Thank you, Dark Jedi Girl and Skyelight2x1 for your reviews! It's wonderful to see that little blip in my mailbox, and more than just "I like it." written there. I've been horribly slow with my list updates recently and have been paying for it with little to no feedback. Question of soul mates: I was thinking a lot of things when I first started this, and yes the idea came up. If you mean a "bonding" story, no it's not going there. As for soul mates, I guess that all depends on what you mean by it. There definitely will be romance J. ok, nuff blathering. More fic!
Oh, and feel free to disregard the weird numbering going on. Long story.
*****
Seven
*****
It was a tense group that gathered at the palace stables the next morning. The bright sunshine had chased away the gloomy shadows of the night past but nothing could erase the memory of fear.
A good night's sleep had been a very good idea. If only Anakin could have managed it. Pain, guilt, and overwhelming grief haunted his dreams, driving him from sleep.
As he looked out across the dew stained grass of the clearing, all he could see were the images that hovered on the edge of consciousness. The woman's eyes, twisted with bitterness and hate, accused him with deafening silence. As he watched, her face changed and became older, more weary, and darkened from too much exposure to the suns. In his mother's eyes he found disappointment and shame. But the worst had been looking into those beautiful green eyes, and the pain and the infinite sadness that touched Anakin's soul as he was torn away.
He'd managed a few hours' rest, drifting on the soothing memory of peace his rescuer had given him. When he encountered this...Quenya again, and Anakin knew he would, he'd have to thank him twice over.
The reactions of the politicians spoke exceedingly well for the people of Siesna, in Anakin's opinion. They were providing a genuine united front and continuing with their schedules in defiance of their assailant. True, this was probably not the wisest course of action, but it was certainly understandable. Even logical, from a certain point of view.
The journey through Embare Province would give the Jedi a look into the agrarian lifestyle that accounted for two-thirds of the planet's population. It was also one of the more scenic routes, with rolling hills and picturesque lakes. But the most fascinating landscape was the forest bordering on the edge of Milaera Province.
A small mining company had conducted a preliminary geographic survey on Siesna less than a century ago, and it comprised the bulk of the briefing information Anakin had received. The survey had not been helpful in evaluating the planet from an anthropological perspective, not being useful for the company's purposes. But it did note an interesting bit of information on a particular forest that supposedly didn't exist. Any attempt to map the wooded area failed. The technical readouts of the terrain conflicted. Large, small, dense, sparse, all were correct and wrong according to the scanners.
The survey team even went so far as to try and chart the forest by ground transport. Three separate teams recorded different results, and at a loss, they put it down to a geographic anomaly in the footnote of their report.
When Anakin had asked about the forest, he had simply been told it was Eldalye, the Forest of Secrets. Apparently it was a subject of much speculation and the object of many children's fairy tales. He smiled at the thought of getting lost in an enchanted forest that constantly changed in appearance.
He could say that his curiosity was a result of his master's unorthodox theories. Legends and myths were often keys to understanding a culture's history and morals, hidden in the context of a parable. But in truth, the possibility of a magical woodland excited the little boy who remembered falling asleep to stories of brave knights, daring adventures, and flying among the stars. He was looking forward to seeing this Eldalye. It was the mode of transportation he was having trouble with.
Anakin warily approached the four-legged beast he was supposed to ride this morning. 'A Jedi is adaptable. A Jedi does not break, but bends in the winds of adversity. A Jedi is not afraid of being kicked off an equara.'
'They're also aware of their limitations,' he thought in exasperation as he struggled to adjust the harness. He'd never acquired Master Qui-Gon's skill in dealing with animals. Anakin's strengths lay in mechanics and he wondered if he wasn't given this mission solely because of it.
Looking around the clearing, he saw the half dozen representatives and their respective aides all sitting astride their equaras with practiced ease. He was only slightly mollified by Master Gallia's less than graceful ascent.
His own mare looked ready to bolt at the slightest opportunity. He stroked the coarse mane and looked steadily into the equara's eyes as he'd been taught by Master Qui-Gon. Making sure to keep his movements unhurried and murmuring a steady stream of quiet reassurances, Anakin moved toward the saddle and placed a foot in the stirrup. In the blink of an eye, he was in the saddle and again stroking the long neck from above, sending soft praise and gratitude for the mare's acquiescence.
"Nicely done, Jedi Skywalker." Anakin was unsurprised to see Nauco smiling at him. "Though I think you're more nervous than the equara."
With a wry grin, Anakin informed him, "This is definitely not something I'm used to."
"In that case, I'll give you a word of advice. Ride with the equara, not on top of her. You'll save yourself a number of strained muscles."
"I'll do that, thanks. Are your companions going to join us, or just shadow us for the duration?"
Nauco laughed and narrowed his eyes in calculation. "Not much gets by you does it?"
'You'd be surprised,' Anakin thought. They'd been very difficult to locate, and he certainly couldn't see the three Rangers he sensed. In fact, he might have missed them entirely, if not for the faint quiver in his stomach, and the frantic pulse of his heart.
*He* was out there.
"They'll follow at a distance, but close enough should we need them. I wouldn't expect much until we cross into Embare. There will be more territory to cover then with limited numbers. And the people of Embare are not known for their tolerance of the Rangers. Given that we usually have little reason to intrude on their lands, it hasn't been an issue until now."
"Why? What is it exactly that you do, why would the Embare resent your presence?"
"The Embare don't resent us. In their eyes, we're just...obsolete. Actually, if I understand the function of a Jedi correctly, our duties are rather similar. We act as independent agents of law enforcement. At one time, we were actively involved in safeguarding the government, acting as emissaries, security, and political advisors bound to no one province or governor. The need for our services has diminished, however, and most people, including the Embare, regard the Rangers as an antiquated symbol of Siesna's history."
"Sounds vaguely familiar. But, who are the Quenya?"
"Ah. Now that is not my secret to share. But I have no doubt you'll learn soon enough." He looked around at the others mounted on their equaras. "It looks like everyone is ready to leave. Shall we join them?"
In response, Anakin tugged slightly on the reins and the mare trotted toward the rest of their company.
*****
Eight
*****
Obi-Wan couldn't take his eyes off Anakin. His fiery spirit was at odds with the passive demeanor. Mentally he thanked Nauco for making Anakin smile every so often; it brightened his face and lightened his aura.
'Anakin,' his mind sighed longingly. Something in his heart seemed to spring forth and dance for joy when Anakin so much as glanced in his general direction. He'd never felt anything like this and ached to explore what it meant but he dared not. Nauco's inevitable lecture on staying focused hadn't been long in coming, but it had lacked his usual enthusiasm.
When Obi-Wan had asked about the Jedi, he'd been infuriatingly vague, saying only that "Jedi Anakin Skywalker is recovering with lively humor."
At least he finally knew the Jedi's name. Anakin Skywalker. Quite appropriate for one who traveled the stars.
This was not good. Every train of thought led him back to Anakin. Obi-Wan found him fascinating. Anakin's companion, the Jedi Master, fit the image Obi-Wan ascribed to the Jedi Order right down to the serene calm that seemed a permanent fixture on her face. It was meant to engender trust and authority, but he found the effect disturbing. Anakin, on the other hand, smiled, laughed, frowned and joked with Nauco as naturally as the sunrise. His attitude was rebellious and carefree, but confined within a strict discipline that threatened to smother his potential.
Obi-Wan had refused Nauco's suggestion that he ride with the group. His presence would cause too many questions and Obi-Wan feared he wouldn't be able to focus on anything except Anakin.
Not that he was having much success, but at least he wouldn't be distracted by conversation. No matter how much he wanted to hear that voice.
The morning's ride had been pleasant and undisturbed, a gentle reminder of the inherent peace of Siesna. The Embare Province had proven to be extremely enjoyable and the Rangers had been accepted easily as part of a ceremonial entourage. Some might mistake the people's simplicity as a lack substance, but for Obi-Wan their existence always made him pause and remember the small, singular actions that could bring joy or immeasurable grief.
The basic rhythms of life never changed. Waking, working the fields with the sun on your back, afternoons filled with the laughter of children, perhaps an evening swim. Men, women, and children that were living, laughing and loving. This was what Obi-Wan wanted to protect. He and others had worked tirelessly with the Rangers for generations, ensuring the planet's stability and continued evolution, preparing them for the eventual loss of the Quenya's influence and protection. 'We've succeeded a little too well,' he thought.
The Quenya were now a myth, and the Elders preferred it that way. But the Darkness threatened everything and the people of Siesna were their responsibility, even if he was the only one who saw that. The others were ready for the Journey, but not Obi-Wan. His rebelliousness was often seen as a last effort to preserve their race. There was a certain truth to that, but more precisely it was that Obi-Wan had always felt torn, incomplete.
He was one of a handful of the last generation of Quenya who had hidden themselves from the general public and for the most part the governing entities. Only the Rangers and the world's top leaders knew they still existed. The Quenya Elders had warned Obi-Wan time and again that they would allow him this last mission to protect the public from the Darkness they all felt. But he could not let his presence be known to anyone and must return soon to take his place as leader among the Quenya and their quickly disappearing numbers. Above all else no interference.
Looking at the attractive features of the handsome Jedi trying to hide his discomfort in the saddle, Obi-Wan began to think he might be able to feel whole after all.
But the conflict between his heart and mind grew worse.
*****
Still a few hours from the border of Milaera, in a relatively open area, a high-pitched whine shattered the tranquility of the afternoon.
Half a dozen swoops closed in on the group, and while the Jedi activated their lightsabers, Obi-Wan's equara broke into a run to reach them. No weapons discharged on the first pass, but the equaras went wild, bucking and kicking, and threw a few of the less experienced riders to the ground.
Obi-Wan and Nauco ran to herd the group together and move them toward the cover of trees less than half a kilometer away, but the erratic attack pattern, unruly equaras, and panicked diplomats made their task difficult. Master Gallia and Anakin dismounted and split up, defending as much territory as possible as the first shots sound out through the clearing.
Laser shots came in from all directions and the Jedi effectively held off the fatal shots, but Obi-Wan worried more about the ricochet. With everyone constantly in motion, stray shots caused casualties. Already, one equara buckled down and three people suffered severe injuries. This was a fight that could not be won, only survived. The swoops had the advantage of movement, firepower, and speed.
Much later, Obi-Wan would realize the shots targeted the Jedi specifically, but as he jumped nimbly out of the saddle, he was too busy concentrating on calming the terrified animals. They were the only means of escape. Opening his mind, he drew on the fear and adrenaline emanating from those surrounding him, transformed it into strength and peace and focused collectively on the equaras. It took longer than he wished, but for such a large group, one minute was quite a feat. Unfortunately, it's a very long time in a battle situation.
He had just enough time to see Anakin execute a rather graceful aerial maneuver that sliced through the aft thrusters of one of the swoops and sent it spinning out of control. He saw only four left, but they still inflicted significant damage. Two of the Rangers escorted the injured to the forest, Master Gallia covering their retreat.
Obi-Wan dropped to the ground as another swoop buzzed overhead. He tucked it into a roll and came up on his feet, rushing to help another man back into the saddle, bloody arm clutched to his chest.
"Arda!" Nauco's warning came only a second after Obi-Wan threw himself out of the way. Soil and rocks rained down and he heard an anguished shout beside him. Turning, he saw the man he just helped lying on the ground, dead eyes staring at him. The sight sent icy shivers through his soul. Immediately his eyes sought out Anakin, and found him attempting the same aerial that had taken out the other swoop. His plan backfired. Another swoop realized Anakin's tactics and though he was too late to stop Anakin's lightsaber, he came in at a ninety degree angle to Anakin and fired before he could reach the ground. Obi-Wan watched helplessly as Anakin cried out and fell to the ground. Then he ran toward the crumpled form.
"Nauco! Get them out of here!"
Reaching Anakin, he roughly flipped him over and pressed a hand to his neck. 'Alive, but not for long.' He pulled Anakin into his arms and summoned an equara, swiftly climbing on with his precious burden.
*****
Oh, and feel free to disregard the weird numbering going on. Long story.
*****
Seven
*****
It was a tense group that gathered at the palace stables the next morning. The bright sunshine had chased away the gloomy shadows of the night past but nothing could erase the memory of fear.
A good night's sleep had been a very good idea. If only Anakin could have managed it. Pain, guilt, and overwhelming grief haunted his dreams, driving him from sleep.
As he looked out across the dew stained grass of the clearing, all he could see were the images that hovered on the edge of consciousness. The woman's eyes, twisted with bitterness and hate, accused him with deafening silence. As he watched, her face changed and became older, more weary, and darkened from too much exposure to the suns. In his mother's eyes he found disappointment and shame. But the worst had been looking into those beautiful green eyes, and the pain and the infinite sadness that touched Anakin's soul as he was torn away.
He'd managed a few hours' rest, drifting on the soothing memory of peace his rescuer had given him. When he encountered this...Quenya again, and Anakin knew he would, he'd have to thank him twice over.
The reactions of the politicians spoke exceedingly well for the people of Siesna, in Anakin's opinion. They were providing a genuine united front and continuing with their schedules in defiance of their assailant. True, this was probably not the wisest course of action, but it was certainly understandable. Even logical, from a certain point of view.
The journey through Embare Province would give the Jedi a look into the agrarian lifestyle that accounted for two-thirds of the planet's population. It was also one of the more scenic routes, with rolling hills and picturesque lakes. But the most fascinating landscape was the forest bordering on the edge of Milaera Province.
A small mining company had conducted a preliminary geographic survey on Siesna less than a century ago, and it comprised the bulk of the briefing information Anakin had received. The survey had not been helpful in evaluating the planet from an anthropological perspective, not being useful for the company's purposes. But it did note an interesting bit of information on a particular forest that supposedly didn't exist. Any attempt to map the wooded area failed. The technical readouts of the terrain conflicted. Large, small, dense, sparse, all were correct and wrong according to the scanners.
The survey team even went so far as to try and chart the forest by ground transport. Three separate teams recorded different results, and at a loss, they put it down to a geographic anomaly in the footnote of their report.
When Anakin had asked about the forest, he had simply been told it was Eldalye, the Forest of Secrets. Apparently it was a subject of much speculation and the object of many children's fairy tales. He smiled at the thought of getting lost in an enchanted forest that constantly changed in appearance.
He could say that his curiosity was a result of his master's unorthodox theories. Legends and myths were often keys to understanding a culture's history and morals, hidden in the context of a parable. But in truth, the possibility of a magical woodland excited the little boy who remembered falling asleep to stories of brave knights, daring adventures, and flying among the stars. He was looking forward to seeing this Eldalye. It was the mode of transportation he was having trouble with.
Anakin warily approached the four-legged beast he was supposed to ride this morning. 'A Jedi is adaptable. A Jedi does not break, but bends in the winds of adversity. A Jedi is not afraid of being kicked off an equara.'
'They're also aware of their limitations,' he thought in exasperation as he struggled to adjust the harness. He'd never acquired Master Qui-Gon's skill in dealing with animals. Anakin's strengths lay in mechanics and he wondered if he wasn't given this mission solely because of it.
Looking around the clearing, he saw the half dozen representatives and their respective aides all sitting astride their equaras with practiced ease. He was only slightly mollified by Master Gallia's less than graceful ascent.
His own mare looked ready to bolt at the slightest opportunity. He stroked the coarse mane and looked steadily into the equara's eyes as he'd been taught by Master Qui-Gon. Making sure to keep his movements unhurried and murmuring a steady stream of quiet reassurances, Anakin moved toward the saddle and placed a foot in the stirrup. In the blink of an eye, he was in the saddle and again stroking the long neck from above, sending soft praise and gratitude for the mare's acquiescence.
"Nicely done, Jedi Skywalker." Anakin was unsurprised to see Nauco smiling at him. "Though I think you're more nervous than the equara."
With a wry grin, Anakin informed him, "This is definitely not something I'm used to."
"In that case, I'll give you a word of advice. Ride with the equara, not on top of her. You'll save yourself a number of strained muscles."
"I'll do that, thanks. Are your companions going to join us, or just shadow us for the duration?"
Nauco laughed and narrowed his eyes in calculation. "Not much gets by you does it?"
'You'd be surprised,' Anakin thought. They'd been very difficult to locate, and he certainly couldn't see the three Rangers he sensed. In fact, he might have missed them entirely, if not for the faint quiver in his stomach, and the frantic pulse of his heart.
*He* was out there.
"They'll follow at a distance, but close enough should we need them. I wouldn't expect much until we cross into Embare. There will be more territory to cover then with limited numbers. And the people of Embare are not known for their tolerance of the Rangers. Given that we usually have little reason to intrude on their lands, it hasn't been an issue until now."
"Why? What is it exactly that you do, why would the Embare resent your presence?"
"The Embare don't resent us. In their eyes, we're just...obsolete. Actually, if I understand the function of a Jedi correctly, our duties are rather similar. We act as independent agents of law enforcement. At one time, we were actively involved in safeguarding the government, acting as emissaries, security, and political advisors bound to no one province or governor. The need for our services has diminished, however, and most people, including the Embare, regard the Rangers as an antiquated symbol of Siesna's history."
"Sounds vaguely familiar. But, who are the Quenya?"
"Ah. Now that is not my secret to share. But I have no doubt you'll learn soon enough." He looked around at the others mounted on their equaras. "It looks like everyone is ready to leave. Shall we join them?"
In response, Anakin tugged slightly on the reins and the mare trotted toward the rest of their company.
*****
Eight
*****
Obi-Wan couldn't take his eyes off Anakin. His fiery spirit was at odds with the passive demeanor. Mentally he thanked Nauco for making Anakin smile every so often; it brightened his face and lightened his aura.
'Anakin,' his mind sighed longingly. Something in his heart seemed to spring forth and dance for joy when Anakin so much as glanced in his general direction. He'd never felt anything like this and ached to explore what it meant but he dared not. Nauco's inevitable lecture on staying focused hadn't been long in coming, but it had lacked his usual enthusiasm.
When Obi-Wan had asked about the Jedi, he'd been infuriatingly vague, saying only that "Jedi Anakin Skywalker is recovering with lively humor."
At least he finally knew the Jedi's name. Anakin Skywalker. Quite appropriate for one who traveled the stars.
This was not good. Every train of thought led him back to Anakin. Obi-Wan found him fascinating. Anakin's companion, the Jedi Master, fit the image Obi-Wan ascribed to the Jedi Order right down to the serene calm that seemed a permanent fixture on her face. It was meant to engender trust and authority, but he found the effect disturbing. Anakin, on the other hand, smiled, laughed, frowned and joked with Nauco as naturally as the sunrise. His attitude was rebellious and carefree, but confined within a strict discipline that threatened to smother his potential.
Obi-Wan had refused Nauco's suggestion that he ride with the group. His presence would cause too many questions and Obi-Wan feared he wouldn't be able to focus on anything except Anakin.
Not that he was having much success, but at least he wouldn't be distracted by conversation. No matter how much he wanted to hear that voice.
The morning's ride had been pleasant and undisturbed, a gentle reminder of the inherent peace of Siesna. The Embare Province had proven to be extremely enjoyable and the Rangers had been accepted easily as part of a ceremonial entourage. Some might mistake the people's simplicity as a lack substance, but for Obi-Wan their existence always made him pause and remember the small, singular actions that could bring joy or immeasurable grief.
The basic rhythms of life never changed. Waking, working the fields with the sun on your back, afternoons filled with the laughter of children, perhaps an evening swim. Men, women, and children that were living, laughing and loving. This was what Obi-Wan wanted to protect. He and others had worked tirelessly with the Rangers for generations, ensuring the planet's stability and continued evolution, preparing them for the eventual loss of the Quenya's influence and protection. 'We've succeeded a little too well,' he thought.
The Quenya were now a myth, and the Elders preferred it that way. But the Darkness threatened everything and the people of Siesna were their responsibility, even if he was the only one who saw that. The others were ready for the Journey, but not Obi-Wan. His rebelliousness was often seen as a last effort to preserve their race. There was a certain truth to that, but more precisely it was that Obi-Wan had always felt torn, incomplete.
He was one of a handful of the last generation of Quenya who had hidden themselves from the general public and for the most part the governing entities. Only the Rangers and the world's top leaders knew they still existed. The Quenya Elders had warned Obi-Wan time and again that they would allow him this last mission to protect the public from the Darkness they all felt. But he could not let his presence be known to anyone and must return soon to take his place as leader among the Quenya and their quickly disappearing numbers. Above all else no interference.
Looking at the attractive features of the handsome Jedi trying to hide his discomfort in the saddle, Obi-Wan began to think he might be able to feel whole after all.
But the conflict between his heart and mind grew worse.
*****
Still a few hours from the border of Milaera, in a relatively open area, a high-pitched whine shattered the tranquility of the afternoon.
Half a dozen swoops closed in on the group, and while the Jedi activated their lightsabers, Obi-Wan's equara broke into a run to reach them. No weapons discharged on the first pass, but the equaras went wild, bucking and kicking, and threw a few of the less experienced riders to the ground.
Obi-Wan and Nauco ran to herd the group together and move them toward the cover of trees less than half a kilometer away, but the erratic attack pattern, unruly equaras, and panicked diplomats made their task difficult. Master Gallia and Anakin dismounted and split up, defending as much territory as possible as the first shots sound out through the clearing.
Laser shots came in from all directions and the Jedi effectively held off the fatal shots, but Obi-Wan worried more about the ricochet. With everyone constantly in motion, stray shots caused casualties. Already, one equara buckled down and three people suffered severe injuries. This was a fight that could not be won, only survived. The swoops had the advantage of movement, firepower, and speed.
Much later, Obi-Wan would realize the shots targeted the Jedi specifically, but as he jumped nimbly out of the saddle, he was too busy concentrating on calming the terrified animals. They were the only means of escape. Opening his mind, he drew on the fear and adrenaline emanating from those surrounding him, transformed it into strength and peace and focused collectively on the equaras. It took longer than he wished, but for such a large group, one minute was quite a feat. Unfortunately, it's a very long time in a battle situation.
He had just enough time to see Anakin execute a rather graceful aerial maneuver that sliced through the aft thrusters of one of the swoops and sent it spinning out of control. He saw only four left, but they still inflicted significant damage. Two of the Rangers escorted the injured to the forest, Master Gallia covering their retreat.
Obi-Wan dropped to the ground as another swoop buzzed overhead. He tucked it into a roll and came up on his feet, rushing to help another man back into the saddle, bloody arm clutched to his chest.
"Arda!" Nauco's warning came only a second after Obi-Wan threw himself out of the way. Soil and rocks rained down and he heard an anguished shout beside him. Turning, he saw the man he just helped lying on the ground, dead eyes staring at him. The sight sent icy shivers through his soul. Immediately his eyes sought out Anakin, and found him attempting the same aerial that had taken out the other swoop. His plan backfired. Another swoop realized Anakin's tactics and though he was too late to stop Anakin's lightsaber, he came in at a ninety degree angle to Anakin and fired before he could reach the ground. Obi-Wan watched helplessly as Anakin cried out and fell to the ground. Then he ran toward the crumpled form.
"Nauco! Get them out of here!"
Reaching Anakin, he roughly flipped him over and pressed a hand to his neck. 'Alive, but not for long.' He pulled Anakin into his arms and summoned an equara, swiftly climbing on with his precious burden.
*****