Beast Taming: A Note to the Next Ruler of Onderon

Father had taught me a lot on taming beasts. He told me that if one wants one to follow him, one has to be gentle and patient. One has to wait it out if necessary. Nine chances out of ten, he said, the beast will son follow and the tamer can have his way with it. He said that that was also how he had won Mother. Indeed, our history tells how she followed him outside the city walls to wed Father against grandmother’s wishes. That story ended with the union of Mother’s and Father’s kingdoms. It also ended with grandmother’s death. Mother seldom spoke about it the way she never speaks a lot about many things.

That was also how he had captivated me. As the Sith hunted him, he sought shelter in my city and my palace. I willingly provided it. His name was Kavar. I have heard of great tales of men like him. It was his kind, the Jedi, who had liberated this planet from grandmother’s reign of terror. It was also his kind who expelled the Mandalorians, although he was not one of those that fought against the Mandalorians, and though the Mandalorians still restlessly wait like bomas at the edge of our borders to rise up again. I was fascinated by his power since I was never encouraged to learn of such power in myself because Sith blood runs in my veins. To help me, he sometimes, repeated the Jedi code to me:

There is no emotion, there is peace.

There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.

There is no passion, there is serenity.

There is no chaos, there is harmony.

There is no death, there is the Force.

Although he told me that he was not one to endorse the Republic, it was as if he brought the Republic with him when he came. I remember that he said once: “I am not a great fan of the Republic but submitting to it is the only way to properly rule a country.” He never seemed to force it but he was persistent. And just like my mother, I fell in love. Love is never without politics.

From my girlhood, I had always been intended for Vaklu who Father had loved and who was meant to rule beside me. But Kavar made me forget Vaklu. I think this I had led Vaklu to wish to end my life and take the country for his own. I had always known that he was corrupt, but deep inside, I want to believe that he also wanted the best for Onderon as he once did when he fought for its freedom in the Mandalorians Wars. I knew that he wanted a powerful autonomous Onderon. Once, I also wanted that but it is only a dream that cannot be reality. For Onderon to prosper, Onderon needs the Republic. I had never wanted to silence him or his followers but it was necessary for peace to continue.

Although I had never married Kavar (as a Jedi he was forbidden to marry anyone), it was as if he did marry me. Although it was my voice that guided Onderon, it was his thoughts, his teachings that I spoke. Even though he had stayed with me for only five years, I believe that those years were the best.

His stay ended when another Exile like him came. She only came to seek him out, but she has changed our history like he did. She came in time for Vaklu’s coup. As a ruler, I remember feeling great fear as I was trapped in my own palace, my own throne room isolated from most of my guards. Vaklu planned the coup well. I was left to fight the general, my own cousin, with my own sword as a beast was breaking the barrier that separated his troops from my own small force. Thankfully, Father had taught me well with the vibrosword. But when I defeated him, he decided that he decided that the battle was to be decided by a battle between our followers themselves. My own guards were outnumbered by his own followers. It was then that she came with Kavar with their lightsabers. They killed all of Vaklu’s followers but spared Vaklu. As they brought Vaklu to me, they convinced me to spare Vaklu. So I did. She and Kavar came as exiles but they emerged as conquerors in the process. I cannot help but think sometimes, that their story of individualism sometimes overshadows my story and that of my people.

As he left, he said goodbye to me as one does to any friend or conquered one. Still, I cannot help but be saddened by his death for he has taken my heart with him. He had tamed me completely. I was left to follow him all the days of my life. Soon I will die. For this reason, I advise the ruler after me to do the same not only for your sake but also for Onderon’s sake. Remember that what is good for the Republic is also good for Onderon, although you may think otherwise.

Mother once had told me the story of a bird. She said that if one puts a bird in a cage, the bird cries for it cannot help but wish for complete freedom. It goes the same for me and my country. I cry because I know that I will never be truly free.