Chapter Eighteen
"The Dark Side I do not sense in you, but tainted with it you have become."
He knew that. Everyone on the council knew that. He could see it in their faces. However, undeterred by the obvious, Master Yoda continued.
"A Jedi you can no longer be, but appreciate your efforts we do. Rid the Galaxy of a Sith Lord you have. Single-handedly. An act not to be taken lightly."
"Not single-handedly." Obi-Wan corrected, glancing to the stern features of Mace Windu before he turned his attention once again to the smaller, ancient Master.
"Of whose help did you acquire? Alone, we thought you were."
"I was. I'm speaking of mental support."
Near the entry to the Jedi Council chambers, Qui-Gon Jinn stood. His arrival had been late, and he doubted Obi-Wan realized he was present, but the words the young man had just spoken flared within in his heart. Surely, he didn't mean what he thought he did.
"Where will you go, young Kenobi? What is to become of you?"
The young man turned slightly to gaze at the kindly features of Master Adi Gallia. He vaguely remembered her as a gentle being, honest, and friendly and he offered her a slight smile.
"It's to this source of support that I return. I'm going back to Naboo. I've been offered a position there as the personal bodyguard to the Queen."
"Very well. May the Force be with you." Master Windu answered curtly, but Master Yoda kept eye contact with him for a moment and Obi-Wan held his gaze, unsure of what secrets were held there, but his advice was silent and the young man nodded his head in understanding. His association with the Jedi was over.
He turned to leave the council chambers, coming to a stop when he noticed Qui-Gon standing by the exit. His emotions were much more easily read than Yoda's, even though at one time, Obi-Wan had not thought so. A hope for forgiveness and disappointment showed in the older man's face, and for the first time, Obi-Wan discovered how very tired Qui-Gon looked. He was just a man, and all men makes mistakes --even Jedi, and perhaps it was time that he forgave his Master for his.
A small smile and a nod from Obi-Wan was all that it took to relieve his former Master of his dreadful countenance and the young man received a smile and a nod in return, andjust like that, everything was right in the Galaxy.
Obi-Wan dropped his bag onto the antechamber floor that led to Padmé's bedroom, shushing an attendant Sabé with his finger. He hadn't commed her. He wanted to surprise her.
He silently entered her room, removing his boots and socks once he was inside the door, his toes sinking into the deep, plush carpet surrounding her bed.
Disposing himself of his dark leather jacket and pulling the button-down shirt over his head, Obi-Wan made his way over to her sleeping form, enraptured for a moment by the beauty she presented, although he wished the moon outside her windows was not concealed by cloud cover. She would be so beautiful bathed in moonlight.
Unwilling to wait any longer, Obi-Wan slipped his pants and smallclothes off his body and eased himself onto her bed, watching her face for any trace of movement, not wanting to wake her. Not yet. He was not finished appreciating the vision she created.
Once his eyes had taken their fill, he lowered his mouth down upon hers and kissed her softly and reverently, a smile splaying across her lips as she began to stir.
"Obi-Wan." She sighed between kisses, bringing her hands up to cup his face. "I suppose this means you accepted my offer?"
"That would be a proper assumption." He teased, nipping the end of her nose, only to laugh aloud when her eyes snapped open once she had discovered his state of dress. Or in this case, undress.
"I'm glad." Those brown eyes turned sultry, much like they had in his vision during his confinement, but that time and those memories drifted away as the reality of having her in his arms outshone anything he could possibly dream of. "So you'll be staying here with me?"
"Yes." Obi-Wan murmured, pulling her body closer to him, as well as pulling down the lacy chemise which she wore, exploring the revealed skin with both eyes and touch.
"Good." Padmé's own word turned to a moan as Obi-Wan bent his head to suckle a nipple, bringing it quickly to a peak before trailing kisses up the center of her chest and thoroughly exploring her mouth.
They had their entire lives to talk. Now was the time to fulfill the passions they both shared and could no longer ignore.
It was Padmé who lifted the long gown of her negligee and guided Obi-Wan into her, and it was Padmé who whispered her love in his ear as he thrust deeply, stilling his movements to take the time to appreciate the rush of overwhelming emotions and the pure joy of being with her in this way, of loving her and being loved by her. Life couldn't be more perfect.
A movement of her hips once again initiated Obi-Wan into action and he became determined to satisfy his lover, reading her body language, but also feeling her desire in his mind in a way that connected them together more intimately than he had thought possible.
And as he felt the tenseness in her body rise to equal his own, he cried out to the heavens, their combined pleasure exploding as a bright white light which filled Theed Palace, bursting forth from the glass windows and spiraling toward the Naboo moon, which absorbed its glow and sent its radiance back through the clouds, shining so brightly down upon the lovers that Padmé could see Obi-Wan through the dark.
Just as she'd always been able to.
-end-