. "Iella this could be our home for us to raise our family in. It's ours, if you'll have me." She was speechless. She reached to her own helmet and removed it, tossing it aside without care then grabbing his hands again. She looked up at him, happier than she'd ever been in her entire life. In the seconds she looked into the depth of his brown eyes, she reflected the time which she'd known him. The first time they'd met, he was to her an awkward, mysterious individual. From that moment, she'd thought he had him figured out; just another guy following after her. Then he saved her the first time while on a hunting run. He seemed confident and strong. But she never returned his attention towards her, till he saved her from a life of slavery. She couldn't remember everything about her captivity, except waking in the medical bay. She saw different side of him, one she'd never before seen, compassion. Since then, there time together grew and grew and so did their affection for each other and her love for him.

"Of course," she choked with glee. She didn't cry, that's just not who she was but her emotions ran wild within her. Keilbourn held her hands and took a step back, still looking straight down in her eyes. Taking a deep breath, he finally spoke the words he'd imagined sharing for three years in the language that meant so much to the both of them.

"Mhi solus tome, mhi solus dar'tome, mhi me'dinui an, mhi ba'juri verde." Iella smiled as she looked up at him, then gripping his hands even tighter, she repeated the sacred vows.

"Mhi solus tome, mhi solus dar'tome, mhi me'dinui an, mhi ba'juri verde." Their two smiles then collided, as they sealed their vows. Suddenly Iella jumped with fright and surprise as an explosion of cheers and applause erupted behind them. The both of them turned around to the find only the emptiness of the building behind them. Then the light shimmered and certain places of the back wall seemed to flicker. Then out of nowhere, the shimmering stopped and left behind were ten armor clad figures, applauding and cheering in excitement gathered around a table with twelve glasses. The Most prominent of the spectators was a large silver-armored Mandalorian with the banner of Clan Ordo draped over his shoulder, Vesu Ordo. His arm laid over the shoulders of a silver haired woman clad in pallid, yellow Beskar, Malaro, his wife. Both held each other tightly with joy. Standing beside his mother was Cautiss, grinning proudly as he applauded. On his left flank stood the rest of the Ordo Aran, the clans official security squad. Falin, the broad, red armored Mandalorian cheered along with the only female Mandalorian of the Ordo Aran, Sury. Sury was a blue haired, green armored warrior and personal friend to Iella. On her left loomed Deljo, a hardened killer whom at that moment, couldn't stop smiling. Beside him was the veteran of the Ordo Aran, Yaegar, a burly, grey haired warrior. Each of the Ordo Aran wore the blood red band across their chests with dignity and pride. Between Yaegar and Iella's other close friend, Mirra was Sev, grinning from behind his full, black, scruffy beard. A burst of euphoria ruptured within the new home of Keilbourn and Iella Ordo. Iella, Sury and Mirra collided into each other in celebration just as Keilbourn was enveloped by the rest of the Ordo Aran and his Brother, Sev.

"About time, Brother," Sev jeered.

"Well done Keilbourn," Cautiss congratulated with a clap on his shoulder.

"Congratulations," Falin, Yaegar and Deljo all bellowed.

"By the way, when did you find this place?" Sev inquired.

"Last year," he replied, obviously overwhelmed by the entire occasion. "You wouldn't believe how much work it took. I had Arvon help me out," he added as he pointed to the largest of the Mandalorians in the room clad in soot stained, gold Beskar. "It's not even done yet," he said. Sev clapped his shoulder again.

"It will be. Go on your guys' honeymoon, I'll take care of it." Keilbourn seized Sev in a solid embrace which Sev, briskly returned.

"Thank you Brother," Keilbourn exclaimed. Off to the left of the happy gathering, Vesu Ordo stood up and bellowed for attention.

"Keilbourn, Iella, could you please come forward," he commanded warmly. As the two approached they collided into each other's arms with beaming faces. In his hand, Vesu held one of the glasses up high. Behind them, the gathering too, claimed a glass and held it up high. Cautiss handed two glasses to Keilbourn who then handed one to his newlywed wife. "Since you and your Brother's arrival you have served to benefit this clan, and for that, you are already family. But now, just as I consider my niece as my own daughter, you are as a Son to me, and I couldn't be happier about the man she's chosen to carry this clan's tradition with. I bless this marriage and I bless this home that it may shelter you and the warriors you will bring to our clan.

"Here, here!" chanted the gathering from behind. At that moment there was silence as each of the Mandalorians downed the strong, red liquor in the glasses. Each emerged from their glasses and roared with vigor before smashing the glasses to the floor and erupted in cheers. Keilbourn planted another kiss which coaxed another round of cheers.

"Best surprise of my life," Iella whispered in his ear.

"It aint over yet, hon." Keilbourn winked again before picking her off her feet and carrying her out of their new home. He carried her around the building to the back where the Cuy'val Dar was landed in the clearing just outside of the forest. From behind the gathering of family and friends followed at their leisure just in time to see the Dynamic class Freighter rise over the building and the tree tops then soar up into the air and disappear through the atmosphere.