So I think I'm doing quite well with this new schedule of updates. As you may have noticed there is a change of name. This used to be entitled 'forbidden love of Jedi' however after seeing a story that was longer and far better established (and far better written I might add) that was entitled 'forbidden love a a Jedi' I was worried readers would get confused so decided to change this story name. Also I now have a tumblr blog set up for star wars so please look at: JediGirlClaws for more information. Hope you enjoy...
Obi-Wan searched her face desperately as he pondered how to react, not for the first time he had to distinguish between who an adult called Obi-Wan and the Jedi he was so desperately trying to be, the jedi that Qui-Gon had taught him to be. The Jedi in him was shocked and reeling from the news, trying desperately to think of a strategy, any exit route to recoup the losers, how could he do his job of being unbiased while his wife endangered his loyalties- teetering on the edge of both the separatist movement and the Republic. If she chose- for her people- against the republic then Obi-Wan's next front could well be Mandalore fighting against his wife on the flip side there was the danger that Satine might risk being overthrown if she stayed with the Republic just to prevent any torn loyalties on either front. Then there was the added risk of if the child could, be force sensitive and it wouldn't be too long before the council tried to recruit him- dashing hopes for Mandalore and placing the unborn child right in the middle of whatever future war or wars there would be.
"Obi" the voice of his wife brought him out of pondering as he realised that he still hadn't replied, now instead of neutrality worry, anger and fear clouded her eyes, twisting them. He stared at her in astonishment shocked that such dark emotions could quickly appear. But if he looked deeper he could see that these weren't the dark side emotions that he had been warned off from when he could learn to talk. The pureness of these emotions had not been encountered by him before: a mother's protectiveness for their babe, armed with this new understanding he began to look at the whole situation in a new light. This wasn't something to fear but to protect, his thoughts briefly flickered against Anakin's in a show of belated understanding of what was had between his former Padawan and Shmi. He would not cease to understand the power of family again.
"It's, thats, fantastic news" he whispered haltingly, live in the now his former master had said and although he may not have pictured this situation when he said it but it was totally relevant at this matter in time. The clone wars wouldn't stretch on forever, there would eventually be peace and now Obi-Wan just had something more to fight for: a better world for his family. Satine's expression cleared replaced by happiness as she reached towards him, stroking his cheek and feeling the facial hair that he had insisted on keeping no matter how hard she mocked him for it. They allowed themselves no further risk as they ripped themselves from each other, standing at what they viewed as an agreeable distance for a Jedi and Royalty to be friends and remain unattached. Happiness spiked from his Force signature, he left it unchecked as he saw some clones off to the distance smiling for some unknown reason. The jedi almost burst out laughing, just once everyone would go to bed smiling, even if there was no real known cause. His happiness dimmed as he remembered how Anakin hadn't yet found Satine. "Let him make the apology" he whispered too her, gently trying to push her out of the tree line. She resisted slightly, crossing her hands over her belly that now Obi-Wan was taking notice wasn't filling out with food but had the more natural look for baby growth. "I won't let him loose control again" he vowed, letting his feelings go into the Force, sealing the vow in its swirling light. He would never forget about how his former padawan had almost killed his child, lost control and summoned anything that had answered his call. Satine nodded once, in her face was written the trust of a wife to a husband. She would do this only for Obi-Wan, and she showed no fear because she trust him to protect her. She walked out with a dignity of a woman from a long line of royal blood.
"Knight Skywalker" She called out into the dusk, walking towards where she had seen them, bringing herself up before him and the chancellor. Inwardly she felt uneasy, between them she saw a camaraderie that shouldn't be shared between a knight and a chancellor, especially one that was long overdue removal from government and had done much to reduce public services and liberties against the galactic constitution. She had long resented the removal of the former chancellor yet had tried hard to embrace the change, despite the hardships that came from being in the middle of a war. It was especially difficult when other worlds in the Mandalorian system had already pledged their allegiance to Dooku and his separatist regime. She had forced it because she saw the Republic as what it had been and had hoped that it would change. But here infront of her was the reasons she had to consider leaving. If the Jedi-with the exception of Obi-Wan who distrusted all in power equally- were in league with the Chancellor and offering support it showed there was much more to fix within the republic than what she had ever considered before, suddenly everything seemed much darker.
"Duchess" Anakin replied stiffly, searching the trees for something that no one else could see. He felt Obi-Wan's presence near and had felt the spike of happiness that had radiated through the Force, and through it he recognised the stab of jealousy that had cut through his fragile grip on peace. He knew Satine had caused the happiness, happiness he had long sought for as a child and a growing teenager. Happiness that had been denied to him when a Sith Lord had struck Qui-Gon through the chest. He went to clench his fists, however decided it was better to hold his hands behind his back in a military style manner it helped him to find his centre balance. He waited slowly for the duchess to answer him, to ask for an apology but she seemed to have the same knack as his master for knowing when to just wait. He had once been told that a silence following words is asking for more without using words. To remain silent was to always find out more, even Yoda had told him that on a rare moment when the green troll wasn't scolding him for one thing or the other that he had done wrong. "I'm sorry for my actions earlier, it was not a true representation of my training as a Jedi"
Satine was impressed, although the boy had been reluctant he had covered all the bases with a full apology that managed to deflect the blame from his training and to him as a person. At the same time he was wary, the apology had been designed to be contradicted, and her eyes narrowed as she watched the Chancellor place a hand on the young knights shoulder, murmuring words into his ear. The knight hardened slightly before relaxing, he looked into the tree line straight to where Satine knew Obi-Wan was hiding before continuing 'I would also like to extend my apology to master Kenobi" he spoke stiffly, this was not heartfelt, and Satine picked up on the change but couldn't place it, moments ago the two had shown their great attachment and fondness to each for all to see, and yet here was a falseness in their relationship. She hugged herself against the suddenly cold atmosphere, not quite picking up on the underlying meanings and currents that she could almost feel running through her husband, the one that would place his former padawan at the foremost of his attentive care and be the first to lay down his life for. She still remembered when he had come to her asking for helping when it came to his outwardly feelings, the two were more alike than either were prepared to realise, and both had spent a large amount of time outside of the order.
"Thank you Anakin" She breathed a sigh of relief as she felt her husband almost materialise before her, they looked at each other clearly communicating in a way that was only understood by comrades that had fought beside and relied on each other for as long as this pair had, she risked a glance at her saviour, and noticed with shock the subliminal currents on uneasiness that flickered on his face. She turned her attention back to the Chancellor, suddenly feeling very much the outsider of the group. Padme appeared on the other side of the troubled Jedi knight, she stood in the middle, clearly reading the situation as a battle line, however everyone noticed how she tended to one side, leaning her body away from Satine and keeping wary eyes on them, flicking between Satine and Anakin. She too nodded her thanks to the situation.
Battle lines drawn suddenly Satine had a glimpse at how hard it must be for Obi-Wan to stand opposite the man he had raised from a boy. She looked at Padme, they had known each other a long time largely thanks to the interests of Mandalore being seemingly intertwined with the fate of the Jedi as much as Naboo's, as royalty she had petitioned for a peaceful solution to the Naboo blockade, but had viciously opposed the removal of Chancellor Valourium. They had been friends, often frequenting the halls and it had been Satine that had convinced Padme to seek Jedi help on the matter. There was no reason for her to take the Chancellor's side and it hurt that her friend had chosen to not be unbiased on the matter. Not for the first time she questioned the reasoning for not quietly disposing of the baby currently growing, unaware of the danger and darkness that surrounded the world that he- for Satine was sure it was a boy- would soon be thrust into without certainty if there would be a place for him on Mandalore or even with the Jedi. Lightening from the rain previously flashed overhead giving the conference a slightly malicious feeling.
"Generals" Rex broke the silence approaching his superiors without fear, he glanced at the senators, not sure as to how to address them, training had told him that they were more superior than the Jedi. There were a whole list of orders that were classified and above Jedi clearance. Yet the generals were the men that Rex and his comrades owed their life too over and over. There would never be complete trust between them- as was proper, Rex supposed, between clones and men of such standing- but they were trusted far more than the senators. "Generals" he started again now that he had their attention. "Clankers incoming from the southern sector heading east" he decided on being as blunt as possible while at the same time protecting the senators from the truth. Both generals looked mildly queasy at the idea of a fresh battle so soon, they took their discussion to the Force as they carefully worked out an extraction from politics back into the life of battle.
"Senators, Chancellor" Anakin began amicably, ignoring the mild frown he received from Satine. It was still an improvement on the loosely contained anger that had threatened to spill over mere moments before. "If you would like to follow me back to your ship". No sooner had he finished he strode off, allowing little time for the senators to follow, Satine resisted slightly before being gently pushed by Obi-Wan. "This is a war zone" he continued before pausing to give a few orders to a trailing clone. "We are under siege, and I believe it might be better if you left the planet and contacted us on the relevant communications". He paused for breath only when he got to the ship, gesturing grandly as the platform lowered. Briefly out of the corner of his eye he saw his master jump forward towards the front, the Force powering his spring and grace giving him an almost cat like movement, summoning up the Force Anakin turned back to the senators: summoning up all the patience he could possible possess to ensure he didn't appear cold… or worse.
"Master Skywalker" Satine bowed respectively, turning briefly in the direction that Obi-Wan had raced off too before turning back and eyeing the Jedi Knight before her without the attachment of the events from before. She would do this for Obi-Wan's sake, this man was her husband's brother and should be treated with respect. "Look after him" She says quietly to Anakin, nodding in the direction of what she supposed was the front line so as to ensure her point was not misinterpreted in anyway. She watched Anakin's face for some sort of recognition in her request and found only confusion.
"We have each other's backs" he replied, totally baffled by the direction of the conversation. Sure his master had taken to her pretty quickly but, for her to even suggest that he didn't look after his master anyway? To the best of Anakin's knowledge the only thing that had gotten his former master into trouble was Obi-Wan's odd desire to do things that were not in the mission, or when his own impatience got the better of him. He looked momentarily as Padme who shook her head, but her eyes pleaded with him to let go of the comment. Anakin smiled: anything for his angel. The warning in the Force was shouted to Anakin like he had never felt before, coupled quickly by a torrent of warnings from Obi-Wan through the bond. Slowly he looked up, watching in slow time as a large fireball arched across the sky towards them. The Cruiser the Force whispered to him, or was it Obi-Wan? he watched as he saw his former master running towards him with a desperate look on his face.
"Ani-" Obi-Wan screamed towards him, terror etched on every feature. Suddenly everything sped up, summoning up the Force Anakin pushed the started politicians towards Obi-Wan roaring with the effort, and desperate to keep his grip- for once- on the calm required to preform the task. He looked over at Obi-Wan, their eyes locked and he felt the tug of his tunic and on his mind as his master almost begged him to jump to attempt to evade the inevitable. "Anakin" he yelled again desperately making the dash towards them, desperately trying to call on anything to save his padawan. This time, this time he would be fast enough he promised himself, he felt hands grab hold of him before a blast threw him slightly off his feet, he sprang up but still the hands pinned him down.
"No General" He here's Anakin's captain call out, his voice muffled by the trooper helmet they all had to wear. The missle had struck, that was what had blown him off his feet Kenobi quickly realised.
"No" Padme screamed out, running over to where Kenobi stood, tears streamed down her mud stained face, they couldn't move, they good only watch as the ship exploded, and Anakin disappeared, bathed in the oranges, yellows and blacks of the fireball. He could still hear the battle that went on around him, feel the clones hands that kept him pinned down, the gentle touch of satine. He struggled for a moment longer before collapsing flat. He was not fast enough, he was never fast enough. Faces flashed through his vision: Bruck, Cerseri, Qui-Gon, and now Anakin had joined the troop. He felt them all behind him, not saying anything but watching. Obi-Wan almost laughed, they didn't need to say anything did they? Just being there was enough, he knew that he could never relinquish his guilt for their deaths, they were what drove him on, to be a better Jedi. Now they stood at another one of his failures that day. The first was not stopping Anakin's anger earlier in the day, but that was mistake that could never be repaid. His Padawan was gone, never would he get teased about his tea in the morning, the way he hated flying, the numerous times each of them had to save the other's skin. Gone was the years he had dedicated to the boy and it left him feeling lost. It angered and down right scared him.
"Anakin" Obi-Wan half screamed half sobbed out again as the fire raged. No one noticed, preoccupied as they were, the spark of the Dark Side within Darth Sideous, the anger he felt about loosing an Apprentice that was so close to be ready to be trained. So close and now, thanks to Dooku, so far. But as he looked on at the group that stood in front of him, the clones still struggling with Kenobi, the anger felt and the self-loathing the Sith Lord felt himself smile. Maybe his plans just needed a fraction of a change. He eyed up in an almost satisfactory manner the way the Duchess's hand had not left Kenobi's shoulder, but had not broached further into comforting him- as someone who was comfortable with the boundaries of friendship would, and his eyes did not miss the accusatory glare Amidala shot the General. No, no one would suspect him and his plans were not foiled, just merely changed but what was that Jedi saying: Trust the Force?
Wow... what happens next? do we think Anakin is dead? Do we want him dead? stay tuned folks... Please R&R
