Title: A New Order
Author: Jedikma
A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews. Please keep them coming. Sith Lord Darth Revan, I'm hoping for a happy ending, too. ;)
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Chapter 9
"So what headache did you provide the Council with this morning, my dear?" Anakin inquired as he put a plate of food on his tray. The midday meal was close to ending, but Anakin and Padme had managed to make it to the Temple dining rooms before closing.
"I don't go in to the Council to intentionally give them headaches, Anakin." Padme responded in frustration. "Today I had to bring to their attention that there is a growing number of younglings and not enough caretakers for them all. I noticed yesterday that there should be at least two more caretakers, possibly three."
"I just know the Council must cringe every time you walk into their chambers," Anakin said with a pleased grin on his face. "And for some reason that just gives me so much pleasure."
Padme gathered up food for her own tray and shook her head at him. "Really, Anakin, you need to get over that last bit of animosity you have towards the Council. They're trying really hard to make reforms and I don't think they're holding anything against you."
"I've released all my ill feelings into the Force. I just enjoy the irony of it, that's all. And while the Council has had me on something of a close watch these past years, I fully intend to prove myself and be a member on it one day. Then when you stand before them, you will have to stand before me, too." Anakin gave her a wink.
Reaching for some fruit, Padme groaned inwardly. "Remember, it is all for the good of the Jedi, not for your own satisfaction, Anakin."
Anakin shrugged his shoulders as they finished their selections and turned away from the food. "Of course, but it doesn't mean I can't take some enjoyment in all of it."
When they entered the dining area, they were not surprised to see that many of the tables were empty, but they were surprised to see Obi-Wan and Siri still in the room sitting at separate tables as far apart as they could possibly get. Both seemingly absorbed in their own datapads and projects.
Anakin looked at his wife. "I have a bad feeling about this."
"Obi-Wan wasn't in the Council this morning. It certainly doesn't take a Force sensitive to know that there is something wrong with this situation," she replied. "I take it they are not resting together right now."
Anakin gave Padme a concerned look. "Definitely not. I should talk to Obi-Wan."
"Oh, no! That means you want me to talk to Siri?" Padme looked desperately at Anakin. "You know we aren't exactly friends. She isn't about to talk to me."
"Please, Padme. All I'm asking is that you try. I can't believe you can handle a senate full of less than desirable beings, but talking to Siri panics you. In any case, it would be best if I talk to Obi-Wan alone."
Padme released a sigh as she relented to Anakin's request. The couple split as Padme went to Siri's table and Anakin sat across from Obi-Wan. He put down his tray and pushed it away just slightly to allow for his arms to rest folded on the edge of the table.
He waited for Obi-Wan to meet his gaze, but Obi-Wan did not look up. "Anakin, I can sense your concern and I can assure it isn't warranted."
"Say that again, Obi-Wan, but this time say it with more conviction. In all my years of knowing the two of you, I have never seen you sit at separate tables."
Obi-Wan looked up at his former apprentice. "I just needed some space and Siri sensed it. She sat down across the room."
"What's going on Obi-Wan? Surely she didn't refuse your proposal of marriage."
"I never got to that proposal, Anakin. Apparently Siri had a confrontation with a woman at Parents Day yesterday that put her on the defensive."
"Yes, Lady Jade. Padme told me all about that, Obi-Wan."
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Padme approached Siri's table with trepidation. "Hello Siri, I was hoping to see you today."
Siri gave her a puzzled look and motioned to her to sit down, but didn't say anything.
"I wanted to apologize about interfering yesterday." Padme cleared her throat. "In truth, my confrontation with Lady Jade was actually more about me than you."
"Oh?" Siri said with enough curiosity to encourage Padme to continue.
"I know Lady Jade from years ago. In fact, she has been determined to make life miserable for any one who has ever interfered with any of her plans. She is an extremely vengeful person and she is determined to make waves for a few people around here."
"I'm not sure what she has against me. Or is it the Jedi in general?"
"Actually, it's Obi-Wan. But the amusing thing about it is that I would be willing to bet Obi-Wan wouldn't even remember her. She overestimates her very significance."
"Obi-Wan? Her scene yesterday was directed at Obi-Wan?"
"Years ago, at the time of the Naboo blockade, Lady Jade was a handmaiden of mine. Her first name is Sabe. When the Jedi, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan, came to help us, Sabe was more than curious about them and more than determined to seduce one of them. She set her sights on Obi-Wan."
"And Obi-Wan…."
"Would have none of it. I knew little of what was going on since I was absorbed with taking care of my planet and my people. Dorme came to me after we had won the battle and told me the nuisance that Sabe had been to Obi-Wan on Tatooine; her constant overtures and distractions. At the point I found all this out, Obi-Wan had lost Qui-Gon and was in terrible grief. I went to find Sabe to confront her on her less than professional behavior when I found her in the palace gardens all over Obi-Wan. The poor man had to pry her off of him and then had to insult her just to get her to leave him alone. If I hadn't witnessed the scene, I wouldn't have put it past her to retaliate by making some terrible accusations against Obi-Wan. To say I was angry is an understatement, but her lack of decorum, in the face of all the tragedy and in the face of the fact that I had always had a struggle with my own credibility because of my young age, was an insult and I dismissed her from my service right there. Naturally, she swore that we all would pay for our injustices towards her." Padme shook her head at this.
"I suppose she is making good on her promise," Siri said.
Padme smiled. "Well, she is trying, anyway. She disappeared for years and then suddenly showed up again during the Clone Wars when her husband was elected Governor of Naboo. It was clear to me that her marriage was a farce. She found someone that would acquire a position of power and that she could manipulate. She first started to make good on her promise to me when she found out about my secret marriage to Anakin and threatened to expose us. She never got that chance, but she has been looking for a way to make our lives miserable ever since. When she found out that Obi-Wan was on the Council and having children outside of a married relationship, she decided it was something she could use to make waves with. She has been the largest voice to start the crusade against him. I have plenty of good friends in high places and I think I could put a stop to all of her endeavors."
"I appreciate that, but it really isn't necessary. I don't see that she has any leverage whatsoever in our situation."
"Even after the choices the Council gave Obi-Wan yesterday? Surely you aren't going to allow Obi-Wan to step down from the Council?"
Siri's expression was one of complete surprise. "I don't understand what you mean."
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Anakin leaned in towards Obi-Wan, trying to keep his voice low. "Obi-Wan I am not exactly an expert on relationships, but I have learned one thing and I learned it the hard way. You aren't going to settle anything without communication."
"Anakin, I haven't talked to her yet because I don't know exactly what I am looking for. I wish I knew. I just don't think Siri and I are the right people to help set the rules for Jedi marriages. We are just too set in the old ways. Our emotions are too controlled. Love for us isn't this great passion."
"Sounds like the perfect Jedi marriage to me." Anakin grinned. "There is no passion, there is serenity," he quoted. "Obi-Wan, the way I see it the two of you have contentment in your relationship, something to be strived for. Something that will last. Passion usually dies out and the greater the passion the faster the death, leaving a great chill in its wake."
Obi-Wan raised his eyebrows at Anakin. "You seem to have a good understanding of all of this, my fiend. I wonder if you wouldn't be the better person for the job? In any case, I suddenly have a feeling I know who the next Council appointment may be."
Anakin groaned. "That would be fitting, to put in charge of making the new codes the one who broke all the old codes in the first place. All my mistakes will come back to haunt me."
Obi-Wan once again became thoughtful. "Maybe it isn't my relationship with Siri that has me the most concerned. I wonder about her feelings towards the children. I don't know how anyone can have children and seem to distance themselves from them as Siri has. I can't help but love those kids and I will confess, I check on their progress all the time. Siri manages to keep her distance and even insists they call her 'Master'. I understand her reasoning, but I don't know that it is totally necessary."
Anakin grinned from ear to ear. "You two really do need to learn a little communication. I know something you don't know, Obi-Wan. Siri also checks on your boys regularly. I see her down at the nursery often. And the last time I saw her there she was having heated words with caretaker Senia. It seems that Senia had put some bitter tasting paste on Reeft's thumb to get him to stop sucking on it and Siri was angry. She definitely gave that woman a piece of her mind. Lucky for Senia that Siri didn't have her lightsaber with her or the caretaker might have lost something important."
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"Obi-Wan didn't tell me about the Council meeting, but I can assure you that he will not step down from the Council. It would not be the Jedi thing to do." The look on Siri's face was concern bordering on hurt.
Padme gave a hesitant smile. "This really shouldn't be such a big issue. I'm sure this can all be easily taken care of. It seems to me you and Obi-Wan just need to talk, that's all."
Siri just stared at Padme and Padme felt increasingly uncomfortable. Perhaps she hadn't chosen the best words. "Siri…."
But Siri had become very still. She stared away from Padme and the color seemed to drain from her face, a barely audible word issued from her lips, "Reeft."
Suddenly she stood up from the table, the quick movement a visible effort as she instinctively put her hand under her pregnant belly. "Reeft!" she shouted across the room.
Obi-Wan was also on his feet and almost simultaneously Anakin arose. "The lake," Obi-wan announced.
"I'm right behind you, Obi-Wan." Anakin confirmed as the two men quickly disappeared out the dining room door.