Mace Windu's countenance was as stony as a statue, a statue of some unforgiving god who demanded regular volcanic sacrifices.

"You are becoming too much like Qui-Gon," he intoned.

"Thank you." Obi-Wan stood straight in the center of the Council's circular chamber. "It wasn't meant as a compliment."

"But it is an honor."

"You are putting yourself, your future, and our entire order at risk." "A danger, she is," Yoda agreed. One of the smallest and least threatening in appearance of the beings in the room, his disapproval fell on Obi-Wan like a weight. "Yes, strong in her is the Force, but a Jedi, she shall never be."

"She was trained by a Jedi."

No," Windu said. "You're mistaken."

"But Master Windu --"

"Rules her does the Dark Side. Consumed by it, she is."

"It's not like that," Obi-Wan said. "Her teacher, this Noctus, was a Jedi! I know that to be true! I felt his presence."

"You are mistaken," Windu said again, slowly, clearly, so that the upstart would not miss a single word, would not dare contradict. He dared.

"The lightsaber was built by a Jedi. Sabeeth has been trained in many of the ways of the Force."

"Of the Dark Side!" Yoda leaned forward, his wizened features pulled into a scowl. "Much hatred is there in her!"

"Who was he?" Obi-Wan asked. "This Noctus ... who was he?"

A murmur rippled through the rest of the Council. He felt their minds closing to him, shutting him out, but not before he learned - "You knew. You knew there was a civilization on Rannok, and you gave Dol Bethra permission to destroy it!"

"It was necessary." Mace Windu's voice was now as cold and dark as the past distances between stars.

"Why?"

A collective sigh issued from every throat.

"Let this go, young Kenobi," Zadrek Kellnu, another of the Masters, advised gently. "It does not concern you."

"But it does. I --"

"Say it not!" Yoda snapped, whacking the arm of his chair with his gnarled walking stick.

"Then tell me! Let me understand!" Obi-Wan pleaded. "What happened on Rannok?"

"His name was Blake Damon," Zadrek Kellnu said, paying no attention to the annoyed looks she earned from her fellow Council members. "And yes, Kenobi, he was a Jedi. A Master."

"A fallen one," Windu added.

"A Sith?" Obi-Wan asked warily.

Kellnu shook her head. "Not Sith, but one who followed his own ways, his own teachings. He held beliefs that the rest of us did not share. He was dismissed from this Council, cast out of the order."

"Never again the ways of the Jedi was he to practice," Yoda said. "Yet discovered did we that a temple he had raised to the Dark Side. The people in the ways of the Dark Side he was instructing. Disobeyed the Council's edict, he did, defied us."

"You had him killed." He said it in a tone so shocked it was devoid of emotion.

Windu scowled stormily. "He could not be allowed to continue. It posed a threat to the way of life of the entire Republic."

Obi-Wan shook his head in slow unwilling belief. "He disagreed with you, and you had him killed."

"It was not like that," Kellnu said. "We do not order deaths."

"But when Bethra came forth with his idea to start a prison, you suggested Rannok. You knew what he'd find there, and what he'd do about it. You stood by and let thousands of people die, all to rid yourselves of one man ... one man who was not evil!"

"Evil, he was!" Yoda said. "To the Dark Side --"

"No!" Obi-Wan never would have expected to hear himself interrupt Master Yoda, but the word burst from him before he could stop it. "Not like us, but not evil! I have seen it!"

"You yet lack wisdom and experience in these matters, young Kenobi," Kellnu said.

"My eyes have been opened, Mistress," he said to her. "We have become self- righteous and close-minded. Are we so threatened by any way different from ours that we must eradicate it?"

"Enough!" Windu barked sharply. "You would do well not to challenge this Council. What was done has been done, and it is best put behind us all."

"I understand that, Master Windu." He bowed his head. "But what of Sabeeth?"

A long and heavy silence stretched out, during which he felt only barriers around the minds of the Masters. "See her again, you should not," Yoda declared. "A bad influence she is."

"On you, and perhaps also on your Padawan," Windu added. "His fate is already clouded." " Welcome within the Temple grounds she is not." Yoda continued in a stern voice. "I will not let her be killed," Obi-Wan said, putting into words that worst of fears.

"Has your faith in us been so shaken?" Kellnu asked sadly. "We know you, Obi-Wan Kenobi. We know your soul. Headstrong, yes, and impetuous. Much like your master, as Mace Windu noted. We know your feelings for this woman. You are a Jedi, and of great value to us. We would not wish to make you choose. We caution you ... we do not forbid."

Yoda's expression was sour; he, at least, Obi-Wan was sure, was more than ready to forbid. "Dark times are there ahead for us. This we have foreseen. At risk are the Jedi, all the Jedi. If a part of this threat this woman becomes ..."

"She will not."

"See to it," Windu said.

He nodded and, sensing their dismissal, left the Council chamber.

XXX

Sabeeth were sitting in the Hall of Thousand Fountains, nervously plucking at a lock of her hair. She tried to take a deep breath to calm herself down but it didn't help. The Jedi Council had talked -- interrogated her for what had seemed like an eternity and then sent her away to await their decision.

She rose, sensing his presence even before he came in her view. She hurried towards him. "What did they say?" She asked when they meet. "Oh", she stopped. He didn't have to answerer, even though his mind was closed his eyes spoke for him. She tried to remain strong, building a thick wall around her as he had done. But it crumbled away and left her bare. "I'm not allowed to stay", she said, eyes filling with tears.

"I... I'm sorry..." he lifted a hand to caress her cheek but she backed away.

She shrugged and looked down, not wanting him to know how much she was hurting. But the pain of her heart breaking hit him like blow and almost knocked him down.

Obi-Wan swallowed, trying to keep his voice even. "I don't want you to leave."

Her tear-filled eyes met his. "But I have to, right?"

He could only nod. And then, as if unable to stop himself he opened his mind and everything he wanted to say but couldn't put into words washed over her...

Compassion... Desire... Tenderness and... Love. I found you, a bright jewel , so beautiful and now I will loose you...

She was taken aback with the intensity of his emotions, reaching out to him with both hands and mind. You'll never loose me...

He took her in his arms and kissed her greedily, wanting to fill all of his senses with her. As she responded to the kiss their minds fused together and they were one.

We will always have each other...

Somehow...

Yes...

As they broke apart Sabeeth could feel the presence of another, a powerful mind that gently touched hers. Somehow she knew that Obi-Wan didn't share this, that he wasn't even aware of the presence.

Ask him to come with you, you will not? the voice asked a bit surprised.

No, Master Yoda. His is the path of a Jedi, it is his fate. And I wouldn't want him to choose between that and me, it would only bring sorrow.

Wise you are for such a tender age. The Jedi Master whispered silently in her mind. And love him truly you do... He continued, his voice soft and filled with compassion. Worry not, take good care of him we will. And then he was gone.

Obi-Wan lowered his head to hers, not for a kiss but to press their foreheads together. "We still have the night together", he whispered.

She looked into the deep oceans of his eyes and smiled.

The End.

XXX

Authors Note: The story doesn't end here. I am currently working on the ending of Blood Bond, in which Anakin and Sabeeth must fight together if they are to save Obi-Wan and the Jedi Order from a fate worse than death.