Love and War

Chapter 2

Satine led Thrice, Obi-Wan and Shema to a furnished apartment inside the government building. It had a modern decoration and 2 bedrooms. Satine did not expect Obi-Wan or Thrice's handmaiden. Satine noticed that Thrice had packed very light and only had one suit case that was pulled in by the handmaiden on a hover-pad. The handmaiden with short hair immediately deposited the case once they were in the apartment and began to inspect each room before nodding to Thrice.

"It is acceptable, my lady."

"Thank you, Shema," replied Thrice before turning to her host. "Duchess Satine, thank you for the rooms. Let us start our meeting in say half an hour?"

"As you wish, Lady Thrice."

Satine then began to leave. Obi-Wan decided to join her. He abruptly turned and said, "I'll escort you, Satine. I also need to make my rounds for security."

Obi-Wan eyed Thrice until finally she said, "Very well, Sir Knight."

Jedi Master took his leave. Satine noticed something was bothering him. She waited for him to speak, but decided instead to break the ice. She looked ahead and smiled.

"Well, I didn't expect you to arrive on Mandalore with Lady Thrice. Did the High Council assign you or did you volunteer?"

He gave her a side-way glance and matched her pace down the hall. "It was the High Council's. They thought a familiar face would make things run more smoothly."

Satine said, "It's just the Jedi way of interfering. I thought they wanted Mandalore to side with the Republic. Are you here to oversee the negotiations?"

"No, it isn't like that, Satine. I'm merely here as Lady Thrice's body guard."

"Is that the only reason?"

Obi-Wan paused. Satine also stopped her decent down the hall and turned to face him. She looked up into his gray-blue eyes and felt her heart both ache and bloom. It was ridiculous but she had hoped he had come to see her. Obi-Wan read the feelings shinning in her eyes and turned away.

"Satine, please. We've been through this before. I can't return your feelings."

The Duchess lowered her eyes and held her hands tightly in front of her and said, "Yes, I know…especially since you're married now."

Obi-Wan said, "Satine, my marriage to Lady Thrice was political. I haven't forgotten my commitment to the Order. We each have our own destiny."

"And does your lady know about your commitment?"

Obi-Wan was surprised. He thought the matter was resolved. He was a Jedi. She was a Duchess and Thrice-well to be honest he wasn't sure what she was. All he did know was that she wanted and it wasn't him. He said, "Yes, and Milady has made her intentions perfectly clear. She wants no part of me."

Satine heard the emotion in his voice. She could tell that Thrice's opinion mattered to him. He wasn't as indifferent as he pretended to be. She wondered what had gone wrong. She wondered what made her dislike him so much. However, it would have to wait. Satine had to get ready for her talks with the Ambassador. There were bigger things in the universe to worry about then what was going on between 2 people.

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Meanwhile, back in the apartment Thrice unclenched her fist and visibly relaxed after Obi-Wan and Satine left the rooms. Shema approached her and offered her a hand. Thrice turned her away.

"No, Shema. I'm fine."

Shema scuffed and sat down on a chair. She looked out the window at the towering city and zooming ships. Mandalore was a rich world like Coruscant. It bothered to think of all this luxury being wasted on people yearning for war. They could never understand what her Clan had to endure because of war. It made her sick to her stomach to think of them going down the same path.

Shema said, "You're not fine. You have been hiding your powers since Coruscant. I know it has something to do with the Jedi."

"Perhaps, but I have my reasons."

Shema said, "You ought to end these games. You should put him in his place. The Jedi are children compared to the Clan. The only one with any merit is Master Yoda."

Thrice said, "Enough, Shema. As I am your lady than Obi-Wan is your lord."

The maiden was astonished. She rose from her chair wide-eyed and looked to her. She said, "You can't be serious! He's no match for you. He's—"

Thrice cut her off and said, "He has my favor. You will treat him as you would treat me. Is that understood?"

Shema felt sour and lowered her head. She respected Thrice more than any other member of the Clan. She was true and strong. A noble warrior maiden that had taken her under her wing. To her Thrice would always be her lady. She wondered if she was wrong wasting her time on the Jedi. She wondered if they were all wasting their time playing politics with the Core. Though, in her mind no one was good enough for Lady Thrice.

Shema obediently said, "Yes, my lady."

Thrice approached her and put her hand under Shema's chin and lifted her head up to meet her gaze. Shema felt her warm reassurance through the Force. Thrice smiled.

"I appreciate your concern, Shema. I trust your judgment but you must trust mine. You know Lord Blackswan's plan. Peace requires trust and trust requires time."

"Oh-uh, sorry. Am I disturbing something?" asked Obi-Wan as he unexpectedly entered the room.

Both women turned their heads to face him. Obi-Wan felt embarrassed. He knew he had interrupted something. He had just returned from his security patrol when he suddenly entered the room to find Thrice very close to her handmaiden and touching her face. It look rather intimate.

Thrice dropped her hand and stepped away. "Oh no, please enter, Sir Knight." She then turned to Shema and said, "Shema, please leave us."

The handmaiden quietly left the room and entered one of the bedrooms and closed the door. Obi-Wan waited and watched her leave. He then softly began to pace and circled closer to Thrice. She was still dressed in white and gold. She looked angelic.

"I can tell she doesn't like me."

"Nonsense, Sir Knight. Shema doesn't know you."

"Yes, but that doesn't seem to have stopped her from forming an opinion of me. Though, if your ready I can escort you to the conference room. Satine should be waiting."

"Yes, of course." She then turned towards the room where Shema had disappeared and called to her. "Shema, we are leaving."

A second later, the handmaiden emerged from the other room and opened the front door. Thrice then lifted her hand for Obi-Wan to take. He took it led her out to the hall. Shema trailed behind. Obi-Wan noted that Thrice had forgotten to raise her guard. He could feel her through the Force. Her presence was strong. He liked it. The Force had been clouded for some time and her clear presence was reassuring.

However, Thrice could sense Obi-Wan's feelings. They poured into her like a bitter wine. She felt his unease and turned to meet his eye. His deep grey-blue eyes meet her orbs. He felt exposed under her gaze. He felt that she had not really looked at him since the wedding. He didn't see the usual indifference or pride in her look instead all he saw was concern.

"You're troubled, Sir Knight."

"It's nothing. It's just a feeling."

He gave her a reassuring smile, but she wasn't convinced. Though, Thrice knew it wasn't the time to worry about Obi-Wan. She had to prepare herself for Satine. The Duchess was waiting and they were already at the door to the conference room.

Obi-Wan released the Lady Thrice's hand and pulled open one of the double doors to the chamber. However, once they were inside they saw that Satine wasn't alone. Inside, they saw Darth Maul and Savage Opress. The two Sith had the Duchess captive and had slain her advisers.

Satine raised her hand and shouted, "Obi-Wan! Run!"

However, Darth Maul used the Force to slam the doors shut behind them with a boom. The half mechanical Sith grinned.

"Ah, Obi-Wan. So good of you to join us."

XXX

TBC

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Author's Note: The chapter is based loosely on the Star Wars the Clone Wars episode titled The Lawless.

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