The return trip aboard the small public transport passed by without conversation between the two Jedi. Obi-Wan held his tongue as well through the hallways of the Jedi Temple until finally arriving at his and Anakin's quarters.
Hands on his hips, facing the window in the common room, Anakin knew his Master was upset, although he wasn't quite why. He hung their two cloaks up on the hook by the door and waited while Obi-Wan struggled for his serenity. Finally, the Jedi Master began speaking quietly.
"Anakin. Are you trying to sabotage everything?"
"What do mean, Master?"
Obi-Wan turned to stare incredulously at the young man.
"You've got to be kidding! Your manners this evening were absolutely appalling! You've never acted that way on any of the missions we have been on before. What possessed you to act that way tonight?"
"I was just being myself, Master." The apprentice retaliated as he sat heavily down in the closest chair. "If I can't be myself around my own future mate, then how can I expect her to love me?"
Obi-Wan regarded Anakin with a much calmer demeanor. What he had said made sense, but time was growing short. There was too much at stake to take any chances.
"Anakin." Obi-Wan moved to sit across from the younger man. "Let's concentrate on initiating your relationship. There will be time enough to be yourself after the preliminary ceremony."
His apprentice dropped his gaze momentarily as he contemplated Obi-Wan's words.
"In the meantime, I want you to at least try and use some of the diplomatic skills you have been taught."
With a look of hesitant resolution, Anakin lifted his eyes back up to meet his Master's, sighing heavily. "I'll try, Master."
Obi-Wan reached across and patted the youth's knee before rising to his feet.
"Since we are running out of time, we are going to have to double our efforts in establishing your bond before the ceremony. In order to do that, we have to spend a lot of time with Senator Amidala."
"But Master, I thought the bond was established during the actual ceremony, not before."
"The Force should have already begun creating a bond whether you realize it or not, padawan. During the three-month courtship is when the bond between you intensifies. During that time, you will begin to experience strong emotions, feelings, and….desires that you haven't experienced before."
Intrigued now, Anakin leaned forward in his seat as his Master spoke. "Is that what happened with you, Master?"
Obi-Wan's face grew pensive as he tapped into a long-forgotten memory. "To an extent, though not as strong as other's have been reported to be. Everybody's Shidoki bonding is different. But don't worry, the Force will determine the strength of the bond as well as the recipients."
Anakin shook his head slightly in confusion. "I thought you said the Force already told you Padmé was the recipient."
"It did." Obi-Wan tried to explain, although the exact workings of the Force in this type of situation was unclear to most Jedi Masters, with the exception of Master Yoda. But, Master Yoda had been present in the hallway when the Force revealed Padmé to him, and Yoda himself had confirmed that she was the answer to his problem. Obi-Wan was therefore convinced that they were on the right track.
"But," he continued, "that doesn't necessarily mean she is the correct bondmatch for you. That is what the Shidoki Final Ceremony is for."
"I know." Anakin interrupted. "It reveals the bondmatch to all those who are present as witnesses. I learned that in the manual you forced me to read."
"You needed to read it, padawan, in order to understand what the ceremony is all about. This is a life-changing event, Anakin. Once the Force reveals the bondmatch during the final ceremony, there is no going back. You'll present your bondmatch her half of the Shidoki medallion and if a true match has been made, when brought together, the medallion will put forth a light. The brighter the light, the stronger the bond."
Obi-Wan walked over to the tall book-laden shelves in the corner of the room and retrieved a carved wooden box, its interior lined in red velvet. From inside, he withdrew two crescent-shaped silver medallions, each carved with the shape of a bird's wing, half a sword vertically on each edge, offset with a large crystal in each hilt. The medallions hung from silver chains, one slightly more delicate than the other.
Anakin had risen to move to Obi-Wan's side to view the symbols of the Shidoki bond.
"During the ceremony, the light will emanate from within the crystal when the two halves are joined together, right Master?"
"That's right," Obi-Wan replied with a smile. "I was told that when Qui-Gon and Knight Tahl participated in their Shidoki Ceremony, the light was almost bright enough for her to actually see."
Anakin looked confused for an instant.
"She was blind, padawan, but was one of the greatest knights of the order. Qui-Gon loved her very much."
Obi-Wan put the medallions back into the box and placed it back up on the shelf. He then placed a hand on his apprentice's shoulder.
"We need to get some sleep. We've got a big day tomorrow. I'm going to see if Padmé would be willing to meet us again for dinner. How do you feel about dancing, padawan?"
"Dancing's fine, Master." Anakin said with as much enthusiasm as he could muster, but the truth was, he had hoped that he was going to have some time the next night to fit his speederbike with a new thruster.
Maybe some other time.