Prophetic Dreams

Five Years Later

A troubled Padawan twisted in his sleep, dark dreams of what could happen ripping through his mind.

"Obi-Wan! No!"

A slender girl with hair black as night threw herself at Obi-Wan, and the Jedi Knight caught her in his arms, burying his face in her neck. The woman trembled in his arms, and it was obvious she was holding back tears.

"Please." She whispered. "Just once."

She raised her head to look at his, and the Jedi lowered his face to meet her-

"No!" Qui Gon Jinn sat up in bed, his chest heaving. He quickly rolled out of his bed, rushing into the next room where his master slept. His hand reached out, and shook Jedi Knight Dooku's shoulder.

"Master, I need to speak with Master Yoda." In an instant, the Knight was out of his bed, ushering his Padawan to find the Master.

Meanwhile, Master Yoda is also having a difficult time sleeping….

"Please, Obi-Wan. Do not take on this apprentice, no matter what your Master said! He is too angry, and too bitter. If you train him, he will only bite the hand that feeds you."

Obi-Wan looked over the sleeping boy that the pair was discussing.

"Tommorow we go before the council."

"I can sense it, Obi-Wan. He will destroy your entire Order, all you have worked for."

Once more, Obi-Wan ran his hand over the boy's hair.

"I cannot just leave him here alone." The female companion heaved a sigh of relief, and lay her head on Obi-Wan's shoulder.

"Leave him to me, I will become his guardian. But he will never learn the ways of the Force."

The Master sat up in his bed, contemplating what he had seen. But he was not alone, for Lia Lightfire was also having a dream-filled night.

Obi-Wan stood by her side, implacable, watching the movements of the crowd. The girl next to whom he stood was lovely, her dark hair a stark contrast to the white gown she wore. Upon her head, rest a silver crown, and in one hand rest a silver staff.

"All hail Queen-"

The herald's intoning was cut short by the blaster. Obi-Wan pushed the Queen to the floor, then turned on his Lightsaber.

"Mother!" A boy of about fifteen rushed to his mother, watching with horror filled eyes as Obi-Wan was slain, and the assassin came for his mother.

"It's about time, Artemis Lightfire."

Lia opened her eyes, a sharp pain in her chest, as she agonized guiltily. Her dreams were back, and she should have known better than to bring the child here. Slowly she worked her way out of bed, and headed towards Master Yoda's chambers.

Once there, Lia lifted her hand, and knocked on the door. A young Padawan opened it, and admitted her.

"Prophetic dreams you have had, Lia." Yoda greeted her. She inclined her head slightly. "Had them as well, the Padawan has." He continued. It was his last statement that rattled her to the core. "And echo my own, they do."

Lia plopped into a chair desperately trying to hold back tears. She loved Artemis like her own daughter. Yes, Artemis was the child she had never had. And now, her own selfishness might drive her to banishment.

"Be sent away, she must." Yoda said kindly. "Grow up with Obi-Wan she must not." Both Artemis and Obi-Wan were young, and training with Yoda. They had to be separated, for the good of the Prophecy. The boy she had convinced Obi-Wan to not train was the one who could restore the balance in the Force. She couldn't stand in their way.

"But mistreated she should not be." Yoda said. "Go get the girl, I ask, Lia."

The Jedi Knight walked quietly through the temple's halls, wonder where Yoda was going to send her. Surely he knew the girl was still in danger. Once she reached the Dormitory, she quieted her walk even more, and gently roused the girl.

"Aunt Lia." She murmured, eyes opening slowly. Lia nodded, and took the girl by the hand.

"Yes, Artemis. We must go, for Master Yoda wishes to see you."

They returned to Master Yoda without mishap, and the old Jedi Master took Artemis' hand in his own.

"To the Alinah Temple you must go." He told her solemnly. "There in the Force you will train. When older you are, we will for you send." He released her hand, and stepped back, with a nod to Jedi Knight Dooku and his Padawan. Qui-Gon took her by the hand, and smiled at her.

"My Master and I will escort you, Artemis." He wiped the confused tear that rolled down her cheek. "It's going to be all right, you won't be gone forever."

The Alinah Temple was a sister-order to the Jedi Order. There, they trained Force-Sensitive girls to communicate and control non-sentient and sentient beings. They were a Sisterhood, and it was to them that Artemis was being sent.