Chapter Eleven

As soon as we stepped aboard the transport that would return us to the palace, the debate had begun. An hour later, as we exited onto the palace grounds in Theed, we were still arguing.

"All I'm saying is to give them a chance. Pass along the information we've acquired here and let the Jedi Council decide the next course of action."

I'd already said as much three different times in three different ways, but the young girl was certainly stubborn and wouldn't listen to me. Captain Panaka had wisely chosen to stay out of it.

"And as I've told you, I'm responsible for the safety of my people. Not the Jedi Council! If my actions have brought danger to Naboo, then I'm the one who's going to end it! I'll find Dooku all by myself if I have to and make him pay for what he's done here!"

"You know, I can't allow that to happen," I insisted, hoping that she didn't know all the fine details of our relationship yet.

"What are you going to do, Obi-Wan?" she asked, spinning around to face me just as we'd entered the palace. Her head of Security had thrown up his hands and kept walking. Lucky man.

"Are you going to tie me down? Chain me to the throne?"

Dammit. She knew I couldn't do anything of the sort, but what else could I do?

"I can only share my opinions with you and I strongly advise you not to do this! There are others in better positions to take care of matters such as this. All I'm asking is that we at least contact them, tell them what we know, and see what happens. Is that too much to ask?"

She suddenly appeared much taller than she actually was, and her eyes narrowed dangerously at me.

"You're afraid," she accused me. "That's what the problem is! You're afraid of Count Dooku! A greedy old man with more wealth than common sense! Can you tell me why you refuse to go after him? I realize he was once a Jedi. Was he a better one than you? Is that why you're afraid of him?"

I wasn't about to let her bait me and I took a deep breath and crossed my arms in defiance.

"You're upset," I calmly told her. "And you're a better leader than this. I watched you go toe to toe with Nute Gunray and his army, and not once did you balk or cower. I know you're brave, but you're also smart, Padmé. Smart people don't go looking for trouble, but they're prepared when it comes. Let me help you be prepared. Let's contact Master Yoda and see what he has to say about the matter. That's all I'm saying."

Her breathing had slowed and the muscles in her neck had lost some of their previous tension.

"Fine," she told me before I was forced to keep pace once again. For someone so petite, she sure walked quickly. "I'll let you have your way this once, but don't think it's going to become a habit."

I could sense by her sudden shift of mood that she was teasing me and I breathed a sigh of relief. There for a while I was beginning to wonder if the Force had given me more than I could handle. I could foresee my life with her as a challenge. Most definitely.

I followed her to the communications room, where the comm tech hailed the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. It was just our luck that a transmission opened up in the Jedi Council Chamber and that a council meeting was currently in session.

Not really. I would've preferred to speak with Master Yoda alone. However, this would perhaps work out to our advantage.

"Greetings to the Council," I spoke, bowing before Masters Yoda and Windu.

"Greeting to you, Jedi Protector," Master Yoda replied, his grainy holographic image smiling before me.

"The Queen and I have uncovered some disturbing evidence in a nearby farming village. Apparently, a local farmer had been hired to assassinate the Queen."

"He was hired by Count Dooku," Padmé interjected while stepping into view.

"Count Dooku?" A voice off-screen that sounded like Master Gallia asked.

Master Windu leaned forward to give us his full attention. "What makes you think it was Count Dooku?"

"Because it.."

"A witness testified to his description, which identified him as the perpetrator," I interrupted her. I could feel her annoyance, but we needed to stick to the facts. I knew how to deal with the Masters where she did not. It was best that she let me do the talking here.

"Why would Count Dooku want to assassinate Queen Amidala?" Master Mundi asked from the right of Windu.

"That's what I'm wondering," Windu replied. "What would his purpose be?"

"I was hoping the Jedi would find that out," Padmé answered. "He hired a farmer who was down on his luck for 1,000 credits, tortured him, and then poisoned him, I suppose just in case he didn't go through with the job."

"That doesn't sound like anything the Count of Serreno would do." Once again, it was Adi Gallia's voice I heard.

"Possible, do you think it is, someone disguised as Dooku hired this man? Someone associated with the Trade Federation, perhaps he is?"

Leave it to Master Yoda to come up with an idea we hadn't yet. If that were true, what about Captain Panaka's claim about the Banking Clan funding the droid army which invaded Naboo?

"There have been," I refused to use the word rumor, and quickly sought out a word more suitable, "reports of Dooku's association with the Banking Clan, who apparently helped pay for Gunray's army."

"Dooku's association is through trade only. He's a businessman, not a criminal," Mundi stated.

"I'm afraid I agreed with Master Mundi," Windu told us. "Count Dooku was once a Jedi. He's not capable of assassinating anybody. It just isn't in him."

The whispered words 'I told you so,' came out of the side of Padmé's mouth before I had the chance to talk over her.

"All we ask is that the Jedi look into this matter," I said, staring straight into the pixelated image of Yoda.

"Meditate on this, we shall. May the Force be with you, Jedi Protector."

"And with you, Master."

I had never seen such a smug expression on her face before. It didn't suit her.

"I knew it! I tried to tell you, but no! You didn't want to hear it! The Jedi Council doesn't care what happens here! You want to sit and wait on that bunch of idle know-it-alls, you go ahead, but I won't! When was the last time any of them have gotten out of that tower and went out to see what was going on in the galaxy? They sit in their grand little circle and judge the rest of us and question what we see right in front of our faces! I'm not waiting on them to make up their minds - if they ever do make up their minds!"

I allowed her to stomp off, tracing her path in my mind to the kitchens. She'd be safe there. In the meantime, I had other plans.

Approximately half an hour later, I knocked on her door. While Sabé was finishing up her royal duties, she was hiding out in her private rooms.

"What," she complained angrily as she opened the door. "What is it now?"

"Pardon me, Your Highness," I said even though she had asked me not to address in such a fashion. Perhaps I was becoming annoyed myself. "But the Naboo Royal Advisement Council has asked you join them."

"They…what? Who decided to...?"

As the gears in her mind spun, her eyes widened.

"You wouldn't!"

"You gave me no choice," I told her adamantly. "You won't listen to me or the Jedi Council, so I thought perhaps you'd listen to them."

The door shut in my face – which seemed to be becoming a habit around here, and within a few minutes, she stepped out, bumped into me and then walked on. She had changed clothing, although had kept her face clean.

When we arrived in the throne room, the council had already gathered. Panaka had warned me against what I was about to do, but had gave me their contact information anyway. I think he secretly agreed with me, although he would never admit to it.

She was pouting when she sat down, but at least maintained her composure.

I think it was the Governor who spoke first. "Your Highness, we support you and your cause, but we do not support this type of reckless behavior."

"We thank you for your bravery and service during the occupation," a thin, older woman with dark hair spoke up. "But your responsibilities are here on Naboo. The people, especially during this time, need you here."

"Mi'Lady." It was Captain Panaka, Chief of Security, who took the floor. "We realize you now have a Jedi Protector, and perhaps that is causing you to believe no harm will come to you, but you cannot take such risks, even with someone as capable of Obi-Wan Kenobi by your side."

Wow. Was that a compliment? From Panaka? Maybe the man didn't detest me so much after all.

"Knight Kenobi, we've already heard some of your opinion. Do you have anything else you'd like to add?"

I smiled at the Governor and merely glanced at the Queen. What her eyes were saying to me were not nice things at all.

"Even if the rumors of Count Dooku being involved in this recent attack on the Queen are true, I don't think she should go out looking for trouble. Trouble seems to find her well enough here. She should stay and guard her people, and allow me to do my duty by guarding her. Impatience and time will bring Dooku out. The more his actions fail, the more mistakes he will make, and he'll have no choice but to reveal himself. It's at that moment we need to act and not before."

The council nodded, and although I knew she was sensible, it may take more time before Padmé realized I was right. At least in this, I knew I was right.

She apologized for taking up their time, confessed to having acted hastily, and promised to take their opinions into serious consideration. She would do nothing for the time being, she'd told them before the meeting ended.

I was happy.

By the time we had returned to her rooms and the door once more shut in face, I realized she was not.

"You told on me!" she yelled out. "I can't believe you told on me!"

The vest came off and I laid it on the floor. My robe made a much more comfortable bed, but the vest would have to do. I settled myself on it as best I could. This was going to be a long night.