Two

Morning sun splashed in through the high windows, making its way beneath my screwed-up eyelids. I opened my eyes, at last capitulating to the inevitable. 'What a strange dream, what a very strange dream,' I mused. Not an uncomfortable one at that, but certainly far different than the recent ones I'd been having about Maul.

A dream that stuck with me without containing an element of terror.

I had been walking through a rocky pass on a world full of dust and sand and grit. The smoky-dry, affectless air around me had crept into my mouth, almost choking me. The suns broiled down on me. I could feel the heat and light actively turning my skin to leather. And yet, I felt a strange sense of happiness as I went. I had missed my walks.

Part of the way through, I happened upon a beautiful dessert flower. The persistent bloom rose up between two smallish shoots of green, its petals deep violet amidst so much brown, tan, and yellow. I'd smiled. 'How beautiful it is,' I thought then, ' that life persists so actively, even in the harshest of places.' Perhaps the flower had reminded me of me.

I had woken up then.

I didn't know what to do with the dream. Such a strange one, and yet it had felt so real to me. Regardless, I shouldn't spend much time thinking about it. I knew that. Today had much bigger concerns. The peace parade would begin at 8 o'clock sharp. Apparently the Naboo liked to do things quite early. Me, I would've preferred to sleep in a bit longer, but here I was.

I should learn soon enough, though. Jedi knights would have to get up very early. I knew a shiver of excitement at that thought, the knowledge of my soon-to-be advancement.

After dressing, I headed out from my room and into the great chamber which the queen had instructed for those of us who were non-Naboo and non-palace personnel to wait. Seemed I was the first here. Though that didn't last long.

"Morning Obi-Wan!" The cry jarred me from my thoughts, and guiltily I realized my mind had drifted to the dream again.

I couldn't help the chuckle that left my lips. Anakin just looked so very eager. "Well good morning, Anakin. Good morning, Master. You seem excited," I said to the boy.

"Definitely! I've never seen a parade before! Well – not like this one."

There was something faintly ominous in that statement. Or maybe I just thought so. "It's sure to be exciting," I agreed. 'For you.' I'd never liked public occasions myself, but maybe that was just due to being used to all the time I spent alone.

Wait. Alone? I… didn't really spend that much time alone. What had I just been thinking about?

A faint echo of… something tip-toed along the edges of my thoughts, just out of reach no matter how hard I tried to grab at its gossamer threads.

"Oh yeah! I've even heard that the Queen and Boss Nass are going to exchange kind words about each other, and some kind of big globe to represent the new alliance between them."

"Really?" I worked to sound surprised; in fact, I'd heard about this days earlier. But Anakin looked excited to impart his news. I should let him. "That sounds like a lovely idea. No doubt all of the Naboo, Gungan and human alike are very pleased."

"For sure!" Anakin hopped over to me, and suddenly I found myself seized in an embrace.

I froze stock still. 'He's hugging me. He's hugging me. Someone – Anakin - is hugging me.' For a moment, I thought to stay stiff and unmoving. If I stayed that way, then surely it would end soon. But he was holding on so hard, with such fervency, and I hadn't been hugged in who knew how long. Maybe the last time had been when saying goodbye to Siri. And somehow, I suddenly realized that I didn't want the hug to end.

Not yet. Perhaps… Perhaps not ever. With Anakin hugging me, I could for a moment forget the deadly fight against the Sith in the dark depths of the Theed palace

When we at last broke away, I saw how Qui-Gon was looking at me with faintly furrowed brow. However, he didn't comment on whatever it was that was on his mind. (Though I had a pretty good idea of what that was.) Standoffish Obi-Wan suddenly conquered by the embrace of Anakin Skywalker.

Well, it wasn't like that, but I didn't need to explain myself to him. I didn't need to explain myself to anyone. Even myself.

Yes, it would be best not to think too hard about what had just happened. Which was fine, since it didn't bother me. Not a bit.

As we headed out to the parade, Anakin shot me a dazzling smile. A smile which made all my newfound will crumble, and I helplessly smiled back. 'Sweet Annie,' I thought. 'Never change.'

After the parade, there was a reception. I desperately did not want to attend, but queen Amidala insisted. I could not disrespect her. And so I went, begrudgingly, anxiously, hoping to get the evening over as soon as possible, expecting to be a wallflower the whole time. What I did not expect was to meet newly elected Chancellor Palpatine, nor what followed from the meeting.

Queen Amidala's approach was a swift as it was unexpected. 'Too late to run,' I realized as I saw her turn toward me. All of a sudden, though, I no longer wanted to. Not now, not with the man who came up by her side smiling a sweet, grandfatherly sort of smile.

"Knight Kenobi, I would like to introduce you to our Chancellor Palpatine," Amidala said, pride in her eyes for all her voice remained monotone.

The response that locking eyes with a man set off inside me could only be described as visceral. Fireworks shot off inside my head. My nose pinched as though at a rancid smell. My insides screwed up, all my muscles tensing. The Force itself seem to be screaming at me.

And yet, why? Nothing about the man seemed particularly objectionable, not at all. His voice was kind, and strong as he extended a hand and said,

"It's an honor to meet you, Knight Kenobi."

I stared down at his hand—a little wrinkled but very soft looking, as though he hadn't done a day's manual labor in his life—and found myself fighting the urge to attack him. 'Do it, do it!' chorused my mind. 'Do it! Attack! Kill!'

I clenched my hands hard behind my back, restraining myself. 'What's happening? What's happening?' I wondered wildly. I could feel my breaths beginning to come quicker, my heart setting off as though to a race.

Queen Amidala regarded me with furrowed brow. "Are you well, Knight Kenobi?"

I went with the simple truth: no. My mouth was tight as I forced out the words, polite and Jedi like, to excuse myself from the occasion. Excuse myself from the room. I all but ran out, not stopping. Not stopping until all the breath had left my body completely.

Nausea swam through me. My nerves pulsed as though I've been electrocuted. I leaned against the outer wall of the location to which I'd sprinted. Wiped the fine sheen of sweat from my brow. 'What was that? ' I wondered. What on earths had just happened?

I didn't know, I didn't know at all. All I knew… Was that despite all the good things I had heard about the Republic's new Chancellor, I did not trust him. Not one bit. And funnily enough, I got the sense that maybe he didn't trust me, either.

"Obi?"

The soft call jarred me from my meditative state. I hadn't gone quite so deeply yet, the fact that the voice of Anakin Skywalker could so draw me back with such swift ease was… a bit unsettling, to be honest. Though not nearly as unsettling as my earlier experience.

I opened my eyes, cocking my head to the side. "What are you doing here?"

"They were saying at the party that you got sick. I wanted to come look for you."

My heart did a strange little thing – accelerated hard, and then abruptly squeezed to a stop. "Does your master know that you're here?" I arched an eyebrow. I didn't see Qui-Gon anywhere around.

The guilty look which shadowed Anakin's face, thoroughly visible in the noonday sun, answered that question rather tidily. "Oh, yeah! He… He totally knows."

"Uh-huh." I suppressed my smile with some difficulty. "Well, I'm feeling much better. Thank you Anakin."

"I'm glad to hear that! I'd hate for you to be stuck here while we leave. But of course, I wouldn't go without you." He beamed at me.

"Of course you would," I said, rising from my seat. My limbs were stiff. I'd been sitting, thinking, and meditating for a long time. "It's you and Qui-Gon together now."

Anakin frowned. "So? You said it yourself. We're family now. I'd never leave you."

I winced. I'd had a feeling that he mistook my words. "Yes," I began. "When I said that, what I really meant was —"

"Yeah?"

And in that moment, I knew my own cowardice – bottomless and chasmic. My mouth dried up; my eyes could only regard the sweet, hopeful little boy gazing up at me with trust. "Er — never mind. It's not important." ' Not now, ' I told myself. ' Not yet.' Someday.

Knowing my own failure well, I wrapped and arm around his shoulders. "We should probably get back to the party. I wouldn't want Qui-Gon to think I kidnapped you."

"All right! Let's go back. Unless…"

"Yes?"

"Oh… I just wondered, if you wouldn't rather stay here a little bit? It's so beautiful."

'Yes, it is." I worked over my response for several moments. "Yes. Maybe… Maybe we should do that."

In all truth, I felt no haste to return to the party, the politicians, or Palpatine. It was so lovely here by Anakin's side, feeling the warm glow that accompanied the knowledge that he had cared enough to seek me out, breathing in the fresh, crisp spring air, gazing at the beautiful view of rebuilding Theed that our location afforded. Yes, the people were hungry, but they could be fed. They were grieving, but they would have time. And most importantly, Naboo was once again theirs. We'd won.

Maybe I had won something too.

Anakin took my hand and squeezed; and I let him.

Notes

Please let me know your thoughts! Where do you think the story is headed? What might like you like to see in future chapters?

Here's hoping Palpy doesn't immediately go after Obi-Wan. 😕

Also, as usual, if you see any glaring errors please feel free to point them out in the comments. After this whole story is done, I plan to go back and edit for dictation issues. 😋

Warm wishes,
Rivkah