All right this will be the last up date on this for a while since i do not have Chap 16 written yet so wish me luck on writing it soon

Chapter Fifteen: Define Beauty

A week prior the feast had taken place in honor of the village's newest member. They other members had been casious at first around the lovely exotic female and had kept their distance but over the period of a week a few had become friends with her and spoke with her often.

A observation River had made earlier was that they loved to listen to stories just as much as she loved to tell them. Each evening she gathered in the large room the feast had been held in and told a story from her childhood her mother had told or a experiance she had as a little girl, some amusing others sad but all intriguing.

Obi-wan it seemed to enjoy being her interpreter probably because he liked being part in sharing a piece of her life with others and he found it fasinating as the light played across her delicate features. But the reason Obi-wan enjoyed his role as interpreter was because he could go every were with her without any suspisions, and as a bonus some alone time to talk with her.

All in all River had found the location of the base in the short hours she was up in the night and alone but that was pretty much it. Obi-wan on the other hand knew of her intentions to find the base but had no idea she had already found it.

Meanwhile back on The Invisible Hand Grievous and Ezzy seemed to get on eachothers nerves quite a bit which reduced to the only time they spent together talking about things that substitute masters talked about with their students.

Ezzy every night found it hard to sleep as she yearned for the comforting voice of her mother and master. But her visits with Ky made the absence of her master livable. They had actually developed a strong friendship and it was headed in a good direction for life long friends.

Grievous on the other hand was...well...who can say? He was frantic at times, mellow on many occasions, and others blowing up at every smudge on the floor or fingerprint on the glass. He mourned for the calming gentile voice of his wife who had been sent on a mission by his jerkhead of a boss. Whenever he saw Dooku he felt like ripping the old man's head clean off his shoulders but always stopped himself when he thought of what River would say. All in all he was a wreck and decided to pay her a risky visit. He would go the following night.

River spent the day learning how the Ewoks hunted and gathered food, and plants for medicine and spices. She also spent it watching the cubs as the mothers went about their individual tasks. That night River had planned something special, the story was about the night she had first met Grievous and she wanted to share it.

That night in the room she sat a safe distance from the large fire in the center of the room. But before she began the chief presented her with a bundle. She unwrapped the linen away from the object to reveal a head-dress. It was silver metal with a clear agate in the center. She accepted it with a warm expression. After that it grew quite and she began.

"Fifteen years age when I was fourteen I rescued a little boy from the opposite clan from drowning. I had struggled agianst the raging waters of the river when I had gained enough of the upperhand to cling to a rock. I was pulled out of the river by a strong steady hand to find thee most handsome man I had ever laid eyes on," she paused to let Obi-wan ketchup with his translating.

"To show his gratefulness he request I attend his clans activities of the that night and I readily agreed. That night as I stood by the fire with the group of girls my age and older, the warriors of the clan started to dance around the large fire. It was captivating to watch as they danced around and around in time with the steady beat of the drum," she paused for breath.

As Obi-wan translated her story he was captivated by her soft features as the soft glow of the fire played across them. The flame of the memory and the fire were reflected in those golden reptilian eyes that she posessed. Her lips moved delicatly as she spoke with her soft captivating voice. All Obi-wan could think about how right it would feel if she were wrapped in his arms in an embrace of tender love.

"Then we danced and turned to the music with the other couples feeling lighthearted and content. When the dance rang out its last beat all the girls removed the masks from there partners face to reveal who was beneath. Beneath the mask I removed was the young man who had helped me out of the river that day and for the rest of the night we danced to our hearts content," she finished with fondness.

It was silent for a while then one Ewok, one she knew that went by the name Echawa asked a question. Obi-wan then turned to her and translated.

"She wishes you to dance for them," he said with a hint of amusement.

The request was soon joined in agreement from the others.

"As you wish," she said rising oblivious to the shadow in one of the windows.

Grievous had located her position by the datapad and when he found the village he made educated guess' and found her in a large room surround by a bunch of midget teddy bears and a Jedi he recognized as Obi-wan Kenobi. It made him want to charge in there and slice the Jedi's head off but at the sound of her voice his rage was quited.

She had told the story of their first night they met the other when he had walked up and one of the midgets request her to dance for them. The Jedi tranlated what the bear had said and she agreed. (OH BOY ISN'T HE IN FOR A TREAT!!!)

She gracefully stood up and indicated that the bears sit a safe distance from the fire in a circle. After the bears were comfortable she walked to the fire. Some of the musisians started to beat on drums and play a soft wind instrument. She counted the beats and when the drum rang out she started to dance.

She started out slowly and gained a little speed but she didn't race around the fire for it was a slow dance which required grace and hair made a soft cloud around her as she danced A Kume Samit or "The Rising Sun". It required a single person to dance it to represent the only sun around their planet of Kalee, and River was suited well for the part.

She danced moving her arms delicatly to represent the rising of the sun as it spread the warmth of it golden rays. As it moved to mid-day she untied the sash around her waist. She moved to represent the heat waves emitting from the sun.

As Grievous watched he remembered a question River had asked him so long ago, concerning a child with a deformaty. They had talked about deep subjects before but one like this had never been brought up. As the conversation had progressed she made a request: "Define beauty." He had answered with his eyes not his heart and she had been upset by his answer and had walked away.

Now as he reflected on the request he knew that he had answered wrong. Beauty was more than the appearance, it was the effect of the character of the person or object. He remembered a seller in the market that had sold exotic goods.

He didn't sell inatimate objects he sold slaves, and these slaves were female Twi'leks. Grievous himself showed no intrest in forgien slaves and didn't think them desirable when he had his own beauty in his life. But others found them inticing and bought them.

If he could draw River away from the gathering he would tell her his answer. He watched as she slowly went to the floor with the sash over her to indicate that the sun had set, and every one appluad. She smiled her heart stopping smile and made her way out of the tent.

As River completed the dance old memories swelled up in her and she realised she needed to be alone. She smiled and made her way out of the room and onto the walkway. She walked for sometime following walkways that led to the ground. Once she had her feet firmly on the ground she walked into the foliage and when she knew no one above her could see her she ran.

As she did so the torent of tears she had damed up came rushing out like a rushing river. She had no knowledge of how far she ran and no idea how long she had been gone. But what did she care? She didn't really, she just wanted to be rid of this disguise and be honest with her new friends. And she wanted to be home on Kalee living the life that she had dreamed of for so long and be rid of the war and Count Dooku and Lord Sidious.

She stopped running when her foot snaged on a protruding root and fell to the ground with a thud. For a moment she was stunned but she didn't get up, she just let her sobs rack her body as she cried for her loses. Eventually her tears seised when she could cry no longer and she sat agianst a fallen log listening to the sounds of the forest.

She listened to the sounds of the exotic nightbirds and insects, she could also hear the faint sound of drums in the distance. She identified all the sounds from what she had learned form the Ewoks and when she had she heard one that did not belong. It was even breathing with a hint of metallic accent to it. She also heard wirring of gears and wires that made cybernetic tendions.

She silently heaved a sigh of relief and inquired. "Have you ever considered that certian actions could jeprodize something?"

"No. It's always an impulse," came the heavily accented voice of the General.

"You've always been an impulsive man," she said eyes closed and smiling slightly.

"Coming from you I take it as a complament."

"Good."

"Do you remember when you asked me to define beauty?" he said.

She slightly recalled it but not much. "Was that when you said beauty was by the appearance?"

"Yes," he said with a hint of guilt.

"Slightly...Why?"

"Because while a watched you dance I realised that beauty is more than what is one the outside, but it is also what the character of the person or thing is. What I'm saying is outward beauty is nice but it's what's on the inside that count's," he siad sounding pleased with himself.

"Good answer...How many years has it been for you to come up with that?"

"Almost ten."

"Interesting...Did you know someone could have seen you?"

"Yes."

"Why did you risk it?"

"Because I wanted to see if you were alright so that I could tell your apprentice," he said half truefully.

"How is Ezzy?" she said looking in the direction of his voice.

"She's...-"

"What?"

"She's fine a I guess you could say. She not sick, injured, or dead. But she is annoying at times and-"

"A typical addelescant?"

"For a human. Kaleesh never act that way."

"Thats because they're under a tighter reign and its the way the adults raise them," she said.

"If you ask me she spends too much time with that Ky person," he said gruffly.

"OOhh...Why?"

"I think there's a romance between the two," he said rather uncomfertably.

"And yuo know this how?"

"I saw them kissing," he admitted.

"And why were you watching them?"

"I wasn't! I walked in to retrieve her to go practice how to fly a fighter and saw them," he protested.

"Do you think it's something to worry about?"

"Yes," was his short answer.

"You always were over protective...let them be, if it turns out to be a undesirable relationship then we'll discuss it but until then don't worry. My father, though he wasn't used to Kaleesh customs thought our relationship was nonappropriate for the comunity we were in. Seemings that there were never romances in a marrage until after the first few years or sooner."

"My father didn't seem to mind."

"That's because he knew me well. My father on the other hand met you only a couple of times."

"Still-"

"Shhh! I think someone's coming," River said silencing him and standing up to listen with her keen hearing.

She heard it the light stomping of feet, branches snapping, and the occasional "River!" echoing through the woods. She slipped behind the bush next to Grievous.

"That's Obi-wan, he must be looking for me," she said in a whisper.

"You think," he said making his voice jump so that it sounded like a growl.

"Down myaka," she said refering to the dog like creature back on Kalee.

"If I had half a mind I tear that Jedi slime to shreds," he said, his voice extremly low.

"Thank the ansestors you don't then because Count Dooku will have both our hides. Your's because you did and mine because I let you."

He grunted then turned to her. "Be safe...please," he pleaded.

"When have I never not been safe?"

He got this look in his eyes that said he was about ready to go into a long list but she cut in.

"Ah don't answer that."

"Just be safe," he said pleadingly.

"I will...Tell Ezzy I miss her...Now go before he see's us," she said urgently.

"Very well," and he left soundlessly.

River headed in the direction of Obi-wans voice.

When she found him he looked worried and relief spread across his face.

"What happened?" he questioned wrapping his arms around her.

"I went for a walk," she said not enjoying the closness.

"Why are you all dirty?" he said pressing closer.

"I slipped," she said in a whisper as his forehead touch hers.

Silence streached between the two. River was panicing she was not enjoying his arms being wrapped around her and the fact that he was working his way in for a kiss. When his lips brushed hers she pushed away.

"There is no passion only serinity," she said getting ground between them.

He looked just as shocked as she was but didn't seem all that remourseful. But he complied to her tactic of playing hard to get.

"I'm sorry...I hope we can remain being friends," he said coming close agian which was quickly expanded by River.

"No we can't...Good evening," and she walked past him at a brisk pace leaving him standing there stunned. She was unaware of the silent bystander that had witnessed the whole thing and was silently pleased.