POST NO 53-43
Cheering and laughter wafted up from the courtyard where the men had resumed their merry banter. Anakin's blunder forgotten, they had gone onto the next victim. At the moment they were dissecting the chief's son-in-law's gaffes on his wedding day, and they were not being very considerate.
Guffawing and pointing at him, some holding their bellies, the whole party was in uproar. Only Faraj, their target of the moment, did not seem to find it funny. He was busy scratching his ear and trying to look away here and there.
Padme looked at the figure dressed in white. Anakin was practically hollering, as he banged the table with his fist to avoid bursting.
With a heavy heart she looked at him enjoying himself. He was very much at home with these pagans.
How simple their lives were. Every one was assured their mate and the system assured the security of keeping it theirs for life.
More laughter wafted, as though taunting her loneliness. A stray tear rolled down her cheek. She looked at Anakin as he reached out across the table and took some thing offered him in an earthen bowl. He tasted the stuff and promptly spat it out onto a flowerbed behind him; the others broke into roars of laughter. Anakin stood up suddenly; her heart skipped a beat.
***************************
I think I should check on my wife, she must've cooled off by now." Anakin announced, as he rose. His friends cheered except the kinanahs who jeered. With Anakin gone the chief was sure to send them off to their village too. He smiled at them with a helpless shrug.
"Some day you guys will get lucky too," He said with a wink. Truth was he missed Padmé, even after her unusual outburst. At least he could look at her and wallow in the glow of her beauty. Eager as he was he was a bit nervous too as he pushed his chair back.
Sensing his nervousness the chief pulled him aside "Every thing will be alright son!" He said, "trust me." Anakin nodded not knowing what the chief meant. Taking his leave he headed for the wooden stairs, his apprehension growing with each step.
"She will probably be sleeping." He thought as he ascended, "This was one exhausting wedding party and she hasn't recovered fully from her fall."
He fingered the knob and the door opened. He slid in quietly hoping she was asleep and careful not to wake her up. It was dark. He decided to slink to the fresher; he needed to change out of the ceremonial clothes. He stood then, wondering what he'd wear, as his spare change of clothes were in the warrior village.
He turned to leave, just as he opened the door...
"Anakin?"
He turned around and was surprised to see a dark form detach it self from the shadows near the window. Amidala stood in the pool of blue light cast by the full moon behind her. Her slim figure outlined sharply against the bright light.
"Padmé!" He gulped, his heart racing, "You're… still awake? Are you… all right?" He didn't sense the usual emotions around her. She usually radiated pride, self-confidence and assurance, now though she felt different.
"Yes… I'm just waiting for my groom." Padmé said rather forlornly.
Anakin stood there, holding the door, not knowing what to make of it.
Had she already forgotten the reason why he'd left in the first place? He just couldn't understand. He stared at her sharp out line for a long time.
"You are jesting, my queen," He said in a thick voice, "No one will wait for a phony groom."
Amidala gave a mirthless laugh. She slowly reached out to wipe a tear from her cheeks. Anakin sensed the aura of sadness around her- but he was not ready to be scorned again. He stood at the door, his lips forming a thin line as he debated whether to leave her or comfort her.
"Damned my ego," he thought as he slowly closed the door with a soft click. Anakin walked slowly to the window-Not knowing what to expect-all he knew was that she was crying, his love was sad and he had to comfort her.
Cheering and laughter wafted up from the courtyard where the men had resumed their merry banter. Anakin's blunder forgotten, they had gone onto the next victim. At the moment they were dissecting the chief's son-in-law's gaffes on his wedding day, and they were not being very considerate.
Guffawing and pointing at him, some holding their bellies, the whole party was in uproar. Only Faraj, their target of the moment, did not seem to find it funny. He was busy scratching his ear and trying to look away here and there.
Padme looked at the figure dressed in white. Anakin was practically hollering, as he banged the table with his fist to avoid bursting.
With a heavy heart she looked at him enjoying himself. He was very much at home with these pagans.
How simple their lives were. Every one was assured their mate and the system assured the security of keeping it theirs for life.
More laughter wafted, as though taunting her loneliness. A stray tear rolled down her cheek. She looked at Anakin as he reached out across the table and took some thing offered him in an earthen bowl. He tasted the stuff and promptly spat it out onto a flowerbed behind him; the others broke into roars of laughter. Anakin stood up suddenly; her heart skipped a beat.
***************************
I think I should check on my wife, she must've cooled off by now." Anakin announced, as he rose. His friends cheered except the kinanahs who jeered. With Anakin gone the chief was sure to send them off to their village too. He smiled at them with a helpless shrug.
"Some day you guys will get lucky too," He said with a wink. Truth was he missed Padmé, even after her unusual outburst. At least he could look at her and wallow in the glow of her beauty. Eager as he was he was a bit nervous too as he pushed his chair back.
Sensing his nervousness the chief pulled him aside "Every thing will be alright son!" He said, "trust me." Anakin nodded not knowing what the chief meant. Taking his leave he headed for the wooden stairs, his apprehension growing with each step.
"She will probably be sleeping." He thought as he ascended, "This was one exhausting wedding party and she hasn't recovered fully from her fall."
He fingered the knob and the door opened. He slid in quietly hoping she was asleep and careful not to wake her up. It was dark. He decided to slink to the fresher; he needed to change out of the ceremonial clothes. He stood then, wondering what he'd wear, as his spare change of clothes were in the warrior village.
He turned to leave, just as he opened the door...
"Anakin?"
He turned around and was surprised to see a dark form detach it self from the shadows near the window. Amidala stood in the pool of blue light cast by the full moon behind her. Her slim figure outlined sharply against the bright light.
"Padmé!" He gulped, his heart racing, "You're… still awake? Are you… all right?" He didn't sense the usual emotions around her. She usually radiated pride, self-confidence and assurance, now though she felt different.
"Yes… I'm just waiting for my groom." Padmé said rather forlornly.
Anakin stood there, holding the door, not knowing what to make of it.
Had she already forgotten the reason why he'd left in the first place? He just couldn't understand. He stared at her sharp out line for a long time.
"You are jesting, my queen," He said in a thick voice, "No one will wait for a phony groom."
Amidala gave a mirthless laugh. She slowly reached out to wipe a tear from her cheeks. Anakin sensed the aura of sadness around her- but he was not ready to be scorned again. He stood at the door, his lips forming a thin line as he debated whether to leave her or comfort her.
"Damned my ego," he thought as he slowly closed the door with a soft click. Anakin walked slowly to the window-Not knowing what to expect-all he knew was that she was crying, his love was sad and he had to comfort her.