It took several moments for the chrono's alarm to reach Obi-Wan's senses, as caught up ina pleasant dream that he was. He finally awoke with a start, with a quick slam of his hand to the alarm and a single word on his lips.
"Padmé."
Had he dreamt the whole thing? Part of him hoped he had and another part hoped not. The conversation he had had with her on the balcony had been too pleasant and he enjoyed her company, whether he dreamt it or not. He hoped he hadn't dreamt it. If he had, then he was back where he started, and their twilight meeting had never taken place. Her last impression would be of him making a total fool of himself during the parade and then his rude reply to her in the hallway afterward. Not exactly favorable.
Maybe this whole experience was a sleep vision brought on by his aggravation and crankiness. Maybe the Force was trying to tell him something.
But then, how did he know her name? She hadn't told him before, and it wasn't in the mission specs.
Obi-Wan sluggishly moved from the bed and then into the fresher, but abruptly rushed back into the sleeping room and to the window, where he aggressively flung back the shade.
The view of colorful Unity Day banners and flags, the gathering crowds of beings lining the Theed street swam before his eyes and he gripped the window casing to fight off a sudden dizzy spell.
"This is impossible!" He hissed against the window. Opting to forego the shower, he grabbed his cloak and headed for his door. He wasn't sure what was going on, but he knew that he had to speak to the queen. He had to go to Padmé. For some reason, he felt that she was the only one who could help him.
He made it about halfway down the hall before he was approached by Governor Bibble.
"Good morning, Knight Kenobi. You know it's the…"
"…early Gungan who gets the gooberfish, I know, I know." The knight stated exasperatedly, moving quickly past the elderly man and heading for the grand foyer.
He thanked the Force as he apparently arrived too early to be seen by Jar-Jar, and practically ran up the steps to the adjoining platform, where Boss Nass was just now arriving to meet with the Naboo rulers.
"Knight Kenobi." The queen greeted his hurried entrance with a cheerful grin. "I hope that you slept well."
"May I speak with you a moment?" Obi-Wan asked as he stepped forward quite closely and peered into her sparkling gaze.
The young queen glanced over his rather disheveled appearance. Unshaven, hair spiking in several directions and much less orderly than even before, tunics rumpled, and the brown cloak thrown haphazardly over his shoulders, one side hanging precariously from his arm.
"I'm afraid I don't have the time." She replaced her cheer with worry. "The Unity Parade will begin in just a short while."
The young man's eyes nervously darted about. "When you're done then. Can you meet me in the library? The one with the dark green shiny floor?"
"I…." The young woman stammered. "I suppose so." She opened her mouth to once more inquire after his health, but the young man had spun on his heel and sped away.
The queen spied her handmaiden Sabé stealing up to her side. "Whatis up with him?"
"I don't know." Padmé answered in confusion. "He wants to meet with me in the library after the parade.
"After? You mean he's not staying? He's supposed to supervise the treaty signing!"
"I know that." The young queen's tone hushed the handmaiden.
"Well, if you aren't going to report him to the council, I will." Sabé responded in a whisper.
"You will do no such thing."
Just then the Gungan band began to warm up, drowning out any further conversation, but Padmé could not take her eyes away from the young man who was continuing to walk at a rather fast pace up the steps into the Theed palace.
Perhaps he was ill. That could explain his behavior, and she wouldn't need to call the council for that. But she wouldn't find out until she talked to him first, and it looked like she wasn'tgoing to get a chance until after the parade.
He seemed so upset and almost desperate. Padmé was seriously worried about the young man's frame of mind, especially when she witnessed him apparently using the Force to shove one of the Gungans backward down the steps of the palace.
Yes, they definitely needed to talk.