Family Meeting

[Laira Darkhold]

Draco pouted as Faith sat beside him holding his hands and keeping them from enveloping her, sticking out his lower lip slightly. His drinks had left him with a warmth in his cheeks and had loosened his nerves and his self control quite a bit. What he really wanted to be doing was letting Faith talk while he kept himself entertained with her one way or another, but she wasn't quite having it right now.

Quietly the warrior pulled on of his hands free, giving her knuckles a quick kiss and an appreciative smile, even if it had a little roguishness in it as well. With his recently freed arm the man stuck it around Faith's back to hug her close against him. His hand slipped between her arm and her ribs, pulling on her rather gently but possessively, pulling her hand into his lap.

"Yeah son, find a seat. I'm just getting acquainted with your uncle and grandfather myself." He was trying not to ignore them, despite being distracted by Faith, but that distraction was nothing new to what the palace was used to. Draco was affectionate with Faith whenever he got the chance, though normally in an appropriate manner. "So, sorry if I missed it earlier, but what have you lot been up to all these years."

[member="Arianna Organa"] [member="Garith Darkhold"]

 

[Garith Organa]

Along the shore of white sand, crystal blue waves rolled in land. It’s each sparkle, dancing in soft rhythmic patterns, a harmonized melody. It warmed and embraced his Kashi Spirit.

[SIZE=9pt]…He is trying to speak to you…[/SIZE]​

Snapping out of his day dream JR almost missed the question [member="Draco Vereen"] asked. All those years, that was the question. It was a question he attempted to answer earlier.


“I can’t speak for where our dad was”, JR tried to clarify whom was where. “I was where so many others where lost at. I was in the void. I’ve been told I was there for, what was it eighteen years?”
[member="Faith Organa"]

 

[Faith Organa]

[member="Garith Darkhold JR"] [member="Draco Vereen"]

She looked at Draco, "After the Netherworld Event all the males of House Organa went missing." She looked at JR again, "It must have been horrible there, the void. Trapped." She didn't want to think about it too long to do so would...take some of her sanity.

"!8 years, yes...a lifetime" Faith squeezed Draco's hand she knew why he acted so, she was trying to keep him occupied without stepping over the lines of propriety.

"So...Dad." She said the word and it stilled seemed odd in her mouth, on her lips but still she said it, "You seemed like you might be going to say something before Theo came in. Was there something?"

 

[Garith Darkhold]

The Elder heard his son in-law [member="Draco Vereen"] and his daughter [member="Faith Organa"] asked, where have you been. It was question he knew was coming. It was not an easy answer. Not an easy answer without a long explanation.


“Coreuscant, that day, The One Sith took it”, Garith sighed. He seldom liked giving anyone to much information. Knowledge was power. The more anyone knew the more power they had over you. “I was there that day. I had a private meeting with a Senator named D’stat. I had pledged my support and what support I could give from Atrisa. I had planned to enter the war. My children and grandchild was threaded. I was about to do whenever I felt threatened, fight back!”
“When The One Sith attacked I was in bar. Not unusual. It is no secrete I drink. The truth is it keeps me becoming very violent. I’ve seen much in my long life and my typical reaction to everything is violence.”

“Yes, the Bar”, Garith said to get back on track of the story. “I was sitting their when Coreuscant was under attack. I could have gone out to help defend. I knew that not to be a good idea at the time. Not many would understand my methods and what should be my allies at the time would consider me an enemy. It would have been a political mess I did not wish. It would destroy my true intent.”

“So I stayed in the bar. Where else would I go? To a shelter? No, I stayed in the bar and continued to drink. What was unfortunate happened. The fighting spilled into the bar. It happened quickly. A portion of the bar wall collapsed open. Sith Troopers and Republic Soldiers fought their way into the bar. And, a portion of the ceiling collapsed on my head.”

“As always I lived. Though I lost something during the time I took damage and using the Force to survive the damage,” Garith left out critical detail. Like what type of Force Skill and what it did. Not everyone in the room had such knowledge of Force Powers. Confusing them with things they did not understand would not help.

“I had permanent mental damage as a result. I had no clue, who I was until a few days ago. Bella was the one who found me. I did not know who she was. Through the Force I could sense a connection. From there we quested to find all my lost memories, even the most critical ones. I had to remember what I had never wished to remember again.”

“I had to remember the past”, dispute all the pain, Garith forced himself not to visibly show the emotions. After all it was weakness, or what his former self believed as weakness. It came easy for him, it made him feel safer.

“I had to remember a time before I was known as Garith Darkhold. I had to remember a time when I was still a child two thousand nine hundred and fifty years ago. I was forced to relive the memories of the destruction of the planet Kashi and the death of my parents two thousand and fifty years ago. The result of the destruction of the planet Kashi was because of one single Jedi. I had lost everything. My family and my people I was all alone.”


“My hate and my anger carried me through for a very long, long time. At a point the pain was too much and I had removed and hidden my memories just so I could not remember. That however just kept me from grieving. I was trapped in anger and hate. For a very long time the only thing I wanted was for the Jedi to suffer as I had. Death would have been too easy.”

Garith hated speeches just as much. He wanted to conclude this soon, “That had changed though. I realize why now that I have all my memories back. Everything what I have done for a long time is about family. The feelings that need to make Jedi suffer started to end when I had children. My views started to change. I tell all of you this. Not in a unconscious need to ask forgiveness. I’m telling you because I feel my children and my grandchildren deserve the truth. I’ve done some very bad things in my life time. I could easily understand if you do not wish me to be around.”


He had enough of speaking. He said a lot, maybe too much. He could not control how they would feel about the news. It could it only more heartache, the Elder Kashi did not know.

 

[Faith Organa]

Faith listened to each word her father said she looked at her mother so when she said bad man, she really meant a bad man. She looked at Draco he was also at one time a bad man. But he changed.

But her father had been doing this for what did he say 2050 years! How was that even possible? She wished Theo was here he often was able to explain these things about the force to her. Could the force sustain someone...oh but wait he said he had been hurt.

This was a lot to take in. Faith sat back and tried to digest it all. He is a Sith.

The same Sith that came and destroyed Alderaan. The ones that took Coruscant. She reminded herself that he said he didn't fight the Republic troops. That he had met with Senator D'stat, she knew him. She began to rub her hands a nervous tick she picked up when she was thinking.

He didn't say he wasn't still a Sith. Course..how does that play out, the Queen of Alderaan, the beacon of peace and light the planet Alderaan. The Queen's father is....a bad man. She felt her shoulders drop again. He said he wanted to protect the family.

She also remembered that he said he was full of anger over the death of his family. She wasn't sure that she could condemn him for that, but to hold that anger for thousands of years....that was a lot of hate and anger.

Faith stared at the floor sorting through her thoughts.

[member="Garith Darkhold"]

 

[Arianna Organa]

Arianna did not say much she knew some of this already, she knew that he drank to control his violence. She knew he had a horrid temper when he didn't drink. She knew he was a bad man.

BUT she knew something else too, she looked up at Garith, "You may have great anger and hate towards those that let your family die Garith. But as great as that is, I know that you also have and are capable of great love, devotion and caring." She knew this because she had spent all that time alone with him in a place where they thought they'd live forever.

He had let go of things during that time, he could do it again. He could be a good man too.

"You did save me from the kidnappers too. And you did take care of me when I couldn't take care of myself." She swirled her drink then looked over to the children, and her grandson. "Sometimes we have to take the bad with the good. No matter what he is still your father. He loves you all" She didn't smile but she did think even if he doesn't say the words it's what he is saying to them.

She took a sip.

[member="Draco Vereen"] | [member="Garith Darkhold"]

 

[Arabella Darkhold]

Bella suddenly felt all warm inside she smiled at her father proud of his courage to admit all of this to them. She of course knew all of this so she had more time to understand.

Her father had loved her throughout her life even on the days when she did not do what he said. He loved her. She thought it might be hard for Faith to understand this not having been raised with him. But sure she could see it as a parent. Right?

She looked at her brother JR what were his thoughts now. Did he understand? Did he see their father's pain and how he was coping. Yes they would likely all think him something evil and twisted. In ways he might be, but when he said he they deserved the truth it was his way of expressing his feelings.

She sat quietly though waiting for someone else to react. But her face showed her adoration for her father.

[member="Garith Darkhold"]

 

[Garith Organa]

JR felt a sudden weight being put over his hart. Much of this he already knew. He knew his dad had a dark past and that he had very bad anger issues. As difficult as it was, Garith had always seen his dad struggling to do the right thing. He seen the lengths his father went through to give him and [member="Arabella Darkhold"]. He had felt the raw powerful emotions of his father’s love when they had all gathered on Atrisa as a family. He cared. Good intentions are fabulous; his father was neither the first nor the last to have their good intention corrupted by the Darkside.


There was more to this. There was an aspect to this just mentioned by name. There was another spiritual aspect to this dark revaluation. The Kashi.
JR’s breath escaped him. The suffocating feeling pulled tightly upon his chest. It felt as if his soul, spirit was being crushed by heartache. His hand went to his chest. With the loss of air JR felt lightheaded. So, next to him was a chair, he sat down.


Gazing at area rug upon the floor JR could hear his mother talking now. JR was still trying to catch his breath. Trying to understand what is happening and what had happen. The Kashi, JR thought. JR felt the overwhelming presence of the Living Force. His own Jedi teachings did not explain what he was feeling. Then he sensed it, the presence of alchemy. It was not presence of light or dark. Well at first glance he felt the light. Then he had felt a presence of darkness. Both were true but not the truth. It was the presence of the Living Force. His soul was alchemically tied to it. His emotions were intertwined with it. What he felt, the Force felt. What the Force felt, he felt. His father, he felt this connection to? The Force felt his father’s emotions to? Was his father dealing with his own pain of loss and the pain felt by the Force?

It was confusing but made some sense to. Did his father react as nature would? Nature was unpredictable and dangerous. Like a tidal waved it rolled and thundered angrily. For what purpose though, all the loss, all the suffering?

JR’s hand gripped his shirt, over his chest where his heart lay. Swollen, near blood shot, his eyes shown the sorrow he was feeling. Holding fast to the teachings of the Jedi Order, JR adhered to them as he proceeded further into this spiritual awaking. Centering himself he stopped himself from crying. He needed answers. He needed to understand so he could find balance.


“Father”, JR’s voice sounded shaken. He still found the words to speak. “It was not just your emotions you were dealing with. Is that correct”, JR asked trying to make sense out of this!


[member="Draco Vereen"] // [member="Faith Organa"]

 

[Garith Darkhold]

The Elder Kashi was not blind. Or rather Garith believed he was notTwo of his children was not talking the news well. Who could blame them? They were looking at their father through their own beliefs.


Garith felt like he should leave. His hands were stained. Far to stained to have anything that would resemble a normal life. The majority of his life, he had just been a destructive force. He had brought little beauty into this life.


His son’s words snapped Garith out of his thoughts. “Yes there is more”, SR answered his son. “Just like you and Theodosius, my soul is alchemically tied to the Living Force. It is part of the blessing and the curse of the Kashi. Our people called it nature’s wrath when nature feel’s our emotions and reacts. Sometimes it is hard for us to know what our emotions or the emotions nature feels because of our symbiotic relationship. My reaction was never meant to happen. The community of the Guardians of the Breath kept each other balanced. Through a ritual called the Great Walk.”

‘The Great Walk’, Those these words repeated in Garith’s mind. ‘Theo’, Garith quietly questioned himself. ‘Is that he has been doing’, this quiet moment to himself, Garith was worried about his son.


“We”, Garith continued to try to explain things to his children, “The Guardians, we where a Druidic Order with the purpose to tend to the Living Force’s Garden. If you have more questions about the Kashi, please ask. You have the right to know the truth.”

[member="Faith Organa"] // [member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Faith Organa]

FAith was very close to her brother Theo and now her father was saying Theo was tied to the force, "So only the boys are called to serve as Kashi? They are tied to the living force" She remembered how Theo talked about the breath.

She had smiled and nodded at him when he tried to show her something. Too many lives it seemed were destroyed because of the force, look at what happen to Uncle Ordo what all of that did to their family, to Tia. Look at history itself the destruction caused by the fight between the Jedi and the Sith. It was heart breaking it sucked the soul dry.

She looked to Draco, look at what Draco had gone through. And her father, over two thousand years of pain, she shook her head and looked down again. If it only touched her brother she felt bad for them, and relief that she would not have to face or entertain such things.

She knew she needed to be stronger than this, she lifted her gaze letting it settle upon her father. He knew....so then...did the living force claim her sons? She felt all color drain from her face as she thought about it. She needed to know more information about Kashi.

[member="Garith Darkhold"]

 

[Arabella Darkhold]

Bella an avid learner of history leaned forward listening to what her father was saying. She made notes mentally to either ask him later or research. Kashi. Living Force. Druids.

The force it did at times bring down a curse upon those who felt its presence. People either thought you wonderful and respected your, or they feared you and thought of ways to destroy you. Sometimes she wondered about giving it up and letting it forever lay dormant, it was possible.

But she was fascinated by what her father was saying and yes, was it only the boys? Could a girl do it? She did not smile but she hid her thoughts in case anyone in the room picked up on them. These were things for her to ponder.

"What is the Great Walk? What does that mean exactly?" Bella felt tension growing, she was excited.

[member="Garith Darkhold"]

 

[Garith Darkhold]

“The Great Walk”, The Elder Kashi spoke the words. “Any Kashi that is Force Sensitive eligible, regardless of gender or class. The Great Walk is a religious experience. One must absolutely trust The Living Force. They humble themselves to the Mother and the Father. The Mother is what you know as Ashla and the Father you know as Bogon. They’re one in the same though. There is no darkness without the light. After the Kashi enters into this pact. The Kashi goes where The Living Force needs the help. It could be as simple as planting threes. Or it could be as simple as guiding another to a path of balance. Any Kashi that is a Force User is welcome. It has a price though. During the Great Walk, when you travel world to world. The Living Force opens a portal you travel through. The side effect of this travel numbs your memories. If you travel too much on a short time you could not even know your name or you’re past. You do recover memories after a period of time when you stop The Great Walk.”

The Elder Kashi wanted to make sure his children understood something, “It does not matter what gender you’re. If you’re Force Sensitive you’re susceptible. There are methods to stop the blessings. It involves with severing yourself from the Force. I do not recommend that though.”

[member="Faith Organa"]

 

[Garith Organa]

JR remind silent and listening. There was so much to take in. Trying to use what knowledge he knew to make sense of this. This was a new way to perceive the Force. It did not sound light or dark. It was a religious way of life that kept one balanced within the Force. JR did feel a little bit better after hearing some of his father’s words. Still his father walked a dark path for a long time. He turned away from the teachings of his people. Not to mention all the lives he might have taken in all that time. There is no darkness without the light? JR found it interesting the word choices his father used there. It made JR believe there was light still within his father.

[member="Faith Organa"]