What the Color of Roses Contain

*

Chapter Two

by ~mrs. k.~

~*~

It was near afternoon the next day as Amidala swallowed hard, looking down at sleeping Obi-Wan. This man was all she had left now; her whole life. And now he was blind. The Queen knew it was up to her to now be the savior, but it wasn't going to be easy. He was still Obi-Wan, but Amidala felt he would never be the same.

She wasn't quite sure how to help him, but somehow she would do it. It amazed her of the amount of faith Amidala had in herself. And Obi-Wan. It was up to her to be strong now. Obi-Wan now how to fall back on her. She only hoped he would have faith in himself.

"Obi-Wan..." the Queen leaned forward, touching his shoulder, saying his name softly.

A moment passed before he responded to her touch. Obi-Wan opened his eyes, the blue green orbs staring out blankly. He reached out his hands, feeling around him.

Amidala held her breath, sitting perfectly still. Obi-Wan had to know on his own that she was here. Come on, Obi-Wan. You can do this. Trust yourself.

Obi-Wan fumbled with his hands, trying to get a feel of what was around him. He blinked and sat up, tracing his fingers over the bedclothes. "Amidala....?" he said weakly.

Tears rolled down Amidala's cheek at the sight. It scarred her to him like this. He was the strongest person she knew and how it pained her Amidala to seem him in the opposite.

Suddenly, Obi-Wan's fingers tumbled forward, finding The Queen's face. Running them down her cheeks, he felt her tears.

Amidala couldn't stand it any longer. "I'm here," she whispered, reaching out and taking hold of his wrists.

"You were crying," he replied.

Amidala felt guilty. "Come on," she pulled him off the bed with her.

~*~

"Here's the keypad," Amidala said, holding one of Obi-Wan's wrists, putting his fingers in the buttons. They were standing in front of the doors to Obi-Wan's quarters. "See, they're in a square and numbered straight across. All you have to do is count them." She directed his fingers to the right buttons.

"Use your instincts," Amidala advised, leading him into the room. "Nothing's changed in here. Just try to see it in your mind." The Queen stepped away from him and sat on the bed.

Slowly, Obi-Wan reached out with his hands. Finding the wall, he followed it. Eventually his touch found smooth wood.

"The bureau," he said softly. "Right?"

Amidala smiled. "Yes, Obi-Wan. You remember. Just see it in your mind."

Obi-Wan seemed unsure for a moment, concentrating, then began slowly walking around. "Am I....Am I doing all right? I'm not about to bump into anything? I know that there's empty space here, and over there's the bed," he pointed, unbeknownst to him it was directly at Amidala.

"You're doing great," Amidala assured him, smiling to herself. "Now, you can get to the bed then, can't you?"

He slowly started walking forward again. Obi-Wan reached one hand out, and came in contact with one of the bedposts. Cautiously, he stepped forward, stopping inches in beside the bed. "I...can still feel where things are through the Force, but everything is still quite fuzzy," he told Amidala.

"It probably will be," she replied gently. "But I'll always be right here." Amidala reached over and took one of his hands. "The bed is right next to you if you want to sit down."

Obi-Wan hesitated for a few moments, then finally sat down. Amidala took his other hand and sat cross legged in front of him. "Are things getting any better?" she asked.

"I don't know," he said. "I still feel hopeless."

"No, don't say that," Amidala said. "Things will get better, I promise. Maybe all of this has happened for a reason." She titled his chin sideways to look into his eyes.

Obi-Wan trembled. "I'm sorry. It's still hard getting used to you touching me unexpectedly."

"It's...it's...." the Queen looked hard into his eyes as they continued to stare out into the void. Oh, no, I forgot about his eyes... Amidala started to weep. I found comfort in those eyes...when I looked into them I felt hope...and when Obi-Wan looked at me with those blue green eyes it was as if he was pulling me from the wreckage of everything...no one else could ever look at me through Obi-Wan's blue green eyes. "Can't you see me?" she asked, trying to conceal a sob from his ears.

But he knew she was crying again. Obi-Wan reached out with the Force, trying to touch Amidala's mind. It was still rather fuzzy, but he finally picked up on her grief.

"....I can't...." he replied, understanding. "I'm so sorry, Ami, I just can't...."

She sniffled and hugged him, sort of surprised that he didn't tremble this time. But chances were Obi-Wan had expected it. And wanted her to.

"You probably won't understand this," Amidala started, "but when you'd come into my chambers to comfort me, it wasn't so much that you words helped make me feel better, but it was just that you were there...and that, when I looked up into your eyes, they said everything. They spoke to me. Looking into your eyes made me feel better. I saw hope and strength there. I knew that you wouldn't let me fall."

Obi-Wan hugged her tight. "No, I do understand. That's why it hurts so much to be sightless. I can't be strong for you. I can't be there for you like I was before. Only a few days before. I can't find that hope in your eyes either."

Amidala jerked her head up to look at him, to find some emotion in his expression. "Really?" she wiped at her tears.

"Really."

They sat there for a long moment, hugging and crying together. While Obi-Wan held Amidala in his arms, he strangely felt some sort of hope from within, instead of grief.

"...But you do have strength," she finally said. "It all depends on how you look at it. This accident could have happened to help you become stronger. And to regain that confidence that you lost when Anakin turned."

"But...but...what about you? It must be even worse for you. I know you've lost a lot of hope," Obi-Wan replied.

"From you," she said. "By helping you to regain your strength I've for once felt needed."

Obi-Wan smiled. "Do you think I'll ever see again?"

Amidala thought for a moment. "I don't know. All we can do is wait....and hope."

To Be Continued. . .