Falls the Shadow Chapter 12
Exertion
It was late morning when Padmé awoke, only to find herself alone. Concerned, she glanced around
looking for any sign of Anakin, however good or bad. To her pleasant surprise, she saw the note, a meadow flower resting across the bottom of the page.
It was not a data sheet, but real paper instead written on the Lodge's own stationary and in Anakin's own careful hand.
"Beloved," the note began. "You did not stir when I arose this morning and you looked so beautiful... I just decided to let you rest. I will be in the back garden most likely, doing some workouts and perhaps a bit of meditation before lunch. (I am presuming that my sleeping Angel will have risen by then!) If I do not see you by then, I shall come and collect you myself, my love and heart, A."
Padmé smiled and slowly pulled herself out of bed and wandered into the fresher. As soon as she was cleaned up, she would find Anakin and they would make their way to the fair at Andeous. Hopefully, they would be able to just enjoy each other again, much as they had at the botanical gardens the night before.
At this point, anything else that came along was just the icing on the cake.
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She watched him go through his paces, dressed only in his loose sleeping trousers. Seemingly unaware of her presence, he twirled and flashed his light saber back and forth, hand to hand with a dancer's grace. Padmé stood there motionless, watching him leap and spin as if the laws of gravity did not apply to him. She knew that soon the few other patrons of the retreat would find him and want to watch, and she found that the thought brought on a twinge of jealousy. Somehow, she wanted to keep this moment all to herself. A privet memory to savor and indulge in at her leisure, not to be shared with anyone else. Reluctantly, she cleared her throat, trying to get his attention.
Almost immediately, he paused, disengaging his light saber and turned to look at her. A smile lit up his face as he saw her standing in the entranceway.
"Good morning Angel," he said, his smile becoming a grin. "I thought you had joined the ranks of the hyper sleepers, and that I would be carrying you to Andeous on a repulser lifted table... Show you off as my prize..."
Padmé walked towards him and took him into her arms in a tender embrace. He allowed a light kiss and a quick squeeze and pulled away, oddly shy. Bobbing his head slightly and blushing, he spoke.
"I'll get freshened up," he said at last. "Unless you think we can be inconspicuous like this?"
"Only if I can too," she whispered in his ear.
Anakin blushed furiously. Admitting defeat, he tenderly took her hand and led her back to the room. They would have a light lunch together before setting out for the fair at Andeous, reveling in each other's company once again.