CHAPTER 14
Masters Yoda and Windu approached Charlie sitting with her eyes closed and face twisted by grief under the tree. They'd felt a tremendous sorrowful disturbance in the force, and had been inclined to find its cause.
Windu knelt down next to the Master Silverstar, consumed in her grief.
"My child." he said. "What ever causes you such sorrow?"
Charlie gasped and started, failing to notice their presence until she felt Windu's hand on her shoulder.
"Masters? Oh my, I'm so sorry. I… I…" Charlie looked for an escape, but found none forthcoming.
Windu tried again. "Don't hide from us, young one. What causes you sorrow?"
Charlie gaped at the two masters, realizing that her tear-streaked face betrayed her. She slumped, succumbing to their intent gazes.
She spoke quietly. "The article on my holo mentions… mentions my adoptive family as possible kidnap victims. He has them. Sidious has them and stars know what he'll do with them in order to find me. I should have made sure of the their safety the minute I escaped. I should have checked, shouldn't have forgotten!" Her voiced rose to a cracked yell.
The two masters regarded her with stone faces.
"How did you find me?" Charlie asked curiosity overcoming her grief for a second. "I thought I kept my shields up? Force, how did you even know I was grieving?" she asked?
Yoda responded. "Into the force, pushed your emotions, you did. Sometimes, good technique, that is. Now, feel, you must."
Windu nodded. "We felt a disturbance that must have been your desperate cry into the force for help. We came as fast as we could. Master Yoda is right. You must face these emotions. Too much emotion built up over time in the force can lead to danger." He paused thoughtfully.
"I do not know what of the Jedi ways you know." continued Windu. "In situations like these, we meditate. We force ourselves to work through the feelings, and then, only once we fully understand and are capable of living with them, do we let them flow into the force."
Charlie nodded. "I've used this technique several times. I used to be punished…" her voice faltered again, "punished for my… wrongdoings in ways that required meditation. Without a mastery of meditation, I would not be here today. They would have destroyed me." she said quietly.
"I will attempt this." she said, regaining some composure. "May I ask, though, the article mentions two Jedi dispatched to investigate why the town of Creuset was targeted. Will you inform me of what they learn? I have a vested interest in that town and after my meditation, will most certainly be taking it upon myself to find my family. I must."
Yoda and Windu exchanged glances, and then looked back at Charlie.
"Disturbing, this is." the small green creature said. "Apologize, I must, for the Sith Lord's methods."
The Jedi Master bowed his head. "Strong, you are, young one, for so much, to survive."
Windu nodded. "Yes, I fear it is partially our fault, the ordeal you went through. One day, we will speak more on this, but now is not the time. In answer to your request, we will keep you apprised of mission details. I sense that I will not be able to stop you from investigating your family's kidnapping, however, please come to the council if you should need assistance."
Charlie nodded.
Yoda spoke again. "I sense important, you will be. Allow not yourself, compromised to become." His voice echoed with the years of his wisdom.
Charlie stared as the two masters turned and departed. She took a deep breath, checking her shields for any more cracks. It was true that she'd pushed aside those feelings for years, just as Yoda's voice had told her to do on that first day in the lair. The resulting dearth of emotion had been more overwhelming than she'd expected.
Charlie stood, putting the holo back into her bag and wiping the remains of her grief from her face. She'd go to the Hall of a Thousands Fountains to meditate. The noise of the water reminded her of the underground ocean. She thought back through her conversation with the two masters as she walked through the temple.
She'd never intended to tell anyone of the torture she'd undergone. After that first day when they'd done their best to tear her apart body and mind, she'd tried not to bring on Sidious' wrath. But sometimes it was unavoidable.
These were feelings long past, that she'd mastered in order to survive. There was a reason she'd left it out of her original introduction to the council. Charlie sighed heavily.
"What's done is done." she told herself. She could only hope they didn't press her for details. Reliving the situations was not going to be useful.
She entered the large hall, feeling the humid atmosphere wash over her, pushing away the last of the bad feelings. The hall was an indoor jungle-type room. It was filled with beautiful flora and fauna, with steep waterfalls and placid reflective pools.
Charlie removed her cloak, the heat requiring it, pushing it into her bag. She walked until she a spot called to her. She sat, cross-legged, on a rock at the very top of a crashing waterfall. She had a magnificent view of the pool below her and the jungle rolled out in front of her as far as she could see.
She set her bag down behind her, not wanting it to fall into the rushing water. Slowly, with regulated breaths, she closed her eyes, reaching out to the force, calling to her the emotions she had to deal with. She let the force wash over her like a warm blanket, soothing the ache in her heart. She pushed front and center all feelings concerning her family, and began to understand her feelings.
She didn't feel the force signature of the young senator watching her.
Charlie let her grip on the force relax, finally pleased with her understanding of her emotions. Feeling much more in control, she released the last of them into the force, pretending it was a rushing river like the one she sat above. She opened her eyes, not realizing how much time had passed. Her stomach rumbled, and she smiled to herself, shaking her head.
She sat up straighter suddenly, realizing for the first time that she was not alone. She stood slowly, grabbing her bag and turning on her heel to see none other than Senator Padmé Amidala standing just off to the left under a tree.
Charlie regarded her warily, not sure what to say.
"Hello, Master Silverstar." Amidala's voice was refined and feminine, but with a note of steel in it that Charlie had to admire.
Charlie bowed low; the woman was a senator and required deference.
"Hello to you, Senator Amidala." she replied formally. "May I ask what you're doing here?"
"Please, call me Padmé." she replied. "And I was exploring the temple, and by happy accident stumbled upon this gem. Do you know what they call it?"
Charlie smiled.
"If you're Padmé, than I am Charlie."
The senator nodded.
"It is called the Hall of a Thousand Fountains." Charlie said. "It is a preferred meditation spot among the Jedi, a notion I was enacting not five minutes ago."
Padmé nodded, seeming to have expected the answer.
"Well," Padmé responded, "I won't lie. I have been looking forward to meeting you. You are widely talked about, though no one seems to know much about you. The council keep their secrets well."
Charlie grinned in response, enjoying the anonymity.
The senator continued. "In any case, I was about to take dinner in my quarters. Would you join me?" she asked.
Charlie tried not to let her surprise show, but wasn't inclined to refuse. She was hungry, and as much as she tried to deny it, she wondered if Padmé could tell her anything about Obi-Wan.
Charlie bowed low in response, saying "I would very much enjoy that, Padmé. Lead the way?"
The senator smiled, and together the pair left the hall.
Charlie threw her head back and laughed, grateful that she wasn't chewing at the moment. Padmé had been regaling her with a story concerning Jar Jar Binks, a gungan in her service.
"That poor creature." Charlie replied with a giggle. "How sorry he must have been. Blanket reed is devilishly difficult to get off of anything."
Padmé nodded, matching her grin. "He discovered that quickly." she said wryly.
The two women had been enjoying dinner. To her surprise, Charlie had quickly learned that Padmé was much more than she appeared. She could see Anakin's attraction to her.
There was a lull in conversation as a droid cleared the table, leaving behind a bottle of dark liquor of some sort, and two glasses. Charlie wasn't sure that after last night she wanted to drink again, but the alcohol smell deliciously like chocolate and looked like a milkshake, so she accepted a glass. One sip had her head ver heels in love.
"Stars above, what is this?" she said in amazement, staring at the liquid in her glass.
Padmé grinned. "Chocolate Liquor, best that I've ever had. It was a gift to Anakin from Obi-Wan, mostly so that when Obi-Wan comes over, he can have some. It's his favorite."
Charlie laughed. "Good to know." she said, not quite intending for it to be said out loud, but the wine she'd had with dinner had loosened her tongue.
Padmé eyes sparkled at her.
"Speaking of those two," the senator began, "Anakin tells me you and Obi-Wan… hit it off."
Charlie let a small smile grace her face. She supposed it shouldn't surprise her that the Master had told his former Padawan what he was up to last night.
She met Padmé's gaze, saying "And from what Obi-Wan tells me, you and Anakin hit it off well enough to make it official."
The two women spoke about Padmé's relationship with Anakin and about their marriage, but it seemed that Padmé was holding something back.
The senator sighed suddenly, saying "There is something else. News that I've wanted to share for a very long time, but this war has made Anakin and I quite protective."
The woman took a deep breath, preparing herself.
"I'm pregnant." And when Padmé met her gaze, Charlie could see the blinding happiness in her eyes.
Charlie gasped, deciding immediately that this was happy news.
"Padmé, I'm so excited for you!"
She took the senator's hand in her own two.
"I completely understand your drive to keep it secret. Who else knows?"
Padmé smiled hugely.
"I left Obi-Wan to Anakin, and there's really no one else besides that." she said. "I can tell that Anakin is worried for the baby's safety, but if he and Obi-Wan trust you, I trust you. And really, I need a friend to confide in. Two Jedi just aren't the same." Padmé voice faltered at the end.
Charlie smiled sympathetically.
"Well, I would be more than happy to fill that role. I haven't had a true friend since I was sixteen back at home." Charlie felt her smile slip a little. Both women were quiet for a few seconds until Charlie, wanting to dispel the sadness, shook her head with a laugh.
"But let's forget about that for now. Tell me, Padmé, what can you tell me of Obi-Wan?"
The senator grinned knowingly in response.
"Ahhh, I should've known you would ask eventually." she replied. "Hmmm, well, what do you want to know?"
Charlie shrugged, unsure of how to answer the question. What did she want to know?
"I guess… your impression of him. Who he is outside of the media?" Charlie responded.
"Yeah, I get that." replied Padmé. "Well, he certainly is everything they make him out to be achievement wise. I met him on our way to Tattooine from Naboo. He is a hero." she said simply.
"He embodies the Jedi; he could almost be their poster boy. He loves Anakin like a son, like a brother, and Anakin worships him." Palme laughed.
"I'm fairly certain that he asked Obi-Wan permission to ask for my hand in marriage. I hear talk that their relationship, their bond, is a strong as any two Jedi's. There is a reason they're known the galaxy over for their power. Obi-Wan is fiercely protective and I'm almost certain they'd give their lives for each other and those they love. This is the reason Jedi weren't allowed attachments before the change of the Code." She sighed.
"Nonetheless, I believe their bond makes them stronger. At first glance, I wouldn't peg Obi-Wan as a good friend of mine. He's controlled and tries his best to hide emotion. But I've come to recognize a little rebellion in him, and I respect that. As does Anakin." She laughed.
"In fact, I think Anakin encourages it. He's got a sense of humor and he's incredibly capable of live." She paused. "I must sound like a stalker, but you grow close enough to Anakin, and you learn a lot about Obi-Wan." Palme shrugged, ending her little speech.
Charlie mulled over what she'd said.
"I can do this thing, you know," Charlie said, "where I read someone by their force signature. It's a broad outline of their personality, and going too deep is an invasion of privacy, but it gives me a good indicator of who they are. I was just thinking about their's this morning. I see in Obi-Wan's signature exactly what you describe. It's good to know my senses aren't faulty. Thank you for telling me." She smiled at Padmé.
The senator returned the smile, saying "Would you share with me Anakin's?" she asked.
Charlie gazed at her, trying to judge her intentions.
Finally, she responded "Most would ask me to share with them their own. Why Anakin's?"
Padmé thought before responding.
"I… I know myself quite well, I like to think. And for the moment, I'm quite at peace with myself. Anakin, however much I know about him, is sometimes still a mystery to me. He's mercurial. I would like to see if you can tell me anything I do not know."
Charlie nodded.
"Very well, I will give you the broad outline. I will go no deeper, however, because it is an invasion of his privacy, and because the force is difficult to work at distances."
Padmé nodded her understanding.
Charlie began slowly.
"He is blinding with power and passion. He leaves behind a signature on everything he touches that speaks of his power. Even you and your child, for example, shine with his light. He has a soft spot for the memories of Qui-Gon Jinn. He has a devotion to Obi-Wan that you speak of, and an intense love for you. Padmé, I can see even now his blossoming love for the child you bear. He will make a loving father, at the very least. "
Charlie hesitated then, unwilling to go further.
"I will say no more." she told Padmé. "To go any farther would go against my principles."
Charlie met Padmé's eyes, surprised at the tears she saw there.
Padmé ducked her head, swiping at here eyes. "You describe a very wonderful version of my husband." she said. "Thank you for sharing that with me."
Charlie took the senator's hand again.
"Of course," she said. "What are friends for?"
Padmé looked up, smiling once again.
"Let us not dwell on the Jedi anymore." Charlie said. "Come, tell me of Naboo and more about this Jar Jar Binks everyone speaks so highly of."
When Charlie finally made it back to her rooms, she barely had enough time to dress in her sleep clothes before she fell onto her bed, and passed out.