Obi-Wan met the gaze of Padmé, shocked he could barely read it. What was worse was that he could no longer feel her presence within him, that sweet longing that had he had grown accustomed to.
He quickly threw up his shields and maintained his composure, unwilling to reveal his despair and resentment to the two Jedi watching him closely. They had destroyed the very thing that he had come to live for. He doubted he would ever forgive them for that, or forgive himself for allowing it to happen.
Padmé did not handle the situation quite so well. She searched along her mind to the familiar place where Obi-Wan had resided, and although the bond was not completely vanished, it had diminished so much, it was barely recognizable.
So, they had succeeded. Obi-Wan could go back to his life as a Jedi, and she could go back to her duties as well. But she knew her life would never be the same. Since experiencing the joy that the short-lived bond had brought her, the love that they had shared, anything and everything else paled in comparison, and she began to wonder if anything would make her happy again.
She definitely wasn't happy now. She was absolutely furious and her face showed it. Furious with Yoda and T'Pal for destroying their connection, but mostly she was furious with herself. She allowed it to happen. She had listened to their arguments and had given in. Even after Obi-Wan pleaded with her not to. She had given in.
And now the despair settled in and the tears threatened to come.
Healer T'Pal stepped forward and placed her long amphibious fingers on both of their shoulders.
"The bond has been dampened, but it still exists. With Master Yoda's permission, I suggest that the two of you be taken to Coruscant, to the Jedi Temple, where, with the assistance of another Healer more qualified in this type of therapy, we will be able to eliminate it entirely, and then everyone can get on with their lives. Is this agreeable?"
Padmé numbly nodded, too depressed now to put up a fight.
Obi-Wan did the same.
Master Yoda dismissed the couple to their own private quarters, admonishing them to keep their eyes and hands off one another and to keep out of each other's sight, informing them that they would be watched until the following morning, when they would leave for the Jedi Temple.
Obi-Wan and Padmé both rose from the floor slowly, the exhaustion of the therapeutic process sinking in. Padmé moved toward the door first, followed shortly by Obi-Wan. She glanced sorrowfully at the trio of handmaidens still sitting vigil outside in the hallway and then reluctantly turned and walked away. Before moving out of sight completely, she turned to glance behind her and met the despondent gaze of Obi-Wan. She smiled at him briefly. He smiled in return, and then they went their separate ways.
Once the Queen was out of their sight, Sabé was on her feet, her ear pressed to the councilroom door.
"What do you think you're doing?" Rabé whispered across at her.
"Shhh!" Sabé intently focused on the conversation occurring between Master Yoda and the Jedi Healer.
Her eyes widened as their words continued. The conversation abruptly ended, and she quickly walked to the other handmaidens, grasped their arms and started escorting them down the hallway.
"Boy did we screw up." Sabé murmured as they walked.
"It's not like its the first time." Rabé returned somberly.
"What did you hear?" Yané asked.
Sabé glanced around them and then moved the girls to a private alcove, her words an echoed whisper amongst the expansive marble columns.
"I heard the Jedi Healer tell Master Yoda how lucky they were that the Queen and Jedi Kenobi hadn't consumated their bond. Something about it being impossible to remove a life-bond once that happens. Apparently, they had not gotten that far yet, and so she thinks if they get them back to Coruscant and get the help of another healer, the bond will be eliminated for good."
"That's what we want...isn't it?" Yané dared to ask.
"No!" Rabé slapped her friend on the arm. "Not now!"
Yané tried not to look confused.
"Did you see how they looked at each other? Did you see the pain on their faces? We definitely screwed up."
"So what are we going to do?" Yané was still confused, but found herself a more-than-willing participant in any plan that would secure the Queen's happiness.
"We have to get them together in order to consumate this bond thing before they leave for Coruscant." Sabé stated confidently.
"When are they leaving?"
"Tomorrow morning." Sabé grinned at the wide eyed expressions of the handmaidens. "We have to do some quick thinking and some quick planning girls. We have to get them in bed, together, by tonight!"