┌────── ⋆. · ☆ · .⋆ ──────┐

. . . with You

└────── ⋆. · ☆ · .⋆ ──────┘

And just like that, the figure was gone.

Cori'iana's brow furrowed. But she wasn't one to give up that easily. Without a word to Tohnaanes, Cori'iana lifted the skirts of her intricately decorated dress and fled the dance. Orys Daraay couldn't help but chuckle as he caught sight of Cori'iana's train billowing behind as she ran toward the setting sun beyond the trees.

While she couldn't see where he had gone, Cori'iana assumed that he was likely hidden behind the nearby trees. So, she maneuvered herself through the sea of people before sprinting across the grass until she came to the row of trees she had concluded was the most logical place for him to hide. And sure enough, behind the trees near the bank of the river stood the figure wearing a brown hooded robe. Their back was turned from her, but she could feel it was him.

She was so close to him when she had to force herself to stop running because her legs felt like jelly and on the verge of collapse. "Is it really you?" Cori'iana asked breathlessly as her arms trembled, tucking a stray tendril of hair behind her ear. She could practically hear her heartbeat in her ears as that moment seemed to draw out forever before he responded.

"I thought I taught you better than to go chasing after people unarmed." He removed the hood that covered his face and turned to look at her with a cocked eyebrow and a grin.

"Obi-Wan," Cori'iana whispered before she closed the distance between them and launched herself at him for a hug, clinging to him tightly. Perhaps even a bit too tightly, especially as his former protectee. But his time as her protector had earned him her complete trust.

"Hello there," Obi-Wan chuckled, lightly returning her embrace.

He seemed a bit taken aback that her response to his gentle chiding was to hug him. But that was a very Cori'iana thing to do - surprise him. Obi-Wan could feel her practically trembling in his arms and the very thought made him smile. He certainly had missed her during their time apart. But not in an attachment sort of way, of course. Not that his arms agreed as they betrayed him and embraced Cori'iana even tighter.

Cori'iana's senses seemed to be first to return when she swiftly pulled away from him. She cleared her throat. Her face felt like it was flushed all over as her trembling became much more manageable. "Sorry. I'm just really happy to see you is all." She nervously smoothed her skirt, unable to make eye contact with him for a moment. "Especially today of all days."

"I can see that," Obi-Wan chuckled, readjusting his robe and folding his arms across his chest. He then looked at her rather pointedly, but still with a teasing smile. "You didn't think I'd show, did you?"

She groaned, shyly making eye contact with him."Can you blame me?"

"I simply thought you'd have a bit more faith." Obi-Wan purposely left off the words in me, but in his mind, the words were heavily implied and he hoped Cori'iana understood that.

Cori'iana arched an eyebrow at him. "Oh, I had faith but it waned drastically with each bit of celebration through the day, which you can hardly fault me for." She then folded her arms across her chest and looked up at him. "Where were you anyway?"

Obi-Wan offered a slight eye roll. "I've been on Naboo all day with Master Windu attending the ceremonies. Then we talked with the people of Naboo, Senator Palpatine, and some advisors to the new queen about peacekeeping duties. Just because you didn't see me doesn't mean I wasn't there."

Cori'iana's brow furrowed. "Didn't Qui-Gon come with you?" Qui-Gon was the Jedi master that Obi-Wan trained under and had been the one to come to Naboo with Obi-Wan when she was in need of their protection. She liked Qui-Gon well enough. In fact, she much preferred him to Master Windu, whom she had met on occasions in her capacity as queen. Master Windu was far too serious for her liking.

Obi-Wan clasped his hands behind his back. "No. Master Windu sent Qui-Gon somewhere without me, a mission so easy a padawan could do it on their own. He decided it best to come to Naboo himself for. . . . uh . . . optics." He pursed his lips at the last word.

Cori'iana scrunched her nose in confusion. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"He's here to watch me, Cori'iana," Obi-Wan groaned, running one of his hands through his shorter hair in frustration. "He's of the impression that I'm love and that I formed an attachment the last time I was in Naboo." He then looked at her rather pointedly, looking her over from top to bottom. Obi-Wan looked back at her and sighed, folding his arms across his chest.

"With me?" Cori'iana asked, trying her best to keep a straight face. While she certainly might have certain feelings toward Obi-Wan, the very thought of him reciprocating in any manner was comical. Ridiculous, even. She knew how much the Jedi Order meant to him. It was the only family he had ever known.

Obi-Wan raised his eyebrows in confirmation which made Cori'iana throw her head back and laugh jovially. The last time she had laughed this hard was the last time Obi-Wan had been on Naboo protecting her. She had indeed missed him. His presence brought out the side of her that was much more carefree and not bogged down by the weight of being queen. It was the real her.

"It's not funny," Obi-Wan groaned, leaning closer."You know attachments are strictly forbidden by the Jedi Order."

It took Cori'iana a moment to stop giggling. She took a deep breath and stepped closer toward him, resting her hands on Obi-Wan's crossed arms. "I'm sorry, but Master Windu is wound a little too tight if you ask me. You rescue a damsel in distress and now your future with the Jedi is in question?"

He said nothing. Rather, he just looked down at his boot.

But Cori'iana furthered. "Besides, isn't it the damsel who is supposed to fall in love with the handsome Jedi?" Realizing the words that had just slipped out of her mouth, she attempted to cover them up to the best of her ability. ". . . only to have her heart broken because he can't form attachments? At least according to those romance stories floating about the galaxy."

Obi-Wan slowly lifted his head, his gaze intensifying on Cori'iana. His gaze caused Cori'iana's breath to falter for a moment and her heart to beat a little stronger. His eyes seemed to ask you think me handsome? and question you feel for me in that way? There seemed to be some sort of energy where she had placed her hands on his arms and if he felt it, he didn't push her away.

She wondered if she was seeing something there. Since she had recognized her feelings for him, she had hoped they weren't completely one-sided. But given his station, it seemed impossible that he could reciprocate anything. And then he looked at her like that.

What was she supposed to do? She had no experience in matters of the heart. And after coming to the realization that he couldn't possibly return her feelings, she all but hardened her heart against the possibility of love. The only love she wanted was one like her parents and for some reason, her heart had settled on someone utterly unattainable.

Cori'iana nervously licked her bottom lip before returning his gaze. With his eyes looking into hers, she absently reached for her necklace that was no longer there. Neither Obi-Wan nor Cori'iana seemed quite sure what to say. So, she cleared her throat which broke their trance.

Obi-Wan shuffled a few steps away from Cori'iana rather uncomfortably. "As I said, Master Windu's here making sure I don't do anything to jeopardize my future."

"And Qui-Gon wasn't good enough for that?" Cori'iana asked as she tucked a tendril of hair behind her ear.

He shrugged his shoulders before clasping his hands behind his back. "It wasn't my place to question. But I'm sure Master Windu could sense that I wanted to."

Cori'iana pursed her lips for a moment, contemplating how to say what she wanted in a kind way. "Then why even let you come at all if I'm such a terrible influence on you?"

He sighed before taking a small step closer to her, looking down at her. "Because I was invited personally by the Queen of Naboo. It would be an insult to turn down the invitation. Not to mention it could harm relations between the Jedi and Naboo."

"My my, what a predicament, hm?" Cori'iana pursed her lips for a moment as she began a slow circle around Obi-Wan. "As I seem to recall, the invitation was also intended for Qui-Gon." She folded her arms across her chest and straightened her posture to her full height. "I don't believe Master Windu was on the invitation. Couldn't Qui-Gon being absent hurt our relations?"

"Our relations?" His eyes were wide as if being caught in the act of doing something wrong.

Cori'iana's brow furrowed in confusion before realizing what he might have taken her words to mean. Her cheeks began to flush as she stammered, "N-Naboo and the Jedi, of course."

"Yes, of course." Obi-Wan's gaze cast downward once more as he stroked his chin. If Cori'iana wasn't mistaken, the tips of his ears seemed a bit red. He licked his lips before looking at Cori'iana once more. "Speaking of Master Windu, we should probably return to the celebration. I told him I needed a drink when I left him."

"You lied to him?" Cori'iana grinned. "Maybe I am a bad influence on you."

"I didn't lie to him exactly," Obi-Wan shot back, raking his fingers through his hair. "I just haven't gotten the drink yet. And I am rather parched." He then looked at Cori'iana rather pointedly.

"Let's get that drink then, shall we?" Cori'iana nodded back toward the festivities with her head. Obi-Wan agreed with a nod of his head.

Together, they walked back toward the people of Naboo but neither of them spoke a word. Cori'iana walked with her arms across her chest, trying to protect herself from further hurt. Obi-Wan walked with his hands clasped behind his back with a wistful expression on his face, trying not to turn toward Cori'iana.

It was clear that both wished for more time with the other without needless prying eyes. The former queen of Naboo and a Jedi padawan could certainly get people talking if they weren't careful. Not that they should really have to be. Both Cori'iana and Obi-Wan knew their place in things.

When they reached the refreshment table, the only one that seemed to notice them was Master Windu. He was seated at a table with a strict eye on Obi-Wan. Cori'iana waved at Master Windu who folded his arms over his chest. Obi-Wan seemed to pay the Jedi Master no mind as he filled a cup with the spiked punch.

"You were right, he is watching you," Cori'iana said softly as she filled a cup of the regular punch.

Obi-Wan scoffed rather derisively. "I already told you so."

"Well, I thought perhaps you were exaggerating a just bit."

He shook his head and muttered exaggerating a bit to himself before taking a drink of his punch. His reaction to the punch was quite tame compared to Cori'iana's earlier in the day. Cori'iana took a small sip of hers. For a moment, they stood there side by side in silence watching the continued celebrations of Naboo. Such a contrast to the way things had been the last time they had seen each other.

"I've missed you, you know," Cori'iana said softly, staring down at her drink. "It's difficult to know who to trust when you're Queen. I've struggled with that since you left."

Obi-Wan sighed and took another drink. "I know."

Cori'iana reached for the necklace that was no longer there. With no necklace to clasp, she untucked her hair from behind her ears and tucked it back again. "There is something I wish to discuss with you and you're the only one I trust enough with whom to discuss it. That's part of the reason I invited you."

"Only part?" His tone was teasing as he looked at her with an arched brow.

Cori'iana grinned. "That and I knew you'd never forgive me if I didn't invite you to the party."

Obi-Wan chuckled before he tipped his cup toward her and took another drink. She smiled up at him and he grinned back at her. Her friendship with Obi-Wan didn't come with strings as most of her relationships did. She was able to feel at ease around him. At times it felt as if he was the only one she didn't have to shield her true self from.

A horn blared loudly in the distance. The music and dancing came to a stop as groups of people began to slowly move away. Obi-Wan glanced at Cori'iana with a curious expression on his face and it dawned on her that he didn't know what was happening. Of course, he couldn't be expected to know all the traditions of every planet in the galaxy. He wasn't from Naboo. Almost since the day she had met him she had felt at such ease with him like she had known him her entire life and not for only a few years.

"Celebrations will go on through the night yet and into the morning," Cori'iana said softly. "But this is the last part of the official celebration, I promise." She then motioned with her head for Obi-Wan to follow her.

He nodded his head in agreement before clasping his hands behind him as they joined the sea of people heading to a place he wasn't quite sure. He waited a moment for her to say more, but she didn't. So he'd have to pry it from Cori'iana. The thought made him chuckle to himself before asking, "And what is this final part?"

"My favorite part," Cori'iana responded rather coyly as a small smile played across her lips as she flipped her cascading curls over her shoulder.

"Which is?"

There was a hint of impatience in his voice, which made her smile. "Lanterns over the falls. Tradition states that it brings good luck to the new queen, not that it did me any." Cori'iana looked over at Obi-Wan rather pointedly. He gave her an understanding glance.

"But it also symbolizes moving on - from one queen to the next. The people of Naboo each put a lantern into the night sky to show that they are moving on too."

Obi-Wan smiled softly. "How meaningful."

Cori'iana then moved a little closer toward him, motioning him to lean in a little closer with her finger. Obi-Wan leaned so that his ear was closer as she lowered her voice. "Rumor has it that Grandmother's lantern never made it in the air when the new monarch took over after her. Well, that part is actually fact, I suppose. The rumor is that she did it purposely."

"That doesn't surprise me," Obi-Wan whispered loud enough only for her to hear. While Obi-Wan had never vocally expressed a distaste for her grandmother, they had often butted heads when it came to her protection. Cori'iana could tell that he didn't particularly care for her grandmother. Then again, most people didn't, but Obi-Wan never seemed to add further salt to the wound when it came to her grandmother and she appreciated that.

The crowd seemed to be moving rather slowly. Despite her short stature, Cori'iana attempted to look around the people to see where they were. She'd have to get to the front of them because the former monarchs released their lanterns in succession after the new queen before the people.

"What is it?" Obi-Wan asked.

She grabbed his arm and tugged him toward the forest. "Come with me, we're taking a bit of a shortcut." Cori'iana pulled Obi-Wan off the path and into the trees. "Or at least it should end up being one with all these people taking the path."

The surface of the forest began to slope downward. Obi-Wan's hand gripped Cori'iana's elbow to keep her steady, which he assumed wasn't an easy feat given how she was dressed. Not that he thought she looked bad, quite the opposite really. She looked beautiful. But her outfit wasn't very functional for going off the beaten path.

Trying not to dwell too much on the beautiful former queen beside him, Obi-Wan scanned their surroundings. His brow furrowed slightly. "This looks very familiar."

Cori'iana nearly stumbled over a tree root, but Obi-Wan easily steadied her. "I believe the last time we were in this spot of the forest together, we were running for our lives. The falls are just beyond there." She pointed in the distance.

"Ah, yes." Obi-Wan nodded his head glancing at the horizon before looking down at Cori'iana. "And if I recall correctly, you didn't trust me quite yet."

Cori'iana scoffed. "We had practically just met and you told me to jump the falls with you. I assumed you were leading me to my death. You never once mentioned anything of Qui-Gon waiting to rescue us a safe distance below with a craft."

Obi-Wan smiled. "I asked you if you trusted me before I asked you to jump. You said you did."

"I jumped, didn't I?"

"I seem to recall having to push you."

Cori'iana scrunched her nose and leaned hard into Obi-Wan giving him a push, which made him chuckle. But he stood firm against her attempts. She growled something unfit for a queen under her breath before she gave up and stopped pushing against him. "I still have the scar from when you landed on me in the craft." She held her right hand up for him to see.

Obi-Wan squinted to see the scar in the dying light. "We were being shot at. I was trying to protect you."

He grabbed her hand to bring it closer for him to see. Sure enough, there was a faint crescent-shaped scar on the outside edge of her hand where she had cut it on the bolt. He remembered wrapping her hand for her once they were in safety. But he wasn't going to give in to her that easily. "There's hardly even a scar there," he scoffed. "Jedi wear their scars proudly."

"Last time I checked, I don't happen to be a Jedi. Besides, by the time things settled down and I could return to my rule, Grandmother insisted for months that I wear gloves to cover the imperfection."

"It seems you didn't take her advice on the matter. Good for you." He gave her a playful bow, to which Cori'iana responded with an eye-roll. She appreciated not having to carefully choose every word she spoke. That he seemed to understand what she meant, even if she couldn't get the words to come out just right.

They then broke through the trees to a clearing just before the falls where the crowds were circling the monarchs of Naboo, present and former. The sky was a dark blue and the moon was perfectly full above them. Cori'iana couldn't think of a more perfect night for this ceremony. Except perhaps the night she did this for her first time.

Obi-Wan released Coi'iana's elbow. It wasn't until Cori'iana was several paces ahead of him that she realized he had stopped. Without saying a word, she turned around and looked at him with her hands resting on her hips. He seemed to know exactly what she was thinking.

"I'll stay back here with the people," Obi-Wan said. "It's their ceremony. Not mine. I can watch from a distance."

Cori'iana stomped toward Obi-Wan to close the distance before he grabbed his arm and began to pull him. "You and Qui-Gon are the reason Naboo got to this moment. Chaos would have erupted had you not intervened, perhaps even a civil war. I think you've more earned yourself a chance to see things properly. And if you even attempt to argue with me, I'll pull the queen card on you."

While Obi-Wan was still reluctant, he allowed Cori'iana to guide him toward the front of the crowd. He knew Cori'iana didn't like playing her queen card, or at this point former queen card, but he also knew that she wasn't above using it to get what she wanted from him. He had learned that the hard way. 

Many times.  

_____· .⋆

Author's Note: I was editing this chapter and then just kept finding "holes" in my transitions. So, I split it again. Oops. I completely blame Obi-Wan for this fact. haha. But on a positive there's at least another chapter of Cori'iana & Obi-Wan before I get started on The Phantom Menace.

Also, since the last time you saw me, I got my tonsils removed and turbinates reduced . . . and then got an infection. Still working on the healing part - got some antibiotics and steroids for that infection today.  Hopefully, now I'm actually on the mend.

I really hope you enjoyed seeing these two together. I love them so much. It makes my heart hurt. And now I want to write a prequel to this fic about all the shenanigans that happened while Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon were protecting Cori'iana. haha.

Shoutout to those that commented last chapter (and helped distract me through the pain of recovering from a tonsillectomy):

 Darth-Caillic _____· .⋆ MissHiraeth98 _____· .⋆ MM1776 _____· .⋆ ninjasawakendmystar _____· .⋆ Oneirataxia_girl_____· .⋆ Winter326