CeeKay: "Dearest Madam"? Now who's blushing horribly?
Hehe… both of us?
I loved Mara's mental battle.
It was really fun to write, it just… was so… delightful! And easy.
They way you've been writing her throughout the story is pure genius, but especially this chapter. I can't quite put my finger on what it is, but you've really put the readers inside her head. I could feel what she felt - and that's all one can ask of a writer.
…I love you CeeKay. You make me glow sooo badly!
I can't wait to read the next chapter!
Well, actually you can, cause I haven't put anything up since… holy crap… uh, 6ish months. So. Ahem. Moooooooooving on. Here t'is!
Ristin: Sorry I haven't reviewed in a while, but I had a bad case of writer's block and a migraine that lasted an entire week... OUCH!
Oh no! I am so sorry, hon! gives hugs
I just read your lastest two chapters and I just had to drop a note and tell you, you've still got it!
Thank you so much! Reviews make the world go 'round…… well, my world anyways. ;)
The little Solos' were soo cute, but Leia's anger kind of confused me. Does she not like Mara, she seemed to earlier. That was the only thing that got me, everything else was perfect, as usual.
Ah, ah, ah… did I say Leia liked Mara? Nooo, Leia just didn't feel threatened. Leia DISPISES Mara. don't worry, I'll explain more in about five chapters…
Luke is such a kid in this chapter, and I like him that way!
He's a farmboy! Not a hermit! He trips and falls and gets embarrassed. That's our precious Lukie.
And I liked Mara's inter conflict, very well written! Then again, all of this story is very well written.
Hehe, that seems to be a reoccurring favorite.
Ristin, huh? Now that's one none of my friends have come-up with ((Amazing, and there's so many things they came up with))! I still love this story, keep up the excellent work!
thank you! I've tried, and I hope you enjoy the results, Dearest. ((Amazing, no? beams))
Jedi-lover: I changed my mind, Mara does not need Prozac...she needs somebody to smack her upside the head.
chokes Ahahahahahah!
"Get control of yourself woman!" Thwack
"Stop wallowing in your insipid melancholy!"
chokes Mara…. getting thwacked…. AHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA!
This seems like hormone produced depression. She is not pregnant, is she?
She wasn't before you made that comment… giggles evilly
Good job. This story is interesting in a depressing kind of way. ;)
Ohhh, you have no idea. My boyfriend broke up with me and fell in love with a little mauve haired bitch a week later – their first date was on OUR anniversary – er, anyways, the point behind that is that I wrote about four chapters under that mood so it gets kinda bad.
I will keep you to your word that this will have a happy ending. I hope this doesn't end up like that movie 'Sommersby' with Richard Gene. Love story my arse! I was so depressed at the ending of that film that I am still mad 10 years later.
0o… Uh… well, I think it's happy! Mara ends up with the right guy and all the bad guys get squished! So… happy ending? But it's a little complicated so I don't know if you'll fully agree with the whole "happy ending". Er, I hope you will.
ANYWAYS! On… with chapter six…
Chapter Six
almost a year later
Mara spun in a tightly controlled circle, reaching out with the Force to sense where the bolts from the last of twelve training probes would strike at her. A blindfold was tied around her eyes, and plugs in her ears deprived her of two of the most basic senses that a human was born with, yet the Jedi-trainee didn't misstep once. Her brilliant phoenix colored hair was braided around her head to keep it out of the sweeping blade of her lightsaber.
The Force filled Mara's mind, whispering the future to her, showing her the attacks before they occurred and she reacted perfectly, turning the blasts away with a grace that was undeniable.
-----
"She's beautiful," Luke breathed and Kam didn't even bother to try to hide the ironic smile on his face.
"Her technique isn't half bad either," Kam said, clapping Luke on the shoulder. "I agree with your assessment. She's ready for the trials."
Tionne spoke up softly, her silver eyes pensive. "She would've been ready a lot sooner then now if you had just let her go on missions more often."
"If there had been any missions suited to her, I would've." Luke said dreamily, staring distractedly at his wife.
"The only mission you've let her go on was one to accompany Lando on a presumably 'dangerous' mission, and that was to one of the damnedest pacifistic worlds ever, man! She came back with close to half a million credits from that one too." Kam laughed.
Luke had the decency to blush. "I just don't want anything to happen to her."
"I know," Kam said in a quieter voice, knowing that Luke was thinking about the near-fatal accident that Mara had been in the year before. "You're going to have to learn to let Mara go, you know. She's not the kind to take protecting very well. In fact I'm amazed at how easily she took the restrictions you put on her as is."
Luke smiled roguishly. "I just told her that it was standard procedures for Jedi trainees."
"And she believed you?" Tionne stared at Luke, her mouth gaping open a bit.
"Why shouldn't she have?" Luke blinked.
Tionne just shook her head and didn't even bother trying to argue with him. "Men," she muttered under her breath.
"Yes darling?" Kam asked teasingly, reaching out to grab Tionne by the waist and pull her onto his lap. "Did you say something?"
"No," Tionne said innocently. "What ever gave you that idea?"
"Oh I don't know," Kam trailed off, leaning his forehead against hers. Tionne slid her hands into Kam's hair and leaned in to kiss him…
Luke left the room in a hurry.
-----
Mara was pacing outside the sparring arena, a towel thrown lazily over her shoulder that she used occasionally to mop the sweat off her forehead. Despite the grueling five-hour workout she had just completed, she wasn't tired. If anything, she was energized. It was nervous energy albeit, but energy nonetheless.
What will they say? Mara wondered. Will they say I'm ready for my trials? Or will they make another excuse? I don't blame them if they do... I'm still not much of a success. Which they'll prove if they don't let me take my trials. Force, if you had told me a year ago that becoming a Jedi would become the most important thing to me in the sithspawned universe, I'd have killed you...
A different, far-too-familiar-for-comfort voice in her mind whispered, It's only important to you because it's means to the end. The end where you will actually be a person that Luke could love. That's what you want, isn't it?
...Where in Kessl's name are they? Mara refused to acknowledge the voice. Are they going to tell me I'm still a failure? Or maybe they'll say I'm 'almost ready'. That would hurt almost as much as not being ready for the trials. Shavit, why haven't they contacted me yet! I've been out of the salle for almost a quarter of an hou-
Her sleek comlink shrieked and Mara Skywalker spun around, her heart suddenly racing. Her green eyes were wide with surprise as she crossed over to her pile of things by the salle door and stooped to pick up the comlink and flick it on. Some Jedi you are, Mara thought chagrined at herself. Your bloody comlink scared you...
"Skywalker here," Mara said shallowly, calming herself down till her heartbeat was normal.
"Apprentice Skywalker, this is Master Kam. You are to appear before the Council in half an hour, is that understood?" Kam Solusar's smooth voice was emotionless but still Mara's heart sped up with excitement.
"I understand, Master. I'll be there."
"Good." Kam's voice hid a slight smirk. "We'll see you then."
The comlink went dead in Mara's hand but she could hardly keep from jumping up with glee. Finally the pain was at an end.
Mara was no longer a failure.
-----
Luke Skywalker was waiting for Mara in their quarters at the end of the day, a smile on his face that made the entire room light up with happiness. He was standing next to a low table, spread with a simple meal and illuminated by three small candles. In his hands he held two exquisitely blown glass goblets filled with dark wine.
Mara dropped her bag by the door and walked into the main room and promptly stopped dead when she saw what her husband had arranged for her. Her tired face melted into a rueful smile. "Hey farmboy," Mara drawled softly, walking towards him.
"Hello Mara." Luke offered her one of the goblets. Mara accepted.
"I have one more mission," Mara confessed. "Then it's my trials they said."
"A mission?" Luke suddenly frowned. "They didn't mention any mission to me – what are they sending you out for?"
"A planet called 'Bandomeer'. There's a rebel terrorist group called Dreamcry that sprung up in the Outer Rim seemingly overnight. They have control over five planetary systems, but Bandomeer seems to be their home base. They were noticed by the NRI about a month ago. All agents sent in to investigate Dreamcry have ended up missing so they've approached the Jedi for help with this several times…" Mara trailed off.
"…But we've declined. Who gave the order to cooperate with them?" Luke asked in amazement. Jedi involvement with Dreamcry was the last thing he wanted to have happen – Leia knew that! Why would she let the Senate bully the Council into it? Why hadn't he been alerted?
"Jedi Knight Organa-Solo." Mara admitted, eyeing the glass in her hand with interest.
"Leia can't do that," Luke said in a stunned voice. "She wouldn't. She knows how important noninvolvement in this case is to me…"
"Kam said that it was a last ditch resort," Mara shrugged and handed the untouched wine back to Luke. "I'll be right back, Luke. I have to go get cleaned up."
Luke watched Mara walk away from him, her mind untroubled by the mission ahead of her – and he wondered if the sudden stab of fear was a warning from the Force to not let her out of his sight.