Jedi Council Forums - My Dearest Merida: Love Letters from the Front - Clone Wars soldier (OC)- Epilogue posted, COMPLETE!

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Author	Topic: My Dearest Merida: Love Letters from the Front - Clone Wars soldier (OC)- Epilogue posted, COMPLETE!
VaderLVR64 Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Feb '04	Date Posted: 5/18/04 7:54pm Subject: My Dearest Merida: Love Letters from the Front - Clone Wars soldier (OC)- Epilogue posted, COMPLETE! - Date Edited: 11/12/06 8:19pm (19 edits total) Edited By: VaderLVR64
	Title: My Dearest Merida: Love Letters from the Front Characters: OC's- Joram and Merida/Anakin Skywalker Era: Clone Wars Genre: drama, angst Author: VaderLVR64 My Dearest Merida: Love Letters from the Front I watched him march off to war and wondered if I’d ever see him again. He looked back once, only once, and gave me a jaunty wink. He had no doubts he would come home to me. Joram was my first and only love, and when the Clone War began we convinced our parents to let us marry. We were very young; I was seventeen and he was nineteen. But we were in love and the galaxy was at war, so like many other lovers on many other planets, we married quickly. Looking back, it was almost as if we both felt that the wedding ring I placed on his finger was a talisman. As if that simple silver band would keep him safe and bring him home. We had only two weeks before his unit was scheduled to leave. Like most newlyweds we spent our days and nights in bed. There was an urgency to our lovemaking during those two weeks. It was as if we thought we had to experience a lifetime of joy in a few short days. Joram didn’t seem to be nervous about being deployed. He, like many others on our planet, had joined our planetary militia soon after the Battle of Geonosis. He had been particularly horrified by the slaughter of so many Jedi. Never before had any of us heard of so many of that noble order being struck down at once. The name of the Jedi Qui-Gon was still held up to the children of our planet as that of a righteous and dignified man who gave his life to save our planet. Joram, of course, seemed personally affected by the great loss the Jedi experienced. His mother still remembered the little brother who had gone to live at the Jedi Temple to become a Jedi Knight. She still spoke of him with love and reverence, her little brother Garen. She had one old and battered holo of him, a chubby cheeked six-month old baby boy. That holo occupied a place of honor in her home until the day she died. Joram had always been proud of his connection to the Jedi, although he wouldn’t have known his uncle if he was standing next to him. But to Joram, his mysterious uncle was a hero, a guardian of all that is good and right in the galaxy. But to me, it was Joram who was a hero. He had always been brave and willing to stand up for those who could not stand up for themselves. When we were in school and I was just five years old, some older boys were picking on me. Joram had to give one of them a bloody nose before they stopped, but he never hesitated even though they were all older and bigger than he was. I think I fell in love with him that day. From that moment on, it was always the two of us. Joram and Merida, where you saw one you would see the other. Our parents became best friends as well, and we spent many happy hours with each other’s families. Our parents were not surprised when we asked to marry before Joram shipped out. Indeed, I think they would have been shocked if we had not asked to do so. It was a quiet wedding, like so many others celebrated in those days, with just our friends and families present. There was not enough time to plan a more elaborate ceremony and we didn’t want one anyway. All we wanted was each other. I remember when the holy man declared us husband and wife; I was looking into his deep brown eyes and I knew then that we would always be in love. Everyone cheered when he kissed me, for he bent me back just a little bit and claimed my lips with an enthusiasm not usually seen at a wedding. I blushed and he grinned proudly. We both knew we had chosen well. But after our all too brief time together, the day arrived that would bring Joram’s departure. He looked handsome in anything, or nothing at all, but the dark blue uniform of the Nubian militia did give him a certain debonair and dignified quality. Until he wriggled his eyebrows at me in a naughty fashion and then showed me how to take off that blue uniform. I’m a fast learner, so we had time for a proper, or perhaps I should say improper, farewell. I stood on the side of the grand avenue in Theed, along with the others who were bidding farewell to loved ones. I glanced to each side of me and saw others doing the same. We all knew that some of those standing so proudly in their new uniforms would not return. We knew some of them, many of them, would die. And we each secretly hoped that it would not be our husband, our lover, our son. So our glances around us were to see those who might one day soon get that official government letter, banded in red to signify a death. I think each of us was convinced that we would never get such a letter. Sadly, too many of us were mistaken. Joram marched off proudly, with only that single glance back. His unit would soon be boarding a ship for an unknown destination. Even they did not know where they were going yet. I got my first letter from him within a month. My Dearest Merida, This cannot be too long as I don’t have much time. First, and most importantly, I want to say that I love you and miss you. I cannot tell you where I am, or even where I’ve been, but I can tell you I am well. I’m adjusting to the military life and have resigned myself to the food. Even my mother’s cooking would seem sublime next to what they serve us. If we should lose this war, I will blame the food! I am allowed to tell you that we’ve been assigned to work with a clone unit. They keep to themselves for the most part and seem to be as docile as shaaks off the battlefield. Once you get used to seeing the same face multiplied hundreds, even thousands of times you begin to see them merely as fellow soldiers. They eat and laugh and bleed just as we do. Don’t worry when I saw bleed-the only blood I’ve lost so far is when I cut myself shaving. You know how hopelessly clumsy I am with a razor. And with this many men living in such close proximity there is sure to be a fist fight or two (or twenty). Not that I’ve been fighting, so don’t put your hand on your hip like that! Anyway, I've saved the most interesting news for last. You will never be able to guess who our commander is. Go ahead, try. You didn’t even attempt to guess, did you? Well you wouldn’t have guessed even if you did try. Now I’ll bet your foot is tapping impatiently, isn’t it my love? Okay, I give up. I’ll tell you. Well, our commander is none other than Anakin Skywalker! Remember the little boy who was with the Jedi and helped save Naboo during the Blockade? Well, he’s all grown up now and quite the soldier. He’s a Jedi now. I wonder if he knows Garen? Do you think I should ask? Ask, you may be saying to yourself. Yes, ask. I’ve talked to him! He came by and greeted our unit when we arrived. When he found out we were from Naboo he seemed pleased and excited. He asked us about our families and where we were from. He’s quite personable and not at all stuck up or withdrawn as one would expect from a Jedi who is also a military commander. The few women in the area insist that he is quite handsome and seem to fall all over themselves when he walks by. He doesn’t notice them in the least, a typical Jedi in that respect. I am sure you would sigh and blush with the rest of them, wouldn’t you? Its all right, I know you love me so I guess I could stand your admiration for Commander Skywalker. Well my love, I must end this letter for now. I feel closer to you knowing that soon my words will be in your beloved hands. I only wish it was me in those hands! And now you’re laughing and shaking your head at my naughtiness, aren’t you? I love you and I promise to stay safe and come home to you. Yours Always, Joram To be continued... -----signature----- R.I.P John, Alex, Jason, and Christian Never forgotten Soldiers' Angels http://soldiersangels.org/ 2114 soldiers waiting for someone to care
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Fated2Bdespised Registered: May '04	Date Posted: 5/18/04 8:08pm Subject: RE: My Dearest Merida: Love Letters from the Front - Clone Wars era, OC's
	I normally do not care for OC's but I like this one! I will most definitly be keeping up with this one. I truly enjoyed it. Beautiful...breathtaking. Must have more please! -----signature----- "I don't need you anymore...don't want to be ignored." Linkin Park. Donnie Darko RULES! If you can understand it though, you need therapy. Same goes for Fight Club If Donnie Darko and Fight Club make sense to me should I follow my own advice? Hmmmm
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AnakinsHeir Registered: May '04	Date Posted: 5/19/04 5:17am Subject: RE: My Dearest Merida: Love Letters from the Front - Clone Wars era, OC's
	I loved the fact that Joram knew her so well that he could predict her reactions! That told me a lot about them as a couple. Having Anakin as his commander was interesting, will we see bits of Anakin through Joram's letters throughout? It was great to see what the men's view of Anakin may have been. I really like this one, it is a different view of the war. Good job! -----signature----- Let Me Go http://boards.theforce.net/The_Saga/b10476/18359174/?2 Master to JediCallista_1_6_e54 A Mother's Wishes http://boards.theforce.net/The_Saga/b10476/20272243/?0
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VaderLVR64 Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Feb '04	Date Posted: 5/19/04 7:19am Subject: RE: My Dearest Merida: Love Letters from the Front - Clone Wars era, OC's - Date Edited: 5/19/04 4:15pm (1 edits total) Edited By: VaderLVR64
	#2 I shared his letter with our families. Getting Joram to write one letter had been a chore and had required dire threats on my part, getting him to write more than that would be a miracle. I preferred to save any miracles to keep him safe. His mother laughed at his joke about her cooking. All of them exclaimed over the fact that little Anakin Skywalker was Joram’s commander. Just two days after his letter arrived I found out I was pregnant. I was both overjoyed and scared to death. Both sets of prospective grandparents were thrilled. I suspected that they were afraid he wouldn’t return and wanted this baby to keep his memory alive. I got angry at them for doubting his promise to stay safe and come home. First I yelled at them and then I began to cry. That was the first time that hormones were mentioned. I turned eighteen a week after I found out I was going to be a mother. I waited a month before I sat down and wrote Joram with the news. I was nervous and I was a bit scared I might miscarry, as my sister had with her first baby. But I finally got up my courage and told Joram he was going to be a father. I wasn’t sure how he would react. We hadn’t had time to discuss children beyond the fact that we both wanted them- someday. I guess our someday had come. I followed news of the war with great interest, of course. I had no idea where Joram was so the news of any Republic losses was enough to send me to bed for a day. The wonderful hormones at work! He could have been light years away from the battle but I still worried because I didn’t know where in the galaxy he was. We began to hear of more planets joining the Separatists, which always seemed a personal insult to every Nubian. Our planet has suffered grievously at the hands of the Trade Federation and by now it was common knowledge that they were at least partially responsible for the Separatist Movement. More and more troops were shipped out every week. The government put out more calls for volunteers and those calls were answered. Almost every house on our block had someone involved in the war. Two months after Joram left the first red-edged letter arrived in our neighborhood. He had been a young man, just a few years older than Joram. By some odd coincidence, he had been one of the bullies who had tormented me when I was five. He was the one whose nose Joram bloodied. I felt bad that I could not remember him fondly. I still thought of him as the boy who made fun of my red hair and my lisp. The lisp was long gone, but the red hair continued to plague me. Two months after I sent Joram the letter with the news of my pregnancy, I got his response. My Dearest Merida, I got your letter an hour ago. It only took three weeks to reach me, which is a record for our mail so far. A baby? Well, I guess that is no surprise after how we spent those two weeks, is it? See, if you wouldn’t have thrown yourself at me so often you wouldn’t be bringing up your breakfast, now would you? Seriously love, how are you feeling? Are you taking good care of yourself and the little one? Is it all right with you that I desperately want a little girl with your red hair and impish smile? A little boy would probably be too much like me and drive us both to drink. Are our parents excited? Has my father started suggesting names of ancient Nubian rulers yet? Just wait, how do you think I ended with Joram? My mother finally couldn’t stand it anymore and picked the best of a bad lot. Commander Skywalker takes very good care of his. Unlike some officers, he treats the clones just like the rest of us. Last week one of the men in another unit made the mistake of making a rude comment about the clones within the hearing of Commander Skywalker. All I can say is that I never want him to be angry at me. He still checks in on us, and calls us “his Nubians.” He has learned all of our names and even knows the names of some of our wives and sweethearts. So yes my love, the famous Anakin Skywalker knows your name! When we talk of our loved ones he gets a sad and wistful look on his face. He is as eager as the rest of us at mail call. I wonder if a Jedi can fall in love? I guess that is none of my business. Tomorrow we leave for yet another planet to face a different enemy. But do not worry about me, my love. I am staying safe as I promised. I must come home to hold my tempting little wife and see my beautiful fiery-haired daughter. You are thinking girl thoughts, aren’t you? Please see what you can do. Yours Always, Joram -----signature----- R.I.P John, Alex, Jason, and Christian Never forgotten Soldiers' Angels http://soldiersangels.org/ 2114 soldiers waiting for someone to care
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Gina Registered: Jun '03	Date Posted: 5/19/04 7:33am Subject: RE: My Dearest Merida: Love Letters from the Front - Clone Wars era, OC's and familiar faces
	This is so heartbreaking. Even in just a couple of posts, you have given these characters life and a history. It's like finding letters written between your grandparents hidden in a trunk in the attic. I feel that I know them and share in their pain. Your talents never cease to amaze! -----signature----- A long time ago in a house far away, there was a mother who was strong in the ways of the Force. She "forced" her sons to clean their room, she "forced" her sons to behave. - Part of a story written by my 9 yr. old sons I found while cleaning their desks
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Shadowlurker Registered: Apr '04	Date Posted: 5/19/04 10:02am Subject: RE: My Dearest Merida: Love Letters from the Front - Clone Wars era, OC's and familiar faces
	Very neat seeing the Canon characters brought in through the eyes of an "average joe." I can't wait to read more. Two months after Joram left the first red-edged letter arrived in our neighborhood. He had been a young man, just a few years older than Joram. By some odd coincidence, he had been one of the bullies who had tormented me when I was five. He was the one whose nose Joram bloodied. I felt bad that I could not remember him fondly. I still thought of him as the boy who made fun of my red hair and my lisp. The lisp was long gone, but the red hair continued to plague me. Loved this bit, it seemed very realistic. Great work! -----signature----- "Forget our memories, forget our possibilities.....don't stay." Linkin Park "My love is vengence that's never free." If you lie your whole life about being a pathological liar, are you are pathological liar or just a regular ole, run of the mill liar
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Jaina_and_Jag Registered: Apr '03	Date Posted: 5/19/04 12:18pm Subject: RE: My Dearest Merida: Love Letters from the Front - Clone Wars soldier and OC's w/familiar faces!
	Amazing! Your descriptions of these characters is wonderful, I feel like I've known them for more than just the couple minutes that I read these couple of posts. You are truely gifted!
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mixza Registered: Jan '04	Date Posted: 5/19/04 12:24pm Subject: RE: My Dearest Merida: Love Letters from the Front - Clone Wars soldier and OC's w/familiar faces!
	AWWWW! I love reading about Anakin from another person's POV. -----signature----- "Does that mean there is a woman to be discovered in even Master Obi-Wan's past? Tall, I imagine, and dark-haired. Pathetically desperate to have anyone at all, THAT much goes without saying..." - Anakin Skywalker, Yoda: Dark Rendezvous
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1-Ani-Obi-luvr Registered: Feb '04	Date Posted: 5/19/04 2:11pm Subject: RE: My Dearest Merida: Love Letters from the Front - Clone Wars soldier and OC's w/familiar faces!
	Wow! What an amazing story! I love Joram's letters! I love how Anakin is the commander! I hope nothing happens to Joram! -----signature----- "No one knows what it's like to be the bad man, to be the sad man, behind blue eyes." Limp Bizkit "No one knows what it's like to be hated, to be fated, to telling only lies." "May the Force be with you."
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VadersMistress Registered: Apr '04	Date Posted: 5/19/04 3:21pm Subject: RE: My Dearest Merida: Love Letters from the Front - Clone Wars soldier and OC's w/familiar faces!
	Loved Joram's letters to her, they seemed realistic. I got your letter an hour ago. It only took three weeks to reach me, which is a record for our mail so far. A baby? Well, I guess that is no surprise after how we spent those two weeks, huh? See, if you wouldn’t have thrown yourself at me so often you wouldn’t be bringing up your breakfast, now would you? Thought this was funny. Can't wait to read more. -----signature----- Harry Potter > Twilight Would I rather be feared or loved? Um... Easy, both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me. Persia pwns your face.
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Fate Registered: Apr '03	Date Posted: 5/19/04 5:32pm Subject: RE: My Dearest Merida: Love Letters from the Front - Clone Wars soldier and OC's w/familiar faces!
	Love it, love it, love it. The Clone Wars are rapidly becoming my favorite part of the SW saga, which might seem a little strange, so let me rephrase. The violence and horror of the period is terrible, but so much happens in that short period of time - it really fires the imagination to think of everything that goes on. And the romance of it all - somehow there's always some romance linked of in war. All of these valiant men going off to fight for their countries, and die if necessary. Hopefully Merinda's love will be spared. Great job, Kimberley. -----signature----- "Lord Sidious promised us a reward! A-a handsome reward!" "I am your reward. You don't find me handsome?" - ROTS WARNING: Only misery lies beyond this link. http://boards.theforce.net/The_Saga/b10476/20040924
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VaderLVR64 Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Feb '04	Date Posted: 5/19/04 8:47pm Subject: RE: My Dearest Merida: Love Letters from the Front - Clone Wars soldier and OC's w/familiar faces!
	#3 By the time his next letter arrived I could feel Joram’s child moving within me. It began as a subtle sense of something shifting inside of me. True to Joram’s predictions, his father began suggesting names of ancient Nubian rulers. They were all names for boys. He didn’t seem to accept that there was a possibility that Joram and I would have a daughter, which I found oddly funny. His mother began a campaign to name the baby after Joram, which I immediately rejected. I knew that Joram didn’t want to inflict the name he hated on another little boy. But I’ve always loved his name. He had been named after King Joram the Just, a beloved and wise ruler of times long past. I thought the name fit my husband perfectly, but he disagreed. I continued to follow the news of the war, but none of it seemed encouraging. A wounded soldier returned home to the neighborhood. He had gone to school with my older sister and she had once dated him. I could remember him sitting in our house; nervously waiting for her while my father interrogated him. He lost both legs and his sight in an explosion. It would be months before he was healed enough to be fitted with cybernetic legs and his sight would never be regained. His mother let it be known that he wanted no visitors or we would have gone to see him. The girl he had been supposed to marry soon broke off the engagement and moved away. No one was surprised a few weeks later when we heard he had killed himself. The letters with their dreaded red bands continued to arrive, just a few at a time at first, but then with increasing frequency. I could no longer check the mail but had my mother do so for me. In the beginning they would send a representative from the government with the letters, but soon there were too many letters and it was only the sight of those terrible bands of red that told the heartbreaking news. When the war started the evening news would individually name each soldier who had died in fighting the previous day. But as the war dragged on and the casualties increased they could no longer keep pace with the volume of the names of our dead. Soon, the lists of the names were merely published for the public’s information. All too often I would recognize the name of a boy I grew up with or knew from school. I soon noticed that many of them were in Joram’s unit and I hoped that Anakin Skywalker continued to look out for “his Nubians.” I grew big and round with our child, and I felt him move around inside of me constantly. Letters were sporadic for all of us, but when two months went by once more without word I began to get worried. Then I got a letter, but it was not from Joram. Nor did it bear the red bands I had come to hate and fear so much. Instead it was a letter from his Commander, the famous Anakin Skywalker, letting me know he had been wounded. Dear Mrs. Jalerrie, I wanted to write to you myself to let you know that your husband, Joram, was injured in fighting on Obroa-Skai last week. He is expected to make a full recovery shortly but his letters to you may be a bit delayed. In speaking with him, I discovered his anxiety that you would become worried over his long silence and I felt it would be best for his recovery if I wrote you myself so that I could tell him your mind was at ease. Joram is a valued member of my company, one of my courageous and valiant Nubian troops. Naboo may be a peaceful planet, but her sons are strong and do not shrink from doing their duty. You should be proud of your husband. He and the other men in his unit are striving to protect this galaxy for you and the child you carry. My congratulations on the impending birth of your baby. Joram is incredibly proud of both you and your child; he tells us constantly of how much he hopes to have a daughter just like you. It is my personal hope for your son or daughter that he or she can grow up in peace on your beautiful homeworld. Naboo has always had a special place in my heart since I was a young boy. Joram should be able to write to you soon and I thank you for your courage during these troubled times. I will do anything necessary to restore order so that the brave men who serve under me can return to their homes and their families. Yours Sincerely, Anakin Skywalker -----signature----- R.I.P John, Alex, Jason, and Christian Never forgotten Soldiers' Angels http://soldiersangels.org/ 2114 soldiers waiting for someone to care
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AnakinsHeir Registered: May '04	Date Posted: 5/20/04 5:33am Subject: RE: My Dearest Merida: Love Letters from the Front - Clone Wars soldier and OC/Canon Post #3 up!
	Love these! I found the letter from Anakin quite interesting, especially this: I will do anything necessary to restore order so that the brave men who serve under me can return to their homes and their families. This nicely links the meadow scene in AOTC and his future. Great work! -----signature----- Let Me Go http://boards.theforce.net/The_Saga/b10476/18359174/?2 Master to JediCallista_1_6_e54 A Mother's Wishes http://boards.theforce.net/The_Saga/b10476/20272243/?0
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Gina Registered: Jun '03	Date Posted: 5/20/04 5:47am Subject: RE: My Dearest Merida: Love Letters from the Front - Clone Wars soldier and OC/Canon Post #3 up!
	This was an especially poignant post. So ironic, the way the life inside of her is growing as more and more of those around her are dying. It has to be almost unbearable for her to experience pregnancy while her husband is fighting a war - wanting to call to him when she feels the baby kick only to remember he is not there and then would inevitably come the fear that he may never return to feel the baby in her stomach or to even see their child. At the same time, though, the child must give her a hope. So heartrending, bittersweet. I really liked Anakin's letter at the end. It showed how much he cares for the men under his command. Excellent post! -----signature----- A long time ago in a house far away, there was a mother who was strong in the ways of the Force. She "forced" her sons to clean their room, she "forced" her sons to behave. - Part of a story written by my 9 yr. old sons I found while cleaning their desks
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LukesTheMan Registered: Apr '04	Date Posted: 5/20/04 9:37am Subject: RE: My Dearest Merida: Love Letters from the Front - Clone Wars soldier and OC/Canon Post #3 up!
	You really made these characters come to life. It is so neat to get such a peek into their lives and thoughts. Loved Anakin's letter, it seemed very in character for a commander to send. The letters with their dreaded red bands continued to arrive, just a few at a time at first, but then with increasing frequency. I could no longer check the mail but had my mother do so for me. In the beginning they would send a representative from the government with the letters, but soon there were too many letters and it was only the sight of those terrible bands of red that told the heartbreaking news. This was very sad, touching but sad. -----signature----- Of Metal and Flesh http://boards.theforce.net/The_Saga/b10476/19859245 Empty Vessel http://boards.theforce.net/The_Saga/b10476/19744934 Proud Master to Annika_Skywalker
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Reihla Registered: May '02	Date Posted: 5/20/04 11:10am Subject: RE: My Dearest Merida: Love Letters from the Front - Clone Wars soldier and OC/Canon Post #3 up!
	What a beautiful war-time love story! I think the letter format is wonderful for conveying the feelings of our couple. Reminds me of all the WWII movies I used to watch with my mom when I was a kid. Anakin's letter was a nice touch too. It speaks highly of him as a commander. -----signature----- SagaJournal.com - an academic journal celebrating the Star Wars myth http://www.sagajournal.com/rslaughterofinnocents.html
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