Snowhere to Go: Chapter Thirteen
After hearing about the avalanche report, Anakin and I had looked in every nook of every seven gardens outside Aldara Palace and so far, had no luck in locating Obi-Wan or the Senator.
"Do you think they would've ventured outside the palace grounds? Say, perhaps into the woods?"
My question prompted a thought we hadn't considered before and the Jedi Padawan's blue eyes scanned the horizon above and beyond the city. There was a mountainous range that overlooked the palace, the largest of which was relatively close.
"They could've gone that way, but I can't imagine my Master being so irresponsible. I mean, it's getting late and the temperature's dropping."
"You don't think…" I couldn't help but worry and immediately began biting on a chipped fingernail. Watching over the Senator was my responsibility not the Jedi's! I was the one who was with her day and night. I fed her, picked out her clothes, put on her makeup, fixed her hair. I looked out for her!
The panic must've shown on my face because as soon as the words left my mouth, Anakin grasped my shoulders and stared down at me with a kind and supportive gaze.
"Nothing bad is going to happen to them. Master Obi-Wan is cunning and smart. He'll make sure she's safe."
"Try contacting them again," I suggested. It had been half an hour since we'd heard from Obi-Wan and since then, received nothing but static.
Once again, there was no response on Anakin's comm unit.
"I have a bad feeling about this," I uttered, staring up into the cloud of snow hovering around the base of the peak. It was at least a mile from the palace and we were running out of daylight.
"Strange. I don't feel anything," Anakin told me.
I didn't understand much about these Jedi and their powers, but what he'd just admitted, frightened me. When I was scared, I was always spurred to action. I just couldn't stand around doing nothing!
"Come on. We've got to get up to that mountain!"
"Dormé, it's freezing and we're not dressed for it."
I realized he was speaking with reason, but I had very little reasoning left where the Senator's safety was concerned. All I knew was that if she needed my help, I had to be there!
"Then I suggest we go find something to keep us warm!"
It was a pleasant dream. I was walking in the clouds and Obi-Wan was there with me. The sun was shining brightly though it didn't hurt my eyes. Everything was light and carefree, and we were walking hand in hand.
That is until Obi-Wan began moving in the opposite direction – as if something was pulling him away from me. I couldn't stop it. I screamed but made no sound. Suddenly, lightning split the sky, the clouds turned black, and all light was consumed by darkness.
Somewhere in my mind, I knew this was a dream and that I needed to wake up, but I couldn't. At that point, the vision worsened and a variety of scarred and ragged hands jutted up from the darkness and began clawing at me, trying to draw me down into the murky depths. My mind quickly retreated and I awoke with a start, only to discover that indeed a hand was pulling me, but toward safety, not danger.
Somehow, Obi-Wan had removed enough snow to create a cavern and was drawing me into it. He continued to pull until we both fell heavily onto a hard, stone surface. It was so dark, I could barely make out his expression, but what I had managed to see was fear. I didn't think Jedi ever got scared.
"There now. I've got you. I've got you."
I would've expressed my thanks but was shaking so badly, my brain wouldn't cooperate. When his own shaking hands began to undo my clothing, I did manage to blurt out some resistance, no matter how lame it sounded.
"W..w..wait. T…t..oo c..cold."
"You're soaked through. We've got to get you warmed up."
Any other time, I would've been thrilled to have Obi-Wan undress me, but I realized our lives were at stake and I was in danger of hypothermia. Layer by layer was removed until I was almost naked in his arms. All I had on was my flimsy camisole and boots.
And then a miracle happened. Obi-Wan began peeling away his own clothing until the bare skin of his chest was revealed. He pulled me against him and used his dry tunic and undertunic to cover us. I was in heaven. They were still warm from his body and smelled like him. I didn't care about the cold, my trembling body or the fact we were trapped inside what I'd assumed was the cave he'd been heading for. I felt safe and warm and was right where I wished to be.
I was very much aware of his hands rubbing my back, arms, and thighs, as well as anywhere else he could reach. Slowly, I began to thaw and managed to gather my wits. My mind was still in a fog either from the vision I'd experienced or the cold, and I worried for a moment if any of this was real. Was Obi-Wan actually holding my partially dressed body to his own? Or was I still buried in the snow and having near-death hallucinations? He felt real and his voice sounded real.
"You're looking better. You really had me scared."
Yes, it was difficult when a friend died. That had happened to me a few times and it was heartbreaking.
"Padmé, I don't know what I'd do if I'd lost you."
Wait a minute. That sounded more like a romantic expression than worry about a friend. I had to be sure. I turned my head to gaze up into his face and couldn't read what I saw. Was he angry with himself? Disappointed? What was going on? I was so confused I didn't know what to say. One of us needed to say something. I tried, but all that came out of my mouth was a single syllable before his lips were on mine and he swallowed my reply.
The heat generated from that kiss should've melted the avalanche completely! Warmth quickly spread through my body from head to toe as the kiss continued and his arms wrapped tightly about me. Deeply he delved into the recesses of my mouth, ending with several light brushes and delicate pecks. It was the best kiss I'd ever been given in my life!
When he finally withdrew, he kept his forehead resting on mine and smiled.
"Better now?"
No, don't tell me! Was that just a ploy to generate warmth? Was he seriously playing around? My excitement had immediately switched to anger. I didn't deserve or need that type of treatment!
I was about to tell him exactly what I thought about a Jedi taking advantage of a desperate woman when he suddenly drew me close again, wrapped his arms around me, and began whispering in my ear. I could scarcely believe what I was hearing.
"I want you to listen to what I have to say. Let me get this all out because I'm uncertain I'll ever find the courage again to do so. For the past ten years - especially during this trip, I've wondered what was happening between us. There were so many clues that we're destined to be more than just friends, but I chose to ignore them. I was in denial that you could ever care about me that way. But when I saw you swallowed up in that avalanche and felt your hand slip from mine, fear and panic gripped me like none I'd ever known. I don't want to lose you. I love you, Padmé Amidala, and it doesn't matter if you don't love me back. I simply had to tell you how I feel."