Chapter 115

She was laying on a soft, comfortable surface in the panoramic meditation room of the Astræga and was looking through the transparent steel dome at the dark sky, the vastness of the universe with its thousands of suns and planetary system.

Once again, her gaze was caught by the immense view through the transparent steel dome, and she felt overwhelmed by the depth of the Unifying Force.

However, she felt very calm, very serene, and strangely more whole, a kind of utterly beautiful completeness, as if she had become a union within the Force ... with Luke. That last feeling of forming a new union with Luke grew stronger as she became aware of his presence and remembered how they had spent the previous evening together. Now she also became aware of the soft caresses of Luke's hand over her skin. Over her arms, over her breasts, over her entire body.

"You're so beautiful, my love," A voice whispered softly but full of happiness, while the caresses continued. "Have you slept well?"'

A warm sensation passed through Liane's body, while his hand caressed her breasts and her belly.

"Luke, darling. What wonderful moments have you given me last evening," She whispered.

She heard him laugh and she stretched out her hand to seek his physical presence. Luke grabbed her hand as she touched his face in the dark. He shove his arm behind her to pull her to him.

"My eternal love, you have given a naive, ignorant farm boy an amazing experience," He whispered in her ear. "I thought I had to use my skills as a Jedi Master to teach an inexperienced woman how to give her future husband her love, but I was wrong. You are much more experienced than you let on, my darling."

Liane chuckled softly.

"Only in theory, thanks my long stay with Eremian and his priestesses."

"What do you mean, naughty pixie?" Luke said while he sought her lips to kiss her.

"Hmm, Luke, do that again?" She murmured.

"I asked you something, my love. How long did you stay among a clan of despicable women and their leader, and why?"

"Some six months, maybe more, after my affair with Tijan. Anakin had become outraged with me. I think he wanted to punish me for disobeying his demand to kill Tijan. He brought me to Eremian and left without saying goodbye, that's what I remember, for it felt as if he cast me away. I wondered, if he would ever come back to pick me up again."

"And there you were taught how to put into practice what you applied to me last night, while I thought I had to be nice, gentle, and careful with a woman who didn't know how to give her love to her future husband."

"You were sweet, gentle, and caring, Luke, and that is why this first night together felt so wonderful. I felt your love throughout my entire body, and it was a miraculous experience. Did you feel it that way too?"

"Even more, my lovely dream girl. You made me feel like I became totally one with you, as if we became one body and mind." He said and still caressing her naked skin with his hand.

"As a Force dyad, Luke, that's how I felt what was happening to us. It was such a tremendous experience."

Liane put her hands on his bare chest and began to fondle his skin. Luke pulled her closer to him and Liane put her head against his chest, gently caressing his neck all along his back. They didn't talk anymore, instead they enjoyed the warmth and sweetness of their naked bodies so close together.

Liane surrendered herself to Luke gentle touches, giving him her love in return. The view of the galaxy above them became blurred and the shining pinpricks became curling streaks, as they forget their surroundings, while they felt united and lifted by the Force.

When they woke up again, laying in each others arms, the stars were vanishing and the first streaks of sunshine seemed to flash between the canopies of the trees that surrounded the clearing.

Luke gently kissed Liane and raised his head. He stretched out his hand. The panels around the dome closed and the soft glow of the hidden light tubes lit up along the edges of the floor. Luke lay back down on his back and looked at Liane, who was snuggling up against him. But suddenly, she sat up half, leaning on an elbow, looking straight in his eyes.

"She's gone. I don't see her image, she isn't standing behind you any longer," She whispered. "I don't see her looking at you."

"Did you see Eminil image sometimes?" He asked.

Liane nodded.

"Ever since I saw her image in the dark corridor on Na'ctaMagh'Ba, Luke, I often became aware of her presence around you, sometimes vaguely, sometimes more clearly. I didn't understand why I saw her image was always near you, for you had asked me to wait until you wanted to tell me about it.

After you had told me what she had done to you, I understood why I sometimes saw her image. Since then, her image hurt me, just as she has hurt you, but I knew that you were the one who had to let go of her and what had happened between you and her long ago. She's gone now and I can only hope her image won't come back."

Luke bowed over to her and kissed her passionately.

"After you first saw her I have tried to hide her from you, but often I have felt how you consoled me and surrounded me with your comforting feelings. You shouldn't feel concerned about her, my lovely naughty pixie. You won't see her anymore, she won't come back, for I finally could let her go, after you gave me your love and became mine. She won't be with me any longer, now that I have you. Your love and what you have given me last night, means more to me and feels so much stronger than what I ever have felt if I spent a night with her.

Hopefully, this will also make my search for that unknown planet easier, for I don't have to fear I will constantly see her image, that so often has disturbed my search, as if she wanted to withheld me from finding Padmé."

"Luke, it will be my search too ... it will be our search together , not only yours. We have to find out what happened to Padmé. We have to find her remains and bring them to Irithim, where we will give her a lovely place to rest."

Liane did not mentioned what she had asked Nori Thai and that he had agreed to find the unknown planet in the Unknown Regions. She sighed, overcome by a deep, intense sense of satisfaction.

"Do we have to get up, or can we still stay here for a while, maybe even the whole day?" She asked without expecting an answer.

'We don't have to get up, and we can stay here together the whole day,' came the answer to her musings.

'Fine with me, for I want to stay here with you.' She mused again.

'No one will disturb us, for no one knows we're here.'

Luke got up.

"If you still want to stay here, I'll get us some food and drink, my love. I'll be right back." He said.

Liane stretched out fully and placed her hands behind her head. She lay like that for minutes, thinking back with overwhelming feelings to her first night with Luke, feelings that still aroused in her. When she heard his footsteps she sat upright, grabbed a few nagawa fleeces and made a kind of pillows to lean against. Luke put a tray with some slices of nut bread with nagawa cheese between them with two huge mugs of herbal tea.

"I have no more of our favorite juice, Shaayla-Car?" He said. "but herbal tea will do, right?"

Liane didn't answer immediately, but kept looking at him. Luke intercepted her stare.

"What is it, Shaayla-Ca?"

"Nothing," Liane chuckled, "I just love to see you without your Jedi clothes,"

Luke sat himself next to her and together they enjoyed the sober meal, paying mindful attention to it. He put the tray away and lean against the pillows of nagawa fleeces. He watched Liane who had pulled several fleeces up to her chin. She leaned with her head against the improvised pillows.

"Are you getting cold, my love?" He asked and pulled up more fleeces around her.

"No, I'm just lazy, darling. I am aware that I shouldn't be, for it is absolutely not a good habit for a Jedi Knight, but I'm enjoying the warmth of these fleeces. It makes me feel drowsy. Why don't you lay beside me under these fleeces. They are so warm and cozy. Where did you get so many of them?"

Luke laid down next to Liane and pulled up several fleeces to make a thick cover all around them. Liane ran her fingers through his hair.

"Cornell gave them to me. I offered to paid for itthem, but he insisted to give them to me."

"You asked to buy them, because you had planned to use nagawa fleeces to complete the arrangement you had in mind."

"Yes, originally I want to take you the hidden valley, but when I heard that the whole company would go back to Tyr for at least four days, before the second group would come to Ribana, I changed my mind and decided that I would take you to Ktafunda to buy our wedding rings and the alliance ring I wanted to give you. It wasn't a really success after all."

"That's not true, darling. Our choice of the wedding rings is right and I love the alliance ring you gave me. You did all of it to make me happy. That I didn't enjoy all the purchases on first hand, is the uncertainty I felt when I imagined that I would go back to Irithim with you as your wife, where we will live together in your apartment, go there in your ship which you have said it was mine as well, while I could little to nothing to share with you, for what you wanted to share with me."

"Wrong thoughts, my love. Do you still think you have nothing to share with me?" Luke asked and Liane heard some old form of concern in his voice. "What I want to share with you, or give you, are just material items, darling. What you are sharing with me are your caring thoughts, the way you always console me with your special Force gift, the offer you want to help me to build the New Jedi Order, your lovely presence and most important the overwhelming love you have given me last night and surely will give me days and years on end. All those things are of much more value, than the apartment I accidentally possess, because Leia and I had bought it together after the Battle of Endor, because we wanted to spend time and enjoy we were siblings and even twins. Now that Leia and Han have bought their own apartment, she left me the apartment we had shared together. It's lovely, but living there all by myself doesn't feel as a home. I hope that you will be able to make it a home not only for you, but for the two of us, our home."

"The only home I have ever known, are the four quarters that Anakin had exclusively assigned to me in one of the outer rings of the domains. Two of them had small transparisteel windows near the top of the outside wall. I only could she the sky through them. All those quarters had artificial lighting that automatically switched off when there was no movement. I had a sleeping quarter with a bathroom and a closet for my clothes, one was used to have my meals, and the fourth quarter was my study were the teachers he brought to Morantan were teaching me there special knowledge, sometimes Anakin joined me there. Those quarters weren't really what you would call home, for they were part of the domain building. I shouldn't look back at those times, but it still is part of me." She sighed.

"All the experiences from our youth are part of us and influence our minds, until we're ready to find our own way of life. You know too well how my youth on Tatooine is still part of me, and so are my experiences on Hoth and on Dagobah." Luke said as he pulled her close under several layers of nagawa fleeces. Liane huddle closer to him.

"And now we stand for another new experience, my naughty pixie," He whispered in her ear, "The experience to be husband and wife, and share our lives together, where I want to find way to share my love with a beautiful wife, the daughter of my former master."

He pulled her much closer to him, and for a long time they only enjoyed the love they wanted to give each other.

"Ha Cornell, good, you have come and accepted my invitation." Kamalin said. "I want to talk with you about your youngest son."

"What has he done this time, master Kamalin. It's such a difficult boy to teach some manners. My wife is glad that his grandfather takes care of him, but the old man tells him stories about those old friends of him who I have never seen. I fear that Lorann gets funny ideas of becoming like those old friends of my father, even much more since that young son of one of those old friends, that young master Kenobi is often visiting my father while Lorann is at home. All those Jedi stuff, master Kamalin, gives me the creeps. Believing in some elusive force, the Force as the Jedi call it, doesn't make real men in my eyes, but where do you want me to talk about concerning Lorann. He won't be a nuisance to you much longer, master Kamalin. This will be his last year at your class. You have taught him well. It always amazes me how he can recall all your lessons."

"Cornell, have you ever seen Lorann's drawings?" Kamalin asked.

"Of course I have. I have forbidden him to spend much of his time with something useless, but my father has given him some foil paper again. Has he made drawings you don't approve?"

"No, in fact, Cornell, I'm amazed of Lorann's talent. He often just seems to listen to what I'm teaching those boys and girl and afterwards when I tell them to do their exercises Lorann produces some very detailed drawings on the matter."

"Making drawings won't give him a way of living, master Kamalin. "He has to become more tough, more sturdy. He has to become a man, a harvest man, like my other sons."

"Cornell, would you mind if I give Lorann a position in the Council of Elder as my assistant?" Kamalin asked, cutting Cornell a bit short. "I have need of his talent. I want him to listen to those Quelans who have been in Ribana and have started the repairs and the restoration. I have heard from governor Toallin that still a lot has to be done. Lorann could make drawings of what he has heard and the governor and I think that his drawings can help the Quelans of the third group - not the most sturdy ones - to see what already has been done and what still has to be done."

"You want my son be a member of the Council of Elders at his age, master Kamalin, because he can make drawings. I never thought that such a great honor would be bestowed on my family. How long do you want to make use of him?"

"At least until the third group goes to Ribana, but maybe longer, for I'm thinking that he also can make drawings of our restored and repaired hometown. Every Quelan who would be interest could get a drawing of his own restore home, but that's only an idea, yet."

"It would do the boy good to be away from those Jedi stories of his grandfather. Master Kamalin I was in shock when governor Mugin told me that my son had gone to the nut woods with two Jedi and that Fonaldris girl. I must tell you that I'm glad that she never will marry my son Cemall. You won't believe it but she has told my son that she would make him unhappy, because she would do what she want and never listen to him. And now I have seen that one of those Jedi, a fellow I thought who had a better insight, has taken her as his padawan learner. So she is thinking now that she will become a Jedi Knight like him. Lorann is also getting funny ideas since that younger Jedi, that son of my father's old friend is paying attention to him. Too much attention, master Kamalin, for I don't want Lorann to become a Jedi Knight. I'm going to talk to Jedi master Skywalker who is the most sensible and serious of all those Jedi Knights and ask him that he keeps his men and women away from my son. But I have no objection if he will help you with those drawings, master Kamalin."

"That's good to hear, Cornell. I will take care of him for the following weeks and months if you don't mind. I will arrange some rooms for him in the administration building where he can invited those Quelans who want to tell him what they have seen in the beginning and how they started with the work that needed to be done. Of course I will provide with all the necessary materials he needs."

Cornell looked flabbergasted at the chairman of the Council of the Elder.

"My son will get his own rooms to work in the administration building?"

"Of course, his rooms will be between my working room and that of master Woldrin, for he too is interested in Lorann's drawings. Cornell, your son will be doing very good work for our community. Therefore I'm very glad that we've come to an agreement. Thank you for your time and will you please send your son to me as soon as you see him."

"I'm going to tell him immediately, you want to see him, master Kamalin. He probably is with his grandfather."

Cornell left. Kamalin closed the door behind the harvest man and smiled.

'This, Cornell, will keep you from issuing a request to announce your little son's wedding which he despises, not because of Kalinn, but because Lorann is destined to follow another path.' The chairman of the Council of Elders thought

'Luke?' Leia sought contact with her brother through Jedi telepathy.

Luke opened his eyes.

'What is it, Leia? Do we have to talk now.' Luke answered and looked at Liane who also has woken up.

"Use Force Merge Minds with me, my love. Leia is calling out to me and I sense she has something important to tell us."

Liane put one hand against Luke's temple, while Luke did the same at the side of her head. Their minds became one and Liane sensed Luke's thoughts like her own.

'Luke, you and Liane have been seen kissing each other in the vineyard.'

'Udine Fonaldris?'

'Good guess, my dear brother, and she has spread what she has seen. She has told Toallin and talked to Ian. The whole Quelan community knows by now that you and Liane aren't in a master-apprentice relationship.'

'You all are still on Tyr?' Luke asked.

'Yes, and as soon as these rumors have spread the Quelans intended to set up festivities for your wedding.'

Luke pressed his lips and felt how Liane became unquiet.

This is not what Liane and I want, Leia. Our wedding should be postponed until Ribana has been restored and all the Quelans have returned to it.'

'I have spoken with Toallin and Mugin, together with master Kamalin and master Woldrin. It took me quite some persuasiveness to explain why the two of you had set up your distraction.'

'Did they accept what you said?'

'Yes, Toallin even said it was a wonderful story which will be told over and over again on future occasion. They have given their full cooperation to what you have done. What's more the Council of the Elders have issued a special statement that the community shouldn't pay any attention to the rumors and gossip that has been spread.'

'Doesn't sound reassuring, Leia. Rumors and gossip always continue to spread.'

'It seems that what they call 'a special statement' has the authority of a rule of law among the Quelans. They may no longer pay attention to any of those rumors and they certainly may not talk about the rumors in public.

Luke began to laugh and Liane also smiled relieved.

'In other words, Leia, the Quelans are told to keep their mouth shut, right?'

'More or less, and I have the impression that you're no longer the talk of town. I even think that you and Liane can continue to remain in the master-apprentice distraction you have set up.'

'We will talk about that, Leia, for I feel that despite that the Quelans may not talk openly about our relationship as master and apprentice they will keep an eye on Shaayla-Car and me to discover if we're really behaving as a master and an apprentice, or if they can discover us in a warm embrace, which will spread the gossip even further.'

'The decision is yours, Luke. How are the two of you doing on Palomintar Six? Did you find what you have been looking for?'

Luke looked down at Liane and saw the happy look in her eyes. She nodded with a smile.

'I did, eh, ... we did, Leia. When is the next group going to Myr to work in Ribana.'

'The day after tomorrow. Luke, tell Liane that I have nullified her brother's disciplinary measure. I've told him he may go back with the second group, but he has indicated that he wants to stay on Tyr and return to Ribana with the last group or even later. Wedge has told him to give Lorann his support without teaching the boy any Force use, but it seems that Lorann has already developed some Force use himself, which gives problems with his father Cornell. He wants to talk with you after you have returned to Myr, but Toallin and Mugin have already postponed that talk until all Quelans have returned to Ribana.'

'That's good to know. Shaayal-Car and I need to have a talk about what we will do, when we return to Myr.'

'Don't let this throw you off, Luke. Enjoy your time together. Sometimes solutions present themselves when we least expect them. I can't talk any longer, Luke, for Chewie has come to our quarters, telling me that we have a visiter.

The Force connection disappeared.

Kamalin walked up the cargo ramp of the Millennium Falcon and crossed the passageway to the control room. Amazed Han Solo and Chewbacca looked up from their chores.

"Master Kamalin, what brings you here?" Han asked and quickly cleared away the equipment that was laying here and there on the couches, the worktable and the ground.

"I would like to have a word with your wife, master Solo."

"She is in our private quarter talking to my brother-in-law, I mean Luke, and his future bride, until that time his padawan learner. Chewie, see if Leia can break off her connection with her brother."

The big Wookiee went over to the aft of the freighter and within minutes he came back with Leia. She nodded politely as she saw the chairman of the Council of the Elder.

"Master Kamilin, welcome to the Millennium Falcon. Do I sense that you have good news."

"Indeed, Leia. Cornell has accepted that Lorann will be assistant for the oncoming time. I will tutor the boy who I will give a room in the administration building."

"Excellent, that the first of the many hurdles we need to take until Cornell will be fully convinced about his son destination," Leia said. "Have you already spoken with Lorann?"

"No, I have asked Cornell to send his son to me, so I expect the boy this afternoon to meet me. Leia, can you ask Tama-Hin Kenobi to meet me in the administration building around the same time."

"I will, master Kamalin, but you shouldn't consider that Tama-Hin can become Lorann's master, yet. My former apprentice knows too well that he isn't ready to be responsible for a padawan."

"That's certainly not my intention, Leia, but Lorann has great confidence in master Kenobi. I want to ask that young Jedi if he would be willing to spend some time with Lorann every day and encourage him, when Lorann is making those drawings. It also will boost the self-confidence of master Kenobi and show him that one day he will be ready to take on his own Jedi apprentice which will be no one else but Lorann."

"You're talking about the future, master Kamalin. For the Jedi the future is always in motion, so it's difficult to predict what really will happen. You shouldn't forget that Cornell doesn't want that his son will learn to use the Force."

Kamalin laughed benignant.

"Cornell is now objecting against it, Leia, but there will come a time when he will accept that not everything will go according to his will. The Force is strong with Lorann, Even he still isn't a padawan, his Force skills will continue to develop. I have seen the same with Chati Fonaldris, and look, that unruly lady has been taken as padawan learner by master Antilles and they are getting along very well. Master Antilles had made the right choice. I have a great respect for him, for he feels precisely what that outcast Quelan woman needs."

"I will tell Wedge your words, master Kamalin." Leia said.

Kamalin rose and wanted to leave the Millennium Falcon. Han stood up as well.

"Can I give you a ride back to Cantamaga, master Kamalin?" He asked.

"That's generous, master Solo. May I ask if we could go to Manall's house first. I hope to find Lorann there. By the way have you ever seen the boy's drawings? They are so detailed and so true to life. I've heard that master Skywalker has framed the drawing Lorann made of his ship in the control room."

They left the Falcon and Han drove up to the old harvester's house, where they saw that Lorann was standing outside the door, saying goodbye to his grandfather. Manall pointed at the speeder that drove up the path and smiled.

"Master Kamalin has come himself to bring you to Cantamaga, Lorann. Now you don't have to walk all the way."

Han stopped the speeder and Kamalin stepped out.

"His father has just told us, that you wanted to see Lorann, Kamalin. Cornell said that he's going to make drawings for you, Woldrin and the governors. I didn't understand what he was talking about, but I'm glad that my son won't threat the boy with his wedding plans."

Han Solo frowned.

"A wedding plan, master Manall? Whose?"

"Lorann's"

"Lorann's? The boy is just twelve. Who is is going to marry?"

"Kalinn, master Solo," Lorann said, looking uncomfortable, "She is master Wollin youngest daughter?"

"How old is that girl?"

"She is seven years old, master Solo."

"A boy of twelve is marrying a girl of seven?" Han said in disbelieve, "Who is arranging that?"

"My father. He can ask the governors to make the arrangement he and master Wollin made when we had arrived in Cantamaga public and then I'm married to her, and I have take care of her." Lorann explained sounding unhappy.

"Our traditional way of living, master Solo," Manall said, "but for the time being that threat will be less important, because my grandson is going to help the Council of the Elder and the governors."

Han nodded.

"He is going to make drawings for them. Master Kamalin just told me that those drawings are very good."

"They are, master Solo. Lorann, show master Solo the drawing you made of the inside of master Skywalker's ship, where you have pictured master Skywalker himself, Tama-Hin Kenobi and his friend, Tama-Hin's sister Shaayla-Car. Master Solo, Lorann made this drawing after the first group went to Myr, for his father doesn't want him to waste his time drawing."

"Grandpa, I shouldn't show that drawing to any one any more, for then I spread the gossip about master Skywalker and miss Shaayla-Car. It's now forbidden for all of us to talk about them."

"Master Solo is their friend, Lorann. He can tell you if you have pictured them well," Manall said. "Kamalin, you also have to see this drawing, for when I saw it, it felt like I could step into it and become part of the group. But Lorann is right. He will show the drawing inside my house. Go and get it, Lorann. Master Solo, Kamalin come in. I insist that you see it. It really is marvelous."

Han and Kamalin entered the harvester's house and Lorann retrieved the drawing reluctantly. Kamalin looked at it closely and immediately recognized the four Jedi Knights. He stepped aside to give Han Solo a better view. Han cast a glance on the drawing, but became mesmerized when he saw the face of Liane, looking at Luke who was helping Lorann to put the drawing of the Astræga in a frame on the wall. Liane's face was to real to life, radiant, and showing the great love she felt for Luke. For minutes Han remains watching the young woman's face and the look in her eyes.

"She looks wonderful, Lorann," He said and he had difficulty to control his voice. "You have a very keen eye, Lorann.

Kamalin smiled and nodded.

"I am glad you saw it too, Master Solo. Miss Shaayla-Car certainly does not hide her feelings for Jedi Master Skywalker. This is yet another good proof that the special statement we issued yesterday will do its job and prevent those rumors from spreading in our community. Lorann, hide this drawing carefully while we are still working on making Ribana our hometown again, for our two Jedi friends certainly would feel embarrassed if it will become public now."

"I want to give it to miss Shaayla-Car, master Kamalin. Do you think I shouldn't do that?"

"Not while the work in Ribana is going on, Lorann, but when we all have gone back to Ribana you may hand it to her. Until then you have to hide it and keep it safe. And now, Lorann, I want you to join me, for I have to tell you what the governors and the Council of the Elders want you to do for our community."

"My father said something about making drawings for the Council of the Elders, master Kamalin. I don't know what he meant."

"Lorann, We want you to listen to the Quelans that have returned from Ribana. You have listen well to what they are telling you and we want you to make several drawings of their stories, so those Quelans who still have to go to Ribana and help the governors with the restoration of the town will see what already has been done and what needs to be done to make Ribana our hometown again."

"I really have to make drawings, master Kamalin?" Lorann asked aghast. "How many?"

"As many as you want, Lorann. I know you're good at it."

"I would love to do what you want, master Kamalin, but grandpa doesn't have that many sheets of foil paper."

"Everything you will need we will give you, Lorann. You will be working in the main administration building next to the room where I am when I doing my work as chairman of the Council of the Elders. I will have dinner with you and you will get a room above the school building just as Chati. Now get your belongings and join me and master Solo to Cantamaga."

Kamalin turned to Manall who nodded in agreement.

"I will miss his company, but I will come and see him in Cantamaga, Kamalin."

"Of course, Manall, you always be welcome to visit him and look at what the others have been telling him, for you also don't know what Ribana looked like when the first group arrived."

"Grandpa, will you tell master Kenobi where I am. Master Kamalin, may master Kenobi also visit me in Cantamaga?" Lorann asked.

"Everyone may visit you while your working for our community, Lorann. I hope that your father will also pay you one or more visits." Kamalin said.

On Palomintar Six Luke and Leia had left the panoramic meditation, put on their Jedi outfit and had gone over to the control room to reflect on Leia's words. Liane sensed that Luke seemed a bit worried about what was going on on Palomintar Four.

"I didn't expect that our distraction would be discovered this way, Shaayla-Car," He said with a deep sigh.

"Neither did I, Luke, but we need to think about what we will do now." Liane said.

"We indeed should, my lovely pixie, but we also need to be patient. We shouldn't stick to a first possible solution. Let's looked at what Leia told us from different points of view. We still have a full day ahead of us together without any disturbance and I want to enjoy the time that's left, for once we're back on Myr, the Quelan community will be watching us closely, that's for sure."

"Udine has seen us kissing, hasn't she? I can't blame her or Carmona. They felt very responsible for me, after you brought me to the vineyard to stay out of sight."

They were both silent, then Liane looked up at him.

"At least we don't have to keep up our appearance for our friends, for they all know that we are going to get married. You even told me that Tama-Hin has use his Force insight to see that truth and you even have called him your brother which feels really great, Luke. Leia also knew from the beginning about our marriage agreement, and after the gossip has been spreading also Wedge and Yarmod know, although they have seen through what we pretended to be, too. Leia can't banish all our friends to suppress their opinion about our master-apprentice relationship. I even wonder who really never saw through the leis we told. Anakin was right, we are bad liars. The distraction hasn't been convincing enough. However this thwarts our plan a bit, that you would remain my Jedi master until we would have told Toallin and Mugin that we did this deliberately, and with good intentions on our side, and that we want them to officiate our wedding." Liane said and sounded disappointed.

"We don't have to explain what we did to Toallin and Mugin, for Leia has told them why we did it. I'm wondering about that Udine has seen us kissing each other." Luke said, "When could that have happened? We have been so vigilant. How could we have missed her presence through the Force?

"I... wait a minute, Luke. That has to be on the day they all went back to Tyr. We met in the vineyard and I was about to tell you Udine had asked me to help with some last curtains. Probably when I didn't show up fast enough to help her, she went to the vineyard to see where I was. Afterwards we saw the two freighter leaving and I ran through the building to lock up and .... That is true. Completely forgotten. I found a note on the nightstand in my guest room. I was in such a rush that I stuffed it into one of the pockets on my belt. Where did I put it?"

Liane rummaged through the pockets on her belt and took out crumpled sheet of foil paper full with scribbled lines.

"Here I have. Yes, this is Udine's handwriting. I sense it has been written in a hurry." Liane said while she smoothed the crumpled sheet of foil paper.

"What does it say?"

"My dear Shaayla-Car. My sister and I have often warned you that you shouldn't be alone with your Jedi master. Yes, we know he is a righteous man with a high moral standard as a Jedi Knight, but he still is a young man and your a beautiful young woman. You don't seem to take our warnings seriously, for just before we have to travel back to Tyr I have seen you and master Skywalker kissing each other passionately. Shaayla-Car, the way I saw you kissing him, has convinced me that it wasn't the first time he kissed you. When we all have left Myr you will be alone with master Skywalker, for Toallin has told me that he wants to use the days when all of us are gone to extend your understanding of the knowledge of Jedi. That might be, Shaayla-Car, but he might have something else in mind. This is a warning Shaayla-Car, be careful with what he will be asking. Don't give in to something you don't want to do. Carmona and I will see you when we come back and we hope that nothing seriously has happened to you."

After Luke and Liane had read the message a few times the both looked at each and got an uncontrollable fit of laughter. When they finally became more serious again Liane folded the note and put it back in her pocket.

"Dear Udine, I'm sorry my good friend, but I have read your warning too late," Liane said and burst out laughing again, chuckling she continued.

"My Jedi master hasn't behaved as the righteous man you thought he was. Yes, he is a Jedi Knight, but that wasn't been a guarantee that he wouldn't seduce me to surrender myself to him," Liane looked teasingly at Luke who frowned.

"I didn't... " He began, but Liane put her hand to his mouth.

"Let me finish my answer to Udine, my love. Where was I ... that he wouldn't seduce me to surrender myself to him. I'm sorry, Udine, I couldn't resist him and I have surrendered myself willingly to him and have enjoyed his special Jedi treatment."

"Shaayla-Car, you naughty pixie, that lady is quite upset about your wellbeing, and you're telling her that you have been willingly surrendered yourself to me." Luke said as he burst out laughing. "You could add, that you have intended to surrender yourself to me from the moment we had come back on Tyr."

Liane shook her head.

"She probably wouldn't have understood that, Luke, beside then I would have ruined our diversion plan, which is now over. Or do you think we can carry on like this?"

"They all know by now that we are going to get married. They only don't know when. I don't know if Leia has explained to Toallin and Mugin that we are still bound by our obligations to them. I hope that Leia has convinced them that helping the Quelans to rebuild Ribana is our first task as Jedi Knights. If we give up our diversion plan that also means that we have to give up our secret rendez-vous, my love." He said pensively.

"I don't think so, Luke. I think it could be even better. We can meet every night in the panoramic room of the Astræga. We can sleep together from now on, for your friends know what we're up to. It's no secret any longer, and I'm convinced that they also understand that we want to be together. I even think that Udine, Carmona, Toallin and Mugin also understand. Udine once told me that when a couple of young Quelans has gotten permission to marry their parents doesn't object if they come together secretly. We're not Quelans, but we comply with the traditional way the Quelans accept, when a marriage is announced."

Luke's somber glance lit up and he grinned.

Watch out, my naughty pixe, I am not the righteous man you think I am, for your idea to spend every night together appeals to me very much. Do you really think that we can announce that without arousing new gossip?"

"Yes, because our wedding plan has become public now among our friends and among the Quelan community. That special statement suppresses rumors and gossip in public, but the Quelan community still knows what going on between the two of us. They will silence, they will not ask questions, as that specials statement functions as a rule of law in their community. It's safe, Luke, to be together at night in the Astræga from now on. You even could land next to the two freighters instead of in the hidden valley." Liane said and looked convincingly at Luke.

"I prefer to land the Astræga in the hidden valley. Several of our friends might now the spot, but I assume they will respect our privacy. To help the Quelan during the day we could use the speeder to come and go between Ribana and the hidden valley."

"Luke, even if a very curious person would trespass the valley or even the Astræga herself, he wouldn't find us, in panoramic meditation room, I guess. Are there Jedi friends who know about the existence of that part of our ship, for only a Jedi could know, how to enter?"

Luke smiled and pulled her to him.

"Our ship! He said and kissed her. "Convinced that it isn't my ship any longer, my lovely comrade."

Liane nodded, while Luke continued pensively.

"I have to think about what you have said, but it sound convincing. If I cloak the Astræga after we come home for the night it's almost undetectable. The Jedi surely will respect our privacy. And accept for you, no one knows about the existence of the panoramic meditation room. Even Leia, or your brother, or Wedge have ever entered it. The panoramic meditation room was private to me only. We should end our master-apprentice distraction. At our return to Myr I will announce that you're not my padawan, but a Jedi Knight, for you are a Jedi Knight, Shaayla-Car and Wedge was right to initiate you."

"I have enjoyed that you have been my Jedi master for a while as I always hoped you would be." Liane answer with a lovely smile, "But it feels so much better that you will be my husband, master Luke."