Chapter 9

The sun peeked out from the tops of the high trees. The small hut was filled with the smells of the forest and the gentle rays from the morning sun. Mallie cradled her son against her chest while she starred out admiring these peaceful moments in her life. Spending the last few months with her child and husband by her side her life was complete. Her small child cooed in her arms, she kissed his soft brown hair and his eyelids began to droop. Mallie held him tighter in her arms rocking slowly from side to side, he was her most precious treasure, and soon he was sleeping peacefully within the safety of her arms. She carefully placed him in the wooden cradle at the edge of her bed. She just watched her son Galen sleep, placed a warm hand against his cheek, kissed him and then made her way to the front of her house.

Kento was sitting on the ledge of the small deck that wound its way around the Marek home. He breathed in the clean crisp air. He was grateful. Grateful for his family, for their safety, and the promise of a peaceful future. Sometimes when Kento was alone with his thoughts he couldn't feel guilty for his life. His former master was dead and his brother, Galen, was dead and Kento's heart grew heavy but instantly vanished when a warm hand grazed the back of his neck. He looked up into the angelic face of his wife. He took her hand and kissed it gently. She sat down beside him and he placed his protective arms around her waist, she then tilted her head to rest on his shoulder. They remained this way taking in the small stolen moments of comfort they both never thought they could have.

She eventually got up and stretched as she had a long journey ahead of her today. She needed to go to the markets. Kento grabbed her hand and got up to his feet. A slight breeze rustled Mallie's hair; Kento tucked it back behind her ear.

"Don't go. Stay."

"I'll be back soon love," she replied looking into the tenderness in her husband's eyes. Sometimes this tenderness made her soul burn, "You think you can handle Galen by yourself today?" He nodded as he gave a half smile. Mallie began to make her way down the steps, to the small dirt path that disappeared into the woods, but Kento grabbed her hand once more and held her close to him for a moment before kissing her gently. She smiled and soon she disappeared into the woods.

It was taking too long. She should have been back by now. Something must be wrong. Kento paced around the crudely carved table. Calm yourself Kento, he thought. His mind often went to the worst-case scenarios. Visions of Darkness still invaded his dreams, and once again he had been unable to protect that young man, he now knew was his son. He walked into his bedroom. His son was still sleeping undisturbed. Mallie told him that Galen looked just like him but he thought their son was more like her as he had the same warmth that Mallie held. He left the room and continued pacing.

His hands suddenly gripped the table his fingerprints created indents. Kento couldn't breathe. He felt her. She was fading. Kento couldn't move it was as if he had been hit with a large steel block and iciness flowed from his head down until it seeped to the floor.

Mallie.

He ran, overturning the table in his wake. He raced out the door preparing to get to his wife. He stopped abruptly; he couldn't leave, as he had made a promise to Mallie. He couldn't leave his son alone and unguarded. His heart quickened and he felt more helpless than he had ever in his life. He walked back into his home, every step felt like a betrayal, he just sat on the floor, waiting and trying to connect to his wife's trace but his efforts were fruitless.

A large Wookie arrived to the Marek home, along with a man he and Mallie had befriended in the markets. The Wookie was carrying the small still form of his wife. Kento took her from him and crumpled to the floor.

"What happened?" he demanded, stroking his wife's face. Neither of them could answer, as the ability to speak seemed to evade them at that moment. They just stood by silently observing a man's life fall apart in his arms.

"Kento?..."

Mallie opened her eyes weakly and tried to give him what she thought was a reassuring smile but instead coughed up a small amount of blood. Kento eyed the damage; he could feel her life force waning. She was growing weaker and weaker with every moment that passed by. Her hands were clutched at her upper chest. He forced out a strong voice, he couldn't let her know how bad her situation really was,

"Let me see." She lifted her hands from her chest, they were covered in blood, her blood, and her robes were soaked in it. Kento could see that this was a mortally fateful wound. He choked out a sob, and held her tighter. Galen started crying in the bedroom and the sound wafted into the room matching Kento's pain.

Mallie placed her right hand against his cheek, smearing his cheek with her blood soaked fingers, her green eyes searched his tear filled ones, he placed his own hand on top of hers. She coughed again and her breath came out in sharp painful gasps. She was struggling to breathe. He leaned down to kiss her cheek, Galen wailed louder.

"Kento," she was able to gasp out into his ear, "Take care of Galen. Keep him in the light. Protect him, please." Kento gulped,

"Mallie, I promise."

"Tell him, when he's older, that I will always be with him, and that I love him".

"I will" he couldn't stop the tears that fell from his face.

"I….." she struggled to find the energy to finish her sentence, she had to let him know, "…love you Kento…so…don't…cry…" He watched her green eyes lose their luster as they closed and her hand slipped from his face. Her life force was suddenly snuffed out. Kento began to rock in place, holding his wife's form. He kissed her cheek, her forehead calling for her to come back but she didn't.

Galen's cries grew louder.