But that dream we... I had as a child has come true for me. I am a Jedi padewan, and am almost ready for the trials to become a Jedi knight. I try to always obey my master Qui-Gon, and am working very hard. Nothing is going to mess this up for me.
Currently, Master Qui-Gon and I are on the planet of Naboo, seeking out the Queen to warn her of possible danger to her people and planet. We follow this weird creature, JarJar Binks, into the city and to the palace, where we request to speak with Queen Amidala. We're taken to a room where we wait, and finally the Queen enters followed by her hand maidens. She is wearing the traditional make-up of the Nabooian queens, and her hair is done in an extravagant manner.
"Queen Amidala, I am Qui-Gon Ginn and this is my padewan Obi-Wan Kenobi," Qui-Gon starts.
"Padewan? You must be Jedi," the Queen responds.
I bow my head politely, and then look to my master to continue.
Qui-Gon goes on, "We have received word that-"
A young woman and two young men, all around my age, enter.
Queen Amidala turns around, and the woman walks up to her. "Perimeter secure, m'lady."
"Thank you," the Queen responds before turning back to Qui-Gon.
There's something about this woman that just entered, and her accent, that seem somewhat familiar. I watch her as she stands behind the Queen, a bit to the right, at ease. She starts looking us over, first Qui-Gon with a look of boredom yet respect. Then she looks over at me. I immediately avert my gaze, so she doesn't know I was looking at her. Eventually I look back at her, and her eyes come up from my apprentice's braid, and look right into my eyes. But I don't look away this time.
The smirk that's been on her face disappears, and her eyes widen a bit, as she turns her face slightly more towards me. Her lips part a little as a new smile starts on her face. She quickly checks herself and looks straight ahead again with a straight face. But her eyes wander back again, and then I realize what's so familiar: those brown eyes.
I draw a sharp breath, but do the same as she did, and return my attention to the queen and Jedi knight.
But I look back at her too. What's she doing here? My she's grown. Taller and more attractive. She's my height, taller than the queen, and well built. She carries her head up high, and moves with security and grace. Her long brown hair is pulled back in a ponytail, and she has a thin, long loose braid at the top of her neck behind her ear which is about two feet long. In her right hand is a staff, slightly taller than she, and she's wearing blue robes. The two men that entered with her remained at the door, and each one holds a firearm. They must be the guards.
Amidala finishes talking with Qui-Gon, and my master and I are shown to our quarters where we will be staying for a few days.
"M'lady?" The woman steps forward.
"Yes, Zanni?"
That confirmed my suspicions, but I remain silent.
"May I have permission to show the padewan around our city?" Zanni says with a smile at me.
"Yes, you may."
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"So, Zanni, who do you think these guys are that are here to see the queen?" E'Riq asks as we secure the room outside the palace conference room.
"I dunno, but they're just going to give the queen the same message that we've been trying to tell her for a long time," I reply.
E'Riq, Jase and I enter the conference room, the two of them staying at the door, and I walking up to the queen. "Perimeter secure, m'lady."
"Thank you," Queen Amidala responds before she turns back to the people she's talking to.
I assume my position behind her, and examine these men. They are Jedi, I see by their light sabers, one a padewan, like I, and the other his master. The master has a long beard and long hair, but otherwise is very plain. Then I look over at the padewan. He has the apprentice's braid and mullet, otherwise looking very much like his master. He turns his head, and looks straight at me, with bright, blue eyes. Is it? No, it can't be. But those eyes... It is, it is! I suddenly catch myself and put my attention back to the business at hand with the queen.
My eyes wander back to the padewan, and he looks at me as if remembering something, and then draws a sharp breath. I look away. It is he. It is Obi-Wan Kenobi. I examine him more closely. He has grown up, into a handsome young man, although that hairstyle really doesn't suit him. He seems very attentive, and follows his master in a puppy-dog, obedient way.
Amidala instructs me to show the Jedi to their quarters, telling me that they are to stay a few days. Once at the quarters I step forward again, "M'lady?"
"Yes, Zanni?"
"May I have permission to show the padewan around our city?"
"Yes, you may."
I nod to Obi-Wan and he follows me silently down the hallways of the palace as I indicate where the kitchen is, and the ball room, etc. We make it outside into the bright sunlight, and stand, looking at each other.
Finally, Obi-Wan is able to speak, "Zanni?"
I nod, and throw my arms around him in a big hug. He puts his arms around me too, and picks me up, spinning me around like I'm a child. When he sets me down, I seem to have found my voice too.
"Look at you!"
He chuckles. "Me? Look at you!"
"So, Obi-Wan Kenobi, how's the force been treating you these days?" I ask as I start walking again.
"Well, I'm almost ready for the trials. The ones to become a full knight."
I nod.
"So what's your job here? Handmaiden?"
I grimace. "No, I'm in charge of the Queen and the City's security, for your information."
"Whoa, are your eyes still doing that?" Obi-Wan stops walking, looking at my eyes.
"Doing what?" I frown, and stop as well.
"That green thing," he replies, squinting a little.
"What? No, they aren't. I mean, they can't be! They haven't done that for nine year... s." They haven't done that since the time Obi-Wan left and our planet was destroyed.
"Well they're not doing that anymore now. They're brown again," Obi-Wan says, and we continue our walk to the city gardens.
"What was I mad at you about, anyway? Oh yeah, I'm in charge of the security here, not a, handmaiden." I spit the last word out.
"Oh c'mon, Zanni, you know I was just kidding. Hey, I still know what can bug ya!"
"You're starting to sound like that eight-year-old I knew again."
"I've missed you, Zanni. I've really missed you a lot." Obi-Wan looks at me with those intense blue eyes.
"I..." Those eyes, wow. "Wait a minute. No, wait." I come out of my trance. "You missed me! When did you have time? I mean, between stealing our dream for yourself and abandoning me!"
Obi-Wan reaches out and puts a hand on my shoulder. "Zanni, calm down, I-"
"No!" I exclaim, pushing him away. "You have no right to say that you missed me!"
"Oh yes I do, and don't you give me that crap, Zanni."
I stop, for his harsh tone surprises me. He seemed to be a calm, patient, good little Jedi when I first saw him.
"Leaving my home and best friend behind. Do you think that was easy? Not knowing what happened to you, if you lived through the attack or not. Hell, I was almost convinced that you were dead. I asked them to look for you among the refugees. I asked Mace Windu and Yoda myself, telling them all about you. They never told me if they found you or not. These last ten years have been hell! So don't you say that I don't have the right to have missed you, okay?"
"Obi, I-I-I, I'm sorry. I didn't-"
"Yeah, well, it's too late for that." Obi-Wan lowers his voice and turns away.
I take a deep breath and close my eyes, and Obi-Wan seems to be doing the same. Then I hear his voice in my mind, "I'm sorry, Zanni, but things have just been so difficult."
I smile to myself. He still has it, and I respond, using the same communication we often used as kids. "It's okay, I'm sorry too. Things have just been so messed up, and then the shock of finally seeing you again. It's almost too much."
Now that we've both calmed down, I walk up to him, and put a hand on his shoulder. "Let's continue, shall we? We have a lot to catch up on."
So whaddya think? If you're looking for some action, you'll have to wait a little while, but it does come. This is Star Wars after all! But please review! Thanx.