One Path Chapter 5-The Unspoken Truth
Title: The Unspoken Truth
Author: Lionchilde
Summary: The weight of the queen's headdress seemed to have increased since she'd last worn it.
Rating: G
Length: Around 2000 words
Category: Romance
Pairings/Charaters: Obidala
A/N: One Path Chapter 5. Set during TPM, after Amidala returns to Naboo.
The Unspoken Truth
The queen called a meeting shortly after the ship entered hyperspace. Obi Wan had not spoken a word to his Master since his dismissal on the landing platform, but he dutifully took his place behind Qui-Gon. With only two handmaidens behind her, Captain Panaka on one side and Qui-Gon, himself, and Jar Jar in front of her, the Padawan had no trouble confirming what he had sensed on the temple steps.
But is she the queen or the decoy? he wondered, his eyes never leaving Padme's face as Panaka and his Master tried to dissuade the queen from the course she'd chosen. It did not make sense to him that the ruler of Naboo herself would have accompanied Qui-Gon into Mos Espa, leaving a decoy aboard the ship. Yet the queen would not have had time to switch clothing in order to appear in the Senate after escorting the boy to the temple.
He supposed there was only one way to find out. She summoned Jar Jar, who was understandably shocked, and Panaka and Qui-Gon continued to try to convince her not to involve the Gungans. Obi Wan might have told them that they wouldn't succeed, but held his tongue and hid a smile. The queen's mind was made up, and nothing they had to say would alter her plan. He waited until the discussion had ended, but hung back when the others moved out of the room and went to prepare for the coming battle.
She eyed him silently, then raised an eyebrow in a delicately imperious question. Obi Wan took a step toward her throne and bowed. "I would very much like to speak with Padme, Your Highness. If you could spare her for a moment."
She considered for a long moment, then slowly nodded. "I will send her out to you."
"Or you could just take off the hat so I could talk to her," Obi-Wan smirked.
Padme's cheeks reddened, but she gestured dismissal to her handmaidens, then lifted off her headdress as they filed obediently from the room. Her hair stuck up comically, but Obi Wan made a valiant effort not to laugh. She pushed herself to her feet and stepped down to him, smiling self consciously.
"I'm sorry I lied to you," she said.
"It's all right. Your Highness…?" he asked, still not quite certain.
"Mmm-hmm," she nodded.
The errant brown locks of hair bobbled in the air as she did so, and he couldn't quite stifle a snicker. Her head shot up again, and she frowned. "What?"
"Your hair's sticking up," he laughed.
"Your hair always sticks up," she teased back.
"Very funny," Obi Wan scowled, but she reached to punch his shoulder playfully, and they both laughed.
Her smile faded as quickly as it appeared, though. Her eyes darkened with sadness, and he carefully resisted the urge to draw her into his arms as he saw tears begin to form. "Thank you for making me laugh," she said softly.
He nodded, suddenly unsure of what to say. There had been so many things he'd wanted to talk to her about earlier today. All of them seemed trivial and even petty in comparison to the responsibilities she was carrying. "Can I do anything to help right now?" he offered.
"You just did," she assured him. Then she bit her lip thoughtfully, giving him a speculative look. "You know, I--don't think I've ever had a friend like you, Obi Wan."
He felt his heart lurch at the statement, but nodded in response and forced a smile. "I hope we'll always be friends."
"I do too. But what about you? What's been happening? Something's wrong between you and Qui-Gon. I can tell."
"Are you a Jedi now?" he chuckled.
"I don't need to be," she shook her head. "You two hardly looked at each other."
"We had an argument. I'm afraid he's going to defy the Council over the boy," explained Obi Wan with a sigh.
"What do you mean, defy the Council?" she wanted to know.
"He failed their tests. Qui-Gon's determined to train him despite the fact that they all think he could be dangerous. He won't listen to them--he won't listen to me," Obi Wan grit his teeth.
"Ani's not dangerous! How could anyone say that!" she exclaimed.
"Look, it doesn't matter. I don't care about the boy," Obi Wan said quickly.
Her eyes narrowed. "Maybe that's the problem."
"What?" Obi Wan blinked.
"Maybe you should care," she pronounced, spinning away.
His hand shot out to catch her sleeve, and he pulled her back around, entreating, "Padme. I didn't mean it that way."
She stared at him with eyes suddenly hard and icy. "He has a name you know. It's Anakin."
"I'm sorry," he said sincerely. "It's Qui-Gon I'm worried about. We may not always agree, but he is my Master. More than that, he's--the only father I've ever known."
"Then shouldn't you trust his judgment? At least more than a group of people who've never met Ani before?" she pointed out.
"I do trust him. I just don't want to see him disgraced. Qui-Gon is a great man; he could be on the Council now if he would only obey the Code!" Obi Wan let out a breath in frustration.
"There are some things that are worth challenging the rules for," she said, though her face softened as she spoke.
"Maybe, but I don't know if Anakin Skywalker is one of them," he insisted.
"But that's just it. You don't know. You're making assumptions," she said.
"There is anger in him, Padme, and for a Jedi, that is extremely dangerous…" he sighed, trailing off.
"Obi Wan, I don't pretend to understand the ways of the Force the way you do. I know you wouldn't say that if you didn't have reason to, but please don't make a judgment before you've taken the time to know Ani. He has a good heart," she asserted.
"I believe you. And I will get to know him," he promised.
***
There was some security in the fact that Obi Wan knew who she was. Whatever the outcome of the meeting with the Gungan leader, Boss Nass, Padme knew that the next few hours would be dangerous and most probably deadly for all her people. She was not afraid to die; she was afraid that in dying she would fail. Before they had left the ship, she and Obi Wan had talked further about her plan and what it might mean, the implications it held for both of them, and she believed he understood her fears. He was mandated to protect her, and she had no doubt that he would do that, but because he knew her, cared about what was most important to her, she was convinced that, one way or another, he would help her assure that the Naboo people were freed.
There are some things worth challenging the rules over, she thought again, her eyes drifting over to where he stood with his Master. As she glanced toward them, a hand slipped into hers, and she looked down to smile at Anakin.
"I have something to tell you, Ani," she began softly, kneeling to be on eye level with him. "The queen has had to make the most difficult decision of her life…"
***
Obi Wan stood silently beside his Master for some time. Jar Jar had disappeared below the lake, leaving them to wait and hope that he could manage to convince Boss Nass to see Padme. Meanwhile, the Padawan's mind turned to his recent discussion with Padme. All the things he'd said to her were absolutely true. Qui-Gon was like a father to him, and while he was hurt and angry that his mentor suddenly seemed to find him an inconvenience, a stumbling block in the quest to train Anakin, he also knew that he could not harbor those feelings. His chief concern was Qui-Gon himself, but he had let petty jealousy cloud his reason. It was no wonder that the elder Jedi had not listened to him.
"I've been thinking," Qui-Gon told him suddenly, pulling the Padawan's thoughts back into the present. "We are treading on dangerous ground. If the Queen intends to fight a war, we cannot become involved. Not even in her efforts to persuade the Gungans to join with the Naboo against the Federation, if that is what she intends by coming here. The Jedi have no authority to take sides."
"But we do have authority to protect the Queen," Obi-Wan reminded him, having already made up his own mind in the matter.
"It is a fine line we walk, then," Qui-Gon said, turning to face his pupil with a smile that said he too, was aware of Padme's true identity. "More so you than I this time."
There was no censure in his Master's tone, nor even warning. Qui-Gon had only confidence in him, and Obi Wan smiled in return, grateful for the elder's compassion and understanding. "Master, I behaved badly on Coruscant, and I am embarrassed. I meant no disrespect to you. I do not wish to be difficult in regard to Anakin's training."
"Nor have you been. You have been honest with me. Honesty is never wrong. I did not lie when I told the Council you were ready. You are. I have taught you all I can. You are much wiser than I am, Obi Wan. I foresee you will be a great Jedi, my young Padawan. You will make me proud," Qui-Gon promised.
Obi Wan smiled again at the unexpected praised and clasped his Master's forearm in gratitude. They held each other's gaze for a moment, and the Padawan offered a bow, then turned and walked over to where Padme was kneeling with Anakin.
She looked up in surprise, smiled and got to her feet. Anakin gave her a nervous look, and Obi Wan took a breath. "Anakin, I…wanted to apologize for the way I acted earlier. "
The boy's eyes grew wide, and he grinned. "Wow, really?"
"Yes," smiled Obi Wan, offering him a hand. "I'd like us to be friends."
***
The meeting with Boss Nass was not going well. The Gungans were openly hostile, believing that the Naboo had brought the battle droids down on Otha Gunga and that they considered themselves better than the Gungans. Sabe's attempt to request an alliance was falling on deaf ears, but as Boss Nass talked, Padme stepped forward.
"Your Honor," she said, aware of Obi Wan's eyes on her back. Artoo whistled a quiet "uh-oh," and Padme resisted a smile, remembering the droid's part in how a certain Jedi had recently won her trust with an unexpected show of humility.
"Whosa dis?" Boss Nass demanded.
"I am Queen Amidala," she replied, then pointed at Sabe. "This is my decoy. My protection. My loyal bodyguard.I am sorry for my deception, but under the circumstances it has become necessary to protect myself. Although we do not always agree, Your Honor, our two great societies have always lived in peace...until now. The Trade Federation has destroyed all that we have worked so hard to build. You are in hiding, my people are in camps. If we do not act quickly, all will be lost forever...I ask you to help us...no, I beg you to help us."
As she finished speaking, Padme gracefully sank to her knees, only barely aware of the gasps of shock from her handmaidens and Panaka through the pounding of her own heart. Everything depended on the Gungans. Everything hung on whether Boss Nass would accept her gesture for what it was--a sincere plea for help in saving their way of life.
"We are your humble servants. Our fate is in your hands," she added without turning her head. From the corner of her eye, she saw Obi Wan's cloak shift as he moved to follow her example. Anakin and Qui-Gon too, got down on one knee, and finally all of her people followed suit.
"Yousa no tinken yousa greater den da Gungans," Boss Nass decided. "Mesa liken dis. Mebbe wesa bein friends."
Author: Lionchilde
Summary: The weight of the queen's headdress seemed to have increased since she'd last worn it.
Rating: G
Length: Around 2000 words
Category: Romance
Pairings/Charaters: Obidala
A/N: One Path Chapter 5. Set during TPM, after Amidala returns to Naboo.
The Unspoken Truth
The queen called a meeting shortly after the ship entered hyperspace. Obi Wan had not spoken a word to his Master since his dismissal on the landing platform, but he dutifully took his place behind Qui-Gon. With only two handmaidens behind her, Captain Panaka on one side and Qui-Gon, himself, and Jar Jar in front of her, the Padawan had no trouble confirming what he had sensed on the temple steps.
But is she the queen or the decoy? he wondered, his eyes never leaving Padme's face as Panaka and his Master tried to dissuade the queen from the course she'd chosen. It did not make sense to him that the ruler of Naboo herself would have accompanied Qui-Gon into Mos Espa, leaving a decoy aboard the ship. Yet the queen would not have had time to switch clothing in order to appear in the Senate after escorting the boy to the temple.
He supposed there was only one way to find out. She summoned Jar Jar, who was understandably shocked, and Panaka and Qui-Gon continued to try to convince her not to involve the Gungans. Obi Wan might have told them that they wouldn't succeed, but held his tongue and hid a smile. The queen's mind was made up, and nothing they had to say would alter her plan. He waited until the discussion had ended, but hung back when the others moved out of the room and went to prepare for the coming battle.
She eyed him silently, then raised an eyebrow in a delicately imperious question. Obi Wan took a step toward her throne and bowed. "I would very much like to speak with Padme, Your Highness. If you could spare her for a moment."
She considered for a long moment, then slowly nodded. "I will send her out to you."
"Or you could just take off the hat so I could talk to her," Obi-Wan smirked.
Padme's cheeks reddened, but she gestured dismissal to her handmaidens, then lifted off her headdress as they filed obediently from the room. Her hair stuck up comically, but Obi Wan made a valiant effort not to laugh. She pushed herself to her feet and stepped down to him, smiling self consciously.
"I'm sorry I lied to you," she said.
"It's all right. Your Highness…?" he asked, still not quite certain.
"Mmm-hmm," she nodded.
The errant brown locks of hair bobbled in the air as she did so, and he couldn't quite stifle a snicker. Her head shot up again, and she frowned. "What?"
"Your hair's sticking up," he laughed.
"Your hair always sticks up," she teased back.
"Very funny," Obi Wan scowled, but she reached to punch his shoulder playfully, and they both laughed.
Her smile faded as quickly as it appeared, though. Her eyes darkened with sadness, and he carefully resisted the urge to draw her into his arms as he saw tears begin to form. "Thank you for making me laugh," she said softly.
He nodded, suddenly unsure of what to say. There had been so many things he'd wanted to talk to her about earlier today. All of them seemed trivial and even petty in comparison to the responsibilities she was carrying. "Can I do anything to help right now?" he offered.
"You just did," she assured him. Then she bit her lip thoughtfully, giving him a speculative look. "You know, I--don't think I've ever had a friend like you, Obi Wan."
He felt his heart lurch at the statement, but nodded in response and forced a smile. "I hope we'll always be friends."
"I do too. But what about you? What's been happening? Something's wrong between you and Qui-Gon. I can tell."
"Are you a Jedi now?" he chuckled.
"I don't need to be," she shook her head. "You two hardly looked at each other."
"We had an argument. I'm afraid he's going to defy the Council over the boy," explained Obi Wan with a sigh.
"What do you mean, defy the Council?" she wanted to know.
"He failed their tests. Qui-Gon's determined to train him despite the fact that they all think he could be dangerous. He won't listen to them--he won't listen to me," Obi Wan grit his teeth.
"Ani's not dangerous! How could anyone say that!" she exclaimed.
"Look, it doesn't matter. I don't care about the boy," Obi Wan said quickly.
Her eyes narrowed. "Maybe that's the problem."
"What?" Obi Wan blinked.
"Maybe you should care," she pronounced, spinning away.
His hand shot out to catch her sleeve, and he pulled her back around, entreating, "Padme. I didn't mean it that way."
She stared at him with eyes suddenly hard and icy. "He has a name you know. It's Anakin."
"I'm sorry," he said sincerely. "It's Qui-Gon I'm worried about. We may not always agree, but he is my Master. More than that, he's--the only father I've ever known."
"Then shouldn't you trust his judgment? At least more than a group of people who've never met Ani before?" she pointed out.
"I do trust him. I just don't want to see him disgraced. Qui-Gon is a great man; he could be on the Council now if he would only obey the Code!" Obi Wan let out a breath in frustration.
"There are some things that are worth challenging the rules for," she said, though her face softened as she spoke.
"Maybe, but I don't know if Anakin Skywalker is one of them," he insisted.
"But that's just it. You don't know. You're making assumptions," she said.
"There is anger in him, Padme, and for a Jedi, that is extremely dangerous…" he sighed, trailing off.
"Obi Wan, I don't pretend to understand the ways of the Force the way you do. I know you wouldn't say that if you didn't have reason to, but please don't make a judgment before you've taken the time to know Ani. He has a good heart," she asserted.
"I believe you. And I will get to know him," he promised.
***
There was some security in the fact that Obi Wan knew who she was. Whatever the outcome of the meeting with the Gungan leader, Boss Nass, Padme knew that the next few hours would be dangerous and most probably deadly for all her people. She was not afraid to die; she was afraid that in dying she would fail. Before they had left the ship, she and Obi Wan had talked further about her plan and what it might mean, the implications it held for both of them, and she believed he understood her fears. He was mandated to protect her, and she had no doubt that he would do that, but because he knew her, cared about what was most important to her, she was convinced that, one way or another, he would help her assure that the Naboo people were freed.
There are some things worth challenging the rules over, she thought again, her eyes drifting over to where he stood with his Master. As she glanced toward them, a hand slipped into hers, and she looked down to smile at Anakin.
"I have something to tell you, Ani," she began softly, kneeling to be on eye level with him. "The queen has had to make the most difficult decision of her life…"
***
Obi Wan stood silently beside his Master for some time. Jar Jar had disappeared below the lake, leaving them to wait and hope that he could manage to convince Boss Nass to see Padme. Meanwhile, the Padawan's mind turned to his recent discussion with Padme. All the things he'd said to her were absolutely true. Qui-Gon was like a father to him, and while he was hurt and angry that his mentor suddenly seemed to find him an inconvenience, a stumbling block in the quest to train Anakin, he also knew that he could not harbor those feelings. His chief concern was Qui-Gon himself, but he had let petty jealousy cloud his reason. It was no wonder that the elder Jedi had not listened to him.
"I've been thinking," Qui-Gon told him suddenly, pulling the Padawan's thoughts back into the present. "We are treading on dangerous ground. If the Queen intends to fight a war, we cannot become involved. Not even in her efforts to persuade the Gungans to join with the Naboo against the Federation, if that is what she intends by coming here. The Jedi have no authority to take sides."
"But we do have authority to protect the Queen," Obi-Wan reminded him, having already made up his own mind in the matter.
"It is a fine line we walk, then," Qui-Gon said, turning to face his pupil with a smile that said he too, was aware of Padme's true identity. "More so you than I this time."
There was no censure in his Master's tone, nor even warning. Qui-Gon had only confidence in him, and Obi Wan smiled in return, grateful for the elder's compassion and understanding. "Master, I behaved badly on Coruscant, and I am embarrassed. I meant no disrespect to you. I do not wish to be difficult in regard to Anakin's training."
"Nor have you been. You have been honest with me. Honesty is never wrong. I did not lie when I told the Council you were ready. You are. I have taught you all I can. You are much wiser than I am, Obi Wan. I foresee you will be a great Jedi, my young Padawan. You will make me proud," Qui-Gon promised.
Obi Wan smiled again at the unexpected praised and clasped his Master's forearm in gratitude. They held each other's gaze for a moment, and the Padawan offered a bow, then turned and walked over to where Padme was kneeling with Anakin.
She looked up in surprise, smiled and got to her feet. Anakin gave her a nervous look, and Obi Wan took a breath. "Anakin, I…wanted to apologize for the way I acted earlier. "
The boy's eyes grew wide, and he grinned. "Wow, really?"
"Yes," smiled Obi Wan, offering him a hand. "I'd like us to be friends."
***
The meeting with Boss Nass was not going well. The Gungans were openly hostile, believing that the Naboo had brought the battle droids down on Otha Gunga and that they considered themselves better than the Gungans. Sabe's attempt to request an alliance was falling on deaf ears, but as Boss Nass talked, Padme stepped forward.
"Your Honor," she said, aware of Obi Wan's eyes on her back. Artoo whistled a quiet "uh-oh," and Padme resisted a smile, remembering the droid's part in how a certain Jedi had recently won her trust with an unexpected show of humility.
"Whosa dis?" Boss Nass demanded.
"I am Queen Amidala," she replied, then pointed at Sabe. "This is my decoy. My protection. My loyal bodyguard.I am sorry for my deception, but under the circumstances it has become necessary to protect myself. Although we do not always agree, Your Honor, our two great societies have always lived in peace...until now. The Trade Federation has destroyed all that we have worked so hard to build. You are in hiding, my people are in camps. If we do not act quickly, all will be lost forever...I ask you to help us...no, I beg you to help us."
As she finished speaking, Padme gracefully sank to her knees, only barely aware of the gasps of shock from her handmaidens and Panaka through the pounding of her own heart. Everything depended on the Gungans. Everything hung on whether Boss Nass would accept her gesture for what it was--a sincere plea for help in saving their way of life.
"We are your humble servants. Our fate is in your hands," she added without turning her head. From the corner of her eye, she saw Obi Wan's cloak shift as he moved to follow her example. Anakin and Qui-Gon too, got down on one knee, and finally all of her people followed suit.
"Yousa no tinken yousa greater den da Gungans," Boss Nass decided. "Mesa liken dis. Mebbe wesa bein friends."