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Chapter Thirteen
A hush fell over the crowd assembled in front of the Jedi Temple. Mace Windu glanced downward and sideways to Master Yoda and then turned his head to take in the other Council members, Jedi, padawans, and senators who had arrived to send off the newly married couple soon to depart for their honeymoon on Naboo.
The interior doors opened and the crowd roared. Confetti sprinkled down from surrounding buildings and windows and a rare and broad grin spread over the tall Jedi Master's face.
Seeing his previous vision materialize before his eyes, Mace looked up toward the top of the steps where Obi-Wan, dressed in tunics of dark gray, grasped the hand of his bride, Senator Amidala, who wore a traditional Nubian wedding gown. They both turned to look at one another and smiled.
Mace felt the peaceful affirmation of deja vu.
He glanced back to Yoda and the peace was suddenly shattered. A crease of a frown was on the Master's face, his ears were tilted back and drooped slightly. Not a good sign. Something was wrong, or was soon going to be.
Mace knelt down close to Yoda in order to keep their conversation confidential.
"What is it?"
Weary green eyes turned to meet his intense brown ones.
"A choice to made, there will be. A difficult choice. Most difficult for the senator. Their happiness, short-lived will be. The will of the Force, it is."
Mace glanced back up to the happy couple who were now kissing, resulting in increased cheering and applause from the crowd.
The newlyweds waved to their colleagues and friends and turned to re-enter the Temple.
Joy of the union was felt and shown on every face, except for the two Jedi Masters whose hearts were heavy.
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Padmé closed the last of Obi-Wan's bags and set it in the doorway of his Jedi quarters. Her things had already been sent to their waiting ship.
She knew that leaving the Temple was going to be difficult for him. There were so many memories here, but they had decided that they would live in her senatorial apartment for the time-being. It was close enough to the Temple to not interfere with his duties, and would allow them the privacy that they needed and desired.
Obi-Wan stood transfixed in front of the lone window in the room, looking out at the active bustling city. A slight twitch to his shoulders caused Padmé enough concern to walk to his side and look at his face. Startled by what she saw, she quickly ran to the 'fresher to receive a towel and clean away the blood that was oozing from his nose.
Obi-Wan's eyes refocused at the touch of the soft towel upon his face and he seemed surprised to see the redness staining it.
"Are you okay?"
His fingers were wiping away the last traces of blood and he looked at her with a gentleness and calmness to his features. It was a look of complete serenity; the same look he had been wearing ever since he had destroyed Sidious.
Padmé loved everything about Obi-Wan, but she found herself missing the previous quicksilver humor and wit that had so often put a glint in his eyes.
"I'm fine. It's nothing. Don't worry darling." He bent down and gently kissed her lips, but Padmé could not help but feel the urge of a warning in her heart.
They were following the droid carrying the last of their luggage to the ship when Obi-Wan's grasp weakened and suddenly slipped from hers. She screamed his name as he fell backward to the durasteel platform, blood once more oozing from his nostrils.
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Padmé paced, stopped, glared at the closed Healer's chamber door, and then paced some more. Beyond that door was the unconscious body of her husband, along with Masters Windu and Yoda. She had been told to wait. Padmé had always considered herself patient, but if someone didn't come out soon and talk to her, she would lose her sanity and her control.
The Healer had come and gone, and Yoda now sat on one side of Obi-Wan's bed, facing Mace who sat on the other.
"Will he make the right choice?" Mace glanced from the closed eyes of Obi-Wan to Yoda, whose eyes were just now opening from a meditative trance he had been in since coming into the room almost an hour ago.
"The Chosen One he is. The choice already has been made."
The words brought no comfort to Mace Windu. He had taken quite a liking to the boy, and now that he had come to terms with the fact that he was the Chosen One, he was going to have to let the boy...
No. The Force would not allow this. The Force wouldn't do this to the young man. "There has to be something we can do."
"Anything we do, complicate things it will. Interfere with the will of the Force will you?"
Mace considered his question for a moment. "No." He was a Jedi first and if this was what the Force required, no matter how painful, then so be it. "I admit I feel some regret Master Yoda. But mostly, I feel sorry for him, but not as sorry as I feel for her." Mace's head motioned toward the closed door.
"Yes. Difficult times ahead, but strong she is. A powerful leader she will be."
"Maybe we should let her in to see him now."
"Yes."
Mace rose to open the door, and immediately Padmé rushed in to Obi-Wan's side.
She was surprised at how he looked. Though still unconscious, his color had returned and he appeared completely normal.
She looked at Yoda, somewhat confused. "He looks..."
"We have placed a Force dampening field around this room Senator." It was Mace who interrupted her.
"Why? What's happening to him?"
The taller Jedi looked to Yoda for help. He was not wanting to be the bearer of bad tidings.
"The Dark Side power, drawing it to him, Obi-Wan is. Much in Coruscant there is. Infected the city with it, Sidious did. Young Kenobi, absorbing it, containing it, within himself. At first, transferred it to the Force he did, but now, too much it is. It is.."
This time, Padmé interrupted him, her words sounding strangled. "It's killing him."
Yoda's silence provided the answer that she did not want to hear.
Mace placed a hand upon her trembling shoulder. "I'm sorry."