Hey guys, here is the next update of this fanfic.
Enjoy the read.
Chapter Nineteen
Rite of Passage
Solana Amell approached one of the mounts that was nearby with the Keeper walking along with her. The Jedi was looking at them with a light frown upon her features, staring at the animals in front of her. The mounts weren't Hallas from what she can observe but probably a native of this world that was tamed long ago by the Elvhen.
"I have sent my First to find out exactly what is going on," Deshanna was telling her as she observed the mounts, "However, I have no more knowledge of what could be happening. Elvhenan is a peaceful world, and I have no idea as to why they are here."
Solana glanced at her, a light frown upon her features.
"I have done more with less information Keeper," she answered, "I'll allow the Force to guide me where I need to go."
Keeper Deshanna gave a light nod as one of the mounts approached toward them, curious about the stranger in their midst. It's coat was of green, similar to leaves of the trees as antennas reached out toward Solana's form. The Jedi keep herself calm as the creature familiar itself with her. It was higher easily shoulder height with four legs. It's eyes, easily the size of a small tea cup was looking at her, taking her in gently. Solana raised her hand, using the Force to gently connect with the mount, asking it for his aid.
A light thrilling song escaped from its muzzle, causing Solana to chuckle lightly at her.
"It seems I have an ally for the journey ahead," she admitted, "Allow me to get him a saddle then and we will be off."
The Keeper called out toward another elf, a man this time and he worked to place a saddle upon the mount that she had taken. Solana guided the mount toward the entrance of the camp as the Keeper walk with her.
"Are you certain you will not require aid?" she asked.
"I will be fine Keeper," Solana answered her gently, "I will move quicker on my own, however, considering you already sent people. I will try to find them, and maybe together find the cause of this threat."
Deshanna let out a small sigh, but she gave a light nod.
Solana climbed upon the saddle, taking hold of the reign of her mount. It let out a soft thrilling sound again as it tapped the ground with it's large paws. With a nod toward the woman, she clacked the reign and the mount launched itself forward, leaving the camp behind as it made its way toward the forest of Elvhenan.
The wind rustled her clothing, as Solana continued to guide her mount forward, a light frown appearing upon her features, now actively searching where she needs to go within the Force. Then, she felt it's pull within her mind, a familiar pull that she always recognized ever since she was a girl, a young Padawan within the Order.
That pull made her decision easy then.
South it is, Solana thought to herself.
She pulled upon the reigns, changing direction and was now heading straight south.
Getting one's Vallaslin was a rite of Passage among the Dalish. Three centuries ago, when they were freed from slavery, not a lot of their culture had survived. Some among them during their enslavement had kept their culture alive, their language and even their religion which had been shattered from the endless years of servitude they had suffered at the hands of their slave masters.
When the Jedi had given them freedom, and had given this new planet to them, the Elvhen who wished to keep their culture and religions practice alive joined together and become the Dalish while the others who disregard that became the City Elves, having lost hope in their people and in their gods.
The Vallaslin however, became the signature of the Dalish, of the centuries of slavery they had endured that they had not given up for their freedom and gaining one, was akin to remember those who have perished in those dark years, and to carry the hope they had for freedom into the future.
Ellana knew all of this as she sat in the Keeper's tent with Sehari, the young woman helping her out of the Jedi robes she wore, leaving her until she was wearing a light tunic upon her form. Her Jedi clothing were placed somewhere else along with her lightsaber, something that Sehari looked at with great interest at the silver and green hilt.
"A blade of light," she said, holding it in her palm.
"It had served me well," Ellana told her.
"Can I…?" Sehari asked, her question obvious.
She chuckled softly.
"After," she said.
Sehari nodded a light grin upon her lips before she placed the saber hilt by her robes. Ellana had taken her meditative seat, a habit from the many times she had meditated with her Master over the years, seating upon her knees, her back as straight as ruler. She let out a soft breath, going into a light meditation as Sehari worked around the tent, preparing the tools needed for the appliance of the Vallaslin.
Thought as she meditated, she could no longer sense her Master's presence within the camp. Solana must have already left to deal with whatever disturbance they had felt when they first arrived here on the planet.
She will trust her Master to be able to handle it.
"You already chose your Vallaslin?" Sehari asked her.
"I have," she answered, pulling her hair back from her forehead, "It's the only one I know will be for me."
There was a rustle at the entrance and then Keeper Deshanna was there, walking into the room with a frown upon her features. The Keeper continued her path toward her, noticing that Ellana was already prepared.
"Good, you're already prepared," she said, placing her staff down.
"Yes Keeper," Ellana answered.
Deshanna glanced toward Sehari who had taken a seat nearby, a light smile upon her lips as she was observing them. She came to stand in front of her gaze, drawing them up toward her standing form and Ellana noticed the searching gaze that was upon her features.
"You look a lot like your mother," she said after a while.
Surprise shot through Ellana at those words.
"Do I?"
Deshanna gave her a light nod.
"You frown just like she used to," was the answer she received.
Ellana tilted her head.
"Did she have a Vallaslin?"
The Keeper shook her head.
"No, she did not," she answered, "But she wasn't born on Elvhenan, that much I am certain of…probably of the Elvhen which migrated into the stars over the centuries since we've made this world our home."
As she was speaking, Deshanna had taken her place in front of her, her hands working upon the many objects that were needed for the ritual that was about to take place right in front of them.
"If you were sworn to the Clan," she continued, "You would have been given three days of spiritual searching and prayers to prepare for this moment, however, as a Jedi, your loyalty is not to the Clan alone but the entire galaxy."
She glanced at her.
"The First of the Clan would be here as Witness to the Marking however he is not here," Deshanna continued.
Ellana glanced at Sehari.
"You will be my Witness," she said.
The young woman's eyes widened in shock at the words, as if she couldn't believe what Ellana just said.
"You…you would allow me this honor?" she asked shocked.
"Yes, I will," she answered.
A softer, kinder smile appeared upon the girl's lips at that.
"Then I shall accept the responsibility my friend," she answered, "I, Sehari Lavellan, will be the Witness of the Marking of Ellana Lavellan."
"Then as Keeper of Clan Lavellan," Deshanna spoke out, "I will accept you as Witness young Huntress."
She then gazed back at Ellana.
"Have you chosen what you will bear to represent our People Ellana Lavellan?" she asked.
"I have," Ellana answered, "I chose to bear the Mark of Mythal."
The Keeper nodded.
"Yes," she said, turning her attention toward her tools, "Mythal, the All-Mother and Protector of the People. May she guide us when the road is perilous."
She raised a small object shaped like a pen which had been dipped into a small container.
"Are you ready Ellana Lavellan to bear the Marking of Remembrance?" she asked.
Ellana centered herself within the Force.
"I am."
Keeper Deshanna took hold of her face, her hand despite being gentle had a grip of steel behind it. Ellana took a deep breath and closed her eyes as the Keeper approached closer with her pen shaped object toward her. And then the cutting against her skin begins, as pain surged from where the Vallaslin was starting to take place upon her face.
Yet, not a sound escaped from Ellana's lips.
As it was to be done. The pain she was now feeling was the pain of Remembrance. The pain that represented the suffering that the Elvhen had gained from underneath their slave Masters, the pain that represented the despair that many had felt during those years. The ritual is to be done in complete silence for it is represented as the unbroken will that they will be free one day.
Ellana can feel the warm liquid dripping down her forehead, time becoming less of a factor as the Keeper continued the ritual.
It was three hours into her journey through the Forest of Elvhenan that Solana slowed her mount down, which she had named Barky. She knew that it was a male and had been quick into traversing through the endless green that made the massive forest of the planet.
Before the Elvhen settled there, the planet was a complete forest world but now that the Elvhen had managed to join the planet's balance, they had become part of it as much as the planet's way of life had become part of them. It was also why the warning she and Ellana had sensed in the Force were that much sharper than usual.
Whoever had come to this world, they weren't part of it's natural order like the Elvhen and the animals of this planet. And having trusted the Force to guide her, Solana can feel that she was growing close to her destination, thought what she will find, is still a mystery. The woman then stopped her Barky before descending from the animal. It turned his head toward her, letting out it's familiar thrilling call, but Solana calmed him down with a few gentle pats on the side of his neck.
"Stay here," she said softly.
The animal obeyed her and Solana continued forward on foot, a light frown upon her features, as the sounds of voices started to echo from somewhere in front of her. The Jedi crouched lightly as she continued forward, coming to a stop at a light cliff that hang on the side, with a grassy side that tilted downward in a slope.
There right below her was a vessel. A ship, and from the looks of it, it seems to be one of the older ones given the age that she can see that it was a transport vessel of some kind probably a repurposed one.
Then movement draw her eyes elsewhere as she took notice of the group below her. They were all wearing armor, and were wearing helmets, thought one of them wasn't and Solana recognized the species.
"Batarians," she murmured, "It had to be Batarians."
"We have almost finished with our cargo," the Batarian spoke out, "Go make sure that they're all secure."
Two of the helmeted Batarians walking onto the ships leaving the rest behind as another approached the helmetless one.
"Those knife-ears killed ten of my men," he growled, "I still say we should have taken care of all of them."
"It's not your call Ishan," the helmetless one spoke out his four eyes narrowing at him, "I was put in charge of this ship, and what I say goes. We have our cargo and our hold is full. It's time to head back."
Ishan growled.
"Look at it this way," the Batarian in charge spoke out, "You'll get a larger payday for yourself."
"Fuck you," Ishan growled at him before walking into the ship.
Solana narrowed her eyes as she had listened to their conversation. If there was one thing that she became familiar with over the years in her work at the Frontier, is slavery. She had come across many of such slave rings that existed somewhere in the Terminus System as well as those who managed in the Traverse as well…but Elvhenan was on the near side of Council Space and the Batarians were never this bold before.
Something to ponder at another time, she thought, This ship is probably filled with Elvhen prisoners taken as slaves…
Solana Amell stood up to her full height.
This ship is not leaving this planet.
Solana took her saber hilt into her palm and focused herself within the Force, finding her center as she always does before entering a battle. Then, she took a leap forward, flying higher and faster than any ordinary jump as she allowed the Force to guide her forward as she come to land right behind the group of Batarian that were talking.
She heard them cries out in shock at her sudden appearance, the ones who were wearing their helmets turning toward her and raising their rifles toward her and as she gazed toward them from beneath her hood, she saw the one without the helmet, how his eyes widened as he realized just what she was.
"What the hell…?"
"Shit a Jedi,"
They made to open fire but Solana was already on the offensive. She raised her hand forward and then pulled with the Force, ripping their guns away from them, sending the weapons flying behind her. Then, she pulled her arm forward once more as a wave of the Force shuddered around her, her palm facing the enemies in front of her, who were still shocked at what happened to their weapons.
"SLEEP," she spoke out, her voice echoing with power.
The group of Batarians in front of her all of them collapsed like marionettes without strings, all of them suddenly thrown into a deep sleep that will take them hours to waken naturally.
Having taken care of that, Solana walked forward into the ship. She can already sense many emotions coming from within it. She can feel the fear, terror as well as despair and anger that was surging from those that were deeper into the vessel, however, Solana could tell that it was from the taken Elvhen.
"Boluk, come in," a voice spoke out, "We're waiting on you to take off."
She stepped into the hallway seeing the Batarian walking toward her, his attention upon the Omni-tool in front of him, but he glanced up, having taken notice of her appearance. His eyes widened, and quickly pulled out his pistol and opening fire toward her.
Solana leaned her shoulders this way and that, letting the two blasts past her without breaking her stride and on the third shot, her lightsaber hummed into life as a blade, as blue as the deepest sea, parry the shot sending it back toward the attacker as he let out an ack sound, the shot taking him into the chest.
She can feel the coldness of death already taking hold of the man as she passed him, aiming toward the opened doorway and into a large area, probably the containment area.
They were massive cages, not part of the original design of the ship Solana noticed, but probably added when the Batarian turned this cargo vessel into a slave ship. As she walked forward, her blue saber lighting up the area she was in, she can feel the kyber crystal within humming with her heart as she continued forward.
The Batarians that were holding the hold took notice of her approach and opened fire upon her. Solana responded in kind as her blade became a blur of movements, paring and ricocheting shots back at her opponents as they were taken down by their own blaster shots.
She blocked shots that came up from the walkway above her, which drew her gaze toward the other Batarians that were upon it and with a bounding jump, she was now upon the walkway with them, her lightsaber humming as she danced through their shots, taking them down easily.
Solana sensed around herself again for more but it would seem that she had taken care of all of the Batarian upon the vessel. She extinguished her blade, and attached it at her waist before jumping down again toward the large cages. She can see the people from the bars as they were looking at her from within it, their eyes wide with awe and relief at the sight of her. Solana raised a hand with the Force, crumbled the door and ripped it off it's hinges, allowing the Elvhen who were captured to walk out.
"It's okay," she said removing her hood and revealing her features to them, "You're all free now."
She did the same for the other cells within the ship and given how many Elvhen she saw, they were easily over two hundred of them within it. Most of them women and children, all of the adults share Vallaslin upon her faces meaning that they were all Dalish.
The ship didn't have much medical equipment, but Solana made do with what she has and they were some of the Elves which were skilled in the arts who took care of those who were wounded and the three Batarians she took prisoners were all tied up and still won't wake up for a few hours.
"You came at the right time Solana," Mahanon Lavellan said to her as he approached where she was standing, "You have my thanks."
She glanced at him, giving a light nod.
"I'm just glad I was able to help," she answered him, "The Batarians were never this bold in the past…how many Clans you think were attacked?"
"Some clans from all over this valley," Mahanon answered, his face grave, "We have been hearing rumors about it for days now…I never expected to see the day when my people will be taken toward the chains of slavery again."
Solana nodded at him.
"I will bring this to the Jedi Council," she said, "If such a large operation is taking place on this Planet without our notice, we will need of both of the Jedi and the Citadel Council."
Ellana can feel the pain ebbing away from the healing poultice she was given from the Marking Ceremony. Keeper Deshanna had finished her work hours ago and Sehari had left when it was done as it was her duty as Witness.
However, she has finally gained her Vallaslin as it was the way of her People and now, she will carry the Mark of Mythal throughout the galaxy. The mark of Remembrance as all Dalish should.
Dressed again in her Jedi robes, and with her saber at her waist, Ellana took a look at her image in the mirror. Familiar red locks fell around her features, bright silver eyes shone in the light that was within the tent, full red lips that clashed with the light tan that was upon her skin.
What really drew her gaze, however was the branch like markings that were now upon her forehead, starting at the bridge of her nose. It formed a line there and then spread out into many branching paths across her forehead, the marking in a light gray shine upon her skin.
A pull from the Force drew Ellana's attention away from her observations, sensing that her Master was arriving soon. Maybe then, she will have some answers about what exactly was that she sensed.
A mysterious happening...
Next Time: A Rising Complication
Jacques0 out.
R&R
