Chapter Three: Opportunity Chimes
Obi-Wan falls into his desk chair, stone-faced, open-mouthed, a little pale, staring at the screen before him. Once recovered from the shock, his fingers fly over the keys to confirm that his messages to Padmé have truly been sent.
A groan and a hand sweeping over his face accompany the confirmation.
How? How had this happened? Perhaps he had sent them in his sleep. Had he sleepwalked and subconsciously forwarded the letters? He'd never sleepwalked in his life! Not that his Master had mentioned, anyway.
Had he accidentally activated the Send function when he closed up the comm last night?
Obi-Wan thought back to the previous evening and retraced his steps. No. He had left the comm on and the lid open.
He had left it open!
Leaning back into his chair, Obi-Wan bellows out the name of the only one who could be responsible.
"Padawan! Would you come in here please?"
"Tell her!"
Padmé Amidala, Queen Elect of Naboo draws her attention up from the suitcase on her bed to see her First Handmaiden, Sabé standing in her doorway, holding a very confused-appearing Captain of Security by the arm.
"Tell her what?" Panaka asks the young woman who had burst in on a security council meeting, claiming that the Queen was in danger.
"Tell her she's not going to Coruscant!" Sabé insists quite loudly.
'Why would Queen Amidala be going to Coruscant?" The Captain gives the handmaiden an doubtful look, but instead of answering him, the young woman turns to glare at the Queen, shooting her hand out in exasperation.
But Padmé turns her attention back to her task, ignoring her over-reacting bodyguard.
It is Captain Panaka who makes the first move, approaching her with guarded realization.
"You're going to Coruscant."
"Yes. I've received a message of some importance that I must answer in person."
"Importance?" This was highly irregular. He hadn't been notified. "From whom?"
"Padawan Kenobi!" Sabé blurts out from the doorway, earning a warning glance from Padmé.
"Knight Kenobi." She corrects the young woman. "I'm going there by his invitation." Sort of. Padmé continues silently.
The truth is, she's not about to let this opportunity pass by. Whether the letters were sent intentionally or not, they have given her hope where there was none before.
A hope that the cherished friendship that had developed between them while Obi-Wan was on Naboo will develop into something more. Something much more.
Her Head of Security looks at both women, contemplates his choices and then steps closer to the Queen. He promptly removes her hands from the luggage, sealing the bag himself and lifting it from the bed.
"Then I suppose you'll be needing an escort."
His simple declaration is countered with an exasperated "Ugh!" from the young handmaiden who turns and storms from the room.
A sleepy-eyed, blond-haired boy walks into the common room, but when he realizes that his Master is sitting next to his comm unit and is staring holes through him, the drowsiness disappears and is replaced by an anxious fear.
Does his Master know? How? He must! Look at his face! He's going back to Tatooine now for sure!
The young padawan kicks at the floor with his foot, his eyes downcast and his face reddening more and more by the second.
Obi-Wan sighs heavily as he watches his apprentice. Guilt is written all over the boy.
"Anakin? Did you get into my commpad last night?"
"Yes, Master." A hushed voice whispers.
Panic rises in the Knight. What if Anakin has read his messages to Padmé? What if he knows of his feelings for her? This could be disastrous on their growing relationship. Obi-Wan is aware that the boy has feelings of his own. If Anakin read those messages, the young boy won't understand, and it will create a rift between them. Bigger than the one that is already there. But Obi-Wan doesn't feel anger or jealousy along their training bond. What he does feel is shame and fear.
What is the boy afraid of?
"Padawan. My comm system and all of the files in it are private." Obi-Wan says softly. "You are not allowed access to this information."
"But all I wanted to do was write a letter to Padmé!" The boy blurts out in defense. "I miss her!"
Obi-Wan sympathizes with his padawan. He knows exactly how that feels. He rises to kneel in front of his apprentice and places a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Then we'll write her a letter together. I'll help you."
A bright smile appears on the lad's face, and the Jedi is relieved that at least one problem is solved.
Now, for the other, much larger one.