They were pleasantly surprised to come out into a brightly lit cavern; one side open to the lush Capa valley the other side continued to bore deep inside the mountain. Several waterfalls poured into its basin from the walls above.
Anakin brought the bike down on a big ledge in front of the cave opening. Amidala was off the bike in seconds.
"I think we'll camp here for the day," Anakin said as he dismounted the bike. He came to stand at the edge of the ledge next to Amidala as she admired the beautiful view.
The valley was a deep bowl with purple mountains towering in a neat circle all around. It was lush; the whole valley was a riot of spring colors. Whites, pinks, mauves and yellows blossoms blanketed the treetops in a never-ending vista, the colors merging into the blue and purple of the far mountains. The valley floor was covered in a thick green carpet of vibrant grass. Cool brooks babbled contently through the shades of the tree occasionally catching a sunbeam and reflecting it back in a rainbow of colors.
Amidala inhaled deeply and soaked in the heady scent of yasmin blossoms. Anakin inhaled deeply and took in the heady perfume, but it wasn't the yasmin he smelled but the Queens personnel fragrance. She always smelt of viva flowers, he loved the soft delicate smell; it suited her like it was made for her. Anakin was surprised that in spite of their arduous journey the sweet fragrance still clung to her.
"Beautiful isn't it," he whispered behind her. Amidala turned around, surprised to find him so close.
"Yes!" she said It's like a fairy land," Giving him a wistful smile as she took a step back, his eyes fell upon a small blossom caught in her hair.
Anakin reached out and gently untangled it from its dark perch. Amidala froze when he reached out to her, his fingers brushed lightly against her ears. She flinched a little, as a warm tingly sensation over took the side of her face.
"This little bloom must have traveled with us all the way from our last stop," He said as he held it to his nose and inhaled deeply, "still smells fresh,"
So small and yet so majestic,
So delicate and yet so strong,
So fragile and yet so enduring
So white and untarnished,
So beautiful and still oblivious to it,
So soft and creamy, and yet cruel enough to tear a man's heart out.
So innocent and demure, and still my beautiful little yasmin, how many hapless souls have you consumed in your fragrant trap?
Anakin brought the dainty little flower to his lips; looking at her with dreamy eyes, he gave the flower a tender kiss. Amidala blushed red from ear to ear when it finally hit her, who really his little yasmin was. She could do nothing but lower her gaze, cheeks flaming red.
She sat down quickly hanging her legs over the edge, so that he would not notice that they were shaking. Anakin stood there a long while wondering.
"I'm hungry Amidala said," Before he had a chance to sit by her side. "You have something for us to eat?" She said without looking up.
Anakin decided to forage in the forest below, mounting his bike, he disappeared down into the forest without a word
"Oh my God!" Thought Amidala, the journey suddenly becoming too long for her. "Last thing she wanted was a love struck bodyguard." She had to discourage him before things went too far.
CHAPTER 10
Amidala took the rare opportunity to enjoy the scenery of the quite countryside and much more, rare moments of solitude. As a queen she had hardly had any time to herself. Except when she was in the fresher.
Naboo were very strict about leaving unmarried girls unescorted anywhere. Trivial baseless accusations, could easily destroy a girls chance to marry. The Queen as such had to be extra careful. As a rule the she was never allowed unaccompanied anywhere.
Her handmaidens were always around her. And when she traveled outside the palace a contingent of male guards also accompanied her. Even at night one handmaiden slept in her room with her.
It was more to protect the Queen from slanderers than to suspect her character. Panaka would be at this very moment having fits of frenzy if the other party has reached Thal Weil without her. It was a good thing that it was Padme who was gone and not the Queen. But Padme would be in trouble too; she could loose her job. Amidala smiled at that. Then she would have to find another handmaiden name.
She wondered, as she lay back on the hard rock, her legs still dangling down the ledge, what had happened to her handmaidens and escorts. She had seen Their take a direct hit, had seen it fly awkwardly away from Theed. "Did they make it safely?"
Anakin brought the bike down on a big ledge in front of the cave opening. Amidala was off the bike in seconds.
"I think we'll camp here for the day," Anakin said as he dismounted the bike. He came to stand at the edge of the ledge next to Amidala as she admired the beautiful view.
The valley was a deep bowl with purple mountains towering in a neat circle all around. It was lush; the whole valley was a riot of spring colors. Whites, pinks, mauves and yellows blossoms blanketed the treetops in a never-ending vista, the colors merging into the blue and purple of the far mountains. The valley floor was covered in a thick green carpet of vibrant grass. Cool brooks babbled contently through the shades of the tree occasionally catching a sunbeam and reflecting it back in a rainbow of colors.
Amidala inhaled deeply and soaked in the heady scent of yasmin blossoms. Anakin inhaled deeply and took in the heady perfume, but it wasn't the yasmin he smelled but the Queens personnel fragrance. She always smelt of viva flowers, he loved the soft delicate smell; it suited her like it was made for her. Anakin was surprised that in spite of their arduous journey the sweet fragrance still clung to her.
"Beautiful isn't it," he whispered behind her. Amidala turned around, surprised to find him so close.
"Yes!" she said It's like a fairy land," Giving him a wistful smile as she took a step back, his eyes fell upon a small blossom caught in her hair.
Anakin reached out and gently untangled it from its dark perch. Amidala froze when he reached out to her, his fingers brushed lightly against her ears. She flinched a little, as a warm tingly sensation over took the side of her face.
"This little bloom must have traveled with us all the way from our last stop," He said as he held it to his nose and inhaled deeply, "still smells fresh,"
So small and yet so majestic,
So delicate and yet so strong,
So fragile and yet so enduring
So white and untarnished,
So beautiful and still oblivious to it,
So soft and creamy, and yet cruel enough to tear a man's heart out.
So innocent and demure, and still my beautiful little yasmin, how many hapless souls have you consumed in your fragrant trap?
Anakin brought the dainty little flower to his lips; looking at her with dreamy eyes, he gave the flower a tender kiss. Amidala blushed red from ear to ear when it finally hit her, who really his little yasmin was. She could do nothing but lower her gaze, cheeks flaming red.
She sat down quickly hanging her legs over the edge, so that he would not notice that they were shaking. Anakin stood there a long while wondering.
"I'm hungry Amidala said," Before he had a chance to sit by her side. "You have something for us to eat?" She said without looking up.
Anakin decided to forage in the forest below, mounting his bike, he disappeared down into the forest without a word
"Oh my God!" Thought Amidala, the journey suddenly becoming too long for her. "Last thing she wanted was a love struck bodyguard." She had to discourage him before things went too far.
CHAPTER 10
Amidala took the rare opportunity to enjoy the scenery of the quite countryside and much more, rare moments of solitude. As a queen she had hardly had any time to herself. Except when she was in the fresher.
Naboo were very strict about leaving unmarried girls unescorted anywhere. Trivial baseless accusations, could easily destroy a girls chance to marry. The Queen as such had to be extra careful. As a rule the she was never allowed unaccompanied anywhere.
Her handmaidens were always around her. And when she traveled outside the palace a contingent of male guards also accompanied her. Even at night one handmaiden slept in her room with her.
It was more to protect the Queen from slanderers than to suspect her character. Panaka would be at this very moment having fits of frenzy if the other party has reached Thal Weil without her. It was a good thing that it was Padme who was gone and not the Queen. But Padme would be in trouble too; she could loose her job. Amidala smiled at that. Then she would have to find another handmaiden name.
She wondered, as she lay back on the hard rock, her legs still dangling down the ledge, what had happened to her handmaidens and escorts. She had seen Their take a direct hit, had seen it fly awkwardly away from Theed. "Did they make it safely?"