Silent Reckonings [Yord Fandar x OC]

Chapter 43

"My boy only breaks his favorite toys.
I'm queen of sand castles he destroys.
Cause I knew too much,
There was danger in the heat of my touch.
He saw forever so he smashed it up.
Oh, my boy only breaks his favorite toys."

•••

Elara's life in the shadows of Coruscant was a stark contrast to her former existence. The city's neon lights flickered through the window of the small, dimly lit apartment she shared with Osha. Every day felt like a struggle, weighed down by the burden of separation from the Order and the heartbreak of Yord's choice. The nights were the hardest; they were haunted by memories and the echo of her lost dreams.

Her isolation intensified as her emotions spiraled into a storm of sadness, longing, anger, and depression. The light of hope she once had seemed distant, and the darkness within her grew stronger. Her sense of betrayal and abandonment deepened, fueling an ever-present void.

One evening, the pain began—sharp, relentless, and unforgiving. Elara was alone, the solitude of the apartment heavy with her anguish. She collapsed onto the cold floor, unable to suppress her cries of pain. Osha, arriving home from work, found her in a state of distress. Without hesitation, Osha called for help, her voice urgent and filled with fear.

Master Norin and Master Sol arrived quickly, along with Jecki, who had been contacted in haste. The medics and Jedi moved swiftly, their presence a beacon of hope in the midst of Elara's turmoil. Jecki took charge of the situation, expertly guiding the delivery while Master Norin assisted, his eyes filled with concern and sadness. The room, once filled with Elara's cries, now bore witness to the birth of her son.

As the delivery concluded, Elara's exhaustion was palpable, her body drained but her spirit illuminated by the sight of her newborn. Jecki helped clean the baby, a small, fragile life now resting in her arms. Elara's smile, though weary, radiated a profound love as she gazed at her son.

Master Norin, with gentle hands, cleaned the baby and handed him back to Elara. Osha looked at her, her voice soft yet curious. "What will you name him?"

Elara looked up at her former master, her eyes reflecting a mix of pain and determination. "His name is Thorin," she said, her voice steady despite her fatigue. "I chose it because it reminds me of you, Master Norin, and of the thunder that haunts my dreams. It feels like a fitting tribute to what I've lost and what I now hold dear."

Her words carried the weight of her journey, a blend of reverence and resignation. As she cradled Thorin, the name echoed with the remnants of her past and the uncertainties of her future. The dark side's influence, once a distant shadow, now seemed to envelop her fully, merging with the maternal love she felt for her child.

Master Norin and the others left the apartment, leaving Elara alone with her thoughts and her son. The finality of her choice had set her on a path from which there was no return, her heart heavy with the shadows of her decisions. She watched the city lights flicker, feeling the darkness inside her grow as she embraced her new reality.

Elara's journey, marked by sorrow and transformation, was now intertwined with the life of her son. As she held him close, the darkness of her heart melded with the fragile hope she had for his future, her fate forever altered by the choices she made and the love she felt.

•••

Nine months had passed since Elara had left the Jedi Order, each day a testament to her resilience and determination. Master Norin was a frequent visitor, his presence a comforting constant in her new life. He would often help care for Thorin, wiping his soiled bum with a gentleness that surprised even himself. The thought of performing such mundane tasks had never crossed his mind, yet here he was, providing support and companionship to Elara. Despite the modest financial aid from the Jedi Council, which was intended to last a year, Elara's unstable work as a cantina cleaner and occasional droid restorer meant she had to stretch every credit. Jecki visited when she could, sometimes accompanied by Master Sol, their visits brief but welcome.

But today was different. The afternoon was dim, the high-rise buildings surrounding their apartment casting long shadows that added to the eerie feeling in the air. Elara was getting dressed, ready to drop Thorin off with a kind couple across the hall who watched him for free. She slipped into her tunic and heard noises from the kitchen where Thorin sat in his high chair. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw a cloaked figure standing before her son.

The man removed his hood, revealing the face of her father. He smiled faintly. "Hello, Elara," he said.

"Get away from my son," she commanded, her voice trembling with both fear and fury.

"I only wanted to see my grandchild," he replied smoothly, taking a step closer. "Is he Force-sensitive? The Force runs strong in our bloodline."

"Stay away from us!" Elara shouted, striding toward Thorin. She lifted him from the high chair, clutching him protectively to her chest. With a flick of her wrist, she summoned her lightsaber, igniting it with a familiar pale purple glow.

Her father's eyes glittered with a sinister amusement. "You've grown into a woman, just like your mother. She gave birth to you at a young age too."

"What do you want?" Elara demanded, her grip tightening on her lightsaber.

"How's life after the Order kicked you out?" he taunted. "Miserable, isn't it? They discarded you without a second thought."

Elara's hands shook with rage. She placed Thorin in his crib, her lightsaber still ignited, its hum filling the tense silence.

"Did you know where Yord is?" her father continued, his voice dripping with malice. "The father of your child? He wasn't sent to the farthest Jedi Temple in the Outer Rim. He's still here on Coruscant."

"You're lying," she spat.

He laughed, a cold, cruel sound. "Ask Master Sol. Or Master Norin. They've betrayed you. They don't care about you. And that woman you live with—Osha—isn't Osha. She's Mae, her mind manipulated and erased. Osha took her place as my acolyte."

Elara's mind reeled, unable to process his words. Her grip on her lightsaber tightened, her whole body shaking. Without warning, she lunged at him, her lightsaber slashing through the air. He dodged swiftly, igniting his own red blade.

Their lightsabers clashed, the room filled with the sound of their battle. Thorin's cries echoed, adding to the chaos. Elara, untrained for this kind of combat in months, found herself quickly tiring. Her skills were still sharp, but her stamina was lacking. The fight was brutal, each impact sending her crashing into walls and corners, blood seeping from numerous wounds.

"I hate you for lying," she screamed, her voice filled with despair.

The Sith's smile never wavered. "I'm not lying," he said, his voice a cold whisper.

Moments later, her father disarmed her and, with a powerful use of the Force, slammed her head against the wall. Elara fell unconscious, her body crumpling to the floor. He picked her up, carrying her out of the apartment swiftly, leaving Thorin crying helplessly in his crib.

Hours passed before Osha returned. The apartment was in disarray, looking like a battleground. Her heart sank at the sight of Thorin's raspy cries. She picked him up, soothing him as she took in the blood streaks on the walls and floor. Panic surged through her as she realized Elara was nowhere to be found.

Osha quickly called Master Norin, her voice shaking with fear. He arrived with Master Sol, Jecki, and Yord. Their faces were pale, eyes wide with worry.

"Elara!" Yord called out, his voice echoing in the empty apartment. He froze when he saw Thorin, a spitting image of his mother. His eyes widened in recognition and despair.

Master Norin and Master Sol exchanged grave looks. Jecki asked Osha, "Where is she?"

"I don't know," Osha replied, her voice trembling. "I found blood on the walls and the floor."

Master Norin's gaze fell on a lightsaber lying on the floor. He picked it up, recognizing it as the one he had given to Elara. It was smeared with blood. His heart sank as he realized the gravity of the situation.

The room fell silent, the weight of their loss settling over them like a shroud. The Jedi knew that Elara was gone, taken by the darkness that had pursued her relentlessly. The flicker of hope that had once shone in their lives was now extinguished, leaving them in mourning for the friend, the Jedi, and the mother they had lost.