Nothing Without Peril

[Ralaa Talus]

Andara - Early Morning.

Silas’ kiss lingered on her lips long after he had left for the bridge. Ralaa sat, for a moment before she pushed herself to her feet. The child he had left behind still slumbered peacefully in a chair near the door. He must have been exhausted to have slept the entire trip and she didn’t want to wake him. However, she was sure Francis and Olivia would be eager to embrace him considering the peril he had endured. She was eager to embrace her own children; though they were not biologically her own, she had grown to love them over the past few months, more than she had anticipated.

”Rise child, for the sun does not wait. You are home on Andara and I know your Mother and Father are patiently awaiting your return.” She ran a gentle hand through his hair, watching as he stirred. His thick curls reminded her of her own untamed hair as a child and Ralaa could not help but to smile at him. He gazed up at her, eyes bright and full of life.

”You’re okay, miss?” He asked in a sheepish tone, standing to his feet as he spotted again her bloodied dress. Her disheveled appearance seemed to alarm him, but Ralaa nodded and smiled kindly.

”Yes, I will be alright. Now come, let’s get you to the bridge to see Silas. I’m sure he will be glad to see that you’re awake.” Ralaa took his hand and the two of them made slow pace towards the front of the ship where Silas stood, manning the controls.

The early morning sun broke through the window, illuminating his dark locks of hair. He brought the ship down near the cabin so that Ralaa could change before they made their journey back to Francis’ estate.

“Perhaps while you wait, you can pick your mother a beautiful bouquet of wild flowers.” She suggested to the boy, guiding him towards Silas with a gentle hand pressed against his back.

 

[Silas Rin]

"Home Sweet Home." he said turning back towards the doorway after the ship had touched down. He was tired but it wouldn't be much longer now and he could rest. The boy instantly started talking to Silas as soon as he neared him. Apparently, they had bonded over their escape from Leria. He tousled the boy's hair and turned him towards the exit ramp. He grinned at Ralaa, brushing her shoulder with his as they passed.

They exited out into the cool morning air, grass still wet with morning dew. It would get hot soon, but for now, it was pleasant. Silas moved slowly, leaning on his staff when he could. He kept up with the boy, occasionally answering a question or acknowledging the boy's rambling conversation.

He helped the boy pick a handful of wildflowers that grew in a meadow near the cabin. Silas picked a few as well before they made their way back towards the cabin. He handed the second bunch of flowers to the boy "Give these to Ralaa when we get back to the cabin." he said as they neared the small home. The small child wasn't exactly gentle with the flowers, petals falling off occasionally as they walked.

As they approached, Ralaa was just exiting the cabin, bloodied dress replaced with new clothes. The boy ran up to her and shoved the flowers towards her "These are few you." he said, giggling before stepping back. Silas, lagging someone what behind finally caught up. "We ready to go?" he asked

 

[Ralaa Talus]

The air was cool, the sun still low in the sky as morning broke over the horizon. It was strange that such a short distance between two worlds could mean the difference between day and night on where one rested, the other awoke to the same bright sun. However, she doubted Dexter Aldari or his men would be doing much resting considering the state of disrepair his home had been in after their less than graceful escape. Despite that, Ralaa was quite happy to be home on Andara and missed only the sound of childrens laughter which she hoped would soon fill their lives again as they finished their dealings with Francis and Olivia.

Pushing open the door to their small cabin, she was greeted by their child who wasted no time in shoving a bouquet of flowers against her abdomen with the brightest of smiles. The petals were wilted due to his handling of them, but still she plucked the most beautiful of them and placed them in her hair, returning his smile. "They are lovely. Thank you." The rest she held in her hand as she looked out across the path to Silas who came in behind him. The limp from his own injuries had seemed to progress and she made a mental note that she'd have to persuade him to let her bandage it later.

"I suppose it wouldn't be fair to leave Francis and Olivia waiting any longer." Ralaa chuckled, reaching out her hand for him as he approached the steps to their cabin. Later they would return to finish their conversation from earlier, but for now they had one last step to complete their mission. Her fingers wrapped around his and she held out her other hand, with the bouquet of flowers to the boy so that they may walk hand-in-hand towards the speeder that would deliver them to the estate.

"I don't suppose there will be any time left for dancing. Don't forget what you promised me, Silas Rin." She beamed a smile, nuding him gently as they walked.

 

[Silas Rin]

"We are probably just a little late, but I would never dream of forgetting." he said as they climbed in the speeder.

Silas was quiet on the short speeder ride. Now that it was over, now that they were safe, he was left with a twinge of anger at having been put in this situation. He would have helped regardless, but he wouldn't allow them to be used like pawns in some twisted game of chess noblemen played.

Had he made a mistake coming here? Was he naive to think there was anywhere he could go in the Galaxy without someone doing whatever possible to take advantage of him. He tapped his finger on the center console of the speeder anxiously as he allowed those thoughts to pull on him.

He glanced over at Ralaa, who laughed at something the boy had said in the backseat. The scene felt surreal. They had risked everything but had come out on top this time, perhaps that was enough. He let himself smile at her, seeing the wind gently blowing her flower-dotted hair pulled him from his frustration.

It was not long before they reached the mansion where this had all began the night before. The two worried parents pacing on the front steps. They rushed towards them as Silas placed the boy on the ground. Silas stood back, wrapping an arm around Ralaa as they watched the parents re-unite with their child.

Francis and Oliva moved to them shortly. "Oliva told me what happened." Francis said "I want you to know this is not why I brought you here, but I am eternally in debt for what you have done." Francis offered, looking down at his son. Oliva remained silent for the most part, tears of joy running down her cheek. She looked to both of them. "Thank you for bringing my son back." she said.

"I still intend to honor our deal from last night and have already started working to build others to support you." he said looking back up and both of them. "...but there is more I can do. Since you have made my family whole, it is only fair yours is as well." he said. "I would like to begin construction on your home immediately. I have enough workers at my disposal that we should be able to finish quickly. Whenever the children arrive, we will arrange a tempory residence for you and them until construction is complete."

Silas was speechless. They could finally leave Coruscant behind. They would finally be here. They would still have a lot of work to accomplish before the school was built and his vision fully realized but at least they would be together. "I...I...Thank you..." he said, forgetting his anger for the time being. "We will get work right away." he said, looking at Francis before looking down to Ralaa.

 

[Ralaa Talus]

It was a beautiful reunion for which Ralaa was more than content to keep her distance. Olivia, presented with the wilted bouquet picked earlier outside of their cabin, embraced her son. Her heart was whole and Ralaa was glad to have been able to provide her such comfort, but the circumstances that had brought them here now pressed her mind. Perhaps it was the Jedi within her or the small child who had grown up without a home on Brentaal, but she focused in on their future here on Andara and what it might look like if measures were not taken to ensure Dexter Aldari was reprimanded for his actions. He had involved a child in the calling of war and politics, a behavior she more than frowned upon.

For now, she would let them have their moment. Her eyes focused on Francis as he expressed his plans to begin construction for an orphanage and the look of joy that warmed Silas' face as he realized what they had accomplished. Ralaa looked forward to removing Nan and the children from Coruscant, but she also wanted to ensure that they would safe here. If it had been one of their own children, she could not promise that she would have remained a calm or level-headed as she had today.

When Francis had finished speaking, she took a step forward, her movements still slowed and a bit pained. The beautiful ivory dress she had worn before had now been replaced by a simple pair of robes, marking her as a member of the Jedi Order. Ralaa took in a deep breath in preparation for what she felt the need to express. Her head bowed to him, she offered him the slightest of smiles, taking her place by Silas' side.

"I am appreciative of your commitment and of your willingness to help. I cannot thank you enough for opening Andara to us and to our children, though I would like to express my concerns about your present situation." Her eyes looked up at Silas for a moment before she returned her attention to Francis. "If we are to bring our children to Andara, I want to know that they are safe. I hope not to offend or to overstep my boundaries, but I hope that you consider your relationship with Leria. A man who is willing to sacrifice the life and safety of an innocent child is a dangerous individual whom should not be trusted. I won't pretend to know the circumstances that led to the capture of your son and I am grateful that we were able to return him to you, but I hope that for the preservation of your beautiful home, you consider your alliance with Leria and what it could have meant for the people who call this home."

Ralaa frowned, watching him to gauge his response to her statements. Perhaps it had sounded brash, but she meant only to seek confirmation that Andara would remain a safe place for their children to grow and to thrive. She had been raised amidst the streets on a planet devastated by the effects of war and hoped to prevent the children of Andara and those they hoped to relocate from Coruscant from enduring the same tragedies as she had.

 

[Silas Rin]

Silas stepped up and stood by Ralaa, sensing her unease but also sense her conviction. He had been willing to let this go, but She had every right to question to motives of the two nobles infront of them. She had risked her life, but more importantly, Silas knew she would do whatever was needed to keep him and the children safe.

Her words sounded stoic, very Jedi-like as she laid out her concerns. Francis listened, nodding occasionally as she spoke. He stood up straight, not shying away. He waited until he was certain she was finished. "I understand and share your concern." he said in a practiced political tone. "While both of our houses are some of the more larger of the houses on our respective world, this was a move of desperation from him. We could have made this public, but they knew I would not risk the houses of our two worlds stacking against one another, even with my son's life on the line." he spoke his tone even. "

"The people of Leria have always shared a rivalry with the people of Andara. It has pushed to advance and prosper in ways I doubt we would have without it but with that comes the risk of incidents like this." he said taking a step forward. "Make no mistake, I will dismantle this man for what he has done, and when I am finished even his own people won't support him. I may not have wanted to involve you and Silas in this, but the fact of the matter remains, your actions have prevented escalation."

"No world is 100% safe or impervious to the threat of war, but I think if we all work together, we can minimize even further the threat of conflict in time and build a better place for both mine, and your family." he said finally taking a step back to stand beside Oliva.

Silas saw the wisdom in his words as well but they were are the brink of no return with the project. It was doubtful Silas could find the resources or opportunity to do this again once they started. "We have all had an exhausting day before we go any further, perhaps we should all take the night to think it over." he offered looking to Ralaa, and then Silas.

Francis took a breath and nodded. "That is fair and wise, my friend." he said turning to Ralaa.

 

[Ralaa Talus]

Ralaa listened quietly as Francis spoke, nodding her head in agreement with his statements. She wouldn’t pretend to understand the politics that were involved in this particular conflict or press him any further for answers. It was far too complicated for her to become involved with and she didn’t have to guess Silas’ stance on the subject. Neither one of them had wanted to travel to Leria and they surely didn’t want to take a stand in their conflicts with Andara.

“I only wanted to ensure that Andara will remain a safe place for our children. I understand the dangers of war and that conflict cannot always be avoided. Your reflection on the situation has calmed my concerns and Silas and I, I’m sure, will enjoy our home here.” Ralaa bowed her head to him with a smile and took Silas’ hand in her own. Her eyes traveled up to meet his and she smiled at him also, hoping that he wouldn’t find her words intrusive. It was, after all, his establishment and ultimately his decision as to whether or not Andara would be a suitable home.

He had spoken so sincerely the first time they had met about providing his children a home away from the streets of Coruscant. A home where they could play in the grass and grow up away from the conflicts of thugs like Mako. Coruscant was less than the ideal place to be a child and regardless of the situation on Andara, she was sure he would choose here over anywhere else.

“Shall we return home? I do believe there was something you wanted to discuss. It sounded dreadfully important.” Her hand squeezed his tightly and she chuckled, bidding Francis and his wife farewell with another nod of her head.

 

[Silas Rin]

Silas shook hands with Francis and bowed his head slightly towards Oliva who had picked up their child and was holding him. They turned to return back inside as Silas and Ralaa turned back to leave.

"Home sounds perfect and yes, we have very pressing things to discuss." he said laughing as they left again. The trip home was quiet as Silas thought over the events of the last day. "So what do you think?" he asked, turning to Ralaa. "Do we stay here?" he continued. Ralaa had brought up decent concerns and Silas held her thoughts on the matter extremely high. If she thought it was unsafe they would find somewhere else. They would make it work somehow.

Silas personally trusted Francis and realized that no place in the Galaxy was perfectly safe. They had an opportunity a relative safety here on Andara. He was quiet again for a time. "I think we should." he said "We have brought here for a reason, I can feel it." he said nodding as speeder made its way through open grasslands.

Soon they were back at the small cabin in the woods. It felt like they were the only ones around for miles, and that was mostly because it was true. Silas had wanted to be somewhat removed. Soon this area would be crawling with equipment and construction, and then it would be crawling with children. Silas couldn't help but smile at the thought of that.

"And here we are, I expected it to be a late night, but this was a little much." He said climbing out of the speeder.

 

[Ralaa Talus]

Ralaa remained relatively quiet for much of their trip home, to reflect on the evenings events. It wasn’t that she did not trust Francis or that she believed Andara to be a treacherous place, only that she hoped it would remain as peaceful as it was now. The things they had endured together, things children should never have to endure, needed to remain on Coruscant. The tragedies of the past needed to remain in the past; their futures secure and with the chance that they could grow up like normal children.

“I almost lost you today; whether I had been left behind on Leria or defeated, it doesn’t matter. I do not want our home here to represent our past on Coruscant. I want it to be a home, plain and simple.” Ralaas eyes fell upon him as they neared the cabin, leaning back in her seat. There was a small part of her that felt guilty for speaking up during their meeting with Francis as it truly hadn’t been her place; that guilt reflected in her expression.

“If I go to war, I want it to be far away from here and not because some noble gentleman brought it to us. I do not want it in our backyard or in the lives of our children.” She paused, rather embarrassed, before correcting herself. “You’re children. The point still stands. I hope the Andara nobility opens their eyes after these events. I mean, if we are going to stay which I very much want to do.”

As the speeder came to a stop, she climbed out and stood quietly in the grass. It was still wet from the morning rays and Ralaa removes her boots to stand barefoot. It was grounding and it was finally starting to feel like home.

 

[Silas Rin]

He slowly walked around the speeder to where Ralaa stood. She had already removed her boots, let her feet touch the soft, dew covered grass. He moved behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her against him. "Our Children." he spoke, correcting her correction. "No matter what you do, or where you go, this will always be a home for you, and you will always find a family here waiting for you." he spoke before gently kissing the top of her head.

He felt her breath against his, but it was deeper than that. Ever since their return trip and his desperate struggle to pull her back from her injuries, he had felt connected to her in a way he had not felt with any other being before. The Force intertwined between them, forming a bond. He could feel her heartbeat just as if it was his own.

"We will make them see, make them understand the necessity for peace." he said. "For now, we will begin making this a home for our children." he paused taking a breath. "Well, we will start tomorrow. As for today, I don't feel much like sharing you." he said, smile apparent in his tone.

He once again pulled her closer, he back against his chest. He closed his eyes and let the warm morning sun soak into him.

 

[Ralaa Talus]

His arms wrapped around her abdomen, Ralaa leaned back into his embrace. She looked up at him as he spoke, his long black hair brushing her cheeks. Ralaa rested her hands on his, intertwining their fingers as she listened. Out of an entire galaxy of people, it was hard to believe that their paths had crossed; he was so perfectly imperfect and she was able to love him wholeheartedly despite everything that had threatened to stand between them. Love had been by far, the most thrilling adventure she'd ever been on and she hoped for it to never end.

"Who said anything about having to share?" Ralaa beamed a smile, running a hand through his dark locks. He had changed so drastically over the past few months but never had she loved him more. There was still the heart of a Jedi inside of him, even if the Council refused to see it; he wanted goodness and peace to prevail just as she did, but what she hadn't realized before was that she didn't need a title to fight for these things or to make a difference. Together they had already a difference, even if that difference was small.

Ralaa turned in his arms so that she could look at his face, leaning against his chest."I tell you what though if you're that desperate to have me you'll have to catch me first." She smiled at him again, leaning in to kiss him on the cheek before pulling away from his grasp. There was a moment of silence and her eyes shifted to the fields behind them, fields where soon their children would be able to play. "Question is, are you fast enough?"

She turned to run towards the cliffs across the fields, leaving her boots behind. Of course, after her injuries, she shouldn't have been running but Silas was sure to expect that she'd be too stubborn to rest. Besides, they had been away from Coruscant for so long that she'd have to condition him to chase after children again so it was all for a good cause.

 

[Silas Rin]

He didn't try and talk her out of her game. He realized when something as futile. While he wounds had been healed, her body had grown through no small amount of stress. It was unwise, but there was nothing to do about it.

He raised an eyebrow when she asked if he was fast enough. He opened his mouth to snap back a quick reply but she was already gone. His body, anticipating the chase protested as he set his staff down and started after the Jedi Master who had already gained a decent head start.

While he considered his days of being a warrior behind him, he had received a good deal of training on using the Force to push through wounds received on the battlefield. There were times when there wasn't any time to stop and mends one's wounds during a fight. He called on the Force as he picked up his pace. His pain dulled, no longer the sharp pain from earlier. Just because he didn't feel pain didn't mean he wasn't doing harm, but his wound wasn't super threatening as long as he remained aware of his limits.

His speed increased as he slowly started to gain ground on her. She was fast, as must Jedi were, but his extra foot of height meant his stride was longer. They made their way across the large open field, at the far end it began slopping gently upwards.

He was right behind her as they neared the top of the hill. He laughed as reached out and caught hold of the robe she was wearing.

They crested the top of the hill when his foot caught a stone. His body already at the edge of his limits, he lost his balance and tumbled to the ground. Both relying on the Force, they had been moving at a fairly fast pace. He rolled several times before coming to a stop.

His lungs burned but he continued to laugh as he found himself on his back, looking up at the blue sky.

 

[Ralaa Talus]

Ralaa had all but forgotten about Silas' wounds and despite the smile that pulled on his lips, she could see the pain in his eyes as he relied on the Force to carry him. He was a warrior, but all warriors were not without limits and it was quite evident that he had reached his. They crested the hill that overlooked the forests and mountains of Andara and she turned to catch him, but it was too late. Her eyes widened as his ankle rolled, sending him tumbling several times. Had it not been for the laugh that escaped him, she would have rushed to his side with a greater sense of urgency. It would seem that despite his position, he would be just fine.

"Perhaps you should be more aware of where you step." Ralaa smiled, closing the distance between them. "Perhaps it was unfair of me to ask you to chase after me." She laughed, lowering herself into the grass beside him, her head rested on his chest. Her fingers traced the line of his jaw, turning his face so that she could look upon his eyes. She breathed a warm breath that touched his lips, her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. It still felt wrong to open her heart to Silas and to allow him so close to her, but she wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

"Tell me, now that you've caught me, what are you going to do with me?" Ralaa planted a gentle kiss on his lips, seeking his hand to place in her own. Silas held a firm and comforting grasp, his palms calloused from years of wielding a lightsaber. Her finger traced his open palm, her head rested in the crease of his neck. For now, she was content to lay beside him. Later, she would address his wound and heal him the way that he had healed her for, had it not been for Silas, Leria would have been her resting group.

 

[Silas Rin]

His laughing settled as she appeared over him. She was breathtaking as the sunlight above haloed her hair. Any pain he felt died as he looked up at her.

He smiled warmly as she lay down on the grass next to him. "Perhaps I fell on purpose, I do after all, have you right where I wanted." he said as she rested her head on his chest. "...and I have lived through the cruel demands of Jedi Masters before...You are no different." She leaned up and gently kissed him. "Well, there are some differences." he said, his eyes lighting up with the joke.

He grabbed her and rolled over, now leaning over Ralaa as she lay on her back. He met her eyes, those same blue-green eyes he had fallen in love with those months ago on Coruscant. He had been chasing her ever since. Now, out in the middle of nowhere, on a mostly unremarkable world, he had caught up to her. There were no pressing matters, no tragedies to avoid, no emergencies to handle. It was just her.

He rested a hand on her stomach, slowing tracing a finger there over he robes as he continued to look down at her. "A few things come to mind." he said quietly as he leaned down and kissed her.

 

[Ralaa Talus]

Ralaa gasped in surprise as he forced her onto her back, long curls sprawled amongst the dew covered grass. Silas’ long hair shadowed his face, but his eyes were still as bright as ever. She wished to lay beneath him forever and let the days slip away from them, but she knew their obligations rested elsewhere. For now, she would enjoy the little time they had left alone. It was, after all, a break from the chaos that had consumed their lives over the past several months.

“What do you have in mind?” Ralaa laughed, running a hand through his hair as he traced her robes. “So long as it doesn’t involve violence, I think I will be content. I’ve fought enough battles for today.”

She rested her hands near to her face and let out a soft sigh. Her eyes, focused on his, shown with the happiness she felt with him pressed close. For the first time in a while, she wasn’t worried about the Jedi Order or their codes and tenets. How could something that made her feel so alive and secure risk her position?

“I’m not sure that I’ve said it enough, but I love you.”

 

[Silas Rin]

"I love you." he replied quietly. His smile faded after a few seconds. Weariness had finally started catching up to him, and with that, the worries that crowded the far reaches of his mind crept to the forefront of his thoughts. There was one last battle that would have to fight today.

With each passing second, he grew more and more worried that Ralaa would leave for war and never return as so many Jedi he knew growing up. His dreams had long been haunted by such outcomes. Normally, he was able to find peace, to find his center even amidst such thoughts, but now that control wavered.

"I..." he said trailing off before fining the words. "I can't lose you..." he admitted to her. He looked away, somewhat ashamed at his lack of strength. "I fear that is what will happen if you go to war with the Jedi." he continued, images of broken Jedi bodies littered across the ground during their time on Ossus.

"I..I don't know what I am asking." he admitted sitting up. He looked out of the valley below, a small river winding through it. "I guess I'm not asking anything. I am just afraid." he said glancing down at her as she lay on the ground.

Was this why Jedi forbid its followers to love? To avoid the risk of feeling like they were being torn apart on the inside like he had felt. Maybe the Masters of old were wiser than he had once thought...

 

[Ralaa Talus]

This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. Perhaps the Jedi forbid love because it brought out the fear of loss, because fear in itself led people to do unspeakable things. Ralaa herself had done things that she was no proud of, for fear of losing Silas. Cut down men who had stood between them and executed an unconscious guard for fear he would wake and retaliate. It had haunted her in secret, but she would never admit it to Silas, again out of fear that she would lose him to it. Perhaps she was no longer the noble Jedi Master she had trained to be, but her heart wouldn’t let her see that. There was reason behind the chaos and that reason was love.

“I won’t be lost.” She frowned, knowing it was an impossible promise. Death took everyone, though some sooner than others. “I’ve heard nothing more of the war on Balmoraa. Regardless, my place is here with you.” Ralaa turned to face him, still laid upon the grass. Her eyes focused so intently upon his own.

“Ask me and I’m sure you’ll be surprised at my answer. Perhaps I’m foolish, but I’m willing to pay the fools price for even one more night with you.” She pulled herself into a seated position, taking his hands gently in her own. Already she could see the Council surrounding her, but it no longer frightened her as it had before.

 

[Silas Rin]

He knew it was selfish, and it made him sick. He was tired of hoping for just one more night. Tired of waiting for a call that would take her away from here, from him. He knew the price for sitting on fence. He had paid that price once, it was more than just the threat of being exiled. It was to stress of living two lives, having two sets of loyalties. That took a toll. It had begun to take its toll on Ralaa. That also made him sick.

Even still, he couldn't ask her to choose, he wouldn't ask her to choose. It was not his place, not his decision. It was more than just noble intentions that kept him from asking though. He was afraid. Afraid that when given the choice, she would choose her life as Jedi over a life with him. He hated that he wrestled with that fear.

"Obviously you are a fool." he said, small smile growing on his lips "You have ended up here in the middle of nowhere with me." he said, gently squeezing her hand. "It's not my place to ask anything of you. You have given me so much, the children so much." he said, smiling.

The real question died in his throat. The one that asked her to choose this place over the Jedi. A life here with him over a life spent across the entire Galaxy. It threatened to burn a hole through him. What made it worse was he knew Ralaa could sense the turmoil in him through their bond in the force, just as he could sense it in her.

 

[Ralaa Talus]

For her entire life Ralaa had been searching for home. For a while, she believed that home had been on Brentaal where she was born, and then with the Jedi on Ossus. Never had she felt like she belonged, always lost no matter where she stood, but here on Andara she felt her roots slowly beginning to grow. Ralaa wanted this to be her home, as she had many places before, but with Silas it felt different. It felt possible.

“Ask me.” She urged him again, eyes pleading. “I want you to ask me, however selfish you think it may be.” The wind played with her hair, pulling across her face, but her eyes never left Silas.

Ralaa knew that if he did not ask, she wouldn’t be able to bring herself to a decision. The back and forth plagued her and had for some time. Ralaa had always been loyal, always put others before herself and to leave the Jedi was a terrifying prospect. They had sheltered her, trained her and been kind when no one else had been. The Order was her home, once, but now that home needed to be here on Andara.

 

[Silas Rin]

He met her gaze. Th future was a certain and scary thing. While no longer a Jedi, Silas still let the Force guide his actions. It was hard not to see the Force guiding them together and through the trials they had faced so far.

Now Silas felt it guiding them further. Even with that certainty, he still was afraid. He had asked someone before to choose a life with him over the Jedi and been left alone. He was terrified of that happening again but she was worth that risk, worth facing that fear.

He swallowed, pushing his fear aside. He looked at her, wind dancing through her wild hair. He couldn't help but smile. He had traveled across the Galaxy in his lifetime and knew for certain the most beautiful being that inhabited it sat next to him on the grass.

He looked away, over the valley as he reached up and untied the simple leather strap around his neck. "Ralaa, I would follow you to the edge of Galaxy and beyond." he said as he pulled out the kyber crystal that he had worn around his neck every day since he had been exiled. He had taken it out of his lightsaber just before his trial. It was his, not the Jedi's. The crystal had chosen him those many years ago on Illum. It was the only thing he had that he valued, the only thing tieing him to his life as a Jedi. The crystal glowed a brilliant blue, still singing the same song to him it had all those years ago. He knew it would reach out to her in the same way it did him, he could feel it.

"I want to build a life here with you. I don't even want to guess what that will look like, but all I know is I need you in it." he said finally looking towards her. He held out the necklace containing the crystal towards her.

"Will you marry me?"