Chapter Fifty

Aalea gazed out the windows of Nadira's bower. It was the evening of the day following the banquet. The sun was just setting on the horizon and the lights of the capital were slowly coming on.

Obi-Wan had been gone all day searching for Prince Ishan. She had last heard from him two hours ago when he had contacted her by comlink to update her on the search. She had asked again if he needed her help, but he had told her to stay near Nadira.

Aalea glanced behind her. Badalah sat in a chair, Nadira in her lap. The handmatron was singing a lullaby to the princess. Nadira had spent the entire day with her father. King Tahal was going to recover from his injuries, as was Prince Markus, but the peace between their two worlds was still in jeopardy.

King Lucan had joined in the search for Ishan but had come back later, his haughty demeanor of yesterday replaced by growing anguish over the continued absence of his youngest son.

Aalea sighed heavily. She leaned her forehead against the glass. She was restless. And where was Obi-Wan? Then, for the second time in as many days, she thought about their Force bond.

For the past ten years Aalea had erected shields against the bond because the very idea of it troubled her. Her thoughts and her feelings were her own and the idea that someone could hear them or feel them terrified her. Especially some one like Obi-Wan. But now she wondered what would happen if she were to let her mental shields down. What would it feel like to sense him the way he had sensed her yesterday?

Aalea closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then slowly lowered her shields. At first she sensed nothing out of the ordinary. She was aware, as always, of the Force and the way it surrounded her. She could also feel the quiet, but brittle, tension throughout the palace. But nothing of Obi-Wan.

She took another deep breath and concentrated harder. Then, for a reason Aalea didn't want to think about too deeply, she focused on the way Obi-Wan had smiled at her yesterday.

Suddenly, she was aware of him. At first it felt like a soft whisper in a dark room or the scent of roses on a moonless night. But as she focused more and more on him, her awareness of him deepened and sharpened.

Aalea trembled a little, for she was still afraid, but she forced herself to keep reaching towards him. He was shielding against her, so she couldn't hear his thoughts, but she could sense his feelings. He was agitated, no, excited. Yes, very excited.

Aalea tried to probe deeper to discover what he was so stirred up about, but she couldn't get through the shields in his mind.

She sighed, then quickly raised her shields. Well, at least he was all right. And excited. Though about what she didn't have a clue.

She turned away from the window and went over to Badalah and Nadira. The handmatron looked up and smiled. She continued to sing softly to Nadria, her plump hand slowly stroking the princess's bright red hair. Nadira's eyes were closed, but Aalea didn't think she was sleeping. No one had been able to sleep much since the banquet.

Aalea sat on the floor next to Badalah's chair. She reached over and stroked Nadira's cheek.

Nadira slowly opened her eyes. She gave Aalea a small sad smile, but said nothing.

Aalea's heart turned over. She had spent the last few days wishing Nadira would stop her incessant babbling, but now Aalea would have given anything to hear her high bubbly voice. She wouldn't even mind if the princess were to prattle about Obi-Wan and how pretty he was. But Nadira remained silent. She nestled her head deeper into Badalah's heavy bosom and closed her eyes.

Aalea leaned against Badalah's thigh. She too closed her eyes and listened quietly as the handmatron sang softly to them both.

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"Aalea, wake up."

Aalea's eyes snapped open. She was lying on Nadira's bed. She must have fallen asleep and someone had moved her here. She looked up.

Obi-Wan was looking down at her, Nadira and Badalah next to him.

"Master, forgive me," she said as she quickly sat up. "I didn't mean to fall asleep."

"It's all right. It's good you got some rest. I'm going to need your help."

"My help? For what?"

Then she realized Obi-Wan was in Nadira's bower, something which was supposedly forbidden for any man. She looked over at Badalah, but the handmatron appeared not to care. Neither did Nadira. Both of them were watching Obi-Wan with expectant looks on their faces.

"I need your help sneaking Nadira out of the palace," he said.

Aalea shook her head. She wondered if she was dreaming for she was sure she hadn't heard Obi-Wan right. Sneak the Rose of Sylvonna out of the palace?

"You're going to what?"

"I've found Prince Ishan," he said.

"You have? Where is he?"

"I don't have time to explain. He's agreed to meet with Nadira. We're going to take her to him."

"But, I don't understand. Why didn't he come to the palace to see her?"

"He's not ready to face his parents yet."

"You should have brought him back with you, Master," Aalea said frowning. "Dragged him if you had to. Hasn't he caused enough trouble?"

"Aalea, please, we don't have time for this. Now, my plan is to dress Nadira as one of her handmaidens."

Aalea stared at Obi-Wan. This didn't sound like him at all. Sneaking royal princesses out of palaces? Arranging secret trysts in the middle of the night? She was tempted to reach over and check his forehead to see if he was feverish.

"Well, are you coming or not?" he said as she continued to stare at him.

"Yes, I'm coming."

Aalea got up from the bed and quickly adjusted her clothing. She made sure her lightsaber was clipped to her belt. Then she picked up her robe from a chair and put it on.

Nadira and Badalah, meanwhile, had disappeared behind a panel. A few minutes later, Nadira reappeared, dressed in one of her handmaiden's outfits. Her bright red hair was hidden under a scarf and she was veiled. Her large green eyes were shining.

Aalea went over to her.

"Are you sure about this, your highness?"

"Oh, yes, Jedi Aalea," Nadira said eagerly. "I was so afraid to meet him yesterday because there were so many people. But I am thinking this is much better. And I have never snuck out of the palace before. It is very exciting, do you not think?"

Aalea wasn't sure about that. She glanced over at Obi-Wan who was waiting by the door. If he thought they were in trouble now, this little plan of his, if it blew up in their faces, could guarantee that not only would the two of them never become Jedi Knights, they could possibly wind up spending the rest of their lives in the fire mines of Timir.

"Are you ready, your highness?" Obi-Wan asked Nadira.

"Oh, yes, Jedi Obi-Wan! I am very ready. I am not afraid," she said breathlessly as she walked over to him.

Obi-Wan smiled warmly down at Nadira and Aalea noted, once again, her throat tightening, how terribly handsome he was when he smiled. He glanced quickly over at her.

"Aalea?"

"I guess so, Master, but you still should've just dragged him back," she said crossly. "Personally, I think we should just inform---."

He silenced her with a raised hand. Then he looked over at Badalah.

"Yes, yes, pup," Badalah said grumpily. "I know what I'm supposed to do. If anyone asks to see Nadira while you're gone I'm supposed to, what was the word you used?"

"Stall them," Obi-Wan said.

"Yes, stall them."

Badalah then reached over and grabbed Nadira in a fierce hug. She released the princess and glared at Obi-Wan.

"You make sure you take care of her, pup. Or you'll answer to me, I promise you that," she said fiercely.

"Don't worry, Badalah, Aalea and I will watch over her."

And with that, Obi-Wan gestured for Aalea and Nadira to precede him out the door.

To be continued....