Disclaimer: I don't own anything (except a few original characters) and I'm not making any money off of this.

Audra: Yes, the LOTR stuff will continue and all the questions surrounding Airiana that are related to that part of the story will be answered. I'm really not involving Harry Potter into the story line at all. I just threw in the books because I'm a fan and was reading the latest one at the time I wrote that chapter. I just thought it would be cool to put that in since Airiana is an Earthling of sorts and would also know about the Harry Potter books. As for the category of the story, I chose general because I believe there is a little bit of everything in this story and I didn't want to restrict it to one category or another. I'm also very glad you liked Ch. 7! I really enjoyed writing that chapter and I think it turned out really well.

Hey, here's an idea: Everybody vote for what you think would be the best category for this story.

Ch 10: And So It Begins

An hour later Airiana had worked herself into a rage and was on her way to see Master Yoda; if there was one person who could stop this, it was him. She stormed her way through the temple and soon found him in a meditation chamber along with Master Windu.

When she opened the doors to the chamber she found both Master Windu and Master Yoda looking towards her as if they had been expecting her. She caught Master Yoda's gaze and all her anger melted away. As his eyes bore into hers, he seemed to open up and allow her to see him for who he really was; a being with great strengths, great weaknesses, insecurities, faults, triumphs, emotion, experience, and wisdom. It felt as though this was the first time she had ever truly seen him.

As she continued to stare into Yoda's eyes he transformed from the most revered Jedi Master in the universe to the self-exiled prisoner of Dagobah. Airiana had never seen him in such a way before and it scared her. No longer was he the symbol of wisdom, knowledge, and strength, but of hard times, loss, and regret. She realized that the Yoda of Dagobah was old, decrepit, lonely; his spirit half broken by solitude and defeat.

Airiana's heart sank as she realized just how hard it must have been for her Master and how hard it will be for him. What had caused him to take such extreme measures and isolate himself from everybody but herself? Now she wished she had had the courage to ask him.

But even as Airiana realized all this, a deep and overwhelming respect for the Jedi Master in front of her rose within her chest. After all that had happened to him, even when he was defeated and forced into a lonely and helpless existence, her master still held on to his beliefs; never losing faith in the Jedi way or giving up hope on the thought that someday everything would work out and balance would once again be restored.

Airiana wasn't so sure she could do what her master had done. It would take a great deal of patience, strength, and perseverance. Master Yoda certainly had all of those qualities and it was no wonder that he was able to keep his faith through such hard times.

Only a few moments had passed since Airiana had entered the room and first looked into Master Yoda's eyes, but in those few moments Yoda truly became her master. Airiana silently pledged her complete loyalty to him and vowed to do all that she could to attain the patience and control that her Master had always tried to instill in her.

Airiana stepped forward and dropped down on one knee, "Master, I have not been honest with you. There are many things I must tell you, but there is one subject that is more important than all else at this moment. The Cha-,"

Master Yoda held up his hand. "Always in motion, the future is."

"Yes, Master."

Yoda studied her for a few moments before a knowing smile crossed his face and he continued, "Something I want you to do there is," he paused as he looked up at Master Windu, "Go with Master Windu to Genosis and help rescue Master Kenobi. Believe that Count Dooku is there also the council does – stopped he must be."

"Yes, Master."

"Come, Knight Peredhil," Airiana stood as Master Windu addressed her, "Our transport is ready; I can brief you on the way."

Then, turning to Master Yoda they both bowed as he said, "May the Force be with you."

A few hours later Airiana was hidden in a dark crevice waiting for Master Windu's signal. The dry, dust-ridden air brushed against her skin, sending a shiver down her spine and making her heart hammer the inside her chest.

The signal came. She stepped out into the scorching sun; it blinded her and distorted the images of fleeing Geonosians. As the sights around her grew clearer, she heard the apprehensive crescendo of marching soldiers. As they came into view Airiana's vision blurred again – only this time by blaster shots and adrenaline.

Images swirled around her as she twisted, twirled, ran, jumped, and defended herself. Airiana slashed at one droid while shoving another, deflected a blaster shot as she charged her next mechanical victim. The Force was pulsing through her, showing her which way to go, when to duck, where to stick her lightsaber next. It gave her energy, speed, and balance, but it could only do so much.

Airiana's arms began to get heavy, her lungs began to whine; sweat ran down her back, dust stuck to her face, and blood dripped from her hand. She was tiring, but she barely had time to notice. More and more droids kept coming and the number of Jedi Knights kept decreasing. There was no time to be tired.

And then it stopped; the shots ceased, the dust settled, a chill silence pervaded the arena. Airiana had moved toward the middle of the stadium, along with the other remaining Jedi. They were surrounded by battle droids, outnumbered, and tired; Dooku would undoubtedly be victorious.

Airiana turned to face him, perched high up on his balcony. Dooku was little changed from the last time Airiana had seen him. His hair was growing white, though it was shorter. He had the same posture, stance, and attitude; he was authoritative, powerful, and arrogant. Though Airiana could feel that his powers in this time had lessoned he was still dark, greedy, and dangerous.

"Master Windu, you have fought gallantly; worthy of recognition in the archives of the Jedi Order. Now, it is finished. Surrender and your lives will be spared."

"We will not be hostages to be bartered with, Dooku."

"Then, I'm sorry old friend."

At that moment, Yoda's words came back to Airiana, "Stopped he must be." She knew what she had to do, though she wasn't sure how she could succeed in doing it. She wasn't that far from the balcony, she could jump for it. And when she made it? Off with his head. Simple, really – well no, not quite. It was risky; about as close to impossible as it could get. But she had to try. No, there is no try. She would do it, or at least die in the process.

Airiana gathered all her strength, all her concentration, and all her training on the task at hand. She took a deep breath, bent her knees, closed her eyes –

"Look!"

Airiana looked up. There, blocking out the sun was a dark mass coming steadily nearer and growing continually larger. She straightened up and stepped back to make way for the landing ship. She looked around her and noticed that two other ships were landing also, creating a perimeter around the survivors. Feeling her Master's presence among the clone troopers relieved her more than anything else at that moment could have. She quickly hopped into one of the cruisers and soon it was soaring high above the chaos and destruction.

But it wasn't over yet. It could still be ended. The pilot was given orders to head to the command center. Two of the cruisers landed; one continued on. Airiana saw it go by as she stepped out of the ship and could feel Obi-wan and Anakin in it. During the battle she hadn't taken any notice of them, too consumed by concentration, duty, and staying alive to be concerned about them. After all, they were Jedi too, and could handle themselves well enough.

But now, as she watched their cruiser fly by, she worried about them. An overwhelming sense of unease crept up her spine as something caught her attention out of the corner of her eye. The world slowed to a crawl as she watched in agony as a missile moved toward their ship. She watched it arch through the air, leaving a tail of blue smoke behind it as it drew closer to its prey. There was nothing she could do; there just wasn't enough time.

In the next instant the cruiser was gone. In its place a ball of fire ballooned out, and then became engulfed in thick black smoke. For a few moments Airiana was in a daze. Why wasn't the cruiser coming out of the smoke? Where'd it go? And then it hit her. The fire, the smoke – they were the cruiser.

Airiana awoke with a start. Her breath was ragged, the sheets were pinning her to the bed, and she was drenched in sweat. It had only been a dream. Anakin and Obi-wan hadn't died that day; their cruiser hadn't been hit with a missile. They had battled Dooku, Anakin had lost an arm, Obi-wan had been injured, but they were still alive.

And so was Dooku.