"Yes. . .we should."

His eyes studied hers; he knew that for her this wasn't the happiest of times.

If only he could just take away the sadness at that very moment, he would. He knew that...

His eyes found hers again, and within her eyes he found the wonderful lady she always was, beautiful, gorgeous, a caring soul who saw how precious life was, and would be there to protect and defend it.

That was still within her, he knew that.

And all that within her eyes told him, the light would never drown, and that her light would burn on brightly. That he would defend her and who she was. Even if he had to be the candle that kept her flame alight.

As he came to answer her question he gave nodded of recognition.

"I'm alright."

He noticed her shivering under the winds, she was obviously cold.

"Here...this will keep you warm."

He took off his robe, and draped it over her back, in hopes it would give the lady some much needed warmth.

His hand reached up only to have his fingers gently push back part of her hair lightly out of her brown eyes, he smiled faintly and he spoke.

"It's best to get moving I suppose."

It was a symbol of all that was.


...and all that was not quite yet lost....


Leia looked down at Amalia's lightsaber and shook her head, turning her gaze towards the sky. She was thinking of it's owner: an old, dear friend who had once been so close... and yet now was so far. She spoke to the sky, as if she knew that some great, odd, unseen power would carry her words to the person whom she wished she could say them to in person. Their connection with each other had always been very strong.


But now.... so weak....


"You should not have given this back, friend. You should have felt in your heart that I would have wanted you to carry it, and my love, with you always, no matter what path you chose in life. The fact that you did not feel this, or that you chose to ignore it...."


Leia's voice trailed off as she became immersed more deeply within her own thoughts. Her gaze snapped back down to the academy, and quietly she re-entered the building.


Despite her troubled thoughts, there was always yet still work to be done... and time to think while she did it.

An involuntary shutter worked subtly through Amalia's body as Jensen's fingertips brushed Amalia's hair lightly out of her eyes.

Her pose was unwavering for a few heartbeats, her gaze intensely staring at the sentiments that were reflecting off of Jensen's own brown eyes.

After a time, she became unfrozen and her hand moved to gently reach for his raised hand. Her eyes fell from his face and onto his hand as both of her hands came to gently grasp his left hand, holding his hand at her eye level.

She gently moved his hand closer to her face so that she could inspect his hand more closely.

He'd rustled intrigue within her without really meaning to, her hands coming to trace his fingers, all the way to his palm, not neglecting to miss any part of his hand.

".. Has anyone ever told you how fine your hands are, Bettencourt?"

Her brown eyes parted from his hand only to look at him inquisitively, her brow rising softly up at him as her hands still worked at his hand. Her brow lowered soon after, but her gentle gaze still remained.

".. Fine enough to be a craftsman.."

His hand was smooth and soft to the touch, yet strong as well. Strong and sturdy hands. She liked that.

Fine enough to create and wield a lightsaber, she thought privately as she released his hand.

She too had once had fine hands. Her hands had once held strength, resilience, warmth, many bracing qualities.

Now all she could believe was that her hands were unkempt, frail, vulnerable, all the things that she never thought her hands would be.

Looking down upon her own hands, Amalia could only think of the times that she had spent using them, how she had used them.

Such hands as hers had also once been made to craft, had been strong enough to wield lightsabers.

Her lightsaber.

A lightsaber that had been crafted for her, and only for her.

A gift.

A gift that she refused to bring with her, a gift that was not with her now.

It hurt her.

"I am ashamed of what I am becoming!" She shouted, her eyes stinging with sorrow, mixed with pain.

She suffered inside.

Turning to Face Zeta, a slight breeze blew past him. His waist length hair flowing gently in the breeze.

*I don't know. With Amalia's turning from the light, i do not have the connection with her i once did. I shall meditate on this for a while. Let the darkside show me the path i must take*

Looking at the Zabraks back, Malice began to study him, both his his eyes, and with the force. A sudden thought then came to mind.

*You know Zeta, you never did answer my question i asked earlier. Why did you come into my room?*

Malice remembered asking him this a few minutes ago, but did not remember getting an answer. Zeta was, after all, always one to have something hidden up his sleeve.

"I was wondering if I might borrow your book of Sith Sorcery," he said, his poise continuing to remain perfectly still.

Much would depend on that book.

"I was wondering if I might borrow your book of Sith Sorcery,"

The question, to say the least had caught Malice by surprise. He had never known Zeta to want to learn the sacred arts. Malice had never seen Zeta as one who wanted power, not in the way he did at least. As his mind gathered to answer the Zabrak, another question of his came to mind. With it, a compromise.

*I shall let you borrow it on one condition...you tell me what it is for*

Malice was suddenly getting a feeling in the back of his mind that Zeta wasn't being fully open was to why he was here. It didn't bother Malice, for the two hardly ever shared what was on their minds to one another, but in this instance, Malice would find out. For it now involved Malice's most prized possession.

It seemed all too easy for Zeta; Malice made it so. Malice was all too predictable; something the Zabrak thought was most unusual.

More often then not, Zeta would have trouble reading the Sith demon, but today, today was different.

"I wish to experiment. It has been some time since I have experimented with sorcery, I'm a bit out of practice."

Lies.

Yet the Zabrak gave the Sith no such indication. He was just like Malice, not easily read.

Finally he turned back to face Malice once again.

"Perhaps you could give me a few pointers?"

It sat in the middle of her desk, a circle of cleanliness carefully made around it. This was a great testimony to it's importance, given that it was Leia's desk it was sitting on. It gleamed in the artificial lighting of the office, catching Leia's eye for not the first time today.

It was a reminder.

For not the first time today, Leia quickly diverted her gaze to something else. She was not ready to face the decision that it demanded of her just yet.

But she could not run forever...

Hearing Zeta's words, aquizzical look came upon Malice's face. With his mind on other matter's, Malice didn't feel like analyzing Zeta, or the situation at the moment. Nodding in agreement, Malice walked over to the far wall, where his dresser stood. Moving it aside, there was a coding device. Plasing in a password, the wall began to shake.

A portion of it gave way, sliding backwards, revealing a hidden room. Walking through the doorway, Malice picked up one of two sorcery books he had. Within the room as well, were various sabers he had won in duels, as well as others he tried to make but didn't turn out how he wanted them to. Closing the room once more, Malice handed the book to Zeta.

*It took me some time, but i was able to translate the sith writings into basic. So it will be more easily read for beginners. I am busy at the moment, as you well know Zeta, so i am not able to aide you in your quest for knowledge. Feel free to borrow the book, but remember, i want it back*

Moving towards his window once more, Malice stared out into the vast lands. Soon he would be leaving, to search for his former love, and son. Meeting them, and ultimatly changing all threes destinies.

Jensen was in a state of perplexity standing motionless and silentless, listening to every word she had spoken.

Her words made him smile inside, he mused on the fact that she was a kind warm soul, her words spoke to him and reached him in many different ways. Ways that touched him deeply, more than perhaps he even realized yet.

Then silence was broken.

"I am ashamed of what I am becoming!"

Jensen slowly closed his eyes; he searched for meaning within the words he was about to say. Some how some way she needed to realize there was still hope, and as long as there was the tiniest speckle, just a glimmer of light left within her then there would always be, hope.

His eyes were only closed for a moment or two as he thought, and then they reopened to reassure her. The tone of his voice was tranquil, peaceful, soothing, and he spoke slowly.

"But it doesn't have to be this way, that’s why we are here. To help you find yourself Amalia, The road will be a difficult one but we can see through it, there is always hope. . .always."

Clearly concerned for Amalia's well being, his vision rose to the sky. Observing the skyline miles on out. The daylight had been dimming and soon twilight would be upon the two. Rolling clouds dotted the setting sky, and he turned back to her.

"The sun will be setting soon we should be going, lets go."

Jensen led Amalia through a winding maze of sorts leading to the castle. The castle walls, which was black duracrete was spotted with large areas of dampness, as they traveled along the outside wall looking for some place of entry.

Finally a crevice had been found and rather large one, which betrayed nothing but solid blackness within, perhaps now they could enter the castle. Jensen curiously peeked his head inside. The air had an eerie ethereal dampness about it, and not a sound could be heard.

Jensen turned back to face Amalia, whom was standing on a rather high ledge, taking her hand he helped her down to where he was standing.

"Okay, I don't know what’s in there, but we need to stay alert. This place could be very dangerous and well." his eyes gazed over her briefly, concern crept into his eyes. "I really worry about your safety, just stay close, okay?"

With that he turned, and unclipping his lightsaber a turquoise blade sprang to life, and he entered the castle, Amalia soon following afterwards, the hum of Jensen's saber singing a quiet toned song, with the turquoise blade lighting the way as the both ventured into the castle.

The two it seemed, finally found sanctuary.