Private Truth

[Aiden Porte]

Naboo
Palace Courtyard
Kalantha

It had been several days since the Festive evening that were celebrated near the mountains. Snow was falling lightly, enough to stick to the ground and there was laughter and happiness all throughout Naboo it seemed like. You could walk the streets and see children running around in the snow, throwing snowballs at each other. Others were making snowmen, sledding, it was pure magnificence.

Aiden made himself a silent promise that he wasn't every going to drink that much again. That toppled with his anxieties that evening was a recipe for disaster. Not the way he wanted anyone to see him, and definitely not the way he would ever want to treat his friends. And the Queen no less, whom he held in high regard. Granted now he wasn't sure she held him that high anymore. However he knew he had made mistakes, and he felt it was time that he finally talk to his friends about his past. What happened to him, how it affected him. And how it still affected him.

The truth was, Aiden was a complete mess.

Aiden waited patiently in the courtyard for the Queen to meet him there. For the time being, he closed his eyes relaxing his mind.

There was a lot to talk about.

 

[Kalantha]

Truth

Queen Kalantha walked the avenue alone - mostly. There was always a handmaiden or guard from the Security Force nearby, especially given recent events in Theed. A second Cataclysm, Gungan raids, and shadowy political moves being made all around her were more than good cause for a security detail. She hardly noticed them now, which was good for her nerves. Kalantha was meeting a friend today, and she was already anxious enough to see him.

Aiden left rather abruptly the other night from her manse on Dee’ja Peak. She hadn't spoken to him since, but she knew he'd eventually come around when he was ready. Aiden had that quality about him, waiting until he knew where he stood before engaging. Kalantha had always admired that.

When her eyes landed on him, she gave a small wave and smiled. "It's good to see you," she said. "I was worried about you. I hope that you're feeling better...?" It was just as much a sentiment as it was a question.

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[Aiden Porte]

"It's good to see you,"

"I was worried about you. I hope that you're feeling better...?"

"Your Majesty, Inara...." Aiden said with a big smile. "Oh, um here...." Aiden said as he offered her a single white rose. "This is for you, a part to my apology for my behavior in the mountains." The Padawan said with a small nervous chuckled.

"I am doing better, feeling much better too." Aiden spoke in calm and endearing way as he welcomed her to take a seat if she wished. He took a deep breath before he started to talk, which only a few words were said.

"Have you heard of the New Way?" The Jedi Padawan inquired, he was sure that she had, however he just wanted to make sure.

Kalantha

 

[Kalantha]

Truth

Inara’s posture softened a bit when she heard her name. The white rose that followed put a faint glow over her face, tinting her cheeks pink. White roses symbolized new beginnings, peace, and hope. Many of the palace’s floral gardens were decorated with them.

“Thank you, Aiden,” she said with a smile. “But you don’t need to apologize. I know that you wouldn’t have left so suddenly without good reason, and I trust that you did what you needed to do.” Inara got along fine with Joran Del-Finn and Lady Nora Laan after Aiden slipped away. In fact, the opportunity to discuss diplomacy with New Cov might not have come had Aiden remained.

She believed that things happened for a reason, whether it was the will of Shiraya, the Force, or simple coincidence.

But when Aiden mentioned the New Way, the queen felt a familiar pang in her stomach. “The anti-Force organization?” she asked for clarification. Inara knew well enough who and what they were, but the thought that they’d come back from the shadows cast doubts.

They were active when she was young. Their last public display was the bombing of a government building on Coruscant to send a message to the NJO. She shuddered to think of them setting their eyes on the Shirayan Knights here.

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[Aiden Porte]

“But you don’t need to apologize. I know that you wouldn’t have left so suddenly without good reason, and I trust that you did what you needed to do.”

Yes.....

Yes I do....

Aiden said with a small smile as he looked her way. She was too good, far to good. She was a far better person than he could ever hope to be. When he was around he, he felt better and his worries seem to drift away.

“The anti-Force organization?”

"Yes, the terrorist attack here on Naboo that was caused by them. It well, it claimed the life of someone pretty close to me. You could say I, that I loved her. She died right in my arms." Aiden said as he took a deep breath, placing his hands together, as he looked ahead of him. The gardens, despite his inner turmoil the scenery and Inara beside him. That storm that was brewing had eased up, and he felt better. But there was so much more to do.

"Coupled with this dark warrior and his group of fanatics that have almost claimed my life several times already....you could say I've developed some grief and severe anxiety from it. I'm doing my best to work through it. Starting now, talking about it with the people that mean the most to me in this galaxy." For someone to have been put through what Aiden had over the past few years, and to see that he was still holding on. It was nothing short of amazing, and he knew because of that he had to get better.

He had to grow.

Kalantha

 

[Kalantha]

Truth

"You're very brave, my friend," Inara said with a smile. "And you are not alone. Whatever you are facing, you can face it with me. You can face it with the Order of Shiraya. We are here, always, to uphold and uplift you." She wished desperately that she could slip into Aiden's mind and ease his fears and anxieties. He was such a noble young man. Seeing him eat away at himself made her chest tighten. She placed her hand on his arm, as she had done many times before when he needed a little grounding. Her eyes were fixed on his, her way of making sure that he knew she meant the words she was about to say.

"You are strong, but that does not mean you cannot be weak. They are not mutually exclusive. It's okay for you to feel anxious about these things. If you didn't, well... I'd have to wonder if my closest friend had been replaced by a droid." She smirked at her own joke, allowing the mischievous teenager inside to peek from behind the decorum of a queen. Underneath it all, she was just as young and tormented as Aiden was. Another youth swept up and away on the current of violence and pain that seemed to wash over everyone in the galaxy at some point or another.

He may be a Jedi and she a queen, but at the end of the day, they were both little more than children, really. Kalantha hoped that some day, one day, the youth of the Southern Systems wouldn't fear for their safety anymore. They would be busy with schoolwork and silly crushes, with galas and summer nights in Lake Country, not terrorist organizations and Cataclysms.

Inara lowered her head, resting it on Aiden's shoulder, if he would allow her. She wanted him to feel connected to her. Safe, stable, and seen. After a few moments of rumination, she looked to him again. "Please don't feel like this is something you must bear on your own. I'm here, always."

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[Aiden Porte]

"You are wise beyond your years my friend." Aiden said with a small smile as she laid her head on his shoulder for a brief time, and in turn he leaned on her. It was only a short time but it conveyed so much strength and heart between the two. When he first met her, he had no idea what the future was going to hold. They were two young individuals dealing with the aftermath of terrible events.

They were both still here.

One was the Queen of Naboo, and the other a Jedi of the Shiraya Order.

"Well I don't think droids are stubborn, are they?" Aiden inquired with a small giggle as his gaze met hers once more. "Thank you Inara, for everything." He winked at her before looking forward again. "We've been through a lot together, you and I." He chuckled lightly before continuing. "Haven't we?" Aiden took a deep breath as he gazed out at the scenery before them.

"You know when we are together, I get the strong feeling that everything is going to be okay. No matter what gets thrown at us. There will be hardship and such, but we will get through it.....together." Aiden glanced over to her as he nudged her playfully.


Kalantha

 

[Kalantha]

Truth

"We've been through a lot together, you and I."

Inara smiled fondly. She cherished all the experiences they've shared, even the ones where their lives were at risk. It was always for the right reason, and for that, she was incredibly thankful to have such a strong and willful friend. "We certainly have," she said in agreement.

"And we certainly will. We are strong on our own, but together, we're incredibly powerful. I believe there's very little in this galaxy that we cannot overcome as a team." And should the day come that they could not rise above, then they simply needed to add more friends into the mix.

Inara knew that Aiden had gone through his share of harrowing experiences in life. She had too. It was refreshing, even inspiring, though, that they both had risen to stations far above their birthrights. That alone was a miracle in itself, and as long as they continued to fight for what's right, she fully expected Shiraya to continue pouring out her blessings.

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