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The Gungan soldiers have brought us before their high council and I stand quietly next to Obi-Wan. I'm becoming much more aware of our close proximity and feel an unknown feeling in the pit of my stomach. Obi-Wan shifts and his hand brushes mine, sending a jolt of electricity through my entire nervous system. I glance over at him and catch his bright blues eyes watching me. He quickly changes his gaze back to the scene unfolding in front of us and I smile slightly, returning my attention to the exchange that is happening between the Gungans and the Queen of Naboo.
"I am Queen Amidala of the Naboo," the young girls says, stepping forward, "I come in peace."
"Ah, Naboo biggen," the head Gungan says, "Yousa bringen da Mackineeks, yousa all bombad!"
"We have searched you out because we wish to form an alliance," the Queen pushes but is cut off by Padme as she steps in front.
"Your Honor," she says.
"Whosa dis?"
"I am Queen Amidala," Padme says, as the crowd around us begins to murmur with this news, "This is my decoy, my protection, and my loyal bodyguard. I'm sorry for the deception, but it was necessary to protect myself."
I glance down and see Anakin's mouth hanging open in pure awe. I let out a slight chuckle and ruffle his hair playfully.
"Although we do not always agree, Your Honor, our two great societies have always lived in peace," she continues, "The Trade Federation is trying to destroy all that we have built, so I ask you to help us."
She kneels down in front of the Gungan leader, "No, I beg you to help us."
The rest of us follow suit and the Gungans watch us carefully, obviously worried that this is some trick. Their leader pauses for a second and then bursts into laughter, "Yousa no tinken yousa greater den da Gungans? Mesa liken dis! Wesa can be friends!"
I let out a large sigh of relief and smile, looking over at Obi-Wan who is grinning from ear to ear. Even Qui-Gon is smiling, although it is very slight and barely noticeable. I expected this negotiation to go sour with the Gungans and end in us having to fight our way out, but I was happily surprised.
Maybe this whole thing might go better than expected.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I'm perched atop a large rock sculpture watching over the plains of Naboo. Now that the Gungans are going to help us reclaim Naboo from the Trade Federation, the Queen sent out a party to see how screwed we really are. I'm just simply keeping a lookout for when they return.
It doesn't take long for the scouting party to return, but I decide to stay on top of my perch and continue to watch for enemies. I cross my legs and let my mind wander. I have a feeling in my gut that the Sith apprentice followed us to Naboo and I want to know where he is. I open my mind and almost immediately feel the dark presence on Naboo. He's definitely here and I hope that he can't feel our presence here as well. A hand clasps down on my shoulder and I jump, closing my mind once again as my eyes jerk open to see Obi-Wan watching me.
"Easy," he says, his hand still resting on my shoulder.
I begin to relax and a wave of warmth begins to radiate across my body, all stemming from Obi-Wan's hand. Obi-Wan and I have barely known each other for more than a week, but the connection between us is strong. . . and that terrifies me. Everything I feel for him strictly goes against the Code of the Jedi, against our way of life. . . .
And yet, I don't care.
"You okay?"
His voice snaps me out of my thoughts, and I smile at him, "Yeah, I'm fine."
"Well, we're getting ready to head out to the city," he removes his hand from my shoulder and the warmth vanishes.
"Let's go then," I say, standing up and jumping off the rock.
Once I land on the ground, I head straight for Qui-Gon and the others. I can sense Obi-Wan behind me and try to push the feelings in my gut even further down. I can't let myself get distracted by him. Emotions are a weakness.
"Ready to head out?" I ask Qui-Gon, resting a hand on my lightsaber.
"We were waiting on you guys," Anakin rolls his eyes, "You two lovebirds took forever."
