For All Eternity - Part 5

Maaike

Ratings: NC-17
Warnings: Maul/original female character. Romance in the old tradition.
Disclaimer: Lord Maul, Lord Sidious, Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi and the Star Wars Universe belong to George Lucas. No profit made, no copyright infringements intended. However, Aicha is mine.
Summary: Lord Maul is betrothed to Princess Aicha by order of his Master, and while not admitting it, Maul finds his affection for her runs deep.  However, in this chapter, the darkness conquers all.
Feedback: Sithlordess@planet.nl
Acknowledgement: May I thank MaulMaus for her beta-reading of my sometimes funny English. You are my friend and encouragement. And to Dark Lady, who is my inspiration and has such a lovely way with words.

For All Eternity - Part 5

Aicha desperately needed some fresh air after her second encounter with Lord Sidious, so as soon as they reached their quarters, she quickly made her way to the large balcony overlooking Coruscant and sat down on the bench standing there.

The millions of glittering lights of Coruscant never failed to enchant her and their beauty soothed her fevered mind. There was a certain stillness in the air and she breathed in deeply, closing her eyes in an attempt to calm her nerves.

Aicha did not hear Lord Maul’s approach, but they were so attuned to each other that she sensed his presence before his hand touched her shoulder and he sat down beside her in the cool evening air.

She brushed her cheek over his fingres. “I was so afraid this morning, standing before Lord Sidious. I was afraid he was going to kill you, leaving me alive and send me home in disgrace. I could not face my life without you.” She shook her head as if trying to clear it of the terrible thoughts haunting her.

“And yet, tonight when your Master bonded us I could sense a certain pride of you and even some respect for me. He was the one who chose me to be your consort so why did he put us to the test again?”

“My Master made sure of our absolute loyalty to him as well as to each other. In the old days the Sith Tradition demanded that an apprentice fight his Master over the woman he chose,” Lord Maul explained. “It was not a mock battle. It was fought with real weapons and every skill of the apprentice was put to the test. On many occasions the Master slew his apprentice. That proved he was neither worthy to become a Sith Lord, nor worthy to take a consort. Today Lord Sidious provoked me to challenge him. He challenged both of us and had we failed, we would have died.”

Aicha felt a shiver run down her spine and leaned against Lord Maul. “And you fought him. If you had lost, your Master would have killed you before my very eyes.”

Maul’s face was grim as he answered. “Yes. It is Sith Tradition and I followed it. But my Master was quite certain he made the right choice for both of us. He knew we would not fail him. The challenge was merely a formality, however frightening it may have been to you, my Lady. But you are beginning to feel the dark side are you not? I sensed your anger as we went before my Master and he sensed it long before either of us did.” Again Lord Maul kissed Aicha and his arm tightened around her. There was a moment of silence between them as the words her consort spoke echoed in her mind.

“Yes, I felt a rage I never felt before,” Aicha said, deep in thought. “It is burning in my blood, but it is also very fortifying, and it gives you strength you did not know you possessed.”  After a short pause she changed the subject suddenly, looking up at the millions of stars in the night sky. “Khameir, can you see Iridonia from here?”

Lord Maul gave a soft chuckle. “No, you cannot see it. It is far away from here. What made you ask that?”

“It is part of you and I want to know every part of you,” Aicha replied softly and he put both arms around her to draw her to his chest.

“Tell me about Iridonia, is it beautiful?” Aicha spoke dreamily.

“Yes, it is. I have not been to Iridonia often but the places I visited there were interesting.” Lord Maul put his cheek on Aicha’s dark head before he continued. “The southern hemisphere is the hottest part of the planet and it is very arid. There are deserts that seem lifeless and dry, but there are plants that hold water, and there are small creatures living under the rocks. Some resemble lizards, while others are more like rodents. The sand has red tones in it but when you hold it in your hand it sparkles and you can see black grains in it. The northern hemisphere has rivers and lakes and the mountains are green and ragged. That is where most of the villages are located.”

“You say you do not care about your life before you became a Sith Lord, yet you speak of the beauty of your home-planet,” Aicha said quietly.

“I can appreciate beauty and Iridonia is beautiful. The last time I was there I went to meditate by Emerald Lake and I became one with the soil, the water and the mountains nearby. I heard every single bird singing in the trees, every splash a fish made was like a whispered mantra meant only for me.” Maul paused a moment to nuzzle her hair. “Emerald Lake is a very special place on Iridonia. It is where the Goddess Nimith lived and where a Temple is devoted to Her. Nimith was a great Sith warrior, She was seduced by a Jedi Knight and almost lost Her powers before She found Her way back to the dark side. She taught the Zabrak to use the powers of the mind and the ways of the dark side. When She was a very old woman and felt Her death approach, Nimith walked into Lake Emerald to die and become one with the water and soil of Her beloved Iridonia. Her body was stripped clean of flesh by the fish living in the lake. The fish are since considered sacred and it is forbidden to catch them. The bones of Nimith still rest on the bottom of the lake and She is still loved and worshipped by the Zabrak as She was during Her life”

“What a beautiful legend Khameir! How I would love to see Emerald Lake!” Aicha exclaimed.

“Some day I will take you to Iridonia. We will explore it together.”

Aicha smiled before resting her head on his shoulder and for a long time they sat together in silence, their minds speaking to each other, making words unnecessary. Soft, balmy air brushed her cheeks, the spicy scent of food was carried with it and she imagined people at a restaurant enjoying a late supper, talking over a glass of wine. All over Coruscant people were living normal lives, waking up, going to work, or having dinner at a restaurant, while standing among them was the Sith Temple, unseen and unknown by any. It made her feel unreal as if living in a different world.

The flow of traffic on the transport-lanes was less busy now than it had been earlier in the evening. Night was falling and Coruscant prepared for sleep. A large passenger transport passed not too far away, its engines humming faintly and Aicha saw the lights from the cabin shining through the windows. Dreamily she looked at the stars again, the anxiety from the evening was passing and she relaxed in Maul’s arms.

“Khameir?”

“Yes.”

“On our wedding-night, I was prepared to do my duty and submit to you. I never thought then I would love you completely, as I do now. I promise you I will stand by you, and follow you wherever fate may lead us. For I love you Khameir Sarin, with all my heart and soul! I promise you I will never leave you.”

With a soft groan Lord Maul swept Aicha up in his arms and carried her inside to the bedroom where his body and soul made love to her until the stars faded in the sky and they rested in each other’s arms exhausted.

                                                            ****************************

The two weeks Lord Maul and Aicha spent together before she her return to Thebae, for the celebrations were weeks of feeling the bond between them being forged tighter. Only a smile or a glance was needed to know what the other thought or desired. The Sith Lord always remained a little aloof, a very private person, but in the smouldering of his golden eyes, Aicha saw his desire and in her mind his voice spoke to her, whispering words he would not utter aloud.

Aicha spent many days in Lord Maul’s quarters while he was with Lord Sidious or doing his combat training. On some occasions she joined him in the training-rooms, watching him work out, always enjoying every minute of it. By now she began to see every move as he made it, when before she saw only the fast blur as he almost danced before her. Now she saw his muscles flex and work as he lunged with his lightsaber. Every move trained and executed to perfection, he never faltered, never lost his footing, and she could now feel how he reached out to the dark side as he trained. It was densely present in the training room and when he summoned it to him, she could almost see it surround his body.

The difficult fighting stances became more recognizable to her, but he was so swift and agile that he amazed her each time by changing direction in midair to land in a different place from where she expected him to be. Her eyes followed the hypnotic twirling blades of his lightsaber until the room became a fiery blur, pulling her in until she was embraced by a sparkling, red mist. Only when Maul finished his training and deactivated his lightsaber with a hiss and the smell of ozone faded, did Aicha become aware of her surroundings again. And never did Maul’s powerful body fail to excite her as he walked up to her after his training sessions to take his tunic from her hands.

In their living quarters Aicha had made her own little corner where she made a small shrine containing a small statue of the Goddess and a gold incense-burner. Of course Maul smirked when she asked him permission to create her shrine, asking her if she meant to change his Spartan room into a palace apartment, with all the feminine trappings. But he did not refuse her and so while he sat in meditation at the end of each day, Aicha prayed to the Goddess, begging Her to keep Lord Maul safe and thanking Her for every moment of happiness with him. The Sith never spoke when she said her prayers, but she knew he appreciated her thoughts for him. She was aware Lord Maul could read her every thought, when he would rarely let her penetrate his own tight shielding. Only when he lowered his barriers could she feel some of his emotions through the bond, yet she realised there was a part of him she would never see.

Only once, during their bonding ceremony had Maul allowed her to know him completely, but since then he kept his thoughts to himself. This aloofness sometimes created a distance between them, she would wonder what he was thinking as his eyes rested on her. Did he experience love for her? What was the image he had of her locked away so tightly inside his darkness. Did he think of her with longing as she thought of him every minute of the day? She knew he was a hard man and she would never hear him whisper words of love to her in his low voice. But he had been prepared to fight for her and he would protect her forever, of that she was certain. He was a man not given to show emotions or feelings, but Aicha knew Maul loved her in his own way and that knowledge made her heart sing.

One afternoon Aicha fell asleep on the sofa in Lord Maul’s quarters. All day she had been dreaming of him, longing for the moment when he would hold her close and she could hear his strong heartbeat again. But the room was warm after the sun over Coruscant set in its usual display of fiery red and gold, and she became very drowsy. She had wanted to wait for Maul’s return, but her eyes fell shut and she did not hear him when he entered the room, his chest bare and damp after spending many hours in his training rooms.

Silently he approached the sofa and looked down at his sleeping consort, how her robe had fallen a little away from her breast, revealing its soft curve. He appreciated her hair spread over the pillows and the way her lovely lips were parted. The Sith knelt beside her on the sofa without waking her and listened to her even breathing. He felt a flame rise in his body and made a low growl at the back of his throat. There were emotions of tenderness as well as desire going through his mind and the force of his feelings for her astonished him. A Sith knows no love, or so Maul had always believed, he cannot experience it, and should he do so, he would very quickly kill those feelings of weakness inside. But now he doubted if love was indeed weakness. It was a force that could make one destroy if the loved one was threatened. It was the force that had made Maul challenge his Master, something he never thought he would ever do. In his life Lord Maul had only known complete devotion to Lord Sidious and he never believed he could disobey him. But now his total devotion to the dark side and his Master was made complete by a tiny light. Maybe love was as powerful an emotion as hatred and rage or greed.

“There is no darkness without light, and there is no light without darkness.” Lord Sidious always said, and now Maul had to agree with his Master. Aicha was light in his darkness and he felt complete with her. And again he bowed at how much more his Master was in control of the Force. Lord Sidious had known when he chose her that Aicha was the woman who would complete Maul’s life. He already sensed how she would strengthen the feelings of lust and rage in his apprentice, making him more aware of the whole scale of emotions in the Force. If anyone were to try and take his consort, Lord Maul would become a merciless killing-machine, and that is exactly what Darth Sidious wanted him to be.

For a moment Lord Maul looked at Aicha, until his need for her urged him on and he bent down to kiss her mouth hungrily, waking her with a start. His burning eyes told her he was excited, needing her body and her arms drew him to her. The scent of his arousal was suddenly strong in the air as his arms went round her and his lips met hers.

Lord Maul gave a low growl and let his tongue invade her mouth. He wanted violence, his exercises left him feeling virile and eager. He quickly pushed Aicha’s robe out of the way and manoeuvred himself between her legs, pushing his throbbing manhood into her.

Aicha moaned softly as he thrust deep and wild and her hands fell on the sofa, clutching the soft covers on it. She breathed in his scent and it did not fail to arouse her into desiring him as much as he desired her. Lord Maul moved against her, pushing forward with his knees to allow him to go even deeper into the soft body under him. His body was on fire, his hips were making fast circles as well as thrusts, his eyes were clouded and his lips parted, loud groans bursting from them. It did not take very long until he made one last, deep thrust and groaned loudly as he released. He rested a moment against Aicha’s shoulder, panting, then buried his face in her neck.

“My Lord, your sexual prowess never ceases to amaze me,” Aicha said teasingly and kissed one of his horns, drawing him into her arms.

“I wanted you, I could wait no longer.” Lord Maul’s voice was still husky and his hand closed over her breast.

“Yes. That much was certain,” Aicha said mischievously, kissing his left ear with the silver stud.

Lord Maul chuckled and gave her shoulder a teasing bite. “You have a strange effect on me, my Lady.”

They both wanted to rest and relax in each other’s arms before they would get up and enjoy their dinner together. Their thoughts were flowing towards each other and through their bond they were connected firmly. Maul’s fingers played idly with a strand of Aicha’s long hair and she experienced a deep sense of bliss and intimacy. No one could change these moment of complete togetherness. This was their world, belonging only to them, known only to them and not even Lord Sidious could be part of it. They watched the shadows playing on the walls as the lights from the traffic-lanes reflected on them. When Maul stirred much later to get up, Aicha gave a disappointed murmur. She wanted their intimacy to last forever, for only here in these rooms Maul was completely hers.

Late that evening, as was his custom, Lord Maul sat down on the floor in meditation while Aicha sat on the sofa reading one of the books she had found in his library. It was a journal written by a Sith Lord long dead and it described his thoughts and journeys. The book spoke of the solitude of the Sith. No one must share their thoughts and feelings, keeping their emotions only to themselves. The bond between Master and apprentice was also explained. The Master will teach, train, discipline, but also guide his apprentice. The apprentice shares the life of his Master in a very special way. Their minds are one, nothing can be hidden, the Master can probe the mind of his apprentice, pushing aside all barriers.

This will prove to the Master that the thoughts of his apprentice are true to the Sith Code and there is no need for any thought to be concealed. The first loyalty of the apprentice is to his Master. He must serve and obey him. If his Master chooses to send him on a mission, the apprentice must obey without hesitation even if it would mean certain death. Even the most famous Sith Lord of them all, Exar Kun had gone through this. Trained as a Jedi, he had chosen the dark side and was submitted to harsh disciplines as he sought the knowledge of the Sith. The legend went that Exar Kun had to immerse himself in a toxic, boiling swamp. If he had doubted his powers and use of the dark side to shield him, he would have perished, but Exar emerged from the swamp unscathed, a scowl on his face.

All Sith Lords had to have extraordinary powers to guard their innermost thought, yet Aicha wondered if her consort would be able to keep some of his most private feelings from Lord Sidious. The Zabrak were renowned for their incredible mind powers, but did his Master know all about Maul’s feelings for her? Maul did not love her in the sense of any ordinary man loving his wife, yet her sensitive mind told her very clearly he cared for her.

The book also spoke of an apprentice who did not meet the standards of a true Sith and his Master had destroyed him.

Would Lord Sidious destroy Maul if he failed? Aicha was convinced he would. Lord Sidious had taken a lifetime of training his apprentice and of course Maul was valueble to him, however Aicha knew if Maul were to enrage or fail his Master, he would be killed in a heartbeat.

Aicha sighed and put the book down. She looked at Lord Maul and frowned deep in thought.

“What troubles you my Lady?” Lord Maul’s eyes were closed and he did not move, yet as always he was aware of all her emotions.

“Khameir, I was reading about the Sith and I wondered…” Aicha’s voice trailed off.

Lord Maul turned to look at her and moved closer to sit between her knees and lean back against her, a favourite position he had taken every night since they were together. The light was soft, the candles burning on the low table cast dancing shadows on the walls and the scent of incense still lingered in the air. Aicha began caressing his horns, shifting his head when a horn pressed into her body a little painfully. “What is it like, being a Sith?”

“We have spoken of this before, yet you wish to know more?” Lord Maul said with an amused smile.

“It is total commitment, to the Code as well as to my Master. I must be prepared to do his bidding at any time, obey his commands. If Lord Sidious were to order me to go to a certain death, I would still go. Because he is my Master and the Code demands it.”

“And when you were young? Surely you must have wanted a friend?” Aicha wondered.

“No, I never wanted anything but to become a Sith like my Master. Though he allowed me to train with a boy my own age once. He was the son of one of our servants and as a special favour he was allowed to accompany me when I went out running. We contested each other who could run up a steep hill the fastest. Of course I always won,” Maul added arrogantly.

“What happened?” Aicha asked.

“My Master found out the boy took a valuable artefact from his room. He ordered me to kill the boy.”

Aicha gasped and felt a shiver run down her spine. “Khameir! That is terrible!”

“I killed the boy before my Master’s eyes,” Lord Maul said coldly.

“You took the life of this boy for something as trivial as a piece of art? Because that evil being told you to?” Aicha exclaimed in horror.

“Yes. Absolute obedience to my Master. If he orders me to sit down and take my own life, I will obey.” There was no emotion in Maul’s voice.

“And would you destroy me if he so ordered you?” Aicha asked and she felt her blood run cold.

“No. I will never harm you. You are my consort, you are part of me.”

Aicha shook her head in desperation. “Sometimes I wonder how I can possibly love you. You destroy people, you are as deadly as a Solian dragon, yet you are in my blood, forever part of me. And I do love you, very much.” She breathed in deeply. “Are you allowed no feelings at all? Is that what being a Sith means?” Aicha asked angrily.

“Of course I have feelings. I merely choose not to show them. The Jedi talk about their feelings, they do not even attempt to hide them. Padawans are encouraged to share every emotion with their Masters. The Sith are not like that. We are stronger because we use our anger and our grief, we hide it inside and draw strength from it. The Jedi have compassion and mercy, even while they fight they forgive their enemies.” Lord Maul spoke with contempt. “A Sith will never show mercy. An enemy must never be left alive and allowed to strike at you again. No prisoners, no mercy. Make certain of the loyalty of another being by fear and terror. That is the Sith way. And you, my Lady, love me because the darkness is inside you as well, I only helped it to surface. That is why you were chosen to be my consort. Like it or not, you belong to the dark side.”

Aicha glowered at him but realised how true his words were. She had already experienced the rage of the dark side and knew she would kill if she had to. It filled her with disgust but also a strange relief. All her life she had wanted to be kind and good, sometimes wondering why she changed into a raging savage when provoked. Her father reproached her many times for being a little too harsh with her judgements. “There is more than just black or white, my daughter. You must learn a bit more compassion on others at times.”

 Now the dark side was firmly lodged inside her and she no longer had to be only gentle and compassionate, indeed she could let her rage and hatred go free and use it as her husband used it to strengthen him. Sighing softly Aicha bent forward and kissed the horn on the back of Lord Maul’s head. “I will never be totally merciless like you, beloved, but I know you are right. I will kill if I have to. I felt it when Lord Sidious tested me and hurt you. I was quite ready to kill then.”

 Maul nodded. “That is why he tested you as well. He knew you would experience the dark side. It proved you are worthy to be the chosen one.”

“Still I wonder; it seems so cruel, so lonely. Living only to do your Master’s bidding, always to be starved of emotions,” Aicha remarked.

“Life is a lonely affair, my Lady, you can have relatives and loved ones around, yet in the end every decision you make will be yours and you will have to make it alone,” Lord Maul replied.

“Khameir, am I never to share your feelings, will you always keep me at arm’s length?”

Lord Maul quickly turned around to face Aicha. “You became part of me when we bonded. No one is as close to me as you are and no other being ever will be. I allowed you to know me completely. That is also part of the Sith Code, you own me as I own you. Remember what Lord Sidious said when we were bonded, this bond is for all eternity and can never be broken.”

He sat down on the sofa beside Aicha and pulled her to him. She felt how his mind reached out to hers, embracing her, soothing every worry or doubt he met. “Have no fear beloved, I am here with you and not even death can part us. We will be together now and forever.”

Maul lifted Aicha’s chin and kissed her lips with passion, letting his tongue enter her mouth to dance around hers. When they were both breathless from the kiss, he pulled her even closer to his heart and they sat together in silence, while the Force strengthened their bond and their love with its power. One by one the candles extinguished, shrouding the room in an intimate darkness. Outside the millions of  lights on Coruscant glittered and they were the only things illuminating the room, giving it a warm, soft glow.

*************

The days passed quickly, far too quickly for both Aicha and Maul, for Darth Sidious might call Lord Maul to him at any time to send him on a mission and also Aicha would leave for Thebae soon.

Every day Lord Maul would exercise in his training rooms and he would hear Aicha’s voice in his head, speaking of her love for him and he would smile quietly. And always upon his return to their quarters, he would find her waiting for him eagerly, the sunlight bringing out lights in her dark hair. Her eyes lit up when she saw him enter, running into his arms, taking his hand to kiss and hold to her forehead. She would look into the unblinking, golden eyes and sense his longing for her, her hands already caressing his sweat-dampened body.

 That particular afternoon Lord Maul felt a heavy weight upon his heart. His consort would leave him to go back to her planet for a day of festivities and he disliked the thought. Not only because he wanted and needed her with him, but he felt a ripple in the dark side. Nothing he could really put his finger on yet, but it made him uncomfortable and angry. Also Maul did not trust King Daemon for a second, nor did he trust the council of Thebae. Had it been for Maul he would have killed every last one of them, but he had to obey the wishes of Lord Sidious and his Master wanted the treaty.

Aicha sensed his anger immediately as he stepped into the living-room. Her arms went around his neck and she kissed his mouth lovingly. “You are angry my Lord. Has something displeased you?” she asked a little anxiously.

“No. But you will not go to Thebae tomorrow. I do not trust your father,” Lord Maul answered and his voice was low and angry.

“Khameir, he will see to it that I am protected and I will be gone only a day.” Aicha kissed him quickly and went with him to the bathroom where she had his bath prepared.

As Maul took off his pants and let his body sink into the hot, scented water, Aicha smiled, as always enjoying the sight of his perfect body. She felt him relax as she poured water over him, leaning back in the tub, his eyes closed. Lord Maul enjoyed bathing after his exercises Aicha knew that. It always relaxed his muscles and soothed his mind. After his bath he stepped out of the tub, taking the towel from his consort to wrap it around his waist. A set of fresh clothes was waiting for him and he changed into his thin black pants and tunic before following Aicha into the living room where their dinner was already waiting for them and they sat down to eat.

However this evening neither of them felt very hungry and the food was taken away almost untouched.

As usual they had coffee on the couch together, but Lord Maul could not relax. He started pacing the room, obviously ill at ease. Aicha too began to feel nervous and fidgeted on the couch.

“Khameir! Stop pacing! You are making me nervous! Sit down again. I want you to hold me,” she said and looked at him wide-eyed.

Lord Maul sat down beside her as she bid him and held her close. “I can prevent you to leave, you know!” he growled.

“Khameir, I am afraid for the life of my father, he is very ill and I fear I may never see him again,” Aicha spoke nervously. “I must go, I promised my father, but I will leave as soon as the banquet is over, I will stay just one night.” She lifted her face to be kissed and Maul nearly crushed her mouth when he kissed her almost violently. Without words he swept her up in his strong arms and carried her to the bed, where he laid her down and hurriedly undressed her.

Aicha looked up into his burning, yellow eyes and put her hand against his cheek. “Khameir?” she spoke in a husky, passionate voice. “Do you think I can conceive your child? After all, we are different species.”

“I can allow you to conceive, or I can prevent it,” Lord Maul’s breathy voice replied. “If you had not been able to conceive my children, my Master would not have chosen you.”

“Will you give me your child? Please?” Aicha said softly and with a smile he pulled her into his arms.

“You shall have my child, my Lady,” he said hoarsely and licked her mouth with his long tongue. He groaned when he lay down beside her and his hands began caressing her breasts.

Suddenly Aicha pushed him down on the sleep-couch and rolled on top of him, licking his mouth, taking his lower lip between her teeth and sucking it. He forced her to part her lips and take his tongue, tasting her sweet mouth. As their passionate kissing and caressing aroused their bodies, their minds reached out and embraced, making them one body, one mind. Aicha felt how his whole being joined hers, his emotions of love for her swirling inside her head and she could have sworn she saw their bond flowing around them like a fiery-coloured veil, binding them ever tighter together.

She felt his throbbing manhood under her and moved forward to position herself so he could enter her body. A fast move of her hips let his hardness slide all the way inside her and she started rocking gently over him, causing him to give loud groans. Bending forward she let him suckle her breast, then taking it away to take possession of his mouth and tongue. As soon as she sensed he was ready to let go she pushed her hips forward in a fierce move, while at the same time he thrust up to meet her and with another groan released.

Her heart racing, her mind and body on fire, Aicha slumped on top of him, trying to catch her breath. They kissed longingly again and then rested on the bed, wrapped in each other’s arms. A little later when her breathing had returned to normal, Aicha’s voice came softly in the semi-dark of the room. “Khameir?”

“Yes beloved.”

“I hope Zabrak children are born without the horns!”

Lord Maul was silent for an astonished second, then he laughed, he could not resist it. “Yes beloved, have no fear, we are born without horns!” He pulled Aicha even closer to his heart and kissed her soft, dark hair, caressing her shoulder until she fell asleep.

Waking up in the middle of the night, Aicha looked at her sleeping consort and suddenly felt very protective towards him. He had been starved of feelings, of love and all she wanted to do was hold him safely in her arms and love him. Those emotions were so strong that they constricted her throat and filled her with wonder, he was a Sith Lord, a fearsome, merciless being, and yet she loved him to distraction and would have died for him as she claimed before Lord Sidious. Her heart went out to him as she looked at him, his nose, the sweet wrinkles around his eyes, his beautiful mouth.

“So beautiful! And how I love you!” Aicha thought and quickly said a prayer of gratitude to the Goddess.

Lord Maul was by now so accustomed to sleeping in her arms that he no longer woke up from her slightest move. She smiled softly as she watched him sleep and her finger trailed over the base of the horn on his temple, barely touching him. Maul slept curled up against her and his breathing was soft and regular, every now and then his hand twitched slightly in his dreams. Yet she knew he felt her touch when he smiled faintly in his sleep.

“Shhh, don’t wake up, sleep on, beloved,” Aicha whispered. “Let me look at you while you sleep, looking so serene and peaceful. Let me feel, at least for this night, that I can keep you safe from harm, that nothing else exists in the Universe, except the two of us.” She put a soft kiss on the tip of his nose. “You are Sith, maybe you are not able to love me, or your Master will not allow you to, but have no fear my noble Sith Lord, I have enough love for the both of us.”

Lord Maul did not give any indication that he was awake, but he heard every word and felt every caress, locking them away safely in the dark vault inside his heart.

**********************

But eventually the dawn broke and Lord Maul rose to go and prepare the Infiltrator for departure. He breathed in the metallic scent from the sleek craft, but this time it did not invigorate him as it normally did when he felt anticipation for an upcoming mission. When he returned to his quarters, Aicha was up and sitting at the table drinking coffee. She smiled up at him sweetly and he went to her side to kiss her fiercely and demandingly.

“I have changed my mind,” he said suddenly. “You are not going. I forbid it.”

But Aicha put her arms around him and kissed his forehead. “But you will not my Lord, will you? You of all people know about duty. Everything will be all right and I missed my father and my home planet. I will go but I will be with you again tomorrow.”

Holding her closely against him, Lord Maul nodded. The words of his Master rang in his head again: “Remember Maul, feelings of love can make you weak, wanting to protect the one you love. A Sith exploits such feelings. Be prepared to lose everything you treasure in a heartbeat!”

“How true those words are!”  Lord Maul thought. Every nerve in his body wanted to prevent his consort from going to Thebae, and yet he knew he would let her go. She knew her duties as princess of Thebae as he knew his as a Sith.

He kissed her mouth longingly again and then pulled her to her feet, taking her with him to the hangar where his ship was waiting.

 *****

During the short flight neither of them talked much, Aicha sat on the floor beside the pilot’s seat, leaning against Lord Maul’s knee, while every now and then his hand gently brushed her cheek. She no longer wanted to stay in her seat after take-off, wanting to be close to him as much as possible.

In spite of her love and desire to be with Maul, Aicha was happy to see her planet looming up in the distance. As soon as they approached the landing-platform, she saw King Daemon waiting for her. She smiled happily and after they landed she ran into his arms, embracing him tenderly. “Father! I have missed you!” her voice was gentle and her eyes warm. “Are you well?”

“Yes, I am fine, even better now that I see you again. You are looking well, my daughter, you are very much in love, I can see that,” the King said and kissed her cheek.

Quickly Aicha turned around to take her leave of Lord Maul, who stood waiting by the Infiltrator, a deep scowl on his face, having no desire to even speak to King Daemon. “One day!” Lord Maul said. “I will come back for you first thing tomorrow morning. Lord Sidious wants me to go to a planet not far from here to settle something for him, but I will be here tomorrow morning.” For a moment his eyes locked with hers and she felt him surround her with his dark embrace, then he nodded almost imperceptibly, turned and boarded his ship.

Aicha stared after the sleek spacecraft and felt tears burning in her eyes. “Goodbye, my Lord and my life!”  She felt a sudden emptiness and depression descending upon her, but she quickly shook herself. “Why am I feeling this deep sense of loss, of darkness encroaching upon me, he will be here with me again tomorrow.”  She brushed the tears away and linked her arm with her father’s, going into the Palace.

The day was filled with celebrations, people who had requested an audience with King Daemon and Princess Aicha. On one such audition a couple knelt before Aicha and with tears in her eyes, the woman addressed the Princess.

“Your Highness, we have come here to ask your help. For so many years now the dangerous drug terfedine has been produced here on the planet. We know it is also used as a medicine and we cannot do without it. But some people take it for its hallucinating effects and get addicted to it.” The woman bowed her head and her shoulders shook as she cried.

Her husband put his hand on hers and spoke for her. “Your Highness, our son was one of those who became dependent on this drug and two weeks ago, he took an overdose… and died…” the man’s voice broke and he stared at the floor.

Princess Aicha’s voice was cool as she spoke to them. “So what is it you ask of us?”

“We ask, Your Highness, that the drug be forbidden. There is another one that can be used which is not addictive. We beg you to consider using that and destroying all terfedine.”

“Yes, I have heard of the other drug. However it is very expensive in use, which would mean that some of our people could no longer afford it and die of disease. We shall not allow that to happen.”

When the couple opened their mouths to argue further, the Princess raised her hand to silence them. “Enough! I loathe those who have no discipline enough to resist taking the drug.” Aicha shrugged her shoulders indifferently. “If they so much want to be part of a group and use drugs, it is of no concern of mine. And if they die, I do not feel any sympathy for them. They deserve no better.”

The couple looked at her in astonishment, but the Princess waved her hand and dismissed them in a cold voice.

When the Princess joined the King after the audiences he turned to his daughter. “Aicha, my secretary told me what you said to that couple about the terfedine drug. You have changed, you would never have spoken this harshly before. You seem so cold and unfeeling now.”

“Father, I am no longer the innocent girl living at the Palace. Cold and unfeeling you call me? Was it not you who gave me in marriage to someone who belonged to the dark side without considering my feelings? You could have expected me to be touched by my Lord’s darkness, as I have indeed been.”

The King stared at his daughter, stunned into silence.

“You are my father and I love you, I always will, but I shall never forgive you for using me as a pawn without having even the slightest consideration for my feelings. As it is, I love my husband very much, but it could easily have been otherwise and I would have lead a miserable life.” Aicha’s angry, dark eyes held her father’s. “Father, I have no wish to discuss this any further right now. We must continue with our duties for the day.”

King Daemon shook his head. He realised the sweet, obedient daughter he raised was gone forever to be replaced by a determined young woman, but also a woman touched by the dark side. “Yes, my daughter, we shall continue our duties and maybe soon we shall have a chance to talk longer.” He rang a bell, indicating to his servants that the next visitor could be ushered in.

After the auditions there were medals to be presented to high military officials and the King and his daughter were present at the grand opening of a new hospital and a home for children orphaned during the war. Together with her father, Aicha stood on the balcony of the Palace watching a parade pass by. Even though she smiled and waved, the music of various bands seemed too loud and she felt weary. The crowd whirled in front of her eyes and she experienced a short moment of dizziness. It was still bitterly cold although a watery sun tried to brighten up the parade and Aicha felt shivers run down her spine. As the last band passed, their drums beating a rousing tribal rhythm, she breathed a sigh of relief when she could follow the King into the large reception-room and the large French windows closed behind her. Yet through all her appointments and busy schedule that day, Aicha was comforted by the presence of Lord Maul in her mind, listening to his wonderful voice.

In the evening a grand banquet was to be held at the Palace’s banqueting hall, with dignitaries from neighbouring planets and guests belonging to the nobility of Thebae. Extra care had been taken that day and the hall was filled with a lovely array of flowers, their sweet scent filling the hall. The banqueting-table went the whole length of the large hall and was covered with thick, white, damask, on which more flowers were arranged between large, silver candelabra. The centrepiece was one especially treasured by the Royal Family. It was also made of silver and represented a large deer-like animal, beautifully posed, each muscle and hair meticulously carved into the shiny silver. It proudly held its head with the long, dangerous horns high and its graceful front legs stood on some rocks. It had once belonged to the first king of Thebae, who had ordered it made from silver artefacts he had acquired after a war with a warlord who challenged his throne. It was a special favourite of King Daemon’s who appreciated its historical value and craftsmanship.

Aicha had been dressed in a lovely, shimmering gown of gold and purple with a long train and her hair was brushed and hung loose around her shoulders. She was again wearing her tribal jewellery, with a heavy headpiece of silver and lapis lazuli, with a row of small coins dangling on her forehead. Round her neck she wore a long necklace consisting of row upon row of silver beads and three large hand-shaped pendants in between the beads. On her wrists she wore large, heavy bracelets, with intricate designs carved into the silver and round her ankles were the ankle bands with tiny pieces of metal inside them, making them jingle softly when she walked.

Because she was in love, her beauty was even more radiant and captivating than usual and her smile was warm and kind. She was seated at the right hand of King Daemon and talked happily with a former senator sitting to her right, a kind, older man who had been a personal advisor to King Daemon when Aicha was a young girl. The food served that evening was excellent, one delectable dish followed the other and the wines that accompanied them were as superb as the food.

Suddenly Aicha felt a stabbing pain in her stomach. She gasped in shock and clutched her body. Her head swam and the room whirled around her in ever-faster darkening circles. She gave a cry and slumped in her seat and then everything went black. When she woke up she found herself in her own bedchamber and the private physicians to the Royal Family stood around her, their faces grave. Her father was holding her hand and she looked at him in surprise.

 “Father! What has happened? I…” a new wave of pain made her cry out in agony.

“Everything is going to be all right, daughter, you have eaten something bad, you must rest now.” King Daemon said gently, but Aicha knew better. Since her bonding with the Sith Lord her senses were sharper than ever before and she felt how her body was being destroyed by a deadly force.

“No, father, I have been poisoned. You must send for Lord Maul immediately before it is too late..,” again the pain hit her and she lost consciousness.

******************* *****

 On board the Infiltrator, Lord Maul felt the dark side surge around him. He had not fulfilled his Master’s mission, his sharp instincts warned him to return to Thebae and take his consort away from it. He sensed a sudden, immediate danger. “Madness! I should never have left her there. Her father cannot protect her.” He snarled angrily, cursing himself for going against his own better judgment.

And then… he heard her scream in his mind and knew she was in agony, calling him to her side.

Lord Maul screamed in rage, he slammed his fist down on the control panel and the Infiltrator raced towards Thebae at top speed. No one saw his ship approach, no one saw the Infiltrator land or saw Lord Maul make his way through the Palace to the private apartments of Lady Aicha. His hand flung the door open with the Force of the dark side and when King Daemon looked up, he looked into the blazing eyes of the Sith Lord, realising immediately that there would be no mercy from him this time. Darth Maul’s mouth was twisted in a cruel scowl and waves of rage and darkness flooded the room.

“What has happened?” He demanded and licking his dry lips, King Daemon answered him.

“My secret police found evidence that Witak Ochalski and his wife, the Lady Sabina have poisoned the Princess. Lady Sabina is the daughter of one of the senators you executed and she wanted to avenge her father. Because she realised she could never kill you, she killed your consort.”

“Where are they!” Lord Maul growled and when the King did not answer immediately a small gesture from his hand directed the dark side at the King who put his hand to his throat in sudden agony. “Where are they!!”

“The Lady Sabina is locked in her apartments, her husband has escaped. I don’t know where he has gone!” The King replied in a choked voice.

“Leave!” Lord Maul snarled, releasing him and King Daemon and the doctors hurried to get away from the raging Sith Lord. As soon as they had left he ran to the bed where Aicha lay, her face a deathly white, her breathing shallow and laboured. He lifted her in his arms gently and took her on his lap, her head resting close to his heart, but even as he did so, he felt how cold and clammy her skin already was and when she opened her eyes, he saw the shadow of death in them.

“Khameir, you have come! I have waited for you, I wanted to look upon your face one last time.” Aicha tried bravely to smile, but she grimaced in pain.

“Do not talk, beloved, you must rest. I am here now. I have come to take you back with me,” Lord Maul whispered against her ear, using the Force to ease her pain and to regenerate her body. However when he looked at her he knew he was too late, there was no hope for her. His beloved Aicha was dying and all he could do was hold her in his arms and try to comfort her by his presence.

Aicha moaned softly when she put her hand against his cheek and smiled. “Khameir, please, will you tell me what you said to me that night when you spoke to me. I thought one day I will make you tell me, now there is no time and I must know.”

Lord Maul kissed her sweet lips and replied. “I told you how much I care for you and how you took my heart into your keeping, that you are my only light and my life. And also…. I asked that you should give me many children… I wanted your children.”

“Oh beloved, I wish I could have felt your life in my body and given birth to your son. I love you so much. Promise me, my Prince…..”

“Anything, beloved.”

“Avenge me, but do not destroy my people because of me. Promise me! “ Aicha spoke softly but determinedly.

“I promise you, those responsible for this will die, but I will allow your people to live. You will be avenged, you have my word.”

Aicha’s voice became weaker and she felt her body becoming light and her mind very lucid. She put her arms around Lord Maul and smiled weakly at him. “I am so cold, hold me… Khameir, remember the oyster… first it has a speck of dirt, or a grain of sand in its shell… and it causes pain… but eventually it becomes a beautiful pearl… remember that… always…”

“Yes. I will not forget.” Darth Maul held her close to his heart and kissed her forehead.

Aicha raised her head and he desperately kissed her sweet mouth. “Do not go, I order you to stay with me. You promised you would never leave me, you must comply!” Lord Maul’s breathy voice was soft and urgent.

“I cannot. Not this time my beloved… but I will never leave you… I will wait for you… and I will always live right here…” Aicha shifted her head slightly and kissed his heart.

“Khameir you are… so beautiful… if only we could have… had.. more…”

Then she suddenly gave a soft cry that ended in a sigh and she clung to Lord Maul, with her last strength trying to embrace him. His mouth came down on hers and he kissed her until he felt her last breath come into his mouth. Pressing her to his chest, he silently rocked her, his head buried in her dark hair. Then his lips kissed her lovely dark eyes closed. Aicha’s arm fell back on the bed and Lord Maul saw the black stone he had given her fall from her hand. He took it reverently, finding it still held her warmth and put it in his tunic in the small pocket over his heart, where it would stay until his own death.

Then the Sith Lord lifted his head and screamed in dreadful rage and grief. His screams sounded through the dark corridors of the Palace, filling them with darkness and rage. The dark side found every room and the inhabitants cringed in terror when they heard the Sith Lord’s cry.

The golden eyes that had been so soft when he had looked at the woman he loved, were now spitting fire. He raised his left-hand and the Force of the dark side threw priceless vases to the floor, windows flew open, letting in the icy wind. Holding his dead consort, Darth Maul got up and stood screaming into the howling wind, even the storm seemingly subdued by his rage. The black tunic was whipped around his legs as he stood with Aicha in his arms, the wind and snow lashing his face. Finally he turned back to the bed where he had so often and yet not often enough, loved her. He gently stretched her out on it, knelt beside her to whisper a short mantra in Zabrak before he rose to his feet.

Darth Maul was now more than ever the fearsome Sith Lord, his body was cold, but also his heart and soul were frozen, void of any emotion save deep grief and burning hatred. His face was cruel and his eyes were molten lava. Unclipping his lightsaber from his belt, he strode from the room.