Disclaimer: We don't own Star Wars.
Full summary: Sequel to The Heir. QuiGon Jinn and Anakin Skywalker are once more being united with ObiWan. Much has changed over the past five years. Will they be able to work together with each of them harboring dark secrets? QuiAni
Warnings: Slash, JA reference, drug use, language
Pairing(s): Qui-GonxAnakin (subdued GarenxObi)
Fic type: AU, romance
Bizarre speaks: Happy Thanksgiving. Except if you're a Jehova's Witness. If that's the case then...uh...Keep spreading that propaganda! Yeah...
Chosen
Volume Three
Reunion
Chapter V: Tact
The Jedi returned to find Anakin waiting in thoughtful silence with the princess, Aurelia. He was guarding her as he'd said he would. He found conversations went better if he didn't say much, however. The Padawan looked relieved to see his elders.
"Have everything you'll need?" Obi-Wan asked Aurelia.
"Yes, Obi-Wan," she chuckled at his concern.
"Your sister, Meroe, has offered to help. Can we trust her?" he whispered discreetly.
"Meroe?" she gasped. "Yes! Of course," she insisted all her siblings loved her.
"Come then," Obi-Wan put an arm around her. "Tomorrow is a big day. You should rest." He steered her into the back room of the Jedi's quarters. "We will keep watch." With the three men on duty, no one would get to her. If they even knew she was in the palace…
As the night wore on, Anakin grew restless. He had a lot on his mind, beside their mission. Seeing Obi-Wan again had brought up some deep emotional issues for the Padawan. Finally, he quietly excused himself and wandered out onto the balcony. It was not empty, however. Obi-Wan was out there. Kenobi flinched when he sensed Anakin's approach. He dropped something off the balcony's ledge. It shattered with a soft tinkle on the cobbles below. Obi-Wan cursed and grabbed his forearm.
"Hey, Anakin," he muttered.
"Uh, hi," the Padawan returned the greeting. The young man's eyes held unmistakable question, but he said nothing.
Apparently, Obi-Wan had nothing to say either. After nursing his arm a moment longer he leaned over the railing. The syringe had really broken…damn it!
Finally moving, Anakin came to stand behind his friend. "May I ask you something, Obi-Wan?" he said shyly.
"Sure," Obi-Wan shrugged.
Sorting through his thoughts for a moment Anakin finally spoke. "You've known Master Qui-Gon longer than I have," he started slowly. "How do I know he won't…abandon me?"
"He won't, Anakin," Kenobi replied.
"I am worried he will." Anakin propped his elbows on the railing, head in hands. "He abandoned you for me," he whispered. "I don't know what I would do…"
Obi-Wan was glad the kid didn't see his reaction. His fists clenched and it took all his control not to lash out at Ani. "He upgraded to a better model, I guess," he said sourly. "You are the 'Chosen One', Anakin." The Padawan looked up at him. "There is none better."
"You really think so?" Ani wondered.
Obi-Wan merely shrugged and excused himself, saying he must check on the princess.
Anakin remained on the wind swept balcony a moment longer. Lost in thought. Obi-Wan had eased his mind some. There was only one way he could be sure of his Master, though. With a resigned sigh he headed back inside.
Master Qui-Gon was awake. It was no longer his watch, but he doubted sleep would come. The conversation with Obi-Wan kept playing in his mind. Why had it gone that way?
"Master," Anakin called softly as he crept into the darkened room. He moved to join Qui-Gon on the big bed.
"Is the princess alright?" the Master asked as his apprentice lay down beside him.
"Yes, Master," Ani nodded. "Obi-Wan is with her now."
"I see," Qui-Gon replied tightly.
"You found a ship?" Anakin asked.
"Yes," Qui-Gon nodded. "Tomorrow we will get the princess aboard."
"Good," Anakin said, wrapping his arms around Qui-Gon's neck and nuzzling into the old man's long hair. "I love you, Master," he breathed. He'd been too wrapped up in the drama of this mission to mention it today. He felt Qui-Gon relax a bit at his sweet tone. The Master wouldn't stay so preoccupied and tense at a time like this. "What troubles you, Master?" he prodded.
"Nothing of concern to you, Padawan," Qui-Gon murmured, letting his fingers brush Ani's short hair.
"Okay," Anakin sighed. "I'm sorry if I seemed disrespectful earlier, Master."
"Do not worry about it now," the Master replied.
"Alright," Ani agreed and placed a kiss on the underside of Qui-Gon's jaw.
The old Jedi felt some of his irritation slip away and hugged Anakin closer. He wanted to get back to the Temple. Have this wretched mission over with! It was proving more difficult than he could have expected.
"You rest now, Anakin," Qui-Gon finally told the boy. "Obi-Wan can handle…things."
"Oh, I'm alright, Master," Anakin said bravely, though a yawn escaped him.
The old man smiled. "Rest," he repeated firmly.
"Yes, Master," the blonde caved in before dozing off. His last thought was that it would hard for his Master to take a watch with him clinging to Qui-Gon like this. But, he didn't want to let go.
Anakin felt like he'd only been asleep for a moment when he awakened suddenly. There was a disturbance in the Force. In the next room! Princes Aurelia burst through the door then. Anakin leapt up. Half a heart beat behind Qui-Gon. The Padawan had yet to master coming to full wakefulness in a split second and looked at the gal blearily.
"What?" he stammered.
"Assassins!" the girl cried.
Master Qui-Gon already had lightsaber in hand and made for the door, Anakin at his back. They could hear Obi-Wan's weapon sizzling and whizzing. That didn't mean the Knight had things taken care of. Anakin and Qui-Gon leapt to his aid. The more Jedi, the quicker the threat would be neutralized.
"Stay here!" Qui-Gon commanded Aurelia. She frowned but stayed put.
A swarm of black clad assassins surrounded Obi-Wan. The lights were out. Obi-Wan's lightsaber cast a blue glow in the darkness. Qui-Gon and Anakin jumped into the fray, flanking Obi-Wan.
"How many?" the Padawan asked.
"Fifteen, maybe twenty," Obi-Wan grunted as he spun away from a vicious overhand swing. His gleaming weapon spun in a tight arc. Leaving his attacker in a heap on the floor.
"Well, as long as we're being specific," Anakin teased. He spotted an opening and moved for it, slashing with his lightsaber. He heard a strangled gasp of pain as he moved on to his next target.
One assassin managed to slip past them as the battle raged on. Light shone from the connecting room as he kicked open the door. Cursing Obi-Wan slid between Anakin and Qui-Gon. He couldn't let anything happen to Aurelia. He had promised!
As he reached the door, the killer fell back with a gurgle. There was a glint of steel at his throat. Aurelia stood there, half in shadows. A grim smile on her lovely lips.
"Told you I can help," she called out cockily to Obi-Wan.
The Jedi had to admit being impressed by the plucky princess. They hadn't expected that from her. Between the four of them, the rest of their assailants were easily dispatched. The assassins had numbers, but they were no match for three lightsabers.
"I think someone knows she is here," Anakin surmised.
"We can consider how later," Master Qui-Gon cut in. "We need to get the princess somewhere else," he insisted. "Someplace safe."
"Meroe!" the princess called to them. She was reclaiming her throwing knives. Wiping them clean before replacing them in the sheath strapped to her thigh.
"What about her?" Obi-Wan asked.
"We can go to her rooms," Aurelia explained. "Our quarters are connected by a secret passage. For emergencies." She straightened up and smoothed down her skirts. Once again concealing her deadly arsenal. "It's possible the tunnels will be guarded since my parents obviously know I am here," she added seriously.
"We will not know until we try," Qui-Gon said evenly. "Lead on, lady," he nodded to the girl.
The princess showed them how to open the hidden doorway near the fireplace. Obi-Wan slid into the tight opening first, followed by Qui-Gon. The tunnel was stifling and cramped. The massive Qui-Gon had to hunch over. His broad shoulders brushing the sides of the bolt hole. Aurelia nimbly climbed in and Anakin took the rear. Closing the secret door behind them.
After several long tense minutes shuffling along in complete darkness Aurelia hissed out instructions. Obi-Wan reached out and found the latch she spoke of. A marble slab slid aside and he scrambled upward. Qui-Gon at his back.
Meroe squeaked with surprise when they appeared in her chambers. "Oh Aurelia!" she gasped, hurrying to hug her dear sister. "I am so sorry," she sniffed. "Father and mother don't trust the Jedi. They suspected you would be with them."
"Hence the nasty wake up call," Anakin muttered angrily.
"They used the Jedi to lure you out!" Meroe sobbed.
"This is a problem," Qui-Gon noted. "Can you still get us off world?" he asked the snuffling Meroe.
"Yes, Lij will be waiting," she nodded. "I can take you to him."
"Lij, Meroe? I see," Aurelia grinned at her sister and Meroe blushed.
"What are we to do now, Master?" Anakin wondered. "Will another attack come tonight?"
"Not here," Aurelia said bitterly. "Even if they discover us, they will not risk it," she glanced at her little sister. "Meroe is a fine brood mare, they will not endanger her."
"They don't suspect me," Meroe insisted.
"So we wait here till morning?" Anakin turned to his Master for confirmation.
Qui-Gon nodded. He and Obi-Wan went to make sure the chambers were secure. Only a few hours till dawn…
Anakin found an out of the way corner and sank to the floor wearily. He didn't welcome the prospect of sleeping upright or without Qui-Gon. Cuddling together with others watching was out of the question. Staying awake seemed the only option.
Obi-Wan urged the ladies to rest. The sisters curled up on the bed together and soon fell asleep. Stress keeping their bodies taut for a while, till their breathing deepened.
Obi-Wan sat on the end of the bed watching them.
"They're not going to run away," Anakin whispered but Obi-Wan made no indication he'd heard.
"He's thinking, Anakin," Master Qui-Gon said quietly.
"Oh, right," Anakin sighed, then closed his eyes to meditate. That was all the rest he could manage under the circumstances.
Unsure whether they could trust Meroe or not, Obi-Wan was reviewing all that had transpired thus far. Just as his Master had taught him.
"What do we know about the other siblings?" he asked suddenly.
"Not much, I'm afraid," Qui-Gon shook his head.
Kenobi pursed his lips. He didn't need to tell Qui-Gon that they must be careful. The Jedi Master knew very well that both princesses were at risk of being killed and the Jedi accused, of many things.
"We will find a way out, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon whispered. "Undetected."
Kenobi nodded, relaxing his posture some.
The mood in crowded room was far from that, however.
To Be Continued...