A/N: I'm sorry it took me so long to update but there was no time to write. Had a lot of stuff to do (university and so on…). Hope you like the chapter. I think it's really romantic and there's lots of Obidala in it this time. Njoy !
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars. It's all George's… etc.
Lyrics: Bryan Adams feat. Sarah McLachlan, "Don't Let Go" (taken from the "Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron" OST)
The Apparition
Padmé had already begun to fill the closet in the bedroom with clothes, although there was not very much she could put in there. Only a few simple suits, three pairs of different shoes, the one dress she had promised to keep and the Jedi robe Obi-Wan had given to her. When she looked at it, she still had to laugh silently. She could not imagine being capable of using the Force. But something within her told her, that it was not that unbelievable. She had experienced the ways of the Force more than once, she had felt it, heard it, even seen it. And most importantly, it was the only thing that was left of her children. The Force would always connect them, remind her of them. And she could already feel the bond between her and Obi-Wan. A bond that was created and held together by the Force. And it would be strengthened by the Force, as soon as she understood what it was all about. Suddenly, she did not find it so strange anymore to become something like a Jedi.
Obi-Wan was in the small kitchen, trying to prepare some food for diner. Unfortunately, they only had a bread and some fruits, and Obi-Wan came to the conclusion, that even if he was a great cook – which he was definitely not – he would not be able to make a gala menu out of this. At least he tried to make it look nice. He cut the bread into little stripes and draped a piece of fruit on each of it. He put the food on one of the plates he had found on the cupboard above the table, took two wooden cups and filled them with water. Finally he placed three almost completely burned down white candles on the table and thought that this looked not too bad.
A quiet laughter shook Obi-Wan out of his thoughts. When he looked up, he saw Padmé standing in the doorway, grinning all over her beautiful face.
She wore the Jedi robe he had given to her and she definitely looked gorgeous in it although it was not exactly her size. Her hair looked wonderful when she wore it open like this. No complicated styles, no crowns, no decoration. It just fell over her back and reached her slender hips.
"You... look... beautiful." he stuttered.
"You think ? There's no mirror in this house so I couldn't see it by now."
"No, really, I'm serious. It's perfect."
"Thank you. What are you doing here ?"
"Ah... cooking. Well, something like that." he said a bit embarrassed.
"Cooking, huh ? Sounds great, I could eat a whole bantha." Padmé returned, still grinning. Obi-Wan pushed one of the wooden chairs back.
"Milady… Please take a seat !" he said formally.
"Thank you, Sir." Padmé replied and sat down.
"I'm sorry, bantha is out today but…I recommend our speciality: Some delicious stripes of bread and Nubian fruits." he showed her the plate with the little food on it and put it on the table. Of course there was not one single Nubian fruit on it, these were all fruits from the Lars' farm. And the bread also started to become hard. But Padmé decided to imagine that this was the most delicious food she had ever had. She imagined them sitting on a balcony in the Theed Palace on Naboo. The stars shining down on them, a gently blowing wind covering their skin, listening to the sound of the Naboo rivers below.
"You're daydreaming." Obi-Wan mentioned, shaking her out of her thoughts. Padmé took a deep breath and nodded.
"I imagine us being on Naboo instead of here. Obi-Wan… listen… listen closely… Can you hear the rivers flow ? Can you hear the birds sing their lively song only for us ? I can…" she whispered. He touched her hand tenderly and closed his eyes.
"Yes, I can hear it, too." he answered after a short moment of silence.
"Would you dance with me, Master Jedi ?" she suddenly asked.
"Dance ? I can't… I mean…" Obi-Wan stuttered nervously.
"It would mean a lot to me…" Padmé added and when he looked at her deep brown eyes, which were almost begging him, he just could not refuse her that favour.
Obi-Wan took her right hand in his and wrapped his arm around her waist while Padmé leaned her head against his chest, listening to his slow and regular heartbeat, as the imaginary birds' song echoed in their minds.
I can't believe this moment's come
It's so incredible that we're alone
There's so much to be said and done
It's impossible not to be overcome
Will you forgive me if I feel this way
Cos we've just met – tell me that's ok
So take this feeling – make it grow
Never let it, never let it go
Don't let go (you give me something that I can believe in)
Don't let go of this moment in time
Don't let go (I can't explain the things that I'm feelin')
Don't let go (no I won't let go)
No would you mind if I bared my soul
(I bare my soul to you)
If I came right out and said "You're beautiful"
Cos there's somethin' here I can't explain
I feel I'm divin' into driving rain
You get my senses running wildI can't resist your sweet, sweet smile
So take this feeling – make it grow
Never let it, never let it go
I've been waitin' all my life
To make this moment feel so right
The feel of you just fills the night
So c'mon – just hold on tight…
Padmé slowly opened her eyes when she felt the first rays of the sun touching her face. Lying under a couple of old blankets, she stretched herself with enjoyment and straightened up in the bed. The night had been pretty cold, as every night on Tattooine was. But unfortunately, there had been nothing they could have used to turn a fire on, so they had to sleep in their clothes. At first, Obi-Wan had suggested that Padmé should sleep in the bed alone. But she had found that it was more that big enough for two people. In the end, they had fallen asleep lying side by side innocently, keeping one another warm.
"Good morning, Milady." she heard someone say and then saw Obi-Wan standing in the doorway.
"Morning, Master Jedi." she returned.
"What do you think about 'shopping' ?" he asked with a big grin. Padmé's face lit up immediately.
"Hm. I thought you would react like this." he said smiling.
"We're we going ?" she asked yawning.
"Well, Mos Espa is pretty near. And if you hurry up, we'll be there in an hour." Obi-Wan replied.
Padmé remembered Mos Espa. They had met Anakin there for the first time. It had been his home for quite a long time. And she had been there with him to search for his mother at the beginning of the Clone Wars, shortly before they had gotten married. These memories made her a little sad when they arrived at the bazaar in the center of the community. Yesterday, she had felt free from her thoughts and feelings for Anakin. But today, she realized once more that she would need more than a few days to get over everything. She looked over to Obi-Wan who was talking to a weird looking creature. Padmé enjoyed his company and needed his comfort. She needed him, more than anything else, and she was aware of that.
But first, I have to learn how to let go… she said quietly to herself.
"It would be a pleasure to take care of our landspeeder and it's no problem if we pay you later." Obi-Wan said to the creature and waved his hand slightly.
"It would be a pleasure to take care of your speeder, and you can pay me when you return." the creature answered.
"Thank you." Obi-Wan replied and turned to Padmé.
"You used a Jedi trick, didn't you ?" Padmé asked as they were walking over to the bazaar.
"Maybe." he returned shortly.
"I thought you weren't allowed to use the Force for personal gain."
"Well, it's not exactly for personal gain. I will pay him when we return, it's just that we don't have any money at the moment. And besides, I tried to convince him without the trick first. But you still remember that most of the people living here are not very cooperative, don't you ?" Obi-Wan explained grinning.
Padmé's gowns had been very popular on the bazaar. They brought so much money in, that she could have bought twice more stuff than she had needed. But instead, she only got two dozen of white and red candles, a couple of new blankets and pillows, a few drapes to put in front of the windows, and a wonderful, soft carpet, coloured in a warm red. Moreover, she bought a few bits and pieces like for example some plants, sheets of paper and paint. Obi-Wan on the other hand had gotten food for the next two weeks and some logs for the fireplace.
They had spent nearly the whole day in Mos Espa, and the setting of the twin suns dived the desert landscape into a mixture of red, yellow and orange. After they had carried their new things into the cabin, Obi-Wan and Padmé stood outside and watched the beautiful scenery.
"This looks awesome." she said with a calm voice. Obi-Wan nodded approvingly.
"Yes. Who would have thought that a place like Tattooine could have such bright and colourful sun settings ?" he answered, looking at her. And for the first time since they had arrived on the planet, he smiled contentedly.
"I'm tired," she interrupted the silence, "I'm going to sleep."
"OK, I'll be with you in a few minutes. I just want to do my meditation exercises." Obi-Wan returned softly and placed a kiss on her forehead. He watched her as she was entering the cabin and wondered how she could always move so gracefully, even when she was just walking, waving her hand or turning around. She always looked perfect, no matter what she did. He slowly started to feel comfortable with the whole situation – not because of the nice sun setting – but because of her presence that made everything appear so much better. He still felt terribly guilty because of what had happened to his apprentice, but the wound started to heal over, and she was part of the cure.
Obi-Wan had meditated on his thoughts for quite a while, when suddenly a cool, fresh wind blew into his face. Then there was the Force surrounding him. It felt as if it almost touched him. Although Obi-Wan had been meditating every single day since he had been a padawan learner, he had never felt the Force so strong and so close to him.
"It has been a long time since then, padawan." a familiar voice behind him said. Obi-Wan opened his eyes, got up from the ground and turned around. In front of him, he saw the apparition of a long lost friend, a Jedi, a father.
"Master…" Obi-Wan murmured disbelievingly.
"Why are you so surprised ? I thought Yoda had told you…" the older man said smiling.
"Um… yes, he told me but… I just didn't expect this right now." he answered stuttering.
"Hm. You have questions, padawan." Qui-Gon mentioned. Obi-Wan looked at him a bit embarrassed.
"Questions… Hm. I don't know if they're questions. I have feelings for her, Master."
"I know." the apparition returned.
"I shouldn't have these feelings. I am a Jedi."
"Listen, Obi-Wan, in the end, we're all human. And humans have feeling, otherwise we were not human at all."
"She is Anakin's wife…"
"Anakin is not Anakin anymore. Is he here to comfort her ? Does he take care of her ? No, because his lust for power has defeated his love for her. You still blame yourself for his fall, but it was his decision to accept the new name, it was his decision to kill in the name of the Sith."
"I love her… And a Jedi shall not know love…" Obi-Wan admitted.
"Don't expect me to forbid you love, but I can tell you this: I regret not to have spent more time with Tahl back then. But I don't regret the few moments that we had. You've been given something wonderful: Feelings for a woman, who loves you in return. Don't let go of this. What you two have is so rare…" Qui-Gon's ghost said. Obi-Wan nodded and for a couple of moments they remained silent, standing beside each other and watching the night covering Tattooine with its dark and starry blanket.
When he entered the bedroom, he found Padmé sleeping peacefully, looking like an angel. He lay down beside her, took a deep breath and closed his eyes. And while falling asleep, he hoped that she would be in his dreams…
To be continued…