First, for the questions/comments:

Nerca Beyul: Please, tell me: in your story, are Mara and Luke going to have two daughters and three sons? I would really like to know. ― Wouldn't we all? For privileged information like that, you have to wait until the epilogue to the whole series. Patience, young one.

Mark C: I understand why both Luke and Mara were upset by being accused of being witches. Luckily that was finally put to rest. ― Famous last words. And I agree with the red & black petals representing past occurrences, for both of them. The villagers were only thinking of future events, however, and M&L weren't going to enlighten them.

Amy: I bet those rowdy brothers were pretty scared ("Dark magic? So that's how they fought us..."). Good thing Aerie doesn't remember the almost-fall on the ice rink or Luke telling her about her twins--or does she? ― Luckily for everyone, the brothers weren't at the party. And Aerie is building quite a collection of unexplained events to start wondering about, isn't she?

Oh, and wonderful job with the wedding night scene--very passionate and tasteful at the same time. ― Thank you. That's what I was going for.

Is the metal-crafting guy going to give them a stabilizer rod for a wedding present?
― You'll find out how Luke pays for the rod in this chapter.

Also, thanks to Elessar-Lover, Mara Look-a-like, and Celtic Cross for your faithful reviews and shameless begging for more.

Brace yourselves. We are now entering the stage at which this story runs amok without regard to plausible plotlines. Don't say I didn't warn you.


A Journey of Discovery ― Book Two: Pledge

Chapter Fourteen

The attic room's hearth fire had burned down to smoldering embers, waiting to be stoked once more into blazing flames – much like the burning passion between the room's sleeping occupants.

Dawn was just beginning to break as Mara Skywalker forced open two weary emerald eyes, and found her vision filled by a head full of disheveled dark-blond hair. Snaking one arm around the waist of her new husband, she pressed against the warmth of his back. Luke stirred after a few moments, then gently escaped her grasp just long enough to turn over to face her.

"We did it," Mara whispered.

"Yeah," Luke breathed in agreement, not needing to ask to what she was referring. "More than once," he added, an amused grin lighting up his face. Snatching Mara's hand as it shot out to playfully swat at him, he brought the delicate fingers to brush against his lips.

Mara smiled as she pulled her hand out of his clasp, then gently stroked his face. "Last night was the first time I'd ever seen you sweat so much, Jedi."

"Won't be the last time," he declared, his blue eyes twinkling.

"I'll hold you to that," she said, accepting his vow.

Their bantering was cut off as Luke suddenly pulled Mara against him, crushing her mouth with a ravenous hunger. They kissed and caressed with a voracious fervor, letting their emotions run free and wild. The sensual tingling that coursed through them quickly escalated, and both partners reveled in each other's pleasure.

Finally Luke pulled back, gulping a much-needed breath. He traced her swollen lips with his fingers. "I love you so much, Mara," he murmured.

"And I will always love you, Luke," she returned, clinging to him. "I can't conceive of anything more wonderful than having my best friend love me, and make love to me."

"Me either." Luke trailed his fingers along the side of her face, pushing an errant strand of red-gold hair behind her ear. He let out a tired sigh, then rolled onto his back. "You wore me out last night, Mrs. Skywalker."

"I wore you out!" she retorted, reverting to her usual sassy demeanor. "I feel like I've been trampled by a runaway bantha. I'm not sure if I can even get out of bed."

"Why would you want to?" he teased. "We'll just lie here until we get the urge again to—"

"Stars, Luke, I haven't recuperated from all the boundless enthusiasm you've already demonstrated." A low moan escaped Mara as she stretched wearily. "I have muscles aching that I didn't know existed."

Luke chuckled lightly, reaching out with the Force to massage her gently. "You weren't exactly lacking in zeal yourself last night." He paused, a note of anxiety permeating his voice as he extended a hand to stroke her. "You are sore. I did hurt you."

"No, Luke, I'll be fine," she assured him. "I'm just a little stiff."

"How can you be certain? What if ...?"

"Will you stop fussing over me? I only need to rest a bit before getting up."

"And you shall, as long as necessary." He kissed her shoulder, then rubbed his cheek against her smooth skin. "I'll be right here to make sure of it."

"You, sweetheart, are the biggest obstacle imaginable to my getting any rest. And don't pretend you don't ache at all, either. I know better."

"Nothing gets by you."

She laughed, then grabbed his arm as he started to rise. "Where do you think you're going?" she growled.

"Stay put, you'll see," he replied cryptically as he slipped out from under the woolen coverlet.

"The only thing I'm not seeing is why you're over there, while I'm over here." Her amused expression gave testament to Luke's obvious discomfort.

Standing near the large fireplace, Luke quickly donned the pair of shorts that had flown across the room into his outstretched grasp. "It's cold in the room," he muttered, as he began coaxing a glowing fire into existence.

"That fact does nothing to answer my query," she called, as Luke disappeared into the refresher. Lying sideways across the bed, she pulled the warm covers tighter around her shoulders and watched as he returned moments later with two buckets of water. "Gonna take a bath?" she surmised aloud, as he hung the pails over the flames.

"We both are," he replied. "I hear that warm soaks are very therapeutic for sore, aching muscles." He glanced in her direction. "Surely you have no objections. I seem to recall you trying to lure me into a shared bath our first night here."

"An attempt which failed miserably," she reminded him.

"Yes, well ... I've gained a new perspective since then," he said, echoing her words from the previous evening.

Mara's cat-like eyes tracked Luke as he padded back and forth – filling, hanging, refilling buckets of water. As the water heated, he began to fold their accumulation of borrowed clothes into a large basket.

"You certainly are a busy little banabee this morning."

"I just think we should be ready to leave as soon as we get the new stabilizer rod. I'll head over to Hiley's shop right after ..., after we ... uh, get cleaned up," he stammered.

"You mean, after you seduce me once more." He blushes so beautifully, Mara thought, her laughter filling the room.

"I think that works the other way around," he corrected, turning to face away from her. "And I'm not blushing."

"Not eavesdropping on my thoughts either, huh?"

Luke just shook his head and continued his packing chores.

"Merta offered to let us have the coats we've been using, and whatever other clothes we'd like," Mara informed him.

"If we wear those coats while traveling, we'd have to carry our flightsuits. It would be too bulky to wear both. It makes more sense to wear the flightsuits, and just keep one change of clothes for underneath them. We can put on our fatigues when we're ready for take-off."

Mara sighed at his logical reasoning. "All right, as long as I can use one of your pairs of trousers. I'm not wearing a skirt under a flightsuit. But I am bringing my wedding dress along."

"You are?"

"Of course. Why wouldn't I?" She frowned at him. "I would have thought you'd want me to keep it. You sure were anxious that we drag that slinky green dress with us through Coruscant's underground."

"Which I have yet to see you wear again," he reminded her.

"I don't recall you asking me to go anyplace where a dress like that would be appropriate," she shot back.

"I ... guess I didn't." Luke gave her a sheepish grin. "We've got a lot of missed opportunities to make up for."

"Sure do, buddy," she rejoined with a snort. "Get married, have sex, start dating – isn't that the order most people follow?"

"Just proves how special we are," he said with a laugh as he surveyed his work. "Okay, survival gear is packed, clothes to keep are packed, and clothes to return are gathered. I think we're all set to leave as soon as Hiley makes the rod. By the way, I'm saving a few dekas to give him, but I thought I'd give the rest of my tackdart winnings to Merta."

"Good idea," Mara agreed. "Though maybe we could keep one or two as souvenirs."

Luke nodded. "Yeah, I don't think that would hurt."

"Oh, and Merta is preparing a rucksack of food for us take along." She chuckled. "She must have heard that you're not a very good shot when hunting game."

"I ate rishhare at the banquet last night, didn't I?" he replied as he went over to the fireplace and checked the temperature of the water. "If you caught something, I'd eat it."

"You'd eat anything, farmboy," she drawled. She stretched out languidly, watching as Luke carried the buckets into the refresher. "If only I didn't have to watch those little hellions this morning," she muttered to herself.

"What's that?" Luke returned to the bedroom.

"I have to babysit that same group this morning, this time while their mothers take down the decorations in the Hall." She grimaced unhappily. "It'd better not take them very long." She raised her chin off her crossed arms and looked up as Luke moved to stand next to the bed.

"You've faced down crimelords, Imperial defectors, Sith, and an occasional Jedi. You can handle a group of children, Mara." He held out both arms invitingly. "How about we go ease those kinks and cramps?"

"I thought you'd never ask." Mara started to edge off the bed when Luke scooped her up in one swift motion, laughing lightly as she clutched one of the covers around herself.

"Now who's being modest!"

"It's still cold in here," she muttered as they entered the adjoining refresher. "And I can walk, you know. There's no need to carry me."

"Humor me." He lowered her body slightly, then lifted her up again. "I may work this into my weightlifting routine." He deftly deposited her in one end of the oval bathtub, the coverlet falling away of its own accord.

"The only thing I've seen you exercise lately is your libido."

"I didn't hear you complaining last night."

"I don't always complain." She smiled as he stepped into the water. "Sometimes I'm quite ... appreciative."

Luke watched the water level rise as he sank down to a sitting position. "Maybe I put a few too many bucketfuls in," he murmured. "We'll have to be careful not to splash any over the sides."

"You're kidding, right?" Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, Mara pulled him in for a deep kiss. (Fat chance of that, farmboy.)

(You're right,) he sent back, duplicating her ardent embrace. (We've got plenty of towels to clean up ... any spills ... Oh, Mara ...) Luke moaned as his bride's lips blazed a trail along the side of his neck, and threaded his fingers through her already-wet hair. "Hmmm ..." He leaned back, relishing her ministrations. "This reminds me of when that borrat attacked us in the underground."

"What!" Mara's head jerked up with a start, droplets falling from her nose and chin. "Did I just hear you compare me to a rodent?"

"No, no!" he backpedaled. "That's not what I meant."

Her green eyes narrowed dangerously.

"You remember I didn't sense the creature coming because I had been daydreaming."

"Go on." Mara fought the tendril of amusement that threatened to displace her stern expression as she began to imagine what those daydreams had encompassed.

"I had, uh ... been thinking about a dream which I'd had the night before we escaped," Luke stammered in confession.

"And that dream was about ...?"

Luke smiled shyly, pulling her back against him. "Read my thoughts," he invited, "and I'll show you."

Mara entered his mind and followed a 'preview clip' of his fanciful vision. "What a naughty little mind you had already then, Jedi."

"It was a dream," he defended himself. "A guy can't help what he dreams."

"That is the most pathetic line I've ever heard. Though ..." She reached out and trailed a wet finger down his cheek. "It would be a shame to let something that erotic go to waste."

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"You know I am," she retorted. "A re-creation, at least as much as we can manage in this small tub."

Luke grinned in anticipation. "I think we can manage quite a bit."

Reverie became reality as two bodies and two minds intimately joined, improvising their way through the never-forgotten fantasy of a love-struck farmboy-turned-hero.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

"I can't believe the water is still warm." Mara lazily swished a hand through the tepid water as she reclined against Luke's chest. "What has it been, an hour since we got in here?"

"Well, actually ..." Luke rubbed one foot against her smooth leg. "I've been keeping it warm."

She twisted around to look at him. "How? With the Force?"

He nodded and gave a wan smile. "You simply have to agitate the molecules, the same way heat affects water."

"I know we've been generating a lot of heat in here, especially when we first got in, but ..." She gave him an incredulous stare.

"But not that much," he finished with a chuckle. "Follow what I'm doing."

Mara reached into Luke's mind, observing as he sought out the individual water molecules and stirred them into action.

"So I guess you could say you're keeping the water Lukewarm," she quipped.

Luke laid his head back against the rim of the tub and groaned. "That's it. I'm definitely keeping you away from Janson and Klivian and their bad puns."

"I already avoid those two like the plague," she said with a snort.

"They've got a crush on you, you know," Luke observed. "Along with half of Rogue Squadron. They all flock around you, no matter how much you ignore them."

"Yeah, until they spot you heading across the hanger bay. Then they scatter like frightened hawkbats." Mara settled her head back against Luke's shoulder and swirled one finger in a circular motion. "Let me try to—" She was interrupted by Luke's clearing his throat. "All right, let me do the heating up trick."

He enclosed her outstretched hand in his, then wrapped his arms around her. "No hands," he said, kissing her temple lightly. "These aren't parlor tricks. I know it helps you focus, but you can't always rely on being able to hold out your hands." He let her again follow his mental actions, then withdrew his influence as she continued the activity on her own.

"Very good," he complimented her. "You have a natural affinity for the Force." He was silent a moment as he hugged her tighter. "I think teaching you these Force skills officially makes you my apprentice."

Mara frowned as he shifted nervously and fell quiet once again. "Okay, Skywalker, spill it." She twisted around and gave him a pointed glare. "I felt that wave of guilt when you said the word 'apprentice.'"

"Hmmm." Luke bit his lip and raised pleading eyes to his new wife. "There's, uh, something I need to tell you. Before we get to Lorrd."

"Lorrd? What's this got to do with Lorrd?"

"The Lorrdians are sort of under the impression that you're my apprentice."

"And just where would they get that idea?"

"From Mon Mothma."

"And she got the idea from ...?"

"I wanted you to come with me on this assignment," he blurted out. "But the Lorrdians insisted they would negotiate only with Jedi. So I told her you were my Jedi student."

"And she believed you? Here I always thought she was a smart woman. How did you convince her, with a little Force nudge?"

"Of course not," he assured her indignantly. "I used my smooth charm and honest face."

"And dishonest tongue," she added. "Does your sister know about this little ruse of yours?"

"She probably does by now."

"I'm surprise she and her pirate aren't out looking for you."

Luke shrugged. "Maybe they are. But we're still a couple of days shy of the ten days I told the Lorrdians we would be late."

"If they even heard you," she countered. "As garbled as their transmission was to us, who knows how much they caught of what you said."

"Guess so," Luke agreed. "Which means we should get up and get going. I'd like to be on our way by midday." He reluctantly rose, pulling Mara up with him.

Amid plenty of bantering and kissing, Luke and Mara managed to get dressed for their last morning in Zembuhl. Luke held the door open, and with a bow and a flourish he invited Mara to exit ahead of him.

"After you, my love."

"How gallant." Mara started through the doorway, but paused and frowned suspiciously when she noted a sensation of triumph from her husband.

"Gallant nothing," he admitted. "Everyone knows what we've been doing up here. I just want you to be first through the gauntlet of snickers and winks."

"Oh, no." Mara groaned as she thought of all the teasing and sly looks they were sure to encounter as soon as they showed their faces. She grabbed his hand tightly. "We're in this together."

"Yeah, together," Luke echoed.

"At least we have the consolation that we'll never see any of these people again," Mara continued as they descended side by side.

"Hmmm. That's kind of a shame, don't you think? We've made some good friends here." Luke turned to his life companion with a wistful look. "Perhaps we could come back sometime, for a visit."

Mara laughed. "You mean us and our five kids?" She squeezed his hand. "Sure, farmboy. We shouldn't make any promises to them, but I suppose we could find our way back someday."

Luke wrapped one arm around Mara's slim shoulders as they reached the bottom of the stairwell. The newlyweds braced themselves and made sure the smiles on their faces masked the apprehension they were feeling, then entered the crowded dining chamber.

"Good morning, everyone ..."

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Tilting her face upward to enjoy the warm sun, Mara Skywalker sauntered through the slushy snow toward the village school building. She was in no hurry to reach her destination, though she guessed that whoever was currently watching the children was surely impatient for her arrival.

She had parted company with Luke moments earlier, as he headed off to fulfill the chore that had brought them to this tiny village in the first place. In a few hours they would be on their way back to the B-wing, and back to civilization. As she walked, Mara reflected on the life she'd soon be returning to – a life as different from her tenure as Palpatine's puppet as Zembuhl was different from Coruscant. Indeed, even different from the aloof and mostly solitary existence she'd led hardly more than a week ago. Luke would do his darndest to draw her into his circle of friends – and she would follow. Not because he'd insist or pressure her, but because she loved him.

Mara had let Luke do most of the talking at breakfast. He had satisfied Merta and their fellow boarders' curiosity with charm and finesse. As much as he maintained that he wasn't skilled in statesmanship, his actions proved otherwise. Luke's words might not be as polished or diplomatically correct as Leia's, but he could convince even the most obstinate being to embrace whatever credence he promoted. How else could one explain why a brainwashed assassin would defy her master, or why a conceited smuggler would take sides in a war he claimed he had no interest in. She had overheard Solo admit that Luke's cajoling had as much to do with his joining the Rebellion as Leia's obvious attraction. Mara only hoped her new husband's powers of persuasion would effectuate a favorable treaty with the Lorrdians.

The sounds of children's squeals reached Mara's ears all too soon. She squared her shoulders and set her chin in determination as she approached the looming doorway. She could do this. She was Mara Ja—, Mara Skywalker, Jedi wife ... and Jedi apprentice.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

There was a noticeable spring in Luke's step as he headed toward Hiley's metalcrafting shop. He didn't let himself dwell on concerns of how the Lorrdians would receive him, especially after his delayed arrival. He wasn't contemplating his plans for rebuilding the Jedi Order. No, Luke Skywalker's thoughts this sunny winter morning centered on his beautiful wife, and on what a lucky man he was.

"That be a mighty big grin ye got on yer face, lad." The friendly voice greeted the young Jedi as soon as he stepped through the doorway.

"Can't deny that," Luke replied, his smile getting even wider. "Life is good."

Releasing the bellows he'd been pumping, Hiley slapped the younger man on the back with a laugh. "Spoken like a true bridegroom." The wiry toolcrafter had his sleeves rolled up and sweat beaded on his brow. "I wondered how long it would take ye to drag in this mornin'. Ye're actually here sooner than I thought ye'd be. I just now got me fire stoked back to a usable state. Winter Festival be the only time o' the year I let me forge go cold."

"I'm sorry if you rushed because of me," Luke said. "But Mara and I really should be returning to our ... uh, village ... as soon as possible."

Hiley waved off Luke's apology good-naturedly. "I needed to get back to me work anyway." He nodded at a table filled with an assortment of implements in various states of disrepair. "Folks' ability to break things don't take time off fer Festival."

"So I see," Luke returned, his eyes sweeping in fascination over the haphazard pile of unidentified gadgets. "Say, Mara's going to be tied up for awhile this morning. I'd be happy to give you a hand until she's finished, if you show me what to do."

Hiley smiled at the younger man's ill-concealed eagerness. "Ah, lad, that's music to me ears."

Luke and Hiley finished the stabilizer rod in short order, with Luke being as vague as possible when questioned about what part of his 'boat' the contrivance belonged to.

Several hours later, Luke paused to wipe perspiration out of his eyes with his rolled-up sleeve, then continued pounding at the bent pump handle he was currently working on. Blowing out a breath, he held the piece of hardware aloft with a pair of long tongs, frowning as he tried to decide if it had acquired the necessary shape yet.

"Ye need a tad bit more of a curve, lad ... right along there." Hiley reached past Luke's shoulder and pointed to a crook along the handle's tapering end.

Luke nodded and plunged the faulty half of the apparatus back into the fire until the metal glowed red. Laying it once more on the anvil, he resumed shaping it with smooth easy strokes of his heavy hammer. As he toiled, Luke reflected on how much more satisfying this labor felt than the similar repairs he'd performed for his uncle. Perhaps it was because his current exertion was voluntary instead of coerced. Or maybe the level of maturity he'd achieved since his years of servitude on the Lars' homestead had given him new insight into appreciating a simpler way of life. Or possibly ... Luke smiled to himself, ... possibly it was because he was in such a great mood this day. He glanced with pride at the stack of equipment he'd already repaired – a wagon tongue that had been snapped in two, a foot treadle that somehow attached to a churn, and a circular contraption that he still had no clue to its usage. Wouldn't Mara be impressed when he told her—

Mara! Almost feeling ashamed that he hadn't thought to contact her earlier, Luke reached out tentatively for his new bride's presence. He was immediately assaulted with feelings of frustration and irritation.

(Mara?) Luke sent hesitantly.

After several long moments, a reply came back. (Listen, farmboy, I don't want to hear what a great time you're having; I can already tell. Go back to playing with your tools, and leave me alone.)

Luke pursed his lips in concern. (Sweetheart, do you want me to come and—)

(No! I'm doing fine. Just let me be.)

Luke had serious doubts about how 'fine' Mara was doing, but he knew better than to argue. He felt her put up barriers against him, and smiled to himself. She knew as well as he did how ineffective any wall between them was. It was more of a 'mind your own business' signal than anything else.

Respecting his wife's wishes, the young Jedi turned back to the task at hand.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Mara Skywalker glanced down as a small fist tugged on her skirt. Grateful for the distraction, she hoisted the toddler into her arms.

Luke meant well, she knew. But as much as she loved him, he could still exasperate her with his concern. Apparently he'd been so engrossed in his tinkering that he hadn't even noticed when she'd touched his presence earlier in the morning. She hadn't disturbed him, had simply basked a few moments in his calm, happy aura.

Perhaps she should have soaked up a little more of his unruffled composure, Mara thought, as the din in the room rose another notch.

"Give me that!"

"No!"

"Madam Skywalker, make 'im give it back!"

"I'm tellin'!"

"Madam 'kywalker, do ye wanna see me doll?"

"I want me momma."

"Madam Skywalker?"

"Ma'am!"

"Aaarrgghh!" Mara let out an anguished cry, startling the child she held into squirming her way back to the floor. Blast it, where were these kids' mothers! She had known the children were wound up by how fast their first caretaker that morning, a young woman barely out of her teens, had exited the building. The poor girl had looked distraught as she tossed Mara a grateful 'Thank the stars ye're here!' before flying out the door. Mara had nothing but admiration for the school's regular instructor, who was taking a much-needed vacation this week.

Rubbing her temples wearily, the red-haired newlywed glanced in the direction of the latest outbreak of crying.

"Give me dolly back!"

"No! Yer silly doll is goin' flyin'."

Mara recognized the complainant as being the little girl who had produced the bevy of gold petals the previous evening. The main perpetrator was none other than the adolescent snow-sculptor who doubled as the group's resident bully. He and a friend were tossing a small ragdoll back and forth, just out of its owner's reach.

"What's going on here!" Mara growled, making her way across the room. "Thal, I told you yesterday that I wouldn't put up with this kind of behavior. Give Rasa back her doll."

"No!" the young hector shouted. "Ye're not our teacher, and ye can't make me do anythin'."

"I can and I will," Mara returned hotly. The thought crossed her mind that this was probably how Palpatine behaved as a child, and she nearly laughed in spite of her anger. "Do what I say, now!"

Thal threw the cloth figure to his buddy Shae, causing a new round of crying from Rasa. "Ha, ha, ha," the ruffians taunted. "It's a cawbird. It's flyin'. Ye'll never get it!"

Thal's miscreant partner let the doll sail back over Rasa's outstretched arms, chortling at the little girl's vain attempt at snatching it back.

"Thal! Shae!" Emerald eyes blazing, Mara clenched her fists in frustration. "GIVE ME THE DOLL!"

Thal dangled the doll in the air, snickering in glee. "No, no, no! I won't—" His impudent retort died on his lips as the unfortunate doll suddenly flew out of his grasp and into Mara's waiting hand.

"How would you like a taste of flying?" Mara growled in a low, dangerous voice.

"You can't touch me," the boy returned brazenly.

Mara had had enough. It was time somebody taught this boy a lesson. "I don't have to." She lifted one hand slowly, and Rasa's oppressor let loose a squall as he rose a half meter off the floor. The rest of the children froze in place. Only their wide eyes darted between Mara and the kicking, struggling bully who hung suspended in thin air.

A shrill scream unexpectedly pierced the room, and Mara glanced over her shoulder to see two women standing in the open doorway, hands clasped to their mouths in horror.

Oh, Sith! Mara quickly lowered Thal back down, berating herself for letting her temper override her judgment. Her self-reproach turned to dread as she heard one of the women utter a single word of accusation.

"Witch ..."