Fete and Family

[Kad Tor]

Fighting, there had been so much fighting. [member="Artemis Lux"] and Kad Tor had agreed they would not allow their relationship to distract them from who they were and what they must do. There was one thing their new relationship would afford them, and that was time with family. While Artemis was not ready for it to be public, Kad’s sister, [member="Briika Tor-Munin"], had discovered their secret. She agreed to keeping it under one condition. Kad and Artemis must agree to celebrate the Fete with her.

”I know I promised, but she saw the necklace. With all the fighting this past year we both need this anyway.”

That was Kad’s best attempt at why they needed to go see Briika while the rest of their people would be drinking in Sundari. Kad also liked the idea that in the privacy of the Munin home they would not need to keep up their pretenses. As the ship landed along the opposite side of the home away from their fields, Kad looked over to Artemis.

He was dressed in the simply clothes of a farmer and smith. Anything fancy he had was long gone, and Kad had never been one to try to be what he was not. The Hammer of Enceri wore his brown work pants, a blue cotton work shirt and a leather work vest. His boots were the ones he wore in the smith, and while there was nothing fancy about him, Kad exuded th simple charm of a country boy. He was the man Artemis had fallen in love with, and he was not about the change.

Kad unstrapoed himself and grabbed the gifts he had made for the family.

”Briika makes the best uj cake this side of the galaxy. She’s only enhanced what my mother was able to do with it.”

He was trying to help them both warm up to the idea of being a family for the day. Kad and Artemis has lost so much and this was going to be a huge step forward for them. His hope was the fun of the celebration would be enough for them to get past the moment, and enjoy the many that would follow. This was a holiday after all, and this was a time to be near those that one loved.

 

[Artemis Lux]

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C O N C O R D D A W N​

M U N I N H O M E S T E A D | F E T E W E E K​

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Artemis wanted to say she couldn’t remember the last time she celebrated Fete – truly celebrated it – but she remembered it as clearly as the sunlight that shone over their heads. It had been four or five years ago, when the city of Keldabe kept its proud vigil over Mandalore, when nothing had been taken from her and the holiday still signified the exultant joy of hearth and home. Her son had been old enough to appreciate the meaning of the intergalactic tradition, but still young enough to view it through the special lens of magic that only small children could claim. The whole universe seemed younger, cleaner, brighter back then: her marriage was new and full of promise, her homeworld pulsed with vibrancy and richness, and her extended kinsmen were so numerous that they required three long tables to seat everyone for the week-long feasts – not counting the pets that lurked at their feet, waiting to devour any fortuitously dropped scraps.

In the midst of all the sparkle and the laughter, neither Artemis nor her kindred could have known that it would be their last season to gather together. The wars swept through the galaxy like a fiery plague and took everything that meant anything: first the lives of her husband and son, and then Mandalore itself. After all the fighting, all the chaos, all the destruction and death – Artemis stood as the sole survivor of her family.

What was a Mandalorian without family? Conversely, what was a Mandalorian without war? It was a cruel paradox that Artemis had yet to reconcile, but she’d recently had some help from an intimate source.

Over the past few weeks, Artemis had grown accustomed to greeting [member="Kad Tor"] in public as though they hadn’t woken in the same bed that morning. It was a tiresome exercise, but the woman was nothing if not stubborn. For nearly a year, she had rebuffed even the goran’s most earnest overtures, citing duty as the reason for her refusal to submit to the feelings that were now unavoidable between them. However, they both knew that duty was only a part of it – the fear of losing him, the way that she had lost all the others, was the crux of the matter. She’d relented on the strict condition that they keep their relationship private until she was ready to share it with the vode. In Artemis’ rigid mind, that likely meant another year. Naturally, [member="Briika Tor-Munin"] had discovered their secret within a day.

The flaxen-haired baar'ur was more than simply Kad’s sister. Bree had become Artemis’ dear friend, and Bree’s children like her own. Of anyone to keep their secret, Artemis would have trusted no one else. In fact, the more she stewed over the whole ordeal, the more Artemis was convinced that it was Briika who had orchestrated the matchmaking all along. She wouldn’t have put it past her – Bree was as clever as she was fiercely caring. Her devotion made Artemis regret not having a sister.

Despite this, it had taken more than a few days of convincing for Artemis to agree to join the Tor-Munin’s for the holidays. Her love for Briika, and her love for Briika’s brother, waged war and ultimately won against her pride.

“Uj cake?” Artemis looked over to Kad from the co-pilot seat and raised an eyebrow. “If you think you can bribe me with sweets like a child – then you’re exactly right.” The wry dimple emerged in her cheek but just as soon disappeared. It had been ages since she’d enjoyed something so indulgent, so nostalgic.

The afternoon was crisp and cold when they emerged from the ship and onto the fields of Concord Dawn. Artemis’ gown rustled pleasantly along the frozen earth, her skirts matching the deep red color of wine – a festive hue, complementary to her dusky features, and one that had always been her favorite. She balanced the remainder of the gifts in her arms and walked steadily at Kad’s side. The glowing lights of the Munin Homestead were growing closer and brighter with every step, and as they reached the front door, Artemis swore she caught the aroma of freshly baked uj cake. Emerald eyes flashed up to Kad.

“I hope your sister can keep a secret,” She murmured, but there was a reluctant smile underlying her words. With that, and nothing more, Artemis extended a hand and knocked on the door.

 

[Briika Munin]

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Munin Homestead Lands ​

Mission Valley, Concord Dawn​

Northwest Region, Northern Continent​

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Even though Feté wasn't exactly a celebratory time for the Mandalorian culture per se, the Tor family had adopted the galactic holiday into their own clan's tradition, and now it was part of Clan Munin's and Garon's as well; passed on from one generation to the next down the ever growing family tree.

While the freshly baked uj cake made for the day's special feast cooled on the kitchen counter, Briika helped her ten year old daughter, [member="Kayra Munin"], decorate the holiday tree in the great room of their home. First the lights were strung around the pyramid-shaped bushy tree, then homemade ornaments with meaning hung off the needled-branches of the Noble Fir they had cut down on a family trip up into the snow-capped Mission Mountains that the valley where their homestead was located was named after. Seasonal music played in the background to set the festive mood as the two golden blondes made the tree come alive with personality and spirit.

Out back of the main ranch house, a shatual roasted in the fire pit, tended to by the Akaan himself, [member="Vilaz Munin"]. The aroma of the flavorable meat waffled in the chilly air of the afternoon on a light winter's breeze. The morning fog had burnt off earlier as the sun rose high in the clear sky and warmed the rolling plains, well as much as it could for the winter month it was.

The view of the Missions from the Munin home was spectacular... almost as much so as the Three Sisters on the Tor Homestead back in Enceri were the siblings had grown up, but Bree was biased. It was hard to beat the majestic beauty of Mandalore's North Country, well before it was destroyed. She so missed it, and those who blessed the earth there as a result of the cataclysmic day that will forever live in infamy. Concord Dawn was home now, and home Briika had made it for all her family to enjoy.

A ship flew overhead and set down on the landing pad across the field. Briika knew who was in that craft and a smile graced her face. It was her brother, [member="Kad Tor"], and he had brought [member="Artemis Lux"] with him to share in their family tradition. No one was supposed to know they were together now, though Bree knew... but it wasn't her secret to share. She was happy for her younger brother to have found such happiness in such a lovely, strong woman, and was eager to welcome the Lioness of Dxun to the family officially, but more so as a sister in the true sense of the word.

"Kayr'ika... Go tell your buir we have company, and find out how long till the meat is done? I'll ping your ori'vod that it's time to come over."

With that said, Briika sent a quick text to Mesh'la, then went to the front door to greet their guests wearing a deep red Feté sweater and a pair of black leggings tucked into boots. The Garon Homestead was just over the ridge to the southwest in the Palouse Valley where wheat fields were aplenty. It wouldn't take them too long before they arrived as well.

[member="Mesh'la Garon"] [member="Aden Garon"] [member="Strider Garon"] [member="Lok Munin"]

 

[Kad Tor]

Kad smiled at how easily Artemis could weave herself between the two worlds in which they lived. On the battlefield she was fierce and violent, but at home she was graceful and maternal. Kad loved her because of that. He did not love one or the other, but he loved all of her. She was not an expresive woman with her affections in the way other women were. Any display was held for the privacy of their bed chamber, the one the public was unaware they shared.

"I am not bribing you, yet, and do not worry about my sister. She has kept the secret thus far. However, the rest of the family will figure it out sooner or later, they are the ones you had best hope know how to say silent on the matter."

He didn't want to give her a reason to fret, but Kad was not certain about the family he did not know as well as his sister. Kad was simply being pragmatic about the situation, and he hoped Artemis would be as well. This was a massive step for them, to be seen together with his family for a celebration. In some regard they were announcing their relationship to them no matter what pther pretense they could invent.

When [member="Briika Tor-Munin"] opened the door, Kad grinned.

"That husband of yours might finally out cook me. The beast smells amazing."

Briika also looked nice, but Kad knew better than to comment. Briika liked to look good, but she was still a Mandalorian woman. Vilaz was the only one who could say anything to her and live.

Kad lifted the bag of gifts and nodded to the ones Artemis had in tow.

"We brought gifts. Where would you like us to put them?"

Kad started walking into the home. As much as Briika was happy to have him in the home, he knew her real target was [member="Artemis Lux"]. Kad could hear it now... Briika was going to eventually drag Artemis away for women talk, and the thought made Kad smile. Briika and Artemis would be good sisters.

[member="Vilaz Munin"] [member="Strider Garon"] [member="Mesh'la Garon"]

 

[Artemis Lux]

“Briika.” The greeting was full of affection and warmth. Artemis smiled – one of her rare smiles that extended past the corner of her mouth – and stepped forward to embrace her dear friend. “It’s been too long,” She murmured fondly, closing her eyes and savoring the quiet joy brought on by their reunion. Kad wasn’t the only person severed from Artemis during the war.

After a moment, dark head pulled away from blonde. The smile hadn't left Artemis’ lips, but instead spread upward to soften her sharp eyes as she moved with Kad to step over the threshold. Like fireworks, her senses burst to life: the robust fragrance of slow-cooking food instantly invited her to breathe in deeply, while magnificent festoons of decorations beckoned her attention from ceiling to floor. Everything glittered, gleamed, and glowed.

For a moment, Artemis could only stare. A strange feeling had stolen over her heart – one she hadn’t felt in quite some time. It made her want to reach for Kad’s hand and entwine her fingers gently with his. Down at her side, her thumb twitched.

Lifted.

Hovered.

Faltered.

Fell back down, slave to its mistress' iron will. The moment had ended.

“Thank you for inviting me to spend the holiday with your family,” came Artemis’ swift recovery. Her calm smile was back. “I didn’t want to impose, but I was told that no wasn’t an answer.” Emerald gaze flickered wryly up to Kad, lingering there for only a moment before returning to his sister. “Let me at least be useful – what can I help you with?”

Artemis had hosted and attended enough family gatherings to know that there were always tasks to be delegated. Although those days seemed long gone now, the bustling sounds, competing aromas, and flurry of activity were cherished memories not soon forgotten.

However, that was the extent of Artemis’ sentimentality. To no surprise, the indomitable woman had an ulterior motive: she wanted to stay busy and to keep as far away from Kad as possible. She’d spent the past five minutes internally stewing on his words just before Briika opened the door. It’s the rest of the family you have to worry about, he’d more or less said, in reference to their secret. Well, damn it all to hell then – why don’t you just ravish me right here in the living room? She’d wanted to retort, biting sarcasm being her favorite way to cope with discomfort.

Instead, Artemis had bitten her tongue and graciously smiled. People often forgot that she was a politician.

[member="Kad Tor"] | [member="Briika Tor-Munin"]​

 

[Briika Munin]

"You can tell ner riduur yourself, if you are brave enough... I think [member="Vilaz Munin"] might have been basting himself more than the beast out there by the fire pit," Bree quipped lightly to [member="Kad Tor"] after their brother-sister greeting.

"Vore, vod'ika! You may put the gifts under the holiday tree, and if you would another log on the fire," she answered appreciatively, then turned her attention back to [member="Artemis Lux"], whose bearing was so strong and beautiful. Her brother could not find anyone more fine than the Lioness of Dxun. He was indeed blessed in that regard, and it amused Briika to no end that she had a small part in it.

"You are most welcome, Artemis... I wouldn't want it any other way. You will always be considered a part of my family," the petite blonde offered in return with a sincere smile.

"Useful, hmm.... Well, I still need to make the garlic mash potatoes, and whip up the au jus. The green beans are in the oven just finishing up. Either of those you may help me with... Or you could pick out a wine from the rack to go with the shataal if you are so inclined to and/or tell me what you have been up to since I saw you last."

Briika had always liked wine over the other Mandalorian spirits so she had started collecting different kinds from all over. It was a shame the wine cellar at the homestead near Keldabe she owned was lost in the massage earthquake. It even had had a couple of bottles of Corellian brands one was not able to get anymore due to that planet's demise as well.