Disclaimer: All things Star Wars belong to Lucasfilm.
At the Homestead
by ami-padme
(ami_padme@yahoo.com)
Chapter 8
"Master Ani, does that name mean anything to you?"
Anakin felt his heart – already overburdened, already broken – sink all the way
down to his feet. The rest of his
fistful of sand sifted through his fingers and fell to the ground.
Dimly, he heard the rational part of his mind tell him that his impulse was
unfair. And he knew that the voice was
right. So he added shame to the rest of
the emotions that were wearing him down.
It didn't matter what Obi-Wan's message was.
Even if it were a 20-minute lecture about how he had ordered Anakin to
stay on Naboo, Anakin knew he would have to sit there and take it, despite
believing in his soul that he was right to come – that he should have come
sooner, whatever Obi-Wan would have said or done about it.
But he had had far too many uncharitable thoughts about his Master lately, and
they had to stop. Obi-Wan didn't
deserve that, no matter what Anakin sometimes thought of his teaching methods,
or his rules. Anakin knew that his
Master – his friend, his father – would never have wished this tragedy on
him. Anakin had to get himself re-focused
on that.
Padmé was waiting for a signal from him and he simply nodded.
Cliegg was frowning irritably. "So
that's it? You have to leave right this
minute?"
Anakin took his annoyance as a sign that Cliegg didn't want them to leave
yet. He had to admit he was
touched. "I'm afraid we do."
"Who is this person?"
"Obi-Wan is my Master," Anakin said.
"Do you think something's wrong?" Beru asked, concerned.
"I know something's wrong.
I'm not supposed to be here at all.
If he's contacting me here, that means he's found out that I've left my
assignment. At least, I hope that's all
it is." Anakin sighed. "I'm sorry we have to leave so
abruptly."
"You're not going to get in trouble, are you?" Owen asked him
incredulously. "Not after
everything that's happened? They aren't
going to try to punish you or something like that, are they?"
The anger, the blame, the despair – they all came rushing back, and Anakin had
to take a deep breath to dissipate them and find his center. He forced himself, again, to not think any
more unkind thoughts. Not about
Obi-Wan, not about the Council. He
loved Obi-Wan. And blaming the Council
was useless.
"My Master doesn't know what's happened.
I'm not sure…I guess I'll have to see how he'll react, and what he wants
to do." Anakin decided that he
ought to try to reassure Owen, at least a little bit. "He is going to be sorry about what happened
though. I'm sure of that." Owen gave him something between a nod and
shrug.
Anakin turned to Cliegg and reached out his hand, and they shared strong
handshake. "Thank you again, for
everything."
"You don't have to thank us," he insisted. Then he added, seriously, "I hope you know, Anakin, that
your mother was proud of you. I know
she still would be." He clapped
Anakin's back. "Take care of
yourself, son."
Anakin almost thanked him again, but caught it. "I will."
Padmé was speaking quietly with Owen and Beru.
Anakin couldn't quite make out what was being said, but she was
smiling. She took Beru's hand briefly
and squeezed it. Anakin stood behind
her, and lightly rested his hands on Padmé's shoulders.
"I was telling Padmé that you ought to take 3PO with you," Owen said.
"Really?" 3PO started at the
sound of his name, and Anakin couldn't help but smile. "Are you sure?"
"Absolutely. He's yours."
"Oh! Master Ani, I would be so
pleased to return to your service," 3PO said. Anakin thought he actually did sound rather gleeful.
"Well, then that's settled," Beru said.
"For whatever it's worth," Owen added, "you're both welcome
here, any time."
"It's worth a lot," Anakin replied.
He shook Owen's hand, and Beru's.
He looked at Padmé, and at the droids.
"Ready?"
"Yes," Padmé said. R2
whistled happily and began rolling away, with 3PO following behind.
He and Padmé walked together back to the ship.
Anakin decided not to look back at his mother's grave as he went.