"Satine!" Squealed Luna as the duchess emerged from the hut the next morning. Satine smiled affectionately at her younger sister, a night sleeping amongst the trees had caused a number of leaves to get trapped in her ruby red hair. With some colour already returning to her naturally rosy cheeks, she almost seemed like a creature of the forest.
"I see you slept well, Luna." Answered Satine, cherishing saying her sister's name once more.
"I dozed off." Luna corrected. "Why didn't you wake me?"
"You were sound asleep." Satine admitted, momentarily resting her hand against her sister's cheek, still not believing she was here, besides her, in flesh and bone. "It appeared that it had been a very long time since you had slept so peacefully. Though I thought you'd get me once she woke up."
This last statement was directed to Jem'ah, the female Miraluka who had promised to look after Luna the night before. The woman handed her a warm bowl of some porridge-like food with a variety of forest berries mixed into the concoction.
"We chose to let you sleep." Jem'ah admitted. "We thought the two of you would need your own rest after last night."
Satine almost dropped the utensil Jem'ah was handing her. Had they been that obvious last night? Or was Jem'ah just referring to the overall events that had led to rescuing Luna? Satine did not know and wished the woman not to elaborate as Obi-Wan also emerged from the hut to sit beside the Kryze sisters, trying, and failing, not to be conspicuous. Satine half wondered what Luna thought at the two having slept in the same hut, but the younger girl chose not to comment
"Thank you for treating Luna's wounds." Obi-Wan told Jem'ah, accepting the porridge she offered him.
"It's the least we could do after all the trouble you caused those murderous Donari."
"And I have to thank you for keeping my sister safe through all this, Padawan Kenobi." Luna said gratefully, clutching her almost empty bowl in her hands. "I know she can be quite the handful more times than not."
"I'm sorry, but who was it that was just rescued from imprisonment?" Satine tried to defend herself, but Luna playfully stuck out her tongue. At least the war hadn't taken away such childish mannerisms.
"It's my mission, I'm to guard her with my life." Obi-Wan replied with his usual answer, taking a spoonful of the porridge.
"Though I must say." Innocently observed Luna, looking at her sister's face intently. "For one who has been on the run for almost a year, you seem to be doing exceptionally well, glowing actually."
Obi-Wan almost choked on the younger girl's comment.
"It's most likely the forest light." Satine tried to shrug off, ignoring Obi-Wan as he literally choked on their secret. "The way it reflects off the leaves here is very different then how it does in the domed cities, it would give even a strill a vibrant glow."
"Very true." Agreed Luna, putting the conversation to rest as she took the last scoop of her breakfast and Jem'ah patted Obi-Wan, not so gently, on the back as he tried to regain his breath.
"How are your injuries?" Satine enquired, changing the topic as skilfully as one would expect from a diplomat.
"It's fascinating, the Miraluka make medications almost as effective as those made in the cities from items they find here in the forest." Excitedly explained Luna, her excitement proving that her recovery was really underway. "Apart from a nasty cough, the pain's gone and I think the injuries, with what the Miraluka have given me, shouldn't get infected. You should really ask for some, I think you got a bruise forming on your neck?"
Luna leaned in tentatively to check her sister's injury but Satine quickly brushed it off and covered the mark with her hair, she'd hoped that would have faded by morning.
"You should be more worried about our Padawan guard." Satine calmly retorted, casually spooning some porridge into her mouth. "It feels like he's forgotten how to eat, maybe one too many blows to the head?"
"That's not very nice, Duchess." Muttered Obi-Wan as he pounded his chest as he tried to calm his cough, he'd forgotten how observant Luna was. Luna made to stand up and help him but Jem'ah motioned for her to sit.
"The Padawan will be fine." The woman said knowingly. And finally, as if her words were law, it was truly the end of that awkward conversation. "Will you be leaving once Luna is healed then?"
Both duchess and Padawan opened their mouths to answer but both faltered. The events of the previous night had distracted them from plans of the future. It would have been simple to state they'd continue with their original plan of returning to Mandalore but now they had a third person added to their party who was most likely worse than Satine when it came to handling a blaster.
"I think it may be best, if Enoch and the villagers allow of course, for Satine and Luna to stay here until the war is over." Obi-Wan carefully began, anticipating the glare the duchess directed his way.
"Must I remind you, Mandalore is my planet and my other sister is still out there?" The duchess countered, setting her bowl down on her lap to better look at Obi-Wan.
"And I'll find her just as we did Luna."
"I am not going to let you fight my battles while I'm tucked safe in some forest somewhere."
"Satine, you are still recovering and so is Luna. It would be irresponsible of me as your protector, to take either one of you into a war zone." He tried to reason but, in a lower voice so only Satine could hear he added. "And I'd feel better knowing you were safe."
Satine sighed internally, she wanted to reach out and take both Obi-Wan's hands in her own and tell him he was being silly but knew better not to. The events of the previous night had to remain their little secret and she would not tolerate him worrying over her like some damsel simply due to that.
"My wounds have almost completely healed, right Jem'ah?" Satine began but, before the healer could reply, she continued . "But I agree I'd feel better knowing Luna is safe."
Satine then turned to address the girl in question. "I know you want to see Bo-Katan as much as I do, but I don't want you anywhere near those rebels…"
"Trust me, I'm not eager to see them anytime soon." Luna admitted, fidgeting with her hands nervously as she remembered her time as their captive. "But you really want to go there, Satine? It's not a very pacifist act to enter a war."
But the duchess shook her head. "It will further enforce our ideology."
Luna nodded her head in understanding.
"What about your uncle in Sundari?" Obi-Wan suggested, accepting the fact that Satine would accompany him wherever he traveled to next. "She may be safe there?"
"We don't know if Sundari is still a Mandalorian stronghold." The duchess reasoned. "It could have fallen into rebel hands since we last were there…"
"What if I stay here?" Luna piped in, shocking the pair with her suggestion.
"We've imposed enough on the Miraluka…" Began Obi-Wan, although aware he had suggested the same thing only a few moments previously.
"Nonsense." Said a now familiar voice, emerging from one of the smaller huts. Enoch slowly appeared, walking towards the central fire where the small group were talking, his walking stick making a consistent 'thud thud thud' sound as he walked. "We can deal with an extra mouth to feed, if you don't mind the boring forest life?"
"Actually, I was wondering if Jem'ah could maybe teach how to make medicines?" Luna shyly asked, surprising the woman with her request.
"Sure, but I'm not an easy teacher, ask the Padawan over there." Jem'ah agreed, not having expected acquiring an apprentice from this.
"So that's the reason why you want to stay here after it took us months to find you!" Satine teased, if Luna hadn't just been recovering from months of captivity she would have pushed her playfully, but her tone was clear enough.
"That does seem like the most reasonable solution." Admitted Obi-Wan, sensing Satine's reservations as she tried to cover it up with her lighthearted comment.
"After finally getting you back, I don't like the fact we'll be separated again." Satine reluctantly admitted, blowing out her cheeks in frustration at the situation, but unable to come up with a solution that would ensure everyone's safety.
"But this time will be different!" Exclaimed Luna, reaching out and grabbing her eldest sister's hands. "This time it would be our decision and we'll know exactly where the other is."
"Well not exactly ." Obi-Wan piped in, "Once we enter Mandalore's atmosphere, even if we leave you with a spare radio from the ship we won't be able…"
But the glare the two sisters gave him quickly silenced the Padawan, causing him to direct his attention to his porridge as he sieved through it with his spoon, wondering how many bugs had been crushed into it this time.
"I'd still like for you not to leave my sight for a few more decades." Sighed Satine, but she saw the reasoning behind her sister's words. "War has made you grow up, it seems."
"You know what they say, once you taste freedom there's no turning back." Luna tried to joke but Satine couldn't find it in herself to laugh, her smile came out a little too strangled for her liking.
"You also have grown, Satine." Luna added, beaming at her sister. Though Satine couldn't really see how she had, she'd spent more time during this war in hiding and being rescued then actually helping her planet but, Satine's protests died on her lips when Luna's thin frame was wracked by a fit of coughs.
"And with a cough like that, I'm happy you aren't going anywhere near that war." Piped in Jem'ah, speaking far more gently to Luna then she had ever done to either Satine or Obi-Wan.
"Then it is decided." Enoch concluded, smiling, silently pleased that days at the village had become so lively as of late. "Young Luna here will stay safe under our care until you come for her."
"I just hope it's not too long." Satine admitted, not liking the sound of Luna's cough.
"D-does that mean I'll have to wear a blindfold as well?" Luna wondered, as the coughing finally subsided.
"Most certainly." The elder answered with all seriousness, causing the healer to burst out into laughter at Luna's excited expression.
"Satine, could I talk to you for a moment?" Jem'ah called the duchess as she, alongside Obi-Wan and Lie Ren, were preparing provisions to continue on their journey. Lie Ren had offered to take them back to their ship, knowing more or less its location and vaguely impressed that the pair had survived a Venom mite swarm.
"Is Luna ok?" Satine instantly asked.
"Her injuries will heal." Jem'ah began, "but I'm worried about her cough… it doesn't sound right."
"Do you think you could help her?" Asked Satine, concern lacing her voice.
"I will try, but I'm not sure my primitive medication, or the Force, may be of any help." But the duchess nodded her head, understanding the healers implication.
"We'll do our best so Luna can get more advanced treatment."
Jem'ah nodded her head, pleased. The woman may be gruff and blunt, but she rarely joked when it came to her patient's health. "I will do my best to slow the disease and suppress the symptoms until then."
"Thank you, Jem'ah. Honestly I don't know what we could ever do to repay you." Sighed Satine, this cough of Luna's should have been a trivial thing but if even Jem'ah was worried, the unease that had settled in her stomach wasn't unfounded.
"Just come back with some new stories for me." Jem'ah answered lightly and, in a more teasing voice added. "Like about what happened between you and the Padawan last night."
Satine felt her cheeks burn instantly, and she opened her mouth to protest.
"Don't you dare deny it!" Laughed Jem'ah, interrupting the girl before she could even say a word. "Even a toddler could sense the change in the air between you two last night."
"Were we that obvious?" She whispered, her embarrassment causing even her ears to burn red. Jem'ah laughed at her reaction.
"Don't worry, Luna seems sharp but she's still a child at heart, I doubt the thought even crossed her mind." Jem'ah's words were only a mild reassurance because they did nothing to cover up who else actually had realised.
Satine spared obi-wan a glance as she watched him discussing with Lie Ren, their words lost in the distance. Did Lie Ren know? Were they talking about the same thing she and Jem'ah were? Her embarrassment and anxiety intensified the more she thought this.
"Well?"
Jem'ah almost prodded Satine with a finger to drag her out of her thoughts.
"What?"
"How was it?" Jem'ah raised a sneaky eyebrow, she really had to be the village gossip!
"I'm not going to tell you!" Satine gasped, cursing as she felt her whole face burn.
"C'mon!" Laughed Jem'ah enjoying teasing the younger woman. "You can consider it as downpayment for your sister's stay and training."
"I am not going to tell you anything!" Satine said, she really wanted to bury her face in her hands, to escape this conversation somehow.
"Was it passionate? Steamy? Oh to be young!" Prodded Jem'ah not exactly expecting Satine to answer but enjoying this little teasing. "He must be so muscular under those robes…"
"If I tell you, will you promise to not speak about it again?!" Bit back Satine, worried someone may overhear them.
"At least not until you come back to pick up your sister." The healer promised causing Satine to sigh, accepting that was the best deal she would get with the healer.
Satine looked around inconspicuously, making sure no one was within earshot of them before she answered in a whisper.
"Yes."
"To what?" Jem'ah enquired, also lowering her voice for the youth's benefit, if anyone saw them they'd look as if they were discussing some nefarious scheme.
"It was passionate… but he didn't really know what he was doing… not at first, neither of us did." Jem'ah wanted to snort at the girl's description, not having expected anything else from the Padawan but she held back her comment as the duchess continued to speak. Her blush fading slightly, giving her cheeks a darker hue rather than a vibrant red. Her eyes became softer as she seemed to look past Jem'ah, remembering the experience. "He was gentle and he was concerned about me, asking if I was okay at the most inappropriate of moments… but after he held me…"
Satine bit her tongue, not having intended to reveal that much to the healer.
But Jem'ah smiled knowingly. "Ah, it was one of those nights…"
Satine coughed, clearing her throat, trying to regain her composure and dignity. "I hope that will suffice for your… payment. "
"I will accept it for the time being." Jem'ah said before, without another word, walking back to where Lie Ren and Obi-Wan were still working. Luna had appeared at some point, and was at their heels and, undoubtedly, asking countless questions .
Satine patted her cheeks lightly, feeling the burn in them fade slowly and she took a deep breath, straightening and regaining her composure before walking to join the group, concealing her feelings with trained proficiency.
I honestly can't believe we've made it to chapter 36! Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Feel free to drop a comment and next update will be out Friday :D