POST NO 55-44
Amidala had removed the flowing silk gown; only the white under blouse and slacks remained. Her hair gathered at the top was now tied above her head with a wide metal clasp; the loose ends flowed down her shoulders to her hips like a dark silk fountain. It swung around languidly as she moved her head, the cascades randomly reflecting the blue metallic sheen of the moonlight.
The queen stood with her back to him, pretending to survey the scene before her as she swallowed hard. She did not want Anakin to see her in this state.
Anakin stood close behind her, his arms hanging loosely by his side. He did not sense anger or hostility. Slowly he dared to come closer.
Leaning his long arms on either side of her on the window frame, he leaned forward, towering over her small form. His body completely covering hers and still ...not touching. A warm blanket of peace and security enveloped her.
Suddenly she longed to have him enclose her, to hold her and kiss her. Strange how she was no longer afraid of him getting too close but instead she desperately longed for his skin against hers. She shut her eyes, catching her breath. She could feel the cool breeze on her face the fragrance of the garden mingled with the smell of his cologne.
She could feel his gaze on her-and suddenly she didn't want to hide the tears any more. A gasp escaped her lips as two warm hands closed around her bare arms. She felt her body melt with his touch.
"You've been crying my love!" A husky voice whispered close to her ears, sending a thrill through her.
As if she had found her shores, her safe abode. She just let go, breaking up. Her dams all broken, years of control and discipline just deserted her and she began to cry, sobbing and shaking violently as she leant back against his chest.
Anakin's hand left her arms-she felt suddenly cold and abandoned-only to entwine them around her waist. Immediate the warm security returned. She let her head slump back against his chest as her body was wracked with sobs. Turning her around in his arms he held her tight against him. Cradling her head under his chin he rubbed her shoulders and back to comfort her.
"My love... I'm sorry I abandoned you." He said. She didn't reply, instead she put her arms around him. She was still crying. He let her cry.
At last she was quite, sniffing softly against him. Anakin realized his vest was probably wet with her tears. Lifting her onto the windowsill he sat her there so that her face was just below his. Lifting up her chin he stared at her sad face.
His heart cried tears of blood at the sight of it. He had promised to keep her safe and never let her be sad and here she was crying out her heart because of his stupid pride.
"I'm sorry!" He whispered again as he gently wiped the tears from her face.
"No, Anakin there's nothing for you to be sorry about. I should be apologizing. All this while I had my true love before me and I refused to acknowledge it, insisting on being a queen all the time. All you did was bring out the young woman in me-the human creature that was imprisoned all this while inside the cold walls of a monarch, too dedicated to another cause to realize that life has much else to offer." She said, gasping for breath as she finished.
Anakin was silent as he searched for words.
"I'm sorry Anakin! Can you forgive me?" She said sniffing once more then looked up at him expectantly.
Anakin stared at her,
"forgive you?" He exclaimed incredulously.
Her head jerked up to him, "I know darling, I don't deserve it, I…"
She didn't finish as Anakin's lips on her own prevented further conversation. She felt her body flood with happiness and contentment as she responded. They had found each other. For too long they had pretended to be strangers when they knew they were destined for one other.
At last she broke away. Anakin wiped her face gently with the back of his hand. She gave him a sheepish smile.
"I love you Anakin!" She whispered in his ears as she locked her arms around his neck, "I have loved you for a long time only my head refused to believe my heart." She said, resting her head against his chest.
"I have always known it my love." He whispered back as he bent his head down to her. He put his arms around her waist pulling her closer and their silhouettes once again merged into one.
They stood thus for a long time, their bodies entwined, at last Anakin drew away,
"So do we resume...Uhmm… where we left off," He said in a soft shy tone.
She smiled coyly. "Yes please, I think we've wasted enough time already".
Anakin gathered her in his arms and carried her to the bed.
No one witnessed their union except the full moon that rose in the velvet sky and shone down upon the two lovers, smiling at the secret that it shared with them.
Amidala had removed the flowing silk gown; only the white under blouse and slacks remained. Her hair gathered at the top was now tied above her head with a wide metal clasp; the loose ends flowed down her shoulders to her hips like a dark silk fountain. It swung around languidly as she moved her head, the cascades randomly reflecting the blue metallic sheen of the moonlight.
The queen stood with her back to him, pretending to survey the scene before her as she swallowed hard. She did not want Anakin to see her in this state.
Anakin stood close behind her, his arms hanging loosely by his side. He did not sense anger or hostility. Slowly he dared to come closer.
Leaning his long arms on either side of her on the window frame, he leaned forward, towering over her small form. His body completely covering hers and still ...not touching. A warm blanket of peace and security enveloped her.
Suddenly she longed to have him enclose her, to hold her and kiss her. Strange how she was no longer afraid of him getting too close but instead she desperately longed for his skin against hers. She shut her eyes, catching her breath. She could feel the cool breeze on her face the fragrance of the garden mingled with the smell of his cologne.
She could feel his gaze on her-and suddenly she didn't want to hide the tears any more. A gasp escaped her lips as two warm hands closed around her bare arms. She felt her body melt with his touch.
"You've been crying my love!" A husky voice whispered close to her ears, sending a thrill through her.
As if she had found her shores, her safe abode. She just let go, breaking up. Her dams all broken, years of control and discipline just deserted her and she began to cry, sobbing and shaking violently as she leant back against his chest.
Anakin's hand left her arms-she felt suddenly cold and abandoned-only to entwine them around her waist. Immediate the warm security returned. She let her head slump back against his chest as her body was wracked with sobs. Turning her around in his arms he held her tight against him. Cradling her head under his chin he rubbed her shoulders and back to comfort her.
"My love... I'm sorry I abandoned you." He said. She didn't reply, instead she put her arms around him. She was still crying. He let her cry.
At last she was quite, sniffing softly against him. Anakin realized his vest was probably wet with her tears. Lifting her onto the windowsill he sat her there so that her face was just below his. Lifting up her chin he stared at her sad face.
His heart cried tears of blood at the sight of it. He had promised to keep her safe and never let her be sad and here she was crying out her heart because of his stupid pride.
"I'm sorry!" He whispered again as he gently wiped the tears from her face.
"No, Anakin there's nothing for you to be sorry about. I should be apologizing. All this while I had my true love before me and I refused to acknowledge it, insisting on being a queen all the time. All you did was bring out the young woman in me-the human creature that was imprisoned all this while inside the cold walls of a monarch, too dedicated to another cause to realize that life has much else to offer." She said, gasping for breath as she finished.
Anakin was silent as he searched for words.
"I'm sorry Anakin! Can you forgive me?" She said sniffing once more then looked up at him expectantly.
Anakin stared at her,
"forgive you?" He exclaimed incredulously.
Her head jerked up to him, "I know darling, I don't deserve it, I…"
She didn't finish as Anakin's lips on her own prevented further conversation. She felt her body flood with happiness and contentment as she responded. They had found each other. For too long they had pretended to be strangers when they knew they were destined for one other.
At last she broke away. Anakin wiped her face gently with the back of his hand. She gave him a sheepish smile.
"I love you Anakin!" She whispered in his ears as she locked her arms around his neck, "I have loved you for a long time only my head refused to believe my heart." She said, resting her head against his chest.
"I have always known it my love." He whispered back as he bent his head down to her. He put his arms around her waist pulling her closer and their silhouettes once again merged into one.
They stood thus for a long time, their bodies entwined, at last Anakin drew away,
"So do we resume...Uhmm… where we left off," He said in a soft shy tone.
She smiled coyly. "Yes please, I think we've wasted enough time already".
Anakin gathered her in his arms and carried her to the bed.
No one witnessed their union except the full moon that rose in the velvet sky and shone down upon the two lovers, smiling at the secret that it shared with them.