The soldier stood framed in the high-arched window of his family's estate, the marble columns and carved balustrades around him gleaming in the soft twilight at Deeja Peak. Beyond the glass stretched rolling meadows of deep green, broken by the shimmer of silver lakes that caught the last of the setting sun. The air smelled faintly of blossoms carried on the breeze from the gardens below, but he hardly noticed. His posture was rigid, hands clasped behind his back, the crisp lines of his uniform cutting a stark contrast to the warm serenity outside.
Somewhere down the hall, voices murmured, family, attendants, reminders of the life he was meant to belong to. Yet his eyes remained fixed on the horizon, where the distant glow of city lights mingled with the stars. Naboo's peace was beautiful, but it felt fragile, like crystal held too tightly.
Cassian glanced to his side as he heard the faint footsteps against the marble floor grow louder. He could tell who's they were and he just took a deep breath, and looked forward again.
"I heard about what happened. Are you okay?"
"I'm doing well, father." Cassian looked over and gave him a small smile.
"You know what I mean." His father's voice came through a bit more clearer this time as he gave his son a pat on the shoulder. "I'm sorry that happened to you, and I know how hard it was, to not do something back. It just shows your resolve and your commitment to this. I'm proud of you, you can't be hurt."
Cassian chuckled, as his shoulders twitched slightly. "They can try too, but they wont." He looked over to him, as if he was going to say something, but hesitated and finally it was said. "Father I'm sorry, but I told Sibylla, I had to...."
Alistair chuckled and nodded his head, placing his hand on Cassian shoulder. "I had a feeling you would, you are family and you have a powerful bond with her. I shouldn't have asked you to carry that burden alone. But truthfully, I'm glad you told her."
Cassian felt the squeeze of his shoulder, he turned his head just enough to see his father smile and turn to walk away. The Noble took a deep breath as he faced forward again, staring out the window, waiting, contemplating.
What his next move would be.
Somewhere down the hall, voices murmured, family, attendants, reminders of the life he was meant to belong to. Yet his eyes remained fixed on the horizon, where the distant glow of city lights mingled with the stars. Naboo's peace was beautiful, but it felt fragile, like crystal held too tightly.
Cassian glanced to his side as he heard the faint footsteps against the marble floor grow louder. He could tell who's they were and he just took a deep breath, and looked forward again.
"I heard about what happened. Are you okay?"
"I'm doing well, father." Cassian looked over and gave him a small smile.
"You know what I mean." His father's voice came through a bit more clearer this time as he gave his son a pat on the shoulder. "I'm sorry that happened to you, and I know how hard it was, to not do something back. It just shows your resolve and your commitment to this. I'm proud of you, you can't be hurt."
Cassian chuckled, as his shoulders twitched slightly. "They can try too, but they wont." He looked over to him, as if he was going to say something, but hesitated and finally it was said. "Father I'm sorry, but I told Sibylla, I had to...."
Alistair chuckled and nodded his head, placing his hand on Cassian shoulder. "I had a feeling you would, you are family and you have a powerful bond with her. I shouldn't have asked you to carry that burden alone. But truthfully, I'm glad you told her."
Cassian felt the squeeze of his shoulder, he turned his head just enough to see his father smile and turn to walk away. The Noble took a deep breath as he faced forward again, staring out the window, waiting, contemplating.
What his next move would be.
