Just as they got to the door, it opened. "Good morning Master, Minister
Calle," Anakin said. He wasn't the least bit surprised to see them.
"Padawan, you had me worried," Obi-Wan sighed with relief. "Why didn't you answer my call through the bond?"
"Master, you called me? I was indisposed for a few minutes. I am sorry, I didn't mean to cause you any worry."
Obi-Wan opened up his senses and looked for the Force around Anakin. The flow had always been strong because of his natural talent, but now it was less chaotic in its movement between Ani and the rest of the environment. There was only one explanation for that, and for a new air of serenity that emanated from the boy.
Glancing at Sabé, the Jedi sent, //Do you sense something different about him?//
Sabé narrowed her eyes in concentration. //Yes...I do. He's not as anxious.//
Reaching out and grasping Anakin's shoulder, Obi-Wan smiled. "Am I correct in thinking that I should be very proud of you right now?"
An older Jedi might have just nodded, but Anakin still had enough child in him to be thrilled at his master's approval. Bashfully, he turned his eyes to the side for a moment, then gathered himself. "My meditation *was* especially rewarding this morning. I hope I've made you proud."
Obi-Wan nodded. "There's much more to it than pleasing your master, Padawan. In accepting the light as you have, you've found a way to help yourself become what you were meant to be. Maintaining the awareness that you found will give you the outlet to release the fear and agression when they come. Keep at it and the darkness can never touch you, Ani."
Sabé grasped her hands with joy. "Oh let's hurry. I want to see if Meira can accept you now!" With a wink she added, "A hall full of people are waiting on us. We'd better hurry down."
---
"By the way," Anakin began, smiling at his friends. "I think it's really wizard that the two of you got together so quickly and so well! My master bonding with a widow and her baby... it's something that I would have never thought of. How did it happen?"
Anakin sensed communication between Sabé and his master. Obi-Wan glanced at him, then at Sabé during their private conversation. "Uh...if it's too personal, forget I asked," he said, looking away.
"It would be too personal for most people, but since you're to be family and you'd probably figure it out in time anyway, I think you should know now," Sabé said. She stopped and looked around the corridor to make sure they were alone. "What have you heard about me and Meira so far?"
"Well... while we were in the hospital, your mother told me that you had married a pilot when we were on Coruscant. I remembered that you mentioned there was someone you cared for who was nearby and had duties to perform, so that made sense."
Obi-Wan stared at Sabé in surprise. "When did you say that?"
"When Anakin came to see Padmé before the Council interviewed him. He was so lonely, I thought it might help him to know that I understood some of his feelings."
"You mean, even then, you felt...?" the Jedi Knight asked.
"I was charmed by the most handsome, talented, not to mention, sexiest man I'd ever met. How could I not be falling in love?" Sabé said it as if it were simple enough concept for anyone to understand.
Obi-Wan blushed, which brought no end of delight to his padawan.
Anakin looked from Obi-Wan to Sabé and back again. "So...the pieces start to come together," he said, a huge lopsided grin on his face.
Sabé reached out and clasped Obi-Wan's hand. "Yes, now you see why it was so easy for him to bond with Meira."
Anakin was ecstatic over the news, but he was troubled by one thing. "This is wonderful, but why didn't we know sooner?"
"It's a long story, Padawan. I'll tell you the whole thing when we're aboard the transport out of here. In the meantime, we have a function to attend."
"Padawan, you had me worried," Obi-Wan sighed with relief. "Why didn't you answer my call through the bond?"
"Master, you called me? I was indisposed for a few minutes. I am sorry, I didn't mean to cause you any worry."
Obi-Wan opened up his senses and looked for the Force around Anakin. The flow had always been strong because of his natural talent, but now it was less chaotic in its movement between Ani and the rest of the environment. There was only one explanation for that, and for a new air of serenity that emanated from the boy.
Glancing at Sabé, the Jedi sent, //Do you sense something different about him?//
Sabé narrowed her eyes in concentration. //Yes...I do. He's not as anxious.//
Reaching out and grasping Anakin's shoulder, Obi-Wan smiled. "Am I correct in thinking that I should be very proud of you right now?"
An older Jedi might have just nodded, but Anakin still had enough child in him to be thrilled at his master's approval. Bashfully, he turned his eyes to the side for a moment, then gathered himself. "My meditation *was* especially rewarding this morning. I hope I've made you proud."
Obi-Wan nodded. "There's much more to it than pleasing your master, Padawan. In accepting the light as you have, you've found a way to help yourself become what you were meant to be. Maintaining the awareness that you found will give you the outlet to release the fear and agression when they come. Keep at it and the darkness can never touch you, Ani."
Sabé grasped her hands with joy. "Oh let's hurry. I want to see if Meira can accept you now!" With a wink she added, "A hall full of people are waiting on us. We'd better hurry down."
---
"By the way," Anakin began, smiling at his friends. "I think it's really wizard that the two of you got together so quickly and so well! My master bonding with a widow and her baby... it's something that I would have never thought of. How did it happen?"
Anakin sensed communication between Sabé and his master. Obi-Wan glanced at him, then at Sabé during their private conversation. "Uh...if it's too personal, forget I asked," he said, looking away.
"It would be too personal for most people, but since you're to be family and you'd probably figure it out in time anyway, I think you should know now," Sabé said. She stopped and looked around the corridor to make sure they were alone. "What have you heard about me and Meira so far?"
"Well... while we were in the hospital, your mother told me that you had married a pilot when we were on Coruscant. I remembered that you mentioned there was someone you cared for who was nearby and had duties to perform, so that made sense."
Obi-Wan stared at Sabé in surprise. "When did you say that?"
"When Anakin came to see Padmé before the Council interviewed him. He was so lonely, I thought it might help him to know that I understood some of his feelings."
"You mean, even then, you felt...?" the Jedi Knight asked.
"I was charmed by the most handsome, talented, not to mention, sexiest man I'd ever met. How could I not be falling in love?" Sabé said it as if it were simple enough concept for anyone to understand.
Obi-Wan blushed, which brought no end of delight to his padawan.
Anakin looked from Obi-Wan to Sabé and back again. "So...the pieces start to come together," he said, a huge lopsided grin on his face.
Sabé reached out and clasped Obi-Wan's hand. "Yes, now you see why it was so easy for him to bond with Meira."
Anakin was ecstatic over the news, but he was troubled by one thing. "This is wonderful, but why didn't we know sooner?"
"It's a long story, Padawan. I'll tell you the whole thing when we're aboard the transport out of here. In the meantime, we have a function to attend."