Chapter 4 – Our Courtship Part One
At the beginning of this story I said this was the tale of our meeting and not the chase of the Jedi, which means this is where the real story begins. I became lost in someone else and almost forgot that the reason I was in Coruscant and the reason I was pursuing him was for the cause not for my own personal gains .
-
"Hello, Obi-Wan."
"Qui-Gon, it's a pleasure seeing you again. How are you enjoying the garden party?"
"It's entertaining. You?" I studied him as he chose his words. A smile had appeared on his face when I had first walked up to him, a smile I now know was only ever meant for me.
"It is nothing new, but I will say the company here is much improved." He looked up at me through his thick eyelashes in a quietly flirtatious way. "So, found the Jedi yet? Anyone let slip that crucial clue?" He was grinning openly, the only person I had ever met who did not fear mocking what I did.
"No such luck, but I did find something interesting."
"Oh?" I had his undivided attention now, if I hadn't had it before.
"Yes, pleasant conversation." I smiled back at him, surprising him when I asked, "What is this gossip I hear about you and Travin?" I regretted asking the moment the words left my mouth and saw the flash of hurt in his sea green eyes. He hid it well but his ever changing eyes gave him away to me.
"You shouldn't listen to rumours, Qui-Gon."
"But that is why I am here, to listen to the rumours of the Jedi."
"Like Travin." His voice almost held bitterness.
"I'm sorry, Obi-Wan." To my surprise my apology was genuine. "I did not mean to offend you." Or hurt you, but I did not say that, not wanting to let him know I had seen his faint slip.
"None taken, Qui-Gon." Our conversation turned to other things and we laughed. From what I know of him now, I know that Travin's actions had hurt him deeply. Obi-Wan is the master at hiding and masking what he really thinks and feels. The feelings had to run deep for him to slip, to let them show even so slightly.
"So, Obi-Wan, tell me what you know of him, what you think of our elusive friend, the Jedi." I watched him carefully, hoping to see any tiny slip, which is why I was so greatly surprised when he laughed.
"Come, come, Lord Jinn surely you have not gotten as far as you have without subtlety."
"What do you mean?"
"You watch me like a hawk, surely I'm not a suspect in your hunt." He said in jest, but I was serious.
"Everyone is on the list." I told him.
"That must be a long list." Obi-Wan does deadpan very well and I could not help but laugh. "I do not become weak at the knees like everyone else seems to, if that's what you are asking. The Jedi holds little interest for me."
"What about Amidala Naberrie?" I asked casually.
"She wishes to marry Anakin Skywalker, our families have been friends for years."
"Completely innocent, then?"
"Of course, what's the alternative?" Before I could answer, the black haired beauty Obi-Wan had been speaking to earlier, returned.
"Ben, come, I want you to make a toast in my honour."
"Your Highness, this is Qui-Gon Jinn." I bowed to the Prince of Coruscant.
"Welcome, Lord Jinn, I trust your visit has been informative." I didn't hear any sarcasm in his voice but I did get the feeling I was being mocked.
"Thank you, your Highness, it has."
"I'll be there in a minute, Xan." The Prince of Coruscant being dismissed by one of his own noblemen I had to laugh. What was even more surprising was that the prince smiled and left.
"Ben?"
"Yes, well, he had a pet rabbit called Benjamin when he was little, and apparently I look like him. My hair is the same colour as its fur." I grinned at the pet name.
"It's very… endearing." I told him.
"Oh, stop it, you're as bad as he is." He wasn't angry, just faintly amused. "Now if you will excuse me, my country needs me." It was a pleasure watching him walk away. His confident stride, the gentle sway of his hips and the flurry of his hair in the wind.
I didn't speak to Obi-Wan again that day, I saw him briefly later, stepping up into a carriage. The other occupant was hidden from view so I did not know with whom he rode. It could have been the Prince or perhaps Amidala or maybe someone I had yet to meet.
I mingled among the rich gathered and talked with them at length, but everything had suddenly become secondary to Obi-Wan. I barely knew him, and that was something I was going to change.
I attended two other functions that week but Obi-Wan was not present at either. I did not waste my time though; instead I spoke to the other guests who had become quite welcoming, especially since I had abandoned my questions about the Jedi. I talked to them as friends might and I asked them about Obi-Wan.
I was met with smiles. Everyone seemed to have something to say about him. He had a reputation of being the life of the party. His taste was impeccable it seemed and he always had a witty remark ready to lighten the mood. He was never too serious and always happy to listen. Did they really know him at all? Or just one facet?
It was at the second ball that someone revealed to me the mystery of Travin and his connection to Obi-Wan.
-
Travin's story as told to me by Lady Jezzie.
He arrived from the west, from where Obi-Wan comes from; he even spoke with the same accent as our young lord. He pretended to know people Obi-Wan had grown up with and shared false stories and gossip about them. They often sat together for hours talking. We have come to believe that Travin went to Dantooine and spied on Lord Kenobi's past friends.
You could see it happening, the way Obi-Wan looked at him, and it was obvious he was falling for him. And Travin let him believe the feelings were returned. He seemed genuine and very affectionate of Lord Kenobi. They spent more and more time together and we were pleased for Obi-Wan for he needed someone. Eventually, Travin started to spend the night.
I do not know what it was that eventually led Obi-Wan to realise Travin was lying, you'd have to ask him or your mister Travin if you like, but slowly or so it seemed, Obi-Wan became distant. Why he suddenly revealed Travin I don't know either, maybe he only suspected up to then and Travin had finally slipped enough to prove it without a doubt or maybe Travin did something else we don't know about. But when Obi-Wan did reveal Travin's treachery to us, it was quite a scene.
It was a large gathering, even people like Mundi were there; I believe you've already met him. Many of the rescued fallen were there, the Prince and of course most of the nobility. He wanted us to know, so Travin would be forced to retreat, to return to your embassy and hopefully back to Naboo, but he still remains.
It was the middle of summer, so it was still light outside despite the late hour, it was beautiful and warm that night. All the windows and doors were open and the ball had spilled out into the garden. I can still see it, even now; it is something difficult to forget.
Lord Kenobi called for silence and proposed a toast. He spoke softly and we listened. His speeches are usually something to be treasured and always interesting. I am glad I was there to hear it; he has a way with words, even in the face of betrayal.
"My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen and of course, your Majesty, Prince Xanatos, I call for silence now and raise a glass for our friends from Naboo, to those here and to those still left behind. Welcome friends and someone else I must mention to you. This man is truly brave, for he laughs in the face of his enemy, he risks all for his King, and he stands among us now, one of us…"
We all thought he meant the Jedi, but we were wrong because he went on to say,
"… But only through lying. He is a man of secrets and deceit. He betrayed us and fooled us all, none so more than I. This man is so brave that he risks my wrath perhaps that is why he chose me, because he knew despite my position I have no taste for vengeance and once I all was revealed to me I would do little even with the power I wield. So, Ladies and Gentlemen, raise your glasses to Travin, an enemy in our midst. Ah, Travin I see by your face, you wonder how I know, how you could have possibly slipped."
By this time everyone had moved away from Travin, disgusted by his presence, but Obi-Wan wasn't quite finished.
"I will not tell you. So you will have to go from here and constantly think of our time together, desperately trying to find your mistake."
Travin left and Obi-Wan walked, head held high, into the garden. We were all shocked; Travin had fooled us all. He had been so polite and considerate and he had seemed to love Obi-Wan. Lord Kenobi had been alone along time and when he finally found someone he turned out to be false, a personality designed and made to lure him in.
You be careful, Qui-Gon Jinn; he let Travin get away with it, but if you are planning the same thing, I suggest you stop now. Once burned. At least you're honest about who you are and why you have come to Beli'ay. You look relieved, Qui-Gon, but I am not finished yet. If Travin's betrayal was his bite, then his revenge was his poison.
He remained in Beli'ay, but now he lived at the Embassy, wore his own clothes and spoke like you with a Nabooan accent. Now when he sees people the Jedi rescued, he openly sneers. Before he had shown them compassion and offered a shoulder to cry on. It was only after his true nature was revealed did we realise he was only seeking information as you are, but he used his status as Lord Kenobi's 'friend' as a way to gain trust. He had used Obi-Wan. And after Obi-Wan took his freedom away, he intended to return the favour.
He wanted to humiliate Obi-Wan to such an extent he would be unable to show his face in polite society and as I'm sure you've noticed, the wealthy survive by being seen. We thrive on being admired and being envied. To hurt us you must take that from us, to shame us but it wasn't what Travin did that hurt Obi-Wan or at least I do not think so, I think in was that someone he loved and had said that they loved him could do such a thing.
Travin called him out. Before the Prince himself he demanded to defend his honour. Travin knew Obi-Wan couldn't say no, not only would he be seen as a coward if he did, there was also the consideration that many people wanted to see the spy bleed for deceiving them.
At dawn in the Duel Square they faced off against each other, their chosen weapons were swords. All noblemen are expected to be able to fence and Travin intended to humiliate Obi-Wan by showing up his lack of skill. He toyed with him. He reamed blow after blow onto Obi-Wan taunting him with words. He spoke of things that Obi-Wan had told him in confidence. He tried to make him look a fool and he was succeeding.
Many watched as Travin crept past Obi-Wan's defences, giving him a hundred tiny cuts, always pulling back, stretching the duel out. There were no tears in the young Lord's eyes, but I am doubtless when I say he shed many later.
Finally. when Travin held Obi-Wan's sword and Obi-Wan knelt at his feet, he pushed the blade of his own sword deep into Obi-Wan's shoulder and shouted for all of us to hear.
"That's where you belong, on your knees. You're nothing but the royal whore."
I think he would have killed Kenobi, if Prince Xanatos had not intervened. None of us realised he had been watching, however he was suddenly there at Obi-Wan's back, ordering Travin down.
"You've made your point, Travin," he said. "Nothing more will come of this." Travin left with a self-satisfied smile adorning he lips and Obi-Wan left with the help of Coruscant's future king.
Travin's words had been hurtful and malicious, his plan may have succeeded if not for the love that our Prince bears for young Obi-Wan. Xanatos is a good man and made it clear to us that Obi-Wan's position at Court would not change. For a time we saw little of Obi-Wan, but gradually he returned to us seemingly unchanged. I do suspect though, he carries new scars both on the outside and inside.
Do you understand now, Lord Jinn, what kind of man your assistant is and what he cost us? We, the Proud, yes we know what the poor call us, for all our rivalry and competition, we are friends. Some better than others, and sometimes we have falling outs, which is why we still duel here. After a duel is finished the matter can be considered settled and we return to how we were. We never kill each other. Travin betrayed these rules and almost cost us someone vitally important because of it. And now you, a man who seems to be in pursuit of Obi-Wan, brings back within our midst the very man who set out to destroy him.
-
I stopped taking Travin with me to places after that. I disliked him before but after I discovered what he had done, I could barely stand to be in his presence. Yet I couldn't help thinking that what he had done might be exactly what I planned to do? Guilt is a terrible thing to feel in my job and it was that which kept my dislike for my aide alight.
Guilt, yes I, Qui-Gon Jinn felt guilt. Why? It couldn't be possible I cared for the boy. I refused to examine my motives or feelings closely, in case it led me to abandoning my pursuit of Obi-Wan Kenobi.
It was not until the next week that I saw Obi-Wan again at another ball. I was there before he arrived, so I was in a position to admire his entrance. It was not loud or flashy; he merely entered the room and heads turned. He had that effect. He was greeted kindly and I noticed that no one asked him to dance, which struck me as odd.
His eyes fixed upon me and then he started to walk towards me. I stood transfixed as he smiled at me and weaved in and out between the other guests on his way to my side.
"May I dance with you, Lord Jinn?" I swallowed suddenly desperate for a drink. Showing nothing of my surprise, or at least I hope I didn't, I replied,
"Is it allowed?" My voice was husky; half from lust and half by what I now suspect to have been guilt.
"Of course. Why wouldn't it be?" Before I could reply, he grabbed my hand and all I could do was follow, unresisting. I placed my hands on him, one on his waist and the other was held within his own warm hand. The touch was so intimate, that I could smell his scent, hear his whispered sigh and feel his warmth.
"I heard about Travin, I'm sorry Obi…"
"Shh, Qui-Gon. Not now." He moved closer to lay his cheek on my shoulder as he had done that first night. I looked around me and saw other couples dancing around us equally enraptured by their partners and the music. So I did what he bade and held my tongue, holding him close, my eyes closed and my mind empty of everything but that moment with him.
I look back at that dance now and smile, glad to have the memory and glad that I had enough sense to relish every moment stolen from the world, every moment with him.
-
"Tell me about yourself, Obi-Wan, tell me about where you were born." He tensed when I asked about his home, but tried to hide it by taking a sip of his wine.
"I was born in Dantooine, west of here. It's beautiful there; hills and valleys covered in woods and farm land and scattered amongst it there are small villages or the occasional estate with a large manor house and sometimes a castle's still intact and lived in.
"I lived on the out skirts of the largest town with my parents and my brother. We use to play in the caves high on the slopes. It use to scare our parents, but we did it anyway. We enjoyed it."
"Why did you come here?" I asked him, as he had clearly loved it in Dantooine.
"You know why. My father was an important man at Court and would spend weeks away from us to attend the King. When I was twelve and my brother fifteen, we were all to go together to see the capital, as my father had been summoned because of what was happening in Naboo with Palpatine.
"I became ill and could not make the journey, but my parents had to leave. The doctors did not expect me to survive, but my parents could not stay. As it turns out my whole family was killed by a group of highwaymen. And I pulled through. I took my father's place." Years had past since Obi-Wan's loss, but still his eyes shone with unshed tears.
"When your father was alive, he was still able to return to Dantooine sometimes. Do you ever go back to visit?"
"I still own land and buildings up there," he explained, "But there are too many memories."
"I'm sorry."
"It was along time ago." He had not let anyone this near fearing what would happen and then when he finally had given in, it had been to a man like Travin. "Tell me about yourself, Qui-Gon."
"Well, I'm no nobleman. I achieved my rank by joining the army and eventually being recruited by the NIA. It was different when I was younger, as Palpatine had not yet gained power." Careful, you may say something treasonous. "Then the Jedi appeared eight years ago. I was fascinated by him and luck would have it when Palpatine called me before him and assigned me Tracker. It was a great honour." Even to my own ears I didn't sound convinced. "That was three years ago."
"No family?"
"My parents died a few years ago. I had no siblings and no, I have never been married if that is what you were asking."
"It wasn't, but it's interesting to know." We were interrupted by an eager youth who was fidgeting from foot to foot in his nervousness.
"May I dance with you, Lord Jinn?" I looked at Obi-Wan.
"Go ahead." I led the young man to the dance floor and we immediately got swept into the music and the crowd.
"Do you not wish to dance with Lord Kenobi?" I asked.
"Of course, but people do not ask him, he's the one to do the asking."
"Why is that?" I was interested and the boy didn't seem to mind discussing another man.
"Respect. What Travin did was a terrible thing."
"Maybe he wants to be asked." I suggested.
"No, before when people asked he always said no, but a few weeks after being asked he would return the invitation. It was then that people got their dance."
"What about now?"
"He is a friend to us all and is not to be toyed with." Was that another warning not to hurt Obi-Wan or was it a truth passed around the nobles in respect for young Kenobi? The dance ended and the next began, this time with a new partner.
The evening was ending and the final dance was about to start. I walked up to Obi-Wan, bowed low and asked him to dance. There were gasps from the others around him, but he smiled and held his hand out to me. I took it and led him to the centre of the dance floor where we would be obscured from view from the watchers by the other dancing couples.
"That was brave," he deadpanned.
"I was in the army you know. I know no fear," I replied and we continued to dance.
"Are you attending Lady Vant's dinner next Tuesday?"
"I am," I said close to his ear.
"So am I. Perhaps we could go together." I didn't let my surprise show. I did, however let my smile through.
"I'd like that."
"I'm staying in my town house. Travin knows where it is."
"I shall see you then."
"Good bye, Qui-Gon." And before the music ended, he slipped from my arms and made his way to the door. I remained to say my farewells and wish people a good night, but my thoughts were already at Lady Vant's dinner. He had asked me to attend with him. Did it mean to him what it meant to me?
Yes it did.
-
I didn't find Obi-Wan's home by asking Travin. I wanted to keep him away from Obi-Wan. Instead, I asked one of the Ladies who had become quite encouraging of my advances towards Coruscant's young Lord. Obi-Wan was the most eligible bachelor in Coruscant, very rich and powerful; he was also, as I've already said, considered to be a bit of a fool with exquisite taste. Funny thing is, whenever I thought of him, these things never entered into my mind. When I had started, all I saw was a target and I subscribed to the common opinion of him, but after meeting him, all my preconceptions of him were thrown out the window along with all my well thought out plans.
He became someone to be pursued for other reasons; not money, fame, power or the elusive Jedi, but because he seemed to understand me in a way no one else had ever dared to try. We were both loners who wore masks. He did not seem a fool to me and didn't treat me like a vindictive killer, and the best part was that there was no big secret to tell. He would not wake up one day and discover I was an investigator for the NIA. He already knew, everybody knew.
I arrived a little early, dressed in my finest suit and best carriage. I had found a local coachman to drive instead of one from the embassy - with Nabooans you can never be sure who is a spy and who is just a citizen doing their job. Palpatine had eyes everywhere. I wanted my movements to be unknown by him unless I was the one to disclose them to him in one of my reports.
"You're early." Obi-Wan stood at the top of the staircase that led to his front door. He was dressed in yet another jewelled waistcoat and coat.
"You're stunning." He blushed and I was glad I had dared to say something so obvious.
"Shall we go?" he asked, amused by my staring. I smiled to him and mock bowed, opening the carriage door as I did so.
"Your carriage awaits, my Lord." He giggled. It was so endearing and instantly reminded me how young he really was. I do not mean too young for an old fool like me to pursue or too young to shoulder the responsibilities that he had. No, he was just younger than he seemed. The position he held was common for a man of his age, but he had had it for many years now. He hid well behind the mask of nobility, the mask of indifference. His family had always been one of the most powerful in the kingdom and for half of his life he had been the sole member.
He had been vulnerable, so he was forced to grow up quickly. He was still young and knew all the strains of age. He was younger than the Prince but was far stronger. I admired him. The money he had was his family's, yet he was a self made man much like myself; alone in this world, discovering everything for ourselves.
"No brooding."
"Pardon?" I was startled out of my day dream by my companions words and his scowl.
"You were brooding."
"How can you tell, we barely know each other?"
"I can tell." He was right, we had known each other a short while and already could read each other so well. He could see behind my black mask and I behind the feelings he apparently wore on his sleeve. I took his hand in my own and squeezed it releasing the tension. The investigator in me however had not completely disappeared; in a distant corner of my mind I noticed calluses on his hand, hard skin put there by wielding a sword.
I pushed the thought away, the younger members of the rich families passed their time fencing with each other as well as playing a game called racketball and horse riding. The calluses were surely from that, surely…
It amazes me now how far I had already fallen for him by that time. I held his had and he held mine and I was happy just to sit there in his presence. He had already changed me and I him or , least I like to think I had.
With the silence still unbroken, the coachman pulled up to another house similar to Obi-Wan's on the outside, but several streets away. A footman opened the door and we stepped out. The front door to the house was open, so we climbed the steps together and entered.
The room was dimly lit and much smaller than the great halls I had seen for the last couple of weeks. A long narrow table that was set with eighteen places ran the length of the room. Great wooden chairs surrounded it and a chandelier covered in candles and crystal illuminated it. I say the halls were bigger, but the room was by no means small. There was plenty of room left around the huge table for half a dozen people to mill around talking.
We were barely noticed as we arrived, except for a few polite nods, nor were we announced, as this was an informal dinner among friends. Travin had managed to get me invited by using my knowledge as bait. I had essentially invited myself, however there was a place setting for me and I noticed with pleasure, that I was opposite Obi-Wan. As we waited for the other guests, Obi-Wan and I joined one of the small groups and talked about benign, uninteresting things.
When we finally sat down for out meal, the real 'fun' began or, more accurately, the questions began. I smiled, teased and flirted my way through it, learning little and giving away even less. I noticed everything. I had not yet forgotten my primary goal and my reason for being in Coruscant. I noticed which guests became excited by certain information, who corrected me on facts, some of which I deliberately got wrong. And I noticed Obi-Wan, who once again seemed bored. He was not even making fun of the topic of conversation, as he usually does. I remembered the conversation I had overheard at the garden party. He hated everyone's over reaction to the Jedi. Was that a tactic to divert suspicion or did he really think that way?
Once again I was examining the Jedi closer than I had before my visit to Coruscant. This man, who ever he was, did he do what he did for the glory or did he loath the attention? Did he want the world to know his identity but was unable to show himself or was he glad of his secret identity? These were all very interesting questions, each with staggering consequences.
If he really wanted the world to know, he would wave it under my nose, but in such a fashion I may not notice. If he wished to forever remain hidden, he may give up the cause completely if he knew I was close and then I would never find him. I had to be stealthy and notice every detail. If he gave me a clue, I had to be able to recognise it for what it was.
Eventually the conversation turned to other matters and private conversations broke out around the table. Looking across the table I saw Obi-Wan had cheered up and was talking animatedly, chatting to the young lady next to him. Obi-Wan and I were sat at the end of the table with the host as its head. Obi-Wan to his right in recognition of Lord Kenobi's position and I to his left. Keep your enemies close.
Lord Vant turned to me, seeing Obi-Wan otherwise engaged, and we began to discuss the political situation in both Naboo and Coruscant. Soon Obi-Wan abandoned his conversation with the young noblewomen and joined in. It was the most adult and fun conversation I had had since arriving. They were not afraid to say what they thought, even if it went against their king. Freedom of speech without being treason; a novelty for me.
All too soon the evening came to a close and we all in turn left. When Obi-Wan and I left, I noticed two carriages waiting.
"I'm going on to see the Skywalkers, so I asked my coachmen to pick me up, I hope you do not mind." I was disappointed, but I understood that he had responsibilities, just as I did.
"Of course not." He must have seen my disappointment though and went on to say,
"I'll be back early Monday. Drop by around midday so we can have lunch and pit our wits against each other with a game of chess. Do you play?"
"Yes, I do, and I shall look forward to it."
"Until then." He got into his carriage and I into mine. I had a weekend to waste or a weekend to plan, depending on how I looked at it. A weekend to waste. I needed a break to gather my knowledge to all that I had learnt and let it sink in. I would write a report and have it away by Saturday, leaving me with Sunday to spend looking forward to Monday.