The Force's Shepherds
Chapter 66
The Last Memory
These ruins were old. Cracks snaked through the pillars that had not collapsed from the elements. Massive stones lay scattered about the icy floor. Most of them buried beneath piles of snow that had likely not melted in years. Aversa shivered as a frozen wind whipped through the ancient pillars. Despite some walls still being intact, they did nothing to shield her from the elements.
This place was the only shelter for miles around. This had to be where the heretics were hiding.
Aversa glanced up at the gray sky. It would be dark soon. Daylight did not last this far north. The sun graced this frozen hell only a few hours everyday. And when it fell below the horizon, the land would be impossible to travel through. Too cold to move. She would have to start a fire soon. But if the heretics were indeed here, then it would be risky to start a fire. It would give away her location to them
A small snort left her lips. Who was she kidding? She strode through the enemy's land. The heretics likely already knew she was here. It would only be a matter of time before they ambushed her.
Voices hit her ears. Aversa froze. They came from ahead of her. Beyond several massive, collapsed columns. She moved quick and quiet. Ducking behind the columns.
"The boss wants to know about your progress regarding the small machines?"
"Not much progress." Another voice replied, "Damn power sources won't start up."
Aversa peeked around the columns. Standing in the ice and snow, bundled up in heavy robes, were two mages. Plegian from the looks of things. She recognized the black spell books in their gloved hands. Typical Grimleal tomes. Likely loaded with all sorts of nasty black spells.
Good thing she knew how to counter most of them. She did not rise so quickly in the Grimleal by being a weak mage. They would be easy to take out.
Still, she did not want to expose herself just yet. These mages must be lookouts of some sort. But what were they guarding? These ruins held nothing but shattered stones and snow.
"We should hurry inside. The cold will kill us if we remain out too long."
Aversa's eyes widened as both mages opened their spell books. They cast a spell she was unfamiliar with. A purple portal opened in front of them. Both mages stepped inside. Aversa did not have time to think about what to do next. The heretics were about to get away. That portal was her only way to where they were hiding.
She shot across the snowy ground and jumped into the portal. Just as she passed through, it sealed shut behind her.
The two mages were gone already. But that did not worry Aversa. What did worry her, was the sudden change in her location.
No ice around her. No snow either. Just rock. Craggy rocks. Sharp and jagged. A small stream trickled along a creek bed in the floor. Green, slick moss brushed against her fingers as she kept her body pressed to the floor. Torches flickered on the walls. Casting long shadows along the rocky world around her. She still felt cold. But it was also much warmer here.
Aversa carefully stood up once she was certain she was alone. She let her hood fall from her head. Thankful for the chance to let her head breath once again. Aversa narrowed her eyes. This had to be a hidden location within the ruins. Purposefully sealed off and only accessible via magic. Quite an impressive feat to say the least. Whoever managed to do this had to have massive control over magic.
No wonder Validar and the Hierophant expected her to die.
Aversa took a deep breath and crept along the rocky ground. He feet fell into a pattern of light, careful steps. She could not afford to make noise in here. The sounds of her footfalls would echo throughout the cavern is he was not careful.
As she moved further through what felt like a labyrinth of dark, dim tunnels, she began to hear a strange sound. The sound of metal being struck by hammers. Grinding from that metal being sharpened and polished. A strange whir filled the air. Looping through her mind. Aversa blinked as the torches suddenly turned into strange orbs of light on the wall. Paler than firelight. Brighter too.
She noticed a staircase carved into the rock to the side. Aversa ducked into the staircase and swiftly ascended the steps.
"My lady." A voice said, forcing Aversa to freeze in place a brief moment.
She crouched and crept a little further forward towards a small balcony overlooking a massive cavern. Once she reached the edge of the balcony, Aversa peaked over the wall.
Her eyes widened. Sitting in the massive cavern was a massive...thing. It appeared to be a large lump of metal of some sort. Lighting spells sparked across it as various mages crawled all over its outer carapace. The thing was hollow as well. The inside easily capable of holding two dozen people. It was shaped like a strange bird almost. Metal wings jutted out from the sides of the main body. The beak housed some sort of space for mages to operate it from. A strange artifact to say the least.
Whatever the thing was, it was not finished. Mages were working furiously on the strange object. Fire magic was used to weld metal in place. Other mages were busy on scaffolding. Placing more metal panels in place.
"Have you discovered the secret to the machine's power source?" A woman's voice asked below Aversa.
Aversa's gaze shifted down. Standing just off to the side of the strange object, was a hooded woman. On the back of the woman's heavy, purple and gold cloak, were the six eyes of Grima. A small smirk crossed Aversa's lips. She had found her target. This one appeared to be the leader.
The mage in front of the hooded woman shook his head.
"No, my lady. Our tests still yield nothing. We have attempted multiple thunder spells on the strange power source hoping to reignite it. But it appears to be completely offline."
The woman uttered a disappointed sigh, "Then we will have to proceed with the original plan. We cannot reverse engineer something that does not function. Have you located any more Manaketes?"
"We have found one, but she is under heavy guard in Valm. There is no way to get to her. Besides, our own spies report that she may be under the watch of the Grimleal."
The woman tsked, "Validar plays a dangerous game trying to contain a Manekete. Any other sightings?"
"No, my lady. Nothing."
"Then our one chance at a dragonstone died when those Ylisseans wiped out our mages in the desert." The woman replied with a quiet voice, "That was a young Manakete as well. She would have an enormous amount of power. She had not begun to degenerate yet."
"We believe she is still being sheltered by the Ylisseans in Ylisstol."
"Making a move in that city is far to risky." The woman replied, "For now, search for other Manaketes. The ones in Valm and Ylisstol will be our last resorts."
"Yes, my lady."
The hooded woman took one last look at the strange object being built in the cavern. She nodded and strode away towards a small doorway in the wall. As she reached the door, she paused. Aversa's eyes widened and she ducked just as the woman glanced up at the balcony.
Aversa held her breath and closed her eyes. Praying to Grima that the woman had not seen her. She stayed frozen behind the balcony wall for a couple moments. She swallowed hard and peaked over again. The hooded woman was gone. The door she marched to closed with a soft click.
Aversa grit her teeth and retreated back to the main tunnel. The Heretic would not escape that easily. She paused in the shadows of the tunnel. There were a series of metal crates lining the walls. She could hide behind those and make her way over to the door the woman disappeared through.
The Grimleal sorceress dashed over to the crates and froze against them. Waiting for any cries of alarm. None came. She exhaled. No one saw her. She carefully edged her way along the metal crates. The cold iron kissed her skin, sending small shivers through her body. Damn this cold. She could not wait to return to the heat of Plegia.
And her ticket home was just beyond that door. Aversa stopped at the edge of the crates and waited for the right moment. As soon as she was certain no one was watching, she dashed towards the door and slipped inside a new room. She closed the door with a quiet click behind her.
Aversa took in the new room she was in. Private chambers of some sort. Royally furnished. A soft bed rested against one wall. Bookshelves lined the entire wall opposite of the bed. A fireplace with a smoldering fire sat in between two of the bookshelves. A pair of doors on the far wall from the door were thrown open, revealing a balcony that jutted out of a cliffside and faced the frozen ice fields of Regna Ferox.
Standing out on the balcony was the woman. The Heretic. Aversa's target to kill. She carefully peeled the first page back on her spell book. Just as Aversa moved to cast a devastating dark spell, the woman twirled around and blasted a Ruin at her.
Aversa let out a stunned cry as the black magic slammed into her body and shot her back against the door. She hit the door with a hard thud.
"So, Validar finally sends an assassin after me." The woman said, voice quiet and calm.
Aversa grit her teeth and shoved herself back to her feet.
A wave of shadow bombarded her mind. Dark tendrils seeped into her thoughts. The woman's eyes shifted from bright green to a blazing yellow as she stared at Aversa from across the room. Aversa gasped as she felt her body lifted into the air.
A cry left her lips as she was tossed across the room and into the bookshelves. She felt a rib shift as she slammed into the shelves. Several heavy tomes landed on top of her as she lay in a heap on the tile floor.
"It took him long enough." The woman remarked, "Although, I am disappointed he did not send someone stronger. He at least could have given me some entertainment." The woman's lips pressed into a frown beneath her hood, "Instead he sends me a grunt to toy with. The man does not even have the spine to face me himself."
Aversa grit her teeth and muttered a quick incantation. The woman's eyes widened in surprise as a pulse of dark magic shot across the room and took her off of her feet. Throwing her against the frame of the bed. A small smirk crossed Aversa's lips. A spell she created for her and her alone. Aversa's Night, her most potent offensive spell. A spell that dealt damage and sapped the enemy of energy. Giving that same energy back to her. Reinvigorated, Aversa rose to her feet.
"I am stronger than you think." Aversa growled as she struggled to her feet.
The hooded woman chuckled. Her hood fell away as she rose to her feet. Revealing an older woman with dark brown hair laced with streaks of gray. A worry line or two crossed her forehead. Other than that, she was a remarkably beautiful woman for her age.
"If that is what passes for strength in the Grimleal," Aversa gasped as an invisible hand gripped her and slammed her hard to the floor, "Then Validar really has run the Order into the ground."
Aversa glared hatefully at the woman. She dared disparage Validar like this. Validar managed to gather more power to the Grimleal than any other high priest in Plegian history. The Order held more power in that desert land than the crown or the military. None could contend with the group of dark mages as long as Validar led them.
"You are but a whelp to me, child." The woman hissed as she twisted her hand. Dark branches of smoke reached out to Aversa from her hand and gripped her. Spinning her helplessly in the air, "Before I kill you, I think I want to know your name. I'll include it in the letter I have prepared for Validar. I'll attach it to your head."
Aversa felt her pulse quicken. Fear shot through her heart. She could not mover her limbs. Her hands were going numb. Her spell book had started to slip from her grip as the dark smoke smothered her form.
She was going to die. Validar and the Hierophant really had sent her to her grave. They never expected her to succeed. In the end, they were right. She was an ant to this heretic. No one could possibly hold this much power in dark magic. But the evidence before Aversa said otherwise. This Witch had to be the most powerful mage Aversa had ever seen.
How arrogant of her to think she could possibly win.
"Aversa." She managed to choke out through the smoke.
"Wh-what!?" The woman gasped.
The smoke retreated in an instant. Aversa gasped and let out a heavy cough as she gently descended to the floor. Her vision still spun. She crawled about on her hands and knees for a moment as the stunned woman stared at her.
"You aren't-" Aversa coughed again, "Going to finish me?" Aversa felt rage build up in her. This was her chance, "Then I shall destroy you!"
She rose and came face to face with a flux spell. The spell slammed into her and set her sliding across the room. Her vision blurred as her head pounded.
"What has Validar done to you, my dear child?"
Child? What did this Heretic just say? Aversa's mind started to fog over. As it did, the door to the room burst open.
"Lady Morgana! We heard a commotion." A mage cried as several others rushed into the room and surrounded Aversa.
Aversa tried to stay awake. But her body felt incredibly weak now. Her power had been sapped. Days without food rendered her physically drained. Her own magic suffered as a result.
So much for winning.
As her vision faded. She caught sight of the woman pushing past the other mages. She knelt down in front of Aversa. The yellow eyes had faded back to a bright, green color. She placed a gentle hand on Aversa's cheeks.
"What has your father done to you?"
Nothing like a hangover headache to serve as a wake up call. Ben groaned as he pulled himself up from his bed. Head pounding. Ears ringing. Mouth dry and body slick with sweat. He blinked some of the fog from his mind. Sunlight filtered into the Shepherds barracks. Ben winced as a ray shot straight into his eyes from the window. He raised his hand and shielded his eyes from the burning light.
A rumbling snore caught his attention. Ben blinked and turned to his right.
Gregor lay on the floor beside his bed. Several bottles littered the area around him. Ben shifted in his seat and felt his foot tap against some smooth glass. His weary eyes narrowed on several empty mugs at his feet.
By the Force, how much did I drink last night?
All of the Shepherds exited the formal party early with the exception of Donnel, Maribelle, and Dooku. They all followed Sully's lead to the barracks where great barrels of beer and bottles of firewine waited for them. A proper party for the princess according to both Vaike and Sully. And that party eventually escalated to a full blown celebration for the return of Ben, Robin, Gaius, Panne, and Tharja. As well as a welcome party for the newest members of the Shepherds, Anna, Donnel, Dooku, and Laurent.
Which of course required even more alcohol.
Ben winced as he swung his legs out from his mattress. Careful not to accidentally step on the snoring Gregor. He stepped off of his bed and slowly stood up. His head swam. He stumbled to the side and managed to trip over the slumbering mercenary. He landed with a thud on the floor. And at that moment, Ben realized he was not wearing a shirt. He looked at his bare arms then down at his bare chest.
How much did I drink last night?
He pushed himself back up to his feet and froze as he heard another soft snort. He glanced over at Gregor. The mercenary had not moved an inch. His eyes then turned to the other bunks in the room.
Robin lay with his head on the wrong side of the bed in his bunk. Face down, legs and arms spread out as wide as they could go. A tome rested over his head and the chess board sat on his back.
Virion was slumped beside Robin's cot. His usually perfect hair a complete mess. Several chess pieces stuck out of it. He had a teacup in his limp grasp. Filled to the brim with Feroxi Firewine.
Stahl lay in a daze on the floor near the window. Several empty bottled sat around him. Ben also swore he saw someone else's shirt over his body. The one he currently wore was about three sizes too small for him. And… it looked like a woman's shirt. Ben rubbed his forehead and grimaced as a rancid belch left his lips.
"Water…" He grumbled as he stumbled for the door.
He grabbed a shirt from the floor. One that he assumed was his and slipped it on. He shoved the door open. A loud thunk rang out. Ben cringed and looked down. Anna slept in front of the door. The edge of the door now dug into the small of her back. Ben sighed and reached down. Carefully propping the merchant on the wall beside the door.
"Ohohoho… I shall get my way." Anna mumbled in her sleep.
Ben blinked. Did he detect a Rosanne accent there?
I did way too much last night.
He stumbled into the common room.
Sully was draped over the bar counter. Passed out drunk. Half of her face laying in a pool of firewine. Olivia lay next to her. Ben furrowed his brow then quickly averted his eyes as he realized she was missing her shirt. Only a small blanket covered her form.
That explains where Stahl got his new shirt.
A small fire burned in the fireplace. Ben uttered a loud yawn. It was answered by another loud yawn near the fire. Ben blinked and looked over to see Lissa and Chrom sleeping back to back. Both propped up by the other. Sumia lay in a heap beside the fire. Her head resting in Chrom's lap.
Glasses clinking grabbed Ben's attention. He flicked his eyes back over to the bar. Ricken stood behind the counter.
"Water, Ben?" The young mage asked, sober as could be.
Ben gave the boy a small nod as he trudged over and slumped into a seat. Ricken placed large glass of water in front of the hungover swordsman. Water Ben guzzled down.
"That is the greatest tasting thing on the planet right now." Ben breathed as he wiped some droplets from his beard.
"Figured it would be." Ricken chuckled, "Everyone went all out last night."
Ben closed his eyes and nodded. Force his head hurt.
"Where is everyone?"
"You mean everyone other than the people out here?" Ricken smirked, "Well, Frederick is immune to hangovers. He is. I swear it. He woke up at the exact same time he usually does and went to the stables to tend to the horses. Cordelia woke up just a little while ago and dragged herself to the Pegasi stables. Both still have their jobs to do after all."
"Unfortunately." Ben breathed as Ricken passed him another glass of water.
Rickne nodded, "Drink up." He hummed, "Now where is everyone else? Oh yeah! You escorted Tharja to bed last night."
Ben spat water out of his mouth, "I what?"
"Yeah. It was pretty funny. She wasn't ready to stop drinking but she clearly went over her limit. She hexed you several different times. I think one of them was intended to amplify the morning hangover."
So that's why this hurts so much more than normal.
"But you came back pretty fast after tucking her in. Apparently she went out like a light." Ricken said as he grabbed a soapy rag and started wiping down the bar, "Laurent is stuck in the rafters."
Ben arched an eyebrow. He looked up and saw the scholar sleeping on one of the ceiling beams.
"H-how?"
"He saw a spider he wanted to study. Managed to convince Miriel and Vaike to help him get up there. Hasn't come down since." Ricken shrugged, "That guy is weird. Nowi is outside with Lon'qu. Her dragonblood made it impossible to get her drunk. And Lon'qu said he had a training regimen to keep up. Nowi wanted to watch him work. Said it was fun. Panne and Gaius are… somewhere. I think they left actually."
Ben froze, "A drunk Gaius out of the palace?" Oh Force help him. He would have to rescue the thief from the dungeons now.
"Panne was with him. So I'm not too worried." Ricken laughed, "They were in pursuit of 'the Great Gummy Bear', according to Gaius."
"Oh gods…" Ben ran a hand over his eyes, "What on earth did we do last night?"
"I'm telling you right now."
"It hurts to hear it."
Ricken chuckled, "It's kind of fun for me to tell it."
Ben uttered a long sigh and gave Ricken a weary stare. He waved his hand and sipped on his water.
"Alright. So… that leaves," Ricken hummed for a moment, "Oh! Marth was the responsible one and went to sleep before getting drunk. She might wake up in a couple minutes actually. That leaves Vaike and Miriel. I remember them both going down the hall together but beyond that-"
The door to the girls bunkroom quietly opened then shut. Both Gaius and Ben glanced over. Ben's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates as a very naked Vaike scrambled out and pressed his back against the door. Chest heaving up and down as panic seized him.
"Naga what have I done?" Vaike breathed.
"Um… Vaike?" Ricken said, "What is-"
Vaike's head whipped over to the bar. His face turned as pale as a ghost.
"B-Ben! R-Ricken uh-" He gulped, "Unfortunately this is exactly what it looks like."
Ben's jaw fell open. Ricken arched an eyebrow.
"What exactly does it look like?"
"You're too young." Ben breathed as he pushed his chair away from the bar and got to his feet.
"I'm fourteen!" Ricken cried defensively.
"Just keep-," Ben winced as his head pulsed, "Just keep doing what you are doing."
I need to ask Tharja why she made this hangover so bad. Force this hurts!
Ben trudged towards Vaike. He reached the terrified man and looked him up and down.
"Go put some clothes on then we can talk."
Vaike slowly nodded and crept into the guys bunkroom. In a few seconds, he returned to the hall wearing a simple pair of pants and no shoes. Nervous beads of sweat ran down his face. No color had returned to his skin. The man looked like he was on the verge of passing out.
Ben waved to him, "Come along, we'll go for a walk."
"Yeah," Vaike gulped, "Fresh air. Teach needs that right now."
The pair passed by a curious Ricken and stepped out into the bright morning sun. Ben hissed and rubbed at his eyes.
"Tharja must have really not wanted to go to sleep." He grumbled as he adjusted to the light.
"Ben." Vaike gulped, "So… I'm guessing you already guessed."
"You and Miriel had a bit of drunken fun."
Vaike paled, "Y-yeah." Vaike gulped, "B-but I don't remember any of it. I don't… oh Naga, I just did that with Miriel. That means…" Whatever color Vaike did have dissapeared, "Oh Naga…"
He slumped to the ground and leaned back against the barracks wall.
"I might've just got Miriel pregnant." Vaike swallowed hard.
Ben nodded, "Yes. And that means you will have to take responsibility for it."
"I-I know that." Vaike gasped. He ran a hand over his forehead, "I just… don't know how to go about it."
Ben let out a soft chuckle, "I don't think anyone ever does at first. But you're a good man, Vaike. I know you will do the right thing."
Vaike gulped and let out a heavy breath.
"Thanks, Ben." He breathed in. Then out, "You know. I actually don't mind it too much. Me being with Miriel. It's actually kind of fun." Ben arched an eyebrow, "More than that way!" Vaike cried, "She's so damn smart. It keeps me on my toes."
Ben chuckled and patted the man on the shoulder.
"Just make sure she feels the same way before trying anything." Ben said, "Drunk people tend to make irrational decision."
"You don't have to explain that to me. The Vaike made the most irrational decision last night." The man ran his hands over his face and sucked in another deep breath, "You are a good friend, Ben."
"I do my best."
Vaike got to his feet, "I-I think I better run to the flower person or something."
"Florist?"
"Yeah that. Um… flowers and maybe a box of chocolates." Vaike scratched the back of his head, "And perhaps a copy of my last will and testament."
The spiky haired man raced out of the palace courtyard. Ben watched him disappear down the road. As he rushed off, Ben let out a long sigh and shook his head.
Talk about a wild night.
"Ah, you are finally awake."
Ben scowled as he heard Dooku approach. Maribelle walked beside him. Her pink parasol was folded up and rested on her shoulder.
My headache is about to get a lot worse.
Dooku arched an eyebrow as he looked at the disheveled Ben.
"Mornings do not suit you, Kenobi." He drawled.
"Drinking and a drunk dark mage do not suit me." Ben grumbled as he walked past both towards the training yard. The pair followed him.
He could hear Lon'qu furiously hacking at a practice dummy with his sword. Occasionally, Nowi cheered him on. Ben blinked more bright sunlight from his eyes and slumped into a bench on the perimeter of the yard. A spot in the shade of the palace walls. Naga, his head hurt. And his breath tasted rancid. He covered his mouth as a wretched burp left his lips.
"You need to purge the toxins already, Kenobi." Dooku advised as he took a seat beside him.
Maribelle sat down in a seat beside Dooku. Her eyes focused on the one other person training in the training yard. Young Donnel hacked away at a dummy beside Lon'qu. Though with no where near as much power or speed.
Ben rolled his eyes, "I've already tried, Dooku." Ben breathed even as he tried to use the force to shove the alcohol from his mind and body, "Tharja hexed me last night." He admitted as he massaged his forehead with the heels of his hands.
"How rude." Maribelle sniffed.
"I agree. What do you see in her anyways, Kenobi?"
"Please," Ben raised a hand, "Please don't start. It's too early for that."
Dooku gave Ben a smug grin but did not press the issue any further.
"How was your evenings?" Ben asked Dooku and Maribelle.
"Lovely." Maribelle said, "The party went off without a hitch. Despite everyone else's best efforts. The noble class will be talking about it for weeks now."
"In a very good way of course." Dooku chimed in, "Maribelle, you put on a lovely party for the Princess. I'm sure Prince Chrom and Queen Sumia are more than thrilled with what you did for them."
"I hope they are." Maribelle smiled, "It took a great deal of energy to put together. And thank you Dooku. Your words are very much appreciated."
"You are most welcome."
"At least one of Ben's friends has manners and sense." Maribelle sniffed as she watched Lon'qu and Donnel train. Nowi cheered as Lon'qu chopped the straw head off of his dummy, "Dooku is both very proper and intelligent, Ben. I do not know how you two ever became friends."
"Feel free to tell me how when you've figured it out." Ben snorted quietly.
"Well the elderly must help educate the youth." Dooku smirked, much to Ben's annoyance.
"Precisely. And you are clearly a well learned man." Maribelle nodded, "Ben, Dooku and I were both discussing the difficulties regarding the rebuilding of Themis. It was almost razed to the ground when the Plegians sacked it."
"A most unfortunate event. You have my condolences." Dooku said.
"Thank you." Maribelle took a breath, "And Dooku had marvelous insight as to how to go about rebuilding both the infrastructure and economy."
"Lovely." Ben muttered.
"So I have named him my personal adviser."
Ben jerked upright in his seat. He gave Maribelle a stunned look.
"You what?"
"Indeed, Kenobi." Dooku smirked at Ben, making the Jedi's blood boil, "It appears Lady Maribelle has been receiving rather ill council from other nobles in the area. I pointed that out and offered much more effective and efficient solutions."
"And I want Dooku to help me oversee them." Maribelle said. She saw Ben's furrowed brow and frowned, "You may not like that I am ripping your friend away from you, Ben. But this is happening. I will not be swayed on the matter." She rose to her feet and popped her parasol open over her head, "Now if you will excuse me, I have some business to attend to."
"We shall speak later, Lady Maribelle." Dooku bowed his head.
"Absolutely, Dooku." Maribelle smiled before striding towards the palace.
As soon as she was out of earshot, Ben glared at Dooku.
"You." Ben snarled.
Dooku smirked at Ben.
"You did that on purpose." Ben wagged a finger at the Count.
"But of course. I saw a person in need and decided to assist." Dooku replied with a wry smile.
"Oh no, no, no. You saw a chance to get away from me and took it."
"Why Kenobi; it is as if you are saying you do not trust me."
"I trust you about as far as I can throw a Bantha. Which is not very far." Ben hissed, "The entire purpose of me letting you live was because I could keep an eye on you."
"Oh? And now you are considering killing me?" Dooku's eyes sparkled with delight, "That would certainly change these people's perception of you. The powerful mad swordsman dealing a death blow to a kind old man. How insidious of you, Kenobi. Very un-jedi like."
Ben grit his teeth. How did Dooku managed to get under his skin so easily? He felt like Anakin right now. Dooku managed to rattle him a lot. Ben had always been the calm one in these situations.
He flicked his eyes over to the training yard as Donnel uttered a frustrated snarl and kicked his practice dummy.
I need a proper distraction.
Ben got to his feet.
"Are you going to instruct Donnel now?" Dooku asked, dropping the original subject. Much to Ben's relief.
"I have been instructing him for the past few months." Ben replied as he walked over to a sword rack and grabbed a blunted blade, "He's a slow learner."
Dooku tsked, "And you are clearly a poor teacher."
Ben wheeled around on him, "I am not a poor teacher." Ben hissed.
"But you are. After all, the last student you had is dead."
Pain lanced through Ben's heart. He glowered at Dooku.
"How do you know Anakin is dead?" Ben asked. His blunt blade hung loose in his grip.
Dooku shrugged, "A safe assumption. You have Skywalker's lightsaber after all. And you don't possess your own. Skywalker would not let himself lose his lightsaber. Not unless he had been dealt a fatal blow."
Dooku saw intense pain in Ben's gaze. Sensed deep regret and sorrow coming from the younger man. Normally, he would have relished in such feelings. During the Clone Wars, he often pushed to sow such feelings in the Jedi he faced. It made them weak compared to him. Easy targets. Easy prey. But now, in the aftermath of the war, now that he and Ben were technically on the same side; he did not enjoy seeing the man in such pain.
"How did Skywalker die?" Dooku asked Ben.
Both men heard the door to the barracks open then close. Robin stumbled out. Tharja walked behind him. The dark mage unaffected by any hangover whatsoever. The tactician, however, bent over and let out a weak groan as he emerged into the sunlight. Tharja gave the man a quick rub on his back before striding towards Ben and Dooku.
"Kenobi." Ben returned his attention to the Count, "You had to have been there when Skywalker died."
Ben swallowed hard. He did not answer the Count. Instead, Ben strode away from him just as Tharja reached the pair. He headed towards the training yard exit. Making his way to the palace gardens on the other side of the palace.
Dooku furrowed his brow and let out a long sigh.
"You."
He arched an eyebrow and glanced over at Tharja. She glowered down at him with a rather intimidating glare. Dooku would not admit it made him uncomfortable. But he did shift in his seat a little bit.
"Good morning, Miss Tharja. I trust you slept well."
Tharja narrowed her eyes, "I don't know who exactly you are, but you are clearly not a friend of Ben's."
Without another word, she strode after Ben. Donnel paused in his training and watched the dark mage rush off. Nowi cheered nearby as Lon'qu bisected his practice dummy. The other swordsman uttered a small curse then went to go fetch a new target. Donnel sighed and shook his head.
"Wish I could fight like that."
"Practice makes permanent, Donnel." Dooku called from his perch, "Go about your exercises. I shall point out any areas that need improvement."
Someone had to properly instruct this rabble if Kenobi would not do it himself. And Dooku was more than happy to oblige.
The Ylisstol Palace gardens were a peaceful place. Birds chirped happily as they sat in the branches of several small trees. A sparkling marble fountain rested in the center of the garden. And that was where Tharja found Ben. The young Jedi Master sat next to the fountain. Head bowed. Anakin's lightsaber in his lap.
Tharja frowned as she pulled her spell book closer to her chest. She took a deep breath and walked up to the upset Ben. Without a word, she took a seat beside him. The soft trickling of the fountain helping to calm her own rage down.
Dooku upset Ben. That much was clear. And he consistently did so as well. Tharja did not mind causing some discomfort to people. She did so all the time. Often times unintentionally but many times very intentionally. But she almost never upset a friend unless they really deserved it. And even then, she never attacked their emotions. It was always a physical hex. A runny nose that would not end. Or a sharpened hangover. Never a crushing blow to their emotions.
It made her blood boil because that was Dooku's preferred method of winning an argument. And she despised such things.
Ben took a deep breath as he looked up from Anakin's lightsaber.
"I forgot to get mine back." He said.
Tharja arched an eyebrow.
"My lightsaber." Ben continued, "Kage has it. I recognized the blade when he used it to kill, Maul. In my shock of finding Luke, I forgot to get my own weapon back." A soft snort left Ben's lips, "If Anakin ever found out about that he would never let me hear the end of it. I used to lay into him for losing his own weapon." He pursed his lips, grabbed the lightsaber, and clipped it back to his belt, "Now I have his weapon. Funny how that works."
"What did Dooku ask you?" Tharja asked.
Ben grimaced. He swallowed hard, "He asked me how Anakin died."
Tharja furrowed her brow. She set her spell book down in her lap.
"Dooku clearly is not a friend of yours."
"No, he most certainly is not." Ben snorted, "In fact, Dooku is one of my oldest enemies. We fought against each other during the Clone War. He helped spark that blasted conflict." Ben ran his hands over his face. A long sigh left his lips as he let his hands fall back into his lap, "I cannot tell you how many times he and I tried to kill each other."
Tharja raised an eyebrow, "Then why is he even alive? Why is he with us?"
Ben sighed, "Because I can't kill him."
"Why not?"
Ben shook his head, "He is supposed to already be dead. Anakin took his head from his shoulders during the latter days of the war. Don't ask me how the hell he is even alive now. I don't know."
Tharja's eyes widened. Dooku was supposed to be dead. Not only was he supposed to be dead, but he was a mortal enemy of Ben's as well. No wonder Ben seemed so distressed around him. It was as if he was being haunted by the ghost of his worst enemy every day.
So what brought him back to life? That was a question that would require some intense study and scrutiny. She would delve into her own knowledge for that. And perhaps ask for assistance from Miriel. The inquisitive mage would no doubt be very interested in such a subject. Tharja hoped.
"I suppose his question makes sense." Tharja breathed, "I would want to know how my killer died."
Ben's jaw clenched. He hung his head and nodded, "I suppose you are not wrong."
Tharja gave her friend a concerned glance. She hesitated then placed a hand on his back.
"Ben."
The Jedi raised his head a little bit.
"Do you need to talk about it?"
Ben shook his head, "I don't really want to talk about it." He sniffed and rubbed his nose, "That memory is the single worst memory I think I have."
Tharja nodded, "Then we won't talk about it. But we will confront it."
Ben's face paled.
"Ben, you cannot let these demons rule you." Tharja warned, "You give them power by fearing them. You will never move past the horrors if you refuse to face them."
Ben shook his head.
"I thought you just wanted to use your hex to learn about the force from me by getting inside my head."
Tharja cringed, "M-maybe at first but-" She drew in a deep breath, "Look you helped me when I needed it. It is only fair I return the favor." Tharja cracked open her spell book, "Now, you and I are going to see this memory. We will face it together."
Ben rested his head in his hand. He drew a deep breath. Preparing himself for what was about to happen. With a reluctant nod, he turned his body to face Tharja's.
"Are you sure you can access that specific one?"
"Stop trying to get out of this." Tharja breathed, "And I am sure. I think I've finally perfected the spell."
Ben uttered a shaky breath. She could already see him dreading this memory. But he appeared to steel his resolve.
The purple runes crawled over their skin. Ben closed his eyes and waited for it to hit him. Tharja gave him a sympathetic look. Just as the runes crept up to her face, she shut her eyes.
Heat. Unbearable, stifling heat. It felt like she stepped right into a burning fire. Smoke filled her nose. Tharja felt like she was suffocating. She could smell brimstone. Lots of it. Thick in the air. It drowned out almost any other scent.
"Stop!" A woman's shrill, heart broken voice cried. Forcing Tharja's eyes open.
Her heart jumped to her throat. Fear shot through her heart.
It looked like she had jumped into the heart of a volcano. Ash spewed into the air all around her. Black clouds choked the sky above her. Rivers of lava ran through the scorched landscape. She was facing a facility of some sort. Made of out metal. A purple shield repelled as much of the heat and ash as possible.
Tharja furrowed her brow. She looked down to see she was standing at the top of a sleek, metal ramp. No, this was not her. She could see everything as herself. But this was not her body. She looked down and saw cream colored robes and a brown cloak over her form.
I'm seeing this through Ben's eyes. She thought with a startled gasp.
"Come back please!"
Tharja looked back up. Following Ben's own gaze to two people standing on the platform in front of her. A heavily pregnant woman. Small and slim. Beautiful and elegant. Tears streaming down her face as she faced a furious robed man.
Anakin Skywalker.
She recognized him from the security hologram at the Jedi Temple. He looked the same. But there was so much rage. So much anger and hatred in him. His face twisted into a terrifying snarl as he glowered down at the woman. The one that had to be his wife.
"LIAR!" He roared.
The woman looked back at Ben. Tharja gasped. She could feel Ben's worry in that moment. His own anxiety. Every drop of fear and concern him. Every single thought of regret and sorrow. It weighed on her shoulders like heavy stones. An unbearable burden that no person should have to carry.
This was the memory. This was where Ben killed his apprentice.
Ben's body started moving down the ramp towards the platform.
"N-no!" Anakin's wife cried, suddenly terrified. She flashed Ben one of the most fear filled, betrayed glances Tharja had ever seen.
"YOU BROUGHT HIM HERE TO KILL ME!" Anakin raged.
Tharja felt like she could not breathe. She felt Ben's resolve suddenly tighten. His own determination and resilience roaring forth like a lion in his mind. In front of her, the woman gasped and reached for her throat. Tharja felt the force raging around the woman. All of it stemming from Anakin. His fingers pinched together in front him. Choking the life out of his wife with the Force.
"Let her go, Anakin!" Obi Wan barked.
He did not move.
"Let. Her. Go."
Tharja's mind reached the bottom of the ramp with Obi Wan's body just as the woman slumped to the ground, unconscious. Anakin seethed at her then turned his hate filled gaze up.
"You turned her against me!?"
So much pain. So much anger and hatred. Unyielding power rushed through the hot air towards Obi Wan. Tharja reeled inside of Ben's mind as a massive wave of the dark side of the force slammed into both of them. While she reeled, Obi Wan stood firm.
"You have done that yourself."
Anakin shrugged off his black cloak. He started pacing. Like a furious animal. The Dark Side of the Force rippled around him. Out of control. Thirsting for blood.
"You will not take her from me!" He roared.
Obi Wan tossed his own brown cloak from his shoulder.
"Your anger and your lust for power have already done that."
Tharja and Obi Wan started circling the platform. Gaze never leaving Anakin. Waiting for that moment where his rage would break and he would attack. She could feel Obi Wan's concern for the woman. This Padme Amidala. Every so often, she could sense Ben reach out with the Force and touch her life force. Trying to make sure she was okay. But every time he did, another rush from the dark side bashed him back.
"You have allowed this dark lord to twist your mind until now-" Obi Wan took a breath as he continued circling around the platform. His goal no doubt to reach Padme and make sure she was still alive, "Until now you have become the very thing you swore to destroy."
"Don't lecture me, Obi Wan." Anakin spat, "I see through the lies of the Jedi. I do not fear the dark side as you do."
Tharja and Obi Wan finally reached Padme. They knelt down and touched her forehead. Reaching out with the force to see if she still lived. Relief flooded through Obi Wan as he felt her life force beat out in the force. Strong and steady. But there was a small waver. A faint crack in her strength.
"I have brought peace!" Anakin's tirade continued as he faced away from Obi Wan and Padme, "Freedom! Justice! And security to my new Empire!"
"Your new empire?"
Oh I doubt this empire is yours. Tharja thought. If the Empire was ever ruled by Anakin it would likely crumble. He had no self control. No discipline. The dark lord Obi Wan mentioned ruled. And he played with Anakin like how a puppeteer plays with a marionette puppet.
"Don't make me kill you."
Pain shot through Obi Wan's mind and heart. Tharja reeled. Those words cut through him like the sharpest of knives. Flashes of other memories, ones shared with Anakin, raced through her mind. She saw them laugh together. Cry together. Enjoy some rather fun adventures together. Fight a war together.
She saw the first time they ever met. Aboard the Queen of Naboo's ship. Qui Gon Jinn introduced them.
"You're a Jedi too!?" A young Anakin's voice cried with excitement, "Pleased to meet you."
"You will be a Jedi." Ben's voice echoed in her mind, "I promise you."
If Tharja was in her own body, she would have crumbled by now. If she had known that they were this close, then she would never have asked Ben to go through with this. This was not something for a memory walk. This memory was one that needed to be dealt with carefully. What had she done?
"Anakin my allegiance is to the Republic. To democracy!" Obi Wan exclaimed, his own pain and frustration mounting.
Anakin glanced over his shoulder.
"If you're not with me." Tharja's heart hammered with Obi Wan's. She could feel the tension about to snap. The rage about to break, "Then you're my enemy."
Sadness ripped through Tharja's mind.
"Only a Sith deals in absolutes." Obi Wan breathed. He unclipped his lightsaber, "I will do what I must."
"You will try."
It was a blur. So fast and powerful. Tharja heard Obi Wan's lightsaber hiss to life. Felt the heat of the blade in her hand.
The next thing she knew, Anakin was on top of them, his own blade cutting deadly arcs through the superheated air of the planet. The lightsabers clashed in violent sparks of blue light.
Tharja's pulse raced. Her heart hammered in her chest as the battle raged right before her eyes. She could see every action Anakin took against Obi Wan. Every deadly thrust and slash. Every devastating blow to her friend's nearly flawless defense.
And it was all so fast. It boggled her mind.
One moment they were on the platform with Padme Amidala's ship. The next they were battling through a dim corridor in the facility. Sparks danced and spat all around her. Shooting into Obi Wan's robes and scorching the cream fabric.
Anakin shoved Obi Wan into an observation room of some sort. Dead bodies littered the floor. All of them slashed to ribbons by Anakin. All of them different alien life forms. In her mind, Tharja saw them as the Seperatist council. The ones who helped Dooku spark the Clone War.
More blurs of blue. More heart pounding clashes. Obi Wan hopped back onto one of the tables. Anakin jumped up and hammered his lightsaber against Obi Wan's. His gloved hand shot out and caught Obi Wan by the throat.
Tharja panicked. She was choking. She could not breath. She gasped. Wanted to scream. The Dark Side of the Force roared. It laughed at her. Laughed at her pain. She stared up at Anakin's vicious snarl as he brought a blue lightsaber closer to Obi Wan's throat.
Fight back!
Obi Wan kicked Anakin. Toppling the other man over. A melee ensued. Both men lost their grip on their blades. Kicks and punches rocketed towards each other. Obi Wan knocked Anakin onto his back. He called to his blade with the force. Just as he brought his lightsaber crashing down at Anakin, the traitor snatched his own weapon and blocked the blow.
Anakin shoved his way back to his feet. Hacking and slashing at Obi Wan with reckless abandon. Already, Tharja could feel her friend starting to tire. Meanwhile, Anakin looked stronger than ever.
They both shot a force push at each other. They stayed still for a moment. Battling for dominance. Then they both shot back. Plowing into different controls on the wall. Tharja heard a loud alarm sound. Heat blasted into the room. The shields were down.
Obi Wan retread out to a catwalk along the observation room. Tharja recoiled from the heat. Enormous jets of lava shot up from the magma river below. Flecks of ash and molten rock landed on the metal catwalk beside her.
It was too much! The power she felt from Anakin. The strain on Obi Wan. The Dark Side roaring with victory as he powered through her. Taunting her with wicked, venomous whispers. Beckoning her to watch.
She shut her eyes. But she could still feel the battle. Feel every blow. Every hack and slash. Every brutal kick and punch. Every time an ember from the fiery surface below hit her skin, she hissed out.
When she opened her eyes again, the fight had moved to a floating platform in the middle of a river of lava. Obi Wan's body was covered in a thick layer of sweat. His robes were charred in several spots. His breathing heavy and labored.
Anakin stood across from him. His hate filled eyes boring holes into Obi Wan.
He is going to kill me.
Tharja's breath hitched as she heard Obi Wan's thoughts at that moment.
Oh… he will kill me. But I will make him work for it.
"I have failed you Anakin." Obi Wan breathed as he held his lightsaber defensively out in front of him, "I have failed you."
"I should have known the Jedi were plotting to take over!"
"Anakin! Chancellor Palpatine is evil!"
"From my point of view, the Jedi are evil!"
"WELL THEN YOU ARE LOST!"
The final declaration. The ultimate words that spelled Anakin's doom. Obi Wan's heart broken admission that his friend, his brother, was gone. He would not be able to sway him. He would not be able to save him. This was it. The Jedi had failed. It was all over.
He stood alone against the tide of darkness. On that river of molten rock, Obi Wan grit his teeth and focused his mind. Tharja felt the dark side cry out in alarm. A burst of light shot through her mind. Resolve. Focus. Determination. The will to do what was right. Obi Wan embodied those things in that moment.
In that moment, as he accepted he was going to die, he was a Jedi Master.
Their blades clashed several more times before Obi Wan jumped away from the platform onto a high bank of lava. He stared down at Anakin.
"It's over Anakin!"
Tharja's mind raced. Ben was goading the enraged traitor. Daring him try and attack while at a clear disadvantage. Obi Wan's last ditch effort to end this fight on his terms.
"I have the high ground!"
Anakin stared up at Obi Wan. Arrogance and hatred in his eyes.
"You underestimate my power!"
"Don't try it." Obi Wan pleaded.
Tharja gasped as Anakin soared into the air. Trying to land behind Obi Wan.
One move. One strike. One brutal slash through the air with his lightsaber. Three of Anakin's limbs fell to the rocky ground. The rest of his body hit the rocks then slid down towards the edge of the river. A loud cry and groan left the fallen man's lips.
The emotions slammed into Tharja. Ben had won. But at a cost. Tears blurred her vision as pain ripped at her heart.
"You were the chosen one!" Ben screamed, voice cracking, "It was said you would destroy the Sith not join them! Bring balance to the force! Not leave it in darkness!"
Anakin tried to claw his way back up the embankment. His one remaining limb scratched helplessly at the superheated rock and ash.
"I HATE YOU!"
Tharja reeled. The knife dug deep into Obi Wan's heart. Those words reverberated through her mind. Their brotherhood, their friendship, severed with three words.
"You were my brother Anakin." Obi Wan swallowed hard, "I loved you."
A spark caught Anakin's robes. Within seconds, his body turned to flames. Screams pierced the hot air. The most horrific screams Tharja had ever heard in her life.
Obi Wan turned away. He picked up Anakin's lightsaber and walked back towards the facility in the distance. Back to Padme Amidala and her ship. Away from his dying apprentice.
Away from his dead friend.
Tharja gasped as she opened her eyes. She stared in front of her. Ben was gone. The fountain's trickling water was all she could hear. She looked down at her hands. They were shaking.
"B-Ben?" She trembled.
That memory, it had been too much. No wonder Ben did not want to face it. It was terrifying and heart wrenching. It had been the moment where he had accepted death. Accepted his failures and mistakes. Accepted that his friend was gone. How could she put him through that?
What have I done? What kind of friend am I?
"You did what was necessary."
Tharja jumped as a soft voice spoke to her. Gentle and kind. Her gaze whipped around the gardens. Was it Ben? No, that did not sound like him. He was likely long gone at this point. He probably woke from the memory just before she did and raced away in a fear filled panic.
"Who's there?" Tharja asked.
"You do not have anything to fear, Tharja." The voice spoke again, "And you have done nothing wrong. You have done a great thing for Obi Wan." The voice gave her a soft laugh, "I'm so happy my student met you."
Tharja's eyes widened.
"Qui Gon Jinn." She breathed.
Disbelief filled her. No, that was impossible. Qui Gon was dead. How could he be speaking to her now?
"From a certain point of view, I am dead. But from another point of view, I am alive. I live on in the Force. And through it, I can speak to you and Obi Wan."
Tharja swallowed hard. One of her trembling hands raked through her long hair.
"Wh-what do I do?" She asked Qui Gon.
"You do what you have always done, Tharja." Qui Gon replied. His calm, gentle voice soothing her own mind and slowing her racing heart, "Be there for him."
She felt a bright presence fade away. And as it faded away, she saw Ben standing at the edge of the gardens. Facing away from her. Shoulders heaving up and down as he tried to catch his breath.
She jumped from her seat. Her spell book fell to the ground as she rushed to him.
She slammed into him from behind and wrapped her arms around him. Her own breath shivering as she held on tight. He did not react at first. Did he even notice she was there?
A hand reached up and gently cupped her own hands. Tharja gulped and let her head rest against Ben's back.
Neither felt like speaking. Not after seeing what they had seen. Not after feeling everything they felt. So they stood there. Quiet and somber. Qui Gon's words rang through Tharja's mind as she refused to let go.
Be there for him.
And chapter! This was an extremely fun chapter to write. We got some very lighthearted moments with the Shepherds, some very dark moments with Tharja and Ben. Qui Gon has made a long awaited reappearance. And we finally get to see Ben's memory of the Mustafar fight. I aimed to make it seem like Tharja was watching it through Obi Wan's eyes instead of as an outside observer. I hope I succeeded in doing so. That made it a very unique challenge to write.
And, we get to see what Witch the Hierophant is so worried about. Lady Morgana, an OC for this story. One I am very excited to write and develop. Her role in this story will be important. As is her relationship to a few characters. I wonder what project her and her fellow heretics are working on? Hm… you'll find out eventually.
Anyways, let me know what you all think of this chapter! As always, I hope you all enjoyed! Have a nice day!