The Guardians

Rating: K
Summary: Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi are sent to find out the truth from miners reports of another possible candidate for the Jedi.
Notes: This story is a sequel to Initus.
Disclaimer: All canon characters are owned by the Great Flanneled one, and now Disney. All others are mine. I make no money off this.
Timeline: 43 BBY

Speech: " "
Training bond communication: /
Internal thoughts: italics

Chapter Seven

Dinah thought she should be elated at the demise of Redan, but she wasn't. She was more in shock than anything else. The one thing she dreamed of had actually happened. Rising to her feet, she went over to where her mother and sister stood. They were watching Obi-Wan with wary eyes.

"Mama, there's something important I need to tell you," Dinah gave her a grim look.

"Is it something I would want to hear, child?"

"Not sure," Dinah shrugged. She paused, "The Priestess, Redan is dead."

Darna glanced over to Semo before looking back at her eldest daughter. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, Obi-Wan told me. He has yet to lie to me, but I also know if he would even attempt it. He knows it will do him no good," this time Dinah gave her a smirk while folding her arms.

"Like what?"

Dinah turned her attention to Semo. For a moment she looked to be contemplating on what to tell him. "Well, I've figured out quite a few things on my own, and being able to tell if someone is lying is just one of them."

"Tell me never to get you angry," Semo looked at Dinah with a straight face before relaxing and letting a smile come through.

Relief shown in Darna's eyes for the first time. "With Redan gone I would think we'd be accepted back, or at least I would hope so."

Semo turned his attention back to the woman standing beside him. "I'll go."

"Same here," Dinah nodded. If there was one thing, she knew she needed to tell Obi-Wan of their plans. She turned and went back to the two.

"Obi-Wan," this was the first time she actually said his name out loud. He turned to look at her, eyes grim.

Closing her eyes, she concentrated on sending him what had been decided.

Hurry…he…there's not much time left.

Dinah placed her hand on his arm and nodded. She knew the need for urgency. "I will be back as soon as possible." It was only after she left that she realized that she spoke in her tongue and didn't even bother to see if he understood her words. She shrugged. There was no time for her to go back.

The two worked their way through the forest, Semo with his bow prepared and his senses on alert. Some of his abilities were like hers, but she couldn't feel the power swirling around him. They both crouched down and looked away from their destination.

"Wait here," Semo whispered and then disappeared into the forest. For a time she remained, straining to feel if he was okay or not. Eventually she felt him return.

"It was nothing to be worried about," he gave her a small smile.

"Good," Dinah rose to her feet and followed him. A short time later they emerged into the settlement. The people before them wandered about as if lost.

"Semo," someone yelled. It was only then when they recognized her.

Several gasped and took steps back.

"What's wrong?" Semo deliberately lowered his bow.

"Sedt."

This time Dinah rolled her eyes. "Not again," she muttered. "Who told you that Semo was sedt?"

"Priestess Redan."

Dinah shook her head. If there was one thing she knew, it was that before she fled from the village Redan had taken over her mother's shelter. She went over to her old home, but several tried to stop her.

"Don't go there, it's sacred."

"Really? That was my home before she kicked me out." Dinah shrugged off the hands that tried to stop her and flipped the leather flap to the side allowing her access.

The space was different, at the same time it was the same. Dinah figured it was because there wasn't a whole lot of time between when she left and when Redan was killed. She looked to the rafters hoping to see at least something she could search through. There was nothing.

"What are you looking for?"

Dinah turned to see who it was. "Herbs and medications, Hepo. Would you know where they'd be?"

Hepo gave her an uncertain look. "I don't know."

"It's all right. Everything will be all right." Dinah felt odd comforting the woman who was old enough to be her own mother. In fact, she sat beside her eldest daughter while learning about herbs and how to prepare them on…blankets…from Redan.

Maybe….

Dinah's memories gave her an idea of where to look. Letting her eyes sweep the room again, her eyes finally stopped at a corner. A corner that had many blankets stacked up. "The best place to hide is in plain site," she muttered to herself. Lowering herself to her knees, she started pulling the blankets off the pile. At first she opened each one and then stood so she could shake out anything that might be hiding. When she reached third one, a small leather pouch popped out and flew across the room as she shook it.

"What was that?"

It was a surprise that Hepo had remained. "Why are you still here?" Dinah asked as she moved over to the pouch. It was tied shut with a thin leather thong interwoven around its opening.

"I…I'm not sure."

Closing her eyes, Dinah focused her attention on the woman. After a few moments she came back and then knelt down to scoop up the pouch. Hepo was right, she wasn't sure why she remained. Loosening the drawstrings, she placed the pouch on the floor coverings and opened it up, hoping that it was what she was looking for.

It was.

"Are you okay?"

Dinah looked up to see Hepo, along with Semo now standing behind her. They both glowed with concern.

"Yes, I will be," she gave them a smile. Indicating the herbs, she continued, "And I found what I needed." Looking over to several wooden bowls, Dinah found a mortise and pestle. The mortise was the perfect place for the herbs. Placing the pouch in the bowl, she then carried the two objects out of the shelter. Most of the people were still milling around, confused and not knowing what to do.

"Where are you going?" Hepo asked from behind her.

"I'm going to someone who needs this desperately." And with that Dinah left the clearing and headed into the forest.

"Not without me," Hepo called from behind.

Dinah paused, letting the older woman catch up to her. "You know, you never answered my question on why."

Hepo frowned, then pushed her blonde hair out of her face. She normally had it pulled back in a leather thong, but with everything she'd done in the past few hours, most of it had come free. Realizing what happened, she removed the thong and then pulled it back into a sloppy ponytail. "I guess it's because I feel guilty that Redan was able to control me as well as she did."

"It's not your fault," Dinah wanted Hepo to understand that the power was an odd thing. "If you are blessed with the power there are some things you can do that no one else can. Manipulating people is one of them."

Hepo's eyes went wide. "Priestess Redan…she manipulated us?"

Dinah actually looked at her in pity. "I believe so. Don't you remember what happened when I returned earlier?"

Confusion crossed her face. "No, not at all. Everything is a blur. Did something happen?"

"Yes. Someone I recently met was almost killed." Or so she assumed. It was obvious what Redan had in mind. It was a relief when he reappeared. And then when he told her that Redan was dead? At that point she really didn't know what to think or feel

Hepo's shoulders slumped. "How could this happen?"

Dinah wasn't sure if the question was rhetorical or not. Instead of answering she went back towards the small clearing. A short time later the two emerged and was greeted by the sight of Qui-Gon now laying flat on the ground and his head in Obi-Wan's lap. The younger Jedi had his head bowed and was touching the older man's temples. At first Dinah had no idea what he was doing, but the closer she came the more she could feel the power swirling around them.

Hepo skirted around the scene and tried to go over to Darna. When she neared the older woman she hissed, "How can you let this happen, don't you know he's sedt?"

Darna placed a hand on the blonde's shoulder. "I don't believe so. He's only trying to help his companion."

Dinah ignored everything around her as she knelt beside Qui-Gon. As she reached out with her hands Obi-Wan removed his, giving her access to the older man. I'm back and have the medication.

No child. It's too late.

It's never too late if there's breath. Dinah ground up the leaves as best she could with the pestle. She then mixed it with water. It wasn't as ground up as she wanted, but it would do. As long as the herbs were swallowed then Qui-Gon had a chance.

Have him sit up, Dinah pointed the thought to Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan nodded and soon Qui-Gon was in more of a reclining position. Obi-Wan said something to him. Qui-Gon shook his head, but Obi-Wan said something else. Eventually the older man nodded, it was almost reluctant in Dinah's estimation. She handed the wooden cup to Obi-Wan who then pressed it's edge against Qui-Gon's lips. It was slow going, but eventually the concoction was consumed.

And? She heard Obi-Wan's voice.

We wait.


"What are you looking at, Hepo?" Darna asked as she finally was able to get the other woman calmed down. She wasn't all that surprised at how she acted around Obi-Wan. It made her wonder if because of her first born that she wasn't as susceptible to Redan's anger towards the sedt than the other villagers.

"How can you be so calm around them…the sedt…."

"Hepo," Darna placed a hand on her friend's shoulder. "They're just people. The younger, Obi-Wan, all he wants to do is to make sure that Qui-Gon lives."

"But sedt…." Hepo shook her head.

"What do you mean?"

"Sedt care nothing for others."

"And yet, he cares for someone else." Darna gave her a smile.

"Yes. It's too confusing." Hepo sighed as she watched the two with Dinah. "I'm also surprised at how Dinah isn't frightened by his presence."

"Who knows." This time Darna shrugged. "I only wish…."

Hepo turned to look at Darna and then over to Semo. The guardian was over at the edge of the clearing and looking into the forest. Apparently he heard something. Her eyes just happened to slide over to Dinah. Both her and the boy were also looking out into the forest in the same general direction. They all heard or felt something, she assumed. Turning back to the boy she gasped and her eyes widened when she realized what she saw.

"What is it?" Darna rose to her feet and went over to Semo.

"Nothing to fear, Darna," he slid his arm around her waist. "There was only movement that I heard."

"We're safe for now?" this time she leaned into the embrace and then placed a hand on his chest.

"Yes, for now."

Darna pulled away from him and headed back to Hepo. Turning, she found Rihcada had returned. "So that's what he heard," she muttered. The young girl had been foraging just inside the treeline, still in view. It made Darna realize that even though he wasn't their father, he still worried and cared for her daughters as much as he could.

Turning her attention back to Hepo, she found her friend staring at Obi-Wan. "What is it?"

"I thought…I though for a moment he looked like Rihcad."

Darna gave her a sad smile. "It's not possible. I hated that I did it, but I did as Redan commanded."

"I don't know if I would ever be that strong. I grieve with you for your loss."

"Thank you. You have no idea how much that helps." Darna closed her eyes and tried not to focus on those distant memories.

TBC….