The ornamental water garden was located at the far side of the park, and Sabé and Obi-Wan quickly agreed to take a meandering route, through the woods where the ground was carpeted with bluebells, and across grassy meadows which were strewn with tiny wildflowers. They strolled slowly in the afternoon heat and Sabé was surprised to discover how easily conversation flowed between them. She quickly found herself relaxing in Obi-Wan's company, enjoying his gentle, self-deprecating humour, finding him knowledgeable but imaginative, nowhere near as serious as she had expected, and certainly not, to her surprise, at all grumpy or disapproving.

When she had enquired casually about the book he had been reading earlier, expecting it to be something dry: military protocol or legal theory, perhaps, she was surprised to discover it concerned the ancient history of the area in which they both lived. Obi-Wan told her of how the whole district, from the Jedi Temple at the far end of the park, to the area where her and Padmé's apartment was located, at the other, had formed one of Coruscant's oldest settlements. Apparently the Royal family and courtiers of the planet's native inhabitants had resided in a palace that had long since crumbled into ruin, some of the stones of which were used in the construction of the Jedi Temple. "In fact, I think we officially stole them," Obi-Wan had said, with a boyish grin.

As they neared their destination, the terrain steepened, and they had to scramble up the steep rocky path to the south entrance of the walled ornamental garden. The air near the stones shimmered with heat haze. "This is my favourite route," Sabé called back to Obi-Wan, finding herself slightly breathless with exertion after her hasty climb. "It's like discovering a secret every time I come here." She paused by the arched gateway, wiping perspiration from her forehead as she waited for him to catch up.

He grinned as he reached her, running a hand through his now damp hair while he caught his breath.

"Ready?" She said.

He nodded an indicated with a hand. "Lead the way."

At this time of year, the scent was noticeable as soon as one stepped through the garden's gateway into the tunnel-like walkway of thick, shady foliage. Hanging heavy in the air, the fragrance was a mixture of honey and apples, both sensual and refreshing. Sabé turned to Obi-Wan and smiled. "Lovely, isn't it?"

"Wonderful," he said, smiling as he looking around.

The path was springy and dry under their feet and they meandered in the shade between masses of tall pink and purple-flowering shrubs, eventually emerging at the edge of a wide green pool. The path, almost completely overgrown by roots and trailing vines, led around the edge of the water, to the far side of the garden, currently lit up by bright sunshine, and where more flowering shrubs – the peonas, whose flowers were responsible for the delicious scent- crowded every available space. Strange rock formations were visible here and there poking out of the pink and purple blossoms, looking something like sculptures, but too organic to be fully separate from the landscape.

They walked along the path in silence, enjoying the sounds of birdsong and insects chirruping, and the stillness and calmly fragrant atmosphere. Just before she reached the edge of the shady area in which they were walking, Sabé paused by a crumbling bench, half-hidden by the vines which grew twistedly through cracks in its stone.

"I usually just sit on the grass," Obi-Wan said, glancing apologetically at the small strip of green between shrubbery and water.

"Me too," Sabé said with a relieved grin, flopping down with a sigh into the soft surface.

"I'm surprised we haven't run into each other here before," said Obi-Wan as he sat down beside her. "It's very peaceful, isn't it?"

"Yes," she said, "although you know it's strange, when we entered the garden, I had the strongest sense of déjà vu. Of being here before, with you, just like this."

"It does seem like the kind of place where you could lose all sense of time," he said thoughtfully, leaning back on his hands and admiring the view.

"Do you know who originally created it?"

"No," he replied, shaking his head. "The walls and some of the stonework are known to pre-date the creation of the Jedi Temple, but beyond that it appears to be a mystery."

"Perhaps in our previous lives we were members of the Royal family whose palace you stole," Sabé said, smiling at the mental image. "Perhaps we fell in love here but weren't allowed to marry, and we were so heartbroken we turned to stone." She gazed at the nearest group of rock formations, remembering how she had often tried to imagine them as people. Realising Obi-Wan had not replied, she turned to look at him. He was watching her with something that looked like a mixture of curiosity and amusement.

"Sorry," she said, suddenly embarrassed, remembering this was Obi-Wan Kenobi she was with, and not Padmé, not one of the small group of good friends in front of whom she allowed herself to her true, fanciful self. "You must think me silly. I'm getting a little carried away by the romance of the place."

"No, don't apologize, I rather like the idea," he said, eyes twinkling. "Apart from the part where we turn to stone, that's slightly unnerving…"

"Mmm," she replied, smiling at him shyly. "We'd better not sit here too long, or we might find ourselves part of the landscape." She shuddered then grimaced. "Hmm. I think I just scared myself."

Obi-Wan chuckled. "How about we check in with the modern world?" He said, reaching for his commlink.

"Oh gosh yes, I expect they're wondering what has happened to us."

"Let's find out," he said, activating the control. It beeped. They waited. Nothing.

"I wonder if they're still-" Sabé started to say, before she was interrupted by another beep.

"Master?" Anakin's voice crackled over the transmission.

"Hello Anakin. Just wanted to let you know Sabé and I took a little walk," Obi-Wan said, smiling at her. "We thought you might be wondering what had happened to us."

"Oh, I-uhhh…I…" came the reply. Anakin sounded confused. Sabé thought she heard a muffled giggle in the background.

"Is Padmé with you?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Yes, she's right – I mean, she's just outside, I….. err, I…" Anakin's voice faded to a low groan, followed by silence and what sounded like a muffled conversation. "Sorry," he continued, his voice clearer again. "I mean, we're back at the Temple. She wanted to see my collection of… erm… podr-ayyy-cer designs…ohhh…" This time Sabé definitely heard a tinkle of recognisable laughter in the background.

"Very good," Obi-Wan replied, and Sabé could see he was fighting to keep his voice serious. "I'm sure she will find that fascinating. I'll leave you to it, shall I?"

"Yes, please," Anakin replied in a low voice, sounding a little desperate.

"Please let her know Sabé is here with me and perfectly fine."

"I will."

"And Anakin?"

"Yes Master?"

"Be careful. Do you understand me?"

"Yes Master. I –ahhh- really need to go now Master."

"All right. Kenobi out." The transmission clicked off.

Obi-Wan turned to Sabé, raising an eyebrow in mock surprise. "Well, sounds like they weren't missing us at all." His eyes twinkled.

Sabé giggled. "I fear it is all my fault, you know."

"Your fault, why's that?"

"Just something I said before she went out with you last night," she replied cryptically, deciding that, tempting as it was, she could not quite repeat the words sweet Jedi love to Master-obey-the-code-Kenobi himself.

"Oh," he said, looking slightly confused.