Chapter 8

The Queen Mother Steps In

It had been nearly four months since Tyan had been home and he was miserable, and it showed greatly.

"He hardly eats or sleeps, he just sits in the garden or his study and Annora and I are worried for him, we've tried to talk to him but he won't listen to either of us, he's been like this since he returned from Coruscant." Nikalarn said as he paced about his elderly mother's room.

"I'll speak with him Nicky, don't worry my son." Ledell said calming her only child.

"Thank you mama." Nikalarn said in relief as he embraced his mother.

"You're welcome Nicky." Ledell said hugging him.

It was early evening when a knock was heard on the door of Tyan's study and the soft rustling of dress skirts as someone entered.

"I told you I don't want to talk mother." Tyan said in irritation.

"Well how about evening tea with your old grandma then." Ledell said setting a tray down on the table.

"I could never miss Sunday evening tea with my gran." Tyan said with a smile as he got up and helped her into a chair then took his seat again as Ledell poured them both a cup of tea.

"Who is she?" Ledell asked gently after awhile.

"Who is who?" Tyan asked.

"The owner of the lovely ribbon you keep fingering, she must mean a great deal to you, I've never seen you without it since you came home." Ledell said.

Tyan looked into the understanding green eyes of his grandmother, she was always able to calm his fears. She was a sweet woman with warm and comforting eyes, her once dark hair now snowy silver white from age.

"Her name is Tana, she has beautiful green eyes and long golden brown hair, she's human, I saw her outside, she was singing and she sang so wonderfully she's so beautiful. I miss so much, when I was with her, it was like I found something that I had been looking for." Tyan said.

"She's your missing half. It's said that when we are born into this world we are missing a piece of our souls, that is why we come out of the womb crying, because our souls aren't complete, we're given someone elses missing piece, and they in turn receive ours, she is your missing half and you are hers." Ledell said.

"I know, I want to spend my life with her, I just don't know if she wants the same." Tyan sighed

"She will, now go see your princess." Ledell said smiling as she watched Tyan leave eagerly.

Tana looked out at the court yard from where she sat on a stone bench and sighed.

"He's not coming back, he's probably already forgotten me." she said to herself as she fingered the pendant about her neck, she hadn't taken it of since he left.

"It's hard to forget someone as wonderful as you." someone said. Tana's head shot up, there in the entry of the senate building stood Tyan. "I told you I'd be back for you."

Tana shot from her seat and ran to him tears streaming down her cheeks as heheld her close

"You came back..." Tana murmured stroking the soft tan fur of his cheek.

"I told you, you're my other half, I'm never going to leave you again." Tyan said. "Come live with me. Come back to Bothawui with me."

"I'd like nothing more than to go with you, but it's so far from here, and I'd miss my uncle and the others." Tana said.

"It's not very far from here it's only a four day flight from here, and you can come back to visit any time you like." Tyan replied.

"Promise?" Tana asked, looking up at him.

"Promise." Tyan said.