She was asleep. They had been working on her skills all day. He was pleasantly surprised to see that she took to his instruction quickly and even more surprised that he enjoyed teaching her. She had fallen asleep just before dinner and he didn't want to wake her.
He spent the time alone to think about what she had said. Anakin's children could be the hope for the future. It was logical that Qui-Gon and the Council had misinterpreted from which generation the chosen one would come. Her view of events certainly made sense and for his own sanity he needed to look at it that way.
The pain was still there. Leaving Anakin on Mustafar took a piece of him. He would never be a whole again. Padame's death also wounded him deeply. It was because of his presence on her ship that Anakin turned on her. It had all gone so horribly wrong.
He glanced across the room at Amira. He thought her to be a remarkable woman. During the Clone Wars Bail was often away in Coruscant. She had stepped in and assisted her brother managing the everyday affairs of an entire planet. She was beautiful and strong; passionate about her beliefs.
Strangely he found himself wondering why she had not married. He continued to stare at her and her eyes opened. She stirred and sat up, "What?" He was caught off guard, "I didn't say anything." She smiled, "No but you were thinking something." He returned her smile, "I was curious why you haven't married."
She sat up groggily, "I was engaged once." His eyebrows rose, "What happened?" She replied, "We were both pilots serving the Alderaan defense force. We deployed with the Republic fleet. He was killed in a battle near the Hoth system during the early part of the war." He sighed, "I am sorry, I did not know."
She shrugged, "Not many did. My family did not officially announce the engagement, it happened quickly. After the war kicked off we decided to get married, but never got the chance…It was not meant to be."
"You must miss him." She nodded, "Yes, very much. I was devastated at first, but there was so much going on. We were in the middle of a galactic war; I had the affairs of entire planet to worry about. I was not afforded the luxury of grieving indefinitely."
His eyes conveyed his compassion, "Do you think of him?" She smiled, "Of course; he was my lover and my friend. I may never love anyone like that again." He gave her a barely perceptible smile, "You are a beautiful, strong and intelligent woman; you will find love again."
She wasn't expecting such a complement. It caused her heart to skip a beat and a blush to creep across her face, "That's kind of you but somehow I think most men would shy away from me. Especially if they get wind I am learning the ways of the Jedi. No one wants to marry an enemy of the Empire."
He replied, "I disagree, there is someone out there who would find your qualities irresistible." She added, "Oh, and I am a rebel spy now too. Don't forget that recent addition to my resume." He replied, "Also and endearing quality." They both laughed.
Amira stood up and joined him at the table, "Did I miss dinner?" He nodded, "you did but I saved you some." She noticed the drink on the table, "What do you have there?", "You might appreciate this. It is Alderaan ale." She grinned, "Why Ben, you've been holding out on me." He took a sip of his drink and set the glass down, "I don't have much of this left."
She reached out with her mind and drew the glass to her hand. His eyes widened in surprise, "Hey I haven't taught you that yet." She sipped the ale eagerly, "No, Jade did." He laughed, "Give that back I'll get you your own." She did as he asked while he went to the kitchen to pour her a glass. He returned with the ale and her dinner.
Later that night they sat outside having another glass of ale. He took a drink and said, "I will miss this." She asked, "Sitting outside with me?" He shook his head, "No the ale, it's almost gone." Her laughter echoed across the valley, "I will be sure to send some out to you on a freighter when I get back." She added, "Maybe I'll fly it out myself so that it won't get stolen before it reaches you."
He smiled, "So you are going to add liquor running to your appealing qualities? You just might catch a man with that profession." She shook her head sadly, "Something tells me my life will never be conducive to marriage, especially now. Besides I don't think I have it in me to love again." He looked at her, "Don't deny yourself the pleasures of loving someone if you don't have to." She turned to look at him, "Like you have?" He answered quietly, "Yes, like I have."
She sensed there was something more in his response, "Ben, you've been in love." He looked at her and paused for a moment before answering, "Yes…Her name was Siri. We were young. It was a long time ago." Amira was intrigued that General Obi-Wan Kenobi had been in love once and she wanted to know more, "What happened?"
A faraway look came across his face as if recalling the memories, "We were padawans; we were not permitted to have feelings for each other. I guess you could say we had an on again off again relationship. Our duties made it very difficult. I loved her, but we were eventually torn apart; she left the Order."
Amira replied softly, "Oh Ben, I am sorry. I did not mean to provoke a painful memory." He smiled at her, "It is not so painful now. I remember her fondly. She remains in my heart." He took another sip of ale, "It was probably for the best. I have dedicated myself to living by the Jedi Code, loving someone would only complicate that."
She was silent for a moment and she said, "You know it's just an observation but it seems to me that the rules that governed your life as a Jedi do not apply anymore. There is no more order, no more council and damn few of you." He replied, "All true but the Jedi Code exists as long as someone follows it."
She added, "I think under the current circumstances the Code could stand some revisions." He chuckled, "And just what would you revise?" She shrugged, "Well for one thing Jedi should be allowed to love and have children." He replied, "That is absurd."
She shook her head, "No it isn't; you are just conditioned to think it is. Where are the Jedi of the future going to come from? You can't believe that Luke and Leia will be able to repopulate the Jedi themselves." He frowned, "Of course I don't believe that. There are others out there; Force sensitive beings we haven't identified."
She nodded, "I am sure you are right, but how many of them want to be found? Who is looking for them? You aren't. How do you know the Emperor isn't going to find them first?" He regarded her words thoughtfully and said, "You do make a good argument, but it's too late for me anyway."
"I don't believe that Ben. It is never too late to live life, never too late to find a little bit of happiness." He looked out into the Tatooine night and said, "Easier said than done these days." She set her glass down, "What about right now, right this very moment?" He shook his head, "What do you mean?" She replied, "How do you feel tonight? How did you feel today while we were training?" His eyes came to life and a smile spread across his face, "I felt good Amira, thank you."
She returned his smile, "So what else can you teach me?" his eye brows rose, "Right now?" She leaned forward eagerly, "Yes, now, I won't be here forever. Eventually I have to go home." He nodded, "Okay. There is something I could show you. In fact, I think you already have the ability it just needs some fine tuning."
She turned to face him and said, "I am ready." He sent a thought her way, "Hear my thoughts." He did not speak but his words filled her mind. She grinned broadly, "That was wonderful; how I can do that?"
"Everyone's mind has a unique feel or signature if you will. You will know mine from some one else's by simply feeling the difference. No one knows the limit to this ability. Of course it is different for everyone but some Jedi have been known to communicate with each other over vast distances."
"So I might be able to communicate with you from Alderaan?" He shrugged, "It is possible, but the farther away you are the less clear the communication is. You might feel perceptions, emotions rather than hear actual words."
She asked, "How do I begin?" He replied, "You have to clear your mind of everything else. Tonight when you were sleeping you woke up knowing I wanted to ask you a question. Your mind was clear and calm. Try and recreate that feeling."
Amira leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. She dismissed everything else but what she wanted to say to him. After a moment she opened her eyes, "Did you get it?" He shook his head, "No, try again."
She did as he said and reached out with her thoughts, "I would like another glass of ale." He burst out laughing and Amira's eyes shot open wide, "You heard me? You heard my thoughts?" He answered between laughs, "Yes I did, but you are not getting anymore of my ale!" She threw her arms around him hugging him tightly and tried another thought, "Thank you." He embraced her back, "You are very welcome."