Chapter Twenty-One
Suffocating boredom is what I was experiencing. After being held captive in my bed all day and night, I had to get out of the thing, if only to sit in a bedside chair. Obi-Wan finally gave in to my pleas and sat me next to him at a table with another chair in front of me to prop up my foot. My injury had improved although I was planning on continuing to use the cooling therapy throughout the day. Obi-Wan had threatened to watch me closely so that I would follow doctor's orders. I agreed to sit still and promised to be a better patient even though I was beginning to feel rather guilty.
My handmaidens were doing all the work while I sat here and did nothing. This particular nothing wasn't so bad right now, however. My morning was passing far more pleasurably as I watched Obi-Wan work on his lightsaber. Luckily the crystal he had taken from Arbra was a kyber variety and would power his weapon. He had borrowed some tools from the maintenance facility and was busy tinkering with it. As he concentrated on setting the stone, the cutest little line appeared between his eyes, and once in a while, his tongue would slip out to the side while he concentrated. I'd never seen that happen before and it was endearing to say the least.
"What are you grinning about?" he asked me without even bothering to look up.
"You. I could watch you do this all day."
"You practically have," he answered, laying aside one tool to pick up another. "Hopefully, this will be the last time I have to do this. It isn't an easy task."
"Unless you run into another slivilith, you shouldn't need to, right?"
"As far as I know," Obi-Wan replied. "There are other creatures in the galaxy that are ergovorous: Mynocks, conduit worms, moon dragons and sovras to name a few, although I don't intend on running into any of them soon."
"You didn't plan on running into a slivilith either," I reminded him.
"True," he agreed, just before he pricked his finger on the tip of a screw.
"Here, let me," I suggested. "My fingers are smaller."
Obi-Wan gave in and pushed his weapon over to me. I had been watching him try to shove the crystal encasement back into position without success for some time. All it needed was a woman's touch and some finesse before it popped in quite easily.
"I knew you were going to come in handy at some point," he commented dryly before he attached the outer casing.
"Lightsaber repair, huh? I'll remind you of that later tonight."
My comment brought a wicked grin to his face. "I can sense your impatience, but I feel compelled to inform you that I'm the physically stronger one in this relationship."
"Are you trying to tell me I've met my match?" I teased in return.
"All I'm saying is that you're not the only one who looking forward to being alone. Together. By the way, how are we going to manage that?"
"Being alone?" I clarified. "We're going out to my family's place on Lake Varykino. It's off season there and completely empty except for a couple of house droids and the boatman. We'll have all the privacy we want. It's accessible only by traveling across the lake."
"Sounds perfect," Obi-Wan smiled at me before pausing to lean forward for a quick kiss. "I wanted to ask you first though…."
"You're worried about my family," I finished for him. I had fully intended on introducing them, but everything was happening so fast.
"I've never even met your father. What type of man is he?"
I thought for a second. How could I define him in just a few words? "Honest, humble, and too laid-back most of the time. Mother is the backbone of the family. She makes all the difficult decisions and is the one who talked me into becoming a public servant."
"Do they work outside the home?"
"Mother does volunteer work. Politics mainly," I explained. "Father worked in education, construction and was a relief worker. He's retired now, and built the lake home with his own hands. I have a sister, Sola, who was a teacher at Theed University. She has two little ones, Pooja and Ryoo and now stays home to look after them. Her husband Darred, is an architect. He works mainly from their home in in the mountain village where we grew up. My parents moved to Theed to offer us a better education, but Sola missed the mountains and they decided to move back. They'll be arriving a few hours before the ceremony. I'll introduce you then."
Obi-Wan lifted his head to gaze at me with an expression that defined nervous anticipation.
"Don't worry," I urged him. "They're going to love you."
"Huh," he chuckled, returning to his task. "How are you so sure about that?"
"Because I do and they trust my judgment," I reassured him although I wasn't being completely honest. My parents, like many of the more mature republic citizens I knew, didn't necessarily trust the Jedi. They were 'too mysterious and secretive, like they were hiding something,' my father used to say. I kept this knowledge deep within my mind so Obi-Wan wouldn't detect it. There was no sense in worrying him. I wasn't so sure he was going to make it through the ceremony as things were.
I continued to study him as he worked, unable at this time in our lives to notice any flaws or deficiencies in his appearance of mannerisms. I knew someday that would most likely change, but for the time being, he was perfect in my eyes and I wanted this day to be perfect, which is why I kept looking at the chrono on the far wall. He should be here by now.
"Who should?" Obi-Wan asked.
Blast! I hadn't managed to keep that thought to myself.
"One of the guests I invited. A special one," I replied, unwilling to say the name. It was supposed to have been a surprise.
"Anyone I know?" he asked as he put the final screws back into the hilt.
"I think you know him," I stalled while staring at the door. I could hear footfalls in the hall just outside and was hoping his arrival would save me from this conversation.
Just before someone knocked, Obi-Wan's head jerked up and he glanced over to the doorway himself. Almost as if he realized who was on the other side.
"It can't be," he muttered to himself as he rose from his chair and answered the knock. A smiling Qui-Gon Jinn greeted him kindly before Obi-Wan hugged him exuberantly. The older man seemed startled at first, but then accepted the embrace and even participated a little.
"Master! What are you doing here? The last I heard, the Council was keeping you busy. Some trouble in the Outer Rim, they said."
"Yes, I was looking into some suspicious activity on Geonosis, but then received an urgent call from a young handmaiden I knew. The one called Sabé, I believe. She mentioned something about a wedding?"
Qui-Gon smiled at me and I relaxed. I wasn't sure how he was going to take the news. I realized that some Jedi frowned upon becoming attached to a non Force-user, that it can become a dangerous distraction. However, in this case, Obi-Wan was sworn to protect me and we were together all day, every day, so there would be very little disruption to our routines. Well, except for the obvious, of course.
"I came as quickly as I could to stand up for my Padawan, if you wish it, that is," he said, turning to Obi-Wan.
"Of course, I wish it," Obi-Wan stated proudly. "I'm most pleased you've come. I didn't think I'd have anyone from my past life here as a witness."
"Now, let's see what we can do about this ankle." Qui-Gon turned his attention to my foot, removed his cloak and tossed it onto my bed. The large man knelt on the carpeted floor before me and began to inspect the injury.
Obi-Wan stood over him and smiled down at me before mouthing the words 'thank you.'
I shrugged my shoulders as if to say it was no big deal, but to him it was. I was just pleased to do something that made him happy.
"If I have your permission, I'd like to ask the Force to speed up your healing."
"You can do that?" I asked Qui-Gon, a bit mystified. Obi-Wan had never mentioned having such an ability.
"I have studied the Living Force most of my life. Your husband-to-be back there focuses upon the Unified Force, which has its own merits. However, I choose to rely upon the power of all living things, even down to the microscopic level. Obi-Wan is a student of the power that binds the galaxy together and keeps us all from floating off into space."
"I didn't realize there was a difference," I interjected. "Obi-Wan has a lot to teach me."
"If you're interested, then he should," Qui-Gon teased, glaring playfully at the young man who now stood next to him.
"We have all our lives to learn. I'll teach her if she wishes it."
I did wish it. I wanted to know everything about Obi-Wan's past life and what made him tick.
"Hold still. This will just take a moment."
Suddenly, the Jedi Master went silent and closed his eyes. He placed his large hand upon my injured joint, took a deep breath and we waited.
For a second, I thought I felt my skin getting warmer, though I figured it was just my imagination. Within five minutes, when he finally did release my ankle, the bruising did seem to have diminished and the swelling had as well.
"Try standing on it. Carefully now," he advised me.
Obi-Wan assisted me and I got up, incrementally adding more weight until the balance was even. It wasn't completely healed, but it was so much better!
"Thank you, Master Jinn," I said enthusiastically.
"It's not much of a wedding present, but it's all I can offer on such short notice," the older man noted with a smirk while rising.
"Your presence is all I require," Obi-Wan told him graciously.
My future husband was radiating peace and contentment while Qui-Gon's discomfort was obvious. It was sad to see the stories Obi-Wan had told me about their dysfunctional relationship were true.
However, his Master had come, so that was a start. Maybe this was the beginning of something better for them both. I knew it was for me.