Distribute as you wish, with disclaimer intact, but please contact me before posting it on another web page. OK? I also must deny permission for this to be posted on any pages that are listed with the "fans.starwars.com" url. I welcome any, and all constructive comments to me at: swbriatharen@yahoo.com :~) You can find my website at the following location: http://fly.to/brias/
Dedication: To everyone (Theed,
Sith This, N. Jinn, anime fan, Jessika Solo, Scatterheart, obi's girl)
who read and left such
encouraging reviews of this
when I was struggling with it. There was one more vote for the second
version, and so I went with it. Don't worry though Theed and Obi's Girl...
I'm going to put the idea of the first one into a different Ani/Ami fic,
once I decide on the song. ^_^
Oh, before I forget, the
sentences where Amidala tells Anakin she belongs to her people are not
my own. They were written by Terry Moore and are the words she spoke to
a young man named Ian in the short comic A Summer's Dream, which appeared
in Star Wars Tales #5.
Fire Inside the Man
by Bria
Woman I need your guiding
hand
Show me the way to the
promised land
The fever that burns
in my heart
You're the fire inside
the man
Yes you are
Anakin Skywalker spotted the Queen as she left the Senate chambers. She looked as beautiful as ever. He remembered the first time he saw her, several years ago on Tatooine. He had only been 9 years old, but she had still taken his breath away. Padmé had been the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. Ten years later, that still held true.
He gently reined in his emotions. It wouldn't do to approach her like the young boy she had first met. He slowed his step and did his best to look like just happened to be in the Senate chambers at the exact moment she was leaving them. Once she was within arm's distance, Anakin walked over to the Queen and bowed. "What a pleasant surprise, your Highness."
Amidala turned to her handmaidens and motioned them to follow behind at a respectable distance so she could talk to him in private. "Anakin, I didn't expect to see you here."
Anakin started to say that he was just passing by, but he stopped, knowing the Queen wouldn't be fooled if he had said that. He cleared his throat. "Yes, well, Obi-Wan told me that you had come to Coruscant to see Chancellor Palpatine, and I took the chance that I might see you.
Amidala gave him one of her smiles so rarely seen in public. "It is good to see you, especially near the anniversary of our liberation. How are you doing?"
Anakin glanced at his chrono.
"Well, I have a lesson in the temple shortly, but I wanted to ask you if
we could take a walk together tonight, in the Temple gardens. Just to talk."
He shifted his weight while awaiting the Queen's answer.
Amidala considered for a
moment. "All right. How about I meet you at 9?"
Anakin smiled. "I'll see
you then, Queen Amidala."
Whenever I feel like just
giving up
Whenever my dreams just
fade away
I just return to my heart
Cause I know that I'll
find you there
Yes I will
Hours later, Amidala entered the Jedi gardens alone. Her handmaidens waited just inside the Temple doors. Anakin had been sitting under a tree, deep in thought, but he noticed the Queen the moment she stepped onto the grass.
Amidala made her way over
to Anakin and hugged him, happy to leave the aristocratic formalities and
pleasantries behind her for a while. "It's so good to see you Anakin. How
are you doing?"
And when the world is
closing in
You come save me once
again
Anakin gave a slight smile. "I'm better, now that you're here."
Amidala blushed slightly. Anakin was forever flattering her. She took his hand in hers gently and sat beside him on a bench in front the reflecting pool. "I sense a 'but' there..."
Anakin nodded, amazed at
how Amidala, without being a Jedi, always seemed to know what he was thinking.
And she was always the person he turned to first. The distance between
Coruscant and Naboo was great, but the two had talked as regularly as possible,
even if only by holo-communication. At the same time, he always got the
impression that Amidala was always happy to have a chance to talk about
something other than the affairs of Naboo. She was a Queen, and Naboo was
important to her, but she was also a young women who had dreams and desires,
just as all young women did.
Cause Woman I need your
guiding hand
Show me the way to the
promised land
The fever that burns
in my heart
You're the fire inside
the man
Yes you are
Amidala rubbed his hand gently. "Then why don't you tell me all about it?"
And so Anakin did just that. Together the two of them sat on that bench and just talked. He told her of his insecurities, how he didn't feel as if he belonged at the Temple. He told her of the disagreements he sometimes would have with Obi-Wan, he told her basically everything, so happy to finally have her here with him, as if he knew that was the way it was meant to be. Which reminded him of something....
"Ami..." Anakin began.
"Yes Ani?"
"Before you leave, there's been something I've been trying to say..." Anakin took a breathe.
Amidala nodded, she'd suspected as much.
"Amidala, I love you," He blurted out.
Amidala smiled. "I
love you too, Ani." She turned to leave. "I'll see you and Obi-Wan
in soon Ani, when you're on Naboo for the anniversary."
Well, there's never been
a boy, who's luckier
There's never been more
grateful man
And although I don't
show it and I
I know what I've got
with you
Yes I do
Anakin was desperate. He didn't have the way with words that Amidala had. She could always make her point clear, and even do it eloquently. "Ami, wait. That didn't come out right." He brushed away a stray strand of brown hair that had fallen across the Queen's face. "Ten years ago, I met an angel. And I knew from the moment I saw her, I wanted to make her mine. I wanted to make you mine."
With those words, blue eyes met brown, full of hope and love. Words were not spoken for several moments, but each knew what the other was thinking.
I'm going to marry you.
You're an odd one. Why do you say that?
I guess it's because it's what I believe.....
Amidala took a regretful breathe. "Anakin.... I can't.... I'm sorry...."
With those words, pain crossed Anakin's handsome face. His mind finished the sentence for her. I'm afraid I can't marry you.... you're just a little boy.
Anakin's face fell. He knew what she was thinking. "I told you, I wouldn't always be a little boy."
Amidala shook her head sadly, almost regretfully. Here I go, breaking Anakin's heart, she thought to herself silently. "No Anakin, it isn't that." She took his chin in her hand gently, and looked him in the eyes.
"Anakin, my choice was made
for me years ago, when I left my village. My life is for the people
of Naboo. I cannot give them anything less."
Cause Woman I need your
guiding hand
Show me the way to the
promised land
The fever that burns
in my heart
You're the fire inside
the man
Yes you are
She said no, not because
of him, but because she was Queen? Then perhaps there was still
a chance.... "I know you are, Amidala. I understand you have
duties to your people. I'm not asking you to give them up.
Naboo is important to you, and that makes it important to me. But...
we're the same in this Ami, don't you see?"
And if there's a storm
that's close at hand
You'll push it away,
you'll understand
And I'll do anything
Just to please you
I'll do anything just
to know
That I can hold on to
you
Amidala looked at Anakin, perplexed. What was he trying to get at?
Anakin swallowed, feeling
as if his heart was in his throat. "I'm a Jedi Padawan, Ami. I understand
all about duty and obligations. We both have responsibilities to that lie
beyond our personal desires."
Whenever I feel like just
giving up
Whenever my dreams just
fade away
I just return to my heart
Cause I know that I'll
find you there
Yes I will
Cause woman I need it
Woman I need it
Woman I need it
I need it
I need your guiding hand
Anakin rushed on. "I just
want us.... to be together. I need you Ami. And call me brash... but I
think you need me too. We balance each other out. Please... I'm not asking
you to make a commitment now. I just want you to give us a try.
Woman I need your guiding
hand
Show me the way to the
promised land
The fever that burns
in my heart
You're the fire inside
the man
Yes you are
Amidala watched Anakin silently
for several moments. She knew he had meant every word he'd said. She also
knew he wasn't interested in her because she was Queen, but because she
was herself. She had a duty to the people of Naboo, but maybe Anakin was
right... maybe with him, she could consider a relationship. No one else
would understand her duties like he could...
Cause Woman I need
your guiding hand
Show me the way to the
promised land
The fever that burns
in my heart
You're the fire inside
the man
Yes you are
Amidala put her hand on Anakin's shoulder. "All right Ani, I see your point. I can't commit to anything at the moment, this idea is still new to me, but I promise, starting when you arrive on Naboo next week, I'll give it a try."
Anakin couldn't stop the
grin that spread across his face. "Thank you Ami, that's all I ask." As
he watched Amidala exit the garden, he felt a peace like none he had ever
known. She was the fire that burned in his heart. And she would be his.
He was certain of that now.
THE END
******************
Love it? Hate it? Please
review in the box below and let me know what you think! Feedback
is life, the rest is just details! :D Flames will be cheerfully ignored,
because I refuse to stoop to that level. Remember, the ability to flame
doesn't make you intelligent. ;)