Disclaimer: This story includes excerpts of the movie Star Wars. The characters and idea of Star Wars is property of George Lucas. I'm borrowing the characters as respectfully as possible, simply to entertain myself and anyone willing to read this fanfiction.
AN; I hope people are still with me! Not a lot of reviews yet, but some very well known Obidala-people have reviewed. And for that you receive my thanks! This chapter works best if you watch the movie along side of it. Then you'll really feel the additions I made to some scenes. Enjoy!

Peace of Heart

The battle for Naboo

"It's not disrespect, master. It's the truth."

"From your point of view," Qui-gon pointed out. It served to remind Obi-wan that he was still the master, and knew better then him.

But Obi-wan wasn't done yet. He knew it could get him into trouble with his master, but dishonesty and keeping things quiet had never been part of their relationship. Something that made them an extraordinary pair of jedi's, but also prone to have fierce discussions.

"The boy is dangerous. They all sense it, why can't you?"

"His fate is uncertain," Qui-gon quickly responded, "he is not dangerous. The council will decide Anakin's future, that should be enough for you."

Qui-gon's last words had a sting to it Obi-wan hadn't heard in a long time, and it hurt him. Evidently Qui-gon did no want his opinion on the matter, and brushed his feelings aside.

"Now get on board."

Still shocked and hurt Obi-wan wordlessly turned and headed to the ship. His ears could hear Qui-gon talking to Anakin but his mind didn't register a word he was saying. All he could hear were his own thoughts and feelings. He felt hurt by Qui-gon's last words. He felt slightly angry because Qui-gon wouldn't listen to him. And he was feeling anxious, worried that everything was taking a course that would lead them to a dark place. He didn't blame Anakin, but he couldn't help but think the boy was dangerous to them all. With a heavy sigh he stepped into the ship and headed to the common room. Mentally checking if there was anything he was supposed to do he headed to the galley. No one needed him for anything for some time, so he would sit and bother no one. Over a cup of tea, that was. And maybe a cookie.

- ∞ -

After take-off Padme unstrapped herself from her seat. She was wearing the orange robes of her handmaidens. Internally she sighed. She hoped there would a time when she could simply enter and leave Coruscant being herself, not constantly disguising herself to outwit any attempts on her life by bounty hunters. She shivered, blaming it on the cold of space they had entered again. She touched Sabé on the shoulder. The decoy queen looked up.

"I'm going to the galley for a moment. I need a warm drink."

Sabé nodded. Swiftly Padme left the stateroom and walked down the corridors. When she entered the galley she could see the hunched form of Obi-wan sitting in one of the chairs, his head lying on his arms on the table with his face turned away from the door. His little ponytail was sticking out like a painter's brush, immediately amusing her. She quietly fixed herself a quick cup of tea, and settled herself in the chair next to him. This time she was sitting in the spot Obi-wan had been last time they were here, and he in hers. Deciding they could use a moment of relief she reached out with her right hand and flicked the ponytail with her index finger. It swished back and forth, and she had to clamp down a giggle.

But when Obi-wan didn't respond nor moved, she frowned.

"Obi-wan?"

He still didn't stir. Now a little worried she laid her hand on his neck, feeling the short hairs under her palm. Instantly a pleasant warmth crept up her hand, but this time she wasn't surprised. She still couldn't explain it, but past experiences had taught her it could and would happen again.

"Obi-wan?"

The moment she laid her hand on his neck she felt him jump, just a fraction of an inch. A moment passes in silence between them before Obi-wan turned his head. When she saw his face she was surprised to see a less then completely controlled jedi. His face was blank, but his eyes held a great deal of confusion and conflicting emotions. For seconds they stared at each other, their eyes locked in an intense gaze. Then he sighed and let his head drop back on his arms.

"It's nothing."

"Sure?"

She knew something was bothering him, and she could make a pretty good guess. But it was up to him to share it with her. He had paid her the same respect the last time, and she would offer it to him as well.

"No…"

His voice sounded small to her, something she had never associated with him. He sounded lost and a little alone to her. But the restraint in his tone signalled her that he wasn't ready to talk about it. So instead of asking him to tell her she picked up her tea and set it down next to him.

"Drink. It will do you good," she said, in the lowest voice she could manage, trying to imitate his. To her surprise and utter delight he smiled.

"Now who ever said that sort of nonsense?"

She placed the index finger of her left hand to her lips, feigning deep contemplation.

"I'm not sure. I thought it was some very powerful and wise master jedi, but I could be wrong."

The smile that reached into his eyes made her heart flutter, and a familiar tingle moving along her spine. They sat in a comfortable silence, Padme drinking her tea seeing as Obi-wan made no attempt to take it from her. The warmth from her hand had spread to her wrist and was flowing slowly but steadily up her arm. Padme's mind was calm, and she could relax again since a long time. The effect this jedi has on me is amazing, she thought. Wonder if I can bottle it and take it home with me. She smiled at that particular reflection. Suddenly her eyes went wide and she froze. Her right hand. It was still lying on top of Obi-wan's neck. And if her senses weren't deceiving her she was softly rubbing her fingers in circular motions over his skin.

She was filled with two feelings that didn't particularly mix well; embarrassment and complete contentment. The first wanted her to remove her hand as quickly as she could, while the second demanded she let her hand stay put. Unable to formulate a plan of action she just sat there. Her fingers were still moving, but the circles had become smaller and a little hesitant. Before the whole thing became too much for her Obi-wan stood up. She gratefully used the change to inconspicuously slide down her hand back to her side and unto the table.

"Thank you for the tea. I have to be going, I have…a lot to do."

His words sounded a bit rushed, but she understood he needed to be alone for a while. Didn't mean her heart didn't give a little pang when he stood up and announced he was leaving. She turned her head away from him and looked at the table. Her insecure side told her she would never see Obi-wan like this again. When she would finally reveal herself as the queen he would become as unreachable to her as the stars. Their positions would not allow them to connect in the way they had in the little time she had gotten to know him.

Throwing all caution into the wind she turned in her chair and faced him. Only to discover he had already left the room. The door closed, signalling he was truly gone. She slumped back into her chair. Silently she sat there, her mind turning to the events to follow. She reached out with her hand and slowly touched the spot on the table Obi-wan had been. With a sigh she stood up and left the galley as well. 'No time for this, Padme. Not anymore. You have a responsibility as queen.' The decision she had made to involve the Gungans in their struggle was a simple one, but haunted her already. She knew if they would accept, and even that wasn't certain yet, many would lose their lives in the upcoming battle. Another shiver ran through her. And this time she couldn't blame the cold of space for it.

- ∞ -

"I am Queen Amidala."

A ripple of surprise went through their group. Obi-wan could sense that only a few truly knew of this ploy. A decoy queen was a good strategy, he thought, to keep the real queen safe from bounty hunters. 'To keep Padme safe…' In retrospect he suddenly understood why Padme had been burdened so these last few days. When he had spoken to her in the common room, when he had bumped into her in the corridor, both times when they had sat in he galley. Every time he could tell there was something hurting her, a burden on her shoulders no girl of her age would normally bear, not even as a handmaiden. Now it made sense.

He looked to his right and locked gazes with Qui-gon. His master looked at him somewhat surprised, and his expression asked of him if he knew about this. Although the answer wasn't a yes entirely Obi-wan couldn't help but smile a little. He certainly had known Padme to be an extraordinary person. One he gladly counted as one of his friends. Then the realization really hit him. She was the queen. And he was here as her official protector. And the two positions did not allow them to befriend each other. Once this was over he would most likely never see her again. She would continue her reign as queen, and he would return to Coruscant to face the trials. Then he would be a jedi knight, roaming the galaxy to spread peace and harmony. He would never see her again.

When her words reached his mind and he saw her kneel down before the Gungan leader he automatically sunk to his knees as well. Qui-gon did the same next to him, and he could sense his master was putting the pieces together on Padme's deception. Like Obi-wan he came to the same conclusion she had done well to cloak herself before, and to reveal herself now.

For a moment Obi-wan thought the Gungan leader wasn't convinced by her plea. Narrowing his eyes he tried to read the creatures feelings, but couldn't get a clear picture. When it started laughing his feeling of unease grew, and even Qui-gon looked up somewhat alerted.

"Yousa no thinkin yousa greater then the Gungans?"

The way it emphasized their people Obi-wan fleetingly thought old racial prejudices would arise. But the Force was still flowing calmly around him, not warning him of anything.

"Meeesa like a thiis."

Obi-wan could help but smile and glance at his master. It seems like Padme's course of action had worked, and he felt a little proud of her. The Gungans cheered, and the group rose to its feet again. He saw Padme turn and exchange a few words with Panaka. In a split second Obi-wan caught her eye and managed to wink at her. It seemed the easiest way to convey his praise. And the sudden light in her eyes seemed to suggest she appreciated it. 'Good. We all need each other support if we are to pull this off.'

- ∞ -

"It was wise of you not to tell me who you really were, your highness."

Padme turned, and was greeted by the jedi master, standing with his arms crossed over his chest. She thought he was here to give her a lecture, but his eyes gave away his admiration and respect.

"If I did, master jedi, you wouldn't have let me do anything. You would have confined me to the starship to assure I would not be harmed."

He smiled. "I would have. A spaceport on Tatooine is not a place a queen should wander around."

"But then I wouldn't have seen anything." Inspiration struck her. "And my attacker would have sought me out on the ship, perhaps prevailing where he now lost."

Qui-gon nodded. "Entirely possible. Like I said, it was wise of you to do so."

Padme smiled and hung her head a little. It was not every day a jedi master would praise her, and she felt greatly honored.

"Master? I have the supplies we brought from the ship."

Obi-wan's voice broke their moment. Padme brought up her head and looked him. His hands were filled with equipment they had brought from the ship before they had left it behind. And his eyes were full of…of… She had no idea, but she liked it. She smiled at him, and got a smile in return. Internally she sighed. They were going into war, many would be lost. She needed moments like these to built her strength. Obi-wan always could lift her spirits with just one look from those stormy eyes of him. But it wouldn't be long before this was all over, and she would never see him again. Either they were dead, or they would both have to return to their lonely roles.

"I'll be there in a minute, Obi-wan. Lay them out on the hood of the speeder, we will look at them together."

"Yes, master."

Obi-wan nodded and headed to the speeder, several feet to their left. Seeing Obi-wan's back seemed to intensify her thoughts of their imminent separation. A sadness settled in her heart and refused to go away.

"We cannot see the outcome of things, your highness. Even the jedi cannot truly predict the future."

Qui-gon's large hand softly grabbed her shoulder and squeezed it lightly. He looked directly at her, and she had a strong feeling he had sensed some of her thoughts.

"Your logic tells you you will never see my padawan ever again. But fate doesn't listen to logic, your majesty. Perhaps things will turn out quite differently then you might think."

With these words of wisdom he turned and headed to the speeder to join Obi-wan. Padme stood there a while before she too headed to the speeder to instruct R2 how to display the holographics of the city.

'I truly hope you're right, master Jinn. I truly do…'

- ∞ -

"We'll handle this."

Qui-gon's words were calm, but Padme knew this was going to be a more fierce battle then any of them would face. Once more the dark warrior showed up, intend on destroying her. A warm feeling flooded her from behind. She immediately recognized it as Obi-wan's presence and reassurance. They would handle it, it clearly conveyed. His added personal guarantee he would not let this monster touch her made her heart swell. She decided to move out of the way as quickly as possible, leaving that dark creature to the jedi.

"We'll take the long way."

- ∞ -

Obi-wan's world abruptly turned upside down when the Sith kicked him backwards. He stumbled back and hit the metal of the catwalk. He tried to hold unto it until he suddenly no longer felt the catwalk beneath him. Gravity pulled at him and he fell. For a moment he couldn't regain his balance and twist himself into a favorable position. He almost had some idea of up and down again when his back hit another catwalk hard. The air was forced from his lungs, and again he slid over the side. This time his instincts had kicked into gear again and he grabbed unto the ledge of the catwalk. He dangled for a moment and allowed himself to look down for a split second. He immediately looked back up. 'That's a long way down, Kenobi…'

Lightly gathering the Force he pulled himself up and grabbed his lightsaber again. He saw Qui-gon fight the Sith, and although his master was advancing he could see Qui-gon was tiring. Swiftly executing a Force jump Obi-wan reached the catwalk they were dueling on and ran forward to help his master.

- ∞ -

"Put down your weapons. They win this round."

- ∞ -

"Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo!"

- ∞ -

"Your little insurrection is at an end, your highness. Time for you to sign the treaty and end this pointless debate in the Senate."

"Viceroy!"

Padme could have danced a little happy dance when she heard Sabé's voice, but kept her face straight. As she anticipated the Viceroy ordered his droids to go after Sabé, mistaking her for the real queen. When her handmaiden led her group away from the throne room she quickly moved to the throne. Pushing a button on the side console she grabbed the two hidden blasters. She threw one to Panaka before shooting two droids to her right. Quickly the few remaining droids were dealt with and Panaka's men had sealed the doors.

"Now, Viceroy, we will discuss a new treaty."

- ∞ -

"Whatsa they doing?"

"The controlship has been destroyed. Look!"

Jar Jar shielded himself with his arms as the head of the droid that had been pointer its blaster at him fell off.

"They are brokey."

- ∞ -

Sparks flew over Obi-wan's head. Holding on for dear life he looked up at the monster that had just killed his master in cold blood. It was staring back at him, smug and menacing. Obi-wan knew it looked grim for him. This Sith warrior was an incredible swordsman. He was still amazed he had managed to break its double-sided lightsaber and hold out for so long. But the tables had turned, and now he was hanging from one of the shield emitters positioned above the deep shaft. Fortunately for him they had been deactivated, or he would have been burned to a crisp.

Reaching out with his sense Obi-wan could feel Qui-gon's lightsaber lying next to his body. Even in this dire situation he could not think about giving up. There was too much at stake, and too many were depending on this. Qui-gon would have wanted him to fight to the bitter end, as they had always done. Anakin needed protection when his master could no longer give it to him. And Padme…Queen Amidala would perish if he failed here.

For a final desperate move he gathered the Force to him. He allowed the thoughts of his master, Anakin and above all Padme to remain in the forefront of his mind, helping him to focus. The Force surged through him like never before, filling him with indescribable power. His face contorted in an expression of intense concentration, focus and righteous anger. He called the lightsaber to him and then leapt from his handhold. He somersaulted over the Sith's head, catching Qui-gon lightsaber in his hand. He activated it, and the moment his feet touched the floor he made a deadly midriff swipe at his opponent. A fine red mist sprayed up from the Sith's body. Reacting to gravity's pull it began falling backwards, into the shaft.

The adrenaline pumping through his veins as Obi-wan watched the body fall backwards. His mind was oddly quiet, the thought that the fight was over not entering his conscious mind yet. Dissected at the middle the Sith's body parted, and the two pieces fell the long way down the shaft. Still breathing heavily Obi-wan blinked a few times, and with it came the realization he had won. He was still alive and the Sith was no more. Instant relief filled him. He had accomplished his task, one he had thought he wasn't capable of. The first time this creature had appeared his master had been surprised and almost overwhelmed. Even now, when Qui-gon had fought it…over…the walkways…Qui-gon!

His thumb automatically deactivated the blade of Qui-gon's lightsaber, and instantly Obi-wan ran to his master's side. He put his hand under Qui-gon's head and back and lifted him up, holding him close to his body. When he heard his master take a shallow breath he almost burst into tears. He was still alive!

"It…It's too late…It…"

"No!"

He would not hear of it. The healers of this planet could surely help him, they must.

"Obi-wan…"

Stop speaking, master, save your strength, Obi-wan thought.

"Promise…"

Trying to still all the screaming voices in his head Obi-wan focused on his dying master.

"Promise me you will train the boy."

"Yes, master," Obi-wan immediately responded.

Qui-gon reached up and brushed his finger lightly over Obi-wan's lips and chin. Obi-wan's heart broke by this small affectionate touch. It reminded him of all the times Qui-gon had held him, comforted him, consoled him. These were the moments Obi-wan truly thought Qui-gon was his father. Not his master, or his fellow jedi, but his father, forever looking out for him.

"He…is the Chosen One."

Qui-gon's hand rested on top of Obi-wan's. Already the fingertips were growing cold.

"He…will bring balance. Train him…"

Obi-wan nodded quickly, to assure Qui-gon he would honor his last wish. But he could see his master's eyes closing and his head slipping away from him. Obi-wan caught his cheek in his hand. He felt through the Force that Qui-gon, the master that had chosen him so many years ago as his apprentice, the jedi he had fought with side by side in so many conflicts and battles, the father that had always kept him safe, let go and his spirit joined with the Force. A strong swell in the Force surrounded him for a moment, before ebbing away. Obi-wan brought his face down to rest against Qui-gon's forehead. Qui-gon's passing brought on the tears, and quietly he sobbed over his dead master's body. Everything stopped existing to Obi-wan as he unwantedly traveled down the vast collection of his memories, reliving and mourning every moment he had shared with Qui-gon in his life.

- ∞ -