Loving Skywalker - Book (3)

I Won't Fail You

Raina's POV.

It had been a year since Ben was born. The temple attendants had grown quite a lot. Luke and Raina as always were being kept busy with Jedi duties. More so than ever before. Again, they were going through a time where they barely got to see one another.

They had come up with a new way of training since they had so many students. Raina and Luke would, separately, take a group of older students on their missions. They would swap back and forth. When one would return with a group the other would take the next mission and go. This way they could train not just one, but several padawan not only by lessons and examples, but in the field. The students could watch their master and learn from them, while experiencing missions themselves.

One padawan was training differently than the rest. Jacen.
Yes he would go with the groups, but most of the time he would be called away again to Dantooine. It would seem that the Countess had taken quite a liking to the young padawan. Though it was great to have such support from a politician, the long stays and closeness concerned both Raina and Luke. It seemed to have become a more frequent occurrence.

Raina had also noticed a change in attitude from her padawan. He was much more confident and reckless than he used to be. Confident in a bad way. More like arrogant. The thing was, though that he didn't always act that way. It was only when shadowing other students or right after he had returned from Dantooine. Otherwise he was the same.
Jaina had also noticed a change, but didn't think it was enough to worry about.

Raina knew the day was coming soon, when he would become a full Jedi. Jacen was experienced, wise for his age, and loyal to the Jedi Code. He had even saved a padawan during a mission to Geonosis. It would be no surprise if he would gain the title of Jedi Knight.

It was evening after class. Raina was on her way to Luke's office. He had called her to talk. Once she had entered she noticed he was deep in thought.

"Luke?"

He looked up at her, caught off guard. "Oh! I didn't hear you come in."

"You usually don't need to." She pointed out.

Raina sat in the chair across from her husband.

He sighed. "I know. I've just been thinking."

She smirked with a raised eyebrow. "Vigorously I see."

He gave her a small grin before turning serious. "I believe Jacen is almost ready."

Raina grinned. "I do as well."

"Good. So we're in agreement. Now, the problem comes in as to when."

"I would suggest as soon as possible."

"Yes. Most definitely." He nodded.

"But what about his final test?" She asked.

Sighing he folded his hands in front of him, on the desk. "That's the problem. You see you and I had pretty obvious things we had to deal with before becoming a Jedi. With Jacen I don't know what that is."

"Neither do I and he hasn't mentioned confronting anything or anyone."

"The Dark Side posses as many different things. Fear, guilt, pain, greed, arrogance, I haven't felt any of that with Jacen."

"He has been showing some signs of arrogance." She admitted.

"Yes, but all boys his age usual do. Especially when they're being given a lot of special attention from a certain girl.

"You mean the Countess?" She raised an eyebrow.

He slightly nodded. "I'm afraid Jacen may have deeper feelings for the Countess than just those do friendship. He talks to her over the holo quite a lot. Do you know?"