Nestling close to Obi-Wan, Sabé relaxed, moving toward sweet slumber. The
sudden wave that came over her was a chilling surprise. At the same
moment, Obi-Wan's hand on her shoulder tightened.
Puzzled, she raised her head. "Did you feel that?"
"A disturbance? Yes I did. I think it's coming from my Padawan." Rolling over, the Jedi picked up the comlink that was tuned to the same channel as Anakin's. "Padawan, are you there?"
Anakin looked in shock at the 'link on the dresser. He had not expected to hear from his master at all during his last night with his beloved. As he realized why Obi-Wan was calling him, he rolled his eyes and sighed to himself. Right, Skywalker, he thought. Time to work on those shields. If you can't conceal your angst from your master while he's...distracted...how are you going to shield anytime?
"I'm here, Master. I'm fine. I've retired to my room and I'm reading. Please excuse the disturbance. It won't happen again, I promise."
Genuine concern came through in Obi-Wan's tone, even though filtered by the comlink. "Are you sure it's all right, padawan? If you need anything..."
Trying to play it off, Anakin took a stab at being jovial. "With all due respect Master, if you dare leave Sabé's side tonight, I'll have to cut you in two." He laughed, then softened his voice. "Really Master, I'm going to be just fine. We can talk about it later, if we must, but I'd rather not, if that's acceptable. Now please-I beg you- sign off and go back to what you were doing. I assure you, all is well."
Obi-Wan shook his head. He saw he'd get no more out of the boy this way, so he would bide his time. "Goodnight Padawan."
"Goodnight, Master."
---
The chime of the doorbell woke Anakin. He bolted upright, grabbed his robe and slipped it on. "Come in," he called.
Rabé entered with a set of freshly cleaned robes. "Padawan Skywalker, here are your garments, and I have your schedule for the day."
"Thank you, handmaiden Rabé," Anakin said, keeping himself formal. "What is on my agenda?"
Consulting her datapad, Rabé read out the schedule as she presented him with a copy. "In 40 minutes, you are to report to the main banquet hall for breakfast. The Queen, Obi-Wan, Sabé, Meira, and many Naboo dignitaries will be present. Afterwards, you will all move to the throne room, where there will be a brief ceremony. At this time your luggage will be picked up from your room and sent to the transport, so please have it ready. When the Queen concludes the ceremony, you and your master will depart the throne room and start to the transport station. There will be a half hour in a private room for you and Jedi Kenobi to have a few final moments with whomever you wish to speak to before you embark on the ship that will take you to your mission. Any questions, Padawan Skywalker?" Rabé looked up and studied the boy's face.
"No, thank you. I understand the agenda," Anakin answered.
A beat passed, then Rabé spoke in a serious and confidential tone. "Her Highness returned to her chamber in tears last night, Padawan Skywalker. I just thought you should know." She then turned on her heel and walked out the door, leaving Anakin stunned.
The padawan walked out to the balcony and gazed out at the beauty before him. The architecture and the city's layout was clean, elegant and orderly, designed to compliment nature, not overpower it. He turned his sight to the majesty of the waterfall, then studied the clear blue sky. Within all this, the Force flowed, then reached out to him, beckoning him to open himself to it without reservation.
"Well, you wanted to be a Jedi, Skywalker," he said out loud. "Now you know it's not just running around in robes and waving a dangerous elegant weapon. Here's where it really happens, right now, with no one else around to offer guidance or see if you succeed or fail. What's it going to be?" He laughed to himself and closed his eyes as he spread his arms out and surrendered to the power that embraced him.
---
//Anakin, I'm here with Sabé and Meira. Are you ready to meet us?//
When there was no response, Obi-Wan frowned and tried again. //Anakin?//
Nothing.
His concern growing, the Knight sent once more. //Anakin, are you there? Answer me!//
When this third attempt was met with silence, Obi-Wan sought out the nearest handmaiden. "Rabé! You wouldn't happen to know where Anakin is, would you?"
"I left him in his room to shower and change. He should be on the way. I gave him instructions on where he should be today."
"Which room was he staying in?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Why, the Azure room. It's our smallest guest room. Shall I send someone to fetch him?" Rabé responded.
"No, thank you. That won't be necessary. I'll go get him." Tuning into Sabé, Obi-Wan sent to her. //Beloved, do you know where the Azure room is?//
//Of course. Going to get Ani?//
//Not just that, Sabé. He's not answering my call.//
//I'll be right with you!// Leaving Meira in the care of her parents, Sabé joined Obi-Wan and they hurried to the room.
Puzzled, she raised her head. "Did you feel that?"
"A disturbance? Yes I did. I think it's coming from my Padawan." Rolling over, the Jedi picked up the comlink that was tuned to the same channel as Anakin's. "Padawan, are you there?"
Anakin looked in shock at the 'link on the dresser. He had not expected to hear from his master at all during his last night with his beloved. As he realized why Obi-Wan was calling him, he rolled his eyes and sighed to himself. Right, Skywalker, he thought. Time to work on those shields. If you can't conceal your angst from your master while he's...distracted...how are you going to shield anytime?
"I'm here, Master. I'm fine. I've retired to my room and I'm reading. Please excuse the disturbance. It won't happen again, I promise."
Genuine concern came through in Obi-Wan's tone, even though filtered by the comlink. "Are you sure it's all right, padawan? If you need anything..."
Trying to play it off, Anakin took a stab at being jovial. "With all due respect Master, if you dare leave Sabé's side tonight, I'll have to cut you in two." He laughed, then softened his voice. "Really Master, I'm going to be just fine. We can talk about it later, if we must, but I'd rather not, if that's acceptable. Now please-I beg you- sign off and go back to what you were doing. I assure you, all is well."
Obi-Wan shook his head. He saw he'd get no more out of the boy this way, so he would bide his time. "Goodnight Padawan."
"Goodnight, Master."
---
The chime of the doorbell woke Anakin. He bolted upright, grabbed his robe and slipped it on. "Come in," he called.
Rabé entered with a set of freshly cleaned robes. "Padawan Skywalker, here are your garments, and I have your schedule for the day."
"Thank you, handmaiden Rabé," Anakin said, keeping himself formal. "What is on my agenda?"
Consulting her datapad, Rabé read out the schedule as she presented him with a copy. "In 40 minutes, you are to report to the main banquet hall for breakfast. The Queen, Obi-Wan, Sabé, Meira, and many Naboo dignitaries will be present. Afterwards, you will all move to the throne room, where there will be a brief ceremony. At this time your luggage will be picked up from your room and sent to the transport, so please have it ready. When the Queen concludes the ceremony, you and your master will depart the throne room and start to the transport station. There will be a half hour in a private room for you and Jedi Kenobi to have a few final moments with whomever you wish to speak to before you embark on the ship that will take you to your mission. Any questions, Padawan Skywalker?" Rabé looked up and studied the boy's face.
"No, thank you. I understand the agenda," Anakin answered.
A beat passed, then Rabé spoke in a serious and confidential tone. "Her Highness returned to her chamber in tears last night, Padawan Skywalker. I just thought you should know." She then turned on her heel and walked out the door, leaving Anakin stunned.
The padawan walked out to the balcony and gazed out at the beauty before him. The architecture and the city's layout was clean, elegant and orderly, designed to compliment nature, not overpower it. He turned his sight to the majesty of the waterfall, then studied the clear blue sky. Within all this, the Force flowed, then reached out to him, beckoning him to open himself to it without reservation.
"Well, you wanted to be a Jedi, Skywalker," he said out loud. "Now you know it's not just running around in robes and waving a dangerous elegant weapon. Here's where it really happens, right now, with no one else around to offer guidance or see if you succeed or fail. What's it going to be?" He laughed to himself and closed his eyes as he spread his arms out and surrendered to the power that embraced him.
---
//Anakin, I'm here with Sabé and Meira. Are you ready to meet us?//
When there was no response, Obi-Wan frowned and tried again. //Anakin?//
Nothing.
His concern growing, the Knight sent once more. //Anakin, are you there? Answer me!//
When this third attempt was met with silence, Obi-Wan sought out the nearest handmaiden. "Rabé! You wouldn't happen to know where Anakin is, would you?"
"I left him in his room to shower and change. He should be on the way. I gave him instructions on where he should be today."
"Which room was he staying in?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Why, the Azure room. It's our smallest guest room. Shall I send someone to fetch him?" Rabé responded.
"No, thank you. That won't be necessary. I'll go get him." Tuning into Sabé, Obi-Wan sent to her. //Beloved, do you know where the Azure room is?//
//Of course. Going to get Ani?//
//Not just that, Sabé. He's not answering my call.//
//I'll be right with you!// Leaving Meira in the care of her parents, Sabé joined Obi-Wan and they hurried to the room.