Chapter 5

After sending Qui-Gon the message, Obi-Wan simply waited for the reply. Nield had banished him from the Young and now he had nowhere to go, nothing to do but wait and hope. He stayed on the move, keeping out of sight because now he was an enemy to both sides. He slept where he could and if he hadn't had one last friend amongst the Young, he would have died of hunger or hypothermia soon enough.

Days passed and then weeks. Still no reply came. He wondered whether the message had never got through to the temple. In his heart he knew the truth though. Qui-Gon was leaving him to the fate he had chosen.

Tears rolled down his cheeks the day he gave up hope. He was in the middle of a war where he belonged to neither side. He was completely and utterly alone. Every day the snippets of gossip he got painted a worse picture. Both sides were planning something big, and he could do nothing to stop them. He thought about running, but where would he go?

Shouting drew him to the window of the abandoned building he was staying in.

"Get down!" He heard before a huge explosion knocked him off his feet. The building swayed and creaked, the explosion must have been close by.

He grabbed his rucksack and ran for the exit before the building could collapse on him. When he got into the streets there was chaos. Young and Elders were firing at each other as the city flooded with people. He didn't know who had set off explosives but another boom echoes off the buildings around him and dust rained from the sky.

Obi-Wan started running, he didn't know what direction, but he hoped he was getting further away from the fight. He was unarmed, he couldn't join the fight even if he wanted to.

The sound of aircraft drew his gaze upwards. Panic raced through him, making the blood rush through his ears and the air refuse to fill his lungs. Bombs were falling from the sky like rain. He willed his legs to move, to take him away from this nightmare, but the force of impact knocked him off his feet.

I'm going to die. I'm going to die, he thought over and over again.

Orange flames lit up the night sky. Screams filled Obi-Wan's ears when the ringing ceased, he could see shadows running and forced himself to stand up to join them before another wave of fire fell from the sky. Coughing and stumbling, he tried to get to safety. On the outskirts of town, the surviving Young and Elders shot each other down. Obi-Wan tripped over a body and fell to the ground.

He didn't get up again.

..oOo..

Qui-Gon felt his heart pounding in his chest. Seeing the way the King touched Obi-Wan had brought up an anger he hadn't felt in a long time. It had made him irrational and compromised the mission, he was sure of it. But something Obi-Wan said to the King seemed to change the hostile atmosphere that had set in the room.

Servants seemed to be setting up for a banquet and the King had turned away from them like they were nothing. Then he spotted Obi-Wan walking towards them. He still couldn't believe it. Obi-Wan was alive. A million things raced through his mind but he didn't know what he would say to him.

"You're an idiot!" Obi-Wan snapped once he was close enough, "Insulting the King? Carrying a weapon? He would have killed you if it weren't for me. You're lucky he likes me, or he would have killed me for trying to smooth your words over too."

Qui-Gon felt himself shrink. Obi-Wan might look like a child but he certainly didn't speak like one. Something suddenly didn't sit right with the image before him. Obi-Wan had been 13 on Melida/Daan…

Obi-Wan huffed and then stood a little straighter, he looked almost royal himself. "I take it you are both actually unarmed now? The King has allowed you to stay. He has guests coming from the higher standing families of Beimeni but if you're planning on staying for the party, I recommend you keep to yourselves. Beimeni has nothing to offer the Republic. I don't know why you're here, but you should leave before the King's hospitality runs out."

Qui-Gon couldn't get a word in before Obi-Wan turned away. Just before he walked back to the King's side, he added, "Please act like you don't know me."

A hand took hold of Qui-Gon's arm and pulled him out of the way before he could even think about being foolish enough to follow Obi-Wan and demand explanations.

"You know him?" Anakin asked once they were by one of the fountains.

"That's Obi-Wan."

Anakin looked at him like he had gone mad. "Obi-Wan died 22 years ago. That boy is definitely still in his teens."

"I don't know how it's possible…" Qui-Gon shook his head, "but that's him. I know it."

A curious look crossed Anakin's face. "Can the Force keep you young?"

"Not that I know of," he paused, letting his eyes wonder back to the boy now sitting next to the King, "but he feels more powerful than I remember. Something here isn't right."

"I take it we're not leaving then?"

Qui-Gon rubbed his hands over his face tiredly. "I need a drink."

o-O-o

Anakin and Qui-Gon got a few odd looks from the party guests, but no one spoke to them. They talked and ate as music played in the background. Anakin simply observed although he did allow himself to indulge in the food that consisted mainly of fresh fruit and flat bread with honey.

Qui-Gon was right about something going on on Beimeni. They must be hiding something. Because unless Palpatine was coming for the food, Anakin didn't know what was supposed to be so vital about this planet.

Speaking of Qui-Gon, he hadn't taken his eyes off Obi-Wan all evening. If the boy hadn't acted like he clearly knew him, Anakin would have thought Qui-Gon had finally lost it completely. How could someone who was supposed to be 35 look like a teenager? But there he was, sitting next to the King like he was his pet. Anakin saw the way the King looked at Obi-Wan. He owned him. Obi-Wan had once been a Jedi and now he was simply meant to sit there and look pretty for some king. No doubt he thought he looked exotic. That was how the rich chose their slaves. It made Anakin sick.

Without looking at him, the King handed Obi-Wan his empty wine glass, making the boy stand up to refill it. Anakin knew his master would use the opportunity to talk to Obi-Wan again. Hopefully, he'll get some answers because Anakin already had too many questions. He didn't doubt Qui-Gon had more.

o-O-o

"Obi-Wan?"

The boy didn't stop pouring the dark red liquid into the glass. "You shouldn't know my name, remember?"

"You can tell the King you told me." He started filling his own glass, pretending to be busy.

"My name isn't something I'm supposed to give away freely. Especially to guests like you."

Qui-Gon didn't like this, he didn't like what had become of his Padawan.

"So what do I call you? Zhelan? Is that your name here?"

Obi-Wan almost dropped the glass, finally turning to face Qui-Gon with an almost repulsed look on his face. "Don't ever call me that. Ever. Not if you value my sanity and your head."

Qui-Gon raised his hands defensively. "It means something then?"

He pressed his lips together, clearly unwilling to talk.

"What does it mean?" As soon as his hand touched Obi-Wan's shoulder, the boy pulled back like it had hurt him. His eyes darted around the room nervously before landing on Qui-Gon again.

"If you know what's good for you, you'll stop showing an interest in me. Please Qui-Gon, just go home."

"Why are you so young?"

"Go home."

o-O-o

The King accepted the glass and took a long sip, all the while watching Obi-Wan.

"Perform for me." He put the glass down and leant back on his divan.

"Haven't you shown off enough today?"

The King raised an eyebrow and stood up in one swift movement.

Obi-Wan could feel Qui-Gon's eyes on his back despite his warnings. He just hoped the King was too distracted to notice. Perhaps performing wasn't such a bad idea after all.

"This is for me," the King whispered. His hands moved down Obi-Wan's chest and then over his shoulders causing the thin fabric of his shirt to slip to the ground revealing the symbols down his spine.

Obi-Wan placed his hands together and dipped his head. "Yes, your Majesty."

Without allowing himself to look at anyone, Obi-Wan walked to the red silks hanging in the middle of the room. He gripped the fabric and started climbing to the top. He hated being on show like this. He knew everyone was watching. Worst of all he could feel Qui-Gon watching. But he couldn't refuse the King.

His mind drifted to a place where he was alone as he moved through the various tricks he had learned. Years ago, the King had taken him to a circus performance on Triyn and decided that his Zhelan ought to be acrobatic as well. He had always liked the silks best, so that was what he wanted. He got Obi-Wan the best tutor and he had actually enjoyed learning something new.

As he hung upside down, he wrapped the red fabric around his waist. The Force hummed around him, letting him know that he would be caught if he fell. He had learned the fascinating mechanics of this art form quickly and he trusted in his abilities. He locked eyes with the King for a moment before letting himself drop. The world blurred as he twisted before the sudden stop came a meter above the ground. He untangled himself effortlessly and dropped the last distance to the ground. His muscles had started to ache and there was no need to take risks. If he injured himself the King would no doubt get angry.

A woman split from the crowd and came straight towards him with a second glass of wine in her hand.

"That was quite impressive," she purred.

Drunk, he realised with dread. People usually became idiots when drunk.

"Thank you." He made to walk around her, but she stood in his way.

"Won't you share a glass with me?" The second wine glass was placed in his hand and now she was standing too close.

"You should leave me be," he advised, trying to step away again but her hand on his arm stopped him.

"Don't be like that. I've never seen anyone like you before. So pretty," Her hand moved across his chest and then up to his cheek.

He had expected what happened next, but he flinched anyway when the sound of a blaster shot ricochet off the walls, silencing the room. The woman's eyes were wide in shock before she fell to reveal the King still pointing the blaster. For a moment Obi-Wan thought he might shoot again but then he returned the blaster to his guard's holster and just stood there staring at him. The silence was like a physical weight.

"Everybody out." He didn't raise his voice. He didn't have to. The cold tone was enough to drive a shiver up Obi-Wan's spine. People immediately left the room, drawing a wide circle around Obi-Wan. No one dared to look at him or the corps at his feet.

I tried to warn you.