Obi-Wan paused his tale there, getting up to get some water. Qui-Gon remained still, his mind still absorbing everything recounted by his former Padawan. He had still not come into the tale, and Obi-Wan had never told him what had happened before.

He reached out into his training bond, and found Anakin still asleep. That was good. This was not something that Anakin should be involved in, at least at the moment. Only if something was discovered would Qui-Gon tell Anakin.

Obi-Wan quickly swallowed the last few drops of his water, and sat himself back down at the round table. He seemed deep in thought a moment; collecting his musings. He then cleared his throat once more, and began recounting his tale once more...

*____________________________*

The legal system on Halith was much different than the one on Coruscant, as Obi-Wan had come to learn quite quickly. The accused were assigned a judicial to defend them, and they were only allowed to testify once in the entire trial. The verdict was decided by three magistrates, and once decided, nothing could change it. Luckily, the worst punishment was exile, as the Halithions did not believe in death as a punishment.

The trial began immediately, and Obi-Wan had no choice but to be subjected to this planet's laws. The Jedi Council would have its own investigation, but for now, Obi-Wan was at the mercy of this foreign planet's law.

He was being questioned right now, by King Renon's representative, a navy blue haired man by the name of Markis.

"Tell me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, is it not true that you are a Jedi?" Markis asked slyly, a slight smirk apparent in his features.

Obi-Wan only nodded in response. He did not trust this man, nor King Renon.

"Then would you also tell me, that Jedi are not allowed to love?" Markis questioned once more.

The young apprentice cleared his throat, as he had not been allowed to speak so far. "We are not forbidden to love, just discouraged." responded Obi-Wan. His attention then wavered a moment, having noticed Qui-Gon sitting in the back. His heart jumped, and he felt hope. His master would surely get him out of this.

Meanwhile, he directed his attention back to Markis' questions.

"Then why have you done such a thing to poor princess Meldara?" asked the tricky judicial.

Anger boiled up into Obi-Wan. He fought to keep it under control, to subdue it into himself. "I have done no such thing." Obi-Wan replied, his teeth clenched.

"Oh really? I have genetic evidence here-" Markis said, lifting up a data pad, "-that you are the father of Meldara's unborn child."

Murmurs erupted in the crowd as the people whispered amongst each other. 'The scandal of it all!', they murmured. Obi-Wan's fury was at its flashpoint, and it took all of his considerable mental powers to keep it restrained. "That is insane!" he exclaimed, fighting to keep the anger out of his voice.

Markis offered a cold smile. "I have the evidence, young Jedi. Science has solved this crime, I'm afraid."

"Evidence can be forged!! I did not do this!" yelled out Obi-Wan. "I'm not the baby's father!"

A mock look of shock came over Markis' features. "Are you calling princess Meldara a liar?"

This elicited even more murmurings among the crowd. Their beloved princess, a liar? That was unthinkable! No, no, the Jedi must be guilty. Meldara was the real victim here.

"She was mistaken, I'm sure. If we would just talk to her, I'm sure that it would be all cleared up and-"

Obi-Wan was interrupted by Markis once again. "We have spoken to the princess, Mr. Kenobi. It seems that she has gone into shock over the whole incident, but who can blame her? After suffering from something such as this, no wonder she has retreating into the safety of her room."

With that, Markis turned and addressed the three magistrates. "That is all, your honors. I leave you to your decision."

The three magistrates stood, and retreated into a private office to come to a verdict. The courtroom soon emptied out leaving Obi-Wan and his judicial alone.

"Isn't there anything you can do?" the Padawan asked worriedly.

The judicial shrugged. "It's beyond my control now. We have only to wait for the magistrates' decision." He then picked up his briefcase and left Obi-Wan alone to his thoughts.

The Jedi collapsed onto a bench, utterly defeated. He couldn't understand how this had come to pass. The genetic evidence was obviously forged, but why? Why would King Renon want to pin this on him? All these questions ran unanswered through the young Padawan's head, and he soon felt overwhelmed.

He heard a noise behind him, and noticed Qui-Gon. He smiled at his master, but the expression was not returned. Puzzled, Obi-Wan waited for his master to address him.

"I received a message from the Temple." stated Qui-Gon in a monotonous voice.

Obi-Wan waited a moment, then prodded his master onwards. "And?"

Qui-Gon's face seemed to sag with tension. "And... they found you guilty."

Obi-Wan's jaw dropped. This was impossible! He had not committed any crime! Anger started to boil over in him once more, but this time he made no move to contain it. The Jedi's seemingly betrayal to him was heart-wrenching but he still had Qui-Gon.

Didn't he?

"You believe me, don't you Master? You know that I wouldn't have done anything like this, right?" asked the nervous apprentice.

Qui-Gon sat down heavily onto a bench, and placed his head in his hands. "I don't know what to believe anymore." he mumbled softly. "You have always been headstrong Padawan, although not to this extent. I really don't know anymore."

Obi-Wan's heart seemed to stop beating right then and there. His own master did not believe him. He knew now, at that very moment, that he had no hope left, even if the magistrates did not find him guilty. Qui-Gon did not trust him, did not believe his own Padawan's words. Obi-Wan now felt abandoned, and impossibly alone.

"I see." he said out loud, struggling to keep his voice level.

"Padawan-" Qui-Gon started, but was interrupted by the opening of the office door. The magistrates re-entered, and soon the room began to fill up again. Obi-Wan was lead back to the defense's bench, and Qui-Gon drew back to his seat.

Once everyone was seated, the magistrates proceeded to announce their verdict. "It is the decision of these three magistrates, that seventeen year-old Jedi Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi is found guilty of the rape of Halithion princess Meldara Seizel. You will be exiled to the Outer Rim planet of Dagobah, to live out your life. This court is now adjourned."

Obi-Wan was dumbfounded. He went completely numb. In the span of a few short days he had gone from a happy Jedi apprentice to a convicted and banished criminal. His life was truly over.

//No, it's not. Qui-Gon will fight for you.// whispered an inner voice.

//Qui-Gon will not fight for me. He has already abandoned me.// replied another voice, this one sarcastic in nature.

Obi-Wan quickly fought to suppress this inner turmoil. No matter what happened next, he would face it as a Jedi, or at least an ex-Jedi.

*___________________________*

With that, Obi-Wan ended his tale. He rose quickly from the table, and bid Qui-Gon goodnight.

Now the Jedi master was alone with his thoughts and emotions of guilt. He realized now how foolish he had been to believe Obi-Wan guilty of such a horrible crime. The only option he had now was to try and avenge this injustice, this horrible mistake done to his former apprentice by finding those responsible for it.
*Next chapter soon!!! I hope that you like it so far!!

~Eleia Kenobi*