AKwxlady Obi Wans Daughter Part one Chapter four

Pain. Darkness and pain. He opened his eyes. More pain. Where was he? He turned his head slightly. “Oh, ouch.”

“Hey, what are you doing awake?” said a soft voice from a face suddenly over him. Large, dark eyes looked into his. “You need to stay in your healing trance. Now go back to sleep.” Hands gently touched his face and his pain was gone, then the darkness returned.

The next time he awoke and turned his head the pain was much less. He could tell he was on a cot next to a fire that was keeping him warm. Across the room he could see a girl, probably a teenager by her size, but where was the woman who had been tending to him? The girl turned and started walking toward him.

“You’re awake, again,” she said now at his side. She wasn’t a girl, but the woman. She was petit, not even one and a half meters tall, with long hair the color of fresh milk. “Here, have a drink of water,” she said, pressing a mug to his lips. He drank the cool liquid and she smiled as he looked into her dark eyes. “You really do have quite a bit more healing to do and it will be much easier if you are in a trance. You must be a Force user to keep pulling yourself out of my healing trance. Do you understand what I am saying?”

“Who are you?” he croaked.

“I’m Kerawyn, healer of the village Gilfari. You were badly injured in a starship crash. Do you remember the crash?”

“No.”

“What’s your name?”

He thought a minute. The pain started returning to his head. “I don’t know who I am. I don’t seem to remember much of anything.” He winced and tried to raise a hand to his head. She caught it.

“Please don’t try to move just yet,” she said laying the hand back down beside him. “You suffered multiple breaks to your arms and legs, several broken ribs, a punctured lung, some pretty severe internal bruising and a concussion. I’ve been using the Force to heal you for three days. Your arms and legs are set and mending, although the bones won’t be back to full strength for another couple of weeks. The ribs are much better and your lung is fine, but it will probably hurt to take a deep breath for a few more days.”

He tried taking a deeper breath and found out she was right. He winced and she gave him a small smile placing her hand on his chest. The pain immediately diminished. “How did you do that?” he asked.

“I told you,” she said. “I’m a Force user and a healer. My people are called A’nir, but you would not have heard of us, even if you are a Force user. Do you recognize the name, Jedi?” He just shook his head in a negative response. “Well, maybe that will come back to you when I can heal your concussion.”

“Right now,” Kerawyn went on, “I need to continue working on you and you need to lie very still. I will be touching you all over your body, and you need to not fight my touch. Do you understand?”

“Yes, I’m ready.”

Kerawyn took a deep breath and brought the Force deep into her being. For the next several hours her hands moved over the man’s body gradually pulling the Force through his cells. She didn’t speak, but he could feel her connection to him. He could feel more than just her hands. He could feel the touch of her mind, the touch of her heart. Their breathing was as one. Their hearts beat as one. He could feel the strength flowing from her into him. He felt stronger and he felt her becoming weaker.

Finally, Kerawyn stopped and rested with her head on his chest. “I have to pause,” she whispered. “I need to meditate to restore my strength” He raised a now strong hand and placed it on her head. “No,” she stopped him. She pushed herself off him and staggered to the other side of the room to where a large tub was located. “I’m going to take a bath. Would you please close your eyes while I undress?”

He nodded ‘yes’ and turned away from her. He heard the water running and then heard the sounds of her entering the tub. It was night and he was tired, soon he fell asleep.

“Good morning,” he awoke to the sound of her sweet voice and Kerawyn’s smile. “Are you feeling better?”

“Yes,” he answered, his voice much stronger than yesterday. “Thanks to you.”

“Any luck with your memory?”

He thought a minute, then shook his head. “No, I’m sorry.”

“Well, it will return,” she asserted. “In the meantime I need to call you something. How would you feel if I call you Guy?”

“Guy,” he repeated. “That will be fine. Guy.”

“Good. Then, Guy, how would you like some breakfast?” she asked. He noticed she was walking from the kitchen area with a tray.

“Breakfast sounds great! I think I can even sit up.” He started to try to raise himself up.

“Here, let me give you a hand,” she said, quickly setting the tray down and putting an arm behind him. He noticed she was really quite strong for such a small woman. Once he was sitting with his legs over the edge of the cot, she arranged the pillows behind him and pulled the blankets around his bare back and over his bare legs. “After breakfast you can shower and, then I’ve got a tunic and pants for you to wear. Your clothes were mostly destroyed in the crash, except the boots and belt. They are fine.”

She moved a small table over near him and placed the tray on it. The food was hot and delicious and he ate like a starving man. After breakfast Guy tried to stand without her help, and fell back onto the cot. “I think I’m not quite ready for that shower, but I would like to get into some clothes,” he said with a shy smile.

“Do you think you can manage a bath if I help you into the tub?” Kerawyn asked. “I cleaned you up after the crash, but I think you would feel better after a soak in the hot water.”

“That sounds really great, if it is not too much trouble,” Guy answered.

“It’s not a problem. We don’t have much technology here on Jolnir, but most homes have solar water heating systems. I treasure my tub. Soaking in the hot water is the best way I’ve found to get my strength back after a healing session.” Then she smiled and winked, “besides, I like it, that’s why my tub is so big!”

“Ha! Ha!” Guy laughed and smiled back at her. Kerawyn started filling the tub with water. “Is Jolnir the planet we’re on?” Guy asked.

“Yes, but you probably won’t have heard of us. We are a little out of the way toward Wild Space,” Kerawyn replied. “I wonder how you happened to be flying in this area.”

She turned off the water. “Let’s see if we can get you in this tub.” She put her arm around his back and steadied him as he stood up. The blanket fell to the floor and Guy blushed. “Don’t worry. I’ve seen you naked for the last four days, and most of the men in this village that way at one time or another.” Still, she tried to avert her eyes from his body and sent him calming emotions through the Force.

Guy leaned on the woman more than he wanted to while getting to the tub. He was an average height man, but she only reached his shoulder in height. Still, she was strong, or maybe it was this Force she kept talking about helping her with his weight. With little trouble they were able to cross the room to the tub. Sinking into the deep, hot water felt wonderful. The tub was large enough that he could stretch out his legs, and only had to bend his knees slightly to bring his shoulders under the water. There were clean smelling soaps on the tub’s edge and a cloth.

“You have a nice beard, so I don’t think you shave,” Kerawyn said. “Would you like me to wash your hair, or can you manage?”

“I can manage, thank you.”

“Okay, I’ll just leave you alone,” she said. “I’ll be over here at my loom. Let me know if you need anything.” She had walked to the part of the room by the main door. There was a window with large fabric loom sitting in front. Soon he heard the rhythmic sounds of the loom being worked. He looked around the room and noticed several woven tapestries on the walls, and woven fabrics over the windows. He thought they must be examples of Kerawyn’s loom work. She was very talented.

After a while the sound of the loom stopped. Kerawyn came over to the tub, “Let me run some fresh water to rinse the soap out of your hair and beard,” she offered. She filled a pitcher with the warm water and doused his head a few times. “There. Are you ready to get out?”

“Yes, I feel much better,” he answered. Kerawyn reached down and helped Guy stand in the tub, then quickly handed him a towel. He wrapped the towel around himself and she helped him step out of the water. “When do you think I’ll be stronger?”

“You should be able to get around on your own in another day or two,” she said. “Your bones will take another one to two weeks to fully mend, and you’ll have to work on getting your muscle strength back as you feel up to it. I’ll continue to do some healing work each day for the next week, or so.” She handed him a folded set of clothes. “Here, I think these should about fit you.”

“Thank you. Whose clothes are these?” he asked taking the stack of clothes. “And, what about my memory. When do you think it will return?”

“The tunic and pants belonged to my late husband,” she replied. “He died in an accident almost four years ago.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” he said, slipping the tunic over his head.

“As to your memory,” she continued. “Let me get your belt and boots and see if they bring back anything.” She went to a large dresser near her bed, opened the top drawer and pulled out a belt. She then picked up a pair of boots off the floor next to it and returned to hand them to Guy. “Do you recognize these?” she asked.

Guy looked at the belt closely. He could almost remember something, but it was not quite complete. The boots just looked like boots. “No,” he shook his head.

Kerawyn looked at him and said, “With your permission, I can attempt to enter your mind and bring your memories back to you using the Force.”

“Why would you need my permission?” he asked, pulling on the pants.

“Here, sit down,” she said, indicating a chair, “and let me brush your hair. Because, scanning a person’s mind is not something we do often. Under normal conditions it’s rude and invasive, and it’s always dangerous. If a Force user is not careful when entering another being’s mind they can damage that mind.” The hairbrush moving through his hair was gentle and calming, but he could sense she was not comfortable with the idea of probing for his memories. “But, I would never go so far as to injure your mind. Maybe if I could trigger some small memory, more would follow.”

“When can we get started?” Guy asked.

“Not this morning,” she said, standing and walking away from him. “I have to go check on a pregnancy, and you’re not strong enough to go out into the village, yet. You can rest while I’m gone,” she added, reaching for a basket.

Guy stood up and started walking toward the cot by the fireplace. When he staggered, Kerawyn dropped the basket and ran to grab him. At that moment there was a knock at the door.

“Hello! Kerawyn. It’s Skad and Magni,” a voice called through the door. The door opened and Skad poked his head into the room. “Hi, there. We thought we would save you a trip to our house and come by to see how your patient is doing.” By this time both Skad and a very pregnant young woman were in the room. Skad dropped the arm around his wife and rushed to help Kerawyn with the staggering man.

“Hi Skad, Magni,” Kerawyn said. “Magni, why don’t you lie down on my bed? I’ll be there in a minute. Thanks Skad. Guy, this is Skad and Magni Villion. Skad was one of the men who brought you down off the mountain after your crash.”

“Many thanks to you,” Guy said extending his hand after sitting on his cot. “It’s nice to meet you both. Guy isn’t really my name. It’s just what Kerawyn is calling me until my memories come back. When is the baby due?”

“That’s what we’re here to find out,” Skad answered sitting next to Guy on the cot. “No memory, that’s tough. Kerawyn’ll get you fixed up. She can work miracles. You just wait and see.”

Over at her bed Kerawyn had laid her hands on Magni pregnant abdomen and was slowly moving them over the smooth surface. “Twenty more days, Magni. Do you want to know the sex, yet?”

“No!” shouted Magni.

“Yes!” shouted Skad.

“Sorry Skad,” said Kerawyn with a smile. “Mother’s wishes always win.”

“Does everything feel alright,” Magni asked with hesitation in her voice.

“Oh sure,” Kerawyn smiled and held her hand against Magni’s face. “Everything feels just fine. The baby is healthy, and you are strong and ready to be a wonderful mother. Don’t you worry. I’ll be right there with you when the time comes.” The women hugged and Kerawyn brushed a tear away from Magni’s cheek.

“We brought you some meat along,” Magni said. “Skad, go put it in her cool house, please.”

“Okay, Magni,” Skad replied, getting up from cot. He crossed to the door and went out.

“Do you need anything else?” asked Magni.

“Oh, no. We’re fine,” Kerawyn answered. “I’ve got plenty of food and the garden is still coming on to harvest. Thank you for the meat. I might treat our guest to a nice hearty stew tonight to help build up his strength.” She helped Magni to her feet.

Skad came in the door with his arms loaded with firewood. “I chopped a little more wood for your fire,” he said, dropping the wood in the rack by the fireplace. “I can come by a little later and cut some more.”

“Thank you, Skad, but, Jarl will likely be by this afternoon,”Karawyn said. “He’s been doing chores for me in exchange for lessons.”

“Lessons!”Skad exclaimed. “What kind of lessons are you giving Jarl?”

“Oh, you know,” Kerawyn answered. “Lessons about plants, and healing. He wants to be a healer someday. He’s pretty good, too, even without the Force.”

Skad and Magni were at the door. Kerawyn went over and gave Magni a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll check on you next week. Don’t worry, you are both doing just fine,” Karawyn said to Magni. They waved to Guy, and Kerawyn closed the door.

“Was that the pregnancy you were going to go visit?” Guy asked when they had left.

“Yes. I expect they were just curious about your condition and figured they would get more information out of a visit than they would by questioning me during a house call.” Kerawyn laughed and Guy laughed, too. “In an hour the whole village will know you are up and about, I’m calling you ‘Guy’ and you have lost your memory.”

“Is her baby really okay?” Guy asked.

“Oh, yes,” Kerawyn answered. “Magni has probably just been listening to Old Grannie Harbard go on about how hard it is to have babies.” Kerawyn shook her head. “You know, I know for a fact that Grannie Harbard’s first child was born after only 3 hours of labor, and she never had one that went more than 7 hours.”

“How do you know all that?” Guy asked.

“Because my grandmother delivered all of Grannie Harbard’s children,” Kerawyn said with a nod. “The women of my family have been the healers in this area for eight generations. All of us have been A’nir Force users.”

“You said another name for a Force user,” Guy said. “What was it?”

“The Jedi. There are actually three branches of Force users; the Sith, the Jedi, and the A’nir. They differ in how they access the Force, how they live with the Force, and how they honor the Force. I think you may be a Jedi.”

“Why is that? Why do you think I’m a Jedi?”

“You are obviously very strong in the Force,” Kerawyn answered. “Yet, I don’t sense the Dark side in you, and you were likely running from someone when you crashed. Most of the Jedi were killed by the Empire a few years ago. The remaining Jedi are being hunted.”

Guy looked around the room that was bringing him so much comfort. “Am I endangering you by being here? Should I find a way to leave?”

“No, no. You can’t leave.” Kerawyn implored. “You need time to heal. As I said earlier, our planet is rarely visited by starships. And, I feel there is a reason the Force brought you here.”

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