Chapter 1 - Three years later
"Come on uncle Ani, we need to keep running!" A nine year old Kiara cried, panic in her voice as she raced through the trees hearing her uncle metres behind her, but struggling to keep up which was to be expected. Within the last three years, the witches, led by their new leader Alwina, tortured him every time Kiara refused to submit herself to the training or escaped. However, despite their failed attempts, once again, Kiara and Anakin were attempting to escape for what seem like the 100th time and this time before the sun rose.
Kiara could hear the river up and looked back to see her uncle catching up with her. Anakin quickly pulled her behind a nearby tree "Uncle Ani, what are you doing?" She asks confused "We need to keep going!" she insisted as Anakin looked at his niece. Within the last three years, she had grown from the young six bright excitable year old he once knew but into a strong, defensive nine year old. It reminded him of her mother and it pained him that Padme was missing this time with her daughter as well as his brother, missing his daughter.
Anakin placed a hand to his lips, indicating for her to be silent before pointing up ahead where she then spotted two witches up ahead scouting. "We'll need to go around them" he explains looking around as Kiara then had an idea "Shall I use my powers uncle Ani?" She asks as Anakin give her a small smile before he shook his head. "We can't risk Alwina sensing that but I have an idea" he tells her kneeling towards her "Climb up on my back and hold on" he tells her as Kiara nods, climbing up on Anakin's back, wrapping her arms around his neck. She then felt him start to climb the nearby tree until he reached a secure tree branch. "We're going to carefully go over them and hopefully we'll make it over to the river. Kiara kept silent as she clung to her uncle before he moved cautiously across the branch hearing the river up ahead. They had successfully passed over the scouts when Anakin realised he'll need to make a leap and hoping they can make it over the water.
He then took Kiara off his back and held her close to his chest "I'm scared uncle Ani" she whimpered as Anakin kissed the top of her head "Don't worry I won't let you go" he promises and takes one more step till he was at the edge of the branch and then reaching out with the force strength he had been holding onto, he jumped off the branch and they were in the air over the river and they were on the other side. Anakin felt the grass under his feet as he smiled down at his niece. "We made it" he whispered however just as he placed her down, Anakin was suddenly thrown through the air and before he could hear the tree, several vines latched out to his arms and legs as Kiara's eyes widen in fear
"Uncle Ani!" She cried seeing him held in place by the vines before a sinister and familiar laugh joined them followed by several witches. "Sweet child, when are you going to learn that there is no escape for you and your uncle" she warns her before Kiara then saw another vine wrap around Anakin's neck starting to choke him.
"No, please, don't hurt my uncle!" She cried seeing Anakin struggle to breath as Alwina laughs "Perhaps your uncle's death will ensure you never run away again" she tells her using her magic to tighten the vine around Anakin's neck making it harder for him to breathe. Kiara felt the tears fall down her cheeks
"Please, no!" She cried "You promised my uncle wouldn't die!" She sobbed "Please!" She pleads through her tears before after a few more minutes, Alwina released the vines around Anakin hearing him gasping for air as four more witches rushed towards him cuffing him with force resistants once more as Alwina grabbed Kiara by her arm.
Alwina glared down at the young girl "I may have said your uncle would not die, but if these escape attempts persist, next time he will die" she warns seeing the tears fall down Kiara's face even more as Alwina dragged her back to camp with her sisters bringing Anakin along with them. Kiara tearfully looks back at her uncle as he looks back at her in regret, he had failed to get them away from these witches. Perhaps they would be prisoners of these witches forever.
Unaware that his brother had been attempting escapes from the witches with his daughter, Obi Wan awoke the next morning with the realisation that he had for the last three years - his brother and his daughter were prisoners of the witches and even though Thalia was dead, Alwina was a loyal follower and close friend to Thalia and she was now the leader and unable to sense his brother troubled him even more.
What if Anakin was dead? What had become of his daughter? Obi Wan quickly shook his head. No, Anakin had to be alive, there was a reason they took him and Kiara. Anakin was a pawn keeping him alive in the hopes Kiara will join them. He had to believe Anakin was protecting Kiara, he just hoped this would all be over.
The doors to their bedroom opened once more and in stormed his wife, dressed in her crimson coloured battle dress and hair pulled back into a tight bun. Sabe and Dorme were right behind her along with Padme and Obi Wan's eleven year old son Jacen and their now five year old daughter Lily.
"Another failed search!" Padme cried "We've searched nearly the entire kingdom and have every Jedi on alert and still nothing!" She angrily exclaims in frustration as Jacen moved up beside her mother. "We won't give up mother. My sister and uncle are still out there and alive and we will see them again" he promises her as Padme turns to look down at her son, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"My son, you've grown so much. We couldn't be more prouder" she smiles as Obi Wan moved over towards his wife and son, wrapping an arm around his wife. "Your mother's right. You've come a long way in your training and we will be a family again" he promises him as Lily ran over towards Obi Wan "Daddy!" She cried as he lifts her up into his arms
"I miss Kiara and uncle Ani daddy" she admits as he holds her close "We all do Lily but we won't stop till we find them" he insists as Padme agrees "I've sent the soldiers out once more to start another search but I don't understand why you can't sense them?" She asks as Obi Wan shook his head
"Well, remember when Thalia last tried to take over the kingdom and she used yslamir to block the force, it's possible the witches are using yslamir to block everyone from sensing their camp" he warns her "But it's not going to stop us" he assures her as Padme gives him a small smile. "I only hope we won't be too late" she admits before they shared a gentle kiss together before leading Jacen and Lily back out of the room to head down to breakfast as Sabe and Dorme followed.
King Bail Organa was full of guilt and remorse - he blamed himself for what happened to Kiara and Anakin. Despite Padme and Obi Wan telling him that he had no choice that Thalia had his wife's heart, they did not excuse his wife for trying to take their children away. Jacen had told them what happened in the dungeons and so Bail was ensuring he and his soldiers did every thing they could to find Anakin and Kiara.
And there was happiness for Bail and Breha - their longing for children was over for two years ago they adopted a beautiful healthy baby girl they named Abigail. Princess Abigail and now three years old, she was doted by them lovingly and it only made them increase the search for Padme and Obi Wan's daughter.
"Your highness, there appears to be no sign of the camp or the princess and the head guard. Perhaps it's time to call off the search" the guard suggested as Bail, who held his daughter Abigail in his arms, looked over at him.
"No, increase the search. They are still out there and Queen Padme is our friend and ally. Her daughter must be returned to them along with their head royal guard and brother to the King" he instructs them seeing the guard nod before turning to exit their throne room as Abigail looked up at her father
"Daddy, when can I play with Lily again?" She asks as he smiles. Despite the age difference, Lily and Abigail formed quite a friendship however Padme was still uncomfortable around Breha knowing she tried to take the children and even though Thalia had her heart, Padme would have thought they could have tried to secretly warn them.
Bail give his little girl a hug "Soon princess. Lily's parents are dealing with finding Lily's sister and Lily's uncle and running their kingdom but we'll make a visit there again soon" he promises seeing her smile before he carried her from the throne room heading out into the gardens.
Kiara covered her eyes once more as she saw two more witches shove their electro staffs into her uncle. His hands were tied above his head and his chest was bare and he was only wearing his pants. Alwina stood off to the side, arms folded and smirking as they tortured the Jedi once more after bringing them back to camp.
Alwina then noticed Kiara covering her eyes which forced her to grab one of her arms abruptly forcing her to look. "You need to look because you are not listening to me in that every time you both try to escape, your uncle suffers" she reminds her as Kiara shakes her head, eyes looking up at her filled with tears
"But it's too much, you're hurting him and he could die!" She sobs. This was true, with every escape attempt, the torture became harder and longer for Anakin and Kiara feared one day they just will kill him.
Alwina shakes her head, tightening her grip on the little girl's arm. "Well, you aren't learning that this is the punishment for escaping" she reminds her as Kiara cringes hearing her uncle screaming in pain once more. Alwina tilts her head "You know what you have to do to get them to stop" she reminds her referring to using her abilities. "Kiara….don't listen….." Anakin tries to tell her as the electro staff was jammed into his side once more. Kiara felt the tears fall. Her uncle was right, don't give into the witches and show them her abilities were growing but this time they weren't stopping.
And so just as the second electro staff was about to be jabbed into his side once more, the witch instead saw the staff fly from her hands before the second one also went flying. "Leave my uncle alone!" Kiara cries as Alwina smirks "I see your abilities are growing little one. You'll make a fine witch young one" she tells her looking back at her two sisters, waving her hand, Anakin's hands were untied and he fell to the floor
"Sisters, let us leave our young student here with her uncle" she tells her before all three headed from the tent right as Kiara rushed over to her uncle, throwing her arms around him, kneeling beside him "I'm sorry uncle Ani, I had to!" She cried "They wouldn't stop" she sobbed as Anakin slowly looks up at her, lifting a shaking arm to pull her closer. "I understand Kiara. I would have done the same but let us hope this is the last time she sees your abilities" he reminds her hoping that they'll soon be back with their family.
Obi Wan's dream…
The screams surrounded him as soldiers fell to the ground, wounded or dead. The witches were winning and all he was focused on was protecting his wife, son and daughter as well as finding Kiara and Anakin.
"Obi Wan!" He heard as he turned to see his wife in her battle dress running towards him "Don't worry Jacen and Lily are with Sabe and Dorme, I'm not leaving you" she tells him giving him a stern look which told him not to argue with her. "Have you found Kiara and Anakin?" She asks as Obi Wan shook his head
"Not yet but….." He then sensed a familiar presence before they both saw moving into the courtyard three figures. They recognised the middle figure as Alwina, Thalia's friend however their eyes widen in horror when they spotted Anakin and realising the third was their middle child, Kiara, all dressed in black and eyes bleeding yellow.
Alwina smirked as she looked over at her newest recruit. "You remember what you must do young one" she reminds her as Padme felt her heart breaking "Kiara…." She cries as Kiara pushes back her hood smirking "Anakin's the only family I have" she simply replied raising her hand, Padme and Obi Wan were flying through the air before everything went black
End of dream
