Blood of Mandalore

by Kurenaino

Engaged in a bloody civil war, the Mandalorian government requests the aid of the Jedi to help protect their Duchess, the last hope for peace in their war-torn world.

10. Krownest

Chapter 10: Krownest

Qui-Gon awoke early to find that Obi-Wan was already up and out of the room, his bunk neatly made as always, not a trace of the boy or his meager belongings anywhere in the room. It wasn't uncommon for young Kenobi to wake before his Master. Though Qui-Gon had always been an early riser, Obi-Wan's constant state of anxiety ensured that he was always awake first, the product of a difficulty sleeping that had only gotten worse in his teenage years. It wasn't like that for Qui-Gon when he was a teenager serving under Dooku. He would have slept well into the afternoon if his Master had allowed it, which he never did, and he suspected that his own early rising habits now were simply the product of Master Dooku forcing the routine upon him for so long.

With a groan, the Master turned over and nestled into his pillow. It wouldn't be so terrible to sleep in and allow himself to indulge in his natural inclination to not wake up before the dawn. Not that there was dawn in space. It was highly disorienting. For all he knew, he may have already slept longer than usual. He felt well-rested, in any case, but a few minutes longer couldn't have been a great crime. They were still a ways off from their destination on the planet of Krownest, a decision they didn't make lightly since the planet had the potential to be more dangerous to them than most, and there was little to be done on the ship outside of meditation and speaking to his young charges, or watching as they...

"Aw, damn it..." With a heavy groan, Qui-Gon rolled out of bed and lethargically shrugged on his tunic and robes, running a hand through his long hair to make him appear less disheveled from sleep. He had forgotten that he had teenagers to babysit. He grabbed his datapad from the small desk as he left the room, keying in the information for the planet they were heading to so he could get a grasp of what they faced. Satine had told them what she knew, but she had been uncertain and unsure about the loyalties of her people since the trouble with the Ordos. Still, her information had been very valuable, and when combined with what he knew of the planet from the records taken from the Ordo Archives, Qui-Gon was beginning to have a fairly clear picture of what they would be facing.

Krownest was the seat of Clan Wren, a clan with very close ties to the Vizslas, which made them almost certain enemies of the peaceful New Mandalorians. The cold, harsh terrain of their planet only served to harden the warriors into a group as harsh and uncompromising as the world they called home, which left little compassion or care for the weak within them. They served the Vizslas because they were strong, adhered to the ways of the past that they saw as the glory of Mandalore, which made them natural enemies of Satine's peaceful rule. However, the clan had been fighting the Ordos on their world in great strength, meaning that, like most clans, the Wrens may have been spread thin, and coupled with inter-clan fighting, it seemed very likely that the stronghold was left with a minimal force, one strong enough to hold their position and repel an invading clan until they could call for reenforcements, but not for much more than that.

But more than that, Krownest was also home to Clan Itera, a much smaller clan in tight alliance with the much more powerful Clan Cadera, historical allies of the New Mandalorians. Satine's faith in that alliance had been shaken, as Clan Ordo was once allies of the Calderas as well, but the word of the farmers on Concord Dawn had convinced her that it was worth at least investigating. After all, it would be madness to for the Duchess to flee to a planet largely controlled by known allies of Clan Vizsla and the Death Watch after her very near capture on Ordo. It was far more likely that the bounty hunters searching for them would prowl around planets like Kalevala, the home world of Clan Kryze, or Mandalore itself, the home she had come to know as the daughter of the ruling family.

If Satine had allies on Krownest, they would find them, though it was just as likely that Clan Itera had been destroyed by the Wrens when the war broke out in an effort to establish dominion over the planet, the constant border skirmishes finally escalating with the outbreak of the new conflicts. It was possible that fear of the wrath of Clan Caldera kept the Wrens away from their less powerful allies, the Death Watch severely fragmented and diminished after the last conflict. With the Vizslas' barely maintaining control in Sundari and losing respect each day the Duchess continued to live after the attacks on Zanbar, they may have been directing the remainder of their allies to attack stronger targets. It explained the presence of Ursa Wren on Ordo, the fearsome eldest child of Clan Wren's warlord, sent to destroy the powerful, opportunistic Clan Ordo on behalf of the Vizslas trapped in Sundari.

There were a lot of unknown factors. There was a great deal of danger and nowhere was truly safe, but they knew a great deal more about the situation on Krownest than they did about anywhere else, which made the icy planet as good a place as any to set down the ship and resupply in the modest trade city situated on the boarders of Wren and Itera land. It was a neutral zone, at least it had been, established as such to draw merchants to the planet to secure much needed supplies to support both clans on the uncompromising planet. The guarantee of safety had the intended effect, leading to a firmly established trade city that was allowed to flourish even when the clans were at each other.

But that was before. Everything could be different now, was almost certainly different now. If it wasn't to their liking, they would just leave and come up with another plan, though Qui-Gon hoped that they at least had the chance to restock and refuel first. Healing Obi-Wan's injuries had torn through their medical supplies, and already they were running out of rations. With fuel getting low, they needed to make port soon, and Krownest was as good a place as any, since there simply were not any good places in the Mandalore sector. At least they'd be able to gather information. Understanding the situation was key to survival, and being able to keep up with the ever-shifting political situation was how they were going to eventually prevail. This was a war of diplomacy and alliance, rendered unspeakably bloody when its leaders failed to recognize that.

As soon as Qui-Gon stepped out into the hallway, he heard the pleasant trill of Satine's laughter, and he found himself frowning despite himself. It was early, and the Duchess had no business being up, unless she was following a certain Jedi Padawan around, as she had been doing the past few days. The early hour, however, suggested that this morning meeting was instigated by Obi-Wan, that devil. He'd have to corner the Padawan again and remind him of his duty, it seemed, though that had been of little use as of late. Obi-Wan was getting...bold. Brash. Confident and comfortable with himself, at ease in his own skin when before he had been skittish and disquieted. It was good, all things considered, Qui-Gon's earlier assessment that this war would forge the boy into a man proving accurate. He only wished that it wasn't happening around her.

Qui-Gon entered the cockpit to find Obi-Wan and Satine sitting huddled close together on the floor at the rear of small space, their backs against the hull and Obi-Wan's armor laid out before them, the two teens splattered with drops of paint as they finished the work of coloring the armor to Obi-Wan's specifications. They had nearly finished, the intimidating black and blue of Death Watch replaced with the lighter blue and silvery white, colors inspired by the halls of Sundari that Obi-Wan had seen on his first days on Mandalore. They were talking softly, smooth and eloquent Mando'a rolling off their tongues and sounding like the soft cadence of music, their conversation punctuated by light, pleasant laughter. They stopped only for a moment when Satine reached up and ran her thumb across Obi-Wan's cheek, the boy closing his eyes as the Duchess wiped a smudge of paint from his face, and with a bright grin, they quickly returned to laughing.

When Qui-Gon cleared his throat, hi arms crossed in front of his chest and clearly highly suspicious of the whispers, the giggles, the touching, both teens looked at them and the grins on their faces only widened, which immediately disarmed the Jedi Master, displeasure replaced with confusion. He was supposed to be the bad guy here. He was breaking up the party. They weren't supposed to be happy about it.

"Good morning, Master!" Obi-Wan chirped, quickly standing and helping the Duchess to her feet, and Qui-Gon's suspicion returned. His little Padawan was definitely up to something.

"Padawan..." the Master acknowledged, and bowed slightly to Satine. "Duchess. Good morning. You are certainly up early..."

"Obi-Wan came and got me up," Satine explained, rocking back and forth on her heels. "There was a solar flare off the star Harswee that lit up in every color imaginable!"

"It was very beautiful, Master," Obi-Wan said softly, and the Master arched an eyebrow, observing his student, reached toward him with the Force and felt...nothing. The little shit was guarding himself.

"Oh, you don't say..." Qui-Gon mumbled suspiciously, eyeing his student as the teen's eyes slowly drifted toward the Duchess.

"We've finished Obi-Wan's armor!" Satine said, carefully picking up the helmet and holding it out to the Master, and Qui-Gon took it, eyes narrowing as he glanced between it and the two teens. "It should be completely dry and ready to use by the time we get to Krownest."

"It's fine work..." Qui-Gon said softly after examining the helmet. "When do you suppose we will arrive, Obi-Wan?"

"Two hours, perhaps," Kenobi said, leaning over to gaze at the navicomputer. "Longer if I have to divert from our course again." He looked back at Satine and smiled, soft and shy as the girl took the helmet back from the Jedi. "Maybe we can have a real meal when we get there, I think we're all getting tired of rations." Satine wrinkled her nose, but couldn't keep the smile off her face.

"They are a bit stale, aren't they? I think chalk would have more flavor." The Duchess ran a hand through her hair, her lips pursing as she tucked a rogue strand behind her ear. "Well, my Knight, if you're taking me out for breakfast, I'm going to go get ready." She looked back at Qui-Gon, a faint flush to her pale cheeks. "Do you need the shower, or can I..."

"Be my guest, Duchess." With a bright, excited smile, Satine rushed from the cockpit, a slight bounce in her step, and Obi-Wan leaned over to watch her retreat down the hall. His gaze was only torn away when his Master's hand hit him on the back of the head, the Padawan hissing softly and rubbing his neck as he drew up.

"Did I...displease you, Master?" Obi-Wan asked quietly, looking up at Qui-Gon's stern face, his arms crossed over his chest, and where the Padawan before would have averted his eyes from his Master, chastised before the conversation even began, this time, Obi-Wan met Qui-Gon's gaze.

"Not yet..." Qui-Gon muttered. "I simply thought it necessary for me to remind you to be mindful of your attachments, my Padawan. I understand your attraction to Satine. I understand that it is natural to want to connect to a girl your age, especially since we are forced to work so closely with her. But I would advise caution in this, Obi-Wan," he said, laying a hand on his student's shoulder. "Be mindful of your duty, my Padawan." A slow, slight smile touched Obi-Wan's lips, and Qui-Gon drew back slightly when he saw the flash of something in his student's eyes.

"Is my duty not the Duchess, Master?" Kenobi innocently asked, and Qui-Gon found himself at an immediate loss for words. That was the trouble, wasn't it? They had been skirting around this matter for weeks now, ever since the teens began to grow closer, ever since their arguments became less antagonistic and more flirtatious, ever since they pressed harder and harder against the line separating them as protector and charge, making them something more. Usually, the Jedi placed their mission above all else, and in the past, their missions had been easy, clear cut affairs. Stop the bandits, negotiate a cease-fire, save a hostage, all things they could accomplish through focus, all things that only benefitted from the Jedi policy of emotional detachment.

But this was different. Obi-Wan had finally given voice to the complication of this assignment. Their mission was inexorably tied to the fate of Satine Kryze. They were to protect her and defend her as the last hope for Mandalorian peace, and while Jedi did occasionally serve as bodyguards, it was never for such a prolonged time, rarely in situations so stressful. This was different. Their survival depended on the three of them working together. It wasn't just her life in their hands, they also relied upon her. At best, the situation was tricky, the Jedi dedication to the mission complicated by the fact that their dedication applied to this girl. The very nature of the mission lent itself to attachment just in order to see it succeed.

That being said, Obi-Wan was being a devious little shit.

"She is the mission, yes," Qui-Gon slowly explained, working out in his head exactly what he was going to say to the Padawan. He wasn't even sure what he was going to say. "However, we are still expected to remain unattached. Her wishes may not always be what's best, and if we find ourselves giving in to her will because of our attachments, the mission may be compromised."

"It's our mission to ensure her safety, is it not?" Kenobi asked. "How can we do that if we are not invested in her well-being?"

"Of course her safety is our priority," Qui-Gon sighed. "But that's it, just her safety! What you are doing, Obi-Wan is far beyond the call of your duty."

"What am I doing, Master?" Qui-Gon shot him a pointed glare.

"You know damn well what you are doing," he softly hissed, tugging at the braid behind his student's ear. "You are getting very close to her, far closer than your duty demands." Obi-Wan put his hands in the air, a placating gesture that only served to rankle the Jedi.

"I wanted to keep my distance, as I'm certain you are aware," Obi-Wan said. "You ordered me to learn from her, Master, I'm only doing as I'm told."

"Oh, really!" Qui-Gon managed to gasp. "And all those little touches, all the flirting, all the sitting right next to each other is in accordance with my instructions?" He placed a hand on his chest and sighed dramatically. "Oh, Satine," Qui-Gon drawled, raising the pitch of his voice and affecting it with his student's clipped, refined accent. "Teach me Mando'a!" Despite the furious flush on the boy's face and the braid wound tightly around his fingers, Obi-Wan drew up, his head held high, a pleased smirk on his lips, and refused to look away from his Master's gaze. "Don't think I don't see what is happening, Obi-Wan, I was young once too. These...sessions need to stop before you are in too deep."

"Have the orders changed?" Obi-Wan asked softly, respectful, ever the perfect student if not for the sudden streak of defiance Qui-Gon saw in him. "Am I to stop learning from her?"

"It's for the best," Qui-Gon said firmly, his eyes narrowing as Kenobi's lips pursed in thought, which couldn't have been good. "I can sense your attachment to her, and you have long since become fluent in Mando'a. These lessons now only serve to deepen the emotional bond between you two, and as a Jedi...these things are forbidden to you."

"Master," Obi-Wan said after a moment of silence, "the Jedi Code compels us to seek knowledge over ignorance. I can't very well stop now, there is so much about Mandalore I do not know."

"Ooh, you little devil!" Qui-Gon growled, but despite himself, he couldn't keep the traces of a faint smile from his lips. "If you fail to become a Jedi, Obi-Wan, you would make a fantastic politician."

"I certainly hope it doesn't come to that, Master."

"But it may, since you seem intent on rushing headlong into the arms of this girl! Need I remind you that the Code also demands peace and serenity over emotion and passion?" Obi-Wan arched an eyebrow at his Master, and Qui-Gon could already feel defeat and resignation sink into him.

"You are lecturing me on the Code, Master?" Obi-Wan asked softly. "Since when have you ever followed the Code? Are you truly that concerned for me?"

"You know I am, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said softly, sinking into the copilot's seat and sighing heavily, his hand pressed to his forehead. "I just want to spare you the pain of what I have suffered. You...saw the result of my love for Tahl. I was..." He stopped, his chest tightening, and he flinched when Obi-Wan sat in the pilot's seat beside him and gently took his hand. "...we were careless..."

"What if..." Obi-Wan began, but quickly trailed off, his hand suddenly shaking. "What if I feel peace and serenity in the emotions I feel for her?" He could no longer hold his Master's gaze, his eyes drifting away to stare at the console before him, the blinking lights and the scrolling data giving him something calming and monotonous to focus on as his mind began reeling. "You keep telling me to trust my feelings, Master, but...what do I do if my feelings are for her?"

"...well, you picked a fine time to start following the Living Force, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon groaned. "Listen, whatever it is you have going on with the Duchess needs to end," the Master said softly, and his heart ached when he watched his Padawan's face fall, his gaze drifting to the floor.

"Am I not allowed a friendship with her?" Obi-Wan asked quietly, and Qui-Gon slightly drew back, listening intently. "Master, she's all alone. Her family is dead, she's hunted everywhere she goes. I feel...I feel it's wrong and cruel to remain unattached when she needs empathy more than anything. We are protectors. How can we protect her if we don't care for her?"

"And all that is fine, but you and the Duchess looked awfully cozy when I came in." A shy smile spread across Obi-Wan's face, followed by the telling flush upon his cheeks. Qui-Gon leaned in toward his student. "We all know you are attracted to her. You're a teenager, and she is very easy on the eyes, so such a thing is expected. But you two have been physically very close, and it makes me wonder just how close you managed to get..."

"Master, seriously?!" Obi-Wan balked, the flush deepening from light pink to a dark, fierce red. "Do you really think she could bring herself to do such after what Edric Ordo did to her?!" Obi-Wan laughed almost bitterly and shook her head. "She has a need for physical closeness, and she is so open with me because I am a Jedi." He inhaled deeply and released a long, shuddering breath, a hand tightening in his robe as the other pulled at his braid. "She feels completely safe and comfortable with me because she knows I am forbidden from such things. I won't take advantage of her, so..." Obi-Wan sighed and turned his chair to the control console, his hand stroking the accelerator as he pulled back on it, the soft hum of the engines growing louder as he increased their speed. "My feelings are irrelevant because my life belongs to the Jedi. I have my duty, and she has hers. We both know this."

"...these feelings are natural, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said softly when he felt the boy's presence in the Force tremble. "I just-"

"I know, Master," Obi-Wan whispered, meeting the Jedi's eyes once again and smiling softly. "As you said, I know the dangers of attachment. I know why the Jedi say we are not allowed love. I saw what it did to you. The Duchess and I...we're just friends. I know better. She knows better." He returned to staring out the viewport. "You don't need to worry about me."

"But I always do." When Obi-Wan looked Qui-Gon's way to protest, the Jedi Master was chuckling softly, leaning back in his chair and relaxed, all his tension from before gone. "I owe you an apology, Obi-Wan," the Master said kindly when he felt his student begin to become flustered. "I've been suspicious of you when I have no cause to be. You've always been a model student and I...trust you to do what's right in regards to the Duchess." Obi-Wan arched an eyebrow as he looked at his Master.

"And what's the right thing?" Qui-Gon simply shrugged.

"How should I know? Trust your feelings, follow the will of the Force. Just be mindful and know that when the time comes, you must let go."

"...yes, Master," Obi-Wan said, his chest aching with the warmth he suddenly felt and doing all in his power to repress the smile that was spreading across his face. "I won't disappoint you."

"I know you won't." He sighed and looked sadly at his student. "I've been seeing shadows of Tahl everywhere. It seems my own love for her is still clouding my judgement. I...didn't mean to project my fears about myself on you. Your dedication to the Jedi Code is greater than mine has ever been." He laid a hand on the Padawan's shoulder. "I trust you not to stray."

"I-I won't..." Obi-Wan absently pressed buttons on the console before him, prompting the ship to run a completely unnecessary scan to give his hands something to do other than pull at the braid that hung behind his ear. It wasn't approval for the feelings he was keeping safely tucked away inside him, and it certainly wasn't permission to search for something more from the Duchess, if she was willing. But it was relaxed acceptance of the friendship they were forming, which immediately made Obi-Wan feel more at ease. It would certainly relax the tensions between them and would alleviate the need for secrecy. But all this was fine. It wasn't like he was in love with Satine or anything.

No, that would be crazy.

---

They had known Krownest was going to be cold, but they weren't expecting it to be this cold. Docking the ship had been easy enough, the trading port bustling despite the ongoing war. There were hundreds of ships docked in the spaceport of different classes, different origin, different purpose, and theirs wasn't even the only Kom'rk class, which was hardly surprising, given the war. The danger of Mandalorians that the presence of such ships carried was balanced by the fact that the docking officials didn't look twice at another of the fighter transports coming into port, and some smooth talking by Obi-Wan had secured them a private docking bay, a small, indoor space that protected the ship from the harsh climate outside. Snowy conditions forced Obi-Wan to divert his full attention to landing the ship, a task made more difficult by howling winds, poor visibility, and a lack of experience in dealing with this kind of weather.

Once safely landed, Obi-Wan put the ship through all the necessary post-landing scans and procedures while Qui-Gon and Satine gathered their few belongings in preparation to leave, and as soon as the ship was secured, they stepped out on the extended boarding ramp, only to rush back inside and quickly seal the hatch, their teeth chattering and their skin tight with goosebumps. Cold didn't describe the bitter, biting hell they had walked out into, and that had been inside the shelter of their private docking bay. Cold like this could kill a man, and it would certainly be uncompromising to the two rail thin teenagers, both of whom had left Sundari months ago in a rush and were completely ill-prepared.

Qui-Gon sat on the ground, the short time the hatch was open freezing the cabin enough for their breath to be seen in the air, and he slipped into meditation, leaving the teenagers to come up with a plan for getting through the mess. Brushing his hand along the Duchess' shoulder and beaconing for her to follow him, Obi-Wan led her back to his room, the door sliding closed behind them, and the Jedi quickly began shrugging off his robes. The Duchess was left to stare, eyes wide and jaw slack as her Jedi friend and guardian swiftly and efficiently dropped the robes and pulled his tunic over his head, leaving him bare chested and exposed, the dark bruises once covering him faded significantly in the past few days.

Flushed deeply and struggling to find her voice, Satine gaped at the boy, her eyes raking over him, though trying to pretend she wasn't, frozen to the spot, though she tried to look away, trying to find it in her to protest the Jedi's indecency but could only stand on weak-kneed legs as her hands shook and warmth pooled in the pit of her being. Before she could regain a modicum of her swiftly fled dignity, Obi-Wan pulled the tunic over her head, the thin fabric warm from his body heat, and carefully draped his robes over her, the soft, thick fabric warming her immediately, her shivering ceased as he gently pulled the robes closed around her.

"Obi-Wan..." Satine managed to breathlessly whisper, her tongue found when the Jedi ran hesitant hands across her shoulders, smoothing the folds of the cream colored robes. "I-I can't take your clothes..."

"You can't very well walk around in what you're wearing, it isn't nearly warm enough," Obi-Wan muttered, unfastening his belt before stopping himself, biting down on his lip as he became keenly aware of the girl's eyes on him. "...turn around, please." Satine reacted to the Jedi's modesty with embarrassment of her own, her heart seeming to jump as she swiftly turned and faced the wall.

"W-what are you going to wear?" Satine stammered, covertly turning her head and straining her eyes to glance at the boy behind her, only able to catch the faintest look at thin, bruise-marked skin over strong, lean muscles as he rifled through the drawer under his bunk.

"My armor," Kenobi said, pressing his pants into Satine's hand, and with a gasp, the girl quickly reeled around to face the Jedi, the boy already in the black, insulated pants belonging to the armor, the rest of the pieces laid out on the bed. "It must be warm if your people wear it out here." He pulled the black, long-sleeved shirt over his head, slowly adjusting it as he thought, a hand running through his messy hair, and he frowned as the thick, blond strands slid between his fingers. It was getting quite long, long enough to look disheveled and messy if he didn't smooth it back, far longer than was typical for Padawans. And still he couldn't grow facial hair. "Are there different varieties of Mandalorian armor?"

"Y-yes..." Satine whispered, her voice trembling, and with a worried look on his face, Obi-Wan gently ran his hands down her arms.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice tight with concern. "You're shaking..." Satine looked away and nodded slightly.

"Yes...i-it's just cold, that's all..."

"Would you prefer to wear my armor?" Obi-Wan asked, immediately beginning to remove the shirt when the Duchess reached out and quickly took his hand.

"N-no! No, it's alright. It wouldn't fit me, and there is little that attracts attention like a Mandalorian in ill-fitting armor." She crossed her arms and snuggled into the soft, thick robes around her. "This is warm enough. We won't be here long, in any case, and there will be shelter in the town."

"And it might help disguise you," Obi-Wan muttered, quickly fastening the armored greaves to his legs. "Your clothing doesn't exactly make you look common." The Duchess frowned.

"I'll have you know, Obi-Wan, I selected my clothing specifically for the hardships we may be facing! They are practical!"

"Practical, yes," Kenobi agreed, buckling armor to his hip and thigh and frowning when it doesn't sit quite right. "And made by the finest tailors in all of Mandalore, I'm sure. From the finest, most expensive cloth. Face it, Duchess, you look like royalty."

"I am royalty," Satine said flatly, crossing her arms in front of her chest and rolling her eyes when Obi-Wan undid the last piece of armor and fumbled to get it on. "Oh, stop it, give me that!" she snapped, snatching it away from him, the straps running through her fingers as she straightened them.

"They're very difficult to get on right..." Kenobi grumbled, and the Duchess shot him vaguely disdainful expression, her fingers hooking into his belt as she threaded the buckle through.

"It isn't difficult, Obi-Wan, you just lack the practice." She pulled the strap hard and buckled it into place, reached behind the Jedi to the bed and grabbed the armor for the opposite leg. "You think I should dress more commonly?" she asked softly, her voice thin and unsure, her iron resolve giving way to self-consciousness.

"U-uh..." Obi-Wan found himself at a loss for words as he watched the Duchess fiddle with his armor, her deft fingers making short, easy work of the process. He had no idea how to respond to a woman's uncertainty, not like this. The Jedi did not focus on such things, and he wasn't sure how he was expected to respond. Frankly, he didn't know what Satine was feeling self-conscious about. There was nothing for her to actually be self-conscious about. "I think dressing modestly will help hide who you are," he said, hoping that would be enough. It wasn't.

"W-well..." she took a step back and held her arms out, the robes hanging loose off her shoulders, made for the much taller Kenobi, the robes hanging just below the knee, his pants on her much smaller body hiked up as high as they could go, the waist line rolled over several times to rest at her hip and tied off with the belt to keep them from falling. "H-how do I look?" Obi-Wan failed to repress a snort of laughter, the girl's pale skin reddening quickly in fury.

"Well, you appropriately look like a vagrant."

"Oh, I suppose that's perfect!" the Duchess snapped, her hands balled into fists by her side as she stamped her foot in her displeasure. "Figures it would be dressing like a Jedi that makes me lose my noble bearing since you have none!" Obi-Wan laughed softly as he bent down to pick up the heavy belt to cinch the robes, eyeing the furious Duchess and adjusting it to fit her slender waist. She took a step back with each step he took toward her, not getting very far until her back hit the wall, her eyes narrowing hatefully at the man as he wrapped the belt around her and buckled it. "Has anyone told you that you are a cold, cruel, tactless brute, Obi-Wan Kenobi?" Satine hissed, and the Jedi chuckled softly, shaking his head at the furious girl.

"You do, Duchess. Nearly every single day at some point or another."

"Well I say it because I mean it," she growled, batting his hands away when he tugged at the robes to straighten them. "I suppose you're very pleased with yourself for having gotten me to look as plain and drab as you."

"Don't be ridiculous..." Obi-Wan muttered, fixing his lightsaber across his belt at his lower back and grabbing the helmet off the bed. "You're beautiful, Satine, irregardless of what you wear." He nudged her gently when her anger flushed face became even darker, her breath held and her pulse jumping to new heights. "Come on."

Satine didn't move from her spot for a moment, watching the Jedi as he opened the door and retreated into the hallway. He had said it so casually, so matter of fact that Satine had almost missed what he had said, focusing on his dismissive, honest tone more than the words he said, but she did hear them. They weren't the words of the people at court slinging tired, mechanical or fake praises her way. He had nothing to gain, said it like a casual observation, like he was pointing out the color of the sky, like something plain and obvious that didn't need to have attention drawn to it.

When her heart decided to start beating again, Satine followed her Jedi out into the hallway to meet up with Qui-Gon, the Jedi Master still sitting cross-legged on the ground in his meditations. As they approached closer, he slowly opened his eyes and looked the pair over, nodding in satisfaction after his examination as he rose.

"Are you warm enough, Duchess?" the Jedi asked softly, and Satine quickly nodded, drawing closer to Obi-Wan as he put the helmet on. "Very well. Come, we will find ourselves a restaurant. I believe you were promised breakfast." The hatch was opened and the biting cold air rushed in, and Obi-Wan and Satine quickly huddled close togtehr, shivering even with the additional warmth. Qui-Gon was fine, the Jedi having meditated to center himself and bolster his resistance, making him nearly impervious to the harsh climate. Breathing as deeply as he could through his chattering teeth, Obi-Wan touched the Force and tried to do likewise, but it was ineffective. He had only just started his training in this particular skill, and he would need a great deal more time before he was even close to proficient.

As they hurried their way through the biting wind, passing by merchants huddled in the wind-protected streets within the warm confines of their shops and stalls and by a thin, cautious crowd of armed civilians, Obi-Wan realized that his previous fears were very well founded. The goal had been to make the Duchess appear like one of the common folk by giving her his plain, oversized robes not just for warmth, but to hide her finery. It was completely pointless. Satine's noble bearing went beyond just her dress. She carried herself like royalty, her fine, angular features practically screaming her noble birth, and there was little they could do to hide that. She'd need her own set of armor to hide the truth of her high-born genetics. It was probably wise to have a set for each of them regardless. Perhaps if Clan Itera proved to be amicable, Qui-Gon and Satine could get fitted.

Qui-Gon had managed to quickly find a diner off the main street, and they ducked inside, shaking the snow off themselves as they walked in. Qui-Gon drew Satine close to him, his much larger size drowning the girl within the folds of his robes, and quickly led them to a table in the back corner, away from the windows and with a clear view of the front door and the much smaller side door near the kitchens, easily accessible from where they sat. He waved Satine into the booth, the girl sliding in and tucking close into the corner, and the Jedi took Obi-Wan by the shoulder and directed him to sit beside the Duchess. When the Padawan was seated, Qui-Gon slid into the seat opposite them and leaned in close.

"It is," he said softly, "disgustingly cold."

"You don't seem cold, Master," Obi-Wan said, pulling off the helmet and setting it down on the table, running a hand through his unkept hair and scooting closer to the shivering Satine, the Duchess grabbing on to his arm and nestling beside him. "Do we have a plan?"

"I believe so, yes." He raised his head and looked around the diner and carefully observed the guests and the rushing service droids. "Do you sense anything, Obi-Wan?" The Padawan closed his eyes, slowing his breathing as he reached deep within the Force, the feel of Satine's hand lightly brushing his own focusing him.

"Something, Master..." Kenobi whispered. "But I don't know what. There's just..." He shook his head. "Everything's disturbed, this war is making it so hard to see..."

"Try, Obi-Wan, focus."

"I am trying, Master," Obi-Wan hissed through clenched teeth. "Everything feels hostile, everything is violent and just...wrong."

"Are we in danger, Obi-Wan?" Satine asked softly, her hand clenching tightly around his hand.

"We're in danger everywhere, Duchess," Qui-Gon whispered. "The question isn't if we are in danger, but how immanent it is. Obi-Wan is more far-sighted than I am. If something has locked on to you, he'll sense it before I do."

"Right, no pressure..." Obi-Wan muttered, slinking down in the booth. "This is the home of the very hostile Clan Wren, so yes, I feel a disturbance. If there's anything else..." He shrugged. "How could I possibly tell..."

"One day, you'll have the confidence in your abilities equal to my faith in you," Qui-Gon said as he stood, laying his hand on the teen's shoulder. "The difference between a Padawan and a Knight isn't just a matter of experience, but one of confidence and faith in your trust in the Force. You have no limits but those you put on yourself." Obi-Wan nodded, but stayed silent, and the Master pat his shoulder. "I'm going to take a look around town to collect the supplies we need and gather information. You two stay here and order breakfast. Stay vigilant, and if something comes up..." He tapped the com on his wrist. "Contact me immediately."

"We will," Satine said, laying her hand over the comlink on Obi-Wan's wrist when he made no indication that he would respond. With a final squeeze to his student's shoulder and a small smile at the Duchess, Qui-Gon left the teens alone, his long stride carrying him out of the diner and into the snowy, windy streets. The service droid was over shortly after to take their orders, the Duchess leaning forward and quietly ordering for both of them before ducking back behind the Jedi and snuggling in close to him, hidden from view from the rest of the diner.

"What's wrong?" she asked, and the Jedi breathed deep and looked at her, a small smile on his face.

"Nothing, Duchess. I was just up early." She gave him a look that said she knew he was full of it, and Obi-Wan sighed. "I'm supposed to protect you..." he whispered, picking at one of the tight, perfect mends the Duchess made in the robes she wore. "If I can't sense the danger to you in time..."

"Are you always so hard on yourself?" Satine asked, a bright, gentle smile on her face that Obi-Wan thought could melt all the snow on Krownest for the warmth it made him feel. "You shouldn't be. I think you're amazing." Flushing a deep shade of red, Obi-Wan looked away from the woman, struggling to keep his heart from beating out of his chest, a feat that was accomplished when Satine ran her elegant hand across his jaw and directed his gaze back to her, his pounding heart seeming to stop.

"I'm far from it, Duchess, you should see my fellow Padawans..." Obi-Wan said modestly, and Satine tilted her head, observing the other teen's faint, distant look, a bittersweet thing that felt content and sad and pain all at once, a look Satine often saw on her own face when she looked at herself in the mirror. She hadn't considered it before, but Obi-Wan had left home for war, left his friends to defend a girl he didn't know, had been forced to kill when his own Code demanded peace and respect for all living creatures. He missed his friends, despite his claim for non-attachment.

"Tell me about them?" Satine asked sweetly when two cups of tea were delivered with the promise that the food would be out shortly. Obi-Wan ran his finger along the rim of the cup, his distant gaze slowly coming back to focus on Satine, and he smiled tightly, his finger dipping into the hot, flavored water.

"Quinlan and Luminara..." He took a deep breath and sighed wistfully. "They're only a year older than me, but they are so much more talented. They were apprenticed very early, and I..." Obi-Wan's voice faltered, the insecurity creeping back into him. "I was so hopeless, so untalented that the Jedi Council nearly threw me out of the Order as a lost cause."

"I bet they feel real stupid about that."

"N-no..." Obi-Wan said, smiling softly. "No, they..." He cleared his throat. "I don''t think they spare a thought toward me, not when there's real talent in my age group." He grinned brightly. "Like Quinlan. He has an ability that is so rare that he was apprenticed at eight. That is very, very young. He can touch an object, and he can see its history, he can feel the emotions of the people who have touched it and used it." Obi-Wan smiled brightly. "Or Luminara! She has the calm and patience of a Master, is wise beyond her years, and is such a talented combatant that the other Padawans in our age group have made a game of trying to best her. They never succeed, she's too fast and too flexible."

"They don't sound like much," Satine said as she shrugged, and the Jedi frowned, displeased that the Duchess appeared unimpressed.

"If they don't, it's because I am not doing them justice," Obi-Wan grumbled. "You just don't know because you haven't seen them in action."

"No," she said lightly, smiling at the droid when it delivered their food. "But I've seen you." Obi-Wan scoffed, poking at the array on his plate with a fork and watching as the Duchess happily tucked in.

"Me...I'm nothing. You have a better example in Qui-Gon. He's amazing."

"I've seen you take a beating from a man nearly twice your size, and you stayed on your feet," the Duchess said evenly, her gaze never leaving his own. "I've seen you throw yourself into a direct line of fire to protect someone you didn't even like. I've seen you continue to stand and fight after getting injuries that no man should be able to withstand." She laid a hand on his cheek. "So don't tell me you aren't amazing because I have seen it."

Obi-Wan didn't know what to say, so he said nothing, simply watched the Duchess as she returned her attention to her food and quickly ate, far faster than expected from a girl of her size, and with his heart frantic in his chest, Kenobi turned his attention to his food as well, not at all hungry but eating all the same in an attempt to get it to stop fluttering the way it was. It wasn't working, the warm, pleasant sensation only spreading as they flashed each other covert glances and shy smiles, their legs lightly brushing and their fingers occasionally grazing the other in soft touches that lingered slightly too long to be the accidents they were pretending them to be.

Qui-Gon returned far too soon, by Obi-Wan's estimation, though by the time the Master dropped into the seat opposite them, they had been through three cups of tea each, and the fourth was sitting half finished and cold. Obi-Wan wasn't sure where the time had gone, but nearly an hour of just sitting and basking in Satine's presence had gone by in an instant. Upon observing him, Obi-Wan saw that Qui-Gon was wearing a dark brown cloak, much like the one they had originally arrived in Mandalore with, the originals destroyed in their month on Zanbar. Not only that, but in the seat next to him, Qui-Gon had two more of the heavy cloaks, another in brown and a smaller, less coarse one in dark red. Obi-Wan frowned. While he was happy for the prospect of additional warmth, something was up.

"It seems as though the Wrens are maintaining a minimal presence here, as expected," Qui-Gon said in a hushed tone. "Word is they defeated Clan Ordo and have killed the clan leader. Ursa Wren is returning home, though the remainder of the force is staying behind to lay siege to the Ordo stronghold."

"Is this our fault?" Satine asked softly, her eyes downcast, and the Jedi sighed heavily and shook his head.

"I've no doubt that debilitating the siblings was a factor that led to their defeat, but no, I wouldn't say it was our fault." Satine offered no response. "Small as a force as they have here, that doesn't mean there isn't fighting. There are skirmishes along the borders between the Wrens and the Iteras, mostly to keep each other on edge. Clan Itera doesn't have the strength to attack the Wrens at their stronghold, and the Wrens don't have the numbers to take the Iteras. Until things change, its stalemate."

"Master, if Clan Itera stands against the Wrens, it's no guarantee that they are allies of Satine," Obi-Wan said softly. "The Ordos stood against them, and we all know how that went."

"Yes, I am aware. However, it would seem that the Iteras are in fact currently aligned with Clan Caldera, as we suspected, and they have just called for the complete extinction of Clan Ordo." Qui-Gon rubbed his temples. "Really, this is all very complicated."

"Is that true?" Satine asked, her eyes wide, her hands covering her mouth as she stared at the Jedi as he nodded. "Qui-Gon, Clan Caldera and Clan Ordo have been allies since the Mandalorian Wars thousands of years ago. If they've turned against them..."

"Something must have happened," Obi-Wan said, his eyes widening with understanding.

"I'm willing to bet that something was us," Satine whispered excitedly. "It's very possible that Clan Itera will side with me."

"That was the impression I got in town as well," Qui-Gon said, a slight smile on his face as he reached beside him and grabbed the folded cloaks and passed them to their respective recipients. "The ship has been re-supplied with rations and medical supplies, and it is currently scheduled for refueling. "Within an hour, I think we can be underway to the Itera stronghold." Satine breathed a sigh of relief, a relaxed smile on her face as she took in the first good news she had in a very long time and clutched the soft, heavy fabric of her cloak to her chest. Obi-Wan carefully examined his, a small smile of satisfaction on his lips when he found it to be very similar to the one he burned for warmth back on Zanbar. That nagging suspicion was back in his mind again as he watched the older Jedi order a coffee from the service droid.

"Master..." Obi-Wan slowly asked. "How are we going to pay for breakfast? We don't have any credits, they blew up on the ship back in Sundari." He paused and pursed his lips as he watched the older man casually sip from his cup when it was promptly delivered to him. "For that matter, how did you pay for any of the things we needed?" Satine slowly joined Obi-Wan in looking expectantly at the Jedi as he downed the coffee.

"I won the credits," Qui–Gon said casually, and gave him a look that balanced somewhere between revulsion and betrayal.

"You won them?" Obi-Wan croaked.

"I joined a friendly game of dice with some very pleasant men." Qui-Gon shrugged, a slight smirk on his face as he looked at his outraged Padawan. "Suffice it to say, the stakes of the game ended up being quite high." Obi-Wan's head hit the table.

"Master..." the Padawan said, his voice muffled against the synthetic wood. "First of all, you are terrible at gambling! Absolutely terrible! And to say nothing of the fact that Jedi aren't allowed to gamble!"

"No?" Qui-Gon asked innocently. "Where does it say that?"

"I don't know, but I know it's a rule somewhere!" Obi-Wan choked out. "What would have happened if you lost the bet, Master? We don't have any credits, we'd be in debt!"

"Oh, I was in no danger of losing," Qui-Gon said confidently. "I was born with certain..." He smirked and drummed his fingers upon the table, the indignant Padawan quickly becoming horrified. "Advantages."

"You cheated?!" Obi-Wan said in disbelief. "Master, honesty is a major tenant of the Jedi, and that is about the most dishonest thing I have ever heard!"

"Well, you certainly haven't been around very long, that's for sure..." Qui-Gon drawled, his cup in hand and held out as the service droid refilled it.

"This is...absolutely against the Jedi Code!" With a smirk, Qui-Gon took a long sip of his coffee.

"As I said, my Padawan," the Master said softly. "Sometimes, the rules get in the way of the mission. We need supplies to keep the Duchess safe. And I will complete my mission, my Padawan. The rules can be damned if they prevent me from doing so."

Obi-Wan frantically tugged at his braid, stress and anxiety plain on his face and drawing his shoulders and the muscles in his back into tight, tense knots as bad as Satine had ever seen him. Struggling to keep his silence, he eventually failed, and Obi-Wan stood, stuttering as he grasped for words and...suddenly stopped, the indignation dropping from his face, his intense eyes suddenly looking somewhere far away, his tight shoulders dropping, not in relaxation, but in tense alertness. Qui-Gon swiftly stood, his hand on his lightsaber underneath his cloak. He knew that look all too well, even though he didn't yet feel what it was that had the Padawan so alert. He never did.

"Master..." Obi-Wan whimpered. "I sense something."

"I know," Qui-Gon said swiftly, taking his student by the arm and dragging him out of the booth, and Satine rushed to hide within Qui-Gon's cloak, throwing her own on as soon as she was out of the seat and pulling the hood over her head. "How close, Obi-Wan? Can you tell what it is?"

"I-I don't know..." Kenobi stammered, grabbing his helmet off the table and quickly putting it on. "We need to go, whoever they are, they know we are here."

"Right," Qui-Gon said, drawing the teens close to him. "Stay close to me." They said nothing as the Jedi Master pushed them toward the back door, throwing some credits on to the table as they left, and they pushed through the door in to the frigid, snowy air, the teenagers drawing their cloaks around them. Obi-Wan discretely unclipped his lightsaber from its place on his lower back and moved it to hang much more accessible at his hip, his hand shaking in anticipation and ready at his side, his focus narrowed, driven by the need to protect the girl beside him from whatever it was that was making the Force pulse with warning in his mind.

"If something happens, Obi-Wan, you are in charge of the Duchess," Qui-Gon whispered. "I'll create a diversion and you take her to safety. Stay where you are when you are certain you have escaped and wait for me."

"Are we going to the ship?" Obi-Wan whispered.

"If you can make it there safely. That ship is a lifeline and I don't want waste it if it can be avoided. I don't believe stealing another will be very easy." Qui-Gon leaned down close to the teenagers, his slow, even breath freezing in the air before them in frigid puffs. "All that matters is getting Satine somewhere safe, understand? You will do whatever necessary to ensure that. No matter where you go, I will find you."

"Master, I-" Whatever Obi-Wan was going to say was cut off by a startled yelp when Qui-Gon pushed the Padawan and the Duchess to the ground, the two teenagers hitting the cold and snowy streets hard as a loud, reverberating whine tore through the air, followed by a powerful gust of wind and the sound of wood splintering and glass shattering. Scrambling for purchase on the icy ground, Obi-Wan threw himself over Satine just as stones and chunks of ice and debris began pelting the ground, the ringing in their ears fading to the sound of screams as merchants and townsfolk rushed for cover. Obi-Wan extended his hand and channeled the Force, stopping the wave of wreckage rushing their way in midair, a protective shield around him and his charge as anything that drew too close was grabbed by the Force and held still.

Obi-Wan looked up to see Qui-Gon standing in the middle of the street, his feet dug into the hard ice of the streets to root him in place, his robes whipping around his ankles as the Force flared around him. The street was a mess of rubble and chaos as people ran screaming from stalls tat had been torn apart by a furious blast, and Obi-Wan looked past his master to see a line of bounty hunters standing opposite them behind portable energy shields, a large, imposing weapon whining as it charged and fired a pulsating sphere of energy that Qui-Gon pushed back against with the Force, the two energies colliding to create another explosion of cyclone-force wind and debris.

"Are those pulse weapons?!" Obi-Wan shouted to his Master when the howling of the wind died down.

"They came prepared to deal with Jedi," Qui-Gon snapped back at him. "Go, get the Duchess out of here." Obi-Wan didn't need to be told twice as he scrambled to his feet and pulled Satine up and began running away from Qui-Gon and the bounty hunters, only to find the streets behind them beginning to swarm with heavily armed and armored hunters and without missing a beat, Obi-Wan pulled Satine down an ally, his feet slipping and skidding on hard, compacted snow in his haste, the sound of Qui-Gon's lightsaber igniting following them as they ran.

There was a brief moment of panic as Obi-Wan dragged Satine down small streets and alleyways. Though the Master had told him to run, he felt as though he had abandoned him, left him to die surrounded by bounty hunters who came prepared to deal with two Jedi. Obi-Wan quickly brushed the thought aside. There wasn't a bounty hunter alive prepared to deal with Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, a Jedi ready and willing to shatter the Jedi Code to accomplish his mission, be it cheating in a game of dice to successfully rob much needed credits from his fellow gamblers, or in abandoning the Jedi policy of peace and defense in order to draw his weapon very offensively, wielding the green blade with the fatal precision of a practiced Jedi Master.

There were many in the Order that called Qui-Gon Jinn Gray Jedi, one who walked the line between light and dark, one who distanced himself from the demands of the Council with his constant defiance of them. On his best days, Qui-Gon was a renegade, one who followed his own feelings before the demands of the Council, trusting his senses as the will of the Force, allowing it to guide him where ever it may take him, Council approval be damned. It made him seem reckless, dangerous and impulsive, more concerned with the moment than the bigger picture, much to the frustration of the Masters of the Council. However, if something needed to be done, the Jedi knew to send Qui-Gon Jinn, because he would do anything to see it through. They may have disagreed with his methods, but it was hard to argue with the results.

Qui-Gon was the exact opposite of Obi-Wan, which, Kenobi supposed, was why they made such a good team. Despite his own conflicts with the renegade Jedi, Obi-Wan couldn't have wished for a better Master.

Obi-Wan's guilt for leaving Qui-Gon quickly left him when he heard the thundering of heavy footsteps behind him and the high whine of weapons priming, and he quickly looked over his shoulder to see a hoard of bounty hunters following them down the narrow, winding streets. At least Qui-Gon wouldn't be fighting an army of hunters on his own, he'd only be fighting half an army. That was a vast improvement. There went the hopes of making it to the ship. With this many after them, they would never get to it and get it ready for take off before they were destroyed. At least he had the foresight to put the ship away in a private, secure hangar. It at least gave them the chance that when they were eventually able to return, the ship would still be there waiting.

With their options limited, Obi-Wan grabbed tightly on to Satine's hand and increased his speed, the two teens dashing together through the winding ally. They burst out of a side street on to a wide, open avenue, the additional space and the distance giving them the chance to slip and slide their way to a full sprint before the bounty hunters followed. As soon as blaster fire began flying past them and filling the sir with its distinctive whine, Obi-Wan pulled Satine toward the side and the two began weaving through stalls, grabbing hold of supports and allowing their momentum to fling them forward in a quick burst of speed. Obi-Wan was confident in his own ability to evade the danger, his connection to the Force allowing him to sense danger the moment before it happened, but Satine had no such advantage.

Even without the Force, the thin, wiry Satine was proving to be a small and difficult target to hit. With adrenaline and fear rushing through her veins, the Duchess was proving to be both remarkably fast and agile, easily diving through stalls and catching her footing on the slippery ground as she launched around corners and into smaller streets, the noble-blooded Satine proving to be far more athletic than Obi-Wan had realized. Her entire body was swift and efficient, cut for speed and possessing a strength that he hadn't believed her to possess, but he had made a point of averting his eyes from the girl. That was, perhaps, a mistake, one that he would rectify if they somehow managed to get out of this alive.

A slight misstep sent Satine slamming into the Jedi at her side, and clutching her to him as they fell, the two teens went crashing into a door of a local establishment, tumbling into the store with all the grace of an intoxicated Neimoidian. Obi-Wan quickly scrambled to his feet, dragging Satine up with him, and the two dove behind the counter just as two broad shouldered bounty hunters crashed through the door, blasters raised and immediately opening fire on the screaming patrons inside. Horror gripping him, Obi-Wan grabbed the cashier's ankles and pulled, knocking the terrified woman to the ground, a shrill scream escaping her throat, and with a tense, hiss, Obi-Wan passed his hand before her face.

"You will be silent," the Jedi said in a smooth, calm voice, and the woman immediately did as commanded, her mouth closing and her body slumping against the counter, her eyes wide with fear and too afraid to move.

"We can't stay here!" Satine hissed, her hand on Obi-Wan's arm as he drew his lightsaber into his hand. "They're killing innocent people, we need to draw them away!"

"Away where, Duchess, they are all over the town, there's nowhere safe for us!" The stone cold determination in Satine's eyes made the Jedi realize exactly what she had in mind. "...oh."

"Please, Obi-Wan, I won't have more people die for me! They are here because of me, every death that happens here today is on my hands." There weren't any other options, and Obi-Wan knew it before she had said it. With a growl of frustration, he ignited his lightsaber and stood, immediately drawing the fire of the bounty hunters and effortlessly deflecting the bolts, plasma striking walls and displays before they were directed back to strike the hunters, the men screaming as their own shots burned through them. Reaching out his hand, Kenobi pulled the weapons to him as they dropped, swiftly holstering a pair of blasters at his own waist and dropping a rifle into Satine's lap, the Duchess quickly setting the weapon to stun.

With more bounty hunters fighting each other to pass through the door, Obi-Wan switched off his lightsaber, took Satine by the hand, and bolted out the back door into the ally. Two bounty hunters were in the back street waiting for them, and as Satine quickly primed the rifle, Obi-Wan pushed them back hard with the Force, the limited space pressing the large, reptilian pair against the wall and holding them there, their limbs straining against the invisible hold. Within seconds, Satine raised the weapon and shot the two men with the stunning rounds, their bodies falling limp in the grasp of the Force, and Kenobi released them when they stilled.

The sound of the rifle shots drew the sounds of shouting and heavy stamping feet toward their location, the hunters quickly closing in on them from both sides of the ally and the store behind them, and with nowhere else to go, Obi-Wan picked Satine up in his arms, crouched down, and jumped. Augmented by the Force, the Jedi landed on the rooftop, giving the pair a clear line of sight to the snowy plain just outside the city, a winding, icy river leading to white woods not far away. With silent understanding, Satine clutched the Jedi tight as he carried her across the steep, slippery roofs, running quickly and slipping often as he jumped over the gaps between houses and avoiding blaster fire from the bounty hunters shooting from the streets below.

He jumped off the northernmost roof, setting Satine down, and the pair quickly sprinted out of the city, the snow and wind tearing at them as they rushed through the snowy field along the banks of the river, the open space allowing them the freedom to move but also making the easier targets. They were slightly more than halfway to the tree line when they heard the deafening shriek of ships in the air and the whine of speeder bikes quickly drawing closer. Satine wordlessly put her hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder, grasping it tightly as she jumped, the Padawan scooping her out of the air, and with the speed granted to him by the Force, he sprinted toward the woods, thick enough to make travel by vesical impossible and ruining the line of sight by air.

Rapid fire from the air struck the snow behind them, sending up columns of dirt and ice as green plasma collided with the ground, but Obi-Wan's quick, random changes of direction kept their attackers from striking them. They had just reached the edge of the forest when their luck finally wore out, a shot from one of the ships' bombardments striking close enough to send the Jedi and the Duchess flying into the forest, Kenobi curling protectively around the girl right before they struck a tree, the impact making the wood creak and groan under the force. Groaning in pain, Obi-Wan dropped into the snow, the Duchess slipping from his grasp and landing with a soft thud in the snow beside him.

She scrambled to her feet just in time to see the oncoming speeder,, her hand quickly grasping the Jedi's, and she pulled him with her into the forest as the speeder's rider began firing, red bolts flying at them striking snow and wood and finally the blade of Obi-Wan's lightsaber as he drew it. One deflected shot his the speeder's rear thruster, setting the engine on fire, and with the steering compromised, the quickly moving bike couldn't avoid the collision course with the thick trees of the forest, the explosion lighting up the area with a blinding flash. The teenagers' relief lasted only for a moment when they realized that the explosion acted like a beacon that drew the attention of the ships overhead, and plasma began to rain down again as Obi-Wan and Satine sprinted deep into the snowy woods.

The sounds of ships overhead and the raining bombardments in spots throughout the woods both far and near to their location kept Obi-Wan and Satine running as fast as they could, the shouts of hunters on foot behind them driving them harder then they had thought themselves capable, the heavy snow covering their tracks as they went, though they knew it wouldn't be enough. These were professional trackers, certainly capable of finding two cold, scared teenagers in the woods. Twice, Kenobi and Kryze were forced to turn and deal with bounty hunters that had managed to get too close, their combined efforts making quick work of people who gravely underestimated the determination of a Jedi and the fury of a Mandalorian. When their attackers had been dispatched, Obi-Wan pushed out with the Force, sending the snow scattering into the air and effectively clearing the area of their tracks. It wouldn't be enough, but with night quickly falling, it would at least make it more difficult to find them.

As another group of hunters drew near, as exhaustion and fatigue and cold finally began to set in, as prolonged adrenaline began to fade from their systems, their hard run through the forest became less careful, and a misstep on the top of a snowy ridge sent Satine tumbling over the sloping edge, the ice and snow preventing her from catching herself, and she rolled helplessly down toward the river below. Without thinking twice, Obi-Wan leapt after her, sliding down on his feet after her until he too lost control and went tumbling down, the two teenagers striking the icy water with a splash not ten feet from each other.

With a shivering gasp, they flailed at the surface, their legs kicking downward and finding the river much more shallow than it had appeared. With Satine clinging to his back, the girl soaked through and shivering uncontrollably, Obi-Wan forged through the river to the opposite bank, hoping against hope that their path through the water and their long fall would throw off the trail their hunters were following. He clambered up on the shore, the two of them trudging through the snow as night rapidly threatened the sky. The howling wind seemed to pick up worse than before, frigid and biting and seeming to pass through them and right to the bone. They hadn't felt so cold before, their mad dash and their swiftly beating hearts sending heat and warmth through them, but that all ended now as the cold forced their pace to slow.

They jogged hand in hand along the river, their breaths freezing in the air before them, following the line of the ravine until they found a diverging path. They followed it back, the space between narrowing and widening intermittently, the small space making it difficult for movement, even for the gaunt teenagers, which meant that larger people wouldn't be able to follow at all. It made the prospects of evading their large hunters a great deal better, though at this rate, it wouldn't be bounty hunters, but the cold that killed them.

They followed the path until it let out into a cave, their feet striking ground that didn't crunch with snow or ice, the dying light in the sky giving them just enough to see the small area dotted with rock outcroppings. The snug area was much warmer than the frigid cold outside, the little cave insulated from the snow and the wind, and Obi-Wan shrugged off his cloak and quickly ducked outside, leaving a whimpering Satine alone for just under a minute, the Jedi returning with his arms full of sticks and branches. He dumped them in the center of the cave, his lightsaber igniting and touching the pile, the burning plasma quickly setting fire to the foliage. Using the Force, Kenobi moved the scattered rocks onto a wide circle around the quickly growing fire, creating places to sit and lean against in close proximity to the blazing warmth.

They were silent, their ears straining as they huddled close to the fire and listened for the shouts, the barked commands the explosive sound of ships' cannons and heard...nothing. Nothing but the crackle of the fire and their chattering teeth as they sat quiet in the cold.

Obi-Wan took off his helmet, his hair damp from the water they had fallen into, and stepping outside the cave, he immediately began retching, the hard, prolonged physical exertion and the dying effects of a system that had been running on adrenaline causing him to upheave the contents of his breakfast. A minute later, Satine shuffled beside him and did the same.

"What a waste..." Obi-Wan choked as he looked mournfully at the evidence of their late breakfast on the ground. "The first real meal we've had in months, and it ends up like this..."

"Did you not eat when we stayed with Clan Ordo?" Satine whimpered, coughing into the bend of her elbow and wincing at the vile taste in her mouth. Obi-Wan shook his head.

"I had rations, I was making modifications to the ship." He stepped over the wasted breakfast, walked out a few paces, and scooped up too handfuls of snow, shoving one in his mouth as he walked back, allowing it to melt and swishing it around to clear the taste.

"This was a mistake..." Satine muttered, silenced when Obi-Wan shoved the other handful of snow into her mouth, the girl giving a small squeak of surprise before she understood and followed Obi-Wan's example.

"It wasn't like we had a lot of options," Obi-Wan said after he spit the water out of his mouth, grabbing Satine's cloak from her shaking shoulders as he walked back into the cave and laying it on a rock beside the fire. He quickly began unbuckling his armor and laid it neatly in a pile as he removed it. The fire was roaring now, the little cave heating up quickly, and he tugged off the tight black shirt he wore, the garment soaked through and dripping, and with a look of displeasure at the state of it, he laid it on another rock to dry.

"Do you think Qui-Gon is alright?" Satine asked softly, her voice tight and tense with emotion she was struggling to repress. She sat beside the fire, drawing her knees to her chest, her thin shoulders shaking from the cold.

"He's alive," Obi-Wan gently reassured her. "I can sense him." She nodded, but said nothing, drawing her knees tighter to her chest and looking at her protector as he picked up his cloak and examined it. There was a new, dark bruise on his back from where he had struck the tree, the cold paling his skin and making the faded bruises appear dark and fresh upon his thin frame. Nodding in satisfaction, Obi-Wan turned to Satine and held his cloak out before him. "Take your clothes off."

"E-excuse me?!" Satine gasped, her heart jumping and the sudden warmth spreading through her making her forget about the cold.

"We have survived Death Watch, crazy, traitorous supposed allies, and an army of bounty hunters. I don't think it would do for the Duchess of Mandalore to freeze to death in a cave." He held up the cloak. "It's already dry, and your clothes are completely soaked through." Finally, a red flush came to his cheeks and he broke eye contact. "I-I won't look." With a faint smile, Satine took the cloak from the Jedi, retreated to the far side of the cave, and shed the wet robes, and the two tunics she had layered over her. Obi-Wan's tunic, the material thin and breathable, was already well on the way to being dry, and picking up the garment, she pulled the Jedi's tunic back on and tied it at her waist. She slid into the oversized cloak and collected the wet robes, laying them on the rocks to dry. Safely wrapped in the cloak, she wiggled out of the pants she wore and laid them beside the tunic.

When she turned around to look at Obi-Wan, the Jedi had settled beside the fire, his legs crossed and his thin form shaking violently from the cold. She looked down at herself, wrapped in Obi-Wan's cloak and wearing Obi-Wan's tunic, not warm, but the bone chilling cold taken out of her, and she felt terribly for the shivering Jedi. She opened the cloak and looked down at herself, nodding in approval and taking the cloak off. The tunic she wore fell to mid-thigh, and given the circumstances, it was modest enough.

"I can't take your clothes, Obi-Wan," Satine said softly, handing him the cloak, but the Jedi simply looked at her, a slight smile on his face and not moving from his spot.

"I'm fine, Satine," he whispered. "Please, keep it."

"You are not fine, Obi-Wan, look at you!" she snapped, sinking to her knees beside him and holding the cloak out. Still, he did not take it. "Look at you, you're shivering, you're half naked, your pants are wet..."

"They're drying."

"You promised me you would protect your life!" she said firmly. "For me, Obi." He stared at the cloak in her hands, almost not daring to breathe, and he slowly took the cloak from her, shook it out and draped it over her shoulders.

"I swear to you, Satine..." he whispered, his fingers brushing the line of her jaw as he withdrew his hand. "I will be fine. It...pleases me to know you will be warm." Satine examined his features carefully, ignoring the pooling of warmth deep within her as she looked into his half-lidded gaze, his small, pleasant smile, the strong muscles of his chest and torso as they trembled from the cold, and the Duchess made a decision. She scooted closer to the Jedi, watching as the blue eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat as she pressed right next to him and draped the cloak over his shoulders, covering them both.

"We'll just have to share, then," she said, stronger than she felt with her heart pounding the way it was. "It is very cold, and it will only get colder the later it gets. We'll...be warmer if we stay closer together. I don't want to go to sleep and not wake up because I froze to death in the middle of the night."

"I-I..." Obi-Wan swallowed hard, absolutely certain the Duchess could feel his heart pounding. He forgot how to speak. It was easily the best idea he had ever heard. "I suppose it would be safer that way..." he said, his voice trembling with cold and excitement.

With a shy, grateful smile, Satine lightly pressed back on the Jedi's shoulder, Kenobi breathlessly following her lead and laying back on the ground before the fire. Satine pulled the cloak over them, and when they were wrapped up in the warmth of the heavy brown cloth, she nestled herself in the crook of Obi-Wan's arm, her head on his chest and her long fingers absently tracing his ribs. Neither said anything for a long while, and Satine slowly relaxed as she listened to the strong, even beat of Obi-Wan's heart, the warmth radiating off his body making her curl even closer to him. In her exhausted mind, she wondered if she could hear the Force within him if she listened hard enough, if she could feel it beneath her fingertips pulsing through his blood like a heart beat, and found herself wiggling closer.

"Obi-Wan?" Satine asked softly, and the Jedi tensed in surprise from the sudden sound, his heart rate suddenly jumping.

"Y-yes?" he asked, hesitant and unsure, and from her place against him, the Duchess looked up and met his gaze.

"Did you...mean what you said? W-when you said I was beautiful?" Confusion marred Obi-Wan's face, his breath catching in his throat as he looked at the flushed, hopeful face of his Duchess.

"A-are you serious?" he asked, a nervous laugh on his voice. "Surely you must know, Satine, I'm sure people tell you all the time, that-" Obi-Wan cut himself off when Satine's eyes narrowed, her lips drawing together for a moment as she pouted, and then looked away, the displeasure melting into disappointment, and Kenobi's chest ached. He pulled her closer against him, the girl gasping softly as he did so, his fingers sliding into her pale blond hair and letting the still damp strands to slip between them. "Yes," Obi-Wan whispered. "I meant it." Satine's fingers tensed, gripping his ribs tightly for a moment before her entire being seemed to melt against him.

"I'm glad they sent you to protect me, Obi-Wan," Satine whispered. "I didn't think I'd be able to trust a man again after what happened with Edric, but...I trust you." She sighed as she felt Obi-Wan's fingers slowly drift to her neck and gently began rubbing the tension out of her muscles. "I feel...safe with you..." Weariness overcoming her, Satine let the even, rhythmic sound of the Jedi's pulse and breathing lead her into a deep, restful sleep.

---

Meditation.

I can't sleep. I can't sleep at all. I can't even take solace in meditation, because...because what if the fire goes out? Because what if the temperature drops so low that we start to freeze, despite our close proximity? Because what if the bounty hunters find us? Or even worse, what if Master Qui-Gon finds us?!

Or it's because the Duchess won't stop moving.

It's bad enough that I can't sleep because being unconscious would leave me unguarded to protect myself against things that would be, quite frankly, extremely embarrassing in such close proximity to a lady. But now, I can't even be awake without my traitorous body reacting to her...her wiggling.

Putting distance between us has been largely unsuccessful, as every time I manage to free myself from her grasp, she somehow finds her way back to me. Or her shivering becomes so severe that I find my way back to her so the poor thing will stop being so cold. I confess, sharing body heat is more effective than I imagined , and as the night has gotten colder, I have come to be grateful for the additional warmth provided by Satine. More specifically, I am grateful that, as a living being, her body generates heat by virtue of being alive. I am significantly less grateful for the heat that her body had produced in me, despite my best efforts to resist. It's...it's her hips. She keeps moving them against mine and I can't...I can't...

Ah, Satine...

No, stop! Focus, Obi-Wan, you are not a child anymore! This is a serious matter! Our survival is on the line, this is not the time to be thinking about how it feels to have her so close to me. Or how soft her skin is. Or how...inviting her movements are. Or how sweet the sounds she makes in her sleep are. Or how...how...

Oh, Force help me, stop it!

Since she fell asleep, it has been a struggle to keep arousal from rising up within...no, no, Obi-Wan, stop it. Rephrase that. You can't think like that, you can't think things like that at all.

Once more. Since she fell asleep, it has been a struggle to control myself. I tried in a very misguided attempt to still her movements by holding her hips, but it only made the matter worse. Since then, I have kept my hands to myself, but she isn't so kind. It is innocent, I know. She is sleeping, she cannot help it and would certainly be horrified to know what her touch had done to me while she slept. She would certainly never trust me again. She wouldn't feel safe around me like she does now. And I can't allow that, I can't. She is my mission. She needs to feel I am safe and trustworthy, or else, what is the point of me?

Edric's treatment of her wrecked her. I see it when she thinks I am not looking. I see it when she finds herself moving toward me sometimes, and the memory of being in that brute's control enters her mind and she flinches away. She flinches from me and I have done nothing, and she does it for fear of what may happen to her. As if the constant fear of death wasn't enough, she now fears she will be taken advantage of. Which is...reasonable, I suppose. The bounty hunters have seemed content to kill her, but the reward for her alive is double the pay of delivering her dead. Qui-Gon and I have no such stipulation, of course. The only good Jedi is a dead Jedi, so far as they are concerned, and we have a reputation of being very dangerous captives.

If they manage to capture her, there's no doubt what they would do to her. She isn't just young and beautiful, she is of noble birth, far above the vile ruffians that hunt her. More than that, she's a symbol of hope, and her enemies are cruel enough to defile that symbol before they kill her. It's...disgusting. Reprehensible. And in her innocence, Edric Ordo had manipulated her to crave her own abuse. It has shattered her naivete, it made her realize what she could lose to a selfish boy. And still, she trusts me...

She feels safe with me, and I cannot betray that by allowing my body to do whatever it wants. She is my friend. I am her friend and protector, and that is all I will ever be. This is how I remain a place of peace for her. This is how I keep her from being afraid of what I may do, though I would never do it. I am a Jedi. A Jedi is not ruled by their urges, or by the wants and needs of the flesh, or by the lusts and desires for a sweet, smart, beautiful woman...

I wonder if she knows what she does to me...

Oh, Satine, my Satine...

I don't understand what I feel for her. What I feel now in the very pit of me is strictly physical desire, a mess of hormones released by my brain due to the close proximity of a beautiful woman. It's a mating instinct, and it is common in boys my age, and I have done well in the past not to be slave to such urges. I could justify my physical reactions were it only that. But it's not. It's really not...

I think about her constantly. I have grown accustomed to the elevated pulse, the rising heat, and the fluttering in my stomach when I am in her presence. I had thought at first it was an aspect of my attraction to her, my physical pull to be with a woman, but it isn't. It's not the same as the burning need I felt with Veela Ordo. It's something...something deeper, perhaps. Something soothing, not burning, maddening only in the fact that I don't understand it. Is this what happens when you become friends with someone you're attracted to? It can't be more than that. I like her, yes, and in another lifetime, in another place, maybe Satine and I could have had a future together. Maybe...maybe...

I don't know. I don't know anything. I don't understand the things I am feeling, and Master Qui-Gon can't help me. I can never tell him this, I could never do that to him.

All I know is that we are surrounded by war and death and cold, and despite all this, with her here beside me...nothing has ever felt so right.