THE SECOND RECEIVING (32BBY)
Naritha Narvix-Dei was completing her first year as Angar Governess when she felt the first symptoms her body was about to enter her second Receiving.
She felt no joy when she realized why her breasts were swollen and her back sore.
The woman had somehow hoped that, given the strange nature of her bond, she would have been spared the indignity of having to call her almost-estranged bondmate and summon him to Angar to service her as a stud does with a mare in heat.
Naritha's relationship with Obi-Wan Kenobi was almost non-existent, for despite Master Jinn's reassurances, they had not even become friends.
In fact, the only time they had had a honest, deep conversation, several months after he had returned to Coruscant, Naritha had learned that while Obi-Wan did not intellectually blame her for doing what was necessary to save her life, emotionally he resented her for tying him to her.
It had turned out that a little time before going to Angar, Obi-Wan had discovered that he was in love with a fellow Padawan, and she with him. He and the girl, whose name was Siri, had decided not to pursue their affair for neither of them wished to be banished from the Jedi Order, but deep in his heart Obi-Wan had harboured the hope that one day they would be allowed to be together as they wished.
"I know it was probably just a dream" Obi-Wan had told Naritha, his eyes full of pain, "but it was comforting. Now, I can no longer even dream to be with Siri, for my life and love are no longer mine to give."
And this is all your fault, Naritha had completed for him in the silence that had followed his revelations.
After that conversation, they had kept their contacts at minimum, limiting them to well-wishing messages for their naming days and for some interplanetary festivities.
Naritha had thrown herself in her job and found a measure of contentment in devoting her life to the good of her citizens.
When she had some free time, she went to visit her younger brother and spent some hours playing with her nieces, before returning home with a heavy heart.
She had not become pregnant during her First Receiving, and her doctor had informed her it was unlikely it would happen in the future. Obi-Wan looked very similar to the Angarians, but his genetic material contained certain differences that made it incompatible with hers.
It was because of all these factors that, when Naritha understood her second Receiving was approaching, she ran to her doctor, asking him if it would not be possible to be administered the same sedative he had given her during the last days of her first receptive time.
"No," the physician answered most emphatically, "those drugs worked only because the mating-fever was already wearing off by itself. The medicines did not make it go away, they just speeded up the process. The only way to purge and survive the fever is to mate, Naritha, and you know it as well as me. I suggest you to contact your bondmate as soon as possible. I give you about ten days before the fever explodes."
Naritha could only nod and return, weary-hearted, to her home.
Once there, she sat in front of her holocom and composed herself, before switching it on and dealing the Jedi Temple code number.
A few minutes later a young face appeared on her screen. "Jedi Temple Reception. This is Padawan Riley. How can I help you, Madam?"
"Can you put me in contact with Obi-Wan Kenobi?" Naritha asked, swallowing her nervousness.
"Padawan Kenobi is out of planet with Master Jinn. Do you wish to leave him a message?"
"No, that won't be necessary. Give me a moment please, there is another person I wish to talk with." Naritha searched into her agenda and found the names of the Healers she had been instructed to contact should Obi-Wan being away when she called. "May I speak with the Hall of Healers?"
"Yes, Madam. Wait a minute."
The call was redirected and a Corellian male appeared on the screen. "Master Healer Arazi speaking. How can I help you?"
"Master Healer Arazi, I am Naritha Narvix-Dei, Padawan Kenobi's bondmate. I have been told to contact you should Obi-Wan not been at home when I need him."
The Healer nodded. "Yes, you did well, lady Narvix-Dei. You were instructed to follow this procedure because the Padawans working in the reception hall do not know the personal codes of the Jedi operating on the field, while we healers have access to them. I will contact Padawan Kenobi at once and I tell him to travel to Angar as soon as possible."
Naritha smiled, feeling her nervousness recede. "Thank you very much, Master Healer Arazi."
The man bowed and closed the communication.
Naritha stood up and moved to her chamber, feeling suddenly exhausted. She stretched on her bed and fell immediately asleep.
When she woke up a couple of hours later, she found an audio message from Obi-Wan waiting for her in her com-unit. It had been sent from the Royal Palace of Theed on Naboo, and it informed Naritha her bondmate would arrive on Angar two days later.
§
Two days later, Naritha found herself pacing back and forth Angar City main landing platform
waiting for her bondmate.
The wait was over when a red diplomatic cruiser landed and Obi-Wan Kenobi stepped down the short a ramp, covered head to foot with his brown robe and carrying a small leather bag.
He walked toward Naritha and stopped in front of her, bowing deeply after pulling back his hood.
"Governess Narvix-Dei."
She cringed at his formality, but decided to greet him in kind.
"Revered Jedi Kenobi, welcome back to Angar."
He nodded and for several moments they stood there, looking at each other, clearly ill at ease.
Obi-Wan had changed in the past seven years. The slender boy had transformed into the handsome young man she had thought he would become. His face had lost that last of his childish features, although his cheeks were still round. His body had filled out quite nicely and he was surrounded by an air of confidence. His ginger hair was still short, but she noticed the braid was missing.
Naritha had read somewhere the braid symbolized the status of apprentice, hence the lack of it should mean the attainment of knighthood.
"Are you a knight now, Obi-Wan?" she asked trying to put him at ease.
"Yes."
"Congratulations. When were you promoted?" Naritha insisted, truly happy he had finally realized his dream.
"Three days ago."
His tone was so completely devoid of joy and she felt a shiver run along her spine. Something was very wrong, she could see it Obi-Wan's clouded eyes, but no matter how much she tried, his mental shields were to strong for her to reach for him through their bond.
"I suppose Master Jinn is very proud of you," Naritha continued in her attempt to make him comfortable. "All those years ago he told me you are like a son for him."
His lower lip trembled and he murmured, "Qui-Gon is dead. He has was killed on Naboo five days ago."
"Oh."
Naritha closed her eyes briefly, silently berating fate for being so cruel.
After learning Obi-Wan would arrive a few days before the Receiving would begin, she had made plans to take him away from the city, to the small retreat her family owned in the lake district. She had hoped that spending some time together in a relaxing, beautiful place would have helped them to become closer before the mating fever crushed over them. She had pictured them hiking among the trees, swimming in the lake and conversing in front of the fireplace.
But now she knew all her plans were to be cancelled. Not only was her bondmate there just out of duty, but he was also mourning the death of the man that had been like a father for many years.
Naritha had little doubts Obi-Wan was resenting her with all his being.
"I am sorry, Obi-Wan," she said in earnest, looking straight at his eyes. "I am sorry for Master Jinn's death, and I am sorry for obliging you to come here when it is the last thing you want. I am sorry to force my nature over you. If I could just go back to seven years ago, then-"
Obi-Wan put his fingers on her lips, preventing her from saying more.
"Don't," he whispered. "Don't blame yourself so much. We are what the Force made us, and it is not your fault if your body woke up just now. I am well aware I am not the only one suffering because of this bond. You are a wonderful woman and you deserve a real bondmate, someone able to love you as you merit. I am sorry, really sorry, I cannot be what you need me to be-"
This time it was Naritha that silenced him, when she heard his voice break. His shields were slipping and she was aware the pain he felt because of his master's death was making him overtly emotional. She did not want to risk he would later feel embarrassed.
Naritha took Obi-Wan by the wrist and murmured, "Come with me. Let's go away from this place. My apartment is very close, and you are obviously tired. You need to rest before we face…other matters."
Obi-Wan nodded in agreement and silently followed her toward the exit.