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— OUTER RIM TERRITORIES
⠀⠀⠀ THE CAVE WAS NOT AS PLEASANT AS MILADA THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. The princess had managed to successfully escape Galu and was now hiding in the hills with the hill people, Elan of course provided her the place.
The caves were deeper than the houses of the people, serving the similar roles as bunkers during danger and were dug by the older generation of Galacians. They were dusty and the walls would crumble at a small sound, attached to abodes with hidden doors to ensure secrecy.
Milada sighed, looking down at her hands laying on her thighs, thousands of her people died and for what? She is safe but the remaining Galacians aren't. She felt iniquity, nothing else but that. She did not know what fate her father held but she knew that Phindians will not be merciful, aware that they would kill anyone on their way.
"Milada," Elan's voice echoed through the cave, "are you alright?"
The princess rose her eyes and locked gazes with the woman before her. Her dark place blue skin slightly shone, dark sapphire eyes on Milada, full of unknown emotions. The silver hair of hers, put into a loose braid. Her aura, confident but kind.
"I'm just— I'm worried for my people," Milada breathed out, avoiding mentioning her father to the leader of the hill people, knowing well that she did not take a liking of Smérgl.
Elan nodded, knowing well that the princess was worried for her father more but did not mention it. Instead, she sat down next to the younger woman and placed her arms around her shoulders, pulling her close. Milada flinched slightly at the contact, not expecting it from Elan but nevertheless returned the gesture, pulling herself closer to the hill people leader.
"Thank you," Milada whispered against Elan's neck as the older woman let out an approving hum.
She knew what the princess meant and was in fact, she more than happy to offer a safe place for her despite not being keen on the new ruling family. But nevertheless, she was fond of Milada as she saw a woman who will lead Galacians into a better future alongside her and will at last unite the tribes.
"Elan!" Dana called out. He rushed into the cave deep behind the place of residence of Elan, aware that Milada was there too.
Elan let go off Milada but still sat close to her, raising a brow at her trusted lieutenant, waiting for him to speak.
"Phindians are approaching our lands," he stated, gaze flickering between the princess and his leader, watching each of their reactions. Milada gasped and Elan stayed still, calm and collected per usual.
"Do not send our people, I want them stationed at our gates only," the hill Galacian ordered, standing up and approaching the man who just came in, "they do not need to know of our city,"
Dana nodded and rushed out, ready to send orders to their troops and ensure safety and protection for his people. He was a good man, his sapphire skin, similar to Elan's barely shone but was still as beautiful. He had white hair and ultramarine eyes which held pain and hope at once. He was a warrior, a trusted man among Elan's people as he never failed her.
"Phindians will show no mercy to us," Milada mumbled, looking down at her feet.
Elan's attention was now on the princess who still sat on the rock, head low and skin turning to blue. The hill leader was in awe of how Milada's skin changed based on her emotions, probably due to the mutation of human genetics and Galacian, but nevertheless it was something to admire.
"I know," Elan began, "this is why we need to ensure you are hidden,"
"Why?" Milada's head shot up, "why me? I'm not a true heir to the throne, you are! Yet, you want my safety more than your own,"
The princess did not understand why Elan would put her life after. She was the true heir, more vulnerable and more valuable as Milada was not even of royal blood. Her father was not a citizen of Galu, he was a farmer in a small village near the lands of the sea people and her mother was a human woman who was abandoned on the planet of Gala. While Elan was the daughter of King Cana and Tema, the hill people's woman, but at the end of the day she was of royal blood.
"Because," Elan sighed, "Smérgl is the king of Gala and you are his daughter—"
"But I am not a true Galacian!" Milada cut her off, voice laced with dejection and disrelish, "I am not like you,"
"Milada—" Elan tried to talk to the princess.
"No, do not," the younger woman abruptly stood up, "I do not want to hear any of your buoying up," and with that she stormed off, leaving the cave and Elan speechless.
The hill Galacian sighed, the princess was surely something different she had come across, very stubborn indeed. Yet, she understood how the princess felt and tried to reassure her that her origins do not make her any less of a Galacian, but it was all of no benefit.
Milada ran through the residence, tears threading to come out of her lavender eyes but she wanted nothing to end the suffering of her and her people. She was blinded the negative thoughts of her and did not see that despite that, the people still admired her and so did Elan. She wanted Obi Wan Kenobi to be here — she needed him.
"Obi—" she abruptly stopped in her tracks, remembering the events of previous days. The feeling of Obi Wan close to her, he was her comfort and she felt empty without him. She was reminded of tranquil moments of her previous life, the life before Phindians came to Gala.
Approaching the hand rail in the corridor which held the view of the never ending hills, she leaned on it and continued to cry a bit longer, spilling all of her emotions out. It was rare for her to cry, usually it occurred when something truly devastating happened, but this was atypical predicament.
She wondered, what is her Jedi lover doing out there in the galaxy. When will he come back, will he be able to save her and her planet? Thousands of questions rushed through her mind, but the main one she asked herself was; did he ardour her like she yearned for him?
