Chapter Eight

Back on Coruscant Obi-Wan entered the Jedi Council room and faced the Jedi Masters. He didn't know where Athalia was right now. He wondered what they would do with her. He bowed slightly and then straightened up. He looked at Mace Windu, then Yoda, then back again.

'Master Kenobi, you do recall that you were told to leave the situation on Onderon?' Mace Windu questioned. He wasn't happy at all.

Obi-Wan nodded once. 'Yes, I know. But I also knew that if anyone was going to get through to Athalia then it would be me.'

'Killed you, she almost did,' Yoda commented quietly.

'Yes, I know, Master, but I felt like I needed to try. Athalia is back here and things are right again,' Obi-Wan said calmly. 'Where is Athalia being kept?'

'In an isolation room,' Mace Windu replied.

Obi-Wan showed he heard. He couldn't imagine where they would put her but he didn't expect it to be there. Athalia was a danger but not to herself. He was sure she was being kept in there for everyone else's safety.

'Is there a problem Obi-Wan?' Yoda asked.

He shook his head. 'No, Master,' he said slowly. 'But I would like to know what will happen to her… and me.'

'We have decided to let this go, with you,' Mace Windu said. 'Your old Padawan on the other hand, will not get off so easily. She will be exiled and taken to another planet when we can sort her out.'

'But won't she be a danger to people there?' Obi-Wan asked.

'The damage had been done, Obi-Wan,' Yoda said.

'She will no longer be around us. She will live on another planet. Somewhere isolated,' Mace Windu said.

'There is something else,' Yoda started. 'Young Lightwood is pregnant.'

A wave of shock ran through Obi-Wan's body. Pregnant? How could that be? He remembered back to being in the dungeon, Athalia had raped him, though he hated thinking of it like that. They had been together that night. He had come inside of her. Athalia had waited before removing herself from him. Obi-Wan knew there was a good chance that it was his, but he wasn't sure if Athalia had been with anyone else since or just before.

'What will happen to the child?' Obi-Wan asked.

Yoda and Mace Windu exchanged glances. Obi-Wan noticed. Did they know he might be the father? Did they suspect?

'The child will remain with Athalia, if we are able to get her back to her old self,' Mace Windu replied. 'Do you know who the father could be?'

Obi-Wan had a choice to make. He could tell the truth and suffer the consequences, but would they punish the child for his mistake? Or he could lie and say he has no idea. 'I do not know,' he said firmly.

He didn't want to lie but he knew the child would be better off in his mother's care, if she can get back to normal. Obi-Wan didn't want them to take his child away if he was the father and he knew that the odds that he was were great.

'Very well,' Mace Windu said slowly. They were all watching Obi-Wan intensely. 'You may leave.'

'May I see Athalia?' Obi- Wan enquired.

'Yes,' Yoda said gravely.

Obi-Wan nodded this thanks and he bowed before leaving the room. A part of him wanted to run out and see Athalia quickly. He wanted to know how she was, how she was feeling. He knew that she must be angry in some way though. He forced himself to be calm and he walked down to the isolation rooms. There was only one in use. He walked in and his eyes instantly found Athalia.

She was huddled in a corner, her head bowed with her arms wrapped around it. Her body was rocking, shaking almost. Obi-Wan closed the door and took another two steps forwards. A few long moments went by before Athalia lifted her head and locked eyes with Obi-Wan. Athalia looked as though she hadn't eaten in days. Her skin was an unhealthy pale and her bones poked through her skin, and her cheeks were gaunt and her eyes were sunken in their sockets.

When the light hit Athalia she squealed and moved away from it quickly. She looked up at Obi-Wan but she couldn't hold his gaze. 'Are you alright?' said Obi-Wan softly.

Athalia still the same anger that had burned within her on Onderon. 'What has happened?' she asked, ignoring Obi-Wan's question.

Her former Master sighed heavily before closing the door to the cell. He knew Athalia was too weak to do anything to him right now. 'The Queen is back in her rightful place as ruler of Onderon and Captain Typho is back to serving the republic. I have spoken to the Council, they will try and help you and they informed me of your pregnancy.'

There was a long pause. Athalia remained quiet. She gave Obi-Wan a short impassive glare before staring at the cold, dirty floor. 'Is it mine?' Obi-Wan asked.

'You know it is,' Athalia replied, her voice cracking.

Athalia backed herself into the corner further. 'Why? What will happen?'

'They don't know that I'm the father. I lied, for you,' Obi-Wan said gravely. He seemed very disappointed with himself, though he still kept his eyes on Athalia; he seemed unable to look away from the young woman, who used to be his student.

'I'm sure you did it for yourself,' Athalia said bitterly.

Obi-Wan didn't like her tone of voice. The Dark Side was still a presence within her. She needed to be helped and fast and Obi-Wan knew that only the Council would be able to do it. He left the room. He didn't want to see her like this.

Over the next few days, Athalia endured pain like she never had before. She spent hours in the room of the Jedi Council and every day she wished to die over and over again. It made her wonder if they were also doing this because of what she had done to them and what she had become, which was their enemy.

Every day when Athalia was returned to her cell at the end of the day she crawled to the safety of the dark corner and she cried to herself. Obi-Wan no longer came to see her. A big part of her would have given anything to see him again. She kept her mind busy with thoughts of him and what he may be doing and who he may be with. It kept her occupied at least.

Many times, Athalia would run her hands over her growing stomach. She could feel the life within her growing and learning. It was the one thing which kept her going. She was having a baby and she knew what it would mean if Obi-Wan was found to be the father. Athalia knew he wouldn't risk his own future or the future of his unborn child.

On the final day of her torture, she had finally let go, of everything. It was over. She stayed motionless, kneeling on the Council room floor, her head bowed and her cheeks wet.

'Athalia Lightwood,' Mace Windu began, 'We have no choice but to expel you from the Jedi Order, for your crimes against the royal family, the people on Onderon and for the crimes against yourself. You have gone against the code of the Jedi and we can no longer over look it. We are exiling you to the planet of Dantooine. You have been there before. No-one will know who you are and we hope you can learn to forgive yourself.'

'Have anything to say, do you?' Yoda asked.

Slowly, Athalia lifted her head and her hollow eyes locked onto Yoda. 'I am sorry,' she croaked out. 'I never meant for things to turn out so bad.'

Her voice broke and so did she. Her head fell against the chest. She felt weak, no longer able to hold her own head up. More tears slid down her cheeks and landed on her stained robes. She wanted to leave now and not return.

'Obi-Wan will be accompanying you to Dantooine,' Mace Windy said slowly.

Athalia did not move and she didn't give any sign that she heard but inside she was glad. She was going to see Obi-Wan again. They might have a chance to talk, unless he had no interest in speaking to her.

She was picked up by the elbows and Athalia felt herself being led out of the Jedi Temple. She was taken to a small ship which was already to go. She was seated on a stool with a table in front of her, which when she was released, she slumped over. She no longer cared.

When they arrived on Dantooine, Athalia lifted her head. Obi-Wan walked from the front of the ship and over to her. 'We're here,' he announced.

Athalia nodded her head and she stood up. Obi-Wan moved quickly and placed his arm around her and he held her up. They left the ship together and Obi-Wan seemed to head straight for the grass plains. Athalia was sure that Obi-Wan knew where he was going. What seemed like forever to Athalia, they reached a small place. To Athalia, it looked like a hut but slightly bigger and more modern.

They went inside and Obi-Wan immediately sat Athalia on the small couch in the middle of the living-room. Athalia leaned back against it and she looked up at the ceiling. It was clean and Athalia found it a little sickening. She looked away and her eyes went to Obi-Wan, who was walking around, checking the place out.

'How long are you staying?' Athalia asked, still watching him.

Obi-Wan didn't look at her but he shrugged. 'For a little while,' he said vaguely. 'You should get some sleep.'

Athalia nodded and she managed to make her own way into the bedroom. She heard noises where Obi-Wan was but she didn't disturb. She was sure he had a lot on his mind right now too.

In the morning, Athalia went back into the living room and looked around, her eyes searching rapidly but Obi-Wan was gone. She felt very disappointed and alone. She rubbed her stomach again before moving to sit on the couch.

Everything in the recent past seemed like a dream, a blur that went too quickly. It almost felt as though it wasn't real. Athalia still had hopes that her child would become a Jedi and fulfil the dream that she wasn't able to fill herself. She wondered if the Council would take him though, considering who his mother was but she hoped if it came, they wouldn't judge him on that.

One Year Later

Athalia sat in an armchair in the small, sparse living-room by herself. The last year went by without much happening. She didn't converse with anyone but her baby. No-one was interested in the new person on the planet and Athalia was quite glad of it. She was able to live in peace without any interruptions.

As her thoughts lingered on her baby, a small cry began from the bedroom. Athalia slowly stood up and walked into the bedroom. The crying was slowly getting louder. She knew her little man wanted her attention. She walked over to the small cot and locked her eyes onto her son. He looked very much like his father. His hair was a dark brown and he had the most beautiful blue eyes, just like his father.

Athalia smiled and she bent down and gently picked Eeth Kenobi up from his cot. He began to settle almost immediately and Athalia walked with him into the kitchen and got his dinner ready. After feeding him, she burped him and changed his diaper. She then had a small play with him before cuddling him until he became calm in her arms.

She walked back into the bedroom and she placed Eeth back into the cot. She smiled faintly as she watched Eeth move his small, chubby hand over his face before completely closing his eyes and falling asleep. She then moved to the other side of the room, to her own bed and she lay down on her back. She sighed and wondered what would come.

Just before Eeth turned two, Athalia had a surprise visit. There was a small knock at the door and she could already feel his presence on the other side of the door. She took a deep breath and opened it. It was Obi-Wan. He smiled lightly at her. He looked better than ever. He looked very healthy.

'Hi,' he said quietly.

'Hi,' Athalia replied. 'Come in,' she said softly while stepping to the side of the door.

Obi-Wan smiled politely and stepped inside. Athalia closed the door and they both walked further into the living-room. 'I'm surprised to see you, though glad to,' she said softly.

'I feel the same. You look well,' Obi-Wan commented.

'As do you.'

'I'm here for a reason though,' Obi-Wan said slowly.

'Why?' Athalia asked, her voice suddenly sounding alarmed.

'I'm here for Eeth.'

'Why?' Athalia repeated.

'You know why. He is to become a Jedi,' Obi-Wan informed her. 'The Council sent me here to collect him.'

'But they'll know his your son,' she said quickly.

'We can change his surname to yours. I'll make sure Eeth knows about you and me, but not until he is old enough. The Council were hesitant to accept him but I convinced them to.'

Athalia still felt unsure. Obi-Wan's blue eyes searched her. He sighed very lightly and closed the distance between them. 'I will look after him, I promise,' Obi-Wan said gently.

'Will I see him again?' Athalia asked. Tears were beginning to form in her eyes.

'Yes, I'll make sure of it. He won't forget about you. He will know who you are,' Obi-Wan assured her.

A small, dry tear fell down Athalia's cheek. Obi-Wan gently wiped it off and he smiled at her receptively. Athalia nodded once and she turned into the bedroom. She picked Eeth up from his cot and held him to her chest securely. She wanted him to have a great future but she wanted to be there, though she knew it was impossible.

She sighed shakily and went into the living-room, where Obi-Wan was still waiting patiently. Athalia walked over to him and his eyes ran over Eeth quickly. 'He looks like you,' Athalia said echoing Obi-Wan's thoughts.

He blink several times quickly before remembering why he was here. He effortlessly took Eeth from Athalia's arms and he held him gently. 'He's beautiful,' Obi-Wan said smiling.

'I promise I will look after him,' Obi-Wan repeated.

Athalia nodded again and this time Obi-Wan stepped forwards and kissed Athalia's lips tenderly. He then stepped back and opened the front door. Another tear ran down her cheek but she ignored it. She knew this was the right thing to do. He was going to be well looked after and he was going to have an enormous future.

Athalia walked over and stood in the door frame, and watched as Obi-Wan took their son to Coruscant.