Chapter 4
Obi-Wan met with Satine outside the Coronet on the launch pad. Although she was surrounded by her four guards, Satine was dressed rather casually in a pink and green dress with matching heeled sandals on her feet. Her hair was down and without a headdress.
Satine greeted Obi-Wan with a quick peck on the lips, then Obi-Wan offered her his arm and they walked up the landing ramp into the ship. The four guards followed.
‘I’m glad to see that you left your lightsaber behind,’ remarked Satine.
‘Of course, dear, it couldn’t be any other way. Trust though that I will protect you if ever you are in danger.’
‘Thank you, but now you too have guards so you shouldn’t need to worry about that.’
They walked down the hallway then turned and entered what appeared to be Satine’s sleeping quarters. There was a large bed piled with cushions.
‘Satine, really?’ remarked Obi-Wan upon seeing the bed.
‘Not yet, darling Obi. Put down your pack here and then we will head to the dining quarters. Dinner first. I’m sorry that there are no Mandalorian clothes for you to change into.’
‘That’s fine. Besides, I want to be introduced to Korkie in my Jedi robes. It seems more fitting.’
* * *
As they dined, they made casual conversation. A Betty droid offered Obi-Wan another drink which he gladly took. Satine still sipped on her first drink.
‘So, did you find out about your home planet and your parents?’ asked Satine.
‘Yes. Jocasta Nu, the Jedi Archivist, informed me. You won’t believe it: I’m from Stewjon.’
‘So you’re Mandalorian. That makes things far less complicated.’
‘Unless we’re related.’
‘Don’t be silly. I meant politically. What about your parents?’
‘They we’re farmers who died during the Civil War.’
‘I’m sorry to hear that. Any other relatives?’
‘Not that I know of.’
‘Well, because you’re Mandalorian, you’ll be Duke, not Duke Consort.’
‘“That’s pretty wizard”, as Anakin would say.’
‘How did Anakin take the news?’
‘Poorly. He got quite angry with me. Nothing I haven’t seen in him before. I’m kind of glad to get away from his bad temper. So, tell me, what’s Korkie like?’
‘Korkie is a decent young man, though far more innocent than we were,’ Satine smiled.
‘So he’s about 17 years old if my calculations are correct?’
‘Yes, the same age we were. I think he will take the news well. He’s fiercely loyal to me.’
‘But how’s he going to take having an ex-Jedi for a father?’ Obi-Wan put down his drink and held his hand to his chin.
‘Please, Obi, don’t worry too much about it. I’m sure he’ll be proud.’ Satine reached across the table for Obi-Wan’s hand; their hands met and Obi-Wan kissed Satine’s. They both rose from their seats and walked hand in hand out of the dining quarters.
In the hallway, Obi-Wan swept Satine up into his arms. She laughed as he did so.
‘Don’t drop me,’ she said, ‘Not like on Draboon.’
‘I won’t. Put your arms around my neck.’ Satine did so. Obi-Wan took her to the sleeping quarters.
There, he placed her down gently on the bed. Satine kicked off her sandals, while Obi-Wan sat to remove his boots. Then they lay against the cushions and gazed into each others’ eyes. Satine broke the gaze, blushed, and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.
‘What’s wrong?’ Obi-Wan asked.
‘Oh, it just feels so weird with you here, in my room, on my bed; like it’s the first time again.’
‘But we’re not in the Kalevalan wilderness.’
‘No, and we’re not 17 anymore. We’re grown adults now and I think it best, for politic reasons, for us to wait. You may sleep in my bed, but you cannot sleep with me. I promise you I’ll control myself.’
‘And so will I. I’ve had nearly two decades of sworn celibacy, and I have far more control over myself now.’
Obi-Wan curled himself up into a ball next to Satine and yawned. Satine ran her fingers gently through his hair. As she did so, Obi-Wan closed his eyes and fell asleep. Then Satine drew a blanket over them and lay down back down next to Obi-Wan. Both of them slept soundly as they drifted though hyperspace.