Chapter Twenty-Eight:
Mara found the collection of fruit to be surprisingly sweet and refreshing, yet not overly so. There were a total of five different varieties that Luke had discovered and picked, as well as the pine and other nuts.
Three were sweet and juicy and resembled apples, but the other two were completely different and tickled her taste buds pleasantly.
There was a yellow fruit in the shape of a tear-drop with red flaps of skin scattered about its surface. This one was only mildly sweet, but the pungent flavor was not lost because of that. And then there were the tangy tones of the blue one which she most preferred of the bunch. This fruit was oddly shaped; appearing as tough a comet had frozen mid-flight to land on a tree.
As for the nuts, their earthy tones complimented the blue and yellow-red fruits perfectly.
"You sure know how to pick them, Skywalker, I'll give you that." She remarked into the quiet.
Luke had donned a shirt and trousers, much to her gratitude, yet remained curiously barefoot. He had only eaten one fruit, and then set about gathering wood for a fire. He paused as he dropped his latest load into the growing pile.
His odd look encouraged her.
"Which is your favorite?" she indicated the remains of his stash.
"Uh…" he shook his head. "They're all nice, but I favor the yellow and red one. I remember it from before."
"Oh." Mara said. "I liked that one too, but I think my favorite's this blue thing."
"Would you like anymore?" Luke offered. "I could show you where I found them."
Mara made a show of thinking it over, and then shrugged. "Sure. But would you mind having a friend stay the night? I won't be able to make it to my ship before sundown."
Luke glanced at the sky, then at his tiny hut. "You can have my shelter." He agreed. "I haven't been sleeping much lately anyhow."
"Thank you." Mara silently scored one point for herself.
Maybe she could get him talking if she had more time; and if he was tired, he was likely to slip.
"How far is it to the source?" Mara inquired.
"Not too far away, actually." Luke gestured for her to join him and together they walked into the forest. "But we will have to climb for them."
"I can manage that." She told him as she followed a half-step behind.
Luke smiled softly. "I'm sure you can."
They trudged through the woods for about ten minutes before they came to a giant rock formation jutting out from a hill. Luke held back an overhanging branch near one place and gestured her inside. Mara heard more running water, though this one was less thunderous.
Curious, Mara walked onward and stopped to find herself inside a hidden grotto. Indeed there was a waterfall, but this one was long and narrow whereas the previous one had been much grander in scale. The rock here was dark and smooth, unlike the lighter, rougher stone she'd seen on her trek.
Plants that were more tropical in nature grew everywhere, due to the moisture trapped within the natural confines of the grotto. And that included a tree with the fruit she found so delicious. All about them were vivid displays of color in the form of flowers and tiny amphibians.
And in the center- worn deep into the surface- was a pool of crystal clear water.
"Oh, Luke!" Mara breathed. "This is amazing!"
He stood nervously behind her, but at her exclamation he brightened.
"I'm glad you like it."
Mara turned to him, and saw something in his eyes that made her swallow. But then he cleared his throat.
"Uh, the fruit are only accessible from up there." He pointed to a ledge between the falls and the tree.
"Alright." Mara murmured.
She again followed him through the ferns to the ledge, where he cautioned her.
"It's slick with moss, so be careful please."
"I can see that." She replied without ire. Indeed she could perceive the shiny moss in various shades of green and even some red that covered the rock.
Luke led the way across, hugging the wall for stability. Mara watched as he then grabbed a bough and pulled himself into the limbs of the tree. She followed agilely, and discovered that while from the outside the tree looked dense, it was actually quite sparse. The leaves were broad and angular, but overlapped, which gave it the full appearance.
Mara met Luke's blue gaze when she turned her attention back to the reason they'd come. His peculiar look was back, but something was at war in his mind, she could see that. Eventually, whatever won caused him to break eye contact and instead turn to picking at the selection of fruit.
Mara assisted him, moving to a different branch. Soon they had enough to satisfy them, and they climbed first down the tree, and then the rock face. Mara settled down in a clear patch of lush grass beside the water to rest.
Luke joined her quietly.
Mara washed one fruit, offered it to Luke. He shook his head no and she shrugged, taking it for herself. After a companionable silence in which Mara finished her snack, Luke ventured a tentative question.
"Mara… why did you really come?"
She paused at that, knowing what he was asking. She tossed the pit away and started to wash up in the pond.
"You are my best friend, Luke, and you're in trouble." She said without turning to face him. "I want to help you."
"Is that the only reason you dropped everything to search for me?" Luke pressed a bit timidly.
"No." she answered honestly: she couldn't lie to him about that, not anymore. "It's not the only reason."
Another quiet settled, in which they both sought the right words to say. She turned back, and saw him fidgeting with a few blades of grass. Mara finally decided to just come out and say it.
"I read your letter."
Luke looked up, his eyes soft, and his mouth open just so much as to be inviting to her. Mara gazed right back, feeling her cheeks warm as she finally understood his strange expressions. He was conveying his love for her, yet he was also afraid to allow it for some reason she didn't know.
"Do you really love me?" she whispered, unable to stand guessing anymore.
"Yes." Luke said evenly.
And with that single word, Mara's heart melted even further than it had from her days as Palpatine's servant. She had known, yes, but to actually hear him confirm it… that was entirely different.
And she wanted to hear him say it again.
Almost as if he'd heard her, Luke took her hand.
"I love you, Mara." He said firmly, and then his voice began to quaver with emotion. "I love you with all my heart, but I… I'm afraid."
"Of what?"
"Myself… of what I have become." He answered gingerly. "I just don't want to hurt anyone… least of all you. I'd never be able to live with myself."
Mara gently touched two fingers to his chin and lifted his face so their gazes met.
"You won't hurt me, Luke."
"How do you know?" he asked.
"Because I won't let you." she answered. "I am not a sitting duck, Farmboy. I can take care of myself."
"I know." He looked away briefly. "You have always been so strong."
"And I want to be here for you now." Mara avowed.
"But you don't know what's wrong. Surely once you do, you'll change your mind." Luke was certain. "I wouldn't blame you."
"Luke, I don't care what's wrong with you, I am here, and I will help."
Luke gazed at her with open love, and when his lip quivered, she couldn't help herself. Closing the distance between them, Mara placed her lips over his.
Luke tensed in surprise, but then he returned the kiss. He shifted closer to her, and wound his hand behind her head. Mara's mind exploded at his touch, and at the feel of his lips brushing her own. She had never tasted anything this delicious, and knew she never would again.
But when she felt a salty wetness join the mixture, she realized he was weeping.
She pulled back. "Why are you crying?"
"Because; you will have to leave soon, for your safety." Luke said. "And… I don't want to be alone anymore."
"Then come home." Mara told him.
"I can't." Luke sniffed.
"Luke…"
He cut her off with a fevered kiss, his urgency telling her that he was serious, but still wanted to spend what time he could with her.
Mara parted her lips, inviting him closer, and Luke responded eagerly. Mara wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him tight to her, the act unbalancing them so that they tumbled into the water.
She gasped away from his lip's embrace as the cold water shocked her system. Luke struggled to bring them up for air, and they both spluttered when their faces broke the surface of the pool.
Once they regained their wits their eyes met, and Mara began to snicker. Luke mock glared at her, and then he joined in.
He helped her back to shore and they gathered their supply of food.
"Let's get back to camp and I'll start a fire." He suggested. "I don't want you to get chilled."
"Fine." Mara agreed through chattering teeth. "But I have to say, the full moon brings out the romantic in you."
Luke tensed. "Excuse me?"
"The full moon tonight, it must bring out the best in you." She said, wondering at his sudden anxiety.
"What full moon?" he faced her fully now, his eyes growing fearful.
"Uh, the one that's happening tonight…" Mara said slowly.
"No, the full moon already happened." Luke backed a few steps away, a slight frown appearing.
"Luke, Endor is a moon with eight sisters." Mara reminded him. "So of course there will be more than one night with a full moon."
Luke really began to panic then, and he bolted for the exit, leaving Mara wondering what was wrong now.
