Chapter Three
The luxury cruiser Bail Organa had arranged for them was completely and utterly silent. Despite the hum of the ship itself and a maid droid tidying up the living quarters, the cockpit was as quiet as death. The tension was excruciating, so fragile a moth could have shattered it. Obi-Wan flew with nary a glance to the sulking diplomat beside him. Although he never would have admitted it, the silence was grating heavily upon his nerves, pulling taut his neck and jaw muscles until he knew they'd be sore for days. But while his blue-gray eyes were always trained on the view ports ahead of him, his senses were constantly aware of the tumultuous lady in his presence. He just prayed her inevitable outburst would be delayed until they at least entered the Alderaan system.
Padme sat there, knowing full well he could sense her every flare of temper and it only aggravated her more. The whirling of her emotions kept bottled up her stomach was starting to tire her body. Her head pounded at the temples with unreleased anger and silently she began to count the minutes until they entered the Alderaan system. Once there, she felt certain Obi-Wan could handle her tongue lashing without deserting her on some asteroid in the depths of space. She knew that the majority of her anger was merely serving as a mask for her true reigning feeling-her fear. If and when Anakin found out about this, he would be furious, the surprising anger that welled out of him would take hold…Padme screwed her eyelids tightly shut, blocking out the memories of Anakin's tempers of late. He was so discontent, so restless that not even her presence was calming him anymore. She had used to be able to save him…and now it seemed like that was impossible. Obi-Wan's query jerked her from her dark downpour of thoughts.
"We've entered the system, Amidala. Are you alright?"
It was spoken so still, so calm that it infuriated her even more. She leaned forward in her seat, eyeing the growing expanse of Alderaan and Delaya below them and hissed,
"Am I alright? You take me against my will from my home, my duties, my friends! All at the beckon of your arrogant, meddling Council! And you have the audacity to ask me if I'm alright?! Why, you are certainly the most despicable man I've ever known!"
Obi-Wan struggled to keep amusement from entering his eyes. The menace etched in her delicate features was much more entertaining than it was frightening. But he didn't dare risk anymore of her rage, fearful her eyes would burn like lasers into him. He replied sternly,
"Your derogatory adjectives are going to get you nowhere, Amidala. It will be best for both of us if you just perma-freeze a smile on that pretty face of yours and act like we're having a grand old time."
For a flash of a second, she got a strange thrill at hearing Obi-Wan call her pretty and that only incensed her more. She didn't care one whit about Obi-Wan's opinion and she would make that clear to him over the course of their jaunt. Stretching an icy, painful smile across her face, she said low and deadly,
"Oh don't worry, Obi-Wan. I'll keep face and pretend you're semi-pleasant company but don't assume for a second that I'm following your orders. You have no power over me. I will stay and go as I please and you shan't interfere. The Council may entertain the delusion that they control me but you certainly don't. Is that clear?"
"Oh yes, perfectly, Senator," he mocked derisively. "You are most definitely correct that you may go as you please. That is, as long as I accompany you. Despite my unpleasant company, you will be subject to my guardianship. But don't worry, my dear. I will be like your shadow…why, you'll hardly know I'm there."
As she sputtered in shock at his overconfidence, he leaned forward to the comm unit and said, holding in his laughter,
"This is Paradise Lost requesting landing permission."
Immediately the automatic, lifeless voice of a droid came back over the system.
"Paradise Lost, you are cleared for landing. Docking bay 24-A and the viceroy will arrive shortly to greet you. Welcome to Alderaan."
Padme's mouth gaped just a little bit wider and she fell back a little in her seat in astonishment. Obi-Wan chuckled,
"Really, Amidala, you shouldn't let your jaw hang so. You look positively like a Sullustan. I would have thought a woman of your breeding would have better manners." As he teased her, he gently brought the gorgeous cruiser into the atmosphere and headed for the Capital docking bay, widely known since it only harbored ships of royalty and diplomats of great import. Padme's fiery gaze took on a suddenly gauzy look as she peered out the view ports at the beautiful planet of Alderaan. She whispered, leaning far out of her crash webbing, her outrage not forgotten,
"Bail Organa will be meeting us? So members of the Senate do know about this. Why didn't you tell me Senator Organa knew of this outrage? And to think I thought him a better man than this."
Obi-Wan gave her a truly hard, bothered look for the first time since their departure. He said scornfully in a tone that shamed her instantly.
"Such loathing for the people who are trying desperately to save your life. You may think this an inconvenience to your precious, stubborn life but many, Jedi and others, are risking their lives to protect you." His eyes were like the tundra of Hoth upon her as he continued. "And now for the life of me, I can't figure out why. You don't seem worth the trouble right now."
Padme felt hot tears prick her eyes at the full impact of his harsh words. Mortified at both herself and Obi-Wan's evidently low opinion of her, she jerked her head sideways to stare hard at the docking bay as they landed. His words roiled in her stomach and she knew he spoke the truth. The damned Jedi was always right. She desperately wanted to cry at the moment, to throw herself into Anakin's arms and be free of the shrew she was becoming. But deep down she knew she wouldn't have found solace in Anakin anyway. Comfort seemed beyond him these days. She slumped in her seat, dropped her chin to her chest and tried desperately not to weep.
Obi-Wan wanted to curse himself for lashing out at her like that. Guiltily he stole a glance at the crestfallen senator and felt even more like bantha fodder. He could have sensed her pain for galaxies away and although he hated to admit it, it affected him. He should have exercised more control, should have kept his tongue…but Force, the woman was so selfish sometimes. He just wanted to shake her and discover what had become of the fiercely compassionate, bright-eyed girl he remembered. With a sigh, he set the cruiser into docking bay 24-A, stood uncertainly and cleared his throat.
"Come along, Amidala. We don't want to keep Senator Organa waiting."
Padme followed quietly, avoiding looking directly at him. With a heavy heart she pulled her modest white cloak around her and let the Jedi lead her out of the ship, down the ramp and onto a planet that would change her life forever.
~*~*~*~*~
Padme entered the fine suite that had graciously been given to her by Senator and Viceroy Organa and closed the ornate doors behind her, slamming them in Obi-Wan's face. Bail had greeted them courteously with warm hugs and kindly words, then had hurried off with the excuse of needing to get back to the chaotic Senate. Twirling slowly, taking in the fine rooms, she decided she quite liked Senator Organa. He was one of the genuinely good politicians she had come to know in her time as Senator. Of strong moral fiber and duly kindhearted, his generosity in hiding her was making her feel even more guilty. No matter how she tried, she couldn't get Obi-Wan's scolding from her head.
She drifted to the large windows and stared across the beautiful expanse of Alderaan, trailing her fingers across the velvet window seat. It was like a piece of heaven, even the capital city had been constructed with the finest architecture in the galaxies. If her mood hadn't been so foul, she would have loved to study every pillar, every skyscraper, every bridge…but the gray of her spirit wouldn't leave. She hated being away from the Senate, from Coruscant; what if they needed her? A loud laugh escaped her, startling herself.
When had she become so arrogant? Why, she was beginning to sound like Anakin. Maybe Obi-Wan was right about her after all. Her gaze was drawn out the windows again as if hypnotized. The sapphire sky dotted with candy clouds seemed to call to her and she could almost smell the sweet grass scent on the wind. Catching her lower lip between her teeth, she closed her eyes and for once since her secret wedding, that peace might be attainable. The thought sparked through her body and hurriedly she drew a new cloak about her and pulled up the hood. Striding back to the way she entered, she paused briefly and in a clear act of defiance, she tossed her comm unit onto the nearest duvet. She giggled and thought; let's see if Obi-Wan is as good a shadow as he seems to think.