Chapter Two: At Court
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Queen Amidala entered the main chamber in the Royal Palace at Theed with all the pageantry due her exalted status.
Sio Bibble, governor of Naboo, walked close to her and quickly briefed her on the happenings in the provinces. She nodded silently in reply and Anakin noted the graceful line of her neck. He shook his head to clear his mind.
Her handmaidens, also her loyal bodyguards, flanked her sides. Chosen for their similarity in appearance to the Queen, they were also deadly in battle. The Queen, herself, was also skilled in combat. But more importantly, the handmaidens were the Queen's friends. One could not have enough true friends in the cut-throat business of politics.
Anakin's heart seemed to stop when he first laid eyes on her.
Standing on the sidelines, he felt as if he were in a dream. He knew she would not be able to speak to him or even acknowledge him until properly and formally reintroduced. So he used the time to reverently watch her.
She was dressed in a deep crimson gown and wearing the Naboo Jewel of Zenda in an elaborate headdress. Her face was painted in the heavy ceremonial makeup which he loathed because she looked so unlike herself. With the makeup, she was lofty and unattainable.
Distant.
Without the unnaturally pale makeup, she was a beautiful angel, his angel. His face flushed red with that thought. Obi-Wan gave Anakin a quick sideways glance. Anakin lowered his head and took a deep breath. He would have to be careful or risk yet another lecture from his stern Master.
He tried to hide a warm burst of pleasure at the thought that Padmé would be happy to see him. It would not do to give Obi-Wan any ammunition against him. Attachment was forbidden to a Jedi, and he was having quite a difficult time containing his deep feelings for Padmé. Anakin knew she would be pleased. She had to be. If she felt even a tiny fraction of what he felt, it would be enough for him.
Different diplomats had lined up to make the acquaintance of the young Queen Amidala. Anakin's impatience grew because the two Jedi were not given any special treatment; like everyone else, they had to wait to be reintroduced to the Queen. But that impatience soon turned to a stinging disappointment. Queen Amidala, as befitting her status, did not even smile when both the Jedi and Padawan learner bowed before her.
It was as if they, or rather he, was nothing to her, and it twisted his stomach with bitter disappointment. Of course, Anakin did not understand the subtle nuances of diplomacy. It would have been a great faux pas for the Queen of Naboo to show any favoritism toward any of her honored guests. Anakin was utterly crushed.
The two Jedi were shuffled to the side of the room to make way for the last of the courtiers and diplomats to pay their respects to the Queen of Naboo. They then silently exited the area, completely unnoticed by anyone. In the antechamber, Anakin began to sulk and Obi-Wan was not going to let him get away with such behavior. Obi-Wan had felt his Padawan's displeasure in the Palace hall and he could feel it growing by the moment. It loomed over them like a storm cloud. And now that they were alone, it was time to talk.
"Anakin Skywalker, whatever is the matter with you now?" Obi-Wan was also not going to tolerate any insubordination.
"Nothing, Master," he answered sullenly.
"Anakin, spill it out; I don't have all day, you know..." A slight frown marred Obi-Wan's brow.
"It's her…"
"Who?" Obi-Wan was about to lose his legendary patience. The boy could do that to him, sometimes. In fact, it was Anakin and only Anakin who could get the usually unflappable Obi-Wan Kenobi even close to irritated.
"Padmé…"
"You mean 'Queen Amidala'," he corrected. "What about her?"
"Well, she pretty much ignored me- us, in there," he growled, his lower lip poking out in a pout.
"And?"
"And…I thought it was pretty mean."
Obi-Wan gave a deep, long-suffering sigh and quickly thought of the words to explain basic diplomacy to his errant Padawan. He hoped this simple lesson would sink into that thick skill of his.
"Anakin, she is Queen of Naboo and you shouldn't refer to her Majesty by her family name unless you are in private AND she bids you to do so. To do otherwise would do her a great disrespect."
"But, we're old friends!" Anakin sputtered, indignant.
"That makes no difference, my very young Padawan. And her behavior in the chamber was absolutely correct; her Majesty could not show any favoritism towards us. It would have been very bad protocol."
Anakin scowled at Obi-Wan. He just didn't understand. "But she acted as if we were complete strangers!"
"Actually, she was very pleased to see us. I could sense it," the Jedi Master replied, with a sly grin.
"How come you could sense it and I couldn't?" Anakin, blurted out incredulously.
He was almost feeling relieved that Padmé had been pleased, but that feeling was warring with the feeling of being bested by his Master.
Once again. Anakin ground his teeth in annoyance.
"Because your senses are not yet as sharp as mine, my young apprentice. However, with more patience and concentration, Anakin, you will go very far," Obi-Wan added quite helpfully. He smiled as his fingers traced over his beard, a habitual gesture that was now irritating Anakin to no end.
Anakin looked ready to argue with him and Obi-Wan was fast losing his patience.
His Padawan seemed always ready for a squabble and Obi-Wan would much rather explore the lush Palace gardens than mince words with his cranky apprentice. He raised his hand to silence the argument before it started.
"Look, Anakin, just put it out of your mind for a while. I'm sure we'll have time for a less formal meeting with the Queen. Worry not."
Wisely, Anakin Skywalker bit his tongue and tried to be the obedient Padawan as his Master dismissed him like an errant child. Contrary to what Obi-Wan might have thought, he really didn't enjoy annoying his Master; well, he did enjoy doing it, from time to time. Anakin smiled impishly.
Obi-Wan was like a father to him and Anakin loved him as such, even though Obi-Wan could irritate the Sith out of him sometimes!