A Mother's Embrace [Asha Seren]

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Laekia
At an outdoor cafe

"Now - open up, 'cause here comes the starfighter! Vroom!"

The cutest of giggles escaped the tiny girl seated across from the man as she found the sound-effects he made to be very amusing. Her mouth opened as requested just as a spoonful of soup entered her gob. The cafe was calm, yet well-established with lots of customers coming and going. Peace and quiet was respected at this place, it seemed, which pleased the father and daughter greatly. They might drop by for further meals in the future if this is considered standard. The food was not too shabby, either; while little Nina loves her Corellian noodles more than any other dish, she found the soup much to her liking. Nothing wrong with reaching out and try new things, after all.

She looked up and smiled at her father, who was already smiling back down at her. Her cheeks would puff up in the most adorable way whenever she smiled or laughed, which prompted him to join in. She in turn adored how wrinkles would appear around her father's eyes whenever he smiled and his eyes squinted. To any bystander the golden-haired adult and the white-haired youngling would not look like father and daughter by outward appearances, but the way the two acted so comfortably and lovingly around eachother would tell them otherwise.

"Alright, Nina: here's comes another one! Open uu-up...!"

[member="Asha Seren"]

 

[Lief]

Levantine Space was so far from that of the Protectorate, right across the Galaxy. The journey had been long and arduous, but Asha Seren knew that it was a price worth paying given the circumstances. There were, she realised, a lot of loose ends to tie off before the next stage of her adventure known as life could begin. There was much she could not remember of her past, but within this there was also a lot worth remembering. Her traditionalist roots had returned to her almost immediately, embedding themselves deep within the core of her being. Yet at the same time, she knew that the Teachings of the Jedi and their way of life would never be enough if Peace was ever truly to be an option. The rest had been segmented, little fragments of her life which came and went in wild flurries, dispersing into nothingness did she opt not to reach out and grasp them with both hands to secure them in place in her mind.

Thurion was one such fragment. One which often came and went teasingly, mocking her memory incessantly until she made the leap to grasp. And when she grasped it felt as though she had been sucked into a wormhole, straight down after the white rabbit and into a world which made no sense, yet all the same felt familiar and welcoming. Of course, it was full of its own terrors too, its own difficulties to face and hardships to carry. All she could remember was his face, mouth forming one solitary word. Mother. And how her heart had ached with such a momentous discovery. She had kept her emotions under wrap, meditated to keep the aching at bay, and only when she had been able to contain it within herself did she realise that she needed to be at peace with it.

She had to find the little blue eyed boy from her memories, from her dreams. He who kept her up at night in tremulous nightmares of what had been, what should have been. Of a world covered in water, yet which burned as bright as a star. Of a room filled with fountains, scents to delight any senses. Of glowsticks and space-magic... And most of all, of togetherness. For they had been a unit once, so strong that only the worst of hardships could have forced them apart. Asha had no concept of what kind of sarlaac pit she would be stepping into, all she knew was that if it led her home it would be worth the risk. And she could feel him... Far across the Galaxy she had known he was still alive within the Force. For only a life force such as his own could have a presence in the Force that sang out to her, like a sirens song it called and beckoned, longing for a mother's embrace.

For he was still a lonely child at heart, crying for the mother he had lost, clutching at an Angel through his tears.

And she had swept him up.

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Another spoon fed the little one, to which she replied with delighted remarks. While the child was unable to speak, she could still make solitary sounds to voice her thoughts and feelings. Whenever she felt pleased about something, so did her father caring for her. But then the spoon would feed the girl no more as it fell against the table they were sat at. She looked to her father, finding him frozen stiff with eyes wide and mouth slightly agape. Within his mind, not to mention his heart, a sensation had just appeared from thin air. One of comfort, one of familiarity. One of love; undying and unwavering even when beset by the passage of time and the vast reaches of space. His hands started to tremble and he quickly grabbed hold of the edges of the table to stabilize himself. His gaze shifted from left to right, up and down, barely able to pick up the shape of his little girl sitting across from him, wondering what was the matter. A tiny hand placed itself upon his.

"Daddy?" came her question within his mind, but it was left unanswered as he struggled to find out the meaning of this so very familiar feeling. And then he saw it:

Dark hairs wafting in the gentle breeze, skin as fair as the moonlit beaches. A face he once knew better than most, for better reasons than most. The pounding of his own heart drowned out the noises around him, racing ever onwards as he watched the figure slip further into view. His lips quivered as he tried again and again to utter the one word he felt compelled to speak aloud. Visions of a small boy wrapped in smoke and ashes hiding and crying within an air duct appeared, taking him over. Then there was light shone upon him by the angel of his life. Tears welled in both eyes as he in his dream-like state whispered the word:

"Mother...?"

[member="Asha Seren"]

 

[Lief]

Asha was uncertain of what it was that bade her to walk along the boardwalk. From here she could see much of the city beyond, hear the quiet chatter of organized chaos running rampant and feel the warmth in the air. It was clear that the devastation of the Galaxy did not breach the atmosphere of this place, and as such she had to hand it to whoever held governance over it. For a moment a small flutter of memories greeted her, of startlingly blue hair, a little wildling and a minor schism. In the blink of an eye, however, it was gone, leaving Asha staring straight ahead. She hadn't realised until that point that she had, infact, stopped, and was now rooted in position.

The silent snag of a gentle breeze brushed through her hair, sending with it a trace of her scent, of her being. Starship Fuel mixed with the musky scent of crushed nuts, grass and honey. Somehow the same smells had always remained around her, it was her smell, clinging to her throughout her life. As she contemplated such she was caught by a solemn word which brought back every dream she had faced since reawakening. The force of it struck her so hard that for a moment she couldn't breathe, yet all the same she gasped for air. Her gaze darted around the pier, and through into the establishment she had halted outside of. She scoured the open-aired building, searching for the child she had been lured here to find. Had she really heard the word Mother of was it merely an extension of her thoughts, of the memories which were trying so hard to break through?

And then she saw him, an older form in appearance yet the same crystal blue eyes, staring with awe and wonder only made possible by a child.

My how he had grown.

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

A glance was offered to Nina, one that spoke unto her to remain where she was seated. Slowly he rose from his own, now staring at the woman standing before him only a handful of feet away just as the girl had caught notice that she was there. Her likeness was uncanny; either this was some cruel game, or this was the woman he mourned on so many occasions in his life. But how could she be here, now? It didn't seem possible, but he refused to question further for fear of the apparition to disappear into thin air. The now-adult Thurion took a step towards the spirit of his beloved, feeling himself becoming lighter while shrinking in size. More steps taken enhanced the sensation, and what had started as a hesitant walk soon turned into one of determination.

He was sure that the ghost would dissipate as soon as he came close, yet it remained in place, alive and radiating. Only a few feet separated the two as the little boy now fell to his knees before her, eyes staring wide up at her face while tears ran wild down both his cheeks. He reached for her as he had so many years ago during their first meeting, afraid to touch her. Would he be fooled this time as well, his fears told him. "Asha...!" he pleaded, his body tense and trembling like never before. If this was a dream, then this would be the time for it to come true or turn into nightmare.

[member="Asha Seren"]

 

[Lief]

She watched as the man left behind a small child in order to rise and approach her. One shift of her gaze in the direction of the child gave rise to another fragmented memory, of two children playing while the rush of filtered water echoed around, tossing stones and levitating through meditation. White hair, piercingly blue eyes, the girl was far too familiar. But nothing compared to the hulking mass of a man who fell to his knees and stared upon her, eyes pleading like a child... No, as a child. "Are you the one known as Thurion?" she whispered, voice delicate, as though a stray wind would snag her words and send them from the air and in turn his hearing.

In her heart she knew the answer, but for some reason she had to know for certain.

Slowly the woman sank to her knees, halting before they reached the ground. Crouched in such a manner she extended a hand slowly and brushed away a tear, the Force flowing from her in calming waves of peace and serenity, warm and comforting. The way she had done the night she first found him. The way she had done ever since whenever he was scared or sad or lonely.

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

The tips of his fingers brushed against her cheek, lips, hair. At that moment he lost all pretense of self-control and began sobbing like a child, burying his face into her chest, arms reaching around her back to embrace his angel. It was her, here in the flesh. No thoughts came to mind questioning her sudden appearance, for frankly he could not care less about what circumstances had led her back to him after all these years. He only cared that she stayed with him; that she embrace him and sing to him. "Asha!" he blurted out in between sobs and sniffs. "It's me, your Thurion!" His tears wiped themselves against her fabrics, yet even more took their place - there seemed no shortage of them.

For now there was little else the man-turned-boy could muster other than more tears and embrace the woman who raised him, and he never wished to let go for fear of losing her a second time. Nina looked on from her seat, and against his father's wishes she dropped down onto the ground and pattered over to him and the stranger. She reached out and tugged at her father's sleeve ever so gently. When he did not respond she stepped into him and put her tiny arms around him as best she could. "Don't cry, dadda", she spoke.

[member="Asha Seren"]

 

[Lief]

She found herself pulled into a tight embrace while the man who towered over even she began to whimper and sob. She permitted it for a moment, until she remembered the little girl at the table. "Thurion," she whispered gently, still soothing through both tone and the Force, "You're going to upset the child." Slowly she did her best to lean back, and as expected the little girl was there. She felt a connection between the pair, a flash of the Force for one brief and minute moment. Had she not been as attuned as she was to the Force, both due to her natural inclinations and the dual lightsabers on her belt, she would likely have missed it.

"Come on, now" she whispered, trying to keep the words from the child not to chastise her or belittle her but merely to keep her from becoming upset or worried more so than she already was. Gently she tried to rise up, offering him a hand. "Don't worry, little one," she said, with a tender gaze to the child which was accompanied by a smile. "They are tears of happiness; nothing is wrong." She looked at Thurion, fully expecting him to find some way to calm himself in order to soothe his child. It wasn't that she didn't feel as happy as he did - although she didn't fully understand why that was the case yet - it was simply that beings such as they had to remain strong in the face of difficulty, especially in the eyes of the vulnerable.

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

At her behest his attention turned to the little one. He immidiately leaned down and kissed her cheek, picking her up into an embrace, during which he rose to his feet. "It's fine, sweetness. Everything is alright." The child rubbed her face into his beard which never failed to bring a giggle out of her. Her father now carried her in both arms, eyes now set against those of Asha. He then looked around him at the confused faces trying to hide their staring at the trio. "This is not the place, Asha. I own an apartment not far from here. We can speak there undisturbed." He nodded his head in the direction of the location he spoke of and started walking. When he passed one of the staff he place a number of credits into the palm of her hand, not bothering about tipping too much. As they walked alongside eachother, nothing could keep Thurion from clutching his mother's hand like he would wherever they went on Tython or Coruscant.

Thurion's apartment

He'd offered Asha a seat at the dinner table while he was off tucking Nina into bed. It was getting late and already it was past her bedtime, plus a part of him did not wish for her to be around to witness the talk between him and his old master. This was something he had to do on his own without having to care for his child meanwhile, cold as it may sound. He then moved to sit beside Asha at the table. For a time he didn't know what to say to her, and rather than speak he reached for her hand yet again. He needed to feel her warmth against his, to make sure she would stay. "Asha... how are you still alive? We buried you - me, Seroth, Jaxton and the others back at Teth. There was a funeral..." His words were not spoken without hinderance; mentioning her death and funeral was never easy for a grieving son.

[member="Asha Seren"]

 

[Lief]

Again, Asha could sense a spark between Thurion and the child, and moments later the little girl seemed soothed. "Telepathy..?" she questioned, tilting her head to one side. But that did not matter, as Thurion had other things in mind as he began to exit the establishment with the child. When his hand reached out to take her own Asha wasn't so certain how to respond. The man at her side looked to be older than she did, as if the roles had been reversed, due to the slow ageing properties of the Epicanthix. But the memories she had felt, that reached her at night or during solemn hours, urged her to permit it, taking his hand within her own.

When they reached the Apartment complex, Asha remained standing despite the offer of a seat; it was rare to find this former Jedi sitting down. She watched as he took the child to bed and tucked her in, and could sense her emotions begin to soothe as she drifted into a comforted sleep. When Thurion returned a silence descended between them, yet his hand reached for hers once again from where he sat. Finally he said what was on his mind. "I know not what happened, I do not remember any death. I do not remember much of my life." She frowned ever so slightly, and shook her head. "I can only presume that some misunderstanding was in place."

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

When he heard about Asha's lack of memories, Thurion frowned. Had she forgotten about him, as well? She couldn't have, since she knew him by name and even recognised him from afar. His grasp of her hand tightened slightly. "Asha, do you remember anything? You seem to remember me somewhat, but..." He didn't wish to put too much pressure on her, as she obviously struggled with what she did know. A change of subject would probably do nicely, for her sake. Before he could speak again, however, he was struck with how young she still looked even after all these years. She hadn't aged a day, and yet he'd become a fully-grown man in her absence. The two could easily be mistaken for anything but mother and son at this point.

"The-uh... the little girl. I bet you're wondering about her", he said without really knowing how to proceed. "We found eachother on Umbara. I protected her against a band of mercenaries she'd bumped into, and she agreed to let me take care of her. She's... she's my daughter, Asha. I adopted her", he admitted, somewhat unsure of how she would respond to it all. "She's wonderful in every way. She can't speak, however, and has to resort to telepathy via touch. I've chosen not to mentor her about the Force; if she ever asks me to, I will." Perhaps his feelings were mixed about teaching her because he was her father and thus very protective of her, coupled with the fact that most if not all Force-Users are subject to war and soldiery in one way or another. He'd seen it himself, and never would he let his own daughter be put through what he had been thus far.

He looked up at Asha, his angel of light throughout his youth. His sapphire eyes lit up as he finally smiled at her much like he would when just a boy. "I've missed you, mother."

[member="Asha Seren"]

 

[Lief]

She chewed on her lower lip for a moment, it seemed that certain traits were inherent regardless of whether she remembered it becoming habit or not. "It's all fractured, little snippets which fail to remain for very long. More ideas of things than the thing itself." It had been a frustrating few years as she readjusted to her reawakening as she had taken to calling it. The moment where she sucked in a sharp breath of air and could feel, see... And then to find out about all she was capable of, too. That hadn't left her, only the memories. Always the memories. Shaking her head the woman removed her hand slowly from his and turned away, breathing slowly to remain calm. If she was not in the presence of another she might have slipped into a meditative stance there and then.

"She has an innocent heart," she agreed, almost solemnly, "but in this present Galaxy there is no way that she will not be touched by the throws of war in one way or another. Even if you only teach her to defend herself, I would recommend doing something. Especially since she will become a target for any enemies you might, inevitably, make." Inside she knew she spoke from experience, her chest ached in an extremely maternal way which made her wonder if she truly did have a child out there somewhere. And if this was the case, then why was that child not with her now? She turned back to him slowly, the weight of so much pressing upon her shoulders. For a moment it made her look old, at least in her eyes. "I'm tired. The journey was a long one." And facing this so suddenly had worn her out. Her head ached.

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

He watched her turn from him, and in doing so she tugged at his heart; her mind was not her own, and had forgotten so much. Her son and pupil, on the other hand, remembered everything. He remembered how she cared for him aboard her ship after having found him on Pelagon, how she'd hum for him when he would feel sad and depressed. Their many walks holding hands, showing an emotional bond between master and apprentice many would not for fear of other frowning upon such displays. Every embrace, every consolation, every word of wisdom given to him. He'd taken it all to heart, and shaped him into who he was today over 15 years later. Thurion rose from his seat and stepped towards Asha.

"I won't let anything happen to her, Asha. She's my daughter. I'll protect her with my life. I owe it to Kära..." he spoke, whispering the last line. He wasn't sure whether Asha remembered the Umbaran girl back on Coruscant or not. When she complained about her headache, Thurion took further steps towards her and reached out to embrace his angel. For once they were the same height and he didn't have to resort to hugging her leg like he used to. He breathed a sigh of relief. "I have wished and waited for this moment since the day I watched you leave that day on Teth, mother." As he spoke more tears welled the corners of his eyes.

[member="Asha Seren"]