Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or any of its associated characters; they all belong to their respective owners. I only own any characters or plotlines that you do not recognize.
49. The Betrothal
Gleann, Beinn System, Inner Rim
A lazy drizzle of rain sputtered down from the lightly overcast sky, and pattered down on the lush verdance that surrounded the city of Lárnach. The air was perfumed with that hazy, slightly warm scent of wet grass and damp earth. Fog had started to gather around the tops of the mountains that protected the city, which obscured their craggy tops from view. Everything about the landscape on this pleasantly dreary day was soft and grey. It was slow and relaxed. Fragrant wood smoke rose from endearingly crooked chimneys, warm yellow light glowed in windows, and the cobbles of the roads shone wetly in the muted light. Juxtaposed against this grey day was the bright white plastoid armor of the clone troopers making their way up the Great Stone Way. Two squadrons of troopers casually marched towards the Lárnach Assembly––the planet's seat of government––and were led by their Captains and their Generals.
The sight was innately intimidating. There were neatly organized rows of armored men, marching behind robed Jedi as they steadily progressed towards the Assembly; it was a sight that many across the galaxy feared. For often it meant their home was, or was about to be, under attack. But this was not the attitude the Gleanneans seemed to hold. Instead of closing their doors, they opened them and waved as the troopers passed. There was excited chattering coming from children who poked their heads through open windows. Some even dashed out of store fronts and homes, into the rainy streets, proffering the soldiers goods of all sorts––bread, beverages, flower chains, woven necklaces and bracelets, and wide scarves meant to protect them from both the rain and the chill. They were excited to see the arrival of the 442nd and the 501st. They'd received gracious send-offs before, though those were typically quite subdued given the circumstance. But this was an entirely different matter. Gleann was not under attack. There was no threat to their livelihood. The Jedi and the troopers were there to ensure the safety of their beloved Senator; and for that, they were immensely––and obviously––grateful.
"I don't think we've ever received a welcome like this," Ack-Ack commented. He reached up and went to wipe the droplets of water off his visor, but was interrupted as a young boy bounded up and offered him one of those beautifully woven scarves. It was a rich, earthy green, interwoven with knotted brown designs. "Oh, uh…" Ack-Ack took the scarf and inclined his head in stilted surprise, "thank you."
The child grinned excitedly in response and darted back into his home.
Elara smiled gently over at her Captain from under the hood of her damp robe, and watched as he first used it to wipe off the front of his helmet, then draped it over his head to act as a hood of his own.
"The people of Gleann are very hospitable. It's a tradition here to offer one's home to a guest that's staying on planet for an extended period of time. A very lovely family housed me when I was here last, and I wouldn't be surprised if many of these people have already offered to board us," Elara said.
An older fellow shuffled out of what appeared to be a tea house, cradling a steaming cup of tea in his weathered hands. He came to a stop at the edge of the road and proffered the cup to Elara as she approached. With a gracious smile, she accepted the cup and offered her thanks. The piece of earthenware pottery was hot, and that heat leached into her chilled palms in a way that was pleasantly painful. She huddled it closer to her face and let the steam waft across and warm it. Beside her, Anakin was chuckling as he smiled down at the gift a little girl had given him––a sweetly woven bracelet, which was far too small to fit around his wrist.
"From the way they're smiling, you wouldn't know there's a war going on," he said. He pushed his robe aside slightly and placed the bracelet in a pouch on his belt.
"Well, in a way, there is no war for them," she pointed out. "Not that they don't know it's happening or don't care about it––it just hasn't reached them. It doesn't consume their day-to-day lives. Though they align themselves with the Republic, they've managed to remain successfully non combative thus far."
"So our being here is a… reassurance," Anakin concluded. "We're a reassurance that they'll remain unaffected."
Elara took a sip of her tea. The heat of it burned her lip a little, which made her mouth briefly grimace. "That's part of it. Senator Noth is an overwhelmingly popular representative. To my knowledge, he is, perhaps, the most revered senator that they've had in a decade. Our being here to protect him is reason enough for all of this fanfare. That…" a smile quirked at the corners of her mouth as she glanced back at their men, who were being showered with much deserved attention, "and they may just be celebrating the good men who have been protecting the galaxy."
The hood of Anakin's robe slipped back on his head a little as he, too, turned a glance over his shoulder. His eyes squinted as rain spit into his eyes, and he reached up to tug the hood back into place. A smile pulled across his face and a chuckle rumbled in his chest. Troopers were now accepting hugs and kisses on the cheeks of their helmets, and they'd reach out to pat the heads of children that were nimbly weaving their way through the ranks. Their walking pace had been significantly slowed, but no one was complaining about it. The initial shock of the warm welcome was wearing off, and they were starting to enjoy it.
"They deserve it," Anakin said.
"Yes," Elara agreed. "They do."
Carved into the base of Mount Leathan was the Lárnach Assembly; the impressive façade, which was ancient, still looked as perfect as it had when Elara had last visited. Despite all the rain and the annual ice and snow storms, it appeared barely weathered. Though marveling at its imposing pillars––which were carved to look like towering trees––came second to the fuzzy memories of the last time Elara had been inside this building. They passed through the heavy wooden doors and into the foyer, where she had seen the bodies of several Gleanneans who had fallen prey to the greed of bounty hunters. They climbed the grey marble stairs down which she and Obi-Wan had tumbled, limbs entangled. There was still a burn streak across the step that had nearly been the end of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Elara's foot trod down upon it as they continued into and across the lobby, where years ago Wyle had agreed to cooperate, only to then try and betray them. And then they walked down the passage that she'd once sprinted along, straight to the Senator's office. These memories were ghostly, playing in front of Elara's eyes in transparent images as she passed through their space. And each one caused a chill worse than the last to work its way through her body. For the final memory resided inside Senator Noth's office, and it was the most chilling of all.
But the first thing that struck Elara upon being allowed admittance into said office wasn't that dreaded memory; it was the warm expression on Senator Proc Noth's face. A gentle smile rested on his lips, and it brightened as she, Anakin, Ack-Ack, and Rex stepped into the large but cozy room.
"Ahh, Master Skywalker, it is a pleasure to see you again," he greeted, the pleasant lilt of his voice sweeping through the air. He stepped forward, arm outstretched, and Elara did the same, until they were able to gently clasp hands. Noth hugged hers between both of his palms, and shook it good naturedly. Then he clucked his tongue and shook his head apologetically. "My apologies, you're a General now. The armor suits you, though it is a shame that you must wear it."
Elara smiled and inclined her head. "The pleasure is all mine, Senator. I regret we don't often see one another when you make your visits to Coruscant. And I once again must thank you for that beautiful tea set you gifted me; I've put it to good use," she promised.
Noth chuckled, clearly pleased. The corners of his eyes crinkled, causing the tattoos that cut sharply along the lines of his cheekbones to wrinkle at the ends.
"I am happy to hear that, and it was the least I could do, given that you had saved my life."
That was when that final dreaded memory slammed to the forefront of her mind, far more vivid than all the others. Elara couldn't help the way her gaze flickered to a spot just beside the desk behind Senator Noth. It was there that she'd stopped Gaeriel from assassinating him. Where she'd thrust her lightsaber forward and taken her first––and only––life of any flesh-and-blood creature. The acrid smell of burning flesh still seemed fresh in her nose. The way that the word 'shag,' had gurgled from the bounty hunter's mouth as a final insult still crackled in her ears. It was a moment she'd never forget for the rest of her life. A memory so powerful it felt like a physical presence lingering in that specific spot in the room.
Elara tore her eyes away from said spot and again inclined her head, a humble acknowledgement of the service she had done him. She then politely broke their handshake and stepped aside, angling her body towards the doors. One of her hands rose to gesture to the men that had accompanied her into the room.
"I would like to introduce my brother, Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Knight and General of the Grand Army of the Republic. Beside him is Captain Rex, his right hand man and Captain of the 501st Clone Battalion," she introduced. Anakin inclined his head and Rex saluted. Elara then slid her hand towards Ack-Ack, who had removed the scarf from over his head, and passed it off to a member of Contigo. "And this is Captain Ack-Ack, my right hand man, and Captain of the 442nd Attack Battalion."
Sharp as always, Ack-Ack's hand snapped to his forehead in a crisp salute.
Noth inclined his head first to Anakin and Rex, and then Ack-Ack. "It is an honor to meet you all, and a pleasure. I cannot thank you enough for coming on such short notice. Though, I must ask," he turned a curious expression to Elara, his eyebrows delicately crinkling together, "where is General Kenobi?"
A slight smarting sensation, akin to a shock of electricity, shot through her system. It crackled along the paths of her veins and pulsed with each gently aching throb of her heart. The fondest memories she had of Gleann involved Obi-Wan, and it had always been a hope of hers that they would return to the planet together some day. His not being there, paired with the still lingering heartache of their confrontation, inspired a special kind of pain within her. It had Elara shoving those blissful, forbidden memories aside for fear that they would break her heart further. Fingers fluttered at her sides to dispel the electric tingling brought on by Obi-Wan's name. She smiled politely and clasped her hands at the small of her back.
"I fear that General Kenobi was unable to join us, but he sends his kindest regards," Elara said. The mentioned regards were fabricated; she'd not seen Obi-Wan since that night in the hangar. But it was a polite way to dismiss his absence. That, and she could only assume that they were something that he would pass on, had they run into one another prior to her departure.
There was also the matter that the Senator likely still believed that Elara and Obi-Wan were betrothed––or married, at this point––and that made her anxious to get off the topic of him.
Disappointment was plainly visible on Noth's face. A frown twisted at the corners of his mouth, but he did nod as though he understood.
"A shame, truly, I was hoping I might see him again. But given how busy you must all be, assure him that no offense has been dealt." He brightened his expression into something warm yet diplomatic. It was always remarkable how kind he could seem while playing politics. "What you're all doing is… invaluable to the longevity of peace in this galaxy. For that, we are all extremely grateful."
"Thank you, Senator Noth," Anakin said, bowing his head. "We are very eager to do what we can to ensure your safety."
"I am immensely grateful that you all were able to come." Noth gestured them forward and moved to go sit behind his desk, the greens and browns of his official robes sweeping out behind him. "I am… optimistic about the re-election. There have been no threats, but the Separatists have been persistent. They wish for us to join their cause and strengthen it, but we intend to remain loyal to the Republic; we just wish to remain peaceable. But Prime Minister Lach was insistent on a protection detail, in case anything should happen."
Noth sat himself in the plush seat behind his desk, and both Elara and Anakin stepped forward to stand opposite him. They did not seat themselves in the readily available chairs, and their Captains hung back to flank either side of the doors.
"We believe it would be prudent for either my brother, myself, Captain Rex, or Captain Ack-Ack to be with you at all times. We would need to switch off to ensure that we're all well rested and alert," Elara suggested.
"But of course. We would like to offer the Assembly's grand hall to serve as a barracks for your soldiers. Volunteers have come forward and offered their services to see that they are well fed; and, of course, they are more than welcome to enjoy the establishments that Lárnach has to offer," Noth agreed.
Anakin cleared his throat and gestured back at the heavy wooden doors, behind which members of the 442nd and the 501st waited.
"And, if it's amenable, we'd like to have men from our squadrons perform regular patrols throughout the city whilst we're here. Just to make sure nothing is out of the ordinary. Our troopers are highly trained and will be able to spot anything suspicious," he added.
The elegant Gleannean that served as the planet's Senator nodded. "Yes, of course. If there is a threat, it would not just concern me, but the people as well. It would mean a lot to me, and to the Prime Minister, if you were to do such a thing for us."
There was a pair of sharp clacking sounds as two plastoid alloy clad arms snapped upwards. Elara glanced over her shoulder to find both Rex and Ack-Ack saluting the Senator from where they stood. Their arms dropped and a helmeted head decorated in green tipped forward.
"It would be an honor to protect the people of Gleann, sir," Ack-Ack said.
"We are very appreciative of your presence," Noth once again conveyed. A faint, subtly troubled look twinged at the corners of his mouth. He shook his head and steepled his fingers together, which then tipped backwards to rest against his chin. "This war a terrible thing. It has threatened and destroyed peace across this galaxy… and I am not foolish enough to ignore the fact that it rages just beyond our doorstep. We understand that we are not untouchable. That it is, perhaps, only a matter of time before we are forced to participate. But until that day, we are immensely appreciative that you respect our wish to remain non-combative."
In that moment it was made apparent to Elara that this wholly peaceable planet had been discussing the possibility of going to war. They had not seen conflict for well over two centuries. The Gleannish had once been a warring people, with clans that fought against one another with a terrifying vigilance. The last conflict that Gleann had seen had been the one that drew them together. They banded together to fight off the invaders, and once they'd been purged, the Unification of Glean––as it was called––commenced. They followed a path similar to that which Mandalore had taken, though they were not a self-proclaimed neutral system. They had allies and they had those that did not agree with their philosophies. They had political interests and they sought to safeguard them. But since the Unification, the people of this planet had not known hellish violence. No living being on Gleann had experienced the life altering pain that was experiencing the fall-out of war. It was absolutely heartbreaking to know that there were whispers of having to enter this conflict, that they spoke of having to willingly fracture their beautiful peace. It had Elara sinking down into the chair just beside her, with her hand stretching out across the desktop in a display of reassurance.
"We're only happy to assist in maintaining the peaceable tradition of your people. The Jedi are peacekeepers. We weren't meant for all this warring, and it feels, at times, unnatural to be doing what we have been made to do. It is my greatest wish that Gleann does not have to experience the pains of war," she said.
A smile, soft and appreciative, was her immediate answer. Noth's lips pulled out of their troubled twist, and green eyes glimmered fondly. He reached out and gently patted her hand before he squeezed it in thanks. His spindly fingers retreated shortly thereafter, and returned to steeple at his chin.
"Your sentiments are much appreciated, General Skywalker. Again, I must thank you all for coming, your presence here brings much hope to Gleann. And for as much as this visit is business oriented, I do hope you enjoy your time here. You are our honored guests. It is our duty to ensure your comfort, just as it is yours to ensure our safety."
OOOO
The rest of the first day passed without incident. Patrol teams and schedules were organized, a schedule for the guarding of Senator Noth was devised, and both of these things were immediately put into effect. The re-election ceremony would occur the following day. So the details of the needed security procedures were hashed out with Noth and Prime Minister Lach. They were told that as the date of re-election approached, the Separatists pressed harder. They sent transmissions and made enticing offers. Gleann was a small planet, but it was hardy. What it lacked in war-time resources, it made up for in location. The Separatists would find an excellent foothold in Gleann, which would firmly position them in the Inner Rim. The Prime Minister's biggest worry was that another assassination attempt could be in the works. It was that self same incident five years prior, the one that Elara had part in foiling, that had caused the terrifying realization that they were not invincible. Not even the Senator's Esteemed Council of Gleann was not exempt from treachery. It was one of the fears that had caused this preventative bid to keep Senator Noth safe.
It was decided that on the day of re-election, both Elara and Anakin would accompany Noth as a security detail. That way, should anything be attempted, they would have immediate access to the Senator. Both Rex and Ack-Ack would do perimeter sweeps in a bid to spot anything outwardly suspicious. They all also agreed to stick around for a few days after the ceremony, just to ensure that nothing would go sideways. It would also––hopefully––allow the men of the 442nd and the 501st a chance to have some much needed downtime. They'd have the chance to enjoy the traditional festivities. Which included––but were not limited to––dancing and drinking, giving and receiving tattoos, and lots of eating traditional Gleannish treats and dishes.
By the time all the planning was done, evening had fallen duskily over the city of Lárnach. The sky had cleared to reveal a hazy purple sky dotted with bright, distant stars. What clouds lingered were wispy and drifted lazily over the horizon. It was under that picturesque sky that both the Skywalkers walked. Rain-dampened robes were hung over their arms, still drying from their arrival hours before. They climbed the path that led them steadily up the side of a cliff face, into which a number of homes had been carved. The metal, automated doors to these abodes blended well into the grey, craggy stone they were built into, and some of them were almost invisible in the dying light.
"I've gotta say, I thought you were playing up how beautiful this planet is," Anakin admitted.
Elara chuckled and made a point of stepping over an uneven cobble, which jutted out of the ground dangerously. She arched an eyebrow at her brother, who had his head tilted back to stare upwards. "Are you accusing me of lying?" she asked.
Anakin shook his head, eyes still gazing up at the juxtaposition of the dark mountain side, and the pastel sky. The corner of his mouth tilted into a cheeky little smile.
"Not lying. Just… exaggerating."
With a fond roll of her eyes, Elara turned to look out over the glen in which Lárnach was settled. It was picturesque. Everything about Gleann seemed perfect, like something she might've imagined as a child. A beautiful, lush escape, a place where the air was moisture filled and smelled of life, where the sun didn't blister her skin. The planet was an absolute dream come true. It was a place that she missed immediately upon leaving it, and one she'd longed to return to. But being back had, thus far, been a melancholy affair. Something about it just wasn't right. And for as much as Elara wanted to say she didn't know why, she did. Because in every daydream of returning to Gleann, Obi-Wan had been at her side. They'd returned to peruse the market on a pleasantly drizzly day, or returned to the mountaintop on which they sparred to enjoy the awe inspiring beauty of the view. But he wasn't with her. Instead, the ghost of his memory walked beside her, not quite there, but present enough to make shiver. To have her peering at the spot beside her or glance over her shoulder like he might actually be there. Every time, though, she was reminded that he wasn't with her. And, somehow, that weighed on her just as heavily as all the heartache had.
Elara could feel that heaviness settling on her shoulders. It threatened to drag her down again, scrape her across the ground as it had that night in the hangar. That sensation wasn't sustainable, especially not now. Not while on a mission. So she rolled her shoulders back in an attempt to slough the feeling off. But it didn't fall away easily, as her robe would at the start of battle. Instead, the feeling dug its claws into her back, and clung to her. It pulled along the ground behind her, and slowed Elara's pace down a hair. Beside her, Anakin matched her pace, and turned his head to stare out over the expanse of Lárnach.
"This just… doesn't seem like the place where anything bad could happen," he commented.
A hum of agreement pulled from Elara's mouth, which twisted down in a contradictory frown. "It does. And yet… I can bare witness to the contrary." Again, images of Gaeriel's final moments were thrust to the forefront of her mind. This time around, those images decided to hone in on the bounty hunter's snarling mouth. How blood had coated her teeth thinly, and pooled in the spaces between them. How it leaked between her lips, bubbly with spittal. With a sharp tick of her head, Elara attempted to banish the image.
"Do you think tomorrow will go smoothly?" Anakin asked.
"I'm holding out hope that the Separatists won't be so bold as to interfere. If they're smart they won't. If they were to do anything to Noth publicly, before the populus that loves him… they'd encounter enormous resistance should they attempt a takeover," she said.
There was a slow nod from Anakin as he considered the hypothesis. "Their best bet would be to sway the Senator and use the Prime Minister as a puppet. That means that if they try anything, they'll do it behind the scenes."
"My thoughts exactly. If they were to ever take Gleann, they would have to be clever about it. It would, likely, have to be done by Dooku; because it would be a long, nuanced path to tread, and it could take months. But, again, I'm tentatively optimistic that they won't make a move," Elara reiterated.
It was truly all that she could hope that nothing would come to pass. It would be wonderful if the mission wound up being non-combative. That the lads got a chance to spruce-up their patrol formations, and then have an opportunity to unwind. So that maybe she could have a chance to unwind; or recover a little at the very least. Combat could be a good distraction, but all of the troubles came back after the fact. If Elara had a chance to luxuriate in Gleann's atmosphere, however, she might find some peace. And she would love that. It only had to be enough of it to grasp on to. Then it could guide her as she trod on the sliver of stable ground that Anakin had helped her find. That was all she needed right now. Some semblance of some kind of peace.
"That's good," Anakin said. "This place just… doesn't seem cut out for war. In the best way possible, of course; and I have faith that they'd do anything to protect their home, but…" he sighed, came to a stop, and gestured to the sprawl of city below them, "it would be nice for there to be one place in the galaxy that's just… perfectly at peace."
Elara came to a stop a couple paces ahead of him. She smiled gently down at the pastoral view below, which grew steadily more difficult to see as the sun dipped further behind Mount Leathan. But as it grew darker, and a chill started to set in, an odd sense of foreboding tickled at the hair on the back of her neck. It seemed so unlikely, now, that a place like this could remain untouched. War was pervasive. It sank its teeth into everything it possibly could, and Gleann was no exception. For as untouched as the planet seemed, they were no strangers to the danger on their doorstep. It now almost seemed as though it were an eventuality before something happened.
"They deserve to remain at peace," Elara murmured. A quiet moment passed and she hugged her folded, damp robe close to her stomach. "Especially the Pag family. They're incredibly sweet and I'd hate to know that anything terrible befell them."
It was to the Pag household that they currently trekked. They'd eagerly opened their doors to Elara again upon hearing of her return, and were, apparently, quite thrilled to welcome the Jedi back into their home. This sentiment, conveyed to them via Noth, had warmed Elara's fragile heart, as though it had been embraced. Returning to Riyan and Lel's home almost promised a kind of healing, the sort that came with seeing friends after a long time away. But there was also a gentle apprehension buzzing in her throat. For both Riyan and Lel had been so thrilled to hear of her and Obi-Wan's 'betrothal.' If it hadn't been for their utter delight, it was entirely possible that they would've set the record wholly straight. They would have explained the mix-up, explained that Jedi did not become betrothed––especially not to each other––and the confusion would have been wiped away. But they hadn't done that. And now, Elara could only imagine that the Pags would wish to ask her about it, about him… and that situation was complicated enough. Throw in the fact that Anakin had never been made privy to the betrothal mishap, and it created a whole other mess of complications.
"Well, I can't wait to meet them. From what you told me, they sound like a very lively couple," Anakin chuckled.
What Elara had told him was of Riyan and Lel's exuberant hospitality. How they'd greeted herself and Obi-Wan with large, warm hugs upon their first meeting, how they'd made them hearty, multiple course meals, and that they'd sent them home with homemade soothing creams. The last one had been under Lel's insistence. When she'd heard of the tumble the Jedi had taken down the marble steps in the Assembly, she'd sent them home with creams that would prove to soothe their aches and pains for several months thereafter. They were naturally enthusiastic, bright people. The sort of people that would give up anything they had to a stranger that needed it more than themselves. That could be a rare quality to find, and it was incredible to find such a trait in two people perfectly made for one another.
"Well, you won't have to wait long." Elara pointed to a door at the rise of the path. "That's their home."
It looked just as it had some five years before. The exterior was nothing to particularly marvel at, and what separated it from the other doors was that the name 'PAG' etched into it in curling Gleannish letters. The Skywalkers stopped before it, shoulder-to-shoulder, and Elara reached out to press the button for the door chime. While they waited, Anakin reached out and pulled a bit of fuzz off Elara's sleeve––which he then promptly blew into her face. She clucked her tongue, swatted it away, and then tapped him with the back of her hand. He jostled her gently with his shoulder and the two of them smirked at the other a bit. After this brief exchange of wordless sibling banter, the door before them whizzed open. It revealed the round, beaming face of Riyan, and the already moving lithe form of Lel.
"Oh, it's so wonderful to see you again!" she enthused, her outstretched arms already curling to wrap around Elara.
Her embrace was tight and unyielding, as though they'd been friends for life. A warm little laugh tumbled from Elara's mouth and she wound the arm not currently holding her robe around Lel's middle.
"It's a pleasure to see you again, too, Lel."
Lel stepped back and grasped her by the shoulders––or the pauldrons, really––and gave her a good once-over. She nodded, pleased, and her hands jumped to cup either side of the Jedi's face. "I am glad to see you in one piece. When we heard that the Jedi became military counterparts, we immediately feared for you. Every night we pray for the safety of you and your Order."
"Thank you. It's been… trying, extremely so at times, but I'm happy to report that I've remained relatively unscathed," she assured. Once Lel's hands fell from her face, Elara turned to Anakin, whose eyebrows had arched in quiet amusement. "I'd like to introduce you to my brother, Anakin."
And before she could introduce him to their hosts, Lel was immediately embracing him. Though this was something that Elara had told him of, it still appeared to catch him off guard. He shuffled a surprised step backwards, eyes wide, and one arm thrown outwards. The other was trapped between his and Lel's fronts, his damp robe pressed against them both.
"Oh, uh, hello," he greeted stiltedly. He slowly wrapped his arm around her in a loose return of the hug. "It's good to meet you."
Lel stepped back and reached up to place a hand on his cheek. Her thumb swept over the bottom of his scar. "I sense that there is a kindness about you, Anakin Skywalker. It saddens me to see such a young, hopeful face so affected by cruelty. But you will find none of that here. We are honored to welcome you into our home."
If Anakin had seemed caught off guard before, he now seemed simply stunned. He stumbled over a few words, a few sounds, trying to find the right response. Finally, he cleared his throat and settled on:
"Thank you."
Elara turned to Riyan, who had been waiting patiently in the doorway. He beamed as she stepped towards him, and he opened his arms, just as his wife had.
"Happy to see you again, Riyan."
"And I you, my dear. Please, come inside, I'd hate for either of you to catch a chill." Riyan ushered them both inside, and as Anakin passed, he seized the young man in an embrace just as exuberant as Lel's hand been.
The interior of the Pag residence didn't appear to have changed much. The stone walls were still draped in elaborate tapestries, which helped to keep the rooms warm. Pillows were cozily piled in corners, creating small seating areas, and curtains were pulled aside to allow a more open feel to the spaces. One difference, however, were the toys strewn about across the floor. Wooden things, clearly masterfully carved by hand. A smile started to lift at the corners of Elara's mouth as she took in what their presence likely meant.
"You'll have to excuse the mess," Lel said. Elara, who was about to dismiss the scatter of toys, saw her gesturing to a large, tied-up bedroll and a pile of heavily embroidered blankets pressed flush to the wall. "We had been told that your counterpart from last time would be coming with you. When we were told he was not present, we changed the sleeping arrangements, but didn't have time to pack everything away."
This time the mention of Obi-Wan didn't inspire a choked-up feeling, or cause a shiver to roll through her body. Instead, it puckered her brows together a little. For this was the second time that day someone had expressed believing he would be there with her. It was clear that he had been expected. Was he supposed to have come? And if so, why was he not here? Her mind started to settle into a confused spiral, which Elara immediately put a stop to by clearing her throat. With a soft, albeit small, smile, she waved a dismissive hand.
"It's no bother, I assure you," she said.
Anakin, who eyed the single, large bedroll with a curious narrowing of his eyes, nodded his agreement. "Your home is lovely. Any accommodations that you have made for us will be absolutely perfect." His curious eyes then darted to Elara, who felt heat start to crawl up along the sides of her neck.
To further avoid her brother's probing gaze, she ducked down and picked up one of the toys off the floor. A slow smile started to crawl across her face, though her heart tripped over herself at the feeling of Anakin's intent gaze.
"I imagine it must be harder to keep things clean with a little one…?" Elara trailed off, in case she'd made an incorrect assumption. But by the beaming grin that appeared on both Riyan and Lel's face, she was not wrong. In return, her own smile grew larger. "I'm so happy for you both! How old?"
"Five. He wished to be awake to greet you, but your arrival caused much excitement, and I fear he's fallen asleep. But Tast shall be delighted to awake and find you both here," Lel laughed gently.
Anakin, who had shuffled his way over to Elara, gestured to the toy in her hand. "I take it he's a fan of the Jedi?" he asked.
The toy was, indeed, a carved figure of what appeared to be a Jedi with their lightsaber drawn.
"Insists on hearing stories about them every night before bed," Riyan confirmed chuffedly. He then gestured to Anakin with a wide hand. "I take it that you are a Jedi, just like your sister, then? Not that the armor doesn't give it away." He chuckled warmly, and Anakin joined in good naturedly.
"Yes, I am. The, uh, Jedi that you mentioned before––the one who came with Elara last time––he was my teacher," he explained.
Twin looks of surprised delight appeared on both Riyan and Lel's faces. Something in Elara's chest pinched as the couple shared a look, a twinge of sudden worry. That twinge turned into a pull deep in her gut, one that forewarned of something about to happen. Her fingers curled tighter around the Jedi figurine.
"You must have been so thrilled then," Lel enthused on a fond sigh.
Anakin's head quirked to the side, lips still drawn into an unsuspecting smile. "Thrilled about what?"
All of the moisture in Elara's mouth immediately leached away. Her throat went dry. The beating of her heart increasing into a swift, frantic thrum as she realized what was about to be said. Her mouth snapped open to contest, but it was already much too late.
"Their betrothal, of course," Riyan revealed.
Elara could feel the shock that struck Anakin in that moment. It was a swift hit to the chest, like someone had smashed their saber pommel into his sternum. It echoed through her own body, left her breathless. Wide eyed, she looked at her brother, who simultaneously turned to stare right back. His face had gone pale, so much so that the scar on his face was noticeably rosy in color. His eyelids fluttered, his mouth twitched into soundless words. A wheezed breath fled his mouth, followed by one half-choked word.
"What?"
A silence, stark and cold compared to the warm joviality that had once filled the room, settled over them all. Anakin's eyebrows slowly climbed towards his hairline, and his eyes started to glaze over. Elara could feel a steady flush climbing up along her neck and flood into her cheeks. Into her entire face. She'd acknowledged it was possible for this subject to arise; in fact, it was an eventuality that it would. But she hadn't expected it to happen so soon. She thought, maybe, she would've gotten the chance to pull the Pags aside and tell them that he didn't know. That he wouldn't and shouldn't know. Make up some bantha-shit excuse about why they didn't tell him, something to do with Jedi tradition or the bureaucracy of the Order. But there was no need to suffer over any of that, now––the lothcat was loose, and there was no shooing it away.
"Oh––oh dear… did he not know?" Lel asked in a hushed tone. One muffled by what must've been a hand, but Elara couldn't look at her. Her eyes had been arrested by those of her brother, who looked like he might simultaneously faint, throw-up, and explode.
"I, uh… no. No he didn't," Elara croaked out.
"I am… so sorry, my dear, I thought that because he's your brother you might've told him."
"It's… a complicated matter I'm afraid. I-if you wouldn't mind giving us a moment, I think that I, uh… I best explain."
"Of course! Of course––we'll be in the… kitchen. Get supper started."
The couple swiftly exited the room and let down the heavy curtain that created a fabric wall between the kitchen and the central living space.
The moment that they were alone, Anakin's hands rose to press against his face. He turned around, walked a few paces away, whipped his hands away from his face, and spun back around. With a look that was some haphazard crash of confusion and mania, he gestured to her with a wild flap of his hands.
"Betrothal!?" The word squeaked out of his mouth in a half-whisper, half-shout. "What… what do they mean betrothal!? Y-you're not––you're both not…. Are you!?"
"No!" Elara hissed out between her teeth, the answer more of a syllabant sound than anything else. She cast a harried glance towards the kitchen curtain, which fluttered with movement behind it. The Pags weren't the type to eavesdrop, but the situation was precarious enough to put her mightily on edge. "Just…" She waved her hand sharply down at the floor a couple times, and her face screwed up sharply. "Shh!"
Anakin's arms were hauled into the air in exasperation. It was clear that he'd wanted more of an answer than 'no,' and his impatience was gnawing into him. Those arms then swept sideways towards the kitchen, in a manner that might've otherwise been comical. He surged forward, back across the distance he'd paced away from her, eyes almost crazed in his confusion. "Then why do they think otherwise!?"
Both of Elara's hands moved towards her face, before she realized she was still holding the Jedi figurine. With a little huff, she leaned over and placed it on a low-standing table in the center of the room. She threw another glance at the kitchen, made a frustrated sound in the back of her throat, and grabbed Anakin by the wrist. She pulled him into the room that they would be staying in and all but pushed him inside. There was no time to reminisce on the gentle things that had happened in there all those years ago. Instead, those memories were tripped over by Anakin, who stumbled into the room, and were shoved aside as Elara loosed and yanked the curtain shut. With her back till to her brother, she folded both hands over her forehead. It felt like her head was spinning, and she hoped that the gesture might ease the sensation.
It didn't.
With a long, slow sigh––which shook as it left puckered lips––Elara felt her eyebrows pinch together much in the manner that they did before she cried. Her lips pursed then, and she forced a steady breath in through her nose.
"I'm going to explain," she stared, voice shaking, "but you have to listen––and not interrupt."
A pause.
"Fine."
Elara turned, the soles of her boots scuffling against stone. Anakin stood behind her, a little ways off, with arms folded firmly over his chest. There was a firm line pressed into his lips, and a low furrow of his brows over his eyes. And those eyes, they pierced. They rooted her to the spot. Briefly, she wondered if she looked anything like this when she was asking him for an explanation. If she did, she might have to let up a little. The look was more than a little intense to handle, especially under such pressure. Though why it felt as though there were so much pressure, she didn't understand. It wasn't as though the betrothal were real; she hadn't been hiding something that monumental from him. Just a mishap. Perhaps it was because of all the very real emotions behind it. How this had been the inciting incident, one of the reasons things had reached the point they were at now. Regardless of the reason, it had her skin crawling.
"It was a misunderstanding. When we were here last, we… accidentally participated in a local tradition that left us betrothed in the eyes of the locals. You know that flower on my desk, the one encased in resin?" She paused, eyes searching for some kind of acknowledgement on her brother's face. She got none.
And then his eyebrows ticked upwards and his shoulders rose up to his ears petulantly. "You told me not to interrupt."
Elara leveled him with an unamused, scathing look.
"Yes, I know it."
"Obi-Wan picked that for me. It's a… rare local flower that lovers pick for one another when they wish to become betrothed. We didn't know this. A woman in town saw him give it to me, and the entire city just… exploded in unadulterated delight. We were showered with gifts and well-wishes, and all the while we kept telling them it was a mistake… but none of them believed us. Riyan and Lel… they were insistent that it was meant to be. They were all so happy…" The corners of Elara's mouth lifted into a melancholy smile. "There had been so much tension when we arrived, that it was so good to see them all so unburdened. And we thought… why take it away from them? What harm could this lie do to them? It was unlikely they'd inform the Council, in fact, many of them promised they wouldn't. So we let them believe. And we agreed that it was a mistake, that it wasn't a commitment that we were beholden to."
"Does the Council know?"
"No," she exhaled sharply, head shaking frantically. "Stars, no… We agreed to keep it between ourselves, and we haven't spoken of it since. In all honesty… I think we were both rather embarrassed. We pride ourselves on doing all the proper pre-mission research and it became perfectly obvious we'd made an oversight. It was, in a way, a strange act of self preservation."
It truly had been an act of self preservation. Because the betrothal had brought forth questions, posed scenarios, and spurred realizations. And if it wasn't spoken of at all, even under the guise of a mistake… there would be no need to confront it. So it had become a seductive, tempting, forbidden memory, one that was relegated to gather dust in the backs of their minds.
A right lot of good that did them.
Anakin dropped his head so his chin tucked into his chest. His hair, which was still in the awkward stages of growing out, fell alongside his face as they stood there in silence. A weight had been lifted off Elara's shoulders, and it was suddenly much easier to breathe. She lifted a hand and rested it just under her gorget. Her fingers worked their way beneath it to massage the spot over her heart, which was starting to slow its frantic tattoo. All the while, she just watched her brother, who remained absolutely motionless. That is, until he shifted one foot forward and toed the edge of one of the bedrolls on the floor. An almost sheepish movement.
"You could've told me…" he muttered.
With a sigh, Elara's shoulders sagged. "We thought it was best we didn't. You were still Obi-Wan's Padawan, and we didn't want to create any kind of contention. Which, clearly," she gestured to him, to his reaction, "there would have been. I'm… I'm sorry I didn't tell you before we came. For all intents and purposes, I suppose I was concealing vital information from you and… that wasn't fair of me."
It was quiet again. Anakin lifted his head and shuffled his arms, which were now settled more loosely over his chest. The tension that had drawn his face so tight had slackened, though there were still remnants of a furrow and a frown there. He didn't meet her eyes, as his gaze was intently glued on the wall just beside her shoulder.
"I… I get it." The admission was croaked out so quietly it was almost just a whisper of sound. "With everything that's happened, I, uh… I get it. Probably wasn't what you wanted to be thinking about after… your fight."
She snorted gently, tiredly. "Yeah, not really…"
Anakin gestured to the curtain at her back and cleared his throat. The muscles in his face twitched and pulled as he tried to recompose his expression… but something about it kept sagging. Kept pulling it downwards into something almost… guilty. That look almost seemed to intensify as their eyes finally met again. Elara felt a twinge of what most certainly felt like guilt deep in the pit of her stomach, burrowing in nauseatingly. While her eyebrows knitted together, his nostrils flared.
"We can, uh, tell Riyan and Lel that you had to keep the betrothal quiet because of the Code. That you needed to be careful, even if we are siblings… that you wanted to tell me but couldn't," Anakin said with a soft, flat tone. He fussed with his hands in front of his stomach, cleared his throat, and then nodded. His eyes dropped low again. "Besides, I'm starving. Those ration bars only keep you going for so long."
With a pitiful little half-laugh at his own comment, Anakin scooted past Elara, shuffled the curtain open, and slipped through it. She followed him with her eyes, and turned to watch him go. But it was in that doorway that she remained, a contemplative frown drawing across her lips. The hand that had been resting over her heart dropped to press against her stomach. To push back at the gnawing, lingering feeling of guilt that only intensified as Anakin threw a glance back over his shoulder at her.
What would he have to be guilty about?
Afterword: Sorry about the wait, y'all! I took an impromptu break when I realized this chapter was absolutely killing me. Whenever I get idea for Gleann chapters, they're always so… episodic, so I end up struggling with ways to figure out how to tie all the ideas together. I feel like this chapter is… vaguely underwhelming, but I hope it was still enjoyable. We'll have one more chapter of the Skywalkers on Gleann, and then we get space-pirate-lover-boy Hondo back on scene (which is great, 'cause my piratical inspo has been skyrocketing lately)!
Review Replies!
MsRosePetal: Yoda knows that the two of them closing each other out is just going to end in absolute disaster. And the last thing they need in the middle of this war is another disaster. And don't worry, Obi-Wan and Elara will return to Gleann together. It's already their safe haven––no one there's gonna narc on 'em! I hope you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!
ElleMeDit2016: Yoda kiiiinda gave him the go-ahead. At the very least, he was like 'you need this person in your life, don't let them go.' But given that he's realizing that apathy isn't the road to go down… he may be all for it. And I'm so glad you enjoy all the AU/headcanon stuff on Tumblr! I have a lot of fun with them, they help me delve into the characters a lot more :) I hope you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!
Guest: Which would be very satisfying; but I do have quite a bit planned where Tarkin will need to be present. I also plan to carry this story into Episodes IV–VI, and he plays a pretty integral role in at least Ep. IV. Tarkin's an ass, but he's a big pawn in the building of the Empire.
bukspwn737: We'll get some good discussion on Anakin and Obi-Wan's dynamic come next chapter/the chapter after. He's gonna be passive aggressive as HELL––but Obi-Wan is still his friend. And Elara's probably not gonna be the biggest fan of Anakin being an ass to him, so it's gonna be fun to see how the dynamic temporarily shifts. I hope you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!
Duchess of Lantern Waste: Yoda definitely loves a verbal mic-drop, and he always knows exactly when to do it. He definitely tripped Obi-Wan up big time, but… it was a needed trip-up. It's a lesson that he needed to be offered, now he's just gotta run with it. After next chapter we'll have some much needed Obi-Lara content! There are some Ani-Lari and Lari-Acks convos next chapter that are gonna set up how she and Obi-Wan interact next time around. The make up is nigh! I hope you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!
PrettyRecklessLaura: Thank you! I hope you enjoyed the chapter!
MotherAiya: If Obi-Wan had been drinking something when Yoda dropped all that shit on him, it would have been sprayed all across the room, that's for sure! xD I totally peg Qui-Gon as being the OG Obi-Lara shipper, but Yoda, suuuuper low-key, definitely feels the same way. I'm glad you enjoyed reading that post I reblogged! It's helped a lot with my understanding of how the Jedi handle these sorts of things. And it's enormously helpful that it lends a little legitimacy to some of the stuff going on in the story. When one goes to meet with Palps, a bleach bath is always required. I hope you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!
DCDGojira: Thank you! And my arm is all healed up now, she just got a little rough during morning play time :) I hope you enjoyed the chapter!
monkeybaby: I've loved returning to Gleann, even with how difficult it's been to string things together. Developing the planet and its peoples has been so wonderful. And, yeah, Palps and the Clones… those don't usually work together well. But this time around… he seems to be reigning it in to try and rope Elara into his clutches. I hope you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!
ZabuzasGirl: We might see Dex in a couple of chapters! This chapter and the next are pretty Gleann-centric. But once we're back on Coruscant, there's a chance we'll see him again! I hope you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!
Nerdette92: Obi-Wan's been a tricky lad to write as of late, but I'm happy that he still seems in character, given the situation. He's so analytical that his giving way to be led emotionally, even a little bit, is such a process. And Yoda is, indeed, the ticket back on the fluff train, which is now approaching the station! I hope you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!
Lady Basara: What's really interesting about the Clone Wars dealing with Anakin and Padmé's relationship is that they very quietly acknowledge the Council knows. I found a really interesting post about it, where they point out that on all matters concerning Padmé, they turn to Anakin. That they know something is going on between them (not necessarily that they're married), but they have faith that Anakin will do the right thing should it come down to it. Which has played a lot into how I'm developing Yoda and Windu's thoughts on the Obi-Lara situation. If there are any two Jedi that are going to put duty first… they figure it's going to be them. And I'm so happy you enjoyed the skin-crawling aspects of the Palps scene! He's so much fun to write. Incredibly smarmy, and so cunning. I hope you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!
MalirBly: Ahh, thank you so much! I've really enjoyed writing all the poetic emotional drama, but I'm very much looking forward to finally writing the beautiful, poeticism of romance. Which will happen soon enough! I hope you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!
thenerdnextdoor: I haven't written much of Anakin and Elara in battle together, but I've had this long standing image of them fighting as though they're one. That anyone watching would think they shared the same brain, because they move and work together so fluidly, like they know what the other's going to do before they do it. So I thought that would probably translate to flying too, and it was so lovely figuring out how to describe it all! I, too, am so invested in this sibling relationship, and it is… going to hurt so badly, ugh, my god. And I totally feel that Obi-Wan is the kind of person that's gotten so caught up in the logistics, he's forgotten what it all really means. And now that he's sort of been re-awakened to the true meaning of it, it's going to be a lot of re-learning/re-framing. And Yoda was just the fellow to set him down that path. And Obi-Wan's concluding that he'd been selfish––a big ouchie there, but at least he's starting to realize his missteps! I enjoy writing Palpatine so, so much. 'Cause he's just… slimy. So gross. But so cunning, and that's what makes all his dialogue and gestures so fun to play with. He's got, like, a sixth sense that tells him when one of the Skywalkers is in distress. 'Cause he always knows right when to swoop in to try and take advantage. Elara isn't about to give in, but she'll definitely use that offer to her advantage; and though she doesn't trust him… she'll always remember the time that he was kinda nice to her. Also, I saw what you tagged me in on Tumblr, and I've totally got a draft written up; I just had to get this bad boy of a chapter up and running first xD I hope you enjoyed the chapter! As always, it's been great talking with you! :) Thanks again!
zikashigaku: While Elara gets a wee trip to Gleann while she's processing all of this, poor Obi-Wan is definitely stuck attending strategy meetings on Coruscant, poor dude. And Anakin was so thrown for a loop when they mentioned the betrothal; no one's having a fun time in this galaxy as of late xD I hope you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!
GreyMemories: All I'm saying is a lot of the sweet stuff––i.e. the "you mean the world to me" comments––are gonna be echoed in Ep. III and it's gonna… hurt. Because Ep. III is already heart-rending and there's a sick delight in finding more ways to make it hurt all the more. I'm so glad that you enjoyed the last chapter! Thanks again, and I hope you enjoyed this one as well!
Elizabeth: Last chapter was a great chance to get a glimpse into more of Elara and Anakin's dynamic as siblings. We didn't really get a true chance to see them just as siblings, so the flight scene was so much fun to write. They were just being… them. They were a little burdened, but they were just them for a while. Palpatine is definitely trying to switch up his tactics on Elara. He's noticed that the flattery doesn't do it, building her up is a no-go, and referring to her strength or her being 'a Chosen One' shuts down the conversation. So what does he do? He goes for the heart. Literally. Acts of kindness are what get to her. He's trying to find a good soft-spot to hit, and he's found one. But Elara isn't tricked easily… but he has gotten under her skin for sure. I'm still very much learning about the Jedi's point of view on emotion and attachment as I write. Because it's really easy to view it very black-and-white (emotions bad, attachments bad), but it's very much all shades of grey. I read a wonderful post about it, and it helped me write the Yoda scene quite a bit. He's, canonically, starting to realize the Jedi's approach to compassion and the like needs to change, and in this story, it's happening hand-in-hand with the build of the Obi-Lara relationship. In a way… they're kind of an… experiment to Yoda? If it all goes wrong, it can be stopped and fixed, but if it works… then his hypothesis could be right. And I promise that we WILL get Elara and Obi-Wan back on Gleann together! I've got lots of stuff planned :) I hope you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!
RemiSparklez: I hope you enjoyed part one of the Gleann mini-arc! It's kinda episodic, kinda calm… but I think it's a much needed calm after all the drama. I hope you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!
camelotprincess1: Elara definitely deserves, like, a solo vacation, or a girls vacation with Padmé so she can properly unwind. This poor woman keeps getting dealt blow after blow. But Gleann should be a nice little breather, even if there are snags along the way. And I keep looking for opportunities to get R3 in there! I love my indignant, competitive astromech droid xD Also, I totally think that Yoda felt Elara's pain, to a certain degree. He's very aware of emotion in the Force (as we see with Ani and the Tuskens, and Order 66), and given his connection with Elara, it makes all the sense in the world he'd feel it. And Obi-Wan's mentioning of love/attachment coming to hurt eventually is definitely an allusion to both. He was incredibly close with Qui-Gon and his death all but ruined him. Letting go of Satine was his first taste of heartbreak and he's scared to feel that again. This poor man… has had very few positive experiences with love and attachment. I hope you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!
And thank you to those that added this to their follows/favorites; it means a lot!
And that's that for now! Next time we'll still be on Gleann, and we might even jump back to Coruscant around the end. Sorry, again, for the impromptu break, but I'm feeling better about what's coming in the next chapter! Thanks again, everybody; y'all rock!
~Mary