AN: Star Wars belongs to George Lucas. This is NJO - Luke's POV. Goes with "The Other Half".
Reminders
Where do I begin? Ben, you remember that gold band, that ring, which you asked about? Mara placed that ring there, the one I always wear.
I've always marvelled at its design and I can remember the day that Mara had put it there. I will always remember the way she looked on that day. Not only her physical beauty, but the way she looked at me too. But there is something else about that day that I remember. On that day, she gave me this ring and made a promise. The ring is a symbol of that promise.
swallow It means that she promised me that her love for me would never end. Our love would last as long as the band did. It goes around; never breaking, never stopping; and Mara had promised me that her love for me would be like that. That is what the ring symbolises.
Nothing can take that love away from us, but something can part me from Mara.
sob Artoo... switch it off.
Okay... maybe now I might be able to continue. breath out Mara was a very special part of my life. sniff And she was beautiful. Ben, you remind me a lot of her. She always wanted a boy.
She wanted you, and I do too. sniff I can't help but think of her when I look at her.
breath in and sigh I can't... sob turn it off.
I saw her die. I was with her when they came, when they raided Kuat. They were looking for us, and they found us. I still don't know how they knew we were on that planet. Or maybe, they had decided that Kuat would be the next planet they'd take. All I know is that Mara and I were the last ones on the planet's surface. The only exceptions were Wedge and Iella Antillies.
Only two of us survived it.
heavy breathing I'm sorry... this is so hard...
whistling from Artoo No Artoo. I need to do this... I have to do this for Ben.
sniff Iella was killed first. Wedge was so distraught at seeing Iella's fate that he would have thrown away his own life to join her. swallow I stopped him because I remembered his children. He had swung a punch at me to get me to release him. I held onto him and with Mara's help, we calmed him down.
gasp Artoo, switch off.
Wedge wanted to go back for Iella's body, and I could understand why he wanted to. Neither Mara or I didn't want to, but we did for his sake. There were only three of us against an army of Yuuzhan Vong. We had waited ten minutes before retracing our steps, hoping that we could go in and get the body.
We did manage to get it. Wedge broke down when he saw it, and I don't blame him. He had lost his wife. gulp
They came after us when we were almost at the ship. Mara had run back to defend Wedge as he could not defend himself. He held Iella's body in his arms. I turned back to help them, but Mara told me to get the ship warmed up. I did.
Mara sob never made it to the ship. gasp She...sniff wanted me to... sniff tell you... sniff that she loves... sniff you, Ben.
profound sobbing Off.
I watched it all from the view port. I saw her fight them off in slow motion, and I knew in my heart that she would never make it. There were too many of them.
But I couldn't get myself to lift off without her. There was no way that she could make it to the ship. They swarmed. I could see a wall of them building around her and a streak of blue as she fought.
That blue streak was from her lightsaber, which I knew would be destroyed the moment that she was killed.
deep breathing I saw them strike her down. In that moment, I felt something torn from within my soul, within my very being. intake of breath, sniff
I almost lost it after it happened. I almost turned. I was so hurt and grief stricken, it all but took control. If it hadn't been for Wedge and for you, I would have gone over. I was temped, but I didn't give in.
I need to calm... sniff turn it off.
Ben, the last words I ever heard her voice say was this: "I love you. Tell Ben that I love him too."
I never want you to go through what I went through that day. Just remember what you have asked me about the ring and what it means.
sniff I'll never forget what it means. deep breathing Mara... she said... that I... exhale I'm sorry. It's too hard. I can't forget the horrors of that day. But I know I miss her.
Ben... don't ask me again, please. I... don't think I'll ever... be ready to talk... about her. I don't... want to forget her, but I want... to forget the pain of losing her. She was... everything to me. You are, now. wipes eyes
Just please, don't ask me again.
forlorn whistling from Artoo Yeah, Artoo. Shut it off.
There will always be people who are strong for evil. The stronger you become, the more you're tempted. Jedi Master Luke Skywalker.
