"Seeing you together brings warm feelings to my heart."
At Yoda's unexpected greeting, Padmé could not disguise her perplexed look. It certainly was a different meeting than the last time she had spoken with the small green Jedi. Obi-Wan however, paid him all the respect an ancient Jedi Master should receive and bowed low.
"Greetings Master Yoda."
Yoda motioned to two low stools that had been placed across from him. T'Pal and Captain Panaka stood behind the couple who had seated themselves. Padmé's eyes glanced from Obi-Wan to Yoda, waiting for someone to explain the nature of his visit. After a moment, seeing that neither one of them were going to speak, she decided she must.
"Master Yoda. May I ask, what is the nature of your visit?"
A small grin creased his green features. "Good news I have. The Council, granted permission to maintain your bond, they did."
Once again Padmé wore a look of bewilderment. The council had approved? How had that happened?
"Full priveleges as a Jedi Knight restored to Obi-Wan, they are."
Obi-Wan let out a small sigh, feeling Padmé's hand tighten around his own, offering him her congratulations and support.
"How could this have happened?" Padmé was ecstatic, but not sharing Obi-wan's positive outlook, found herself being somewhat cynical as well.
"Master Windu, a strong advocate for you, he has been."
/He actually went back to the council and stood up for us? Have the Sith hells frozen over?
/Padmé! He's a great Jedi and the one of the wisest council members./
/He's also an ass Obi-Wan./
/True. But he's on our side./
/I guess that means I have to like him now./
Yoda paused, sensing that a conversation was occurring that he was not able to hear.
"Sorry, Master Yoda." Obi-Wan quickly apologized.
"Do this often, they do?" Yoda's question was directed toward the healer who stood behind Obi-Wan.
"Only on their own time. Not during therapy sessions." Healer T'Pal gave Obi-Wan a slight warning squeeze to his shoulder.
"Saying, I was -- Master Windu and I agree, the Jedi, feel the loss of Master Qui-Gon, they do. Needed at the Temple you are, Obi-Wan. Return quickly, you must."
Healer T'Pal felt the tension rise in the young couple. "But Master Yoda, the bond is just now beginning to stabilize. In another month, we will have reached our first goal. They are not yet capable of enduring being separated by space, or even great distances on the same planet!"
"Realize this, the council does. Training duties, Obi-Wan have been assigned. Train the initiates in advanced saber techniques, you will. A knight who has defeated a Sith quite capable of this, is he not?"
"Yes, Master Yoda." Obi-Wan grinned. He would miss the opportunities of visiting other worlds and helping just causes of peace, but he also enjoyed the company of the younglings and the initiates, and would take on his new duties with just as much enthusiasm. His smile quickly faded however as he felt Padmé's worry edging into his mind.
"Queen Amidala, the time for you to retire from the throne, perhaps has come."
"Now wait a minute. You can't expect her royal highness to just run off on a whim! She still has another season left to her term! And Sabé can't keep up the charade for that long. Someone will notice. It's too dangerous." Panaka argued from behind Padmé.
"Asking Miss Sabé to take the Queen's place, we are not. Another queen, appointed must be."
"Then, what am I supposed to do?" Padmé asked quietly.
Yoda grinned at her, his large kind eyes sparkling with unspoken news. "Chancellor Valorum, retired from public service he has. Senator Palpatine, taken his place he did. Appointed you as Senator to take his place, if you will agree."
/We've really been out of touch haven't we? But oh Obi-Wan! It will be perfect! You can be at the Temple and I can work at the Senate. We can each fulfill our obligations and duties and still see each other. We can still be together/
/Are you sure this is what you want Padmé? Giving up the throne is a lot to ask. You will be leaving Naboo./
/But I will be with you. That is enough to make me happy, no matter where I am./ Padmé smiled at him before turning quickly to apologize to Yoda once more.
"Take it then I do, this is satisfactory?"
"Yes." They replied in unison.
"Good. Ready in one month will they be?"
"To travel together yes, but not for separation at distances more than 200 meters. We will continue to work on that at the Temple." Healer T'Pal informed Master Yoda.
"Expect to see you both at the Temple soon, I will."
Obi-Wan stood and bowed once more. Yoda stood and bowed slightly to the Queen as they left the room, followed by Captain Panaka and Healer T'Pal.
"Healer T'Pal, speak to you, I will."
"Yes Master Yoda?" The healer stayed behind as the others moved from the room, shutting the door behind them.
"Questions you have."
"Yes, Master Yoda." Even after her fifty-four-year aquaintance with the Jedi Master, she was still amazed at his intuitiveness. "I was wondering how Master Windu convinced the Jedi Council to agree to such a radical decision."
"Not all in agreement, they were. Some, strongly opposed still are."
"Mundi." T'Pal said confidently, only aware of one other council member with as strict an opinion of the Jedi code as Mace Windu once held.
"Your insight serves you well. Master Mundi, clouded his judgment is. A dangerous time for Obi-Wan and Padmé, as well as the Jedi, this is."
"Dangerous for the Jedi? How?"
"Always changing the future is, though one thing for certain. The Force brought them together it did, and for a particular reason."
T'Pal waited anxiously for Yoda's explanation, hoping that it would be clear and not a typically cryptic and confusing Master Yoda response.
"Misintepret the prophecy, we did. The time for the chosen one, at hand it is."
"Kenobi?" T'Pal felt a ripple in the Force as she fought to understand Yoda's meaning.
"No. Their child, the Chosen One will be."
"Then it is imperative we get them to the Temple to protect them as well as protect their child."
Yoda nodded and T'Pal felt the rippling of the Force smooth into a calming wave, assuring her that what Yoda had told her was true, and that they must be careful. Foretelling was not her Force gift, but even she could sense the danger that lie ahead.