Chapter Fourteen
Padmé entered the Level One Arena on the arms of the two men she considered to be the most handsome Jedi in the Order. (Though one considerably more than the other.)
A smile lit her face as her eyes quickly scanned that particular one, the one with the beard, who was walking on her left.
The arena was the largest in the Jedi Temple, accommodating not only the thirty pair of Jedi scheduled to compete today, but every council member, Master, healer, non-participating padawans, and even a few younglings. Although the Jedi were not prone to pride or vanity, the Senior Padawan Lightsaber Competition was considered an important milestone in an apprentice's training.
Not only did it reveal to the council who the best swordsmen were and therefore who should possibly be considered for more dangerous missions, it provided a learning opportunity for the padawans who were beaten, as well as the younger ones who were observing.
Anakin, like his own master before him, had won the competition two years in a row. This would be his final year to compete, and he was heavily favored to win.
Padmé continued to view the expansive room, which was quickly filling up with Jedi of all ranks. She had been hesitant at first to accept Obi-Wan's invitation to come, but when she realized that Anakin would be busy participating in the event and would therefore be leaving her in the company of his Master, she accepted the invitation gladly.
Besides, it was to be their last opportunity to be together before the Shidoki Final Ceremony next week.
She would see to that.
It was just too difficult to pretend. She couldn't and wouldn't do it any more. No matter what Master Yoda had said. She just hoped that whatever the little green troll had up his sleeve was going to work.
"Let's go find a seat." Obi-Wan suggested to Padmé as he began moving away, but he stopped suddenly and turned back to his apprentice. "Focus on the moment. Feel the Force flow through you. Don't give in to your aggression…and watch that left guard."
"Yes Master." Anakin playfully smirked and then turned to Padmé and gave her a wink before he strode away to join the other competitors.
Obi-Wan held an arm out to Padmé, which she readily took with her hand, and he led her up into the observation stands to an area designated for Jedi Masters.
As they made their way to their seats, Obi-Wan introduced Padmé to Masters Ti, Fisto, and Unduli, moving down the bench directly behind the council members section and took a seat in back of Masters Mace Windu and Yoda.
Windu turned to him and extended a hand. "Kenobi? Is your apprentice ready?"
"As ready as he can be. His left guard is a little weak, but we've been working on it."
"You do realize that his first match is with Padawan Liet'tya."
"What better way to start the competition than with a little humility?" Obi-Wan deadpanned, to which the council member chuckled and turned back around to face the arena.
"What about Padawan Liet'tya?" Padmé asked.
"She's a dominant left-handed fighter." Obi-Wan replied as the chime that announced the beginning of the competition rang out.
"Is that going to be a problem?" Padmé asked, leaning slightly toward him.
"Not if he listened to what I told him today." Obi-Wan whispered back.
But when does that boy ever listen?
"Are you worried he won't do well?" Padmé questioned him as she watched the first four pairs take their respective positions on the training mats below.
Having won the competition the last two years and being ranked so high, Anakin's first match was not until much later.
During the first few matches, Padmé tried to keep her attention focused on the fighting, but soon found herself consistently distracted. No matter how she struggled, her gaze kept returning to admire the profile of the man who sat next to her, who appeared to have his full concentration on the matches occurring on the floor below.
"No, I'm not worried." Obi-Wan began his reply to Padmé's question, watching Padawan Liet'tya warming up in the practice arena, preparing for her first match which was scheduled to be next. But before he could finish his next statement, the real reason why he wasn't worried – wasn't feeling any trace of ill feeling whatsoever, began to dawn on him. "Anakin will do…"
As he spoke, he turned his head to meet Padmé's gaze and was immediately frozen. No more words would come and he could not turn away.
He had kept his shielding so tight the past couple of weeks until he discovered Anakin's emotions were leaking over their training bond, and so today he felt comfortable enough to relax and simply enjoy Padmé's company. But the eyes he now beheld were the darkest and most beautiful he had ever seen. They were the same eyes that haunted his dreams.
A shudder ran through his body as one particular dream came to mind. The vision unwrapped itself once again as he saw his fingers steal beneath the high collar of her gown, trace along the material that miraculously gave way beneath his touch. In his dream, the mere touch of his hand upon her skin elicited a moan from her that caused a twitch in his groin.
Mace Windu turned in his seat to address the knight, making his statement as he turned. "Liet'tya is doing well. Perhaps your padawan should be worried."
However, he was soon aware that Kenobi's attention was elsewhere and the Jedi hadn't even been watching the match, much less hearing anything he said. Mace looked back toward Yoda, smiled broadly and received a wink in reply.
Obi-Wan's eyes moved down to admire the firm full lips before him and was soon fighting the irresistible impulse to taste them.
He wanted to rid her of the ridiculous hair adornment that she wore and let her long, dark curls slip through his fingers. Rid her of her long velvet gown, position her in his lap and take her – right here in front of every council member, master and padawan in the Temple.
Once more, the announcing chime rang out, notifying the audience of the end of the first rounds of the competition. As beings about them began to move, Obi-Wan jerked in response, once more becoming aware of his surroundings and what he had been doing when he should have been watching the competition.
"Excuse me." He stated with a blush as he abruptly rose, made his way down the long bench and then descended the grandstand.
Behind him, Padmé Amidala sat still, finding herself blushing as well and quite stunned over what had just occurred.
She had just experienced the most erotic daydream of her life, and realized that it must have been coming from Obi-Wan. She had been having her share of dreams about him lately, but nothing so vivid or about anything so public.
As she had lost herself in the depths of his gorgeous eyes, she could see and feel her body being ravaged by his hands and his mouth as he made love to her.
Right here in this very arena – in front of everybody.
"Wow." She muttered as she reached down and picked up the competition schedule that lay in her lap and began fanning herself rapidly.