Chapter Twelve

Three years. Obi-Wan had either lied to me, or Dooku was the most patient man in the galaxy. I had waited for justice to catch up with him, but it seems that justice is long-suffering and has no concept of time.

An era of peace had once again enveloped Naboo, although I sensed it was false. Somewhere out there was a poisonous snake waiting to strike. The question was, when would it choose to?

The Jedi Council had indeed investigated our complaint, to some extent, although I'd been informed there hadn't been enough evidence to detain the Count of Serreno. He was a businessman and had chosen to invest in a small uprising taking place in the far reaches of the galaxy. A modest group calling themselves the Separatists was forming. So far, all they had done was hold meetings on barren planets, criticize the Republic, and raise money, and they couldn't be arrested for that.

And so the answers I had sought out were still unexplained. Why the attack on Naboo? And why would Dooku hire an assassin to kill me?

I had never once doubted my belief that he was the one responsible. I just couldn't prove it.

"You're awake."

I heard Obi-Wan's voice coming from the corner of my room behind the partition I'd had constructed there. That was another thing that had changed. After about a month, I decided it was rather indecent for him to be sleeping on the floor outside my door, so I devised a compromise. He was allowed to sleep inside my rooms, as long as I maintained as much privacy as possible. Privacy in my mind, however, was something I had learned to generate on my own. There were some thoughts I didn't mind him listening to, but other things were my own and I didn't wish to share them. These private thoughts I kept silent and deep within the recesses of my mind. I only allowed them to speak to me in a whisper. So far, it had worked. Or else Obi-Wan had chosen not to speak of them. I tended to believe I had been successful or else some of my thoughts would embarrass him. They were quite natural. His charm and good looks had not escaped my notice.

Time had not only changed our relationship and my ability to cope with this bond but also had deepened our friendship. I had once regretted my decision to allow Obi-Wan into my life, but now I was thankful to have him around. Not only as a Protector but as an advisor and constant companion. My handmaidens were my friends, but what I had with Obi-Wan was different. Unlike them, he wasn't afraid to tell me the truth and share his opinions. Of course, his beliefs were usually incorrect and I told him so, but he was brave enough to share them with me. He was blatantly honest, and I appreciated that. I needed that. He had helped me improve my standing as Queen not only with my people but with the Royal Council as well.

"Yes, I'm awake. Is it time?"

"I don't know why they have to do these things so early," he moaned from his cot. "What is with you Naboo and thinking you have to rise with the sun?"

"While others dream of success, I choose to wake up and claim it," I shared an ancient Naboo proverb, knowing he was about to tell me something equally inspiring.

"He who wakes up early yawns all day long," he replied.

I giggled from my bed, stretched, and looked out the far window. Indeed, the sky was just beginning to show hints of the colors of the day.

"We need to get ready. They're expecting us at the plaza in twenty minutes," I reminded him after checking my bedside chrono.

"I'm up, I'm up."

I heard his bare feet slap against the stone floor and then lazily drag him to the refresher. We had established a daily pattern over the years. Since he readied himself so quickly, I always allowed him to go first. Afterward, my handmaidens would burst in and help prepare me for the day. It had been an adjustment, but we had settled into the new routine comfortably.

Once he had emerged from the refresher looking sharp in his newer uniform I'd had custom-tailored for him, I hailed Sabé and Yané who were the most fastidious handmaidens I had. Within ten minutes, my face and hair were finished, my gown was on, and Obi-Wan and I were on our way out the door together.

The handmaidens now walked behind me and Obi-Wan walked directly beside me. It was equality of station, so-to-speak that I wanted to show Naboo. Even though they had nominated me as Queen, Obi-Wan was just as important for their prosperity and safety.

Don't get me wrong – there had been some difficulties and many adjustments to be made. There had been jealousy amongst those on the security force as well as the handmaiden detail, but over time, even Captain Panaka had come to appreciate Obi-Wan's experience and wit. Where we had once thought he was being egotistical and sarcastic, proved to be his wicked sense of humor and factual accounts of his experiences.

He had come to be just as important to me, if not more so than Captain Panaka or even Sabé for that matter. Even though I had never spoken of my feelings out loud, I suspected they both realized that. They had to. He was with me everywhere I went. Every day. I had grown accustomed to his presence, his laugh, his smile, his candor, and even listened to his advice. We worked well together, and I never would've believed that were possible.

A crowd had already gathered in the central plaza, including the Royal Advisement Council and we took our place amongst them. Soon, a smiling Governor Bibble stepped up to the tall structure draped with a black cloth.

"The Royal Council is most pleased to present this commissioned sculpture by artist Rubivaq to the city of Theed, entitled The Queen and her Protector."

Two Naboo youth had been assigned to pull down the cloth, after which the crowd applauded appreciatively. I was too taken aback to do so and paused to study the work first.

"Am I mistaken in saying that it doesn't look anything like us?" Obi-Wan whispered in my ear.

As usual, his breath on my skin caused gooseflesh, but he was right. The positions he had placed us in were perfect. We had both been depicted as warriors – myself in handmaiden attire with my preferred blaster pistol in my grip and Obi-Wan by my side with his lightsaber ready to strike. It was the faces where the artist had taken great liberties.

"Seriously," he continued. "Is my nose really that big? And honestly, I don't think my eyes are set that closely together."

I was having trouble keeping a straight face. Rubivaq had done me as much disservice by carving someone else's face instead of my own.

"Perhaps he did it on purpose," I provided as an explanation. "You're far more handsome than that."

I blushed slightly when the words slipped past my lips. Occasionally, we would complement one another, but it hadn't become a habit.

"What I'm trying to say," I quickly explained, "is that maybe he thought it would be best if he kept our likenesses more…subtle. For security reasons."

"Huh," Obi-Wan commented dryly before cocking his head to the side for a different angle. "Personally, I think you're full of it, but if that was his intention, he did a fine job. A fine job," he repeated the final three words loudly before clapping his hands.

I joined in the applause. It was a good morning to wake up early, but then I was beginning to notice that most mornings with Obi-Wan were good.