Knights and Eros Bound

Chapter 18

Surprisingly, the little Corvette was far more comfortable then they had expected and the journey to Ord Mantel was uneventful. Kampher had become withdrawn, leaving Anakin and Schurke to pilot the ship. They arrived, unimpeded, at a landing bay near the co-ordinates that had been specified by Gris.

"That was too simple…" Anakin mused. "Not so much as a registry check."

"You know what they say, Toboo," Schurke said, a little uneasy. "That thing about 'bad feelings'? We should be cautious." He turned to Kampher, "So Kam… what's the plan now?"

Kampher was already gathering their belongings, anxious to disembark. "We go to where Gris specified I guess, and wait…"

"Some plan…" Anakin grumbled. "Then what?"

"We trust in the Force," Kampher replied. "And each other…" 

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The co-ordinates that Gris had given them actually lead to a small boarding house in a less reputable part of the main city. The proprietor was a small Nikto, who seemed anxious just to show them to a suite of rooms that would make up their quarters during their stay.

"Actually, we're only here to see someone…" Kampher suggested quietly but she was interrupted by the Nikto, who shoved a data disc into her hands and left without saying another word. The three disheveled companions stood quietly together, unsure of what to do next.

"Well, let's see what she has to say now," sighed Anakin, resigned to waiting yet again.

"Play the disc Kam…"

Wordlessly, she complied.

The light blue holo was larger than the one on the ship, and Gris' expression was more readable this time. More confident, with perhaps a touch of contempt.

"I've been called away on some, shall we say, personal business," Gris began. "Make yourselves comfortable and I will send word for you as soon as I am able. I have arranged for a meeting of sorts upon my return, but in the meantime, I trust that these arrangements will suffice. I've arranged food and drink to be provided for you, as a measure of hospitality and to apologize for my abrupt departure, but the local cantinas can provide acceptable cuisine if you are so inclined. I assure you, it's far better than the fare that has been set before you at the Temple."

Unexpectedly, Kampher reached for Anakin and Schurke's hands, and took them in her own. Again, they drew strength from one another.

"Perhaps you realize now that I have no intention of returning to the Jedi Order and its archaic ways," Gris began again, now her face softened. "But I am willing to talk, as long as you are willing to listen." With that, the image winked out, leaving the three of them to contemplate the situation and its ramifications. The choices.

Kampher, wearing the countenance of a war widow, sat in a small arm chair and covered her eyes. Anakin also stood by quietly, unsure what to say or do. After all of this, there was no question about leaving. They all needed to talk to Gris, although perhaps they would each have different reasons at heart. Kampher because of her devotion; Schurke, perhaps out of loyalty. Anakin felt that for himself it was a combination of both… and maybe something else, something not worth looking at too closely for now.

An uncomfortable silence ensued, not one of them seeming to know what to do next. Kampher seemed to withdraw more and more deeply into herself, not in meditation but perhaps in self-flagellation.

"I should have seen it coming," she whispered softly. "I should have tried to stop her…"

"How?" Anakin asked. "Kam, she'd obviously made up her mind a long time ago… people don't change over night. We've come to make sure she's all right … that she's not being held against her will…" he was fumbling and he knew it, but at a loss as to how to stop. Thankfully, Schurke stepped in.

"You're taking this far too much to heart, Kam…" he said softly. "You can't be all knowing and all powerful."

Anakin flinched inwardly, but allowed Schurke to continue unabated.

"But…" Kampher began again, only to have Schurke interrupt her.

"No 'buts,' Kam," Schurke pressed. "You take far too much upon yourself – between yourself and Toboo, you'd think the fate of the Galaxy rested on your shoulders. Sometimes you need to let things lie …"

"Are you telling me to give up?" Kampher asked, incredulous. "Schurke, Anakin! You wouldn't have me give up on either of you!"

"It's not giving up, Kam," Schurke soothed. "It's taking time for yourself… another thing you and Toboo have in common."

Tenderly, Schurke took her hand and led her to the nearest bedroom, Anakin following dutifully behind.

"Come on Mistress Healer," Schurke said gently. "Time to relax a bit."

They laid her on the bed and carefully removed her boots and loosened her clothing.

"I'm all right …" Kampher protested weakly as she turned her face into the pillow. It was scented with soothing herbs; it was Gris' doing and Kampher knew that.

"Of course you are," Schurke reassured her. "But you're not the only one of us who's proficient in the art of soothing a tired soul." He began to run his hands over her shoulders as Anakin began rubbing her foot, kneading it carefully.  Kampher did not resist as Schurke carefully removed her outer shirt and slipped his hands underneath the gauzy piece that still covered her top half. Anakin began working his way up the back of her thigh and heard Kampher sigh in relief, the tension slowly leaving her body by degrees. Schurke moved his hands down and Kampher obligingly lifted her hips, allowing him to push her trousers passed her thighs. As he carefully pulled them off, Anakin felt a token rise of desire that he quickly pushed aside. He had seen Kam and other female Jedi in a state of undress before; this was nothing new, but this sensation was troubling.

Schurke had moved up along Kampher's back. Now he was kneeling on the bed and he began removing her undershirt. Carefully. Slowly and sensually. Schurke's hands brushed her breasts and again, Kam sighed, her eyes closed. Anakin continued to rub her legs, first one, then the other, working his way up then down again. He watched as Schurke began working on her arms, one at a time and then back to her back and down to where Anakin was. Schurke took one leg as Anakin moved to the other side, again working his way down where it felt… safer…

 Schurke gently lifted the leg he was rubbing and held it cradled to his chest. Anakin found himself following suite. There was closeness, a warmth between them that wasn't particularly sensual… not yet. He set Kampher's leg down and pulled away for a moment.  Schurke again moved up slowly and rolled Kampher on her back. She covered her eyes with one arm but did not resist. Anakin made his way to the head of the bed and took her arm in his hand, suddenly shy. Schurke, however, had no such compunctions and began to massage her chest, carefully avoiding her breasts and working to her belly. Kam's sigh became a soft moan as he gently began rubbing the top of her thigh and back up her sides.  Anakin, all the while looking at the wall, held Kam's hand in his right and began rubbing her arm down with his left. The sensations and desire had begun to creep in again, and this time he found it harder to push away.

           "It's not sexual, Toboo…Unless of course you want it to be…"

Schurke slowly bent down and kissed her belly and now both Kampher and Anakin both gasped, sharing the sensation…

           "If he takes a lover, we'll know about it…"

           "It's a lingering effect of the bonding."

Kampher's free hand reached over and took Anakin's hand, interlacing her fingers with his own. She slowly guided it closer to her other breast, sighing softly as his fingertips brushed her nipple. Anakin shivered, unable to breathe.

All pretense aside, and seemingly unaware of Anakin's discomfort, Schurke began tenderly caressing her right breast, eliciting another moan from Kampher. Anakin gasped, his mind becoming cloudy with erotic sensation as Schurke slowly took her nipple in his mouth, his hand now firmly cupping her breast. Now a low moan escaped Anakin's lips, causing both Schurke and Kampher to look up at him. Anakin had begun to lean over to her, eyes closed. He was bathed in sweat, and trembling.

 With the one hand still stroking Kam's breast Shurke suddenly sat up a little. His free hand reached up and caressed Anakin's cheek, and then began reaching for Kam and Anakin's interlaced fingers. His hand was strong and soft and at his touch, Anakin began to shake, torn between desire and…

The hand that had been caressing his own became a clasp, gently removing it from her body. "You don't want to do this, do you Toboo?" Schurke said gently. "I forgot… we forgot…"

Anakin met his gaze, and found himself unable to reply. Part of him did want this…  Kam… even Schurke… his body was crying out for it and in a deep recess of his mind, the desire to physically express his love for them was becoming unbearable… But then again, was it really what he wanted? He belonged to someone… promised… pledged forever. He was longing for… something… something that he was almost afraid to acknowledge… to touch and be touched… by both of them, but…

At last he broke. "I… I don't know!" Anakin stammered. His body began to shudder with the conflict. "I love… I love my wife… I… I…."

Kampher sat up and drew close to him.  "You're not used to this…the bonding has made you vulnerable…" Kampher told him softly. "You need to regain…regroup yourself." Her voice was low and soft, a life ring in his sea of confusion, something to reach for and cling to. Her words cut a clear path to his soul and he found comfort there.

"Go Ani…" she whispered in his ear. "Go take yourself into the other room and meditate... reach out for her…"

                         It wasn't a request…

"Come on Anakin…" Now it was Schurke's voice, adding weight to hers. "You need to come with me… we'll keep you safe…"

It was a command now… a direction…

He would follow them implicitly… they would lead him back and he knew it. Back to safety… back to Padmé…

Kam rolled over on her side watching as Shurke rose and gently led Anakin into the other room. He followed Schurke like a sleepwalker, and lay on his own bed without protest.

"Go to her, Toboo…"

It was the last thing Anakin was aware of until morning.