THALIA

"I've had enough of worrying about protecting Troska. There has to be something we can do to protect ourselves from the danger that continually seems to be present at our doorstep." Thalia said, looking at her council who were seated around a circular table in the palace's chambers.

"What do you propose? We can't fight. It goes against everything we stand for." Her newly elected Prime Minister began.

"There are other ways of fighting than just with weapons." The chancellor counted, placing her palm gently down on the tabletop.

"She's right." Thalia nodded. "We needn't have an offensive. All we need is a strong defensive."

"You suggest an army?" The Prime Minister asked shocked.

"I don't know. We all know that if this is something we should be looking into, we have to be very careful about how we go about it. Especially since it seems war is inevitable." Thalia admitted. "The Crystal Caves are just sitting under the palace, not being used. They're used for weapons. Why can't they be used as protection?"

"They could power shields." The Chancellor said eagerly as the door opened and Qui-Gonn and Obi-Wan walked in. Thalia watched Obi-Wan from the corner of her eye as he passed. He kept his eyes focused on the ground in front of him and when the pair took a seat by the wall, he stared into the space just above his boots.

Thalia watched him for a moment longer before turning to her Minister for Science and Technology.

"Will you look into that for me, Professor?" She asked him. "I want to know the limits the crystals can withstand in relation to shield technology."

"We'll see what we can do, your highness." He smiled eagerly and Thalia nodded.

"For now, this stays in house. This impending war is quite enough for the people of Troska to be getting on with." Thalia concluded their session and the ministers rose from their chairs before leaving the chambers.

Once they had all departed, Thalia turned her attention to the two Jedi who stood to address her.

"Your highness, I am glad to see you have recovered from yesterday's events. How are you?" Qui-Gonn asked as Obi-Wan kept his gaze down and his brow furrowed.

"Thank you, Master Qui-Gonn." Thalia smiled as the three of them turned out of the chambers and walked out into the warm sunlight. "I'm fine, though I fear Troska and the other neutral systems will not fare well in this war."

"Well, it may not be much consolation, your highness, but you will always have a friend in the Jedi." He assured her with a warm smile, which Thalia returned as they were joined by Master Windu.

"Qui-Gonn, a word." He said to his friend before bowing slightly at her.

"And I must return home." Thalia added, smiling at the two Jedi Masters.

"Obi-Wan will accompany you." Qui-Gonn nodded before he bid her farewell and followed Master Windu.

After Obi-Wan helped her into their waiting speeder, neither of them said a word as they flew through the city, but glancing sideways at the Jedi, Thalia decided to just face the problem head on.

"I apologise for yesterday, Obi-Wan. I put you in a position where the consequences for you far outweighed my own." She said sensibly, hoping that by hearing her apologise, he might speak his mind. Even though she was definitely not sorry for what she did, she recognised that it was significantly more complicated for the Jedi than herself.

"It is I who should be sorry for leaving without so much as an explanation." Obi-Wan began awkwardly, raising his hand to rub the back of his neck. "For the first time in my life, I must admit my path is not clear."

Thalia wasn't sure how to respond to his admission. He'd just admitted that he was torn between her and the Jedi, which Thalia hadn't expected, but he'd also voiced what had been playing on her mind as well; that whatever came next wasn't going to be without it's complications.

Again, silence fell between them and Thalia watched the Padawan frowning slightly in concentration as he thought. The force moved strongly around him, but it wasn't clear like it usually was.

When the speeder pulled up at the bottom of the steps to Thalia's home, the front door burst open and Beth came hurtling down the staircase.

"Oh, I'm so glad you're hear, Obi-Wan." She cried happily and Obi-Wan looked slightly taken aback at her unexplained excitement upon seeing him. "Those vegetables you helped me plant are prefect for stewing. You must stay for dinner and reap the rewards of your labor."

"I-I wouldn't want to impose." He stammered slightly.

"Nonsense!" Beth laughed and grabbed his hand, pulling him up the stairs. He looked back at Thalia, who couldn't help the grin that had spread across her face.

"Should I even ask?" Thalia smiled.

Obi-Wan chuckled and nodded as he crossed his arms over his chest, tucking his hands into the sleeves. "When I was helping her in the garden, we planted some root vegetables I had never heard of before and she insisted that when they were ready I should try them in a stew. I didn't know she'd been serious."

"That's one thing you should know about Beth by now. She means what she says and she'll never forget it." Thalia laughed.

"In that case, I will see you this evening." Obi-Wan smiled gently at her before dropping his eyes and bowing slightly.