The Consequence of Romance
The Consequence of Romance
Author: Dove
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PART 7
"Taken"

A large gathering had assembled in Senator Dun`enn's Meeting Chambers. Most had come straight from the temple where the Senator's wedding was to have been held. Word had reached them of the imminent return of the renegade Jedi and the compromised Lady Érmioné Jinn. Senator Dun`enn was positioned on his audience platform, second in status only to Supreme Chancellor Palpatine who was standing to the fore. The Senator's private guard lined the side wall to the chamber nearest the entry and the space to the centre was used by the crowd which was excited with anticipation. Less gleeful were the remaining handmaidens of Lady Jinn, anxious for both their mistress and the young Katmà.
The arresting guard had been commanded by Palpatine not to restrain the Jedi Kenobi. He had privately considered the Jedi's submission to be more satisfying if it looked to the gathering to be unchallenged. He knew that he would surrender his weapon readily - Palpatine could count on the fact that he would not endanger Érmioné by taking on an entire fleet with no defence. The march of the guard could be heard close upon the chambers, and the doors soon opened to reveal the captive freely standing in the front of the group.
As the group entered, the handmaidens rushed over to gather Lady Érmioné and Katmà away from the soldiers. The two young women stayed close together, Érmioné's eyes never leaving the figure of Obi-Wan as he moved further into the chamber. Senator Dun`enn momentarily looked relieved - his bride appeared intact and unharmed. His eyes, however, soon reverted their cold glare towards the approaching Jedi.
The humiliation was sorely felt by Obi-Wan. He had been used to the utmost respect whenever he had appeared at Coruscant and he knew his disgrace would also be reflected towards the Jedi Council. Fear, however, had not been allowed to enter his observance and he perceived no repercussions toward Lady Érmioné. There would be a way to diffuse this situation - he would allow those who entertained thoughts of his downfall to think they had achieved their mission. Then time would give inspiration a chance to plant its seed within him. The audience, therefore, was surprised by his composure - but not the Supreme Chancellor, who understood his strategy well. The two men stood firm in their gaze upon each other.
"Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, you cannot imagine the grief it has caused us to discover your actions upon this day. You have been so dear to our affections for your great allegiance to the Republic, and to the Queen of Naboo - yet you have debased the Code of your vocation. I'm sure you understand the consequences of your conduct." Lady Érmioné's expression filled with alarm at these words. She did fear for the Jedi. Katmà's hand tightened in hers as they awaited the Supreme Chancellor's decision regarding the Jedi's fate.
"I cannot allow," Palpatine continued, "any such disloyal action to pass uncensured. You have dishonoured not only your Order, but by sabotaging the approved marriage of a Senator you have committed a criminal act against the Senate itself. You have, therefore, committed an act of treason against the Republic."
These words evoked a gasp from all present. A charge of abduction had been issued - but treason? Even Senator Dun`enn looked bewildered. The crowd felt the change in the room - this reprisal had turned from an amusing romantic diversion to something entirely more serious. The feeling was reflected in the changing demeanour of the Jedi's face. Where he had previously met the Supreme Chancellor's stare with firm resignation, his eyes now revealed the tide of disbelief passing across him. "If treason was the charge..." he knew what the verdict would be.
"I have a heavy heart at this moment." The Supreme Chancellor came down from the platform, and was extending his arm out to Kenobi's shoulder. Upon his touch, Obi-Wan again felt the cold poison of Palpatine's soul. As he kept his hand upon him the Supreme Chancellor looked into the eyes of the condemned man before him and announced for the gathering to hear, "Your actions have taken from our hands all possibility of clemency. I remove from you your rights as a citizen of the Republic, and sorrowfully commit you to the only sentence within my recourse - that of death by execution.
A cry of shock from among the witnesses erupted immediately upon the Supreme Chancellor's words. The entire chamber was in disarray - the decision had caught the guards, the citizens, and even Senator Dun`enn by surprise. The Senate guard was even now approaching the Jedi to remove him to the holding cells. Upon seeing this, Lady Érmioné pushed through the chamber to reach the man she loved. In his mind's eye, Obi-Wan sensed her intention just as she was about to surge forward, and now had true terror in his eyes. He foresaw the guard's reaction to the unexpected movement and swung around - dislodging himself from their hands.
"Ben!" she called out as she ran toward him... "BEN!"
"DON'T RUN, Érmioné!" he shouted as he dived forward through the line of guards to stop her. The shot from behind passed through her body. She was carried forward by the momentum of her motion - but even as she fell into his arms her life had already departed her body. He collapsed to the floor holding her, desperate to see if her spirit was still in her eyes. There was no reaction - only a small red mark which was beginning to increase in size across the robes which billowed around her. A shocked silence pervaded the entire space - until the cries from the handmaidens broke out.
The Jedi's throat closed as though he was suffocating. He pushed the hair back from her eyes, again and again searching them to find a sign of the life he knew had disappeared. Senator Dun`enn's voice screamed across the chamber as he broke forward, "Get Kenobi off her - get him off her!!" He would not release Érmioné to them and folded himself over her, gathering her in to him. The guard clustered around the two figures but, following the lethal glare given them from the Jedi, they dared approach no further. Even unarmed they knew he would not hesitate to kill them - and would be able to do so without any particular effort.
Dun`enn pushed aside the guards forming a circle around the two, and stood above them. Saying nothing, he stared down at the eyes of the Jedi who looked upon the Senator with barely disguised contempt. In any other circumstance Obi-Wan would kill this upstart - but he would not do so as the body of Lady Érmioné lay exposed to the glare of the crowd. His eyes were drawn to another movement through the ring of guards - it was Katmà. She knelt down beside her mistress and embraced her, her eyes indicating to the Jedi a request for the Lady's hand. One final time he caressed Érmioné's face, resting his head upon hers as he kissed her - then tenderly placed her hand into that of her loyal handmaid before rising lifelessly to his feet, to follow the guard from the chamber.
Upon this, Senator Dun`enn knelt down by the other side of Lady Érmioné. He clutched her closed hand to his mouth as the Supreme Chancellor came behind him, resting his hand upon his minion's shoulder. The crowd started to gather a little closer and the quiet weeping of the handmaidens became more audible as reality set in. Dun`enn looked up and pronounced that he would build a memorial to his bride, that laments in song and in verse would be commissioned, that he would mourn her every day.
Eventually the crowd dispersed, quiet from the events they had witnessed. The Supreme Chancellor followed the route taken by the soldiers leading Kenobi away. There remained only the Senator, his immediate guard, and the handmaidens watching over the body.
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It was time, at last, to let her be taken to await preparation for the burial. Dun`enn set her hand down beside her, but Katmà noticed him pulling at her finger. He had removed the diamond from her hand. The two caught each other's eye - but Dun`enn, without flinching, smoothly explained to the young girl that he was taking the ring to keep near him "as a reminder of the love we would have shared together." He then quickly looked away and rose up, moving hastily across the chamber. A shaken guard was waiting for him at the door and started to attempt an apology - he had reacted by instinct, he had been taken by surprise... he fell to the floor as the Senator placed his full weight behind the blow to the guard's head.
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