Padawan & the Prince
(CH7 - Part ii of Extended Conclusion)

By obi's girl

Mace squinted as the sun set over Naboo and several Jedi Masters boarded a Republican cruiser bound towards Coruscant. He watched as I knelt before Anakin and told him to obey the Jedi Masters on the ride home and that I would be there when I was ready to return. I smiled at him, kissing his cheek.

"Hey, I won't be long. I promise. I'm - I'm just not ready right now, but I promise, as soon as I am, I'll be there but until then obey Master Windu and the Jedi Council."

Ani nodded all right then solemnly boarded the cruiser, R2 following behind him as Mace confronted me.

The Jedi Master huffed, managing a smile, "You sure about this? Staying here?"

I nodded, glancing back at Obi-Wan, "I'm sure. I just need time and knowing you guys, you'd probably want me to begin his training the minute I dock my shuttle on Temple grounds." I nodded to several of the Master as they passed us, "I'll call as soon as I'm ready, Mace. May the Force be with you."

Mace smiled, walked closer and hugged me, "And you, Padme."

He bent his head and even kissed my forehead before boarding the shuttle himself. Obi-Wan stood beside me as the cruiser rose from the pad and disappeared into space. I turned to Obi-Wan and smiled wearily as he escorted me back to the Palace.

**

I followed his highness, as he led me towards my room in the Palace, not too far from his. I smirked but only briefly. I knew he meant well. He probably only wanted to keep an eye on me and have me close in case of an emergency. Sex wasn't even in an issue. He stopped briefly, turning to me again. I glanced up at the large door to my quarters and hugged him again. "Thank you."

He nodded, blushing partly, "I have assigned three of my handmaidens to you to attend to your needs." I nodded thanks again as he stepped closer, "I hope you will join me for dinner tonight."

Dinner? As in a Date? I hesitated a moment as he continued, "Only dinner. Nothing else, I swear Padme. It would be wrong of me to take advantage of me in your state."

"Um, where will dinner be?" I mused, staring into his blue eyes.

"The main room, my handmaidens know the way. They'll show you." He whispered, leaning in as if to kiss me but pulled back, breaking the mood. "I better let you settle in. Dinner this evening, then?"

I smiled all right. As I pushed the door open, I turned to Obi-Wan again and kissed him passionately. I pulled back, blushing myself. "Sorry. I, uh, instinctive reaction." And slipped into the room, huffing.

**

Mace nodded to himself as he sat meditating beside Master Yoda.

Yoda grumbled, "Disapprove of Padme's decision, do you?" The Jedi opened his eyes, looking at the small Master beside him. Yoda perked his ears up, facing Mace and nodded. "Her decision, it is to stay. Cannot make the choice for her, we cannot."

"I know, we can't. But that's not what's bothering me, Master. She's alone, sad, vulnerable and in close confines with the Prince of Naboo."

Yoda nodded, "Another choice, sex is. Old enough she is to choose for herself. Wise she is, smart."

Mace raised an eyebrow, "You believe she'll make the correct decision?"

"It is not for us to decide if her decision is wise, it is. Our task, teach young Anakin in the ways of the Force."

**

I tried to keep myself from laughing as I walked down the large stairs to the dining room despite the fact I was dressed in the most elegant blue gown the handmaidens could find. Only a few minutes with them and already I felt like a Princess. They were talking non-stop, mostly about my relationship with their sovereign. It was unsettling at first but I got used to their actions.

Sabe, the oldest, is the cool-headed one; she's also head handmaiden. Eirtae was the flirt of the group, a new man every weekend or month, depending. She has a crush on Obi-Wan but because he's royalty she hasn't really hit on him. Sache, the youngest, was the quiet one, always timid to voice her own opinion. Maybe it was because Sabe was older and wise and Eirtae was a big flirt, always raving about cute staff guards.

But most of all, I felt connected to Sabe. At one point, it even seemed like if I had been Queen, we would have been best friends. I shrugged the feeling away, as I met Obi-Wan. He was lost in thought, sitting alone at the large table. I cleared my throat. Obi-Wan smiled, looking up at me. "By the Gods, you are beautiful." He mused, staring at me from head to toe.

I blushed as he stood up and seated me. I glanced behind at Sabe. Though her hood was lowered, I knew she was smiling. Eirtae on the other hand was in the corner, flirting with one of the guards. Obi-Wan had to clear his throat to drag Eirtae out of her corner.

He chuckled to himself as the two women stepped forward and curtsied slightly, saying in unison, "Yes, your highness?"

Yes, your highness? He's surrounded by beautiful women every hour, they say yes, your highness and they would do whatever he asked them but yet, he's attracted to me. Something is wrong with this picture, or maybe not.

"Your attendance isn't needed, but on your way, tell the chefs we're ready for dinner." He paused briefly, nodding to Sabe, "Sabe, you better tell them. The minute Eirtae sees a man, she might flirt with him for Sith knows how many hours."

Sabe laughed lightly shrugged at Eirtae and left towards the kitchen. Eirtae huffed, walking silently out of the dining room, but her thoughts spoke volumes. "A private dinner, highness? This really is a date."

He raised an eyebrow, nibbling on some bread. "A date, Master Jedi? You think this is a date?"

"What, it isn't?"

Obi-Wan was about to protest but thought better of it, as the two cooks entered with some dishes and wine. Definitely a date, but he's trying too hard. A fancy dress, some nice wine and food is impressive but he doesn't have to do this. "Your highness, what is it you're doing?"

He frowned, "Sorry? I'm not sure I understand."

"I mean 'this.'" And I gestured to my elegant dress and food. "There's no need to impress me. The fact that you aren't arrogant and stuck-up impresses me, not fancy attire and dinner."

Obi-Wan laughed, "You really haven't been a date before, have you?"

"I've been on dates before. All the time, while I was at the Temple. Guys asked me out so often I had to disconnect my HoloPhone. My Master, he knew it was a part of growing up, but I think at one point, it annoyed the Sith out of him." I laughed, rolling my eyes as I stood up and walked over towards him. "I guess, what I'm trying to ask is why you're doing this?"

He huffed, lounging back, "I don't know. Falling in love with a beautiful woman causes a man to do strange things."

I frowned, totally taken aback. Falling in love? I looked away briefly, biting my lip as he continued, "I know, it's probably wrong of me to take advantage of your feelings but I can't help how I feel about you, Padme. I love you." Obi-Wan paused, "Would you like to dance?"

Dance? I absent-mindedly nodded yes. He led me to the ballroom, nodding to the musicians on break as he took my small hands in his. Fallen' in love, with me? I know we have feeling for each other, but love? Was I even ready for that? Obi-Wan saw my concern and stopped briefly as the orchestra continued playing. "Padme?"

I laughed to myself, "You just - I wasn't expecting that. I wasn't expecting that you had fallen in love with me."

"I wasn't expecting to meet anyone like you."

I hesitated, looking into his eyes, "So, where do we go from here?"

He nodded, "I don't know, but I think we'll figure it out."

TBC