The Knight and The Duchess (Star Wars AU) (On Hold)

13.Aftermath

It had been coming for him. His recklessness was bound to catch up with him someday. Today it had. Now, the Master Jedi was dead and a new threat emerged in the galaxy. A dark warrior and a phantom menace.

*Satine's P.O.V.*

The Jedi's flaming corpse illuminated the room with a fiery glow. A heavy silence stifled the mourners. Sniffling echoed on the other end of the room. Hoods rustled as everyone turned from the corpse to the sobbing figure at the other end of the room. The figure turned, revealing hazelnut skin and glowing white eyes. She stepped back and disappeared into the crowd.

Obi-Wan wrapped his arm around my shoulders and I rested my head on his cloaked shoulder. When I looked up, I couldn't tell if he was crying or if he was silent and emotionless like the rest of mourners, with the exception the crying woman. His hood obscured his face, just like the darkness that enveloped the room. The only figures that rung true as people, were a little boy and wizened old Jedi. Unfamiliar words were whispered throughout the room:

"There is no doubt. The mysterious warrior was a Sith."

"Always two, there are... no more... no less. A master and an apprentice."

"But which was destroyed? The master or the apprentice?"

I closed my eyes and attempted to block out the sunset glow of the room, the distraught whispers, and the roaring of flames. Everything I didn't want a week after my wedding day.

"I don't think this is the last of it. They're coming," Obi-Wan turned to me, "The force-sensitive that's after you, they may not be the only one."

"I only hope Mandalore doesn't pay the price because of one life, one target."

"Or two targets... you're not the only one ruling Mandalore..."

*time skip brought to you by funeral stuff because it's going to take too long*

*Obi-Wan's P.O.V.*

The flames on the pyre sputtered out and nothing remained but ashes on the white-tiled surface. The mourners were ushered from the room quickly and quietly. Through the crowded I spotted Aayla, walking with an unfamiliar little boy.

Without warning, I started to weave my way through the crowd. "Aayla! Aayla, wait!"

Behind me, Satine cried out, "Obi-Wan, where are you going?

Aayla turned and brushed her hood off of her head tails. "Kenobi," she smirked, "You've been busy."

"You could say that," I replied, awkwardly.

"You don't need to explain. The holo-net exists for a reason."

"Right..." I glanced back and forth to check if anyone was being exceptionally nosy and continued, "Anyway, what happened after you and Master Qui-Gon left Naboo?"

"We got shot at and our hyperdrive was wrecked, so we landed on Tatooine."

"But that's Hutt space!"

"It was better than Trade Federation space, they wanted the queen to sign a treaty and they wanted to capture her. Getting captured was not on our to-do list."

"So... What happened after you landed on Tatooine?"

"We went into Mos Eisely, but we couldn't buy the parts to fix our ship so we betted on the kid in a podrace."

"Aayla! You must have been insane!"

"Kenobi, you know me, I'm not insane. This was Master Qui-Gon's plan."

"And I thought that business on Melida/Daan was a bad idea..."

"Okay, moving on. After all that, we got the parts and left Tatooine, taking the boy with us to become a Jedi."

I looked down and noticed the boy had left, now no longer standing next to Aayla. I turned to see him jumping around and tugging on Satine's cloak.

"That's Anakin, he's the little boy."

"He's far too old to become an Initiate. The council wouldn't allow that."

"They would agree with you, but Master Qui-Gon believed he was the Chosen One, so the council decided otherwise."

"Is he going to be a Padawan?"

"My Padawan, actually. He would have been yours to teach if you had stayed."

*time skip brought to you by more conversation and walking around*

The crowd had thinned across the grimy streets of Coruscant, making it easier to see and walk at a normal pace. Aayla had vanished and presumably, brought little Anakin over to the Jedi Temple. Among the cloaked mourners scattered through the streets, I noticed one, walking ahead of me, her head turned to the point where I could see her glowing eyes. Suddenly, it all clicked in my head. "Master Tahl! It's me, Obi-Wan! Master Tahl, wait!"

The aforementioned Master Tahl abruptly stopped and turned to face Satine and I. Under her hood, a long strand of braided black hair and glowing eyes verified my assumption. I skidded to a halt when she replied, "Master Tahl
... That is a name I haven't heard in a very long time."

"How are you here?" I asked, still shocked.

"I'm afraid I can't divulge that information at the moment. Even so, you must know that your Master has joined The Order of the Dead. Finally, my friend has come home." I stepped forward, reaching out, but before I could reach her, she spiraled around. Her cloak brushed along the ground as she spun faster and faster. Her figure sunk into the earth, leaving only her canvas brown cloak and the rounded hilt of her lightsaber.

I bent over and picked up the saber, twirling it between my fingers. This is all I have left of my master, his friend's lightsaber.