Chapter Five

"Letting Nature Take Its Course"

"Whatever happens next, just stay calm. Prove yourself worthy."

Dormé's softly-spoken strategy stopped my spoonful of chilled soup in midair. Slowly, I laid the utensil back into its bowl and pushed the thing forward. I was done. If I was smart, I'd walk out of this building as quickly as I could and go back home. There, at least I would be safe from any future concern or danger.

"Not to your liking?" I heard Obi-Wan comment as he finished his appetizer.

"It was fine. I'm just not that hungry, I guess."

From which direction was the next attack coming? Was it going to be something or from someone close by? Perhaps one of the Senators sitting next to me. Surely, Dormé couldn't have convinced another Jedi to take part in her insanity. Nervously, I waited, even glancing above me just in case the ceiling was about to fall on my head.

Instead, a service droid stepped up behind my left shoulder and declared I was finished with my meal. I was, but I didn't even have time to say so before the thing grabbed everything before me: the dish, my glass, the utensils; all were taken away. I was befuddled, though not for long.

"That was unusual," Obi-Wan noted while dabbing his mouth with the cloth. "Perhaps there was a mix-up in back. I'm sure they'll bring you out an entirely new setting."

I highly doubted it. Soon, the same confused droid presented another bowl of soup in front of me, as well as a single spoon to eat it with.

"May I have another..?" I attempted to ask for a glass of wine, but the thing had stepped away before acknowledging my request.

"Highly unusual," Obi-Wan noted curiously just before the second course was served - to everyone but me, of course. All I received was another bowl of cold soup.

"Dormé?" I whispered, disguising my voice with a smile.

She chewed on her bite of greens before answering innocently. "Hm?"

I didn't think she was smart enough to reprogram a droid, so she'd had to somehow convince someone else to do it. But who and for what purpose?

"Why am I only getting soup?"

"Chapter two," she replied, moving around the bits she didn't like on her plate. "Present yourself as being vulnerable."

Vulnerable? I'd never been vulnerable a day in my entire life! If a man I desired felt he had to save me to be interested, then he was the wrong man for me!

"Just don't do anything and watch what happens," she whispered before another bite went into her mouth.

I wasn't upset about the food. I actually wasn't hungry, but I was upset about creating yet another spectacle of myself. Others within sight were beginning to grumble about the obvious neglect of service toward me.

"Are you finished with that?" the same mistaken droid asked over my shoulder.

"Yes, take it away," I muttered before a robotic arm removed the full bowl I hadn't even touched.

Distraught and wondering what to do, I focused on the napkin folded on my lap before a sleeve brushed up against my naked arm.

"Mi'Lady," a familiar voice announced very close to my ear. "Your entrée as well as dessert. I took it upon myself to convince the maître d' to break tradition. Enjoy."

I should be grateful to Obi-Wan. Dormé was definitely pleased as indicated by her cocky grin. I could not be. Yet again, I was embarrassed by the unwanted attention I had received, which had all been manipulated and coerced. Even Obi-Wan had been duped into playing a part of this underhanded scheme. I no longer wanted any part of it and stood up.

"My apologies everyone," I announced with as much sincerity as I could falsify. "But I'm suddenly not feeling well and I'm going to take my leave. Have a pleasant evening."

Dormé stopped me before I'd made it into the hall. Thankfully, there were enough party-goers roaming about that no one seemed to notice, but I wasn't about to tell her what I really thought. Not here. That would have to wait until later if she had the nerve to face me after tonight.

"Where are you going?"

"I've got a headache. I'm going home." The excuse seemed logical and wasn't an entire falsehood. This party was turning into one huge pain in the neck.

"Hold on. I'm sorry, okay? I'm just trying to help. I'll cancel all my other ideas if you'll just stay. You only have one chance a year to spend some quality time with him. Don't let me ruin it. I'm sorry."

Her apologies were always heartfelt and I never could resist the pitiful way she looked whenever she'd messed up. We'd been friends a long time and she hadn't done anything that bad. Not really.

"Fine," I told her. "But I'm not stepping a foot back into that dining hall. I'll see you in the ballroom later."

"Good! Great!" She shouted, literally jumping up and down for joy. "I'm so happy! You won't regret this. Everything will be fine. You'll see!"

Following a quick kiss on my cheek, the joyous young woman skipped back to finish her meal. I, on the other hand, needed a breath of fresh air and stepped outside.

There was definitely a chill to the evening and I had left my cloak inside. The portico beyond the entrance was wide with a full balcony on either side. It was lined with pots of silver foliage of a species of plant I didn't recognize. While I was inspecting one of them, a dark brown robe was casually slipped over my shoulders. Startled, I jumped and spun around.

"My apologies," Obi-Wan stated with a grin. "I thought you might need this. It's cold out here."

"Thank you," I replied softly, once again facing a rather awkward silence. We stood next to one another and looked out onto the city. The Galactic Center had been built upon a precipice and from its vantage point, you could see the Jedi Temple, the Senate Complex, and most of the Federal District. I had never been fond of all the dull gray colors the Galactic City provided in the daylight, but at night, it glittered like the evening skies above.

"I thought you were leaving," Obi-Wan spoke after a while, his voice deep and as quiet as the night. "If you're worried about the exasperating moments you've had to endure this evening, don't be. I think you've withstood them remarkably well and have shown great fortitude as well as a patient determination of character."

Was there a compliment somewhere in all of that?

"Forgive me," Obi-Wan chuckled. "I'm not usually so tongue-tied, but it seems whenever I'm around you, I can't think straight. What I'm trying to say is that I'm proud of how you've handled your situations. I hope you change your mind and stay. I was looking forward to dancing with you later."

I opened my mouth to reply, but nothing came out. Talk about tongue-tied! I didn't know what to say! One thing I couldn't say was anything that would give Dormé an inclination that her plan was working!

"I was hoping you'd ask me," I shyly replied finally. "I think about our last dance all the time. Well, not all the time," I stammered. Good heavens! "Sometimes, I mean. It crosses my mind once in a while. It was enjoyable."

Enjoyable? Did I really just say that?

"Then you'll stay?"

"I'll stay," I told him sweetly. My agreement had apparently pleased him. His smile was charming and the arm he offered was warm and inviting.

"Then, shall we?"

I gladly accepted his offering. Join you? Anywhere and anytime, I wished I had the courage to say.