"Jedi Kenobi, so nice of you to join us."
The queen addressed Obi-Wan politely as he stepped up on the platform. If she sensed his foul mood, she made no inclination. She smiled sweetly at him before turning her eyes to the Theed street.
"I see you two have already met." Captain Panaka stated, approaching them from behind.
"Yes, we have. In the hallway upon your arrival, if you recall, Knight Kenobi."
Obi-Wan heard the words, but was too confused to explain. He missed the chagrined look on the queen's face as he turned his attention toward the gathering crowd.
And gathering, they were. The adults and children, both Nubian and Gungan lining the streets, the band beginning their warm-up behind him. Everything just as it had been the day before.
In desperation, the knight eased his way up to her side. "What's going on?" He asked in a fierce whisper.
The handsome young queen cocked her head and peered toward him. "The Unity Day Parade." She whispered back. "That's why we're here. Are you feeling all right?"
"Yes." Just then, the Gungan band began their lively tune and Obi-Wan repeated his affirmative answer much more louder than before.
"Good." She yelled back, eyeing him suspiciously.
"Wake up Kenobi." He murmured to himself as he watched the proceedings play out in front of him. Amazingly, he discovered that he knew everything that was going to happen, from the child running out from the crowd quickly retrieved by its mother, to the squealing infant terrified of the horn-blowing Gungans, to the rhythmic patterns of the drummers playing behind him. But it wasn't his gift of Force prescience that was making him aware of these things. It was memories. Actual remembrances of occurrences from the previous day.
But that was impossible.
Without actually realizing it, the knight began the mantra of peace and serenity in his head, ending with the mantra of fear, since he realized it was now his most prevalent emotion.
Adding to his horror, the queen once more stepped up to the publi-comm and addressed the crowd.
"Before we proceed with the certification of the annual Unity Treaty, let us hear a few words from our esteemed guest, Jedi Knight of the Coruscant Temple, Obi-Wan Kenobi."
In a daze, the young knight stepped up to the communicator, his mouth gaping open. Then, he realized he was too stunned to speak and abruptly turned and walked down the steps.
Sabé quickly stole up to the Queen's side. "I told you to report him."
"I might have to. This is highly irregular. I've never seen a Jedi act this way before. Maybe something's wrong with him."
"He's an ass. That's what's wrong with him."
As Boss Nass approached the publi-comm in order to address the murmuring parade crowd, the young woman continued watching the Jedi leave the city square and head back toward the palace.
She didn't think Sabé was correct. There was something wrong with the young man. Somehow she knew it. She could sense it. Now, she just had to figure out what it was.
She looked for him during second meal, but was afraid that he had already gone off planet, until Captain Panaka informed her of the unexpected early arrival of the meteor shower entering the Naboo orbit. She asked the Head of Security to keep an eye out for the young man and to inform her immediately when he was found.
Word came to her in the early evening that the Jedi Knight was alone on the grand balcony outside of the East Library, and she immediately went there to speak to him.
He had his back to her when she approached, but did not seem surprised at her presence, turning only slightly to acknowledge her with a slight bow of his head.
"Your highness."
She regarded him carefully in the Naboo twilight, adjusting the velvet wrap around her shoulders to ward off the chill of the slight breeze coming off the waterfall far below them.
"I'm sorry that you were unable to leave. Captain Panaka informed me of the -- astronomical anomaly." She added with a smile, hoping to remove the crease that had seemed to have permanently chiseled itself between his eyebrows. He was a handsome young man, she thought. Much too handsome and much too young to look so morbid all the time.
"Thank you." He added with another quick bow.
Charming accent, slightly lilting. Possibly Correlian?
"Are you planning on joining the celebrations tonight? You would be most welcome. The Gungans put on quite an impressive aquatic laser show."
At the mention of the word Gungans, the young woman could not help but notice a scowl once more appearing on the knight's face.
"May I ask you something?" He finally asked, his brows still knitted tightly together.
"Of course."
"What is up with Governor Bibble?"
A large grin spread across the young woman's face. No further explanations were needed. It was what everyone always wanted to know when they first met the man.
"You mean, his unnatural talent for discombobulation."
"Exactly." Obi-Wan grinned, and the queen smiled at the now quite charming-appearing Jedi.
"He used to teach ancient Naboo Philosophy at the university before he became involved in politics. If you hang around Captain Panaka enough, you'll discover he communicates much the same way. The Captain was one of his prize students."
"Well, it makes him sound ridiculous. I thought he was demented or something." Obi-Wan blurted out, turning his attention back toward the horizon, which glittered with thousands of sparkling lights, most likely from the ongoing celebration that seemed to be occurring all over the planet, and not just in Theed.
"I wouldn't say ridiculous." The queen spoke softly, joining the young knight in his posture against the balustrade. "Sio encapsulates his observations of the common universe to such a degree of congruity that his language often results in metaphors that summarize most natural human or non human activities."
Another smile on the young woman's face received another frown from the young man. Sure, she was beautiful, but she was also intelligent. Possibly too intelligent for him. Obi-Wan usually preferred women he could beat at a quick game of Sabaac. He doubted he could win against this one. He brushed aside his previous interest and decided to let this one go after all. Besides, if he wanted to meet her again, he would have to put up with the Gungans. He decided it wasn't worth it.
"I prefer non-illusionary intellectualism myself." Obi-Wan replied with a cocky grin.
"A Force sensitive with anti-philosophical beliefs. How interesting."
Obi-Wan eyed the profile of the young queen candidly. He could sense no malice or superiority of mind about her at all. She was simply just being friendly, and it confused him even more, because he knew he didn't deserve it.
"It's getting late." Obi-Wan responded after a moment's silence. "I should be getting some sleep for the trip back to Coruscant tomorrow."
"Very well, Knight Kenobi. I wish you a pleasant evening."
"Thank you, your highness." The young man bowed more deeply this time, intentionally respectfully. When he arose, he met her dark glittering gaze and noticed an outreach of her hand. Hesitantly, he met it with his own and grasped hers firmly.
"Padmé." She said with a smile. "My name is Padmé. You may call me that. I hope that even after you leave, we can be friends."
Once again, the young man's mouth gaped open, unsure of how to respond to her kindness, and before he could think of what to say, the words tumbled from him. "I'd like that. And you may call me Obi-Wan."
Once again, a frown appeared across the Knight's forehead, but the young woman apparently did not notice. She smiled broadly and turned and left him standing alone on the balcony, looking as confused and somber as he had when she first arrived, but now for much different reasons.