Title: Birth of Tyranny
Author: ewan's girl
Chapter 9
Anakin watched the exchange of words between his master and Chancellor Palpatine as he danced with his lovely wife. He wondered what the two of them were talking about, finally he couldn't stand it anymore, just as he was about to go find out Padme broke the silence between them.
"Hi, remember me?" She waved her hand in front of his eyes.
He looked down at her. "Sorry. I'm sorry I'm so distracted."
"Are you ok?" She asked, little concerned.
"Yes I'm fine." He let go of her. "I'll be right back angel, I have to see what's going on." And with that he left Padme standing on the dance floor alone.
He walked up to Obi Wan with a very curious look on his face. "What's going on master?"
"With what?" Obi Wan looked at him, a little taken back that he left Padme on the dance floor.
"What were you and the chancellor talking to each other about?" Anakin asked eagerly.
"It doesn't concern you padawan." Obi Wan stated coolly.
"But I thought that we were a team master...I figured anything that he asks you would have to do with me." Anakin said in almost an angry tone.
"Well this time it doesn't." Obi Wan answered, as he scanned the crowd for disturbances.
"Why do you always shut me away?" Anakin blurted out.
Obi Wan looked at his apprentice. "What?"
"I mean, someday you and I will both be Jedi knights working side by side as equals; you'll have to share information with me then." Anakin started ranting. "Or maybe is that it? Are you afraid of the day that I am no longer your apprentice and therefore cannot tell me what to do anymore? Is that why you shut me away?"
"Anakin, be mindful of your emotions right now. You are blowing this way out of proportion." Obi Wan looked at his apprentice with concern.
"Or are you afraid to let anybody in at all?" Anakin asked and Obi Wan looked at him hard. "I mean master it's one thing to follow the Jedi code, it's another to follow it so much that you never let any emotions in at all."
"Anakin!" Obi Wan said in almost a shout, then he lowered his voice. "Now is not the time to discuss any of this. The chancellor had a personal matter to discuss with me, I'm sorry if you disagree with that, but as of right now you are still my padawan." He looked at Anakin with a face that made sure Anakin knew he meant business. "You will learn your place young one."
Anakin was about to protest when he turned and glanced at Padme looking at him with a longing look on her face, so Anakin swallowed his pride and looked at his master. "I'm sorry master."
"We'll talk about it later Anakin, and hopefully we can come to some sort of understanding of each other." Obi Wan said with a slight smile.
"Yes master." Anakin said as he headed back to the dance floor.
Obi Wan shook his head as he began to walk around the party. When out of the corner of his eye something caught his attention at the top of the stairs. He looked up and saw She-ar-ah standing at the top looking down at the crowd. She was wearing a white satin gown, with a slit up her leg. The dress was lined with black lace, it had a high collar in the back that was shaped almost like a fan. Her hair was piled on top of her head in an elegant fashion. Obi Wan's jaw dropped at the first sight of her, but he quickly recovered. He had never seen her look so elegant, so femine, he almost didn't believe it was her. He watched her come down the stairs, and head to one of her guards standing at the door. He followed her.
"Wow captain. Is that you?" The guard asked when he noticed She-ar-ah walking towards him.
"Don't say anything. His majesty thought I should go undercover to catch this guy." She-ar-ah said with an annoyed tone. "This wasn't my idea."
"Well it works, I almost didn't recognize you." The guard said with a smile.
"Thanks I guess." She-ar-ah chuckled. She began to put an earpiece in her ear. "This is hooked up to my comlink, so I can keep up with what's going on with everyone. Keep me posted."
"Yes captain." The guard answered.
She fidgeted with her dress clearly uncomfortable wearing it. "I know his majesty had good intentions on having me wear this, but I feel so silly in it really."
"Well you look extrodinary." Obi Wan's voice came from behind her.
She smiled and turned to face him. "Extrodinary? Really?"
"Yes. Probably the most extrodinary thing I've ever seen in the galaxy." He answered, and she started blushing. "And I've been around the galaxy."
"You always knew just what to say to make a girl smile." She looked at him admiringly. "It's a shame they don't let you dress up, I'd love to see what a Jedi wears when he goes to a fancy party."
Obi Wan looked down at his clothes. "What do you mean you want to see me dressed up? I thought I was." He then made a 360 degree turn and She-ar-ah laughed at him.
Suddenly they both became serious, remembering the job at hand. She-ar-ah scanned the crowd and Obi Wan did the same.
"Dance with me." She turned to Obi Wan.
"What?" He looked at her stunned.
"I'm supposed to blend in, so dance with me." She began to lead him to the dance floor.
"Won't it look suspicious if you are dancing with a Jedi?" Obi Wan said as he reluctantly began dancing with her.
"Well Senator Amidala is dancing with one, and no one seems to notice." She-ar-ah pointed to his padawan dancing with his wife. She-ar-ah continued to survey the crowd over Obi Wan's shoulder.
He looked down at her. "So, what do you think?"
"About what?" She looked at him.
"About the assassin? Do you think that someone from the inside is helping him?" Obi Wan asked.
"My first reaction to that question would be no, but I've learned in my experience that anything is possible." They found themselves staring at each other for a moment, then turned away. "Well almost anything is possible." She corrected herself.
They danced in silence for a second, and She-ar-ah looked at the crowd again. "Do you think he'll actually strike tonight?" She-ar-ah asked Obi Wan, breaking the silence.
"I don't know. It would be logical for him to with all the politicians around, but will he be able to get past our security?"
"That's what I'm wondering myself. I hate just sitting here waiting for something to happen." She-ar-ah answered, frustrated. "I'm also afraid something terrible will happen tonight."
"All we can do is trust in our abilities, and trust in the force." Obi Wan answered in a matter of factly tone.
"I know." She-ar-ah answered.
**
Anakin looked at them from across the room. He looked at his master dance with this woman, and thought about the conversation he had with his master before they arrived at the ball. Padme looked at her husband, then at Obi Wan and She-ar-ah. "You don't think she'll tell him do you?" Padme asked, concerned.
"I don't know. I hope not." Anakin continued to look at them. "But I get the feeling that they have other matters to talk about right now."
"How do you know?" Padme asked.
"I just do." Anakin answered. "He is such a hypocrite." He said with a hint of anger in his voice.
"Why do you say that?" Padme asked, concerned.
"Because while he sits there preaching to me about falling in love, and look at him." Anakin motioned towards them anger rising in his voice. "He always acts like he's better than me, but in reality he's not."
"Anakin. You don't know what's going on between them." Padme motioned towards the other couple. "You don't know that they are in love."
"Why are you taking his side?" Anakin looked at her with anger and jealousy in his eyes.
Padme backed away from Anakin. "What is wrong with you? You are scaring me."
Anakin looked at his frightened bride, and the anger subsided. He grabbed her hand, and pulled her into a tight embrace. "I'm so sorry my love, I would never hurt you, I swear to you I would never ever hurt you. I don't know what's wrong with me." He looked her in the eyes, and he almost looked like a little lost boy.
She put a hand on his cheek, and smiled. "You promise that you will never hurt me?"
"I swear on my life as a Jedi." He leaned in and kissed her.
No one noticed the quick kiss except for Palpatine, who stood in a corner and smiled when he saw it.
**
Obi Wan and She-ar-ah continued to dance and discuss the mission, they began to talk about the past, and also plans for the future. Before they knew it they were so lost in being with each other they almost forgot the task at hand.
"I must say, I think this is the first time I've seen you with out a weapon since I've been here." Obi Wan marveled.
She-ar-ah moved the slit over her leg wider and showed a black satin garter trimmed with white lace, holding a small blaster. She smiled at him. "Don't leave home without it."
Obi Wan laughed. "Ah I stand corrected."
She looked at him and ran her fingers through his beard. "And might I ask what is this?" She tugged at his beard. "Are you trying to look like Qui Gon?" She smiled, but then dropped the smile when she saw the expression on his face. "I'm sorry Obi Wan, that was uncalled for." She looked at the ground, ashamed.
He put a finger under her chin and forced her to look at him. "It's ok, you're not the first one to tease me about the beard. It's a constant joke for Anakin." He said with a smile.
They continued to dance, and stare at each other for another moment when She-ar-ah broke the silence.
"I want to show you something." She-ar-ah said, taking Obi Wan by the hand and leading him outside.
She-ar-ah led Obi Wan down a corridor of the palace and outside. Next thing Obi Wan knew he was standing between two waterfalls that spilled into the ocean. She-ar-ah removed her shoes in order to walk more carefully on the slick surface, she then turned to Obi Wan and smiled.
"This is my favorite place on all of Alderaan." She-ar-ah stretched her hand out under one of the waterfalls.
Obi Wan looked around in amazement. "This is incredible." He said with a raised voice to be heard over the loud water.
"I come here to get away from everyone, only his majesty knows that I come here." She looked at the water. "It's very calming to me."
"Well, you've always loved the water." Obi Wan said, moving closer to her.
"See, I haven't changed all that much. Have I?" She looked at him.
He stopped in his tracks. "No. I suppose not."
"I'm sorry I never told you about being a weapons expert, or a hired body guard..." She began. "I just, I didn't want to see the look of disappointment on your face that I've seen on my father's face since he found out I wasn't a Jedi."
"Your father is proud of you She-ar-ah." Obi Wan moved closer to her.
"I know. But I also know deep down he is disappointed." She turned to him. "I missed becoming a Jedi by 12 midi clorians...12." She then looked away from him.
He walked up to her, and put a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, you're freezing..." He took off his cloak and put it around her shoulders. "Here."
She looked up at him. "Thank you."
He put his arm around her, and they sat watching the water fall. Obi Wan spoke again.
"I do understand what it is like, to be afraid you won't live up to other's expectations." He kept staring at the water. "I mean try being known as the only Jedi to face and destroy a sith lord in over 100 years." She-ar-ah looked up at him. "Do you have any idea how many classes I had to speak at? How many times I had to relive that horrible day for other people?" He kept his focus on the water. "Then when all of that died down, I was known as the master of the chosen one. Now I have everyone watching my every move, waiting for me to fail. All I wanted was to be a Jedi knight, a guardian of the peace a simple life. I never wanted all of these other responsibilities."
She-ar-ah put her arm around him, and looked up at him. "Hey, look at me." Obi Wan reluctantly looked at her. "Even if you hadn't faced the sith, or even if you had never met the chosen one you would never have a simple life Obi Wan. You are too talented, and the force knows this, this is why it has given you these responsibilities." She looked him in the eye. "And you know what? They aren't watching you expecting you to fail...they're waiting for you to succeed." She smiled at him. "And that is why I left, because I know how much they need you."
"But, you left without knowing how much I need you." Obi Wan looked at her, and stroked her cheek. She-ar-ah closed her eyes under his touch. "But you're right, I can't. I have to set an example to Anakin." Obi Wan turned away from She-ar-ah. He stood for a moment with his back to her, thinking. He turned to face her. "But why has the force brought us back together? For what purpose?" He asked, and she shrugged. He rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm perplexed. I don't know what to do."
"Maybe this is the forces' way of telling us to instead of listening to our heads like last time we were together, maybe we should listen to our hearts." She-ar-ah said, and tightened his cloak around her.
"But it is forbidden." Obi Wan finally said. She-ar-ah nodded. Obi Wan ran his fingers through his wet hair and looked at her. He quickly without notice turned to her and took her in his arms.
She looked at him surprised. "What are you doing? What about the council?"
"For once in my life I am doing what Obi Wan wants to do, not the council nor Qui Gon, not even Anakin. For once I am going to live in the moment and not care about the consequences." He held her close.
"This is so unlike you." She smiled and wrapped her arms around him.
"I know." He smiled and leaned in to kiss her.
For the first time in 13 years their lips touched. The energy between them was almost electric. They were lost in each others arms, and at that moment nothing else mattered. Suddenly an explosion rocked the ground around them and above them. It shook them apart. The ground under them cracked and Obi Wan fell.
"Obi Wan!" She-ar-ah ran to the edge. "No!"
Author: ewan's girl
Chapter 9
Anakin watched the exchange of words between his master and Chancellor Palpatine as he danced with his lovely wife. He wondered what the two of them were talking about, finally he couldn't stand it anymore, just as he was about to go find out Padme broke the silence between them.
"Hi, remember me?" She waved her hand in front of his eyes.
He looked down at her. "Sorry. I'm sorry I'm so distracted."
"Are you ok?" She asked, little concerned.
"Yes I'm fine." He let go of her. "I'll be right back angel, I have to see what's going on." And with that he left Padme standing on the dance floor alone.
He walked up to Obi Wan with a very curious look on his face. "What's going on master?"
"With what?" Obi Wan looked at him, a little taken back that he left Padme on the dance floor.
"What were you and the chancellor talking to each other about?" Anakin asked eagerly.
"It doesn't concern you padawan." Obi Wan stated coolly.
"But I thought that we were a team master...I figured anything that he asks you would have to do with me." Anakin said in almost an angry tone.
"Well this time it doesn't." Obi Wan answered, as he scanned the crowd for disturbances.
"Why do you always shut me away?" Anakin blurted out.
Obi Wan looked at his apprentice. "What?"
"I mean, someday you and I will both be Jedi knights working side by side as equals; you'll have to share information with me then." Anakin started ranting. "Or maybe is that it? Are you afraid of the day that I am no longer your apprentice and therefore cannot tell me what to do anymore? Is that why you shut me away?"
"Anakin, be mindful of your emotions right now. You are blowing this way out of proportion." Obi Wan looked at his apprentice with concern.
"Or are you afraid to let anybody in at all?" Anakin asked and Obi Wan looked at him hard. "I mean master it's one thing to follow the Jedi code, it's another to follow it so much that you never let any emotions in at all."
"Anakin!" Obi Wan said in almost a shout, then he lowered his voice. "Now is not the time to discuss any of this. The chancellor had a personal matter to discuss with me, I'm sorry if you disagree with that, but as of right now you are still my padawan." He looked at Anakin with a face that made sure Anakin knew he meant business. "You will learn your place young one."
Anakin was about to protest when he turned and glanced at Padme looking at him with a longing look on her face, so Anakin swallowed his pride and looked at his master. "I'm sorry master."
"We'll talk about it later Anakin, and hopefully we can come to some sort of understanding of each other." Obi Wan said with a slight smile.
"Yes master." Anakin said as he headed back to the dance floor.
Obi Wan shook his head as he began to walk around the party. When out of the corner of his eye something caught his attention at the top of the stairs. He looked up and saw She-ar-ah standing at the top looking down at the crowd. She was wearing a white satin gown, with a slit up her leg. The dress was lined with black lace, it had a high collar in the back that was shaped almost like a fan. Her hair was piled on top of her head in an elegant fashion. Obi Wan's jaw dropped at the first sight of her, but he quickly recovered. He had never seen her look so elegant, so femine, he almost didn't believe it was her. He watched her come down the stairs, and head to one of her guards standing at the door. He followed her.
"Wow captain. Is that you?" The guard asked when he noticed She-ar-ah walking towards him.
"Don't say anything. His majesty thought I should go undercover to catch this guy." She-ar-ah said with an annoyed tone. "This wasn't my idea."
"Well it works, I almost didn't recognize you." The guard said with a smile.
"Thanks I guess." She-ar-ah chuckled. She began to put an earpiece in her ear. "This is hooked up to my comlink, so I can keep up with what's going on with everyone. Keep me posted."
"Yes captain." The guard answered.
She fidgeted with her dress clearly uncomfortable wearing it. "I know his majesty had good intentions on having me wear this, but I feel so silly in it really."
"Well you look extrodinary." Obi Wan's voice came from behind her.
She smiled and turned to face him. "Extrodinary? Really?"
"Yes. Probably the most extrodinary thing I've ever seen in the galaxy." He answered, and she started blushing. "And I've been around the galaxy."
"You always knew just what to say to make a girl smile." She looked at him admiringly. "It's a shame they don't let you dress up, I'd love to see what a Jedi wears when he goes to a fancy party."
Obi Wan looked down at his clothes. "What do you mean you want to see me dressed up? I thought I was." He then made a 360 degree turn and She-ar-ah laughed at him.
Suddenly they both became serious, remembering the job at hand. She-ar-ah scanned the crowd and Obi Wan did the same.
"Dance with me." She turned to Obi Wan.
"What?" He looked at her stunned.
"I'm supposed to blend in, so dance with me." She began to lead him to the dance floor.
"Won't it look suspicious if you are dancing with a Jedi?" Obi Wan said as he reluctantly began dancing with her.
"Well Senator Amidala is dancing with one, and no one seems to notice." She-ar-ah pointed to his padawan dancing with his wife. She-ar-ah continued to survey the crowd over Obi Wan's shoulder.
He looked down at her. "So, what do you think?"
"About what?" She looked at him.
"About the assassin? Do you think that someone from the inside is helping him?" Obi Wan asked.
"My first reaction to that question would be no, but I've learned in my experience that anything is possible." They found themselves staring at each other for a moment, then turned away. "Well almost anything is possible." She corrected herself.
They danced in silence for a second, and She-ar-ah looked at the crowd again. "Do you think he'll actually strike tonight?" She-ar-ah asked Obi Wan, breaking the silence.
"I don't know. It would be logical for him to with all the politicians around, but will he be able to get past our security?"
"That's what I'm wondering myself. I hate just sitting here waiting for something to happen." She-ar-ah answered, frustrated. "I'm also afraid something terrible will happen tonight."
"All we can do is trust in our abilities, and trust in the force." Obi Wan answered in a matter of factly tone.
"I know." She-ar-ah answered.
**
Anakin looked at them from across the room. He looked at his master dance with this woman, and thought about the conversation he had with his master before they arrived at the ball. Padme looked at her husband, then at Obi Wan and She-ar-ah. "You don't think she'll tell him do you?" Padme asked, concerned.
"I don't know. I hope not." Anakin continued to look at them. "But I get the feeling that they have other matters to talk about right now."
"How do you know?" Padme asked.
"I just do." Anakin answered. "He is such a hypocrite." He said with a hint of anger in his voice.
"Why do you say that?" Padme asked, concerned.
"Because while he sits there preaching to me about falling in love, and look at him." Anakin motioned towards them anger rising in his voice. "He always acts like he's better than me, but in reality he's not."
"Anakin. You don't know what's going on between them." Padme motioned towards the other couple. "You don't know that they are in love."
"Why are you taking his side?" Anakin looked at her with anger and jealousy in his eyes.
Padme backed away from Anakin. "What is wrong with you? You are scaring me."
Anakin looked at his frightened bride, and the anger subsided. He grabbed her hand, and pulled her into a tight embrace. "I'm so sorry my love, I would never hurt you, I swear to you I would never ever hurt you. I don't know what's wrong with me." He looked her in the eyes, and he almost looked like a little lost boy.
She put a hand on his cheek, and smiled. "You promise that you will never hurt me?"
"I swear on my life as a Jedi." He leaned in and kissed her.
No one noticed the quick kiss except for Palpatine, who stood in a corner and smiled when he saw it.
**
Obi Wan and She-ar-ah continued to dance and discuss the mission, they began to talk about the past, and also plans for the future. Before they knew it they were so lost in being with each other they almost forgot the task at hand.
"I must say, I think this is the first time I've seen you with out a weapon since I've been here." Obi Wan marveled.
She-ar-ah moved the slit over her leg wider and showed a black satin garter trimmed with white lace, holding a small blaster. She smiled at him. "Don't leave home without it."
Obi Wan laughed. "Ah I stand corrected."
She looked at him and ran her fingers through his beard. "And might I ask what is this?" She tugged at his beard. "Are you trying to look like Qui Gon?" She smiled, but then dropped the smile when she saw the expression on his face. "I'm sorry Obi Wan, that was uncalled for." She looked at the ground, ashamed.
He put a finger under her chin and forced her to look at him. "It's ok, you're not the first one to tease me about the beard. It's a constant joke for Anakin." He said with a smile.
They continued to dance, and stare at each other for another moment when She-ar-ah broke the silence.
"I want to show you something." She-ar-ah said, taking Obi Wan by the hand and leading him outside.
She-ar-ah led Obi Wan down a corridor of the palace and outside. Next thing Obi Wan knew he was standing between two waterfalls that spilled into the ocean. She-ar-ah removed her shoes in order to walk more carefully on the slick surface, she then turned to Obi Wan and smiled.
"This is my favorite place on all of Alderaan." She-ar-ah stretched her hand out under one of the waterfalls.
Obi Wan looked around in amazement. "This is incredible." He said with a raised voice to be heard over the loud water.
"I come here to get away from everyone, only his majesty knows that I come here." She looked at the water. "It's very calming to me."
"Well, you've always loved the water." Obi Wan said, moving closer to her.
"See, I haven't changed all that much. Have I?" She looked at him.
He stopped in his tracks. "No. I suppose not."
"I'm sorry I never told you about being a weapons expert, or a hired body guard..." She began. "I just, I didn't want to see the look of disappointment on your face that I've seen on my father's face since he found out I wasn't a Jedi."
"Your father is proud of you She-ar-ah." Obi Wan moved closer to her.
"I know. But I also know deep down he is disappointed." She turned to him. "I missed becoming a Jedi by 12 midi clorians...12." She then looked away from him.
He walked up to her, and put a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, you're freezing..." He took off his cloak and put it around her shoulders. "Here."
She looked up at him. "Thank you."
He put his arm around her, and they sat watching the water fall. Obi Wan spoke again.
"I do understand what it is like, to be afraid you won't live up to other's expectations." He kept staring at the water. "I mean try being known as the only Jedi to face and destroy a sith lord in over 100 years." She-ar-ah looked up at him. "Do you have any idea how many classes I had to speak at? How many times I had to relive that horrible day for other people?" He kept his focus on the water. "Then when all of that died down, I was known as the master of the chosen one. Now I have everyone watching my every move, waiting for me to fail. All I wanted was to be a Jedi knight, a guardian of the peace a simple life. I never wanted all of these other responsibilities."
She-ar-ah put her arm around him, and looked up at him. "Hey, look at me." Obi Wan reluctantly looked at her. "Even if you hadn't faced the sith, or even if you had never met the chosen one you would never have a simple life Obi Wan. You are too talented, and the force knows this, this is why it has given you these responsibilities." She looked him in the eye. "And you know what? They aren't watching you expecting you to fail...they're waiting for you to succeed." She smiled at him. "And that is why I left, because I know how much they need you."
"But, you left without knowing how much I need you." Obi Wan looked at her, and stroked her cheek. She-ar-ah closed her eyes under his touch. "But you're right, I can't. I have to set an example to Anakin." Obi Wan turned away from She-ar-ah. He stood for a moment with his back to her, thinking. He turned to face her. "But why has the force brought us back together? For what purpose?" He asked, and she shrugged. He rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm perplexed. I don't know what to do."
"Maybe this is the forces' way of telling us to instead of listening to our heads like last time we were together, maybe we should listen to our hearts." She-ar-ah said, and tightened his cloak around her.
"But it is forbidden." Obi Wan finally said. She-ar-ah nodded. Obi Wan ran his fingers through his wet hair and looked at her. He quickly without notice turned to her and took her in his arms.
She looked at him surprised. "What are you doing? What about the council?"
"For once in my life I am doing what Obi Wan wants to do, not the council nor Qui Gon, not even Anakin. For once I am going to live in the moment and not care about the consequences." He held her close.
"This is so unlike you." She smiled and wrapped her arms around him.
"I know." He smiled and leaned in to kiss her.
For the first time in 13 years their lips touched. The energy between them was almost electric. They were lost in each others arms, and at that moment nothing else mattered. Suddenly an explosion rocked the ground around them and above them. It shook them apart. The ground under them cracked and Obi Wan fell.
"Obi Wan!" She-ar-ah ran to the edge. "No!"
