chap 47
Padmé stopped short in her track; she knew Panaka had seen their little exchange.
She smiled sweetly at him, "So Captain, I guess we have a lot to discuss."
"So the rumors are true?" Panaka said in an icy voice.
"What rumors?" The Queen replied.
Panaka suddenly lowered his head, shaking it from side to side.
"Your highness, The army is on edge, they need you more than ever to encourage them. One wrong move from you and we could have a mass desertion on our hands."
"Let's discuss this later, Captain." Amidala said moving to the breakfast table where Obi-wan and the chief were already sitting. Obi-wan gave him a knowing look. Panaka sat down heavily, his face etched in stone.
The chief had ordered a special breakfast for the newly wed. Obi-Wan was helping him self to another serving when Anakin came up to the table, grinning, his eyes searching for the one person. He had showered, shaved and dressed in the blink of an eye.
"That was quick, Padawan, I never knew you could move that fast." Anakin grinned at his master then pulled up a chair opposite his wife.
"What's this? Have you forgotten that you are a Jedi?" Obi-Wan said, a hint of displeasure on his face as he took in the white shirt and tan pants his padawan was wearing.
Anakin tore his eyes from Amidala. "Master my Jedi tunic was quite battered after those runs through the swamps, the chief was kind enough to provide me with these." He said pointing at his clothes, "the only other choice being a warrior's skirt." He added his eyes twinkling.
That is a 'capaline' the chief interjected, "Not a skirt." Anakin shrugged "Whatever!" he said as he turned his attention back to Amidala, but she did not look up from her plate. Anakin noticed she was not eating-just stirring the spoon aimlessly in her food.
He sensed a tension within the group. He smiled at Panaka but was met with a cold glare, Anakin's grin evaporated like hot steam. The chief too sensing the tension, decided to take his leave.
Seeing him leave, the former chief of security began to protest again.
"Your Highness, this is hardly the time to indulge in spur of the moment whims."
Amidala's head shot up, "Captain!" She called out harshly, "Are you accusing me! I have dedicated the best years of my life to Naboo. You have known me since I was but a child, surely you don't believe I could do any thing that would be contrary to the well being of Naboo!"
"I'm sorry your highness!" He said hanging his head. "I'm sure you have a good reason. But…" He stopped, giving Anakin the "look" again.
Anakin was on the edge of his seat. He sensed a confrontation. He also felt a deep sense of resentment from the Captain.
Obi-Wan suddenly stood up from his chair.
"Anakin lets go for a walk, we need to discuss a lot of things."
Anakin got up hesitantly; he looked at his wife with concern-her beautiful lips stretched tight as she fought to control her anger. Then he followed his master out.
They made their way down to the front garden, where the remnants of the festivities of the night before still littered the place.
Anakin blushed as the events of the past night flooded his memory. He was glad his master was ignorant of it.
They sat on a bench under a huge tree; it was quite except for the birds singing. Obi-Wan drew in the sweet fragrance thick in the fresh morning air. He leant back against the bench with a satisfied smile.
"Well Padawan, now I would like to hear YOUR story."
Padmé stopped short in her track; she knew Panaka had seen their little exchange.
She smiled sweetly at him, "So Captain, I guess we have a lot to discuss."
"So the rumors are true?" Panaka said in an icy voice.
"What rumors?" The Queen replied.
Panaka suddenly lowered his head, shaking it from side to side.
"Your highness, The army is on edge, they need you more than ever to encourage them. One wrong move from you and we could have a mass desertion on our hands."
"Let's discuss this later, Captain." Amidala said moving to the breakfast table where Obi-wan and the chief were already sitting. Obi-wan gave him a knowing look. Panaka sat down heavily, his face etched in stone.
The chief had ordered a special breakfast for the newly wed. Obi-Wan was helping him self to another serving when Anakin came up to the table, grinning, his eyes searching for the one person. He had showered, shaved and dressed in the blink of an eye.
"That was quick, Padawan, I never knew you could move that fast." Anakin grinned at his master then pulled up a chair opposite his wife.
"What's this? Have you forgotten that you are a Jedi?" Obi-Wan said, a hint of displeasure on his face as he took in the white shirt and tan pants his padawan was wearing.
Anakin tore his eyes from Amidala. "Master my Jedi tunic was quite battered after those runs through the swamps, the chief was kind enough to provide me with these." He said pointing at his clothes, "the only other choice being a warrior's skirt." He added his eyes twinkling.
That is a 'capaline' the chief interjected, "Not a skirt." Anakin shrugged "Whatever!" he said as he turned his attention back to Amidala, but she did not look up from her plate. Anakin noticed she was not eating-just stirring the spoon aimlessly in her food.
He sensed a tension within the group. He smiled at Panaka but was met with a cold glare, Anakin's grin evaporated like hot steam. The chief too sensing the tension, decided to take his leave.
Seeing him leave, the former chief of security began to protest again.
"Your Highness, this is hardly the time to indulge in spur of the moment whims."
Amidala's head shot up, "Captain!" She called out harshly, "Are you accusing me! I have dedicated the best years of my life to Naboo. You have known me since I was but a child, surely you don't believe I could do any thing that would be contrary to the well being of Naboo!"
"I'm sorry your highness!" He said hanging his head. "I'm sure you have a good reason. But…" He stopped, giving Anakin the "look" again.
Anakin was on the edge of his seat. He sensed a confrontation. He also felt a deep sense of resentment from the Captain.
Obi-Wan suddenly stood up from his chair.
"Anakin lets go for a walk, we need to discuss a lot of things."
Anakin got up hesitantly; he looked at his wife with concern-her beautiful lips stretched tight as she fought to control her anger. Then he followed his master out.
They made their way down to the front garden, where the remnants of the festivities of the night before still littered the place.
Anakin blushed as the events of the past night flooded his memory. He was glad his master was ignorant of it.
They sat on a bench under a huge tree; it was quite except for the birds singing. Obi-Wan drew in the sweet fragrance thick in the fresh morning air. He leant back against the bench with a satisfied smile.
"Well Padawan, now I would like to hear YOUR story."