Stars in the Darkness - Part Six
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As the noise and clamor from the hundreds of beings in the large ballroom of the Crystal Pavilion rose and swelled, along with the competing sounds of the two bands on either side of the cavernous room; one a jizz quarter of Bithian musicians, the other, the ear-blasting, floor-pounding rhythms of the popular tune-band known as _OtherSpace_, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi Knight, was not only mingling, hob-nobbing and working the room, he was actually having a good time doing so. Anakin had been right. Senator Rhygdon might be a bottom-feeder, as his Padawan had so aptly dubbed her, but the Senator knew or had contact with a fascinating array of Coruscant society.
Since his and Anakin's arrival at the party, Obi-Wan had been introduced to and chatted with Konan Izzat, recent winner of the Prixi Golden Quill, the galaxy's most prestigious award for literary excellence; the blind sculptress A'sade Olashae, whose stunning works were even displayed in the Jedi Temple; Meeko and Leeko, legendary acrobats from the Circus Maximus, who, although joined at the hip, performed the most exciting and death- defying stunts; former Chancellor of the Republic, Finis Valorum; Septo, the celebrated lunge-ball star; San Hill, Chairman of the InterGalactic Banking Clan and, of course, Illora Vantana, holostar extraordinaire.
The legendary beauty, with her lush figure, flaming-red hair and emerald- green eyes, upon being introduced to Obi-Wan, had even slipped her soft, warm arm through his and whispered perfumed words in his ears that still made his cheeks warm to think of them. However, he had been rescued from her salacious, and most unsolicited, attentions by the arrival at the party, fashionably late, of course, of Dyslogia Twang.
The corpulent alien, dressed in voluminous robes of garish pink and purple, was the social correspondent for the Holonet News. It made him one of the most powerful beings on Coruscant, at least as it related to social status. He could make or break anyone's reputation based solely upon what he reported in his _Sightings by Twang_. Illora, upon seeing Twang enter the room, surrounded by a coterie of sycophants, had quickly let go of Obi- Wan's arm and rushed over to Twang. The two quickly exchanged air kisses and Obi-Wan, thankfully, was forgotten.
That did not, however, stop the attention he received from other women at the party. Obi-Wan could not understand why he was the recipient of so much consideration. He thought he had dressed rather plainly. Underneath a black, velvet, knee-length waistcoat lined with pearl-gray satin and edged with silver buttons, he wore a white, open-necked shirt tucked into a pair of dove-gray breeches. A thin black belt circled his waist, upon which he wore his lightsaber. He also wore black-leather boots and had brought along, but had left in the coat room of the Pavilion, a long ebony cloak.
He had purchased the outfit a few years ago to wear to a coronation, and had thought it appropriate enough for the party. The inhabitants of the planet the coronation had been held on had told him that the light wheat and cream colors of his regular Jedi apparel were only appropriate for funerals.
Yet, in spite of what Obi-Wan considered the plainness of his attire in sharp contrast to the opulent, expensive and more colorfully exotic outfits of the beings around him, he found himself constantly, but politely, brushing off the attentions of quite a few women at the party, both young and old, slender and plump and, in some cases, married, as evidenced when their angry husbands would finally find them and drag them away, with a baleful glance at Obi-Wan.
"Keep that up, Obi-Wan, and you'll start a diplomatic incident," a deep voice said next to him as a Twi'lekian businessman dragged his winsome, orange-skinned wife away from Obi-Wan.
Turning, Obi-Wan was about to protest his innocence in the whole matter, when he saw who it was. A wide smile spread across his face as he grabbed the man's arm and shook it.
"Bail," he cried. "It's good to see you."
"Good to see you too, Obi-Wan," Bail Organa said in turn.
The tall, dark-haired viceroy from Alderaan was one of the few politicians Obi-Wan truly and deeply respected. As Viceroy and First Chairman of Alderaan, Bail also had a seat in the Imperial Senate. A man of great integrity, compassion and vision, Obi-Wan had often thought if all the members of the Senate were like Organa, things would not be as dire as they were in the Republic.
"Though I am surprised to see you here," Bail went on, a mischievous light in his dark eyes. "Where's your apprentice?"
Obi-Wan shook his head. "I lost track of him half an hour ago. The last time I saw him he was in the midst of a cluster of the sons, daughters, and scions of the rich and infamous. But he's here somewhere. As for Senator Rhygdon, you know how I feel about her, Bail. It's no secret, but I thought it best to accept her invitation for the sake of the Order. PR and all that, you know."
Bail nodded, but he smiled at Obi-Wan's weak attempt to justify his presence. "That was a good thing you and your apprentice did, rescuing her little girl from the dissidents."
"I think, perhaps, she might have been better off with them."
"You don't mean that, Obi-Wan. I know Elester is never going to win Mother of the Year, but she took Jadis' death pretty hard. Losing someone you love..." Bail stop and shook his head. "It's not an easy thing. I couldn't imagine how I'd feel if I lost Mariae."
Mariae Organa was Bail's wife. She was also Alderaan's Minister of Education and preferred to live on Alderaan as she found Coruscant too gray and sterile.
Obi-Wan sighed. "I understand, Bail, but Senator Rhygdon has a child. A very lovely little girl. If only she knew how lucky she was to have that opportunity. To be with your child, to watch him grow up, to tuck him in at night..."
Obi-Wan stopped, noting Bail peering closely at him.
"A child is a wondrous gift," Bail agreed, his dark eyes gazing thoughtfully at Obi-Wan. "Unfortunately, Mariae and I have not been so blessed but, perhaps, someday."
Obi-Wan gripped Bail's arm. "Don't give up hope. You and Mariae are still young."
Bail smiled. "Thank you, Obi-Wan." Then he grinned and slapped his hands together. "So, what other beauties have you notched on your lightsaber this evening?" he asked in a jocular, teasing voice. He looked around. "There's quite the garden variety here."
Obi-Wan also looked around. He shrugged slightly. There were many beautiful women here, all of them dressed like the glittering, dazzling creatures of fashion and society they either were or longed to be.
"I'm a Jedi," Obi-Wan said. "Such things---"
"Have no interest for you," Bail finished. "Yes, yes, I know. Only teasing, Obi-Wan. But, considering the attention you've garnered tonight, it's probably best the Jedi as a rule practice celibacy, or you'd be one exhausted man come morning."
Obi-Wan smiled, shaking his head as Bail chuckled next to him. Then, in concert with Bail's laughter, Obi-Wan heard someone else laughing. It was a woman, and her rich, warm laughter brought to his mind, as swiftly and as sharply as a dagger in his heart, the memory of a beautiful young woman with dark, sparkling eyes and thick, black hair spilling down her bare, slender back, a whirlwind of green and gold flower petals swirling around her.
Finding it almost difficult to breathe, for it suddenly occurred to him who the woman was, Obi-Wan searched, both with excitement and trepidation, through the crowd for the source of that joyous laughter.
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Onara laughed as the Associate Planetary Representative of Naboo finally delivered the punch line of his joke.
"Dead? Mesa didn't even know it was sick!"
She laughed again as Representative Binks grinned back at her, his large orange earflaps draped along the epaulettes Padmé had told Onara signified Jar Jar's service in the military during the Naboo Occupation ten years ago. Although Keria had soon tired of Jar Jar's seemingly endless recitation of jokes and wandered off, Onara had enjoyed every one of them, for she had never met a creature quite like the Gungan. Tall and gangly, even in his stately robes of office, he possessed a childlike desire to please she found endearing. And she couldn't help thinking how much Ben would enjoy him.
"Yousa really thought it was funny, Senator Lenor?" Jar Jar asked.
"Yes, it was, Jar Jar. Quite funny."
"Isa have lots more if yousa wants to hear---"
"Jar Jar," Onara heard a voice say from behind her. "Would you be so kind as to get me a glass of punch?"
"Oh, yesa, milady, right away," Jar Jar said to Padmé.
He turned, making his way through the crowd and over to the tables alongside the wall where refreshments were being served, narrowly missing knocking a glass from a young woman's hand as he passed her. Padmé smiled as she watched him leave. She turned to Onara.
"I had to save you, Onara. Having finally found someone who was not only willing to listen to his jokes, but actually thought they were funny, he would have monopolized you all night."
Onara smiled. "Thank you, Padmé. But I really was enjoying myself."
Padmé, her dark eyes anxious, reached over and took her arm. "Are you sure you're not feeling overwhelmed? I truly thought Elester was giving an intimate, little party. I had no idea she had this...this four-ring circus planned."
Onara shook her head. "I'm fine, Padmé. Really. I've met so many interesting people and it's all so dazzling and exciting and..."
Her voice fell away as her heart began beating so hard she thought it would burst from her chest. Padme, who had been smiling at her enthusiasm regarding the party, frowned when she saw the look on Onara's face.
"Onara, dear. Are you all right?"
But Onara couldn't answer. She was suddenly bereft of both voice and thought as a man in a black, velvet waistcoat, his lightsaber catching the light from where it hung from his belt, walked out of the crowd. His red- gold hair was still streaked with white along the temple, and those eyes; those eloquently, beautiful eyes that had haunted Onara's dreams for the past two years, those eyes, which had looked back at her from the cherubic face of her only child, those incredible, beloved eyes, which now caught and held hers, were all she was conscious of as he made his way through the crowd towards her.
"Onara," she heard Padmé call again, but it was as if her voice were coming from a great distance, because all the music, all the voices, all the clamor of the crowd had dimmed and all Onara heard was the frantic pounding of her heart and the blood rushing through her veins like a swollen river.
Obi-Wan's expression, as he drew closer to her, was a mixture of surprise, happiness and, Onara was pained to see, anguish, and she wondered if her expression was the same because, at that moment, all she wanted to do was turn and run away, and a voice inside shouted for her to do just that, warning her that if she stayed, if she allowed herself to be near him, nothing but sorrow and grief would come of it. But Onara did not move, she could not move. She waited for him and he came. However, just as he drew near, a woman with owlish blue eyes and a long face, dressed in a gaudy, elaborate gown, intercepted him.
"There you are, Master Kenobi," Senator Elester Rhygdon said tetchily. "I've been looking everywhere for you."
A flash of annoyance swept across Obi-Wan's face, but he quickly smoothed it out. He looked over at Senator Rhygdon, bowing his head, but his eyes kept returning to Onara.
"I want to introduce you and your apprentice to my guests," Elester went on. "Everyone's been asking about you two, the gallant rescuers of my daughter." Elester stopped when she saw Obi-Wan was looking over at Onara where she stood next to Padmé.
"Oh, yes," she noted, one heavy, dark brow arching. "I do believe you are acquainted with our newest senator, Onara Lenor from Ahjane."
Obi-Wan smiled at Onara and her heart sang.
"Yes, I know Senator Lenor," Obi-Wan replied. "I met her some years---"
"Good," Elester snapped, interrupting him. "I'll introduce her along with you. Now, come, both of you," she said briskly as she took Onara's and Obi- Wan's arm. "We'll find that apprentice of yours along the way."
As she disappeared into the crowd with them, Bail Organa moved up next to Padmé.
"What was that all about?" he asked her.
She looked up at the Viceroy. "What do you mean?"
"I was talking to Obi-Wan and, then, suddenly, excusing himself, he just ran off."
Padmé shrugged. "I don't know. He was heading this way, but Elester grabbed both him and Onara so she could introduce them to her guests."
Bail shook his head. "If only she knew how much Obi-Wan loathes her."
Padmé laughed. "She wouldn't care if she did know. You know that, Bail."
He laughed with her. Just then Jar Jar returned with the punch. He handed it to Padmé after saying hello to Bail. Padmé sipped at the punch as Bail offered her his arm.
"Shall we go watch the introductions?"
Padmé took his arm and walked with him and Jar Jar towards the stage upon which the Bith jizz quarter was playing. Senator Rhygdon had pulled Obi-Wan and Onara onto the stage, gesturing angrily for the quartet to stop playing.
"Everyone, everyone, your attention please," she cried out, clapping her hands.
The room slowly quieted as the crowd turned towards her. Two hovering holocams, recording the festivities for broadcast on the HoloNet News, swooped towards the stage.
"I would like to introduce to you the Jedi Knight responsible for rescuing my little Joyna from those despicable, contemptible kidnappers. Obi-Wan Kenobi."
The crowd erupted into applause. Onara, who was still quite shocked to find she had been dragged upon a stage and was now standing before hundreds of strangers, glanced over at Obi-Wan who was on the other side of Senator Rhygdon. He gazed out at the crowd as they continued to clap, inclining his head stoically in acceptance of their applause. Following that, he looked over at Onara and gave her a warm smile. Onara, her thoughts spinning, returned his smile. Then she heard Elester's strident voice.
"Where is Anakin Skywalker?" she shouted.
"Here, Madam Senator," a voice Onara recognized cried out from the crowd.
It was all she could do to keep from laughing as Anakin, smoothing his hair and running his hands quickly down the front of his dark blue jacket, deftly made his way through the crowd like a young colt through an obstacle course. His bright blue eyes widened when he saw Onara as he ran up on the stage. He grinned at her but, before he could say a word, Elester gestured at him.
"Master Kenobi's apprentice," she cried out, "who also helped rescue my little Joyna. Anakin Skywalker."
The crowd clapped again, but this time there were also whistles and shouts along with the applause. Onara saw that a small crowd of richly-dressed young people, males and females, humans and aliens, had pushed themselves towards the front of the stage and were cheering Anakin. He smiled and bowed to them.
Elester turned to Onara. "I would also like to introduce to you the newest member of the Galactic Senate of the Republic, Senator Onara Lenor from the sovereign system of Ahjane."
Onara curtsied deeply as the crowd applauded her. She heard Anakin cheering. She blushed and looked over at Obi-Wan. He was clapping with great enthusiasm and the look in his eyes as he gazed at her almost made her swoon. She actually stumbled a bit as she rose from her curtsey.
The holocams swirled around the stage as Elester posed with her, Anakin and Obi-Wan. Once that was done, the Senator thanked them, ordered the jizz quartet to continue and abruptly left the stage. Anakin turned to Onara, a wide smile on his face.
"Wow, Onara, I mean, Senator Lenor," he said quickly as the jizz band staring playing behind them. "I didn't know you were here," he shouted to be heard above the music. "How are you? You look really beautiful in that dress. Is Ben with you? How is he? I bet he's really grown."
"Anakin."
Anakin turned and looked at Obi-Wan who was gesturing towards the floor.
"I think we could all talk better if we got off the stage."
"Oh, yes, right, sorry, Master."
Anakin offered Onara his arm and escorted her off the stage, Obi-Wan behind them. Once they were on the floor, the three moved away until they were far enough from the quartet to hear each other.
"It's good to see you, Anakin," Onara said as she smiled up at him.
And it was good to see him. He had grown a bit more, and there was a maturity about his eyes and his face that had elevated him from cute to quite handsome. He smiled down at her.
"Master and I had heard you were a Senator, but we had no idea you were at this party."
Onara looked over at Obi-Wan. She saw he was about to say something to her, but at that moment Keria rushed over to them from out of the crowd. Onara wasn't surprised to see her. Her handmaiden had been searching for Anakin since they'd arrive, hoping against hope he might be here.
"Milady," Keria cried breathlessly as she moved next to Onara.
She curtsied to Anakin and Obi-Wan, but it was apparent all her attention was focused on the young Jedi who, not surprisingly, was staring at her.
Keria wore a high-waisted gown of white and silver gauze she and Onara had purchased earlier in the day. The sleeves were short and open and joined at the shoulder with silver ornaments. Her blonde hair was up in a chignon, she wore a necklace of tiny diamond pearls, and her blue eyes were sparkling as brightly as the jewels about her neck.
"It's good to see you again, Keria," Obi-Wan said to her.
Onara, who had not heard Obi-Wan's low, melodious voice in so long, felt a delicious thrill moving through parts of her body she did not want to dwell on.
"Thank you, Master Kenobi," Keria said, dimpling prettily as she stared rapturously over at Anakin.
Obi-Wan glanced between Keria and Anakin, smiling over at Onara as he did so. Again, she saw he was about to speak but just then Jar Jar rushed over to Anakin and eagerly shook his hand.
"Mesa bustin with happiness seeing yousa again, Ani. And you too Obi. But yousa so biggen, Ani. Mesa can't believe yousa little Ani."
Anakin grinned, shaking Jar Jar's hand in return. "I'm happy to see you too, Jar Jar."
Obi-Wan's eyes were laughing as he watched the exchange between Anakin and the Gungan. He moved closer to Onara.
"Onara---," he began.
"Well, that wasn't too bad, Obi-Wan, now was it," a tall, distinguished- looking man with dark hair and a neat black beard called out as he approached them, accompanied by Padmé.
Obi-Wan turned and, seeing the man and Padmé, bowed deeply. Padmé, who was smiling widely as she walked over, extended her hand. Obi-Wan took it.
"It's a great pleasure to see you again, milady," he said warmly as he shook her hand.
"It's been far too long, Master Kenobi," Padmé said, her dark eyes regarding Obi-Wan with both respect and admiration.
Padmé looked over at Onara. "I believe you and Senator Lenor already know each other, so introductions I gather are not necessary."
"No, they are not," Obi-Wan assured Padmé as he looked warmly over at Onara.
"However, I have yet to introduce Onara to Bail," Padmé said. "Onara, may I present Viceroy Bail Organa. Bail, Senator Onara Lenor. And this beautiful young creature is Senator Lenor's handmaiden, Keria."
"A pleasure to meet you, Senator Lenor," Bail said smiling as he took her hand and shook it. "And you also, beautiful, young Keria," he said with a deep smile as he took her hand and bowed over it. Keria blushed.
Onara felt an instant liking for Viceroy Organa. There was a reassuring quality about him, a sense he possessed both strength and compassion. Although he was years younger than her late father had been, he reminded Onara of him. Padmé turned from her and Viceroy Organa and looked over at Anakin. Her dark brown eyes widened.
"Ani? My goodness, you've grown."
Anakin, who had been standing just behind Obi-Wan, moved forward almost shyly. Onara was surprised to see him blushing as he looked down at Padmé.
"So have you," he said softly. "Grown more beautiful, I mean." He stopped, his face flaming even more. "Well, for a Senator, I mean."
Padmé stared appraisingly up at him for a moment, then gave him a wide smile. "Well, you're certainly not that little boy I remember from Tatooine, are you?"
Anakin didn't say anything. He just stared at Padmé. Onara looked over at Keria. The young blonde was glancing between Padmé and Anakin, her clear blue eyes now shadowed and confused. Onara's heart went out to her. She glanced over at Obi-Wan. From the look in his eyes she saw he also sensed Keria's distress.
"Keria," he said gently.
Keria turned and looked over at Obi-Wan and her eyes, Onara now saw with a pained heart, were glittering with unshed tears.
"Would you do me the great honor of dancing with me?" he asked as he offered her his arm.
Onara noted the other band, the one Padmé had called the resident ensemble for a lunatic asylum, had left the stage and only the Bithian quartet remained, and they had replaced their jizz instruments with stringed ones and were now playing a waltz.
Keria stared at Obi-Wan, smiled and took his arm. She looked back at Onara.
"Is it all right, milady?"
"Yes, of course it is," she answered warmly.
As Obi-Wan took Keria out onto the floor where more and more couples were now dancing, he looked back at Onara and smiled. Padmé and Anakin, meanwhile, had drifted away, but Padmé was doing most of the talking, since Anakin was only walking slowly at her side, gawking down at her. That left Onara, Viceroy Organa and Jar Jar, but he was soon gone when he was pulled out onto the dance floor by what Onara assumed was a female Gungan. Bail moved closer to Onara once Jar Jar had left.
"So, you and Obi-Wan know each other?" he asked.
"Yes. We met almost three years ago. He came to my homeworld to negotiate a peace settlement," Onara replied as she watched Obi-Wan and Keria dancing.
Not only had she not known Obi-Wan could dance, she had also not known he was so accomplished at it. He moved as gracefully as a young lord and, as he and Keria swept past, the young blonde girl was laughing gaily at something Obi-Wan was saying to her.
"Yes, Obi-Wan is a man of many talents," Bail commented.
He and Onara watched the dancing for a moment. Then Bail cleared his throat.
"Your handmaiden dances most divinely, Senator Lenor. I think I'll cut in."
Before Onara could say a word, the Viceroy made his way over to Obi-Wan and Keria. He tapped Obi-Wan's shoulder. Obi-Wan stopped dancing and looked over at Bail who spoke to him, smiling at Keria. Nodding, Obi-Wan released her, handing her over to Bail. He left the dance floor and walked quickly over to where Onara was standing alone. Without a word, he took her arm and led her through the crowd and out of the ballroom.
To be continued....
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As the noise and clamor from the hundreds of beings in the large ballroom of the Crystal Pavilion rose and swelled, along with the competing sounds of the two bands on either side of the cavernous room; one a jizz quarter of Bithian musicians, the other, the ear-blasting, floor-pounding rhythms of the popular tune-band known as _OtherSpace_, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi Knight, was not only mingling, hob-nobbing and working the room, he was actually having a good time doing so. Anakin had been right. Senator Rhygdon might be a bottom-feeder, as his Padawan had so aptly dubbed her, but the Senator knew or had contact with a fascinating array of Coruscant society.
Since his and Anakin's arrival at the party, Obi-Wan had been introduced to and chatted with Konan Izzat, recent winner of the Prixi Golden Quill, the galaxy's most prestigious award for literary excellence; the blind sculptress A'sade Olashae, whose stunning works were even displayed in the Jedi Temple; Meeko and Leeko, legendary acrobats from the Circus Maximus, who, although joined at the hip, performed the most exciting and death- defying stunts; former Chancellor of the Republic, Finis Valorum; Septo, the celebrated lunge-ball star; San Hill, Chairman of the InterGalactic Banking Clan and, of course, Illora Vantana, holostar extraordinaire.
The legendary beauty, with her lush figure, flaming-red hair and emerald- green eyes, upon being introduced to Obi-Wan, had even slipped her soft, warm arm through his and whispered perfumed words in his ears that still made his cheeks warm to think of them. However, he had been rescued from her salacious, and most unsolicited, attentions by the arrival at the party, fashionably late, of course, of Dyslogia Twang.
The corpulent alien, dressed in voluminous robes of garish pink and purple, was the social correspondent for the Holonet News. It made him one of the most powerful beings on Coruscant, at least as it related to social status. He could make or break anyone's reputation based solely upon what he reported in his _Sightings by Twang_. Illora, upon seeing Twang enter the room, surrounded by a coterie of sycophants, had quickly let go of Obi- Wan's arm and rushed over to Twang. The two quickly exchanged air kisses and Obi-Wan, thankfully, was forgotten.
That did not, however, stop the attention he received from other women at the party. Obi-Wan could not understand why he was the recipient of so much consideration. He thought he had dressed rather plainly. Underneath a black, velvet, knee-length waistcoat lined with pearl-gray satin and edged with silver buttons, he wore a white, open-necked shirt tucked into a pair of dove-gray breeches. A thin black belt circled his waist, upon which he wore his lightsaber. He also wore black-leather boots and had brought along, but had left in the coat room of the Pavilion, a long ebony cloak.
He had purchased the outfit a few years ago to wear to a coronation, and had thought it appropriate enough for the party. The inhabitants of the planet the coronation had been held on had told him that the light wheat and cream colors of his regular Jedi apparel were only appropriate for funerals.
Yet, in spite of what Obi-Wan considered the plainness of his attire in sharp contrast to the opulent, expensive and more colorfully exotic outfits of the beings around him, he found himself constantly, but politely, brushing off the attentions of quite a few women at the party, both young and old, slender and plump and, in some cases, married, as evidenced when their angry husbands would finally find them and drag them away, with a baleful glance at Obi-Wan.
"Keep that up, Obi-Wan, and you'll start a diplomatic incident," a deep voice said next to him as a Twi'lekian businessman dragged his winsome, orange-skinned wife away from Obi-Wan.
Turning, Obi-Wan was about to protest his innocence in the whole matter, when he saw who it was. A wide smile spread across his face as he grabbed the man's arm and shook it.
"Bail," he cried. "It's good to see you."
"Good to see you too, Obi-Wan," Bail Organa said in turn.
The tall, dark-haired viceroy from Alderaan was one of the few politicians Obi-Wan truly and deeply respected. As Viceroy and First Chairman of Alderaan, Bail also had a seat in the Imperial Senate. A man of great integrity, compassion and vision, Obi-Wan had often thought if all the members of the Senate were like Organa, things would not be as dire as they were in the Republic.
"Though I am surprised to see you here," Bail went on, a mischievous light in his dark eyes. "Where's your apprentice?"
Obi-Wan shook his head. "I lost track of him half an hour ago. The last time I saw him he was in the midst of a cluster of the sons, daughters, and scions of the rich and infamous. But he's here somewhere. As for Senator Rhygdon, you know how I feel about her, Bail. It's no secret, but I thought it best to accept her invitation for the sake of the Order. PR and all that, you know."
Bail nodded, but he smiled at Obi-Wan's weak attempt to justify his presence. "That was a good thing you and your apprentice did, rescuing her little girl from the dissidents."
"I think, perhaps, she might have been better off with them."
"You don't mean that, Obi-Wan. I know Elester is never going to win Mother of the Year, but she took Jadis' death pretty hard. Losing someone you love..." Bail stop and shook his head. "It's not an easy thing. I couldn't imagine how I'd feel if I lost Mariae."
Mariae Organa was Bail's wife. She was also Alderaan's Minister of Education and preferred to live on Alderaan as she found Coruscant too gray and sterile.
Obi-Wan sighed. "I understand, Bail, but Senator Rhygdon has a child. A very lovely little girl. If only she knew how lucky she was to have that opportunity. To be with your child, to watch him grow up, to tuck him in at night..."
Obi-Wan stopped, noting Bail peering closely at him.
"A child is a wondrous gift," Bail agreed, his dark eyes gazing thoughtfully at Obi-Wan. "Unfortunately, Mariae and I have not been so blessed but, perhaps, someday."
Obi-Wan gripped Bail's arm. "Don't give up hope. You and Mariae are still young."
Bail smiled. "Thank you, Obi-Wan." Then he grinned and slapped his hands together. "So, what other beauties have you notched on your lightsaber this evening?" he asked in a jocular, teasing voice. He looked around. "There's quite the garden variety here."
Obi-Wan also looked around. He shrugged slightly. There were many beautiful women here, all of them dressed like the glittering, dazzling creatures of fashion and society they either were or longed to be.
"I'm a Jedi," Obi-Wan said. "Such things---"
"Have no interest for you," Bail finished. "Yes, yes, I know. Only teasing, Obi-Wan. But, considering the attention you've garnered tonight, it's probably best the Jedi as a rule practice celibacy, or you'd be one exhausted man come morning."
Obi-Wan smiled, shaking his head as Bail chuckled next to him. Then, in concert with Bail's laughter, Obi-Wan heard someone else laughing. It was a woman, and her rich, warm laughter brought to his mind, as swiftly and as sharply as a dagger in his heart, the memory of a beautiful young woman with dark, sparkling eyes and thick, black hair spilling down her bare, slender back, a whirlwind of green and gold flower petals swirling around her.
Finding it almost difficult to breathe, for it suddenly occurred to him who the woman was, Obi-Wan searched, both with excitement and trepidation, through the crowd for the source of that joyous laughter.
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Onara laughed as the Associate Planetary Representative of Naboo finally delivered the punch line of his joke.
"Dead? Mesa didn't even know it was sick!"
She laughed again as Representative Binks grinned back at her, his large orange earflaps draped along the epaulettes Padmé had told Onara signified Jar Jar's service in the military during the Naboo Occupation ten years ago. Although Keria had soon tired of Jar Jar's seemingly endless recitation of jokes and wandered off, Onara had enjoyed every one of them, for she had never met a creature quite like the Gungan. Tall and gangly, even in his stately robes of office, he possessed a childlike desire to please she found endearing. And she couldn't help thinking how much Ben would enjoy him.
"Yousa really thought it was funny, Senator Lenor?" Jar Jar asked.
"Yes, it was, Jar Jar. Quite funny."
"Isa have lots more if yousa wants to hear---"
"Jar Jar," Onara heard a voice say from behind her. "Would you be so kind as to get me a glass of punch?"
"Oh, yesa, milady, right away," Jar Jar said to Padmé.
He turned, making his way through the crowd and over to the tables alongside the wall where refreshments were being served, narrowly missing knocking a glass from a young woman's hand as he passed her. Padmé smiled as she watched him leave. She turned to Onara.
"I had to save you, Onara. Having finally found someone who was not only willing to listen to his jokes, but actually thought they were funny, he would have monopolized you all night."
Onara smiled. "Thank you, Padmé. But I really was enjoying myself."
Padmé, her dark eyes anxious, reached over and took her arm. "Are you sure you're not feeling overwhelmed? I truly thought Elester was giving an intimate, little party. I had no idea she had this...this four-ring circus planned."
Onara shook her head. "I'm fine, Padmé. Really. I've met so many interesting people and it's all so dazzling and exciting and..."
Her voice fell away as her heart began beating so hard she thought it would burst from her chest. Padme, who had been smiling at her enthusiasm regarding the party, frowned when she saw the look on Onara's face.
"Onara, dear. Are you all right?"
But Onara couldn't answer. She was suddenly bereft of both voice and thought as a man in a black, velvet waistcoat, his lightsaber catching the light from where it hung from his belt, walked out of the crowd. His red- gold hair was still streaked with white along the temple, and those eyes; those eloquently, beautiful eyes that had haunted Onara's dreams for the past two years, those eyes, which had looked back at her from the cherubic face of her only child, those incredible, beloved eyes, which now caught and held hers, were all she was conscious of as he made his way through the crowd towards her.
"Onara," she heard Padmé call again, but it was as if her voice were coming from a great distance, because all the music, all the voices, all the clamor of the crowd had dimmed and all Onara heard was the frantic pounding of her heart and the blood rushing through her veins like a swollen river.
Obi-Wan's expression, as he drew closer to her, was a mixture of surprise, happiness and, Onara was pained to see, anguish, and she wondered if her expression was the same because, at that moment, all she wanted to do was turn and run away, and a voice inside shouted for her to do just that, warning her that if she stayed, if she allowed herself to be near him, nothing but sorrow and grief would come of it. But Onara did not move, she could not move. She waited for him and he came. However, just as he drew near, a woman with owlish blue eyes and a long face, dressed in a gaudy, elaborate gown, intercepted him.
"There you are, Master Kenobi," Senator Elester Rhygdon said tetchily. "I've been looking everywhere for you."
A flash of annoyance swept across Obi-Wan's face, but he quickly smoothed it out. He looked over at Senator Rhygdon, bowing his head, but his eyes kept returning to Onara.
"I want to introduce you and your apprentice to my guests," Elester went on. "Everyone's been asking about you two, the gallant rescuers of my daughter." Elester stopped when she saw Obi-Wan was looking over at Onara where she stood next to Padmé.
"Oh, yes," she noted, one heavy, dark brow arching. "I do believe you are acquainted with our newest senator, Onara Lenor from Ahjane."
Obi-Wan smiled at Onara and her heart sang.
"Yes, I know Senator Lenor," Obi-Wan replied. "I met her some years---"
"Good," Elester snapped, interrupting him. "I'll introduce her along with you. Now, come, both of you," she said briskly as she took Onara's and Obi- Wan's arm. "We'll find that apprentice of yours along the way."
As she disappeared into the crowd with them, Bail Organa moved up next to Padmé.
"What was that all about?" he asked her.
She looked up at the Viceroy. "What do you mean?"
"I was talking to Obi-Wan and, then, suddenly, excusing himself, he just ran off."
Padmé shrugged. "I don't know. He was heading this way, but Elester grabbed both him and Onara so she could introduce them to her guests."
Bail shook his head. "If only she knew how much Obi-Wan loathes her."
Padmé laughed. "She wouldn't care if she did know. You know that, Bail."
He laughed with her. Just then Jar Jar returned with the punch. He handed it to Padmé after saying hello to Bail. Padmé sipped at the punch as Bail offered her his arm.
"Shall we go watch the introductions?"
Padmé took his arm and walked with him and Jar Jar towards the stage upon which the Bith jizz quarter was playing. Senator Rhygdon had pulled Obi-Wan and Onara onto the stage, gesturing angrily for the quartet to stop playing.
"Everyone, everyone, your attention please," she cried out, clapping her hands.
The room slowly quieted as the crowd turned towards her. Two hovering holocams, recording the festivities for broadcast on the HoloNet News, swooped towards the stage.
"I would like to introduce to you the Jedi Knight responsible for rescuing my little Joyna from those despicable, contemptible kidnappers. Obi-Wan Kenobi."
The crowd erupted into applause. Onara, who was still quite shocked to find she had been dragged upon a stage and was now standing before hundreds of strangers, glanced over at Obi-Wan who was on the other side of Senator Rhygdon. He gazed out at the crowd as they continued to clap, inclining his head stoically in acceptance of their applause. Following that, he looked over at Onara and gave her a warm smile. Onara, her thoughts spinning, returned his smile. Then she heard Elester's strident voice.
"Where is Anakin Skywalker?" she shouted.
"Here, Madam Senator," a voice Onara recognized cried out from the crowd.
It was all she could do to keep from laughing as Anakin, smoothing his hair and running his hands quickly down the front of his dark blue jacket, deftly made his way through the crowd like a young colt through an obstacle course. His bright blue eyes widened when he saw Onara as he ran up on the stage. He grinned at her but, before he could say a word, Elester gestured at him.
"Master Kenobi's apprentice," she cried out, "who also helped rescue my little Joyna. Anakin Skywalker."
The crowd clapped again, but this time there were also whistles and shouts along with the applause. Onara saw that a small crowd of richly-dressed young people, males and females, humans and aliens, had pushed themselves towards the front of the stage and were cheering Anakin. He smiled and bowed to them.
Elester turned to Onara. "I would also like to introduce to you the newest member of the Galactic Senate of the Republic, Senator Onara Lenor from the sovereign system of Ahjane."
Onara curtsied deeply as the crowd applauded her. She heard Anakin cheering. She blushed and looked over at Obi-Wan. He was clapping with great enthusiasm and the look in his eyes as he gazed at her almost made her swoon. She actually stumbled a bit as she rose from her curtsey.
The holocams swirled around the stage as Elester posed with her, Anakin and Obi-Wan. Once that was done, the Senator thanked them, ordered the jizz quartet to continue and abruptly left the stage. Anakin turned to Onara, a wide smile on his face.
"Wow, Onara, I mean, Senator Lenor," he said quickly as the jizz band staring playing behind them. "I didn't know you were here," he shouted to be heard above the music. "How are you? You look really beautiful in that dress. Is Ben with you? How is he? I bet he's really grown."
"Anakin."
Anakin turned and looked at Obi-Wan who was gesturing towards the floor.
"I think we could all talk better if we got off the stage."
"Oh, yes, right, sorry, Master."
Anakin offered Onara his arm and escorted her off the stage, Obi-Wan behind them. Once they were on the floor, the three moved away until they were far enough from the quartet to hear each other.
"It's good to see you, Anakin," Onara said as she smiled up at him.
And it was good to see him. He had grown a bit more, and there was a maturity about his eyes and his face that had elevated him from cute to quite handsome. He smiled down at her.
"Master and I had heard you were a Senator, but we had no idea you were at this party."
Onara looked over at Obi-Wan. She saw he was about to say something to her, but at that moment Keria rushed over to them from out of the crowd. Onara wasn't surprised to see her. Her handmaiden had been searching for Anakin since they'd arrive, hoping against hope he might be here.
"Milady," Keria cried breathlessly as she moved next to Onara.
She curtsied to Anakin and Obi-Wan, but it was apparent all her attention was focused on the young Jedi who, not surprisingly, was staring at her.
Keria wore a high-waisted gown of white and silver gauze she and Onara had purchased earlier in the day. The sleeves were short and open and joined at the shoulder with silver ornaments. Her blonde hair was up in a chignon, she wore a necklace of tiny diamond pearls, and her blue eyes were sparkling as brightly as the jewels about her neck.
"It's good to see you again, Keria," Obi-Wan said to her.
Onara, who had not heard Obi-Wan's low, melodious voice in so long, felt a delicious thrill moving through parts of her body she did not want to dwell on.
"Thank you, Master Kenobi," Keria said, dimpling prettily as she stared rapturously over at Anakin.
Obi-Wan glanced between Keria and Anakin, smiling over at Onara as he did so. Again, she saw he was about to speak but just then Jar Jar rushed over to Anakin and eagerly shook his hand.
"Mesa bustin with happiness seeing yousa again, Ani. And you too Obi. But yousa so biggen, Ani. Mesa can't believe yousa little Ani."
Anakin grinned, shaking Jar Jar's hand in return. "I'm happy to see you too, Jar Jar."
Obi-Wan's eyes were laughing as he watched the exchange between Anakin and the Gungan. He moved closer to Onara.
"Onara---," he began.
"Well, that wasn't too bad, Obi-Wan, now was it," a tall, distinguished- looking man with dark hair and a neat black beard called out as he approached them, accompanied by Padmé.
Obi-Wan turned and, seeing the man and Padmé, bowed deeply. Padmé, who was smiling widely as she walked over, extended her hand. Obi-Wan took it.
"It's a great pleasure to see you again, milady," he said warmly as he shook her hand.
"It's been far too long, Master Kenobi," Padmé said, her dark eyes regarding Obi-Wan with both respect and admiration.
Padmé looked over at Onara. "I believe you and Senator Lenor already know each other, so introductions I gather are not necessary."
"No, they are not," Obi-Wan assured Padmé as he looked warmly over at Onara.
"However, I have yet to introduce Onara to Bail," Padmé said. "Onara, may I present Viceroy Bail Organa. Bail, Senator Onara Lenor. And this beautiful young creature is Senator Lenor's handmaiden, Keria."
"A pleasure to meet you, Senator Lenor," Bail said smiling as he took her hand and shook it. "And you also, beautiful, young Keria," he said with a deep smile as he took her hand and bowed over it. Keria blushed.
Onara felt an instant liking for Viceroy Organa. There was a reassuring quality about him, a sense he possessed both strength and compassion. Although he was years younger than her late father had been, he reminded Onara of him. Padmé turned from her and Viceroy Organa and looked over at Anakin. Her dark brown eyes widened.
"Ani? My goodness, you've grown."
Anakin, who had been standing just behind Obi-Wan, moved forward almost shyly. Onara was surprised to see him blushing as he looked down at Padmé.
"So have you," he said softly. "Grown more beautiful, I mean." He stopped, his face flaming even more. "Well, for a Senator, I mean."
Padmé stared appraisingly up at him for a moment, then gave him a wide smile. "Well, you're certainly not that little boy I remember from Tatooine, are you?"
Anakin didn't say anything. He just stared at Padmé. Onara looked over at Keria. The young blonde was glancing between Padmé and Anakin, her clear blue eyes now shadowed and confused. Onara's heart went out to her. She glanced over at Obi-Wan. From the look in his eyes she saw he also sensed Keria's distress.
"Keria," he said gently.
Keria turned and looked over at Obi-Wan and her eyes, Onara now saw with a pained heart, were glittering with unshed tears.
"Would you do me the great honor of dancing with me?" he asked as he offered her his arm.
Onara noted the other band, the one Padmé had called the resident ensemble for a lunatic asylum, had left the stage and only the Bithian quartet remained, and they had replaced their jizz instruments with stringed ones and were now playing a waltz.
Keria stared at Obi-Wan, smiled and took his arm. She looked back at Onara.
"Is it all right, milady?"
"Yes, of course it is," she answered warmly.
As Obi-Wan took Keria out onto the floor where more and more couples were now dancing, he looked back at Onara and smiled. Padmé and Anakin, meanwhile, had drifted away, but Padmé was doing most of the talking, since Anakin was only walking slowly at her side, gawking down at her. That left Onara, Viceroy Organa and Jar Jar, but he was soon gone when he was pulled out onto the dance floor by what Onara assumed was a female Gungan. Bail moved closer to Onara once Jar Jar had left.
"So, you and Obi-Wan know each other?" he asked.
"Yes. We met almost three years ago. He came to my homeworld to negotiate a peace settlement," Onara replied as she watched Obi-Wan and Keria dancing.
Not only had she not known Obi-Wan could dance, she had also not known he was so accomplished at it. He moved as gracefully as a young lord and, as he and Keria swept past, the young blonde girl was laughing gaily at something Obi-Wan was saying to her.
"Yes, Obi-Wan is a man of many talents," Bail commented.
He and Onara watched the dancing for a moment. Then Bail cleared his throat.
"Your handmaiden dances most divinely, Senator Lenor. I think I'll cut in."
Before Onara could say a word, the Viceroy made his way over to Obi-Wan and Keria. He tapped Obi-Wan's shoulder. Obi-Wan stopped dancing and looked over at Bail who spoke to him, smiling at Keria. Nodding, Obi-Wan released her, handing her over to Bail. He left the dance floor and walked quickly over to where Onara was standing alone. Without a word, he took her arm and led her through the crowd and out of the ballroom.
To be continued....