The stage lights were dimmed and faint footsteps could be heard. A soft light fell on the center of the stage, revealing Obi-Wan Kenobi sitting on a tall stool, holding an old fashioned wooden instrument.

A hush fell over the crowd. Obi-Wan strummed his fingers over the strings and a warm, full sound floated out.

"I could tell that it was over, when her lips met mine," he sang, the notes drawn out and resonant, "It was an emptiness in her voice, hesitation when she smiled. She didn't have to say a word, it was just so plain to see. She had found what she'd been looking for, and I knew it wasn't me."

The entire audience was spellbound by the time he reached the chorus.

"I saw goodbye in her eyes," Obi-Wan sang, drawing out the last word, getting lost in the song now, "I don't think I can change it. There's no way to disguise, we will never make it."

It was unmistakably a love song, beautiful but tragic. Many Jedi found themselves unexpectedly moved by the pain and tenderness in Obi-Wan's clear voice and more than a few had to discretely wipe their eyes with the sleeves of their robes.

As the song finished and applause erupted, Ayala shook her head in wonder. She'd considered Obi-Wan to be a close friend for many years but she'd never once heard him sing.

"I had no idea he had such a talent! Ayala, did you know he could sing?" Luminara asked from the seat beside her.

"No, I had no idea!" Ayala said, "The show is proving to be full of surprises this year."

"The real question," said Shaak-Ti, speaking up from her other side, almost as if talking to herself, "is who is it that broke his heart?"

The Jedi exchanged looks but nobody ventured to speculate. It seemed that they didn't know their friend quite as well as they'd all thought.

Anakin stood at the edge of the stage, out of sight. He was supposed to be preparing for his own performance but had made sure to watch his old Master's.

His first reaction had been to think, 'This is such typical Obi-Wan. All these years, there was no hint of musical talent. And then he goes out there and can not only sing, but play that instrument, too. He's good at everything and acts like it's so easy. It's infuriating.'

But as he listened to the lyrics, his thoughts started to shift.

Obi-Wan sang, "Now she sees right through me, should I hold on what we've got? Is it just a waste of time? One thing that I know for sure...I saw goodbye in her eyes."

Anakin was conflicted and surprised. The normally reserved Obi-Wan, who rarely expressed his feelings even to Anakin, was now singing a love song in front of practically the entire Jedi Order? Who was this person on stage and what had they done with the real Obi-Wan?

By the end of the song, Anakin was sure he knew who the song was about. There was only one potential love interest in Obi-Wan's life. But this was a sad love song. So what did it mean? Did that Duchess break up with Obi-Wan? Did that mean he'd been right, that they did have a secret affair all along? Should he talk to Obi-Wan about it?

Then the music stopped and Obi-Wan bowed to the audience, who responded with thunderous applause, the loudest of the night. Obi-Wan started to walk off stage and Anakin hastily ducked out of view. Whatever may or may not be going on with Obi-Wan's love life, Anakin could not lose sight of his goal. He still had a contest to win.

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https://youtu.be/p5Rlgu4L9J4