Chapter 7 – Our Love

For the first time in months I returned to my lodgings in Theed. Many of my things and clothes that I had not taken to Coruscant were as I left them, gathering dust. With furious speed, I dug deep into my closet seeking old, shabby clothes and anything else that would hide my identity.

I dressed myself as a peasant, wearing rough wool instead of my usual silk. I wrapped a coarse blanket across my shoulders, using it as a primitive cloak. I let my hair down, allowing it to fly loose, not bothering to brush out the knots and dirt gathered from my journey. I allowed it to fall into my face and then I put a wide brimmed felt hat on. I surveyed myself in the mirror.

One more thing and I would be done.

-

When I left my home, it was night and was pouring down with rain. Within a few short minutes I was soaked through, which made me look even more like a bedraggled peasant. I walked the six blocks to the prison, knowing that a carriage or even a horse would give me away.

I didn't recognise the man on guard duty but that didn't mean he wouldn't recognise me. I glanced down at the piece of paper with the names I had hastily written before I left the palace. Picking a name, I ambled over to the guard.

"I'm here to see my wife, Cludeen Toska."

He looked down at his list of inmates. Toska was to be executed tomorrow, which meant her visitors could come as and when they liked her final night of life.

"You may enter."

"Thank you, sir." I stepped into the prison, which was marginally warmer and dryer than outside. Another guard sat behind the desk. He looked up at me as I came through the door.

"Who?" he asked instantly.

"Cludeen Toska."

"Follow me." He stood and without looking back, walked down the long corridor that led to the cells that held the condemned. After them, deep within the stone walls, the most dangerous of criminals were put. It was where I knew the Jedi would be.

The first cell was empty. Out of view of the other prisoners and guards, I hit the man I followed on the back of his head. He stumbled forward and with ease I smashed his head into a stone wall. He went down, unconscious, not making a sound. I dragged him into the unoccupied cell. I took his keys and left him there; the shadows hid him from anyone passing.

Like shadow I crept along the dark hall. Torches burned brightly, creating enough light so as not to trip, but not enough to really see anything else. I came to the heavy oak door that separated the condemned from the people Palpatine really feared. I fumbled with the keys, my nervousness causing my hands to shake. An eternity later, I finally managed to open the door and was close enough to see the light from the single candle that burned in his cell.

I stood in a narrow entryway, which turned onto a large room housing a group of Guards assigned to the Jedi. They could not see me as I stood in the doorway, as I was around a slight corner but I had to pass them to get to the cells.

I shuffled forward a little to see around the corner and into the room. Five Guards sat around small table playing cards. There was a pillar halfway between the entryway to the cells and me. Could I creep across unseen by the Guards? Even if I could, I'd have to do it again on the way out and besides they might hear Obi-Wan and I talking. I decided on a different approach.

"What's going on here?" I bellowed as I stepped around the corner. The five Guards leaped to their feet in confusion. "My name is Leon Desel, I've just returned from Gunga finishing Lord Jinn's investigation there. He ordered me here to talk to the Jedi and this is what I find, five Guards sitting around playing cards." I briefly showed them my NIA badge knowing I was to far away for them to see the name upon it, but I was close enough for them to see its authenticity.

"I'm sorry, Sir, but we've been here for hours."

"That is no excuse!" I continued to shout, not allowing them a moment to question my authority. "I need to speak with the Jedi in private. Wait outside by the front desk until I am done."

"Yes, Sir," they said in unison and marched out. I heaved a sigh of relief. I looked at the Jedi's cell door and all confidence left me. With a heavy heart I walked to the door and opened it, using one of the keys I had stolen from the unconscious guard.

The Jedi stood with his back to me, gazing out of the cell's tiny, barred window. No man could fit through it and it would be useless to the Jedi if he decided to escape. I quickly glanced around me and noticed on a crate, ink and paper and the silk scarf he used to cover his face.

"I'm glad you came." He spoke softly, not quite a whisper, meant only for me to hear. The Jedi turned to face me. Our eyes met and his face broke out into the most beautiful smile I had ever seen. It was the one he only let me see.

For the first time I was face to face with the Jedi and all I could feel was love. Without realising it, I walked to him and pulled him to me. Our lips met in a passionate kiss that I prayed would never end, knowing that everything does and that we were no different.

"You cut your hair," he said, running his hand through my hair. I had cut it shorter and shabbily, hoping to disguise myself further.

"It'll grow back," I told him. "And I needed to come."

"Shh," he hushed me with a kiss. "Later, I have missed you and would like nothing better than for you to love me."

I took his hand gently in mine, mirroring what he had done our first night together. I led him to the cot in the corner and tenderly laid him down. I half lay across him, and studied his face by the dim candlelight. The soft light hid half his face in shadows but his eyes shown a deep forest green. There was lust in them, which I had seen before, however this time he allowed me to see something else in them too. I am sure it was love.

With soft hands we reached out to each other and undressed each other, exploring bodies, as we had never done before. I loved every inch of him and touched him with gentle grace. I entered into his body slowly but deeply. He cried out in joy as I filled him and sought my lips as I pulled out only to ease back into him again. We took it slowly, sometimes painfully so, in no rush to finish the moment that would end soon enough anyway. We came together, him crying out my name and I biting deeply into his shoulder.

Thinking of that night brings tears to my eyes, even now in great joy and forever sadness. We had yet to speak the words, but that night it was love we felt and saw in each other, that night meant something more, something we had yet to discover. It was a beginning as well as an end, what kind of ending? How long would it last? Would it end with my betrayal or his execution? Was there a third option?

-

"How did you come to suspect Travin?" We laid together, dawn's light not yet in the sky, knowing it would soon come.

"He said he loved me, but in his eyes was nothing. He finally said the words I had waited for all my life and his eyes, his eyes were dead." Obi-Wan looked at me closely, continuing to speak in a low voice, not quite managing to hide his hurt. "I was suspicious then, that he did not truly want me, so I told him. I told him the truth; that I was the Jedi. He laughed at me. I was giving him something that hundreds wanted to know and he laughed. I told him a story then, of an escape that had never happened. He told me that I made it up, he was so certain, there was no doubt in this voice, so I asked him, 'How do you know?'

'I've spoken to the Fallen and have never heard that story.' My heart fell. Could my suspicions be correct?

'Isn't it possible you that you haven't spoken to them yet?' I have become an expert at reading people.

'Of course it's possible,' He replied, but in his eyes I saw that he knew. He knew for sure that the story I told him was false. How would he know that unless he knew of all the Jedi rescues? Only the NIA and League members know about all the rescues. I had him checked out from Theed and discovered that he was Palpatine's spy."

"I'm sorry he did that to you, Obi-Wan. He is poor excuse for a spy."

"Oh, Qui-Gon, don't let him fool you as he did me. Travin is a very dangerous man. He is an excellent spy. When revealed who he was in Coruscant, he stopped watching us. He is still a spy for Palpatine and he's been watching you."

"I'll be careful."

"Good." After a minute's silence he spoke again. "I preferred your hair long."

I smiled.

"It will grow back and I had to get in here some how without them realising who I am."

We both laughed.

"I am glad you are here. I can happily go to my death now that I have seen your face and you have finally, truly seen mine."

"I was always able to see you, really, My Obi-Wan. I love you; Jedi or not. I will not watch you die. I will not allow it."

"So you will join the League then?"

"Within a heartbeat." I kissed his nose. "Do I pass your final test?"

"A thousand times over," The Jedi answered who laying secure in my arms.

"Will you not say the words to me, Obi-Wan?"

"What words?"

Many would have fallen for the look of complete innocence on his face, even the prince. I did not.

"It is not kind to tease an old man."

"Ah, you're not old, don't say that to me again."

"Please, Obi-Wan."

"I love you, Qui-Gon Jinn, with all my heart and soul; with my life and my blood I will love you and protect you." He said it so easily with no pause and with no lies.

"I vow the same," I told him. "No harm will come to you or the Jedi."

"You can't promise that."

"Yes, I can." And it was a promise I was going to keep, no matter what the consequences were. "I'm sorry I succeeded."

"I know. But if you hadn't would we be here and would your have just pledged you life and love to me?"

"Probably not," I admitted, which for some reason reminded me of something else I had wanted to ask. "Why?"

"What?"

I sat up and made clearer my question.

"Why the Jedi? Why do you do it? Who are you, really? I'm letting you go, so does it matter that I know?"

"My grandmother was Nabooan, as many already know, but what many do not know is that she was Lufta Shif Naberrie, Palpatine's wife before he was king. When she fled him thirty five years ago she was with child."

"Your mother?"

"Yes. Yoda, Palpatine's advisor escaped with her and became my mother's teacher and then mine. My grandmother was lucky, when she arrived in Coruscant she was taken in by the Skywalkers. My mother fell in love and married Lars Kenobi. I am rightful heir to the Kenobi fortune and to the throne of Naboo. Yoda taught me things that he had tried to teach my grandfather; Knowledge over ignorance, strength over fear, honour over hate."

"No wonder he feared you; he knew you could take his throne rightfully, if you chose to do so."

"I know, and although my messages were to begin with meant for him, to let him know I was out there, they became for you. I do not wish to be king, but I mean to see Amidala on the throne and maybe what cannot be now, will be. The night will end soon, Qui-Gon, and we must decide what it is we must do."

"We must part," I said. "I must begin arranging your trial and you, you must…"

"Do what it is I do. Do you love me, Qui-Gon?"

"Yes."

"Then I will escape. I will be free and once again the chase will continue."

"I can not help you escape. They are watching me still."

"I know and I admit this prison does create a great challenge, one I have every intention of beating. Perhaps later when I am out there once more, we will see each other another time. The Jedi can be caught again."

"Best not to think of that now, My Jedi. It is a hope and dream I can't bear to face yet."

"Trust, Qui-Gon. Trust in us and above all, trust in love."

I dressed, as dawn's light was sneaking in through the cell's window. Obi-Wan watched me from the cot. The crate with the paper and ink once again caught my eye.

"Why did they give you that?"

"They want me to write them a list of the League members."

I looked at the paper. It was blank.

I stepped up to the door.

"I trust you Obi-Wan," I said and left him there in that cell alone. I pulled the cell door closed behind me, and heard the click as it locked shut. I took a steadying breath hoping that not even the locks and walls of the Bastle could hold him.

I left the prison easily, slipping out past the Guards. I made my way home, never realising that the prison keys were no longer in my pocket. Back in the cell they lay in the hands of a far more dangerous man than I.