"I will have Obi-Wan report to you immediately, M'Lady," says Master Windu.
"Too little about yourself you worry, Senator, and too much about politics. Be mindful of your danger, Padmé. Accept our help."
This was what Yoda told her. This was how Anakin squirmed his way back into her life.
She was in her living room. It was evening and there was a slight homey kind of touch to everything. The fireplace added to the ambiance. She liked the sound of Captain Typho's voice: deep, rich, and reassuring, making her feel that the urgency of the situation was well taken care of. Dorme was besides her, making her feel even safer. Dorme was one of her best friends. She knew she could trust her. Her high spirits were always welcome; her laughs making your cheeks tug at your lips until you smile with her. That's the way she was. And right now, Padme was in a good mood. She felt relaxed, which was rare, especially now. The war had put her on edge for weeks, and the fact that there was an assassin after her just made her impatient. It was getting in the way. And now, two Jedi had to accompany her wherever she went. Talk about privacy…
She was in the middle of a long explanation about the negotiations concerning the Separatists when a flustered Jar Jar Binks comes in, looking quite giddy and thoroughly excited. He was followed by Obi-Wan and a second Jedi.
Who is that, she thought. He looks familiar.
"Mesa here. Lookie... lookie... Senator. Desa Jedi arriven!"
Padme put on her welcoming face. She was good at changing emotions nowadays that it scared her.
It's all the politics. Remember to hide your feelings though, Jedi can sense it, she reminded herself.
"It's a pleasure to see you again, M'Lady." Obi-Wan. He looked so different, older. His beard was a dark sandy color matching his mullet. He looks good thought Padme. When she thought this she could have sworn that Obi-Wan smiled.
Oh, right, I need to hide what I feel.
The presence of the other Jedi was making her uncomfortable.
She took a quick glance over to Obi-Wan's left to get a quick look at the second Jedi. He was checking her out, and she didn't like it.
What's his problem?
She hated when guys looked at her that way. Or maybe she was just too uptight. She had bad experiences with men and dating and she decided to just give it up. Politics was more of her thing. Guys were unpredictable and could make you do stupid things. Of course she was just saying this through second hand experience. She had never fallen in love and certainly did not want to do so and ruin her career now that she was at the height of it. She was single and thriving and that's exactly what she wanted to be. Maybe after she retired from the Senate, she would go back into the dating world. But retiring from the Senate was nowhere near her mind right now.
However, thought Padme, Dorme is about the same age as Obi-Wan. They'd make quite the cute couple.
No thank you, Padme. So Obi-Wan was reading her mind. Sneaky…
Padme walked as gracefully as she could over to the Jedi. She only used this walk during political parties but decided that it would be a good idea to let these Jedi know who was boss around here. She wanted to let them know that as much as she appreciated the offer, she could take care of herself. She wasn't a child. All I need is a blaster gun.
"It's a pleasure to see you again, M'Lady," repeated Obi-Wan
Hostess voice. "It has been far too long Master Kenobi. I'm so glad our paths have crossed again... but I must warn you that I think your presence here is unnecessary."
She could feel eyes going wavering up and down her body. Who does this guy think he is?
Senator Amidala, thought Obi-Wan, that is Anakin Skywalker. You remember him, don't you?
Anakin? Yes she remembered him. He was that little boy back on that desert planet. What was the name? Ah yes, Tatooine. He was so young. She searched her memory. She hadn't thought about him until he left with Qui-Gon to become a Jedi. Then she remembered also that he had given her a necklace before he left. Now where had she put it? She looked at him again. He had gotten tall. She was short for her age, and had a petite frame, so many people were taller then her. But Anakin was even taller than Obi-Wan. She couldn't believe that this was that little boy who had won the pod races for them when he was a slave.
"Ani? My goodness how you've grown!" It was true.
He was checking her out again. She hated it. But she needed to be the good hostess right now. The most she could do was send him looks to give him a clue to stop. He didn't take the clue.
"So have you... grown more beautiful, I mean... and much shorter... for a Senator, I mean." It took her a while to full understand what he meant. Wow, never got that before. He has nerve. Padme didn't know how to answer that, and decided to go with a laugh. It sounded fake to her.
"Oh Ani, you'll always be that little boy I knew on Tatooine." He looked down and his cheeks turned a slight red. Embarrassed now, are you? You deserved that. I hope that now you get the message to stop looking at me like that.
"Our presence will be invisible, M'Lady, I can assure you."
Captain Typho began to speak. "I'm very grateful you're here, Master Kenobi. I'm Captain Typho, head of Her Majesty's security service. Queen Jamillia has informed you of your assignment. The situation is more dangerous than the Senator will admit."
"I don't need more security, I need answers. I want to know who is trying to kill me."
"We're here to protect you Senator, not to start an investigation," replies Obi-Wan.
Anakin suddenly speaks. "We will find out who's trying to kill you Padmé, I promise you."
With that Jedi Master Kenobi, throws Ani a dirty look.
"We will not exceed our mandate, my young Padawan learner!"
There bickering is giving me a headache, thinks Padme, this time making sure that she blocks this rude piece of information from both Jedi.
"I meant in the interest of protecting her, Master, of course."
"We will not go through this exercise again, Anakin. And you will pay attention to my lead."
"Why?" says Anakin. Wow. Padme's surprised at the disobedience of him. He's changed. He's rebellious now.
"What!" Obi-Wan's anger increases.
"Why else do you think we were assigned to protect her, if not to find the killer? Protection is a job for local security... not Jedi. It's overkill, Master. Investigation is implied in our mandate."
"We will do exactly as the Council has instructed, and you will learn your place, young one."
Padme realized that if she did not act soon, there'd be a never-ending battle between Master and Padawan. She needed to think fast, and being a politician, she was good at that. The tension in the room was getting to her. This was supposed to be a relaxed evening, and since that was now ruined, she wanted no part in all this unnecessary clucking.
"Perhaps with merely your presence, the mysteries surrounding this threat will be revealed. Now, if you will excuse me, I will retire." She got up to leave and made a slight bow to the inhabitants of the room.
He was looking at her again…
Author: What did you think? So the look was just Padme pissed off, huh. Well, I hoped you enjoyed the first two chapters. It's not going to be back and forth like this, though. If i write their different viwes alternately, it'll be a slow paced story and i don't want that to happen. Maybe i'll do this one more time in the story, i don't know. I guess i'll have to think about it...
The third chapter will be up soon, promise. I really do hope your enjoying the story so far. Please review, i want to know what your thinking.