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  SWEAT RAN DOWN EVERY inch of Xzara's body, her muscles screamed at her for relief from the constant training and exercise, but she refused. The once proper princess was now a warrior, training day and night with no end in sight. Another hit from her staff sent the tenth dummy flying across the room, hitting the wall with a hollow bang that echoed throughout the hall.

"Had enough?" Seth stepped forward from his spot on the sidelines, assigned to watch his sister until the proper protection was here to take his place. "You've been torturing those dummies for three hours. The protocol droids are worried their next, can't get them to shut up."

His joke didn't amuse Xzara, she merely rolled her eyes. "I've had enough when I say I have. Where are the rest of the dummies?"

Seth laughed. "You've destroyed them all. The handmaids will have to sew them back together," He moved closer to her. "Come, Zar, you should clean up. We're having guests for dinner tonight."

This earned a groan from the princess. "Guests? In a time like this? What is father thinking?" Though her words suggested otherwise, Xzara left the training room with her brother without resistance, who walked her all the way to her quarters.

"Wash up, I'll come get you in a few hours." He told her with a sad smile, before leaving her alone in the one place she was allowed to be.

Xzara dropped her staff at the door and sighed, shoulders dropping, finally accepting her tiredness. She stood for a moment, looking out at her rooms large window that overlooked the fields and forests of her planet. The green calmed her for a moment and a faint smile spread across her face as she watched the Pylat birds fly about the Panopticon willow trees.

Something about nature, it's energy, called to Xzara. If she wasn't a princess with the responsibilities of taking care of her kingdom, she would've run away a long time ago, before the marriage, before the war, to live amongst the wildlife.

Shaking her head, she forced her eyes from the scenery and to her washroom door. She rolled her eyes in annoyance, "Guests," She scoffed. No kingdom wanted to help Aquilae, so who could the guest possibly be than mere political figures? They weren't important to Xzara, but in the back of her mind she knew she must obey her father's wishes for her to be presentable, much more worried about what he thinks of her rather than any guest they might have.

Not rushing, but not slowly either, Xzara took her shower, savouring the warm water as much as she could. She washed every ounce of sweat and grime off of her body until her skin felt raw. She shivered at the sudden cold air as she stepped out, steam pouring out of the shower door from behind her.

She picked out a simple dress, not that she had anything extravagant anyway — she despised large, puffy gowns. It's blue silk felt nice against her freshly washed skin, causing her to sigh happily. Not much happiness came to Xzara much anymore, the blame for the war against Nibiru was placed on her by her people.

As she finished up her hair, a knock sounded from her door. "Zar? It's time, are you ready?"

She sighed, a pit of dread forming in her stomach at the thought of having dinner with strangers. "Yes, brother, just about," Hastily, she finished up the elaborate hairstyle, that she now immediately regretted doing and rushed to open her bedroom door. Seth stared at her with a smile. "What, Seth? You're creeping me out." She crossed her arms.

Seth chuckled, shaking his head. "You look nice, that's all. I thought you'd try to make some sort of statement by coming to dinner in your armour." He held out his arm for Xzara to take, which she did without protest.

Xzara smiled lightly. "I was thinking about it but decided against it. I would've loved to see the look on fathers face, though."

Seth nodded. "As would I." They continued to walk through the palace halls in silence. Xzara watched the paintings of her ancestors as their eyes seemed to follow her through the hall, judging her silently. Their eerie and prude faces mocked her as if she wasn't good enough to call herself an Ardmore, to be royalty.

Once they rounded the corner to the dining hall, they were greeted by their oldest brother, Kennex. "Glad you could make it on time, sister." He said mockingly as he stared down at her.

Xzara felt herself stand straighter, at her brother's insult. "Why wouldn't I?" She sneered.

Seth's grip on her arm tightened. "Are they here, brother?" He glared at him.

Kennex nodded prudently. "Of course," He signalled for the guards to open the large doors of the dining hall. "They're anxious to meet you, Xzara."

Xzara glared at him as well. Anxious to meet you. Those words didn't sit well with her. Looking over at Seth, his kind eyes calmed her nerves for a moment, until the booming voice of their father brought them flooding back. "Ah! There she is! My lovely daughter!"

Taking a deep breath, Xzara turned to the hall. Immediately, her eyes focused on someone other than her father and brothers. Closest to her father's seat, was a man she'd never seen before. His face was covered by a neatly trimmed beard and his hair was just as neat — but it wasn't his neat grooming that grabbed her attention — it was his glowing blue eyes, as blue as the oceans of Gordon and his smile, subtle, but there and directed at her.

"Xzara, come meet our guests," Her father took her hand, bring her to his side. "Esteemed Jedi, this is my daughter, Xzara Ardmore."

"Jedi?" She mumbled, eyes once again moving to the mystery man.

That man stood up, along with another man with longer and darker hair, and a female Togruta. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Ardmore." The man bowed. His voice held an accent Xzara couldn't quite place, but she liked it a bit too much. The two others bowed as well.

Xzara stepped forward. "Xzara is quite alright, Lady Ardmore was my mother," She smiled the best she could at him. "And who might you be?"

Standing straight, the man smiled at her. "Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi," He noticed Xzara glanced at his companions. "Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker," He gestured to the other man with darker hair, then to the Togruta, "And Padawan Ahsoka Tano."

Xzara smiled. "It is lovely to meet you all." She noticed the large smile on the Togruta, Ahsoka's face.

Clapping his hands, Xzara's father, King Davenrue, brought the attention back over to him. "Daughter, do sit," He gestured to the chair on his right hand. Wasting no time, Xzara obeyed. Her father smiled. "Great. I'm sure you're wondering why Jedi have graced our palace walls, child."

Xzara nodded slowly. "Yes, you could say I am." She smirked the man she now knew as Obi-Wan, earning a smirk in return.

"Yes, well," Davenrue cleared is throat. "We have yet another threat of your safety from Vala, more violent then the last five," Xzara crossed her arms, eyebrows knitting together in confusion. Where was he going with this? "Now the time has come, we can no longer trust our walls to keep you safe, you must need protection."

It then dawned on Xzara, why the Jedi were there, why all the secrecy from her family. She started shaking her head. "Father, no. I can protect myself, please-"

"Enough, Xzara!" Davenrue boomed. "This isn't up for debate! Until the evil of Vala is vanquished, they will be here, watching you, keeping you safe!"

Xzara stood angrily from her seat, the chair flying to the floor behind her. "I am not a child!"

Her father stood up as well, towering over his daughter. "Then stop acting like one!"

Overwhelming silence filled the room, with every eye on Xzara. She felt trapped, angry and guilty. He was right, she was acting childish. Taking a deep breath, Xzara met her father's gaze. "I'll have dinner in my quarters, goodnight."

Gripping the skirt of her dress, Xzara walked hastily out the dining hall doors, struggling to fight her tears as she made her way through the complex halls of the palace. You're too strong to cry, She chanted in her head. You can't show that he got to you.

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Authors note

Woah!! Exciting chapter, huh? I'm so far loving Xzara and her complex range of emotions. But also, Obi-Wan!! I know the interaction between them wasn't very exciting, but it'll get juicier, don't worry! Also, I should mention Xzara has six older brothers, wow! She is the baby, obviously, and you'll get see more of her relationships with each of them as the story progresses, you already got a glimpse into Seth and Kennex!

sign-off gif by Raichia