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A Beginning of Fear

Copywrite Heather Hambel 1999

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NOTE: Most of these guys belong to George Lucas, who I am eternally greatful for creating the character of Obi-Wan Kenobi...

"I'd like to thank you for inviting us in, ma'am," Master Lonys smiled calmly at Anakin's mother. "We very much appreciate it." Anakin's mother slammed two cups of water on the table. "You're lucky I didn't kill you on the spot. Once you finish you water, I want you out of my home." Obi-Wan glanced at Master Lonys. He had managed to get them in the house by asking for a cup of water for two thirsty travellers...but how could he convince the stubborn woman to let the two Jedi's take away her son? "Have you heard about the young Empress of Tarkona?" Master Lonys casually asked. "An innocent child being forced to grow up too fast." "I feel pity for any child that has lost her parents," the woman's hard eyes softened for a moment. "Poor girl is now aloe in what are terrible times for our universe." Master Lonys took another sip of water. "The girl is in trouble and it is my belief that your son can help her." "My son?! How can my son...why, you've never _met_ my son!" "There is an ancient prophecy which says the most un-assuming soul will rise up and defend the weak. My apprentice, Obi-Wan, has seen first hand that your son in strong in the Force. He may be the very one that the prophecy speaks of," Master Lonys stopped speaking and fell silent. "My son will NOT fufill ANY prophecy!" Anakin's mother practically roared. Seh fircely gripped onto the table and through clenched teeth continued, "If you haven't noticed, he is only a child! He belongs here on Tatooine and not on some far off planet with a girl who's life will never make a difference in his!" "Ms. Skywalker, I can understand - " "No! You don't understand!" The woman's dark eyes flashed with the deep fire of her anger. "It is not your child that we're speaking of!" "He saved my life," Obi-Wan spoke up. "There's something in that boy that makes him special...different, if you will. If he learns to use the power - " "I could lose him forever," Ms. Skywalker finished in a soft and painfilled voice. "Look around you. Anakin is the only thing of value that I have in this world. Without him, I am nothing. He is...and always has been...the first thing I think about in the morning and the last thing I think about at night. He is my world." Mater Lonys placed a hand on hers. "I know that it will be difficult for you. But you _must_ let us take him to the Council and see what they have to say. We could be wrong about him...though that I do not find true. You must let us try." "I don't like Jedi's." "I know, and that I am very sorry for." Obi-Wan glanced between Master Lonys and Ms. Skywalker. She sighed. "Anakin! Come here, please!" Anakin dashed quickly into the room. "Yes, Mama?" Ms. Skywalker sadly sighed. "Darling...these men...want to take you..." her soft voice broke suddenly and her hand flew up to her quivering mouth. After a few moments, she regained her composure and continued by saying, "These men are Jedi's and want to take you with them so you can become a Jedi as well." Anakin's eyes sparkled. "Really?!" "First things first," Master Lonys smiled warmly at Anakin. "My Padawan tells me that you knew something bad was going to happen to him if he took that transport. How did you know?" "I could see it in my head," Anakin replied simply. "I could hear people crying...I knew that if Obi-Wan left that he would die." Master Lonys carefully studied the small boy. "Have you ever felt anything concerning a princess on the planet of Tarkona?" Anakin thought for a moment. "She's scared...and...sad. She lost her mama and dada. She misses them." "Would you like to come to Tarkona with us and help her?" Anakin's face lit up and her furiously nodded his head. His mother, however, clasped her hands together and rested her weary head upon them. A single tear slid un-noticed down her cheek and Obi-Wan could feel her heart slowly breaking.

* * * *

Late the next day, Master Lonys, Obi-Wan, and Anakin were aboard a transport that was preparing to dock in Shartyn, Tarkona's capital city. The city itself was a sprawling, bustling super center, with the palace itself resting nobly beside a crystal blue lake. It's towers rose majestically into the clear blue sky, while the rest of the palace gleamed like pearlesent ivory covered in a mist of diamonds. "Anakin," Master Lonys whispered as the trio send off towards the palace. "You must stay with my nephew, Adco, while Obi-Wan and I ask for audience with the princess. He will give you a warm meal and a soft bed to rest on." Anakin lifted his heavy eyelids adn sluggishly nodded. He had hardly slept at all since they lift Tatooine and that mistake was now catching up with him. His weary body felt like it would collapse and fall apart any minute. After they left the boy with Adco Lonys (a quiet, white-haired man that made his home above a small antique store), Master Lonys and Obi-Wan continued walking to the palace. Once there, Master Lonys knocked on the great steel door. A voice called out, "Who goes there?" "I am Jedi Master Andru Lonys and I'm here to seek an audiance with her royal highness." There was a pause, but the door opened slightly and the voice growled, "Enter." The interior of the palace was brightly lit, with floors so polished that Obi-Wan could clearly see his reflection in it. But contrary to the warm look the palace had, Obi-Wan's senses were flooded with feelings of hate and sadness. "Master, there is something terribly wrong here," Obi-Wan whispered. Master Lonys frowned. "I feel it too, my young Padawan. We must find the princess." "Her highness will see you know," A loud voice said, interupting their conversation. A stocky man with hair the color of fire stepped out from behind a curtain. "Please follow me." He briskly led the two men through a large room, decorated with the custamary Tarkonian marble pillars and ornately sculpted ceiling. There were large stained glass windows on either sie of the room from which warm sunlight poured from. The only sounds in the room were the echos of the men's footsteps from the massive fifteen foot ceiling. The man stopped at a pair of huge, silver double doors and threw them open. Master Lonys led the way into the throne room, and abruptly stopped. Obi-Wan dashed up to his side, but as he did, he was almost plowed over by the feeling of pure terror that the throne room walls were eminating. The throne sat on a platform in front of a gorgous stained glass window - the largest Obi-Wan had ever seen. Two Tarkonian guards stood infront of the platform's steps; neither acknowledging the two Jedi's. However, the rest of the room's magnificence was lost after Obi-Wan raised his deep blue eyes to the figure of the throne. His heart began to flutter inside of him. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

TO BE CONTINUED