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— OUTER RIM TERRITORIES
⠀⠀⠀ SHE NEVER FELT AS ENERGISED AND FULL OF STRENGTH AS SHE DID NOW. Waking up, Milada was met with an endless yellow fog surrounding her as the speeder gently shook. Glancing at the Jedi sat in front, she felt betrayed and enraged for what he had done, yet she knew that it was not as painful as her actions towards him.
"You're awake," he noted, eyes not leaving the road before him, "we will be in Galu soon,"
She could hear the sadness in his voice as he drove her to the capital. The princess was aware that the Jedi Master did not want to give her away to the new Phindian king, yet she also knew that he had no choice but to do so until the Republic stepped in, or at least she assumed that it would.
"Will the Republic help us?" She dared to ask, voice laced with sleep as she slowly sat up.
Obi Wan tensed a little, hoping that the princess didn't notice it, "most likely it would," he lied for once in his life, "but I doubt it'll be soon," was a honest ending to his reply.
"And what is your plan for now, Padawan?" She teased, rolling her eyes in annoyance at his reply.
Obi Wan smirked at her choice of the word to address him, "you don't have to worry about it now,"
Milada rose her eyebrow, still not seeing the Jedi's face, "but I am worried," she stated, "I am part of it and I have the right to know,"
She had a point indeed, but Obi Wan never shared his motives nor told anyone of a plan unless it was surely to go as undisturbed, but with a situation like this, it was less likely to go smoothly thus sticking to a specific plan for now was useless.
"I'm afraid I cannot tell you that, Milada," he explained, "you only have to trust me for the time being,"
"Trust you?" She exclaimed. Why in the universe would she trust Obi Wan Kenobi?
"Have I broken your trust, darling?" Obi Wan asked, hearing how she replied to that hurt him, knowing well that he had never done it and yet she blames him for her own actions.
She fell silent, jaw clenching along with her fists. He actually never done that and she only now realised what she had done — she accused the most honest man in her life in breaking her trust and lying to her. Despite it being her who should be accused of such. She felt guilt taking over her now as she began to feel small, her back meeting the seat and she put her legs to her chest, burying her head between her knees.
Obi Wan dared to look behind him and saw the princess hiding her face from him as she began to feel guilty for falsely accusing the Jedi for something he did not do, but he knew it would be better if he kept his sarcastic remarks to himself for now, allowing her to collect her thoughts and have a last drop of rest before he will give her to Jyu.
He did not want to give her away to the Phindian, worrying for her life more than his own, yet he promised to deliver her as soon as he can. But he won't be Obi Wan Kenobi if he did not have a way to prevent a certain event to an extent.
The sights did not change or at least they didn't seem to. The fog was everywhere and neither of the two could see anything else but that as the speeder drove above the decaying soil. Dry trees and ochre grass replaced the forests and fields which surrounded Milada from a very young age. She looked to her right and saw burned villages and some black smoke still emitting from the buildings.
"They destroyed the planet," she mumbled, barely audible yet Obi Wan heard her.
"Not all of it," he pointed out, turning his head to his right as well, eyes now on the abandoned settlement.
"But they will soon," Milada looked at him, "Gala's fate is to be destroyed and made into a Syndicate's settlement, ruled by smugglers and dealers for spice and such,"
"Not unless you fight for it back," Obi Wan said softly, eyes on the road before him now, "I believe that if you have a goal, you can achieve it if you don't sit around and watch everything you love and care about being destroyed,"
Milada sighed, "there is more of them than us, there is no point in fighting against them,"
"I didn't say to fight them," the Jedi Master remarked, "I am sure there are other ways to win against the Phindians,"
She didn't say anything, thoughts clouded her mind as she sat there, thinking of any possible ways to regain control of Gala without any aggression and without losses. She did not want to lose her people, having the population decrease already, the princess would not allow that to happen even further. She was pulled out of her thoughts when the speeder took a sudden stop in the middle of a field.
"We will resume our journey after a rest," Obi Wan explained before she could ask him what was the matter.
"How long were we driving for?" She wondered.
"Thirteen hours," he turned to face the princess, "and if we take a break for seven hours, we will have another twenty two hours until my time runs out,"
Milada furrowed her brows, "your time?"
"I asked for him to give me three days to bring you to the capital," he explained and smiled sadly.
"You're brave," she complimented, a warm smile made its way to her soft face which was decorated with purple bags under her eyes, "I'm glad I've met you, Padawan,"
He nodded, a smirk was barely visible on his face and was hidden by his auburn beard. Despite her sickened state, she still looked as gorgeous as ever and Obi Wan wished for nothing but to feel her lips on his own, feel her weak hands hold onto him for her dear life—
"Kiss me," she whispered, moving closer to him. The seat separated them but she could still feel the warmth and comfort emitting from him. Her gentle eyes studied his face, still handsome and still kissable.
He looked at her immediately after hearing her say that, a bit of disbelief written over his features as her face was a few centimetres away from his. Oh Maker, why did she have to be so beautiful?
"Kiss me," Milada whispered again, thinking that the Jedi did not hear her the first time, her left hand made its way to his soft locks which rested on his right shoulder, "please,"
Without thinking his lips were on hers, longingly claiming them as his own as she softly moaned into the kiss, hands grabbing his neck from the back and pulling him closer to her while the seat still separated them. Obi Wan's beard pleasantly scratched Milada's chin as they both hungrily kissed. His hands snaked around her jaw and held her face between them, deepening the kiss as their tongues danced with each other, fighting for dominance which Obi Wan won, causing another moan to come out of the princess before he pulled away, allowing them to catch their breaths.
"You taste sweet, darling," he whispered, thumbs circling her cheekbones as her face began to heat up under his touch.
"And you taste like that fine moonshine from Shu-Torun," she mumbled a reply, assuming that Elan had offered him some before they had left as she was a huge admirer of the exotic drink.
He smiled and nodded softly, blue eyes filled with love and adoration were roaming around Milada's face, "take a rest, my love,"
She pulled away as he let go off her, laying back on the backseat and doing as she was told, letting sleep take over her as Obi Wan continued to study and admire the beauty she held — savouring the last moments in her presence.
