Hi everyone! Welcome back. I hope you guys are enjoying this story! Enjoy!
Also, I want to give a shout out to Star Wars and Skillet. Thank you so much for leaving such encouraging reviews! It means so much to me!
Chapter 11- Hold Her Hand
For the next couple of days, I show Nousha everything I can think of. The gardens, the fountains, the Archives, the alleyways, the marketplaces. Just about everywhere. Somehow though, we always end up returning to the Archives. It's so peaceful in there, and I can feel Nousha's calmness when we enter.
Early one bright, warm morning, I lead Nousha outside.
"Do you want to see the marketplace?" I ask. She visibly tenses.
"Not the busy one from last time, but a smaller, food market. Today's too beautiful to waste in the Archives."
She looks at me, to the city, and back again. "I guess." She shrugs, but her discomfort is clear.
I take her hand and we go to the speeder hangar. Most people think we're doing something illegal. It's almost funny how many reports of us holding hands have come from other padawan's and Jedi knights. I only do it because it's her way of being comforted. If she needs support, she'll accept my hand. Also, I enjoy being near her. I know it's forbidden, but she'll leave soon anyway. After that, I'll forget about her, so I have to enjoy this feeling while it can last.
We take a speeder down to the small marketplace near the Jedi temple. As we step out, Nousha grabs my hand again and squeezes it tightly. I feel cold radiating from her palm as I squeeze her hand back.
I'm finally figuring out how her powers work. The more upset, confused, or angry she is, the stronger her powers get. At a certain point, you can feel it by being near her.
I smile encouragingly. "Come on."
I lead her to many stalls, taking free samples of everyone's goods. Before long, Nousha starts to smile. She tries fruit, vegetables, meats, and exotic dishes. We laugh together after tasting one particularly disgusting dish. I suddenly can't seem to take my eyes off of her. She is so pretty when she laughs. We continue to stroll around the marketplace for a while. When we round the corner of a building, a market stand catches Nousha's attention.
Suddenly she breaks away and runs toward the stand.
"Wait, Nousha!" I stumble and race after her. By the time I catch up to her, she is asking the poor man many questions at rapid fire speed.
"I'm sorry miss, I'm not related to that man." He says uncomfortably.
"Oh." Nousha's eyes drop, and she turns away.
"I'm so sorry." I blurt out and race after Nousha. She went into an alleyway and sat with her face hidden.
"Are you ok?" I ask gently.
"No." She snaps.
"What happened?" I sit next to her quickly.
"He looks just like someone I once knew." She breathes. "Eric Loran saved me from the mountains after I ran away from the orphanage. I was alone in the mountains and he took me in. He's also the one who took me to the planet, Stellana III."
"The planet we found you on." I interject.
Nousha nods solemnly. "He also took me to the ice king's palace. I was a servant there, and I was also tortured mercilessly." She wipes a tear from her face. "I don't even want to remember."
"Were you tortured because of your powers?" I ask.
She nods. "He wanted to experiment with any of us who were powerful enough to withstand his 'tests'."
"Wow." Was all I could muster to say.
"We should go." Nousha shivers, stands up and offers me her hand.
I smile at her and she helps me up. She smiles back sadly and we head back to the Jedi temple.
Personally, I was extremely happy. If the ice king did all of those horrible to Nousha, then it wasn't her that killed all of the people on Stellana. I was ecstatic until we reached the docking bay. Cinum and another council member were waiting for me.
I hop out of the speeder and face Cinum.
"Yes Master?" I say.
"The council needs to speak to you." Cinum sounds almost dejected.
I nod, even though I am confused. "What about-"
"We're taking her with us." The other man says gruffly and turns away.
I turn back to Nousha, who looks scared. We plod through the halls and reach to Council room without delay.
Yoda is pacing back and forth when we enter. "Here, you are." He sounds somewhat relieved. "Distressing news, we have received."
"What is it, Master Yoda?" I say worriedly. What could be so distressing?
"The systems around the mysterious planet have been growing colder." One of the members says stiffly. "We need Nousha to unfreeze them."
"What?" Nousha sounds panicked. "I don't know how!" She exclaims.
I can feel a chill creep into my bones. "Calm down." I say and grab her shoulders. "You can figure it out. We, can figure it out." I look deep into her frantic eyes.
She swallows nervously. "Ok." Nousha nods her head to Yoda.
"Leave in one week you must. Not done with you yet we are." Yoda remarks. "Help you, we can."
"Yes Master Yoda." I say, wanting this to be over.
Cinum nods. "Be prepared, Nousha for what lies ahead. It won't be easy."
The troubled girl drops her eyes and turns away. "May we leave now?" She asks.
"I guess so."
Cinum looks at me and says through the force. Any more information?
I am suddenly tempted to lie. I want to protect her, but another part of me says that lying won't help. I nod.
"Travis, please stay a moment." Cinum says out loud.
Nousha looks at me with worry in her eyes. I nod, trying to reassure her.
"Call in Cole to watch her, we will." Yoda turns to the comlink on his chair and calls for Cole. When the tall boy appears, Yoda tells him to watch Nousha for a few moments.
"Ok." Cole shrugs and takes Nousha out. I feel a stab of jealousy as I watch them leave. I shake away my prohibited feelings and turn to Yoda.
"Nousha was saved by a man named Eric Loran. He took her to Stellana III, the mystery ice planet." I say tensely. "Also, Nousha was a servant to an ice king and he tortured her for her powers."
A collective gasp of horror echos inthe room.
"Strange." Yoda says. "Perhaps she is innocent after all, if so terrible this ice king was."
I nod. The council members discuss matters for a long time while I stand there. I'm desperate to leave, but they haven't dismissed me. Finally, after a while, Yoda turns to me.
"Leave, you may and relive Cole of his duties." I nod and essentially sprint out of the room. I soon find Cole and Nousha sitting on the floor outside of her room. Cole is telling something to Nousha, and she has a smile on her face. As I step forward, Cole says something and Nousha starts to laugh. Her laugh is beautiful, bright and happy.
I feel another stab of jealousy, this one stronger and right to my heart. I was the one who was supposed to keep her company.
I must have looked miserable because Nousha stops laughing and looks at me with concern. "Are you ok?" She asks quickly.
"I'm fine." I say.
"Sorry." Cole stands up and helps Nousha up as well. "I was telling her a story."
"I see." I nod and force a smile. "Yoda sent me."
"I'm sure." Cole says and turns to leave. "Bye Travis. Bye Nousha. I'll have to tell you some more stories then." He waves and is gone.
"Having fun?" I ask. It must have sounded harsher than I meant it to.
Nousha gives me a weird look. "Are you sure you're ok?"
"Yeah." I shrug off the angry thoughts towards my best friend.
"We should go to lunch now." She nods and takes my hand. I'm surprised. Normally, she only accepts my hand when she is upset or uncomfortable. Now, she just looks happy. I take in the moment with happiness and we head to lunch.
Thanks for reading! See you soon! :)
