The One Armed Witch Part 1 Acceptance

~\*{ THE ONE-ARMED WITCH }\*~

Part 1: Acceptance

Location: Batorine

IC: Knight Bathori, Artifex Terrogate

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Splendid Soldiers, by Alev Lenz

https://youtu.be/hNhsu3LgOUE

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It was a warm day on Batorine, Knight Bathori sat on the edge of the landing platform atop of the house, her legs hanging over the ledge. The trees gracefully bended in the wind their leaves rustled softly. In the distance she could see her son Kas’sparr, on the training grounds with Terrogate, practicing his combat skills.

Bathori had been meditating, she had been doing so on a daily basis trying to heal her mind and find her strength. For years she had buried her past, too afraid to face her demons. But now she was forced, as all her buried memories had resurfaced. It was frightening and confronting for her but the sorceress did her best to accept what had happened to her and make it her weapon.

As she watched her son, Bathori thought back at that night on Dromund Kaas, the words of her former Master kept repeating in her mind. “You always obsessed about seeing the past and future Ammit... perhaps after this you will learn to pay more attention to the present"

Ammit’s wish to become a seer, no longer seem to be important. The past was too painful she didn’t want to see it anymore and the future with its infinite possibilities didn’t matter. Ammit had failed, she never saw what was coming for her, she never saw the horror she had to endure that night. No, Bathori was determined never to use those abilities again. Ammit the Seer of Prakith had died that night and it was Mab, the one armed Witch of Batorine who had risen from the ashes. This was Bathori’s second chance, a new life.. But first she needed to make peace with her past.

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That night when the children were fast asleep, Mab sat cross legged in bed. Pondering about her past, when Terrogate entered. “Can’t sleep?” he asked as he approached her. She looked up at him, “no.. there’s something I need to do.” With a surprised expression he sat down next to her. “I never want to use Ammit’s seer abilities again. I have no use for them anymore” she says... “I need to adapt if I want to move on.” Bathori paused and looked at the Catharian who remained silent, giving her space to continue. “But I want to use them one last time. I want to show you her past, I want you to understand.” Terrogate looked into her eyes “You never.. I mean.. Ammit never wanted to share it. I don’t think she would want it now.” Mab shook her head and took his hand “No..You are wrong, she always wanted to share it with you but she was too afraid about how you'd react. What you would think of her if you knew” she said with a soft caring voice. Shocked his eyes widened “I would never.. “ but Mab interrupted him “I know... will you allow me to show you?” For a moment Terrogate said nothing, thinking about the offer. She could sense his curiosity. “I have to warn you, you will see it through her eyes, you will feel it as if it were you” she explained to him. With a worried expression he looked at her, “I understand.... but... I want to know.”

Moments later Mab lay with her head resting in his lap. “Give me your hand" she said holding up hers. As he looked down at her he placed his hand on hers, she smiled and with her sharp nail she pricked into his finger. Using telekinesis she took a single drop of his blood and suspended it in the air above her. She started to chant the spell through thought. The droplet started to glow and a green mist appeared, transforming his blood. The mist swirled around them as the droplet faded. “Place your hands on my head” she softly ordered the Catharian. With a nod he obeyed, creating a physical link for her to start projecting her thoughts, Ammit’s memories into his mind. “Close your eyes....” she whispered looking up at him, “and let me in...” he closed his, and she hers..

In the darkness of his mind the green mist whirled around him. Terrogate felt Bathori’s consciousness inside his head as she used her telepathic and postcognic abilities to strengthen the link. “Ammit was born on Naboo..... her mother died in childbirth.... she was unwanted by her grandparents and send to an orphanage” the soft voice of Mab whispered, it was a strange sensation to the Catharian. “Her name was Horbè" her whisper carried as he could feel a strong pull, he was sucked into a vortex. The next thing he felt was an overwhelming feeling of loneliness and sadness.

Her eyes opened, clouded with tears. The Catharian could feel the little girl’s pain. She was surrounded by other children who kicked her. “Please. Stop hurting me” she cried but all they did was laugh at her. One of the older girls grabbed Horbè’s small horn and dragged the Iktotchi child over the stone floor. “no.. please don’t... please... “ she cried, she was overcome by fear as she heard the door of the basement opening. The older girl pushed her inside, Horbè fell a few steps and heard the door locking behind her.. the memory shifted forward, she was sitting in the darkness her face buried in her knees, crying when the basement door opened again. As she looked up she saw a teenage boy walking down the stairs, Terrogate could feel that she knew him. Again the memory shifted, confusing feelings of love and fear gushed into the Catharian’s mind. The boy, who was at least ten years older, kissed her while his hand slipped between her legs, touching her. “You’re such a sweet girl" he whispered in her ear..

Anger filled his heart, Terrogate wanted to save her but he couldn’t do anything, this was Ammit’s memory. And before he could even try he was sucked into the vortex again. In the darkness he heard Mab whisper once more. “Horbè escaped, she ran away when she was eleven.” Hearing that she had escaped felt like a relief but the Catharian knew that this wasn’t the only trauma she had endured.

“Albjorn Valmir found Horbè and took her away from Naboo..... He raised her and named her Ammit... she was trained to be a mercenary, Ammit was loyal to him.” Terrogate could feel her anger as the vortex pulled him again “he did not deserve her loyalty, he abused it by asking her to do things no mentor should ask of their pupil” and again the feline was sucked into another memory.

Within a second the Catharian looked through Ammit’s eyes again, she stood before a large Hutt, a female. Ammit’s hands were restrained behind her back and she was wearing a shock collar. The Hutt spoke to her in huttese, her low grunting voice filled the room, but the Iktotchi did not speak Huttese. “Who sent you and why?” a man next to Ammit translated. “I don’t know. The contract was anonymous” Ammit replied to the Hutt who didn’t like her answer. Angry, the female giant responded by pressing the button of a remote she held in her hand. Terrogate felt the electric shock stinging his neck as Ammit fell to her knees. “Don’t lie! Who send you!” the man next to her snarled at her. “I never saw the contract” the Iktochi replied. And again the collar around her neck was switched on. The memory skipped forward. Inside a small round room the man who had translated for her pressed her against the wall. With a knife he started to cut into her clothes, stripping her naked. “I’m not allowed to touch your pretty face, but the rest of you..  well..  if you don’t start giving answers, I will make you suffer” he calmly explained as he ripped the last of her clothes off. When he took the shock collar of she replied “I told you. I did not see the contract. I was ordered to follow you and capture you alive.” A grin appeared on his face as he tied a rope around her neck “well you failed at that” he laughed and grabbed her by the throat  “now tell me who gave you the order.” Again the memory shifted she was lying on the floor, her body covered in filth and bruises. As the man knelt down next to her, she trembled in fear. “Jellka has lost her patience, this is your last chance" he said as he grabbed her face, forcing her to look at him. “The Slavers will be here tomorrow” he paused and looked at her with disgust “I doubt they will pay much for you...but I’m sure that pretty little mouth will do good work.” He let go of her face and stood up, wiping his hand clean on a piece of cloth...

As the vortex started pull on Terrogate once more, he still was able to sense the teenager's pain and fear. The waves of green mist danced before him carrying the whispers of Mab “Her loyalty to Valmir nearly got her sold onto slavery.” For a moment there was only silence, the Catharian could feel the current changing.

“Valmir sent her to Csilla... there she met Dra’Kris’Stion.” Terrogate knew that name, it was the father of Kas’sparr, Ammit’s son. The feeling of loneliness grew again as the whispers carried on “She fell in love, but Valmir was against it.  When he found out she was with child, he demanded that she get rid of it.” Once more the Catharian felt the pull “she couldn’t terminate it, she wanted to keep her child but Valmir forced her....”

“Push! You are almost there.. one more push Ammit” a woman's voice said. As Ammit’s eyes opened the Catharian felt the pain of childbirth and the overwhelming feeling sadness. “Yes Ammit.. push!” the woman repeated and the young Iktotchi pushed with all her might. Her jaw clenched her nails digging into the bed. Terrogate could feel the pain, the ring of fire as the baby was crowning. The Catharian wanted to scream in pain, he could feel everything Ammit was going through. “Again...  one more" And again he felt the burn as the baby was pushed further down. To his relief the image flickered and skipped forward, Ammit was holding her son in her arms. “Aro... I will call you Aro" she said with tears in her eyes. Terrogate already knew why, he knew she had left her son on Corellia. The memory jumped forward, “I’m so sorry Aro.." the Iktotchi cried as she kissed the newborn on his forehead and placed him in the cradle. Quietly she snuck out of the house, her heart was breaking.

The current pulled him away into the Vortex again, he was spinning. “She abandoned her son because Valmir ordered her.. years later she found out he had been training her boy.... to replace her.” Terrogate could feel the anger, but knew that Ammit had already taken her revenge on her mentor and even on the father of her son.

The mist continued to whirl around him. “Years later she was sent to Depatar, to pick up a memory core for the Zeltron Acer Knox..” the vortex started to pull him again, he sensed her rage burning like a fire “she thought Knox had already paid for the core.. he hadn’t, because she was part of the payment.” The Catharian couldn’t believe his ears, how could anyone do such a thing?

“I’m here for the package” Terrogate heard Ammit say. The image cleared, she stood before a tall red skinned Chagrian. He was sitting on a chair and smiled at her. Biting his lip he looked her up and down. “I’d like to be paid first" he said as he opened his legs. Confused she looked at him “Excuse me?” she said in surprise to his statement. “I have been promised entertainment, so...” he tapped on his thigh indicating she’d get down on him. The image skipped forward, the Chagrian had her in a chokehold, she was fighting for air. “I like your spirit girl" he grinned and licked the side of the face. “let.... go..  of.... me..” she gasped for air.. The Memory shifted, Ammit was pushed facedown on a bed unable to move as he used telekinesis to pin her down.. “Ace told me I might have to break you in" he laughed at her while he pulled her pants down.

Overcome with anger the Catharian wanted to fight the Chagrain, but he was pulled into the vortex again. The green mist danced around him, he screamed in frustration as he was utterly helpless. He waited for Mab to speak but this time she remained silent. Terrogate could feel her suffering as he was pulled right into the next memory; Dromund Kaas..

He could feel the pain and fear as he saw what Ammit’s former Master did to her. He was in shock as the images mover forward. His heart broke as be heard her screams. He felt guilty for not being there for her.

The scene faded, darkness filled his mind and the mist started to fade. “Ammit died that night... they consumed her spirit, leaving only an empty shell.” Her voice was soft and he could sense her pain.

Suddenly the link broke, Terrogate could hear her crying. When he opened his eyes and looked down at the woman he loved he saw the tears rolling down her face. “I'm so sorry" he said as he lifted her up into his embrace. “I understand now" he softly said into her ear. He didn’t know what else he could say, there was nothing that he could say or do to undo the traumas of her past. “I am here for you, now and forever" the Catharian kissed her cheek, to him she was the strongest woman he'd ever met.

The Iktotchi before him had been through hell, she had been betrayed and tormented. Her body, her spirit and her mind had been abused and broken, again and again since her birth. Yet through all the misery, the broken bones and severe beatings she had managed to survive, like a true warrior.

Terrogate stood up, and walked to the dresser next to him and took a lock box, one of the very few things he brought with him. Inside he removes a golden ring and a pure gold chain. He walked over to Bathori and sat down behind her on the bed. Her face still buried in her hands, tears in both their eyes from the rush of emotions and in morning for Ammit. He threaded the ring through the necklace and put it around her neck, securing the latch at the back.

The ring was fashioned into the shape of a proud lion’s head with green jewels for eyes. The symbol of the Catharian people, an ancient, fierce and fearless race, a warrior race. On the inside of the ring is inscribed the words “heart of a lion”, the words of his family.

He spoke to her softly but with stern words. “I want you to wear this Mab, this is a symbol of my people, of my family. Of strength, and determination and will. I want you to wear it not as a reminder of what happened to Ammit, but a reminder of the strength that lies within you. The strength that brought you back from the grasp of death. It has been in you all along.” With that he kissed her head. “I want you to know that as well as finding strength inside yourself, that you can also find strength in family. Our family.”

Art: “Follow Me", by Vladimir Krisetskiy