The Art of Subtlety

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reaching into his tunic he pulled out a lightsaber.
"What's this?" Mara asked frowning.
"It's my old lightsaber," Luke told her quietly. "The one I lost at Cloud City and nearly got killed with at Wayland." He held it out. "I'd like you to have it."
She looked at him, startled. "Me? Why?"
He shrugged, self-consciously. "Lots of reasons. Because you earned it. Because you're on your way to becoming a Jedi and you'll need it. Mostly, though, because I want you to have it."
Slowly, almost reluctantly, she took the weapon. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." He touched her hand again. "I'll be in the conference room with the others. Come on down when you've decided."
He turned and walked across the Palace roof. Mara turned to gaze out at the lights of the city again, the cool metal of the lightsaber pressed against her hand. Luke's lightsaber. Probably one of his last links to the past... and he was giving it to away.
Was there a message in that for her? Probably. Like she'd said, subtlety wasn't one of Luke's strong points. But if that was why he'd done it, he'd been wasting his time. Her last link with the past had been in the Mount Tantiss throne room.
Her past was over. It was time to get on with the future. And the New Republic was that future. Whether she liked it or not.
Behind her, she heard Luke open the roof door. "Hang on a minute," she called after him. "I'll come with you."

~ The Last Command by Timothy Zahn
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Such a great scene by the amazing Timothy Zahn. I just had to draw it. Besides, any Mara and Luke scenes are my favorite. Can you tell they're my OTP?

Pose and background referenced and inspired by 's drawing [link]

Enjoy!