What hides beneath, waiting in the dark (Ord'ika)(complete)

[Rianna Organa]

Alderaan
The Garden House

There were side effects to every war. Whether it was the loss of one who was loved dearly, or the loss of the peace of mind that came from fighting the hard fight. Rianna was unsure, she felt herself off as if something internal was grasping at her soul and trying to twist it to bend to a will that only wanted satisfaction.

Alderaan, this was her home. This place with its tall snow capped mountains, luscious green valleys, a dedication of people to preserving the natural wonders of their world. Here was peace, here she waited for her husband, her Ord'ika. It had been some time since they were able to spend time together try as they might. There were tensions between the mandalorians and the republic. The Jedi, no, she was caught in the middle waiting to see the result waiting to see, would she have to choose.

She made a face that showed the twisting emotions within her. Yes this was why they told them do not seek attachments, there would be hesitations, and this, yes this was Rianna hesitating. The garden house where she stayed when here, mainly for her privacy, and meditation away from the comings and goings of the coastal palace. The last time they spoke they were each wanting the company of the other.

There were things to talk about. And something else that kept hinting at the edges of her mind, her senses telling her something was wrong, but she couldn't see what it was.

[member="Ordo"]

 

[Ordo]

[member="Rianna Organa"]

It had been said once by a wiser man than he that "In war there, are, no survivors. Whether someone dies or their life as it was ends, but either way there is no going back." Ordo stood gazing longingly at the snow capped mountains as a trio of thranta soared toward the horizon. If he had seen these picturesque scenes of beauty a year ago, 5 years ago, ten years ago, would he have felt the lump that now rested in his throat? Would he have felt the same longing for peace? Would the nagging of his conscience still made his heart heavy? He couldn't answer.

His grey-green eyes felt like belonged to a much older man as he closed them and rubbed the lids with his thumb and forefinger. He stepped down from the hill outside the garden house and made his way to his loving wife. He loved her. There was no question of that. She was the light of his world, his bastion against the storms of war and struggle. He was devoted to her but even so he had felt a heavy weight bearing down on his heart and it would not be ignored.

He entered the house not covered in the beskar plates as he usually was but the same simple clothes he had worn that faithful day they had met at the temple on Coruscant. Just a simple farmer as he was raised. He walked to her then. His booted feet guided him. No matter what he felt or sid it seemed his feet knew the way home, his home was where his heart was, and his heart was with Ri'ika.

 

[Rianna Organa]

Rianna turned to see him smiling up at him, welcoming him with open arms home as she turned and ran to meet him half way. He did not wear his armour today, Alderaan was still so skittish of the mandalorians. It was hard for them at times to understand but many of them were beginning to see, and know that there was more to mandalorians than their armour. Rianna looked into the weather worn face of her husband, his gray green eyes looked tired and yet happy.

"Jasper" she whispered with a halting voice that only spoke of the emotional bond between them, and how happy, and relieved that he was able to once again be with her. It was then that she kissed him, it was hard to keep the longing from her embrace as she held tightly to him. He was her shelter in all storms, and it would seem there were storms on the horizon for them. She broke the kiss unwillingly, 'Welcome home" She put her palm to his face, "I have so missed this face"

They were alone here, no servants, no guards just them. She had been worried the Mandalorians had been involved in a few wars the news was everywhere about it, just as the fleet had filled the skies of Coruscant. The Republic was looking for a way to negotiate, but Rianna did not know what the outcome was.

[member="Ordo"]

 

[Ordo]

[member="Rianna Organa"]
Ordo couldn't help but to return the smile of his riduur. Her dark eyes, how they sparkled when she smiled. Seeing her again after being away was like the dawn breaking over a tranquil sea after a storm. His own eyes filled with his love and admiration for the beautiful woman who so captured his big heart. How he had gone without those eyes and that smile was beyond his ability to understand. She rose, her feet padding quickly across the floor to embrace him. Her arms reaching for him and his embracing her as if she were a precious treasure of value beyond measure, were all that mattered in that moment. The worries of the galaxy gone in a flash as his dearest friend and lover was finally back within his reach. Her voice pierce to his core as she spoke his name, her halting voice like music to his ears. She kissed him then. Her soft lips, full of longing as they pressed against his. He held her tightly, his own desire for her touch, her kiss, and her embrace were all that he wanted and more. With reluctance he let her pull back, but only just so far, he couldn't quite yet bear her to leave his arms. Again her voice reached him and he knew he was certainly home.

"It's good to be home, cyar'ika." he said as her soft hand touched his weathered face. "I've missed you too. Ner Runi, Ner Ka'rta."

Ordo pulled her close again and kissed her gently on the cheek, then forehead, then lips. He had missed her like flowers missed the rain. her very presence was a relief to his tired heart and mind.

"Thank the Manda i'm home." he said as he looked into her eyes.

 

[Rianna Organa]

[member="Ordo"]

She couldn't help it how could one not love this man who came before her so often with all of his emotions there for her to see and feel, "Ner runi, ner ka'rta, ner cyar'ika" She felt the softness of each kiss as it touched her skin. She felt his presence and melted her own into the force to his, "How about a hot bath, a good bottle of something to drink, and............" She just smiled.

Home was only made so by his presence, moments before this was a dwelling a place that one occupied only when he came in, only when he was near did this become home. For where two have become one, and they were one. She wanted them to relax, forget the darkness that seemed to be closing in, for a few let them be just husband and wife and then they could let the galaxy back in to wield the worries and concerns of people. She smiled, her hand finding his and not waiting for a response it would not take long to have a bath drawn.

 

[Ordo]

[member="Rianna Organa"]

Ordo could not help but turn red as he smile broadly at his wife. they had been apart for too long. His face glowed at the thought of being able to spend time together with her alone and separate from the mess of the galaxy. He followed her gladly just as he always would and while she drew the water for the bath he got towels and turned down the lights. He never would have imagined a life like this could be possible for him. A life of war and fighting had left him feeling his only purpose was to fight, but Rianna had given him new purpose, new life. It was a precious time. Being able to share their lives with one another. He only hoped that when his life ended, as lives tend to do, he would be remembered not just as a warrior but as a loving husband. He shook his head and put the thought away as undressed and wrapped his hips with one of the towels. He walked over and lay her towel on a stand beside the tub and hugged her. His back and chests were scarred from lightwhips, blaster burns and a number of other things as held enclosed her in his arms.

"Did I mention how much I missed you?" he asked

 

[Rianna Organa]

She looked over her eyes half closed, as a small little smile appeared, "I will have to think about this, did. you. say." she titled her head side to side, "you missed me?" She then smiled broadly, "Yes your emotions roll off you, even with your new force skills" Rianna closed her eyes finding him within the force, "I can tell your emotions" Then she frowned some, something that seemed to be hanging back, out of her reach, what emotion was that.

She blinked her eyes open, looking at her husband, she bit her lip for a moment, "Come relax" Of all the people in the galaxy that needed a healing touch, her riduur needed one now. She tried to hide the worry from her eyes, her movements, but her empathy was strong, her ability to touch his emotions as if they were her own. "You relax here" her fingers flickered over the water.

"ner Ord'ika, " she tried not to giggle as she tried to, apply the familiar to his name "let see is it Jas'ika, Jasp'ika, Ja'ika, J'ika" Some of these sounded rather girlish, and there was one thing he was not, and that was girly. But she had taken to calling him Jasper more and more, everyone knew him as @[member=Ordo].

She felt a heaviness in her own chest, did he know how important he was to her, what she was willing to give up for them. She could see the scars, she remembered them from that very first night, when her fingers traced along each one. Such a warrior, to have endured so much, but he was mandalorian it was to be expected.

 

[Ordo]

[member="Rianna Organa"]

He smiled at her. She deserved so much more than a farm boy turned warrior. He felt it was a dream most days. Her eyes upon him. He took off his towel and stepped into the water. His tan skin enjoyed the hrat of the water as he thought about her question.

"Jas'ika I guess is correct." He said settling into the tub, "though if its you anything would be fine."

He leaned against the edge of the tub and draped his big arm on the brim as he tugged her clothes playfully with his thumb and forefinger.

"How about you get out of those and join me." He said not bothering to hide his affection for her. The dark things he'd felt and done recently had given him some regrets but with her some close after so mich time he couldn't think of his mistakes. He could only think of her.

 

[Rianna Organa]

[member="Ordo"]

She smiled, "Jas'ika, sounds very " She considered her words. "Much like a family name. " Rianna stood up and prepared for the bath. This was a bit of a ritual, water was to be cleansing. Rianna needed it, she wanted him to be part of it. She slid the robe away and then slowly entered the water.

"Much has been happening in the galaxy. Changes. " She cupped her hands and dipped them into the water. Slowly the water trickled back into the pool. Her eyes looked over at him, scarred worn and tired. It showed in his face. "I am always your wife ner runi" yes that was one reason she married him he was her soul. "My heart is troubled by things" Her palm slid across the surface small ripples edged their way outwards. She sank down before him a single hand reached over to touch his arm keeping her balance.

She remembered the first time she had seen the scars it pained her that he had been hurt so. Her dark eyes met his Gray green. For a moment she thought there was darkness. She smiled. " what have you been doing my dearest?"

 

[Ordo]

[member="Rianna Ordo"]

The thought of the many things he had done since they had last been able to be together was a thing he had hoped to forget but he knew it was only a matter of time. He had to face the truth and that was he had been in a dark place these many weeks. He had tortured a Sith, not for information, and not for a punishment for crimes but out of hate for her kind. In the process he had acted like the thing he hated. Ordo looked down at his riduur. Where should he begin? Adumar had fallen to he and Strider. He had fought the former Sith Emperor and spanked a Jedi knight who needed to learn manners then sent the recording to the order. Finally he had lead the assault of Bastion and they had systematically dismantled the worlds defences. So much war, so much fighting, so much hate and pain. War had been his life for so long and now it seemed it was beginning to take it's toll.

"I wish I could say farming, Ri'ika." he said with a sad smile, "But I've been in a lot of fighting lately, and done a lot of things I wish I hadn't"

 

[Rianna Organa]

@Ordo

She watched the aura that surrounded him the coalescing colours she felt a pain in her chest a tightness that hurt. She raised her hand her fingertips lightly glided over his cheek, tracing down the strong masculine jaw. She did not want to cause him pain.

"My dearest love, my heart, I want to share in whatever concerns you have. Let me help" She inched closer to him the water rippled with movement. This is what love felt like. The desire to consume him, the need to be part of his life his happiness anything she could do. He was the one person she could wake up with spend the day with and still want him near in the evening hours.

Her hand drifted down and rested on his chest. " things you shouldn't have done cyar'ika, what things?" What could he have done. Nothing so terrible. Could he?

 

[Ordo]

[member="Rianna Ordo"]

He looked into those dark eyes and once again feel for her. The compassion, the kindness, the determination and strength all combined in her and was there in her loving gaze. The touch of her hand on his skin was electrifying and soothing at the same time. He was a warrior that was true but more than that he was a Husband and even in Mandalorian culture, duty to family was greater than duty to the Mandalorian military. He sighed softly. She was more than just family, she was a part of him, his friend, lover and life. He had enjoyed everyday puttering around their apartment on Coruscant and the Farm on Mandalore. The house here on Alderaan was even a joy with her near. The Ship he had given her as a present that had become their personal home away from home. Everywhere was better with her there and he feared losing that but he wouldn't lie to her. He refused to. His emotions over his past had clouded his judgement and he had given his hate of the Sith free reign, now it was time to own up to his actions.

"A long time ago I was caught and tortured by a Sith. I spent a long time in custody. She tortured me daily and gave me most of the scars that cover me." He paused and sighed as he fought to keep the emotions from welling up and over coming him again, "A Sith was captured and brought to Mandalore..." He paused to breath, "and out of anger I tortured her before she was stolen from the prison, I think I would have killed her for no other reason than she was a Sith."

He looked away as a tear formed and slowly made it's way down a scarred cheek. He had admitted something that made him sick to think of now and he braced himself for the consequences.

 

[Rianna Organa]

Rianna listened to the emotions behind the words, being an empath she could feel them feel the regret, loss. She looked at the aura that surrounded her riduur the flecks of darkness now made sense when he had tortured the Sith it touched him deeply. She wished she could wipe the darkness away from it, pluck them like berries from the vine tossing the rotten ones away.

Rianna reached over brushing away the tear on his cheek, "oh my cyar'ika" she breathed softly, "you are not the kind of man that does such a thing lightly." How to help him without making this sound as though he had taken a walk in the park, Rianna wrapped herself around him to comfort him, to feel the contact of their skin, for her to share in the emotions, "share with me" she looked deeply into his eyes not to take it away, but to ease the pain of it.

"The past has left its mark upon you cyar'ika more than just the scars that are seen" Her fingers lightly touched the scars near her hand, yes how deep they had been, how deeply he had been tortured it was amazing that he had survived. It was amazing that with all the injuries he had gotten over the years that it had not killed him. Destiny, fate, the force has a strange way of doing things, the lessons taught.

"Do you think you would do this again?" She asked in a soft whisper.

[member="Ordo"]

 

[Ordo]

[member="Rianna Ordo"]

He held her as she drew close and wrapped herself around him. Her skin against his still gave him the same electric sensation it did the first time he felt it. He knew she loved him and he loved her in return.

She traced a scar with her finger and Ordo leaned his head against hers. She made him feel like his life of struggle had been worth the pain. He knew she was all he needed.

"No" he said softly, "thats a line I couldn't cross again."

He meant it, every word, no matter what the Sith was he couldn't torture a person like that again. He hugged her close and kissed her cheek as they sat together in the hot bath. He only hoped in time he would feel the darkness he felt now lessen.

 

[Rianna Organa]

Rianna knew that there were some things that needed to be worked out on their own and with time, "Ordo be Ar'klim you are not an evil man, you have great good in you." If there had been evil in him she would sense it in some way, others would see it, it would not be this one time it would be other times. She could hear the steady beat of his heart, the gentle intake of breath, and the conviction of his emotions coupled with the words he spoke.

"We all learn new things about ourselves, this encounter you had with the Sith" Rianna closed her eyes for a moment looking ahead, "There is the possibiity of consequences for that action" anything could change that, anything. Then she saw him once again beaten tortured, she gulped her words as her heart began to thunder hard in her chest. She felt her emotions rise up within her, she felt them crashing around her, pulling at the very fiber of her soul.

She trembled slightly, "You must be careful, promise that you will" The urgency in her voice, as she pulled back to look at him, to know when he spoke he spoke the truth. She already knew he would but she had to hear him say it. God the horrid ache in her chest, the fear that gripped at her, she tried to push it down knowing that what was seen was fluid could change, but how many times had that happened.

[member="Ordo"]

 

[Ordo]

The touch of her hand and the sound of her voice were great comforts for him. The softness in her manner and the reassurance he felt in her words were things he couldn't compare to anything he had known. How long had he tried to drown his pains with alcohol and battles only to find her. He had helped the Jedi out of a need to create rather than destroy for once never had he thought that he would go and fall in love. She was right about him learning about himself. He had interrogated before and he had seen many tactics over the years, but he had gotten close to becoming no better than the Sith that had put him through so much when he was younger.

She grew tense and then trembled in his arms. He looked at her as she spoke and tried to understand what she must have been thinking. She was right. He would have to be careful. Consequences could come in many forms and judging by her speedy removal from Mandalore by unknown persons he could guess that many kinds of consequence were possible.

"I'll be as careful as I can be Ner, ka'rta." he said honestly, "I don't want you to worry." He hugged her to her broad chest and squeezed, "but you haven't told me what has been going on with you. Have you been alright?"

[member="Rianna Ordo"]

 

[Rianna Organa]

One darkness made known but was it at rest only time would tell, Rianna looked down at the water and thought the best thing to do was to say what she thought outright.

"I have left the Jedi Council Jas'ika" She half smiled, and tried to laugh about it. In truth it had hurt her deeply to do so, her beloved Circle of Healers left behind to fall under another's vision. Who if anyone would pick up that mantle. She felt a bit lost but there were other reasons for her decision, reasons that only a few would ever understand.

It was something she could bear and it was emotions that she would in time let go of. At the moment though, it hurt.

[member="Ordo"]

 

[Ordo]

Ordo looked at her in disbelief as he registered what she said. His eyes wide for a moment as the realization of what she had said settled on his mind.

"Oh Cyar'ika." He said as he pulled her close and gave her a hug, "I'm so sorry."

He knew the hall of healers had been her life's work. She had put in so much time and effort for the sake of the council. He had heard the Jedi jad been having a lot of issues but he never thought she would have to leave.

"We can just stay here." He said. He wanted nothing but her. Their adopted children were children in a sense only. They were all grown adults and he had everything he could ever need if he had his Rianna. "Jusy enjoy eachother and let the galaxy get on without us. Can't we?"

[member="Rianna Ordo"]

 

[Rianna Organa]

[member="Ordo"]

"OH don't be sorry" She smiled brightly, "I'm more worried about you and how you are handling your encounter with the Sith, that's far more important than my leaving the Council." That was not all she wanted to tell him, there was something more, something else waiting.

"We could stay herd for as long as we like, the galaxy would go on" She buried her face into his shoulder holding on, wanting to keep him safe from any of the darkness. But how, he was mandalorian, a warrior, he was a field marshall how could she say to him don't go when the battle call is sounded. She knew in her heart she couldn't. She knew that he would always try to be strong, but she could feel it in him. Feel the concern, the moment of doubt. She needed to assure him, keep him strong.

Oh goddess please, don't let the darkness touch him too deeply, and show me what to do. What to say, how to act to be his strength when he is mine.

"We can have a farm in the valley, fade into the crowd" She would do anything for him. She lifted her head to look over at him, "Can I keep you all to myself?"

 

[Ordo]

[member="Rianna Ordo"]
'Don't let her go Jasper' he told himself as the water slowly cooled, 'Just let it all go and stay, you've done enough. The Vode are strong now. They can do without just one man."

Ordo held her close, big arms wrapping around her sun kissed frame. He wanted nothing more than to never leave her side. She was the love of his short life and though they had met unexpectedly, and been on one of the most emotional rollercoasters of his life, she had never once done anything to hurt him. She was a Jedi, true, but she had a heart that even most Jedi should envy. Compassion, duty, kindness, loyalty and so much more didn't even begin to describe her. She worked harder than most men and asked for nothing in return. The Jedi were fools to let her go and Alderaan was lucky to have someone so capable thinking of its welfare, as was Ordo. His eyes took a softer look, his lips took a turn up at the corners, scars moved to accommodate the small smile, and he looked at his love.

"Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum, Rianna" Ordo said holding her and longing to stay forever, "You could have me all to yourself. I'd stay forever like this, with you, with us."

He meant it. He would never leave if he didn't have too, but would he be darmanda? Would he ignore the call to arms if it came? Could he? He didn't have the answers, but he had her, and he was glad for that. However, he needed to learn to avoid the darkness in the force or everything he had here would be gone. Of that, he was certain.