The Ties That Bind
Chapter 5
Obi-Wan stood in the entrance of the small clearing, observing his Padawan and the Queen silently. He didn't want to interrupt this personal moment between them, but the council had decided their fate. Well, Anakin's at any rate, and they deserved to know immediately. *Anakin.*
He saw his apprentice's shoulders tense slightly before relaxing again, his arms wrapping more securely about his lady love. *Yes, Master?*
*The Council has decided.*
Anakin slowly pulled away from her, his eyes traveling over her face, "The Council has decided, Padmé." his voice was soft, but she could feel his resignation. Whatever they decided, he was going to accept it as gracefully as possible.
"Obi-Wan!"
Anakin followed her gaze to where his Master was standing, his hands clasped inside the sleeves of his robe. He lifted her off his lap and stood, grasping her hand firmly in his as they slowly approached.
Obi-Wan waited until they both stopped in front of him. "The council has decided. Anakin is to take his trials to become a Jedi Knight. Ready or not, if he passes, he can come back..."
"What?!" Anakin was incredulous. This was the last thing he'd expected the council to do.
Obi-Wan held up one hand, silently admonishing Anakin for interrupting him, "If you fail you will die. The trials are not easy, Anakin, but you have formed a bond that will supersede everything now. The best course of action is for you to become a Knight."
Anakin turned to look at Amidala, "Ami, are you alright?"
"If you fail you'll die?" her voice was choked, "What will happen to me if that happens?"
Anakin's face drained of all color, his eyes flying back to his Master's, "What's the danger to her if I fail?"
Obi-Wan placed one hand on his shoulder, "She will be half a person, Anakin. As you both feel completed now she will spend her life looking for that one thing, you, that can make her feel whole again."
Amidala clutched Anakin's hand, "Do you think you can do this?"
He looked at her, "I know I can do this."
"Do you, my young friend? Do you really? The trials are not easy, you must be at peace, one mind body and soul."
"I must complete them, Master," he replied resolutely, "For I will not fail if it means that I will lose my Ang- lose Padmé. I will not condemn her to that, I swear it."
Obi-Wan squeezed his shoulder, "I expected no other answer from you, Anakin. I will leave you two to discuss it, come and find me when you are finished so we can prepare for your trials."
Anakin nodded his thanks as his Master turned away and disappeared back down the path. They stood awkwardly for a few moments before Amidala reached up and framed his face with her hands, searching his eyes, "I don't want to lose you," she told him softly.
He covered her hands with his before slowly sliding his hands down her arms, stepping close to her as he firmly grasped her upper arms, "You'll never get rid of me, Angel. I have to do this, if we're to be together I have to do this."
Her eyes filled with tears she valiantly tried to blink back, "I know. I don't like it, Anakin, but I trust you. You'd better come back to me."
He leaned down close, his lips almost touching hers, "If it takes a million years, I'll find my way back to you one way or another."
His kiss was sweet, soft, and made her heart ache. She could lose him in the days to come. A single tear slipped down her cheek as the soul breaking kiss lasted forever. They reluctantly pulled away from each other, their hands locked tightly together as they slowly made their way back into the palace. At her door, he was reluctant to let her go. She finally tugged her hand free, "Go. Do what you have to and come back to me quickly."
His mouth came down hard on hers before he spun and walked away. *As quick as I can, Angel*
She hugged herself, trying to replace the warmth he'd taken with him, as she keyed her door open and stepped inside. *Anakin. If you need my strength, I am here.*
Anakin stepped inside his Master's room and began to pace in front of him, his hands locked together behind his back, "What am I going to do, Master? I have to pass this test, I have to become a Jedi Knight if I want any chance of happiness with her. Is it a certainty that I will die if I fail?"
Obi-Wan sighed. "Anakin."
He stopped, and turned to look at his master.
"Do you remember how I got my knighthood?"
He nodded. He would never forget. Obi-Wan had been given his Knighthood after killing Darth Maul. The Sith who'd killed Qui-Gon. That memory still had the power to sting. "Are my trials to be something similar?"
Obi-Wan shook his head, "I don't think they're going to have you face a sith warrior. They're not exactly commonplace. The trials are different for each Jedi. Yours will no doubt be very personal. Probably deal with unresolved issues in your mind. Are you ready for that?"
"Ready or not, Master, I must succeed."
Obi-Wan stood and placed a hand on his shoulder, "You're well trained Anakin, but you're not a Jedi yet. The trials will no doubt attack you from every angle, try and break down what you have been taught, what you believe and what you hold dear to your heart. The council will be coming here in three days time to administer the trials. It is custom that you spend three days in deep meditation before you take the trials. There are exceptions, of course, but for yours, you will need to focus."
Anakin grimaced. He hated meditation. He sighed, "I will do what I must Master. I will not fail."
Obi-Wan nodded, "I will leave you to it. You know how to contact me if you need me. I'll bring your morning and evening meals tomorrow. Good luck, Anakin."
He smiled faintly, pulling off his Jedi cloak, "Are you sure you wish for me to meditate in your chambers, Master?"
Obi-Wan paused at the entrance and nodded, "I'll sleep in yours. You'll have less distractions this way. May the Force be with you, Anakin."
Anakin nodded, bowing his head, "Thank you, Master."
The door closed behind Obi-Wan with a hiss and Anakin proceeded to remove his clothes, down to just his breeches. Settling cross legged on his cloak, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes, drawing on the Force around him to calm him. Silently, almost unnoticeably, he slipped into a meditation trance.
Padmé Amidala tossed in her bed, unable to sleep. Her mind kept playing back the last time she'd seen Anakin two days ago. The look in those blue eyes as they looked at her, the warmth and love. The feel of his arms around her, his mouth warm and passionate on hers. She groaned, opening her eyes. This waiting was killing her. Anakin had been in deep meditation for two days, somehow he'd managed to immerse himself completely in the Force and was drawing off it almost completely. She could feel his conflicting emotions, his resolve to pass his Knighthood test, and yet his fear that he would fail her.
She needed to see him, this distance, the time apart with no link other than the emotional was fraying her nerves. She threw back her covers and grabbed her robe. Obi-Wan's room was down the hall, she would simply sneak a peak at her knight, nothing more.
She reached for the handle on her door and froze. She felt like she was being watched. Moving slowly, she turned her head to the side, her eyes widening as she dove to the side, a blaster bolt striking the door where she'd been standing a moment before. *Anakin!* her mind cried out for him unconsciously.
She ran across the room, dodging the bolts that flashed around her and lunged into the dubious safety of her bedchamber. Ducking behind her bed she slapped the alarm on her night table, a blaster bolt searing through the center of her hand, drawing a scream from her lips.
Chapter 5
Obi-Wan stood in the entrance of the small clearing, observing his Padawan and the Queen silently. He didn't want to interrupt this personal moment between them, but the council had decided their fate. Well, Anakin's at any rate, and they deserved to know immediately. *Anakin.*
He saw his apprentice's shoulders tense slightly before relaxing again, his arms wrapping more securely about his lady love. *Yes, Master?*
*The Council has decided.*
Anakin slowly pulled away from her, his eyes traveling over her face, "The Council has decided, Padmé." his voice was soft, but she could feel his resignation. Whatever they decided, he was going to accept it as gracefully as possible.
"Obi-Wan!"
Anakin followed her gaze to where his Master was standing, his hands clasped inside the sleeves of his robe. He lifted her off his lap and stood, grasping her hand firmly in his as they slowly approached.
Obi-Wan waited until they both stopped in front of him. "The council has decided. Anakin is to take his trials to become a Jedi Knight. Ready or not, if he passes, he can come back..."
"What?!" Anakin was incredulous. This was the last thing he'd expected the council to do.
Obi-Wan held up one hand, silently admonishing Anakin for interrupting him, "If you fail you will die. The trials are not easy, Anakin, but you have formed a bond that will supersede everything now. The best course of action is for you to become a Knight."
Anakin turned to look at Amidala, "Ami, are you alright?"
"If you fail you'll die?" her voice was choked, "What will happen to me if that happens?"
Anakin's face drained of all color, his eyes flying back to his Master's, "What's the danger to her if I fail?"
Obi-Wan placed one hand on his shoulder, "She will be half a person, Anakin. As you both feel completed now she will spend her life looking for that one thing, you, that can make her feel whole again."
Amidala clutched Anakin's hand, "Do you think you can do this?"
He looked at her, "I know I can do this."
"Do you, my young friend? Do you really? The trials are not easy, you must be at peace, one mind body and soul."
"I must complete them, Master," he replied resolutely, "For I will not fail if it means that I will lose my Ang- lose Padmé. I will not condemn her to that, I swear it."
Obi-Wan squeezed his shoulder, "I expected no other answer from you, Anakin. I will leave you two to discuss it, come and find me when you are finished so we can prepare for your trials."
Anakin nodded his thanks as his Master turned away and disappeared back down the path. They stood awkwardly for a few moments before Amidala reached up and framed his face with her hands, searching his eyes, "I don't want to lose you," she told him softly.
He covered her hands with his before slowly sliding his hands down her arms, stepping close to her as he firmly grasped her upper arms, "You'll never get rid of me, Angel. I have to do this, if we're to be together I have to do this."
Her eyes filled with tears she valiantly tried to blink back, "I know. I don't like it, Anakin, but I trust you. You'd better come back to me."
He leaned down close, his lips almost touching hers, "If it takes a million years, I'll find my way back to you one way or another."
His kiss was sweet, soft, and made her heart ache. She could lose him in the days to come. A single tear slipped down her cheek as the soul breaking kiss lasted forever. They reluctantly pulled away from each other, their hands locked tightly together as they slowly made their way back into the palace. At her door, he was reluctant to let her go. She finally tugged her hand free, "Go. Do what you have to and come back to me quickly."
His mouth came down hard on hers before he spun and walked away. *As quick as I can, Angel*
She hugged herself, trying to replace the warmth he'd taken with him, as she keyed her door open and stepped inside. *Anakin. If you need my strength, I am here.*
Anakin stepped inside his Master's room and began to pace in front of him, his hands locked together behind his back, "What am I going to do, Master? I have to pass this test, I have to become a Jedi Knight if I want any chance of happiness with her. Is it a certainty that I will die if I fail?"
Obi-Wan sighed. "Anakin."
He stopped, and turned to look at his master.
"Do you remember how I got my knighthood?"
He nodded. He would never forget. Obi-Wan had been given his Knighthood after killing Darth Maul. The Sith who'd killed Qui-Gon. That memory still had the power to sting. "Are my trials to be something similar?"
Obi-Wan shook his head, "I don't think they're going to have you face a sith warrior. They're not exactly commonplace. The trials are different for each Jedi. Yours will no doubt be very personal. Probably deal with unresolved issues in your mind. Are you ready for that?"
"Ready or not, Master, I must succeed."
Obi-Wan stood and placed a hand on his shoulder, "You're well trained Anakin, but you're not a Jedi yet. The trials will no doubt attack you from every angle, try and break down what you have been taught, what you believe and what you hold dear to your heart. The council will be coming here in three days time to administer the trials. It is custom that you spend three days in deep meditation before you take the trials. There are exceptions, of course, but for yours, you will need to focus."
Anakin grimaced. He hated meditation. He sighed, "I will do what I must Master. I will not fail."
Obi-Wan nodded, "I will leave you to it. You know how to contact me if you need me. I'll bring your morning and evening meals tomorrow. Good luck, Anakin."
He smiled faintly, pulling off his Jedi cloak, "Are you sure you wish for me to meditate in your chambers, Master?"
Obi-Wan paused at the entrance and nodded, "I'll sleep in yours. You'll have less distractions this way. May the Force be with you, Anakin."
Anakin nodded, bowing his head, "Thank you, Master."
The door closed behind Obi-Wan with a hiss and Anakin proceeded to remove his clothes, down to just his breeches. Settling cross legged on his cloak, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes, drawing on the Force around him to calm him. Silently, almost unnoticeably, he slipped into a meditation trance.
Padmé Amidala tossed in her bed, unable to sleep. Her mind kept playing back the last time she'd seen Anakin two days ago. The look in those blue eyes as they looked at her, the warmth and love. The feel of his arms around her, his mouth warm and passionate on hers. She groaned, opening her eyes. This waiting was killing her. Anakin had been in deep meditation for two days, somehow he'd managed to immerse himself completely in the Force and was drawing off it almost completely. She could feel his conflicting emotions, his resolve to pass his Knighthood test, and yet his fear that he would fail her.
She needed to see him, this distance, the time apart with no link other than the emotional was fraying her nerves. She threw back her covers and grabbed her robe. Obi-Wan's room was down the hall, she would simply sneak a peak at her knight, nothing more.
She reached for the handle on her door and froze. She felt like she was being watched. Moving slowly, she turned her head to the side, her eyes widening as she dove to the side, a blaster bolt striking the door where she'd been standing a moment before. *Anakin!* her mind cried out for him unconsciously.
She ran across the room, dodging the bolts that flashed around her and lunged into the dubious safety of her bedchamber. Ducking behind her bed she slapped the alarm on her night table, a blaster bolt searing through the center of her hand, drawing a scream from her lips.