Obi-Wan's armor clattered as his knees hit the floor, held down by the grip of the two Mandalorian warriors above him, and the binders around his wrists. In front of him, Satine knelt at the foot of the throne she normally occupied, while Maul sat on the chair, his fingers tapping the armrest, and the darksaber held loosely in his grip. Maul was taunting him, reveling in his power.
"The great Obi-Wan Kenobi, here in my power. What were you expecting, Kenobi? Did you truly think you could defeat me? I've had years to plan my revenge, years spent planning how best to make you suffer as I have."
Obi-Wan attempted to ignore his taunts, looking instead to Satine. It had been a few days since Maul and his brother had captured them and returned them to the capitol, and Obi-Wan had not seen her since then. She seemed to be okay, her eyes filled with fire, as they always were, despite the precarious situation they found themselves in. Obi-Wan had to admire her courage. He at least planned to fight back, although how he was going to, he didn't know. But he knew that she would not fight, even when it was her own life depending on it. She was resigned to whatever fate was in store for her, but she was still unafraid.
"I originally planned to kill you." Maul shouted, pushing himself to his feet and igniting the blade of the darksaber. Obi-Wan's muscles clenched, ready for a fight. His lightsaber may have been gone, destroyed in their failed escape attempt, but he was wearing Mandalorian armor, which would turn anything but a direct blow from a lightsaber. Or the darksaber. If he could get free, he might have a chance. "But that would have been too easy. I wanted to you to live on, sharing the pain and loss I have felt for so long. So here we are. How does it feel to know that she is going to die? And there is nothing you can do to stop it?"
Satine's eyes widened, but she remained still. At least until Maul raised his hand, choking her with the force, lifting her feet off the ground as she vainly clawed at the invisible force restricting her throat. Obi-Wan tried to push to his feet to reach her, but the men above him were too strong, and he was weaponless. Maul raised the darksaber, flourishing it in the air in front of him for a few moments. "Isn't this an interesting weapon? It's been a killer of Jedi for so long, and I can feel it's wish to do so again. But it will not kill one now. Only destroy him."
Into Obi-Wan's head flew a long forgotten memory, from the year they spent together on the run. In order to pass the time, she had taught him Mando'a, as well as Mandalorian history. "The Kyber crystal within its handle grants it a near sentience, which even lightsabers do not have. It answers to whoever defeats its previous owner. It will ignite for only two other beings in the universe. Stronger even than it's allegiance to the victor is its allegiance to the duke or duchess of Manda'yaim. In the past, those were nearly always the same person. But now, that Death Watch has rebelled against my father, it has two allegiances. If my father could get his hands on it, it would belong to him. He would not even have to kill Vizla. He is the Duke of Manda'yaim, and it owes it's strongest allegiance to him, if he were to ever try to claim it. But to do so would be to violate everything he believes in. He has tried to turn Manda'yaim into a place of peace…"
As the Duchess of Mandalore, Obi-Wan knew that Satine could claim that same allegiance. But, like her father, Obi-Wan also knew that Satine would never wield it. To even touch it would be abhorrent to her, when she had devoted her whole life to bring peace to her planet. And so it was in Maul's hand now, as he began to draw Satine closer to him, the air still cut off from her lungs.
The closer she moved, the more Obi-Wan's mind raced. Torn, he knelt, searching Satine's eyes for her thoughts. Despite the lack of air, trust and love still shone in her eyes, and spurred him to act. Gathering his strength, Obi-Wan summoned the Force, and thrust it out, shoving the two men holding him into the nearest wall. Pushing himself to his feet, he raised his hand toward Maul. The Sith paused for a moment, momentarily stunned by the action.
"No, it will not. It will answer to a Jedi now."
Maul threw his head back, his laughter echoing off the high ceilings of the throne room. "The darksaber answers to one person. Whoever defeated its last owner in mortal combat. As you can see, Pre Vizla" he gestured towards the headless body of the former Death Watch leader, "is no longer alive. The darksaber answers to me, and me alone."
"You're wrong." Obi-Wan said evenly. "The darksaber answers to someone else, no matter who defeated its last owner. Its primary allegiance is to the Duke and Duchess of Mandalore."
"Her?" Maul scoffed. "She will never take it from me."
"No." The darksaber flew across the room, landing in Obi-Wan's hand and igniting. "But I will."
Maul dropped Satine to the ground in shock, her gasps loud in the now otherwise quiet room. "No. It doesn't work like that. Just because you may love her does not make you worthy to claim that blade. It will not answer to you." He drew his saber and ignited the red blade, stepping forward. Over his shoulder, he shot orders to his men. "Hold her. Make sure she doesn't escape. And block the doors. We can't have him getting away either." The men sprang into action, taking their places.
Obi-Wan waited for them to stop moving before he spoke to give his next words the maximum effect. "If I only loved her, that would be true. But I am Obi-Wan Kryze, husband of Duchess Satine Kryze, and Duke of Manda'yaim."
Several of the Kyr'tsad stepped forward, dropping to their knees. The two holding Satine did not move, however, which Obi-Wan determined would be his next problem, after dealing with the angry Sith in front to him. Maul ran towards him, his saber held low behind him and attacked Obi-Wan aggressively. Obi-Wan stepped back for a moment, unprepared for his vehemence, but after a second to adjust his fighting style, he began to push forward.
Maul never stood a chance. He had threatened something that was very dear to Obi-Wan, and that could not be forgiven. Revenge was not the Jedi way, but Obi-Wan was defending the innocent, and he would not be stopped. He swung the darksaber, slicing the Sith in half the same way he had so many years ago, and then sliced off his head, knowing that was something he could never come back from.
Maul's body hit the floor with a thud, and Obi-Wan stood for a moment, breathing heavily. "Obi!" He heard a voice cry, and turned to find the Duchess still held in the grasp of two Mandalorian's. "Release her." He demanded, his voice low. One of them dropped his hold immediately, stepping back and dropping to his knees in front of the man who was not only his Duke, but now, with Maul's death, the leader of Death Watch. The other dropped his hold on her as well, but only to draw his weapon. "We will never be ruled by a Jetti." He hissed, firing his blaster.
He ignited his jetpack and came flying toward Obi-Wan, who stood still awaiting his attack. Rather than fight him, Obi-Wan simply sidestepped his blow, and sliced through his jetpack, causing him to crash into the opposite wall before falling still.
Satine ran toward her husband, for the first time able to do that in front of others, and kissed him gently. Just then, Obi-Wan's commlink beeped. "It's the Council." He groaned, twisting his arm away from his wife to press the button. She grabbed his hand. "They can wait. Before you speak to them, let's get you into something more appropriate for the Duke of Manda'yaim. It seems to be time they finally know."