Naritha's mating fever had almost ended when one day she was startled out her slumber by the sound of crumbling stones.
She and Obi-Wan sat up and covered their bodies with his robe, just in time to see two heads peek from the hole opened in the heap of rubble they had been excavating days before.
The heads belonged to her father and Master Jinn, and the relief on the Jedi's face quickly transformed in worry when he noticed the undressed state of his Padawan.
He opened his mouth to say something, but Reben Narvix-Dei was quicker.
"Naritha! You are safe, my darling! I feared the worst, but Master Jinn knew his apprentice was still alive and I hoped you were with him." The man paused then smiled and added softly. "You went through the Receiving while you were trapped here…are you all right? Is the fever gone?"
"Almost, Father. Obi-Wan helped me to survive it."
The Angarian man turned to face the boy and took one of the hands that were keeping up the robe covering the youth's chest.
"Revered Jedi," the man said, his eyes brimming with joy and gratitude. "I welcome you in my family. I am sure you will be happy to be my daughter's bondmate. She is such a wonderful woman-"
"Bondmate?" Obi-Wan exclaimed with a hint of panic, forgetting protocol and interrupting the Governor as he spoke.
"Yes," Naritha said, cupping one of his cheeks to make him face her. "We are now Force-bonded, Obi-Wan. It happened during our first joining."
"But-but I am a Jedi!" the boy almost sputtered, "I cannot be bonded with anyone! I just did this because I didn't want you to die!" His distress was more than evident as his scared eyes darted in his Master's direction, asking for reassurance.
Master Jinn folded his arms in the sleeves of his robe and spoke softly. "Calm down, Padawan. We will find a solution. Now dress up, we need to leave this place soon, for this wing of the Palace if not safe."
Obi-Wan nodded and stood up, walking around to collect his discarded uniform, his eyes firmly cast to the ground.
Naritha tried to reach him to offer him some support, to let him know she cared for him and that she knew the sacrifice she had forced over him, but his shields were firmly up.
She touched his arm, trying to comfort him in another way, but his eyes froze her.
There was such anguish, such distress, such misery in those blue-grey pools they made her heart constrict and, as he watched Obi-Wan disappear through the hole in the wall, Naritha could not help but murmur, "What have I done?"
After the rescue Naritha and Obi-Wan were led to the hospital for a check up. Once there they were separated and she was trusted into the care of her doctor, summoned there by her father.
She was poked, prodded and questioned and then, after the doctor had got back the results of her blood tests, she was administered an injection.
"What is it?" she asked, massaging her arm.
"It is just a pain killer," the physician answered, but Naritha could see he was lying from the way he was not looking at her.
She had barely the time to say "Why?" when her eyelids became too heavy and she slumped against the pillow.
The doctor removed her garment and made her comfortable on the bed and then left the room, but not before saying, "I am sorry Naritha, but this for your own good."
§
Naritha woke up feeling weak and a little nauseous. It took her a little time to understand what had happened and where she was and when her memory returned, her eyes searched the room in search of someone to talk with.
There was a robed, hooded figure sitting by the window and her heart rejoiced.
"Obi-Wan?" she called softly.
The robed figure stood up and she realized it was too tall to be her bondmate.
Master Jinn pushed down his hood and walked toward her, sitting down by her bedside.
"My Lady Naritha," he bowed his head in salute.
"Master Jinn," she said, licking her dry lips. "Where is Obi-Wan?"
The Jedi folded his arms in the sleeves of robe and answered, "He is currently flying to Coruscant."
"Coruscant?" Naritha exclaimed, rising to sit on the mattress. "He cannot go away! I need him and his home is here now!"
"No, My Lady," Master Jinn replied, his voice hard. "Obi-Wan Kenobi's home is not here. It is the Jedi Temple."
"But he is my bondmate! His place is near me."
Master Jinn ignored her comment and asked, "Tell me, My Lady, do you feel more than just possession for my Padawan? Do you care for him?"
"Of course I care for him!" Naritha exclaimed, outraged. Did that man think her to be insensitive?!
"Then you have to understand Obi-Wan's life is not here on Angar. His life is among the Jedi, doing what he has been born to do." Master Jinn paused and when he looked at her his eyes were full of emotions. "My Padawan is the closest thing I have to son and I know his dream is to become a Knight. He has an amazing talent and I know one day he will be a great Jedi—a great master. He was terrified when he discovered he is now trapped by this bond, for Jedi must be free from any attachment."
"Are you suggesting we try to break the bond?" Naritha was appalled by the mere idea. The bond between a man and a woman was sacred for the Angarians.
"No, I am not. A Jedi Healer has been there to examine the bond and she has said it is unbreakable."
"A Jedi Healer? And when was she here?" Naritha asked, more than a little unsettled so much had transpired while she was asleep.
"She was there two days ago. Milady, you might not realize it, but you have been sleeping for the past five days."
"Five days!?!"
"Yes. Your doctor gave you a powerful sedative, so what you would not suffer any discomfort as you Receiving wore off." Master Jinn explained. He paused then added, "I could not allow you and Obi-Wan to spend more time together until I knew for sure what kind of bond you share."
Naritha felt a bout of irritation. How did he dare to come between her and her bondmate? But then she realized he was just worried for his Padawan and calmed down. "And now that you know? What will happen to us?"
"The Jedi Council has decided that Obi-Wan won't be dismissed by the Order despite his bond you. He will continue his training with me and he will be taught to block and silence the bond, so that it won't disturb his concentration."
"What about me? What about my life?" Naritha exclaimed, desperation creeping in her tone. "I-I have come to love Obi-Wan…I have been in his mind and I have seen what a wonderful, caring young man he is. How could I live without him now?"
"If you love him as you say, you will learn to stay away from him, at least for a while."
"For a while?" Naritha repeated, hopeful.
"Well, you will be able to correspond with him after he has learned how to cope with the situation. As I have said, the bond cannot be broken, but you will be taught to control it, so you won't miss your bondmate's presence. Your doctor says it is even possible you will be able to have a fulfilling sentimental life with a man of your choice and the Council has assured our father Obi-Wan will be allowed to come to you for your next Receiving."
Naritha could not believe what she was hearing. Master Jinn's tone was gentle, but could not disguise the harsh reality. Obi-Wan did not want to have anything to do with her. He felt trapped by their bond and would return on Angar only to "service" her during her next Receiving.
The young woman was engulfed by desperation. This was not the life had wanted. It would have been best if she had died for an unconsummated mating fever…
"Don't even think it, Milady," Master Jinn said sharply. "It would have been such a useless waste; your planet and your father need you. As for Obi-Wan, I am sure that when he will be more settled, he will be allowed to contact you and you will be able to come to know each other better. He will never give you his love for it is forbidden to Jedi, but he will certainly give you his friendship and trust me, you would never find a better friend than him."
Naritha nodded wordlessly, not really convinced.
It seemed that everything had been already decided for her and for Obi-Wan. She had heard the verbs the Jedi had used-- allowed, been able, forbidden – and she wondered how much choice the High Council and his master had given to her bondmate.
Whatever the case, there was nothing she could do to change the situation. It seemed evident her father and her doctor had agreed with the Jedi, hence the only thing she could do was to go on with her life as best as she could.