Private An Intertwining Melody

[Revna]

Tag: Darth Caedes
​

For perhaps the first time in a very long time, Revna slept restfully. Peacefully, even. No nightmares plagued her dreams, no memories of her past tried to come back to haunt her. The last thing she had seen before sleep had claimed her had been him, and the beautiful sunrise they had watched together while in each other’s embrace.

She’d been so warm, even while the chill of Korriban’s night had settled over the grand chamber, and she had felt safe. The only other time she had ever felt that way, were the nights she had fallen asleep in the Cathedral upon Formos. A place that was nothing but ash and dust and memories now.

But she would not sleep forever; a few hours was just enough to recharge Revna, though this time she was a bit reluctant to let go of that warm slumber and return to the waking world. Her mind began to awaken before her eyes ever opened, and soon memories of the dance the night prior and what had followed afterwards, returned to in full clarity. Once again, there was a part of her mind that almost refused to believe it had all been real. That those memories, and the emotions that had been a part of them - the joy and the happiness and the elation and excitement - had been figments of her imagination.

A deep and hidden desire of her heart that had taken her on a flight of fantasy.

But as sleep released its hold on her and she opened up her eyes…she recognized that she was not in her bed. She blinked a few times, gathering her wits about her a bit more, and realized that she was a bit…chilled. She looked around herself, looked beside her where she had last seen Caedes…and found his place empty. Revna sat upright in the grand bed, uncaring that the icy air of Korriban was biting at her exposed skin. Sharp, ember hued eyes swept the room, seeking…searching.

Pain, akin to that which came with a sudden rush of panic, squeezed her heart as thoughts began to race through her mind:

...Had she done something wrong?...

...Did he regret this?...

...Was he ashamed of her?...

“...Caedes?” she called out softly, and a tremor of anxiousness was clear in her voice. After a brief moment, she sent a message along their mental tether, concern intertwined with her inquiry:

Where are you??​

 

[Darth Caedes]

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

"In joy I discovered an untapped power. Not in opposition to the Dark Side, but complementing it—a force of boundless creativity."
—Darth Caedes, ruminations​

"... Caedes?" Revna called out.​

Her voice projected and echoed, ricocheting across the red stone walls of Caedes' bedchamber, to be ultimately cast out from the castle's high windows and panoramic views. Beyond, the Valley of the Dark Lords seemed to dominate the horizon, it's gaping entrance stealing breath and drawing one's gaze in—dwarfing the red dune swells of Korriban's Golg desert. Breezes meandered through the room, playing at hung musical chimes and dancing in the drapes beside windows.

Caedes answered in the Force. Warmth, which could be felt in the winds, herbal like the King's breath. Excitement, in the tinny singing of the chimes. Affection, in the way breezes stirred serpents of air to life beneath the bed's crimson sheets, sliding up towards her, in the way licks of air played at the nape of her neck. I am near. I am safe. You are safe.

"Lady Revna?" A small voice called back, sounding young and with mumbled diction—almost a slurred speech.​

There were the brief sounds of movement from just out of sight, the slapping of bare feet atop cold stone floors. A sleight woman with a sith's red skin rounded the corner of the room's open archway and stepped into view. Her posture was bent over, eyes averted in a low bow. She wore fine silken livery with long drooping sleeves and embroidered with the gold stitching so iconically representative of her King, Darth Caedes.

"I am Ffion. I serve in the King's will," explained the servant, placing one fist into the other palm.​

"His grace awaits your Lady's presence at her earliest convenience. He has ordered garments and refreshments be prepared for his Lady. Whenever you are ready, I can take you to him." ​

​

Revna ​

 

[Revna]

Tag: Darth Caedes
​

Revna’s voice, tight with concern, echoed through the grand bedchamber, as her eyes continued to drift over her surroundings, allowing herself a more proper look into the private quarters of the Sith King. She pulled the blood-hued sheets up over her bare shoulders and around her as the day’s light filtered into the chamber through large open windows some distance away. They provided a stunning view of the Valley of the Dark Lords beyond the walls of the Palace, and a breeze drifted through to rustle hanging drapes and delicate chimes that offered an appeasing musical note that filled the chamber with an almost ethereal quality.

The young woman took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the cool air that still carried the scents of the incense that had been burning throughout the night, and allowed herself to momentarily get lost in the myriad of sights, sensations, and scents that greeted her. It helped to further solidify the fact that she was indeed inside the King’s bedchamber; that her eyes and memories did not deceive her. She was really here, and the events of the previous evening had really occurred. A smile, genuine and heartfelt, tugged at her lips as she let those memories return to her as silence filled the chamber, occasionally broken by the gentle song of the various chimes. The silence and solitude she had awoken herself into turned from panic and uncertainty, to stillness and momentary peace.

After several heartbeats, Revna became aware of a presence there with her, one that brought a thrill of elation through her, and brightened her eyes. Though she couldn’t see Caedes, she could sense his presence there in the currents of the Force, and she let her eyes drift shut so she could bask in the gentle sensations and assurances he gave to her. She could feel his warmth, and it chased away the momentarily chill of fear and doubt that had spiked through her. She felt the tremor of excitement, heard in the music that played gently and playfully throughout his chamber, and it tore asunder her fear that he might be regretting what had transpired between them. A breeze snaked its way from the windows to wrap itself around her to caress her skin, and within it she felt his affection. It shattered the last remnants of her uncertainty, and she relaxed to simply breathe and rest in the affirmations he had provided to her.

Revna was still and quiet, happy to exist in that moment, and would have continued to do so if it hadn’t been interrupted by a female voice that responded back to Revna’s call for Caedes. Ember eyes snapped open and her attention turned in the direction the voice had come from, and a moment later she heard the sound of approaching footsteps as a red-skinned sith woman appeared, her posture bent low and her eyes averted. The sight brought a small frown to Revna’s face; she knew the posture of a servant when she saw one.

The servant woman announced herself as Ffion, and explained further to Revna that she had been sent to serve the King’s will, and that Caedes had ordered that fresh garments be provided for his Lady, and whenever she was ready, she would be taken directly to him.

“Thank you, Ffion.” Revna replied softly to the servant, before she slipped from under the sheets and off the bed. The stone floor was cold underneath her feet, and she shivered briefly in the cooled air of the chamber, before she allowed Ffion to guide her to where she might be able to refresh herself. Revna desired to bathe and be as presentable as possible for the King, and so she took care to ensure she was clean before she was presented with a plethora of clothing options for her to choose from, all of them exquisite and made in the finest materials one could find in the galaxy. Revna was tempted to choose something more basic and akin to what she normally wore - simple Sith robes, for example, but this time she chose to wear something that she knew would please the eyes of her new Lord.

She chose a dark and elegantly flowy dress made of some kind of finer material that felt so soft against her skin, that dipped into a modest V in the front and down the back between her shoulder blades and that left her arms bare; the bodice and waist area glittered with golden stitching and patterns that caught the light when she moved, and complimented her build and accentuated her curves. It was something she chose to compliment the color palette that Darth Caedes often adorned himself with, a simple gesture to show him that she noticed such things and wanted to appeal to that. Revna chose to leave her silvery black hair long and free flowing, and went without any form of makeup or enhancements and she did nothing to hide her scars; she wanted her King to receive her as she was for who she was.

After she had finished preparing herself she made sure to find the blackened gloves that fit neatly and elegantly over her hands - she still hadn’t quite learned how to manage her new found ability, and she didn’t wish to accidentally turn someone into a corpse from a stray touch.

When she felt she was ready and presentable, Revna turned to the servant and spoke in the same soft voice she had used earlier, though there was no hiding the eagerness in her voice. “I believe I am ready, Ffion. Let us not keep the King waiting any longer.”

And truthfully, Revna did not wish to be away from Caedes any longer than she had been already.

 

[Darth Caedes]

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

"The Force is not meant to preserve—it reinvents, reshapes, and redefines. It creates."
—Darth Caedes, ruminations​

Ffion moved with a clipped efficiency, guiding Revna to a private bathing chamber carved directly into the red stone, where warm, mineral-rich water had been drawn into a mosaic inlaid basin. Steam curled into the air as Ffion worked with practiced hands, lathering fragrant oils through Revna's hair, into her skin and scalp, massaging her hands, her feet, and washing away the remnants of the previous night. There was a reverence in her care, downcast eyes and gentle fingers seeming to locate every detail and every scar on Revna's body. Afterwards, each stroke of the comb through Revna's silvery-black hair was methodical, ensuring that it was smooth and untangled before drying them with delicate cloths.

Cleaning completed, Ffion ordered in a bustle of ladies-in-waiting, each presented a selection of lavish garments, their fine materials shimmering under the dim red glow of Horuset through open windows, and the flickering torches ensconced along castle walls. She seemed to study Revna as she made her choices, nodding approvingly at the elegant, dark gown which bore golden embellishments in the style of Caedes' usual garments. Dress chosen, Ffion herded the curious ladies back out and into the halls, their gossip already beginning to churn whispers, speculating into the identity of this Lady Revna. Finally finished, she stepped back to make one final appraisal and, seemingly satisfied, offered to Revna a fine set of black gloves before beckoning her from the King's private chambers.

Their journey through the Castle of Vardin was near silent. The air within the halls was cool, carrying with it all the smells from lingering incenses and herbal gardens. The castle, carved once from a massive stalagmite, bore the raw, natural beauty of the planet's red stone. As they descended the spiraling staircases, the pair passed by vast, open chambers—gardens filled with flora, both native and foreign to Korriban which thrived beneath carefully curated and expertly maintained environments; grand banquet halls lined with darkwood furniture, and meditation rooms where rows of barefoot Sith acolytes sat in silent contemplation.

The deeper they ventured, the more the air changed. A distant, rhythmic clatter began to intrude upon the silence—the sound of hammers against stone, of voices murmuring. As they neared the ground level, the grand architecture of the castle gave way to something more industrious. Emerging into a courtyard, Ffion stepped aside and motioned that Revna take in the sights before her.

The courtyard, one of many on the castle's ground-level, was in the midst of an active transformation. Scribes hunched over flimsiplast parchment, sketching intricate designs, while Jen'ari servants—wrapped in pristine linens—hauled mortar and raw materials with tireless efficacy, depositing them against a far wall. The scent of dust and stone mixed with the castle's other scents here, and in the center of it all stood the King himself.

His presence was unmistakable—a stately figure clad in black silks, his garments simple yet made undeniably regal in the way he wore them. His sleeves hung long, though his chest remained bare to the cool air, unbuttoned from the top, revealing the slick, radiation-scarred skin and slender musculature of his natural clawdite form. He leaned over the shoulders of his scholars, piercing golden eyes scanning their work. The rough sketches depicted a grand garden with a familiar fountain at its center, a space of cultivated and serene beauty amidst the otherwise stark architecture of Vardin.

Sensing their arrival, Caedes lifted his head abruptly, as if someone had called his name, his gaze quickly thereafter landing upon Revna. A slow, genuine smile touched his lips, seeming to lose track of the conversation he'd been so previously entrenched in, belatedly and distractedly dismissing the drafters with a casual wave. His attentions diverted, he surged forward, the chaotic construction around him momentarily forgotten.

"Revna," he greeted, voice a rich whisper-tone, uncharacteristically warm.​

His golden eyes traced her figure, lingering appreciatively on her choice of attire. He grinned, the expression almost mischievous.

"You... look exquisite."​

He reached out, the brush of his fingers just shy of contact.

"How did you sleep?"​

​

​

Revna ​

 

[Revna]

Tag: Darth Caedes
​

Revna had gone into the chamber where she could refresh herself and wash up with the full intention of doing so on her own power, and was taken by surprise when Ffion began to do the tasks herself. At first, the young woman was reluctant to allow the servant to bathe her - it felt wrong to demand such a thing, and the red-skinned sith woman seemed to realize that such a thing had made Revna a bit uncomfortable. Revna was free to bathe herself if she so desired but the option was there to allow Ffion to carry out such a ritual based in tradition. After a brief moment of introspection, Revna gave her consent to Ffion, understanding the importance of ritual and tradition…especially in a place such as Korriban that was steeped in such practices.

Ffion went to work immediately, starting with Revna’s long black hair, washing and perfuming it with scented oils that made the hair soft and silky. The servant took great care as she reverently cleansed Revna’s body, tracing over the scars that were on full display, and being careful to avoid the strange and sinister looking device embedded into the skin and bone of Revna’s lower back. Ffion did not speak, other than to inquire if she was permitted to do a particular action or not. When the ritual of washing had been completed, Revna stepped out of the steamed bath pool and wrapped a soft and lush towel around herself before she was guided to a seat where the red skinned sith woman went to work running a comb through the silken strands, removing any tangles and massaging the scalp ensuring that perfumes and oils had worked themselves through the hair and skin. Being pampered with such gentle and reverent care made Revna feel like she was being anointed, made perfect and without blemish before she was brought before the Sith King.

With the combing completed, Ffion summoned a group of ladies into the chamber, and they provided a vast offering of garments for Revna to pick and choose from. Though talk was kept professional and at a minimum, Revna could sense the growing curiosity of the women around her, and she didn’t have to see their shared looks to know it was happening. She’d been a servant herself once upon a time; she knew that once the ladies were sent away, gossip would no doubt begin to spread like wildfire amongst the servants in the castle as they tried to figure out just who Revna was, and what importance she had to their King.

It did make the young woman wonder though…was she perhaps the first woman to find herself in the King’s private chambers? Was her presence here a surprise to them all? They certainly acted surprised and curious - more so than perhaps servants normally would be with such a situation.

With her outfit chosen, Ffion sent the women away and once Revna was dressed and ready, the servant guided her from the King’s personal quarters and through the castle itself. As they walked, Revna marveled at the raw beauty it presented, carved directly from the red rock that made up most of Korriban’s surface. Clearly the architects of the castle of Vardin had taken care to build the place to accentuate the natural beauty of the harsh and unforgiving planet.

Upon the cool breeze, Revna could smell different scents mingling together - from incense that came from various other chambers, to the smell of flowers that filled other courtyards she and Ffion passed by as they descended down a massive spiral staircase that took them lower and lower. Revna spied large and grand banquet halls, ready to be used by any high ranked visitor or dignitary that came to Korriban, as well as dark and low lit meditation chambers were she saw Sith acolytes knelt in perfect rows, deep in contemplation as they tried to connect with the Force and hear its whispered secrets.

The near serenity of the upper portions of the castle shifted the lower the two women descended, and soon Revna’s sharp hearing picked up the telltale sounds of construction being carried out somewhere beyond them. From the direction of the noise came the growing presence of Caedes himself - a dark swell of power that rippled forth through the currents of the Force around her, a presence that would have put most on edge, maybe even driven some to their knees - but to her it was like a dark and brooding song, beckoning her forward to become lost in its embrace.

Her heart began to thrum faster in her chest with each step she took, and the knowledge that she would soon see him again. It would be the first time they laid eyes upon one another after the events that had taken place the evening prior. That dance, and their stolen night together, had been a point of no return for both of them, a bridge crossed and into a new reality they would soon face side by side.

Ffion guided Revna into the entrance of another grand courtyard, but this one was clearly under active reconstruction. Revna’s gaze shifted over everything she saw before her - from the scribes bent over flimsiplast to the linen-wrapped Jen’ari servants who hauled mortar and other materials around and worked tirelessly to shape the courtyard to the desired arrangement.

And there, in the center of the workspace and overseeing the scribes and the workflow, was King Caedes himself.

Revna’s eyes were drawn to him, as they always were whenever she found herself occupying the same space as Caedes. He was majestic and stately in his dark and gold accented silks, and a smile curled on Revna’s lips as she watched him in silence for a few heartbeats. Only a moment later, the King lifted his head as if someone had called out to him, and his attention immediately shifted to her and they locked gazes. A genuine smile formed on his face as he seemed to focus solely on her and nothing else. The scribes with him tried to carry on whatever conversation they had been having with him, but fell silent when they realized their King’s attention was divided. She felt their gazes upon her, curious and probing just like the servant women had been, and she watched with some mild amusement as they were distractedly waved off and they departed from Caedes’ presence.

Caedes moved towards her with purposeful strides and she stepped towards him as well, his eyes never leaving hers until they were within arm’s length of one another and he greeted her with a warmth that seemed out of place for a Dark Lord. A shine of coyness gleamed in her eyes as his golden gaze dipped to look her over, an expression of appreciation dancing across his face.

"You... look exquisite." he said, and a flush of warmth danced across her skin as her smile broadened briefly, her own eyes dipping almost shyly before they traveled over his slender yet no less regal form, taking in the sight of him without the fear that he would notice her doing so. Her facial expression mirrored his own mischievous grin as her fiery eyes lifted back to look him in the face. Much was said in that simple but knowing look they gave one another.

“Thank you, my Lord. I had hoped you would find my choice of attire pleasing.” came her own soft voice, a low murmur that carried with it the same tone of warmth that matched his own. He lifted a hand towards her, his touch just short of true contact, a distance she closed with a subtle shift towards him - a simple gesture to show and tell him that she wanted that contact, no matter how light or brief it was.

"How did you sleep?"

Once again, her smile was coy and a touch playful - flirtatious, even. “I slept very well. I daresay it was the best sleep I’ve ever had. And you..?” She paused for a moment, her gaze searching his face, his eyes, as she dared to lift a small and satin gloved hand to lightly graze her fingers across the scarred and exposed skin of his chest, not giving a care in the world that others would see her do such a thing.

“...Did you rest well?”

 

[Darth Caedes]

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

"As night falls and the galaxy dreams, I, Darth Caedes, remain."
—Darth Caedes, ruminations​

"I slept very well," she said, tracing the scars marked upon Caedes' chest.​

"I daresay it was the best sleep I've ever had."​

"Good," he replied, distractedly.​

"Good."​

Her touch was so gentle. Those little gloved fingers. Had anyone ever handled him this way? So tenderly? So carefully? The way it made him feel—at once heavy like warmed syrup, yet at the same time impossibly light. She'd let the palace Eyes wash her, he noticed, smelling of the soaps and argan oils they'd massage into the scalps of Korribani Lords, or else guests enjoying the King's favor. Caedes swelled, breathing her in and straightening his shoulders, shivering and flexing beneath her touch, leaning in.

"And you..?" She asked.​

"... Did you rest well?"​

His smile became thoughtful, glancing at the surrounding chamber, seeming to remember where they were. He took her hand in his own, cradling it, letting his thumbs play at the lines of her palm.

"Rest is a concession to the limits of flesh."​

​

Caedes hesitated, eyeing Revna as if weighing something in his mind.

"Once, I required it," he admitted.​

It was not boasting when it came from his lips. His journey to discovering such powers hadn't been glamorous or heroic. Instead, it had been a far harsher story of desperation and long years of aimless survival; years ruled over by fear, deep inner conflict, and plagued with an ever-spreading bodily sickness. ​

"Now," he explained, gesturing vaguely with one hand at the courtyard around them. ​

"Now I find more productive ways to spend my time." ​

​

​

Revna​

 

[Revna]

Tag: Darth Caedes ​

Caedes seemed pleased, and a little bit distracted, as Revna traced the scars and patterns there on his chest with a light and reverent touch. The rich murmur of his voice sent a pleasant tingle across her skin and her eyes and smile brightened as he straightened his shoulders and reacted to her attentions. He perhaps wouldn’t know this, not yet anyway, but he was the first individual she’d ever been able to shower such physical affection upon and to see that he was accepting of it brought her immense joy.

For a brief moment, the space around them disappeared and they simply just enjoyed each other’s company and presence, before Caedes seemed to remember where they were at and the fact that there were others around watching the two of them, and he gently took her hand into his own as he responded to her inquiry on if he had rested well himself and now it was her turn to be somewhat distracted as she stood there enjoying the feeling of his thumb tracing the lines of her palm, able to feel it through the satin fabric that covered her pale hands, though there was a mild irritation in the back of her mind that she couldn’t feel skin on skin, not right now anyway. Maybe one day she could enjoy such a thing, once she figured out how her newfound ability actually worked, and how she could better control it.

Revna pushed those thoughts aside for the mean time to ponder his words for a few moments, the confession that once upon a time he had needed such things, but now he didn’t and instead he used that time to be productive, gesturing to the courtyard under construction around the two of them as his example. The Sith woman marveled at that understanding for a moment; she knew that Sith who had been around for some time, those who had grown and attained heights to their power, no longer needed to rest like many others.

Even she had grown accustomed to getting very little rest, but that had been forced upon her by others and it was not done by choice. But forgoing sleep altogether? She hadn’t quite achieved that skill yet, and clearly she was still bound by such a limitation of the flesh. For now.

“Hmm. Well usually I don’t require a lot of rest myself, but last night’s dance and events exhausted me. I don’t think I could have fought off sleep, even if I wanted to.” she said with a lightly amused chuckle before her attention shifted back to the courtyard itself.

Once again, her sharp and attentive eyes flickered over the various individuals - the scribes, architects, the Jen’ari - everyone hard at work to bring the King’s vision to life. She was curious to know what his plans were for the place, and she felt a sudden swell of eagerness fill her chest - a desire to help him achieve his goals and plans, no matter what they were.

“Certainly appears you’ve been busy while I was getting my beauty sleep.” She smirked in her more typical playful manner before her more curious nature finally won over and she returned her attention back to Caedes.

“...What are your plans for this courtyard? Anything I can be of assistance with?...if you don’t mind me asking, that is.”

 

[Darth Caedes]

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

"Passion has many faces."
—Darth Caedes, ruminations​

"Hmm," Revna mused.​

"Well usually I don't require a lot of rest myself, but last night's dance and events exhausted me."​

Caedes sprouted a wry grin. Yes, it must have been the dancing.

"I don't think I could have fought off sleep, even if I wanted to." ​

"Well, good," he said, realizing that the report inspired feelings in him of personal pride and accomplishment.​

And... by the Force! They had danced, hadn't they.

"Means you needed it," he said.​

"I do hope the accommodations were to your liking."​

Revna affirmed that the services had been appreciated before turning her gaze back upon the courtyard and its motley inhabitants.

"Certainly appears you've been busy while I was getting my beauty sleep," she said.​

​

Caedes followed her gaze with his own, watching for her tells—those sudden and sometimes subtle shivers of expression, barely concealed. Unless he missed his guess, she was just as curious about the whispering palace attendants as they no doubt were about her. Mistress Ffion, in particular, seemed taken with the idea of Caedes finally having a Lady in Residence, insisting that "it's about time," and that "it's what the people need." More than once, he'd heard the woman coo from within nearby chambers or the castle's long hallways about what was proper for a man of his station, a King, when she thought herself out of earshot or else otherwise safe from his attentions.

"Ah, yes," he said, also turning to face this morning's project-in-progress.​

"This."​

Like coal brought to life on a breeze, his grin returned.

"What are your plans for this courtyard?" She asked.​

"Anything I can be of assistance with? If you don't mind me asking, that is."​

Caedes wrinkled his brow and made a waving motion with his hand, fixing her with a blank stare. Well, blank except for that grin.

"But my Lady Revna," he exclaimed in mock horror, "already you are the architect and muse for this project. Surely you do not mean to usurp my involvement altogether."​

He pulled her in close, sliding fingers from hips to waist, finding purchase in the folds of her dress and holding her there. He seemed to beam down at her, humor giving way to a soft-eyed sincerity.

"One day, it will be a place for us. For you."​

Hesitant at first, he reached down to tuck a stray hair back behind Revna's ear.

"If I am needing, I will come to you. And there is nothing which cannot be spoken between us, Revna."​

​

​

Revna​

 

[Revna]

Tag: Darth Caedes ​

Revna’s eyes glimmered like hot coals with his grin; he’d read between the lines of her statement, carefully crafted to sound innocent to anyone listening in on them in the moment. She found she received a thrill from such subtleties in a more public space, while also noticing that Caedes seemed pleased to hear her report on the matter, and suggested that it was something that she needed. She let her thoughts drift over that statement for a few brief moments, reflecting on the simple truth of it.

She had needed it. All of it.

And it had taken the events of the night prior, the confessions made between them, for her to realize it. She guarded and held onto that understanding as if it was the most precious thing in the entire galaxy, because it was. What had sparked to life between her and Caedes was something she would fight for, something she would live for.

Why? Because she knew just how rare and incredibly special such a bond was between two Sith. Most used others for their own benefit and when that benefit was gone, then that was the end of it. There was still the fear in the back of her mind that this was the case on Caedes’ part - but reality reminded her that she really had nothing material for him to gain in bonding himself to her, with her. Yes, she was of noble blood and bearing and she had some wealth to her name but she had no land, no army per say, nothing of worth, really - other than herself, her loyalty, and the ferocity that she carried in guarding those she gave herself to.

In reality, she was the one who stood to gain so much by accepting the role he would play in her life, the role she would play in his. And yet, all of those boons were the last things on her mind when she looked at the man before her. Even now, she realized in the very innermost parts of her heart that if he lost his throne, lost his world, lost his standing within the Order itself…she’d still be right there beside him.

"I do hope the accommodations were to your liking."

Revna smiled, sincere and warmly. “Yes, they were…very much so. I must confess I am not used to such things, so I certainly felt very pampered.”

Caedes followed her gaze as she looked upon the courtyard still under construction, but she could feel his golden eyes flicker towards her occasionally, studying her, learning her. She was curious, her eyes bright with it and her face open with her wonder. It made her appear more youthful than she actually was, almost innocent. Her fiery eyes, windows to the deep emotions that churned within her, flickered from individual to individual - even catching the stray glances of those who would occasionally steal peeks towards her and the King.

In her curiosity, she asked Caedes what the project was, and if she could be of assistance to him on it. His brow wrinkled slightly as he regarded her, his grin remaining in place though he fixed her with a blank stare. "But my Lady Revna, already you are the architect and muse for this project. Surely you do not mean to usurp my involvement altogether." He said, his voice carrying the tones of amusement and humor and she gave him a mild quizzical look.

“Me? Oh I would never dream of usurping your involvement in anything…” she started to say before Caedes drew her in closer towards him then, his hands gentle upon her waist as he held her there. The gesture was intimate, and it brought a pleasant flush of warmth across her cheeks and whatever words she was about to say slipped away from her.

The way he looked down upon her, made her breath hitch in her throat. No one had ever gazed upon her in such a manner, with such softness; she could drink it in and live in the moment forever, if she could.

"One day, it will be a place for us. For you." he said further as he tucked a stray lock of raven hair behind her ear, and she couldn’t help the soft hum of contentedness that rumbled from her chest. "If I am needing, I will come to you. And there is nothing which cannot be spoken between us, Revna."

She lowered her eyes from his for a moment as she let her satin gloved hands rise to gently caress both of his arms as she became thoughtful and introspective. His words brought her relief, to know that she wouldn’t have to constantly wonder if she was doing enough for him; if he needed her for anything, he would come to her. And they could speak to one another about anything they wished, without fear of reprisal from the other.

It was as simple as that.

Revna couldn’t even do that with her own Father-figure when He had still been alive.

“What I have with you, what you’re offering to me…I-I’ve never had with anyone else. The space to be…open and free. To be without…concern or worry that I might be failing in something, somewhere. I trust you, that you will come to me, when you need to. For anything. I want you to. And know that I will do the same for you.” Revna said softly, just loud enough so that he could hear her, as she lifted her gaze back to his. “That being said, know that it is my desire to be helpful to you, when and where I can. That is part of my purpose…is it not?”

A small frown flickered across her face then, and she tilted her head slightly to one side thoughtfully. “Actually…what is to be my place, my purpose here, now? I know what you said you wanted me to be at the Dance last night but…what does that look like to you?”

 

[Darth Caedes]

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

"Though not originally from Korriban, the Hssiss understand the truth of this world: survival requires an intellect sharpened by cruelty. Only the fool mistakes them for mere beasts."
—Darth Caedes, ruminations​

"What I have with you," Revna admitted, cautiously, "what you're offering to me… I-I've never had with anyone else."​

Caedes let his grin soften, becoming a smile and encouraging her.

"The space to be… open and free," she went on.​

He nodded understanding, tracing the line of her cheekbone with a retreating finger.

"To be without… concern or worry that I might be failing in something, somewhere. I trust you," she asserted.​

"Good," he breathed—quiet, so as not to interrupt.​

"That you will come to me, when you need to."​

"I will." ​

"For anything. I want you to."​

Caedes nodded, fighting to keep his grin from returning. How beautiful, that faint rose-blush atop her cheeks, the curves in her bow-shaped lips. Their natural pout.

"And know that I will do the same for you."​

"Mm," he hummed, contentedly.​

"That being said," she urged, "know that it is my desire to be helpful to you, when and where I can. That is part of my purpose… is it not?"​

Caedes hesitated.

"Actually… what is to be my place, my purpose here, now?"​

He'd anticipated the question—knew it must be coming—though did not yet feel sure about his answer nonetheless. At times, Caedes himself felt naive before the grand expectations laid upon him as King. Always his relationships of the past had been formed by duracrete hierarchies, necessary dominions and necessary obeisance—Master, Apprentice, King, Subject, Lord, Vassal. This relationship would be different, it had to be. It already was. He squeezed, pulling her weight into him, looking contemplative.

"I know what you said you wanted me to be at the Dance last night but… what does that look like to you?"​

Caedes swayed, tucking Revna beneath one arm and rocking, pivoting them both toward the courtyard's Northern exit. Beyond its open-air archway, red stone structures and fenced in habitats created the city's sprawling Kennels, where Sithspawn were kept. Beyond that, the great Desert of Golg stretched out, rippling with red dunes and reaching toward the Valley of the Dark Lord's yawning cliff-side entrance.

"Hmm," Caedes purred.​

"A sculptor," he mused, "does not impose form upon clay without first feeling its weight, it's grain. Without first learning how it reacts beneath the press of fingers, and how much heat will shatter it."​

He looked to Revna with a quizzical expression, hard to read.

"You see, the final form is whispered by the clay itself, with the sculptor acting merely as an intermediary, a translator. I, therefore, cannot speak of your place until I know all that you are capable of becoming."​

Caedes expression seemed to harden, lifting from her to regard the others around them—the busy draftsmen and their corresponding laborers, the ladies in waiting, shuffling servants meandering down maze-like halls, the esteemed Jen'ari carrying heavy burdens and their Jen'koshû shepherds.

"Come," he said.​

"Let us be away from prying eyes and the ears of the curious, where we can speak in earnest of such things. In truth, this project," he motioned to the courtyard, "is not why I summoned you here this morning. While this is a work yet underway, and one intended for you, true, there is something already completed I would ask the privilege of showing you... my Lady."​

The grin returned and Caedes stepped away, offering to Revna his arm that she might follow.

Like this, Caedes led the pair through Vardin's winding halls, the chill of Korriban pressing in through stone, the courtyard's busy noise fading behind them. They emerged along the palace's North-Eastern wing, where the Kennels loomed—great dome-shaped structures enclosing Sithspawned beasts bred for war, food, burden, and trained as mounts to the Sith's highest. Many of these beasts boasted of their own unique connection to the Force, causing the air here to feel thick and heavy, churning like stormy waters beneath the press of the Dark Side.

Two guards stood, rigid, at the Kennel's entrance, each coming to attention at the sight of their King and each saluting. Caedes raised a hand, intending to dispense with the formalities as he was so often prone.

"Your majesty," offered one of the pair, his gaze straight forward rather than locked with that of his King.​

"Peace," Caedes insisted.​

"Be at ease."​

"Your Majesty," the guard responded, bowing his head in acquiescence.​

Nodding to his fellow guard, who keyed the gates open, Caedes and Revna were led into the Kennels. Like most of Vardin, these grounds were kept cleaned and well organized, with Jen'ari tending to the largest and most dangerous of the Sithspawn. Rancors gargled and chewed in deep stone pits. Tuk'ata preened and prowled amongst their pack.

"Everything has been prepared as you asked, Majesty," reported their guide.​

"Good," Caedes replied.​

"I will be absent for much of the day," he informed the guard.​

"See to it that Mistress Ffion is alerted. In my absence, First Lord Elmindra Xitaar will preside over Court and speak with the King's Voice."​

"Of course, Majesty," he nodded, no doubt shocked to receive such potent commands from the King himself.​

"It will be done."​

Then, perhaps emboldened by Caedes' trust on this matter, the guard added "a fine day for riding, Majesty." And that it was. Korriban's skies were clear and the winds had settled into a slow dance of breezes, barely strong enough to shuffle the sands at their feet.

"Indeed," Caedes agreed, glancing upward.​

"Here we are, Majesty."​

Rounding a corner, Caedes and Revna, came upon a large stall wherein two adult Hssiss riding lizards stood at the ready, decorated and saddled fittingly to carry a King and his Lady. The emblem of Korriban's gold sun was emblazoned upon the lizard's barded armor.

"This pair's been eager, seems. Eager for the freedom of the dunes," the man explained.​

"That will be all," Caedes said, dismissively.​

The soldier sobered, becoming rigid once more and saluting.

"Your Majesty," he barked, bowing and taking his leave of the place.​

Across from him, the Hssis stirred. They seemed serpents of shadow huddled into the pen's corner like that, long tails coiled 'round one another, sharp scales clack-clacking as they unfurled and began to near. Reflective eyes caught the light at brief angles as the beasts came closer and into the light, tongues lashing out to taste the air. Great clawed appendages stretched into view, then oily green bodies and large, draconic maws. Blue teeth dripped with lethal venom, sizzling against the sand floor of their kennel and making the air smell of acid and snake skin.

After a moment, Caedes turned back to Revna.

"My Lady," he asked, grinning.​

"Care to accompany me?"​

​

​

Revna​

 

[Revna]

Tag: Darth Caedes
​

Caedes didn’t respond immediately to her question on what her place, her purpose, was to be in his life, or upon Korriban, now. Some women might have felt anxious with the hesitation, the lack of response, but not Revna. In the amount of time she’d been on Korriban and had spent with and around Darth Caedes, she had come to notice that he was one who was not quick to speak when it came to thought provoking discussions. He took his time, choosing his words carefully. And here, it was no different. She was patient with him, as patience was one of her traits. And unless provoked to fiery wrath or filled with insatiable curiosity, she was quick to listen and slow to speak as well.

He drew her closer to him as he seemed to ponder her words, and she leaned her weight against him, finding comfort, and excitement, in the closeness they shared. Caedes shifted and swayed, moving so that she was tucked under his arm as he turned them both towards the Northern exit of the courtyard, speaking to her as he did so.

Revna listened intently to him, even as her gaze flickered over the sights before the two of them; Caedes used an analogy, a sculptor and the clay, to find the best way of explaining to her his thought process on her questions. He could not speak to her place, her purpose, until he knew exactly what she was capable of withstanding, of what she could become with a guiding hand. Her eyes were bright with understanding, even when his expression was hard to read.

“I understand.” Revna said simply as she noticed his gaze harden slightly before he looked away from her to regard the courtyard and all those present within. There were many eyes and ears to overhear their conversations, and while Revna knew these individuals served their King at his leisure, it was still not wise to speak about things that could be passed around to others beyond the walls of the Palace.

"Come. Let us be away from prying eyes and the ears of the curious, where we can speak in earnest of such things. In truth, this project is not why I summoned you here this morning. While this is a work yet underway, and one intended for you, true, there is something already completed I would ask the privilege of showing you... my Lady." He said, his thoughts seeming to match her own as his grin returned and he stepped away from her and offered his arm for her to take.

Revna wrapped hers around his to link them both together, her cheeks blushing once more upon hearing him call her his Lady. She had been called ‘my Lady’ before by others in her past, but something about the way he said it made her heart flutter once more. It wasn’t just a statement rendered out of respect, but coming from him it was possessive.

She was his. He was hers.

That realization dawned on her once more, and Revna blinked a few times as she tried to wrap her mind around the truth, even as Caedes began to guide them both onward. It was a strange sensation, walking side by side with the Sith King like this, her arm intertwined with his. Such a gesture had profound meaning, and any who would see them on their journey would see the two of them connected.

Nothing would ever be the same for her again, and she knew it. And yet, she walked beside him with pride, with her quiet confidence and grace, her chin lifted ever so slightly. She had always kept her head slightly dipped when in the presence of Sith mightier than she, but she was not ashamed of what had transpired between her and Darth Caedes, what he meant to her and what she was to him. She was his Lady, and she would present herself as such.

Revna was insightful enough to know that, due to his duties and eventually her own that would come her way, the moments where they could speak and interact in such a private manner would be few and far between; they both would need to take advantage of the quiet, stolen moments they could take...moments such as this. And so Revna engaged him in small talk as they traversed the grand halls of Vardin; simple yet no less important little things that she could store away within the annals of her mind. The little woman inquired about his favorite foods, his favorite colors, hobbies he found joy and pleasure in, small things that she could do for him that would make their day to day interactions more special. She was curious and hungry to learn all she could about the enigmatic King of Korriban, and no doubt this shined through her words and her expression as she gave him her total attention.

Nothing and no one else mattered to her more in the moment than he did.

Eventually, the pair of them arrived at the location of the great Kennels of Vardin, filled with their various Sithspawn creatures. The presence of the Force here was thicker and heavier than in other places, and the chill and looming aura of the Dark side pervaded everything. Perhaps to many, this heavy sensation would be uncomfortable, but not to little Revna. It was a comfortable blanket draping over her, and she took a moment to soak the sensation in.

Revna remained quiet and observant beside Caedes as the two guards addressed him with strict and rigid respect - something that she knew Caedes didn’t really like. It was a facet of his personality that had gained her quiet approval; unlike most other Sith who might have allowed such shows of deference to get to their heads, Caedes did not. As soon as the formalities were rendered, he waved it off.

To their credit, the guards themselves relaxed upon the order to be at ease, and one of them turned to unlock the Kennels and guided the King and his Lady forward. As they were led past various enclosures, the guard made his report to his King, who in turn passed along a series of orders to be carried out. Revna was pleased to hear that Caedes had cleared the majority of his day to spend it with her, and she couldn’t hide the small and happy smile that flickered across her face. Another thought dawned on her then, and she let it drift through her mind as she pondered on it.

Was this what courtship was, or looked like?

She’d been told or taught about such things when she discovered she was a true blooded Marr, when she had received her instruction in courtly affairs and matters and how a noblewoman was supposed to carry herself and so on. Admittedly, she had brain-dumped most of that information, never thinking for a moment that she would find herself in the circumstances she did now.

Now, she was trying to recall what information she could about how she was supposed to act, so on and so forth. But the small voice in the back of her mind told her it really didn’t matter; all she needed to do was be herself. Yes, she was a noble, but she had never carried herself as one. Why start now? If the King wanted her to say or act a certain way, then she had a feeling he would tell her so.

They soon rounded a corner and came before a large stall, draped in shadow and the presence of the Force. Within, however, Revna spied two creatures that made her draw to a halt and her jaw drop open in mild surprise and shock. Two great lizards, legendary Hssiss, sat prepared with saddles and barded armor; ready it seemed, to take riders. Revna’s fiery eyes flickered over to Caedes, questioning surprise shining within their coal-like depths, before she turned her gaze back towards the great draconic beasts.

Caedes dismissed their guide, and Revna quietly pulled away from him as her eyes locked upon the great creatures as they stirred and came into line of sight. Though not fearful, there was a healthy amount of respect for the Hssiss within the woman. She’d never seen them in person, but she had heard and read about the creatures in her many studies.

“Oh they are magnificent…” she breathed, watching the venom drip from fangs to sizzle the sand and stone of their stall. Briefly, Revna closed her eyes and let her presence drift outward, a dark presence to see and feel these creatures through the Force.

"My Lady, care to accompany me?"

Revna’s eyes snapped open and she turned her head to look at Caedes. At first, there was a touch of caution upon her face…but then her eyes lit up with barely contained excitement as an almost playful smile curled her lips in response to his own grin.

“I would love to accompany you, my Lord.”

 

[Darth Caedes]

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

"This world is my only Master."
—Darth Caedes, ruminations

​

Caedes led Revna forward. The Hssiss watched their approach, forked tongues flicking. He did not force their submission—there was no need. The creatures, intelligent and attuned to the Dark Side, bowed their massive heads of their own accord, acknowledging both King and nearing Lady with deep and guttural hisses. They understood.

Offering his guidance in patient tones, Caedes assisted Revna onto her mount, his touch lingering only briefly before he swung onto his own. The lizards, sensing the freedom ahead, shifted eagerly beneath them. Then, with a subtle cue from Caedes (a staccato clicking noise he made with his mouth), they surged forward and into the open desert.

The strides of the Hssiss—smooth and undulating like the crest and fall of waves—carried the pair swiftly over the dune sea. They did not gallop; they flowed, moving at an odd diagonal gate like predators, their fanged jaws hanging low to the ground as they ran, mouthes open and long tails carving sidewinding grooves in their wake. As much as Caedes hated the cold confines of a dead-metal starship cockpit, he adored the bond between living mount and rider—the press of his thighs against the saddle, the sweat of exertion, the swell of its lungs on an inhale. Korriban's chilly breezes rifled through his untamed dark hair and he closed his eyes and smiled. Oh how sweet it was, the lonely liberation of being out amongst the dunes; where none watched him to judge his actions.

The Valley of the Dark Lords loomed in the distance, its jagged maw carved into the world's ancient bones, steadily growing nearer with each loping stride from the Hssiss. They crested a dune and slowed. Caedes pulled on the reigns, letting the lizard's pace settle before speaking, his voice even against the wind.

"You asked of your place here," he began, eyes fixed ahead, golden and distant.​

"Hear me when I say. I do not wish to mold you into something of my own design."​

He glanced sideways, a knowing look in his eyes.

"You will need to ascend, and there is a careful sequencing to such things."​

The Hssiss drew near to one another, their tails tangling and untangling, cooing and hissing peaceably. Caedes' fingers trailed lightly along the reins, contemplative. ​

"Power is not given, Revna. It is taken and held. Korriban is perhaps the strictest teacher of this lesson."​

He turned toward her fully now, shifting in his saddle.

"You must find your place here as I once did. You will have to earn it, and it will not be easy. I will help when I can, though some trials are to be faced alone. Korriban demands no less from its leaders and custodians."​

As he spoke, his hands flashed in the sign language of the ancients, emphasizing the words 'leader' and 'custodians' as if galactic basic had not the proper words, referencing some deeper meaning.

"Already you have seen my Court and walked the halls of power. Already you have witnessed the expectations and ways of this world's people. Yet you have done so as a Guest and an Apprentice. Cherished, privileged. But not yet a Queen." ​

Furrowing his brow, Caedes peered into the Valley before them. It loomed there, stark against crimson-cream skies and appearing nearer than it was, swallowing the horizon.

"Without a Master to complete your training, the pathway for your growth has become less clear."​

He spoke softly, considering.

"But there are still steps which can be taken..." ​

​

Revna​

 

[Revna]

Tag: Darth Caedes ​

The Hssiss were magnificent creatures, and Revna could only look upon them in awe as Caedes led her forward and towards them. She watched both of the draconic lizards carefully, respect for them in her every move - but not an ounce of fear. She watched how they interacted with her and the King, observed how the two creatures seemed to see them both - before lowering great fanged heads to the ground to show their passiveness. Only then did Caedes guide Revna through the process of mounting her ride, a somewhat interesting affair considering she was wearing a dress of sorts, before he stepped away to mount his own Hssiss. Beneath her, the creature shifted and moved, and she felt great muscles coil and tense with anticipation. They seemed eager to go, and as soon as Caedes encouraged his mount forward, hers did the same - and before she knew it, they were both riding across the Korribani desert sands, freedom flowing between them.

The young woman had never ridden anything like a Hssiss before, and she found the experience to be rather exhilarating. The ride wasn’t jarring in the slightest, but was a comfortable albeit swift amble - a gait that practically flowed like water over the sands. Elation and joy swept through her as a genuine and wide smile split her face as she simply existed within the moment. She turned her focus towards her mount, to feel its energy, its presence within the Force itself. Once again, she had to marvel at just how magnificent the Hssiss was, truly a creature of myth and legend - but one that was very much alive.

The silence of their ride gave her time to think and ponder about what they might speak about out here; she was growing more curious to know what he had to say in regards to the questions she had asked of him, of what her place was to be now. She wondered what other sorts of conversation they would have in the solitude of the Korriban wilds, and she was oh so curious about what he said he wanted to show her.

Eventually, the pair crested a sandy dune and Caedes reined in his great beast, allowing the creature to slow its pace. Revna’s own mount followed suit as she gently drew back the reins to settle in besides Caedes, both of them now looking over the terrain and beyond further, to the maw of the Valley itself. The sight before her was awe-inspiring, for many reasons.

Truthfully, the whole world of Korriban was awe-inspiring for her. To some, many perhaps, this was just a dead world - a world soaked in blood of many past generations of Sith. But to her, this place felt alive in a way that only a sacred place could be. She felt the same presence of the Darkness here, as she did when she’d been within the Cathedral on Formos - though the presence and magnitude of the Dark side was so much stronger here.

Her King’s voice pulled her attention from the Valley ahead of her, and to his countenance as he looked straight ahead as well. Revna listened intently, staying quiet so as to give him the space and time to say what he wanted to say. She felt relief seep through her being upon hearing him say that it was not his wish to shape her into something of his own design.

Caedes glanced sideways at her and she caught his golden eyes with her own as he told her, clearly, that she would need to ascend, and that there was a careful sequencing to such things. She tilted her head slightly as the Hssiss beneath her shifted closer to its companion, and she pondered for a moment what he meant by ‘ascend’. She remained quiet, to see if he would elaborate further.

"Power is not given, Revna. It is taken and held. Korriban is perhaps the strictest teacher of this lesson." He said as he turned to face her more fully. "You must find your place here as I once did. You will have to earn it, and it will not be easy. I will help when I can, though some trials are to be faced alone. Korriban demands no less from its leaders and custodians."

Her ember gaze flickered to his hands as he seemed to use sign with them, putting emphasis on ‘leader’ and ‘custodian’, and for a moment she kept her gaze on his center mass as she further pondered the weight of his statements. Caedes continued, mentioning how she had already seen his court, seen the expectations and the customs of the people who called Korriban home, but she had only done so as a cherished and privileged guest, and apprentice, but not yet as a Queen.

"Without a Master to complete your training, the pathway for your growth has become less clear." he said further, his voice softer this time, and she frowned in thought. It was these words that finally started to form connections in her mind to what he had told her thus far, or the implications of what he had been trying to tell her, or seemed to be, anyway. She couldn’t remain as she was now: a guest, an apprentice - if she was to become Queen. She needed to ascend…to complete her training. To take her power and make it her own.

"But there are still steps which can be taken..."

“I…believe I understand what you are saying…that I perhaps need to complete my Trials and ascend beyond being an apprentice, before I can truly step into the role as your Queen? Without a Master, yes, that is challenging - so I am certainly curious as to what these steps are which you mentioned.”

Revna paused for a moment to watch her mount coo at its companion, and a smile graced her face for a moment before she turned her fiery gaze to the maw of the Valley ahead, and her voice dropped lower and softer as she opened up a bit more to the man with her.

“I was nearing the time of my Trials, before I was captured. Lord Strosius had positioned and trained me in such a manner that, once Knighted, I could carry out His work where He was not able to - indeed, I was already doing that, and controlled several sectors of our Outer Rim operations by myself, working alongside His other two Disciples. However…I believe now that the Force had something to teach me, something my Master could not - and I had to learn those lessons through my captivity. None of that would have happened, had events not transpired the way they did. I would not be here, and I would not be who I am now.”

The raven haired woman looked at Caedes, her expression solemn and introspective. “The loss of my Master was a devastating blow to me. But it forced me to step away from His shadow, and become my own person. To learn more about myself, and what I am capable of. And…I have become far stronger through these trials, than I ever was before I was captured. And I know my trials are not yet over. But I will prevail. I now have much to live and fight for.”

Her smile at him was warm, genuine, conveying that what they now shared - their bond, the future that lay ahead of them though it had only just begun - was something she would give every bit of her strength for. If power is what she needed to maintain that, then she would take it and hold it, fiercely.

“You deserve a worthy Queen, Caedes; a strong and capable one, a queen you can trust to share the weight of rulership with. I will do whatever is necessary, to ensure I become that for you. And not just for you, but for Korriban and what she needs. That being said, however…I want to ask you more specific questions, ones meant for what we have now, together. Not just about what I need to do, to become your queen.” She took a deep breath to collect her thoughts once more, stroking a bit of the gleaming hide of her mount as she did so.

“I have…never been in this position before, and by that I mean…partnered with someone else, like how we are. I don’t just have my own needs and wants and desires to think about now, I have yours to take into consideration too. And I want to.”

She sighed again, a brief if somewhat frustrated frown creasing her brow for a moment, almost as if she was struggling to effectively say what she wanted to.

“To be blunt, you are the King, and you chose me to be your partner. That doesn’t start when I become your Queen, that starts now - especially now that we have crossed the point of no return, and joined together. What can I do as your partner, to better enrich your life? What are the expectations of a King’s partner, according to the customs of this land, its people? What do you expect from me?”