THALIA
Thalia had decided not to waste any time the next morning. After changing into a lavender, satin gown, she set off across the palace's courtyard and made her way towards Perxeus' quarters. As Prime Minister, he had a large section of the palace to himself. Behind a heavy, mahogany door was a long hallway with doors set into the walls on either side and a grand staircase at the far end.
She couldn't believe the Jedi thought Perxeus could be a traitor. He'd helped raise her and he looked out for her without hesitation. She just refused to believe it.
Reaching the front door, she knocked loudly, but no reply came. Thalia knew she was always welcome, so she pushed open the door and waited for it to click quietly closed behind her before making her way down the hallway. She headed for his office, which was the fourth door on the left, beside the dining room.
"Perxeus." She called, out but stopped suddenly when she heard voices coming from within.
She assumed he must have company, and went to turn away but something stopped her in her tracks. She'd heard her name being mention, and although she knew better that to eavesdrop, she tiptoed over to the door and leant her ear closer to the doorway.
"…no complications." She heard a raspy voice say.
"As I've assured both yourself and your client, nothing will get in the way of our plans. No one suspects me." Thalia heard Perxeus reply tersely. He must have been pacing behind the door because a sudden creak in the floorboards caused her to jump and her heart rate increased even more.
"But you've got those two Jedi there with you. They'll be with the Princess at all times." Came the raspy voice.
"I'm sure you've dealt with Jedi before. You must succeed tomorrow. It's our only chance." Perxeus stressed.
"Alright, calm down. Your Princess will die tomorrow, there's no doubt about that. I just don't want to be dead along with her. And I'm sure you don't either." The unfamiliar voice drawled.
"Good, there can be no mistakes this time." Perxeus demanded and Thalia pushed away from the door, her head spinning. She had to get out of there. That was the only clear thought, but as she turned, she stepped straight into someone who had been standing right behind her.
Thalia shrieked and jumped back, but an arm reached out and grabbed her.
"Shh." A voice said and Thalia looked up at their face, to see Obi-Wan press a finger to his lips.
"What…?" Thalia hissed, pulling away from the Jedi.
"Come on." He whispered, grabbing her arm again as Thalia heard the sound of the door handle turning behind her.
The Jedi pulled her across the hallway and into the dining room beside the office, closing the door quickly behind them as Perxeus' voice met her ears.
"Who's there?" He called.
Obi-Wan kept a tight hold on Thalia as they listened at the door. They heard his footsteps on the tiled floor, walk to the room beside theirs.
"What are you doing here?" Thalia whispered.
"I followed you." Obi-Wan replied.
"I can see that." She hissed.
"Hide." He urged as footsteps approached the door.
Obi-Wan ducked behind the curtain beside the door and Thalia ran to the opposite corner, ducking behind a thick pillar.
The door opened and Thalia shut her eyes, her hands pressed against the solid pillar. Light flooded the room and Perxeus' shadow cast a tall shadow across the floor. He slowly stepped into the room, listening intensely for any sound that would tell him someone was hiding. He moved around the room and Thalia watched his shadow step closer and closer to her hiding spot.
As he reached her pillar, she got ready to run, but suddenly the ground disappeared beneath her. She was floating, up and up until she hovered a few inches from the ceiling. How she hadn't made a sound, she had no idea, but looking across to Obi-Wan's hiding spot, she saw him holding his hand out to her, his eyes closed in concentration.
Thalia glanced down just in time to see Perxeus look behind the pillar, before pausing thoughtfully and leaving the room. When her feet touched the ground, she hurried over to Obi-Wan, who opened the door barely and inch to make sure the coast was clear and then lead down the hallway and back into the safety of the courtyard.
"I can't believe it." Thalia breathed deeply, trying to catch her breath.
"It's alright. What's important is that he doesn't know we know." Obi-Wan assured her.
"He was the last person I could trust." She said, trying not to let her emotions get the better of her.
"Thalia…" Obi-Wan began.
"No, you don't understand. Everyone I thought I knew has wanted me dead. It's…not fair." She finished feebly, but it was the only thing that made sense to her.
"Thalia, for now we have to work out how to keep you safe. There will be time to be angry later." Obi-Wan said sensibly, placing a hand on her shoulder and after a moment to collect herself, she nodded.