The Return of Ben Kenobi- Chapter One

{set not long after Satine was on Coruscant}

The luxurious system of Mandalore appeared to be slowly tumbling towards the soaring vessel. This time, Obi-wan Kenobi was on a more private mission to the system; it must have been an important one at that to encourage him to pilot. "A peaceful mission to oversee the threat of the Death Watch." is what Obi-wan had named it. He was a keen volunteer to lead the follow up overview, he wondered if Skywalker's patience would last that long around the Duchess. Guiltily, he found the vision of the scenario quite amusing.

A tight knot churned in his stomach. To his knowledge: the Duchess didn't know it was him arriving, tensions were high last time, the forbidden unsaid frustrated them both and they blamed each other for it. Things were said that were not explained and now haunted them like unsettled souls, the unsaid had nearly been released… Anyway, there was nothing that she could have said to stop him from coming; from helping. No matter how far they would push each other away; no matter how many harsh words would pass; he knew their friendship was better than that. He would never stop helping her. They were unbreakable. Nevertheless, still led some doubt in his mind to whether she would be pleased to see him again...

These doubts lingered like a rain-cloud over his head as he was escorted by royal guards into the decadent palace. Golden sunlight streamed through mosaic glass to light a staggered pathway across the floor. It led, however, to an empty throne. Quite a rare sight to behold. Obi-wan cast glances over his shoulders to the guards whom, in his opinion, looked too unconcerned then bizarrely, they all halted simultaneously. To get into their new position they made clean, accurate slices through the air then stood to the side like an audience. They might as well be clones. He resumed, in solitude now, approaching the vacant throne where there was a certain eeriness to the silence that hung from the grand ceiling like the golden chandeliers. A clicking of heels peeled through the dense suspension in which he was suffocated by. Duchess Satine of Mandalore entered the mighty hall via a curious looking door to the right. Calm and collected with her shoulders held back, she walked with much purpose. Dressed in her ceremonial outfit with her head dress crowning her chiselled face, her very presence made time stand still in awe.

Obi-wan thought at the sight of her again that she played her part as Duchess well. Grief struck her family from a young age so she had to abandoned her home along with everything she knew. A planet descended into violence, suffering from a civil war was left in her hands; her responsibility to lead. Just a young girl who had to make her voice loud enough to stop the horror and bring peace. Everyday she had to look strong to keep the hope in her people aflame, to keep their burning hearts alive. Still even now behind her wise yet youthful eyes, Obi-wan could see that vulnerable girl desperately screaming at the guns to stop the meaningless bloodshed. He knew her well enough to meet the woman she was hiding. She was reckless and playful, sarcastic and witty, caring and loving. She longed to be trouble-free but her responsibilities cloaked her. Kenobi sympathised with what that was like. Satine took the title of Duchess in her stride and saved her people from themselves. But who will save Satine?- he so often thought. The Satine that he had once had to wake from night terrors or calm her streaming tears at night from the relentless pressure she faced. But that was never her concern; she was too selfless to care for herself. Admirable really. A truly remarkable woman as Skywalker once said, but he didn't know the half of it.

Satine seemed quite taken back when their eyes finally met but she smiled all the same; dissolving all his doubts away. "Obi-wan!" she exclaimed, hastily changing her course from the throne to Kenobi.

It was unusual for her to greet him by his first name instead of "Master Kenobi" or, force forbid, "General Kenobi". She had made her feelings about generals perfectly clear on the Coronet. "Hello again, my old friend." he replied politely while bowing at her impending presence.

She raised an eyebrow, "Who are you calling old?" then nodded to accept his courtesy.

Obi-wan looked a little flustered. "Well, I suppose that would be both of us."

Satine let out a slight chuckle and admitted "Indeed, it was many years ago now: when we first met." After all their last meeting wasn't long ago on Coruscant.

She outstretched her hand to Obi-wan and without quarrel he carefully curled his hand around her cold fingers. It was still quite strange going through such formality with a friend but he had learnt to understand it. The Jedi leaned in to gently kiss the sacred surface of her skin with his beard silently tickling her. As Satine arched over him, a breath of hot air trickled across his ear and she whispered:

"You don't like to make it easy for me do you," before retracted her lean.

Being quite aware of the guards behind him, Obi-wan steadily pulled his lips away from her knuckles and looked up, perplexed, to gaze into her eyes as an invitation to continue. Uncomfortably, he kept his back bent so she wouldn't have to raise her whisper.

"getting over you." she continued.

A smile crept across his face. He had tried to forget about her so many times, for the sake of the order; not his own. But there was always something that brought his thoughts back to his Duchess. Obi-wan made his peace with that when he was still a Padawan. Slowly he re-instated his posture and swiftly lay his other hand under her palm in a pathetic attempt to warm her up.

"My dear, you've had many years to do that. If you haven't by now then you never will. I'm afraid you're stuck with me now." he answered in a low tone with a mischievous countenance.