Chapter 144

Wedge, Ian and Luke laughed.

"Although I want to practise those new skills as often and intense as possible, there are places where we can talk together without using the way we Force-users can communicate." Luke said with a soft grin.

Lorann gave no answer to Chati's inquisitive question, but just looked at her.

"Where did you put those chains we have been making?" He asked.

Chati went voer to the heaps of entangled fallen tree and climbed over it. She ducked under the pile and held a tangle of braided rope chains in her hands..

"What do you want to do with them, Lorann?" She asked.

"Master Skywalker will help us to attach these rope chains at the trees around this clearing. I've talked to master Oltomyran and told him about these rope chains with nuts, because after you have gone to Myr, I can't go to the nut woods alone, unless master Kamalin or my grandfather have time to accompany me."

Chati looked at Lorann in amazement.

"You also can talk with Oltomyran through the Force. Wow, Lorann, that's great, for after I'm gone, you can still communicate with him and tell the harvest men if they are doing the right things. I mean, gathering only the fallen nuts. I saw you walking away with Ben, where have you gone?"

"To the clearing where all the Urams live. It's a very large clearing with a lake in the middle, so that they have water to drink, and master Oltomyran welcomed master Skywalker and me and he talked to me and heard what he said and I also could answer him.

And then some ten adult Urams came down from the tree and stood behind master Oltomyran, and I said that the nut trees won't be chopped anymore and they were all happy about what I said that.

And then I told master Oltomyran about these rope chain and how we want to hang them with nuts at the trees so that the young Urams could eat nuts, and when we left master Skywalker said that he would help us to attach those chains on the trees." Lorann rattled without taking a breath.

He turned to Luke and pointed at the tangled ball Chati held in her hand.

"I will take one end of that rope, so Chati can show you how we have fixed the nuts at it," Lorann said and too the end of the rope Chati held out to him. He walked backwards while Chati unraveled the ball and began to walk in the opposite direction. The rope was a long braided rope chain with nuts fixed at regular intervals. Ian began to laugh and Chati grinned.

"I have seen this before, Chati, only then the rope was a lot thicker and what had been attached in the nets where explosives." Ian said.

Lorann looked at Luke.

"How do you want to attach this to the trees, master Skywalker, so that the Urams think that those nuts are part of the tree, like the nuts normally grow. We should hang the rope almost between the lowest leaves, but then we need ... "

The three Jedi started to laugh.

"A ladder or two?" Ian asked, while he took of his cassock.

Astounded Chati and Lorann saw that Wedge and Luke did the same.

"Well, Luke, Ian, shall we show these two beginning Force-user what they have to master one day," Wedge said grinning and walked over to a tree.

Ian also walked over to one of the trees, positioned himself below the lowest branch. Luke watch the trees which stood between the one Wedge and Ian had chosen, jumped over the stack of chopped trees and stood under one of the trees that formed the edge of the clearing. He jumped and landed on one of the lowest branches, reached out to a higher branch and made another jump. Wedge followed him and also found a solid branch to support him. Ian made a last jump and landed on the lowest branch of the tree he had chosen.

"Lorann, Chati, take the rope and hand me the end," Ian said to the two bewildered looking young Quelans.

"Ian, it's impossible for us to hand you the end of the chain, while you're on that branch," Chati yelled.

"Just held it in your hands I'll get the beginning of it." Ian said.

He reached out to rope and the beginning began to rise.

"Don't squeeze, keep it loosely," Ian warned while the rope chain rose higher until he could grab it. He looked at Luke.

"Your turn, Luke. Here it goes," He said and Ian threw the end in Luke's direction. For a moment the rope end whirled through the air, until Luke took hold of it with the Force. Luke looked at Wedge and hurled the end his direction.

On the forest floor the tangled rope chain began to unravel while Ian passed it through this hands to Luke who did the same to Wedge. Wedge fastened the end of the chain around the stem of the nut tree and fixed the end. Luke pulled the whole rope to himself, swept it a few time around the stem of his tree and threw the end back to Ian who fixed the other end around the stem of his tree.

"Done," Ian said with a grin and made a somersault back to the forest floor. Wedge and Luke followed. They took on their coats again and looked at Lorann and Chati who stood looking at the three Jedi astounded. Then Lorann began to laugh.

Oh, masters, what a great demonstration of how the Force can help ... you ... and us, for our problem has been solved too. Look, Chati, our chain is hanging at the trees among the leaves. Don't you think it looks like the chains of lights that illuminated the central plaza while we're celebrating that we could return to Ribana. Thank you, master Skywalker, this really was as a great use of the Force."

"And we, Lorann, enjoyed showing it our skills to you. One day you will be able to do the same." Luke said as he saw Lorann's sparkling eyes. "And now we are going back to Cantamaga, for this day has been very successful and rewarding, but we all need to take some rest and do some meditation to relax and think about all that has happened. Chati, I hope that your father wants to have us for the evening meal again."

"Oh, he certainly will, Ben. Wow, those high jumps where so great. I remember seeing you doing that only one time earlier, after Cemall slipped off the wall. First you prevented him to fall, but when we brought him to the campsite you jumped up along the wall to the campsite, instead of using the rope ladders."

Lorann was still looking up to the long chain with the nuts and smiled.

"I'm certain they will have a look at it and can eat those nuts," He said. "And master Oltomyran can see that we Quelans keep our promises."

They left the nut wood forest, but Luke noticed that Lorann looked back several times.

'The Urams have seen what we have done, Lorann,' He said through and explicit Jedi telepathy connection.

'Those adult Urams and master Oltomyran have been following you and me, master Skywalker, while we went back to the clearing. They are know sitting on some higher branches in trees where you, master Antilles and master Kenobi have fixed those nut rope for them.' Lorann answered him.

In silence they walked back to Cantamaga, aware of a new bond between all five of them. Chati secretly cast a glance in admiration at her master, while Lorann looked alternately at Ian and Luke.

The day of departure of the second group and all the others who would go back to Tyr, had arrived. Near the two freighters it was bustling with activity. The more than fifteen hundred Quelans, harvest men and other people had to find a place in the two freighters: the Millennium Falcon and the Grann Traveler. To make the short trip to Tyr, most of the passengers got a place in the cargo holds of the two ships, where the harvest men had put stacks of nagawa fleeces to sit on.

Filann stood with Chewbacca at the foot of the cargo ramp and watched the arriving passengers who were lead to their places by Han and his Wookiee friend. Every time a group of Quelans arrived Filann looked at them one by one. Finally the last group stood near the ramp and Chewbacca made an inviting gesture to summon them to get inside. The big Wookiee went down the ramp and said something to Filann, but the young harvest man looked worried. Han came down and heard what his friend was telling Filann.

"According to Chewbacca all our passengers have arrived, Filann. Mugin and Woldrin are keeping Nori, Leia, and Yarmod company and your brother is looking after your grandfather. What are you waiting for? We can leave.'

"Have you brought a woman with the name of Anddra Jecolin inside, general Solo. I must have missed her."

"I certainly don't know all these Quelans by name, Filann, Chewie and I haven't checked on names. Why are you asking?"

"Two days ago the woman went to the governor asking for help with the cleaning of the farm. These last two day I have help her to make some progress with the cleaning. Yesterday I told her that we would be leaving early this morning. General, the woman is alone in that farm house which is located near the top of those eastern hills of the town at quite a distance of the town itself."

Leia walked down the ramp and looked at Han.

"All is set, Han. Chewbacca has told our passengers in the cargo hold themselves at the grips on the wall, during lift off. Our other passengers have already strapped themselves in. Filann, what ere you still doing here?"

"He asked me if Chewie or me have seen a certain woman. Filann, what's her name?"

"Anddra Jecolin. She lives alone on a farm on the eastern hills. I have helped her doing some repairs and I brought her some furniture from the gift tent. She seems a very shy and timid woman to me. I have known her sister Iljon when we were trying to reach the western harbor. Anddra is Iljon's twin sister, but her whole family is dead. I haven't seen her entering the Millennium Falcon, ma'am," Filann when he addressed Leia.

Leia looked at her husband.

"Postpone our departure, Han. Filann, take the speeder from the back exit of the cargo hold and check if the farm is deserted. Come back as soon as possible."

Han looked at his wife.

"We also have to warn the Grannd Traveler, Leia." He said.

"They can leave," Filann said, "Anddra told me that she had come to Myr with the Millennium Falcon. She told me that she appreciated the Wookiee's kindness."

"Go over to the farm, Filann. If she is still there, bring her with you. Here, take my infocom in case you need help or if anything should have happened to her. Just press activate and you're connected to the ship comsystem." Leia said. "Han, help him to get the speeder.'

Filann and Han ran over to the back of the ship where Han opened the ramp to get the speeder out. He looked at the Quelan harvest man.

"Do you want me to come with you?" He asked.

Filann shook his head.

"You have to stay with your ship, general. I'm going now. I'll be back as soon as possible, or I will call you.'

He started the engine and drove off. Han watched him go and went back to the front, where Leia and Liane were watching the disappearing speeder.

"That was Filann, right?" Liane asked.

"Yes, he thinks that one of our passengers hasn't turned up." Han said. "I wonder why he is so concerned about that woman. If I didn't know he was a married man I would say that he has fallen head over heal in love with her."

Liane silenced, but reach out to the Force, looking straight at the eastern hills, while the farmhouse began to fill her mind.

"He has to wake her up, she is still sleeping," She said in her low Jedi voice.

Liane looked at Leia who confirmed Liane's observation through the Force.

"I wish that the two of you would have used those Force skills earlier, ladies." Han said, but Leia gave him a push.

Liane still watch the farm house.

"He cares for her, for he has witnessed Iljon's death as a boy of fourteen when they arrived on Tyr." She said.

"He said that the woman's whole family is dead." Han commented, "Well I will contact Yarnick and tell him that we're having a delay."

Meanwhile Filann was driving at high speed through the eastern outskirts of Ribana and drove up the hill along the winding path to the top. He braked the speeder and jumped out. He knocked on the door, but no one answered.

Feeling worried he began to find his way around the farm house to reached the back side. He struggle through the overgrown berry bushes along the side of the house where the kitchen was. Finally he turned the corner and saw the window with the curtains of Anddra's sleeping room. He walked over and cast a glance through the small split between the curtain and saw Anddra, fast asleep on her bed. Carefully he knocked on the window, but the woman didn't woke up. With a sigh he knocked a bit harder and finally he knocked once again and called out her name.

"Anddra, wake up. We're about to leave for Tyr. What's the matter with you? Open up, Anddra!"

He cast another quick glance to the split and saw that she stirred. Slowly she opened her eyes.

"Anddra, hurry up," Filann exclaimed. "You have overslept. Everyone is on board the Millennium Falcon. Lady Organa send me to pick you up. I'm here with a speeder."

"Filann," Anddra exclaimed, pushed the blanket aside and jumped out of her bed, "What are you doing her?"

She ran over to the curtain and closed up the split, but Filann had just got a glimpse of her naked body. He stepped away from the window, rounded the corner of the farm house and struggled through the bushes back to the front door. He knock again and after some minutes Anddra opened the door, looking embarrassed.

"Close up the farm, Anddra, and come with me. Quick."

He saw she had dressed quickly, but her long hair was still tied in a braid. He wanted to grab her hand, but Anddra backed off, still looking a bit dazed. She looked at him silently.

"Why are you here? Who send you?" She finally asked.

"Come, Anddra, it's good that nothing has happened to you, but you must have been tired. Let me take you to the Millennium Falcon where you can take a further rest."

Suddenly Anddra seemed to be aware why Filann had come. She put her hands in front of her mouth.

"Oh, I've forgotten. We're all going back to Tyr today. Sorry, Filann. I still feel very tired. I have been cleaning and checking all the devices in the kitchen all night. It's still all there and it all works, but it was near dawn when I took of my dirty clothes and laid down on my bed for just a few moments. I must have fallen asleep. Wait, I'll get my coat and I will apologize, for causing this trouble."

The infocom began to beep and Filann activated the devices.

"Is she alright," the holo image of Liane asked.

"Yes, miss Kenobi, she has fallen asleep, because she was too tired, after having been cleaning the whole night. I'm coming back with her after she has closed up here." Filann said.

"Good, Filann. I will make sure that there will be a place where she can rest. We'll be waiting for you. Don't hurry. Tyr isn't that far away." Liane's voice sounded.

In the meantime Anddra had closed the door and walked to the speeder.

"We're on our way, miss Kenobi." Filann said and deactivated the infocom. He help Anddra at the passenger's seat and jumped behind the wheel and start the engine.

"Whom were you talking too?" Anddra asked.

"One of the Jedi Knights who have helped the Quelans to free Ribana." Filann said as he steered the speeder down the winding path to the eastern outskirts of Ribana.

"Oh, I thought it was your wife. What will she say, when she sees us arriving at the Millennium Falcon." Anddra asked.

"My wife? Oh, she isn't here. As far as I know she has stayed on Tyr, after I joined my father to work on our long-lasting project to get the dried riverbed near Ribana filled with water again."

"Will she be be jealous, when she hears that you have helped me and that we were together doing some chores in the farm house?" Anddra said.

"Anddra, that shouldn't bother you. I can do repairs and give help to any one who needs support. So,, if she would hear I don't care." Filann said a bit surly.

"Filann, I don't understand. You're married, but you're talking about your wife as if you don't love her. Why did you marry her then?" Anddra asked.

Filann looked aside for a short moment and saw the questioning look in Anddra's eyes.

"Anddra, there is nothing to understand. Yes, I'm married, and yes, I don't love my wife, because I didn't chose her to become my wife. I was forced to become married to her. She's a seventeen year old under aged, immature girl. She isn't a woman, like you."

Anddra silenced.

"I'm sorry, Filann. I shouldn't have heard you out. I'm sorry that you were forced to marry her." She said.

Filann had calmed down again. He was driving with a calm speed through Ribana.

"I will tell you later why I had to marry her, Anddra, but I'm not considering myself her husband any more, despite what my family may think.

We've almost reached our destination. I'm sure that miss Kenobi or lady Organa have arranged something for you. You shouldn't blamed yourself for what happened. We're going to Tyr first now and when we come back here I will help you to get the farm up and running again as far as possible."

Anddra smiled.

"You're a harvest man, Filann, not a farmer."

"I know, Anddra, but I can learn to love pruning those fruit bushes so you will be able to sell the harvest at the market in Ribana, and being a harvest man I can help you to harvest the ripe berries."

Filann stopped at the cargo ramp and help Anddra to get out. Han took over the speeder and brought it to the rear of the ship. Filann wanted to grab Anddra's hand, but when he saw Leia and Liane walking down the ramp, he dropped his hand and waited next to Anddrap.

"You're a lucky woman, Anddra Jecolin. Thanks to Filann's attentiveness you weren't left behind on Myr," Leia said. "He told us about you and that you have been cleaning that farm house of your family all alone. The governor just told me that you will come back to continue your work and I understand that Filann Radilan has promised to help you with the more difficult repairs."

"Apologies, ma'am. Last night I have been cleaning very late. When I laid down for a moment on my bed I must have fallen asleep." Anddra answered on a whispering tone.

"You still look very tired, Anddra," Liane said with empathy, as she notice that the young woman could hardly keep her composure.

Filann looked at Liane.

"Miss Kenobi, is there a place on this shop were Anddra can have some rest again?"

Liane looked at Cornell's eldest son, before she looked at Leia.

"I have readied my guest quarter, Leia. I'll bring her there." Liane said.

Leia nodded.

Liane grabbed Anddra's arm and smiled at her reassuringly.

"Come with me, Anddra. You certainly need some more rest."

With a smile Liane looked back at Filann.

"Seek a place in the control room with your grandfather, Filann. He will be glad that you've been responsible for a fellow Quelan."

Filann averted his eyes.

"Thank you, miss Kenobi." He said and followed Liane and Anddra to the control room

Liane crossed the crowded control room and walked to the quarter where she had stayed. She slit the door aside and let Anddra pass. Anddra saw a neatly made bed and on the table near the bed stood a light meal and some drinks.

"You surely hadn't time to eat. If you feel hungry take what you want. I leave you know, Anddra, When we have arrived on Tyr I will warn you and we will bring you to your house at Cantamaga."

"Thank, ma'am," Anddra said and suddenly she nearly fainted.

Liane grabbed her and let her sit on the bed. She pour a drink in a mug handed it to the woman. Anddra took some sips and wanted to put the mug on the table.

"You will feel better if you have rested." Liane said, and took the mug Anddra was struggling with.

'Now lay down, forget all your sorrows and take some sleep again' Liane said in her Jedi voice and gently pushed the woman to lay down. For a moment Anddra remained looking at Liane, but then her eyes closed, and Liane sensed that she was asleep again. Liane put a blanket over Anddra's body and closed the door.

She walked back to the control room and strapped herself in. Filann looked at her from across the room.

"You, also, should forget your worries, Filann. Anddra has fallen asleep again." Liane said.

"Thank you, miss Kenobi," The young harvest man said.

Liane watched him and sensed his great concern for the young Quelan woman he only had met for the first time two days before.

On Tyr Luke had taken Ian and Lorann to the plateau halfway the hillside behind Cantamaga. He had challenged Lorann and Ian to run all the while from Cantamaga's central plaza to the plateau, following the winding path through the agricultural area and up the steep path the reach the hill. Lorann took the challenge with a big smile and ran off before Luke and Ian started to follow him.

The two Jedi watched him go. Next they too started to run. Luke easily caught up with Lorann, but Ian was laying behind. Luke stopped at the foot the steep path and waited for his friend. Ian looked at his former master apologetic.

"I'm not doing well, Luke, I know. I should practise more, but I haven't met some good opportunities here on Palomintar Four to do some endurance practise." Ian said.

"As you're not leaving immediately I suggest that you should practise here in Cantamaga, until the third group goes to Myr. Probably there also will be a short time to practise on Myr. I'll show you a great route to do some running. Practise every day, Tama-Hin, but practise alone, not with Lorann. You will experience that your skills will improve. You also have to become totally one with the Force. I sense that some moments you seem to loose your connection with our ally." Luke said gently.

"I know, Luke, and I will take your advice. Maybe it would have been better if you would have initiated me on Dagobah." Ian answered.

"Absolutely not. Wedge hasn't been wrong about your initiation, Tama-Hin, but sometimes you doubt your Force skills. You're a great Jedi Knight, but you need get more confidence in how we Jedi can count on the Force. Practise the oncoming weeks and you will see, that you will feel better about what you're doing." Luke said and patted his former padawan on his shoulder. "I'm sure that before we're going back to Myr you will catch up Lorann. Let's go, for the boy is waiting for us on the plateau."

They both ran uphill and Luke sensed that Ian already heeded his gentle instructions. Lorann watch them coming up the hill and looked at Ian. Ian smiled and nodded.

"Lorann, I wish that when I was a young boy like you I had been able to run as fast as you do." He said.

"You still can do some running here, master Kenobi. There are more than enough possibilities here on Tyr to run," Lorann said.

Ian and Luke nodded and took the boy the other side of the plateau which looked out on the nut woods.

Lorann looked around and smiled.

"I sense master Oltomyran, masters. He is sleeping on one of those nut trees. This time I won't wake him up." He said. "He needs his rest, just like my grandfather sometimes falls asleep."

Luke looked at Lorann.

"Lorann, I want you to concentrate yourself much more intense on the Living Force. You should keep your connection with the Force until I or master Kenobi tell you, you can release yourself. Tell me, have you ever been playing hide and seek with your schoolmates?"

Lorann laughed.

"Yes, I have, and didn't cheat to use ... my special way to hide myself." He said.

"Altos sopor, you mean?" Luke asked.

"Yes, master Skywalker, for that wouldn't have been fair. We only made use of our skin coloring skills."

Luke laughed.

"Listen Lorann, when you've become part of the Living Force, Lorann, master Kenobi and I are going to play a Force hide and seek with you. We won't make use of Altus sopor. I also want you to listen to what we are saying to you as we will use Jedi telepathy, and you have to answer us in the same way. Keeping your concentration on the Force is important, for it will connect you to both of us, so we don't use the explicit way of Jedi telepathy."

Lorann nodded, looking very seriously.

"Now sit down, Lorann, in the same way as you do when you're feeding your Uram friends. Look in the direction of the nut wood. Close your eyes and feel the Force flowing through you. Sense that you are part of a world behind what you normally see. Clear your mind of questions, make your mind quiet and only listen to what the Force is telling you." Luke said using his Jedi voice.

Lorann did what Luke told him and concentrated fully on his words. Luke and Ian shared an understanding and appriciating glance.

'Well done, Lorann. Through the Force you will hear my voice or that of master Kenobi. We will ask you to stretch out with your feelings and listen from where you hear us talking to you. Don't start looking for us, just use Jedi telepathy to tell us where we are.' Luke said speaking soft and gentle. 'Don't forget, Lorann, to keep quietly breathing, for that controls your connection with the Force. Do you understand what we want of you?'

'Yes, master Skywalker. You and master Kenobi are still standing behind me.' Loran said.

Luke made a nod to Ian who jumped, landed on the hill side higher up and vanished to the other side.

'Master Skywalker, master Kenobi has gone to the other side of the hill. He sits on the branch of the tree and looks at Cantamaga.' Lorann said.

'This is one of my favorite spots on Tyr, Lorann.' Ian answered.

Meanwhile Luke had jumped down through the bushes along the hill side.

'You have left the plateau, master Skywalker.' Lorann said.

'Good, Lorann, but where have I gone?' Luke asked.

'You descended the hillside through the bushes. You're at the edge of the nut wood now,' Lorann answered.

Ian had returned to the plateau and had seated himself on a rock at the end of the plateau.

'Master Kenobi, you're now sitting on this side of the plateau on a rock.'

'We can't fool you, Lorann, you're doing great. Where is master Skywalker?' Ian asked who sensed the presence of Luke down the steep path.

'Master Skywalker has ran all the way down along the edge of the nut wood to the beginning of the steep path.' Lorann said. 'I sensed his presence while he ran down the hill.'

'You're a good observer through the Force, Lorann,' Ian said, while Luke came back to plateau.

'Now you're both back at the plateau, masters.' Lorann said.

'Release yourself from the Force, Lorann, so we can talk to you as we normally do.' Luke said.

Lorann looked at and saw Ian and Luke sitting next to him. He laughed.

"This is really a great way to play hide and seek, masters," He said, "But you haven't done this to play with me, have you?"

"No Lorann, we haven't. We used this game, because I assumed that you would be familiar with it, but there's another reason why we practise this with you. We wanted you to feel our presence and especially my presence, Lorann," Luke said.

Lorann looked at Luke, but didn't ask anything.

"Don't you want to know why you have to concentrate particularly on me?" Luke asked, "for master Kenobi has been practising with you to hear his voice using Jedi telepathy."

Lorann frowned, but shook his head.

"I thought of a reason, master Skywalker, but I can't think of anything. Has it to do with master Kenobi leaving the Palomintar System on a mission with the Supreme Chancellor?"

"Partiallly, Lorann. When master Kenobi has left there are only master Kamallin and your grandfather to keep an eye on you, for master Antilles and Chati are going to Myr. Master Kenobi feels some concern, because master Kamalin and your grandfather have a lot of other duties among the Quelan community."

"Master Kamilin has promised me that he will go with me to the nut wood so I can feed the Urams." Lorann said.

"You would miss those visits, won't you?" Luke asked.

"Yes, that's why Chati and I are making those long rope chains with nuts. You will help us to attach more chains at the nut trees, won't you, master Skywalker?"

"We will, Lorann, because we have to ensure that your friends have enough food, while you and Chati won't be able to feed them."

Lorann nodded.

"I feel worried about that, master Skywalker, but I may not go to nut wood alone, besides there will be a time when I also will go to Myr and live in Ribana."

"One day you certainly will, Lorann, but before you will go to Myr I want you to accompany me and Shaayla-Car on a journey to some other planets." Luke said carefully.

Flabbergasted Lorann looked at Luke.

"You want me to do what, master Skywalker?" He stammered.

"Lorann, I will explain why I'm telling you this, for I'm concerned about what has come up lately. I don't really like what's going on, but I can't change it. Three of my friends: my sister Leia, master Yarmod Martan and master Tama-Hin Kenobi have to join the Supreme Chancellor on a mission. They don't know when they will return."

Lorann interrupted Luke's explanation.

"Master Skywalker, that also means that you and miss Shaayla-Car won't get married. That's a shame for you have already made plans to celebrate your wedding" the boy commented, looking worried.

"No, and we surely won't celebrate our wedding as long as my sister and Shaayla-Car's brother are away." Luke said and for a moment a sad flash passed through his mind.

Lorann looked at Luke.

"Master Skywalker, you and miss Shaayla-Car won't be officially married, but that doesn't mean that you love each other less, won't you?" Lorann said and Luke sensed that the boy chose his word very carefully.

Luke smiled.

"Our wedding will be the confirmation of our love, Lorann," Luke began seeking the right words to explain his relationship with Liane.

Lorann grinned.

"I understand, master Skywalker. The celebration of your wedding is just a feast, but you are already miss Shaayla-Car's husband and she is your wife, right."

Ian turned around and got a fit of laughter, as did Luke. Lorann looked with a innocent glance at his companions.

"Master Skywalker, you shouldn't feel embarrassed about what I said, for I have seen a lot about different marriages while I grew up in Cantamaga."

"What do you mean, Lorann?" Luke asked in wonder.

"Master Skywalker, when I was just seven years old my father took for a visit to master Wollin's house for his wife and he had got another daughter. Kalinn, they had called her. I didn't understand why I needed to see that baby girl, but then my father and master Wollin told me that when Kalinn would be a grown up girl of fifteen I would become her husband and Kalinn would be my wife. I really didn't understand what they were talking about and as I didn't comprehend their word I simply forgot what they told me.

I went to master Kamalin school, where the boys and girls of the Quelans from Ribana were my class mates. We grew up together. I also met some of their older brothers and sisters as I joined their families.

One day I told some of my classmates that I already knew who was going to be my wife when I would have become an adult. They wondered and asked me if I loved her and then I realized that I hardly knew what kind of girl Kalinn was. She wasn't a real friend, because she wasn't of my age. I felt that I didn't know anything about her, that I didn't feel any affection for her when even I recalled her name.

I asked my classmates how in their families their older brothers and sisters chose a husband or a wife, and I heard a complete different story. They told that their siblings could chose whoever they want. None of their parents have told them that a particular boy or girl had been chosen to become their husband or their wife one day.

Master Skywalker, I have been thinking a lot about what I heard and about the differences between what the harvest families decide and how it's done in the Quelan families of Ribana.

Sometimes my best friend's parents invited me to attend and celebrate a wedding of one of the older sons or daughters and I saw that those newly weds always looked very happy. The brides were always dressed very beautifully. The married couple very often kissed each other happily and also the parents of both Quelan families looked pleased with the choice of their sons and their daughters.

I began to wonder if among the harvest families the newly wed couples were also looking happily celebrating their marriage, but I never attended a wedding party in those families. A marriage was only announced and then the new couple has to form a new house hold. The married young harvest boy, hardly an adult, has to build a house and make all the furniture and he has to hand his new wife all she needed to run their house hold, but I never saw those couples kissing each other. The more I compared what was going on of how the Quelans of Ribana got married and how it happened among the harvest families, the more I began to feel that what happened in harvest families was odd.

When I was eleven my father told me that henceforth I had to live with my grandfather, because my mother and I weren't getting along well, I have told my grandfather all about what I had seen. He said that the way the harvest families arranged the marriages was a tradition. I told him that to me it seemed that those harvest boys and girls didn't seem really happy after they had become a married couple, because they were forced to marry and live together from the moment their marriage had been announced in public.

Since the announced marriage of Filann I'm convinced that what the harvest families do to their children is wrong. The parents of both families force a boy or a girl to form a new house hold without considering of their sons and daughters will feel affection for each other, because their sons and daughters have been allowed to make their own choice with whom they want to live, I know that Filann doesn't love Sumall Pohinn, for since their marriage she is always quarreling with or screaming at him. Filann hasn't talked to me about his marriage, but I'm sure he is a very unhappy man. That's a shame, master Skywalker, for my brother doesn't deserve to be married to a woman, who, like Sumall, is still an immature girl. I think that the way the Quelans of Ribana can chose the one they want to marry is much, much better, for they know each other, they have played with each other, they have talked a lot together, so they can make a good decision if they will also love their future husband or wife.

Master Skywalker, it's probably also different on where you and miss Shaayla-Car come from, for when I saw miss Shaayla-Car, after you came back with her to Tyr, I felt how much she loves you. You have asked her to marry you and she has said 'yes', for she wants you to be her husband. I think that's how it should be and not that parents decide in advance which boy and girl have to form a married couple.

I don't detest or hate Kalinn, but I don't see myself as her husband as my father has threatened me recently when he said he would announce my marriage with her." Lorann said and looked at Luke and Ian, who both looked very seriously at the boy.

"You're a very avid observer and thinker about what's going on around you, Lorann," Luke said. "You're right there is difference between the marriages among the harvest families and those among the Quelans who grow in Ribana, but at the moment you're too young and shouldn't to bother yourself with what consequences those differences might have for you. You should leave this matter to the men of the Harvest Council, the governors of Ribana and the Council of the Elders, but I'm very glad that you have told me all this." Luke said looking at Lorann with a concerned face. He gently patted the boy on his arm.

"With your good observations about the difference between marriages in the Quelan community you have interrupted what I wanted to tell you, because you were concerned about our wedding plan, although you have drawn your own conclusion, telling us that the wedding party itself is only the feast and that the way the newly wed couple live together as husband and wife is of much more importance. I agree with your point of view, but I have to admit that I didn't expect that you would tell me this the way you so open and honestly did.

But let me tell you more about the journey on which Shaayla-Car and I want you to join us. We have to visit several planets. Sometimes you will sleep in a house, sometimes you have to sleep on board the Astræga while we're traveling through hyperspace to reach our next destination. Shaayla-Car and I will always be somewhere near, so you don't have to feel frightened if you would wake up at night and have some difficulty to realize where you are.

Lorann, this will be the first time for you that you will leave your home planet, your known environment. That a big change, and a challenge. Everything you will see will be new and overwhelming. I want you to feel safe during our journey. Therefore I want you to always feel my presence and that of Shaayla-Car. If by accident you would feel frightened, because you would have a nasty dream I want you to use your Force skills and reach out to me or Shaayla-Car. Because you also now know how the Jedi communicate you even can ask me where I am and I will reassure you and tell you go to sleep again."

Lorann looked at the Jedi Knight who looked very seriously at him.

"Master Skywalker, I understand. You don't want me to start looking for you, for I can reach you through the Force and sense where you are, and because master Kenobi has also taught me how to use Jedi telepathy to communicate with him, but also with you now, I have more ways to feel safe."

"Now I want to hear from you if you really want to join me and Shaayla-Car, Lorann," Luke said.

"Sure I will, master Skywalker, for maybe I will learn some other Force use from you," Lorann answered.

"You shouldn't see me as your Jedi master, Lorann, for that's not why I will take you with me. During our journey I want you to make as many drawings of what you see at all the different places Shaayla-Car and I will visit. So take your drawing pad with you." Luke said. "Just make sketches and impressions, and when you're back on Palomintar Four you can enhance what you have seen."

"Master Skywalker, I also have an obligation to make drawings of what the Quelans of the second group will tell me after their arrival. Are you going to leave before they can tell me what they have done and what their houses now look like." Lorann asked concerned.

"There will be much time between the return of the second group and the departure of the third group, Lorann. Before we leave, I'm sure that you will have enough time to listen to what some Quelans of the second group will tell you. Not all of them, but you also didn't do that for the first group, as some Quelans didn't want to tell you their experiences."

"Did you asked my grandfather if he agrees, master Skywalker?" Lorann asked.

"Your father and your grandfather both agreed, Lorann. Your father even gave me and Shaayla-Car his blessing to take you on our journey."

Lorann looked up at Ian and Luke and laughed.

"My grandfather had two Jedi friends: Jedi master Obi-Wan Kenobi and Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, he told me. And now I have also two Jedi friends: Jedi master Luke Skywalker and Jedi Knight Tama-Hin Kenobi." He said with a very content and happy smile.

"The names are the same, Lorann," Ian said, "only the way they can make use of the Force is different."

"Will we practise with again, masters," Lorann asked.

Luke nodded.

"As often as we can do, Lorann, but now we are going back to Cantamaga, for your grandfather and your father are on their way to Tyr."

The Grannd Traveler and the Millennium Falcon landed on Tyr next to the Astræga. Toallin and Kamalin had arranged the guest rooms for hier human friends and the Quelan family members who had stayed behind bombarded the returnees with all kind of questions.

Han had taken the speeder out again and after Liane had woken up Anddra Jecolin she and Leia had taken care that the woman had been safely brought to her home as there wasn't any one to welcome her.

Anddra still looked tired, but she pointed her two kind hostesses to a small house just outside Cantamaga. Liane helped Anddra out of the speeder and walked with her to front door. The woman looked for the key in the pocket of her coat and smile when she took it out.

"Thank you, for bringing me home." She said. "It's very kind of you."

"Is there anything we can do for you, Anddra?" Liane asked, noticing the woman's tiredness, but underneath she also sensed a great sadness.

"No, thank you. I'll manage. I don't have worry myself about cleaning here, for I tidy up everything before I left."

"Get some rest and take a long sleep. You will feel better when you wake up." Liane advised.

"I will, ma'am. Will you, please, tell Filann that I'm glad he has warned me in time," Anddra said and wanted to grab Liane's hand.

"What's the matter, Anddra?" Liane asked.

"Ma'am, please, don't tell him where I live at Cantamaga. I don't want him to get even more trouble with his wife, than he already seems to have." She said.

"You will certainly met him again on Myr, Anddra, for we understand that he has promised you to help with the restoration of the farm."

"That's early enough, ma'am, for if his wife will join him on Myr, I don't think I can make use of his help, despite he said that he decides who he wants to help." Anddra answered and averted her eyes.

'Anddra, there is something you want to tell me, isn't it?' Liane said using her Jedi skills as a healer.

Anddra nodded.

"Yes, ma'am, but not now. I'm still feeling too confused and tired."

"I will be at Cantamaga for some time, Anddra. Shall I come back here to see you. Let's say the day after tomorrow?"

Anddra nodded slowly and opened the door.

"I would like to see you again, ma'am, for talking to you is safe. I hope to see you again." She answered

She entered the house and closed the door behind her. Liane walked back to the speeder. Leia looked at her.

"What did she tell you?"

"She is highly concerned about Filann. She doesn't want him to know where she lives, for she fears that Filann will get even in more trouble with Sumall. She even said, that if Sumall will come back to Myr, she doesn't want anymore help from Filann."

Leia looked at Liane.

"You sense that there is more behind what she said, don't you, Shaayla-Car?"

"I sense a whirling turmoil of thoughts filled with sadness while she was telling me about Filann, but she accepted that I will see her the day after tomorrow."

"Because tomorrow you will accompany Filann and Cemall to gather a first small harvest of nuts?" Leia asked.

Liane nodded.

"I want to go to the nut wood at dawn, Leia, for I don't want to make a happening of it. So I have to see those two harvest men and I hope to have a word with Manall, for he wanted to accompany master Cornell."

"Will my brother join you?"

"He probably will, but I don't want my brother, Wedge and Lorann and Chati be present. This has to be something among those four family members Radilan. I only will be there if Oltomyran would turn up and wants to communicate with them. Leia, I don't want a crowd gathering at the edge of the nut wood, no harvest men, no Quelans, no leaders. Master Manall will be there as the representative of the Harvest Council that has to be enough."

"You're absolutely right. We will do everything to keep the Quelans away while you're there. I understand you don't that Filann and Cemall feel humiliated before the whole community.

"Yes, and I want to avoid humiliation for master Cornell, too. Will you take me now to the the central plaza I'd better have a word with Toallin and Mugin, maybe I also should have a word with master Kamalin and master Woldrin.

"You certainly have to avoid gossip going around in Cantamaga.?" Leia said and winked at Liane.

Liane laughed.

"That might be difficult, but I'm sure that Toallin and Mugin will do everything to keep their lovely wives at bay, although Carmona is the more sensible of the two.

"Have you seen Luke already?" Leia asked changing the subject of their conversation.

"No, I sensed his presence and that of my brothers near the hillside behind Cantamaga. He probably is instructing Lorann."

"Are you sure to take that boy with you, while you and Luke are looking for those documents." Leia asked.

"Yes, for it will give Luke a better understanding of how Lorann might develop his Force skills. Luke wants to observe him and ask him to fulfill several specific task, but we're not going to teach him more Force use. The boy is intriguing me, Leia. I have heard so many stories of what talents he has. I hope that he will show me the drawing he seems to have made when Luke and I had arrived on Tyr after we returned from Na'ctaMagh'Ba."

"I haven't seen that drawing either, but Han said it overwhelmed him, and if my husband says something like that I certainly have to pay attention." Leia said

They both got a fit of laughter, before Liane looked more seriously at Leia

"Han will miss you, Leia. Will he bring you and the other to Irithim?"

"No, probably Yarnick and his brother will take us to Irithim, for they want to pick up part of the gifts from the New Republic Government which they had to store at De'olon space port, because their cargo hold was stuffed to its limits. So I will say goodbye to Han and Chewie after we're back on Myr. Han has already told Nori that he will help him with the task Nori and Yarmod are carrying out for Manall. They will be making a overview of all the houses in Ribana which remain abandoned after the third group has arrived. Master Manall wants to convince the harvest families to occupy those abandoned houses instead of rebuild the harvest families' quarter near the foothills. Han told me that Filann, master Roshann and Chewie have already been busy to demolished the harvest men's community building and bring any materials to the Quelan community house at the main plaza. Manall sees the harvest men and their families as part of the Quelan community and he is right, Liane."

They near the central plaza of Cantamaga and Liane started to smile.

"There's Luke with Lorann and Tama-Hin. Let's go over to them," Liane said.

Leia steered the speeder through the crowd of gathering Quelans and stopped before the two Jedi and Lorann. Luke immediately went over the the passenger's seat and lifted Liane using his Force skills. She looked at him warningly. Luke grinned.

"I know," He said, before he kissed her, "but it's too tempting to see your reaction every time."

Liane turned to Ian and hugged him.

"So good to see you again, Tama-Hin. These oncoming weeks I have to spend as much time with you as possible, for when you're on that mission I certainly will miss your presence." She said and looked with a teasing face at Luke who grinned meaningfully.

"You get the days, Tama-Hin, but I will get ... " He started to say, but Leia and Liane jumped and put their hands on his mouth.

Ian started to laughed, but Liane looked at her brother with a frown.

"This isn't a conversation when a young boy is listening," She said.

Ian and Luke both got a fit of laughter.

"This young boy has a very philosophical way of thinking, Shaayal-Car, for he has just explained to Tama-Hin and me that the wedding we're planning isn't that important. He see the way how a man and a woman live together as husband and wife is the expression of their love for each other, isn't it, Lorann?" Luke asked and took the boy in front of him.

"Shaayla-Car, my lovely wife, meet our future companion while we will be visiting the planets which might have evidence of our birth." Luke said.

Liane looked at Lorann and sensed the great admiration the boy felt for her. He made a deep bow.

"I feel honored, miss, that I will be traveling with you and master Skywalker." He said.

"I glad to have you with us, Lorann. I hope that our journey will give you a minor impression of the many different systems our galaxy has." Liane said.

"Master Skywalker has asked me to make drawing of all the places I will visit with you," Lorann said. "I will show you everything I will draw, but master Skywalker says that it is sufficient if I make sketches, for when I'm back on Palomintar Four I will get time to make more detailed drawings of what I have seen. Will you also be flying master Skywalker's space ship, miss?"

"I certainly will, Lorann, for the Astræga is also my space ship, and Luke wants me to become a good pilot."

Luke tapped Lorann on his shoulder.

"Lorann, there are some family members to see you." He said and pointed to Filann, Cemall, Cornell and Manall.

The two brothers looked at their youngest brother in amazement.

"You have changed, Lorann," Filann said "I should say you have grown, but there's also something different."

Cornell looked at his youngest son.

"You have spent your time here well, Lorann, for I just had a word with master Kamalin and he is very pleased with your work."

"I have been making several drawing, father, but I also have been in the nut woods with master Antilles and Chati."

"You have, son, and hasn't your future Jedi master accompanied you?" Cornell asked and he started laughing when he saw glance of unbelieve in his youngest son's eyes.

"Father, are you saying, that ... " He began

"That you will never become a harvest man, Lorann. Yes, I have, and you should thank your grandfather and Ben, for they have convinced me that I should no longer stick to what I had in mind for you. Ben is sure that one day you will become young master Kenobi's padawan." Cornall said and sighed. He looked at Luke Skywalker.

"Ben, it still isn't easy for me to accept this new future for a son of mine, but I also don't want to a father who will make his son unhappy. Lorann, did Ben told that you may join him on a journey to some different planets. I warn you, boy, I will asked Ben, if you have behaved well, when you're back on Palomintar Four."

Liane looked at the four members of the Radilan family while she started walking away from the group.

"Master Manall, master Cornell, Filann, Cemall can I have a short chat in private with you?" She asked.

Manall nodded and beckoned the other three to follow Liane. Liane walked over to entrance of the administration building and saw that the main hall was empty as all the Quelans were crowding at the central plaza outside exchanging experiences with those who still hadn't seen Ribana.

Liane looked at her four companions.

"Master Manall, tomorrow morning at dawn I want to go to nut wood with the four of you. I explicitly want to go that early for I don't want any Quelan or other harvest men to see us. Probably Luke will join me, but that will be the only other Jedi Knight in our company, for I want to avoid that this first small harvest of fallen nuts will become a spectacle where the whole of Cantamaga will be talking about for time to come."

"What about the Harvest Council, miss Shaayla-Car?" Cornell asked and Liane sensed his relieve about her plan.

"Master Manall will be the representative of the Council, master Cornell. It's not necessary to invite all the members who agreed with the decision the Council made."

"Thank you, miss Shaayla-Car. It is very thoughtful of you to want to prevent that my sons will also feel their penalty as a humiliation in this way." Cornell said. "We will be at the entrance of the nut forest at dawn tomorrow morning."

He looked at Filann and Cemall.

"We're going home now, and I want no word of what we have agreed with miss Kenobi to your mother, or your sisters."

Liane stayed behind with Manall who looked at her with an admiring glance.

"Well planned, Shaayla-Car. I will bring three small bags which can only contain a handful of nuts for that's enough I guess to convince Oltomyran that we take the agreement seriously."