Promise - Anakin Skywalker

.20

Anakin's stomach squirmed as he stood before the Council. He waited impatiently for the remaining Jedi Masters to arrive either by holoprojection or in real life. Only Obi Wan and Yoda were left to come which made Anakin suspicious. They were the only three that had a connection to Ella, the only ones who would stick up for her.

Every objection they'd said to have Ella be dismissed from their ranks the first time they discussed her echoed in his mind. She's reckless! She is a child! Too old, she is! What if she is a spy? She is too connected to the Sith! What if they come for her? What if this is a Sith plot she is not aware of-!

"Anakin," Obi Wan said as he sat down, signaling the beginning of the meeting, "you had something you needed to share with us?"

He sighed, wishing he could keep this a secret. This would only feed to their suspicions against her, it would prove some of their assumptions right. There was so much evidence for Ella being against the Jedi, but Anakin knew that she wasn't one of them. But, he had a duty to fulfill to his fellow Jedi- a promise he swore to keep, so he had to tell them who Ella was. Even if it meant they made her leave. Even though she didn't even know.

This pained him so much, the thought of her leaving them. But, the fact that he even considered keeping her parentage a secret to everyone, even Ella herself, terrified him. No attachments, Anakin, he thought to himself. This is why you can't have attachments.

"Yes, Masters," he said, trying to ignore his internal conflict. "As you know, I underwent a duel with Count Dooku."

He paused for a moment, trying to sputter out his words to them. "In the midst, I learned something about my Padawan, Ella."

This turned heads. Those who were daydreaming or staring off into space, focused. He could feel their stares. Taking a deep breath, he hesitantly continued on.

"Count Dooku told me he is Ella's father."

Some people gasped, others leaned in closer putting her head on their hands that rested on their knees. Master Windu was the first to speak. "She must leave our ranks at once."

Anakin's heart sunk at the sound of his words. He exchanged looks with Obi Wan and Yoda, who also looked at each other as if they were speaking through telepathy. "Now, Master Windu let's not jump to conclusions," Obi Wan said calmly.

"Discussed this before, we already have," Yoda added.

Windu' face hardened at the pair of them. "And at the time we did not know Count Dooku was her father!"

"A spy that is known is better than suspecting all among our ranks," Master Plo Koon said wisely, addressing all of them.

"She is safer with us, if we make her leave the Seperatists or the Sith could take her in," Anakin said. He felt extreme amounts of guilt for this, but it had to be done. "She's powerful, it's better that she's with us than against us."

"I would like to here from someone who may not be so attached to her," Windu said sharply, his black eyes piercing Anakin's politeness like daggers. He clenched his fists deathly tight making his fingers go numb. His breathing was long and slow, it shook from his temper rising.

"- Master Windu we already knew she had suspicious parentage," Obi Wan said calmly, breaking between the tension between Windu and Anakin.

"We did not know her father was the Seperatist leader and a Sith," Windu shot back sharply, whipping his head toward Obi Wan.

"She gets one chance, if she breaks that she's out. Even from the slightest bit of suspicion from her we're dismissing her. That's final," Master Windu growled, his dark narrow eyes scanning the room.

Sensing the discussion was over, Anakin spun on his heels, eager to leave and find Ella. "Wait, Anakin," Obi Wan sighed, punching the bridge of his nose. "We're not done yet."

By the tone of Obi Wan's voice, Anakin could tell he was annoyed and wanted to leave as well. Anakin knew there was more to discuss, but leaving was worth a shot, right? Rolling his eyes and sighing, he turned back around with an unemotional look at all of them to politely express his annoyances.

"Yes?" He asked sharply.

"Does she know?" Obi Wan asked him.

"No," Anakin replied shortly. He was immediately guilty knowing he never told Ella, and she deserved to know.

"I suggest you don't, Skywalker," Windu said.

Anakin narrowed his eyes. "She deserves to know."

"Filled with curiosity, the young one will become," Yoda persuaded him.

"She's fifteen!" Anakin pleaded, sounding like Ella defending her age when he would call her young.

"When she learns more about controlling herself, she will be ready to know," Obi Wan reassured him. "You of all people should know how Ella is already curious as well as independent still. She's a child, she'll want to go after him or meet him like she did when she learned who Grievous was."

"She'll be angry when she finds out how long we've been keeping this from here," Anakin countered. "She could turn to the Sith just from resentment of us."

"Ella will also be mature enough to control her anger when she learns of her parentage," Windu added.

Anakin clenched his jaw. "Yes, Masters." He said unemotionally. His knuckle cracked under the tightness of his clenched fists.

"One last thing, Skywalker," Windu said, stopping Anakin from leaving once more. "It is your duty as her Master to teach her, not care for her. Mind your attachments."