Just before going to sleep Obi-Wan decided to go out onto the large veranda and meditate. Jedi meditate for contemplation, to clear their minds and to bring about healing. He often did it to bring on restful sleep.
The air outside was cooling but the temperature would not drop much as Macaven stayed very warm. His room was adjacent to hers and both rooms opened out onto the same veranda. He had just stepped out when he saw her.
His breath caught in his chest. She stood facing the sea, her eyes were closed; the moonlight bathed her face and silhouette. An uncomfortable feeling filled him and he almost turned to go back to his room.
She had changed out of her Jedi robe and tunics and wore only a light nightdress and the white gauzy garment flowed around her body and billowing slightly around her legs in the warm breeze. Her hair was down and it cascaded in silky brown curls down her back. She was meditating.
He had never seen her this way; it took his breath away. His legs would not move, he could not turn away. The next thought that entered his mind he rarely allowed himself to think, "She is beautiful."
He stood in the shadows of his doorway and admired her from a distance. As Jedi they followed a strict code. The Code discouraged attachments; attachments to possessions; attachments to people.
They were required to live very selfless dedicated lives. Keeping the peace in the Galaxy was a heavy burden to carry. They trained, went on missions and fought battles together. Anything else outside of mutual respect and friendship contradicted the Jedi Code.
Looking at her now, something stirred in him that could only be described as desire. He didn't always feel this way about her. A smile spread across his face as he remembered their first encounter.
Thirteen years ago Obi-Wan had been a young man of eighteen and in the advanced stages of his training when she came to the Jedi Temple from the planet Alderaan. She had been all of thirteen years old; traditionally too old to begin the training.
However, she was highly gifted and had an unusual level of maturity for her age that kept her skills in check. She was also of the house of Organa, a royal blood line; the first of such a line identified with Jedi abilities. The Jedi Council had been intrigued by her and had agreed that she should be trained.
She was late for a class and had run right into him as she raced down a long corridor in the Jedi Temple. He introduced himself while helping her off the ground. She was embarrassed and had apologized profusely before running off to her next class. He had thought her an awkward child.
Over the next several years she had excelled quickly. He marveled at her abilities and how quickly she picked things up. She had a passion and respect for life, all life, which the Masters speculated made her especially Force sensitive.
She endeared herself to him and he came to regard her as one might a sister. He nicknamed her Princess Padawan and often addressed her as "Your Highness", which he knew she hated, but he loved to tease her.
They became fast friends. She was always there to greet him after missions; listening intently as he would recount his adventures. Amira thrived within the confines of the Temple overcoming her awkwardness and blossoming into a poised young woman with formidable skills.
Three years into their friendship something happened which would change how he felt about her. He had been seriously wounded in an accident. Injured and alone no one else had been able to find him, but she found him with her thoughts and urged him to hang on.
How she had known he was in trouble and how she had been able to reach him amazed him still. He was convinced that she had saved him. During his difficult recuperation she encouraged and supported him; devoting herself to his healing as much as she did her own training and he began to realize that his feelings for her went beyond friendship.
In the years that followed they completed their Padawan training. When Qui-Gon was killed in the battle for Naboo she had been the one he turned to for comfort. As was often the case with Padawan's and Masters, Qui-Gon had been the parental figure in Obi-Wan's life and his death had been painful.
She arrived on Naboo with members of the Jedi council to attend the funeral. He had been filled with grief but had kept it in check. When he sought her out after the funeral he had allowed himself to grieve openly, weeping for his friend and mentor in her arms.
Over the years he had felt many things for her that he dared not dwell on. Tonight was one of those rare moments when he allowed his feelings to surface, to acknowledge their existence. He imagined holding her, feeling her in his arms, her body against his, burying his hands in her hair, kissing her lips.
The longing he felt was bittersweet, he would never experience these things with her; he could not love her at least not openly. He had made his commitment to the Jedi long ago, as had she.
He sighed and pushed his thoughts to the back of his mind where they normally stayed locked away. Amira turned then sensing him. She smiled; her hair and nightdress flowed around her as she walked toward him.
He felt his heart beating faster. Had she sensed what he was feeling? She asked, "Are you alright; still thinking about today?" Her expressive brown eyes shown with genuine concern and he realized how much he wanted to lose himself in them.
He nervously cleared his throat before saying," I was just coming out to meditate." She moved closer to him, "I'm sorry I shouldn't have taken so long. You are welcome to meditate here if you like I am finished."
She was inches from him; she was looking into his eyes her lips spread into a beautiful smile. He found himself fighting the urge to pull her into his arms and kiss her. He quickly collected himself and said, "I thought you had already retired. I hope I didn't interrupt you."
Her hand went to his arm and gently touched it as she passed by him to her own doorway, "Not at all…sleep well Ben." She smiled warmly and continued past him into her room. He savored the warmth left by her touch and craved it as soon at it was gone. The depth of his feelings disturbed him they were too close to the surface. He planted himself on the veranda and meditated everything to the corner recesses of his mind.
Amira entered her room and closed the glass door looking briefly at Obi-Wan before drawing the sheer curtain across. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. She was troubled by what had just happened.
She had sensed him watching her tonight from the shadows. What troubled her the most was that she liked that he had been watching her. She almost felt ashamed; almost. She gazed at him through the curtain.
He stood facing away from her, his hands clasped behind his back. He wasn't wearing his robe or his outer tunic. He was barefoot and his loose under shirt blew softly in the breeze. She could see the muscles of his back beneath the flimsy material.
There were times, like this one, that when she looked at him she could almost forget he was Jedi almost see him as just a man; a man that she could love and maybe just maybe, be loved by.
She sighed and walked to the bed sliding under the light bed clothes. She knew sleep was going to be hard to come by; whenever she found herself within close proximity of him, like tonight, she had to fight the urge to reach out to him; to touch him.
She wanted him so much it hurt. She silently cursed the Code that they were duty bound to follow. A small consolation, they were life long friends now, nothing would ever change that. He was an integral part of her life.
It happened the moment she met him. He had extended his hand to help her off the floor. She took his hand and looked up into the most captivating pair of blue eyes she had ever seen. They were twinkling with amusement caused by her childish sprint through the halls.
She closed her eyes as she remembered the moment. The moment she knew as long as he was around she would feel safe. The exact moment he stole her heart. Through the years that followed he had been a friend, a brother, and a mentor.
He filled the void that was left when she departed her home world leaving behind her friends and family to train as a Jedi. She knew it was useless to let her thoughts dwell on her feelings for him but tonight she had felt something from him, something he keeps hidden from her most of the time; a feeling that can only be described as longing.
Amira repeated her Padawan teachings in her mind, "Attachment is forbidden." She forced herself to lock her feelings away once again. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the days events before their encounter on the veranda.
In a not so distant location undetected by the Jedi was someone else on the planet; someone cloaked by the dark side of the Force. He was tasked with the assassination of Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Six years earlier Obi-Wan had destroyed his predecessor during the battle of Naboo. He wanted to lure Obi-Wan to him and battle him one-on-one. He had tracked Jedi Kenobi from place to place waiting for the perfect opportunity.
There had been other occasions but his young apprentice Skywalker always seemed to be in the way. His master had given him strict orders that Anakin Skywalker was not to be harmed. Keeping with his master's wishes he had let several opportunities to confront Kenobi slip by.
Finally the Jedi Master was on a mission without his Padawan. The fact that another Jedi was here with him was a minor annoyance. He had no orders from his master regarding Jedi Amira Organa. Her presence could prove useful. He would use one to lure other and then destroy them both.
He had already laid the ground work, coercing some of the inhabitants of the planet to do his bidding. Tomorrow his plan to subdue Jedi Organa and engage Jedi Kenobi would be put into motion. Tonight he would report his progress to his master.