Forever in the Light
It had been far too long.
Aiden knew that before he ever reached the corridor leading toward Grandmaster Ala Quin's office, and the thought only settled heavier with every step he took. There had been plenty of reasons for the distance, some practical and some far more complicated, but none of them changed the simple truth that he should have come sooner. He should have checked on Ala. He should have checked on Lorn. Whatever disagreements had existed between them, whatever directions their lives had taken, Aiden had never stopped caring about either of them.
Aiden approached Ala's office carrying a small container of freshly baked cookies in one hand and a carefully prepared pot of tea in the other. There was something almost amusing about it when he considered how many of his conversations began with this offering.
There was another reason he had come, though one he could not entirely put into words. The Force had been tugging quietly at the edge of his awareness ever since he made the decision to visit her. There was no vision and no overwhelming warning of danger, but there was enough of a feeling there that Aiden trusted it. Ala needed someone to walk through that door today, and whether she wanted advice, conversation, company, or simply someone willing to sit quietly beside her, Aiden intended to be there.
He stopped outside her office and looked down at what he carried before a small smile crossed his face. He adjusted the container beneath his arm, reached forward, and knocked gently against the door.
"Grandmaster Quin.......Ala?" Aiden called through, warmth carrying naturally in his voice. "It's Aiden, I come bearing tea, cookies, and absolutely no official business whatsoever."
