EPILOGUE: THE KING IN THE NORTH!

Is this … could it be … the last chapter? Though it seems like yesterday the first one went up, this leg of the story has reached its end. But fear not, DK and I are definitely not done with the northerners or some other threads we've left untied.

For the thrilling not-quite-conclusion to Polaris, and a peek of what's to come, we pick up six months after the battle for Onderon, in the days leading up to salt and light. - LS

...

Winter's never held the equatorial city of Iziz in its grasp too firmly, but there's a nip in the air when Lux Bonteri walks down the Iziz dock with a satchel in hand. He shields his eyes against the sun to pick out his destination and flags down a sailor on the dock.

"Are you crew for that ship over there?" he asks, nodding to the new-looking northern vessel flying the light blue banner.

"The Southern Whore?" the sailor clarifies. "Aye, I am."

"I'd like to speak with your captain."

The sailor nods assent and gestures for Lux to follow him up the gangplank. "Anyone seen the captain?" he asks the crew in general. "This - woah!"

Lux pitches from the deck moving beneath his feet and the sailor barely catches him in time.

"Thank you," he says. "I haven't been on ships much."

"Much?" A new voice guffaws. "You haven't been on a ship at all!"

Lux straightens up just in time to send an unamused look to the young woman coming over from the bow. "Go ahead and make fun of me, won't you Dalla?"

"It's Captain to you," she jokes and clobbers him in a hug. "Welcome home, Lux!"

Lux gives her a friendly squeeze and then releases the hug. "That would be Senator, Captain."

Dalla tsks. "Six months on Coruscant and already your head's inflated."

"You started it!"

She laughs and tosses an arm around his shoulder. "Everyone, let me introduce Lux Bonteri, our passenger. Go easy on him."

One of the sailors winks. "Aye, Captain."

Drawing on Dalla's arm for support Lux makes his way to his cabin to drop off his satchel.

Slowly he's getting used to the deck beneath his feet.

"So, in all seriousness how's Coruscant treating you?" She asks.

"Alright," he nods. "Senator Amidala let me stay with her a while. She was my mother's friend, and she's showing me the ropes. I promised to take lots of holos for her."

"There will be plenty to take holos of. We should arrive at the Hold on the first night of the salt and light festival. I'd go to that hungry if I were you; Aunt Shara's cooking up a storm."

"I'll starve myself the day before," he promises and then swallows hard. "You know, I don't think that will be very hard."

"Lux, you've been on board for about thirty seconds. You can't be seasick already."

Lux goes green. "Wanna bet?"

"Watch the horizon." Dalla hurries him to the rail so he can see it clearly and changes the subject. "I thought Saw would be here to see you off since we're both in town."

Lux shakes his head, eyes still firmly planted on the horizon, and then he points. "I think he took a page from Bremon Kira's book."

Dalla follows his point to a ruping perched on the city walls, its rider little more than a shadow. But there's no question, it's Saw Gerrera.

She waves to him and he nods back, but before they can do anything else Lux heaves over the rail and Dalla ducks to steady him.

When she looks up, Saw and the ruping are gone.

…

"Is Lux still in his cabin?" She asks Thias three days later, as they close in on Blackhold.

"Aye," her brother and first mate answers. "It's probably the only place he can puke in peace."

"Are they still at him about that?" Poor Lux still hasn't gotten his sea legs and his stomach isn't cutting him any slack. Dalla's surprised he has anything left to vomit up.

Her crew's only too amused by the whole situation. After they left the harbor Lux was treated to their entire repertoire of songs for roasting landlubbers, as well as a gender-swapped version of "The Captain's Lady," which they'd reimagined as "The Captain's Boytoy." Dalla shut that one down before the second verse, but the landlubber roasts are still going strong and considering she joined in on more than a few of them when the landlubbers in question weren't her friends, it would just be hypocritical to stop them.

Instead she heads down to Lux's cabin and knocks on the door. "Lux, it's Dalla. Can I come in?"

"It's unlocked."

Dalla opens the door and takes the half step necessary to plant herself a respectable distance from Lux's berth, where he's sitting with a bucket on his lap and his eyes firmly planted on the horizon through the porthole.

"Please tell me you've come to say we've docked."

"If it's any consolation, it'll only be a few more hours." She leaves the door open and sits down on his berth beside him. "Everyone's excited to see you again, especially Tandin. He and Maris are coming to the Hold for feast night so you can see him then. That and you get to have more of Aunt Shara's fruit cake."

Lux clutches his bucket. "Please don't mention food."

"That bad, huh?"

For an answer, Lux pukes into his bucket. Dalla pats his back until he finishes.

"You might want to consider flying home," she suggests.

"I already booked my ticket." He dumps the bucket out the porthole with a practiced hand and sits back on the berth. "I'm just looking forward to being on dry land again."

"I bet you are," she changes the subject. "Have you talked to Ahsoka, what with you two being on the same planet?"

"A little. I've sent her messages, but only as pleasant conversation. Not about anything...important."

She gets it. "You'll know when the time's right. And considering my track record, I don't think you want to take relationship advice from me."

"No, I don't," Lux smirks. "But since I gave you the initial bad relationship advice, I think we should just agree not to give relationship advice to each other at all."

She laughs and extends her hand to shake. "Agreed." There's a shout from the deck and Dalla ducks into the corridor to check it out.

Thias' head appears at the hatch. "Tell your boyfriend land ho!"

"I'll be up in a second." Thias pops out before she can react to the last bit. "Wait! Thias, he's not my -!"

The hatch slams shut and she sighs. "Salt gods, at least it's not another kitchen."

...

The entire crew laughs when Lux races down the gangplank before anyone else and promptly wipes out on the dock.

"Let the Senator be," she yells after them. "Don't you all have any salt and light cheer?"

"Don't a lot of people get engaged on salt and light?" Somebody whistles.

"Once I find out who said that, they're swabbing the deck for a week."

Lux sits up on the dock. "If we do get married, then do you really want to have said that to your Lord?"

The sailors drown out Dalla's cry of "Don't even give them the ammunition!"

"We'll prepare the honeymoon suite," Thias elbows her.

"I'm going to return all your salt and light presents, Thias."

Her brother ceases to be a concern when Dalla hears a commotion on the dock and all but runs down the gangplank to check on Lux, but her friend is well in hand. Tandin's come up the dock and lifted him to his feet. "Don't feel bad, young man," he says. "I was the same way after my first sea voyage."

"General!" Lux beams. "I didn't think I would see you until the feast."

"How could I not come to welcome you?" He smiles and then adds with mock seriousness: "And it's not General, not anymore. I'm simply Grigori now."

"Half the Hold just calls him Tandin," Dalla announces. "Either that or 'Mr. Pubkeep.'"

"You're the pubkeep now?" Lux asks and they begin walking down the dock.

"Oh, salt gods no." Tandin shakes his head, laughing. "I just help out around the place doing maintenance and repair work, getting peat for the fires -."

"Romancing the pubkeep and eating all her nyorks." Dalla whispers to Lux.

Tandin sighs. "I am not eating all of Maris' nyorks."

He didn't deny the first bit. Interesting.

"In fact, she's made a batch for the feast tonight," he continues. "Lux, you're in for a treat. You've never tasted such cooking."

"I can't wait," Lux says and then rubs a hand over his stomach. "That is, if my stomach calms down by then."

…

"I'd say your stomach's doing just fine, Lux," Marlon grins over dinner that night. "You southerners must have a taste for nyorks."

Lux glances to what remains of the nyork platter. "I can't argue with that, Lord Blackwell. I haven't had such food in a long time."

"Marlon," the Lord of the North corrects him for the second time that night. "Or I'll start calling you Senator Bonteri."

Shara changes the subject. "Really? I'd have thought with you being on Coruscant and all, you'd have tasted almost everything."

"I have," Lux says. "But I never get to enjoy it. I'm always eating over negotiations and such. We don't have many peaceful family meals."

"So this is a family meal?" Cade asks, waggling his eyebrows at Lux and Dalla.

Lux covers beautifully. "For you. I'm just your guest."

"Speakin' of guests, thank you all for invitin' us," Maris says. "Nessa an' I usually do somethin' ourselves, but nothin' like this."

"You're practically family, Maris," Shara smiles at her old friend. "And Grigori is family. Of course we invited you all; it wouldn't be salt and light without you."

Jamos grind wickedly. "Now if Grigori would just get to working on something else, then - hey!" He reaches under the table. "Who just kicked me?"

"I have no idea," Tandin replies.

Little Nessa giggles. She's halfway on her own chair and half on Tandin's, so she must have felt the kick. "Papa, can I have more fruit cake?" she stage whispers.

"You've already had plenty," Tandin says while sitting up straighter at the title. Then he looks at the sweet little face and gives in. "One more," he relents and cuts a slice of cake for the little girl.

Maris nods at him. "She's got him wrapped aroun' her little finger."

"Will we be celebrating a wedding this week?" Lux teases.

Maris shakes her head. "Can't get married unless the bride an' groom are both baptized in the light of the salt gods."

"I'm getting baptized this week along with Talia and Ephraim Harkon's twin daughters," Tandin reaches for her hand and gives it a squeeze.

"She's had them already?" Lux asks.

"She already had her first trimester done by the time she told Ephraim and he told half the galaxy," Dalla explains. "She found out right after Miranda died and wanted to give him some time to process. The four of them are coming over to baptize them here at our salt formation."

"Exciting," he spears another bite of fruit cake but before putting it in his mouth, adds: "I'm especially looking forward to yours, Tandin. You can follow it up with a proposal."

Tandin doesn't even blink. "If you follow me into the pool, so can you."

"Like I told Dalla before, it wouldn't take," he shrugs. "I've been betrothed since Carlaac."

...

"Salt gods, they're adorable! They look just like you, Talia. Well, with Ephraim's eyes but the rest of them looks like you."

Dalla knows she's babbling, but she couldn't care less. She makes a funny face at the newborn in her arms, who doesn't react much.

"Aye, they got his eyes and his hair," Talia rocks back and forth with her other daughter. "My papa was disappointed for a bit before he absolutely fell in love."

"Which one am I holding again?"

"Fiona," Talia reminds her. "I have Maia here but I'd love to hand her off to that friend of yours, if I can find him. Where'd our men run off to?"

She gets her answer from an "Oof!" down the dock and then the sound of a man's laughter. The women spin around to see Lux trying to keep a straight face while holding his belly and gasping for air.

Talia speaks up before Dalla can. "Ephraim Harkon, did you punch the Senator in the gut?"

Lux manages a dismissive wave. "Just a friendly greeting. I was offering my congratulations."

Ephraim claps him on the back. "We'd better get over there. There are babies to be held."

"Only one," Dalla draws Fiona away. "You're not taking her from me."

"We should have picked a different godmother if this one's going to be so possessive." Ephraim takes Maia from her mother's arms and deposits her in Lux's.

Dalla's mouth falls agape. "Godmother?"

Talia nods. "We thought about it, and considering how you've taken to them I can't think of anyone I'd rather have."

"Really?" She cuddles Fiona and the little girl stirs. "Of course I will. Thank you!"

"They need a godfather too," Ephraim points out. "And it seems Lux here is rather good with kids…"

"Who, me?" Lux looks up from Maia. "But I'm not a northerner."

The parents shrug. "Doesn't matter."

"You'd make a great godfather," Dalla baits. "Just look at them."

Lux looks back down at little Maia and sighs. "I can't say no to that face."

Talia shakes her head. "Ephraim, what have we done? They're going to spoil them rotten."

"Too late," Ephraim winks. "We don't have time to pick new godparents. Dalla, Bonteri, you'd better not spoil my girls too bad."

"We won't," Lux promises and then in a loud whisper to Maia: "You want a cognine? I'll get you one for every day of the week."

…

"You have brought me to this place and granted me a new life."

Tandin stands at the edge of the hot springs, his hands at his sides and his eyes cast on the sacred salt formation.

"Therefore, I promise to live that life in the light of the salt gods with the guidance of those present." He bows his head in reverence and closes his eyes.

"In the light of the salt gods," everyone present replies. Maris is a bit behind the others, having to pause and wipe a tear from her eye, but the pubkeep's voice is louder than any of theirs.

Tandin doesn't move, waiting for Marlon and Jamos to pour the waters over his head. And sure enough the brothers are approaching - but, Dalla realizes, with boyish grins and no bowl in sight.

When Tandin opens his eyes to check their progress, Marlon and Jamos shove him into the pool and he belly-flops in with an awkward splash.

"Papa swim!" Nessa cheers.

Tandin resurfaces and wipes the water from his eyes. "I thought we were friends!"

"We only do it to the ones we really like," Marlon smirks.

"And Maris!" He gestures to the laughing woman. "I thought you were on my side."

Maris stifles laughter long enough to say "If you could see your own face, Grigori! Nessa, don't he look funny?"

Tandin crosses his arms. "If the two of you would help me out, that would be wonderful."

Talia taps Lux's shoulder. "Lux, may I have my daughter back? There are a few words I need to say."

"Of course." He hands Maia back to her mother. "She's your daughter, after - ack!"

In the blink of an eye Ephraim ambushes him and unceremoniously shoves Lux into the pool.

"In the light of the salt gods, Bonteri. Now you too can marry a northern woman." He winks at Dalla.

She turns red. "Ephraim Harkon!"

Tandin helps Lux to his feet and the senator wrings out his hair.

"Stay in the pool for the twins' baptism," he instructs. Maris and Nessa approach the pool's edge and he takes their hands to step out, beaming behind his bushy mustache.

Lux obeys and glares at Dalla and the Harkons while they descend into the pool.

"I can't believe you all," he grumbles and holds out his arms to take Maia once again.

"They would have thrown me in if I wasn't baptized as a baby," Dalla juggles Fiona into one arm and pats him on the back. "Welcome to the north, Lux."

"I suppose it needed to happen if I'm going to be a godfather." He taps Maia's nose. "You'd better be worth it, little one."

Talia cuts them off. "Let's get on with this before they wake up?"

"Aye, of course." Dalla falls into line with Lux, forming a circle of the babies' parents and godparents.

Ephraim takes the wooden bowl from Marlon and fills it while Talia places her hands on her daughters' heads and says "For these children I asked and they were given. Therefore I shall raise them in the light of the salt gods with the help of those present."

"In the light of the salt gods," Ephraim repeats and pours the water over first Maia's, then Fiona's heads.

"In the light of the salt gods," Dalla repeats and nudges Lux.

He doesn't need the hint. "In the light of the salt gods."

And then there's a great commotion and everyone out of the pool applauds, welcoming the north's four newest members.

…

"So it's back to Coruscant for you? You're welcome to stay longer and recover from ringing in the new year with us." The shuttle's already idling on the dock but Dalla knows a few minutes won't kill it. She still has time to say goodbye to Lux. "Or I could sail you back down to the capital."

He shakes his head. "Your sea's freezing up; you'd get stranded. Are you trying to draw out my visit?"

He's joking, but Dalla's response is anything but. "I might. I don't have many friends to talk with up here. It's nice having someone around."

"It's nice to talk with someone who doesn't want anything in return," he agrees. "There isn't much of that on Coruscant."

"I don't doubt it." She nods. "Iziz must be a playground compared to the Senate."

"It's a different game. The elements look much the same, but once you're in you realize how different it is. It's more … refined, but that refined edge will kill you all the same."

Dalla cracks a rueful smile. "What is it they say about us out in the galaxy, that we're all unrefined animals at heart?"

"We must be. I prefer our game. At least we come straight out with our attacks instead of hiding behind fancy words and diplomatic immunity." He shakes his head, a specific someone who does just that must have come to his mind. "I wish, when my term is over, that I would be done playing that game."

Dalla checks to make sure no one's around and then drops her voice to a whisper. "You're going to be the king. You know that means you'll have to play both -."

He nods exhaustedly. "I know."

"-But that doesn't mean you have to play alone." She raises an eyebrow. "You know you still have friends here, right? I owe you a few after everything that happened this summer."

The corner of Lux's mouth curls up. "Is that a declaration?"

"Was it a declaration when you brought me to the safehouse?"

"No, it wasn't," He admits. "But even without a declaration, I'm not worried about the north and I doubt I ever will. I know it's in capable hands."

From another lord the compliment would raise alarms, but Lux isn't just another lord. He's a friend, and she knows that he would never betray her. He's trusted her with deadly secrets and she's given them back. If they were enemies, it would be assurance based on mutual annihilation. But as friends and bannermen, it's rock-solid trust.

"It's easier to do that when one doesn't have to worry about her king," she replies. "And I don't. Not in the slightest."

Never before has a king of Onderon come to the north and considered them his subjects rather than a meat locker for troops and brides. Never before has a king feasted in the Great Hall of Blackhold, or stepped into the sacred pool at the salt formation, or become godfather to northern children.

Dalla crosses her arms. "I'm not about to kneel to you though, your grace. We're in the north."

He shakes his head. "I wouldn't ask you to, my lady, but I will take a hug."

"Gladly." She hugs him tight. "We're not going anywhere, Lux. If you need anything, or you just want to talk, we'll be here."

"And you should remember that there's comlink reception on Coruscant," he replies. "I may be busy, but I always have time for a friend."

She pulls back. "Did we just give each other the same advice?"

He groans. "Yes, I think we just did. Thank the force it wasn't about dating."

"Speaking of dating, you need to get cooking on that." She shoos him toward his ship. "I want updates."

Lux waves to her while he goes up the boarding ramp. "Keep your fingers crossed for me!"

The boarding ramp shuts behind him, but Dalla doesn't stop waving until the shuttle's taken off and disappeared into the sky.

Be safe, Lux, she beseeches. Onderon needs you to be safe. We can't plunge into another civil war after we just weaseled out of the last one.

Even if there was another heir, the north doesn't want them. Yes, they bent the knee to Dendup, but kind as the old man is he doesn't really know that the north was all about.

But Lux, he's something else. He's fought alongside them, he's protected them, and their families have been friends since he was old enough to know what that meant.

Dalla's been face to face with more kings than most see crowned in a lifetime. Sanjay Rash spun her through disgust and panic and in the end sympathy, leaving her more confused than anything. Ramsis Dendup did his best to heal his predecessor's wounds, but still. His best isn't quite enough to understand the north and its ways.

There's only one king Dalla would consider bending her knee to, and that's Lux Bonteri.

The king who, for the first time in a thousand years, represents all of Onderon.

…

And so we reach the end of Polaris. Before I shed a few tears or launch into a speech about what's to come, I want to extend the world's biggest thank-you to DuchessKenobi. Some of the best parts of this story would not have existed without her input, research, and ideas. She offered encouragement when I needed it, she kicked my behind when it needed to be kicked, and it has been an absolute honor and a privilege to work with her and be her friend.

But like I said before, this is not over! DK and I are working on the as-of-yet-untitled sequel which returns to the northern seas. Prepare yourselves for more adventures with the Blackwells and Bralykburns, weddings, schemes, and some resolutions to conflicts we've had brewing since Gen 1 or longer.

So farewell and adieu to you for now, fair readers. Thank you for sticking with us, and keep an eye out for Some Say I Got Devil and the sequel! — LS