In Love and War - Part Twenty

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Auna yawned hugely. What a day. She yawned again as she followed Zaka and Simtro out of the hospital. She couldn't wait to get back to the manor and collapse into bed. As they walked over to the shuttle, she drew in a deep breath of the cool, night air. It helped to alleviate some of her tiredness, but not all of it. But she knew she could rest easy now.

Obi-Wan was going to live and that was all that mattered. What would happen tomorrow or the day after she did not trouble herself with. Obi-Wan was alive and that thought put her heart to rest. Then, just as she was about to get into the driver's seat of the speeder, Zaka suddenly roared and, turning, raced back to the hospital.

"What the---?" Auna turned and watched as the Whiphid hotfooted it back into the hospital.

Simtro, who had pressed open the passenger door, stared wide-eyed and gape- mouthed at Auna. "What's wrong?"

Auna shook her head. "Not sure. Why don't ya stay here and I'll go get him. Onara told us all to go home so I don't know what's gotten into him."

Simtro nodded wearily. If Auna was exhausted, the major-domo looked close to death he was so tired. She made sure he was comfortably inside the speeder, then, following Zaka, ran back into the hospital.

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Onara carefully balanced the tray of food she had gotten from the hospital cafeteria in her hands. The cafeteria had been closed but one of the staff people had let her in upon recognizing her as Ahjane's former senator. There hadn't been much to choose from, but Onara hadn't been terribly hungry. She had only gone to the cafeteria because she had promised Auna and Simtro she would eat something.

Now, as she turned the corner and went down the hallway her stomach rumbled. She wondered if she should have gotten more food. Then she stopped, her throat constricting. Diomis was standing in front of Obi-Wan's room.

What was he doing here? Onara gripped the tray and it wobbled in her hands. Then she was suddenly back in the arena, watching Gend's sword sinking into Obi-Wan's chest. The sick horror she had felt was like bile in her mouth. Then her eyes narrowed and she ran down the hall. Perhaps the father had come to finish the son's job.

At the sound of her hurried footsteps, Diomis, who had been peering at the number above the door of Obi-Wan's room, turned and faced her. His bronze colored eyes bored into hers as she stopped in front of him. Then, shocking Onara down to her bones, he smiled at her.

"Lady Onara." He bowed deeply.

"Lord Diomis." Onara was surprised her voice sounded so normal since her heart was pounding so hard she wondered he couldn't hear it. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you. And your Jedi, of course."

Onara eased around Diomis until she stood in front of Obi-Wan's door, holding the tray in front of her like a shield. "It's late and visiting hours are over."

Diomis tilted his head, his long, black, gray-streaked hair swinging across his broad shoulders. "Indeed it is, my lady. Quite late. But, I was never one for following rules or regulations."

Diomis moved closer, forcing Onara to retreat until her back was pressed against the door. Now the fear was like a vise around her throat. Would Diomis be so ruthless, so callous as to come and kill Obi-Wan while he lay helpless in his hospital bed? And what would it accomplish? He had surrendered the challenge. Killing Obi-Wan would not undo that. Then her heart thudded in her chest. Perhaps it was revenge he sought.

"You're trembling, my lady." Diomis loomed over her, his eyes holding her captive as if he were a predator and she his prey. "Are you cold?"

"What do you want, Diomis?"

"I told you. To see you. And the Jedi."

"You can't see him. I won't let you see him."

Diomis stared at her. Then understanding flared in his bronze-colored eyes. He nodded and stepped back, allowing Onara a chance to release the breath she'd been holding.

"You think I've come to harm your Jedi."

"Haven't you?" The words slipped out before Onara could stop them.

Diomis looked glumly at her. "You must not think much of me, my lady, if you imagine me to be so malevolent as to do mischief to an injured man."

Onara wanted to say she tried not to think of him at all, but she remained silent. Diomis stared at her, then his glance fell upon the tray she was holding. He reached over and took the tin cover off the plate. She couldn't help noticing how big his hand was. He could easily wrap it around her throat.

"You eat like a bird, my lady." His eyes raked over her body. "But that must be how you keep such a lovely figure." He put the cover back on the plate.

Onara bristled. "I find your words most inappropriate, Lord Diomis. As I do your presence. I would ask that you please leave. Now."

"But don't you want to hear what I have to say? I've come so far to see you."

Onara shook her head no, then she glanced up and down the hall. It was deserted. She wished she hadn't sent the others away, but they had all looked so tired. Even Zaka. A cot had been brought to Obi-Wan's room and no one, not even Simtro, had argued with her when she informed them she was going to stay the night at the hospital.

Diomis looked deep into her eyes. "Please, my lady. I beg you. Hear me out."

Onara gazed up at him and found herself aware not only of his large, muscular body, but of the cologne he was wearing. It was heavy and masculine and made her dizzy. Diomis leaned closer, his voice low and throbbing.

"I swear to you, Onara, I did not come here to do violence to you or your beloved."

Onara stared wide-eyed at him. He nodded at her expression. "He is your beloved, is he not? The one you love with all your heart, the only one you love? Married twice, yet never for love. Such a pity. But now, finally, you can marry for love. It must fill you with great gladness."

"What do you want?" Onara's words, torn from her trembling throat, hovered in the air between them.

Diomis moved closer until his broad chest pressed against the tray Onara still held in front of her. He was now so close she could see the fine lines alongside his copper-colored eyes and wide, firm mouth. His scent surrounded her, filling her head until she thought she was going to faint.

She pushed the tray against him, trying to force him back and away from the door through which Obi-Wan lay asleep, so helpless, so vulnerable. She cursed herself for being so weak, so frightened.

Diomis grinned at her, and she saw in his eyes that he knew how afraid she was, but she would die before she let him harm Obi-Wan. He took a step back as Onara pushed the tray hard against his chest. Then, with a movement both swift and unexpected, he took the tray from her.

Onara tried to grab it, but Diomis, laughing as he did so, kept it up and out of her reach. Onara felt perfectly silly as she jumped, trying to take the tray from him. Anger, hot and fierce, flooded through her. She ceased her jumping, then stomped hard on Diomis' instep. He howled, nearly dropping the tray. Onara took it from him as he hopped about on one foot.

"You little minx!" He glowered at her, his face mottled with anger.

Onara moved back in front of Obi-Wan's door. If Diomis came at her she would throw the tray at him, food and all. He continued to glare at her as he gingerly lowered his foot, testing it against the floor. Then he suddenly smiled, admiration replacing the anger in his eyes.

"Spirit, wealth and beauty. My nephew was a lucky man. As is the Jedi. May I see him now?"

Onara couldn't believe her ears. Was he mad?

"No, you may not." She lifted her chin, wiling herself to present a brave front despite the fear scrabbling at her throat. "He's sleeping and even if he were awake I wouldn't let you anywhere near him."

"Why not? I told you I didn't come here to harm him."

"How do I know that? You seemed to have no qualms about your son stabbing him with a sword."

"Ah, but that is what I've come to speak to you about."

"Speak?" Onara scoffed, her eyes flaring, convinced that talking was the last thing Diomis wanted to do. "Speak of what?"

"Of what happened today in the arena. Haven't you wondered why I surrendered the challenge when it was clear Gend had won?"

Onara had wondered, but her feelings had been so centered on Obi-Wan and his recovery she hadn't give it much thought. She looked at Diomis, but remained silent.

"That is why I have come. To tell you." He reached out to her, offering his hand. "Consider it my wedding gift."

Onara stared at his huge hand, wondering if he really expected her to take it. Her instinct was to smash it with her tray, hopefully breaking his thick fingers, but then she looked up and into his eyes and was surprised to see something she had not expected to see. She saw sincerity.

"Please, my lady, I swear to you. I do not mean you or your beloved any harm. I only wish to give you this gift of information. And, then, I hope, once you have gauged the genuineness of what I say, you will then deign to listen to a few propositions I wish to discuss with you."

"Propositions?"

Diomis nodded. "Business propositions."

"This hardly seems the proper time to discuss business----"

The sound of heavy, pounding feet and a loud snarl drew Onara's attention from Diomis. She turned and was surprised to see Zaka running towards her. Then, when she saw the look on his long furred face, she was more than surprised, she was shocked.

Rage filled Zaka's long black eyes and his white, sharp teeth were clearly visible as he drew closer. He's gone mad, Onara thought, having reverted, for some unknown reason, back to his natural predator behavior. Then she found herself imaging how it would feel when his teeth sank into her throat, his claws ripping open her flesh.

But Zaka ignored her. The Whiphid, towering over Diomis, who was not a small man, threw his arms around him and easily lifted him off the floor.

"Zaka, no!" Onara dropped the tray. It clattered to the floor, the food spilling off the plate.

Zaka roared as he held the struggling Diomis in his arms. Onara grabbed his huge, furry arm, tugging frantically on it. "Zaka, no, stop. Put him down. Put him down!"

Zaka's arms tightened around Diomis. "Not let you hurt Nara. Not let you hurt Je-di. Zaka not let you hurt them."

Diomis, who was shouting with both fear and anger, tried to free himself but the Whiphid had him in a bone- crushing hold.

"Zaka, please, please, let him go." Onara tugged harder on the Whiphid's arm.

"Do as she says and let him go, ya big lunkhead."

Onara turned as Auna ran up to them. She grabbed Zaka's other arm and tugged on it with all four of her hands. As the two women struggled to free Diomis from Zaka, Onara heard other footsteps coming from both sides of the hallway. Two female nurses ran towards the melee. Then, hearing more footsteps, Onara saw Inida, Obi-Wan's physician come racing around a corner. She stopped and stared.

"What in the name of all that's holy is going on here?"

Onara wanted to answer her, but she kept her attention on Zaka, still pulling on his arm. Diomis' broad face was now a deep red and he seemed to be having trouble breathing.

"Let him go, ya peabrain! Let him go now!"

Auna reached up---and it was quite a reach for Zaka was nearly two meters tall---and tugged him hard on his ear. Onara wasn't sure such a strategy would work, but the Whiphid suddenly released Diomis.

He fell to the floor, groaning loudly. Inida quickly pulled a medscanner out of the pocket of her tunic and ran it over him.

"You're all right, my lord." She snapped the medscanner closed and slipped it back into her pocket. "You've suffered no injury."

Diomis grunted as she and the nurses helped him to his feet. "Are you sure about that?"

Inida nodded. Diomis looked over at Zaka. The Whiphid stood between Onara and Auna. Both women were holding him by the arms.

Diomis stared at them as he rubbed his left shoulder. Then he inclined his head at Onara. "I compliment you, my lady. A most effective bodyguard."

Onara frowned at Diomis, moving her hand soothingly over the thick fur on Zaka's arm. "He's not my bodyguard. He's my friend."

"That's even better. A most loyal and dutiful friend to not even question the situation you were in, but to spring so nobly and so swiftly to your defense."

Onara wasn't sure if Diomis was being sincere or sarcastic. As for Zaka, he had behaved in a way she had never seen before. Not once since he'd arrived on Ahjane had he ever raised his voice, displayed any kind of anger or acted violently. She didn't even know what had made him come back into the hospital. But, she had to admit, she was glad he had done so.

Inida glanced between Onara and Diomis. "My lady, what is going on? This is a hospital, after all."

"I'm sorry." Onara squeezed Zaka's arm. He looked down at her, his placid expression back on his face. "My friend thought I was being harmed."

"Harmed?" Inida glanced over at Zaka, than at Diomis. He only shrugged, then shook his head as if questioning the behavior of all aliens. Inida looked back at Onara.

"Be that as it may, my lady, we must have quiet here. There are patients on this floor who need their rest."

"Of course. Forgive us." Onara looked over at Auna and indicated with her eyes that she should take Zaka out of the hospital. Auna nodded, but just as she was about to leave, she stopped and frowned at Diomis.

"I think ya better come with us, my lord." Her voice dripped heavily with scorn, her violet eyes seething.

"I shall do no such thing. As I tried to tell Lady Onara before we were interrupted by your hairy companion, I did not come here to inflict harm upon her or the Jedi. I have no hidden agenda, no veiled motives. My only desire is to give Onara a wedding gift."

"A wedding gift?" Auna sniffed suspiciously as if she smelled something foul.

Onara looked over at her. "He was about to tell me why he surrendered the challenge this morning."

At Onara's words both of the nurses and Inida perked up. Onara sighed. She'd forgotten that a report of the challenge had been broadcast around Ahjane. Although the actual fight had not been seen by the general populace, judging by the avid, curious expressions on the nurses' and Inida's faces, it seemed to be the topic of note.

"Really?" Auna crossed her upper two arms across her chest and placed the hands of her lower arms on her slender hips as she stared hotly at Diomis. "Well, cough it up. Why did ya surrender?"

Diomis, aware he now had a captive audience, only smiled slyly, wanting to draw out, Onara saw, the expectation.

"Well?" Auna brusquely waved her upper two arms. "Why'd ya do it?"

Diomis ignored her. "If I tell you, Lady Onara, will you agree, at a more appropriate time, of course, to speak with me regarding my propositions?"

"If it's a wedding gift, why does she have to bargain with ya for it?"

Diomis looked over at Auna, a shrewd expression on his broad face. "You're right. I did say it was a gift, didn't I." He turned back to Onara. "I hope after you hear what I have to say you will consider speaking with me at some point."

"When Obi-Wan is strong enough, he and I will marry. Then you may speak with us both."

Diomis inclined his head. "Fair enough." He looked over at Auna, surprising Onara by winking at the Codru-Ji woman. Auna only frowned harder at him. He turned back to Onara "I surrendered the challenge because Gend defeated your Jedi unfairly."

"Unfairly. How?"

"A weapon was used that immobilized him long enough for Gend to strike."

Auna hissed, her four hands balling into fists. Inida and the nurses drew in sharp, surprised breaths. Onara felt both shock and anger, but she quickly suppressed her feelings as she looked over at Zaka, fearful he would attack Diomis again, but the Whiphid only stared placidly at him. She looked back at Diomis.

"Who used this weapon against Obi-Wan?"

Diomis shook his head. "It doesn't matter. It was used. That's all you need to know. The rest is my concern."

Auna advanced on Diomis. "How do we know ya didn't have something to do with it?"

"If I'd had something to do with it, why would I have surrendered the challenge?" Diomis shook his head again. "I would have kept silent, Gend would have won, no one would have been the wiser, the Jedi would now be dead and Onara," and he looked over at her, a sudden predatory look glinting in his eyes, "would be preparing herself to become my son's wife."

Auna angrily shook her head, her violet eyes burning. "I don't believe ya! I don't believe any of it!"

"It doesn't matter if you don't believe me." Diomis looked over at Onara, his eyes locked on hers. "It only matters if she believes me."

Onara swallowed. A part of her didn't trust Diomis any farther than she could throw him, but another part sensed he was telling the truth. She wished Obi-Wan was awake. He would be able to tell if Diomis was being truthful. She sighed. She would have to rely on her own judgment and intuition for now.

"I believe him." Onara then suppressed a smile as the nurses and Inida nodded in agreement with her.

Diomis extended his hand. Onara took it, noting the coarseness and barely suppressed violence of his big fingers and wide palm. She trembled despite telling herself not to. He leaned over and brushed his lips across the back of her hand. Onara shivered. Then he rose and gazed at her, his hand still clasping hers.

"Thank you, my lady, for believing me. And may I sincerely offer my deepest apology to you and your Jedi for this treachery. I swear to you on my mother's soul that I had nothing to do with it."

Onara inclined her head, but said nothing. Diomis released her hand. He graced the nurses, Inida, Auna and even Zaka with a bow and a wide smile. Then he turned and strode down the hallway. Onara heard one of the nurses sigh dreamily as he disappeared around a corner. She looked over at Inida.

"I hope this doesn't mean I can't stay the night."

Inida smiled and took her arm, squeezing it gently. "Of course you can stay, my lady. But, please, no more disruptions."

Onara returned her smile. "I promise." She looked down at the dropped tray and spilled food.

Inida followed her gaze. "I'll get someone to clean that up. And I'll have someone bring you more food."

"Thank you." Onara then turned to Auna and Zaka as Inida and the nurses walked away.

"No, my lady, no, ya can't be serious about believing Diomis."

"I do believe him, Auna. And it makes sense, doesn't it? Obi-Wan clearly had the advantage in the challenge."

Then Onara felt a twinge of pain. If only he had killed Gend when he'd had the chance. He wouldn't have been hurt and nearly died. But if he had killed Gend would the damage inflicted upon his soul as a result of his action have proven more perilous than the physical wound he ultimately suffered?

Auna's voice broke into Onara's musing. "I still don't like it. Diomis is a sneaky, tricky, two-faced snake. And I don't trust him. I don't trust him not one bit."

Onara laughed softly. "Neither do I."

Auna's violet eyes glittered. "He wants something."

"Of course he does." Onara released a heavy sigh. "But I'll not concern myself with Diomis or his plans anymore this night. Now, I want the both of you to go home and get some rest."

Auna's eyes widened. "What? And leave ya hear alone? What if Diomis comes back?"

"He won't."

"How do ya know?"

"Because he got what he came for."

"And what's that?"

"He got me to believe him."

Auna stared at Onara, then shrugged, but wearily for she was clearly tired. "I can't say I understand yar thinking. But ya know these Lenors better than most I suppose. I still think me or Zaka ought to stay here with ya."

Onara shook her head. "Go home, both of you. You can return in the morning. I'll be all right. Diomis won't come back."

And she was certain he would not return, but Auna was right. He could not be trusted, but she could not forget he had saved Obi-Wan's life by surrendering the challenge when he did, and at the cost of all he had hoped to achieve through her marriage to Gend. But there was also no doubt he wanted something from her, but what it was and when he would come to collect it, Onara did not know.

She finally convinced Zaka and Auna to go back to the manor and, once a custodian came and cleaned up the mess in the hall and a nurse brought her a fresh tray of food, she went into Obi-Wan's room.

She placed the tray on a table next to her cot. Then she walked over to Obi- Wan's bed, placing her hand on his soft, red-gold hair, gently stroking the white streaks at the temple. He had been sleeping, but he stirred at her touch, slowly opening his eyes.

"Onara, love." His voice was low and full of slumber. "Heard Zaka...roaring. Dream...I guess."

"Yes, love. Only a dream." She leaned down and kissed his forehead. "Rest now, my darling. Rest."

Obi-Wan nodded, closing his eyes. She watched until she was certain he was deeply asleep. Then she sat and ate her food. Once she was done, she went back to Obi-Wan's bed. She kissed him goodnight, then lay down on the cot, pulling the blanket over her shoulders, and, as soon as her head touched the pillow, fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

To be continued....