As they were flying through hyperspace, Ezra called Master Yoda. "Master I am on my way back from Naboo…" "Your help needed by Obi-Wan is. Head to Mandalore and meet him there." The green Jedi Master interrupted. "Yes Master." Ezra said, before cutting the transmission and dropping from hyperspace. As he put in the coordinates to Mandalore, he noticed the worried look on Sabine's face. "Don't worry Sabine, your family will be fine." "I hope so." Sabine said softly. "I better let Hera know I'll be delayed in getting back to Coruscant, maybe she can meet us at Mandalore also." Ezra said, hoping the Twi'lek could indeed meet them, to give Sabine some moral support if his words proved to be false.
XXX
Obi-Wan wished that he could go faster, the trip to Mandalore seemed endless. Not to long after Luke had left to get the scan of the Death Star, Maul had contacted them. He had demanded Obi-Wan come to him and as an incentive he showed his captive, Satine. The woman he had considered leaving the Jedi Order for many years ago, who he had already saved from Maul once, was back in his power. He only hoped that it would turn out just as well as the last time.
He could still see Maul getting ready to stab her with the dark saber, remembered the feeling that time itself was slowing down as he watched him pull back to stab her. Then the feeling in his gut as he called on the Force as he never had before and hadn't since, rendering the cuffs on his hands useless and pushing the dark saber to the side of the Satine, too close for comfort as Maul pulled her towards him. Bo-Katan, who had snuck in without anyone noticing, had pulled her sister from the shocked Maul's grasp as Obi-Wan called his own saber to him and attacked Maul, who barely recovered from his surprise in time to block Kenobi's lightsaber.
The Mandalorians in the room did nothing, much like they had done nothing when Pre Vizsla had faced Maul, waiting to see how this battle played out. The battle was quick and Maul laid defeated on the ground, the point of Obi-Wan's lightsaber at his throat. He had been taken to the nearest Mandalorian prison until the Jedi could safely transport him to Coruscant, but Maul had somehow escaped and gone into hiding. Obi-Wan shook his head as Commander Cody said "Coming out of hyperspace sir." Obi-Wan hoped that Ezra was either already there or soon would be, for he didn't trust Maul not to harm her if he took too long for the Sith's patience.
XXX
As Ezra brought the Phantom out of hyperspace, he saw Obi-Wan's ship was already there and started beaming a transmission to him. As the hologram of Obi-Wan appeared, Ezra said "I hope I didn't keep you waiting long, Master, I came as soon as I heard." "I just got here myself, so your timing is good. Come aboard and we'll work out a plan." Obi-Wan replied, before ending the communications. Ezra quickly docked the Phantom with Obi-Wan's ship and he and Sabine went aboard. As they walked up to the table, Obi-Wan turned and greeted Ezra before asking, "Who's this?" "This is Sabine, she is Satine's niece. Sabine, this is the Obi-Wan Kenobi you've heard so much about." Ezra introduced them.
Obi-Wan blushed as Sabine hid a chuckle before saying "It's nice to finally meet you Master Jedi, as Ezra said, I've heard a lot about you. I wish we were meeting under better circumstances." Obi-Wan nodded and said "Agreed. Are you wanting to join us in your aunt's rescue?" "Do you know the whereabouts of the rest of my family?" she asked. "We have been in contact with your mother, she is safe, though she is trying to keep Maul's forces busy long enough for us to get down there undetected." "Then I think I will join her once we get down there, I've seen what Maul can do and you don't need any more distractions then you already have." She replied.
Obi-Wan nodded as Ezra's fingers found the scars on his face, as he remembered his first encounter with Maul years ago. He would be glad that Sabine was safely out of harm's way, relatively speaking anyways. Obi-Wan nodded and said "Alright, you will take my men to aid your mother, while Ezra and I go and pay Maul and your aunt a visit. Cody, she has temporary command over you and your men." "Yes sir." Cody replied. "Ezra and I will take that small ship you two arrived in down to the surface first, then after we give you the signal, you'll come in with guns blazing and transports full, alright." "Yes Master Kenobi." Sabine replied as Ezra nodded his agreement."
"Right, any questions?" After a moment of silence, Obi-Wan continued "Then let's get going Ezra." Ezra led the way to the Phantom and took control of the ship. As he was flying them down towards the planet, Ezra asked "May I ask you a question Obi-Wan?" "Of course." Obi-Wan answered. "You have feelings for Satine right? Why didn't you choose her over the Order?" Obi-Wan sighed and asked "This won't go further than this ship?" Ezra nodded, causing Obi-Wan to continue "When I almost lost her to Maul last time, I knew I loved her. I promised myself as soon as the Clone Wars was over, I was going to follow my heart."
"So what stopped you?" Ezra asked, surprised at the openness of Obi-Wan. "Anakin. I knew he would want someone he trusted to teach the twins and since there was no way the Council was going to let them be taught together, I stayed to train Luke. I would have left after his training was complete, but this war has taken so many Jedi, I can't abandon them now." Obi-Wan said sadly. Ezra considered this a moment before asking "So do you think that having attachments is okay? Or are you on the fence, where it's fine to have attachments but if you do you should leave the order?" "Honestly, I'm fine with attachments and if it weren't for the Order not approving, I would have gladly figured out a way to both stay with the Order and Satine. That is, if she would have me."
The rest of the ride was spent in silence, each man deep in thought about their conversation, one reflecting on the woman he loved and the other wishing he could help the other be with her. Soon they reached the surface and Obi-Wan sent the attack message to Sabine. Almost instantly there was ships filling the sky, though further away from Obi-Wan and Ezra to keep from drawing attention to them. "Let's go." Said Obi-Wan.
Ezra followed him out of the ship and towards the palace, since Obi-Wan knew the way better than him. As they drew closer to the palace, Obi-Wan turned to Ezra and said "I need you to slip around the back way as I distract Maul, that way we have to view points on where Satine is and will hopefully be able to keep her safe this way." Ezra nodded, heading off to go around as Obi-Wan waited a moment before entering the front of the palace.
XXX
"Ah Kenobi, I see you got my message." Maul said with a wicked grin. "I'm here now Maul, so let the Duchess go." Obi-Wan replied, a determined look on his face. "I must say, for someone who earned the title of Negotiator during the Clone Wars, I was expecting, well, more negotiations Kenobi." Maul said softly, ending with what would pass for a chuckle. "You want my terms then? Alright, let the Duchess go and you can leave here without anyone stopping you, unless of course you decide to make a wrong move, then all bets are off." Obi-Wan said, a bored look crossing his face, though inside his heart was racing at the danger Satine was in.
Maul sobered up and frowned, none to please with the condescending tone Obi-Wan used. "Are you patronizing me as I hold her life in the balance? Do not push me Kenobi, I will harm her." He growled. "No one is patronizing you, my old adversary, just trying to give you what you want." Obi-Wan replied, hoping that Maul wouldn't turn his anger on Satine. "What I want is you dead before me, but only after I remove everything you cherish from sight." Maul spat at him. "You will try." Obi-Wan answered, his face scrunching up a bit as his emotions started to get in the way.
Noticing this, Maul laughed and said "What's this? A Jedi showing a un-Jedi like emotion? And Kenobi at that. Yes, this revenge shall be sweet!" Obi-Wan, knowing that Maul was right, took a deep breath and closed his eyes, still focused on Maul, but regaining control over his emotions. Then, without warning he sprung at Maul, his lightsaber going for the Dathomirian's head. Maul, taken by surprise and acting on reflex, pulled his lightsaber away from the Duchess, in who's direction it had been pointed the whole time, blocking Obi-Wan's lightsaber just in time. Ezra came from the back just then as Satine scurried a safe distance from the two Jedi and the Sith they were fighting.
Red clashed against green and blue blades, as they all parried and thrust in an intricate, almost dance like pattern. Obi-Wan gripped his lightsaber with both hands as he spun around, slamming it hard against Maul's waiting blade, his left hand straining as the mechanics in it tried to hold up against the pressure being applied to it. Then Maul's lightsaber was gone as he moved it to block an attack from Ezra. The Jedi would have Maul almost backed into a corner and he would pull a move that had them on the defense, then they would start to circle him, causing him to back up once more, and the cycle with start over, with neither side doing any serious gaining nor landing blows on anything but the other's lightsabers.
The sweat was trickling down all of their foreheads as the exertion from both the time and the power behind their blows caught up with them, but both sides refused to quit, to much was at stake. For Maul his freedom and the future of the Dark Forces, for the Obi-Wan and Ezra their lives and those of Satine and any other Maul would go on to kill. Suddenly, Obi-Wan stumbled, his foot having caught on some downed statuary, and Maul's eyes gleamed with joy at the sight of his opponent, the focus of his burning hate, in such a vulnerable position. Yes he wanted Obi-Wan to suffer, but he would settle for the knowledge that he had failed his precious Satine.
Maul pushed Ezra back with the Force, the young man's head hitting the wall with a crack and he crumpled to the ground, motionless. Then Maul stalked towards Obi-Wan, his lightsaber finding the older Jedi's throat. "I finally have you Kenobi, I finally win." He manically proclaimed. Obi-Wan knew he wouldn't be able to recover to a good defense position in time as Maul pulled back his lightsaber, ready to stab Obi-Wan through the heart. Out of seemingly nowhere, a black object hurdled through the air, hitting Maul high on his left shoulder and momentarily pinning him to the wall behind him. As Maul screeched in both pain and surprise, Obi-Wan looked in the direction the Dark Saber, for that is what had hit Maul, had come from.
There stood Satine, still in the position she had been in when she had thrown it, her hair a mess and her clothes out of sorts… and Obi-Wan thought to himself that she had never looked more beautiful. Shaking his head to clear that thought away for a better time, Obi-Wan got to his feet and faced Maul's direction once more… only to discover the Sith gone. The Dark Saber laid on the ground, deactivated, and when Obi-Wan reached out in the Force to see where Maul was, he found him running away, probably to his ship that was sure to be stashed nearby.
Deciding against chasing him down, he made his way over to Satine, who was bent over checking on Ezra. "I think he is alright, but that bump will keep him out for a while." She said as she got to her feet, "Are you alright." "I am, thanks to you." Obi-Wan said with a gentle smile. "Well I couldn't let him hurt my favorite Jedi." Satine said with an almost shy smile. "I hope this is okay." Obi-Wan said, to which Satine started to ask "What..?" but she was stopped from doing so as Obi-Wan's lips met hers. She returned his kiss, sighing as they parted. "That." Obi-Wan said breathlessly. "Oh Obi-Wan, I've wanted to tell you my feelings since our first amount of time together, but I knew that you were a Jedi so it could never be."
Her eyes widened as she continued "Oh my gosh, you still are a Jedi. Obi-Wan what are you doing? You will be kicked out of the Order if they find how dear you hold me." "I don't care Satine. Honestly, I was going to leave after the Clone Wars, but with the birth of Leia and Luke… I had to stay for them, for Anakin. Then when Luke was trained enough, we were, are, so low on Jedi that I can't leave now. But the moment this war is over, I am leaving the Order, and coming straight to you. I've almost lost you twice before I ever got to tell you how I feel about you, I will not make that mistake ever again." Obi-Wan finished passionately.
"Oh Obi-Wan." Satine repeated, before kissing him this time. After they parted a second time, Obi-Wan said "In fact, if you're willing, I want to marry you now. We'll have to keep it a secret, for the Order won't let me stay if they find out, but they need me and I can't abandon them now, but just knowing I'll have you to come home to eventually, will make me the happiest man in the galaxy." "Of course I'll marry you Obi-Wan and I promise to keep it a secret, but might my sister be there and know?" she asked. "Yes, she and her daughter and your nephew Korkie are all welcome to be there." "Can I be there too?" Ezra said with a groan added at the end.
Satine looked horrified, worried that Ezra would tell the Council on Obi-Wan, but was relieved when Obi-Wan said "Of course Ezra, and thank you for making me think of this on our flight down." Ezra smiled groggily before saying "Now would be a good time to do it, we could call in Sabine, Bo-Katan and Korkie as back up, but make sure it's just them. But we still need someone to officiate the wedding." "What about Hera? As Captain of the Ghost, she technically has the power to marry someone." Satine said. "I did ask her to meet us here on Mandalore, so she might have arrived. I can contact her and see." Ezra answered.
"Please do, I will see to getting Bo-Katan and Sabine here, while Satine can get Korkie in here." Obi-Wan replied. The three separated a bit to make their calls and then waited for all of those summoned to arrive. They weren't long in waiting, for the others came as fast as possible, Hera bringing up the rear as the all filed into the room Satine, Obi-Wan and Ezra were. "What's the matter? Why did you call for us? Is it Maul?" Bo-Katan asked, before noticing that the three that were already there were way to calm for this to be a battle summons. "What's going on?" She demanded. "Obi-Wan and I are getting married!" Satine exclaimed, her joy evident on her face. Everyone said their congratulations, before Obi-Wan said "I am going against the Order on this, so please keep it a secret until I can come here permanently."
The others agreed and Satine turned to Hera and asked "Will you marry us?" Hera looked surprised, then smiled and said "It would be my honor." The ceremony was short and sweet, they wanted to be sure that they wouldn't be discovered, but you wouldn't have known there were only four witnesses, besides Hera, when Obi-Wan and Satine kissed, for the room was full of cheers. Almost immediately after the ceremony, however, it was back to business, for Obi-Wan asked "How was the battle with the Dark Forces going?"
"When you called us, we had them in retreat. Maul must have called them off when he fled. Still, I'm sure there are still stragglers." Bo-Katan answered, Korkie confirming that the same was true for the group that he had been fighting. "Then I shall stay here a day or two to help with tracking down the last few, in case there are any surprises. Ezra, you can return to the Temple or go wherever you are sent next." Ezra smiled and said "Yes Master." Ezra, Sabine and Hera all left together, while Bo-Katan and Korkie hurried off to return to their groups to finish the fight, leaving the two newlyweds alone.
Satine smiled up at him and said "At least I get to have you with me for a few days." "That will be nice. I want you to see if you can hire Asajj Ventress for protection, if Cham Syndulla is done with her. I know she is a former adversary, but she knows how to use lightsabers and I'll feel better knowing you have some protection if Maul decides to try this again." Obi-Wan asked gently. "If it will make you feel better I will do so. Now, would you like to take a stroll around the palace?" she asked softly. Obi-Wan smiled and said "I would love too."
XXX
Ezra docked the Phantom back onto the Ghost and joined Hera and Sabine down below. Zeb was visiting his family on his home world, so they talked openly about the wedding that had just taken place. "I can't believe they finally got married!" Sabine exclaimed, "I remember all the stories my aunt has told us about their time together, and I could always tell that she liked him. I never expected him to be okay with leaving the Order, let alone pulling an Anakin Skywalker!" Hera chuckled and said "It was definitely odd, though I hope that it is a sign of change happening in the Jedi Order." Ezra smiled, knowing she was thinking of Caleb and shared a glance with Sabine that told him she was thinking the same thing.
XXX
This time, when he contacted Yoda he was told to return to the Temple as soon as possible. As he watched the stars streak by as they were in hyperspace, he couldn't help but think that maybe it was time for the Order to change. If their numbers kept dwindling it might be easy to get them to allow for certain things that they hadn't before, like attachments. Not that Ezra wanted anything to happen to any of the remaining Jedi, but with so few Jedi and with a few that he personally open to the idea of changing some of their beliefs, perhaps this was almost a blessing in disguise, as far as it being more than likely to come about now than when there had been more.
For now, he worked to put out of his mind the marriage of Obi-Wan and Satine. It wouldn't do for any of those opposed to change to figure out what had him so distracted or deep in thought. But before he did so he couldn't help think of what Hera had said about the wedding being a sign of change. Was it? And if so, would everyone be fine with it? And if they weren't, would they become two separate groups that would end up fighting each other? Ezra shuddered at that thought and hoped he was wrong, but if something was going right, something had to go wrong, didn't it?
Yay, Obi-Wan is married to Satine! I honestly love this pairing and my heart broke in The Clone Wars when she was killed by Maul. Hence I had to save her in this story and I honestly wasn't going to have them marry when I even started this chapter, but my hands took over and it was done XD Sorry, not sorry XD Besides it kind of fits into my plot a bit (something you shall see later, wahahahhahahha!) and it just felt right with the moment.
Hopefully ya'll will tell me what you think of not only this chapter, but this story as a whole, for I'm dying to know! And if any of you have a character who has not appeared yet that you would love to see, let me know and I will see if I can fit them in :D Or if you have one that has already been in, but you think deserves more time in the story. I can't promise anything, for some characters haven't appeared or at least not much because I just don't feel like I could do them justice, ie Thrawn. But I will do my best to add them in :D