Across The Stars
Disclaimer: I'm still not George Lucas, therefore, I still don't own any of the characters.
Rating: PG
Summary: The story of Padme Amidala and Obi-Wan Kenobi from their first meeting to shortly after the end of Ep. II.
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Queen Amidala sighed as she stared into the mirror. They had landed on Coruscant not too long ago, parted ways with the Jedi and she was now preparing herself for her plea to the Senate. She knew she should be focusing on what she was going to say; however, her mind kept drifting back to Obi-Wan, mainly his smile. She loved that smile it was so sweet and innocent and somehow she felt it was only for her to see. When they parted ways on the landing platform, she realized she may never see him again. Funny how she was more worried about never seeing him again when millions of her people's lives were in danger.
Someone approached the door to her quarters and for a moment, she hoped it would be Obi-Wan coming to see her one last time. She quickly pushed that idea out of her head. It was next to impossible for him to get out of Qui-Gon's sight long enough to get from the Jedi Temple to the Senate Building.
Instead, it was Anakin her handmaiden introduced. He was obviously searching for Padme. Well, he had found her but she couldn't let him know that. After she told him she had sent Padme on an errand, she patiently listened to what he wanted to tell her about going to the Temple to become a Jedi, wishing she was the one going. "I'm sure her heart goes with you," she told him after he had finished.
He left and she sat back down in front of her mirror. Her heart went with Anakin, yes, but only in the hopes that he would carry it to Obi-Wan. She closed her eyes and sent all her love flowing in the handsome Jedi's direction.
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Obi-Wan was meditating alone in the apartment he and Qui-Gon were staying in on this visit when he felt a wave of emotion headed in his direction through the Force. He accepted it, allowing it to fill his entire body, calming him, while he attempted to trace it back to its original source. It was quite soothing, yet unlike the normal sense of tranquility he felt. The only time he had felt something like this was when he had been with Padme. He was not surprised to find she was the source.
He enjoyed it for a few minutes and would have enjoyed it longer if Qui-Gon hadn't decided to show up. He turned around quickly at the sound of the opening door, banishing any signs of emotion from his thoughts and face. Qui-Gon came in first, followed by a beautiful young woman wearing purple robes. Her lower lip was stained purple and her chin was tattooed with a diamond pattern. Obi-Wan figured she couldn't be much older than he. He remembered his manners and bowed slightly towards her in traditional Jedi fashion. "Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said, calling his attention. "This is Jedi Knight Luminara Unduli. She'll be our guest for this evening."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon has told me many things about you." She smiled and Obi-Wan found himself warming towards her. She wasn't anywhere near as beautiful as Padme, but maybe, just maybe, she could help to get the young handmaiden out of his head for a little while.
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Padme sighed as she looked out the window in Palpatine's office towards the Coruscant cityscape. It seemed like the Senate was taking forever just to nominate people for role of Supreme Chancellor. By the time they finally got around to voting for the new Chancellor, Naboo would be completely under the control of the Trade Federation. She knew to return home and personally fight for her people. Of course, there was always the risk of death but she would gladly do it for her people. He family might grieve for a time, but there was little chance that Obi-Wan and Anakin would ever find out. At least she could save two of the people she loved from pain. Still it was the thought of Obi-Wan, his gorgeous eyes that penetrated her soul or his loving smile that gave her the courage to go through with this plan.
Palpatine returned triumphant at that moment, obvious from the way he walked into the room. "I have good news my lady. I have been nominated as the Supreme Chancellor."
Padme really couldn't care at the moment. The Senate had proved to her that they were powerless to do anything. Either that or they just didn't care. Still, if he was chosen, it would mean good things for Naboo, provided the planet survived through this mess. "Who else was nominated?"
"It really doesn't matter, my lady. I'm sure our situation will create a strong sympathy vote for us."
/If there is any sympathy left in this Senate.../ was the thought that came to Padme's mind. She decided it was time to inform the Senator of her plans. "I'm returning to Naboo."
"But my lady, they'll force you to sign the treaty..." he started to protest.
"I will sign no treaty!" she protested vehemently. "My fate will be no different from that of my people." He started to protest again but she cut him off. "By the time anything gets accomplished here, there will be nothing left of our people or our way of life. I hope that you can bring order and compassion back to this Senate." She gestured to the Captain. "Captain, ready my ship." She dimly heard his reply as she left the room to head back to her quarters. Until they got back on the ship, it would be safer for her to trade places with Sabe. There was not telling what could happen to her through Coruscant after the bold statement she had made in the Senate.
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After she had given her orders to Sabe, Padme walked with her other handmaidens behind Sabe as they approached the landing platform. Her heart leapt when she saw two Jedi and a young boy waiting for them. Assuming the boy was Anakin, she fervently hoped the other two Jedi were who she thought they were. Her heart started beating faster as she realized it was Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan standing there. But something was wrong. Obi-Wan was deeply troubled; she could sense it even though he tried to block his emotion. She barely listened as Qui-Gon explained their presence to the Queen, choosing instead to stare into Obi-Wan's eyes. They seemed dimmer than she remembered them, as if in the last few days his whole world had been flip-flopped upside down and backwards.
She wanted to comfort him but there really wasn't anything she could do with her handmaidens and his master standing right there. Oh well, she would have to find him alone somewhere and talk to him then. For now, he would just have to take comfort in the fact that she was nearby. She wondered when she had started assuming that he took comfort in her presence.
They boarded the ship with Qui-Gon and Sabe talking amiably but Padme didn't hear a word of it. All she could think about was Obi-Wan and the pain she had seen in his eyes. How could his master not see it? Or did he see it and he simply just didn't care? That didn't seem highly likely. She heard Qui-Gon say goodbye and walk away with Obi-Wan. She and her handmaiden's arrived in their rooms without further interference.
She listened to her handmaidens idle chatter for a few moments, noting that must of it revolved around the two Jedi, before approaching Sabe. "Sabe, I have a favor to ask of you. I know I said I'd take over once we got on board but I need you to pose as the Queen for a bit longer. There's urgent business that I must attend to as Padme." Sabe nodded in understanding. She left the room, praying that wherever she found Obi-Wan he would be alone. Of course, she could always find Qui-Gon and Anakin first and tell them the Queen requested an audience with the two of them. She was positive Sabe could handle something like that.
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Obi-Wan was meditating in a room he had found empty and he hoped it to stay that way. He seemed to be meditating a lot recently, for reasons he couldn't explain. /Ever since you met Padme../ came a voice in his head that sounded remarkably like Qui-Gon. No, that was impossible. His master didn't know what was going on. It was just his own guilty conscience sounding like Qui-Gon since that was the normal source of lecture.
"Obi-Wan..." The soft voice behind him startled him slightly. He was forced to admit to himself that he had never been expecting to hear that voice again. Then again, he had never been expecting to be ditched by Qui-Gon for a nine year old kid. Padme's voice was soothing to his rattled nerves and he turned to look at her. She was just as beautiful as he remembered her; though now her eyes carried a bit more sadness with them and there was just a tiny bit of... worry? Yes, she was definitely worried about something, but what it was he couldn't tell. Perhaps she was worried about her family back on Naboo.
"Padme," he greeted her softly, nodding in her direction. She stepped inside the room, closing the door behind her. Obi-Wan wondered why he didn't hear it opening and realized he was probably so far in his self-pitying he wouldn't have noticed if the entire ship had come crashing down.
She came over and sat down on the floor next to him. He took a small comfort in her close presence, wishing they could just sit like that together till the end of the journey. "Obi-Wan, what's wrong?" she asked after a few moments of silence.
Well, so much for not bringing anyone else into his problems. Despite all his trying to hide it, she obviously could tell something was bothering him. Or maybe she was only guessing. There was only one way to find out. "What makes you think something's wrong?"
She didn't respond. Obi-Wan looked over at her, noticing that she was looking away from him. "I can see it in your eyes," she said quietly. "They remind me of the sea. Normally, they're clear, just like the sea on a good day. But earlier today and now, they remind me of the water after a storm hits it."
He marveled at how she could tell what he was feeling, even though they had only known each other for a short time. But still, should he tell her. Qui-Gon wouldn't approve. He would tell Obi-Wan to solve his personal problems on his own. To Hell with what Qui-Gon thought. It was all his fault he was in this mess to begin with. Jedi were only human after all, and everybody needed somebody to talk to sometime. "It's Qui-Gon," he admitted. "When the Council refused to train Anakin, he told them that he would train him."
"He can't have two apprentices, can he?" she asked, suddenly looking at him. "Isn't there the possibility that one would be more favored and the other one would get jealous?"
He nodded. She was very intelligent. "After thirteen years, he was willing to throw me away for some nine year old kid. It took me weeks to convince him to take me on as his padawan, but he is willing to take Anakin on after a few days."
"That must be hard for you," she said gently squeezing his arm. "If it's any consolation, I don't think I'd ever leave you for Anakin." He smiled at her.
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Their topic of conversation eventually turned to other things. The conversation turned from events in their jobs, to their everyday life, to their hopes and dreams. Padme grew slightly envious of Obi-Wan. He had been so many places and would visit many more before he died while she would spend most of her life on Naboo. She wished she could join him, but she knew that was impossible. Still she enjoyed listening to his stories and she hoped that she would get to hear more later on.
When Qui-Gon found them hours after he had left, they were both laughing uncontrollably. "I'm glad to see you two have found ways to amuse yourselves," Qui-Gon said with an amused grin.
"What did her majesty want with you, master Jedi?" Padme asked after she got her giggles under control.
"Actually, it was probably the strangest conversation I've ever had with a politician. She kept on asking me about Obi-Wan and what I was planning to do with him now that I have Anakin. And she asked for me to send you back to her."
Padme nodded as she stood up. She figured that Sabe would want her back as soon as possible. "Goodbye master Jedi, Obi-Wan," she said as she left the room, letting her gaze linger on Obi-Wan.
After she left, Qui-Gon turned his attention to his student. "Well, I see she hasn't shown her viper charm to you yet. You do realize that's the girl that went with me on Tatooine."
Obi-Wan nodded. "Yes, master." He tried seeing Padme as the way his master had described her when he came back but he couldn't see the resemblance. The Padme he knew was sweet and loving, nothing at all like the Padme his master described.
