AN: I am so, so, so sorry for the wait! I was out of town for what I thought was going to be a short trip, but had it turn out to be for a month! But I am back now, and I want to thank all the amazing reviewers, you are so kind, and I hope you haven't forgotten about me! So much to say, but I think I will get on with the story now :-) Much love, RaeAnne
Chapter Three
The trip was quick, for Obi-Wan contracted transportation which had them arriving at the apartments adjacent to the senator housing in a few minutes flat.
"Your assistance is most appreciated Jedi Kenobi," Padmé curtsied after the transport bus left them a few doors down from the entrance.
"Your welcome," he nodded and watched them depart. He watched them for a few moments but when Padmé stole a glance over her shoulder he risked calling out, "Padmé…I believe forgot something," he made a move to pick something from the ground. Padmé saw that there was nothing but also discerned that it was best for her to return to the Jedi. But what she couldn't attribute to either good or questionable origins was the rapidly increasing beat of her heart.
"Go in without me, tell Sabé that I will be back sometime and to continue on. If they should ask tell her to say 'Sabé' is still ill and is lying down and is not to be disturbed," she hissed to Raché who quickly scurried down the walk and into the glass fronted doors of the apartments for visiting dignitary.
"Amidala, do you wish to see Coruscant?" Obi-Wan asked point blank, as she appeared in front of him slightly winded, eyes wide.
"I do." She didn't bother with the ploy; she knew he knew who she was when he appeared at her table. A connection she surely didn't understand had them sharing something that couldn't be hidden, even in the openness and plainness of her ruse as a handmaiden.
Her answer was simple and need no further questioning or explaining, "Then you should have merely asked me. Venturing out was dangerous and to Coco Town no less! Who knows what would have happened if I hadn't to happen upon you…" he chastised her even as he took her arm and steered her toward the mass transit cabs that ran beneath the city.
She just smiled and let him lecture her it didn't really matter since she was getting what she wanted.
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They were soon seated in a small car sitting face to face, as the dark underground sped by in their windows.
"You do know that going out alone was very dangerous right?" Obi-Wan leaned toward her elbows resting on his knees.
"I do," she answered crisply leaning against the seat back.
"That's it? That's all you're going to say?"
"What would like me say Jedi? I wanted to see Coruscant and what would you have me to do, ask my guard to escort me so that I couldn't really see the planet, just what the guard deemed acceptable? I made a choice, I am sorry you don't approve but not much I can do about that now can I?" she folded her arms and dared smile slightly.
"It's a wonder you weren't killed…" he muttered sitting back. She answered in a shrug.
Silence settled in as each went to their own thoughts. Obi-Wan knew where he would take her first, though he wondered if he should foster this rebellious and possibly dangerous streak of adventuring off, but regardless…
"Where are we going?"
He smiled all indignation that had been in her voice before had evaporated, now it was excitement and near child like giddy.
"It's one of my favorite places. Its magical some say, and once you see it, I think you may agree. It's on the seldom visited side of the planet but I think this trip is worth the time."
Her face creased with obvious signs of thought, a smile slowly bloomed, and "You're not going to tell me exactly what it is are you?"
"No milady, a surprise is so much more…surprising?" he arched an eyebrow.
The corners of her mouth bent into what can only be called an upside down smile then she laughed, "Alright, I like a good surprise, but please no more 'milady' it grates on my nerves after awhile."
"Really? Then what shall I call you?"
"Padmé, it is my name after all."
"Which I didn't know until oh…twenty minutes ago, which by the way was one odd way of finding out."
"I suppose, but I couldn't just tell something like on our first meeting. In fact, very few people know. I dropped Padmé when I went into politics at the age of ten. It's a tradition on my planet that taking a new name helps give separation between normal and political—political and royalty. Not since I was a child have I been called Padmé, I only have begun to use it now with my handmaidens. It was a stroke of luck that I was assigned a handmaiden that looks so remarkably like me that I had the thought of the switch.
It's been an adjustment becoming queen. So many rudimentary freedoms many take for granted are non existent to the queen. Every movement is monitored, every task and move planned, coordinated down to the millisecond. Please, I don't mean to sound trite it's what I knew would happen, it's just an adjustment that's all…" she laughed timidly thinking she just reveled too much, too fast and felt ridiculous for it.
"I understand…I understand far better then you might think. I am to take the Jedi Trials soon, which if I pass will grant me the status of full Jedi Knight. Once that happens all the regulations come down, there is no 'learner' status to hide behind. When I become a Knight, the restrictions tighten and obligations multiply and become my sole responsibility. Soon I will have my own padawan to teach and that will add even more…I know very well the constraints of title, position and responsibility," Obi-Wan laughed dryly.
Padmé felt a comfort surround the car; they were two of a kind. Never would she have guessed that they were…but they were. Both were fighting to make it in their new unfamiliar positions and though the Jedi hadn't said it, she guessed that he too was a bit terrified of being responsible for the life of another—just as she was, of being the arbiter between the galaxy and her planet. It also made her wonder in amazement at the differences. She was already queen, already ruling with thousands of subjects and he was not yet even a knight but still he possessed so much more real galaxy knowledge and wisdom then she, he had seen and felt so much more then she had; you would think since he still had the title of 'learner' that those facts would be opposite. How odd, to be so alike and yet so different.
"Good, well then I am Padmé and shall I call you Jedi Knight Kenobi or Obi-Wan?" she gave her best pout in hopes to entice another heart stopping grin.
She achieved her desired result, "Obi-Wan will be just fine, fine indeed."
The underground continued to roll by as did their conversation. In that vacuum of time the outside interferences died, there was only them and it was so very good.
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"This is our stop," Obi-Wan led Padmé out of the car into a dimly lit station.
"Where are we exactly?" she looked around only finding a few unoccupied benches and the walls covered with out of date news announcements and concert advertisements.
"The city is called Bella, and that nosey is all you're going to get out of me," he started up the stairs taking them quickly.
She shook her head following him.
They stepped out onto a nearly empty street; even the air above them was empty of traffic. The buildings few and even fewer still that were tall and those were covered with tinted glass. But mostly little one story store fronts with happy names flanked the street. Padmé breathed deeply, "Wow."
"I know there is actually grass here, a rarity on Coruscant."
She nodded looking across from them to a large park filled with trees, flowers and yes even grass.
"This isn't where we are going though, where we are going is a little further out of town. We can either walk or get a taxi."
"Let's walk. I am here to see the sites aren't I?"
He nodded pleased with that and started toward the left. They went passed little diners and boutiques their windows filled with the newest dress fashions, the latest in shoes and even a cute shop for the discriminating pet owner.
"This place is so…adorable! Why isn't this place visited often?" Padmé asked looking around trying to drink in everything.
"Well, people normally move to Coruscant to be in the hubbub of everything, they want to be in the 'city' and that is what they get. Bella is slower, a great many retired politicians and celebs live here too," he answered casually holding a hand in front of her to keep her from crossing the street before he had made sure there was no traffic.
"I tell you what; if I had to live on Coruscant this is where I would live. No way would I live in that crazy city. I saw enough of it today to last me a lifetime! Those people are crazy!" she involuntarily shivered.
Obi-Wan silently laughed, "They are that. Now see I thought you would have liked the Capital City, they way you were talking you weren't really happy with living in the solitude of your planet."
"I never said I wasn't happy, I just said I wanted see other things. There is nothing wrong with that. I wanted to see what else was out there. You know what they say it takes losing something to appreciate it. I saw the Capital City and I know that I want Naboo over that…and I know that I would also rather have Bella over the Capital City if ever the choice should arise…still doesn't mean I don't want to see more of the galaxy."
He nodded again silently. They were nearing the destination. As they got farther and farther out of town, the buildings got small and farther between. They were mostly walking by mansion houses which were still hugely captivating.
"If I was going to have a mansion, that is the one I would want," Padmé pointed to a three story expansive home. It was beautiful painted a warm reddish tan with dark brown trim. There were porches and balconies, large windows and chimneys. The grounds were gated with tall iron fence, the landscape breath taking and lushly green. Trees towered, "I could never live somewhere without trees…" she breathed ending it with a sigh.
"After seeing your planet I can see why. Growing up there must have been enjoyable."
She glanced at him a little put off by his dry tone, "It was actually."
They walked a little farther in silence soon leaving the suburb, "Where did you grow up?" she finally broke the silence.
He stopped and looked at her, eyebrow raised as if ask 'are you serious?'.
"Stupid question, the Jedi Temple I am sure…do you remember where you were born?"
"No, I was raised by the Jedi since I was a year old. They tell me I was born on the planet Dantooine. Not the most glorious of planets but my parents were good people, farmers. Needless to say they weren't sure what to do with a Force sensitive baby…"
She caught the wistfulness and slight sarcasm and felt a pang of hurt for him.
"I am sure it was the hardest thing they ever had to do. I imagine that giving up a child would haunt you for the rest of your life…But I am sure they did it because they wanted the best for you."
Obi-Wan nodded not being able to come up with a competent reply. They were almost to their destination.
"We're nearly there, just there," he pointed to the large rocky mountains before them.
She stared unsure at just exactly what she was looking at but didn't comment. The mountains were beautiful in their own right but not exactly, something that people would be crazy over she didn't think but then again maybe Jedi had different tastes then other people.
He navigated them till they reached the face, "Here," he took her hand as if nothing to it. He didn't feel her pulse quicken at his touch, he was too preoccupied with anticipation of her reaction to his secret location.
He led her into a large crevice into the darkness, "Don't worry…I brought a light," he spoke to her. She couldn't see his face but unless she was grossly mishearing his tone she was sure that if she could she him that she would see a smile, and a smug one at that.
Seconds later a large blue glow stick was illuminating the passage way; the tunnel was tall and cut through the bluish rock like a snake. Padmé wasn't sure if she liked the claustrophobic feeling it induced but she followed with him as he lead her deeper into the rock.
The path took them forward and down at a slight grade that was barely notable at first but then became prominent.
"Okay, now close your eyes…no peeking," he stopped facing her eyes even a brighter blue brought on by the glow stick and his smile was beautiful and innocently childlike.
"Why?" she couldn't help a stubborn grin as she tried to peek over his shoulder, but found only more darkness like that of which they had been walking in.
"Because I asked…and trust me you'll be glad."
She smiled, nodded and closed her eyes, "Lead on fearless Jedi."
"With pleasure milady," he took both of her hands now walking backwards into the darkness excitement nearly impossible to hold.
Padmé quivered, but no so much from the excitement of the unknown but the blissful feeling of her hands in his. It made her heart tingle, her stomach flutter and her pulse pound. Something was different about this sandy haired man with his sure grip and warmth. Something about him, made her different. He made her feel alive.
"Alright…open your eyes," Obi-Wan had let go of her hands and was now hovering behind her, his words breathless in her ear.
She squeezed her eyes tight for a moment then opened them quickly. She gasped, felt her knees nearly buckle. She leaned back into him for a moment of support.
"I…Wow," her hand hovered over her mouth. A room the size of her throne room back home with a ceiling stretched so high she couldn't measure. But it wasn't a rocky cavern…it was majestic. Vivid, lushly green plants, velvet looking grass, multi colored shrubs with leaves as varied in color as the complex flowers. Vines twined together solidly reaching up like trees then branched out to other groups creating a lattice like canopy. Light filtered down from some unseen hole in the ceiling like some celestial whisper not quite tangible but certainly not an invisible vapor.
"Obi-Wan…" she couldn't make out a sentence as she took a few unsteady steps forward. She heard a sound that she recognized but couldn't quite name. She looked curiously to him then tried to hone in on the location. She turned to the right and gasped out right.
"A waterfall! How can that be possible…I've heard of underground streams…but waterfalls?" she was mystified.
"I've learned that some things in nature you just can't figure out…or should. Teaches us to just appreciate it not define it or constrain it to our limited comprehension," he shrugged though immeasurably pleased with her awe. Looking through new eyes, seeing it through her eyes…it helped him to remember and keep hearting his own words.
"No truer words have ever been spoken Jedi," she nodded solemnly afraid anything more or less would violate this sanctuary somehow.
"Share with me your company…for I've suddenly acquired a taste for reflection," she grinned waving him to a rest of soft feather like ferns where she had staked a place.
"You're sounding poetic though I too find my being calmed, my spirit rejuvenated. Let's stay awhile; I think this is a moment that we need to embrace for moments like these are so few."
She laughed, a light whimsical sound that hushed the Jedi into a serene that resided somewhere on a plane far beyond the one he was accustomed to. Yes, it was okay to fall here, it was okay to let his armor down in this grotto hidden from reality, and it would be okay to love here.
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