Title: Don't Go
Genre: Drama/Angst
Main Character(s): Queen Talia
Rating: K/G
Disclaimer: Not mine, nope nope.
Date written: June 24, 2006

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Don't Go

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It was one thing to hire a new advisor, but to hire a new advisor that was a Jedi? Jedi didn't have ties to a single diplomat, they traveled to help all of them. And yet, Master Kavar had volunteered to become Talia's personal advisor, as long as she kept that he was a Jedi a secret and he didn't have to step in the limelight.

"Welcome to the Onderonian court," said Talia, shaking his hand. Kavar bowed to the Queen. "I will be ready to attend the agricultural meeting in half an hour," she told him. "Come and find me then and we will go." Kavar nodded and Talia walked back to her dressing room.

Kavar, however, did not completely understand everything about working in diplomatic affairs as an advisor. Though he was a Jedi, he was not accustomed to everything that happened in a palace. Most planets did not have a monarch anymore, with the exception of a few. And though Onderon often ran like a democracy, there were still traditions Talia followed.

One was that no one was supposed to see her hair down.

Kavar knocked on her door and hearing a "just a moment" call from inside waited just a moment and then opened the door. Talia was completely clothed and ready to leave; only her headdress had not been put on yet.

She turned around and gasped. "You aren't supposed to come in," she told him, trying to be kind but direct in her scolding.

Kavar smiled. "You said just a moment and it's been just a moment. Wait any longer and you will be late, milady. And why does it matter? It's not like you're undressed or anything."

Talia put on her headdress and adjusted it, leaving silence in the room for a few moments before she spoke. "It is traditional for the Queen to never wear her hair down in public, or in front of anyone that is not family."

"Well, I guess you'll just have to rewrite the rule so that it only applies to everyone outside the court," said Kavar. "I am your advisor, and I advise you to do that."

"At least you have a sense of humor, as opposed to my last advisor," said Talia, grinning despite herself. "I guess I simply will have to do that. Now, let's go. We have a meeting to attend."

XxXxX

"News reports have come crashing in with multiple stories concerning the latest scuffle for Onderon. Since yesterday, nobody has seen either Queen Talia or General Vaklu in public. Security guards within the palace claim that General Vaklu has been killed. There is a great controversy over how General Vaklu has perished if such a statement is true. Many people believe that Vaklu died a martyr, but the majority of Onderon, including many who believed that Vaklu should have been the rightful ruler of Onderon, believes that General Vaklu was killed for a good reason. Later today, it is said that we will see Queen Talia back out in public again. She has decided to grace us with a statement…"

Talia blinked at the hologram as it was turned off from behind her. Turning around to scold the guard who decided to tell her it was time to get ready for a public appearance, Talia was a little surprised to see Kavar and his former student, a young woman by the name of Tera Lond, waiting for her attention.

Talia stared at the young woman, a tinge of slight dislike hidden in her gladdened eyes. Despite all the help that the woman, the Exile, had done for her, Talia was still not sure she had done the right thing in executing Vaklu right away. She had feared she would make him a martyr, and to some that's what she had done. But something in the Exile's voice… there was just something that could not stop Talia was taking her advice. There was something else about the student's relationship with her advisor that unsettled her…

But as for Vaklu's death, Talia had learned long ago that as a politician she wasn't going to get everyone on her side. Just as long as she had the majority, she would do fine.

"Yes? You are leaving today, aren't you, Tera?" asked Talia, standing up to greet her guest. She shot Kavar a slightly annoyed look, bringing in that guest without so much as a warning. Though Talia was dressed in proper clothes, her hair was loose, the brown strands falling freely around her face. Kavar seemed to have a habit of catching her unawares, her hair loose. Maybe he intended to do that.

The young woman nodded. "I have to be on my way. My group and I have yet to travel everywhere we had planned to, milady." She smiled. "But I am glad that we have crossed paths."

Talia smiled back at her. "I am glad we have crossed paths as well or else Vaklu may have usurped this palace from me and we would not be here. I wish you luck on your journey and you are welcome here if you ever need a place to stay."

A guard knocked on the door and Talia nodded at him. "Now, if you two will excuse me, I have to go prepare to announce to my people that their once beloved General is dead." She smiled at the Exile as she and Kavar both gave the Queen a little bow. Talia would leave them to say their own good-byes.

Twenty minutes later, Talia heard another knock on her dressing room door. She was putting her headdress on, adjusting it slightly, as she called for the person to enter.

"So she left?" asked Talia, standing up to greet Kavar.

"Just a few moments ago, her and the rest of her mismatched crew," replied Kavar, standing with his arms crossed and face set. "Talia…" he began slowly, but then trailed off. Talia gave him an urging look and he continued. "I have something to take care of. The Exile is trying to rebuild the Jedi Order. I did not tell her everything she needed to know, and I have to go… she needs to know the truth. Then, perhaps, the future of the Jedi Order will be properly determined. But not until she knows what a danger she is to the galaxy."

"A danger?" asked Talia, disbelieving. "I admit she's a talented fighter and on the wrong side she could do a lot of damage, but what can one woman do to a galaxy?"

"There's a lot more to it than is natural," replied Kavar, beginning to pace slightly. "Anyways, I have to leave for awhile. I have to ask your leave."

"What are you going to tell her? Are you going to tell her she's a threat?" asked Talia, still not understanding Kavar's motives for leaving. "Are you going to stop her from being a threat?"

Kavar stopped moving. "I hope so," he whispered.

Talia understood now. "Are you going to hurt her?" He was silent. "Kavar, you can't! You said yourself that she is one of the last known Jedi in the galaxy; if she is killed there will be none of you left, and what will that do for your Order?"

"Whatever is done, she has to be confronted. She had to be told," insisted Kavar. "I will return as your faithful advisor, I'm sure, whether or not the Order is restored. I will return, Talia," his voice was a bit softer now, "I promise."

Talia shook her head. "Just don't get hurt."

Kavar laughed, his face lighting up somewhat. "I don't plan on it. As far as I know she found two of her other former masters. I think the three of us can handle her. We had to do it when she was a child and we'll do it now that she's an Exile."

"I don't like what you're planning to do," said Talia bluntly. "But… I wish you luck."

"There is no luck," commented Kavar wryly. "There is the Force."

Talia smiled. "Right. You're a Jedi. May the Force be with you, Master Kavar."

"And may the Force be with you, Queen Talia." He walked over to Talia and bowed his head. "Especially as you are about to go face a world full of people who are watching your every move. Especially as you go win your people back. You have to face your people. I have to face mine. I have to go."

Talia did not speak. One word repeated over and over again in her mind: don't… but Talia didn't see a point in saying the word. Kavar was stubborn. It was not like he would've stayed if she asked him to. She could only hope that he would return, unharmed, everything settled.

Kavar bowed once again to Talia, his hands reaching for her right. He kissed her hand gently, turned around, and left the room. It distressed Talia to think he may not return.

But she was optimistic and believed he would. She simply smiled at his retreating form and watched a few minutes later as a small one person craft lifted into the skies, breaking through the cloudy skies.

Days went by and Onderon went back to how it was before the conflict between Talia and Vaklu had really erupted. There was still tension everywhere but it was repressed and most people did not care that Vaklu was dead… well they didn't care enough to do anything besides gossip and rant.

Two months had passed since Tera Lond and Master Kavar had left Onderon. Queen Talia had found a new head advisor for the time being, a woman by the name of Junta Wein. She wasn't as direct in what she had to say as Kavar and agreed a little too much with everything Talia said, but she wasn't a bad advisor, she was simply not as experienced as somebody like Kavar whose life centered around solving diplomatic affairs.

"Breaking news reports that a ship moving from Dantooine to Telos was a beacon for a large fleet of ships, rumored to be none other than the Sith, bringing what some may believe to be the doom of Telos, an already nearly dead planet. The ship is supposedly the same ship that the infamous Darth Revan was rumored to have used five years ago, the Ebon Hawk. No further news is known on the condition of Telos. Check back here, on The Galactic News Channel, for further information on this within the hour."

Talia hadn't even been in the room for the last minute of the report. She was already trying to find Junta and arrange to send as many Onderonian troops as possible to help the Exile.

"And as soon as the situation has calmed down enough," instructed Talia, walking side by side with Junta and Iun, her military advisor, "Get the Exile to holo me here. I need to speak with her about what happened and I don't feel much like waiting hours to hear what TGNC has to say."

What happened with Kavar and the other masters? thought Talia to herself as she walked back towards her dressing room. It was late night on Onderon and she was ready to get into bed. To sleep was a whole different matter. She told her guards that if Junta or Iun had come with any news to wake her up and let them in.

This would be one occasion Talia didn't care if her hair was loose and her face free of make-up to speak with anyone outside of her court.

Talia sat in bed, thinking to herself about all the different possibilities for what may have happened for nearly three hours before a knock came on the door. She got out of bed and opened the door. Junta was there, informing her that the Exile had a few spare moments to speak with her.

"I was expecting to hear from you sooner," said the Exile. She looked grim through the holographic representation of her figure. She was no longer wearing the robes she had worn in Talia's palace; instead she was wearing armor that was scratched in several places.

"What happened on Dantooine to usher you to go to Telos?" asked Talia.

The Exile smiled grimly. "That is a little personal to explain, but I know what you want to know. You want to know what happened to Master Kavar." Talia nodded and the Exile sighed. "I am sorry, milady, but my newest enemy took the life energy of Master Kavar and two other former masters of mine."

"He took the life energy from him?" asked Talia. She had never heard of such a thing happening, and she had certainly heard some strange stories.

"She, actually," corrected the Exile. "In other words, he's dead. They're all dead."

Talia froze. Only for a split second. Then her face resumed its diplomatic appearance from before. "Oh." She didn't know what else to say. "I will let you get back to your battle now. May the Force be with you, Exile."

"I'm sorry," said the Exile as Talia had turned around to walk away. "For your loss."

Talia turned around and smiled at the bluish glow of a woman. "It wasn't my loss. It was the galaxy's loss. Now, good-bye, and I hope to see you again. Alive."

The Exile gave a small smile and the hologram ended. Talia turned away from the dissipating hologram and assembled a calm exterior.

"I will retire now. Keep track of all updates from Telos and report them to me when I wake up. Don't disturb my rest though, I need it," instructed Talia. Junta nodded, accepting the instructions and walking away. Junta was supposed to be a temporary replacement. Apparently she would be a permanent replacement now.

Talia tried to sleep easy, but the same question plagued her mind all the while as she tried to sleep. When did I fall in love with him? There was no other reason that could explain the loss and emptiness she felt at hearing of Kavar's death. Why did I fall in love with him? would probably be a better question to ask. As for when…

Perhaps it had been the day she had taken him on as her advisor. He had been around for nearly 5 years now. He had arrived unannounced and sat in the library for days after days. After two weeks of Kavar sitting in the royal library, reading books, Talia sent one of her servants to bring him something to eat. The servant did this for months under Talia's command. It didn't take long for Kavar to come and thank Queen Talia herself.

Eventually, Talia's advisor was fired. Kavar had heard of this and told Talia that he would be delighted to be her new advisor. How could she refuse? He was a Jedi, intelligent and surely bold enough to be a good advisor. Perhaps that afternoon, when he had walked in and seen her with her hair down, not so much of a rarity from that point on, she had first really began to fall in love.

He was someone she could talk with about more than politics and small talk, and he was always around when she needed to talk to him. Maybe that was when, when she had first really had a conversation with him. When she lowered her defenses around him. She was always unafraid to everyone else. But to Kavar, she didn't have to hide behind a veil of self-confidence.

Talia laughed at herself in the dark of her bed chambers. It's not like it could have worked out anyways if he had lived. She was acting like a silly little girl. Queens did not act like silly little girls. But there was always that look in his eyes when he made her laugh, made fun of her fellow diplomats in a low tone while the rest of the diplomats thought he was simply giving her advice. Talia scoffed. Such things mattered no longer. Kavar was dead and she was still alive and Queen. She'd feel better once she got some sleep.

Too bad she didn't sleep that first night.

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SOOOO much love to MissCora, or AnnaCora here on for beta-ing this ficcy. Also, unless you've already seen it over on kfm, I GREATLY recommend that you go visit kotorfanmedia and check out the beautiful piece of art Cora put together for the DCC #21 over there: Supporting Characters. It's all because of her that we got first place. :) Yay for Cora, the most amazing EVER!