Crossing the divide

[Arla Ordo]

Arla was standing outside of Verz' house the place where they had dinner, talked culture, and started on a journey that should have ended with them married by now, and possibly with at least one child. That had been her vision at the time.

Arla wondered if Mirdala had come back as well, she had grown quite fond of Verz' strill and she had always been fascinated by her.

Three years, though. She wasn't quite the unsure woman he had taught back then. He had been treating her as if nothing had changed and she found herself unsure. She had told him on the day he walked off his ship that they needed to talk. She had sent a communication off to Naimes just to vent her concerns.

Standing here outside was not going to make this any easier, she walked up the steps and knocked on the door.

[member="Verz Horak"]​

 

[Verz Horak]

Verz was about to fix up some dinner, most likely some preserved foods that were in the cellar. It was easier than trying to make something from scratch, and he was in the mood for a quick meal. Ideally though, a good meal for a Mandalorian is anything that isn't field rations.

Verz thought that it was going to be just him and Mirdala, but it seemed not, for as soon as the person at the door knocked, Mirdala was up like a rocket, barking and wagging its whip-like tail. The not so little critter seemed happy, so it wasn't anyone he didn't know, or that Mirdala hadn't met.

Verz opened the door to find [member="Arla Balor"] waiting for him. He figured that she would come to see him soon.

"Please, Arl'ika, come in. I was just about to get some dinner ready. Don't mind Mirala, it knows you well enough to behave."

Verz puntured that last sentence with a glare at the happy strill.

 

[Arla Ordo]

Hi Ver'ika Arla kneeled down to stroke Mirdala, Hello baby I'm so happy to see you made it back too she reached out and touched Mirdala's underside scratching her. I missed her Verz. She looked up at him, I missed you too, I'm glad you finally came home. She stood up looking at him words seem to hang between them.

Dinner sounds great, what did you make this time, not shatual? It was what they had made for their first meal together he showed her and taught her then. Sometimes those days felt like a life time ago, she had been in so many battles since those first days that often they blurred together.

She went to find the familiar plates in the cabinet, she knew where everything was, couple of bowls, couple of glasses. She went looking for the water that was usual kept very cold. She looked over at him to see what it was that would be so quick. I go hunting regularly for shatual, share it with a few families. I can bring you some, if you like.

[member="Verz Horak"]​

 

[Verz Horak]

Verz smiled as he watched Arla petting Mirdala. The strill remembered Arla, so it was very happy to see her, licking her hand and face with gusto. Arl'ika and Mirdala always got along well. "I missed you too Arl'ika." He watched as Arla made herself busy setting the table, trying to avoid the akward silence that had started to form.

"Well, for dinner I have some gi dumplings and red gourd soup. ENough for the both of us to have a bit of each."

It felt like it had been a lifetime since he first met Arla and helped show her how to be a Mandalorian. He smiled again at the memory of making roast Shatual together, enjoying the rich meat and some strong drink.

"It has been a while since I have had some fresh shatual. Maybe we can go on a hunt together?"

[member="Arla Balor"]

 

[Arla Ordo]

[member="Verz Horak"]

"I would like that Verz I've grown quite fond of it." She smiled, " I wish things were as easy as when we first met do you remember that day?" She knew he did he was mand'alor and she had no idea that he was. She was embarrassed he had been quite patient. It was part of his charm.

"Where all did you travel to, any place exciting?" Back then she wanted excitement now not so much. She battled when ordered, she tried to live simple.

 

[Verz Horak]

Verz finished heating up the food, placing the containers on the table between him and Arla. He served the both of them a helping of the gi dumplings and red gourd soup. He also poured both a glass full of water. It was a fit meal for one of his first days home. A fully Mandalorian meal.

"Well Arl'ika, at first, I just flew from system to system, trying to make sense of where my life had gone. Something tugged at me though, soemthing I can't quite explain. I like to think I was being touched by the Manda. I visited ancient Mandalorian battlegrounds and fortresses. I looked at what our ancestors had fought for and built. My anger at Gilamar and the clans vanished. I was ready to return home, and so I did."

[member="Arla Balor"]

 

[Arla Ordo]

[member="Verz Horak"]

"Sounds like you did the soul searching you wanted" Arla took a drink of the water setting the glass down. " I knew that you needed time I just didn't realize it would be so long" She looked at the food, she was hungry. "I've done a lot if things in the time you've been gone. I made Rally Master" a rank she wasn't sure she deserved.

"I've seen two mand'alors leave, each time with a heavy heart" She placed her hands on the table, "there's been no lover just so you know" she needed him to know that. Had he taken any?

"So where do we stand Verz?"

 

[Verz Horak]

Verz ate some more of the dumplings, followed by some water. "Congratulations Arl'ika! How are you finding the job of Rally Master?" Verz now ate some of the soup. His stomach was rumbling. Nobody could ever accuse Verz of not having an appetite.

He was relieved to hear that Arla had not taken any lovers. He had hoped that this would be so. "I have not taken any lovers Arl'ika. You are still the only one for me. I hope we can pick up where we were when I left. I still love you Arl'ika."

[member="Arla Balor"]

 

[Arla Ordo]

[member="Verz Horak"]​

​

She shrugged her shoulders in response to the question about being Rally Master. "I feel at times it was too soon, my mind does not work well with tactics and leading a small group of warriors into what could be their last battle, hangs on to me like an unwanted burr" Yes it stuck each time and each time she flinched when having to report the loss.

Arla pushed the dumplings around on the plate, she often had a healthy appetite but not today. Today was hard. I still love you Arl'ika. His words twisted like a corkscrew into her, it pained her to the core.

"Ver'ika you have been gone three years, without a word to say anything. Knowing my issues with being abandoned surely you know how painful this would be on me." Or had they had too many card games to know the things that would bite into each other. Arla sat back in the chair, I need time to think through some things, I don't know that we can pick up where we left off at. Right now all that sticks in my mind is you left. He had not taken a lover either, a testament to his devotion or something else. Arla tried to keep her emotions in check and each time they rose up the talisman brought her back down, she sure wished this clarity of thinking would kick in but so far she had not figured how to listen.

Her emotions however twisted inside her.

A hunt together would be nice, I find it relaxing, perhaps tomorrow morning? If it would give her more time to think about what she wanted, and if she could still see herself standing beside Verz, or would complexities of her life tell her it was not possible.

 

[Verz Horak]

"I'm sure you will be a fine leader Arl'ika. Many have been in your position before. I was unsure of myself when I was first a Rally Master. Soon, battle will forge you into a fine leader."

Verz finished the rest of his food and helped himself to a bit more, making sure to leave some for Arla.. Nobody could accuse the Mandalorian of having a poor appetite, but nobody could accuse him of being selfish either. Verz ate some more food.

"I understand Arl'ika. I will respect whatever decision you make. I will accept your offer for a hunt though. Perhaps you would like to stay the night?"

[member="Arla Balor"]

 

[Arla Ordo]

[member="Verz Horak"]​

​

Arla looked over at Mirdala and knew the house would be safe. "I don't mind staying, is the guest room made up?"

There was a hint of sadness in her green eyes, she even in her worst moments would not want to hurt anyone. She hated thinking that she may have just hurt Verz. "A hunt would be good I can show off a bit for you." She smiled at him.

He was her first love, her first everything. "Ver'ika a lot has happened since you left. There was" She wasn't sure how to explain it all, "there were many deaths, too many, and the Sith. I wish you had been here then, it might have been easier to handle"

Truth, she still wasn't handling it well. She had a hard time going to Ordo to talk to him something she thought she would never have a problem with. But there it was, glaring at her in big bold bright letters.

 

[Verz Horak]

Verz saw the sadness in Arla's eyes. She thought that she was hurting him. She probably thought that he wanted her to sleep in his bed with him once more. He wasn't upset though. Verz understood her need for space.

"No, that room is not. It seems that in my absence, my cousins made it into a storage room. They tended my home for me. However, you can have my bed Arl'ika. I don't mind finding a bedroll. Hell, I've probably spent more time in a bedroll than my actual bed, so what's another night?"

Verz smiled when she brought up the hunt. "Yes well, it's like they say, you never forget how to hunt. I look forward to it."

When the Sith were mentioned, Verz's smile faded. He had fought the Sith armies many times. It seemed that wherever he turned, their filthy claws were trying to sink into something else. He had burned the cowards out of many worlds, but they always came back.

"If the dar'jetti are back, then I will fight them once more. I get too much practice in my dreams."

The Mando was referring to his dreams, where he was forced to relieve the horrors he had seen the Sith war-machine perpetuate, early in the First Mandalorian-Sith War.

[member="Arla Balor"]

 

[Arla Ordo]

Arla nodded to Verz without thinking she put her hand out on his arm. "I know you would fight them to the bitter end" She had only seen him in battle with Gil but considering the way he had risen in the ranks it could be safely assumed he was a skilled warrior.

Arla brought her hand back, and began to eat it was warm, she sighed a bit content. Family. What she had always wanted. She looked to Verz again, "Yes shall we do it tomorrow, the next day, when? I have time scheduled for the range tomorrow, but not early morning. As well as I was thinking of a hand to hand workout just in case."

She laughed, "While you were gone when we were fighting the Sith on Empress Teta, a woman with giant wings chased me, I have yet been able to figure out how to fight her, except to lay down on the ground and shoot her" Arla laughed then, "I've grown since then but still she scared me."

Arla reached for a drink, "Dar Jetii are hard for me to fight Ver'ika." She took a draw on her drink.

"I'm sorry to put you on the floor I'm just..as you say a little space to try and understand, and think. I'm I guess complicated for a mandalorian" it seemed everyone around her just slipped back into things without a single regret or thought. She just didn't know how to do that when she felt so conflicted.

[member="Verz Horak"]

Spoiler

Sorry, I thought I had replied to this

 

[Verz Horak]

[member="Arla Balor"]

It was true, Verz was a formidable warrior, besting many foes, and even holding his own against a Sith Emporer, holding him long enough to allow a Jedi Grandmaster to join the fight. "Aye, I would. If I had to, I would glady give my life to defeat them."

"If you don't mind, Arl'ika, I would like to go to the range with you as well. I could use some practice with the newer weaponry. And it never hurt to brush up on old favorites."

When Arla recounted the story of fighting the Sith with Wings, Verz laughed, not to be rude, but because he thought that that would like either ridiculous or terrifying. He did regain his composure though. "Arl'ika, I have always been certain that you would be a great warrior. You have always had the heart of a warrior."

Verz downed the last of his drink as well. "As for me sleeping on the floor, like I said, I've already spent more time in a bedroll than in my actual bed. Why not another night?"

 

[Arla Ordo]

Why not a other night? "Because Ver'ika you're home you should sleep in a warm soft bed with a cover of something fluffy." She looked at Verz. He was so sweet she couldn't help it she reached over and put her palm to his cheek.

His cheek was warm she looked into his eyes, "Ver'ika " she took it away. "I never knew or trusted that I would be a warrior I was always searching. " she sighed. "Yes come with me tomorrow we can spend the day. Are there things you need help with here, settling in? Unpacking. You know stuff"

She smiled ok it was easy to talk to him."maybe you can give me some tips on fighting Sith. " It had always been easy to talk to him that is what started all of this, them talking. She half smiled at that moment.

[member="Verz Horak"]

 

[Verz Horak]

[member="Arla Balor"]

Verz covered Arla's hand with his own, feeling the warmth it offered. "Arl'ika, I would give up any comfort for you."

When he heard her offer to help him unpack, he smiled. She always had his best interests at heart. It was one of the many things he admired about her. "Arl'ika, ever since I first saw you fight, I had a feeling that you would be a great warrior. Time and time again, you have shown skill as a warrior and great faithfulness to the Resol'nare."

"As for fighting Sith, that is a lot of different things. I can show you though. I have a feeling such skills will be needed soon."

 

[Arla Ordo]

His hand on hers all of this felt so familiar, the exchange of kind words that touched the heart and made her smile. Him with all his faith in her, she with all her trust in him.

"Yes it is inevitable that once again we end up against them, it seems the galaxy no matter how big we cannot avoid the dar jetii" She would learn whatever he could teach her, she would not be caught untrained again.

Her green eyes studied the man beside her, as she often did. He never pushed for anything from her, he had just accepted it. Mandalorians we adapt and move on. She smiled.

"Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum" she put her hand over his heart, "I didn't stop doing that you are always in my heart" Even though she had told him she needed time she needed him to now he was important to her still, and that her feelings didn't just melt and disappear. But she knew she needed time. Too often she had found herself assuming things, jumping into things and this time she wanted to make sure.

Had he truly understood the terrible abandonment she felt being left by her parents? She had asked herself this question a million times and each time she had to remember what Naimes had said, not all mandalorians are cut out to be parents no matter what their culture said.

She knew Verz wanted children, and she didn't know if she was ready for that. What if she was so screwed up in the head that she damaged the children with her insecurities? What if she clung too much? What if she did not cling enough? GODS! She thought.

"Ok, so hunting comes early we should get some sleep. I'll send word to the range to change it for two instead of one, and then my hand to hand workout, and then dar jetii training with you. A full day for anyone" She finally pulled her hand back and laid it on the table.

[member="Verz Horak"]

 

[Verz Horak]

[member="Arla Balor"]

"Arl'ika, unless we check under every crack and rock in the galaxy, there will always be the Sith. Sometimes even then too. They will always be in the galaxy, but with soldiers like us to beat them back, they will stay down."

Mandalorians had both fought with and against the Sith in the past, but unlike the Sith, the Mando'ade were always a powerful force in the galaxy. The Children of Mand'alor needed no trickery or plots to assert their place in the galaxy. They just needed a good old fashioned Crusade or two.

Verz's thoughts returned to the present as his brown eyes met Arla's green ones. His mouth shifted into a warm smile, the laugh lines and scars of his face distorting slightly. He had always thought that her eyes were beautiful. When Arla placed her hand over his heart and told her that she loved him, Verz felt like his world was complete. The warrior placed his other hand on Arla's back and pulled her close to him.

"Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum Arl'ika, ner cyare."

Verz could see that Arla still loved him, but he could also read some lingering worry and doubt on her features. He couldn't, however, tell what was causing it, but Verz held Arla a little tighter to reassure her.

"That sounds like a fine day Arl'ika. A fine day indeed."

Any day that Verz spent with Arla was a good one. Unless, you know, they were stuck in hell or something. Even then though, Arla made hell more bearable.

 

[Arla Ordo]

Close. So close. She missed being held the smell of Verz' soap the deep timbre of his voice. But. She didn't know if she could trust in him again.

Some emotions would never die they could change lessen. Deepen. Arla's heart twisted within her she would always have an emotional attachment to Verz. She was human and in need of companionship.

"Well. We should turn in tomorrow is a long day" She reached up and hugged him "I'm so confused" Then she got up and moved away it was torture doing this.


[member="Verz Horak"]

 

[Verz Horak]

[member="Arla Balor"]

Verz smiled as Arla hugged him back. He had missed the feeling of having her so close to him. He loved everything about her, and would do anything to keep her safe. "Good night Arl'ika, sleep well."

When Arla left to go to bed, Verz cleaned up the table and gave some of the scraps to Mirdala, who happily gobbled down the food. The strill then curled up in a corner, content.

Verz then went to the guest bedroom-turned-storage unit, and pulled out a bedroll. He knew Arla had needed some space, so he decided to let her be. Sleep quickly overcame the Mandalorian, which was both good and bad. Sleep was good, but it was also when the past came a-knockin'.