Part VII
"Hello, Your Highness," came a voice from Amidala's left.
Amidala turned to see who was addressing her to see a good looking, slightly older man staring at her.
"Oh...hello."
"I'm Bail Organa from Alderaan." he said with a smile. He lifted her hand and leaned down to gently kiss it.
Kayla stared at Anakin with a concerned expression on her face. Lately he seemed more withdrawn. She decided to remedy this by pulling him up and dragging him out the door. Anakin was once again being dragged somewhere by his friend. He wondered if she enjoyed doing so.
She turned to him. "Maybe I like the control," she said grinning.
"Huh?"
"See through you I can," Kayla said to Anakin in her best Yoda impression.
Anakin smiled slightly and shook his head. "So what am I thinking now, 'Master' Kayla?"
"I...um...uh..." Kayla stuttered and blushed at the thought she found. "Well I guess that will teach you to read my thoughts," Anakin said with a smirk.
Kayla looked at Anakin with a wicked gleam twinkling in her eyes. Before Anakin could say anything, Kayla grabbed his face and planted a sensuous kiss on his lips and then sauntered towards the courtyard. Anakin stood in place dumbfounded for a few moments before a soft chuckle emerged from his throat and then trailing after Kayla.
Obi-Wan stood near the Queen, his eyes scanning the crowd while reaching out through the Force searching for any disturbances. His eyes rested on Amidala and he noticed that she was speaking to a young man. Upon closer inspection it was revealed to be Bail Organa, someone he met years ago during a mission with Master Qui-Gon. Suddenly Obi-Wan sensed a tremor in the Force and closed his eyes to try and pinpoint its location. Obi-Wan's eyes blinked open and immediately spied a man dressed as a royal guard heading towards Amidala.
Bail Organa noticed a guard approaching rapidly with a concerned look. He realized that he knew this man. A Jedi he'd met several years ago. Something had to be wrong. Perhaps the Queen was in danger? He scanned the crowd and noticed another guard heading towards Amidala. Something didn't seem right about him. Following his instinct, he lunged to shield Amidala just as a blaster discharge was heard. He felt a sharp intense pain in his right shoulder only seconds after he had blocked Amidala with his body.
Panic ensued within the gathering. Obi-Wan reached Amidala and his eyes immediately settled on his friend's wound. Had it not been Organa's choice to act the Queen could of been easily killed. His thoughts centered too much on...other matters lately, but he had thought he had them under control. Obi-Wan sensed that Master Mace was already on the trail of the would-be assassin. Obi-Wan helped Bail to a chair and began to tend to his wound.
"I'm okay," Bail Organa protested. "Protect the Queen, my friend. I promise I will get a healer to mend the wound. Now go."
"Your Highness," Sabe' cried out as she and the rest of the handmaidens ran towards Amidala. Sabe' knew it was a mistake to stay so far from their Queen, but Amidala insisted that it was necessary to draw out her attacker.
Slightly shaken, the Queen rose from her chair. Her royal resolve had dissipated and she could barely stand much less walk. Obi-Wan slipped his arm around her waist to steady her enough to allow her to walk to the awaiting shuttle. It was important to get back the safety of the Jedi Temple. Amidala nuzzled her face into Obi-Wan's chest and wept softly. Obi-Wan looked down at the young Queen. "Amidala we need to get going." Obi-Wan looked back at Bail Organa. "Are you sure you will be okay?"
"Yes."
As the party neared the shuttle, Master Mace returned a look of gloom on his face. "He got away," he declared, a frown on his face.
Obi-Wan sighed inwardly and helped Amidala board the shuttle.
Anakin re-adjusted himself against the pillar he was leaning against. As he did so, Kayla nuzzled further up against him. Anakin felt her shiver and gallantly wrapped his cloak around her and then placed a tender kiss on her forehead.
"Kayla," Anakin yawned.
"Uh-huh.." she replied sleepily.
"Sorry about demanding an answer about Obi-Wan this morning," Anakin said through a series of yawns.
"Okay." Her eyes began to close as voices could be heard coming down the corridor leading away from the hanger bay. Seconds later the pair had drifted off to sleep. Anakin's head resting on Kayla's and his arms wrapped around her.
As Obi-Wan and the rest of the group returning from the banquet passed the courtyard, he noticed Anakin and Kayla asleep in the courtyard curled up in each other's arms. His heart sank at the sight he just witnessed. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Mace could sense the sadness radiating from Obi-Wan and felt compelled to do something. Mace realized that Anakin and Kayla had fallen asleep while waiting for them to return. He decided that it would be best for Obi-Wan to escort the padawans to their quarters.
"Obi-Wan, I am going to walk with the Queen back to her quarters. Could you make sure those two get back to their rooms safely?"
"Master?"
Master Mace looked at Obi-Wan with an expression of exasperation. Obi-Wan took a deep breath and headed towards the sleeping padawans. As he approached his heart lifted as he sensed that the scene was perfectly innocent. It looked like the two must of been waiting for something. Or was it for someone?
In his sleep, Anakin sensed his master's approach and immediately blinked open his eyes. He could feel a sense of relief from his master, and he began to wonder if Kayla meant more to Obi-Wan then he had previously let on. Anakin looked up at his master, only to see that his master didn't look all too happy. Obi-Wan's stern look began to fade as soon as Kayla’s eyes fluttered open. His gaze fixated on her for a moment before beginning.
"You two need any help?" he asked in a halfway sarcastic manner.
Kayla felt a little discomfort in her back from the way she had been sleeping and shifted uncomfortably trying to stand up. Anakin couldn't even move until Kayla got up because of the way they had fallen asleep. Obi-Wan noticed this and gently helped Kayla to rise, a small rock dropping to the ground as he did so. He bent down to retrieve the stone and noticed the soft blue glow began to shift to a more reddish color and he felt a mild vibration radiating from it. He looked at the rock for a few more seconds and then handed it back to Kayla. Kayla reached out to take back her rock. When her hand made contact with the rock the color immediately began to glow a vibrant purple and the humming increased drastically. Kayla and Obi-Wan looked at each other, their eyes locked onto each other’s. Anakin looked on, a puzzled look playing on his face. Kayla took back the rock in her hands and the color once again changed back to a soft red. Obi-Wan quickly regained his composure. "I think you two need to go to bed now."
"Yes, Master," the pair said in unison.
Obi-Wan watched as the two of them walked away.
Kayla sat quietly in the dining hall across from her master. She took a deep breath before beginning.
"Master..."
"Yes?"
"Um...uh...I was wondering..."
"Yes?" he said this time a little more insistent.
"Its about the rock. I understand what the shades blue and red signify, but what does purple mean?"
"Why?" he asked inquisitively.
"Um...just wondering."
"Oh, okay," he said knowing full well that his padawan wasn't telling the whole truth. "The rock can sense a connection between people. That is when the rock will give off a purple glow. Now if you excuse me, Kayla. I need to go and talk with someone."
Kayla looked at her master. Who did he need to talk to? Did he realize that the rock turned purple when she and Obi-Wan had touched it simultaneously? Her thoughts were interrupted by a pair of hands on her shoulders. She looked up to see Anakin staring down at her. She never realized how tall he was until just now.
Master Mace stood next to the young Queen sitting on one of the couches in her guest quarters.
"You wanted to talk to me, Your Highness?"
"Yes, Master Jedi. I now know that this assassin can find me no matter where I am, and I would prefer to be back on Naboo with my people."
Mace looked at the young Queen with concern. "I understand your desire to return to your home, but I think it might be best if Obi-Wan and Anakin accompany you home."
"Thank you for the offer, Master Jedi. I do need to tell Anakin about my reason for coming here. I haven't told him and if he is to accompany me to Naboo it will be necessary to tell him prior to our departure. I would also like to talk to Obi-Wan as well. I feel I need to apologize to him, for having him keep this secret from Anakin."
Mace looked at the young woman in front of him and could sense her fears regarding informing Anakin of the assassin.
"Your Highness, I will tell Obi-Wan that you want to speak to him first."
Mace seemed to tense up slightly before continuing. "I sense I have something that needs to be taken care of immediately. If you will excuse me, Your Highness."
"Of course, Master Jedi."
With that Mace left the Queen's quarters and headed towards the courtyard.
Sah-Jen found Obi-Wan in the courtyard sitting on a bench on the far side. He walked over to him
"Obi-Wan."
Obi-Wan looked up to see Sah-Jen coming towards him. He had an odd expression on his face. Obi-Wan couldn't quite decipher what it meant.
"Master Sah-Jen?"
"I have some information that should be of interest to you and put this whole issue of you and Kayla to rest. I was speaking with her a few minutes ago about an occurrence with her force sensitive stone and young Anakin..."
Obi-Wan glared at Master Sah-Jen.
"I have seen the two of them together on numerous occasions and it is obvious that Kayla cares deeply for Anakin," Sah-Jen added. "Anakin and Kayla have much more in common and I would be more than happy if they were to get together."
Obi-Wan was practically fuming.
"So you see, Obi-Wan, you are only wasting your time with these mind games you insist on playing with Kayla."
"It was me!"
"What?" Sah-Jen asked inquisitively.
"It was me. I was the one Kayla was holding the stone with. Not Anakin and not anyone else. It was me. Can't you understand what this means? For both of us?"
Master Sah-Jen's expression changed into one that could only be described as rage. "I told you to stay away from her!"
"Who are you to tell me what to do?" Obi-Wan shot back.
The two men were furious and it could have turned violent if Master Yoda hadn't walked into the courtyard when he did.
"Yelling you are. Knock it off you will," Yoda said shortly before hitting both men with his gimmer stick.
"Problem is what?"
Sah-Jen and Obi-Wan both started to answer, but were both silenced by Yoda hitting them again.
"Master Sah-Jen first will speak."
Sah-Jen glared at Obi-Wan once again and then kneeled down.
"Master Yoda, Obi-Wan and I were discussing Kayla."
"Much distress I sense in you."
"Yes, Master. Obi-Wan has become too involved with Kayla."
"Obi-Wan, true is this?"
Obi-Wan looked perplexed. He didn't know exactly how to respond. He couldn't tell them about the kisses, but he and Kayla were not truly involved.
Obi-Wan took a deep breath. "Yes, Master Yoda. It is true."
Master Yoda looked up at Obi-Wan who had kneeled beside Sah-Jen.
"Why you have pursued this 'Padawan'?"
"Master...it was not so much a matter of..."
Master Yoda hit Obi-Wan yet again. "Why?"
"It was a matter which both of us had a problem expressing. It became awkward and we have tried on numerous occasions to find a solution."
Yoda looked at Sah-Jen to Obi-Wan and then back again.
"Solution you must find," Yoda said as Mace entered the courtyard.
The three Jedi looked at Mace. After short recap of the conversation Mace began to speak.
"The Queen and I have been discussing a problem on her home planet. I want both of you and your Padawans to go with her to help her resolve this problem. You will set aside your bickering and you will carry out this mission. You will not fail. Is that perfectly clear?"
Sah-Jen and Obi-Wan looked at each other and then to Master Mace.
"Yes, Master," Sah-Jen replied.
Obi-Wan continued to look at Master Mace. "Yes, Master."
"I suggest you two go find your padawans and inform them of the mission. You leave in 3 hours."
Obi-Wan headed to Amidala's guest quarters. If they were to accompany her on the mission, Anakin would surely find out about the assassination attempts on her life. He wondered why she wanted to see him. Master Mace had told him that Amidala had an important matter to discuss with him. Obi-Wan reached her quarters and pressed the entry chime. Sabe' answered the door and ushered him inside. Amidala was staring out the window of her room.
"Good morning, Obi-Wan."
"Your Highness."
"Please call me Amidala," she said with a slight smile. She was obviously tired and probably did not sleep much last night.
"Amidala, you wanted to see me?" he asked.
"Yes. I wanted to ask you to let me be the one to tell Anakin about the upcoming mission. I need to tell him the truth. Please don't tell him about the mission, let me tell him."
"Amidala, I think this is the right thing to do. I will tell Anakin you want to see him," he said bowing slightly and heading for the door.
Obi-Wan reached out through the Force to find Anakin's location in the Temple. He discovered Anakin was in the dining hall with...Kayla. Damn. Obi-Wan really didn't know if he could face her at the moment, but he was going to have to be near her on this mission. It was obvious Master Sah-Jen wasn't happy about this arrangement Mace had put them in, but they were all going to have to get along if this mission was going to succeed. And it had to succeed, Amidala's life depended on it. Obi-Wan neared the dining hall doors. He took a deep breath and pushed the doors open and scanned the room for Anakin. He noticed Anakin and Kayla sitting at a table at the far side of the room.
"Kayla," Anakin said.
"What?"
"Last night, before you woke up. I sensed something from Master Obi-Wan. It seemed odd, but I couldn't quite tell what it was."
Kayla looked at Anakin slightly puzzled. "What did it feel like?"
"It...um...kinda felt like he was hurt."
"Hurt? I thought maybe he was yesterday when I accidentally knocked him in the pool, but I..." Kayla looked up to see Obi-Wan standing over Anakin watching them. Neither one of them sensed him coming, they were too engrossed in their conversation. Kayla didn't know how much he heard or even if she minded that he heard.
"Anakin," Obi-Wan stated.
Anakin blinked and looked up at his master. "Yes, master."
"Amidala wants to speak with you Anakin. Right now."
Anakin looked at his master and then to Kayla. He slowly rose from his chair, and bowed slightly to Kayla. "I'll talk to you later." He looked at Obi-Wan one more time and headed out to the door to see Amidala.
"Kayla, may I speak with you?"
Kayla looked at Obi-Wan and nodded.
"I think it might be best if we spoke somewhere a little more private."
Kayla looked at Obi-Wan inquisitively. "What's this about?" she asked.
"About us," he stated matter-of-factly.
"How about the courtyard?" she asked still shocked that Obi-Wan referred to them as an 'us'.
This time it was him who just nodded. Kayla stood up and they headed out of the dining hall to the courtyard.
Anakin wondered what Amidala could want to see him about. We was hoping she would finally tell him what all of this intrigue was about. He took a deep breath and pressed the entry chime.
"Anakin, come in," Rabe' said motioning Anakin to enter the room.
Amidala was dressed in the clothes of a handmaiden and staring out the window. He noticed that she looked sad. He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her to him as he did so. Amidala leaned back against him and looked up to see his handsome face staring down at her. A single tear tracing a path down her cheek. She turned in his arms her gaze into his eyes never faltering. "Anakin."
"Amidala, what's wrong. Please tell me. I want to help."
"Anakin...I..."
Anakin brushed his hand across Amidala's cheek and leaned down to kiss her forehead. His eyes locked onto hers once more and then he pulled away from her sighing loudly as he did so.
"Go on," he urged.
Amidala sat down on the couch behind them and motioned for Anakin to sit next to her. He complied with her wishes.
Amidala took a deep breath before starting. "Anakin, I didn't want to tell you this because I was afraid to lose you. I want you to know that from the start. And don't blame Obi-Wan for what I am about to tell you. I asked him to promise not to tell you." Anakin was about to speak but was silenced when Amidala placed two fingers over his mouth.
"I came to Coruscant because there had been several attempts on my life and last night was bait to draw out the attacker."
"Why didn’t you tell me? I think I deserved to know."
"I...as I told Obi-Wan, I didn't want to lose you."
"How would you lose me?" he asked.
"I knew you would risk your own life to save mine, and I couldn't bear to think about losing you like that."
Anakin stared at her in shock.
Amidala looked at Anakin, afraid to say anything and really not knowing what to say. "And now I think that I might of lost you anyway," she said without really thinking.
Anakin looked confused. "Huh?"
"Anakin, who was the girl you were with? And how close are you two? I would like to know."
Anakin would of laughed at that inquiry if he hadn't heard the pain echoed in her voice as she asked him.
"Oh...you mean Kayla."
"Kayla?"
"Yes, she is my best friend. What did you think we were? Lovers?" Anakin responded. He was still hurt by her not telling him about the attempts on her life, but this line of questioning gave him a little more insight on how she truly felt. She was jealous. Jealous of his best friend.
"Your best friend? But yesterday...I..."
Anakin looked at her a slight smile creeping up his face. He took Amidala's hands into his and looked into her eyes. "Amidala, Kayla and I had...well just gone swimming so to speak."
"Huh?"
"I was upset about not being able to go to the banquet, so I went to see Kayla as I have been doing for some time when something bothers me. She dragged me to the pool and attempted to throw me in, but I pulled her in with me."
"Oh..." Amidala muttered seconds before she felt Anakin's lips meet hers.
Obi-Wan and Kayla sat in silence for a while. Every once and a while one of them would try to speak but no words would come out. Finally Kayla broke the silence as she reached out and brushed her hand against his cheek. "Obi-Wan...I...um..."
He looked at her, capturing her hand in his as it brushed his cheek. He brought her hand to his lips and gently kissed it. "Kayla..."
"I'm so sorry I pushed you into the pool. I didn't mean to...I..."
"I know," he said still holding her hand in his.
Master Sah-Jen had just been dismissed from his meeting with Mace and Yoda and was now looking for Kayla to tell her about the mission. Not knowing where she would be at this moment, he reached through their bond to locate her. Her mind was in a haze, but he knew where she was. She was in the courtyard, he should have known that. Even as a child she spent a lot of her free time in the courtyard. She once told him that she goes there to think. He turned down one of the many corridors which led to the courtyard, wondering why her mind was slightly clouded. Upon reaching the archway leading into the courtyard, he discovered the reason. Obi-Wan. Damn. He should have known. Sah-Jen took a deep breath and walked over to them.
"Kayla."
Kayla nearly jumped at the sound of her own name. "Master?" she barely choked out.
Obi-Wan let go of her hand and looked at Sah-Jen. "Master Sah-Jen."
Obi-Wan turned to look at Kayla. "Um...I guess I should leave you two alone," he said as he stood up to leave. Kayla watched him rise and walk out of the courtyard.
Sah-Jen looked at his padawan with a exasperated expression. He fought the urge to talk to Kayla about this 'Obi-Wan' situation. That would have to wait. The mission was the most important business at hand. "Kayla, we have been assigned a new mission. We are going to Naboo with the Queen. Master
Obi-Wan and Anakin will be joining us."
Kayla was about to say something but was cut off.
"This is a life and death situation for the Queen, and it is imperative we succeed. You must keep these little games of yours from interfering with the mission. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, Master. But I..."
"You need to get ready. Go. Now. We leave in a few hours."
Kayla looked at her master before heading to her quarters. This is going to be another one of those days she thought.
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