Chapter Seventy-Six

"Beautiful. Simply beautiful." Nadira said, as she sighed deeply, her green eyes creamy. She looked over at Badalah.

"I was right, Badalah. I knew Jedi Obi-Wan would make an excellent lover. The things he told Ishan to do to me," Nadira shivered delicately, "it was most enlightening to watch him in action, did you not think?."

"Yep, the pup didn't do too bad."

She and Nadira were in Nadira's private boudoir looking at a vid screen which was transmitting images from a small camera located in the mirror in Obi-Wan and Aalea's bedchamber.

"I am thinking, Badalah, that these Jedi are very deceptive. Walking around in those ugly clothes, acting so monkish and serious and yet," and her eyes sparkled, "such passion!"

Nadira turned back to the vid screen.

"Now I will leave them alone so that they may have this time after such splendor to themselves."

Nadira reached over to turn off the vid screen, but Badalah grabbed her hand before she could do so. She peered at Aalea and Obi-Wan on the screen as they lay, unconscious, in each other's arms on the tussled sheets of the bed.

"Do you think they're all right, poppet?"

Nadira looked closer at the screen.

"They are both breathing, Badalah. I am thinking Sera has blessed them with the moment of Transcendent Bliss. But," and she tilted her head, "I have never seen it happen in just that way before. It was almost as if they were one body, one soul when they fell into their rapture. Very interesting. I am wondering if this is a technique that can be taught."

She continued to stare at the screen until she saw Obi-Wan move and slowly open his eyes. He then immediately leaned over Aalea. Nadira saw she was also stirring.

She switched off the screen and stood.

"I am now going to bed, Badalah. I am hoping that Ishan is not sleeping." She shrugged. "But if he is, I am thinking I will wake him. Jedi Aalea and Jedi Obi-Wan have made me very frisky."

"Good night, poppet," Badalah said as she kissed the princess on the forehead. "And don't overtax Ishan."

Nadira dimpled, her green eyes twinkling. She ran off to her bedchamber

-------------

Aalea slowly opened her eyes and looked up. Obi-Wan gazed worriedly down at her.

"Are you all right, love?"

"What happened, Obi-Wan?"

"You fainted."

"Fainted?"

"Was it because of the bond?" she asked softly.

"I'm pretty sure it was," he said.

"Is that normal?"

Obi-Wan looked down at her for a moment. Then he shrugged.

"I don't know. I've never done this with someone to whom I was bonded."

"Do you think it's dangerous?" she asked.

"I don't think so but, perhaps we should be more careful next time."

He smiled softly.

"However," he went on as he stroked the hair from her damp forehead, "it was well worth the risk. By the Force, I've never felt anything like it! I could feel everything you felt. We were one."

He closed his eyes and sighed deeply.

"You weren't disappointed with me, were you?" Aalea asked.

Obi-Wan's eyes snapped open and he stared down at her.

"Disappointed? No!" He kissed her cheek. "You were incredible. Why would you even think such a thing?"

"Well, you weren't a virgin, were you?"

He gazed back at her for a moment. "No, I wasn't. Are you disappointed?"

"No, no, not at all. But, if you don't mind my asking...?"

Obi-Wan sighed. He nestled her deeper within his arms and quickly drew the coverlet over them.

"When I was about seventeen," he began softly, "I thought for a time I was going crazy. I had these urges, these needs. I tried so hard to ignore them. I meditated, I exercised, I did everything I could think to do, but nothing worked. So, one day I mentioned it to Master Qui-Gon. My face must have been beet red. But he said nothing, just looked at me for a long moment. Then he told me he would help me with it tomorrow. The next day he took me to the temple of the Daughters of Shakara."

"The Daughters of Shakara?" Aalea cried, her eyes wide. "Master Qui-Gon took you there?" She tugged his arm. "Oh, do tell, Obi-Wan, what was it like?"

Obi-Wan looked down at Aalea. "You're not shocked?"

Aalea shrugged. "Why should I be?" She shook his arm again. "Now, tell."

Obi-Wan laughed softly at her eagerness.

"Well, apparently, Qui-Gon knew the High Mother of the Temple. I learned later that when he was about my age, he went there and she was the one assigned to him."

"No?" Aalea cried in a shocked voice. "Really? Master Qui-Gon?"

Obi-Wan nodded. "Anyway I was assigned to a woman name Deyara. She was older than I and very lovely, though nowhere near as beautiful as you."

Aalea beamed. Obi-Wan smiled and kissed the tip of her nose.

"She was gentle, kind and very patient with me," he went on. "Gods, I was so nervous. After it was over, I cried in her arms."

Aalea touched his face. "Oh, Obi-Wan."

He nodded "And the next time, she cried in mine."

"How long did you go to her?"

"For about six months. I'd visit her whenever I could. She taught me all the different ways to please a woman. I told her it wasn't necessary as I had no plans to marry, but she said it wouldn't hurt to know."

Aalea hugged him. "She was right about that." Then she smiled. "And I'm sure Nadira is also grateful for what you learned."

Obi-Wan smiled and kissed her forehead.

"Then one day I went to the temple and she was gone. I asked the High Mother where she was and she told me Deyara had returned to her homeworld and left the order."

"But why?"

Obi-Wan took a deep shuddering breath. "Because she had fallen in love with me and she knew there was no hope for us."

"Did you love her?"

Obi-Wan didn't answer right away.

"I cared for her, very much so," he finally said. "I wouldn't have returned to her if I didn't, but, no, I can't say I loved her. I felt very bad about what happened for a long time afterwards and, because of it, I haven't been with anyone since." He looked down at Aalea. "Until you, that is."

"Did you ever try to find her?"

"Yes, I did. But I never saw her again."

Aalea hugged Obi-Wan and kissed his neck.

"Poor dearheart."

He shrugged and sighed. "Such is life, Aalea."

She nodded. "We should probably get some sleep. We have to leave early tomorrow."

Obi-Wan rubbed Aalea's arm, but she could sense through their bond he was troubled.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"You're aware of what's happening in the Senate?"

"I know new accusations of corruption in Chancellor Valorum's cabinet have surfaced."

"Yes, and along with that the Trade Federation has been rattling its sabers. They're now threatening blockades of planetary systems to protest the taxation of their trade routes to outlying systems. Master Qui-Gon believes the Jedi may be called in to intervene."

Aalea nodded. "Yes, there's been much talk about it at the Temple."

"Many believe the political situation is becoming dangerously unstable in the Republic." He sighed. "I fear that things are going to change relatively soon, Aalea. And not for the better."

Aalea pulled herself closer to him. "Don't worry about that now, dearheart. Tomorrow will be here soon enough. Let us enjoy this night while we have it."

Obi-Wan smiled and kissed her forehead. "You're right."

They lay quietly in each other's arms for a bit, then Aalea stirred.

"Obi-Wan, can I ask you a question?"

"Of course, love."

"Why did you save me?"

His brows rose. "What do you mean?"

"When you bonded with me. Why did you save me?"

"I couldn't just let you die," he said softly.

"I had always thought you didn't like me."

"Now you know better." He squeezed her. "When you were in the coma, Master Yoda said that someday you would be important to me."

"He said that?"

Obi-Wan nodded. "I didn't know what he meant at the time. All I knew was that I couldn't let you die."

"Do you think he foresaw this? The two of us together?"

"I don't know, Aalea. He's always told me I should be mindful of the future, that it's always in motion. But, who can say what Master Yoda did or did not see." He looked down at her. "I am here. And I don't want to leave. I want to stay with you. Forever."

"And I you."

He leaned over and kissed her softly.

"I love you my sweet, beautiful Aalea."

"And I love you, my handsome, pompous, bossy---"

Obi-Wan laughed and stilled her mouth with his hand.

"All right, Aalea. I get the picture. Now kiss me."

Aalea tilted her head as she regarded him.

"See, just as I said, bossy."

Then she smiled. She slipped her arms about his neck and lifted her face to his and, for the rest of the night, neither of them got much sleep.

To be continued....