Falls the Shadow

Chapter 13

Fair  

           They reached Andeous in the early afternoon and wandered around together. For the most part, Anakin seemed too shy to really instigate a lot of physical affection, but he would occasionally stroke Padme's arm, or her back, or even link a few of fingers with his own as they walked through the stalls of the main vendor's portion of the fair.

             The avoided the Seers with their promises of foretelling the future, (I get enough of that at the Temple Anakin grumbled,) but indulged a few credits on games of chance. Anakin, having grown up around them proved himself a phenomenal player and before long not only was refused any more games but had acquired a considerable sum of money.

            "Well beloved," he laughed after being turned away from a Sabbaac table before he could even place a bet. "We have all this ill gotten gain, what shall we do with it? Buy a Lake House? Our own ship? At the very least I can buy us a nice supper!" He paused, considering. "No," he said suddenly, spying a small booth down the fairway. "I have an idea..."

            They reached a small inconspicuous booth that had a small sign out front reading "Start a trust fund for your children! A few credits to last a lifetime!" Anakin placed the entire sum into the hands of the clerk and kissed Padmé tenderly.

       "For the first born Skywalker. My son..."

       "Or daughter..." Padmé interjected.

       "Or daughter," he agreed amicably. "We'll send the data chip to Sola," he whispered softly. "She can keep it safe for now along with the holo we had done today, as well as the numerous other things we've acquired tonight. Padmé? Is it a trait of all Naboo women to turn their mates into beasts of burden?"

        Padmé kissed his nose and giggled.

        "I need to make sure that my Beloved has regained all of his strength! After all, the possibilities that the evening holds..." She felt him tense slightly but the moment passed as quickly as it had come.

        "Come on," he said playfully tugging on her arm. "The hour grows late and I have one more thing I wish to get before we leave."

         She kissed him lightly on the cheek; the crown of dried flowers in her hair gave off an intoxicating smell that she would forever associate with this day. The fair. The love. Anakin. All of these things that were ingrained in her memory now forever.

          They wandered slowly down the fairway and Anakin asked her to continue down a little farther. He wanted this last purchase of the evening to be a surprise, and so she found herself looking at a table full of lovely shawls and scarves.

          Picking one up, the young clerk with a mop of curly brown hair smiled at her.

          "This one is especially nice," he said. "It matches your eyes, like warm Sables..."

          Padmé blushed. "Thank you, but I was just looking," she said. Turning to look for Anakin, she saw him engaging in conversation with another merchant a few booths away.

          The clerk held up another piece. "How about this one?" he asked. "It's perfect for a night like this and would look lovely on you over dinner."

          "I'm sorry?" Padmé replied, a little taken aback.

           "Dinner, tonight." the young man said, eyes twinkling merrily as he took her hand in his.

            "That's not possible I'm afraid," she answered, pulling away a bit. "Thank you but no..."

            "But why not?" he pressed reaching for her hands unsuccessfully. "Would you really object to my company that much?"

            "It's not just that," Padmé began, "But you see..."

             "Her HUSBAND most decidedly would..." A voice growled softly behind her. Anakin protectively put his arm around her waist. "Are you finished here?" he asked a little coldly.

             "Yes," Padmé replied as he placed something in his pocket. "It's getting close to the time we need to leave soon anyways. Thank you young sir..." she called out as they walked away, Anakin only grunted.

             They walked along in a slightly uncomfortable silence for a moment when Padmé finally spoke up.

              "Did you find what you wanted?" she asked quietly and he grunted again in reply.

               "Are you upset with me?"

               "No."

               "What then?" Padmé exclaimed, exasperated.

               "Nothing. Don't worry about it."

               "You don't trust me?"

               "Of course I do. Not HIM! He was crossing the line."

                "You're jealous?"

                No Answer.

                "You are aren't you! Why didn't you say something sooner?" she scolded.

                "Alright," Anakin sighed, stopping in the middle of the thinning fairway. "I just thought you were handling things well enough. I didn't want you to think that I don't trust you because I do, or that I don't think you can handle yourself... It's been such a wonderful day... I didn't want to spoil it although apparently I have..."

                "Let it go Ani," Padmé said quietly. "You haven't ruined anything..." Suddenly, she pulled him over to another booth a few meters away. The table was covered in an abundance of sweet smelling, colourful items being sold by and older man and a woman who was apparently his wife. Padmé pulled out a small handful of coins and gave them to the proprietor.

      "For the lady..." the elder gentleman handed Padme' a little T shaped object. She blushed and giggled her thanks, taking Anakin's free hand in her own again.

      "What is it?" Anakin asked, arching his eyebrow, genuinely curious as the last of the tension between them dissipated.

Padme' blushed again, a little more furiously as she led him to a garden wall to sit down.

"It's an 'Eros Sweet'," she giggled.

"'Eros Sweet'?" Anakin echoed, still none the wiser.

"It's for young lovers... a shared sweet... once you start on it you have to eat it quickly or it melts all over the place..." She wrapped her hands around his so that the both were holding on to it, the end cross bars of the "T" facing each of them. She looked into his eyes and coquettishly batted her lashes at him. "Want to try?"

"All right..." Anakin smiled back. "Is it a race to the center?"

Padme' giggled again, "Sort of..." she raised the sweet to their lips and closed her eyes."Ready?" she asked, Anakin nodded and closed his eyes as well.

"Alright," Padme' said... "GO!"

Anakin quickly realized that she had been right about speed being of the essence. No sooner had he started on his end when he found himself licking and swallowing with a vengeance. He knew that they were reaching the center very quickly and now understood where the sweet had got its name from. No sooner had he come to this realization when his lips met hers in that same frenzy. Instead of pulling away though, he slowly brought one of his hands to her chin, bringing her in closer, allowing the kisses to deepen and become more passionate. After a few moments, they reluctantly broke the kiss, suddenly aware of their surroundings.

Anakin pulled back and cleared his throat, a little embarrassed, but he did not let go of her hand.

Padme' shook her hair out as if to try to clear her head and regain her composure. "Oh!" She let out a little gasp. "My goodness..." she trailed off, a little lost for words."Anakin..." she started hesitantly, meeting his eyes again. "I... I..."

"Padme', listen to me." He said quietly. "Perhaps I was wrong... maybe, when we get back to the lodge... I can't make any promises..." Padme' gently placed her finger over his lips and he instinctively kissed it.

"No pressure," she whispered, teasing his lips and face lightly with her finger. "We'll find some thing to eat and when we go back... well, we'll just see what happens shall we? It's not an all or nothing situation, Ani. Just being with you... "She leaned in close again, slowly placing her forehead onto his own.

He kissed her nose lightly, and in a voice that was barely audible he whispered, "Thank you... thank you beloved one, for understanding..."

She smiled and squeezed his hands tightly in her own.

"Come on then," she said getting up. I saw a little booth that makes a wonderfully spicy dish... something that might even challenge that durasteel stomach of yours!" Her laughter was bell like in it's joy and it's clarity, and Anakin couldn't help but to join in.

"If you're sure..." he chuckled wryly."You know that spicy food can keep me up all night..." He stopped and grinned, trying to see if Padme' had caught his thinly veiled double meaning. She turned suddenly, wide eyed, unsure that she had heard...

"Anakin!" she gasped in mock indignation. "You are incorrigible!" Unable to keep up the facade of being angry, she tugged on his hand again, pulling him back in the direction of the food market. "Come on!" she repeated, giggling like a young girl in love and Anakin, who felt lighter and happier than he had in months, joined her. His own laughter, a sound that he had almost forgotten, echoed harmoniously with hers. They dashed by the old man with the Eros Sweets, giggling like children, oblivious to everyone else around them.

"Young love," he thought to himself, smiling as they past, and then he turned his attentions to the other young couple that had approached his booth.