In Love and War - Part Twelve
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Obi-Wan pushed himself through the water, long, wavy tendrils of lake fronds moving slowly in front of him. He was swimming in the small lake behind Onara's manor, something he did every morning after his exercise and lightsaber practice. He usually swam alone, though one morning Onara had joined him. However, because of what had almost happened after their swim, they both had thought it best if he swam alone.
Two weeks had passed since the visit from the Assembly representatives, and, although Obi-Wan had wanted to discuss their visit and the proposal of marriage from the Lenor family with Onara, every time he tried to she would quickly change the subject.
He hadn't pressed her on it because, he had learned, she refused to discuss the marriage proposal with anyone, even Simtro. However, with her officially recognized period of mourning coming to an end, the communiqués from the Assembly regarding her marriage to Gend Lenor were becoming more frequent and more urgent.
Obi-Wan swam to the shore, thrusting his head out of the water. Sunlight sparkled on the lake's surface, and, as he wiped water from his eyes, he was blinded for a moment by the brilliance. He was just about to get out of the lake when he saw someone standing next to where he had left his clothes.
"Morning, Master Kenobi," Auna grinned at him.
Obi-Wan remained in the water since he was completely naked. "Good morning, Auna."
"Having a nice swim, are ya?"
"Yes, I am, but, I'm about to get out, so if you wouldn't mind..." and he gestured with his hand for her to either leave or turn around.
But Auna did neither. She just stood there grinning at him.
Obi-Wan swam closer. "Auna, please, I'd like to get out."
"Oh, I'm sure ya would, Master Kenobi. But not until ya tell me when yar going to do it."
"Do what?"
"Ask Onara to marry ya."
Obi-Wan stared over at Auna where she stood on the shore. He had never discussed his desire to marry Onara with Auna or anyone else for that matter. He wondered if that was one of the things she talked with Onara about.
"Well, when are ya?"
"Auna, I'm not going to discuss this with you, especially not under these circumstances. Now, if you would be so kind as to----"
Auna hunkered down over his clothes, picking them up one by one and smiling slyly over at him.
"I would imagine ya starting to get a bit chilly out in that water. Well, I'll let ya come out when ya answer my question."
"Auna, this is ridiculous. I'm not about to----"
"Ya can't let her marry that son of a tarlak," Auna suddenly said, frowning sternly at him. "And she will. Trust me she will."
Obi-Wan swam closer to the shore. "Did she tell you that?"
"What other choice does she have? I done some checking on these relations of Dalan's. Nasty bunch they are. Ya remember Edress, don't ya? Onara's first husband?"
Obi-Wan nodded, frowning. He remembered Edress. Remembered the way he had pawed over Onara after she and Obi-Wan had completed the blessing ceremony, leering and groping at her like she was some piece of fabric he had just purchased.
"Yeah, I thought ya would," Auna said, nodding. "Onara told me about him. Well, these uncles of Dalan's, and the aunt? They're just as bad as Edress was, if not worse. And Gend, Dalan's cousin?" Auna sucked air through her teeth. "A real pig, that one."
"Auna---"
"Ya have to marry Onara, Master Kenobi. She loves ya so much. That's why she's stalling on this proposal. She's hoping ya will ask her---"
"Auna, I have nothing to bring to a marriage," Obi-Wan suddenly cried, his tortured words echoing around the lake.
Auna's violet eyes widened. "What? What do ya mean ya got nothing to bring to a marriage? Ya got ya. That's all Onara wants."
Obi-Wan shook his head as he continued to float in the water. Auna was right, the water was starting to get cold, but she was wrong about him. He truly had nothing to bring to a marriage with Onara. No money, no status, no title, nothing, and marrying him would not prevent a war as would her marriage to Gend. His marrying Onara would most likely start one.
"Goshdollyswop, but ya are the most stubborn Jedi I know."
Obi-Wan smiled at Auna where she stood glaring at him from the shore. "Auna, I'm the only Jedi you know."
"And glad I am of that if the rest of them are anything like ya."
Obi-Wan only shook his head. He swam closer. "All right, Auna, you've had your say. Now, either turn around or leave, because I'm coming out."
"Not until ya say yar going to ask Onara to marry ya."
Obi-Wan swan to the shore's edge. He pushed himself up and out of the water.
Auna yelped, darting away from Obi-Wan's clothes as he strode over to them, water dripping off his naked body.
"What by the Seven Sisters do ya think yar doing?" she shouted, turning quickly away from him.
"I told you I was coming out of the water" he said, picking up his towel and drying himself off.
"But, I didn't think ya would go and do it with me standing here and all," she said irately, her back still to him.
Obi-Wan dried his hair, then put on his clothes. "Then you've learned another thing about the Jedi, Auna. We are, as you say, quite stubborn, and we also say what we mean and mean what we say."
"Humph! I don't know what it is Onara sees in ya," Auna said, her face still turned away from him. "Yar a daft one, that ya are, Master Kenobi."
she moved her head slightly to peer at him, one of her pointed ears twitching, her voice low and suggestive.
"On the other hand, when ya came out of the water just then, naked as a baldbird, I did catch a glimpse of what Onara sees in ya."
Then Auna giggled, startling Obi-Wan again for it was such an incongruous sound coming from her.
"And ya claims ya got nothing to bring to a marriage," she went on in an incredulous voice. "I would say, Master Kenobi, having now seen ya in yar natural state and all, that ya got more than enough to bring to a marriage. Oh, yes indeed. More than enough."
Obi-Wan shook his head at her bawdy comments and, impulsively, threw his wet towel at her. She turned around, frowning, then, making sure he was completely dressed, threw herself at him.
They rolled across the ground wrestling. Then Auna, her four arms wrapped snugly around Obi-Wan's chest, succeeded in pinning him to the ground. They both laughed, aware she had won only because Obi-Wan had let her win.
Then, Obi-Wan's smile slipped away as, looking up from where he lay beneath her, he saw something in Auna's eyes he had never seen before, or, perhaps, it had been there all along and she was just now letting him perceive it. The laughter faded from her face and her violet eyes burned into his. Then, slowly, she moved her head down towards his.
"Obi-Wan," she whispered, her voice caressing his name.
He felt her two hearts beating frantically against his chest, and, just as her lips were about to touch his, he spoke.
"Auna," he said quietly, his tone that of a friend gently asking another what did she think she was doing.
Auna's eyes widened in shock. She stared down at Obi-Wan, then quickly shook her head.
"Master Kenobi! I'm sorry. I...I don't know what come over me. Must be all this sun." She collected herself for a moment, then frowned fiercely down at him. "Well, are ya going to ask Onara to marry ya, or do I have to beat some sense into ya."
Obi-Wan smiled up at her, relieved to see she was back to her cantankerous self. "It would appear I don't have a choice, do I?"
"No. Ya don't."
Auna rolled away from him and onto the ground. They both lay quietly for a moment, and Obi-Wan followed her gaze as she stared up at the sky. A few birds soared across the wide, blue expanse and he saw thick, white clouds forming over the Larab Mountains. Hopefully they would bring rain. The fields were starting to become parched. He turned his eyes from the sky and looked over at Auna.
"I don't even have a ring to give her. I don't have a credit to my name."
She sat up and grinned. "Don't ya worry about that. It's all been taken care of."
She reached into a pocket on her jumpsuit and pulled out a small green box, handing it to Obi-Wan. He sat up, taking the box from her. Opening it he saw, nestled in red velvet, a ring, delicate and beautiful. Its band was of white gold and the center stone was a large star diamond that caught and held the light, the gem sparkling and shimmering like the surface of the lake. The side stones were rare and precious fire-gems.
"And no, before ya say anything, I didn't steal it. I bought it with some of the profits me and Zaka made on our last job. It was his idea, actually. I know ya ain't got no money, having been a Jedi and all and being poor as a temple mouse, but ya got to give Onara something pretty. She deserves it."
Auna tilted her head as she gazed at the ring. "Ya can pay me back later. I'll even take installments, and I won't charge ya no interest. It's Onara's size and all. She gave me one of her rings as a gift. Well, I sort of begged her for it cause I needed her size. So, don't worry, it'll fit."
Obi-Wan stared down at the ring, then he looked over at Auna. He had to blink several times because his vision was blurred. "Auna---"
She suddenly rose from the ground and Obi-Wan followed her. "I know if ya had the time ya would have worked yar fingers to the bone to get the money to buy Onara a ring, but ya don't have the time. Ya gotta ask her and ya gotta ask right away. So, ya don't have to say a word, Master Kenobi. Not a word."
Obi-Wan reached over and took her arm. "No, I do, Auna. I do have to say a word. More than a word. You are a good friend. No, you are a dear friend, one of the kindest, most generous people I've ever met."
Auna shook her head and looked down at the ground, her face rosy with a deep blush. "Aw, stop with the mush already. I hate mush."
Obi-Wan smiled at her. Then he pulled her over, stroked her hair and kissed her gently on the cheek. Auna's eyes grew large as saucers. Then she pushed him away with an embarrassed laugh.
"Go on with ya, ya loony Jedi. Off with ya and go make Onara yar wife."
Obi-Wan nodded, then he looked anxiously over at Auna. She saw the look and, taking him by the shoulders, squeezed them.
"Don't worry, Master Kenobi. Don't ya worry about them greedy Lenors. Ya and Onara will handle them. The two of ya will find a way to prevent the war."
"It's not just that, Auna." Obi-Wan looked down at the ring where it lay in the box. "I don't want to hurt her."
"Hurt her? How would ya hurt her, Master Kenobi?"
Obi-Wan shook his head helplessly. "I don't know. I'm no longer a Jedi..."
"But yar afraid you can take the Jedi out of the Order, but ya can't the Order out of the Jedi."
Obi-Wan smiled wryly. "Something like that. I don't know what destiny the Force still has in store for me. What if I have to leave her again? What if- --"
"What if? What if?" Auna cried, interrupting him. "Master Kenobi, ya can drive yarself crazy with all yar what ifs? None of us knows what life has in store for us. None of us knows what tomorrow may bring. But ya can't let that stop ya from living. All we have is this moment. And this is the moment ya needs to go ask Onara to be yar wife. Whatever what ifs comes, at least ya won't have to face them alone."
Obi-Wan smiled. "You're right, Auna. I can't be afraid of the future, whatever it may hold. All any of us have is this moment. Something, as a former Jedi, I should have remembered. Thank you."
"Well, as far as I'm concerned, Master Kenobi, yar still a Jedi, ain't no former about it. And, uh, about what happened earlier...ya know, when I almost kissed ya? " Auna shrugged her shoulders, looking embarrassed. "I didn't mean anything by it. I was just playing with ya."
"I know, Auna. Don't worry about it."
He gave her one last, hard hug, wishing he could give her what he knew it was she wanted from him, and hoping, with all his heart, that someday she would find it with someone else. He picked up his towel, turned and walked back to the manor
"And ask Onara to marry ya as soon as ya see her." Auna called after him. "No stalling and no procrastinating. Time is flying."
"I will," he assured her.
Auna watched him disappear into the trees. Then she sat on the shore, wrapped her four arms around her legs and quietly wept.
To be continued...
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Obi-Wan pushed himself through the water, long, wavy tendrils of lake fronds moving slowly in front of him. He was swimming in the small lake behind Onara's manor, something he did every morning after his exercise and lightsaber practice. He usually swam alone, though one morning Onara had joined him. However, because of what had almost happened after their swim, they both had thought it best if he swam alone.
Two weeks had passed since the visit from the Assembly representatives, and, although Obi-Wan had wanted to discuss their visit and the proposal of marriage from the Lenor family with Onara, every time he tried to she would quickly change the subject.
He hadn't pressed her on it because, he had learned, she refused to discuss the marriage proposal with anyone, even Simtro. However, with her officially recognized period of mourning coming to an end, the communiqués from the Assembly regarding her marriage to Gend Lenor were becoming more frequent and more urgent.
Obi-Wan swam to the shore, thrusting his head out of the water. Sunlight sparkled on the lake's surface, and, as he wiped water from his eyes, he was blinded for a moment by the brilliance. He was just about to get out of the lake when he saw someone standing next to where he had left his clothes.
"Morning, Master Kenobi," Auna grinned at him.
Obi-Wan remained in the water since he was completely naked. "Good morning, Auna."
"Having a nice swim, are ya?"
"Yes, I am, but, I'm about to get out, so if you wouldn't mind..." and he gestured with his hand for her to either leave or turn around.
But Auna did neither. She just stood there grinning at him.
Obi-Wan swam closer. "Auna, please, I'd like to get out."
"Oh, I'm sure ya would, Master Kenobi. But not until ya tell me when yar going to do it."
"Do what?"
"Ask Onara to marry ya."
Obi-Wan stared over at Auna where she stood on the shore. He had never discussed his desire to marry Onara with Auna or anyone else for that matter. He wondered if that was one of the things she talked with Onara about.
"Well, when are ya?"
"Auna, I'm not going to discuss this with you, especially not under these circumstances. Now, if you would be so kind as to----"
Auna hunkered down over his clothes, picking them up one by one and smiling slyly over at him.
"I would imagine ya starting to get a bit chilly out in that water. Well, I'll let ya come out when ya answer my question."
"Auna, this is ridiculous. I'm not about to----"
"Ya can't let her marry that son of a tarlak," Auna suddenly said, frowning sternly at him. "And she will. Trust me she will."
Obi-Wan swam closer to the shore. "Did she tell you that?"
"What other choice does she have? I done some checking on these relations of Dalan's. Nasty bunch they are. Ya remember Edress, don't ya? Onara's first husband?"
Obi-Wan nodded, frowning. He remembered Edress. Remembered the way he had pawed over Onara after she and Obi-Wan had completed the blessing ceremony, leering and groping at her like she was some piece of fabric he had just purchased.
"Yeah, I thought ya would," Auna said, nodding. "Onara told me about him. Well, these uncles of Dalan's, and the aunt? They're just as bad as Edress was, if not worse. And Gend, Dalan's cousin?" Auna sucked air through her teeth. "A real pig, that one."
"Auna---"
"Ya have to marry Onara, Master Kenobi. She loves ya so much. That's why she's stalling on this proposal. She's hoping ya will ask her---"
"Auna, I have nothing to bring to a marriage," Obi-Wan suddenly cried, his tortured words echoing around the lake.
Auna's violet eyes widened. "What? What do ya mean ya got nothing to bring to a marriage? Ya got ya. That's all Onara wants."
Obi-Wan shook his head as he continued to float in the water. Auna was right, the water was starting to get cold, but she was wrong about him. He truly had nothing to bring to a marriage with Onara. No money, no status, no title, nothing, and marrying him would not prevent a war as would her marriage to Gend. His marrying Onara would most likely start one.
"Goshdollyswop, but ya are the most stubborn Jedi I know."
Obi-Wan smiled at Auna where she stood glaring at him from the shore. "Auna, I'm the only Jedi you know."
"And glad I am of that if the rest of them are anything like ya."
Obi-Wan only shook his head. He swam closer. "All right, Auna, you've had your say. Now, either turn around or leave, because I'm coming out."
"Not until ya say yar going to ask Onara to marry ya."
Obi-Wan swan to the shore's edge. He pushed himself up and out of the water.
Auna yelped, darting away from Obi-Wan's clothes as he strode over to them, water dripping off his naked body.
"What by the Seven Sisters do ya think yar doing?" she shouted, turning quickly away from him.
"I told you I was coming out of the water" he said, picking up his towel and drying himself off.
"But, I didn't think ya would go and do it with me standing here and all," she said irately, her back still to him.
Obi-Wan dried his hair, then put on his clothes. "Then you've learned another thing about the Jedi, Auna. We are, as you say, quite stubborn, and we also say what we mean and mean what we say."
"Humph! I don't know what it is Onara sees in ya," Auna said, her face still turned away from him. "Yar a daft one, that ya are, Master Kenobi."
she moved her head slightly to peer at him, one of her pointed ears twitching, her voice low and suggestive.
"On the other hand, when ya came out of the water just then, naked as a baldbird, I did catch a glimpse of what Onara sees in ya."
Then Auna giggled, startling Obi-Wan again for it was such an incongruous sound coming from her.
"And ya claims ya got nothing to bring to a marriage," she went on in an incredulous voice. "I would say, Master Kenobi, having now seen ya in yar natural state and all, that ya got more than enough to bring to a marriage. Oh, yes indeed. More than enough."
Obi-Wan shook his head at her bawdy comments and, impulsively, threw his wet towel at her. She turned around, frowning, then, making sure he was completely dressed, threw herself at him.
They rolled across the ground wrestling. Then Auna, her four arms wrapped snugly around Obi-Wan's chest, succeeded in pinning him to the ground. They both laughed, aware she had won only because Obi-Wan had let her win.
Then, Obi-Wan's smile slipped away as, looking up from where he lay beneath her, he saw something in Auna's eyes he had never seen before, or, perhaps, it had been there all along and she was just now letting him perceive it. The laughter faded from her face and her violet eyes burned into his. Then, slowly, she moved her head down towards his.
"Obi-Wan," she whispered, her voice caressing his name.
He felt her two hearts beating frantically against his chest, and, just as her lips were about to touch his, he spoke.
"Auna," he said quietly, his tone that of a friend gently asking another what did she think she was doing.
Auna's eyes widened in shock. She stared down at Obi-Wan, then quickly shook her head.
"Master Kenobi! I'm sorry. I...I don't know what come over me. Must be all this sun." She collected herself for a moment, then frowned fiercely down at him. "Well, are ya going to ask Onara to marry ya, or do I have to beat some sense into ya."
Obi-Wan smiled up at her, relieved to see she was back to her cantankerous self. "It would appear I don't have a choice, do I?"
"No. Ya don't."
Auna rolled away from him and onto the ground. They both lay quietly for a moment, and Obi-Wan followed her gaze as she stared up at the sky. A few birds soared across the wide, blue expanse and he saw thick, white clouds forming over the Larab Mountains. Hopefully they would bring rain. The fields were starting to become parched. He turned his eyes from the sky and looked over at Auna.
"I don't even have a ring to give her. I don't have a credit to my name."
She sat up and grinned. "Don't ya worry about that. It's all been taken care of."
She reached into a pocket on her jumpsuit and pulled out a small green box, handing it to Obi-Wan. He sat up, taking the box from her. Opening it he saw, nestled in red velvet, a ring, delicate and beautiful. Its band was of white gold and the center stone was a large star diamond that caught and held the light, the gem sparkling and shimmering like the surface of the lake. The side stones were rare and precious fire-gems.
"And no, before ya say anything, I didn't steal it. I bought it with some of the profits me and Zaka made on our last job. It was his idea, actually. I know ya ain't got no money, having been a Jedi and all and being poor as a temple mouse, but ya got to give Onara something pretty. She deserves it."
Auna tilted her head as she gazed at the ring. "Ya can pay me back later. I'll even take installments, and I won't charge ya no interest. It's Onara's size and all. She gave me one of her rings as a gift. Well, I sort of begged her for it cause I needed her size. So, don't worry, it'll fit."
Obi-Wan stared down at the ring, then he looked over at Auna. He had to blink several times because his vision was blurred. "Auna---"
She suddenly rose from the ground and Obi-Wan followed her. "I know if ya had the time ya would have worked yar fingers to the bone to get the money to buy Onara a ring, but ya don't have the time. Ya gotta ask her and ya gotta ask right away. So, ya don't have to say a word, Master Kenobi. Not a word."
Obi-Wan reached over and took her arm. "No, I do, Auna. I do have to say a word. More than a word. You are a good friend. No, you are a dear friend, one of the kindest, most generous people I've ever met."
Auna shook her head and looked down at the ground, her face rosy with a deep blush. "Aw, stop with the mush already. I hate mush."
Obi-Wan smiled at her. Then he pulled her over, stroked her hair and kissed her gently on the cheek. Auna's eyes grew large as saucers. Then she pushed him away with an embarrassed laugh.
"Go on with ya, ya loony Jedi. Off with ya and go make Onara yar wife."
Obi-Wan nodded, then he looked anxiously over at Auna. She saw the look and, taking him by the shoulders, squeezed them.
"Don't worry, Master Kenobi. Don't ya worry about them greedy Lenors. Ya and Onara will handle them. The two of ya will find a way to prevent the war."
"It's not just that, Auna." Obi-Wan looked down at the ring where it lay in the box. "I don't want to hurt her."
"Hurt her? How would ya hurt her, Master Kenobi?"
Obi-Wan shook his head helplessly. "I don't know. I'm no longer a Jedi..."
"But yar afraid you can take the Jedi out of the Order, but ya can't the Order out of the Jedi."
Obi-Wan smiled wryly. "Something like that. I don't know what destiny the Force still has in store for me. What if I have to leave her again? What if- --"
"What if? What if?" Auna cried, interrupting him. "Master Kenobi, ya can drive yarself crazy with all yar what ifs? None of us knows what life has in store for us. None of us knows what tomorrow may bring. But ya can't let that stop ya from living. All we have is this moment. And this is the moment ya needs to go ask Onara to be yar wife. Whatever what ifs comes, at least ya won't have to face them alone."
Obi-Wan smiled. "You're right, Auna. I can't be afraid of the future, whatever it may hold. All any of us have is this moment. Something, as a former Jedi, I should have remembered. Thank you."
"Well, as far as I'm concerned, Master Kenobi, yar still a Jedi, ain't no former about it. And, uh, about what happened earlier...ya know, when I almost kissed ya? " Auna shrugged her shoulders, looking embarrassed. "I didn't mean anything by it. I was just playing with ya."
"I know, Auna. Don't worry about it."
He gave her one last, hard hug, wishing he could give her what he knew it was she wanted from him, and hoping, with all his heart, that someday she would find it with someone else. He picked up his towel, turned and walked back to the manor
"And ask Onara to marry ya as soon as ya see her." Auna called after him. "No stalling and no procrastinating. Time is flying."
"I will," he assured her.
Auna watched him disappear into the trees. Then she sat on the shore, wrapped her four arms around her legs and quietly wept.
To be continued...
