The Ties That Bind
Chapter 4
Obi-Wan was waiting for his pupil in the main garden of the Naboo palace when he came racing through the door. "I'm sorry I'm late master."
He turned to look at the tall form of his Padawan, his expression carefully neutral, "I trust your discussion with the Queen went well, Anakin?"
He could detect a slight blush on the young man's cheeks, "Yes Master."
Obi-Wan sighed inwardly. Anakin was shielding his thoughts exceedingly well, as was his custom, after a very personal situation. "Sit, my young friend, I wish to speak with you."
Anakin looked at him questioningly but did as was bade and sank to the stone bench his Master had just vacated. Obi-Wan surprised him by sitting next to him, "Anakin," he waited until his Padawan met his gaze to continue, "Anakin, I felt a disturbance in the force earlier, centering on you. If I felt that powerful surge I can guarantee other Jedi have as well. What happened?"
Anakin jumped to his feet and started pacing back and forth in front of Obi-Wan. "It was an accident, Master, I didn't mean for it to happen." He raked his hands through his cropped hair, turning anguished eyes to his Master, "Yoda and the council will disown me when they find out what I've done. I'll be expelled!"
Obi-Wan stood and took his apprentice by the shoulders, "What exactly have you done, Anakin?"
His voice dropped, "I life-bonded with the queen."
"Are you sure?"
Anakin shrugged him off, renewing his pacing and fidgeting with the handle of his lightsaber, "Of course I'm sure. Master, what will I do?"
"Anakin."
He turned to look at his Master, knowing better than to disobey that tone of voice.
"Lifebonds take years to develop and cement. There is no way you could be bonded with her."
"Do they take conscious thought?"
Obi-Wan frowned, "What do you mean?"
"I mean, master, is do you have to want it, to actually work at forging the bond for it to happen? Do the people involved have to be with each other every day?"
"Anakin, it takes a very powerful Jedi Knight to forge a Life-bond, especially with someone who is not force sensitive."
Anakin sank down to the bench, rubbing his hands over his hair, "I feel her, Master. I feel her emotions; I hear what she's thinking. Even now, with most of the Palace between us I feel her." He glanced up, "Search my thoughts and feelings, Master, you'll see what I know to be true."
Obi-Wan looked at him speculatively, "Drop your shields, Anakin."
He took a step back as his apprentice did as told, bombarded by a surge of emotion that wasn't only Anakin's. He stretched out with the force, breathing easily as he slipped into a semi-trance like state. The Force strands connecting him and his Padawan glowed a brilliant blue, calling to him to come and explore. As he slipped into Anakin's mind, he saw what had transpired in the Queen's chambers, saw the hesitant steps his Padawan had taken and the Queen's complete acceptance. He felt the strand binding the two together suddenly expand, taking on a golden-red hue as it pulsated. Their thoughts became one as they unconsciously strengthened the bond, their life forces inter mingling until-
Obi-Wan's eyes flew open as he gasped for breath. He reached out, holding onto his Padawan's shoulder for support as he fought to regain his perspective. His Padawan was right, then. They had unknowingly been forging a bond between them for the last 3 years. Something that had been built on the foundation of a strong friendship. He looked into Anakin's blue eyes, "Come, we must contact the council."
"No! What if they don't understand, what if I can't come back? Master, please, she means everything to me, I'd die without her."
His master's lips thinned into a firm line, "I know, Anakin, that's why we have to talk to them."
He turned, silently urging his Padawan to follow, and headed for the communications center.
The Queen felt the surge of fear as if it was her own. She jumped off her bed where she and her handmaidens, summoned once Anakin had gone, were talking about the upcoming celebration. Her face drained of all color, "Anakin." She whispered softly. She slid her feet into her shoes.
"Padmé? Where are you going?" Sabé looked at her confused.
She stared back at her friend, "I can't explain it but I have to get to the communications center."
Sabé blinked, "What? Why? Everyone you asked to be here is here."
"Ask me later," she darted out of her chambers, uncaring about her image as she walked quickly through the halls. She stepped into the Communications center without hesitating. She felt a wave of relief hit her as Anakin felt her presence.
"Anakin?"
"Padmé."
She spun towards the sound of his voice, Her eyes meeting his briefly before she walked to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, "I was so worried, I've never felt anything that..."
"Strange?"
She nodded, "It was like you were scared, and because you were afraid I was." He gently stroked her hair before untangling himself from her. She felt his uncertainty and looked up, a light blush gracing her cheeks, "Master Kenobi."
Obi-Wan inclined his head to her, before turning back to the communication he'd been sending. She flushed, seeing the wrinkled, green face of the Jedi council member. "Master Yoda."
"Queen Amidala, good to see you it is. Most unexpected this turn of events is."
She inclined her head to the tiny Master Jedi, "My apologies, Master Yoda, I did not mean to interrupt..."
"Padawan Skywalker called you, he did. Your fault, it is not. Stay, if you wish, your fate and his we must decide."
She looked at him, trying to read his expression. Was her serious? What Anakin had done by accident was what they were discussing?
*Yes, Angel. Padawan's are not allowed to choose a mate until they are knighted."
"Communicate aloud you will, Padawan Skywalker, or take offence we will."
Anakin flushed, "I'm sorry Master Yoda. Pad- Queen Amidala does not know of our code or our rules, she is a little lost."
"Know them, you do, Padawan Skywalker, teach her later you will. Leave me with your master. Your fate, decided it will be."
He bowed to the Master before grasping her hand and tugging her out of the communications center. She could feel his fear, the bone deep terror he was trying to hide at the possibility of being taken away from her again. "They can't take you away again, can they Anakin?" she asked softly as they walked towards the gardens. Unconsciously she was giving him directions to the one place she went things felt hopeless.
He was silent, but she could feel the turmoil her question caused. "I don't know Ami. I've only heard of Life-bonds before, never actually seen one."
She tugged him deep into the gardens, leading the way down some little traveled paths until they reached a small lake, hidden in the center. He smiled distractedly, not really looking at his surroundings, but unconsciously acknowledging the beauty of them. She led him to a large rock shelf by a small pool and sank down onto it. He sat next to her, wrapping a protective arm around her as he felt her nervousness, "What will happen if they take you away?"
He sighed, gently stroking her hair, "I don't know."
She rested her head against his shoulder, "I think I do."
He was silent as she arranged her thoughts, trying very hard not to hear what she was thinking. Sure, he loved knowing what she was thinking but in times like these he wanted her words, not her thoughts.
She slid her hand into his, examining the back of his fingers for what seemed an eternity before she spoke again, "We'll go on the way we have. Me with ruling Naboo, or serving in another capacity, and you... you'll become a Jedi Knight."
"And if they... let me go?"
Her head came up, her surprise obvious. "They'd stop training you for this?"
He felt her sorrow. For him, for both of them. He nodded, "They might. I don't think there are protocols for this set in place so it's a touch and go situation."
She cupped his face in one hand, "If they do stop training you because of this, you'll stay with me, won't you?"
He looked down into her amazing brown eyes, smiling softly, "I want nothing more, Angel."
"But?"
He sighed. "But I need to go back and free my mother. No matter the cost."
She nodded, gently stroking her fingers over his cheek, "When did I come to need you like this?" she asked softly.
He leaned down close to her, his lips a whisper away from hers, "About the same time I learned I needed you, Angel."
Her eyes fluttered closed as he kissed her gently. Unsatisfied, she angled her head and kissed him forcefully, grasping the back of his head and clinging to him. She felt his shock and approval at her actions. With a soft groan he kissed her back, his hands working their way into her braid and pulling it apart. The soft waves of her chestnut hair fell to her shoulders and tumbled down her back as his hands gently combed through the silken tresses. His mouth moved from her lips to gently nibble down her jaw line, nuzzling her ear before he simply pulled her close, onto his lap and held her, his face buried in her hair.
Chapter 4
Obi-Wan was waiting for his pupil in the main garden of the Naboo palace when he came racing through the door. "I'm sorry I'm late master."
He turned to look at the tall form of his Padawan, his expression carefully neutral, "I trust your discussion with the Queen went well, Anakin?"
He could detect a slight blush on the young man's cheeks, "Yes Master."
Obi-Wan sighed inwardly. Anakin was shielding his thoughts exceedingly well, as was his custom, after a very personal situation. "Sit, my young friend, I wish to speak with you."
Anakin looked at him questioningly but did as was bade and sank to the stone bench his Master had just vacated. Obi-Wan surprised him by sitting next to him, "Anakin," he waited until his Padawan met his gaze to continue, "Anakin, I felt a disturbance in the force earlier, centering on you. If I felt that powerful surge I can guarantee other Jedi have as well. What happened?"
Anakin jumped to his feet and started pacing back and forth in front of Obi-Wan. "It was an accident, Master, I didn't mean for it to happen." He raked his hands through his cropped hair, turning anguished eyes to his Master, "Yoda and the council will disown me when they find out what I've done. I'll be expelled!"
Obi-Wan stood and took his apprentice by the shoulders, "What exactly have you done, Anakin?"
His voice dropped, "I life-bonded with the queen."
"Are you sure?"
Anakin shrugged him off, renewing his pacing and fidgeting with the handle of his lightsaber, "Of course I'm sure. Master, what will I do?"
"Anakin."
He turned to look at his Master, knowing better than to disobey that tone of voice.
"Lifebonds take years to develop and cement. There is no way you could be bonded with her."
"Do they take conscious thought?"
Obi-Wan frowned, "What do you mean?"
"I mean, master, is do you have to want it, to actually work at forging the bond for it to happen? Do the people involved have to be with each other every day?"
"Anakin, it takes a very powerful Jedi Knight to forge a Life-bond, especially with someone who is not force sensitive."
Anakin sank down to the bench, rubbing his hands over his hair, "I feel her, Master. I feel her emotions; I hear what she's thinking. Even now, with most of the Palace between us I feel her." He glanced up, "Search my thoughts and feelings, Master, you'll see what I know to be true."
Obi-Wan looked at him speculatively, "Drop your shields, Anakin."
He took a step back as his apprentice did as told, bombarded by a surge of emotion that wasn't only Anakin's. He stretched out with the force, breathing easily as he slipped into a semi-trance like state. The Force strands connecting him and his Padawan glowed a brilliant blue, calling to him to come and explore. As he slipped into Anakin's mind, he saw what had transpired in the Queen's chambers, saw the hesitant steps his Padawan had taken and the Queen's complete acceptance. He felt the strand binding the two together suddenly expand, taking on a golden-red hue as it pulsated. Their thoughts became one as they unconsciously strengthened the bond, their life forces inter mingling until-
Obi-Wan's eyes flew open as he gasped for breath. He reached out, holding onto his Padawan's shoulder for support as he fought to regain his perspective. His Padawan was right, then. They had unknowingly been forging a bond between them for the last 3 years. Something that had been built on the foundation of a strong friendship. He looked into Anakin's blue eyes, "Come, we must contact the council."
"No! What if they don't understand, what if I can't come back? Master, please, she means everything to me, I'd die without her."
His master's lips thinned into a firm line, "I know, Anakin, that's why we have to talk to them."
He turned, silently urging his Padawan to follow, and headed for the communications center.
The Queen felt the surge of fear as if it was her own. She jumped off her bed where she and her handmaidens, summoned once Anakin had gone, were talking about the upcoming celebration. Her face drained of all color, "Anakin." She whispered softly. She slid her feet into her shoes.
"Padmé? Where are you going?" Sabé looked at her confused.
She stared back at her friend, "I can't explain it but I have to get to the communications center."
Sabé blinked, "What? Why? Everyone you asked to be here is here."
"Ask me later," she darted out of her chambers, uncaring about her image as she walked quickly through the halls. She stepped into the Communications center without hesitating. She felt a wave of relief hit her as Anakin felt her presence.
"Anakin?"
"Padmé."
She spun towards the sound of his voice, Her eyes meeting his briefly before she walked to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, "I was so worried, I've never felt anything that..."
"Strange?"
She nodded, "It was like you were scared, and because you were afraid I was." He gently stroked her hair before untangling himself from her. She felt his uncertainty and looked up, a light blush gracing her cheeks, "Master Kenobi."
Obi-Wan inclined his head to her, before turning back to the communication he'd been sending. She flushed, seeing the wrinkled, green face of the Jedi council member. "Master Yoda."
"Queen Amidala, good to see you it is. Most unexpected this turn of events is."
She inclined her head to the tiny Master Jedi, "My apologies, Master Yoda, I did not mean to interrupt..."
"Padawan Skywalker called you, he did. Your fault, it is not. Stay, if you wish, your fate and his we must decide."
She looked at him, trying to read his expression. Was her serious? What Anakin had done by accident was what they were discussing?
*Yes, Angel. Padawan's are not allowed to choose a mate until they are knighted."
"Communicate aloud you will, Padawan Skywalker, or take offence we will."
Anakin flushed, "I'm sorry Master Yoda. Pad- Queen Amidala does not know of our code or our rules, she is a little lost."
"Know them, you do, Padawan Skywalker, teach her later you will. Leave me with your master. Your fate, decided it will be."
He bowed to the Master before grasping her hand and tugging her out of the communications center. She could feel his fear, the bone deep terror he was trying to hide at the possibility of being taken away from her again. "They can't take you away again, can they Anakin?" she asked softly as they walked towards the gardens. Unconsciously she was giving him directions to the one place she went things felt hopeless.
He was silent, but she could feel the turmoil her question caused. "I don't know Ami. I've only heard of Life-bonds before, never actually seen one."
She tugged him deep into the gardens, leading the way down some little traveled paths until they reached a small lake, hidden in the center. He smiled distractedly, not really looking at his surroundings, but unconsciously acknowledging the beauty of them. She led him to a large rock shelf by a small pool and sank down onto it. He sat next to her, wrapping a protective arm around her as he felt her nervousness, "What will happen if they take you away?"
He sighed, gently stroking her hair, "I don't know."
She rested her head against his shoulder, "I think I do."
He was silent as she arranged her thoughts, trying very hard not to hear what she was thinking. Sure, he loved knowing what she was thinking but in times like these he wanted her words, not her thoughts.
She slid her hand into his, examining the back of his fingers for what seemed an eternity before she spoke again, "We'll go on the way we have. Me with ruling Naboo, or serving in another capacity, and you... you'll become a Jedi Knight."
"And if they... let me go?"
Her head came up, her surprise obvious. "They'd stop training you for this?"
He felt her sorrow. For him, for both of them. He nodded, "They might. I don't think there are protocols for this set in place so it's a touch and go situation."
She cupped his face in one hand, "If they do stop training you because of this, you'll stay with me, won't you?"
He looked down into her amazing brown eyes, smiling softly, "I want nothing more, Angel."
"But?"
He sighed. "But I need to go back and free my mother. No matter the cost."
She nodded, gently stroking her fingers over his cheek, "When did I come to need you like this?" she asked softly.
He leaned down close to her, his lips a whisper away from hers, "About the same time I learned I needed you, Angel."
Her eyes fluttered closed as he kissed her gently. Unsatisfied, she angled her head and kissed him forcefully, grasping the back of his head and clinging to him. She felt his shock and approval at her actions. With a soft groan he kissed her back, his hands working their way into her braid and pulling it apart. The soft waves of her chestnut hair fell to her shoulders and tumbled down her back as his hands gently combed through the silken tresses. His mouth moved from her lips to gently nibble down her jaw line, nuzzling her ear before he simply pulled her close, onto his lap and held her, his face buried in her hair.