Padmé watched the two men from the balcony; Anakin was gesturing wildly with his hands as he sat half turned towards his master. She gauged from his actions that he was explaining the turn of events that led to their shotgun marriage. She sighed and went in. Captain Panaka was sitting on the sofa his head in his hands.
"Your highness I'm not so sure Anakin is the right choice for you, he is not even a knight-how will you make the council accept him as your consort."
"Captain, my marriage to Anakin was not a chance, I am sure it is divine will, nevertheless convincing the council is my job you needn't worry about it. As for the reaction of your soldiers, I have decided to keep my relations to Anakin a secret till this crisis is resolved."
Panaka lifted his head, "I agree! Highness I think its best kept a secret for now."
That decided, Panaka went on to brief the Queen on the present status of her forces and the future course of action.
"…When I came back she told me that she had accepted the chief's invitation." Anakin took in a deep breath as he finished his story, which was not exactly the whole story, he had conveniently edited out a few incidents here and there, but he told Obi-Wan what he really needed to know.
"Hmmm, it appears to be a forced wedding, if that is the case and she actually intends to give back the ring then we shouldn't have any thing to worry about." However, even as he spoke Obi-Wan remembered the passionate scene that he had been unfortunate enough to witness this very morning.
"Well! Not exactly" Anakin got up and stood by the tree trunk.
"Last night she confided in me that she loved me, that since she had taken the holy vow she considered me to be her husband and would consider me as such till her very last breath"
Obi-Wan nodded, "This will complicate things. She is Naboo and Naboo women are well known for their faith and loyalty to their husbands and family. But surely you can't throw away your career as a…"
"Master!" Anakin said his head lowered as he studied his boots. "I...I…"
"Yes! Padawan!" Obi-Wan encouraged.
"I love her too! Always have, ever since I saw her in Wattoo's shop."
Obi-Wan looked up at him, surprise and disappointment evident in his eyes," That was just a childhood crush, I thought it passed away."
"I never stopped dreaming of her, that's what kept me going through some of the toughest times-besides your support that is." Anakin replied.
Obi-Wan let out a heavy sigh. "Anakin you just can't throw your career because of a woman? Not when your this close to knighthood."
Anakin shrugged. "That is not for me to decide. Master I had foreseen it, when I was a child-long before I met Padmé, but I never actually believed it would come to pass."
Obi-Wan shoulders sank back in resignation. "The force has its ways," Obi-Wan said getting up.
"Master I do want very much to be a Jedi knight," He paused, "but I cannot abandon her, abandon my duties as a husband."
Obi-Wan stared hard at his Padawan. Anakin again resumed examining his boots he could not meet his master's eyes he could not bear to see the disappointment there.
"Isn't there any way out so I can be both?" Anakin asked in almost a whisper.
Obi-Wan, his hands clasped behind his back surveyed the quite garden his attention riveted on a tiny red bird with garishly yellow wings as it hovered over an equally garishly colored flower. "Master! Anakin said, trying to bring his master back to the present.
"Anakin I think we should keep a lid on this till after your trials, it is better that the council not know about it." Obi-Wan said without looking at him.
Anakin turned to his master, his eyes wide. "Master! You're going to actually conspire-against the council." As far as Anakin knew, Obi-Wan had never conspired against the council not even to save his own neck.
"I'll take my chances son!" I do want you to take those trials." Anakin suddenly grabbed his master and hugged him, his emotions over-whelmed him and he swallowed hard in an attempt to keep his voice even,
"Thank you master, I'll never forget this, even if the council does kick me out." Obi-Wan smiled and ruffled his padawan's hair. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that."
"Your highness I'm not so sure Anakin is the right choice for you, he is not even a knight-how will you make the council accept him as your consort."
"Captain, my marriage to Anakin was not a chance, I am sure it is divine will, nevertheless convincing the council is my job you needn't worry about it. As for the reaction of your soldiers, I have decided to keep my relations to Anakin a secret till this crisis is resolved."
Panaka lifted his head, "I agree! Highness I think its best kept a secret for now."
That decided, Panaka went on to brief the Queen on the present status of her forces and the future course of action.
"…When I came back she told me that she had accepted the chief's invitation." Anakin took in a deep breath as he finished his story, which was not exactly the whole story, he had conveniently edited out a few incidents here and there, but he told Obi-Wan what he really needed to know.
"Hmmm, it appears to be a forced wedding, if that is the case and she actually intends to give back the ring then we shouldn't have any thing to worry about." However, even as he spoke Obi-Wan remembered the passionate scene that he had been unfortunate enough to witness this very morning.
"Well! Not exactly" Anakin got up and stood by the tree trunk.
"Last night she confided in me that she loved me, that since she had taken the holy vow she considered me to be her husband and would consider me as such till her very last breath"
Obi-Wan nodded, "This will complicate things. She is Naboo and Naboo women are well known for their faith and loyalty to their husbands and family. But surely you can't throw away your career as a…"
"Master!" Anakin said his head lowered as he studied his boots. "I...I…"
"Yes! Padawan!" Obi-Wan encouraged.
"I love her too! Always have, ever since I saw her in Wattoo's shop."
Obi-Wan looked up at him, surprise and disappointment evident in his eyes," That was just a childhood crush, I thought it passed away."
"I never stopped dreaming of her, that's what kept me going through some of the toughest times-besides your support that is." Anakin replied.
Obi-Wan let out a heavy sigh. "Anakin you just can't throw your career because of a woman? Not when your this close to knighthood."
Anakin shrugged. "That is not for me to decide. Master I had foreseen it, when I was a child-long before I met Padmé, but I never actually believed it would come to pass."
Obi-Wan shoulders sank back in resignation. "The force has its ways," Obi-Wan said getting up.
"Master I do want very much to be a Jedi knight," He paused, "but I cannot abandon her, abandon my duties as a husband."
Obi-Wan stared hard at his Padawan. Anakin again resumed examining his boots he could not meet his master's eyes he could not bear to see the disappointment there.
"Isn't there any way out so I can be both?" Anakin asked in almost a whisper.
Obi-Wan, his hands clasped behind his back surveyed the quite garden his attention riveted on a tiny red bird with garishly yellow wings as it hovered over an equally garishly colored flower. "Master! Anakin said, trying to bring his master back to the present.
"Anakin I think we should keep a lid on this till after your trials, it is better that the council not know about it." Obi-Wan said without looking at him.
Anakin turned to his master, his eyes wide. "Master! You're going to actually conspire-against the council." As far as Anakin knew, Obi-Wan had never conspired against the council not even to save his own neck.
"I'll take my chances son!" I do want you to take those trials." Anakin suddenly grabbed his master and hugged him, his emotions over-whelmed him and he swallowed hard in an attempt to keep his voice even,
"Thank you master, I'll never forget this, even if the council does kick me out." Obi-Wan smiled and ruffled his padawan's hair. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that."