Chapter 4 - Master Kenobi
Obi-Wan sat on the edge of the lake and watched the birds as they hopped around his feet. They were beautiful colors of blue and red and reminded him strongly of a mission he had when he was younger with his master. He closed his eyes and sighed, he had been thinking a lot about Qui-Gon recently, ever since he was mentioned that same moring by Padme's mother.
Taking a deep breath Obi-Wan let the force flow through him to calm his raging emotions and keep them in check. He almost felt Qui-Gon's presence with him as he felt the force close to his heart. He almost cried out for his lost master. Qui-Gon was his only steady, his only constant. His master was so much more then he should have been, he was so much more then he had to be. Closing his eyes against the threatening tears he took another breath.
"For a jedi you're not very observant Master Kenobi."
Only Obi-Wan's years of training and the mantra 'always expect the unexpected' kept him from jumping out of his skin. Cornelious Naberrie's voice cut through his concentration like a saber. This man was bitter towards him, but rather if it was towards him or towards jedi in general he wasn't sure.
"Tell me Master Jedi, why are you on this mission? Is it common for a male jedi to 'protect' female targets?"
Obi-Wan wasn't sure where the conversation was going but he replied back. "The jedi are in no way prejudice. Race, Ethnicity, Gender, it doesn't matter, the only thing that matters is that we do our job effectively."
The older man didn't budge. "I hear you have met my daughter before. Under what circumstances?"
Obi-Wan mentally sighed and told him the story of the battle of Naboo and how he was one of the jedi assighned to help. Cornelious seemed unimpressed and was still staring at Obi-Wan when Padme came around the corner of the bushes.
"Hello father, Obi-Wan." She said cheerily and stopped when her father's gaze turned from the jedi to her.
"Do you always address him so informaly?" He asked and now both Obi-Wan and Padme looked confused, and Obi-Wan didn't even try to hide it.
"Father, Obi-Wan is my friend. I have only addressed him formaly when in public. Is there a problem with that?"
Cornelious looked from one to the other and huffed loudly. "Yes there is. Come, Padme."
Padme looked to Obi-Wan curiously but he just had the same look on his face as she did. Niether of them knew what was going on.
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One week later Obi-Wan found himself eating alone for lunch as Cornelious and Hilda left for the markets. Padme had been in her room all day with her handmaidens and as the jedi probed the surrounding area for any intruders or danger she came out of nowhere and startled him.
"Good afternoon Obi...Master Kenobi."
Obi-Wan smiled as he remembered her father's reaction to her calling him by his first name. "Not to prod, M'Lady, but did your father tell you what was bothering him that day he took you from the gardens?"
"No. I'm not sure what it was all about Obi. I asked my mother and she said she thought it was something about his sister, my aunt Cari and a jedi. I don't know."
Obi-Wan digested this information and came to a conclusion that he was almost positive was why Mr. Naberrie had a problem with him.
"What do you know about your aunt?"
Padme thought about it for a moment then shrugged her shoulders. "Not a lot. She comes to visit me every once in a while but I never realized I knew so little about her until I think about it. When she comes to visit again I shall talk to her, perhaps I will call her up now."
Obi-Wan waved his hand and it reminded Padme of when he used that mind trick on the man in the ship. "Don't bother with it. It's not important."
"It's important to me Obi-Wan. I want my father to like you."
The jedi was pulling all his thoughts in and putting on a mask. It was time he stopped getting attached to her and started doing his job, being a jedi.
"I'm sorry if I've done something that offended your father but I think it would be better if we didn't talk together unless it becomes necessary. I was sent here to protect you Senator, not to win your parents affections."
Padme was slightly amused at first but became agitated. "Why are you doing this Obi-Wan? I don't want to be lonely all alone here. The only people I have to talk to are my handmaidens and my parents. There is only so much I feel I can trust them with."
Obi-Wan was losing a battle he started with himself and his mind was mocking him. 'That's right Obi-Wan push her away that will help things.'
Padme looked at him with hope in her eyes at his hesitation but that was quickly smashed as his face became almost fixed, no emotion shown on his face.
"You can come to me if you feel you need someone to trust in Senator, but please only that."
Every thing seemed to go in slow motion as Padme watched Obi-Wan start to walk away. "I will do as you ask. Master Kenobi."
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Later that same day as her parents got home Padme asked her mother if she could call her aunt and see if she would like to come and visit. Forgetting about the conversation she had only recently had with her daughter Hilda said that would be fine and Padme rushed to call her aunt Cari. She was going to get to the bottom of this.
TBC
Sorry it's short but it's late and my grandparents are coming tomorrow. Hopefully more late tomorrow, definately Sunday. Happy Holidays.
Steph aka Datakenobi05