Chapter 108

To Luke's surprise Udine and Carmona would accompany the crew of the Grannd Traveler. The two women had told Toallin that they wanted to make a selection of the required furniture themselves. They also had arranged that Liane would stay behind in the vineyard building and continue with work that needed to be done outside the building. Udine had suggested to Toallin he would instruct Liane how to make a start pruning the vineyard itself.

Toallin had objected, but his wife convinced him at Luke's padawan would do a better job outside than inside.

"She is not a real good housewife, Toallin. We love to have her with us, for we pity her, but she hasn't any feeling for cleaning. That's why I told her to get those vines of the roof. She really did a great job. If you wouldn't have discussed her way of clearing away those vines, her Jedi master probably hadn't reacted so surly. We don't understand why that Jedi is behaving so differently. One moment he is nice and friendly to her and compliments her on her achievements, but the next moment he reacts harshly to what she does. To Carmona and me he always made a good impression, but his behavior as a Jedi teacher is strange. Sometimes we think that he doesn't want to be Shaayla-Car's Jedi master, but we've agreed that it's not our concern. We're only away for a day, as Ian and Yarmod and the other six friends of yours will be a great help to get the furniture we want to bring to Myr loaded in that space ship. Shaayla-Car said that she will manage while we're away. I'll made sure that there's enough food and drink in our former kitchen, so she won't get hungry."

Liane had accepted the announcement with a nod, and assured her two hostesses that she would be fine.

Toallin had gone over to the vineyard building after his wife and her sister had left, to bring some extra food. He wasn't surprised to find Luke Skywalker talking to Liane.

"Luke, I think it's good you're here, now that your apprentice is on her own for a day. I suggest that you stay with her, instead of helping other Quelans in Ribana. I would feel reassured to know that someone is keeping an eye on your apprentice, not that she would do any harm, but it's better if she's not alone during the night. The harvest men are still working to get the streets lights back on, but I understand that they have to wait for master Thai and Han return from Coruscant."

After Toallin had left Luke and Liane went for a long walk together along the southern and eastern hills. They both enjoyed this unexpected opportunity. They crossed to vineyard to reach the path that lead to the top of the southern hills. On the top they took a path to the left which would lead them through the woods on the southern hills to the spot where the southern hills met the eastern mountain ridge which were much higher than the southern hills and became even more higher where the eastern mountain ridge transitioned into the mountainous area on the north side.

As they reached the eastern mountains Luke stopped and pointed to the area behind the ridge which seemed overgrown with shrubs with groups of trees here and there.

"I have been in the vineyard itself more than once, but I'm still curious what's behind the eastern mountains. Shall we have a look?"

Liane nodded.

"It feel like my explorations under Na'ctaMagh'Ba. I loved to explore unknown areas and find new treasures, new cave, or here new lands. Ribana has been build at a wonderful spot, and the vineyard is laying in the valley protected at four side with hills or mountainous area. Do you want to descend on the other side, Luke?"

"There seems to be no real path down this side, so we have to choose our way down careful." He said reaching out to the Force.

Liane grabbed his arm.

"All our friends have left Myr, Luke. Han is even away for five days and Yarmod and Ian accompanying the Granns together with Udine and Carmona. When they told me they would go to Tyr for a day I nearly couldn't avoid showing my joy, and when Toallin insisted that you'd better stay with me while his wife and her sister are away I almost forgot our agreement."

"You deserve a loving kiss for keeping our secret, before we're starting to descend, my naughty pixie." Luke said and took her in his arms.

Liane looked up at him.

"Will you really stay with me tonight in the vineyard building?" She ask with a flicker of joy in her eyes.

"I have promised the governor, my love, so I'm bound to what I promised. Shall we go on?" He answered and gave her a gentle kiss.

Liane released herself from Luke's arms.

"Good, so I won't be alone," She murmured.

Luke grinned.

"Don't get any funny ideas, Shaayla-Car. You've said it yourself: we're not yet married."

"I wasn't thinking about that, master Skywalker. I just find it enjoyable that we have a very long time together, but you have to find yourself a separated room to sleep tonight, as I don't want to share mine with you."

"You're unkind to me, my love," Luke said grinning.

"I am your naughty pixie, remember," Liane teased.

They began their descend along the other side of the eastern mountain ridge. Using their Force skills they found a safe way to reach the foot of the mountainous area where an undulated plain took them eastward. At a certain moment Liane stopped.

"Listen, Luke. I hear waves breaking on the coast. Could it be that we're at the other end of the continent of Myr."

Luke nodded.

"When we reached Myr the first time I already got an impression of this part of Myr, that's why I took you with me to explore this area. I guess we will reached the coast in an hour or so."

"It sounds ridiculous, but when Han asked me about what's so special about Felusa, I suddenly remembered the breaking of the waves on the shore behind the building Anakin and I used to stay overnight. It was a reassuring sound at night after a day of practising the Sith way to use the Force."

"We absolutely will visit Felusa, darling. The more you tell, the more I'm getting curious about the island."

"It's beautiful especially early in the year, before the temperature on Morantan became hot, so Anakin mostly took me to Felusa before the hot season."

"You have quite some good memories of the island, Shaayla-Car."

"Not because of what I learned there, but I would like to see the island and the building now, realizing that Severini and Ben have lived there together as a married couple for some years. I also hope I will find the green holocron my mother has left to Tama-Hin and me."

"We will. The Force will surely show us where to look, otherwise I expect that Severini will lead us to the spot."

"What will my mother and father think about our marriage, Luke? Will they be happy about it? And Anakin?" Liane asked.

Luke sense the doubt in Liane's words.

"I'm sure that they all fully agree, my beautiful fairy. Anakin for sure. I promised him to bring you to the Good Side of the Force so you would become a Jedi Knight, just like he had been once. And your parents surely will show their approval."

They had reached the end of the rolling plains and looked in amazement at how the land gradually sloped down to a wide sandy beach where small waves broke on the shore. Liane looked at Luke.

"Shall we stay for the night, Luke. It's the warm season and if we would get cold we can use our coats to stay warm. It's so lovely here. Tomorrow at sunrise we can go back to the vineyard before Udine and Carmona come back. If we ration our food we also won't get hungry."

"Splendid idea, my darling. I would love to lay next to you in the warm sand and feel your presence so close to me." Luke said and took her down the declining plain. They reached the sandy shore and walked to the waterfront with their arms around each other. Following the sea shore to the right they found a low sandy hill covered with high grass. They sat themselves, enjoying their strong connection in the Force.

Luke looked silently at Liane, who sat beside him with her knees drawn up. An overwhelming memory came to him as she seemed to transform into the Liane he had found on Endor after years of searching. There, he had taken her in his arms and pressed her head against his chest to ease her fear and uncertainty, after she had discovered that the man she had always considered her father had been merely the man who had taken her away to make her a Sith apprentice.

Over the years, he had watched her transform into a Jedi Knight and how the veil hanging over her heritage and her true parents had been gradually lifted. Shaayla-Car Kenobi, daughter of two famous Jedi Knights and, within weeks, his beautiful wife. And yet, there would always remain the feeling that she has been the young woman he comforted on Endor and had told her her new reality. From the beginning, she had accepted his heritage as the son of Anakin Skywalker and forgiven his father for what he had taught her.

He had come to love her when she had insisted on using her special gift as a Jedi healer to alleviate his indescribable grief over the loss of Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru, his Jedi teachers, his father, and all the other friends he had lost. She had accepted her unbreakable connection with him sooner than he had thought. It had only increased the deep love he felt for her, and yet he had felt some hesitation when he had asked her to become his wife. That is why he still found it incomprehensible that no for a moment she hadn't considered his marriage proposal.

He put his arm around her and pulled her towards him, while he lay down on his back on the grassy hill. He gently caressed her hair and felt how she put her arm around his body, leaning with her head again his chest. She didn't speak, she didn't ask what he was thinking about, for she knew, being a dyad in the Force with him.

Carefully Luke pulled their coats around them. Liane looked up as she sensed his movement. She just smiled and huddled closer in his arms. He felt the presence of her body against his. It awakened in him a longing for moments he had once mistaken for true love. He had been foolish and ignorant at the time, and although he had had a few short relationships later on, Eminil's betrayal had always influenced those contacts. That had changed when he came face-to-face with Liane on Morantan and when the Force had shown him who she was and what their encounter meant to him. In fact, from then on, he had devoted all his attention to this friendship and later to his love for Liane. A love that she had reciprocated unconditionally because it was mutual.

They lay together, enjoying their mutual love, while time seemed to stand still. Their eyes closed and they fell asleep in each other's arms, as the daylight slowly faded. When they woke up again, it was dark, but above them the sky was lit by thousands of small white, blue, and yellow stars. In the distance, they heard the sound of the waves. Liane stirred, but didn't release herself form Luke's arms.

"So beautiful," she whispered and automatically she reached out to the Force

"We're united with all of this," Luke whispered.

"The Unifying Force," Liane whispered, looking at the stars, when a shooting star left a gleaming track along the black velvet of the night.

"A symbol of good luck, my dearest," Luke whispered in her ear, "that must be my old friend Biggs greeting us wherever he is. On Tatooine we were called the shooting stars, because we enjoyed the fast races through the canyons so much."

"I'd wish I could meet him, Luke," Liane said softly.

"He would be your friend too, Shaayla-Car, for he would know that you're my dream girl." Luke answered.

"It feels so unfair that good people have to suffer because an invisible power does everything it can to crush their happiness and put an end to their lives. It happened here on Palomintar Four."

"It happened when the emperor wiped out the Jedi Order, when the first Death Star obliterated Leia's home planet of Alderaan, when the storm troopers killed my uncle and aunt. It will continue to happen if we're not vigilant, Shaayla-Car. if we're are lulled to sleep and will not stay alert. That's why the Jedi have to rise again. There are six of us now, and possibly two coming."

"Yes, Chati Fonaldris and Lorann." Liane said.

Luke smiled

"It doesn't surprise to me that you've sensed his Force potential too, my love. You're a Jedi Knight, like me. You're as powerful as your father."

"We both are, Luke. You're the heir of the Skywalker's lineage which brought balance to the Force." Liane said and let her hand streak through his hair. "And hopefully, we pass on our potential for the Force to our children, so that they can become the next generation of Jedi Knights."

"I would love to have a family," Luke said, "You as the mother of our children."

"And you, their father, Luke." Liane answered softly laughing.

They silenced. Liane pulled her coat around her again, covering partly Luke's body. Luke smiled and used a part of his coat to cover them both. Laying close together they fell asleep again, in the conviction that they were very strongly connected to each other.

Palomintar was nearly rising when Luke woke up again. He felt refreshed, energetic, but above all he felt happy. He looked at the coloring sky and woke up Liane who sat up immediately.

"Good morning, my lovely naughty pixie. It's near sunrise, Shaayla-Car," Luke said while he gave her a gently kiss, "We have to leave this beautiful place. My love, I've never had a more happier night in my live."

"Let's wait for a few minutes, Luke. I sense that we will see Palomintar rise in a few moments. Would that be a wonderful view."

Luke who also had sat up, pulled her between his legs. Liane leaned happily against him.

"There!" She pointed to a more brighter part on the horizon, "there it will rise. Look, it's getting brighter again."

The first arrays of Palomintar appeared in the sky above the horizon and slowly the bright white star began to show herself in her full glory. When it has fully risen above the sea Luke stood up and pulled Liane to her feet.

"We have to go now, my love. We have to be in the vineyard building by the time Udine and Carmona will come back. We don't have to hurry yet, but we need our time."

Liane pulled a slice of nut bread from a small sack she had been carrying.

"Here, Luke." She said and handed him the nut bread.

"We will eat while on our way. It's not my habit, but we don't have time for a more mindful breakfast."

"If we eat slowly and enjoy its taste, it's just as mindful." Liane argued while she nibbled on her slice.

They ascended the eastern mountains, slowly finding their way among the vegetation. As they had reached the top they took a moment to look back. Luke had his arm around Liane.

"This view with the white star of this system rising above the horizon, my dearest, will keep the memory of my most fantastic night with you alive," he said before he kissed her.

Liane looked at him, but she only smiled, as she answered his kiss.

Using their Force skills they set out in a fast endurance run and reached the path on the southern hills that lead down to the vineyard without exhausting themselves. They entered the vineyard building and used the remaining time together to prepare a more extensive breakfast with the food supplies Udine and Toallin had left for them. They had just finished when Toallin entered through the front door.

He looked appreciatively at the trays with the remnants of the elaborate breakfast.

"Well I see, that you both have a good appetite. Did you have a good night's rest, Shaayla-Car? Didn't your Jedi master let you sleep well."

"My master is a sound sleeper, Toallin. I had to wake him up, so we could have breakfast together." She said, not looking at Luke who was looking out of the window.

"I've just heard that Udine and her sister will arrive late this afternoon with the Granns and those two Jedi that went with them. Han Solo sent a transmission to my old comsystem to tell that he has arrived on Coruscant and that they are loading the promised equipment and tools. He expects to set course for Tyr within two days. I'm going back now to my chores. You're both of course welcome to come to Ribana, but maybe it would be wiser if Jedi master Skywalker uses the absence of my wife and her sister to give you a better insight in what the Force expects of a Jedi Knight, so that you won't be his Jedi apprentice for long."

They thanked the kind Quelan governor who left to return to Ribana where the first group of Quelan were still busy with all kinds of repairs and restorations.

Yarmod and Ian were using one of the two speeders of the Grannd Traveler to transport furniture Udine and Carmona has chosen from Cantamaga to the Grannd Traveler. The two women had made a very selective choice, taking back to Myr only one table and four chairs and a bed. After Conor and Bran told them the Grannd Traveler could transport more, they choose two other beds, blankets, sheets and pillows. The rest had to stay in Cantamaga as their family members needed what was left. Next to the furniture they chose several boxes with cutlery, plates, mugs, kitchen wares and cooking pots. Their choices still took less than half of the cargo holds of the Grannd Traveler. In consultation with Mugin and the Council of Elders, the main portion of the community administration would be already permanently transferred to Myr.

"Those governor's wives are tough ladies," Yarmod remarked. "They exactly had figured in advance what would be immediately useful. I guess that the governor will also be pleased with part of his administration, although he is still busy to coordinate the work. Hey, Tama-Hin, wasn't it amazing how the first group of Quelans took on the necessary work. At their arrival they looked completely lost, not knowing where to begin. It was a mess indeed, but all of sudden some males began to inspect some of the houses and seemed to make a plan of what needed to be done. Also the harvest men were highly motivated to give their support to those who live in Ribana. I hope that the first group will tell a good story to the second group, so all the work will continue expeditiously."

Ian looked through the windscreen of the speeder and nodded without commenting on his friend's remarks. Yarmod looked aside.

"Hey, pal, what's wrong. Something is bothering you, isn't it?" He asked.

Ian looked at his friend.

"Have you seen Shaayla-Car recently? I mean have you met her since she is Luke's padawan?"

"No, I haven't. I have been busy supporting several Quelan males who struggled, repairing the windows and the rooftop. They needed my Force skills to keep new windows in a right position, so they could fasten them. Funny job and we did a lot of laughing together, especially when I held one of the windows upside down. Beside, you have helped me too when putting up those scaffold to make the repairs of those domed roofs more easily. "

"I had a word with Luke before we left. Wedge had told him about my promise to master Manall that I would be Lorann's Jedi master one day."

"And your former Jedi master didn't agree with what you have said. I told you that it's up to Luke to assign a padawan to one of us."

"That's not what he told me. He fully agree with my point of view that I'm not ready to be a master, but it's not the prerogative of the three Jedi master to decide who is ready to be responsible for another padawan. It's not that they will teach and educate every new Force-user. They see us, you, me and Shaayla-Car, as their peers who also can take someone as his padawan. It was a great relief to me that Luke was cooperative. He thinks it might be a good idea to send the two us together on a mission to get more experience."

"That's a great idea. Did he tell what he had in mind?"

Ian began to laugh.

"No, he didn't produce a list of ongoing problems in the galaxy which could be solved with the help of Jedi Knights. I don't think it works that way."

"Was Shaayla-Car accompanying Luke?"

"No, but at the end of our talk Luke took me with him and said he was going to the vineyard. He asked me to join him to pay Shaayla-Car a visit. It felt good, Yarmod. Luke was friendly like I know him while he was my master."

"But?" Yarmod asked.

"But something strange happened after we arrived at the vineyard building.

My sister was pruning the vines that were growing over the roof. Toallin was there too and asked Luke to tell her that she was putting herself in danger. When she saw me, she made a high Force jump welcomed me with a happy face.

Suddenly, I felt that Luke was not all too happy with what she was doing and he reprimanded her sternly. I was stunned, because I had never heard Luke speak like that way before.

My sister explained that the Governor's wife had asked her to clean the roof, because her cleaning inside the building wasn't what Udine and Carmona wanted. You and I know that contradicting Shaayla-Car can turn into an argument on her part, but after Luke's reprimand, she simply admitted that she had ignored the instruction he had given her. No argument, no contradiction, nothing. She just seemed to accept what he told her, while he held her arm.

I was stunned and I wanted to say something, but then it was as if the Force was trying to tell me that what I saw wasn't what was really happening between them. In a flash, the Force showed me that Luke's words weren't meant to reprimand her, but to express his affection for her. Shaayla-Car also didn't seem impressed by his words, and when she looked up at him, I felt how she enjoyed the firm grip on her arm.

Yarmod, what I saw and what I felt through the Force didn't match what I know of them. My mother told me that they form a duality within the Force, a so-called Force dyad. Their bond is unbreakable, and the acceptance of their Force connection is mutual.

On Palomintar Six, Luke has confirmed my mother's words.

But what is happening on Myr now feels so confusing. I can't believe that Luke, as a Jedi Master, will be so surly and dissatisfied. He wasn't the man I know.

Later, I had dinner with Toallin, the governors' wives, and Luke and Shaayla-Car. During our meal, Luke was nice and friendly to her again. Calm, friendly, perhaps a little dominant, but not strict or surly. He accepted her argument to finish the roof from the overgrown vines.

Yarmod, I don't understand what is going on. I don't understand Luke's behavior and that of my sister. Are they no longer friends? In Trevor's cave, I saw how happy Luke was to see her. He kissed her, showing his belief in their reunion, and she returned his kiss so passionately.

Could it be that they had had a fierce argument when they were away with the Astræga? But I saw no disagreement between them after they were back in Tyr, not in the Astræga, when Luke helped Lorann framing that drawing, not during our reception by the governors and their wives, not during the banquet. They behaved the whole time as always, and yet the next day Luke told us that she had asked him if he would be her Jedi Master and she his Padawan.

Yarmod, I don't understand, and since I saw what happened near the vineyard building, I wonder if my sister is silently enduring Luke's reprimands but continues to show him her affection nonetheless, if their feelings are still mutual."

"We need to get these loads to the Grannd Traveler first, Tama-Hin, but I promise that I will come back to what you just told me. It seems odd, but we need to find a quiet place to talk together. I've heard that Yarnick wants us to pass through those cloud layer during daytime, so it's possible that we'll stay on Tyr overnight. That will give us the opportunity to talk. What about tonight on that plateau halfway the low mountain ridge behind Cantamaga?"

Thanks, my friend, for listening. Maybe you can help me to shed a different light on what is going on between Luke and Shaayla-Car. I'm worried, Yarmod."

"I understand, Tama-Hin." Yarmod said, while they passed the plains where the Grannd Traveler had landed.

Once there they became to busy loading several boxes onto the cargo hold, after which they went back to Cantamaga

After Toallin had left, Luke and Liane looked at each other happily, for they would have again almost a whole day ahead of them without being disturbed. Together, they quickly cleared away the leftovers from their breakfast, after which they walked through the vineyard and reached the path that led to the top of the southern hills and the forest on the other side.

On the way up, they took many moments to share a kiss or an intimate moment. They walked back in the direction of the hidden valley, but didn't descend to the Astræga, instead they found a small clearing invisible from the top of the hills with some dry fallen stems. They had taken some food and drinks with them which they shared while enjoying their unexpected luck.

Luke leaned with his back against one of the tree stems, holding Liane close to him. For a while they remained silent, but then Luke sat himself on the tree stem and looked seriously at his eternal partner.

"Shaayla-Car, have you figured out how many of our Jedi and other friends are familiar with the hidden valley?" He asked. "Maybe I have to find another place for the Astræga."

Liane who had sat herself next to him heard the concern in his voice.

"That's what I have been thinking, Luke. I told you that Wedge had to pick up Nori Thai, but I also recalled that Wedge had brought Ian to the Astræga where he had landed after he brought me to Palomintar Four. That means that to many Jedi Knights and Nori, but probably also others might know where you have landed with the Astræga, and how to reach the hidden valley," Liane answered, "Is there any other location where your ship won't be spotted."

"I know several other possible places to land, but those sites are also known to others. Furthermore I also don't want land too far away from Ribana and the vineyard building, otherwise I need to use the speeder to come and go to see you."

"What about ...., " Liane wanted to comment, but immediately she shook her head.

"To land behind the eastern mountain ridge. Would be a lovely spot, but also too far away to meet each other for a quick or longer rendez-vous, lovely pixie,"

"Can we do a reconnaissance flight above area. From above you might be able to spot possible locations which aren't known to anyone." Liane suggested.

"I could lift off undetected after the Falcon and the Grannd Traveler have lift off to bring the first group of workers and harvest men back to Tyr. Earlier might attract unwanted attention I fear. Han will be back on Myr six days from now I guess, but the Grannd Traveler arrives this afternoon."

"Do you think that my brother will start looking for the Astræga?" Liane asked.

"He might, my love, for I sensed his confusion after I took him with me to say hello to you. To look convincingly I had to reprimand you about what you were doing, because Toallin asked me to tell you that you were endangering yourself."

Liane started to laugh.

"Toallin still isn't familiar with any Force use, Luke. What I did, wasn't dangerous, and your reprimand wasn't meant. It felt more as a compliment for taking the initiative of what I thought would be useful to do."

"I fear, Shaayla-Car, that your brother has seen something else."

"What do you mean?"

"Your brother wasn't really one with the Force at that moment. He saw me reprimanding you. He heard a stern sound in my voice, while you just felt my appreciation and admiration for what you were doing. While he watched us the Force began to show him what really happened between us, but his connection with the Force was weak and unstable, because our interaction had confused him, so he thought he saw a very demanding Jedi master and a compliant padawan learner. My love, your brother's lack of insight might hold a serious problem for us. It's not unlikely that he wants to find out what is really going on? You've already told me that he more or more less insisted to know where we have been, and what going on between us."

Liane was silent.

"I don't want to tell him, Luke. Leia knows, but that's obvious. She has seen us on Na'ctaMagh'Ba after we have told each other about our Force experiences and became aware of our eternal connection. So Tama-Hin has become confused about what he saw, while he should have used Force insight to be aware of the truth," Liane said a bit snappy.

Luke smiled about her fierce answer.

"Maybe I should give you a passionate kiss when he sees us again, my love?"

"That certainly isn't what a Jedi master should do. You would spoil our secret plan."

Luke laughed

"Don't get annoyed, naughty pixie. I will give a passionate kiss now, for I love you, Shaayla-Car."

For a moment they forgot the matter, as Luke took Liane in his arms and kissed her indeed very passionately. His warm embrace overwhelmed Liane as she felt how intense the Force began to surround them both. After a while she released herself from his arms.

"So my brother's eyes are deceiving him, while his Force connection is too weak to see the truth." Liane said. "I thought that Wedge had given him his initiation to knighthood too on Tyr."

"Your brother is a great Jedi Knight, darling, but he is also your brother. I understand what he feels, and I appreciate his feelings, for I felt the same after I found out that Leia was my twin sister. I felt responsible for her, I felt the need to protect her against Vader's machinations to bring her to the Dark Side."

"That was, while the Civil War was still going on. There's nothing for Tama-Hin to feel that way, Luke. He doesn't have the right to poke his nose in our relationship and what we are doing together. In a few weeks I'm your wife. Do I have to tell my brother what's happening when we're in our private quarters." She said getting angry.

Luke got a fit of laugher.

"Absolutely not, my love. What we will do there is absolutely private, a matter between you and me." Luke said laughing even louder.

"Stop laughing. This isn't a subject to joke about. Tama-Hin's over protection is annoying. He isn't my guard on Wegoyy any longer." Liane said now getting really angry because she felt she was blushing vehemently.

"Who brought up our activities after we got married, my love. It wasn't me," Luke said teasingly. "I love those rose cheeks, naughty pixie. They reveal a lot of what you're thinking."

For a moment Liane didn't know if she should remain annoyed about her brother, or become annoyed with what Luke was saying. She choose to neglect both feelings and began to laugh too.

"This is ridiculous, Luke. I should be more focussed on my position of your padawan to avoid that our secret plan would become known, instead of getting angry with my brother, because he can't or won't see that we're still good friends, very good friends, intimate friends."

"You're very convincing as my padawan, naughty pixie," Luke said more serious again as he put his arm around her.

"I'm getting used to my new status, master Luke," Liane said while Luke bowed over to her to kiss her.

"Which status, my love?" Luke grinned and kissed her again.

"As your padawan, of course,"

"And while you're alone with me?" Luke teased.

"As your naughty pixie."

"Not as the woman who has promised to marry me? Not as my future wife?" Luke continued, teasing her.

"Don't mentioned that subject again," Liane answered while her cheeks got a rosy color again. "Yet!"

Luke started the laugh, but Liane frowned,

"And don't laugh. I understand your insinuations, Luke Skywalker. You know what I told you."

"I do, my love, but I love to remind you at your answer."

"That we're not yet married I hope." Liane answered uneasy.

"Not really," Luke said grinning, "but I won't tease you any further, otherwise you might get really angry with me."

"I won't Luke, but as long as we're pretending to be master and apprentice I don't think it's a good idea to make our relationship even more complicated. I love you with all my heart and I promise that one day I will be yours, as you will be mine."

Luke pulled her close.

"I love you too, my beautiful dream girl." He said and put a gentle kiss on her forehead. "We have to get back to the vineyard, my love. Udine and her sister will come back to vineyard building soon. Tonight I will miss you for I will asleep alone again, not holding you in my arms, feeling your body against mine, like last night."

He pulled her to her feet. Liane put her arms around his neck.

"As your apprentice I'm not supposed to use Jedi telepathy yet, do I, but I could use the precious gift you once made for me. "

"Shaayla-Car, you're a Jedi Knight, why not wish me pleasant dreams using Jedi telepathy. I long to hear your voice in my mind. Will you grant me my longing."

"I will, my love. I'll promise. We should have done that right from the day we've arrived here."

They descended to the vineyard, walking side by side, while Luke every now and than talked to her as if he was explaining something. Liane dutifully nodded or asked some other questions.

Yarnick looked at his brothers and Yarmod and Ian.

"I just got word from Han Solo that he will arrive here about four days from now. Tomorrow we're going back to Myr, clear out the cargo hold and see to it that the harvest men will bring the furniture and other items to the vineyard building, while we hand over the administration to Toallin. The next day I want to get back to Tyr to load more already non-essentials items at Cantamaga and bring them to Ribana. I talked to the Council of the Elders and the governor and they will help their fellow Quelans to select what they don't necessarily use at the moment. Once back again on Myr we unload those labeled items with the names of the owner and store them in one of the big tents of the harvest men. The next day we will do a third trip and return to Myr together with the Millennium Falcon. Yarmod, Ian, will you two be our pilots on all these flights." Yarnick said, looking at the two Jedi.

"No problem, Yarnick. We're glad to help, don't we, Tama-Hin," Yarmod said.

Ian nodded in agreement.

"Never thought that we would be involved in moving house," Kieran grinned, "I thought we were traders, dear brother."

"Roll up your sleeves, Kieran. I have seen you talking some young Quelan girls. Don't get any ideas, my dear brother. Most of these Quelan girls have already been matched with their future husbands by their parents." Brion said.

"Except Chati Fonaldris," Bran said. "I saw her and Wedge Antilles together at master Kamalin's school building. Funny, that her parents, Toallin and Udine, have accepted her status as Wedge's padawan."

"They are all too happy, that their daughter is alive, I heard," Ronan said.

"I heard that master Kamalin called 'lady daredevil' to tease her. How did she get to Myr with those harvest men?" Conor remarked.

"She hid herself in the Millennium Falcon, I heard," Yarnick said.

Ian nodded.

"She did, in Han's hidden cargo hold, just before we and the harvest men with Cornell went to Myr the first time." He said.

"Why did she do that?" Kieran asked.

"She always was convinced that she had to free Ribana." Ian said.

The six brothers laughed.

"As far as what I heard she really didn't, because Wedge brought her to safety, before the water had been released."

"Her efforts may well have had an impact on the expulsion of Trevor Matrik. Yarmod, Chati, and I penetrated the cave system via the underground riverbed. She knew the way through the caves. She had previously worked with Luke Skywalker and knew how to awaken him from Jedi Force hibernation. After Nori Thai was injured, she cared for him in the Astræga and ensured that he stayed alive, until Shaayla-Car told me that I had to help Nori as a Jedi healer. I like her, and I'm sure that Wedge Antilles will turn her into a great Jedi Knight one day." Ian said, and the group heard the admiration in his voice.

"Tama-Hin, how is your sister doing as Luke's padawan?" Yarnick asked.

"She always has had her doubts about her initiation, I've heard," Kieran said.

"That's true, guys. And actually, that is not so surprising, because she never really learned how to use the Force under a Jedi Master." Ian said, casting a quick glance at Yarmod.

"Wasn't Luke her Jedi-master on Endor?" Bran asked.

"No. On Endor she didn't want to become a Jedi Knight. She feared her Force use, as she thought that what she knew was lead by the Dark Side of the Force: Sith knowledge. Luke stayed with her for many months." Ian said.

"I've heard that the Supreme Chancellor and Luke's sister Leia have brought her to a safe place." Kieran said.

"She brought her to Na'ctaMagh'Ba. There she got a lot more knowledge about the Force." Ian told.

"Yeah, and then she, you and Yarmod came to Tatooine where we met her again. In my eyes she had changed a lot, she wasn't Eilidh no more," Yarnick said.

Brion grinned, looking at his eldest brother.

"Yarnick, none of us will ever marry Eilidh, neither you, nor I," He said. "She's such a great woman, but I guess that she will marry Luke Skywalker one day."

Ian and Yarmod looked shocked.

"Maybe, they will, but probably not as long as Luke is her Jedi master, Brion." Yarmod said.

"I said, one day, Yarmod, not tomorrow or so." Brion grinned.

"OK, guys, we're invited to have a meal with the members of the council and governor Mugin. Shall we go back to Cantamaga. They also insisted we should use our guest rooms for the night. So Kieran, you close off the Grannd Traveler this time."

They all rose. Yarmod and Ian put on their Jedi coats. Using the two speeders the group head for Cantamaga for the evening.

Yarmod and Ian were looking down from the plateau to Cantamaga and the town's surroundings.

"They managed to build a new living here, after Trevor sent them in to exile and looted Ribana. Do you know, Ian, I wonder, how many Quelan will regret their return to Ribana. If I would have managed to build a new living else where, I don't know if I would be very willing to give up everything I had worked for."

"They have always been focussed on returning to Myr, Yarmod. This community has a very traditional way of life, changes aren't accepted easily. You see it with the harvest men. Their children are more or less destined to become harvest men too, at least the boys, and the girls are matched at an early age to one of those future harvest men. Tradition is here a life style."

"Very different of ours, or elsewhere in the galaxy, although there are more way of lives we can't imagine. Take for instance the way of living of the Jedi in time of the Republic. The Jedi Council more or less dictated the rules. No emotional attachment among the Jedi, otherwise the focus on the Force would be in danger. Jedi master with padawans everywhere, and young children taken away from the biological parents to be raised in the Jedi Temple. I don't know, if I would be happy, if I would have been raised and educated that way."

Ian nodded, but remained silent.

"We're lucky to live in a time what a new way of being a Jedi Knight meant. Luke doesn't want to apply the old Jedi rules on the new Jedi Knights. Having feelings for each other is no longer seen as a distraction from the Force. Luke's sister is even married, something that was absolutely forbidden in the past."

"Yarmod, did you heard what Brion Grann said. He assumes that one day Luke will marry my sister."

"He might be right, Tama-Hin, you have seen yourself, how fond Luke is of Shaayla-Car. You've seen them kissing each other passionately. That means something, don't you think?"

"It could be, if Shaayla-Car still would be a Jedi Knight, like Luke. I don't know if he will proposed to her. She is just his padawan. " Ian said.

"She won't remain his padawan forever, Tama-Hin. Luke is her Jedi master at the moment, but he surely will decide that she has gained all the knowledge a Jedi Knight needs to know. I'm sure that he will confirm her status as Jedi Knight again."

"I'd wish I had your confidence about her becoming a Jedi Knight, Yarmod. What I have seen in the vineyard, wasn't reassuring."

"With what you told me in mind I can imagine that you're worried about what's going on between them, but it's your sister decision to become Luke's padawan, because she wasn't really sure about her initiation. We both have felt her doubts, Tama-Hin."

"Yes, I have, but I would felt less worried about her, if she would tell me what has happened when they left with the Astræga and went into hyperspace."

"Why would that lessen your worries, my friend? Is it because you're just curious?"

"Yarmod, I don't understand why Luke does so unfriendly and surly to her at some moments."

"You have seen what happened between Luke and Shaayla-Car only one time. Is that enough to conclude that Luke is always behaving like that to her?"

"Certainly not, but she could tell me I shouldn't worry about her new relationship with Luke."

"She won't, Tama-Hin, and you know it. Shaayla-Car, or Liane, is not someone who explains to everyone who asks, what is on her mind or what she should or shouldn't do. Do you remember that she assembled her own lightsaber while on board the Astræga? She suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and when we asked her where she had been she didn't answer our question. Maybe we didn't realize that, for we were so glad for her that she had successfully done the Illum-meditation. I also can't remember that she has never told us where she had been on board the Astræga. You certainly remember that we have been looking for her all over the ship, for we didn't sense her presence through the Force. It's still a riddle to me where she has been all the time."

"Do you think, that she will also never tell us where she has gone with Luke? That she will remain elusive about it."

"That was her answer after her return to Tyr, Tama-Hin. You asked her if she would ever tell you were she had been, and her answer was clear; she won't. She doesn't want any of her friends, you, me, Wedge, the Granns, Han, name them, to meddle in her affairs. If you don't want to get into trouble, friend, stop thinking that you can repair their relationship and find a good answer to what is going on between Luke and Shaayla-Car." Yarmod said, looking at his friend.

"Would it be an idea to ask Luke?" Ian suggested.

Yarmod shook his head.

"I think it's a very bad idea to ask a Jedi master to tell you what's going on between him and his padawan, Tama-Hin. You have to accept that's it not clear to any of us what's going on. They will remain elusive, until they decide it's time to tells us, and that's up to them."

Yarmod sensed that his friend wasn't really convinced. He understood Ian's dilemma. Shaayla-Car was his sister. He loved her. He always had. He felt responsible for her, and especially that last issue was slipping from his fingers and he couldn't yet cope with it. Yarmod rose.

"It's getting late, Tama-Hin. We'd better get back to Cantamaga and let it rest. The oncoming days we won't be able to shed another light on this matter, for Yarmick is determined to start with the evacuation of most of the material items to Myr. We have to make sure that on Myr everything will be stored properly to enable the Quelans to redesign their restored house with the furniture and other assets we will temporarily store for them in the harvester's tents."

Ian rose too.

"You're right, Yarmod. Maybe I will find out what's going on between Luke and my sister at some unexpected moment."

Toallin, his wife and his sister-in-law together with Liane were having their evening meal in the vineyard. They had come back to Myr about two hours ago. Liane had helped Udine and Carmona, preparing the different dishes.

"Some of Cornell's men will bring our furniture and other items." Toallin said, "but they couldn't tell when they will get here."

"We'll manage another evening on those nagawa fleeces, Toallin. Shaayla-Car did you sleep well all alone her last night?"

"She wasn't alone, Udine. I asked her Jedi master to stay with her. I thought it wouldn't be right to leave a young woman like her alone in this huge building." Toallin answered.

Carmona and Udine looked aghast at him.

"Master Skywalker has stayed with her during the night, Toallin. Did he accept your request?" Udine asked upset.

"He was with her this morning. They had just finished breakfast together, hadn't they, Shaayla-Car?"

Liane nodded, chuckling inwardly, because she sensed where the conversation was heading.

"My master is a sound sleeper, Udine. I had to wake him up this morning," She said.

"Where did he sleep, my dear. Did you lock your room after you went to sleep?" Carmona asked.

"No, I didn't, Carmona. He is my master, I'm his padawan. What's the problem?" Liane asked, hardly able to suppress her chuckle.

"Shaayla-Car, you're a very naive woman, I think. Master Luke is a young man, you are a beautiful young woman." Udine started.

Liane tried to look innocently with questionable eyes.

"We never leave our young females alone with young males at night," Carmona said.

Toallin coughed noticeably.

"That is to say, Shaayla-Car, when a young man has ask the young female Quelan's father that he wants to marry his daughter, then her parents are less strict, but only if it's sure that they will get married shortly afterwards. I think you know what might happen when a female and a male decide to get married." Udine added.

"Udine, are you trying to tell me, that my master could have taken advantage of the situation and abuse me?" Liane bluntly asked.

The three adult Quelans looked uncomfortably.

"No, no, Shaayla-Car, you shouldn't think of your master like that. We just want to point out that there is always a risk when a woman is alone with a man. Master Skywalker is a very righteous man who, as a Knight of the Jedi, certainly possesses good self-control, but it is not uncommon for even the most righteous men can lose control in the company of a beautiful woman like you."

Now Liane couldn't keep her laugh any longer.

"Thank you for your warning, Udine, but I have been alone with many men in my life. I have been alone with the entire garrison and staff of my foster father on Morantan, about two hundred soldiers and officers. I was in charge of his garrison while he was away. Udine, none of those men ever harmed me. You are absolutely right about master Skywalker. He is a very righteous man, for he learned a lot before he became a Jedi Knight. I could not have wished for a better Jedi Master. That is why I am so happy that he accepted me as his padawan to help me properly interpret the knowledge I have already gained about the Force and its use. I was therefore glad that my master wanted to stay with me tonight. It is still pitch black here in the vineyard. I am not easily frightened, but it was reassuring to know that a true Jedi Knight had stayed in the building."

"That may all be true, Shaayla-Car, but we just want to warn you." Carmona said, "We feel a responsibility for you."

Liane jumped to her feet and embrace Udine and Carmona.

"You're wonderful hostesses. I promise I will take your words at heart." Liane said, before she looked at Toallin.

"Governor, next time when your wife and her sister will be away I will stay alone in the building. My master normally goes to sleep in his own space ship. Tonight I will have a good rest to know that there will be more people around."

After having finished their joined meal Toallin returned to Ribana and Liane helped Udine and Carmona to clear the leftovers. The two sisters insisted that Liane should stay to have some bowls of herbal tea with them while they ensured their guest that the other day there would be a real bed admittedly with the use of nagawa fleeces, covered with sheets and blankets. Wishing her hostesses good night Liane went to her bedroom, where she immediately sought contact with Luke.

'Have you already gone to sleep, my love' She asked using Force telepathy.

'Of course not, I have been waiting to hear your voice, my lovely pixie,' Luke answered. 'How was your meal with our Quelan friends'

'It seems, my love, that everyone feels the need to warn me not to be alone with an attractive man like you,' Liane chuckled and told Luke what Udine and Carmona had told her.

'Well I'm honored that they see me as a righteous man with a great deal of self-control because I'm a Jedi Knight.' Luke answered also chuckling.

'It's great to remember how wonderful our night together was, darling.' Liane said.

She sensed how he laughed

'What is it, Luke?' Liane asked inquisitive.

'That those two lovely ladies might in fact be wrong about me, for I don't want to be a righteous man with a great deal of self-control, because I'm a Jedi Knight, when we're married.' Luke answered.

'Neither will I be a righteous woman with a great deal of self-control, because I'm a Jedi Knight, once I will be your wife. Sleep well, my love. I will dream of our stay on the beach.' Liane asked.

'Sleep well, lovely naughty pixie. We will share the same dream.' Luke said. Liane sensed that their telepathic connection disappeared. She laid down on the stack of nagawa fleeces and thought, still chuckling, about Udine's warning, before she felt in a sound sleep.