Stargazing
Today's lesson had been a crash course in survival. He had shown them how to identify edible plants, how to construct a basic shelter from natural materials, and how to start a fire using only flint and tinder. They had collected water from a nearby stream, learning to purify it with small, portable filters. He hoped that these were not just lessons learned, but life lessons that would benefit them even if they never left the temple. A small smile touched his lips, a genuine expression of warmth as he gazed at the younglings. They were a raw force of nature, their potential boundless and pure, it made his heart swell. He closed his eyes, letting the familiar pull of the Force wash over him, a calming balm to the day's flurry of activity.
His mind drifted, as it often did, back through the years. To nights like this, under a star-studded sky, but different. Nights filled with camaraderie and shared purpose, with faces now faded in time. He remembered cold nights in the mountains, on distant worlds, beside roaring fires just like this. Those had been nights of shared meals and laughter, but also of danger and uncertainty. They had been warriors, forged in the crucible of battle. And then, a specific night surfaced, a memory that carried a weight that still lingered, a dull ache in his heart.
---
He was barely twenty then, his face already etched with the marks of battle, his spirit hardened by loss. It had been years since he had last heard from Virginia. News had been scarce, filtered through whispers and rumors. The man she married, Vik Kroll, had declared war on them shortly after the wedding, breaking any promise of peace.
Lorn's hand tightened into a fist, the anger of those years still residing beneath the surface. His friends had become like family, a band of trusted souls that had followed him to the ends of the galaxy. He had told them only that he was rescuing a friend in need, not explaining his true connection to her. They had dared the winter and scaled a mountain range to get into Kroll's Kingdom. They had camped under the cold, unforgiving stars, laughter filling the air, a stark contrast to the anxiety churning in his gut. He had convinced them to undertake this reckless mission, a rescue operation that was more personal than he had let on.
That night, under the cover of darkness, they moved like wraiths. They scaled the castle walls, using their skills and the force to move like shadows. Guards fell silently, their presence a disturbance only to the wind. They snaked through the castle's bowels, their movements precise, their focus unwavering. They had a purpose – to find Virginia. To pull her from Kroll's grasp and return her to the safety of their home. He had imagined so many scenarios, imagined her joy at seeing him. They searched room after room, their tension growing before they finally reached her chambers.
Lorn swung open the next door, his breath catching in his throat. There she was, sleeping soundly, her face peaceful. A wave of relief washed over him, so intense it almost brought him to his knees. He scanned the room, his eyes searching for her child but couldn't see her anywhere. His thoughts were interrupted as Virginia stirred, her eyes snapping open, locking onto his.
"Lorn?" she whispered, her voice a mix of disbelief and confusion.
"Virginia," he breathed, a smile spreading across his face. "We're here to take you home."
Her face crumpled, the surprise fading into something akin to anger. "You can't be here, Lorn. You have to go."
He frowned, confused. "But…"
"Leave!" she yelled, her voice filled with a primal force that sent his heart plummeting. "Guards! Guards!"
His blood ran cold. He couldn't comprehend it. How could this be happening? Those years, those months in his mind he had imagined this moment so many times. He was here to save her. His friends stood frozen, their faces mirroring his shock. In that moment it was as if years of love and devotion to her was cast aside. He had thought she would be greatful.
They were exposed, the element of surprise gone. His friends moved quickly, drawing their blades as guards came flooding through the halls. They fought through the guards, their training and instincts taking over. Lorn fought with a burning rage, his movements becoming blurred. He had come here to save her, and she had handed them over. He fought as hard as he could, every slash a release of frustration and rage. They were outnumbered, the sounds of clashing blades and shouts filling the corridors. But they had trained them hard, a fearsome group. Lorn lead the charge, weaving through the chaos, they fought their way back through the halls, scrambling down the castle walls, and back into the night, leaving a trail of bodies and confusion behind them.
---
Lorn snapped back to the present, the memory fading back into the recesses of his mind. He shook his head, trying to clear the lingering ache, the growing loneliness. He looked around, his eyes focusing on the younglings. Their faces were expectant, their eyes wide, waiting to hear from him. He had to let the past go, he had a duty here now to these younglings. He had become a beacon of hope, one of the few that had lived to tell the tales.
"Lorn! Tell us a story!" one of the youngest, a Padawan named Tira, piped up, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
He smiled, a genuine and warm smile. He walked over to the fire, sitting down among them, the Droid scooting out of the way. "Alright," he said, his voice soft. "Tonight, I'll tell you stories of my childhood. Of the Kingdoms on Mirater before everything changed, of the adventures I had, and of the monsters I once thought existed." He began to weave tales of his beginnings on Mirater, of the forests and the hidden glades he used to explore, of the friends he made, the challenges he had faced. He recounted tales of his younger self, the mischief he had gotten into, his stories were a mix of adventure and humor. He tried to keep the darker aspects out of it, but he knew these children were sensitive to the force, they would know his pain.
The fire crackled and popped, sending sparks into the night. Lorn's voice was a soothing balm, his words painting vivid images in the minds of his captivated audience. He watched them as they listened, their laughter echoing under the stars like music. For tonight, at least, the echoes of his past were drowned out. Here, around this fire, with these younglings, he was just Lorn, a Jedi Knight sharing his stories, helping to light the way for the next generation. He pushed aside the lingering pain in his heart, and focused on the present, at least for now.
