Chapter 2: A Pointless Search
Author's Note: So, there are two more OC witches coming into the story. Her name is Aurelia and I will be using Natalie Dormer and the second is Delia and I'm using Carice Van Houten - she will appear in the next chapter.
As morning rose the following morning, Kiara and Anakin were abruptly awoken once more which ever since they were first taken prisoner, had become a daily occurrence and because of yesterday's escape attempt, it would only get worse. Anakin's hands were secured with force resistance cuffs before he was pushed out before another witch, this one with long, brown blondish hair and dressed in long flowing deep blue dress underneath her black cloak. Her name was Aurelia and she grew up alongside Alwina. She helped Alwina escape the palace and ensuring the capture of Anakin and Kiara whilst also attempting to train Kiara as a new witch.
Aurelia brought them into the centre of the camp where Alwina was waiting. She smirked down at Kiara as Aurelia stepped alongside Alwina. "Are you ready to continue your training young one?" She asks "Remember defiance will see your uncle suffer" she reminds her just as Kiara heard Anakin speak up "Don't worry about me Kiara" he tells her "Stay strong, think of your parents" he tells her however Alwina ignores him and focuses on Kiara
"Well, young one?" She asks as Kiara is silent as Aurelia speaks up "I think she needs some persuasion again" she insists turning her sights on Anakin as Kiara shakes her head "No, please!" She cried as Alwina nods at Aurelia who raises one hand before Kiara heard Anakin struggling to breathe whilst a third witch activated the cuffs around his wrists sending shock waves through his body.
"Kiara….." Anakin choked "Don't give in" he tells her as Kiara begins to panic once more, tears forming in her eyes "Uncle Ani" she cried feeling like the six year old she was when she was first brought her. Aurelia continued to choke him as Anakin struggled to breathe even more whilst the shock waves continued through his body. Alwina smirks as Kiara shakes her head before she feels her little fists tighten and then without a word, Kiara suddenly force pushed Aurelia meters away causing her to lose her grip on Anakin's chokehold before Kiara force pushed the third witch away as Anakin fell to the ground gasping for air
"My uncle has suffered enough and if you kill him, I will never join you" she warns her as Anakin heard her mother in her voice as he slowly looks up as Alwina simply grins ""Our training is continuing" she tells her "You're growing more powerful for one so young" she explains. "Follow me young one" she insists "Aurelia, bring her uncle with us" she tells her as Aurelia nods moving over towards Anakin as Alwina turns and heads for the secondary training grounds with Kiara.
Obi Wan did not sleep last night especially after his dream where their kingdom was being attacked again by Alwina and this time they brought Anakin and Kiara except Kiara was one of them, her eyes bled yellow and she answered to Alwina. He shuddered at the thought thinking his little girl and his brother were held captive and for Anakin it was most likely torture because witches disliked men and Anakin was only there to ensure Kiara surrounded herself to them.
Padme was distracting herself with running her kingdom and ensuring the search parties did not stop however day by day three years later, it was becoming a pointless search with the advisors insisting they give up and believe Kiara and Anakin to be lost forever, something neither Padme and Obi Wan would not allow.
And neither would Jacen, despite only being 11, he was determined to prove himself once more and with his training increased with the help of Obi Wan and Obi Wan and Anakin's father Qui Gon, he was ready to join the search. However, Obi Wan and Padme would not allow it, but Padme was forming her own plan which would ensure the kingdom was protected and they could be out there rescuing their daughter and brother in law.
"Excuse me, your highness, I'm not sure I heard you correctly?" One advisor asked "You want a decoy Queen and King whilst you and your husband are both out there pointlessly searching for the princess and head guard?" He asks
"Pointless search?" Padme asks in disbelief "I am a Queen but I am also a wife and mother and I know my daughter and my brother in law are still out there and I will find her and Anakin" she declares "Sabe is one of my best friends who grew up alongside me since I've been a little princess. She will watch over my kingdom and Jacen and Lily and Obi Wan will be here for her" she explains
The advisor tried to argue once more "But your highness, I must insist, this is just pointless because surely the soldiers would have found them by now" he tells her just as Sabe's mother, another advisor on the council spoke up "I agree with our Queen. Perhaps a mother's approach to the search will help find them however, Padme, your husband is a Jedi and a father's love for his daughter just might find the witches and we can ensure they are removed from the kingdom permanently" she informs him seeing him go silent before she exchanged a smile with Padme. Padme stands firm. "As I am Queen, it's my decision and hopefully it won't be a long search" she promises them "We need to act now because these witches will be back and they won't stop until they avenge Thalia's wish" she reminds them.
The advisors all looked around silently before they all agreed. Despite Thalia being dead, Alwina was leading the witches and with Kiara in their clutches, despite being so young, she could still wield the force and her close relationship with her uncle means that she would do anything to protect him.
"Very well, your highness. The advisors will give you four days. Your handmaiden will take your place and if in four days, you haven't found them, you must return home and rule the kingdom and the search will be called off for good" he warns.
Padme fought back the tears fearing that she would have to admit her daughter and brother in law would be dead but she also had a kingdom and they were right however Padme believed that with Obi Wan's help, they would bring Kiara and Anakin home and remove the witches from the kingdom once and for all.
Aurelia watched as Kiara was showing how much she remembered from previous training sessions. She was right now attempting to pull objects and small weapons into her grasp. Alwina stood beside her whilst Anakin was tied to a tree close by. Kiara dropped the small rock before she turned her attention towards Alwina and managed to pull one of her small daggers from her holsters and now was using the force to hold it at Alwina's neck
Alwina simply smirk "What now young one?" She asks "You're going to kill me?" She adds "You'll never make it out of the camp, at least not without your uncle" she warms as Kiara glared at her "You don't know my uncle. He's strong. He defeated Thalia and we'll continue to escape" she warns her as Alwina shakes her head turning her attention to Anakin
She then removed another dagger she was carrying and using her powers sending it straight for Anakin, hovering it over his heart. Kiara shook her head, feeling the tears in her eyes "Please, don't kill him!" She cried "You promised!" She reminds her "I'll never join you" she cried and in anger, Kiara moved the dagger away from Alwina and straight for Aurelia grazing her arm causing her to cry out.
Alwina simply smirks "There it is" she tells her "There's where your powers lie, in your anger. Seeing your uncle in pain and in danger, angers you and you'll do anything to protect him" she tells her. Alwina moved over towards her kneeling before her "You would hurt anyone who hurts your uncle wouldn't you?" She asks
Kiara looked over at her uncle, his eyes met hers telling her to not give in to Alwina's taunts. Kiara felt the tears fall down her cheeks as she looked over at Alwina "You're a bad lady and my parents will find us" she reminds her before she went silent. It had been so long since she even remembered her parents - she wondered if they really were trying to find them as Alwina laughs, she places a hand on Kiara's head
"Sweet child, you're never leaving here and the only way you will leave, is when your powers are strong enough to help us destroy your mother's kingdom which will fulfil Thalia's wish and if you do this, your uncle will remain alive" she informs her
"Kiara….." She hears Anakin breathe heavily looking over at her "Don't listen, you don't have to do anything" he assures her as Alwina smiles before she gets to her feet "Think about it young one" she insists "Aurelia, bring them back to camp" she instructs her friend before she headed back towards camp leaving Aurelia to bring Anakin and Kiara back to camp.
When Aurelia returned to camp with Anakin and Kiara, she entered their quarters where she secured Anakin's wrists to one of the wooden poles before watching Kiara run over towards her uncle. Aurelia stood back in silent hearing the young girl crying once more. "I'm sorry uncle Ani, I'm sorry" she heard her say as Aurelia shook her head before she turned to exit their quarters.
Aurelia never told Alwina much about her past because she didn't reveal much when she found the witches. Unlike her fellow sisters here in the clan, Aurelia was also born into a royal family like Kiara and realising she had force powers she was afraid and when the witches attacked her kingdom, she pleaded with them to take her because she didn't want to be alone and the witches became her family but three years ago when they attempted to take over Queen Padme's kingdom and then took royal guard Anakin and Princess Kiara captive. Aurelia was reminded of herself when she looked at Kiara.
Flashback -
"Please, take me with you!" Aurelia pleaded with the women standing in front of her. She had been told to remain hidden by her mother and father but upon seeing them killed before her eyes, and her powers still not strong enough to fight against them, Aurelia needed protection and didn't want to be alone.
It was then they heard a voice "I think we should take her with us" they told them "Another young to train to become a powerful witch and Thalia could use a new friend" she tells them. Shira smiles around at her new sisters as Aurelia, eyes watering looks up at them
"I don't want to be alone" she cried as Shira moves over towards her kneeling beside her, placing one hand on her shoulder "And you'll never be alone anymore. We're the family you need" she smirks as Aurelia tearfully looks up at her before Shira lifts the little girl in her arms leading her away from the kingdom and into the forest.
End of flashback
As Aurelia moved away from Anakin and Kiara's quarters, Kiara continued to cry beside her uncle. "I'm sorry" she sobbed "I didn't mean to do what I did but I didn't want her to keep hurting you and she knows my anger triggers my powers" she cries
"I just want to go home" she tells him as Anakin, struggling with his wrists tied to the pole, attempts to shifts himself closer towards his niece. "There may be a way" he tells her as Kiara looks up at him as he goes on "Kiara, this plan could be risky but I believe in you, you're strong and I know you can do it" he insists. "What is it?' Kiara softly asks as Anakin clears his throat "The camp is blocked off from the force however when we were near the river, I started to sense the force and so tonight, when everyone has gone to sleep, you're going to sneak out to the river and attempt to use the force to reach out to contact your father" he suggested as Kiara clung to her uncle even more
"But if they see me escaping, they'll hurt you" she points out as Anakin shook his head "You won't because once you think you got a message out, come straight back here" he insists. Kiara looks up at him with tears in her eyes but seeing him smile down at her, and within the last three years, she felt even more closer to her uncle.
"Okay uncle Ani, I will do my best" she insists before she snuggled against Anakin hoping to get some rest before her big job that would hopefully see them escape this camp and the witches for good.
The horses were prepared, the knights were ready to leave along with their Queen and King. Padme was moving down the stone steps alongside her husband as Jacen and Lily hurried after them. Sabe was inside with the advisors proving to them that this was the best choice. Padme was a strong minded Queen and a fighter and she would make her family.
"Padme, my dear are you sure this is a wise idea. If the witches are watching us this could be a trap" Obi Wan warns as Padme shakes her head "I refuse to wait around fearing the worst. I'm taking over the search and will bring my daughter home!" She explains as Obi Wan sighs "Yes, but I am not letting you go out there alone. You are a Queen but you're also my wife and I'm going with you" he insists
Jacen, who had been standing beside his father along with his little sister, lowers his head before he spoke "I wish I was coming with you to save my sister and uncle" he admits. Obi Wan then kneels down towards his son. "I know you do but your mother and I will feel much better knowing you are here protecting the kingdom and your sister" he informs him just as Lily then threw her arms around her mother.
"Mommy, please just come home and bring Kiara and uncle Ani" she sobs as Padme then lifts her little girl in her arms. "I promise you, we will bring them home and you be a good girl for your brother and aunt Sabe. She's going to help look after the kingdom while mommy's away" she informs her. Padme gives her a gentle kiss and hug before she gives one last hug to Jacen as Obi Wan hugs Lily before Jacen and Lily watched both their parents ascend their horses and lead the knights out of the kingdom on what would hopefully be the last search mission.