Chapter Thirteen
I woke up with a purpose, though a different one than other days. This day would be unique and unlike any other. Today was Padmé's naming day, and not just her naming day, but her 18th naming day. Today, she would be celebrated as an adult woman.
The handmaidens had been planning a city-wide celebration for months. The trick was, keeping it a secret from Padmé. She'd overhead Sabé and I speaking about my plans for today a couple of weeks ago and had been suspicious, although I had finally convinced her we were planning a special dinner for the evening's celebration.
It was much more than that. I had been helping hide and store banners, gifts, ribbons, and flowers all week. Panaka had been grousing that it was just another day, but he groused over everything, and we had all learned to ignore him long ago.
The plan was for me to distract Padmé for a few hours in the shopping district of Theed, which was far enough away from the plaza to give the girls ample time to prepare for the party. All citizens were welcome, and at last count, I believe we were expecting a minimum of 10,000 attendees to pass through and wish their Queen well. Even a few gungans had sent word they would be attending the celebration.
It was to be a happy day. Now, all I had to do was convince Padmé to spend some of it with just me.
There was also another reason I was taking her to this particular district of Theed. I had hoped to purchase her gift there. Afterward, I'd suggest we grab a bite to eat at that little bakery I knew she was fond of. And then perhaps we'd take a walk along Solleu River, which ran through Theed. The celebration was set to begin at the fourteenth hour and I had a lot of time to kill between now and then.
At the moment, she was scurrying about her room trying to figure out what to wear for our day out. The pile of discarded dresses on her bed had grown substantially over the last half hour or so.
"How about this one?" she asked me, modeling a dark red dress that looked exactly like the last one she'd tried on. They were the same color, so that made them the same. Right?
"What about that blue one you tried on earlier?" I made the mistake of asking.
"I wore that one last year," she said incredulously as if I should've been aware of that.
"Do you really think anyone's going to remember it?"
The expression on her face was priceless.
"Holopics, Obi-Wan! I'm not about to get caught wearing the same gown I wore last year."
Of course not, I uttered beneath my breath while I checked the chrono. Sabé had suggested I get Padmé away from the palace by the tenth hour. That was five minutes ago.
"I tell you what," I suggested when she disappeared back into her massive wardrobe. "I'll choose several options, you close your eyes, and then you wear the first one you touch."
The face that poked out from the closet was more than a little skeptical.
"And I'll eliminate the blue one," I clarified.
"The green one as well. I wore that two years ago."
"The green one as well," I promised, hoping she would at least consider it.
"All right," she agreed with a grin. "Sounds fun."
I eagerly hopped up and rearranged the gowns, leaving the ones I liked and removing the ones she didn't. After she closed her eyes, I spun her around a few times. Once she was stable, I let her go, ready to assist her if she stumbled. Slowly but surely, she made her blind choice, her hands landing upon a deep purple dress that had actually been my second choice.
When she opened her eyes, I could tell by the twitch of her lip that she wasn't happy about it, but she'd agreed. Game over.
"I love that color on you," I told her to try and improve her mood. "You wore it to the Naboo Mining Guild dinner last year. I thought you looked lovely in it. The color really brings out your eyes."
Easy Kenobi, I scolded myself. I was laying it on a little thick, although I meant every word.
She held the gown up before her and gazed at her reflection in the full dressing mirror.
"You know, you're right," she exclaimed. "And we both know that doesn't happen very often."
"I'll be sure to keep a mental note of it," I replied with a matching teasing grin. "Now hurry before all the shops close."
Her voice became muffled as she slipped back into the wardrobe to change. "They're open all day."
"That's my point."
"Funny. You know what? I can't believe you waited until now to go shopping for my gift. I had no idea Jedi were such procrastinators. Or is it just you?"
I sat back down in the chair by her bed and got comfortable. "I'd explain why, but I'm putting it off until the perfect opportunity."
I had another witty comment to say, but she had re-appeared and her appearance had derailed my train of thought. She was absolutely breathtaking.
Padmé stood once more in front of the full-length mirror, adjusted the poofed sleeves, and pulled on her corseted waist.
"Up or down?" she asked me, and I was forced to gather my wits to form an intelligent reply. Since we had both awakened this morning, I had been experiencing a tingling sensation along our bond. The feeling was similar to an itch you can't quite reach, only it was on the inside. The odd sensation had only increased during the last few seconds.
"Pardon?" I was inclined to say.
"My hair, silly. Should I wear it up or keep it down?"
"Down," I immediately replied, struggling not to seem too eager. "Definitely down," I repeated more calmly. Why was my mouth suddenly so dry?
"Okay, I'm ready," she announced while heading for the door.
My thoughts were scattered and my brain was disconnected to my legs. Nothing seemed to be responding. I needed to focus on something distracting. Something distracting…
Master Yoda naked. Master Yoda naked. Master Yoda naked.
"Are you coming?" I heard her call from further away.
"Yes, of course," I muttered, pleased that my synapses seemed to firing correctly now.
We exited the palace to discover it was a beautiful day in Theed. There was a slight breeze coming off the river which was pushing tiny white clouds across the blue sky.
"Let's head to Shif's," I suggested. It was a jewelry store I'd noticed during an earlier outing.
"Their prices are a little steep," Padmé advised.
I couldn't help but chuckle at her warning. She was always looking out for me in a variety of ways. "Do you recall that little allowance you started giving me a while back?"
"You mean the one you refused to take for so long before I finally guilted you into accepting it?"
I smiled at a few patrons passing by, a mother and daughter by the looks of it. "My argument still stands," I told her. I require nothing but your friendship."
"You already have that and it's free," she insisted, taking my arm as we continued down the walk, further and further away from the Plaza. "Besides, it's such a small amount."
"That I haven't spent in nearly sixteen months. I've saved enough and I'd be honored to spend some of it on you."
Padmé nudged me with her shoulder as we walked across the street toward the little shop I'd mentioned. "You don't have to do that," she answered, as I knew she would.
"The honor is all mine. Just don't set your sights on anything outrageous."
"I'll try to control myself," she added as we stepped inside. "In fact, I think I know just the thing."
She showed me what she had in mind, although we continued looking around, separating at one point so that I could make a deal with the shopkeeper. Padmé had enough baubles and ornaments to fill an entire warehouse all her own. What I was looking for was something she didn't already have. Something she wouldn't expect.
While an employee was keeping her busy trying on rings, I paid for my purchase and asked if the item could be wrapped and sent to the palace. The store manager agreed. After a few minutes, I pretended to buy the plain bracelet Padmé had picked out and made the same request, although the employee winked at me and hid it from view instead.
Success. Padmé had no idea what had happened and left the store happy.
"Mind stopping for a fizz-pop?" she asked. "I'm thirsty."
Thankfully, that particular vendor was located on the corner in the direction I needed to keep heading, so I readily agreed.
She chose shuura flavor while I picked jogan berry. Mine was good, but we switched halfway through to try each other's.
"I like yours better," she told me. After another sample, I declared the same.
"Now where to?" she asked after we'd finished comparing our preferences to sweet versus sour.
"I was hoping we could take a walk down to Solleleu River and check out the art fair."
"Perfect," she smiled happily.
I was taken aback. I had never seen her so content with life. She was practically glowing with pleasure.
We walked slowly down the broad stoned area, admiring the colorful displays, commenting on each artist's choices of subject and technique when the distant Plaza chime rang out the thirteenth hour. Time had passed quickly.
If we started back now and walked slowly, we would return to the palace at the exact moment the party was to begin.
"One more thing," she announced unexpectedly. "Let me show you where my sister almost drowned."
A little further down the cobblestone path was a stone barrier. Beyond that roared Verugo Falls. Padmé took me to the edge and pointed over and down to the opposite side of the river. below which opened to a heavily wooded area.
"See that big tree hanging off the bank?"
I followed her aim and indicated I did.
"My family and I were camping close to that location after an especially wet spring. The river was full and running. My sister and I had wandered down to the bank and were throwing rocks in when we heard this deafening rumble. All of a sudden, the ground shifted beneath our feet and slid into the water. It took Sola with it, and left me hanging from tree roots sticking out of what was left of the bank. My parents saw what had happened and while my mother pulled me to safety, my father ran down river and retrieved Sola. I was so scared we'd lost her."
"I remember," I told her, thinking back to a time when Qui-Gon and I were facing an angry mob on the planet Skilk. I was fairly young, perhaps fifteen, and my master had sensed panic in me. No matter how hard I'd tried to explain it wasn't mine, I'd had to endure hours of spoken mantras and calming meditations afterward.
"You would've been five?" I guessed. It had happened so long ago.
"That's amazing!" she exclaimed with a grin. "I was actually four. Sola was six. We were lucky to get her back."
Jedi didn't believe in luck, but I wasn't going to insert my own opinion on the matter. Not at the moment. Instead, I was picturing a young Padmé clinging for life while her sister plummeted into the ice-cold rapids below, most likely screaming for help. No wonder she'd panicked. I would've too, regardless of there being no death, only the Force. In fact, the event was probably so traumatic, that I wasn't surprised to discover she was experiencing some fear about it even now. Even after all these years.
I turned to check on her only to discover she was indeed afraid, but for a very different reason.
How? How could Dooku possibly sneak up on me like that?
"Knight Kenobi," the older gentleman sneered while holding a vibroblade to Padmé 's jugular vein. "I'd heard you had been chosen for the Sura. Most unfortunate."
"What do you want with her?" I was frantic although I was doing my best to appear calm and in control of my emotions.
"What I've always wanted my dear Jedi," he replied with false civility. "To witness her death."
The blade was pressed so tightly against her throat, a droplet of blood fell from its edge. I had to think fast.
"Then what's stopping you?" I surprised him by saying. For a fraction of a second, one of his dark brows had lifted. "Why don't you just do it now? Here?"
While I reasoned with the man, Padmé's eyes had widened with surprise. She didn't understand that my plan was to attack as soon as Dooku had pulled back the blade. In order to cut her throat, he'd have to withdraw the weapon first. If I failed, he'd have to deal with me, and there was no way I was letting him leave Naboo alive – even if it killed me. I was dead anyway.
Instead, the blade stayed where it was and with his free hand, he touched a control pad on his wrist. I watched helplessly as a cable lowered from overhead, and the two of them were carried upward and into his ship.
"You won't get away with this!" I yelled out after him as he lifted Padmé through the blue Naboo sky. More threats were formed on my tongue, but my stomach clenched and a trail of fire leaped across the bond, warning me of the pain that most certainly was to come.