[Here's that great chapter I promised. Enjoy!]



Once the sun had fallen into its usual slumber, night fell over the sky like a gentle blanket. The pale moon cast its eerie glow down to earth and upon the face of a weary and mournful jedi. A few twinkling stars asked the gray-blue eyes if they cared for a dance. Tired eyelids covered them and gave those stars an implied decline. A gentle breeze brushed against Obi- Wan as if to whisper its words of comfort. He merely pulled his cloak closer, for he didn't want to listen.

"Oh, Master," he thought, "Why did this have to happen? Perhaps I'm not ready for the trials. Beating the Sith isn't much of a victory if your death is the price I must pay for it. How will I become a great jedi knight? When they ask of my master, what shall I say? 'Oh, he died because I wasn't quite fast enough to help him.' Perhaps I won't tell them of it. Perhaps I should act as though it never happened. Oh, but Master, the guilt won't allow me to do so! Your blood is spilled upon my hands! The stains of blood are so difficult to remove! Perhaps they can't be removed..."

Tears began to glisten in eyes again, but he quickly began to dismiss his thoughts and bury his feelings. He couldn't show his emotions. A jedi must be strong, confident, brave, able to handle any situation with ease and dignity. Of course, no one ever mentioned just how difficult that would be.

He sighed softly and ran a hand through his reddish brown locks. Gray-blue eyes looked around, desperately searching for something to take their thoughts away from the obvious. Naboo was certainly a place of wonderful scenery. He stood upon one of the balconies just off the upper chambers. The balcony itself was an artistic creation as all things tended to be upon Naboo. He could see the forests and waterfalls from the balcony. They were so beautifully breath-taking. Still, they reminded him of Qui-Gonn. He had always held an appreciation for all living things. Seeing such a sight would have moved him into deep thoughts about every little creature within the forests and depending upon the waterfalls. He allowed his eyelids to cover his weary eyes again. They didn't want to see such a sight anymore. It brought back too much.

"Obi-Wan," Amidala softly called.

He turned and saw her standing in the doorway. She was still dressed in handmaiden's attire and visably seemed weary and fragile. She had allowed Sabe to enjoy celebrating with Naboo as their beloved queen, for she was in the midst of an emotional landslide. Her eyes, which had already witnessed so much despite her young age, were red from the many tears she had shed not only for herself but for Obi-Wan. Her skin was splotchy and her nose was red as well. Despite her sorrow scars, she still maintained that angelic beauty which Obi-Wan's eyes were quite pleased to see.

"We've prepared one of the extra rooms for you. Perhaps you should try to rest. It's growing late." she said quietly.

"Perhaps.." he replied distantly. Not many words had been exchanged between the two. Amidala had given him her silent understanding, which for him was a greater source of comfort than any another. He had moved to the balcony to allow the queen to give Sabe her commands and to try to regain her composure. The silence between them wasn't awkward, yet it wasn't wanted. Amidala desperately wished Obi-Wan would speak to her and betray those emotion-hiding jedi customs. Obi-Wan just wanted Amidala to speak of something, anything, to get his mind off the obvious source of grief.

"Perhaps a rest would be nice," he said, finally breaking the silence between them.

"It's the first room on the left. If you need anything, I'll be in my chambers." she said. She glanced at him, and gently added, "If you want to talk about anything, I'll gladly listen..."

He didn't respond. Gray-blue eyes held a far-off gaze. Amidala sighed softly and turned to leave. "Wait," he said.

"Yes?" she replied.

"I just wanted to say.. thank you, for everything you've done. It's truly not necessary. I shall leave soon to return to the council. They will need to be informed of this in person..." he said.

"Of course this is perfectly necessary. You are a great friend not only to Naboo and the Gungans, but to me. Stay as long as you want. In fact, I'm asking you to stay at least another day or two. You're in no condition to report before that council. Stay here and allow yourself time to heal," she said while stepping closer to him and gently placing a hand against his face, "At least re-pay me with that much. If you leave like this, I won't be happy at all. I might have to follow you to that council to be sure you don't drown yourself in sorrow. If you leave in better spirits, I won't worry nearly as much for you."

He offered a trace of a smile to the determined queen. "I shall stay then. Perhaps two days, but I can't promise any more than that." he said.

"Well, I'm glad to see you being a bit more cooperative. Perhaps there is hope for the jedi after all." she said with a hint of laughter in her voice. But suddenly they grew quiet again. The silence was slowly becomming awkward. "I shall leave you to your rest now. If you need anything at all, you know where I'll be." she said as she slowly walked away.

Obi-Wan cast another glance to the twinkling stars and the pale moon. Somehow they seemed to be a haunting reminder along with everything else. "Perhaps I really do need that rest." he thought as he walked toward his room.

A cloaked figure slowly made his way through the palace. Occasionally he would wave a hand and pass by a guard. No one seemed to notice him. He wanted to run through the halls and complete his mission as quickly as possible. However, this had to be done cafefully and quietly. Obi-Wan could not be alerted of his presence. That was a difficult task, for Obi-Wan was prone to such sudden elusively bad feelings. Still, the cloaked figure moved along through the winding hallways and elaborately designed staircases. He cautiously waved a hand over another pair of guards. The queen's private chambers weren't far away. Just down the next hallway. However, that all-too-familiar presence was close. "Damn," Qui-Gonn thought, "I didn't know he'd be so close."

Obi-Wan had forced himself into a fitful sleep. He knew his body desperately needed the rest. He had received a few bruises and burns from the earlier attack. His mind needed to rest as well, but it was much too stubborn. He tossed and turned as haunting dreams attacked his weary mind.

Water ran softly as Amidala tried to make her face appear a bit more acceptable. Sabe would be returning soon. She had never seen the queen in such a distraught and fragile state and certainly didn't need to. Amidala sighed and turned the water off. She gently dried her face with one of the red handtowels, but to her dismay the tears still hadn't completely left her eyes. Upon hearing footsteps enter the room, she slowly stepped into the main portion of the elegantly decorated chamber dressed in her gold- adorned red gown. She gasped at the figure before her.

"Oh no... there can't be such things as ghosts..." she said as her eyes grew wide with fear.

"I assure you, I am not a ghost." Qui-Gonn said, softly touching her arm as if to prove he was alive, "But I suppose now I must explain myself. You must think of this as a queen. Not as Obi-Wan's friend, but as a queen with loyal subjects."

She nodded, of course. He was silent for a moment, as if thinking of how to properly phrase things. This was a delicate situation, and this queen was nearly as stubborn as he was. Things would have to be said right, or else all would be lost.

"You know, perhaps better than anyone else, that sometimes secrets are necessary in order to accomplish something that will help your people. Take your current victory for example. You had to to leave your people, disguise as a handmaiden, and keep certain secrets in place in order to accomplish the tasks at hand. The same is true for me. I must leave Obi-Wan and the jedi to help them. Anakin will bring balance to the Force, and to train him I must hide. The best way to hide is to make them think I'm dead. They won't come looking for me, just as a Trade Federation won't look for a handmaiden to sign their treaty." he stated.

"I revealed my secrets though." she replied softly.

"You revealed your secrets to those who needed to know. You didn't tell all of Naboo. You told the people who had to know in order to have their trust. Right now, you're the only one I need to tell." he said firmly.

"What about Obi-Wan? He deserves to know. He shouldn't have to blame himself for your death if you aren't dead!" she retorted.

"I'd rather have him blame himself for my death and eventually overcome his battle with guilt and sorrow than to have to answer to the jedi council for my mistakes. I don't want him blamed for my decision to train the boy. I don't want my stubborness to effect his chances of becoming a jedi knight. I don't want my shadow to be what he ends up living in. In order for Obi- Wan to have his own destiny, it's better off if he thinks I'm dead." Qui- Gonn said.

Haunting dreams danced through Obi-Wan's mind. The battle kept being replayed over-and-over again in his head. The words between padawen and master were respoken. But where was that feeling of release? Where was that feeling of acceptance? When, exactly, had the Force taken Qui-Gonn? Questions kept flying through Obi-Wan's mind. He tossed and turned, unable to force himself back into sleep. His eyes were wide-open and filled with pain.

"It's better off if Obi-Wan knew the truth." Amidala stated.

"He would feel too betrayed and hurt. Grief and sorrow are much easier to overcome. There are times, my young queen, when the truth is best unknown." Qui-Gonn said.

"So what am I supposed to do? Fill his mind with your jaded lies?" she inquired.

Qui-Gonn simply nodded.

"Well, I won't lie to him. I won't become like you. I'll comfort him. I'll try to get his mind off it, but if he ever directly asks me if you're among the living, I will tell him." she said.

"If that's how you want to be, then I suggest you keep him from asking that question. Telling him could put my life, Anakin's life, and perhaps his life in danger. The council might have us killed. He may turn to the dark side. It's hard to say exactly what his reaction might be." Qui-Gonn stated.

"Then I suggest you pray he doesn't ask. I won't lie to him." Amidala said with fierce determination ringing clearly through her voice.

"Jaded lies might be the best thing to ease his troubled mind. You did agree to get his mind off it. If he doesn't ask, then at least keep him from doing so. You don't want to risk him turning to the dark side, do you?" Qui-Gonn continued.

Obi-Wan slowly sat up. His head was throbing. He swore he could feel his master's presence. He rose to his feet and struggled to dismiss the feeling. "Perhaps I should go see Amidala. Burying my emotions could have troubled my mind and clouded my senses into creating a vision of my master. I can't lose my grip on the Force now. But I just don't know how to let go of Qui-Gonn." he thought.

Amidala narrowed her red-tinted, brown eyes at him. Anger boiled deeply in her heart. To think this was a man she had wept for. "Why should I keep him from turning to the dark side? You're the one who took him from the primrose path of goodness and threw him into the darkness with your blood covering his hands. Shouldn't it be of your concern, not mine?" she inquired.

"Yes, which is why I'm leaving him in your capable hands. I'm sure you'll do what's best for him." Qui-Gonn stated in a matter-of-fact tone as he moved toward the window, "Now, if you'll excuse me, your majesty, I must be going now. I hope you don't mind if Anakin and I borrow ship from your hanger. I'm returning to save his mother."

"How delightful..." she said, clearly unimpressed, "I guess I should be glad someone is of true concern to you."

Qui-Gonn sighed as he opened the window. He turned back to face the visably angry queen. "I know I will never understand just how much pain I have caused Obi-Wan. But, I do know that this will make him stronger, and he will become a great jedi. I don't want to leave him, but I know that this is the best way for all of us. I don't expect you to understand that. However, I do expect you to comfort Obi-Wan as his friend and to remember what I have told you as a queen." he said.

No other words were exchanged between the two. Qui-Gonn slowly climbed out the window and made his way down the wall as only a jedi with amazing abilities can. Amidala closed the window and softly cried.

"Your majesty?" Obi-Wan called.

She turned quickly, suddenly worried if he had overheard or seen any of the encounter with Qui-Gonn.

"You look as though you've seen a ghost. Are you alright?" Obi-Wan questioned.

"Oh, I'm fine, really," she said while wiping away her tears, "Are you alright though? Is something wrong?"

Obi-Wan slowly stepped further into the room. It was quite lovely, but not nearly as lovely as the queen. She stood in her elegantly adorned long, red and golden gown with her long brown hair down and hanging just below her waist. Her eyes glistened from the many tears that danced within them.

"I tried to rest, but I kept having this bad feeling. It was something... elusive yet.. familiar at the same time. It's almost as if in my mind Qui- Gonn is still here, and I just.. don't know how to let go." he said.

Tears started to fall from Amidala's eyes again. She wanted to tell him, but Qui-Gonn's words haunted her. Obi-Wan, unsure of what had caused this sudden wave of tears to fall, gently embraced the young queen and allowed her to cry upon his weary shoulder.