IV
This mystirium from me to you
The ceiling was pale green. It was made of squares, and the design was made to inspire calm and serenity to the patient. Mar-Lee's eyes were half closed, and she tasted every second of her rest while it was not finished. She sensed a soft pressure on her left hand, and as she turned slightly, she saw a head of chestnut blond hair right beside her. Obi-Wan was asleep, his forehead resting on Mar-Lee's hand that he held gently. He had been watching on her since her arrival in the room, and he was really tired. The woman tried not to move so she would let him rest, but Obi-Wan had sensed through his slumber that she was awake. He slowly raised his head and smiled at her.
"How do you feel this morning?
-Hum... Good, I guess. I will see when I will stand on my feet."
Mar-Lee did not want to look too fragile in front of him. She was a Jedi, and she could not be seen vulnerable. Obi-Wan offered her his arm to help her to get on her feet, but she stood up alone.
"Well, I am ready for a marathon," she exclaimed, grinning.
Obi-Wan smiled in return, but he was not sure if she was really ready to continue as usual. He moved to a table in the room and took some clothes.
"Master Koon brought you one of your outfit to change yourself.
-Master Plo is here?
-Yes. He came back from a rescue mission and brought the other Jedi in the intense care room. I saw him and explain what happened, so he thought you might want to put on something else."
Mar-Lee took her clothes, thanked him and went to the bathroom to change. When she got out, Obi-Wan was sitting down on the chair beside the bed.
" When I saw him, Plo Koon told me that as soon as you would be awaken, we should go to the Council for an important meeting about Anakin. It just happens that all the members are here today, and they need to discuss this with us. "
The Knight looked at him and nodded. She put her lightsaber to her belt and threw her cape on her shoulders.
" Then, let's go."
The Council was in a bad mood. Anakin's turning was the worse thing that could have happened, and they knew that Yoda was right eleven years ago when he had seen a cloudy future for the boy. After Mar-Lee's testimony on the events, the Masters were unable to find a solution. They simply concluded:
"Padmé Amidala must know the truth. You most go to see her, she is in danger now. Anakin could do anything without thinking. You will both go. If the situation is stable, call us to report.
-Too old, too old he was. I know, train Jedi since 750 years I do..."
The two Jedi bowed and left the room to take the first ship for Naboo, to the residence of Padmé. During the travel, Obi-Wan was still accusing himself for what happened. Mar-Lee sat next to him.
" Stop this. You know you could not prevent what happened.
- I can't admit to myself that I failed to train him. A good master would have seen this coming clearly and would have reacted against it from the start.
-You know, I've never had a padawan, but I know we can't always succeed everything. Humans are not perfect creatures.
- But master Qui-Gon was so sure that Anakin was the chosen one. He was not supposed to finish like that. I promised to my master to train him. I promised to Anakin that he would become a Jedi... but I did not keep my word.
- It's him who succumbed to the dark side. You are not responsible at all for this. Remember what master Yoda said before we go. He was too old. He had already anger and fear in him.
-Master Qui-Gon would have succeeded."
Mar-Lee glanced at him with her green eyes. She closed them briefly, and then looked back at his sad eyes. He looked miserable, so depressed that she wanted to cry. She could not stand to see him like that. She cleared her mind from her feelings and then held his upper arms.
"Listen to me. You are not Qui-Gon. You never were. You will never be, because you are yourself. You are that special man called Obi-Wan Kenobi..."
Obi-Wan looked at her. His eyes in her eyes, he thanked her for what she said. She had comforting words for everything. He was feeling better. However, Mar-Lee was not finished. Her feelings came back from her heart and her speech sank into a deep love.
"... I would not want it to be otherwise, Obi-Wan, because you are the most wonderful person I ever met... You are the man I love."
Obi-Wan laid his hand on her cheek and smiled.
- What a fantastic coincidence, dear Mar-Lee, because... I love you too."
His lips met hers, and he kissed her tenderly. It was as if they had only the half of a heart, and suddenly, they had found the other half that was missing. They had one heart, one big heart to cover them with love until the end of times.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Padmé Amidala Naberrie was not anymore the Queen of Naboo, but she had become the Senator of Naboo. This was her weekend of rest, and she was back on the planet until the next session at the Senate.
Eirtaé interrupted Amidala in her game of tirbry with Rabé. They were in the living room and Amidala asked what it was for.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi came to see you, Padmé.
-Master Kenobi? Alone?
-No, there is another Jedi with him. It is not your husband."
The twenty-five years old woman gave up in the game and asked to Eirtaé to make enter the visitors. Obi-Wan arrived with the other Jedi. They bowed to Amidala. Their sad face worried the ancient queen as soon as she saw them. She knew... Anakin was not with his master, something had happened to her husband.
" Senator Naberrie.
- Master Kenobi.
- I present you Jedi Knight Mar-Lee Noryali. She was sent with me to see if you were in security. - Obi-Wan..." Amidala talked in a low voice, as if the news that was going to be revealed would wake up the dead. " I know something is wrong. Say it without turning around the target. Please..."
Her face turned to Mar-Lee. She smiled, but it faded away because she was ready to hear the more painful thing that was going to be said here for months. She tried to stay strong, but tears were already rolling on her cheek. Both Jedi looked at each other, and Obi-Wan, even if he remembered how Qui-Gon used to console other persons, could not let a sound out of his mouth. Mar-Lee shared their sorrow too, because she sensed in the Force around all the distress and the sadness that filled the room. Padmé stood up and went to see the Jedi Knight.
" I beg you, Mar-Lee, tell me why I am crying. Tell me, please.
- It will not be easy to hear, Amidala.... I regret to inform you that Anakin is now an agent of the Dark side.
- I wanted to announce it to you," Anakin's former master said, " I wanted you to know the truth. I'm sorry, Amidala, my friend, I failed." Obi-Wan continued, troubled by admitting all this. Amidala continued to cry in silence, looking at Obi-Wan with disbelief. Mar-Lee tried to comfort her, but she just could not stand anymore on her feet and the Knight caught her before she fell. She hid her face in her hands as Mar-Lee helped her to her chair.
"No... He can't leave us like that! What am I going to do, alone? What will happen now of our children? "
Mar-Lee glanced at Obi-Wan. Amidala was pregnant. Now that her husband had passed on the other side, what would happen if he ever learned that he had descendants? By fear that they destroy him, he could eliminate them or... bring them on the Darkside too. There was one chance yet that the twins would not be Force sensitive, placing them in less danger than if they had the power to become more powerful than their father. The secret could not be revealed. It was too dangerous. Obi-Wan, once again, was lost in his thoughts, but he raised his head and warned Padmé:
"You should not tell anyone else what you just told us. Your security is compromised. Who else knows this?
- My handmaidens. I trust them.
- Good," Obi-Wan answered, " Now, you should also get some rest. This news must have shaken you.
- Amidala," Mar-Lee reassured her, " we will always be here for you, okay? I know this is though, but you have to live through this, and if some days are more difficult than you can ever imagine, we will be with you. Just call, and we will be there."
Eirtaé and Mar-Lee brought her to her room. She needed rest to regain the energy lost and take care of herself for the babies. Rabé showed to Obi-Wan the rooms they would use for the time they would stay on Naboo. The Jedi discussed until midnight in the Great Hall and decided to send a message to Coruscant. The situation was stable. Amidala was still in shock, but there was no sign of danger for the moment.
When Mar-Lee called, the council demanded that she come back to prepare a new mission. She went to see the senator to say goodbye, and looked at Obi-Wan who had to stay to protect the senator. Obi-Wan did not say a word and followed her to the docking bay. Obi-Wan did not know what to say. He loved her and she was leaving. He had imagined both of them travelling together around the galaxy for their missions. He preferred to have a fully trained Jedi Knight by his side than another padawan. The sensation of betrayal was omnipresent in his heart. He had meditated to eliminate this feeling, but with no success. What an irony it was that years before, master Qui-Gon surely felt the same about what happened with Xanatos, and now it was his turn to be in the same situation. The difference was that he could not realize his master's last wish.
He could not lose everyone he was attached to. The bond between him and Mar-Lee was evident, he could not let that go. As they walked silently, Mar-Lee noticed that the man was holding something in his back. Before she could ask him what he was hiding, he showed her a Naboo mystirium, not a rare flower but one of great value. It was white, stripped with blue and violet. The Jedi had not bought this because of it cost, but because of its symbolism and its beauty.
" Mar-Lee, here is my gift. This mystirium from me to you. Like this flower, my love will go with you anywhere you will be..." The Jedi took her hands and gave her the flower. " I know that a gift like this is not the most original idea for an artist like you, but I offer it to you with all my heart."
The woman looked straight into his blue eyes and once again, she saw the sweetness that animated him. She placed her arms around his neck and held him tight a few minutes before the departure.
" I would not have hope of a more beautiful gift than this, Obi-Wan. As for your love, it will be linked to mine anytime we will be away from each other, and every time we will wish to be together, it will just grow stronger."
Before to let her go, Obi-Wan held her arms and watched her lovingly.
"So, I guess we have to say goodbye... but I want to have your image printed in my mind for the long time you will be away."
He got near Mar-Lee and kissed her on the forehead.
" Will you be back soon? " He said, looking at her with his supplicant eyes, and Mar-Lee answered:
"Yes, I'll be back. I promise. "
Mar-Lee kept his hand in hers two seconds and got in the ship. The ship flew away in the space as the former Jedi Master watched, dreaming, the ship passing in hyper space in direction of Coruscant.
