Hellooooo, everyone! I'm back with another chapter! As always, thank you for the support! This is the last part of the True Bravery arc, thank goodness. XD

Oh, and if anyone is still curious about the show Merlin, just look up "Merlin 1x01 part 1 of 15" on Youtube - someone named GodzillaClips1 uploaded every single episode of Merlin. Of course, each episode is split into 15 parts, but it's awesome. :)

Enjoy!

Chapter Two. True Bravery

Part five of chapter two

"I believed you; I trusted you…and you made me look like a complete fool." Anakin said in a disbelieved tone, his back to Obi-wan. Though Obi-wan couldn't see his face, the manservant had the odd feeling that Anakin was beyond embarrassed and annoyed. Obi-wan felt a stab of guilt – how was he supposed to know that the snake was going to kill the knight? And Anakin had been ridiculed because of it…

"I know it didn't go exactly to plan…" Obi-wan tried, but his voice quickly drowned in his throat as Anakin whirled around to look at him. Anakin stood up violently, a glint of fury in his eyes. "Didn't go to plan?!" He shouted. "My father and the entire royal court think I'm a coward! You humiliated me!"

Obi-wan stared at Anakin with wide eyes, but he said steadily, "We can still expose Bane."

Anakin turned around and crossed his arms. "I no longer require your services." He said coolly. Obi-wan blinked. "You're sacking me?" He asked incredulously.

"I need a servant I can trust." Anakin replied, his voice unusually tired and weary, though Obi-wan temporarily pushed that observation away. "You can trust me!" Obi-wan said earnestly, stepping forward.

"And look where it got me this time – get out of my sight!" Anakin shouted furiously.

That did it – Obi-wan threw Anakin a glare over his shoulder and hurried out of the prince's chambers. His mind was still reeling when he walked out into the square. He paused and looked up, swiveling his head at Anakin's window. He could still see the prince, though Anakin couldn't see him. Anakin was sitting on a table, his hands over his face. If Obi-wan wasn't so annoyed at Anakin, he would have felt pity.

Obi-wan rubbed his temples. He needed to talk to the Force Wielder.

•◊•

When Obi-wan reached the Force Wielder's room, it was empty. He groaned out loud and held up the torch to survey the large, spacious room. "Where are you?" He called indignantly.

No one replied.

"I just came to tell you…whatever you think my destiny is, whatever it is you think I'm supposed to do, you've got the wrong person!" Obi-wan shouted into the darkness, holding out his arms. He lowered them slowly and looked around the room once more. No one showed up. He swallowed and slowly walked back to the door. "That's it." He said quietly. "Goodbye."

"If only it was so easy to escape one's destiny." A grave, familiar voice spoke from behind Obi-wan. The young man whirled around to see the Force Wielder sitting in the center of the room, his face expressionless. Obi-wan sighed. Of course, the Force Wielder chose to show up now.

Still, Obi-wan asked, "How can it be my destiny to protect someone who hates me?"

The Force Wielder chuckled, shaking his head. "A half cannot truly hate that which makes it whole." He said calmly. "Very soon, you shall learn that."

"Oh, wonderful – just what I needed. Another riddle." Obi-wan said tiredly, rubbing his brow.

"That your and Arthur's path lies together is but the truth." Was the Force Wielder's only response.

Obi-wan leaned against the wall. "What is that supposed to mean?" He asked incredulously.

"You know, young Jedi, this is not the end." The Force Wielder went on, remaining as unhelpful as ever.

"I'm a what?" Obi-wan asked, frowning.

The Force Wielder gave Obi-wan an amused smile. "A Jedi – someone who practices the Force. Although, I suppose, you'd still be considered to be a beginner. But, this is not the point for now." He replied simply. He continued, "This is not the end – this is the very beginning." With that, the Force Wielder transformed into a bird-like creature and without looking back at Obi-wan, flew up towards the dark, cavernous parts of the ceiling.

"Just give me a straight answer!" Obi-wan shouted, but (naturally) there was no answer.

•◊•

Obi-wan was sitting on the steps in front of the square when Padmé walked towards him. At first, he didn't notice her until she said, "Hello, Obi-wan." He looked up quickly. She gave him a sad smile and asked, "Are you alright?" Obi-wan didn't answer. Instead, he scooted down the steps as Padmé sat down next to him. She turned to look at Obi-wan and asked quietly, "Is it true, about Bane using the Force?"

Obi-wan nodded slowly, staring down at his shoes. Padmé's eyes widened and she murmured, "What are you going to do?" Obi-wan sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "Why does everyone think it's up to me?" He asked tiredly. Padmé stared. "Because it is." She said. "Isn't it? You have to show everyone you were right and they were wrong."

Obi-wan pressed his lips together, forming a dry smile. "And how do I do that?" He asked, turning to Padmé. The maidservant's shoulders slumped. "I…don't know." She replied softly. Obi-wan simply nodded and turned away. He stared halfheartedly at the square until he caught sight of a small statue of a dog.

He smiled and whispered, "That's it." A small plan was beginning to form in his mind – what if he was able to make the snakes come back to life in front of everyone? Knight Bane would definitely pay the price. But of course, Obi-wan had to practice – he could start by making the dog come to life from the statue!

If the plan was going to work, Obi-wan had no time to waste. He quickly stood up and walked over to the dog. "Where are you going?" Padmé called after him, standing up. Obi-wan crouched down on his knees and took a hold of the dog – it was much heavier than Obi-wan had anticipated. He looked up at Padmé, who was now standing before him with a quizzical expression on her face. He smiled and asked, "Do you have a wheelbarrow?"

•◊•

"What are you doing with that?" Qui-Gon asked incredulously when Obi-wan walked into the physician's chambers, pushing a wheelbarrow with the dog statue perched on it. The younger man tossed a glance over his shoulder and replied with a wide smile, "Letting everyone see the snakes for themselves." He slowly dragged the wheelbarrow into his bedroom and once doing so, Obi-wan yanked out the book that Qui-Gon had given him from underneath his bed.

He started to flip through the pages, looking frantically for the proper usage of the Force to perhaps awaken the dog in the statue. Obi-wan sat down on his bed, cross-legged and looked up at the dog. He closed his eyes and extended his arm. "You will awaken…" Obi-wan murmured. When he reopened his eyes, the dog had remained as still as ever.

Obi-wan sighed and rubbed his brow. He would just need some practice.

And practice, Obi-wan did – for the rest of the evening, Obi-wan didn't do much of anything except try to coax the dog to come to life.

•◊•

The crowd was roaring as Anakin and Bane battled. The sounds of metal clanging and swords flinging through the air accompanied the crowd's cheers. Suddenly, there was a loud thunk of a sword finding its mark. The crowd suddenly went silent. One of the fighters had died.

King Palpatine's face went pale and Ahsoka pressed her hands to her mouth, eyes wide with shock.

Ahsoka woke up with a start and sat up quickly in her bed. The candles were still lit around her room and it was dark outside, though Ahsoka did not try to back to sleep. A nightmare – that was all, she thought to herself, though she was uneasy. Nightmares have been plaguing her ever since she was a child and she had realized that as she grew older, they only became more vivid.

Metallic clanging from outside of Ahsoka's window caught the young woman's attention. Ahsoka frowned and slipped off her bed. She walked towards her window and looked down to see that none other than Anakin Skywalker was training outside in the square. As always, there was a fixated, sharp look in his eyes as he practiced with his sword. Ahsoka leaned against the wall, watching Anakin quietly.

From here, Anakin couldn't see the Ahsoka, which she was rather grateful for. Not that she was attracted to Anakin – not really. She had known him ever since she was a young girl, after all. After her father died, she was sent to Coruscant as King Palpatine's ward. Apparently, her father had been a friend of the king's, and Ahsoka was to remain in Coruscant.

Ahsoka still remembered Anakin when he was a child – such a sweet boy. Then, of course, he took on sword-fighting lessons from his father and he became all cocky and arrogant. Ahsoka, too, quickly caught onto the art of swordsmanship, and she remembered how the two children would spend countless days challenging each other on a duel. (Ahsoka liked to believe that she won many duels – it was true, for the most part, though Anakin was a rather skilled warrior. He wasn't dubbed as the best knight of Coruscant for nothing.)

But now, Ahsoka was worried. Who fell in Ahsoka's dream? Was it Anakin? Would he die? What would happen to him?

Ahsoka could tell that it was going to be another restless night for her.

•◊•

Obi-wan slowly walked into Anakin's chambers. The prince's armor was in pieces on the table, telling Obi-wan that he had recently been training. Anakin was standing before the fireplace, staring into the flames with a blank, lifeless look in his eyes. When hearing Obi-wan walk into the room, Anakin looked up. Once realizing that it was only Obi-wan, Anakin stared back at the fireplace.

"I thought I told you to get out of my sight." He said in a low voice. Obi-wan didn't acknowledge Anakin's comment. "Don't fight Bane in the final tomorrow." Obi-wan said quietly. Anakin sighed, signaling Obi-wan that he was in no mood to carry a conversation, but Obi-wan plowed on. "He'll use the shield against you."

"I know." Anakin replied sullenly, still not looking up to meet Obi-wan's eyes, though Obi-wan doubted that it was out of modesty. "Then, withdraw." Obi-wan replied. "You have to withdraw."

Anakin turned to face Obi-wan, though there wasn't any anger in his eyes. "Don't you understand?" He asked wearily. "I can't withdraw. I'm expected to fight. How can I lead men into battle if they think I'm a coward?"

"Bane will kill you if you fight!" Obi-wan replied incredulously.

"Then, I die." Anakin replied, staring into the fire.

Obi-wan stared, wide-eyed. He was beginning to question the sanity of the royal family now. "How can you go out there and fight like that?" He asked quietly.

"Because I have to." Anakin said halfheartedly. "It's my duty."

Obi-wan felt his heart plummet. He took a deep, shaky breath and walked out silently. He needed to bring the snakes alive somehow, even if Anakin hated him.

•◊•

One of the servants was fixing Anakin's armor when Ahsoka walked into the room. She looked up at the servant and gave him a small nod, dismissing him from the room. The servant bowed his head and quickly hurried out of Anakin's chambers. Ahsoka walked forward and wordlessly placed her hands on Anakin's back. He turned around, eyebrows lifted in question.

"Let me." Ahsoka said simply and started to fix the rest of Anakin's armor. She slowly walked in front of him, adjusting the voiders. At Anakin's still questioning stare, Ahsoka said, "I used to help my father with his armor." She walked over to the table and picked up the helmet. Ahsoka handed it over to Anakin. There was a small, awkward silence between the two.

"Thanks." Anakin said quietly, looking more subdued than usual. Without another word, he started to walk out of the room. However, just as he reached the door, Ahsoka called, "Anakin?"

When Anakin turned around, Ahsoka forced a smile. "Be careful." She said, clasping her hands in front of herself. Anakin returned the smile, although his, like Ahsoka's, looked a bit forced. If anything, it looked a bit sad. "I'll see you at the feast." He said.

Ahsoka gave him a small nod and with that, Anakin was gone.

•◊•

Obi-wan was half-asleep when he murmured, "You will awaken…" He almost had no hope left within him. He hadn't slept at all, only to practice and re-cite the same words over and over and over again to wake the blasted dog. Obi-wan's head dropped to his chest, but the sound of growling and barking forced him to open his eyes.

Obi-wan looked up to see a black and brown dog that stared at him inquisitively from the corner. A large smile spread across his face and he let out an incredulous, surprised laugh. "I did it!" He said excitedly, standing up. The dog barked again, running at Obi-wan. His smile slid from his face and he quickly ran out of his bedroom, closing the door on the dog.

With that, he rushed down the steps from his bedroom. Qui-Gon's door opened and he hurried into the room. "Anakin is fighting Bane!" The older man said. Obi-wan nodded. "I know – I'm on my way!" He replied over his shoulder. He paused at the door and added, "Oh, and don't go into my room – I'll deal with it later."

With that, Obi-wan ducked out of the physician's chambers. Qui-Gon turned to Obi-wan's door and frowned. He slowly walked towards it and opened the door slowly, only to find a dog growling at him. Qui-Gon quickly closed the door. He sincerely hoped Obi-wan knew what he was doing.

•◊•

Obi-wan could hear the sounds of Anakin and Bane's swords clanging against each other even before he reached the stands. The crowd was all on their feet, roaring in excitement. He spotted King Palpatine at the very center of the stands, watching Anakin and Bane with the same, tense expression that everyone else wore. Lady Ahsoka was watching the two men with an uneasy look, whereas Padmé kept flinching each time the swords met each other.

If there was any time to expose Cad Bane, it was now. However, just as Obi-wan opened his mouth to speak, there was another loud gasp from the crowd. Obi-wan looked up to see that Anakin was on the ground, Bane holding up his sword to pin the prince to the ground. There was a loud cry from the stands – Obi-wan turned to see that Ahsoka was gripping the stands with wide eyes.

Just as Bane was about to bring the sword down, Anakin kicked himself out of the way, though he didn't have a sword to defend himself. Apparently, Bane had pushed it away just as Anakin was trying to grab a hold of it. Tensions were running higher.

You need to do this now! Obi-wan thought frantically to himself and extended his hand. "You will awaken!" He hissed, staring hard at the painted snakes on Bane's shield.

Suddenly, the green snakes popped out of Bane's shield, snapping their jaws furiously at Anakin. Strangled cries and loud gasps filled the entire arena. "What are you doing?" Bane hissed, looking down at the snakes. "I didn't summon you!"

"He is using the Force!" King Palpatine shouted furiously, standing up. Anakin slowly backed away, glaring at Bane and the snakes. "Now they see you for whom you truly are." He said coolly. Instead of surrendering, however, Cad Bane let out a sinister, cold laugh and looked down. The snakes popped out of the shield, advancing on Anakin. "Kill him!" Bane shouted.

Anakin quickly backed into the stands, eyes wide. Obi-wan felt himself walk forward, though he quickly stopped to see Ahsoka whip out a sword from one of the guards' sheaths. "Anakin!" She shouted and threw the sword at him. Anakin caught it one-handedly and whirled around just in time to cut off the snakes' heads. With that, the prince ran at Bane, sword at the ready.

The next few moments went on in a blur – Obi-wan watched with wide eyes as Anakin skillfully handled the sword, causing Bane to back away in fear. Obi-wan had taken away Bane's surprise weapon, leaving him exposed, after all. Then, in one, fluid movement, Anakin plunged his sword into the knight's stomach.

There was a loud cry from the stands, though it wasn't out of fright. Instead, each and every spectator had started to shout in glee – Anakin had just conquered Bane. Obi-wan let out a sigh of relief and leaned against the stands. Thank the Force, he thought weakly to himself as Anakin slowly walked out of the arena.

Anakin and Obi-wan locked eyes for a minute and then the prince halfheartedly punched Obi-wan on the shoulder before advancing to the training grounds.

•◊•

The dining hall was crowded with servants and citizens of Coruscant. Candles lit the entire room, creating a cheerful and happy atmosphere. King Palpatine, himself, was smiling proudly. He turned and said, "My honorable guests, I give you Prince Anakin, your champion."

With that said, the entire hall exploded in whoops and whistles and hollers of appreciation as Anakin walked into the large room. He gave a bow to the citizens and walked to Ahsoka, who was wearing a small smile. "My lady," he greeted, extending an arm. Ahsoka gave a small curtsey and took it. "My champion," she replied cheerfully.

"See, I told he gets the girls and the glory." Obi-wan was saying out of the corner of his mouth, watching Anakin and Ahsoka walk down the hall to Qui-Gon. As a servant, he was forced to attend the feast. He didn't mind, though – he was simply glad that he had fulfilled a part of his destiny.

"And he owes it all to you." Qui-Gon replied quietly, though he, too, wore a smile.

Meanwhile, Ahsoka and Anakin were sharing their own small, private conversation. "Has your father apologized for not believing you?" Ahsoka asked in a low voice. Anakin gave the younger woman a small smirk. "He'll never apologize." He replied. "I hope you're not too disappointed that Bane isn't escorting you?"

Ahsoka and Anakin came to a slow stop and she turned to smile at him. "Turns out he wasn't champion material." She replied loftily. Anakin smiled and said, "Though, that was some champion final." Ahsoka nodded in agreement, looking down at the ground. "It's not every day a girl gets to save her prince." She replied brightly.

Anakin blinked and stared at Ahsoka quizzically. "Um, I wouldn't say I needed saving." He said in a patronized tone. "I would have thought of something." Ahsoka's smile slowly faded and it was quickly replaced by a glare. "You're too proud to admit you were saved by a girl!" She accused indignantly.

"Well, because I wasn't." Anakin replied pointedly. Ahsoka placed her hands on her hips and scowled at the prince. "You know what? I wish Bane was escorting me!" She said haughtily.

"Me, too!" Anakin retorted, annoyed. "Then, I wouldn't have to listen to you!"

"Fine!" Ahsoka snapped.

"Fine!" Was Anakin's reply.

The two quickly separated in opposite directions. Ahsoka greeted Padmé with an exasperated smile, whereas Anakin grabbed Obi-wan's arm. "Can you believe Ahsoka?" He asked incredulously. "She says she saved me! Like I needed help!"

Obi-wan lifted an eyebrow. Anakin suddenly felt silent and his swagger faded. He cleared his throat awkwardly and looked down at the ground. "Er…I just wanted to say…I made a mistake." Anakin said slowly. "It was unfair to sack you."

"No, don't worry about it." Obi-wan replied with a small smile. "Buy me a drink and we'll call it even."

Anakin blinked. "I can't be really seen buying drinks for my servant." He said awkwardly. Obi-wan shrugged but nodded. That was understandable. Then, he turned to look at Anakin. "Your servant?" He asked. "You sacked me, remember?"

Anakin shrugged in reply. "And now I'm re-hiring you!" He said, giving Obi-wan a hearty thump on the back. "My chambers are a mess, my clothes need washing, my armor needs repairing, my boots need cleaning, my dogs need exercising, my fireplace needs sweeping, my bed needs changing and someone needs to muck out my stables…"

It took everything in Obi-wan to not sigh in exasperation.

A/N: Because again, let's be real - Anakin and Ahsoka would do something like this. XD

Ahsoka: I totally saved you, Skyguy!

Anakin: *pfft* Whaaaat? No, you didn't!

Ahsoka: Omigod, you can be so stupid sometimes!

Anakin: Ergh! *throws up hands*

Me: Doods, shut up! Just do the review notice!

Anakin: Fine! That way, I won't have to listen to Ahsoka! Please review, give constructive criticism if you have any, and no flames!

Ahsoka: Fine! I'm gonna go!

Me: Oh, guys, don't fight...*sighs*

Somewhere in the house: *doors slamming*

Me: *cringes* Um...bye, everyone! 'Till next time!