"Ah, it's finally that time," Obi-Wan noted, watching Meira's head fall to one side.
"We've had a busy day, acquiring two new members of the pride," Sabé said. The kittens had been brought back to the apartment and had settled into their own box for a nap. "Let's go put Meira down, then you and I can have the rest of the night for ourselves."
When they got Meira in her crib, Obi-Wan gave her a big smile. "I have a surprise for you and your mother."
"What is it, Obi-Wan?" Sabé gazed in curiousity at the Jedi.
"I've made up words to the lullaby. I thought I'd sing it to her tonight."
"You sing?" Sabé said in amazement. "I didn't know that!
"Not many people do," he responded. "I don't care to do it in public, but for the two of you...well, if you can't stand my voice, let me down gently, will you?"
Sabé leaned against the head of the crib and waited for him to begin. When Obi-Wan sang, the clear beauty of his voice brought a dampness to her eyes.
Hush, little one
The stars are high
It's time to sleep
Bid your work goodbye
The world will keep
the work can wait
It's time to let go
and trust your fate
Lay your 'saber down
Pull your robes up tight
Put your mind at ease
There's no need to fight
The Elders watch
and all are free
So you may sleep
Because they can see
The Force is strong
and will watch over you
Till you grow up
To be a Jedi too.
Sabé reached over and stroked Obi-Wan's cheek, then together, they gazed down on their sleeping daughter and smiled.
---
Anakin looked across the gameboard at Amidala. Most of the time it was lousy to be eleven years old anyway, but tonight it was much worse than usual. Whenever she smiled it him, it was the kind of smile a girl gives a favorite little brother, and his feelings for her were anything but brotherly.
She was giving him one of those smiles right now, and he returned it as brightly as he could. Oh, he knew it was far too soon for anything serious between them. He could wait; that wasn't what concerned him. His worry was that her mental image of him was forever fixed on the boy and that when he was a man, she would never see him as the adult accomplished Jedi Knight, but always as little Ani.
Normally he was able to dismiss this thought as it occured to him over the last two years, but it had nagged him during most of his waking hours ever since his return to Naboo. The Queen's presence had something to do with that, of course, but observing the relationship between his master and Sabé had awakened fresh ambitions. He had seen Obi-Wan tending to Sabé in the hospital, and caring for little Meira. The way they had looked at one another, held hands and spoke in close whispers made him realize that he wanted that kind of relationship with Amidala or Padmé, whatever she called herself, it didn't matter.
"Ani?" His reverie was broken by her voice.
"Oh," he said with a start. "Sorry! Is it my move?"
"Is everything all right, Anakin? You seem troubled." Amidala reached over and patted his hand.
Her manner struck Anakin as patronizing. Oh Force, don't do that, Ani thought to himself. I know you're a queen and you want to look after everyone, but please...don't...do...that. He withdrew his hand from the top of the table and gave her a halfhearted grin.
Sensing that she had offended him somehow, Amidala looked away and tried to collect her thoughts.
Anakin rose from the table and spoke carefully in formal tones. "I'm sorry, Your Highness. I find that I am not able to concentrate on the game. Perhaps it's best if I retire to my room for the night. I'm sure one of your handmaidens can take my place and finish the round better than I can."
The Queen turned to face him and found herself surprised by what she saw. There was none of the boy who had rescued kittens. The crooked grin, the mischievous air, that had charmed her before were gone. He stood straight, chin slightly up, his hands placed in his robe's large sleeves, and there was a stony look in his eyes. She had seen his anger and pain on other occasions, so she knew this was different. These were the eyes of someone beyond eleven, struggling to hold onto hope.
"Your Highness, may I go?" Anakin had softened when he saw that Amidala was taken aback.
Amidala bit the inside of her lip slightly, then nodded. "Of course, Anakin. I don't wish to keep you up if you're tired. I'll see you before you leave tommorrow, right?"
Although the corners of his mouth turned up, there was still a sadness in his face. He bowed as he answered. "As you wish." Then swiftly, he turned and was gone.
Putting her hands up to her face, the Queen considered the ramifications of the last few minutes, and found no comfort in any of them.
"We've had a busy day, acquiring two new members of the pride," Sabé said. The kittens had been brought back to the apartment and had settled into their own box for a nap. "Let's go put Meira down, then you and I can have the rest of the night for ourselves."
When they got Meira in her crib, Obi-Wan gave her a big smile. "I have a surprise for you and your mother."
"What is it, Obi-Wan?" Sabé gazed in curiousity at the Jedi.
"I've made up words to the lullaby. I thought I'd sing it to her tonight."
"You sing?" Sabé said in amazement. "I didn't know that!
"Not many people do," he responded. "I don't care to do it in public, but for the two of you...well, if you can't stand my voice, let me down gently, will you?"
Sabé leaned against the head of the crib and waited for him to begin. When Obi-Wan sang, the clear beauty of his voice brought a dampness to her eyes.
Hush, little one
The stars are high
It's time to sleep
Bid your work goodbye
The world will keep
the work can wait
It's time to let go
and trust your fate
Lay your 'saber down
Pull your robes up tight
Put your mind at ease
There's no need to fight
The Elders watch
and all are free
So you may sleep
Because they can see
The Force is strong
and will watch over you
Till you grow up
To be a Jedi too.
Sabé reached over and stroked Obi-Wan's cheek, then together, they gazed down on their sleeping daughter and smiled.
---
Anakin looked across the gameboard at Amidala. Most of the time it was lousy to be eleven years old anyway, but tonight it was much worse than usual. Whenever she smiled it him, it was the kind of smile a girl gives a favorite little brother, and his feelings for her were anything but brotherly.
She was giving him one of those smiles right now, and he returned it as brightly as he could. Oh, he knew it was far too soon for anything serious between them. He could wait; that wasn't what concerned him. His worry was that her mental image of him was forever fixed on the boy and that when he was a man, she would never see him as the adult accomplished Jedi Knight, but always as little Ani.
Normally he was able to dismiss this thought as it occured to him over the last two years, but it had nagged him during most of his waking hours ever since his return to Naboo. The Queen's presence had something to do with that, of course, but observing the relationship between his master and Sabé had awakened fresh ambitions. He had seen Obi-Wan tending to Sabé in the hospital, and caring for little Meira. The way they had looked at one another, held hands and spoke in close whispers made him realize that he wanted that kind of relationship with Amidala or Padmé, whatever she called herself, it didn't matter.
"Ani?" His reverie was broken by her voice.
"Oh," he said with a start. "Sorry! Is it my move?"
"Is everything all right, Anakin? You seem troubled." Amidala reached over and patted his hand.
Her manner struck Anakin as patronizing. Oh Force, don't do that, Ani thought to himself. I know you're a queen and you want to look after everyone, but please...don't...do...that. He withdrew his hand from the top of the table and gave her a halfhearted grin.
Sensing that she had offended him somehow, Amidala looked away and tried to collect her thoughts.
Anakin rose from the table and spoke carefully in formal tones. "I'm sorry, Your Highness. I find that I am not able to concentrate on the game. Perhaps it's best if I retire to my room for the night. I'm sure one of your handmaidens can take my place and finish the round better than I can."
The Queen turned to face him and found herself surprised by what she saw. There was none of the boy who had rescued kittens. The crooked grin, the mischievous air, that had charmed her before were gone. He stood straight, chin slightly up, his hands placed in his robe's large sleeves, and there was a stony look in his eyes. She had seen his anger and pain on other occasions, so she knew this was different. These were the eyes of someone beyond eleven, struggling to hold onto hope.
"Your Highness, may I go?" Anakin had softened when he saw that Amidala was taken aback.
Amidala bit the inside of her lip slightly, then nodded. "Of course, Anakin. I don't wish to keep you up if you're tired. I'll see you before you leave tommorrow, right?"
Although the corners of his mouth turned up, there was still a sadness in his face. He bowed as he answered. "As you wish." Then swiftly, he turned and was gone.
Putting her hands up to her face, the Queen considered the ramifications of the last few minutes, and found no comfort in any of them.