When Destinies Meet, part 1: In the wake of discovery

Author's Note:
I'm back with the promised chapter! Longest in all the story I think...hopefully you'll forgive the horrid delay.


Chapter Fifteen: Battle for Naboo

The events of the previous sleepless night were momentarily pushed aside, but not forgotten; Arwen rose from her bed early, although she could not exactly tell how she knew it was morning. Time seemed to stop while travelling through space and time. Slowly and with great care she eased the garments she would wear from now on over her head, her mind clouded in thought. Padmé had hoped it would not come to war during her reign, yet still she had battlegarbs designed for both herself and her handmaidens. Arwen was no handmaiden, thus her own attire was slightly different than theirs. Coloured in maroon as well, it fit her body snugly and perfectly. The elleth had been there the day of the designing, and thus managed to interwine Elvish designs with the Naboo ones. The undergarment was made of one piece, tigh-fitting and giving no room for anything else. High boots rose to her knees, with an extra blaster-holster strapped to her left one, while in the right lay, concealed, a long knife. Over this came a coat, falling to the ground, yet not quite touching it. It was closed all the way down the front, giving the impression that she actually wore a dress, yet in movement it was seen that there was a split from her belt to the ground. The sleeves were alike to her riding dress at home, split open at the elbows. A belt came round her waist with a blaster, and her hair was carefully braided.

When next she looked into the mirror in her room, Arwen was surprised to see her own reflection; a serene, yet determined Elf-maid gazed back at her, her gray eyes large and steadfast, her figure carved perfectly into the attire. Regal she looked now that it seemed to be a gown, yet deadly she was as well. Back home, in Imladris, Elrond had insisted that even his daughter should learn the ways of war, from politics to actual martial arts, and adapting her fighting style to the one Nabooans had was not a problem. She had no trouble slicing an orc's throat wide open, thus she was certain that killing a thing that was not even alive, merely a machine such as the vehicle she was in now, would proove unchallenging. There was another thing that sent clouds over her thoughts.

How long had it been since last she saw her father or brothers, or even grandmother for that matter? All the time she played with the possibility that she would not have returned to Imladris to greet the retun of her brothers. If she had stayed in Lórien, as advised by her father, she would not be here now. And yet, if she had stayed in Middle Earth, she would not have met Padmé, or the handmaidens…and Obi-Wan.

As if in answer to her thoughts, there came a silent knock to her door. She did not have to look at it or open it to know who was on the other side. She did not know how she knew. She just did.

"Enter," she spoke softly, her eyes fixed still upon her reflection. The door slid open and the Jedi Padawan entered the compartment, closing the barrier behind him. His blue-green eyes glanced over to the woman who procuded such a torrent of feelings within him, and he was struck numb by her appearance. True, he knew her to be beautiful beyond comparison, yet in this particular garment, that gave way every curve of her body, the way she titled her head as if admiring something in the mirror…he shook his head. No. He was stronger than that. A whisper surrounded him, however, a whisper which he knew to be that of the Force, and it seemed to be coming from her, calling him.

Resisting the urge that vibrated within his head. Obi-Wan stood silent and simply admired the beautiful woman and decided to see what went on in her mind. A Jedi could enter one's mind and control it. It was a difficult task, yet once mastered, it was a dangerous weapon to use. Focusing, he gently reached out with his mind, probbing to see what lay within that beautifully-crafted head…and met a barrier stronger than steel and brick walls. He bumped into it suddenly and for a moment did not realise what it was, until he began to travel around it, to perhaps find a weakness, or hole. But this must be said: even Helm's Deep has one weakness, and it is a mighty fortress of Men. But in Arwen's mind barrier, there was none. Years she had spent under tutolage of her grandmother, the Lady Galadriel of Lórien, wisest of all Elves yet living in Middle Earth. For Sauron wishes ever to gain entrance to minds of those closest to Elrond. Even upon the elleth's own mind did he jump in haste, yet was rejected, numerous times.

Thus Obi-Wan figured out that he would not penetrate into the maiden's mind, and withdrew, observing her face to see whether or not she had detected another presence. Slowly she turned her head, the swan-like neck ellegantly twisting. A shudder ran through Obi-Wan then; for in those endless gray eyes he saw not his reflection, but the Doom that seem to hang heavily above the head of the lady, and that was the Choice. He did not understand all that he saw in that brief moment before her eyes went dim once more, yet his soul was tainted with the sadness and grace that was Undómiel.

'There is no one who can enter my mind without me permitting it,' her voice suddenly floated within his own thoughts, yet Elana had never parted her lips. The Padawan's gaze narrowed slightly, and he searched his mind for the intruder, yet apart from faint glimpses of a shimmering light, he could not catch it. Blue-green eyes met gray.

'How can you speak within my mind yet I cannot find you?' he asked, unsure if she would allow the conversation to continue on mind level. To an onlooker, they would seem like statues of old, unmoving, unblinking, holding each other's gazes, standing tall and straight.

Her lips turned upwards slightly, yet the smile was not a happy one.

'I can avoid being detected if I wish – I cannot intrude a mind without being found. Yet you shall have to do better to catch me, Padawan.' An amused wave washed over his mind. Taking the hint, and trying harder this time, Obi-Wan closed out all other thoughts and sought. There it was, suddenly appearing before him, a shimmering light, so ellusive, so tender, that he dared not touch it. Yet he was drawn forward – but as he almost connected with it, it ran suddenly, disappearing into the mists of his mind.

'I cannot catch you..' he whispered, 'neither can I know how you invaded my mind through my barriers.'

Laughter floated to him, golden laughter, and the white light shimmered once more. He could imagine it shinning before his very eyes.

'Mellon-nin, as I said, I can enter one's mind without problem, although I must admit your barriers were quite a challenge. Yet you have many holes still, and through one I slipped.'

'Melou…what?' A confused cloud washed away from him. 'What did you say? And what do you mean by holes? Master Qui-Gon said my mind is one of the toughest to enter.' Again he acted by impulse and defended himself with ardency. This time her lips turned into a true smile.

'I said 'mellon-nin'. It means 'my friend' in my native tounge. And do not jump so rashly at spoken words, Padawan. Your Master may have his own opinion. I have my personal one, and that is that your barriers need great improvement.' Laughter followed and Obi-Wan decided he couldn't be angry or irritated by her, not really. Instead, he posed his next question, as she was apparently in an answering mood.

'Why such walls around your mind? Surely none would wish to see what you hide within.'

Grave was her glance then, and her smile faded.

'Did you not yourself wish to enter my mind? There is great evil where I come from. The one behind it seeks information by reading minds. I am close to some of the most important people in the side opposite him, I have vital information in my mind which cannot be revealed. Many times He has tried to conquer in the battles we fought, yet he cannot succeed. Not yet. The doors to my secrets are closed.'

He was silent for a while, digesting the information she shared with him. Her eyes never left his face, studying its proportions, as he studied her own. When next she spoke, using her real voice, it was soft and whispered into the room.

"Do you really wish to see what is on my mind?"

The Jedi looked deep into the maiden's eyes, and saw a weariness there that he had previously not noticed, and a compassion rose within him, and he nodded, although his voice was lost.

"Very well."

She met his gaze once more, and this time, she allowed the shimmering white light to be his guide. He followed it straight to the wall, where he waited. Nothing happened. Gently, as if pushing open a door, he sought an opening, and suddenly he fell into the mists of her mind, as if the rampway had been lowered while he was leaning upon it.

…He saw her standing, a little girl, in a garden of beautiful flowers and tall trees. She turned around, as if facing him, and her face lit up with a brilliant smile. Ada! She called and ran forward…

…torpedoed away through the labyrinth, he saw her now as a young maiden, untried by life, laughing and singing with many more of her kin. All had the same long hair and flawless complexions, yet she outshone them all. Her voice called out to her brothers, and they came, twin warriors of old, laughing and joking with them all…

…grief such as he had never exprienced before surged through him, around him, pulling him into a torrent full of tears, screams, clawing and bitting. She stood there, Elana, tall and straight, a grown woman now, yet her lovely face was pale and tears filled her eyes. She had lost one most beloved. And in the background the Sea sung its endless song…

…she sat astride a mighty four-legged creature, and galloped across the plains, her cloak and hair billowing around her. Behind she could hear clash of metal and screams of her guards and the foul beasts that were called orcs. Golden trees rose before her and as she raced underneath their branches she could feel relief floating through her. She was safe…

…gray eyes turned to look at him now, as she sat beside a tall woman with long golden hair and wise sapphire eyes. She did not smile anymore, happiness had been left behind with her youth. War was upon them. Voices murmured around her, a plan was formed, he knew the numbers and positions, yet they meant nothing to him. She was not to return home for a while…

…when she did there was happiness in the house, and her father was overjoyed. But now she would be forbidden to travel back to the golden trees and the golden lady, for the passages have been closed down, too dangerous. He saw her with a tall flaxen-haired warrior, riding through the trees. He saw Padmé and her meet for the first time. And he felt her anguish at being torn from her homeworld and taken to a foreign planet…

Suddenly he saw her, a beacon of white light standing in the mids of al the turmoil that was in her mind. Clad in a colour he could not name, yet seem to have all the colours of the world within, her long black hair unbound, eyes crystal clear and skin healthy. And in her eyes, a power so great, so mystifying and yet filled with such electric force, that he could not bear to look upon her.

Obi-Wan stumbled backwards and broke the mind connection rougher than he would have wished. But to see her revealed in all her glory was too much, even for a Jedi. He doubted even Master Yoda could withstand such purity and power. One arm shot out to steady himself while he covered his eyes with the other, trying to calm himself down, to push away all the feelings he had felt. There was ice upon the surface, yes, but underneath there was a river of fire and torment.

Arwen watched him with a sad expression upon her face, yet she did not move. In fact, she looked paler and wearier if that was possible.

"You have seen how I truly am," her voice echoed in his ears, "in that form shall I walk in the lands of my forefathers, unhindered, unchallenged, until the Second Song and the breaking of the world. If I choose that fate – otherwise, I shall diminish, and fall into the twilight, and even the twilight shall be unable to feed my power, and eventually I shall fail, and wither away, like a dead leaf that falls from a tree in autumn."

Only now did Obi-Wan dare to look at her once more, and she seemed smaller somewhat, more vulnerable. Acting upon impulse, he stood and crossed the distance between them, and pulled her into his arms. For a moment, time stopped as her head was lowered upon his shoulder, the only sign of her acceptance of the situation, yet the wave of heartbreaking sadness that floated through her tore Obi-Wan's heart in two.

But each moment must past, and so did this one as well, for a voice called to Obi-Wan through the comlink he carried, and they both recognised it as that of Olié, the pilot. Without a word they parted, and as the Jedi's strong back disappeared out of sight, Arwen's heart was stabbed with a knife, for in that instant she saw her future, and it lay far away from her family, the father she loved and the brothers she adored.

Arwen followed after Obi-Wan after a few minutes composing herself, but was intercepted by Eirtaé on the way. The blonde handmaiden was clad in the maroon fighting dress of Naboo, yet her face was troubled. The Elf sensed something was amiss.

Without a word, the tall girl pulled Arwen alongside her, and into the Queen's chambers. Once inside, Arwen immediatelly took a look at the situation: Rabé was adding some finishing touches to Sabé's Queen make-up, as she would be the decoy once more, so there was no problem there. Padmé, however, was standing beside the wall with her back to it, silent and pale. Gingerly, the tall Elf stepped past the other two and looked into the brown eyes of her friend.

"Padmé," she spoke softly, and the girl's eyes became once more focused. A faint smile she granted her black-haired friend.

"I see the dress fits," she commented, and Arwen nodded.

"That is not why I am here. I sense great turmoil within you, child – what is wrong?" Silence fell upon the room as everyone there waited for their Queen to answer. First came a sigh, and then her clear, sad voice:

"We are not a people of war, Minister. I fear this may be the last battle Naboo will fight."

Arwen shook her head. "I highly doubt it. Your path does end on Naboo, but not yet." Padmé looked up, yet Arwen would say no more. She could not reveal to her friend that she had seen a coffin that night, pulled through the streets of Naboo with all honour, and that the person within the coffin was none other than Padmé herself, beautiful yet with a cold, dead heart.

There was no time for further speech, however, as the Nubian cruiser suddenly dived and sped off through Naboo's orbit, then turning horizontal again and landing in the swamps. Rocked and with legs of jelly, the members of Padmé's staff, plus young Anakin, the two Jedi and the Gungan Jar-Jar exited the cruiser and looked around.

Padmé's plan was to seek out the Gungans, offer them peace and allegiance, and convinve them to fight for their cause. It was not the most brilliant plan ever, but it was the only chance they had. Thus they set out to find the ellusive Gungans, and instead of meeting them in their underwater city, which Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon had visited during their previous stay on Naboo, they found it empty. But Jar-Jar told them not to worry, and took them to the secret place where Boss Nass and his people hid in time of crisis.

Apart from the fact that Padmé had to reveal her identity to ensure the union of the Nabooans and Gungans, the conversation in itself went smoothly. However, Arwen had to second the concerns of the Jedi about the plan Amidala had constructed in her mind. It was a dangerous thing, sending Gungans out to fight, while they would try and sneak into the palace unnoticed.

First chance she got, Arwen told Padmé exactly what she thought about the plan.

"Padmé, if you consider me your friend, hear me," she spoke, and the urgency in her voice stopped the Queen's musings and steps. Arwen's face was grave. "Even if you win this battle, I fear great loss shall wash over us," she continued, "my mind has shrunk back because of the evil that spreads from the palace in Theed. There is more within those halls than the Viceroy. An evil much stronger than you, than me, has taken residence there. I cannot say who can defeat it."

Padmé frowned: "An evil?"

Arwen's eyes became glazed suddenly, and her voice sounded strangely hollow: "There is none who can withstand the power of the Twin Blade. Golden eyes haunt the corridors. Darkness follows his steps. His face is both shadow and flame."

Padmé's eyes were doubtfull, she had never seen her friend in the state she was in now. Arwen shuddered and closed her eyes. When she reopened them, they were norma lonce more, yet weary and sad. She shook her head and ran a hand across her fair brow.

"Forget what I have said. It may have no meaning." Still having her doubts, the Queen agreed, and allowed Arwen to walk away. The elleth placed a hand across her heart and atuned her senses to the chim of nature around her. The vision she had this time was far clearer than any before, and far sharper. She saw the man with horns, his face painted red and black, golden eyes gleaming at her. The dark cloak he wore resembled those of the Nine, the Black Riders of Sauron, yet this was no ghost or spirit, but a man of flesh and blood.

A touch on her shoulder woke her and she turned her head, half-expecting to see Obi-Wan. Instead, she met the clear eyes of his Master Qui-Gon. She felt his mind press against her barriers, yet she would not allow him entrance as she had done with Obi-Wan. What had transpired between them was for no one else to know. Thus the doors to her mind remained closed, and the Jedi ceased trying to enter.

"I sense something troubles you," spoke the elder man, and the elleth allowed a sigh to escape her lips.

"Nothing. Everything. I blame it on the battle at hand, for the state that I am it." The master smiled thoughtfully.

"The Queen tells me you speak of an evil within the palace. Tell me, how can the Minister of Naboo know of such evil, when she has spent all her time with the Queen on Coruscant?" Arwen lifted her steel gray eyes to Qui-Gon's. She knew what he was implying too, and she stood her ground.

"Master Jinn, with all respect to you and Padawan Kenobi, you greatly insult me with what you say. I would gladly give my life away for Amidala if it came to it. So do not assume that I keep correspondence with the Viceroy or anyone else from the palace. What I know comes from a different source."

Qui-Gon was about to answer, when Amidala called to all and signalled the move out. The Master was greatly intrigued with the woman who occupied the thoughts of his Padawan. He made a note to speak with her as soon as possible. Little did he know that he would never get that chance…

Swiftly and silently the groups moved into Theed, which was empty of almost all droid soldiers, because the army had been drawn out by the Gungans. Now it was up to Amidala and her crew to enter the palace and capture Nute Gunray. As shadows they moved through the hidden paths that lead them deep into the palace, actually right underneath it, into the royal hangar. They had to free the pilots so their fighters could take out the droid command ship high in orbit. Only then would the droid army be defeated.

By now alarms were ringing all through Theed, and Nute Gunray was alerted, as was Darth Maul, the hideus creature which Arwen had seen in her vision. Like a hawk flies upon its pray he descended through the palace and towards the hangar. Meanwhile, in the mentioned area, a battle was already taking place – the droids that were guarding the fighters were being take care off, and the fighters were taking off into the sky, to fight the droid command ship.

Arwen had not yet taken out her blaster, instead she hovered near Amidala and directed her away from the incoming laser beams. However, she soon had to reach for her weapon as well, and a few well-aimed blasts were enough to send any droid away from Amidala. The battle was short, yet darkness had swept low upon them, and a fear gripped Arwen's heart. A fear that came true far too soon: the monster of her vision suddenly appeared before them, and a shudder ran through her, but she remained firm and returned the beast's yellow glare with a glare of her own.

Maul was intrigued to see so many women alongside the Jedi. One caught his gaze in particular: tall, strong-willed, with the perfect body and would provide quite the entertainment, he was certain. So he sent her a feline grin, and was delighted to see a death-sending gaze in return. Oh, he would have fun with that one, no doubt. But first, he had to take care of the two imbeciles before him. Oh he had heard much about Master Jinn and Padawan Kenobi from his own master, and he was delighted because he'd been given the chance to actually eliminate them.

Padmé's voice, calling to her to take the longer road to the throne room, woke the Elf and she turned on her heel to follow her Queen. Yet she could not leave without a final look over her shoulder, one that did not go unnoticed by Maul, and he also notice dObi-Wan return the gaze, before focusing once more on the Sith Lord. 'Oh, brilliant, young love! Even better to kill the pair off…' were the thoughts in Maul's head as he ignited his staff-saber with another grin.

Arwen raced along the corridors following Padmé, though partly her thoughts rested on Obi-Wan, thus she didn't really notice all the droids that she took down, or even the fact that the climb to the throne room was getting longer and longer.

"Elana, this way!" called Panaka suddenly, and she turned her head to see him disappear through a window. Following swiftly, she joined him, Padmé and a few others on the wide shelf. Using their blasters, which had rope mechanisms attached to them, they easily climbed all the way up to the level of the throne room. But, once there, they figured out the road was still long.

By now Arwen had both her blaster and the knife in her hand. The knife was a special knife, not just metal, which would only intensify the electricity that powered the droids. It was covered with an electricity-deflecting material. Thus she now stood, the Princess of Elves, her right hand holding the blaster and shooting periodically, while her left hand swooped down on the unsuspecting droids, cutting through their wiring in elegant moves. She literally danced through the enemy lines, deflecting blows, though not quite super-successful, as her overcoat was torn on some parts, and the skin on her arms had been burnt, as well as a part of skin on her leg. That did not stop her, however, and she would have lunged against the droid-decas as well, if it were not for Padmé who ordered everyone to cease fighting.

Thus, with blazing eyes and a tight jaw, Arwen followed the rest of the group into the throne room, meeting Nute Gunray in person. She sneered at him when he came her way, and would have jumped at his ugly face if she weren't as high-manered as she was. There was seemingly no escape, or so they thought – for both Padmé and Arwen forgot about one person: Sabé, while Sabé did not forget about them. She stormed into the throne room and drew the droids away, as Nute thought her to be the actual Queen, and Arwen cheered inwardly. The real Amidala was soon the victorious one in the room, and in orbit, Anakin destroyed the droid command ship, saving the Gungans on the ground.

But in that moment time seemed to stop for Arwen as her heart lurched suddenly and her soul screamed with a pain she had not known since her mother had sailed. But it was not her own pain. Her gaue travelled through stone and flesh, and she saw Qui-Gon fall to the blade of Darth Maul. She felt Obi-Wan's rage, and pain, and the turmoil within him. Tears began to fall down her pale cheeks.

"Ai Elbereth…protect him."

And Varda answered her prayer.

TBC

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