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~*~
Obi-Wan learned a great many things from the armorers as they sat in the Oyu’baat. But there were things he wanted to ask without a crowd. Fortunately, House Mereel had an armorer who was willing to speak with him privately.
“I understand this is a great deal to take in,” the woman assured. “I am always happy to assist new members of my House.”
Obi-Wan sighed. “Could we perhaps start with clarifying that part?”
She laughed, the sound somewhat distorted by her helmet vocoder.
“Of course. I am Guin Fett. Very distantly I am a relative Jango’s. I do mean distantly. You must go back six or seven generations to find a common ancestor. However, Clan Fett was once vast and powerful. We were a House unto ourselves. Centuries change things, and the Dral'Han changed everything for all of us. Our House dwindled. We’re simply a Clan now. Jaster took Jango in. Jango opted to keep his own Clan name. Mereel, given his position as Mand’alor, had a House. So Jango became Jango, Clan Fett, House Mereel. That didn’t automatically apply to the rest of us in Clan Fett given that it was a result of Jango being adopted by Mereel rather than our Clan pledging to the House. However, once he secured his position as Mand’alor himself, Jango offered to take any member of Clan Fett into House Mereel that wished it. Every member of Clan Fett living scattered across the sector agreed that that Clan should fully, properly join House Mereel. So now we have.”
Obi-Wan nodded slowly. That made sense, mostly. He’d seen clan structures on other worlds and read about similar systems elsewhere too. Mandalore was just so secretive these days. He didn’t blame them, given everything, but it did make it hard to up to date information on them.
“By marrying Jango, what does that do for me in that regard?” Obi-Wan asked.
Guin removed her helmet and part of Obi-Wan relaxed. Jango had explained about how there were some traditionalists who never removed their helmets in front of another. But he’d also explained that none of his closest people were that, so their willingness to remove their helmets around Obi-Wan became a sign of trust and respect. That Guin was willing to take her helmet off was a good thing.
“You have not declared if you are taking the name Fett or not,” Guin explained. “So far the moment, you are Obi-Wan Kenobi, Clan Fett, House Mereel. If you choose to take Jango’s name, you’d just be Obi-Wan, Clan Fett, House Mereel. It’s not required you do so. Family and clan are integral parts of our culture. No one is judged for wishing to maintain a connection to it, unless their family was abusive.” She grimaced. “Or is Death Watch. Then people question the refusal to distance oneself from such a past.”
That also made a great deal of sense.
Guin added, “Though if you two adopt children in the future, it will be expected that they take the Fett name given his position as Mand’alor. They would need that name connection to establish themselves properly in their own right.”
Obi-Wan inclined his head. “That is entirely reasonable.” Cautiously, he added, “And me being an auretii, that’s not going to be a problem for Jango?”
For a moment, Guin studied him carefully.
“If you were anything less than what you are, yes, it would be,” she finally said. “But after Jango proved himself worthy and the Ka’ra called to him to fully accept the Manda’s blessing to make him what he is now, our people’s faith in the ancient stories is stronger than it’s been in centuries. There are legends dating back millennia that we are seeing lived out before our eyes with our Manda blessed Mand’alor. He commands powers right from the ancient tales.”
Guin paused for a moment to collect her thoughts and Obi-Wan considered what she’d said. Given how strongly Jango’s presence in the Force was, Obi-Wan wasn’t surprised to hear that the Ka’ra influence was involved. Never before had he seen someone so bright. It truly had been like looking at the light of a star, but in the Force. And it seemed to touch Obi-Wan’s very soul the moment he first laid eyes on Jango. Was that the Ka’ra’s doing too? Showing Obi-Wan the way before ever realized it?
“You too were called the same way he was. And most importantly, with little knowledge or understanding, you opened yourself to it anyway,” Guin continued, drawing Obi-Wan from his thoughts. “You accepted the Manda’s blessing and gave yourself to Jango so readily. As far as we are concerned, you were destined to be at his side. You merely needed to be born away from Mandalore so you could learn the things he needed of you. We aren’t diplomats. You couldn’t have received the training you needed here. So the Manda saw you where you needed to be, then brought you home when the time was right.”
Yes. The Ka’ra whispered in Obi-Wan’s mind and he focused intently on the words. Our people are strong. They are survivors. But they do not trust others. They do not know how to reach out to the galaxy. Once Jango secures peace, you will need to help maintain and strengthen it. Your spirit is beskar strong, but it is your heart that Mandalore needs most.
Guin smiled. “You get the same distant look in your eyes that says you’re listening to the Ka’ra speak to you as Jango does when it councils him. That too is in your favor.”
Obi-Wan blinked as the Ka’ra drifted away. It was always there, just on the edge of his awareness. But when it wasn’t speaking to him, it was a quiet presence. It didn’t demand anything except that he listen when it spoke.
“It seems wise to heed the Ka’ra’s council when its given,” Obi-Wan allowed.
Nodding, Guin assured, “Very much so. Only fools deny what the Mand’alor is capable of now. I knew him as a young child. I knew him as a teenager. This Jango is certainly changed by the Manda’s blessing. His gaze pierces souls. The earth and air move at his command. He is no longer fully human. He’s a legend of old come to life when Mandalore yet again faced destruction. He is the hope of our people.”
His burdens are great. The Ka’ra whispered. He has loyal friends at his side, but they cannot help him as you will. Help him bear the weight of his people. Help him bring peace, rebuild, and make Mandalore strong once more.
Obi-Wan bowed his head.
“I will stand at his side and serve Mandalore however I can,” Obi-Wan vowed.
The Ka’ra hummed happily in his mind and Guin smiled.
“And Mandalore will be better for it,” she assured.
~*~
Back in the quarters he now shared with Jango, Obi-Wan meditated, thinking over all that he’d learned so far. He surfaced to see Jango watching him. Jango’s eyes looked inhuman, as if all the stars and galaxies in the universe were trying to show themselves in his eyes.
“Ner dinui,” Jango murmured.
Obi-Wan smiled fondly at his riduur at the soft, almost awed tone.
Jango knelt before him and drew Obi-Wan into a gentle kiss. Somehow, in that moment, Obi-Wan knew his own eyes looked the same as Jango’s. His riduur clearly appreciated it. The kiss turned more passionate and Obi-Wan sank into it. Somehow, the act opened a path in Obi-Wan’s mind. His mind brushed Jango’s own, contentment and passion mixing and clashing inside him.
“Just let it happen,” Jango soothed as Obi-Wan struggled to make sense of what was happening.
A bond snapped into place between them, one that should have been impossible given Jango’s lack of Force sensitivity.
But those sort of rules only applied to the average being, didn’t they? And Jango was anything but.
Nor are you. The Ka’ra reminded Obi-Wan gently. You too are ours.
The realization sank into Obi-Wan’s bones. Jango might carry the greater blessing from the Manda, but Obi-Wan was no longer what he’d been either. He too was something of legend now.
That’s right. The Ka’ra said. You are more than a mere human now. You must accept all that you are.
For Jango.
For Mandalore.
Obi-Wan embraced all of what was to come.
~*~