All eyes turned on the three people who had been holding up breakfast when
they entered the hall. Hurrying to their seats, Sabé sat with her parents
on her right side, Obi-Wan on her left. Anakin took the last empty chair
next to his master. A collective sigh floated across the large room, then
the waiters and the droids started serving.
Meira kept between her grandfather and Sabé, but gave Anakin looks that were curious rather than apprehensive now and then between bites of toast.
Amidala was already dressed for court, so she ate little, so as to avoid ruining her makeup and gown. She would turn and face Sabé and Obi-Wan to exchange conversation, but when Anakin tried to meet her eyes, she looked uncomfortable. She didn't turn away, but she didn't seem to know just what to say to him either.
Anakin smiled at her when she looked his way as the meal ended. "Talk to you?" he mouthed.
She understood and gave a barely perceptible nod. "After the ceremony," she said soundlessly in return.
When it became clear that most everyone was finished with the meal, Saché passed behind Anakin to stand next to the Queen. In his mind's eye, the boy saw her wearing the official pilot's uniform. He turned and gestured to her in excitement. "Handmaiden, how long have you been a pilot? It's great, isn't it?"
Saché looked at him in confusion. "Padawan Skywalker, I'm not a pilot. I'm afraid you must have mistaken me for someone else."
"No, I saw you as a pilot, just now! Maybe you should think about becoming one," Anakin whispered. "Why not try it? Come here," he said, taking Saché's hand.
Suddenly Saché saw herself at the controls of a cockpit. She had always thought the occupation must be boring. It looked so easy when Ric Olié or one of his crew did the job. But with Anakin showing her what it felt like to be in control of a ship, she found herself very interested.
"Wow!" she breathed when Anakin had ended sharing the experience. "I might have to look into that. Thank you, Padawan Skywalker."
"We're friends now, call me Ani," he stated as he winked.
Saché winked back. "All right. I've got to take my place now. See you later, Ani."
Standing, Amidala made the announcement that they would all adjourn to the Throne Room. The guests and the Jedi left by the main entrance while the Queen and her handmaidens took a back way.
A diplomatic aide intercepted Obi-Wan and Anakin and steered them to a side hall. "We want to let everyone else go in first," he explained. "As you have been selected to receive awards, you will make an entrance to traditional Naboo march music."
Obi-Wan groaned. "The Queen knows the Jedi do not wish public recognition for their work. We went over this issue right after the Trade Federation incident."
The aide looked insulted as he gathered himself. "May I remind you, Jedi Kenobi, you are a guest of the Queen here. It's not about what you wish."
"You are right of course," Obi-Wan said, bowing. "We will graciously accept whatever honor Queen Amidala of Naboo chooses to bestow upon us."
Anakin watched his master and smiled. //Stage fright?// he teased.
The response was cross. //Hush, Padawan!//
When the pair of Jedi stepped through the huge set of doors into the Throne Room, Anakin could sense his master's queasiness through their bond. He had discovered some time ago that Obi-Wan had a bit of a phobia about being on public display. Back at the first celebration, he'd figured that the Jedi had simply been in deep mourning for Qui-Gon and that had been the sole cause of his melancholy. He'd been surprised to find that while grief had played a large part in Obi-Wan's discomfort, the attention had overwhelmed him more. And since he had just been given another piece of the puzzle--that his master had left a love behind--Anakin wondered more than ever how the Obi-Wan had avoided falling to the darkside.
Unlike his master, Anakin reveled in attention. The heady feeling he got from walking toward his angel added to the euphoric mood he was still in from his experience of the Force earlier. The last time he felt this good was after the podrace, when Qui-Gon had hoisted him up...
Yes, Qui-Gon should be here, Anakin mused, once again missing the older master that had seemed to understand him like no other ever would.
A brief wave of warmth, then, //I am always with you, Ani// passed into his mind. //Even when it seems I have gone.//
Anakin smiled in response to the reassurance, certain that Qui-Gon would see it and know it was meant for him.
The two Jedi reached the throne and bowed before Queen Amidala. She stood and speaking in her formal court voice began the presentation.
"Honored Jedi, We are grateful that you have chosen to visit our world and once again, you have performed valuable services for Us. Your aid in the rescue and rehabilitation of a most trusted friend and advisor of the court will not go unrewarded. We are aware," at this the Queen gave Obi- Wan a meaningful glance, "that the Jedi do not serve in order to gain recognition, but in this case, We feel that saving our Minister of Recruitment and Training did more than serve our sovereignty; indeed, many of us in this room owe you a personal debt for helping Minister Calle survive her ordeal."
Governor Sio Bibble brought forth two parchment scrolls and handed them to the Queen. "The gifts We are presenting to you today have been crafted by our finest artisans. We hope that you will cherish them as tokens of our heartfelt gratitude." She presented a scroll to each Jedi. "These grant you honorary Naboo citizenship from this day forward. We feel this is one of our highest honors, and we hope to see the both of you visit to your home away from home often."
Obi-Wan and Anakin each unrolled their scrolls. The beautiful calligraphy and delicate designs took even Obi-Wan's breath away.
"Your Highness, I am humbled by your generosity," Obi-Wan said. "I look forward to future visits to Naboo even more, now that I have been granted this citizenship." He nudged his padawan through the bond.
Anakin cleared his throat and gave the Queen a meaningful look. "Your Highness, I also wish to express that I anticipate coming to Theed more often, and of course I know that I will always feel welcome, now that I have this."
Amidala's eyes studied Anakin's face for a moment, then she turned and took two small fabric covered boxes from the Governor.
The first one she gave to Obi-Wan. He opened it, and took out a gold chain with a black gemstone dangling from it which was cut to an odd shape. Holding it up, he studied it, admiring how the many facets gave it a glittering appearance. He felt the Force in it somehow, which was unexpected. He also detected a feeling of delight from Sabé about the gift. He looked beyond the Queen and sent a warm gaze her way.
Following Obi-Wan's line of sight, Amidala glanced back at Sabé and smiled. The Queen then turned to the Jedi and explained, "I am also presenting you each with a token that We hope you will be able to carry on your persons as you travel from system to system on your missions. We would like to think that a piece of Naboo will be with you, as the results of your valiant deeds will be with Us." She then turned to Anakin and presented him with the second box.
When he saw his treasure, Anakin almost burst into tears. A smooth black stone with a matte finish was hanging off a leather cord. It was shaped just like the japor snippet he had given Padmé. The Queen's crest was carved into the rock, and accented in off white and gold, so that it would stand out from the dark stone.
"Your Highness, this is b-beautiful," Anakin stammered.
"Indeed, they both are," Obi-Wan said. "Your Highness, we will cherish these gifts always."
"Then We are pleased." Amidala said, with a mysterious smile. "I now call a recess so the Jedi may proceed to their transport. We will reconvene in 90 minutes."
Meira kept between her grandfather and Sabé, but gave Anakin looks that were curious rather than apprehensive now and then between bites of toast.
Amidala was already dressed for court, so she ate little, so as to avoid ruining her makeup and gown. She would turn and face Sabé and Obi-Wan to exchange conversation, but when Anakin tried to meet her eyes, she looked uncomfortable. She didn't turn away, but she didn't seem to know just what to say to him either.
Anakin smiled at her when she looked his way as the meal ended. "Talk to you?" he mouthed.
She understood and gave a barely perceptible nod. "After the ceremony," she said soundlessly in return.
When it became clear that most everyone was finished with the meal, Saché passed behind Anakin to stand next to the Queen. In his mind's eye, the boy saw her wearing the official pilot's uniform. He turned and gestured to her in excitement. "Handmaiden, how long have you been a pilot? It's great, isn't it?"
Saché looked at him in confusion. "Padawan Skywalker, I'm not a pilot. I'm afraid you must have mistaken me for someone else."
"No, I saw you as a pilot, just now! Maybe you should think about becoming one," Anakin whispered. "Why not try it? Come here," he said, taking Saché's hand.
Suddenly Saché saw herself at the controls of a cockpit. She had always thought the occupation must be boring. It looked so easy when Ric Olié or one of his crew did the job. But with Anakin showing her what it felt like to be in control of a ship, she found herself very interested.
"Wow!" she breathed when Anakin had ended sharing the experience. "I might have to look into that. Thank you, Padawan Skywalker."
"We're friends now, call me Ani," he stated as he winked.
Saché winked back. "All right. I've got to take my place now. See you later, Ani."
Standing, Amidala made the announcement that they would all adjourn to the Throne Room. The guests and the Jedi left by the main entrance while the Queen and her handmaidens took a back way.
A diplomatic aide intercepted Obi-Wan and Anakin and steered them to a side hall. "We want to let everyone else go in first," he explained. "As you have been selected to receive awards, you will make an entrance to traditional Naboo march music."
Obi-Wan groaned. "The Queen knows the Jedi do not wish public recognition for their work. We went over this issue right after the Trade Federation incident."
The aide looked insulted as he gathered himself. "May I remind you, Jedi Kenobi, you are a guest of the Queen here. It's not about what you wish."
"You are right of course," Obi-Wan said, bowing. "We will graciously accept whatever honor Queen Amidala of Naboo chooses to bestow upon us."
Anakin watched his master and smiled. //Stage fright?// he teased.
The response was cross. //Hush, Padawan!//
When the pair of Jedi stepped through the huge set of doors into the Throne Room, Anakin could sense his master's queasiness through their bond. He had discovered some time ago that Obi-Wan had a bit of a phobia about being on public display. Back at the first celebration, he'd figured that the Jedi had simply been in deep mourning for Qui-Gon and that had been the sole cause of his melancholy. He'd been surprised to find that while grief had played a large part in Obi-Wan's discomfort, the attention had overwhelmed him more. And since he had just been given another piece of the puzzle--that his master had left a love behind--Anakin wondered more than ever how the Obi-Wan had avoided falling to the darkside.
Unlike his master, Anakin reveled in attention. The heady feeling he got from walking toward his angel added to the euphoric mood he was still in from his experience of the Force earlier. The last time he felt this good was after the podrace, when Qui-Gon had hoisted him up...
Yes, Qui-Gon should be here, Anakin mused, once again missing the older master that had seemed to understand him like no other ever would.
A brief wave of warmth, then, //I am always with you, Ani// passed into his mind. //Even when it seems I have gone.//
Anakin smiled in response to the reassurance, certain that Qui-Gon would see it and know it was meant for him.
The two Jedi reached the throne and bowed before Queen Amidala. She stood and speaking in her formal court voice began the presentation.
"Honored Jedi, We are grateful that you have chosen to visit our world and once again, you have performed valuable services for Us. Your aid in the rescue and rehabilitation of a most trusted friend and advisor of the court will not go unrewarded. We are aware," at this the Queen gave Obi- Wan a meaningful glance, "that the Jedi do not serve in order to gain recognition, but in this case, We feel that saving our Minister of Recruitment and Training did more than serve our sovereignty; indeed, many of us in this room owe you a personal debt for helping Minister Calle survive her ordeal."
Governor Sio Bibble brought forth two parchment scrolls and handed them to the Queen. "The gifts We are presenting to you today have been crafted by our finest artisans. We hope that you will cherish them as tokens of our heartfelt gratitude." She presented a scroll to each Jedi. "These grant you honorary Naboo citizenship from this day forward. We feel this is one of our highest honors, and we hope to see the both of you visit to your home away from home often."
Obi-Wan and Anakin each unrolled their scrolls. The beautiful calligraphy and delicate designs took even Obi-Wan's breath away.
"Your Highness, I am humbled by your generosity," Obi-Wan said. "I look forward to future visits to Naboo even more, now that I have been granted this citizenship." He nudged his padawan through the bond.
Anakin cleared his throat and gave the Queen a meaningful look. "Your Highness, I also wish to express that I anticipate coming to Theed more often, and of course I know that I will always feel welcome, now that I have this."
Amidala's eyes studied Anakin's face for a moment, then she turned and took two small fabric covered boxes from the Governor.
The first one she gave to Obi-Wan. He opened it, and took out a gold chain with a black gemstone dangling from it which was cut to an odd shape. Holding it up, he studied it, admiring how the many facets gave it a glittering appearance. He felt the Force in it somehow, which was unexpected. He also detected a feeling of delight from Sabé about the gift. He looked beyond the Queen and sent a warm gaze her way.
Following Obi-Wan's line of sight, Amidala glanced back at Sabé and smiled. The Queen then turned to the Jedi and explained, "I am also presenting you each with a token that We hope you will be able to carry on your persons as you travel from system to system on your missions. We would like to think that a piece of Naboo will be with you, as the results of your valiant deeds will be with Us." She then turned to Anakin and presented him with the second box.
When he saw his treasure, Anakin almost burst into tears. A smooth black stone with a matte finish was hanging off a leather cord. It was shaped just like the japor snippet he had given Padmé. The Queen's crest was carved into the rock, and accented in off white and gold, so that it would stand out from the dark stone.
"Your Highness, this is b-beautiful," Anakin stammered.
"Indeed, they both are," Obi-Wan said. "Your Highness, we will cherish these gifts always."
"Then We are pleased." Amidala said, with a mysterious smile. "I now call a recess so the Jedi may proceed to their transport. We will reconvene in 90 minutes."