The Wedding of Luke Skywalker

By Ash Darklighter

Chapter 7

Disclaimer: The characters and situations in this story are the property of Lucasfilm Ltd. I am not making so much as a credit from this endeavour. Thanks to the girls as usual.

Mara Jade's Apartment

Mara thumped her pillow into a more receptive shape. She'd been trying to get to sleep for hours.

When they had arrived at the door of her apartment, the Jedi Master had bowed politely. "I'll see you tomorrow, Mara." He'd hesitated as if he'd wanted to say something more, the expression in his blue eyes entreating her to understand. "I will see you tomorrow," he repeated.

"Yeah, sure," she'd answered. How by all of Yavin's moons had she managed to agree to take Skywalker shopping? He'd been good company tonight, but then he always was. No matter how infuriating he could be, they had a sort of understanding between them that couldn't be easily explained away. They'd conversed without arguing for hours. In many ways they thought alike. Mara could tell that Luke's good humour and ease in her company was merely a cover that hid his continuing disquiet about this supposed marriage.

Mara rolled over onto her back and pulled the quilt around her slim form. He was keeping her awake.

'Mara!'

"Luke!" She abandoned all her efforts of taming her pillow and sat up, switching on a light with a careless wave of her hand. She could hear him in her head. Another nightmare? Mara chewed at her lip worriedly. Why didn't he call out to his intended bride? Could it be that she wasn't a strong enough Jedi and wasn't receiving the broadcast loud and clear? Or perhaps Luke was so used to Mara being the one to get him out of trouble that he automatically called for her. Whatever it was - he needed her. A funny feeling wriggled around in her stomach. Luke needed her and she liked that. How would she feel when he was married, perhaps unwillingly, to another?

'Mara! I can't get to you… always something in the way. Please Mara…'

"Sith!" Mara swore aloud. She was beginning to get really concerned about him. He hadn't mentioned the dreams at all today and had appeared happier within himself but he had still looked tired.

She reached out to locate his shining presence and caught hold of it, anchoring herself to his constant light. In her mind she saw him lying on his bed, the covers tangled and knotted around his hips, his naked torso glistening with sweat as he tossed and muttered, his hands reaching out for something or someone.

As always, Mara did the only thing she could do – the only thing her nature permitted her to do when dealing with the Jedi Master. She soothed and eased his distress. 'Ssh! Luke. You don't need this. Sleep, farmboy. Sleep peacefully.'

'Keep me safe, Mara.'

'When have I not?'

'You've always been there…'  His voice slurred and grew drowsy. 'Always… I… I…'

She felt him slip into proper slumber once more. 'That's the second time in as many days that you had a bad dream and called for me,' she thought. 'You cannot do this when you are married to another. Shouting aloud in your sleep for another woman is a recipe for disaster. Any woman would object to her husband calling another's name.'

Mara pushed her heavy fall of red-gold hair over her shoulder and slipped from her bed. The more she thought about Luke, the more apprehensive she was about his supposed marriage. If he was to marry the beautiful Mirialan the relationship was doomed from the start.

"It just feels wrong," she said aloud. Padding through to the 'fresher, Mara stared at her reflection in the mirror above the sink. For the first time in ages, she stared long and hard at her own reflection and wondered what exactly she felt about the enigma that was Luke Skywalker. At first viewing, he seemed to be a straightforwardly open man, but Luke had hidden depths, dark places where he tortured himself. The Jedi Master had seen and experienced many things. He wasn't monochromatic - his personality was shaded from light to dark. He'd been through too much – seen far too much.

As had she, and she alone could see the shadows hidden in his changeable blue eyes.

"Why he wants me to tutor him in wooing a woman, I do not know," she whispered to her reflection. "One look into those eyes of his will have anyone falling for him… apart from me." She gave a twisted smile. Somehow she knew she had just uttered the biggest lie of her life. The spiral of feeling winding around in her gut that she'd felt when he'd gazed into the eyes of Khata Ellynin burst into the open. She was jealous. She stared at her shocked reflection. Mara was jealous. It meant she had some feelings for the Jedi Master. Feelings she had no right to have – but it wasn't love. It was love between two friends, not romantic love between a man and a woman.

Mara gazed at herself and wondered at her own blindness. She saw only what she wanted to. Luke's lack of female companionship had never bothered her. She was more likely to worry when he had a woman. None of them had ever been good enough for him and they had all hurt him in the end. Callista had been the most disturbing of the lot and Mara had found it difficult to see and be with Luke when he'd been in love with the bodysnatcher. She'd known that Luke and Callista had talked of marriage. But part of Callista had accepted that she wasn't enough for Luke and she'd left. Mara had been glad to see her go but when she'd seen how much Luke had hurt inside she'd felt guilty because she was still glad the relationship had ended.

Mara picked up a cleansing wipe and ran it across her cheek. Was she nerf-brained enough to want Luke for herself? According to the history that Luke had been able to piece together, Jedi who followed the code seemed to thrive on sacrifice.  But Luke was not thriving this time. He was hiding his pain and loneliness but Mara could see them through his unusually flimsy defences.

*******************************************

Luke Skywalker's Apartment

The nightmare came as it did every night, shockingly vivid, its traumatic content spilling into his mind. Luke tossed and turned in an effort to reach through his pain to the one thing that always saved his soul. It was getting harder and harder to make his way to her side - the obstacles in his way becoming far more fearsome. It was a message of sorts. His time was running out.

'Mara!'  His voice echoed through his empty apartment. 'Mara!' And then she was there with him, her beauty and compassion that mostly was seen only by him, saving him from his nameless terrors again and again.

'Ssh! Luke. You don't need this. Sleep, farmboy. Sleep peacefully.'

'Keep me safe, Mara.'

'When have I not?'

'You've always been there…'  His voice slurred and grew drowsy. 'Always… I… I…'

When Luke opened his eyes it was morning. For the second night his dreams had not reached their terrifying conclusion as the woman he loved was ripped from his side forever and he felt more rested than he had before. He gave a wry smile at the state of his rumpled bedding.

"Doo-weep?"

"Morning, Artoo." Luke swung his legs to the floor and grinned at his faithful little droid as it rolled towards him.

Artoo crossly tootled a short, staccato sentence and immediately powered up a holo-recording.

Luke stiffened and, after one pain filled look at his own self tossing and turning, slumped down onto his bed. The recording of his own voice screaming over and over for Mara Jade filled the sun-drenched bedchamber and Luke shivered despite the warmth of the early morning sunlight. It was enough hearing his nightmare without having to watch himself experience it too.

"Turn it off. It was just a bad dream, Artoo. I get them…"

The droid interrupted angrily.

"So I've been getting them every night for nigh on two months and I'm so tired I can hardly walk upright? I know that and so do you. I don't need you recording them for posterity."

Artoo tooted to reinforce his opinion.

"I've tried, Artoo. Thank you for your concern. I'm so tired that I can't keep the dreams away. Not sleeping is an option I've already tried. Eventually I have to give in and when I do… the dreams return immediately."

Artoo whistled with concern.

Luke closed his eyes. "Does Mara know?" He shrugged wearily. "I don't know – but I get the feeling that I've maybe opened up my link to her during the past two nights. We're both on Coruscant now. Too close to ignore. I heard her voice last night and the nightmares vanished." He sat up again. "I don't know how long I can go on like this. I'm trying to weave myself into her life, but she's never had a great need of me before and she thinks I'm in love with someone else."

Artoo tooted with satisfaction. He had been completely right. His master wanted to mate with Mara Jade.

"I'm in love with her, Artoo. I always have been even when I didn't know it."

Artoo twisted his domed head carefully and offered a solution.

"Go and be with her… Tell her how I feel? Artoo, it's not that easy. With Mara it could never be that easy. She's worth any effort I have to put in to get her even though I sense it could be doomed to failure. Something is always keeping me from her even in my dreams. I tell her I'm in love with her and she's liable to blast off Coruscant and I'll never see her again. I'd rather have her as just a friend than let that happen."

Artoo moaned worriedly. He had to do something and soon.

**************************************

New Republic Civil Centre

Mara could smell the fresh paint and recently treated wood as she made her way down a long marble floored corridor in what had once been Darth Vader's Coruscant home. The dark and gloomy interior had been cleaned and freshened with new windows added high in the vaulted ceiling to offer more light. So this is why the top several floors of this building were not used by the bureaucrats. Luke had commandeered them for the Jedi.

She didn't think Anakin Skywalker would recognise the place. He'd left it to his son, although until now Mara didn't think that Luke had claimed any part of it or done anything with it. She remembered a conversation she'd had with Luke years earlier. He'd been sitting on a rock in the middle of Yavin's jungle meditating when she'd crashed through a particularly thick section of undergrowth and disturbed him.

He'd been pleased to see her she recalled and they'd caught up on what had been happening in their lives.

********************

"The Council has sorted out some things," Luke had said carefully.

"What things?"

"I've inherited Vader's palace."

"That hulking monstrosity?" Mara had muttered mockingly. "How nice for you."

"Well..." Luke had hesitated. "Yes."

"What are you going to do with it? It's not exactly the little cottage or adobe hut by the sand dune."

"I don't know what to do with it. For the moment I've leased it to the New Republic. They need office space. I'm a man on my own. What do I need several thousand rooms for?"

"You could turn it into the new Jedi temple," Mara suggested with a slight sneer. "It's big enough."

Luke gave her a level blue-eyed glance that left her feeling a little ashamed. "The Jedi Academy is on Yavin 4 and that is where it will remain. The populace is not yet ready to trust us totally and I do not have the resources to set up another place anywhere. Palpatine's total annihilation of the Jedi has left its mark. I do not have enough fully trained Jedi to teach in two places either. That will take years. I did not need or want such an inheritance from my father."

"But you got it anyway," Mara said. "I guess Leia wouldn't…"

"She won't even acknowledge Vader as our father – even now."

"Surely the New Republic would find money to support…?"

"They will, but not in the way you think."

"Ah… the rent they pay will finance your endeavours."

Luke grinned. "In a word – yes. I do not want to be too beholden to the New Republic. I do not want certain beings telling me what the Jedi should or should not do."

"You're actually starting to think, farmboy. I'm impressed."

"I'm not as stupid as you seem to think I am," Luke snapped.

"I didn't mean it like that, Skywalker," Mara said distantly, trying to compose herself.

"The lease will fund any repairs I need and any equipment the Jedi will require for the Yavin complex. It will also allow me to set up a suite of offices and a small training facility there on Coruscant. The Jedi should have a presence there but the main base will be on Yavin. The money will make sure the Jedi are independent."

"It will make you a wealthy man, Skywalker," Mara had pointed out.

"What will I need money for? "

Mara pursed her lips. She could think of quite a few things.

"I have ensured that most of the money is tied up to be used to re-establish the Jedi Order."

"There is some poetic justice in that," Mara noted thoughtfully. "Vader did help to destroy the last lot of you and it's yours to do with what you want."

Luke nodded, his hair shining brightly in the Yavin sunshine. "That's what Leia said. I think it's important that the Jedi are not tied too closely to any one government organisation."

*******************************

Mara had been impressed at the time with his logic.

She wandered along the corridor and had to admit to herself that she was quite eager to see what Luke had done with the upper floors of the massive building he had commandeered for his own purposes. She passed a few cleaning droids chattering away to themselves as they polished and scrubbed at the marble flooring. As she got nearer to the New Jedi Order offices she had to pass boxes of materials and piles of sweet smelling lumber. Leia had remarked that Luke was trying to do most of the setting up himself to cut costs.

"He has the money, Mara. Vader left enough to keep the Jedi in relative comfort for years and years."

"But this is your brother and he won't see it that way."

Leia's face had been resigned.

By the sounds ahead Mara decided that pandemonium was reigning. Luke had got his newly arrived Jedi involved.

Elegant transparisteel doors marked with what Mara recognised as ancient Jedi script barred her way to Luke's new domain but swung aside noiselessly as she approached. A short passage took her to a central room and there Mara stopped. She'd been right about the chaos. Boxes and equipment, complete with trailing wires, littered the large airy room. Most of the new knights she'd been introduced to were lying under desks with power tools in their hands or directing droids in various tasks. This was the hub of the new centre. She noticed several corridors leading off from this area. Mara assumed they were to offices and training rooms. From the amount of equipment lying about she deduced that this place was bigger than Leia had intimated.

The new Jedi Knights from Yavin were very much in evidence as they tried to restore order. She recognised the Rodian, Grenet, wielding a hydrospanner in each hand. Clak Damsa, the Mon Calamari linguistic expert, was flicking switches on some sort of advanced com unit and at the centre of it all, the dark blond head of the Jedi Master bent down as he worked intricately with the innards of some machine.

"Master Skywalker?"

"Yes, Khata." Luke lifted his head and a smile blossomed on his face. He'd always had a soft spot for this girl. She had such a shining presence in the Force. Like Tionne, she wasn't the strongest there but a natural warmth drew others to her.

Mara remembered seeing that smile when he talked to his niece and nephews. But nothing prepared her for the pure happiness that radiated from him when he turned his head and caught sight of her standing at the entrance of the office.

"Mara!"

"Skywalker," she answered, trying to keep her composure.

Khata Ellynin followed the Jedi Master's gaze and noted with interest the subtle interaction between Mara and Luke. With a quick glance at Bebo, she noted that he too was watching the pair curiously.

"I'll be with you in a moment," Luke promised the red-haired trader softly.

Mara wandered over to see what Damsa was doing and tried not to notice Luke taking Ellynin aside for a chat.

Khata bowed her head deferentially as she always did when speaking to Luke. "Bebo and I have discussed it. We would like you to perform the ceremony."

"I would be delighted," he told her gently. "I'd have been upset if you'd asked anyone else."

"I don't think that was ever possible."

Khata glanced over at Magnot and nodded. The Twi'lek let out a joyous laugh.

"Good," she said.

Mara only caught one word as they moved away. 'Ceremony'. What ceremony? She blanked her face of all expression as Luke's hand squeezed the young woman's shoulder affectionately. Inside her mind was churning.

Luke smiled and turned towards Mara. "This was meant to be," he said. He then looked around at the total confusion. "Now can you do something with this mess?"

Clak Damsa rolled her large liquid eyes. "It is better than it was, Master Skywalker. It just looks far worse."

He focused on Mara, her slim figure dressed in a dark green tunic and pants, her lightsaber hanging prominently from the belt cinching her slim waist. This was the woman who was occupying most of his waking and his sleeping moments. "Hey!" he called.

"Hey yourself

!" Her tone was dry. "Going to give me the grand tour?"

"Of course." Luke threaded his way through the room until he stood by her side. "You're early, Jade."

Mara gave a smirk. "I'll go away again and come back later then."

"Don't you dare," Luke muttered.

"I'm here, so I might as well stay."

"Good," he mumbled.

"Master Skywalker."

Luke heaved a sigh of irritation this time. "Yes, Khata."

"We are almost ready to start on the meditation room."

"No," Luke interrupted. "Leave it. I would like to deal with that one myself."

She nodded and turned to Mara. "Good forenoon, Mistress Jade."

Mara gave a stiff nod. "Hello," she muttered, her tone brusque, and took a step away from Luke and his former student. She did not want to be too close to Luke and the Mirialan, but a hand on her arm prevented her from moving away.

"But the ceremony?"

"Will be held in one of the smaller Senate Halls. The meditation room will not be ready in time and is not big enough for your families to be present."

"I never thought that they could be."

Luke touched a gentle finger to Ellynin's cheek. "It is right that they should be there for both occasions. Family is important."

"We'll start clearing the gymnasium."

"After lunch," Luke instructed.

"Yes, Master. Bebo will help me."

Luke chuckled. "I'm sure he will."

Ellynin gave Mara a searching glance and then a careful bow as she backed away.

Mara stood still, her heart hammering. They kept talking about ceremonies. It didn't appear to be a marriage ceremony, but the younger woman had certainly stated that she was to be married and it was destined from her birth. It sounded so similar to what Luke was going on about.

"Come on, let's get out of here." Luke grabbed Mara's elbow again and pulled her away from the office area through a door which had been wedged open by several large metal containers.

Mara tugged her arm from his grasp and turned to blast him with her tongue when her eyes caught the high ceilings and pillars of carved marble. She took a step into the space and gazed around her with awe. Sheets of transparisteel almost five storeys high let in light and left a stunning view over to the Manarai Mountains but the inside was almost as spectacular. Luke had turned what must have once been a reception room or a ballroom into an indoor activity area. Huge rocks and carved pieces of granite were arranged at different levels, ropes hung from bars stretched across the high ceiling. Large metal loops and hoops were twisted into tunnels and shapes. The whole effect was stunning. Mara had never seen anything like it.

"This is for lightsaber combat practice and fitness training. We will also have the usual gym machines in a smaller room down that hall." He slapped his hand against a huge rock taller than himself. "This isn't Yavin. It's not a natural environment but it mimics much of what Yavin does in the way of terrain."

"It's very impressive," Mara said.

Luke gave her a happy grin. "Come on, this way." He led her out of the training area and down a series of corridors pointing out offices, a fully equipped communications centre, a room fitted with audio devices and tapes, a small, but well-stocked library and a star map room.

"Wow!" Mara murmured. "Where did you get this? I know you said there was money but are you aware of how much these things cost?" Mara activated a section of the galaxy and stood transfixed, surrounded by stars.

Luke looked a little uncomfortable. "It was here all the time. I discovered it when I began knocking down walls to set up the centre. It belonged to my father. One of the reasons for using this part of the building. Most of the stuff in the library was his too." He wandered into the library and subsided onto a comfortable looking couch, rubbing his eyes wearily.

Mara shut down her star chart and followed him. "Still not sleeping, Skywalker?"

"How did you… Oh, I did wake you up."

"Twice," she confirmed.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Mara sat next to him. "What are friends for?"

"I don't know," he replied with a sad smile. "You tell me."

"Isn't there something you can do about these dreams, Luke? They can't be good for you. Are you having them frequently?"

"Every night for the past two months. I've tried everything to no avail."

"So what will stop them?"

"Me accepting the will of the Force and marrying the woman it has chosen for me."

"But that's…"

"Yes, I know. Life has never been fair."

"Who is it, Luke?"

"Someone very dear to me…" Luke admitted. "But I don't think she's ready for marriage. I don't think she'll ever be ready to marry me. I cannot and will not force her into it. No pun intended." He uncoiled himself from the seat and stood up. "I want to show you the meditation room."

Mara sat frozen. The more she learned about Luke's bride, the more it pointed to Khata Ellynin, yet Luke did not seem to want to be with her. She was obviously dear to him but she was also very young.

"Mara?"

"Wait," she said.

"What is it?"

"There is much I do not understand about this."

Luke lifted his shoulder in a gesture of resignation. "I feel very confused about it too. Why the Force is making me do this and why do I feel like I'm being punished? I cannot see the Force's intent."

"It is strange."

"You have sensed nothing unusual recently?"

"Just…" Mara hesitated. Should she admit that she felt drawn to his presence more than usual? She decided against it. "Just your nightmares. I hear you calling out to me. It's as if you're in the next room."

"Last night I heard you, too. You made everything all right. Why is that?"

Mara shook her head. "I don't know."

Luke gave a brief smile and then gestured to the door. "The meditation room, Jade. It will be worth it."

"Coming," she said, forcing a smile to her lips.

He led her along another passage and into a small lift. When the doors opened they were in another corridor, with simple white painted walls. Several doors led off it but Luke made for the set of carved wooden double doors directly ahead. With a click they swung towards them and Luke guided Mara inside.

Mara didn't hear the doors click shut behind her as she was too caught up in the spell of the most aesthetically pleasing room she had ever seen in her entire life. The feeling of serenity was already there.

"Luke, this is…" She spread her hands out.

Luke gave a contented smile. "I know."

"Who designed it?"

"I think it was my father - but I finished laying the floor yesterday. I also set some of the glass panels and…" Luke shrugged. "He left me the plans. They were among his things."

"Vader?"

Luke shook his head. "No, Anakin," he corrected gently. "This is not the work of a Sith. This has been done by a Jedi. Can't you feel it?"

"This isn't new?"

"No." Luke watched her as she stepped carefully around the room. Her burnished hair caught the sunlight and drew his attention. For the hundredth time that day he dwelt on her beauty. But Mara Jade was more than beautiful. She was intelligent, loyal, fierce and yet had this hidden kindness that very few people saw.

Mara walked carefully over a floor made up of golden polished and varnished fijisi wood. The room was octagonal in shape, with four of the sides made up of full length panelled windows decorated in shades of blue and green. Mara could see the shapes of mountains and rivers with waterfalls surrounded by flowers of every hue. The stained glass panels were works of art in themselves. She looked up to find that there were more windows in the arched ceiling letting light and warmth flood in.

"There will be furniture," Luke said. "I've just finished in here."

"You did this?"

"No, most of it was already done. I told you I just finished it and then cleaned it. I've been working on this for several years. When I was on Coruscant I would take a couple of days away from my Jedi duties and work on this room."

"It isn't what I would expect of a Sith lord," Mara observed, agreeing with Luke's earlier assessment. "It reminds me of the High Alderaanian style."

"I thought that too, but Leia says 'no'. There are influences I think but the scenes depicted on the window panels are not from Alderaan."

Mara thought hard. Something was calling to her. "I know." She snapped her fingers, her face triumphant. "Naboo!"

"Naboo?"

"Mid Rim planet. Very insular society. According to the Emperor - Alderaan and Naboo had much in common at one time."

Luke snorted. "They were against his reforms then."

"I would guess so. He stripped Naboo of much of its wealth when it opposed his rule." Her fingers traced the contours of a tumbling glass waterfall. "He did this to many worlds. It wasn't uncommon."

"I wonder what my father's connection was with Naboo?" Luke said quietly. "It must be very different from Tatooine."

"Perhaps that is why he has scenes from it here. It could be any one of a number of planets. Naboo was only a suggestion." She closed her eyes and lifted her face to the sun's rays as they came through the ceiling apertures.  "It is very peaceful here."

Luke stared at her as she lifted her face to the light. The sun caught her hair and turned it to flaming gold. He'd never seen anything so beautiful in his life. If Mara had looked at him she would have needed no more explanations about Luke's heart. It was written all over his handsome face as he gazed at her.

"I'm getting married here," he whispered. "If it happens, it will be here."

Mara reacted as if she'd been shot by a laser pistol. Her eyes snapped open and it was as if a cloud had crossed the room. They both shivered. "Until I see you producing a bride, Skywalker, I don't believe you," she bit out harshly. Storming to the door she grabbed at the curved handle and tried to yank it open but the doors wouldn't budge. "Skywalker!" she threatened ominously.

"Use the Force, Mara."

Mara swung around to face him, her green eyes incredulous. "The Force?"

Luke nodded.

She turned back and concentrated hard. With a click the doors shot open. Luke winced at the power used.

"A little less, Mara. It doesn't need much," he instructed calmly.

"What!" Mara exclaimed.

Luke closed the doors. "Try again but use less power. Less can be more… remember?"

Mara nodded and this time the doors swung open smoothly. "Neat trick, farmboy," Mara said, her momentary ill-humour forgotten.

"Are we shopping now?"

"Oh, I suppose so."