Private An Intertwining Melody

[Revna Marr]

Darth Caedes​

Caedes responded back without fanfare or flourish that he was, in fact, the one who had created the chamber, with help…the statue, the sigils, the sacred space that immortalized the late Lord of Wonosa. Revna watched the King as he seemed to look around the chamber for a moment, before he stepped into the rays of starlight that filtered into the room. He seemed to bask in it for several moments, before saying: "Such are the responsibilities of those who rule here," He opened his bright eyes and fixed her with the look of the King, not the lover. “...To remember.”

Revna fixed her eyes on his own, absorbing the lesson, understanding what he was imparting to her. This would be her responsibility too, in due course. The weight of that settled upon her shoulders like a mantle, and it reflected upon her face as her expression became solemn and contemplative - even as the tears dried on her cheeks.

She turned her face back towards the statue, towards the mask that was partially shadowed by a cowl. She listened to the hum that seemed to permeate the chamber for several moments in silence, before responding back.

“I understand.” she said simply, knowing that Caedes would know that she did - even though there was still so much for her to grasp and learn about the future role she was to take. One step at a time, one lesson at a time.

“...there are stories missing here. Gaps that I can fill in, that I want to fill in.” Revna stated further as she turned her attention back on Darth Caedes. “Knowledge and history to lay bare who He was. As much as I enjoy your presence -” she paused and smiled briefly, “-I will want to return here alone so that I can do that.”

The Sith woman paused for a moment as a thought occurred to her, and she frowned slightly. “The Jen’ari between here and home, pose a little bit of a problem though. They know you, as you are their King. They wouldn’t harm me, while I am with you. But if I come here alone…I do not have your protection, do I?” she stated bluntly, searching his face before continuing:

“So…what shall I expect? Can I come here without being harassed, or will I have to destroy those that guard the way? I’d rather leave them for those who are not worthy or allowed to enter this premises. But I am willing to prove myself…if that is what is required of me.”

A glint of determination and certainty filled her ember eyes; nothing would stand between her and paying her respects to her fallen High Priest. Not the living, and certainly not the dead.

 

[Darth Caedes]

Ch. 2
I N T E R T W I N E D

"Do not let them smell your fear. Walk with them, become one of them. I am King, yet I am of the horde."
—Darth Caedes, ruminations

​

"I understand," Revna said, simply.​

Caedes nodded in agreement.

"... There are stories missing here," she continued, seemingly fixated.​

"Gaps that I can fill in. That I want to fill in."​

"Stories?" Caedes prompted, raising an eyebrow.​

"Knowledge and history to lay bare who He was," she clarified.​

He smiled contentedly, revealing the sharp fangs beneath his lips.

"Good," he encouraged, "I was counting on it."​

"As much as I enjoy your presence—" she paused and smiled briefly, "—I will want to return here alone so that I can do that."​

He watched her, studying each pause, the way each thought moved across her face to rearrange her lips, her brows, the little wrinkles on her nose when she made certain expressions.

"The Jen'ari between here and home," she considered, "pose a little bit of a problem though. They know you, as you are their King. They wouldn't harm me, while I am with you. But if I come here alone… I do not have your protection, do I?"​

She affixed him with a speculative gaze, then continued.

"Can I come here without being harassed, or will I have to destroy those that guard the way? I'd rather leave them for those who are not worthy or allowed to enter this premises. But I am willing to prove myself… if that is what is required of me."​

Caedes regarded her in the dim glow of Horuset's red light, shadows carving hard edges into his features.

"They will not stop their Queen," he proclaimed, vaguely.​

"They do not stop their King, either," he observed.​

"And the dead of this world knew me to be their ruler long before I knew it myself. After all... they shall be the judges who ultimately raise you. Not I. They see more in us than we could possibly imagine."​

He let the implication hang and came to stand before her.

"When you are ready to go from this place, we will discover that answer together."​

He turned from her then, moving to the wall beside the tomb's cleft entrance. His fingertips traced the hewn glyphs as he passed.

"Darth Strosius was your Master, Lady Revna, not mine. This place is yours to complete."​

Revna Marr​

 

[Revna Marr]

​

Darth Caedes ​

Revna watched Caedes as she shared her thoughts, her speculations. She rather enjoyed the way his eyes seemed to faintly glow in the low light, and how the shadows carved sharp features into his face. He responded somewhat vaguely, as was his way sometimes. He told her how the Jen’ari wouldn’t stop their ‘Queen’, as they wouldn’t stop their ‘King’. He went on further to share, or perhaps enlighten, that Korriban’s dead know who their rulers are often long before the rulers even know it themselves.

The Sith woman’s eyes narrowed slightly, not in suspicion, but in thought…in dawning understanding to what he seemed to be implying as Caedes approached to stand in front of her. She pursed her lips for a moment as she crossed her arms over her chest, her gaze growing more thoughtful and speculative.

"When you are ready to go from this place, we will discover that answer together."

Caedes stepped away from her then, back towards the cleft in the rock that allowed one in or out. Revna glanced back over the small memorial cavern, her eyes drifting over the statue, and the glyphs on the wall.

"Darth Strosius was your Master, Lady Revna, not mine. This place is yours to complete."

“Indeed…it is only fitting that I be the one to complete this place.” Revna replied, her voice soft…distant. Already her mind was swirling with ideas, with memories to place upon the walls for as long as Korriban remained in existence. As much as the world was a tomb world as well as a sacred place…Revna knew that its star was nearing the end of its life. And when it died…so too would Korriban and all other worlds that orbited Horuset.

But hopefully that was many years into the future…long past the life that she would live, and hopefully the lives of her future descendants.

After reaching out one more time to lay a gloved hand almost endearingly upon the stone cheek of the mask, Revna turned to follow Caedes from the chamber. “Thank you for revealing this place to me. It means more than what words could convey.” She sucked in a breath, and cast her eyes towards the slit in the red sandstone wall. “Let us depart…and discover what the dead have to reveal to us.”