The young boy trudged through the ancient tunnels of Ilum, the immaculate snow so deep, his feet sunk to his calves. Even within this maze of caves he'd been travelling through he had to lift his feet with exaggerated motions, sending snow flying with each movement, disturbing the untouched surface, creating imperfections with each action. The naturally crystalline walls of the cave illuminated the boy's path, giving off an almost ethereal blue hue from some unknown source. Behind him, the little heat emitted from the thermal pools was quickly vanishing, allowing Ilum's cold bite to slowly spread across his body once again.
Ilum was a harsh and uninhabitable planet, its surface and deeper layers perpetually frozen. During the day, its surface could barely be considered hospitable and only the insane would brave its nights and. Deep in the tunnels, where the weak rays of of its sun never reached, only the ghosts of the perished dared wonder. Although the youth had discovered a number of thermal baths deeper down, their warmth creating a mystical fog as it came in contact with the colder air, the journey to them had been treacherous and their warmth had only been limited to their proximity. To many, Illum was simply another harbinger of death and anguish in the vast, dark galaxy.
However, to the youngling, it was the most marvellous place in the galaxy- any galaxy! He had little sense of how long he had spent beneath Ilum's surface, navigating its passages with little else to guide him but a distant light. He had tripped and fallen through the darkness, he'd swum through the dark thermal pools and half frozen afterwards however, as he clutched his treasure in his numb hands, he knew it had all been worth it.
The youth's face brightened when he recognised the door at the end of the maze. Like the rest of the tunnels it seemed to be made of solid ice, an intricate and complex pattern carved upon its surface. The boy would not consider himself the studious type, and his masters would not state otherwise, but the mysterious meaning of the symbols had piqued his interest. However, the prospect of the warmth that waited for him behind those doors trumped all and any curiosity.
Carefully clutching the item in one hand, he extended the other. It shook slightly in the cold, and his teeth chattered as the chill air quickly caught up with his suddenly motionless body. But he pushed such bothersome thoughts away, allowing a warm tingling feeling to spread across his fingers, the same feeling one would feel if he'd dipped them in particularly warm water.
The Force responded to his request, eager to release the student and allow him to preach of his success. The doors slowly began to slide apart, a slit of light slowly becoming wider, overpowering the soft blue of the caves and blinding the youngling. He blinked away the dots and stars that obscured his vision, once again clutching his prize with both hands, as if fearing he'd lose it the instant one of his hands let go of it. The cold air was making it difficult to breath, and even the slightest jobs required far more exertion than usual. In fact, although he felt exhausted, he'd opened the gate just wide enough for himself to slide through.
The youngling, his own breath fogging up his vision, trudged on, pressing himself between the two thick slabs of ice, their cold touch making an indescribable numbness spread across his body. Those last steps seemed as if they refused to end, that the gate wished to tease him by becoming thicker as he progressed. The youngling almost feared he hadn't opened the doors wide enough and he'd get stuck, wedged between the two slabs never to escape, exiled from any form of warmth for all eternity. But slowly, and eventually, he stumbled out, unable to regain his balance as he refused to release his grasp on the item.
However a strong, warm hand on his shoulder steadied him without hesitation, it had eagerly been awaiting his return`.
"Successful, I sense you were." A soft, old voice said. The youngling looked up, allowing his master's voice to wash over him, the pride in his face warming him down to his toes almost instantaneously.
The boy presented his find to his master, finally forcing his fingers apart, allowing the radiant blue glow of the crystal to sneak from between his fingers before the whole crystal basked in the sun's warm rays for the first time since its creation.
Master Yoda smiled fondly at the youngling, savouring the radiant smile that refused to fade from his pale face "Now, your lightsaber you must forge, young Obi-Wan Kenobi."
That had been the epitome of Obi-Wan's training, never had he felt such pride and happiness in his own accomplishments, for there was no greater honour for a youngling than collecting a Kyber Crystal and being given the chance to forge his own lightsaber. The same lightsaber that would declare to the planets that he was a Jedi, or would be one someday, and that he was there to protect them.
Never had he ever anticipated the feeling of dread that same weapon would conjure within him. Never, not even in his wildest nightmares, had he ever expected to let go of its hilt as if its mere touch burned him. But, looking down at Satine, sickened by what he'd almost done to her, he wished he'd never succeeded in his quest on Ilum all those years ago.
He looked around the prisoners, at the motionless bodies that lay on the ground, at the cowering captives in their cells. Finally, Obi-Wan Kenobi began to absorb the real fear he had created. Moments ago, he would have relished it, now he felt nauseated by his own deeds. That man of before, was not the same man who stood within the passage now.
"I'm so sorry, Satine!" Obi-Wan's voice quivered as he begged the duchess for forgiveness, carefully releasing himself from her grasp and turning, so her face was now nestled within his chest. Obi-Wan wanted to hold her and comfort her like he used to. However, he felt hesitant, fearful she would cower away from his touch after what she'd seen him do. And even if she didn't, the cruel injuries that blazed across her back looked raw and angry, the pain she must have endured just to stand within her cell... the Padawan could barely begin to imagine what it must have felt like to move against the pain to stop him.
The nauseating feeling flared within his stomach once again at the thought, what if she hadn't stopped him in time?
"Obi-Wan." His name emerged like a muffled hiccup, finally looking up at him, her eyes swollen and still shedding tears. "Never do that again."
She sobbed back into his chest, unable to hide the relief that, when she looked up, her Obi-Wan had been one looking back down on her. She weakly pounded a fist against his chest as she scolded him and the Padawan didn't stop her, he deserved this, and so much more, for what he had done, and almost succeeded in doing.
"Thank you for stopping me." He whispered into her hair, so gently the duchess didn't hear him. Satine's sobs finally subsided, allowing herself to feel all the pain once again but she bit it back, this physical infliction nothing compared to what she had felt as she'd seen Obi-Wan hurt so many people so mercilessly. It had been all her fault, he'd only crossed that line to protect her …
But, with Satine's breathing returning to its more normal volume, albeit still rather ragged and pained, the pair could finally hear the ruckus that was happening outside. Balik's loud and thunderous voice was giving commands outside, they could hear the unmistakable sound of bodies being commanded into place, the sound of metal hitting metal as they prepared for Obi-Wan's next attack.
"We need to get out of here." Satine began, finally trying to walk away from Obi-Wan but her legs gave way, every joint and muscle screaming in pain and fatigue.
"You aren't going anywhere in that state." The Padawan hissed, catching the duchess as she fell, her face contorted, unintentionally, in pain. Even the slightest pressure in the vicinity of her wounds caused her vision to blare, threatening to send her into the world of unconsciousness. The duchess refused to be more of a burden to Obi-Wan then she already had been.
However the Padawan's thoughts were elsewhere, on how he could escape with the duchess. He could carry her but, with her back in such a state, even such a simple motion could inflict her with excruciating pain.
"Use the Force to heal her." A soft, gentle voice suggested from the shadows.
Obi-Wan jumped at the unexpected sound, cursing at himself as his sudden movements caused Satine to wince in pain.
"Who's there?! Show yourself!" Obi-Wan yelled, as the thunderous orders of the chief outside became more prominent, he didn't need to know Mandalorian to understand that the tribe was almost done with their preparations. Where they waited was the only way Obi-Wan knew of escaping, and they undoubtedly had every aspect of their escape covered. The instant either he or Satine set a toe out across that arch way, the Donari would attack, and they would win.
"My name is Lie Ren." The man calmly answered, the shifting of shadow in one of the cells revealing a man as he walked into the torch light. A tall, humanoid man, with a nest of fiery ginger hair and a sprinkling of freckles across his dark skin. He was dressed in plain garbs of green and brown and looked rather unpeculiar, except for the blindfold he had tied around his eyes. "I'm a Miraluka that resides within this forest, a scout for my tribe that got captured by the Donari." Lie explained calmly and gently, as if Obi-Wan and Satine were two wild animals he was trying to befriend.
The Padawan nodded his head, the Miraluka were quiet, peaceful people, who opted to shy away from conflict. That would also explain the strange blindfold the man wore, all Miraluka wore such a garment but, for what reason, he could not remember.
"There's another tribe in this godforsaken forest?" Wearily hissed Satine, barely able to shake her head with the pain. For this desolate piece of space rock to have another tribe on its surface, they'd have to reevaluate just how uninhabited Draboon really was.
"I wish I could assure you my people are far more hospitable than these barbarians, but I see no reason you should believe a stranger, especially after what you two have been through." Lie Ren admitted, before repeating. "Why don't you use the Force to heal her? To carry a lightsaber you must either be a Jedi or, in the least, a Padawan?"
"Is such a thing possible?" Obi-Wan skeptically asked, he'd never received such a lesson.
"I've seen it done many times." The Miraluka calmly explained, "you may not be able to fully heal her, but you may be able to block the pain long enough to escape."
Obi-Wan looked at the man wearily, after dealing with the Donari he felt reluctant to trust the advice of a stranger but, he felt no malice from him within the Force, just a genuine want to help.
"You don't need to free me." The Miraluka continued, noticing the youth's hesitation. "I can talk you through it." And, with the pressure building outside that the Donari were waiting for their move, Obi-Wan nodded his head, having had enough with wasting time.
"Place a hand on her forehead, and another on her heart." Lie Ren began. Obi-Wan nodded his head, awkwardly doing as he was told as the duchess struggled to stay in a kneeling position, she never looked away from Obi-Wan, even as her breaths became more shaken. She flinched, instinctively, at his touch against her bare, bruised skin. The Padawan gritted his teeth at her reaction but Lie Ren continued to explain.
"She may not be Force sensitive but it flows within all things. You must give her some of yours, just enough to stop the pain but be careful, because giving her too much may exhaust you beyond help or even kill you." Lie Ren finished. Obi-Wan, closed his eyes to try to do what he was told. To give one some of your Force, what a strange and bizarre concept! Master Qui-Gon had preached of the living Force but never that it could be used in such a manner. He'd have to question him more about this if they ever escaped and found his master.
Just as Obi-Wan had been doing since he was a child, he allowed his body to calm, for his mind to sink into the Force, allowing it to wash over him. However, this time, something was different, as he tried to delve into the Force, he felt his consciousness be repelled, each attempt feeling like a sting to his mind, making him want to wreath in pain.
The first time this happened, he opened his eyes in surprise, his breath catching in his throat, but the sound of the Donari outside swiftly caused him to close his eyes and try again. The same painful sensation met him, propelling him away from the Force.
Please , he begged the Force the third time he tried, unable to understand what could be blocking him from the Force. But the Force did not answer.
"Obi-Wan, it's ok…" Satine began, misinterpreting the situation, but the Padawan wasn't listening, exasperated with himself.
"Lie Ren, you are strong with the Force, I can sense that much. Can you help her?" Obi-Wan inquired, finally standing to walk towards the Miraluka.
The man nodded his head, "I may not be able to move objects with my mind but yes, I can perform some basic healing, and the healers of my village can aid her far more adequately than I, however, do you believe it wise to trust me?
"Right now we have no choice." Obi-Wan admitted, retrieving his lightsaber. The Miraluka took a step back, understanding the Padawan's plan but, as the young man's thumb hovered over the ignition button, he hesitated, remembering the last time he wielded it.
"Do not fear it, young one, you have regained control, and yourself, in the process." Lie Ren said, his soothing voice giving Obi-Wan the courage to pierce his lightsaber through the cell's lock. It blazed red and melted away, accompanied by the familiar scent of ozone. Lie Ren pushed the grate away as Obi-Wan retracted his blade. The Miraluka nodded his head in thanks before kneeling before Satine and placing a hand on her chest and forehead as he had previously instructed Obi-Wan. The Padawan almost instantly sensed a swirling shifting in Force, and Satine sighed in relief, the haze of her mind clearing as her pain subsided.
"Thank you." She muttered, smiling gratefully at Lie Ren as he removed his hands and helped the duchess to her feet.
"We must get out of here." Lie Ren instructed. "We can't rely on Balik's patience for much longer."
"But where can we go? The exit must be surrounded by Balik's warriors by now." Obi-Wan warned, his mind racing with possibilities.
"Ah but that is what the chief would have you believe." Lie Ren corrected, "The arena."
Satine shuddered at the thought of returning to that vile place. "I was hoping never to return there."
"But it is the only way if you hope to survive." Lie Ren said, looking pointedly at the injured girl.
"Lead the way." Sighed Obi-Wan, trying to hide the tremor in his hands as he hooked his lightsaber to his belt.
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed the update and feel free to drop a comment. Next update will be up on Friday :D