It was starting to get dark and the two Jedi masters had yet to return. Obi-Wan and Siri sat in silence in the common room. Neither had spoken a word since Siri had entered, a hard closed expression on her face, now scrubbed pink and shining. Obi-Wan sat on the floor, pretending to meditate. He was not really trying, he wasn't in the mood and it would have been impossible to focus anyway with Siri in constant motion, for she had begun pacing from one side of the room to the other.

After a final turn, Siri stopped herself and went to look out the window. The room became perfectly still, so still that both padawans jumped when Adi Gallia stormed in, her headpiece more than a little askew and an expression as dark as a thunder cloud on her face.

"Master?" Siri exclaimed, unsettled by the agitated look on her master's usually calm face.

Gone was the famous composure of the Jedi Master Adi Gallia, her voice shook with emotion when she caught her breath and was finally able to speak, "It was the w-witch, she did it again!"

"S-She turned Qui-Gon into a frog!"

It was only then that both padawans looked down in unison at the object in Adi's outstretched hands. It was a rather large and rather muddy green frog. It stared back at them with unblinking yellow eyes.

"What!" Obi-Wan looked at the creature uncertainly.

"I-I went to her house, to t-talk to her. And there he was, on the table, by an empty teacup!"

Adi must have heard the tremor in her own voice for she took a deep breath and struggled to compose herself. She had some success in reigning in her emotions and she allowed herself a moment to think the matter through before she spoke, this time in a relatively calm voice, "We must figure out a way to transform him back. The formal treaty signing is due to start any minute and protocol demands that the signature be witnessed by two Jedi masters. Even if we can get them to agree on who signs first, the mission will end in disaster if Qui-Gon is not present."

Siri looked at Obi-Wan and he answered her look with a noncommittal shrug. He knew what she wanted him to say, but he wanted no part of it. He had been in enough trouble already today. He ignored her meaningful looks, until she finally gave up and said it herself.

"Have you tried kissing it, er him?" She ventured carefully.

The incredulous look that the Jedi master gave her padawan made Siri sorry she had opened her mouth.

"Of course I've tried kissing him, several times, but it doesn't seem to be working." Adi turned to Obi-Wan, "Was there anything special about the way you kissed Siri?"

A horrified Obi-Wan was afraid to answer. Siri and Obi-Wan looked at each other knowingly. There was no way either one of them was going to explain.

Adi was thoroughly exasperated. "Then we will just have to think of something else. Obi-Wan, you and Qui-Gon have a strong Force connection. I want you to see if you can sense anything across your bond that would help us."

Obi-Wan looked at her doubtfully and then back at the frog. Well, he supposed it wouldn't hurt to try. He closed his eyes and exhaled, gathering the Force to him, searching for the familiar signature of his master in the Force. For a moment it did almost seem as if Qui-Gon was in the room.

/Master?./

"Yes, Obi-Wan."

It was the voice of his master alright, but it was not coming across the bond. It was also not coming from the frog!

Obi-Wan's eyes flew open to see the man himself entering the room. He could not stop his eyes from turning immediately to the frog still sitting contentedly in Adi's hands.

He looked up from the frog straight into the eyes of Master Gallia. Obi-Wan wasn't sure, but there was something in Adi's steely gaze that was almost threatening.

Adi turned to face Qui-Gon and in the same fluid movement dumped the hapless frog into Obi-Wan's lap. She straightened her shoulders, discreetly wiped her hands on her cloak, and smiled pleasantly at Qui-Gon, her composure completely intact, "Qui-Gon, we were beginning to worry. The treaty signing is due to start any moment and we could not think of where you could be."

Qui-Gon bowed his head slightly and returned her smile, "My apologies, it was not my intention to cause you concern. But you are right, it is time to go. The formal signing is about to begin and everyone, including the witch, is expecting us."

"Then we had better not delay." Adi straightened her headdress and with a bearing as regal as a queen accepted the arm Qui-Gon offered, and without a backward glance, sailed from the room.

Obi-Wan and Siri stood dumbstruck, a condition that never plagued Siri for long. The length of a breath later she rounded on Obi-Wan, "If you ever, ever breathe a word of this to any one Obi-Wan Kenobi. I will personally kill you."

And for the second time in so many hours she stormed from the room.

Obi-Wan looked down at the frog in his hands and slowly shook his head. It did not matter what his master said. There was not enough Jedi wisdom in the galaxy that would ever help him understand women.

&The End&