Chapter Nine - Fear

The two Padawan's struggled to keep up with the pace of their Master as he took long, striding steps across the market place.

Ariana practically had to jog next to Qui-Gon whereas Obi-Wan was attempting to mask the fact he had to walk faster than usual. He trained his hard faced expression on the ground, ignoring the pleading looks from Ariana.

Qui-Gon had said nothing to either of his learners except to tell them they were to follow him and stay close. Ariana was specifically warned not to look at or touch a thing.

She did not mind however for her mind was trained what had just occurred between herself and Obi-Wan. He had ignited something inside of her she hadn't felt ever before in her life. It was a strange, intense feeling – it reminded her of her jealously somewhat. She had wanted Obi-Wan's skills for herself but now, now she just wanted Obi-Wan for herself.

It was a longing feeling, she decided. Like how she had longed for Aurelia many years ago, wanted her back with her. But the feeling for Obi-Wan still differed slightly, if only she could grasp what it actually was.

But the way he had looked at her, his eyes so dark and stormy and full of who knows what. His usual brown eyes had deepened in colour, making them almost black and murky when he gazed at her. Even thinking about it, Ariana felt her skin bristle and tingle.

What had he actually done? And what had he felt? The same? Nothing?

Ariana wanted answers, she always longed answers for her infinite questions but she doubted very much Obi-Wan would be too chatty about that subject. Ariana decided she would ask him however, for she deserved to know if he was playing tricks on her. And he needed to know he couldn't do it again. Unless he had permission.

Obi-Wan, who was the other side of Qui-Gon was trying to look as if his mind was blank but his insides were wiggling like worms with thoughts. He had scared himself slightly for he was unsure how and why he had managed to do whatever he did to Ariana. The part what scared him the most was, he had actually liked it. The power he had over Ariana was almost intoxicating but there was more to it than just that. He had seen the way Ariana had looked at him when she begged him to cease, the way her mouth shaped the words and how her eyes creased. He had wanted to touch her, anywhere, just so long as he could feel her.

Qui-Gon was trying to ignore the Force around his two Padawan's. He had been feeling something in the Force for weeks now surrounding both Ariana and Obi-Wan but he was unsure what it could be. If only he hadn't been so foolish in trying to ignore his feelings. He just didn't want to believe it.

Ariana also had questions concerning Qui-Gon's conversation with the Senator but she knew quite clearly she wasn't to ask, she was to wait until told. Ariana also wondered what business Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan had spoken of out on the vineyard.

Suddenly, the jealously was hitting her again like a force unknown. What if Master Qui-Gon had spoken to Obi-Wan of the Senator's orders about the Queen? Why didn't he speak to Ariana about it too? She felt herself becoming incredibly hot under her cloak and the hotter she got, the more agitated she became toward the two she was walking with.

An insect buzzed near her ear unexpectedly and that was the last and final straw. Ariana swiped at the fly before grabbing her cloak and wrenching it off her body in a flurry of arms and coarse fabric. She swung it off her shoulders and threw it to the floor, not realising she was swinging in the path of an undesirable.

"Ariana!" Master Qui-Gon's voice was a gruff bark and he wrenched her to his side, holding her close so her lightsaber which was attached to her belt was hidden between Master and Padawan.

"Apologies sir, my daughter. I have no explanation for her actions," Qui-Gon said to the stranger, pinching Ariana's shoulder hard.

"Accepted," the stranger replied in a slow accent looking from Qui-Gon to Ariana. "Pretty girl. Her husband?" He asked, motioning to Obi-Wan who had swooped down to retrieve Ariana's cloak from the stranger's feet.

"No, her brother sir," Qui-Gon said easily, watching the stranger carefully with his brown eyes. Obi-Wan made to wrap Ariana's cloak around her shoulders but he hadn't bothered to dust it off and the grit was irritating Ariana's nose and eyes.

Ariana began to cough and tried to struggle away from Obi-Wan as he tried even harder to wrap the suffocating cloak around her. Through the struggles, Ariana's lightsaber came into plain view of the stranger.

"Jedi eh?" The stranger said, looking in disgust at Qui-Gon. "You have no business on Naboo. Go or suffer Jedi scum."

Ariana looked at the creature that had been hidden under a cloak similar to hers. He wasn't a man but a hulking blue coloured creature that she hadn't seen before. She had been unprepared for his scathing words and huddled closer to Qui-Gon.

"We are not here for trouble, we have merely landed for supplies," Qui-Gon explained firmly, concentrating hard on the creature before them. Ariana looked from Qui-Gon to the stranger as she felt Obi-Wan's strong hands grip her shoulders and begin to pull her backwards slightly, away from their Master. Obi-Wan did not meet Ariana's eyes as he pulled her further away from Qui-Gon to fasten her cloak properly around her neck. He straightened it for her as if filling the silence with pointless fussing.

"I'm sorry," Ariana whispered, daring a peek over her own shoulder at the scene between Jedi Master and rogue. Obi-Wan yanked on her cloak as a sign she should turn around so Ariana obeyed.

"Look at me," Obi-Wan instructed in a low and harsh voice. "We are not on a training game here Ariana. Jedi are not welcome here but thankfully that creature is weak minded and can be convinced we are harmless but not all can. You could be lying dead at my feet after that spectacle; we could all be dead thanks to you."

Ariana looked at her friend with wide eyes. Obi-Wan's voice was the harshest she'd ever heard it and she actually felt incredibly threatened by the anger in his eyes. Obi-Wan still held a firm grip on her cloak and Ariana felt incredibly claustrophobic even in the open village they were standing in.

"Let me go Obi," Ariana half whispered, half whimpered as he didn't relent in his fixed gaze on her. Ariana closed her hands over his in a bid to pry them away but failed as a familiar feeling swept over her body. "Please don't…"

Without either realising, Obi-Wan and Ariana were reliving the scene in the Queen's vineyard all over again except this time; it was much stronger in both of them. A strong, unsettling feeling rose from the pit of their stomachs and up into their chests.

Tears had already filled Ariana's eyes and Obi-Wan did nothing but watch. He had no control over what was happening like he did back at the Palace and the feelings inside him were getting to boiling point as he gripped Ariana's cloak harder and forcefully pulling her closer toward him so every inch from their stomachs to knees were touching. Ariana felt an incredible urge to put her mouth on Obi-Wan's and she wondered what would happen if she did so. Their eyes were fixed on each other and such a strong urge hit Ariana to press her lips against Obi-Wan's that she was mere centimetres from doing so when Qui-Gon spoke.

"We are ready to leave."

His voice was loud and concise but not at all angry yet no where near forgiving. It was strict and to the point.

Obi-Wan remembered himself and let go of Ariana's cloak swiftly, leaving it all bunched up around her neck. Ariana didn't recover quite so quickly as Obi-Wan and it wasn't until Qui-Gon yanked her cloak down and smoothed it for her that she snapped from whatever was holding her and promptly burst into tears. Qui-Gon was slightly taken aback at her emotional outburst but not surprised. Obi-Wan looked just as mortified as Ariana did, neither could quite believe she was crying as it was the first time in Ariana's life she had done so.

"Calm yourself," Qui-Gon said methodically as he placed a hand on her shoulder. Ariana sniffed meekly and wiped her face on her sleeve, cheeks blazing the colour of the sun. "Take a breath and calm yourself."

Obi-Wan looked frantically from Ariana to their Master and back again. The colour had drained from his face and he appeared tiny from within his cloak.

"What just happened?" Ariana uttered, not taking her gaze from Qui-Gon. She looked just like the small and scared child Qui-Gon had taken under his protective wing the day Aurelia had died.

"I feel my young Padawan's, that it is time to have a talk."