Chapter Twenty
A message that had been relayed from several stations reached Obi-Wan while he was assisting villagers on Antar. There had been an unseasonably heavy amount of rain on the highly populated sector of planet leading to treacherous mudslides. He had spent many long days helping the Antarians dig themselves out. After wiping his dirty hands onto his equally dirty leggings, Obi-Wan read the datapad that had been handed to him by a smiling young lad.
Apparently, he was invited to a planet-wide celebration in Theed a month from tomorrow by the Queen herself, to honor the unity of all kingdoms of Naboo.
He smiled at the formality of the invitation and proudly tucked the information into his memory before handing back the reader to the youngling who had brought it to him.
A month. It may take that long to help these people, but he was looking forward to seeing what Padmé had been up to. It had been nearly four months since he'd been able to see her. The Jedi Council had been keeping him busy and had even started hinting about the possibility of him taking on an apprentice. He wasn't quite sure he was ready for that but had promised to meditate upon the matter. The Force would decide when the time was right, not him nor the Council.
When the allotted time had passed, Obi-Wan was very close to completing his mission. All that was left was some minor cleaning up of the outer walls. The houses ad businesses were now in good enough shape to work and live in and the villagers thanked him profusely.
He would be a day early for the celebration on Naboo, but he didn't think the Queen would mind.
When he arrived in Theed, Padmé ordered him promptly to go to bed, but not for the purpose one might think. He was worn out and apparently it showed. Without even the demand he clean up first, she shoved him into her bed, pulled the covers over him, and started caressing his forehead and browline. He didn't recall much after that and fell asleep quickly. When Obi-Wan awoke, the sun had disappeared and the room was lit by lamplight.
Their visits often happened this way, but it couldn't be helped. Lack of sleep and exhaustion were the side effects of his Jedi commitment nowadays. There seemed to be so many who needed help and the Jedi were spread thin, even though there were over eight-hundred of them on the active roster. Some were Master and Padawan teams, and times like these were the only ones when he thought that perhaps if he had an apprentice, he would be able to get some rest. Not a good reason to take on a padawan learner, really.
"How long have I been asleep?" he asked the Queen, who had already washed her face and gotten ready for bed.
"About seven hours," she replied, twisting her long hair into a braid. "I would've woken you but you looked like you needed it. Was the mission difficult?"
Obi-Wan took the time to explain how the flood had occurred so rapidly, it took the villagers by surprise. He teared up when he told her about the family with several small children who had been caught up in it. He was the one who had dug their bodies out of the muddy graves. The youngest one was just two.
"How awful," Padmé replied, visibly upset and more than willing to comfort him.
It felt good to be able to tell someone about such things and not just release his emotions into the Force. Humans weren't designed to be alone.
"Listen," she told him while sitting next to him in bed. She had grabbed his hand and was absentmindedly flexing his finger joints one by one. "I've got some news. I think it's good, even though I'm nervous about it."
Now, she was tracing the lines in his palm which was becoming rather distracting actually.
"Obi-Wan? Are you listening to me?"
"Yes." The Knight grabbed her hand firmly in order to be able to concentrate more easily and grinned innocently. "Go ahead."
"I received a hologram from Chancellor Valorum," she began with some excitement. "Apparently, the representative from the Chommel Sector will be retiring at the end of next term. He said he's impressed with how I've been able to unify Naboo. He's recommending I fill the position in the Galactic Senate as soon as it's vacated. What do you think?"
At first, Obi-Wan couldn't wrap his head around all the possibilities. If she accepted this position, that would mean she would work and live on Coruscant! He would be able to come and go from her place and not spend half his life in his ship flying to and fro Naboo between missions.
Senator Naberrie. He thought it sounded fine, although Senator Kenobi sounded far better.
In due time, Obi-Wan cautioned himself. At least let her take the job first!
"I think you would make a rare politician," he teased.
"What do you mean by rare?"
"You know; one who's actually honest and honorable."
His comment received a punch to his arm, which kind of hurt, actually. She was stronger than she looked.
"Are you going to take it?" he asked. He knew what he wanted, but it wasn't up to him.
"I'm going to have to think about," Padmé told him. "It would mean leaving Naboo, the Mer, Jobal , Ruwee, Yané and Sabé behind."
He had to say something. No promises, but it was worth at least putting his name into her reasoning.
"It also means we'd be able to see each other more often."
She smiled and placed her other hand on top of his, once more picking up her gentle caresses which threatened to undo him.
"I realize that and that fact alone tempted me to tell the Chancellor yes right away, but there's more to be considered. I've worked so hard here to make everything right, to bring every being who lives on this planet closer together. I think I've succeeded, but I want things to continue that way."
It was a hopeful dream, but more than likely just a dream. Things couldn't stay perfect forever.
Her eyes then widened as if she recalled something. "Did you know that by researching through all Sheev's hidden documents we discovered who started all this mess in the first place? It was him! This entire time! He killed the King's son all those years ago and started all this bickering and fighting! It was Sheev who put the Mer on such a destructive path. I simply have to make sure that nothing like that ever happens again."
Obi-Wan understood her concerns. She truly cared not only about the Mer, but the people of Theed as well, although Obi-Wan felt he needed to point something out. "You do realize that as the representative for this entire sector, you'll have more opportunities to help them than you did before? You'll have the ability to enforce laws and create trade agreements that will benefit not only Naboo but every planet in this system."
"Sounds scary, doesn't it?" Padmé admitted with a slight chuckle before lying down. Even though Obi-Wan was no longer tired, he joined her. There was no way he was going to give up an opportunity to hold her.
He was propped up against the padded headboard with her head upon his chest. While lazily tracing his fingers down her spine, his calluses sticking to the satin material, Obi-Wan could feel the vibrations of her humming against his skin.
"That feels nice," she purred like a tusk-cat. "Thank you for listening to me and not telling me what I should do. You always respect me enough to make up my own mind and I appreciate that."
Before falling to sleep, Padmé lifted her head and leaned forward to press her lips against his. She was tired and the kiss was dreamy and sweet.
"Whatever you decide," he told her once they'd parted though holding her close, "you have my support. Now, get some sleep. You have a big day tomorrow and need to be at your best."
"Yes, Master," she teased before coiling her body against him.
Quickly, her breathing slowed and within just a few minutes, she had fallen asleep. Obi-Wan kept up his gentle caresses, being careful not to wake her. He would be awake for some time, although he wasn't planning on getting out of bed. As long as she was there, that's where he would remain.
There was no other place in the galaxy he'd rather be than by her side.
