Chapter 121

Cornell looked suspicious at his two eldest sons.

"Father," Filann continue, "You want Lorann to become a true harvester and marry the daughter of Wollin. Cemall and I have taken care that Lorann will be scared to death when he meets a Uram again."

"How did you managed to that. Lorann lives my father. He seldom comes home, for he and your mother always quarrel."

"Father, you told us that grandfather argued with you why the Urams attacked him, right,"

"Yes, he said he wore my jacket which I accidentally left at your grandfather's. Your grandfather has always been stubborn and he went into the nut woods to gather nuts even after I ask the Council of the Elders to forbid any Quelan to enter those forest.

Those birds recognize the jacket I once wore, or so it seems they did, and attacked him. That's why he got that they ripped off the flesh from his back. It took me weeks to tend those wounds, and then your stubborn grandfather brought those six traders and three Jedi Knights who probably were still Jedi learners to Myr.

One of them, my father called him master Kenobi after the old Jedi friend he once has known, accompanied my father and Lorann to the campsite. I was angry at Lorann, for I asked him when we left Tyr, that he should taken care of his grandfather. Your grandfather's wounds were still severe and I was convinced that it would take a long time before he would be recovered completely, but at his arrival at the campsite he let me check his back and there weren't any wounds at all. There even weren't any scars, and as always he immediately interfered with my leadership as usual."

"We know, father that you and grandfather aren't really getting along well, since Lorann is living with him." Filann said.

"Your grandfather is filling Lorann's mind with that Jedi and Force nonsense." Cornell grumbled.

"That why we have worked out a plan to ensure that Lorann will not go into the nut woods again after the Urams have attacked him." Cemall said.

"You have done what!" Cornell screamed. "What have you done to make those Urams attack your brother."

"It was quite simple, father.

After all the Quelans came to Cantamaga and the Council of the Elders forbid any Quelan to enter the nut woods many of your men have given the jackets they once wore to the Quelans who lived in Ribana.

Nowadays the Quelans don't need those jackets any more and Cemall and I found one for sale on the market in Cantamaga. I had it cleaned and repaired and it looked very similar to the jackets you have given us when we reached the age of seventeen and would join the harvest men once you and the group would be allowed again to gather nuts.

Lorann loves our jackets and he often asked us if he could borrow them.

Before we left Tyr I gave the old, but still good looking one to him and told him that it's a real jacket of a harvest man.

Father, if he will wear that jacket, and I'm sure he will, when he goes to the nut woods with those Jedi the Urams will attack him, as they did grandfather when he wore your jacket." Filann said, looking at his father with a big grin.

"You fools, you have send your brother into the nut woods wearing an old harvester's jacket those bird will recognize. Have you been out of your minds. Those Urams will kill Lorann. He is only twelve, you idiots ." Cornell screamed so loud that Wollin and two of his men entered.

"What going on here, Cornell." Wollin asked.

Cornell looked furious at Filann and Cemall. He pointed at them.

"These two, ..... my sons, ....Wollin, ....have ....set up a plan to ... murdered ...their ...brother," Cornell stammered in anger.

"Father, we don't think, the Urams won't really murdered him," Cemall said, "We only want that Lorann will be scared of the Urams and forget that he dreams to become a Jedi Knight, because you told us that you don't want him to become a Jedi Knight, right."

"Haven't you, idiots, forgotten what happened to the group of female Quelans who went into the nut woods to gather fallen nuts just after we arrived on Tyr. The Urams attacked them all and their wounds were so severe that all of them died. Fifty young female Quelans the Urams murdered, not to speak of the several harvest men who died while my men and I have been gathering nuts before the Quelans had to leave Ribana. " Cornell screamed.

Filann and Cemall were taken aback and silenced.

"Your younger brother should better become a Jedi Knight, than be murdered by you." Cornell screamed on top of his voice. "Get out of here, before before I cause terrible harm on you, thoughtless fools!"

Filann and Cemall wanted to leave the harvest men's tent but Wollin stopped them, while he listened to his leader. Stammering with anger, Cornell told Wollin what his two sons had done. Wollin looked at the two and shook his head in disbelieve.

"And you call yourself 'harvest men'. You're not even worth to be part of our community." Wollin said in stern voice.

Cornell leaned against the containers with nagawa fleeces, still shaking his head in anger.

"They killed Lorann, my son, their brother. Because he went into the nut woods and enjoyed feeding the Urams. And those," and Cornell pointed at Filann and Cemall, "And those, my other sons, they thought they could fix it that Lorann would never go to the nut woods again."

He looked at Wollin.

"I must go to Tyr to see what has happened to Lorann, Wollin. You must take over here," Cornell said. "I will ask Master Solo if he is willing to fly back to Tyr. I will tell him what those fools, who called themselves my sons have been up to."

Cornell walked out of the harvesters' tent and went over the Millennium Falcon which had landed in the vicinity.

While Cornell was arguing with Filann and Cemall Luke and Liane had gone over to the Falcon. Luke parked the speeder next to the ramp and together they walked up the cargo ramp. As they entered the control room Chewbacca who was playing holo chess with Nori looked up and gave a loud grumble. The Wookiee got to his feet and embraced Luke and Liane together in his hairy arms. Looking a bit painful they managed to release themselves. Nori looked at the two Jedi Knights.

"Welcome back to Myr, we missed you. If I look at you, you have had a splendid time together on Palomintar Six, haven't you?" He said grinning.

Han, who had been busy somewhere in the aft of his ship, entered the control room.

"What's going on here?" He asked, but then he saw Luke and Liane.

"Luke, you have returned a bit late, kid." He said.

"Not too late I hope to provide some help again," Luke said, noticing that Han used his name again.

Han looked at Liane and began to laugh.

"Well, you have done with the master-padawan nonsense, I see."

Luke nodded.

"Our distraction has completely let us down." He grinned. "Shaayla-Car is a Jedi Knight."

"Again?" Han asked.

"No, Han, she always has been a Jedi Knight. She didn't need me to be her Jedi master."

"You two should have made up a better story, kid, for the whole Quelan community has been buzzing with gossip after Udine Fonaldris has seen you kissing each other. You certainly have upset that lady. So now you two will be going to help us here as two full-fledged Jedi Knight, I guess."

Meanwhile Chewbacca had left the Falcon and gone over to the Grannd Traveler where Leia was talking over the last details of the brothers' travel to Irithim. The big Wookiee entered the control room with a loud grumble. Leia looked up and immediately rose. She turned to Yarnick and his brothers.

"Luke and Shaayla-Car are at the Falcon. I leaving, guys. I don't think we need any further talking over." She said.

"We're coming with you, Leia. Before we leave it's good to welcome them on Myr again."

Chewbacca grumble again some words to Leia. She began to smile.

"Chewie says, that they are both clad as Jedi Knights. That means that they have decided to give up their distraction."

Together they left the Grannd Traveler and hurried to the Falcon. Once inside Leia hugged her brother and Liane. Approvingly she looked at Liane who was, just like Luke, wearing her ceremonial Jedi outfit. Leia immediately noticed the brooch Luke had given Liane just after he had joined her and the other Jedi after Chati had released him from his Jedi hibernation.

"I'm glad to welcome two Jedi Knights back on Myr, Luke, instead of a Jedi master and his padawan." She said.

Luke grinned and looked at Liane.

"You knew from the beginning that I lied, right?" He said.

"All of us knew, Luke," Brion said, "When you took us to the Astræga, you looked at Shaayla-Car as if you had won the Grand lottery on Tambrin, or more."

The six brothers laughed.

"Hey, Luke," Conor laugh, "Have you met Jarosho in Ktafunda? Leia told us that you two have gone to Palomintar Six, so it was obvious for us what kind of business you had there. Found anything of your liking."

"We have, Conor, and the Force helped us to make the right choice." Luke said ginning.

Kieran was looking at Liane.

"Hey, look fellows, our sister Eilidh is wearing an alliance ring." He yelled and pointed Liane's right hand.

Yarnick suddenly looked painfully struck. Liane immediately sensed how Kieran's words hurt him. She went over to him. Yarnick looked at her and produced a slight smile. He took her right hand.

"It's beautiful. Luke has made a great choice and Jarosho is a great artist, Shaayla-Car. Your future husband has given you this ring because he wants you to remember the proposal he did."

"No doubt about that, Yarnick, and I hope you will stay with me to see me wed Luke."

"Be sure, my brothers and I will, Shaayla-Car. We went with you to this planet, we want to see you be a happy bride."

At that moment and agitated Cornell burst into the control room.

"Master Solo, where are you?" He yelled.

"I'm here, master Cornell, what's wrong?" Han said and pressed himself through the crowd.

"Master Solo can you bring me back to Tyr immediately. It's a matter of life and death." Cornell screamed.

Liane looked at the agitated harvest leader she hardly had met before and she sensed his inquietude.

"My son, my Lorann, has probably been killed or wounded by the Urams, because his brothers did something despicable," Cornell said aloud with a voice trembling with anger.

Immediately Liane reached out to the Force to reach her brother.

'Tama-Hin, hear me.' She said.

'What is it, Shaayla?'

'I'm on Myr. Cornell just told us that the Urams have killed or wounded Lorann.'

'Not what so ever, Shaayla-Car. Lorann, Chati, Wedge and I have gone to the nut woods as we have done several times before. Lorann and Chati have been feeding some young Urams with the fallen nuts, because the birds can pick up the nuts from the forest floor. Tell master Cornell that his son is alright. He had a great day again, for the Urams, especially the young ones recognize him and came down from the trees as soon as we entered the nut woods. Nothing has happened.'

'I'll tell him. Master Cornell told Han that his brothers has done something despicable.'

'Lorann's brothers have gone to Myr with their father, so that seems impossible, Shaayla-Car.'

Liane left her Force connection with her brother and began to listen to what Cornell, still agitated, was telling Han and the other about with Filann and Cemall had done.

"They knew I'm against the idea that my youngest son will become a Jedi Knight, for I don't want that will be his future. They wanted him to get scared of those Urams so he would tell me that he will become a harvest man and kill those birds while the harvest men will chop the nut trees and gather the unripe nuts from the trees."

Luke had walked over to Liane.

"What did your brother tell you, Shaayla-Car?" He asked whispering.

"Nothing seems to have happened to Lorann. Tama-Hin said he is alright. He has been feeding some young Urams with fallen nuts, like he has done before."

"Tell what Tama-Him told you to master Cornell, Shaayla-Car,"

Liane nodded and pushed herself to Cornell.

"Master Cornell, I can reassure you. I have just spoken to my brother on Tyr. He told me that your son hasn't been harmed. Lorann has been in the nut woods with master Antilles, Chati and my brother and they only have been feeding the Urams with the fallen nuts as they have done before." Liane said.

Cornell looked investigating at her.

"I might have seen you at the campsite a few times. You're Ben's girlfriend, aren't you?"

"I'm Shaayla-Car Kenobi, Luke Skywalker's fiancée. My brother Tama-Hin has been working on your project, master Cornell."

"How can you talk to your brother, if he's on Tyr?"

"I'm a Jedi Knight, master Cornell, that give me possibilities to use the Force to contact any other Jedi Knight."

"How can I be sure that your brother isn't telling me lies. Have you heard what my other sons have done?"

"If you feel the need tell me, and I will listen," Liane said.

Cornell looked at her, seemingly impressed by Liane's calm authority.

"It must have been you, who went with my father to Myr with the last hover pulse boat, right?"

"That's righ, master Cornell, master Manall offered me and my friends to cross the ocean between Tyr and Myr in one of those boats, as there was no other way to reach the continent of Myr at that time."

"Did you know that my father was wounded. That the Urams had attacked him when he went into the nut woods to gather some nuts for himself?" Cornell asked her.

"I knew, for master Kamalin had asked me to keep an eye on master Manall. I made sure that my brother went with master Manall and Lorann to the mountain ridge where you were, while my friends and I crossed the wild lands to reach the plains, for I had another mission to fulfill."

"Have you heard that when my father arrived at the campsite that his wounds, which were still very severe when I went to Myr, were healed. There even weren't any scars."

"Thank you for telling me, master Cornell. That's why I have sent my brother with master Manall and Lorann. My brother and I are not only Jedi Knights, but also Jedi healers. When crossing the ocean I sensed how much pain master Manall had. During their ride to the mountains my brother must have sensed master Manall's pain too, and he was able to use his healing skills let by the Force to cure what the Urams had done, but you wanted to tell me what your other sons have done to Lorann, your youngest son."

Cornell looked flabbergasted at Liane and it took several minutes before he continued.

"One of them gave Lorann an old jacket which had been worn by one of my men when we're harvesting the nuts. The Urams seems to have a kind of memory for the clothes we harvesters have worn, although we haven't been gathering nuts for years, not since all the Quelans went to Tyr in exile. My father was attacked when he wore my jacket by accident.

Because Lorann would be wearing that old harvest men's jacket the Urams might have thought he was one of my men and attack him. My eldest sons wanted my youngest son to become scared of the Urams, so he would only go back to forest to kill Urams after he had become a harvest men himself."

"My brother said that there was no attack by the Urams, what so ever. Your son Lorann isn't wounded, master Cornell."

"Thank you, miss Kenobi. You sound very convincing, so I almost believe what you have been telling me about Lorann. "

"I sense that my words haven't fully convinced you, master Cornell. Do you want to see your son for yourself?" Liane said.

"I asked, master Solo to bring me back to Tyr, miss Kenobi."

Liane turned to Luke.

"Luke, can we bring master Cornell to Tyr, so he can see for himself that Lorann is alright?" She asked.

The whole group look at Liane whose posture so clearly radiated her authority as a Jedi Knight.

Nori Thai gave Han a slight push.

"What did I tell you, Han. There stands a Jedi Knight who believe in her skills which she never has doubted."

Han grinned and whispered.

"She even made it clear to Luke that as a Jedi healer she wanted Cornell to be reassured when he would speak Lorann himself."

"That's what I meant, Han. She takes the initiative and have other follow her lead."

Luke turned to Cornell.

"Master Cornell, you just have heard what Shaayla-Car requested. We want to bring you to Tyr, so you can ask Lorann what happened."

Cornell cast a look at Liane and back to Luke.

"Your future wife clearly knows how to convince men to follow given orders, Ben. I gladly accept your offer to bring me to Tyr. We can come back to Myr, if everything is alright with Lorann."

Luke turned to Liane.

"Stay here with the others, Shaayla-Car. I get the Astræga and will land nearby."

Mugin had gone over to the vineyard building where Udine and Carmona were busy putting away the items they had brought back with them from Tyr. Proudly they showed him that the kitchen had almost been restored in the old state.

"We can make proper meals again, Mugin," Carmona said, looking around their former cooking domain.

"Just before midday Luke arrived in Ribana," Mugin said.

"Was he alone?" Udine asked.

"No, Shaayla-Car was with him and she was dressed as a Jedi Knight."

"Poor girl, so she still has to follow him," Udine commented. "Mugin, I fear that he controls her with those Jedi skills of him."

"I didn't have that impression, Udine. She wants to help here in the vineyard again, for she like pruning the grapevines. That will save me and Toalin a lot of work."

"I will have her guest room ready, Mugin. When do you think she will join us?"

"She has explicitly told me. That guest room isn't necessary, Udine. Luke told me that they will come to Ribana early in the morning, but he and Shaayla-Car will get back to his ship for the night."

Udine looked upset.

"He takes her to his ship for the night. Do you know what that means, Mugin?"

"We're not allowed to talk about the gossip we've heard in public, Udine."

"I saw them kissing each other and he held her to his body in a particular way. You know what I mean, don't you."

"Udine, I saw two Jedi Knights this morning, not a Jedi master and his apprentice. Luke even has confirmed that Shaayla-Car is a Jedi Knight."

Udine frowned and looked at her sister.

"Say something, Carmona," She snapped.

"I don't want to argue about what you're thinking, Udine. If master Skywalker has told Mugin that he and Shaayla-Car will stay in his ship for the night, then it's his decision."

"That's what I fear: his decision, not hers. What do you think will happen to her during those nights. I've heard that he has taken her to Palomintar Six, that's where Mugin and Toallin have lived. He and Toallin had build a cabin in an impenetrable forest far from Ktafunda. I think he has taken her to that spot and there, when nobody was around to protect her, he has taken advantage of his skills and seduced her to his will. He is despicable, Mugin. He wants to force a marriage between them, because he is of low birth, while she is the daughter of a famous general and an important Jedi from the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. I even think that her mother was of high birth." Udine lamented.

Mugin was now clearly getting annoyed and almost lost his self-control.

"Enough, Udine. Luke is a very of Toallin and me. We never thought that we would see the day that Ribana would be freed. Thanks to Luke's effort and that of his friends we're living in a free town again. The intruder who expelled us, is gone and all this has happened because Luke Skywalker and his friends have promised us, that he saw it as his obligation to bring justice to the Quelan community. So you should stop making up things which aren't true."

"Was Shaayla-Car also with him, when he promised to help you and Toallin," Udine argued.

"No, she wasn't. Luke came to our cabin with master Solo, his wife and Luke's sister Leia and their Wookiee friend, because they were looking for Ian Tydon."

"See, Mugin, at that time Shaayla-Car didn't know him. Mugin, she helped me when Toallin and I were worried about what had happened to Chati. She is such a kind woman, so understanding, so friendly. She convinced me that the Urams hadn't killed Chati and she showed me image of my Chati dressed as a Jedi apprentice with master Antilles as her Jedi master."

"You were present on Tyr, when we were talking with Shaayla-Car and her two Jedi friends how they could get to Myr, because she wanted to look for Luke Skywalker. She was worried about him, so I'm sure she knew him one way or the other."

"Maybe he already has used is Jedi skills to let her do what he wanted at a much earlier stage." Udine said defiantly. "She is a naive, good looking woman and I'm sure that with in no time we will hear that she will marry him, because she expecting his child. It also could be that when she tell him so, that he leaves her behind in Ribana and disappears. What do you think, Carmona?"

Carmona look at her sister and shook her head.

"You're imagining things, Udine, and as always the most worse things. If Shaayla-Car comes back to the vineyard building as she said to Mugin she would, we should look at her and see if she is a happy woman. You have heard that she and Luke will use his ship as a shelter to sleep. Maybe she has a separate cabin on board. He will certainly come to the vineyard building to pick her up."

"He is no longer welcome here, Carmona. I have seen enough of him. He is unkind, unfriendly, impolite to her."

Mugin look at his sister-in-law.

"Udine I forbid you to tell Luke Skywalker he isn't welcome here. He is welcome in every building in Ribana. He is our friend, a trustworthy Jedi Knight who knews who we were before we had told him, that we were the governors of this community. He and his friends brought us back to Palomintar Four. We have seen Ribana as it was after all the years we had been away. He brought us back to Tyr and took the initiative to ask Cornell and his men to join him back to Myr to see how he could eliminate the intruder. I don't have to remind you that the 'special statement' we have issued is also counting for you, especially for you as the wife of my brother. So stop spreading all kinds of made up stories which are hardly true."

Udine pressed her lips together and looked at Mugin furious for some moments. Then all of sudden she turned her back on him and walked out of the room without saying anything.

'Tama-Hin, Luke, master Cornell and I will come to Tyr, for Lorann's father wants to see his son personally.'

'I will tell him, Shaayla-Car. Should I ask Wedge and Chati to confirm that nothing has happened.'

'Excellent idea. We see you on Tyr, Tama-Him.' Liane said.

She looked up and saw Leia watching her.

"Talking to your brother again, Shaayla-Car?" Leia asked.

"I told him that he might expect master Cornell and Luke and me." Liane said.

Leia took Liane's arm and took her with her to the aft of the Falcon where she and Han had their private quarter. She slid the door aside.

"Do you mind if we have a private chat?" Leia asked her.

"Absolutely not, I know what's on your mind." Liane said.

... of course you do, Shaayla-Car, for you're a Jedi Knight, my equal." Leia said, "I only have to look at you to know, you love my brother. Not master Skywalker, the Jedi Knight, but Luke himself, Luke Skywalker, the farm boy, who became a Jedi Knight and turned out to be my twin brother."

Leia saw that Liane blushed and grabbed Liane's right hand. Liane smiled at Leia with sparkling eyes

"A wonderful gift from my brother, Shaayla-Car, made by Jarosho or Rasjhoo, I guess? Those are Illum-crystals, right?"

"It's another gift of Luke, Leia, similar to the Jedi-pendant and the brooch, and all with the green Illum-crystals. And, yes, this alliance ring is made by Jarosho. How do you know that?"

Leia showed Liane her wedding ring. Liane looked at it in admiration.

"Beautiful, Leia. Also made by Jarosho?" She asked.

Leia nodded, looking very pleased, but also laughed.

"By Rasjhoo as Han said. After all the commotion about the gossip Udine Fonaldris has spread about you and Luke, I told the Grann brothers that you and Luke had gone to Palomintar Six. They called called out Jarosho's name almost in unison and accused Han that as a former smuggler he should have known him. When the Granns told Han that Jarosho is a gold smith he told us that he knew as Rasjhoo and that years ago he had bought a pair of wedding rings in Ktafunda, but he wasn't sure then when he would give them to someone."

"And that someone was you, Leia, I presume," Liane said with a laugh. "That must have been before you became a Jedi Knight, right? It's beautiful with those blue sapphires. When did Han gave it to you?"

"Before our first night together on the Millennium Falcon." Leia answered and started laughing, "Han apologizes that he hadn't the rings with him when we were married on Na'ctaMagh'Ba. He had forgotten where he had put them. For years the box with the rings was stored on the Falcon, because my stubborn lover decided that he had some difficulty with me being a Jedi Knight and broke up with me, because he didn't believe in the Force."

"Does he believe in the Force now, Leia?" Liane asked.

"Han has accepted my status as a Jedi Knight, but he always will remain a bit skeptical, Shaayla-Car, but I want to talk about you and Luke. You have had a good time with him on Palomintar Six, haven't you?" Leia asked as she sensed again Liane's happy feelings about her stay with Luke on Palomintar Six.

"We have had a more than good time together on Palomintar Six. A perfect time and much more. It's been great. It was wonderful, Leia, and I hope that once the second group will get back to Tyr, we will get another opportunity to go to Palomintar Six to stay together again there for some days."

"Maybe I can convince Toallin and Mugin to postpone the arrival of the third group for some six or seven standard day. What do you think about that?"

Liane blushed vehemently.

"That would be really be wonderful for Luke and me, Leia. For it was such a beautiful place where Luke had landed the Astræga."

Leia smiled.

"On a clearing near a domed cabin, right?"

Liane nodded and looked even happier than before as she recalled the memories, but as she looked at Leia again she sensed her companion's concern.

"What's the matter, Leia. I sense that you have been worrying about Luke for a long time, ever since you and the army of the Rebel Alliance were on Hoth, haven't you?" She asked.

"That's right, Shaayla-Car, and I want to share those worries with you now, for what has happened to Luke on Hoth has had a great impact on my brother. I've never been able to give Luke the support he needed to overcome what he has been through after he was accused of being responsible for the death of his daughter and her mother." Leia said, looking at Liane.

"You want to talk about Luke's unhappy relationship on Hoth with a Baroontarian priestess who deliberately betrayed him and the love he once felt for her, a love he thought was mutual?." Liane said, looking at Leia.

"Did he tell you?" Leia asked surprised.

"He did, Leia, all of it, all the details. The whole sad story, from his first encounter with Eminil on Hoth, until the devastating revelation that she had given birth to his daughter, after she had deliberately feigned she loved him, so she would become pregnant of him. I know a lot about the clans of Baroontarian priestesses, Leia. I was brought up among them."

Leia nodded and Liane continued on a soft tone.

"The situation for Eminil and her child changed drastically after the Battle of Endor, as she was cast out of the clan on Coruscant and was banished along with her child to the Unknown Regions of the galaxy, where Luke's daughter probably had been starved to death, since they were left behind on a planet without sufficient food.

Luke told me that he had offered to take responsibility for the upbringing of this daughter, after he had had an unexpected encounter with 'the friends of Eminil', six Baroontarian priestesses themselves. Leia, it was you who had to inform Luke that what he wanted was impossible, for by that time his daughter probably was already dead, as was Eminil." Liane said, putting her hand on Leia's arm to give Luke's sister some comfort. "It has been a burden for you, Leia, all these years, but I want to share that burden with you, for you shouldn't suffer any longer alone for it."

Leia put her hand over Liane's

"Shaayla-Car, after Han and Lando asked me to tell Luke that he never could take the responsibility for the upbringing of his daughter I have sensed Luke's desire to find out where his daughter and her mother had been brought. Sometimes he vanished for weeks and when he came back I sensed his disappointment. He never talked about those travel with any of us, neither with me, nor with our other friends. "

Leia sighed and looked at Liane

"Did Luke tell you that it was set up by the Emperor?"

"Yes, Leia. Luke told me everything, and the ghost of Eminil has haunted him all those years, but she is gone, for Luke could finally let her go. Eminil's ghost won't bother or haunt him any longer."

Leia suddenly embraced Liane.

"My dear foster-sister, are you truly aware how much you have done for Luke. You left Palomintar Four together with him and followed him to a destination where he proposed to you. You have accepted his proposal for you already loved Luke for a long time, but you have done so much more for him, Shaayla-Car. You not only have promised him to marry him one day, but you have become his wife and lover, when the two of you decided to go to Palomintar Six.

My lovely foster-sister, I just met Luke again and I saw and sensed a radiant and visibly happy man, because you gave him on Palomintar Six what he longed for. Luke has longed for a very long time to have a relationship with someone who would love him for who he is, and not because he is a hero, not because of what he has meant to and has done for the Rebel Alliance, not because he is a Jedi Knight. He longed to be loved as Luke Skywalker and you have given him that love, so he could let go what he had gone through," Leia said softly. "What you just said about Eminil's ghost sound sure, and very convincing. Those words take the many worries I have felt away."

"You shouldn't worry about Eminil's ghostly image any longer, Leia. I understand that you must have seen her as often as I have.

On Na'ctaMagh'Ba, I saw Eminil's image for the first time in Luke's mind, At the time, Luke didn't want to tell me who she was, but he promised me that he would tell me someday, and why he always felt so sad when he saw her. He has kept that promise, for when we were on our way to Tyr, after he had proposed to me in the waterfall cave on Na'ctaMagh'Ba, he told me the whole story.

After my first night with Luke on Palomintar Four, Eminil's ghostly image had vanished from his mind. I have always felt her presence in his mind, as if she were standing behind him and watching him: a ghostly apparition, something vague, sometimes clearer, always with a sort of mocking smile that felt so hurtful, and more and more for me too, for it felt that she still wanted to prevent him to find out where that Baroontarian leader had taken her and Luke's daughter, Padmé and left them to die, due to the lack of food and drink. I feel no compassion or hatred for Eminil, Leia, but I want Luke to find his daughter, or at least her remains. Leia, I have never felt so much pain in his mind, especially after he told me how he had heard from you what has happened to Padmé.

After Luke and I have been married I will go to the Unknown Region with him to find the remains of Padmé, his unknown daughter, for she deserve a better place to rest, Leia."

For a long moment both women were silent. Leia put her arm around Liane's shoulders and pulled her close to her.

"You showed Luke your love by sharing his pain over what she has done, because you are a Jedi healer who feels pain and suffering in others, something I couldn't. But you gave him more, much more: not only your love, but also your compassion and genuine care for the man he is, Shaayla-Car, something none of the other women my brother sometimes have courted after his affair with Eminil could give him. Those those relationships never lasted long. Don't let my words disturb your trust in Luke, darling, because ever since he met you in Morantan, he knows that only you will stand at his side forever. Luke is a great brother, but he seldom shows his deeper emotional feelings, which I think, are also caused by his upbringing on Tatooine. He has never told me much about his youth on the moisture farm of his uncle and aunt."

Liane looked up at Leia with an understanding smile

"You care about Luke just as much as I do, Leia. Don't worry, I will never lose my trust in the man who I want to become my husband. What has happened to him on Hoth, or what he has endured, after the stormtroopers killed his uncle and aunt, which forced him to leave Tatooine with Ben Kenobi, I sensed the impact it all has had on him: the loss of his uncle and aunt, the loss of his only friend Biggs, the deaths of his first master Ben Kenobi and Master Yoda, and especially the loss of his father, who became one with the Force in Luke's arms on the second Death Star.

Leia, I have seen all his losses and felt his pain, after Luke wanted to share those painful moments with me when we were together on Tatooine. I know his emotional feelings as Luke knows mine. My past, for example, and the way I was raised with knowledge of the Dark Side of the Force. I feel one with Luke, Leia, and he feels one with me. The Force has forged an unbreakable bond between us. We're a really Force dyad after we have been together on Palomintar Six" Liane said softly, and Leia heard in Liane's words the overwhelming love she felt for Luke.

Leia grabbed Liane's hands.

"Don't think that what I have been telling you, is an expression of my doubt of your love for him, Shaayla-Car, for I sense your overwhelming love for him in everything you have told me. "

Liane smiled pensively and looked Luke's sister.

"Luke is the fulfillment of my quest on the Jedi path, Leia. Without him and his unwavering faith in my Force abilities, I would never have become a Jedi Knight, even though he has never truly been my Jedi Master," said Liane, looking at Leia with a happy smile. "We both care about him, Leia, and after Luke and I will be married, I have found a wonderful sister."

Leia kissed her.

"I have always considered you my sister, Shaayla-Car," Leia said as she rose. "Thank you for this chat, my lovely sister."

Feeling united by the care for the man they both loved in different ways, they walked back to the control room, where only Han was busy explaining something to Chewbacca. As they looked up, Liane walked over and embrace Han.

"Han, I have just said to Leia, that when Luke and I will be married, she will truly be my sister, but it's also important, that you will be my brother."

"Never forget that, sweetheart." Han answered as he took at her right hand.

"Another gift from Luke, so I will forever remember his marriage proposal." Liane said with a smile. "Where are the Grann brothers and master Cornell?"

"Yarnick and his brothers are preparing their departure to Irithim and Cornell is already waiting outside for the Astræga. That guy was really mad about his sons when he heard what they have done. I wonder what consequences this will have for their position in the harvesters clan. Well, that's up to them."

Han looked at Leia who had taken a seat next to him.

"The two of you have had a long chat, haven't you. Well, it good to realize that Luke and Shaayla-Car are equals now." Han said

"I agree, darling, it's also a revelation that my brother is Luke again for you and not 'that Jedi master'."

Liane sensed that Han felt ill at ease, after Leia's words, but she remained silent.

"You called me Shaayla-Car, Han. Am I no longer Liane for you?"

"In my mind and my heart you always will be Liane, sweetheart, but when I see you as the Jedi Knight, you're Shaayla-Car Kenobi for me. Listen, I think, I hear the Astræga."

Han took Liane down the ramp, where they saw that the Astræga that had already landed. As soon as the ramp came down Cornell walked over. Luke beckoned Liane and Cornell to enter.

"We leave right away," He said. "master Cornell, get yourself a seat with straps in the control room, while Shaayla-Car and I prepare for lift off."

Lorann looked with a big grin at Chati, when she handed him a jacket. They were sitting on the stone fence that ran around Manall's house.

"How did you manage to repair that tear?" He asked.

"This isn't your jacket, Lorann. It's Talann's. I remember that he has asked my mother to buy him a harvest men's jacket, for he wanted to look as a grownup tough guy. So, you can show your father an undamaged jacket, if he asks for it, but I have to find a way to tell my father that Talann should never wear it if he enters the nut forest. It's still forbidden, but entering the nut forest with an old harvest men's jacket is dangerous as we know by know. It's very lucky, Lorann, that you have several similar pants, and we shouldn't utter a word about what really happened," She said with warning sound in her voice. "So mind your words, don't make a slip of the tongue."

"Did you know that the Urams are healers, just like master Kenobi and his sister?" Lorann asked.

"Of course not, but we have to be very alert about the clothes we are wearing. I probably will hide Talann's jacket where he will not find it. My brother is always very careless with his things. He will miss the jacket, but won't look for it immediately." Chati said.

"I'm sure, Chati, that this has also has happened to grandpa when the Urams attacked him, " Lorann said pensively. "Did you know that master Kenobi has healed grandpa's wounds while the three of us where on our way on Myr to my father and his men. He has told me that he has use the Force to heal grandpa's wounds, just like he has healed that severe wound of the imperial officer, master Thai."

"That was really amazing, Lorann, and after Shaayla-Car joined him those blue streaks became so strong, that master Thai's whole body seemed to become encapsulated in it. When they withdrew their hands his skin was completely normal, as if there never has been such a deep wound."

"Master Kenobi just told me that his sister will also come to Tyr, together with master Luke and my father."

Chati chuckled.

"For a twelve year old Quelan boy you're often thinking of her, aren't you, Lorann?"

Lorann olive colored skin changed to olive red.

"She's such a beautiful women. Master Leia is beautiful, but miss Shaayla-Car looked so radiant when master Luke had taken me inside his ship. I've made another drawing of her, just her, like I also made that drawing of you, when you spoke up for me."

"I have secured your drawing among all the things I want to take with me when master Antilles will take me to his home planet. Have I told you that he wants to teach me how to fly a space ship, for he is the leader of a special group of pilots. Yarmod and Ian are also pilots he has taught to fly in that special group. When I said that he shouldn't forget that I'm a female, he answered that there are several women who are pilots in special groups."

"I envy you, Chati, do you think that I will ever be master Kenobi's padawan."

"You sure will, Lorann. Your father may be against it, but in the end he will comply, just like my mother."

"Yes, your mother always called you Mayan, and then I sensed that you were angry at her."

"I'm getting along with her much better now, since master Antilles is my Jedi master. She even calls me Chati." Chati grinned.

Lorann looked at the mountain ridge behind the plains. Chati followed his gaze.

"Ben's ship is almost there, Lorann. They already pasted through the cloud layer. Shall we warn Ian?"

Lorann looked at her and Chati sensed he was nervous.

She pointed to the path.

"There's master Antilles."

Wedge walked up to them and lifted Lorann from the stone fence.

"Get inside you two, and don't say anything, until asked for. Your grandfather, Ian and I will welcome your father, Luke and Shaayla-Car. I've also informed governor Toallin. He is on his way and will join us." He said.

"There they are?" Lorann said and pointed to a tiny spot in the distance that rapidly grew into the shape of the Astræga.

Wedge pushed Chati and Lorann inside Manall's house, where Ian was talking to the old harvester."

"I don't understand why my son suddenly comes back to Tyr, master Kenobi. It's an odd story your sister told you. Nothing has happened to Lorann, but my son has been telling her and others that my two other grandsons have done something despicable." Manall said. "Have you heard what they have done?"

"I haven't, master Manall, but your son will probably tells us why he has come back so unexpectedly." Ian said.

"I don't like this, master Kenobi. I fear it has something to do to keep Lorann from following his dream. If necessary I will speak up for him again." Manall said and looked at his grandson, "Lorann, take Chati with you to the other room and stay there. Master Kenobi and I will receive your father and listen to him. I call you if he asks for you. Get going, boy, and you too, Chati. Oh, there master Antilles and governor Toallin. Welcome governor. It's becoming a bit crowded here," Manall said as he cleared the couch and some chairs.

They all waited in silence, until they heard the sound of a speeder rushing up the path. The engine stopped and they heard several different footsteps walking over the door. Manall got up and walked over as he heard a knock.

"Father, is Lorann with you?" the voice of Cornell sounded.

Manall opened the door and looked at his son.

"What brings you back to Tyr unexpectedly, Cornell. What kind of fabricated story has gone round on Myr?" He asked, still remaining in the doorway.

"Where is Lorann, father. I want to see him. Call him, for you're hiding him in the other room to cover up he's severe;u wounded."

"Lorann is wounded. Yes, he has fallen and had a tear in his pants and his shirt. He said that he fell while he was running because something distracted him. I have already send Chati to Somarian's to have his clothes repaired."

"Call my son, father, and let him strip off his pants and his shirt. I want to inspect his body." Cornell said.

"What a nonsense, but alright. Lorann, come here, boy. Your father is here and wants to see you." Manall called inside.

Al the while Luke and Shaayla-Car had been listening to Cornell's demands and Manall's answers. Manall who hadn't noticed them while he had been talking to his son, but now he made an inviting gesture.

"Shaayla-Car Kenobi, master Skywalker, get inside. Some of your friends and governor Toallin have come to visit me. They are inside. I'm sure they will be pleased to meet you. You have arrived unexpectedly, because it seemed that my son has heard an odd story going around on Myr."

Meanwhile Lorann had come forward. Cornell looked at his son.

"Strip off your shirt and your pants, Lorann, and if necessary I also want you to strip off your underwear." Cornell said unfriendly.

Embarrassed Lorann looked at Shaayla-Car. He shook his head.

"No I won't, father. I can't undressed now."

"Do as I told you, Lorann. Or do I have to tear off your clothes myself." Cornell snarled.

"My son," Manall said and pointed to Shaayla-Car, "You're embarrassing not only your son, but also me and my guests. I thought I had taught you some manner when you were younger. Shaayla-Car, pleased get inside, for my son has forgotten the dignity of the harvest men that I taught him." Manall said shaking his head.

The two Jedi stepped inside, after which Cornell grabbed Lorann and ordered roughly to strip off his clothes. Within a minute Lorann stood stark naked in front of his grandfather's house. Cornell looked at his limps and made a gesture that the boy should turn around. He looked at his son from head to toe. Finally he shook his head.

"Get dressed again, Lorann," Manall said, "Your father is satisfied, by the looks of it."

Lorann grabbed his clothes and fled to the barn.

"Was this humiliation necessary, son?" Manall asked Cornell. "Have you seen, what you were looking for?"

"Filann and Cemall said that they were certain that the Urams would attack him." Cornell said

"You'd better talk with master Kenobi and master Antilles about what you thought had happened to Lorann They have been with Lorann and Chati while they have been feeding the Urams. The Jedi Knights haven't told me anything about an attack. They certainly would have defended their students against a attack."

Reluctantly Cornell stepped inside and grumbled a kind of greeting. Toallin cast an investigating look at him,

"What's going on Myr?" He asked, "What kind of alarming tale have your other sons told you. Was it really necessary to pay us an unexpected visit for some made up tale."

Cornell looked at Toallin first. Next he looked at Ian and Wedge. He pointed at them.

"You both were with my son and Chati Fonaldris in the nut woods again today, weren't you?" He asked, but Toallin interrupted him.

"Cornell, I asked you something, as the governor of this community I'm entitled to get an answer. What is going on on Myr? Who told you that Lorann got wounded, because the Urams had attacked him, which is totally fantasy. I happened to be near the nut woods on my round along Cantamaga and I didn't see or hear anything alarming." Toallin asked sternly. "Sit down, and tell me the whole story."

Cornell still defiant took a seat on the couch. Again he looked at Ian and Wedge.

"I first want to hear what happened from them, governor. They were with my son and that Chati woman." He said.

Toallin looked at him disapprovingly.

"That Chati woman, Cornell, happens to be my eldest daughter and the Jedi apprentice of master Antilles, I forbid you to speak disrespectful of her."

'That's a hit.' Ian said through the Force, but Wedge gave him a push.

'Shut up, Tama-Hin.' He said.

Ian looked at his sister and winked.

Wedge looked at Cornell, and Toallin.

Governor, shall I tell master Cornell what Tama-Hin and I have done together with Lorann and Chati."

Toallin nodded, still looking somewhat angry at Cornell. Wedge turned to the harvest leader.

"Master Cornell, the four of us have gone to the nut woods, like we have done regularly these last weeks. Lorann and Chati have discovered that the Urams can't pick up the fallen nuts. When we arrived Chati and Lorann always gather the fallen nuts, while the Urams are watching us. As soon as they see that Lorann and Chati, and sometimes master Kenobi and I, have made small heaps of nuts they flew down to the forest floor. The birds aren't afraid of us as they recognize us as Jedi Knights and the two youngsters as our students. They know we are part of the Living Force, like they are. This morning we have done the same as we always do and Chati and Lorann have been feeding the Urams, first the younger ones and later also some older birds. We always leave when the birds fly away again which indicates that they have eaten their fill. I assure you that no Uram has attacked Lorann or Chati."

"Did Lorann wear a jacket he normally doesn't wear?" Cornell asked.

"Yes, he did. I remember that I complimented him about the jacket." Ian answered.

"Where is it?" Cornell grumbled.

"Here," Chati, who has slipped out of the other room, said and held the jacket in the air.

"Let me check it."

Chati walked over to Cornell and handed him the jacket. Cornell inspected the sleeves and back, but didn't find anything unusual. He gave it back to her and shrugged his shoulders.

"Well," Toallin asked. "What is the story, Cornell?"

"Governor, I don't know what to believe. This morning Filann and Cemall my two eldest sons told me that they had done me a favor. You know that it is my wish that Lorann will become a harvest man, marry Kalinn the daughter of Wollin and set up his own household with her. Kalinn is still too young to marry Lorann. She is seven and Wollin and I have agreed that Lorann will marry her when Kalinn is fifteen. By that time Lorann will be twenty-two, and probably has learned how to harvest the nuts in the nut wood and earn a living."

"This I have already heard from you, Cornell. What was the favor your sons have done to you?" Toallin said, sounding impatiently.

"Governor, since Lorann goes into the nut woods, which is still forbidden in my opinion, and feeds the Urams he is no longer scared of those birds that often have attacked me and my men when we harvested the nuts. You certainly remember what has happened to a group of female Quelans after we had arrived here. They went into the nut wood to gather fallen nuts and the Urams attacked all of them so violently that all them died of their wounds. I'm still glad that master Kamalin as the chair the Council of the Elders and your representative as our governor decided that the nut woods would be forbidden areas to all Quelans."

Toallin made an impatient gesture.

"Kamalin had told me his decision, Cornell. Stick to your story. I'm not interested in facts I'm familiar with."

For a moment Cornell remained silent after Toallin's stern comment.

"Filann has given a former harvest men's jacket which he has bought on the market in Cantamaga and which looked like the jackets I have given to my sons already, to Lorann. It's the jacket Chati has shown me. It is said that the Urams remember the clothes we harvest men wear. That's why, for example, my father has been attacked while he was wearing my jacket accidentally. The Urams thought they saw me, when they saw my jacket.

Filann thought that if Lorann would wear that old harvest men's jacket the Urams would attack him and Lorann would become so scared that he wouldn't go into the nut woods any more and would ask me if he could join me and my men to chase the Urams to protect our nut harvest" Cornell said, while his voice sounded flatter and filled with shame.

When I heard what they had done I feared that Lorann might be severely wounded or even dead. That's why I wanted to have a look for myself what has happened on Tyr."

Manall looked furiously at his son.

"These two grandsons, Cornell, have conspired against their younger brother, because they wanted Loran to get scared of the Urams which has become his friends. They thought they were doing you a favor because you make absolutely no secret of the fact that you don't want Lorann to follow his own path and dream. In your narrow-minded opinion Lorann has to become a harvest men and live according some ancient tradition. I have already told you that Lorann doesn't want to fit in in what you're imagining for him. What your sons, my grandsons have done, just to please you, find it's cause in your stubborn opinion that our traditional ways have to be always respected, that no changes are allowed to a way of living which all have been following for decades or longer. Your points of view have infected my other grandsons with those ancient ideas. For the time being they are not welcome in my house. Not until I have spoken to them," The old harvester said hardly disguising his anger.

Toallin looked at Cornell.

"I know from the past that it has happened that the harvest men have taken sever measures against some members, Cornell. You and Wollin have to discuss what you will do on this matter. This might also be a case to put before the Harvest Council. If Wollin and you don't take proper measures against Filann and Cemall Kamalin and I will take over the case and punish them according the rule that is valid among the Quelan community that no Quelan should ever threaten or do harm to another member of the community.

You will hear from me tomorrow for I have to inform Kamalin as chair of the Council of Elders, so I want you to stay on Tyr for the night. When you're back on Myr you can tell Wollin what has been decided and act accordingly. This is despicable. Cornell, you'd better leave now, Go to your family. Tell your wife what your sons have been up to and don't forget to tell her that Lorann is unharmed. For the moment your presence is no longer needed." Toallin said.

With bowed head Cornell left, leaving the four Jedi, Manall and Toallin looking at each other in disbelieve about what they have heard.