Chapter Fifty-Six

The morning after the wedding, Obi-Wan quickly packed his things into his travel case. Although he had developed a deep fondness for both Ishan and Nadira, he was eager to get back to Coruscant. With a final look to ensure he had not forgotten anything, he left the quarters.

As he walked down the hall, he saw Prince Markus coming out of his rooms. The prince's dark brown eyes were red-rimmed and he kept reaching up and gingerly touching his forehead. Hangover, Obi-Wan quickly surmised. He walked over to Markus.

"Good morning, your highness."

Markus groaned as he stared blearily down at Obi-Wan.

"Must you talk so loud, Jedi."

"Sorry. Late night, I take it?"

"Of course," Markus snapped. "It was a wedding feast. By the way, where did you and that lovely little Jedi sneak off to? Tahal and Samar were quite put out when you refused their invitation."

Obi-Wan grimaced at the mention of Nadira's parents.

"We didn't sneak off anywhere," Obi-Wan said as he accompanied the prince down the corridor. "Aalea and I had no wish to participate in an orgy with their royal majesties."

Markus grinned and nudged Obi-Wan in the side.

"Ah, Jedi, then you don't know what you missed. When you didn't attend them, they invited me and a friend." He winked broadly. "And what a friend." He brought the tips of his fingers to his lips and kissed them. "Delectable. And that Samar, by the gods!" Markus groaned and rolled his eyes. Then he gave Obi-Wan a searching look.

"You and Aalea didn't forget to go and get your morning-after shots, did you? Wouldn't want to have any surprises nine months down the line now would you, Jedi," Markus said grinning.

Obi-Wan quickened his steps. He didn't want to discuss anything with Markus about last night. He hadn't forgotten about the birth control shots provided for the guests by the Sylvonnans, however, since nothing had happened between him and Aalea to warrant such shots, there had been no reason to get them. But it had been close, Obi-Wan realized. Terribly, wonderfully, frighteningly close.

Obi-Wan sighed as he walked with Markus. When he had arisen that morning, he'd discovered Aalea had already left. For a moment, as Obi-Wan read her hastily written message telling him she was going to her quarters to pack her things, the night before had come back to him like some fevered dream; a dream of moonlight, the scent of roses and of her, soft and warm in his arms, her sweet mouth under his.

Markus leaned close to Obi-Wan and interrupted his musings about Aalea.

"I think I'm going to stay on Sylvonna for a while, Jedi," he said.

"Really, your highness?" Obi-Wan said dryly. He was not surprised.

"Yes. I am going to teach Tahal how to bull fight. We have become great friends. He and I have a lot in common."

Obi-Wan didn't doubt that since they had apparently shared Tahal's wife last night.

He finally reached the entrance of the complex. Placing his case on the floor, he turned toward Markus and extended his hand.

"Good-bye, Prince Markus. It has been an honor knowing you."

Markus grasped Obi-Wan's upper arm and squeezed it.

"You, also, Master Kenobi. And thanks for what you did for Ishan."

Obi-Wan nodded. As he picked up his case and made his way to the palace he heard Markus cry out behind him.

"Tell that lovely little Jedi I said goodbye too. And tell her I'm sorry I didn't get to know her better, if you know what I mean."

Markus laughed loudly as Obi-Wan walked quickly away from him.

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Aalea stood awkwardly as Badalah held her, the handmatron's tears soaking her shoulder. She had stopped by Nadira's chamber to say goodbye, only to discover she and Ishan were now living in a different section of the palace. Badalah, however, had still been in the chamber, supervising the transfer of Nadira's things.

"Oh, goodbye, goodbye, my poor little motherless child," Badalah sobbed. "I shall so miss looking at your beautiful face and lovely eyes. Promise you will come back and visit old Badalah."

"Of course, I will, Badalah" Aalea said.

She finally managed to free herself from the handmatron's beefy arms. She took the old woman's hands in hers and squeezed them.

"Aalea."

Aalea turned. Obi-Wan was standing in the doorway, his travel case in his hand. He glanced between her and Badalah.

Badalah drew her hands away from Aalea and walked over to Obi-Wan. At the look of shock on Obi-Wan's face Aalea was almost afraid the handmatron was going to hit him.

Instead Badalah threw her arms around Obi-Wan and hugged him.

"Goodbye, pup," she blubbered. "Take good care of her, the poor motherless thing."

"Goodbye, Badalah," Obi-Wan said as he tried to extricate himself from her arms. He looked over at Aalea, mouthing the words "help me" as Badalah kept squeezing him.

Aalea ran over and pulled Badalah from Obi-Wan. The handmatron then reached into a pocket on her wide skirt and pulled out a handkerchief. She held it to her face and blew her nose into it. Obi-Wan jumped at the sound.

Badalah stuffed the handkerchief back into the pocket on her skirt. She gazed at the two of them and shook her head.

"How lovely you two are together. Promise me you will invite me to the wedding."

She kissed them both quickly on the cheeks.

"Farewell, Badalah," Aalea said as she picked up her travel case and followed Obi-Wan out of the chamber.

As they walked down the corridor, Obi-Wan glanced back to where Badalah still stood in the door, waving mournfully at them.

He inclined his head, then turned to Aalea.

"What was that about a wedding?" Obi-Wan asked.

"I have no idea," Aalea said, then looked quickly away from him.

She had pretended with him last night, had acted as if she didn't recall what had occurred while she was under the influence of the aphrodisiac. But she remembered everything. What she had said, what she did, how it felt; his lean, muscled body pressed so hard against her, his hands running through her hair, his voice whispering her name, and his kiss. Aalea closed her eyes for a moment. Oh, she thought breathlessly, Nadira had been so right about his kisses.

Aalea glanced at Obi-Wan out of the corner of her eye as they walked down the corridors. Was it possible? Had she always loved him and just hadn't wanted to accept it? She shook her head.

When she had awoken that morning, Obi-Wan had still been asleep on the couch. After she had written him a quick note to let him know that she was going back to her quarters in the palace, she had stood for a moment and watched him as he slept.

He had looked so vulnerable and helpless with his hair tousled, his mouth slightly open and his lashes like wings on his cheeks. He hadn't looked at all like the arrogant know-it-all she'd always thought of him as being. At that moment he'd only looked like a tired, sweet little boy and Aalea had wanted so much to reach over and stroke his hair. But she hadn't. Instead she'd quietly left his quarters.

Aalea again shook her head. It was all so confusing. For, if she truly did love Obi-Wan, had always loved him, then she hadn't really loved Master Qui-Gon.

No, that wasn't right; she had loved Qui-Gon, did love him, would always love him, just not in that way she'd thought. Cian had been right. But Aalea suddently realized she was afraid to love Obi-Wan. Love only made the life of a Jedi harder. It was difficult enough trying to understand the Force. But love? That was even harder.

She looked over at Obi-Wan as they continued to walk down the corridor and noted he kept glancing over at her padawan braid. Aalea had put the ribbon he'd given her back into it that morning. She was afraid he was going to tell her that since the wedding was now over, she had to remove it. But he didn't say a word. He looked back at her and, at the warmth she saw in his eyes, Aalea's heart skipped a beat.

She stopped walking and so did he. They gazed at each other for a long moment, then Aalea took a deep breath.

"Obi-Wan..."

"Aalea..."

They stopped and laughed self-consciously.

She gestured towards him.

"You first."

Obi-Wan shook his head. "No, you."

"All right." She quickly cleared her throat. "Obi-Wan, about last night...."

"Jedi, Jedi," a high-pitched voice screeched at them.

Aalea and Obi-Wan turned as Marni ran towards them. Aalea was still amazed at how fast the eunuch could run.

He stopped, panting, in front of them.

"What is it, Marni," Obi-Wan asked. "Are we late for something?"

"No, thank the Great Lover, you are not," Marni said irritably. "There is an incoming message for you in the communications center. It is from Coruscant."

"Thank you, Marni," Obi-Wan said, bowing slightly.

Marni sniffed disdainfully at Obi-Wan and ambled away.

Obi-Wan grinned. "I think he's still annoyed at me because I turned down that invitation from Samar and Tahal for us to join them in their orgy last night."

"I don't care if he is annoyed," Aalea said testily. "Great honor, indeed."

Obi-Wan smiled down at her.

"We'd better go see what that message is about."

Aalea nodded. She would talk to him later about last night.

To be continued...