Hey, a quick update by me! Wow! :O Anyway, this is a quick update for you all showing again, that this story is still up and alive. Its because it might be awhile until another update during this short holiday, as I have to revise for a french speaking exam. I hate it... Year 11 is no fun! :( Anyway, here, as I said last chapter, is Satine's turn to fall from Duchess... forcibly! . Its also got a nice, sweet flashback of Obi-Wan and Satine. You'll see a reason behind it, plus if you look on Obi-Wan's wiki in his relationships, it says Satine and there was a bit where he came to her after the events of The Phantom Menace for solace. Its based off that, but just my interpretaion. Whew! Long message there. Hope you enjoy guys! ;)

Chapter 11. The death of hope.

'Force, save me from what I'm about to do.' Satine pleaded to herself constantly. 'I don't want to do this, I don't want to do this. I. Don't. Want. To. Do. This!'

She continued walking down the hallway towards the throne room, Ventress in tow. Satine's strong features, that usually remained strong and stern were now forlorn. Her eyes were downcast and gleamed with unshed tears she had hidden behind her eyes through out this whole situation; eye lids drooping over and lashes covering her cerulean eyes. She maintained an elegant grace, however, as she walked towards the most agonizing thing she will ever do.

Satine was a pacifist. Stepping forcefully down from her position and allowing Vizsla to replace her would shatter everything she had worked so hard to build from such a young age. The people would turn wild. They would think their ruler had gone insane. Shock and sorrow would befall Mandalore and its residents at the fall the Duchess was about to take. Their forlorn faces - once they morphed - would never leave her imagery in her mind.

From such a young age, she had worked as hard as she could to create a peaceful civilisation upon this planet. Now she would watch from the sidelines, as it crumbled before her.

At the moments she had ran for Duchess, she had promised that should the people elect her, she would do all in her new found power to bring peace. Many had voted, save for those who still believed the name Madalorian should not be tarnished by a woman so bent on breaking the warrior tradition that had run for centuries on Mandalore. Those who were proud descendants of the Mandalorian Civil War, that had pitted Mandalorians against the Jedi, wanted nothing to change.

When the change came, they couldn't accept it; forming an organisation named Death Watch, bent on eliminating her and bringing back what is Mandalorian. Now resurrected, they planned, and waited, and now it looked as if they would finally achieve victory. Satine had a feeling that shortly after her resignation from Duchess was accounted, Vizsla would finish her off.

That feeling bought about thoughts of Obi-Wan swirling through her head. He would be devastated. He would blame himself for his failure to protect her, and always drown himself in his sorrow. The man believed many things that had occurred were his fault.

She remembered shortly after the events of Naboo, when he came to her, his walk slow and non-lively; feet dragging, his boots squealing. His facial features though had really marked her that day. His face was tired, lips and skin pale, and eyes, oh, those beautiful azure gems, were more brighter than ever, shining with tears of pain and sorrow that desperately tried to break free but failed. He had a tired look on his face too, his red rimmed and puffy eyes indicating that to her.

It was the day he brought news of Qui-Gon's death.

The death really had shocked her to her core. She had taken a liking to the brave and single-minded Jedi Master. His beliefs on the act and will of the living Force had always intrigued her. Obi-Wan's other views and wry remarks to his master's view had entertained her. But that day had left her mournful.

She had remembered staring at Obi-Wan who had stood there, barely able to look at her as he tried to remain strong in front of her. She had rushed up to him and took him in her arms, wrapping him in a strong embrace when she had heard the hitch in his breath that told her he couldn't bottle it up no more.

Obi-Wan never liked to show weakness; but to Satine she didn't care. No one was emotionless. Especially Obi-Wan.

"Why did he have to die?" She heard him whisper in her ear, his voice ragged as he cried into her shoulder, his nose pressed against the crook of her neck. "Why couldn't I save him?"

Her arms tightened around him, and a feminine hand came up to brush his hair, long, gentle fingers brushing through the auburn strands. "Obi, there was nothing you could do. You were trapped behind a shield when it happened," She whispered back, the tears in her own voice chocking through.

She felt his figure turn rigged against hers. Abruptly, Obi-Wan had swept himself out of her comforting grasp. He could still feel the tingling in his scalp from where her fingers had weaved through his hair, but chose to ignore it. The pain he was feeling right now was too much. "I should've been able to do something!" He yelled, his anguish evidently present in his now raised pitch.

Satine stood there in front of him, letting him take his pain and anger out on her. She understood he needed to do this.

"I could have! He was right there in front of me! You - you should have seen his face, Satine. His eyes… And I just… stood there, helpless…" More tears spilled forth from his eyes and rolled down his cheek, his nose, his jaw, before following the trail to his neck line. He couldn't bring himself to look at her right now. "And then.. I killed that - thing. I so badly wanted him to suffer, Satine. He had taken Qui-Gon from me, and - I just wanted him to die…"

Satine tentatively approached the hurting man, slowly reaching out a hand to take his arm.

The moment her hand had touched the sleeve of his brown cloak, he had jerked away, not allowing the comforting touch he so desperately craved. "No. Don't touch me," He whispered.

"You need this," Satine pressed, stepping forwards just a little more, her eyes, though filled with tears, warm and inviting. "You need to let it out, Obi."

"I - I don't want to hurt you," He retorted, defending his weakened self as well as hide the fear he felt towards himself at his barely under control anger.

Satine, even though she could see he was clearly hurt and angered, continued to approach him, noticing he wasn't retreating this time. Taking a bold leap, she took a large stride towards him before wrapping her arms around his frame once again, relishing in the warmth of his body pressed against hers.

Obi-Wan was visibly shocked, as he stood there dumbfounded, trapped in the woman's arms.

"You can't hurt me, Obi," He heard her whisper into his chest. "We both know you could never bring yourself to do something like that to me."

Obi-Wan felt warm. And despite his feelings and warning, he wrapped his arms around her smaller frame in return, acknowledging the warm and inviting embrace. He soon realised just how perfect his muscular frame fit with her dainty, small and delicate frame, as he held her to him. Thoughts conjured by his forbidden feelings for this amazing woman formed in his mind, and with discipline warring with desire, he, with difficulty, banished the thoughts from his mind, as he buried his face into her dusty blonde locks.

Even though they both knew they could never have what their hearts desired, they managed to pull through. He still loved her, and she him. To love someone and be loved in return was a wonderful feeling.

He would settle for that.

Pulling her mind back from that memory, Satine realised that she was now present in the throne room. She could hear the many shouts outside from her people as she brought her mind back to face the present. She scanned the room with her eyes, noting the balcony doors open towards the balcony itself. 'This must be where I am going to give up my power.'

From there, she spotted Vizsla sitting in herthrone like he was king of the world, conversing with a member of his Death Watch. Satine felt a sharp elbow nudge her in the centre of her back, as Ventress nudged her forwards towards Vizsla, who had decided to deliberately not take notice of Satine's arrival.

As she approached, she could hear a slight section of Vizsla and the unknown soldiers conversation.

"Very good, Thorn. You have proven yourself many times as my aide before. You are now captain of my new guard. You may first do as you will with Kenobi in the dungeon." Satine gasped inwardly. Obi-Wan had already gone through enough pain on this mission. He didn't deserve more.

With a bow, Thorn departed. He looked at the Duchess with steely eyes through his helmet for a moment, his pace slowed. He then deliberately, when close to her, picked his step up once more and threw a cold, steel shoulder into Satine's, knocking her off balance. Satine gently rubbed the throbbing shoulder with her hand as it stung from the contact.

"Ah, Duchess!" Vizsla greeted cheerfully, a gleeful smile disfiguring his wolfish features as he flashed an evil smile at her, his white teeth shining. Satine graced his presence with a disgusting look, choosing not to say any words to him.

His smile quickly died down, bringing his wolfish features back into place. "Come, Duchess. Enjoy your last moments of ruler while you still maintain your title," The Death Watch leader then proceeded to walk towards the balcony, his hand flicking towards himself, beckoning the two women to follow.

"Forwards, Duchess," Ventress sneered, elbowing Satine again in the back, only harder, causing the duchess to gasp as the sharp elbow jabbed her.

The walk to the balcony felt like it had taken years once she reached it; the golden sun shining down upon the city, its warmth reaching out to touch all. Ceremonial drapes, the colour of an ocean blue, very much like her dress, were hung up around the balcony, giving the sense of royalty present. She looked to her guards, who though seemingly physically unfazed by Vizsla's presence, could tell they were uncomfortable. They had no idea just how much more uncomfortable they were going to be within the next few minutes.

She heard the crowds shocked gasps at the appearance of Ventress and Vizsla, standing there tall and proud. There were whispers, heightened by the amounts that spoke, that stood out. Satine caught them out as:

"Is that Pre Vizsla?"

"Has he been captured and now to be revealed to us?"

"What's he doing here?"

Vizsla stared down at his future subjects, not able to suppress the evil smile that formed on his face.

"Duchess, it is time for you to step down," He said quietly, his figure never turning away from the crowd.

Satine cleared her throat and held her head high and regal as always, as she stepped forward. She needed to be brave for her people. For Mandalore. She reached the edge of the balcony and stopped. Her eyes took in the faces of those closest to her, memorizing their faces. It hurt though. They looked up, faces elated with happiness, eyes bright with hope that another planet had decided to join the Council of Neutral Systems. She sighed. Their hopes were about to be shot down in smokes.

"My people," She began shakily, eyes closing briefly as she tried to form the softest words of her resignation in her mind. "I come before you today… to hereby step down from my position of Duchess."

Satine paused as she heard cries of, "What?" "Are you insane?" "No, don't do it, milady!" below her.

Oh, Force this was unbearable. Looking at their saddening faces as their hope of a more peaceful planet and galaxy smashed before them.

She took another deep breath. "Due to my failing persuasion in swaying those who have not found peace to join us in our campaign… I therefore resign my position to… Pre Vizsla. He is a powerful leader, and will be able to run this planet properly."

Vizsla's smile grew wide immediately, and his chest puffed out in an attempt to show supreme power, as he stared at the shocked subjects below him.

Satine heard cries of disbelief scream out towards her. "No, milady you can't do this!" "What happened to your work?" "You can't leave us with this lunatic! The atrocity!"

Satine's eyes filled with tears as she looked down at them below. Their faces. They were shocked, forlorn… scared.

"I'm sorry," She mouthed as she turned away, stepping back away from the edge, praying someone saw her lips and understood what she said. Satine saw the guards. Though she couldn't see their faces, all eyes were on her, sad and confused. She gave them each a ghost of a smile, hoping to ease them, her eyes glistening with tears, reflecting just how sad she was. They didn't seem to notice, nor understand what the emotion meant behind them.

Ventress grabbed her arm tightly in a vice grip as she led her back to the cell.

Upon leaving, Satine caught few of Vizsla's words:

"As your new Duke and ruler, I proclaim that the rules of our Mandalorian warriors banishment be hereby removed, and may return to Sundari! The Mandalorians shall rise again. For we are… THE NEW MANDALORIANS!"

Satine couldn't hear the crowds reaction. Whether they had cheered or not. She hoped that many, if not, everyone had fell silent. She felt empty. The hope of the people had been burnt down in smokes. She witnessed that.

There was nothing now to win everything they had achieved back. There was no more hope.

This was the death of hope.

:O Where's Anakin and Ahsoka! Don't worry, they will come, and then action and blasting and lightsabers everywhere. So, Satine's fall, and now the darkness shall spread over Mandalore. Can our guys restore the light? Until next time, guys! Reember that read and review button. Reviews are like the fuel to keep a writer going. ;)