Knights and Eros Bound
Chapter 6
The Senators and the Jedi made their way to their seats, Anakin seizing the opportunity to caress Padmé's back as he pushed her chair in. To his delight, he could feel a flush of warmth radiate through her body at his touch.
"Thank you Jedi Skywalker…" she murmured with just the right amount of propriety. "I trust your evening is going well…"
Anakin hesitated, not wanting to upset her. "Of course, Milady…" he replied as his hand slipped down her side. Padmé, however, caught the note of apprehension in his voice.
She cast him a look of trepidation, "Ani?"
He gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile. "Jedi business…" he whispered in her ear. "Discussing the merits of… long lightsabers…"
Padmé giggled and her hand brushed his thigh, causing him to bite down…[ h]ard. Slowly and carefully, Anakin took his seat next to her, maintaining a state of composure befitting his new status of a Jedi Knight, at least on the outside.
The Chancellor gave a brief speech and a hasty apology for not being able to stay for the actual banquet before being whisked away by a plethora of aids. For once, Anakin was relieved that the Chancellor was unable to avail himself. He could attempt to eat dinner, trying to ignore the fact that Padmé was gently nudging his thigh with her own.
On the desert table, there was a pleasant mixture of familiar delicacies such as shuura and barabelland barabell fruits, along with cakes and other sweets. Padmé chose a rather long piece of liwi fruit and set it on her plate, and a giggle was quickly masked by a cough. Anakin managed to hold back his own bemusement only by the slimmest of margins[.] Still projecting the appearance of merely being a concerned escort, he gently rubbed her back.
"Are you all right[,] Padmé?" Bail Organa asked, raising his eyebrows. "Would you like some water?"
Unbidden, Schurke raised his hand and a glass of water smoothly floated over to her. Anakin cast him an unreadable look and Schurke winked back. Kampher unceremoniously dug him in the rigs with her elbow, just as Padmé took the glass in hand and nodded her thanks.
"Don't choke Senator…" Anakin said wryly. "Your presence would be greatly missed…"
"I assure you Jedi Skywalker, I have no intention of choking on anything…" her eyes flashed mischievously. "If I can swallow half the Bantha fodder that gets thrown around the Senate, I can handle a little thing like this…"
Anakin flushed to the very roots of his hair as the rest of the table burst into a mixture of applause and laughter[.] During the commotion, Anakin lightly touched his wife's hand under the table as if to promise that she would pay dearly for this later. Padmé returned his touch affectionately, briefly slipping a finger through the gap between his forefinger and thumb. Anakin's eyes grew wide as even Kampher and Schurke picked up his surge of sensation. Thankfully, they both had the presence of mind to mask their reactions in the discord. Anakin gritted his teeth again, unsure how much longer he could last…
As the laughter died down, Bail spoke up. "So, speaking of Bantha fodder Padmé, what do you think of the Ithorian Senator's request to turn the third and forth level conference room into a 'jungle'…"
After what seemed to be an eternity later, the dinner party began to break up and the various Senators and their escorts departed.
"Share a transport[,] Senator?" Bail asked innocently as Kampher looked on from the sidelines. "Perhaps a nightcap?"
"Aren't you too tired[,] Senator?" Anakin asked with a subtle wave of his hand. Kampher rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"No, not at all…" replied Bail, a bit puzzled.
"I think Jedi Skywalker was referring to me," said Padmé, once ever the diplomat. "I am tired Bail[.] Perhaps it was the wine." She turned to Anakin, taking his arm. "Of course you will be seeing me home[,] Master Skywalker?"
Anakin flushed. "Of course Senator…" He gave an awkward little bow to both Senator Organa and Kampher.
"Goodnight… Senator… Knight Lutador,"
"Goodnight Senator... Jedi Skywalker..." came the reply from both Bail and Kampher, but the to the two were arlready on their way landing platform.