Alone Together

Somewhere Only We Know

Joanna

~15 years ago~

"Oh, Zuni, she's darling." A beautiful woman talks to my mother as I run past them.
"Come on, Din! Keep up! We have to hurry!" I called back as a boy in red tries to keep up with me.
"It's not fair, how are you so fast? I'm older than you!?" He heaves as he slows his pace, approaching me.
"It's not my fault I'm just better than you," I smirk and start to take off again, but as fast as I am, Din always had the faster reflexes out of the two of us, so before I could sprint, Din lunged for my arm and pulled me back into his embrace. I squealed with delight before I managed to escape and took off running again. "Come on, Din!" I giggled slowing down a little so he could keep up.
"Artemis, don't get in that water, you hear me?" My mother called to me as I deflated. That's exactly what I was going to do.
"Yes, mama." I pouted as Din let out a breathy chuckle. Then an idea hit me and my eyes lit up.
"Oh, no, I know that look..." He panicked as a grin tore across my face and I grabbed his hand before pulling him into a dead sprint.
"Come on, it'll be fun! I promise!" I grinned as I pulled him into our secret spot in the garden.
"Can we stop running now?" He wheezed, as I rolled my eyes.
"My soul mate is an old man." I giggled as he shot me a playful glare before pulling me into a big hug.
"Hey, you were the one that picked me." He laughed.
"No, fate did. I had nothing to do with this." I bubbled as he smiled, rolling his pretty dark brown eyes that seemed to shine in the fading light.
"So, what did you want to show me," He paused with a smirk on his face. "Artemis Azalea Aris-Dara, Princess of Azar?" I rolled my eyes at him.
"Really?"
"Granted, a lot of people call you Princess Andromeda now too, so I feel like I should add that in there somewhere." He shrugged playfully as I pushed his shoulder. "There are so many A's in your name."
"Well, blame my parents, Din Djarin." I gave him a pointed look as his eyes widened before we busted up laughing.
"Ok, ok, point taken," He grinned, his cheeks tinted pink, probably not unlike my own. "But, come on, I need to know what you wanted to show me! Stop getting distracted!" He chuckled as my eyes widened.
"Oh, yeah! I almost forgot!" I exclaimed, before getting really quiet. "Din," I paused for dramatic effect before looking around to make sure the coast is clear. "What I'm about to show you is top secret, like you can't tell anyone. Not even your parents." I paused leaning in closer as he did the same. "My dad showed me this and told me that I can't tell anyone about it." I breathed as I looked around again.
"What is it?" He whispered as I focused on a rock near the bench. The familiar feeling of my powers flowed through me as the rock started to levitate off the ground.
"Hold out your hand." I breathed as he did as I asked and I slowly brought it to his palm, dropping it gently. I stole a quick glance at his face and mine lit up."It's cool huh?"
He didn't say anything for a while, he just stared at the rock.
"Din?" I whispered, now becoming panicked.
"That's really cool." He said as my eyes lit up with a little hope.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah." He paused. "How did you do that?" He spoke, finally taking his eyes off the rock and placing them back on me, putting me at ease.
"I don't really know, I just think it, and then it happens." I shrugged.
"You said your dad can do it too?"
"Yeah, but he said that people are afraid of it, so I can't do it out there." I frowned.
"I'm not afraid." He took my hand in his and gave it a little squeeze as we lightly smiled up at each other.
"I'm really glad you're my soul mate, Din." I blushed lightly.
"Me too, Artemis." He squeezed my hand again before I saw his face contort with a question.
I smiled. "Ask."
He chuckled. "Do you think only the born royals in your family can do this? Like the having a soul mate thing?" He asked rubbing the pink patch of skin on his arm that is identical to mine.
"I don't know, but I think you might be right." I shrugged before I got this weird feeling. "Hey, Din?" I paused, taking both of his hands in mine and looking deep into his dark brown eyes. "Promise me something?"
"Anything, cyar'ika," I blushed at the term of endearment.
"Promise me you'll never forget me. That if I'm lost, that you'll come and find me." I almost cried as his face softened and he pulled me into his arms.
"Always, ner cyare." I held him tighter in an attempt to hide my blush before we walked out of the garden, hand in hand.
"Come along, Artemis, you'll see him again after our trip to Alderaan." Mother said as we walked over to them.
"Bye, Din." I smiled softly before letting go of his hand to walk over to my mother. Just before we started walking away I got the weird feeling again and turned on my heel and ran back, launching myself into Din's arms. "Don't forget your promise." I breathed into his ear as he held me tight.
"I won't." He smiled as we slowly moved apart. While we were still at arm's length, I quickly pressed a soft kiss into his lips and ran off to my mother, glancing back one last time to see his flustered face, before we were escorted to our ship to fly to Alderaan.

Little did we know, we would never see Din's family ever again.