The Force's Shepherds
Chapter 68
Moving On
Tharja really did not want to be bothered at the moment. Her fingers crinkled over the letter that had managed to get across the sea just before the Embargo could really take effect.
Curses and damnation! She really screwed up. Hexes were not supposed to last for weeks on end. Yet the letter in her hands clearly said as much. Cynthia still could not talk. Could not make any noise from her mouth. Tharja pursed her lips and crumpled the letter up, tossing the paper over her shoulder before leaning against her desk. She would be unable to get a reply to Yen'fay in Chon'sin. The Embargo would be in full effect by the time her letter reached the Archanean coast. Any cure for Cynthia would have to wait until she could get into contact with the Chon'sin royals once again.
She uttered a loud groan before glancing at her notes in her own little room.
Prince Chrom had managed to get her a room at the Ylissean Mage's Academy. Much to the Headmaster's displeasure of course. She did not care what that wrinkled old man thought of her. He clearly had a distaste for Plegians. His opinion. And oh well when it came to that opinion. It was not like she could change his mind.
Well, she could. But that would result in her being banned from the Academy and their wealth of resources. Resources she had begun to greatly enjoyed. And she would need those resources right now. The fact that Cynthia was still afflicted by silence told Tharja that she really messed up the incantation. She may not have placed a hex on the girl. She might have accidentally placed a curse instead. A much more difficult thing to dispel than a hex.
She let out a heavy sigh and swept across her dark room towards a bookshelf near the shuttered window. Her pale finger ran along the spines of the very few black magic tomes she could get her hands on in the Academy. She came across the one she was looking for and cracked it open. Her dark eyes ran over the text.
A knock hit her door. Tharja frowned, ignored it, then kept reading.
Another knock. Tharja uttered a frustrated hiss. It was probably more of those infernal students wanting a peak at the forbidden dark mage. Or maybe some foolish professor trying to convince her to leave the institution. They had not realized that their protests and scorn only made her dig her heels in even more. She would be damned if they got the better of her.
Voices came from the other side of the door. One of them the elderly voice of the Headmaster. He seemed to be in an argument with someone. Tharja's head snapped up from her tome when she heard the voice he was arguing with.
"I do not care, Headmaster. If you have a problem with Tharja taking up residence here then address that grievance with Prince Chrom."
Dooku. She thought. What exactly was he doing here?
If there was one person she did not want to see more than the Headmaster, then it was Dooku. He was Ben's enemy. Ben never went into the details on his history with Dooku, but she knew well enough that if Ben labeled someone an enemy, he meant it. He had not labeled Kage such a thing. He had called the boy misguided and lost, but not an enemy. He labeled people like Maul and Gangrel enemies. Ben considered Dooku to be the same as those two cretins. So if he referred to Dooku as such, then Tharja would treat him as such.
Another knock hit her door. The headmaster started protesting again.
"Headmaster, if you do not cease your infernal prattling I have half a mind to cast my own magic on you. And I can guarantee it is not pleasant."
A wry smirk crossed the Dark Mage's lips. Well, at least the old man shared a distaste for the Academy's headmaster.
She rolled her eyes and closed the tome. The only way Dooku would go away is if she spoke to him. Blast and damnation! Why couldn't she just be left alone for the day? She had to figure out a cure for the curse she accidentally put on Cynthia.
Reluctantly, Tharja moved to the door and opened it. She glared at the two old men on the other side. Both could not look more different than the other.
Dooku as always kept his appearance impeccable. Posture straight. Emotions reined in tight. Crisp and clean clothing. Dark but not too dark. A flawless brown cape over his shoulders held together with a polished steel chain over his chest. Any noble would be jealous.
The headmaster on the other hand looked like a bird. Long, gangling neck. A hunched posture that made him appear to cluck as he talked. Wispy hairs stuck out from the sides of his balding head. Loose robes covered his frail looking form. But Tharja would not test the old man's skill with magic. He may be frail, but when it came to magic the mind mattered far more than the body.
"What?" She asked bluntly. Her tone not disguising her annoyance in the slightest.
Dooku gave the old Headmaster a victorious smirk.
"I told you she would answer the door."
The old man let out a loud huff before shuffling down the hall. Muttering obscenities to himself. Tharja felt a dark snicker slip from her lips. She loved upsetting the old fool so much. Her attention returned to Dooku.
"What do you want?" She asked before turning her back and returning to her research.
Notes were scattered across her desk. A spotless alembic rested near the corner of the desktop. Various vials and jars of different liquids, of various colors, both clear and nebulous, rested in a rack on her desk. Dooku arched an eyebrow as he observed the liquids.
"Remedies? Or poisons?"
"What do you think?" Tharja muttered as she cleared some of her notes from her desk.
She did not want anyone seeing the stuff she researched. For one, researching dark magic was a dangerous task. The students in this academy did not have a single brain among them. They would get themselves killed if they found her research and tried to replicate it. And she did not trust Dooku. She had a feeling if she upset the old man, he would go and inform the headmaster as to what her research truly entailed. Then she would definitely lose access to the Academies resources whether Prince Chrom liked it or not.
"I will be leaving with Lady Maribelle, Lady Olivia, Virion, and Sir Stahl tomorrow morning. We will be heading for Themis."
"Good." Tharja replied, her tone snappish.
You'll get the hell out of Ben's life then.
Dooku remained quiet as she slipped her various notes into a drawer in her desk. The old man cleared his throat.
"Kenobi is still in his… melancholic state."
Tharja paused as she closed the drawer.
"I was wondering if perhaps you can help me snap him out of it."
Tharja snorted, "If only you knew what sent him into that state, you would not say something so damn ignorant."
"Ignorant?"
"Yes, ignorant." Tharja snapped back, "You know nothing about him, do you? Although, I suppose I should not be surprised since you are an old enemy of his."
"We were on opposite ends of a war, my dear. It was only natural that conflict occurred when we faced each other." Dooku replied nonchalantly. He drifted across the room over to Tharja's bookshelf. His eyes roved over the various magical titles, "I do not view Kenobi as my enemy any more."
"Oh really? You certainly antagonize him like one."
Dooku uttered a long sigh, "I only asked him how Skywalker died because I was genuinely curious. I did not hold the boy in very high regard. But there was no denying his power in the force. To hear that he died was still semi-surprising."
"Why is that?" Tharja asked.
"Because I assumed my old Master had designs for the boy."
"He did." Tharja growled.
Dooku arched his eyes in surprise.
"Why do you think Ben is so crushed about Anakin's death?" Tharja leaned back against her desk, "Anakin fell. Ben had to confront him. He was the one who had to kill him."
Dooku's eyes widened in surprise.
"Is that so?" Dooku pursed his lips, "Are you certain?"
Tharja nodded, "I witnessed the memory myself. Using a particular scrying spell I've developed for both nefarious and not so nefarious purposes." Dooku saw her shiver a little bit, "I've never felt anything like it before."
"What you felt was likely what Kenobi felt during those moments." Dooku remarked, "The Dark Side of the Force is a terrifying thing to those unfamiliar with it."
Tharja nodded. That made sense. Ben seemed to be very wary of the darker aspects of the Force. She figured it was due to the people he claimed used that side of the Force. People like Maul and Dooku. But after feeling the dark side in all of its raw fury, Tharja could understand his fear of that power. It felt dark. Hopeless even. A endless hurricane of furious emotions that terrified and exhausted her.
All of which might be how Ben felt at this very moment.
Tharja drew in a deep breath, "I wanted to give him his space. But perhaps it is time I tried speaking to him again."
"Good."
"Later tonight." Tharja breathed, "I'm currently working on something that somehow might be more important?"
"And what could be more important than helping a friend?"
"Have you ever cast an accidental curse?"
Dooku frowned, "I… can't say I have."
"Then you should know that they may have some unintended… consequences. And the cure for such a curse can be very difficult to find." Tharja smirked a little as Dooku gave her a concerned look, "Perhaps I can cast it on you so I can test some remedies? It'll help cure Ben's headache when it comes to you. It is a silencing curse after all."
Dooku's throat bobbed, "I shall take my leave."
"That would be best." Tharja hummed, "Oh, and if you see that idiotic Headmaster on the way out, tell him I require access to the forbidden section of the library."
"Why should I be the one telling him this?"
"Because you intimidate him more than me." Tharja smirked.
Dooku furrowed his brow and bowed to her. Silently taking his leave. He closed her door behind him and let out a sigh.
How in the Sith Hells did Kenobi wind up falling for her? That boggled his mind. And he apparently still did not even realize it yet. But to Dooku it had become obvious as soon as Tharja took off to make sure Kenobi was alright. The pure Jedi Knight falling for a dark mage who practiced black magic. If he heard this without seeing it with his own eyes, he would have laughed himself silly. It was such a ridiculous notion.
But not necessarily an unwanted one. One of the basic tenets of the old Jedi Order was the rejection of any form of romantic attachments. For Kenobi to have forsaken such a tenet spoke to his shaken faith in the Jedi Code. Even if he did not realize his faith had been shaken.
To Dooku, it was a splendid development. Kenobi was starting to pierce through the stagnant, dogmatic fog that he had been blinded by since he was but a boy. He always figured Kenobi to be an intelligent man. Part of him puffed with pride at the thought that he was correct in the end.
Dooku strode down the halls of the academy, through its many bright corridors, and out to the courtyard in front of it. Ylisstol's palace stood just a few streets away. A short, leisurely walk back to the Shepherds Barracks. Quiet and peaceful.
Dooku had to admit, Ylisstol was a pleasant city. Of course, he missed the amenities provided by the superior technology he was used to. Communication was dreadfully slow on this world. What he would give for a proper comm link. It would make the tedious letter writing obsolete.
He entered the training yard near the Shepherd's barracks. Outside, Lon'qu and Frederick were sparring with their blades. Dooku admired both swordsmen for a moment. Lon'qu was clearly the superior talent. But Frederick had the better battle tactics. It helped even out the fight. Though if Dooku had to place a bet on who would win, he would choose the Feroxi swordsman. Tactics could only negate so much talent.
That rule stumped him when it came to Kenobi though. Obi Wan did not have very much natural talent. Certainly not as much as Skywalker. And yet, Kenobi defeated Skywalker. Killed him even.
What an interesting puzzle.
The Count noticed Robin and Donnel going through the basic exercises for Shii-Cho. He paused and watched the two amateurs work. Robin noticed and gave him a wave.
"Care to give some pointers?" The tactician asked.
"Perhaps." Dooku replied, "But for now, continue your exercises while I fetch your actual teacher."
Tharja may be content with waiting. But I am not.
He pushed his way into the Shepherd's barracks. The common room was already occupied by several other Shepherds. Princess Lissa sat next to Miriel. The mage showing off the flowers the brute Vaike bought for her. Such a curious couple that one. Dooku sniffed to himself. The mage could certainly do better than that meat headed oaf.
Gaius lounged in a chair, lollipop hanging out of the corner of his mouth. Eyes closed. Soft snores escaped out the other corner of his mouth. Panne sat next to the fire with him. The Taguel calm and quiet. Just on the edge of falling asleep. A lazy day for the duo.
Better than the two of them causing trouble.
Ricken and Laurent were excitedly discussing magical theory as they walked past Dooku in the hallway. Nowi sped past Dooku as she chased after them. The millennium old Manakete gave the old man a toothy grin. Dooku stared back at her as she shot past him. For one of the oldest beings Dooku had ever met, she certainly acted childish. Dooku was still trying to determine if she was considered a child for her species, or if her behavior was an elaborate act.
Dooku paused in front of the men's bunkhouse door. Kenobi was likely still in his bed. He reached for the doorknob and walked in.
And he was correct. Kenobi sat upright in his bed. Legs crossed. Eyes closed. Hands folded in his lap as he meditated in the Force. An action that would have been commended by any Jedi Master. Dooku probably would have praised such a thing as well if this was twenty years ago. But now, he found it both annoying and preposterous.
"You could have knocked." Kenobi muttered as he kept his eyes closed.
"Last I checked," Dooku shut the door behind him, "This was a communal bunkroom. I can enter and exit as I please."
Kenobi hung his head. He drew a deep breath and raised his head once again.
"You are breaking my concentration."
"Good." Dooku chirped back, "And I am not breaking your concentration." He strode across the room and opened the shuttered blinds to the room. Allowing bright sunlight to enter the room, "I am breaking your self imposed melancholy."
"It is not self imposed." Ben replied, unmoving.
"Oh don't fool yourself, Kenobi." Dooku's sharp voice replied, "You and I both know that you are doing this to yourself."
The young Jedi did not reply. Dooku frowned and took a deep breath. A blunt approach was not working. Perhaps another way would work.
"I still think about him, you know." Dooku started.
"Who?" Kenobi cracked an eye open, "Anakin? Do you think of the ways you would have killed him?"
"I think about Qui Gon."
Both of Kenobi's eyes cracked open.
"You are not alone, Obi Wan." Dooku sighed as he took a seat on one of the bunks, "There are a great many Jedi Masters who have lost their padawans. And I happen to stand alongside you in that company." Dooku clenched his jaw, "I still remember the day he died. I… I can still remember how it felt hearing that the boy I spent part of my life training; pouring every ounce of knowledge and energy into, had died." He shook his head, "It is an indescribable thing."
"You caused much of that yourself." Ben shot back.
"During the Clone War?" Dooku let out a weary sigh, "I'll admit, I did. But that is besides the point, Obi Wan. You are not alone in facing this… demon. Well, I guess you are semi unique." Dooku leaned back a little in his seat, "I thought of Qui Gon as a son. You thought of Skywalker as a brother. I'm not sure which would be more painful honestly. Though, in the end, it is not a competition."
The older man shifted in his seat, "Did Qui Gon ever tell you about the time he nearly fell to the dark side?"
Ben gave Dooku a surprised look, "He- he may have mentioned something. But he never gave me the details."
Dooku chuckled quietly, "He must have felt a tad embarrassed." He sad smile crossed Dooku's lips, "He had just finished his apprenticeship under me. Had just been knighted when he nearly fell. I have found that might be the most vulnerable part of a Jedi's life. Not the apprenticeship where they are wild and unfocused. Masters are there to correct that. But when they are knighted, and set out into the universe on their own for the first time… it is like a bird trying to learn how to fly. Qui Gon was no different." Dooku let out a long sigh, "The entire ordeal revolved around a woman, of course. A fellow Jedi Knight. And well, that Jedi Knight died. It sent Qui Gon into a tailspin. One he nearly did not recover from."
Ben furrowed his brow, "W-why are you telling me this?"
"Because as far as I can gather you were a remarkable Master to Skywalker given the circumstances surrounding that boy."
"He should never have been given to me."
"Perhaps." Dooku agreed, "But he wound up as your Padawan Learner. You were firm and stern. But you also knew when to be comforting. And above all else, and I saw this throughout the war, you were loyal to him. Even when he did not deserve such devotion." Dooku drew in a breath, "You were loyal to him even when he started to fall. For you see Kenobi, a Jedi does not simply fall to the dark side with a snap of one's fingers." Dooku snapped his fingers, "It takes many choices and events to finally start to toe that line. Many tragedies, and perhaps, many triumphs. Skywalker was already falling by the end of the war. And that is the one thing you are guilty of."
"That I let him fall."
"No!" Dooku said firmly. With far more passion than he thought, "You do not control the fate nor decisions of others. To think you can is the epitome of arrogance, Kenobi. Skywalker chose his path. And the only thing you are guilty of in the events leading up to it is that you did not confront him sooner."
Ben gave Dooku a puzzled look.
"When Qui Gon started to fall, I noticed." Dooku said, "And unlike you, I did not ignore it. I immediately confronted him on the matter. I demanded to know why he was acting like a damn idiot. I made him open up. Made him confront the demons tormenting him so that he might defeat them. And in the end, he did." Dooku folded his hands in his lap, "You failed to do that with Skywalker. Because you refused to believe he was falling. Even though you could sense it."
"Continue rubbing salt in the wound, would you?" Ben sighed as he fell back into his bed, "It's not like I already don't know any of this."
Dooku sighed, "Kenobi, the point I am trying to make is, you should not regret your actions in the end. You did what had to be done, from your side of the conflict. Skywalker fell and became one of Sidious's tools. A dangerous tool at that. If you had not killed him," Kenobi's eyes widened as he realized Dooku knew how Anakin died, "he would have brought death and destruction the likes of which the galaxy has never seen before. Skywalker chose his path. And you ended it. You did the right thing in the end, Kenobi. You should not shoulder any shame from your actions."
Ben stared hard at Dooku. The older man could see his mind working through his wisdom. Could feel the words resonating in the younger Jedi. But something else preoccupied Kenobi's mind.
"How do you know?" Ben asked.
Dooku drew in a deep breath, "I went to speak with Tharja earlier. Needless to say, she had some rather choice words for me. Even threatened to hex me into silence so that I might stop tormenting you."
Kenobi snorted out a small laugh.
"She does that from time to time."
Dooku nodded, "So I have gathered."
The old Sith Lord rose from his seat and walked over to the window. He looked outside and frowned as Robin and Lon'qu began to spar. The Feroxi easily handling the tactician in their mock duel.
"You are lucky, Kenobi." Dooku sighed.
"How so? If you are referring to how I am lucky to be alive; then I must say, look who's talking."
Dooku uttered a soft chuckle, "As always, you reply with dry wit. No, you damn idiot. I am not referring to your inexplicable survival. I am referring to Tharja." He nodded out the window, "And to the others down in that training yard and down the hall in the common room. But most of all to Tharja." He glanced back at Kenobi, "She is guiding you through this storm, Kenobi. Helping you shoulder the grief. Force, I wish I had someone like that when Qui Gon died. Instead, I had my own mind. A dangerous place when stricken by grief and depression. It left me vulnerable to Sidious's temptations. But you," Dooku gave Ben a small smile, "You have her. And she does what she does not because she wishes to take advantage of your mind, but because she wants to help you." Dooku nodded as Ben listened in silence, "She cares for you, Kenobi. More than even you probably realize. And through that care, she has given you something that I never had a chance at."
"That being?"
"A new life." Dooku answered, "A fresh start. Whatever you wish to call it." Dooku moved away from the window, "The Jedi Order is dead, Kenobi. It is time to bury it. Time for you to move on. Be happy for a damn change. Force knows, seeing an old enemy of mine look so miserable makes me feel terrible."
Kenobi snorted, "I thought you would relish it."
Dooku shrugged, "At first I may have. But I hold you in such high esteem, unfortunately."
Kenobi uttered a small chuckle. He sat up in his bunk and let out a long sigh. His hands ran over his face and he let them fall to his lap.
"I suppose I have sulked enough." Ben muttered.
"So you were sulking instead of meditating." Dooku clicked his tongue, "Now I'm not only frustrated, but disappointed too."
Ben rolled his eyes, "Quit acting like a Jedi Master, you damn Sith."
Dooku smirked, "You forget, I was a Jedi Master for as long as you have been alive, my friend." Dooku nodded for Ben to follow him, "Now come along, your two students are making a mockery of your lessons in the yard. I feel proper instruction is needed."
"Teaching the amateurs how to play with a blade always did brighten my mood." Ben smirked as he swung his body out of his cot and slipped his boots on.
Dooku smiled and opened the door for the young Jedi. Good, his second approach seemed to have worked. At least, Kenobi was no longer sulking on his own. Dooku furrowed his brow as he followed the young man out towards the yard. The other Shepherds inside of the barracks gave Ben bright smiles and happy waves as he strode past them.
Hopefully the Jedi would heed his advice. He needed Kenobi. Needed him to recover from the Clone Wars. Needed him stable and powerful for the conflict to come. Sidious would find this world eventually. When he did, he and Kenobi would be the only two capable of standing against him. Kenobi would be crushed if he displayed any of the weakness Dooku had seen lately from him.
They stepped back out into the training yard. Dooku frowned as Donnel tripped backwards and fell on his rump. Robin chuckled a little as he helped the farm boy up.
Hopefully these two would listen.
Dooku let out a frustrated sigh as Lon'qu once again dismantled Donnel. The older man ran a hand over his eyes and groaned.
Donnel just could not seem to listen to his advice. He listened to Kenobi's just fine. But Kenobi was now focused on Robin. And rightfully so. Robin was his first student on this world. He was further along. And he desired to learn some Soresu from Kenobi in order to incorporate more defense into his own version of Niman. A wise course of action. One Dooku commended in his mind.
But Donnel did not seem to progress in the slightest. No matter how many tips or pointers Dooku gave the farm boy, he still fought like a one legged bird. No grace or fluidity to his movements. Always rigid and uncertain. And most annoying of all, he kept making the same mistakes over and over again.
"How many times must I say it?" Dooku groaned, "If he comes at you head on like that, be ready to move out of the way. Do not try to meet a superior opponent head on or you will lose."
"If it's so easy, why don't you do it!?' Donnel finally spat back in frustration.
Dooku raised his head at the insolent boy. Normally, Donnel was quite respectful. Fairly patient even. But as with all students, that patience ran out when confronted with significant hardship. He knew he was not progressing. And it rankled the boy. So much so that he now demanded proof that Dooku knew what he was doing.
"You wish to see if my methods actually work?"
Donnel did not reply. He just picked himself up out of the dirt. As he got to his feet, Dooku held out one of his hands.
"Hand me your blade."
Both Robin and Ben stopped their own sparring and turned to watch. Frederick, who had been practicing against Prince Chrom also paused to watch. Lon'qu furrowed his brow as Donnel passed his blade over to Dooku.
Dooku gave the blunted piece of steel a few tentative swings.
"Not as balanced as I would like." Dooku hummed, "But it will do."
"You look a little nervous, Lon." Prince Chrom chuckled at the Feroxi swordsman.
Lon'qu swallowed a little bit, "I fear the old man in a young man's profession."
Dooku smirked. This swordsman could already tell he was facing a skilled opponent. Good, this very reaction would be enough to signal to Donnel that he ought to listen to him. But it would take more than simple words and a worried reaction to get through the farm boy's thick skull on this matter.
Lon'qu got into his stance. Dooku flicked his blade up in front of his face, then back down to his side.. A customary salute for him. One taught to him by his own master as a way of showing respect to an opponent. Then he held the blade in a relaxed, low guard.
The Feroxi lunged forward with decent speed. Dooku stepped to the side of his thrust. With a flick of his wrist, he tapped Lon'qu's blade to the side. Another quick flick, and the tip of his blade stared Lon'qu in the eyes. Donnel's jaw fell open as Lon'qu froze. The tip of Dooku's blade mere inches from his eyeball.
"Did you see me stay still?" Dooku asked Donnel.
The farm boy slowly shook his head. Ben let out a long sigh and shook his head beside the boy. The Jedi already knowing where this would be going. Robin watched in amazement with Chrom and Frederick.
"Movement. Constant movement. Especially when facing an opponent physically superior to you." He said to Donnel, "Now then, Lon'qu, line up again."
Ben rubbed his eyes.
Here we go. The Jedi thought with some worry.
"Attack me again, Lon'qu." Dooku drawled, "I want you to observe what you did wrong."
Lon'qu grit his teeth and charged at Dooku. This time, instead of lunging forward with a fast thrust, he raised his blade high overhead. Aiming to bring it down onto Dooku's head. Dooku smirked and stepped swiftly to the side. He let Lon'qu's momentum take him stumbling forward. Dooku then smacked the flat of his blade against Lon'qu's backside.
Chrom, Robin, and the others all uttered light chuckles as Lon'qu hopped up and down for a moment.
"Did you see what you did wrong?" Dooku asked the Feroxi.
Lon'qu took in a deep breath, "I assumed you to be an easy target."
"Partially correct." Dooku replied, "You also assumed your natural talent would outweigh my years of experience. Nothing outweighs experience. You also are using the wrong approach when it comes to facing an unknown opponent. True, you can plow through grunts on the battlefield without much effort. But an opponent who matches you in skill will not crumble so easily. And on the battlefield, you will often not be able to observe how your opponent fights until you face them yourself. Am I correct, Kenobi?"
Ben nodded.
"So, how does one approach such an issue? How do you fight an opponent that may not have your talent but certainly possesses more skill?" Dooku continued, "You take your time fighting them. You dictate the duel, by making them come after you. Kenobi is a master of such tactics."
Dooku nodded at Ben to step forward. Ben let out a long sigh and grabbed his own, practice sword.
"Now, Kenobi is not superior to me when it comes to talent or experience." Dooku explained as Lon'qu stepped out the way and waited alongside Chrom and the others, "And he knows this."
Ben readied himself. He held his weapon with two hands. The blade in front of his body. Ready to parry any attack Dooku made. Dooku took a deep breath.
"As such, he is not going to give me, the more experienced opponent, the advantage of dictating the battle. He will set this engagement on his terms. And in this case, that requires me growing impatient and striking first."
He lunged at Ben. Ben barely moved. Using his wrists to deftly parry Dooku's blade just enough off of the mark to avoid striking him.
"Right there! He has set how he will engage me." Dooku explained as he kept his blade in contact with Ben's, "He plans on dragging this duel out. A smart decision. It allows him time to use his defensive technique in order to find an opening in my own. He used this many times before as well. Against Maul and against another enemy that should have beaten him based on skill and talent alone."
"Anakin." Robin said, understanding who Dooku meant.
"Who?" Chrom asked.
"I'll tell you later." Ben said quickly.
"Yes. You bested Skywalker by outlasting him. You found his weak spot and exploited it. Skywalker was a far superior swordsman to Kenobi." Dooku correctly surmised.
As he spoke, Tharja strode into the training yard. She stopped, somewhat surprised to see Ben out and about. Once she regained her wits, she decided to stand beside Robin.
"You are saying that in order to defeat a superior opponent you have to know and understand them." Robin said.
"Correct." Dooku nodded, "It is very similar to tactics in that regard. And often, when you have poor intelligence, the only way to learn about your opponent is by engaging them. As such, you want to set the rules of engagement and not deviate from them. Kenobi will remain on the defensive until I force him to break from his strategy or until he finds my weakness. In which case, he will exploit that weakness to its fullest extent."
Dooku drew back and nodded to Ben. Ben stepped away.
"Your turn, your majesty." Dooku drawled, looking at Chrom.
Chrom's cheerful face became hyper focused. He stepped out opposite of Dooku and readied himself with his own training blade.
"Dictate the rules of engagement." Dooku reminded him before lunging at Chrom.
Chrom bounced backwards almost immediately. Parrying Dooku's thrust to the side. Dooku pressed forward more. Forcing Chrom to back up until he reached the practice dummies. Once he did that, Dooku slashed at Chrom's shoulder. The Ylissean Prince ducked out of the way and weaved his way behind the dummy. Which deflected another slash from Dooku.
"Very good. You used the environment to determine the way the battle will go. Excellent work."
Dooku drew back and allowed Chrom to come out from his spot behind the dummy.
"Now, what weakness did you see?" Dooku asked Chrom.
Chrom furrowed his brow, "When… when you struck the dummy, the blade did not cut very deep. Your strikes are quick and precise. But they lack power."
Dooku nodded, "A side effect of my own style of combat. You are correct. A robust defense, much like Kenobi's, does decently to counter that. But what else would allow you to take advantage of such a weakness?"
"Press an offensive." Robin blurted out, "If your offensive strikes are weak, then your defensive parries will not be much stronger. If you can be cornered to where you cannot move and must only rely on your defense, then you can be overpowered."
Dooku nodded in approval, "The tactician is correct. Well done." He glanced over at the western wall of the palace. The sun had started to set below it, "I think that is enough for one day. I have a long journey to Themis tomorrow after all."
Chrom smiled and passed his practice sword over to Frederick. The Knight moved to put it away.
"I appreciate the lesson, Dooku." Chrom said.
"And I appreciate students willing to learn. Of which, all of you are." Dooku smiled back, "Shall we go rest for a while?"
Chrom and Robin nodded. Both led the way back to the barracks. Lon'qu, Frederick, and Donnel followed close behind. Though, Donnel cast impressed glances back at Dooku every few steps before entering the barracks. Tharja waited alongside Ben as Dooku set his own practice sword to the side.
"They all have potential." Dooku commented, "I trust you to carry on their lessons, Kenobi."
Ben snorted, "I'm not sure how well my own methods will measure up to one of the greatest swordsmen the Jedi have ever seen."
Dooku rolled his eyes, "And yet you bested me, Kenobi. I think you deserve far more credit than you think." He placed a hand on Ben's shoulder and strode after the others. Leaving Tharja and Ben alone in the training yard.
Tharja clutched her spellbook close to her chest. The dark mage gulped and opened her mouth to speak.
"You told him." Ben breathed.
Tharja cringed. She lowered her gaze. Her dark bangs hiding the guilty look in her eyes.
"It may have slipped out due to my own anger and frustration."
To her shock, Ben reached out to her and lifted her chin up with a gentle hand.
"I'm glad you did." Ben smiled at her, "In his own, odd way, Dooku actually helped a little bit." Ben let out a heavy sigh. He nodded to himself as his hand fell away from Tharja's chin, "I think… it might be time for me to move on from the Jedi order. To move on from my past."
Tharja gave him a soft smile. She reached out and took his hand. As the pair walked to the barracks, Tharja glanced over at the now relieved Jedi.
"I'm happy to hear that."
All of the Shepherds gathered inside of the barracks for the evening. All of them there to hear Ben and his friends recount their crazy adventures over the past year. Unlike the last time all of them were in the same building together, a wild party did not ensue. Much to Ben's relief. He could still feel the lingering effects of that hangover. That being said, Sully and Vaike still demanded a nice, social drink. A keg of beer was opened and Laurent currently stood behind the bar counter, fighting with a bottle of firewine.
Most of the Shepherds sat in stools or chairs near the fireplace. Chrom sat closest to the fire. Lissa sat with Nowi and Ricken on the rug near the fire. Maribelle sat daintily in a chair opposite of Lissa. A small glass of firewine held gently between both of her hands. Dooku sat beside Maribelle and Donnel. In between tales of Ben and Robin's journeys, Dooku whispered about Themis policy with Maribelle. There was much work to do after all. Donnel tried to follow along. But he grew more confused as their conversation progressed.
Kellam, Frederick, and Lon'qu all sat at a picnic table near the bar. The group had mugs of beer in front of them as they listened to the group tell their story. Well, mostly to Gaius and Robin recount the tales of their quest. Ben mostly stayed silent, adding in a detail here and there. He did laugh often as Robin and Giaus mentioned particular events.
Gregor sat with Stahl, Sully, Olivia, and Virion at the bar. The group enjoyed their firewine as they listened in. But occasionally, they broke off into their own conversations. Virion seemed to be busy trying to woo both Sully and Olivia at the same time. Succeeding in making both women red in the face. Though for very different reasons. Sully was close to planting her boot in Virion's gut. Olivia meanwhile, blushed furiously and muttered under her breath some words that no one else could hear.
Cordelia sat with Sumia on a bench near Dooku and Maribelle. Sumia seemed extremely interested both in the group's story and in the politics of Themis. Cordelia meanwhile offered Maribelle her support if she needed help enforcing the law in her corner of the Halidom. Especially since the Themis military had been wiped out by the Plegians. A few squadrons of Pegasus Knights would certainly help keep the area free of roving bandit gangs. Anna excitedly leaned over and talked to Maribelle about getting some trade deals in place. All of them to her advantage of course.
Marth sat alone near the door. She did not appear very interested in the stories. In fact, she actively avoided the others at the moment. Her own mind wrapped up in her own complex worries and thoughts.
Ben sat on a bench across from the fire. Tharja to his right. Robin to his left. Tharja remained silent as the others recounted their version of events. Much to the delight of the entire group. Tharja occasionally piped up to correct a detail or two. But she was content just listening and reminiscing. So much had happened over the past year. It blew her mind now that she heard it all retold.
Chrom could not stop laughing. He paused for a minute to catch his breath than laughed some more with the others.
"So…" Chrom took a breath and chuckled some more. He leaned forward in his seat beside the barrack's fireplace, "So, you found Laurent dying of thirst, staring at the sun?"
"Yes." Gaius nodded.
"This story continues to grow more embarrassing by the telling." Laurent deadpanned.
"Then maybe you should have thought of that when you decided to go into the desert without any water." Gaius replied with a dry laugh.
Laurent popped the cork out of a bottle of firewine, "Your logic is sound, unfortunately."
"Gaius has sound logic?" Ben guffawed, "Are cats and dogs sleeping together?"
"Oh ha ha." Gaius snarked back. He nodded at Laurent as the young scholar passed him a glass of firewine, "I have my moments."
"They're few and far between." Robin smirked with a small laugh.
"Et tu, Bubbles!?" Gaius cried.
The others laughed all around them. Chrom let his head fall back against the back of his seat. He brought his firewine to his lips and took a small sip.
"It sounds like you all had a wild adventure. Going all the way from the southeast Ylisse, to norther Regna Ferox, to Plegia, then all the way to Valm of all places."
Robin nodded, "It was definitely wild."
"But you succeeded right?" Chrom asked, "You found Marth." He furrowed his brow, "Wait a minute, why is there no baby in the barracks?"
Miriel and Vaike, who were helping Laurent behind the bar, both cringed and glanced at each other. Ben chuckled at Chrom.
"Did you find your son or not?" Chrom asked.
Ben let out a slight, weary sigh, "Well, I found Luke. But… he is not my son."
"WHAT!?" Lissa cried.
"What do you mean?" Sumia asked as she and Cordelia whipped their attention over to Ben.
Marth sat upright in her own seat as she strained her own hearing. Intrigued by where this conversation was going.
Ben let out a small sigh, "Well, he may as well have been mine. But I am not his father. I guess I'm more of an uncle."
Chrom gave Ben a shocked look, "Well then, where are his parents? Is he with them?"
Ben shook his head, "Princess Say'ri of Chon'sin is raising him."
Lissa's eyes bugged out of her skull, "You just let her keep him then. You found him with her, and you left him? After all of that effort?"
"Quite a surprising decision." Maribelle nodded.
"I'll say." Donnel remarked, "We were all shocked by it."
"Ok." Chrom took a deep breath and set his glass on a nearby table, "So, you left the boy. Why?" He shook his head, "Just… start from the beginning."
Ben smirked, "Well, we left Ylisstol-"
"Not that beginning!" Lissa cried, "We already know that bit."
Dooku chuckled with Ben as the Princess folded her arms over her chest. Ben took a sip from his glass of firewine then set it down beside him on the bench.
"Well," Ben began. Tharja gave him a concerned glance. She could see how nervous he was to talk about this. He rubbed his palms together and forced himself to continue, "Luke is not my son. He is the son of my apprentice, Anakin Skywalker."
"Where is he?" Chrom asked.
"Where is his mother?" Sumia followed up.
Ben's faced saddened, "Both of them are dead." He uttered a heavy sigh, "Anakin was the traitor that helped destroy the Jedi Order." The room fell eerily silent, "He would have harmed even more people too had I not confronted and… killed him." Ben swallowed hard, "Luke's mother, Padme, tried to help me stop Anakin. But he turned on her as well. As a result, she died in childbirth."
Sumia visibly blanched. Recalling her own painful experience with childbirth. Chrom closed his eyes and let out a long breath.
"I am so sorry to hear that." Chrom said.
Ben shook his head, "You have nothing to apologize for." He took another shaky breath, "Anyways, she died. I was the closest thing to family the boy had at that point. Myself, and Grandmaster Yoda both agreed that I should be the one to take care of him."
"But you lost him at some point?" Lissa asked puzzled.
Ben nodded, "While traveling away from the Jedi Temple we were… attacked." Ben chose his words very carefully. Tharja noticed and reached for his hand. Giving it a reassuring squeeze, "In the chaos, I lost Luke. And I did not know who took him or where he went. I started searching, and that is when I ran into you guys."
Chrom nodded, "And then a new crazy adventure started for you."
"Precisely." Ben said with a small laugh. He ran a hand over his mouth.
"What was Anakin like?" Marth asked, "Before he… you know."
"I'm not sure that's a good question to ask right now." Sumia frowned.
"No, no. Marth's fine." Ben replied with a small wave of his hand, "Anakin… Anakin was… well the best to describe him is, he was Anakin. I don't think you would ever meet a more headstrong or confident boy ever. Before I lost him to the Dark Side of the Force, he was like a brother to me. We fought side by side in many battles. I trusted him with my life. He was so powerful and brave. And he cared deeply for those he loved." Ben pursed his lips, "Unfortunately, that own care led to his downfall. He was manipulated by someone we all called friend. That love he held was twisted into… something hideous. Which led him down the path he went."
Ben sniffled a little.
"I wish I could have helped him more." Ben breathed, "But… he chose his path. And I had to stop him before he destroyed more people. In the end, I did what I had to." He glanced at Dooku, "And in the end, that horrible event led me to all of you." He smiled at the other Shepherds, "I can't really regret my decision now."
The others raised their glasses and gave him broad smiles. Ben grinned and raised his own glass. He took a quick sip then gulped.
"If you'll excuse me." He breathed.
He got up and moved to the barracks exit. He needed air. Even though he felt like he could finally open up about Anakin, it still hurt to talk about. He could still feel sorrow and regret lance through his heart as he recalled that memory. It was not as sharp as before. But it was still there. That pain might forever be there.
But it would not rule him. It would not consume his life. As Ben stepped out into the night air and glanced up at the full moon in the clear sky, he recalled his conversation with Dooku. As much as he loathed to admit it, Dooku was right. The old Sith Lord was still capable of great wisdom. Perhaps his perception regarding the fallen Jedi Master was incorrect.
The barracks door shut quietly behind him. Ben sensed Tharja step beside him.
"Ben?" He glanced over at her, "Are you alright?"
Ben gave her a small smile, "I'm fine. Just-" He took a deep breath, "Still processing it all."
Tharja nodded, "I can see that." Ben turned to face her, "But you aren't grieving anymore. So… that is a step in the right direction."
Ben smiled down at her, "And that is thanks to you. I- I don't think I ever properly thanked you, now that I think about it. You helped me through my memories, my past. Without any guarantee of reward or even me promising you knowledge."
Tharja chuckled, "Well… I might have expected to gain some knowledge at some point. But… I got a better reward in the end."
Tharja's heart hammered in her chest. She felt a feeling that felt… strange. It was not foreign to her. She had felt it before. Although, it had never felt this real before. Love potions could never truly replicate this feeling she had in her heart at the moment.
Ben had been more of a friend to her than anyone else in the Shepherds. Sure, it was Chrom, Marth, and Robin that initially accepted her into their ranks. But it was Ben who saw her as more than a Plegian dark mage. Saw beyond the Grimleal cape over her shoulders and the dark tome in her arms. From the first moment they spoke, he saw her good side. He may have been nervous about her at first. Any smart person was. But he never feared her. He accepted her. Cherished her even.
Was this really that feeling?
"Oh?" Ben smiled back, "Do tell."
Tharja blushed a little bit, "Well… I- erm- you see- um," She chuckled a little, "Huh… how to go about this?"
Ben's eyes widened in surprise as Tharja leaned up and pecked his lips with hers. Her eyes were closed for the briefest of moments as she pulled back from him.
She opened her eyes again and saw the stunned look in his eyes.
Curses and damnation! Did she just make a mistake? Had she gone too far? Maybe this was not the feeling she thought it was. Perhaps she just ate something bad. An ill thought ran through her mind. Did the Headmaster poison her? Her cheeks heated up and she uttered a nervous chuckle.
"Um so I-"
Ben gently brushed her cheek and leaned in. Their lips brushed for the briefest of moments. Tharja was the one surprised this time. Her eyes shot wide before she finally melted into the kiss. It only lasted a couple seconds. But to her, it lasted for an eternity.
Ben took a breath and gave her a crooked smile as their foreheads pressed together.
"I um…" Ben gulped, "I think that is how you go about it."
Tharja laughed quietly. She gave him a small nod.
"I guess so."
"Hey Benny!"
The door to the barracks opened. Gaius stepped out. The thief oblivious to the scene in front of him at first.
"So, Bubbles and I are arguing over who exactly saved who in that big sandstorm. And we wanted… your…" It started to sink in for the thief, "opinion…"
He stared wide eyed at Tharja and Ben. Their faces still extremely close together. Wide smiles running away from their faces as Gaius's jaw fell open.
"Gaius…" Ben said with warning.
Gaius twirled around and threw open the door.
"Bubbles! You owe me a chocolate cake!"
"WHAT!?" Robin cried from the inside.
Gaius smirked back at the blushing pair behind him.
"I called it." Gaius chuckled before he quickly scampered into the barracks just before Tharja could finish casting a hex.
Ben uttered a soft laugh as cries of shock and surprise, as well as cheers, broke out from inside of the barracks common room. He glanced over at the furiously blushing dark mage.
"I never realized you were such a romantic." Ben teased, "Stealing a kiss under the full moon and all."
"Be careful. Or I'll hex you too." Tharja muttered as she sank her face behind her spell book.
Ben chuckled and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Fingers gently brushing her skin as they both returned to their friends. As the entered the barracks once again, Ben smirked over at her.
"No you won't."
And chapter! THE TEASING IS DONE! It is now official folks. Your welcome. Ben and Tharja are just too much fun together for this not to happen. Such an odd pairing that somehow worked far better than even I could have hoped for. I hope it has turned out well so far.
And it looks like Ben is finally starting to move on. Finally starting to accept the help of his friends… and old enemies surprisingly enough. This was such a fun chapter to write. A nice peacetime chapter with massive character moments that I just adored! Ah! This story is so much fun to write!
Anyways, let me know what you all think of this chapter! As always, I hope you all enjoyed! Have a nice day!