HOMECOMING

By: DuchessKenobi

Dalla's trip south was an echo of this precious voyage made by her aunt.

…

Despite the ship being Marlon's fastest, and he assured Shara that it was, the journey up the river seemed to take forever. Her father was dying and she couldn't get to him fast enough. She had made use of the ship's comm room three times a day to check his condition with the med center and if he wasn't resting she assured him that she was on her way, that she was getting closer, that she was almost there.

When she wasn't doing that she was at the ship's rail watching the river bank for any familiar landmarks. She knew they were nearly there when she finally looked up the hill and saw the ranch house high on the bank. She practically skipped along the rail from stem to stern as they passed by it to keep it in view.

She was watching it slip out of sight behind them, Lana came to stand beside her. "What is that place?" she asked.

Shara smiled, encouraged by the proximity to their goal. "It's Brem's. Where he and Mel lived, when she was alive. I know he'll let us stay there while we're in the city. Once I've seen my father I'll go and ask him."

Lana placed a gentle hand on her arm. "I'm not sure that will be a good idea."

"Well it's not ideally close to the med center, I'll admit. But it is a big house and it's mostly empty and I'm sure Bremon won't mind and that way I won't have to go back to..."

"Shara, it was with this Bremon that you were accused of…"

"But we didn't. You know that. I told you. Brem's like my brother. I don't think of him that way. I never have." Shara was close to tears.

Lana pulled her into a hug. "I believe you, but I must ask." She paused to make sure that Shara was paying attention and understood the gravity of what she had to say. "When you swore your loyalty to House Blackwell you mentioned that your family had traditionally declared for the House of Kira. When you spoke to Sanjay on the comm he said they had searched Kira's place for you. Is your friend Bremon…"

"Bremon Kira, yes that's his name but why should that matter?" Shara asked.

Marlon had come over to join them and he answered amazed. "Oh ho, it matters!"

"What my husband is so delicately trying to say is that your friend is not just A Kira. He must be the very last Kira."

"But what does that have to do with me? Sanjay is the last of his family too. That's why they…" her eyes grew wide with horror. "That's why they were in such a hurry for Sanjay to have an heir."

"And though I'm sure it was never your intention," Lana goes on to explain. "There are those who will believe that you would rather provide an heir for another house."

"We understand that's not what you were thinking of." Marlon added gently. "And we will stand with you, Shara."

"But it's not going to be pleasant." Shara wiped away a tear. "That's what you're saying. If I try to break away from them, they're going to drag my name in the dirt. I should never have gotten your family involved. I'm so sorry…"

"But we're your family now." Marlon announced. " We're not going to let you go through this alone."

"He's right," Lana agreed. "You've pledged yourself to House Blackwell and we've named you as godmother of our daughter."

"Is that what… when I held Dalla before the salt god and repeated those words…" Shara asked amazed.

Marlon laughed. "Of course it's not truly official unless you've been baptized yourself. But we can take care of that when we get back and when you're ready of course."

"When we get back…" Shara whispered.

"First thing's first, though." Lana brought them back to task. "It would probably be better not to make contact with your friend Bremon while we're here, at least not to initiate a meeting. I know how much you'd like to visit with him and if he comes to see about your father, we'll deal with that when it happens. But until then we won't give your in-laws any more fuel."

Shara swallowed and nodded, steeling herself for what was to come. They were nearly to the city now, she knew, even though she couldn't see the wall or the buildings through the trees. Then all too soon they rounded a bend and what passed for a port came into view.

She never had any memory of seeing the docks bustling with so much activity. There were militiamen lined up in their spotless uniforms and they seemed to be hampering the regular work of the day to day fishermen and porters. Shara wondered what might be the cause for all the fuss. That is until she noticed the banner that was flying over the center of the proceedings, the red field and the black serpent.

She thought she might be sick. "They're here for me," she nearly choked.

Lana took hold of her elbow to steady her. "It will be alright. Marlon and I are right beside you."

But as the boat docked and the ramp was lowered, there was a great confusion. Suddenly Shara was surrounded by people and she lost sight of both of the Blackwells.

She was swept up in a desperate embrace and something was being clasped around her throat. It wasn't tight enough to choke her but she still felt as if she couldn't breathe. Especially when Sanjay pressed his lips against hers.

She struggled to push him away, gasping for air.

"Shara, my love!" Sanjay exclaimed. "You've returned to me. We've all been so worried."

She stuttered, hand going to the necklace, wanting to rip it off. "I- I told you. I…"

And then he was wrapping something else around her shoulders, his cloak. He hadn't had a cloak with him on the day they said their vows.

"Everything is going to be fine now. I'm going to make it right." He whispered against her hair.

She tried to shrug the cloak away but he tightened his grip on her shoulders so that she was unable to do so. "Sanjay, I don't…"

He cut her short again, "You're tired. A good night's sleep, in your own bed, that's all you need."

A fire lit her eyes as she looked up at him, anger beginning to replace her apprehension. "Your bed, you mean!"

He looked honestly hurt. "Our marriage bed, my love."

"Sanjay, I told you I…" but she was halted from her tirade once again.

Dane Bonteri, dressed in his full uniform, flanked on each side by officers, bowed crisply to the couple. "Mrs Rash, it is good to see that you have returned safe and sound to the capital. My men are here to escort you to your father."

"Yes, thank you, Lieutenant." She nodded gratefully. "I'd like to see him as soon as possible."

Sanjay scoffed. "That will hardly be necessary. Now that we have been reunited, I am perfectly capable of accompanying my wife…"

Dane cut him off coldly. "A military escort will see her to the med center much faster."

Just then a banner with a black ship sailing across a blue field appeared behind the Lieutenant, and with it Shara was relieved to see the Blackwells coming to join the conversation. Lana was at her side in an instant, taking in the cloak and the necklace.

She threw Sanjay a disbelieving scowl and then turned back to Shara. "Are you alright? I'm sorry we were separated."

"I'm fine," Shara managed. "Dane is going to give me a military escort to see my father."

Both Blackwells turned to face the Lieutenant and greeted him respectfully. Then Marlon foregoing formality thrust his hand out to shake the other man's. "You must be Bonteri. Can't tell you how glad we are that Shara's still got friends down here in the capital."

"Now hold on there!" Sanjay took hold of Shara's upper arm and drew her closer to himself possessively. "Shara has plenty of friends in the city. She is a Lady of the great House of Rash. Her children will be…"

"What children?" Lana glared at him and then turned away completely ignoring him.

Shara wrenched her arm free, "May I introduce Lord Marlon and Lady Lana Blackwell. My Lord and Lady this is, Lieutenant Dane Bonteri and…" she added, somewhat more reserved. "And my husband, Sanjay Rash."

"What is this?" Sanjay spun her around to face him. "They aren't your Lord and Lady. Your loyalty is to your husband's house and family."

"I don't really want to have this conversation right here and now," Shara insisted. "And I don't think you do either." She faced the others but she couldn't quite look anyone in the eye. "I'd like to go and see my father now."

"Of course." Dane gestured toward the waiting speeder that would take her to the med center. He held out his hand politely to assist her into it but before she could take hold of that hand, Sanjay none too gently pushed him aside and helped her up into the speeder himself. Then her husband stepped up into the seat beside her and shut the door behind them.

"Go on! To the med center! Lady Shara wishes to see her father!" He called up to the driver. The driver looked helplessly to the Lieutenant who gave a nod of grudging acceptance, though his jaw was clenched tight with anger.

As they rode through the city streets, Sanjay took her hand. "Shara, I thought I had lost you," he breathed fervently.

"Who says you haven't?" She tried to pull her hand away but he wouldn't let go.

"I didn't tell Mother what you said about… about wanting a…"

"A divorce?"

He winced at the word. "Shara, I'll make it up to you. I'll give you anything you want."

She remembered the cloak around her shoulders and tried to shrug it off. "I don't want anything from you, Sanjay. There's… there's nothing you can give me…"

"We'll find a way." He reached up to stroke her face. "I'm told some couples try for years before they're able to…"

"Sanjay!" She grabbed his hand and shoved it away. "I don't want to talk about this. My father is…"

"Surely it would bring him comfort to know he has a grandchild on the way before…"

"But there is no child, Sanjay! And I don't believe there ever will be." She turned her face away from him sadly. It had been all she wanted a few months ago, to give her husband a son to carry on his name. Now she couldn't bear the idea of his touch.

"You believe that curse Kira's uncle called down on my family?" he asked clenching his fist.

"No." Shara wasn't sure what she believed. Maybe she could believe in those salt gods the Blackwells told her about. Thinking of them reminded her of Jamos and she clamped her eyes shut trying not to give into her daydream. "I - I don't want my … marriage to be solely based on producing an heir."

"Shara, it's not only…"

She interrupted him. "Are we even legally married? There were no family witnesses." She succeeded in getting the cloak off and leaning back on it in such a way that he couldn't draw it back over her.

"And I said I would make it up to you." He insisted. "While your father still hangs on to life, we have the opportunity to make things right."

The speeder stopped and Shara didn't wait for her husband to stand and help her out. She pushed past him. "After what you… I can't think of anything that would make things right."

She rushed in through the med center doorway and a droid came to her side to lead her to the room as if it had been expecting her. Thank the gods Dane seemed to have commed ahead to let them know she was coming.

They entered a lift and as the doors closed she saw Sanjay rushing after her. She said to the droid, "Please see to it that my father and I are not disturbed."

"Yes, mistress."

…

Thank you to Starwarshobbitfics and Johnt12345 for your reviews. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to check out the forum.