[Wow, thanks sooo much for the reviews! All that nice feedback truly amazes
me. You're all so sweet! Just for that, here's another chapter!]
He was distraught to say the least. An intense wave of agony swept over him and proceeded in its attempts to drown Obi-Wan's weary spirit. He retraced his steps and leaps back to the hanger, but with each movement he felt as though a piece of heart shattered.
Sleet, yellow fighter planes were drifting into the hanger. The returns were quite unorganized. Sometimes three would fly in together. Sometimes just one would trail behind. "They got seperated," Obi-Wan mused, "but they returned. The seperation was not permanent. How lucky for them. How lucky indeed."
With heavy footsteps, Obi-Wan walked past the small group of rejoicing fighter pilots. However, the sight in the street was all but pleasing to his mournful eyes. Gungans and Naboo were rejoicing over their victory together in the street. They were singing, dancing, laughing. "If they only knew... but even if they did, would it matter to them? They deserve to rejoice. Their victory is a well-earned one. But..." he thought, but he quickly dismissed it. It was too late for the what if's and but's. It was over. Over. The very word taunted him, haunted him. Over. Over...
Upon entering the palace, his eyes were still not greeted by a welcoming sight. The palace officals were beeming with joy, although it was much more quite and formal than the behavior of the general public outside the palace walls. The viceroy, now as bitter inside as he had always looked outside, was signing the new treaty. Obi-Wan silently observed. He had no where else to go at the present time.
Still dressed in handmaiden's attire, the young queen proudly watched the signing of her treaty. She had fought her own battle and won. That glorious fact brought forth her rare and beautiful smile. She glanced around at the officals present, but her gaze stopped when she saw Obi-Wan. Despite the grand victory, he was just standing there completely expressionless. "Even the jedi can't be so cold as to not smile at such an occasion." she thought. She studied him silently and took note of his usually pensive demeenor. He would stand there with his eyes fixed upon a certain point as though he were within the deepst of thoughts then suddenly he would sigh and move to another point. His eyes, usually marble-like and innocent, glistening with a haunting gaze as though their innocence had been suddenly stolen.
When the negoiations were finished properly, she made her way across the room. She was stopped frequently though by the pats on the back and nods of approval and quietly voiced compliments. "Obi-Wan," she addressed him softly.
"Congratulations, your majesty," Obi-Wan stated before the royal interrogation could commence, "it must be nice to have won such a battle for your people." His tone held no emotion. He refused to meet her gaze, for he feared she would be able to peer into his heart and stare at the very source of his agony. He would tell her, of course, but he would never let his emotions be revealed.
"Thank you, and yes, it is very nice. This victory seems to have lifted the broken spirit of Naboo. Everyone seems to be happy, except for this one jedi I know who won't even smirk..." she said, playfully trying to make him talk.
"Your majesty, I must tell you something. I hate to tell you this in the midst of your victory, but..." he began but paused to regain control of the waves of emotion that continued to sweep over him.
There was a deafening silence between them. Obi-Wan had always seemed so strong and confident. Since their first meeting, he was performing such impressive feats. Fighting droids. Keeping Jar-Jar quiet. Piloting the ship. Formulating plans. Obeying commands. Forever living in his master's shadow. A realization suddenly occured to her. This was the first time she had ever spoken to Obi-Wan without his master present. She looked up at him. He didn't appear so strong and confident. A certain haunting sadness danced within his gray-blue eyes.
"What... what is it..." she questioned, silently fearing the worst.
"We went after the Sith. It was a difficult battle. We hadn't ever faced such a battle. The Sith were thought to be gone. But... we got seperated. The security doors came between us. If only I'd been just a little faster..." he said, his tone becoming softer as his voice began to crack ever-so-slightly.
"Oh Obi-Wan," Amidala whispered as she suddenly embraced him.
She softly began to shed the tears Obi-Wan refused to show. He placed a comforting arm around the young queen as her tears continued to stream down her lovely face for the jedi knight she held much respect and gratitude toward.
A single tear fell from Obi-Wan's gray-blue eye and landed softly against Amidala's cheek. She glanced up at him and noticed that certain sort of glisten in his eyes where silent tears love to hide. She silently watched his struggle to regain control over his emotions, but he didn't seem to notice. She contiued to hold onto him in her gentle embrace. Although he would never admit to needing or wanting any sort of comforting attention, he wasn't even trying to let go of the young queen in his arms.
He was distraught to say the least. An intense wave of agony swept over him and proceeded in its attempts to drown Obi-Wan's weary spirit. He retraced his steps and leaps back to the hanger, but with each movement he felt as though a piece of heart shattered.
Sleet, yellow fighter planes were drifting into the hanger. The returns were quite unorganized. Sometimes three would fly in together. Sometimes just one would trail behind. "They got seperated," Obi-Wan mused, "but they returned. The seperation was not permanent. How lucky for them. How lucky indeed."
With heavy footsteps, Obi-Wan walked past the small group of rejoicing fighter pilots. However, the sight in the street was all but pleasing to his mournful eyes. Gungans and Naboo were rejoicing over their victory together in the street. They were singing, dancing, laughing. "If they only knew... but even if they did, would it matter to them? They deserve to rejoice. Their victory is a well-earned one. But..." he thought, but he quickly dismissed it. It was too late for the what if's and but's. It was over. Over. The very word taunted him, haunted him. Over. Over...
Upon entering the palace, his eyes were still not greeted by a welcoming sight. The palace officals were beeming with joy, although it was much more quite and formal than the behavior of the general public outside the palace walls. The viceroy, now as bitter inside as he had always looked outside, was signing the new treaty. Obi-Wan silently observed. He had no where else to go at the present time.
Still dressed in handmaiden's attire, the young queen proudly watched the signing of her treaty. She had fought her own battle and won. That glorious fact brought forth her rare and beautiful smile. She glanced around at the officals present, but her gaze stopped when she saw Obi-Wan. Despite the grand victory, he was just standing there completely expressionless. "Even the jedi can't be so cold as to not smile at such an occasion." she thought. She studied him silently and took note of his usually pensive demeenor. He would stand there with his eyes fixed upon a certain point as though he were within the deepst of thoughts then suddenly he would sigh and move to another point. His eyes, usually marble-like and innocent, glistening with a haunting gaze as though their innocence had been suddenly stolen.
When the negoiations were finished properly, she made her way across the room. She was stopped frequently though by the pats on the back and nods of approval and quietly voiced compliments. "Obi-Wan," she addressed him softly.
"Congratulations, your majesty," Obi-Wan stated before the royal interrogation could commence, "it must be nice to have won such a battle for your people." His tone held no emotion. He refused to meet her gaze, for he feared she would be able to peer into his heart and stare at the very source of his agony. He would tell her, of course, but he would never let his emotions be revealed.
"Thank you, and yes, it is very nice. This victory seems to have lifted the broken spirit of Naboo. Everyone seems to be happy, except for this one jedi I know who won't even smirk..." she said, playfully trying to make him talk.
"Your majesty, I must tell you something. I hate to tell you this in the midst of your victory, but..." he began but paused to regain control of the waves of emotion that continued to sweep over him.
There was a deafening silence between them. Obi-Wan had always seemed so strong and confident. Since their first meeting, he was performing such impressive feats. Fighting droids. Keeping Jar-Jar quiet. Piloting the ship. Formulating plans. Obeying commands. Forever living in his master's shadow. A realization suddenly occured to her. This was the first time she had ever spoken to Obi-Wan without his master present. She looked up at him. He didn't appear so strong and confident. A certain haunting sadness danced within his gray-blue eyes.
"What... what is it..." she questioned, silently fearing the worst.
"We went after the Sith. It was a difficult battle. We hadn't ever faced such a battle. The Sith were thought to be gone. But... we got seperated. The security doors came between us. If only I'd been just a little faster..." he said, his tone becoming softer as his voice began to crack ever-so-slightly.
"Oh Obi-Wan," Amidala whispered as she suddenly embraced him.
She softly began to shed the tears Obi-Wan refused to show. He placed a comforting arm around the young queen as her tears continued to stream down her lovely face for the jedi knight she held much respect and gratitude toward.
A single tear fell from Obi-Wan's gray-blue eye and landed softly against Amidala's cheek. She glanced up at him and noticed that certain sort of glisten in his eyes where silent tears love to hide. She silently watched his struggle to regain control over his emotions, but he didn't seem to notice. She contiued to hold onto him in her gentle embrace. Although he would never admit to needing or wanting any sort of comforting attention, he wasn't even trying to let go of the young queen in his arms.
