Chapter 10
Jar Jar helped Tawny out of the craft as she looked around, but when both of her feet stood firmly on the floor she still did not let go of his hand.
Jar Jar smiled. "No worries," he whispered. "Yousa be fine. Yous father be waitin'"
"My father," Tawny breathed.
Gungans of all shapes and sizes lined the streets leading up to the palace. Some gawked at her in disbelief. Others welcomed her. At the end of their present route was the palace. She stopped.
"All I've wanted all my life was to know who I really was and where I belonged. Now it's here. It's right in front of me. I'm here in my own land, my home, about to meet the only family I have left." She turned around to face the others. "Why am I afraid?"
Obi-wan stepped up. "We all fear unfamiliarity, Tawny." He looked her in the eyes. "But you don't have to hide who you are here. If you're afraid, they'll understand. No one can tell you how to feel anymore."
Jar Jar squeezed her hand. "This is who yousa be. Weesa accept yousa as one of us."
Tawny straightened. "Yes, you're right." She turned back around and faced the palace. "It is who I am. Princess Vitaliny of Otoh Gunga." She smiled, tippin her chin up regally. I like the sound of that, she thought and continued on her way to the palace.
Finally after what seemed like forever they reached the High Tower Board Room, where two guards blocked the entry way. "Stoppa dere yousan," one of the guards snarled.
"We've business with your Boss, Rugor Nass. He is expecting us"
The other guard piped up. "Hesa no tellin' he expectin' visitors."
Jar Jar brought Tawny forward. "Yousa should be ashamed actin' dis way in front of de Princess of Gunga City!"
"Let desan through."
Tawny's heart skipped. She looked past the two dumbstruck guards at the Boss of Otoh Gunga. He stood tall and still as a statue.
She gulped. He looks mean. What if this was a mistake? What if he's no better than Jabba? I'm no princess. I'm a slave! I have no business speaking to a high official of any kind, let alone a king! What will I say?
"Hesa waitin' for yous. Hesa been waitin' a longo time for yous," Jar Jar whispered, urging her forward.
She took another deep breath and, willing her leaden feet to move, pressed forward. When at last she stood before him, the fear had diminished to an edgy apprehension. What if he doesn't recognize me?
All these years he'd gone, living with the pain of losing both a wife and a daughter. No one could say he hadn't made an effort. They'd searched for months. Sometimes Rugor went up himself.
He began to fear for the scouts he sent up on land. Every time they went topside they risked contact with the Naboo, which was, at the time, against Rugor's policies. Sooner or later it had to stop. He was faced with the most difficult decision of his life- making the public announcement denying his only child and last connection to his beautiful Tanrae, or continuing the search and risking possible exposure of their world, jeopardizing the life and prosperity of his people. However, as Boss Nass of Otoh Gunga, it was his duty to make such choices based on the best interest of his kingdom as a whole. Besides, everyone knew that little girls who were picked up by strangers didn't last long.
But somehow this little girl had. There was no doubt in his mind that this was, indeed, his little girl, except she wasn't so little anymore. It saddened him to think he'd missed out on seeing her grow up- he'd make that up to her later- but seeing her now, the beautiful young woman she'd become, was enough for him. In fact, the pride was immeasurable. If he hadn't known better he would have sworn he was seeing a ghost.
Tawny saw her father's stoic expression soften. He smiled. "Yousa lookin' jus like yous mother," he smiled. A tear ran down his cheek as he held out his arms.
Tawny just stood there a moment. A memory flashed across her consciousness: Running through tall grass, dodging trees, picking berries, and all the while holding onto a big strong hand- her father's hand. They were laughing. But suddenly he let go and Tawny raced off into the forest. She remembered looking back at him. He couldn't keep up and stopped often to rest. But suddenly he seemed terrified and took off running faster than he had before. When she turned around to look where she was going, someone grabbed her by the ears. She looked up into the horrifying face of Bib Fortuna! And then everything went black…
She exhaled shakily as she came back to reality. This, she realized suddenly, was the father she remembered. He'd tried to save her, but there was nothing he could've done. "Daddy." Overwhelmed, she threw herself into his arms, letting her own tears stream down her face and soak into Rugor's robe.
"Everything is right now," he whispered to her. "Yousa never have to be scared. My never let go again."
Tawny stepped back and Rugor brushed away her tears. He smiled. "Welcome home, my daughter.
THE END
~*Yes! I finally finished it! As you can see, I got my disk decompressed so I'll be updating a lot more often. I also have a sequel planned for this story in particular so keep checking back!!*~