Okay, Ladies and Gentlemen, you can officially turn on your mush sensors!
"No, that I am sure I shall not; and I think it is very impertinent of him to write to you at all, and very hypocritical. I hate such false friends. Why could he not keep on quarreling with you, as his father did before him?" Mrs. Bennet to Mr. Bennet, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin
Chapter 7: The Charming Mr. Olin
(continued from where we last left off)
"I…" Anakin stammered while Mace Windu, with a flick of his dark hand, whisked the dice into his hand and hid them within his robes. Remembering why he had come, he snatched Padmé's hand and dragged her forward. "In all my years, I have never seen such a terrible pilot."
"How dare you!" Padmé shrieked, yanking her hand away from his and shoving him with all her might. "You messed me up with all your yelling!"
"Children, an immature way to act this is," Yoda said in his loudest voice as he whacked his grimer stick against Anakin's leg. "Yell at her, did you?"
"Only when she nearly wrecked the speeder," Anakin snapped.
"A disrespectful tone, you have used towards me."
"He didn't stop," Padmé retorted, giving Anakin and evil look. "He even snatched the controls away from me…"
"I was saving us from getting killed," Anakin coolly replied, for Master Yoda's comment had stung him and he was now determined to be the mature one of the duo.
"And what do you want us to do about it?" Mace Windu asked suspiciously.
"I want to drop her from my class," Anakin said, smirking at Padmé. "She has done nothing but cause disruption after disruption, and I will not tolerate her putting the both of our lives in jeopardy." Taking a deep breath, he braced himself for her reaction.
"If your wife were still alive, I am sure she would be ashamed of you," Padmé said quietly.
Anakin went livid.
"Miss Padmé, what are you talking about?" Obi-Wan gasped, alternately gaping at Anakin and Padmé. His eyes became even wider as he saw Anakin go red.
"Let him tell you himself- he's the one who's been keeping secrets," Padmé said triumphantly.
"I was married," Anakin said, giving Padmé an evil look. She could tell that only the presence of his fellow Masters prevented him from unleashing his wrath upon her.
"Was?" Mace Windu asked uncertainly.
"She… died," Anakin choked, his troubled blue eyes looking at the floor.
For some unexplainable reason, Padmé suddenly felt really bad for him.
"Her name was Saché and we had been married for three years," Anakin confessed. "Force, how much I loved her!"
Anakin did not see the look on Mace Windu's face, but it seemed that the Korun Master was finally regretting his meddling. "I am sorry about your loss."
"Let go of her, you must. Waiting for you, a new future is," Yoda instructed, his large eyes momentarily resting on Padmé. "Other opportunities, you must not miss."
"Anakin, we must confess that we have been hoping that you would take an interest to Miss Padmé here," Mace Windu said slowly.
The look on Anakin's face became even darker. "I do not want another female in my life at this point," he retorted.
"Perhaps it would help you to heal," Obi-Wan said gently.
"I highly doubt that," Anakin said, looking at Padmé with pursed lips.
"Well, that's too bad, because we have nominated you both to be partners at the Yule Ball this year," Obi-Wan sighed, a mischievous look in his eyes.
"What?" Padmé cried out, giving Anakin a flabbergasted look.
It appeared that Anakin was just as surprised as she was, for his façade was gone as he gaped at the Masters. "You did what?" he gasped, horrified upon the mentioning of not only another dance, but the fact that he would have to be her partner.
"We only thought it would be fitting, seeing as you two are working together on her political campaign," Obi-Wan said innocently.
"You know, to get to know each other better."
Anakin groaned. "Fine, whatever. It's just my life- I'm the one who has to deal with it."
Despite herself, Padmé laughed at how much he sounded like a whiny teenager but immediately stopped when she became the recipient of an evil look.
"Teach her Remedial Piloting, you must," Yoda said gravely, whacking Anakin's leg with the grimer stick again.
"Remedial Piloting?" Anakin asked doubtfully.
"It shall be your duty to make her a competent pilot," Mace Windu said, turning to Padmé. "It shall be your duty to teach him how to dance."
Both grumbling about life's unfairness, Anakin and Padmé left, but if they had remained a moment longer, they would have heard a most interesting conversation.
"Think they will eventually learn to love each other, do you Obi-Wan?" Yoda asked.
The older man sighed. "Yes- whether they want to or not."
Pulling out the dice again, Master Windu said, "I am not sure yet- they are both quite strong willed."
"You can say that again," Obi-Wan snorted.
"Still," Mace
Windu continued, rolling the dice onto the table. "Drat- this says
they won't- I think a little help wouldn't hurt them…"
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Jedi Temple, Next Morning
Anakin's revelation had left Padmé stunned and, for the rest of the day, she walked about like a zombie. Even the next morning, as she sat down at the breakfast table, she continued to brood.
What had Saché seen in the moody Master? Was there a side to him that she had not seen yet? An even more unexplainable mystery was how Anakin had ever taken it upon himself to marry a sweet young lady.
"So, how did flying lessons go last night?" Rabé asked a tired Padmé as they were starting to eat.
"I did so well that Master Skywalker demanded that I be dropped from his class."
"That would be nice," Rabé yawned, "I would love to never have to go to that class again. Was that why you were seen disappearing into the Master's Wing with Master Skywalker?"
This snapped Padmé out of her sleepiness. "What?" she cried out.
"Rumors have been going around that, after flying lessons last night, you and Master Skywalker got a little… cozy," Rabé said uncertainly, watching with apprehension as increasing fury spread across Padmé's face.
"What!" Padmé gasped again. When she looked about, she found that everyone was whispering and giving her covert looks. "Who came up with such a terrible thought?"
Somehow, without being told who the offender was, Padmé already knew. Shooting a deadly look at Eirtaé, Padmé could only find comfort in the fact that the ditzy girl was now Master Skywalker's new detention buddy.
It was then that she noticed that her other friend was missing again. "Where's Sabé?" she worriedly asked Rabé.
Much to her great surprise, Rabé merely giggled and pointed up at the Master's table. There, sitting between a baleful Anakin and an earnest Obi-Wan, was Sabé. Glowing, she quietly listened to what her lover was telling her.
Before Padmé could adequately express her delight in her friend's happiness, she was startled by a loud thumping sound. Being quite lazy, Madame DesLauriers had declared Rabé her official mail opener, and an overly energetic Eirtaé had literally dropped the numerous packages onto Rabé's food. Grumbling something rather rude about Eirtaé, Rabé swiftly wiped the food off of a couple of the envelopes before opening them.
Bored again, Padmé looked about for someone to talk to. "Yané," she greeted the solemn girl sitting next to her.
Very studious and almost not a people person, Yané looked up from the book she was currently reading.
"How are you doing today?" Padmé cordially asked.
Sighing as if conversing was such a great burden, Yané slowly marked her page before addressing the question. "I have been contemplating the meaning of my existence and I have come to the conclusion that I need to devote my time to more worthwhile activities." That being said, she immediately went back to her reading.
"Madame DesLauriers!" Rabé suddenly called out, drawing the attention of the headmistress to her. "I hope we can fit another chair at this table- it appears that we're going to have company tonight."
"Enough riddles," the headmistress said impatiently, "speak Basic so we can understand what you mean."
"I have here," Rabé announced, holding up a rather long letter, "a note from a Mr. Palo. He is the school's patron and he holds the rights to turn us out at any time he pleases." For some odd reason, Padmé noted, her friend remained quite cheerful.
"How dreadful!" the headmistress exclaimed. "Stop talking about such depressing things."
"As long as we continue to excel, we shouldn't be in any danger," Padmé informed her.
Still, the headmistress continued to rant and rave about the unfairness of it all and how much she already hated Mr. Palo.
"If you read his letter, you might not think so badly of him," Rabé said, an odd twinkle in her eyes.
"The terrible man! Has he no conscience?" the headmistress cried out.
"Oh, he certainly does," Rabé laughed, waving about the five sheets of paper. "Here, let me read a portion of it to you."
Madame DesLauriers,
It has come to my attention that there has long been a misunderstanding between the Nubian Academy for the Political Arts and Sciences and my late father. As the new patron of your fine academy, I consider it to be my responsibility that I make amends and thus end this uneasiness. Why have I not sought to do so earlier? I only did so out of the fear that it would be an insult to my beloved father's memory if I were to be on good terms with those who he had disliked.
"See," Rabé paused, "he doesn't sound half bad."
I have been fortunate to have caught the attention of a most splendid patroness who has considered it her duty to grant me a large estate and many warm gifts of her gratitude. As her resident artist, I am ever ready to serve her, and such great kindness as that which has been shown to my humble self has moved me to extend this generosity to all. I pray that you will look over my noble station in life and my many reputable acquaintances to accept the olive branch that I extend to you and your pupils. I beg for you and your kind students to take my apology to heart and find it within your generous selves to accept it. If it shall be of no inconvenience to you and your fine ladies, I shall seek residence at the Jedi Temple and shall humbly trespass on your good will for a week. Do not worry that my kind benefactor shall object to my coming to you- as long as I remain dedicated to my work, she readily gives a few allowances. I remain, my dear madam, with my highest regards for yourself and your ladies, your friend and kindly benefactor,
Palo
"It sounds like he intends to marry one of us," Padmé said suspiciously.
"I certainly shall not stop him," the headmistress said with uncontained glee. "That way, he shall be of no harm to us!"
"He seems rather… odd," Rabé conceded, looking the letters over again, "but if he is half as amusing as his letters suggest, I think we shall have an interesting time."
"Olive branch," Yané snickered. To everyone's surprise, she had actually paused in her reading to listen to the reading of the letter. "That's not very original, but he did it with style."
"What do you know about
style?" Eirtaé asked loudly, causing Yané to redden
before returning to her book. "I think he sounds boring- I would
much rather never marry than be with him."
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Thirty Minutes Later
As it was Saturday and she had completed all of her homework, Padmé had convinced Rabé and Sabé to help her set up a table in one of the many corridors of the Jedi Temple. Lying on the table were many pins and pamphlets, all of which she hoped to have depleted by the end of the day.
Unfortunately, most of the Jedi that passed did not seem the least bit interested in the souvenirs.
"What you are doing is really noble," one male padawan told her as he stopped by. When Padmé kindly offered him a pin, he fervently shook his head. "Why do I need to wear a pin to show my support for you? My master says that I should own as few material things as possible so I will not become distracted."
It seemed that all the Jedi shared similar view points. Some of the Knights declined because it would lessen their aura of wisdom. The padawans protested due to the fact that they had been brought up to deny material possessions.
When what seemed to be the hundredth Jedi that refused, Padmé nearly began to cry.
But then, help came in the oddest of forms.
"Hello Obi-Wan!" Sabé delightedly called out to the passing Master. Accompanying him was Anakin and, much to Padmé's surprise, he'd actually been animatedly talking with Obi-Wan.
"Hello," Padmé said glumly.
Quickly and in a flustered way, Sabé told the two Jedi what they were doing. Much to Padmé's delight, Obi-Wan picked up one of the 'S.P.E.W. is the Thing to Do' pins and clipped it to the front of his robe before turning to talk with Sabé.
What surprised her even further was that, after a moment of studying his two options, Anakin picked up one of the 'Padmé is Our Queen' ones and also pinned it to his robe. He picked up a second one. "For Master Windu," he said, the sides of his mouth quirking as he looked up at her.
At that moment, Padmé heard the tapping of many little feet and, turning around, she saw the littlest of the initiates of the Jedi Order marching through the hallway, respectfully following their crèche master. The master held a rope and each of the small children held onto it with their paws or hands.
"Oh, how cute!" Sabé sighed wistfully, missing the look Obi-Wan gave her.
An idea formed in Padmé's head and, snatching up a dozen of the pins, gestured for the master to stop as she began to carefully attach the pins to the children's overalls.
"You're very pretty," one of the little children said in awe.
Padmé did not see the smile that formed on Anakin's lips upon hearing this. His blue eyes had lost their hardness as he gazed upon the touching scene.
"Why, thank you," Padmé said.
As soon as they all had been given a pin, the children all waved to her before walking off in a straight line.
All of the Jedi who were walking by stopped and stared.
An hour later, all the pins and pamphlets were gone. Enthused, Padme had rushed up to he quarters to get more supplies and soon returned to their small booth. What had excited her most was the fact that even Master Yoda had taken a pin and even a pamphlet.
Unfortunately, she lost her balance and accidentally dropped the largest box. Pins went scattering all over the wide corridor as Padmé gasped in horror. Quickly putting down her other bundles, she hastily began to pick them up, praying that no one she knew would pass by.
"I believe you dropped this," an amused male voice said.
Looking up, Padmé found herself looking into dark eyes. When she was finally able to pull herself away from them, she saw that her companion was a very handsome man. Tall and with dark brown hair that had a strip of gold through it, he was very handsome.
"Oh, thank you- I accidentally dropped them," she stammered, blushing as she looked away and continued to pick up her mess.
"There you are!" an all too familiar voice cried out. A smug look on her face, Eirtaé rushed to their side though she did not bother to help. "I see you have met Ferus- isn't he the most charming man you have ever met?"
Thought the muscles in his cheek twitched, Ferus finished cleaning up the mess before extending his hand to Padmé. "And what is your name?"
"Padmé," she said shyly.
"Well, Miss Padmé, would you care to join me on a walk?"
Hardly daring to believe what she had
just heard, Padmé took his offered arm and smiled.
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Spoiler for the next chapter: Master Skywalker's Grudge
"And that is why you should never use that type of brush," Palo ended solemnly, gazing into each of the sleepy faces before him.
"Is it over?" Eirtaé blurted out, instantly being shushed by her fellow classmates.
"You are quite rude," Palo admonished, truly offended.
Taking it that his lecture was over, the young ladies immediately scattered and tried to look busy.
"Madame DesLauriers, could I please have a word with you?" he asked the miffed headmistress in what he thought was a whisper.
Twenty pairs of ears perked up though none of the ladies looked up from their activities.
"As you might have heard," he continued on in his hushed tone, "I have been the kind recipient of an enormous estate in the Nubian countryside."
"I had heard that."
"I intend to take a wife to be my happy companion," he continued, giving her what he thought was a meaningful look.
"I'm sure she will be very happy indeed," Madame DesLauriers said in a more agreeable tone upon having realized his meaning.
"Do I have your permission to ask Miss Sabé for her hand?" He cast the seemingly unsuspecting young lady a doting look.
