Chapter Eighty-Four

A pink dawn glowed through the window of her sleep room as Aalea slowly opened her eyes. After the comfort of love and sleep she awoke to a treasure in her arms.

Obi-Wan still slept, his lashes long and thick against his cheeks, but as Aalea gazed down at him, a frown creased his forehead. He was dreaming about the duel with the Sith. She could feel it through their bond. Aalea tightened her arms about him and pulled him close.

"Hush, dearheart, I am here. I will always be here," and her love moved along their bond like a sweet summer breeze through the darkness and coldness in his mind. As Obi-Wan's anguish slowly faded at her touch, he didn't wake, but only sighed and nestled his head deeper into her shoulder.

Aalea stroked his hair and began to sing in a soft voice the lullaby Badalah had sang to her and Nadira the night following the fiasco at the banquet.

Swept away by the sweetness of the song, Aalea closed her eyes and let the melody fill her heart and soul. As she sang quietly, she suddenly felt soft lips brushing against her cheek.

Startled, she stopped singing and opened her eyes. Obi-Wan was awake and looking at her. And as Aalea gazed into his eyes all the sunrises of eternity rose within them.

"Don't stop," he said.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."

He snuggled closer to her.

"Waking up in your arms is nothing to apologize for," he murmured.

"Flatterer," she said.

He laughed softly. Then his smile faded. He reached over with both hands and slowly smoothed her hair back from her face. Aalea's cheeks burned under the heat of his gaze and her heart hammered in her ears as she fell into the glory that was his eyes.

"Sing," he whispered.

And she did and, as she sang, she poured all her love and joy and hope into the song which soared through the soft morning air.

As the last note of the song died in Aalea's throat she reached over and stroked Obi-Wan's cheek. Then she noted the sunlight was growing stronger in the room.

Aalea quickly hugged him, then sat up. She looked back at him as he lay on her bed, his eyes gazing softly up at her and she thought of the way Nadira had described them. What had she called them? Bedchamber eyes. Yes, that was it.

Obi-Wan looked back at her for a long moment, his eyes full of love and longing. Then he sighed and nodded. He rose in one fluid motion and quickly put on his clothes and boots. Aalea got up from the bed and drew on a night robe. She went into the fresher.

As Obi-Wan reached over to retrieve Qui-Gon's lighsaber from where he had left it on Aalea's nightstand he saw a small, black lacquered box. He opened it. Inside was the violet ribbon he had given her on Sylvonna. He stroked if for a moment, then quickly closed the box and put it back on the nightstand.

Aalea came out of the fresher. She raised her eyebrow and gestured towards it.

"Your turn," she said smiling.

As he walked past her, he kissed her quickly on the forehead.

Aalea went into the common room and quickly checked her comlink. There were a few messages for her and, surprisingly, one for Obi-Wan.

As he came into the common room, Aalea turned to him.

"Obi-Wan, there's a message here for you. It's from Master Yoda. How did he know you'd be here?"

Obi-Wan went over and accessed the message. After he read it, he turned to Aalea and took her hands.

"That's why he's a Jedi Master, Aalea," he said smiling, then his face sobered. "I'm afraid I must go. Anakin is waiting for me. Today is his ceremony for his formal acceptance into the Order."

"Of course. You certainly mustn't miss that."

Aalea then squeezed Obi-Wan's hand for she had felt his anxiety when he said Anakin's name.

"Don't doubt yourself, Obi-Wan. You won't fail with Anakin. Master Qui-Gon wouldn't have asked you to train him if he had thought you weren't up it."

"I'm not so sure about that, Aalea."

"Remember what I told you the night before you and Master Qui-Gon returned to Naboo? That you must trust him?"

Obi-Wan said nothing for a moment, then he finally nodded.

"You're right," he said. "I'd always trusted him before. I will trust him in this. I will train Anakin."

"And you'll do fine. I know you will." Aalea nudged him gently in the ribs. "And it's not as if you haven't had practice at being a master," she said playfully.

Obi-Wan laughed. Then his eyes sobered. "We may not get to spend much time together."

"I know." Aalea reached up and touched his forehead. "But we'll never really be apart, will we?"

"No, we'll never really be apart."

Obi-Wan kissed her quickly.

"Thank you," he said.

"For what?"

"For being here for me."

Aalea slipped her arms about him and held him.

"Obi-Wan?"

"Yes?"

"Please, go and see Cian before she leaves. She misses you so much."

"I will. I promise." He caressed her cheek.

"Kiss me, Obi-Wan," Aalea said. "Please, just one more time before you go."

"You don't have to beg me to kiss you, Aalea," he said smiling.

He slowly lowered his mouth to hers and, just before their lips touched, Obi-Wan stopped. Aalea gazed back at him, her violet eyes full; then smiling, she closed her eyes, her lashes like wings against her cheeks.

Obi-Wan closed his eyes and pressed his lips against hers. And as they kissed, gently at first, then more passionately, they flowed along their bond towards each other and as their kiss deepened and their souls fused, it became more than just a kiss; it was a salvation and a promise.

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Aalea looked around frantically. She and Cian were at the main spaceport on Coruscant. The starliner which was taking Cian and Valorum to his homeworld was scheduled to leave in a few minutes.

"He said he would be here," Aalea said.

Cian reached over and touched her arm.

"Perhaps he was held up at the Temple," she said gently.

"But he wanted so much to see you. To say goodbye."

Cian turned to where the last of the passengers were boarding. She looked back at Aalea.

"I must go, Aalea. Tell him...tell him I shall miss him very much."

Aalea's eyes brimmed with tears. She rushed into Cian's arms and held the woman close.

"Oh, Cian. I wish you didn't have to go. I shall be so lonely," Aalea cried.

Cian stroked Aalea's hair.

"Don't, dove. Don't cry." Cian pulled back and looked into Aalea's eyes. "I will always be with you."

Aalea nodded. Cian hugged her once more, then stepped back and turned to the boarding ramp. Just as she reached the bottom of the ramp, Aalea heard a voice cry out.

"Cian, wait."

Aalea turned and saw Obi-Wan running towards them. Cian stopped and turned around. Obi-Wan skidded to a halt before her, then deeply bowed.

"Cian, I'm so sorry, but I couldn't get away," he gasped. "I would never have forgiven myself if you had left and I didn't get the chance to say goodbye."

Cian stared at him for a moment, then threw her arms around him.

"Obi-Wan," she whispered. "My dear, sweet Obi-Wan."

"Do you forgive me, Cian?"

Cian pulled back, her eyes wide. "Forgive you? What for?"

"For not saving him."

Cian gently shook him.

"You must never think that again, Obi-Wan," she said firmly as she squeezed his arms. "Never. Qui-Gon died as he had lived. A true servant of the Republic and the Force. And that is what I loved about him, will always love about him. He was never false to himself."

She kissed Obi-Wan on the cheek.

"Now, I'm afraid I must go, dear, but I hope someday I will see you again."

She then turned to where Aalea stood and reached out her hand.

Aalea took it. Cian put Aalea's hand in Obi-Wan's.

"May the Force be with you both, my dearest ones."

She kissed them quickly then turned and ran up the ramp into the ship.

Aalea wept as she watched the starliner take off, Obi-Wan's hand still clutching hers. Once the ship was out of sight, she turned and moved into his arms, her tears soaking his tunic.

"Hush, Aalea," Obi-Wan said softly as he held her and stroked her hair. "It will be all right. Everything will be all right."

But, as Aalea listened to him, something in her heart told her he was wrong and nothing would ever be all right again.

To be continued....