"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!"
Padmé heard Obi-Wan's heart-wrenching cry as his master was struck down. Then, she heard nothing. She shook with fear, praying he was alright. Then, she heard the clashing of lightsabers. Padmé listened as Obi-Wan immensely battled with the evil Sith Lord. She listened the whole time with a horrible knot in her throat, as he struggled to defeat him in time to rescue his master and mentor, Qui-Gon Ginn. Once it was over, Padmé's knot vanished, only to be quickly replaced. Her heart constricted, feeling the same pain as Obi-Wan as he rushed to Qui-Gon. Both Padmé and Obi-Wan knew it was too late to save Qui-Gon, and both their hearts broke at the thought. It's amazing how he's changed in these few moments. A short time ago, he was so strong. I thought nothing could frighten him and now...he's terrified, she thought. His voice was breaking, too, she noticed. Afterward, Obi-Wan came to her to tell her the details of their battle. Her eyes weld up more than once, not only for Qui-Gon's death, but for the pain that Obi-Wan was feeling. She wished that she could take away all of his pain, but that would have to wait. She listened quietly as Obi-Wan continued his story and when she was sure he'd finished, she didn't know what to say. She looked away for a brief moment and when she looked back at Obi-Wan, she saw his head down and silent tears falling from his eyes. Padmé didn't know what to say, or even if she should say anything.
"Obi-Wan...I wish I knew what to say," she said, grief filling her every word.
Obi-Wan looked up at her and without a single word, he crossed the space between them and flung his arms around her, burying his head in her shoulder. Padmé was taken aback at first - usually she was the one who sought comfort from someone, not the other way around. After she realized that this was what he needed the most, she closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around him, leaning her head on his.
Panaka was on his way to her chamber when he stopped in mid-sentence.
"Your highness, we've finished the..." He saw the Jedi in the Queen's arms and he first wanted to interject, but realizing they we both crying, he thought against it. Instead, he began backing up, dismissing himself until the appropriate time.
Suddenly, Obi-Wan drew back, his eyes red.
"He wasn't just my Master. He was my best friend and the closest thing I had to a father. Both my parents were killed when I was two and Qui-Gon looked after me until I was old enough to be trained. I'll never forget him. It's going to be so hard without him."
"When I was younger, my mother taught me an important lesson. She said to me 'As long as you hold someone in your heart, you'll never lose them. They will always be with you.' And I believe that to this day. As long as you hold Qui-Gon in your heart, he'll always be there for you. No matter what."
"Do you really believe that, Padmé?"
"Yes, Obi-Wan. I really do."
For the first time after the battle, Obi-Wan smiled.
"Thank you. You've become one of the best friends I've ever had. And I appreciate that."
"I'm glad I could be there for you, Obi-Wan. But I must speak with Panaka. I do not think it's right to have such a celebration tomorrow, not after what happened to Qui-Gon."
"No, Padmé. You and your people deserve this celebration. You have fought bravely and that deserves recognition. Not only that, but you have brought peace to two feuding cultures - the humans and the Gungans. Besides, Qui-Gon wouldn't have wanted your bravery to go unrewarded. He would have wanted you to be happy, not grieving."
Padmé considered this for a moment before answering.
"Ok, I will go...But only if you ride next to me," She said.
Obi-Wan thought about her request, only for a brief minute.
"If that is what you wish, Your Highness, then I shall be honored."
He caught her eyes before giving her the briefest of smiles.
After he left, Padmé Amidala smiled too, before retiring to her chambers. I'm so glad he's been brought into my life.
****************************************************************************The next afternoon, Padmé's and Obi-Wan's creatures rode side by side. As they dismounted, Obi-Wan took Padmé's hand to help her off the creature. She smiled at him as she descended. As they took their positions on the steps of the palace, Obi-Wan's mind wandered. She's gorgeous. I don't know why it took me so long to realize it, but she is absolutely beautiful. I wonder if there could ever be a chance for us... Then he thought of what Qui-Gon would say. Obi-Wan, you know the rules. Not only is she a Queen, but you are a Jedi! Forbidden of love. I'm sorry Obi-Wan, but that is the way it must be. Obi-Wan smiled a bittersweet smile, casting a longing glance at the woman he knew he could never share a future with. She glanced at him and, once she caught his eye, she smiled. He smiled back at her and winked before returning his attention to the approaching Gungans. Get your mind off her! He told himself. It won't do you any good. Meanwhile, as she also watched the Gungans approach, her thoughts were elsewhere. Stop thinking about him! It won't do me any good! But as hard as she tried to not think of Master Kenobi, the more her mind seemed to dwell on him.
****************************************************************************
Once the Ceremony was over, Obi-Wan went to speak with Padmé.
"Padmé, Anakin and I...we have to return to Courasant with the rest of the Jedi Council so that Anakin may begin his training as soon as possible. I doubt we will see each other for a long time." He ended solemnly. Which is your way of telling me we'll never see each other again. Padmé sadly thought. She heard a voice in her head that was not her own, which said to her "Probably." And that voice sounded as sad as hers. She looked up at Obi-Wan, who confirmed her question. Though they didn't speak to each other, they were still communicating. Padmé didn't even attempt to hide the tear that slid down her cheek.
"I'm going to miss you," she said simply.
Obi-Wan was quiet for a moment, before he spoke again.
"I'm going to miss you, too," he said, in such a quiet whisper that she'd had to strain to hear it.
Padmé looked up at him and this time she was the one to fling her arms around him, although he wasn't nearly as surprised as she was when he did it to her. He wrapped his arms around her and they merely stood like that for a few moments. To some, it might have seemed like an eternity, but to the two of them, it wasn't nearly long enough. When they drew apart, the look in Obi-Wan's eyes told her that he had to leave at once, before their hearts broke even more. Without thinking, Padmé reached up, took his face in her hands, and gave him the briefest of kisses, but a kiss nonetheless. Obi-Wan tried to mask his shock, but Padmé saw it in his eyes and smiled.
"Goodbye," she whispered before retreating to her chambers to cry for an immeasurable time.
As Obi-Wan boarded the ship with Anakin, his thoughts were not on their return journey, but back in the palace with Padmé. He would think of her every day for the next ten years, until they would meet again.
To be continued...
Padmé heard Obi-Wan's heart-wrenching cry as his master was struck down. Then, she heard nothing. She shook with fear, praying he was alright. Then, she heard the clashing of lightsabers. Padmé listened as Obi-Wan immensely battled with the evil Sith Lord. She listened the whole time with a horrible knot in her throat, as he struggled to defeat him in time to rescue his master and mentor, Qui-Gon Ginn. Once it was over, Padmé's knot vanished, only to be quickly replaced. Her heart constricted, feeling the same pain as Obi-Wan as he rushed to Qui-Gon. Both Padmé and Obi-Wan knew it was too late to save Qui-Gon, and both their hearts broke at the thought. It's amazing how he's changed in these few moments. A short time ago, he was so strong. I thought nothing could frighten him and now...he's terrified, she thought. His voice was breaking, too, she noticed. Afterward, Obi-Wan came to her to tell her the details of their battle. Her eyes weld up more than once, not only for Qui-Gon's death, but for the pain that Obi-Wan was feeling. She wished that she could take away all of his pain, but that would have to wait. She listened quietly as Obi-Wan continued his story and when she was sure he'd finished, she didn't know what to say. She looked away for a brief moment and when she looked back at Obi-Wan, she saw his head down and silent tears falling from his eyes. Padmé didn't know what to say, or even if she should say anything.
"Obi-Wan...I wish I knew what to say," she said, grief filling her every word.
Obi-Wan looked up at her and without a single word, he crossed the space between them and flung his arms around her, burying his head in her shoulder. Padmé was taken aback at first - usually she was the one who sought comfort from someone, not the other way around. After she realized that this was what he needed the most, she closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around him, leaning her head on his.
Panaka was on his way to her chamber when he stopped in mid-sentence.
"Your highness, we've finished the..." He saw the Jedi in the Queen's arms and he first wanted to interject, but realizing they we both crying, he thought against it. Instead, he began backing up, dismissing himself until the appropriate time.
Suddenly, Obi-Wan drew back, his eyes red.
"He wasn't just my Master. He was my best friend and the closest thing I had to a father. Both my parents were killed when I was two and Qui-Gon looked after me until I was old enough to be trained. I'll never forget him. It's going to be so hard without him."
"When I was younger, my mother taught me an important lesson. She said to me 'As long as you hold someone in your heart, you'll never lose them. They will always be with you.' And I believe that to this day. As long as you hold Qui-Gon in your heart, he'll always be there for you. No matter what."
"Do you really believe that, Padmé?"
"Yes, Obi-Wan. I really do."
For the first time after the battle, Obi-Wan smiled.
"Thank you. You've become one of the best friends I've ever had. And I appreciate that."
"I'm glad I could be there for you, Obi-Wan. But I must speak with Panaka. I do not think it's right to have such a celebration tomorrow, not after what happened to Qui-Gon."
"No, Padmé. You and your people deserve this celebration. You have fought bravely and that deserves recognition. Not only that, but you have brought peace to two feuding cultures - the humans and the Gungans. Besides, Qui-Gon wouldn't have wanted your bravery to go unrewarded. He would have wanted you to be happy, not grieving."
Padmé considered this for a moment before answering.
"Ok, I will go...But only if you ride next to me," She said.
Obi-Wan thought about her request, only for a brief minute.
"If that is what you wish, Your Highness, then I shall be honored."
He caught her eyes before giving her the briefest of smiles.
After he left, Padmé Amidala smiled too, before retiring to her chambers. I'm so glad he's been brought into my life.
****************************************************************************The next afternoon, Padmé's and Obi-Wan's creatures rode side by side. As they dismounted, Obi-Wan took Padmé's hand to help her off the creature. She smiled at him as she descended. As they took their positions on the steps of the palace, Obi-Wan's mind wandered. She's gorgeous. I don't know why it took me so long to realize it, but she is absolutely beautiful. I wonder if there could ever be a chance for us... Then he thought of what Qui-Gon would say. Obi-Wan, you know the rules. Not only is she a Queen, but you are a Jedi! Forbidden of love. I'm sorry Obi-Wan, but that is the way it must be. Obi-Wan smiled a bittersweet smile, casting a longing glance at the woman he knew he could never share a future with. She glanced at him and, once she caught his eye, she smiled. He smiled back at her and winked before returning his attention to the approaching Gungans. Get your mind off her! He told himself. It won't do you any good. Meanwhile, as she also watched the Gungans approach, her thoughts were elsewhere. Stop thinking about him! It won't do me any good! But as hard as she tried to not think of Master Kenobi, the more her mind seemed to dwell on him.
****************************************************************************
Once the Ceremony was over, Obi-Wan went to speak with Padmé.
"Padmé, Anakin and I...we have to return to Courasant with the rest of the Jedi Council so that Anakin may begin his training as soon as possible. I doubt we will see each other for a long time." He ended solemnly. Which is your way of telling me we'll never see each other again. Padmé sadly thought. She heard a voice in her head that was not her own, which said to her "Probably." And that voice sounded as sad as hers. She looked up at Obi-Wan, who confirmed her question. Though they didn't speak to each other, they were still communicating. Padmé didn't even attempt to hide the tear that slid down her cheek.
"I'm going to miss you," she said simply.
Obi-Wan was quiet for a moment, before he spoke again.
"I'm going to miss you, too," he said, in such a quiet whisper that she'd had to strain to hear it.
Padmé looked up at him and this time she was the one to fling her arms around him, although he wasn't nearly as surprised as she was when he did it to her. He wrapped his arms around her and they merely stood like that for a few moments. To some, it might have seemed like an eternity, but to the two of them, it wasn't nearly long enough. When they drew apart, the look in Obi-Wan's eyes told her that he had to leave at once, before their hearts broke even more. Without thinking, Padmé reached up, took his face in her hands, and gave him the briefest of kisses, but a kiss nonetheless. Obi-Wan tried to mask his shock, but Padmé saw it in his eyes and smiled.
"Goodbye," she whispered before retreating to her chambers to cry for an immeasurable time.
As Obi-Wan boarded the ship with Anakin, his thoughts were not on their return journey, but back in the palace with Padmé. He would think of her every day for the next ten years, until they would meet again.
To be continued...