A/N: I've recently edited this, as I forgot to add an authors note at the beginning and there were a few little things about this chapter that I didn't like. Hope it's better now! Thanks for reading. The next chapter is still stewing about in my head, but it will be out soon!

Also, the song Fallen Embers is composed and performed by Enya. It isn't mine, I just think it goes with my story well.

Tenel Ka sighed. She felt restless, but exhausted. The others had gone days ago, off to fight the Yuuzhan Vong. Teneniel Djo had asked her daughter to stay on Hapes, to aid her in her duties that she would one day inherit. Tenel Ka could have refused, of course, but something prompted her to stay on her home planet. It was not her own intuition, emotions, and certainly not logic that prompted her to stay.

The Force seemed to have a mind of it's own within Tenel Ka these days. She worried if she was letting it become wild, not controlling her feelings. To counter this, she had meditated for hours, yet the feeling only became stronger. She needed to stay on Hapes.

So only four nights after her arrival on Hapes and her night spent in the limbs of the tree, she sat awake again. She reclined on a couch in her room, staring out the window. The hectic day in the palace had left her spent, wishing for a run or lightsaber training to help calm her nerves. Unfortunately though, her run on the previous day had resulted in a painful twisted ankle, and though she was not one to milk an injury, Tenel Ka though it best to rest her ankle so it would heal more quickly.

She looked around her room for something to occupy her mind, for she was still wide awake. The book shelf her couch leaned against caught her eye, and she ran her fingers along the spines of the volumes, wondering how she would choose one to read. She closed her eyes and grabbed the nearest book. Books were a rare occurrence in the galaxy, since most stories and facts were stored digitally or holographically.

The book was titled in Basic, A Collection of Hapan Poetry. Tenel Ka opened it to a middle page and began to read a poem entitled Fallen Embers

Once, as my heart remembers,
all the stars were fallen embers.
Once, when night seemed forever
I was with you.

Once, in the care of morning
in the air was all belonging.
Once, when that day was dawning
I was with you.

How far we are from morning,
how far are we
and the stars shining through the darkness,
falling in the air.

Every line made her think more and more of Jacen, made her heart ache. Before she had even finished the poem, Tenel Ka found the world drifting off, and herself slipping away into a soft sleep.

Everything was a soft white in her dream, not a brilliant sun-white, but a soft and comforting glow. A woman came into view, and began walking towards Tenel Ka. She had straight dark brown hair that fell much past her elbows, and walked smoothly, her bare feet making no sound. Her face was calm, welcoming, and her small upturned nose lent her an air of dainty happiness.

She came closer to Tenel Ka, and stared into her grey eyes. This woman's eyes were a dark green, enchanting.

"Who are you?" Tenel Ka could barely get the words out. This dream felt so real, so different than her past dreams. She could no longer feel her body reclining on the couch, though the faint twinge of pain in her ankle was still very real.

"I am the First."

"The first of what?"

"The First of the Jedi."

Tenel Ka's heart almost stopped dead in it's tracks. The first of the Jedi? How was that possible? She asked the only question that came to mind. "When are you from?"

"Longer ago than time can tell."

"But...why are you here? This isn't real, it can't be. It must be the pain-killers the doctors gave me..." Tenel Ka's voice trailed off, she didn't quite know what to say at this point.

"It is very real. I have come to you as I have come to many others over the ages. Your decisions and your destiny affect the outcome of this war, the outcome of this galaxy." The woman paused, blinked slowly. "He is alive."

"No," Tenel Ka said sharply. The words the woman uttered made Tenel Ka uneasy. They were the exact words her own mother had said to her, days before. "It is foolish, weak, to believe so. I will not allow it."

"Your logic tells you no, but what does your heart tell you?"

Tenel Ka breathed in slowly, and as she breathed out, the air circled her heart, her emotions. The breath that came out said, "He is alive."

"If you give up on him, the galaxy will fall. What does your heart tell you to do?"

Tenel Ka could think of no response. Before she could ask any more questions, the woman turned around and walked slowly out of sight, her hair swinging behind her. The glow faded into black, and Tenel Ka opened her eyes. So many thoughts flew around in her head, the only thing she could do was to finish the poem.

Once, as the night was leaving
into us our dreams were weaving.
Once, all dreams were worth keeping.
I was with you.

Once, when our hearts were singing,
I was with you.