Sorry this took so long to post. Darth Real Life butted in again. Plus, this one was a little hard to write for some reason. It morphed so many times. Thanks to everyone who's read and reviewed. Your comments are welcome and appreciated! *hugs* Now, on with the story!

Ch. 4

"What?" Kasyn and Obi-Wan asked in surprised unison.

Obi-Wan looked at Yathen with a raised brow. "Tursia?" he repeated skeptically.

Yathen rolled his eyes as he sighed. "Don't sound so shocked," he said, lolling his head around to sneer at Obi-Wan. "Surely you knew someone would come looking for her eventually." His voice dripped with contempt.

Obi-Wan turned to face Yathen fully. "And just how would we have known that?" he asked, crossing his arms over his chest. "As I recall, we found her in an orphanage." He emphasized the last word. "We were told she had no family."

"And you didn't bother to check for yourselves?" Yathen asked, his voice rising with anger. He squared up to Obi-Wan, crossing his own arms over his chest.

"The director didn't have any records on any of the children," Obi-Wan said, his voice controlled but tight. "There was no way to keep proper records at the time, what with the war and all," he finished in a low voice. He narrowed his eyes and cocked his head to the side as he thought of something. "I'm curious, Mr. Alil. How long have you known about Kasyn?"

Yathen seemed taken aback for a second before he regained his composure. He raised his chin to look down his nose at Obi-Wan, but was only able to hold his glare for a moment before shifting his gaze to the floor.

Obi-Wan didn't bother to hide his smug grin as he turned away from Yathen. "I thought so."

Yathen's lips pressed into a tight line as he glared at the side of Obi-Wan's head.

Ki-Adi-Mundi, feeling the tension growing stronger and angrier by the second, chose to speak up. "How long have you known?" he asked, his voice full of curiosity.

Yathen turned his attention to Ki-Adi, but didn't answer immediately. Ki-Adi was about to repeat his question after several long moments of silence when Yathen finally said, "About five years."

"And how did you discover her?"

"By accident," Yathen said reluctantly.

"Ha," Obi-Wan barked, his head falling back with the force of his laugh. He looked over at Yathen, his eyes narrowed and his smug smile still in place. "You expected us to look for the truth when you didn't even know until you stumbled upon it," he said mockingly.

"That's enough, Obi-Wan," Mace said, fixing him with a glare that warned him to check his attitude.

Obi-Wan held his smile, not phased by Mace's glare, though he did bite back any other sarcastic remarks as he turned back to the Council.

"Thank you, Master Windu," Yathen crooned. A smug smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he looked at Obi-Wan out of the corner of his eyes.

Mace's glare switched from Obi-Wan to Yathen in an instant, causing Yathen's smile and attitude to vanish as quickly as it had appeared. "I'd be careful if I were you," Mace warned, narrowing his eyes as he spoke. "He has a valid point; there was no way for anyone to know at the time."

"I'm sure," Yathen said slowly, narrowing his own eyes as he glared back at Mace. His voice was thick with loathing.

"If you discovered her by accident, then you were looking for someone else," Ki-Adi said, drawing everyone's attention back to the main point in hopes to diffuse some of the tension that continued to build.

Yathen glared at Mace a moment longer before turning back to Ki-Adi. "Yes, we were," he confirmed tightly.

"Who?" Yoda prompted when Yathen didn't volunteer any more information.

"The King's wife," Yathen said after a moment. He bowed his head, his voice sad.

"What happened?" Mace asked in a neutral tone.

Yathen sighed. "She disappeared before the end of the war," he said slowly. He paused a moment as he deliberated on what he was willing to tell; finally, he decided just to speak to Kasyn. "The King and I discovered it was not long after you were conceived," he said, looking down at her.

Kasyn didn't acknowledge him as he spoke, but simply stared at the same spot on the floor she had fixated on since Yathen's identity had been revealed.

"But with the war still ragging," he continued, his voice low and gentle now that he was talking to Kasyn, "we were unable to mount any kind of search. Obviously, we never knew about you. If we had…." His voice trailed off as he shook his head and shrugged. "As it's already been stated, things were a bit chaotic at the time."

Kasyn's brow creased as she shook her head slowly. "Why now?" she asked, her voice no louder than a whisper. She turned slightly to look up at Yathen. "Why come after me now?"

"Because your father is dying," Yathen answered, his voice rough with emotion.

"Not my problem," Kasyn said flatly.

"Oh, yes it is, Milady," Yathen said. His voice became stern as he turned to address her. "It is your duty as Princess to take your place when the King is gone."

"It's her decision," Obi-Wan said in a low voice. He stepped forward, placing his hands on Kasyn's shoulders. "She's at the age of Apprenticeship. She can decide for herself what she wishes to do."

"And I wish to stay here," Kasyn said without hesitation. She crossed her arms over her chest and stuck out her chin in defiance.

Yathen gave a low, frustrated growl. He was about to speak, but Mace Windu beat him to it.

"Kasyn," he said, sitting up on the edge of his chair. He rested his elbows on his knees, clasping his hands in front of him. "I'm afraid it is not your choice."

Kasyn's heart sunk into her gut as she turned back to Mace, dropping her arms to her sides as she did. She clenched her jaw, fighting back the hot tears stinging her eyes. She raised a hand up to clasp one of Obi-Wan's that was still on her shoulders.

Obi-Wan's heart sank as well at Mace's words. "She has the choice," he said quietly, desperately trying to deny what his mind was telling him was coming.

"Not this time," Mace said. He brought his hands, still clasped, up to his chin. After a moment, he continued. "Normally an Initiate at your age would have the choice, but this is a special case."

Obi-Wan squeezed Kasyn's shoulders as he closed his eyes. He opened himself to the Force, stretching his mind out to Kasyn's.

Mace continued. "According to Mr. Alil, there is no other heir to the throne. If there were, this point would be moot." He lowered his hands as he looked at Kasyn. "We have no choice but to let you go."

"Let me go?" Kasyn said angrily through clenched teeth. Her breathing grew rapid, causing her chest to heave with the force of it.

Obi-Wan's eyes flew opened as the link he was forming between his mind and Kasyn's opened. RUN!

"I don't want to leave with him," Kasyn screamed. She didn't hesitate as she followed Obi-Wan's mental command. She turned abruptly on her heels, sprinting for the door.

Obi-Wan dipped into the Force again, throwing out a hand to open the double doors as Kasyn ran, allowing her to flee without slowing down.

Yathen growled at Obi-Wan. "How DARE you," he yelled, pulling out a commlink as he pushed past Obi-Wan. He spoke hurriedly as he made his way out of the Council's chamber. "Stop her!"

Obi-Wan looked past Yathen into the hallway outside the chamber as more than a dozen armed officers, all wearing the crest of the Tursian Royal Family, suddenly surrounded Kasyn, blocking her from the lifts; her only means of escape. He couldn't understand how he had missed their presence when he and Kasyn first came to the chamber, but the flash of something in one of the guard's hand cut his ponderings short. "NO," he screamed when realization struck.

The guard grasped Kasyn's head in his free hand as one of his compatriots held her arms behind her, rendering her unable to fight back. Obi-Wan could feel Kasyn call the Force to her, but it was too late. The guard jabbed the needle deep in her neck, quickly injecting her with the drug it contained.

"NNOO," Obi-Wan screamed again as Kasyn went limp in the guard's arms. He made a move to go after her, but found Mace blocking his way.

"You shouldn't have interfered, Obi-Wan," Mace said, his eyes hard and his voice low and angry.

"This is wrong and you know it," Obi-Wan growled through his teeth. He tried shoving the taller man out of his way, but Mace grabbed him by the arms, holding him back. "Let me go," Obi-Wan said, his own voice lower and angrier than Mace's had been.

"I suggest you control yourself, Knight Kenobi," he said flatly, emphasizing Obi-Wan's official title. "If you don't, you'll force this Council to do something it might regret."

"This is wrong," Obi-Wan repeated through clenched teeth. He jerked his arms free of Mace's hold, once again trying to push his way past him, only to be shoved back halfway across the room.

"Don't push this, Obi-Wan," Mace growled.

Adi Gallia stepped up behind Mace, her eyes boring into Obi-Wan's. "Please, Obi-Wan," she said, her voice soft and soothing. "Your anger will not help the situation."

Obi-Wan clenched his teeth so tightly that his jaw flinched as he closed his eyes. He concentrated on evening out his breathing and releasing his anger into the Force. After a moment, he opened his eyes. He seemed to be under control, but deep inside he was still seething. He desperately wanted to go after Yathen and his minions with all his strength and power, but he knew Kasyn would never approve. So instead he locked his anger and frustration deep in his mind and forced himself to stay where he was as he watched them carry Kasyn's limp form away. He narrowed his eyes at Yathen as the other took one last look back, the anger Obi-Wan still felt echoed in the other man's eyes.

Obi-Wan turned his glare to each of the Council members, moving from one to the next, after Yathen, Kasyn and the guards were long gone. His glare came to a stop on Mace. He walked up to the taller Jedi slowly, stopping when he was mere inches from him. He didn't say a word; he just glared at him a moment before storming out of the chamber.