Jedi padawans Obi-Wan Kenobi and Siri Tachi entered the common room adjoining the suite of rooms they shared with their masters, in the midst of a heated exchange. Faces flushed and voices low but animated, until the sight before them brought sudden silence, their argument momentarily forgotten as they stared in amazement.
The table in the center of the room was piled high with a tempting array of food. There was a large bowl of ripe fruit, and baskets of sweet breads and seed cakes, and pitchers of cool drink. Their eyes met as they shared identical looks of wonder, their animosity forgotten as they moved forward together to assess to their good fortune.
Siri carefully selected a large piece of fruit, a type she had never seen before, and took a small bite. Her blue eyes lit with surprise. "Hmmm, this is really good."
Obi-Wan was busy piling his plate full of everything. He pointed to a small purple and yellow speckled fruit, "You should try one of these, they are incredible. I just was telling the princess this morning how much I liked them. I wonder if she arranged this for us." He knew before the words were even out that it was somehow the wrong thing to say.
Siri's face was set with that hard look again, and she picked up the argument exactly where she had left off, "And just because you're older, doesn't put you in charge. I am perfectly aware of procedures, without your not-so subtle reminders. I am not a crechling."
Obi-Wan sighed as he threw himself down on a large pillow in the middle of the room careful not to upset his plate of food, "I didn't say you were. I just thought since it was your first day…"
"That you, the older more experienced padawan, would show me the ropes? Well thanks, but no thanks." Siri had the annoying habit of finishing his sentences for him and giving his words unintended meaning. When Obi-Wan had heard that she and her master, Adi Gallia were coming to join them on this mission he had been glad. He had looked forward to seeing her, but now that she was here he was not so sure. Nothing he did made her happy.
"And another thing, would you stop laughing at everything that little princess Annrya says. It's disgusting, and not very Jedi like."
"There's nothing in the code that says we can't be friendly."
"Friendly is one thing, but you trail after her like a love sick bori puppy. You act like you have some kind of pre-adolescent crush on her."
Siri was horrified to see a faint blush creep across Obi-Wan's face. So, she was right!
Then why did she suddenly feel like hitting something, hard?
Whatever else she had been about to say was forgotten as she tried her best not to choke on the sweet bite of fruit that suddenly lodged in her throat making it impossible to breath and bringing stinging tears to her eyes.
Obi-Wan took advantage of the brief silence to gain ground of his own. "What about you? Daring prince Jori to touch the witch's tree is hardly model padawan behavior, or did I overlook something in the mission outline about tormenting helpless old women? I wonder what your master would have thought of her perfect padawan if she could have heard the two of you today."
"Prince Jori is a bully and a braggart and someone needed to teach him a lesson." Siri ignored Obi-Wan's raised eye brows and only talked faster so he had no chance to lecture her on Jedi principles. "And the woman who lives under that old tree is anything but helpless, she throws rocks at the children who pass by her house. And she is not a witch either, Jori made that up to look brave in front of the younglings."
"Oh, but she is a witch, you've heard their stories. They say she steals children from their beds at night and they are never seen again."
Siri took another bite of the fruit and stared at Obi-Wan in disbelief, suddenly wondering if he were laughing at her although his face was expressionless as he waited for her to respond. "Those are just tales they made up to scare each other. There are some who say the same about the Jedi, and you know that isn't true. And besides," her voice took on that condescending tone that he hated, "she doesn't even look like a witch."
"Ok, little miss know it all. What is a witch supposed to look like?"
Siri paused for a moment to chew and think. "Well, to start off with they wear dark capes and have long hair and crooked noses."
"Excuse me?"
"And they have odd colored skin, like green. And they carry some sort of stick that they wave at people."
"Did I miss something? Are you describing witches or Jedi Masters?"
Siri made a face and continued. "A wand, that's what it's called, a wand." Happy with her explanation she took a seat on the floor next to Obi-Wan giving him a self satisfied smirk.
He was laughing at her now. Her first reaction was to want to hit him, but before she realized it she was laughing too. What a nerf herder! But she really was glad to see him. She was about to tell him so, but he was suddenly on his feet, standing so quickly she automatically scanned the room for signs of a threat.
At just that moment Jedi master, Qui-Gon Jinn, entered the room.
Damn, how do they do that? Siri stood as well, suddenly conscious of the fruit juice on her face from the sticky half eaten fruit that she hid by clasping her hands behind her back.
"Padawan."
"Yes, Master?"
"I have an errand for you. I need you to take an important message to someone. She lives under the great tree just outside the walls of the city. Do you know the place?"
"Yes, Master. The witch's tr-, I mean the old Yelba tree?" Obi-Wan ignored the strangled sound behind him as Siri tried to disguise her quick snort of laughter as an unconvincing cough.
"Yes, Padawan, that's the one." Qui-Gon put a scroll of papers in his hand. "Give her this message, and if she is willing, accompany her back to the palace. She is needed at the negotiations."
"Yes, Master. I will leave at once."
"May the Force be with you, Padawan." The words, though common among Jedi, made Obi-Wan study his master's face for a moment unsure how to interpret the expression he saw there. Something suddenly made him wonder how much of their conversation Qui-Gon had overheard. He also wondered if this task was really some kind of lesson. He knew better than to ask.
He bowed quickly and hurried from the room, knowing without turning that Siri was right behind him.
"Well, here is my chance to outshine your boyfriend, Jori. I will actually talk to the witch. I'll tell you all about it when I get back.
"No you won't." Siri said, flashing him a quick smile her eyes bright with determination, a look that he always admired. "Because I'm going with you."