Private A Knight’s Hand Upon Memory

[Ensy]

☽ Ensy ☾

The vaulted library of Theed was hushed but heavy, its holoprojectors throwing symbols of banners and crests into the air above the gathered students. The instructor's voice carried evenly as each sigil appeared: the emblems of Imperial successor states, the stylized insignias of syndicates and warbands.

"This," the instructor said, gesturing toward the Black Sun emblem, "is a syndicate currently aligned with the new Imperial core. Their operations stretch far and wide. They have are staged near our borders. Learn these marks. Know them. They will tell you who is enemy and who is friend. Always remember to try to stick with people you know and stay safe."

The class murmured, taking notes. But Ensy's lilac eyes fixed too long on the shifting symbols, his hand frozen above parchment. The sharp wedge of an Imperial crest bled into the curve of a Black Sun wheel, and he felt his chest tighten. The voices in the room blurred. His mind returned to sterile walls, the stink of restraints, the cold glint of instruments meant to hurt him.

The brush in his hand slipped, leaving a black smear across the page. He blinked hard, but the library was closing in. Quietly, carefully, Ensy gathered his satchel. He tried to steady himself with the thought of Lorn's advice, there were other ways to serve, other ways to help. Still, his legs carried him toward the exit, away from the lesson that burned too close to old scars.

Not everyone missed his departure. Near the back of the chamber, several Knights observed the class in silence, their eyes following the students as they came and went.

Aiden Porte

 

[Aiden Porte]

Ensy
​

From his seat along the back wall, Aiden Porte's gaze shifted from the instructor's holoprojector to the slender figure slipping quietly out of the vaulted chamber. The other students barely stirred, their quills scratching dutiful notes as banners of syndicates and successor states shimmered and dissolved above them. But Aiden felt the ripple in the Force, the sudden tremor of distress carried like a discordant note through the still air.

Ensy.


Aiden rose only after a pause, not wanting to draw more eyes than necessary. His steps carried him down one of the side aisles, soft against the marble floor, until the heavy library doors muffled the instructor's steady cadence behind him. Out in the corridor, the younger student's presence was easy to follow, not by sound or sight, but by the raw ache bleeding into the Force, sharp and fragile. He could sense it, something buried deep.

When he finally caught sight of him, Ensy's shoulders were hunched, satchel clutched as if it were the only anchor keeping him steady. Aiden slowed his pace, careful not to startle him, and spoke gently.

"You don't have to carry it alone." he said, voice low, steady. "The past doesn't lose its hold in a single day, or a single lesson. But walking away doesn't make you weak. It means you know where the line lies."

He let the silence linger a moment, his presence calm and unpressing. Then, softer still:

"If it becomes too heavy, let me bear a little of it with you. That is what it means to be among the Order. That is what it means to be family."

His eyes held Ensy's, not demanding, only offering. A steady hand extended not to pull, but to meet, if the boy chose.

"My name is Aiden, its nice to meet you."

 

[Ensy]

☽ Ensy ☾

Ensy's steps faltered at the sound of the voice, and for a moment he nearly bolted. But when he turned, he found not judgment, only the steady calm of the Knight's presence pressing gently against the ache inside him. He realized then that Aiden could feel it. Maybe Lorn had told him, or maybe the Force carried his scars too loudly to hide. Either way, this stranger knew.


His fingers tightened on the satchel strap, knuckles white, before his gaze lifted. "You can tell," he whispered. "That I've had… a hard past. I try not to let it spill out, but sometimes it just does." He swallowed, the black smear on his parchment flashing in his memory. "I'm sorry. I am still adjusting..."


For a heartbeat, the heaviness of the library still pressed against his chest. But when his eyes met Aiden's at last, the air seemed to loosen. The walls weren't closing in anymore. The weight eased, just a little, as if simply being seen made it bearable.

Then Aiden's word echoed again: family. Ensy's breath caught. Lorn had given him acceptance, training, safety. But family? That was different. Family was something he couldn't remember ever having, only something he'd heard about in half-remembered stories whispered by other prisoners, like a fairy tale.

His eyes lingered on the hand extended toward him, and for a heartbeat the corridor seemed to still. The thought came, shining: He is family. Looking up at the Knight before him, strong and steady, it was as if the stories were true, as if a light shone around Aiden, something magical.

Hesitantly, Ensy loosened his grip on the satchel and reached out, his small hand trembling but sure. "My name is Ensy," he said softly. Then, after a pause, his voice steadied, a fragile smile tugging at his lips. "And I'd… like to be family... It is nice to meet you." There was a soft smile on his face. Something about sharing his name gave him confidence and knowing now that he and Aiden were family made him feel much more comfortable.

Aiden Porte

 

[Aiden Porte]

Ensy
​

Aiden's chest eased as Ensy's hand found his, the tremor of it speaking louder than the words. He closed his own hand gently around the boy's, not to bind or to claim, but to steady, an anchor against the storm still lingering in him. The Force hummed soft in the space between them, threads of trust beginning to weave where fear had once pulled everything apart.

"Ensy," Aiden repeated with quiet warmth, as though saying the name aloud gave it weight, rooted it in the present rather than the shadows of memory. "It's good to meet you. Truly."

He crouched slightly, enough to bring his eyes level with the boy's, his voice patient and unhurried. "You don't have to apologize for what you carry. The past leaves marks on all of us. Some are on the skin, some are deeper. But they don't make you less, they make you real. They remind us why we stand together."

For a moment, Aiden let the quiet linger, offering presence instead of instruction. Then, a small smile curved his lips. "Family isn't just something you're born to. It's chosen. Made stronger each time someone reaches out, as you just did."

He gave Ensy's hand a reassuring squeeze before letting it go, though the steadiness of his gaze remained. "Walk with me. No lessons, no banners, just a walk. Sometimes the best way to breathe again is to remember the world is still open to you."

 

[Ensy]

☽ Ensy ☾

His lilac eyes shimmered faintly. "Marks that make us real…" he echoed softly, uncertain. His gaze dropped to the black smear on his parchment, then back to Aiden. "Sometimes it just feels like they make me… less. But maybe that's just because I'm still learning."

The word family lingered again, gentler this time in the Knight's voice. Chosen. Ensy tilted his head slightly, thoughtful. "One day I will have a big family!" There was wonder in his tone, almost disbelief, as if the idea itself were a gift.

Slowly, he loosened his grip on the satchel. His hand still trembled faintly, but he let it fall against his side instead of clutching it like armor. A small breath slipped from him, steadier than before.

When Aiden spoke of walking, Ensy's expression brightened, the shadow on his features giving way to something new, excitement. "I'd like that" he said quickly, with an exaggerated head nod. "Naboo is… it's so beautiful. I've never been anywhere like it. The people, the gardens, the light, it feels like everything here is perfect."

He glanced up at Aiden, a fragile but hopeful smile forming. "Maybe, with your help, I could see more places like this. Meet more people who are… kind." His hand twitched at his side, as though wanting to reach for Aiden's again, before he stilled it.

"Do you think we could take trips around the galaxy? I think I could trust going if you were with me. I have been to scared to leave Naboo like the other students my age."

Aiden Porte

 

[Aiden Porte]

Ensy

​

Aiden smiled , not the tight, formal smile of a man on duty, but the easy one that came when he remembered something kind. He let the warmth of the sunlight fall across them both, folding away some of the cold that still clung to Ensy's shoulders.

"You will have that big family." he said, voice soft and certain. "Sometimes it takes time to find all the faces that belong with you. But each one who chooses to stay is another piece of that home." He reached up, thumb brushing the edge of the black smear on Ensy's parchment, not to scold but to show he'd seen it and that it meant nothing about Ensy's worth. "Marks don't take from you. They mark where you've been, and sometimes they mark where you can go."

"We'll start small. First, Theed's gardens, quietly, without crowds or lectures, so you can learn the rhythm of open air again. Then the market by the river; there's a stall that sells spiced blossom tea that makes the whole day taste brighter." His tone was practical and warm, the kind of plan a friend makes when they mean every word. "When that feels steady, we'll go further. You don't have to leave Naboo until you're ready. And when you do travel, you'll never go alone, unless you one day decide to do so."

He paused, meeting Ensy's lilac eyes. "We'll move at a pace you choose. Some days will be easy. Others will be slow, and that's all right. Courage isn't never feeling afraid. It's taking the next step even when the chest tightens." Aiden chuckled low, a soft, human sound.

He drew in a long breath of the colonnade air and offered it to Ensy as though it were an invitation. "Come on, then. Let's walk those gardens now. We'll talk about nothing important and then maybe about everything. Family starts with small afternoons like this."

 

[Ensy]

☽ Ensy ☾

Ensy's satchel shifted against his side as his grip on it finally eased. The smear on his parchment still lingered in his thoughts, but the way Aiden brushed it aside loosened a knot inside him he hadn't realized was there.

His head lifted, lilac eyes brightening at the mention of the gardens. "Theed's gardens!" he said, the words spilling out with a sudden burst of energy. He'd glimpsed them once from a distance, a haze of color and stone, but never walked their paths. The thought of spiced blossom tea pulled a wide grin across his face. "I've never had anything like that tea. I want to try it! Thank you." He was earnest and possibly feeling like Aiden was the first real friend who wanted to hang out with him just cause.

For the first time since leaving the chamber, his steps felt lighter. He shifted a little closer to Aiden without thinking, fingers brushing the edge of the Knight's sleeve before pulling back again. The excitement didn't fade though it only seemed to grow.

"I want to see it all," Ensy said, his voice quick with eagerness. "If you're there… I think I could go places. Aiden and Ensy adventure!"

He let out a small breath, steady this time, and the fragile smile became something fuller, brighter. "Hopefully I can remember some of the flowers so I can draw them later."

Aiden Porte

 

[Aiden Porte]

Ensy
​

Aiden couldn't help but laugh softly, not mockery, but something lighter, brighter, like hearing the first melody after a storm. "Aiden and Ensy adventure," he repeated, shaking his head with a faint smile. "That has a good ring to it. I'll have to remember that one."

He slowed his steps so the boy could match his pace, hands folding loosely behind his back as they moved down the corridor. The sunlight that spilled through the colonnade's high arches caught in Ensy's hair, painting him in gold, and for the first time since the lesson, Aiden felt the weight ease from both of them.

"Theed's gardens have a way of surprising even those of us who've lived here all our lives," he said. "There's a terrace that overlooks the Solleu, where the wind smells like river mist and flower pollen. When the Queen's Heart blossoms open, they catch the light like glass. It's peaceful there. I think you'll like it."

He glanced over when Ensy mentioned drawing, eyes soft with approval. "That's a good habit. The Force moves through creation, every stroke you make is a reflection of how you see the world. I'd like to see your drawings someday." He tilted his head slightly, his voice turning gentle. "And when you do draw those flowers, remember: none of them grow the same way twice. They bend toward the light however they can. That's all any of us are really doing."


He paused at the threshold, where the path opened into the sunlit courtyard. "You've got courage, Ensy. You showed it the moment you stepped outside that room. The galaxy will come, one piece at a time, when you're ready. Until then," Aiden smiled faintly, resting a hand on the boy's shoulder, "we'll start with gardens, tea, and maybe a pastry or two. Every adventure needs a good beginning."

 

[Ensy]

☽ Ensy ☾

Ensy's grin widened at the thought of the Queen's Heart blossoms. "If they catch the light like glass, then I'll need more colors than I have," he said quickly, tapping the satchel at his side. "Maybe I'll mix sand into the paint so it shines."

He walked in step beside Aiden, the weight in his chest easing more with every stride. The promise of gardens, tea, even pastries, felt less like a plan and more like the start of something he'd only ever dreamed about. His voice carried that bubbling excitement. "This is the first time I've been somewhere that feels… safe enough to just look around. The people here smile when they walk past you."

He glanced up at Aiden, curiosity sparking. "What about you? When you were my age, what was your favorite place? Was there somewhere you went that felt safe, the way Naboo feels to me?"

With an excited clutching of his fists pumping at his chests "Did you go on a lot of adventures too?"

Aiden Porte

 

[Aiden Porte]

Ensy
​

Aiden let the boy's energy pull a chuckle from him, low and genuine. The way Ensy spoke so earnest, so quick to spill over with ideas it reminded him of how new the galaxy could feel when it wasn't weighed down by duty. "Sand in the paint," he mused, eyes warming. "That's clever. You'll make the blossoms shine in a way no one else has ever seen. That's how art works, it shows the world through your own light."

The question caught him for a moment, tugging him back across years. His stride slowed, not from hesitation but from memory. "When I was your age…" he began, voice quieter, thoughtful. "I grew up on Tanaab for a time, once that planet came under sith control my family left and we did a lot of travelling We lived on Kashyyyk, Kattada, Coruscant and then we finally came back here to my fathers homeworld."

He glanced down at Ensy, a faint smile tugging his mouth. "I have a place. Even in the days of rain and storms, it was still perfect. Its a small alcove next to the waterfalls."

At the boy's eager fist pump, Aiden's laughter slipped out again, softer but full of warmth. "Adventures? A fair few, though not always the kind you'd want to write about. Some were hard, some dangerous… but they all taught me something. The best ones, though, weren't about battles or missions. They were about the people I shared them with. Friends who stood beside me, even when I was uncertain. That's what makes an adventure truly worth it."

He laid a steady hand on Ensy's shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. "You'll have your adventures too. And you won't have to face them alone. Not while I'm here. So tell me, Ensy when you dream of adventure, where do you imagine going first?"

They began to near one of the popular spots for tea, muffins, and various treats as he held the door open for Ensy.

 

[Ensy]

☽ Ensy ☾

Ensy leaned forward as Aiden spoke, completely absorbed. "You lived on Kashyyyk? That's the world with the giant trees, right? I read about them.... I think." His hands mimed the height, as if stretching could somehow touch them. "And waterfalls! I've never seen one. Maybe one day." He trailed after Aiden through the open door, the warm rush of air and sweet smells making his stomach growl before he could stop it. "It smells amazing in here," he said with a laugh, embarrassed but happy.

When Aiden asked about his own adventure, Ensy paused mid-step, thinking. It took him a moment to find the words. "No one's ever asked me that before," he admitted "Right now, today - is the most I have ever gotten to know someone, or someone to know me." He gave a big pause, his hand coming up to his chin and doing a genuine thinking pose. "I like to think of seeing amazing places, sunny worlds. Markets with little flags hanging above from stringers. Everyone happy and enjoying themselves. I like when people are smiling... It kind of reminds me of Life day here on Naboo. I have seen reports but this year will be my first!" He though for a moment. A small bit of sadness coming to his expression.

"It must have been exciting to see the galaxy but not easy leaving your home and traveling all over. I am glad you found your home, I am glad I met you." It was easy to tell that when Ensy realized all of what Aiden said that he felt bad for him in a way and was trying to make him feel better the same way Aiden had done for him. All he really wanted to do since his escape was make people happier. He just did not know exactly how.

Aiden Porte

 

[Aiden Porte]

Ensy
​

Aiden slowed, not because he needed to but because Ensy's words deserved the space to land. The sunlight through the colonnade framed them both, dust motes drifting like tiny stars in the air.

He smiled faintly at the mention of Kashyyyk, nodding his head. "Yes Kashyyyk, me and my family lived there for a time. The trees you're thinking of, though you're right. Wroshyr trees. They reach so high you can lose sight of their tops in the clouds. The air there smells like earth and rain, and when the wind moves, it sounds like the forest is breathing." He glanced down at Ensy, his expression warm. "You'd like it, I think. The Wookiees say every tree remembers kindness. If that's true, I think the trees would remember you."

They reached the counter were there were several pastries on display and the attendant had advised they just

He turned to face Ensy, the kindness in his gaze now shaded by a quiet reverence. "That's a beautiful dream markets, flags, smiles. Those things matter more than you might think. Jedi spend years trying to bring balance to the Force, but sometimes balance looks like joy. Like a child laughing in a crowded square or a stranger sharing bread."

At the mention of Life Day, Aiden's lips softened into a wistful smile. "Life Day on Naboo is something special. Lanterns rise from the lakes, and music drifts from every window. Maybe this year, you and I can make one of those lanterns together. You write a hope inside it, and when you release it, it becomes part of the sky."

Ensy's next words made Aiden's throat tighten, though he hid it behind a slow breath. I'm glad I met you. The sincerity in the boy's tone the instinct to comfort struck deeper than the child could know. Aiden rested a gentle hand over Ensy's shoulder again, grounding but never heavy.

"I'm glad I met you too, Ensy." he said, voice quiet but certain. "And you've already begun to do what you wish to make others happier. You reminded me just now why I do what I do. That's no small thing."

 

[Ensy]

☽ Ensy ☾

Ensy felt the hand settle on his shoulder, steady, warm, and certain. Even in this short time where before he had met Aiden he would have frozen. Touch had so often meant pain, command, or restraint. But this was different. The knight had so quickly melted his worries and showed him so much kindness. Ensy wasn't sure what to do with the words at first. Me? he thought. It sounded impossible… but Aiden had said it like it was true.

He smiled, small at first, then brighter as they stepped toward the counter. "If I really did make you happier, then that's… good," He was never to good at hiding his emotions. The way his back straightened like he just saved the world, his big smile. It was clear he was proud. Like he did something good.

Rows of pastries gleamed under the warm lights. "They all look too good," he said after a long, serious moment of inspection, before pointing decisively at one dusted in powdered sugar. "That one! It looks like a tiny snow planet."

He laughed, the sound carrying lightness. Taking a seat, he broke the pastry in half and slid one piece across to Aiden. "So we can both try it, They say to share."

As Aiden spoke, Ensy listened closely. When the Knight mentioned Life Day lanterns, his thoughts lingered on the image. If I had one right now, he thought, I'd write that I hope everyone on Naboo and people like Aiden stay happy and safe for a long time.

After a few quiet moments, he looked up again. "Do you think we could do more things like this? Not just eating but like you said. Go and visit places together...? I don't remember what they call it. Um a ward? Apprentice in training! Um..."

It was clear to see he was kind of shaken by asking but hopeful. He felt if Aiden was at his side he could go and see the galaxy and help more people.

Aiden Porte

OOC Note [I think maybe your post or one more form me after and we could end this story on a nice note ]

 

[Aiden Porte]

Ensy
​

Ensy's words carried more weight than he realized simple, hesitant, but brave. The Knight's smile came slow, not the polite curve one wore in the Temple halls, but something gentler, deeper.

"You did make me happier." he said quietly, meeting the boy's eyes. "It's easy to forget, sometimes, what all this means the training, the work, the travel. And then someone reminds you what it looks like to see the galaxy with wonder again." He nodded toward the shared plate. "That's what you just did."

He broke a small piece of the pastry and took a bite, savoring it more for the company than the sweetness. "You're right," he added, a glint of humor softening his tone, "It does look like a snow planet. I think you just named it Pastry Hoth."

For a while, the sounds of the bakery filled the quiet: the low hum of conversation, the soft clink of porcelain cups, the faint rustle of paper wrapping loaves. Aiden watched as Ensy leaned into the warmth of the moment, his earlier tension replaced by open curiosity.

When the question came shy, hopeful, edged with that nervous energy of someone afraid to want too much, Aiden set his tea down and turned slightly, giving him his full attention.

"I think I know what you mean." he said, voice low, reassuring. "In the old tongue, the word is Padawan. It means 'learner,' but it also means companion—someone who walks beside their teacher, not behind them." He let that linger before continuing, tone careful, deliberate. "You've got the heart for it, Ensy. The patience, the courage to keep asking even when it's hard. Those are the things that make a Jedi—not how many lessons you've taken, or how much power you hold."

He smiled faintly, the kind that promised truth. "If you want to walk that path, I'll speak to the Council. We'll take it slow, the way we've started today one step at a time. Gardens, tea, painting, then lessons. And when you're ready, we'll see the stars together."

Aiden reached for the pastry half Ensy had offered, raising it slightly like a toast. "To beginnings." he said warmly. "And to seeing the galaxy through your eyes, Ensy."

He took a bite, powdered sugar dusting his fingers, and his expression softened into something between pride and quiet awe. "And to good tea." he added with a hint of a grin. "Every adventure needs that, too."