The Jedi and the Duchess
Chapter 3
Hello there! This story will include both canon plots (actual events from the Clone Wars/Star Wars) and stories I have come up with myself. I hope you like this chapter!
Disclaimer: These characters are the creations of George Lucas, Lucasfilm, and Disney. I do NOT own them!
Obi-Wan Kenobi felt the warmth of the morning sun hit his face. He slowly opened his eyes as he rolled around to check the clock. He was surprised to find his master awake and ready for a brand new day on Mandalore.
"Finally, you're awake! You're usually an early riser. Is everything alright?" Qui-Gon asked. Obi-Wan tried to come up with an excuse fast. He had stayed up very late trying to sort out the emotions he felt around the duchess. However, every time he closed his eyes to ponder them, he would imagine Satine's beautiful blonde hair, her sparkly eyes, her infectious smile— Okay, this had to stop! For goodness sake, he had only spoken to her for a few minutes!
"I had a hard time sleeping," Obi-Wan lied. He didn't think his master would understand what he was going through, so he kept his feelings to himself and got ready for breakfast.
As the Jedi walked towards the dining hall, Qui-Gon sensed anxiety from his Padawan. "You seem nervous, Obi-Wan," he pried curiously. "What's going on."
"Nothing," Obi-Wan lied again. In reality, his head couldn't stop spinning at the thought of seeing Satine again.
"You realize, Obi-Wan, I am not as ignorant as you may think." Uh oh.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that I can understand how stressful a mission on a new planet can be, especially on a planet in the middle of a civil war. I can also understand the pressure of protecting someone as important as the duchess," Qui-Gon sympathized. Obi-Wan released a breath he didn't realize he was holding. It was completely out of character for him to hide things, but for some reason, he felt uncomfortable with the idea of confronting Qui-Gon about this. He was glad his master didn't understand the real reason behind his nerves.
"Yes. I think I'll be fine though," Obi-Wan lied for the third time. Blast it! He knew that lying was not a Jedi characteristic. He really hoped he was having the same effect on Satine as she was having on him or else this whole ordeal would be downright embarrassing.
By the time the two Jedi reached the dining hall, it was already packed with politicians and security alike. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon looked at each other with confused glances. Maybe they had gotten there too late? Answering their questions for them, Prime Minister Almec stood up and silenced everyone.
"Here are the Jedi we were telling you about. They have been sent for strictly protective reasons," the prime minister introduced.
"I can't believe you would drag the Republic into this," a nearby representative murmured.
The prime minister heard the snarky comment and forcefully added, "They came as a favor from the Jedi Order. They are here for the duchess' sake, not for the war." The disapproving representative just crossed his arms and sighed. Obi-Wan was curious about Satine's involvement in this whole argument and looked over at her sitting at the head of the table. She seemed just as annoyed as everyone else in the room, however, he couldn't help but notice her beauty despite the scowl. Today she was wearing a pink sand dress with silver accents. Her hair was half up half down, and beautiful silver hair pieces adorned her head. After a while, Satine caught him staring.
"What's wrong?" he mouthed from across the room. She smiled and pointed towards the door to the living room they were in the night before. Obi-Wan nodded and discreetly slid away from his master and towards where Satine had directed. She easily crept away from the conversation her politicians were having as they were too busy arguing to notice her leave.
Obi-Wan entered the living room and grinned when he found Satine sitting on the arm of a pastel blue couch. "Can you believe them? Sometimes I am baffled by the fact that they rule under me! They all act like overgrown babies!" she exasperated.
"Good Morning duchess. I—"
"Oh yes! Sorry. Good morning," Satine interrupted, clearly aware that she flew off the handle before properly greeting him. Obi-Wan laughed at her insistence for manners, although he did enjoy seeing the informal side of someone so regal.
"I know what you mean about feeling wiser than those older than you. I think I'm ready for the Jedi Knight tests, but the council believes I need more time."
"Tell me about it. Prime Minister Almec always speaks for me as if I don't have my own voice. I know I'm young, but I am capable of explaining myself," Satine sighed.
"Yes, but you are the duchess. You have the ultimate power," Obi-Wan reassured.
"I guess," she acknowledged as she got up and walked towards him. "Shall we continue the tour from yesterday?"
"Yes, your grace," he responded, knowing she would snap at him for calling her that. He thought it was funny how much it bothered her. She made the most adorable face when she was annoyed.
"One more time, Jedi, and I swear. My name is Satine!" she joked as she lightly hit his arm. Obi-Wan melted at the contact. He felt electricity race through his entire body as she removed her hand and walked towards the door. "Are you coming?" she asked.
"Right away," he laughed as he jogged across the room to get the door for her.
The Jedi and the duchess approached a balcony large enough that it sustained an impressive garden. The pleasant aroma of flowers coming from the white roses filled the air. There were several glass benches and pillars throughout the garden. It was lovely here. Almost as lovely as Satine, Obi-Wan thought and quickly dismissed. The more time he spent with her, the stronger his strange emotions became. This was dangerous behavior for a Jedi.
"It is gorgeous here, Satine," Obi-Wan complimented as he leaned against a pillar.
"This is my favorite place in the entire palace," she exclaimed as she slid her hand over one of the pristine benches.
"I can see why."
"When I was younger, I got my hair caught in that rose bush over there," Satine waved her hand at a bush right by Obi-Wan.
"What happened?" he laughed. Somehow, he couldn't imagine her in such a preposterous situation.
"I had very long hair as a child, and I was much more reckless than I am now," she smirked. "Anyway, I was running after my sister with my hair loose and it got caught in the bush for hours. My sister and I had no idea what to do and we sat there crying until we came up with the genius plan of using a thorn to cut my hair loose. For the next three years of my life, I had the worst looking hair you could possibly imagine!" Satine chuckled at the memory. Obi-Wan had a hard time believing she had ever looked anything but perfect.
"I'm afraid I don't have any stories like that. My childhood at the temple was an orderly one," he responded.
"You're boring," she joked as she turned to face him completely. Her eyes shone with laughter and her smile complimented her face so perfectly. Obi-Wan had the sudden urge to do something crazy; something absolutely insane. He looked at her intensely for a few moments and saw her smile fade and turn into something more serious as she looked back at him. Then, he reached for her hand and—
BOOM! An astronomically loud sound filled the air. Obi-Wan and Satine snapped out of their trance. He looked back towards the palace tower and saw thick smoke billowing out of the windows and everything engulfed in flames. "We need to get you out of here!" Obi-Wan yelled at the terrified duchess.
"What if my people are hurt? I can't leave them here, Obi-Wan. We need to do something!" Satine retorted.
"We need to go, duchess," he fought.
"I'm not leaving until I know my people are safe!" she yelled back.
"My job is to protect you! I will do what I must to bring you to safety." He looked at her with sadness in his eyes. He understood that her duty was to stay with her people, but he was responsible for keeping her alive.
"But I need to help them! I'm not going anywhere. Help them instead of me. That's an order!" she cried as tears streamed down her face. She looked so helpless.
"I'm so sorry, Satine, but my duty is to protect you." Obi-Wan then grabbed the girl and tried to pick her up, but she began kicking and screaming in defiance.
"No! I refuse to leave my home! Stop it! Please," she whimpered. Obi-Wan tried to block her out. It brought him so much pain to have to do this to her. He wanted to go back to how things were a few minutes ago when he was seconds away from embracing her. But the building was on fire, and he had a job to do. He grabbed her hands to keep her from flailing and took a small can out of his utility belt. Satine was so busy yelling that she didn't notice him spraying the contents of the bottle in the air. After a few breaths, she stopped screaming and finally relaxed in his arms. Obi-Wan then attached a rope to the balcony and jumped off with the unconscious duchess safely tucked into him.
"You're here! Is the duchess safe?" Qui-Gon asked as he ran to them from a group of guards. Obi-Wan had landed just outside the ground floor of the burning palace. There was a landing platform adjacent to them. A ship was being readied nearby.
"She's fine," Obi-Wan answered. "I had to put her to sleep so that I could get her out of the castle without her attracting too much attention to herself." He carefully untied the rope from his waist and shifted Satine to a more comfortable position.
"We are leaving," Qui-Gon stated as he grabbed three bags on the floor. "I've packed our belongings, and some handmaidens put together a few things for the duchess. After a bomb was set off in the palace, Prime Minister Almec ordered us to take the duchess somewhere safe," he continued.
"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan responded. Qui-Gon walked away from his Padawan and carried the luggage onto the ship. Before following his master, Obi-Wan looked down at Satine in his arms. There was a single tear left on her face from her desperate fight to stay with her people. He gently wiped the tear off and watched it fall to the ground. Until this civil war passed, Satine would have to remain far from Mandalore and those determined to assassinate her. He just hoped that she would forgive him for removing her from her home as forcefully as he did.
Obi-Wan then carried the duchess onto the ship that Qui-Gon was preparing for takeoff. "Set her down right there." Qui-Gon signaled to a makeshift bed towards the back of the ship. Obi-Wan obeyed and laid her down. He made sure to cover her with a blanket so she wouldn't get too cold in space.
"Rest well, Satine," he whispered as he swept a strand of hair from her face and took one last look at Mandalore until fate would bring him back years later.
Author's Notes
Writing this chapter gave me CHILLS! Although this story has strayed tremendously from where I thought it would go, I am really excited about the new (and better) ideas I've come up with for future chapters.
Please keep leaving reviews if you enjoy what you've read so far. Your feedback means everything to me! I've been updating every Monday afternoon, so I think I'll continue that trend. See you next week! :)