The Golden Butterfly

Chapter 6

Ellie's POV

"Alright, Inanna, this vote is very important so I'm counting on you to work with Representative Binks while I'm gone." I told my Representative Shrien. 

"I won't let you down, my lady. Please be careful." Inanna looks sad as she spoke. 

"Alright. You have a lot to do." I told her. 

She nodded before walking away while I went back to my room and start packing my bags. I pull out my phone and begin listening to "Laundromat" by Nivea.

I was humming when I felt a familiar presence calling me but until I felt a ping when someone yells 'Ellie!' 

I heard a chuckling as I glared at Obi-Wan as he leans against the doorway. "Not funny." I huffed. 

"I was calling you for the last five minutes." He spoke. 

"Didn't pay attention." I scoffed as I paused the music before saying, "I don't like this idea of hiding." 

"Ellie, it's urgent for you to go into hiding until Master Qui-Gon and I find this bounty hunter." He assures me. 

"But I haven't worked for a year to defeat the Military Creation Act with Padme and put my senator duties before my Jedi ones to not be here when its fate is decided. I went to more senator meetings than Jedi missions with Master Windu." I argued as I put more clothes in bags. 

"Eliza Cullen, you must let go of your pride and for once do what's requested. Almost everyone is worried sick about you not taking care of yourself. It's time for you to put yourself first before anybody else and your duties." I stopped when he told me that. 

He's right. I might have gone overboard with my duties that I haven't pay attention to my safety. I sighed as I realized that it's time to take care of myself instead of putting everything in front of my life. 

"Wow, ten years later, you sound so wise, spoke like a true Master." I complimented. 

"Thank you, Ellie. I'm just worried about you since you always put others before you. Let me protect you for once by finding this bounty hunter." He said as he brushed a hair out of my face. 

"Thank you.... and what was that all about?" I asked, getting red. 

"What?" He denied. 

"Do you still have feelings for me? After all these years?" I asked. 

"I know I shouldn't but.... I can't help it." He said, softly. 

"But we... can't. We're better than this." I said, softly. 

Then, I felt a bubble of anger as I turned and see Anakin leaning against the doorway, arms crossed with a blank expression on his face. 

"Master, Qui-Gon is waiting to talk to you." He spoke, blankly. 

"Alright. I will see you later, Ellie." Obi-Wan nodded before leaving. 

Once he left, it was just us... alone. Great. More tension builds as he came in the room, asking, "What was that all about?" 

"Nothing. It's nothing. Let's try and catch up while I finish here. So, are you ready for the trials?" I asked. 

"Master Qui-Gon thinks I am, but Obi-Wan doesn't think I'm ready." He spoke, more anger builds up in the connection as I watch him using the Force to make my training ball float. 

"Don't get me wrong, he's a great mentor. As wise as Master Yoda and as powerful as Master Windu." He continued as he set the ball back in his hand. "I am truly thankful to be his joint apprentice. In some ways.... a lot of ways..." He spoke, trying to form what he was about to say. "I'm really ahead of him. I am ready for the trials. But he feels that I'm too unpredictable. He won't let me move on and convince Master of that." 

"That must be frustrating." I simply spoke, trying not to add fuel to the fire. 

"It's worse!" He exclaimed. "He's overly critical. He never listens. He... he doesn't understand. It's not fair." His voice got louder with each word. 

"All mentors have a way of seeing more of our faults than we would like." I spoke, understanding where he's coming from. "There was a time when I felt what you were feeling with Master Windu. But it's the only way we grow, Ani." 

"I know." Anakin sighed, feeling his anger melt away with what I just said. 

"Anakin. Don't try to grow up too fast." I sighed with a smile. 

"But I am grown." Anakin said as he stood up and looked at me. "You said it yourself." He smirked at me as I saw the exact same love and admiration that Obi-Wan has for me. No... No... No! This can't be happening! It can't be! 

"Please.... don't look at me like that." I mumbled. 

"Why not?" Anakin questioned as he leaned slightly closer to me. 

"It makes me feel uncomfortable." I panicked before turning away to finish packing. 

"Sorry, my lady." He smirked as he looks at my back. 

God, I blushed as I realized that I might have fallen in love with him the same way as I did with Obi-Wan while I clutch the necklace Anakin gave me a decade ago. This is gonna be very bad! I mean really bad!