Song: "Stardust" from Rogue One OST

It was only now that Arna came up to her. "My saber, please."

"Why didn't you stop me earlier?" She passed it back to him.

"I wanted to see if you were who you claimed to be. If you were a warlord back here." He sighed. "I guess I was right....Kummar."

She sighed. "Nobody else can know, Arna. Not here, not in the Republic."

"Why not?"

"There's a boding sense even here....I have enemies on Kalee. And the Yam'rii certainly want me dead." Not wanting to belabor the point, she changed the subject. "There's some water," she said, pointing to a karabbac trough. "Let's get that food made, and then we can ride one of those creatures to home."

✺✺✺

Naidvar was relieved when her husband came out of the door, thin but still strong, smiling tiredly as he hugged her. "What happened at Bos'wellia?"

"I was attacked by cannibals. They tried to carry me away....these times are no longer safe."

"Well, what saved you?" he asked as he led her inside. Saikhan's and Baruuna's children, numbering thirteen in all, played on the floor, making a perfect ruckus. Thanks to Kummar, Naidvar thought as she rested a hand on her softly rounding belly, she would someday have children of her own to join them.

"Naidvar," Khetsuu said, his voice more insistent. "I asked you a question."

"I....I don't know. I had a vision of Khaneme Kummar. She—"

"You....what?" he asked her, his voice deadly soft.

"Kummar. She appeared to me in a dream and fought the cannibals off with a green lightsaber. They had been her own soldiers. She gave me strength, Khetsuu." She paused, trying to think about what she'd read on Kummar in the past. "Was she ever real? I always thought she was some sort of myth. But then—"

Khetsuu paced the room silently, stuffed his hands into the pockets on his khagan's regalia. Wasn't it true that Kummar had never been more than a fable intended to remind everyone of true power? If that had been the case, why was he so worked up about it?

"Speak to the izvoshra," he said after a long silence. "Tell them to monitor all actions within Bos'wellia. I want those rumors quelled."

✺✺✺

"This food tastes weird," Arna said as Ronderu smoothed the sheets on their sleeping mats. They'd checked into a small inn, surprising the innkeeper by paying her at double the usual rate and camping in a little room overlooking the Grendajese settlements.

She stared at the puff of bread. "It was made with water from a karabbac trough. Their saliva makes a good gravy though."

His face turned the same color as his lightsaber blade, but he forced the food down. "Are you okay? I've heard that cold weather can cause depression."

She shook her head. "Grendaju was when I felt the most alive." A mother's scream by the sword. Blood on her robes. A village riot. "I should have come back sooner."

"Should we go to....where did you say you lived before you came to Mandalore?"

"Advar?" she chuckled. "That place is falling into the sea. Bos'wellia seems to be the least affected by the sanctions."

"How do you know?"

"The karabbacs are still alive," she said. "If all had been lost, they would have been slaughtered for food."

Arna rose smoothly. "Give it a couple days," he said. "Get some rest now."

She turned to the wall, but could not sleep. Another deep-buried memory fought to the surface of her mind: sleeping in Qymaen's arms on overnight missions away from the group, resting her cheek in the warm crevice of his sternum and listening to his heartbeat sing her to sleep.

He would never have turned to polygamy if she had been his wife, meaning he didn't love any of his wives like he had loved her. He was probably just as lonely as she was right now, and he could be dreaming about those warm nights too. Missing those times together just as much as she did, though she refused to admit it aloud.

But their love was not to be, for commitments had already been forged in stone. To demand a place in those commitments was selfish, unwise. He should be a good husband to those women, and her being there would only complicate matters.

In that moment, a great burden was lifted from her chest. I forgive you. And someday, when we are older, perhaps we could be together again.

Even if it takes death to find you again, I will, sweet Qymaen.

✺✺✺

The moon beat upon Khetsuu's dark face as Iminec set and silver took over gold. Deeply he sang a long, lonely tune to the night sky. A plea of repentance to the gods for his thoughts about trying to hurt Shia. A terrified begging to change him, to save him from what he was becoming. Was it wrong to mourn Ronderu? Had taking the name Khetsuu been....wrong?

◈◈◈

Did you know....

● The song above is "Eversleeping" by Xandria. It reminds me of this scene.

● My headcanon that Qymaen can sing is based on ancient Mongol traditions about militaristic bards.

● According to Matthew Wood (Grievous' voice in Revenge of the Sith and The Clone Wars [2008]) there was a commercial on Cartoon Network back when The Clone Wars aired, in which Grievous is singing an 80s song while searching on dating websites for love.

Tell me what you think....

● Will Khetsuu overcome his fear?

● Is Ronderu right to forgive him for what he's done, or should she walk out of his life?