"I can readily believe," answered he gravely, "that reports may vary greatly with respect to me; and I could wish, Miss Bennet, that you were not to sketch my character at the present moment, as there is reason to fear that the performance would reflect no credit on either." Mr. Darcy to Elizabeth Bennet, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin
Chapter
13: "I Hate You and Your Dancing!"
Without even
realizing what she was doing, Padmé heard herself say, "You
may."
Gratefulness momentarily washed over Anakin's face, but with a clumsy bow, he soon disappeared.
It was then that Padmé realized that Rabé was staring at her in shock.
Oh, Force! Why did I just do that?
All of the sudden, she could not breathe and the room seemed overly crowded. "Follow me," Padmé gasped, leading her friend into the adjoining room that was dark as well as empty.
Rabé nervously bit her lip and clutched at her friend's arms.
"Did I just tell Master Skywalker that I would dance with him?"
"I daresay you did," Rabé said morosely, but her face brightened a little. "Padmé, don't let your feelings for Ferus get in the way- I have a feeling that Master Skywalker can be quite agreeable when he chooses to be."
"Oh, that would be most unfortunate," Padmé moaned, dramatically hanging her head, "considering the fact that I have sworn to loathe him for all eternity!"
Laughing, Rabé cupped Padmé's face and kissed her forehead. "And do not worry- I'll take care of Palo for you." With a wink, she sidled out of the room, leaving Padmé to nervously await the promised dance.
Padmé found that Anakin was expectantly waiting for her the moment she stepped out of the room. Most reluctantly slipping her hand into his strong arm, Padmé allowed him to lead her onto the dance floor, much to the shock of the other dancers. She inclined her head to Anakin as he bowed, and Padmé delightedly noted that his cheeks were a little pinker than usual.
With the first thrum of the instruments, the slowly moved towards each other and, turning about the other, took up the former's positions in the queue. For quite some time, they silently followed the music but Padmé and Anakin did not so much as even glance at each other.
Then, a most wicked idea formed in her head and, despite herself, Padmé grinned in an evil way.
Anakin, who was not completely oblivious to her sudden change in mood, gave his dancing partner a worried look.
If he was seeking to torment her by forcing her into0 his company, revenge would be best sought by forcing Anakin to talk with her.
"Are you normally so quiet while dancing, Master Skywalker?" she asked flippantly though her eyes danced as he turned away from her.
"What do you wish for me to speak of?" asked he in a cordial manner though it apparently took a lot of effort to do so.
"How about," she started to say, pretending to give his thoughts great consideration, "you comment on my dress or 'lightness of foot,' as dear Mr. Palo calls it?"
"I already have."
A sly pout covered Padmé's face but she didn't give Anakin the satisfaction of looking at him. "Then, you could talk about the decorations or the number of couples. After that, I'll agree with you and say that I like private balls more than public ones."
Though she did not glance at Anakin, she could tell that a smirk had crossed his face. "Do you always dance as a rule, Miss Neberrie?"
"No, I prefer being unsociable and taciturn."
This earned her momentary silence.
Or, so she thought.
"Anakin, it is certainly surprising to find that you are dancing without having been forced to," Mace Windu exclaimed though he fixed the other Jedi with a stern look.
Peeved, Anakin stopped moving, a blushing Padmé trying to hide behind his strong build.
"And you have the lovely Miss Neberrie for your partner," Mace continued on in a bewildered way, causing the couple to become deadly silent. "What knowledgeable being suggested this?"
"I asked her," Anakin stammered, looking anywhere but at his two companions.
A raised brow was his reply. "Though this is certainly… unexpected, I hope you two shall have the pleasure of doing so again on a… ah, certain anticipated event." His significant look drew their gazes to the corner of the room where Sabé was being contentedly held in Obi-Wan's embrace.
Beside Padmé, Anakin stiffened and his nostrils flared but no one but the young woman noticed.
Moments later, they continued the dance, he in stony silence.
"Do you often take walks out of the Jedi Temple?" he finally asked, extending his bad mood to her.
On either side of them stood a male or female respectively who silently moved to the stringed instruments. Each thrum sent an odd feeling coursing through Padmé's veins, but that sensation was nothing competed to what she felt each time she slipped her tiny hand into Anakin's gloved one. Each time she did this, Anakin flinched before tightly holding onto her.
"Yes," she said breathlessly, praying that he would neither notice nor comment on the faint blush that had come to her cheeks. "My friends and I love doing so because it allows us to make new acquaintances, such as a person like yourself would not understand nor enjoy."
Slightly, his grip on her hand tightened.
At this, another idea formed in Padmé's head. "As a matter of fact," she said purposely, appearing to be brooding something over, "We had just made a new acquaintance the other day just before we ran into you- Ferus Olin."
The reaction was instantaneous- something dangerous flashed in Anakin's eyes and he whipped one her so suddenly that Padmé actually jumped. "Jedi Olin is so fortunate as to have so many friends," he sneered right into her face.
Padmé didn't even blink. "He's been unfortunate to have lost your friendship." His mannerisms had confirmed all her suspicions- it was he who had Palo sent away and had done so with a grim intention.
Angrily, he led her through all the motions of the dance. "Why are you starring at me?" he finally asked through gritted teeth."
"Trying to make out your character… again."
"Once again, I ask you to end your studies."
"It just is that I have heard such differing accounts about you…"
"Pity I have not had the opportunity to give you mine."
Silence befell them, but slowly, the anger left his face.
As the music began to climb to the crescendo, Padmé found that she was losing herself in his bright blue eyes and that Anakin seemed to be in a similar trance. All around them, the other couples disappeared until only they were left, gliding closer then away from each other. His real hand reached out and touched hers and, though its sudden warmth surprised her, Padmé did not flinch.
The sound of clapping brought Padmé out of her trance and, blinking rapidly, she saw that Anakin was equally embarrassed as she. Before Padmé could even open her mouth to say any of the thoughts that were coursing through her jumbled mind, Anakin jerkily bowed before rushing off.
Stunned, Padmé just stood there until something forcefully crashed into her and nearly made the young woman topple over.
"Oh, dear me!" Eirtae exclaimed, clutching at her heaving chest. "I am just so fat." By the obvious smell on her breath, the young woman had been heavily drinking. "You should have seen yourself," Eirtaé giggled, throwing her unsteady arms about the humiliated Padmé, "you were all but slobbering over Master Skywalker!"
Seemingly out of nowhere, several of her classmates gathered around and, much to Padmé's horror, began to tease her.
"Your grades have improved- I wonder why!" one girl chanted.
"And I wonder what he's teaching her during 'Remedial Piloting'," another taunted, only laughing harder as Padmé covered her red cheeks with her hands.
All around her, the other guests began to give Padmé odd looks and, with what little dignity she had left, Padmé quickly left the room.
And found horror in the next.
Eirtaé wasn't the only one who was tipsy. Sprawled out on the couch and dramatically fanning herself was a drunken Madame DesLauriers. Here, the other people did not feign their politeness but openly laughed and pointed at the babbling woman. "Oh yes, Master Kenobi has all but proposed to her…"
Padmé suddenly found that she could not move.
One woman commented on this but was soon overtaken by the large headmistress. "Just think- she'll be a Jedi Master's wife…"
"Madamé DesLauriers," Padmé murmured. Momentarily, she gained her attention but was soon brushed off.
That was perhaps just as well, for she soon found a familiar person walking towards her. "Miss Padmé," Miss Talek greeted in a barely civil tone. On her arm was Anakin, something which greatly horrified Padmé even further. "What charming acquaintances you have," the woman sneered." Her mocking eyes led Padmé's to the adjoining from where a most dreadful sound could be heard. "I pray that I will not have the pleasure of meeting any more of your… friends." Laughing, she led Anakin back into the ballroom.
Singing is generally considered an art, that is, if it is well done, but what Padmé heard was most certainly not. It could be best defined as screeching accompanied by poor piano playing, but that wasn't what bothered her- many important people were laughing at Yané and her one attentive listener, Palo.
Tears filled Padmé's eyes, but she didn't care- that night, she had entered into the ballroom with great hopes for her budding future, but everything now seemed to be in ruins. Her heart went out to her friend as she watched Mace Windu politely pull Yané away from the piano.
"I've been practicing all week," Yané sobbed, practically burying her tear-stained face into the Masters' robes.
Then, Padmé felt someone tap her shoulder. "Don't you just wish that you could die of embarrassment," Padmé asked the equally distressed Rabé.
"Well, Master Kenobi hasn't noticed all this-that's what matters."
"He's obviously very much in love," Padmé briefly smiled as she looked at the whispering couple.
"But does she love him?"
"Of course…"
"Can he tell that, though?" Rabé asked wisely, shaking her head sadly. "She needs to let him know exactly how she feels or Sabé is going to lose him."
"Lose him?" Padmé asked dubiously. "You think too much."
"And so does our Jedi friend," Rabé whispered. It soon turned that she was not referring to Sabé's beau but to Anakin.
"Forget about him," Padmé said sternly, already leading her friend away. She did not like the dark look that Anakin gave the couple. "Let's get Yané out of here."
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Early Morning, Theed Palace
Early that morning, all of the young ladies boarded the speeders and headed off. Still quite drunk and talking even louder, Madamé DesLauriers yelled many things to the red-faced Obi-Wan who was standing with several of his companions on the steps of the palace's entrance. Only the sight of his Sabé led him to stay there.
Soon, they were gone, but an overly critical eye watched the slowly-moving caravan disappear off into the distance. "Obi-Wan, you have got to be kidding me," Miss Talek said, giving him a hard look before walking back inside.
Anakin followed her, and when they had all entered into the large sitting room, he leaned against the fireplace and stared off into space.
Though no one was paying her any attention- perhaps her motive for speaking- Miss Talek went on and on about the numerous horrors she'd witnessed at the ball.
"And Miss Padmé- how horrible it must have been for her to dance with that miserable artist. Oh well, I guess if that's the best she can do…"
"Shut up," Anakin said harshly, glowering at the young woman.
"How defensive you are, Maste Jedi! Would you care to share with us what is on your mind?" Miss Talek cried out, little knowing that her attack on Padmé had done precious little to endear herself to the Jedi.
"Certainly," replied her. "I was thinking of those vibrant brown eyes she has."
"Well, those are her only pleasing feature," Miss Talek confided to the equally disgusted Obi-Wan. "She is horribly…"
"I have considered her to be one of the most beautiful women of my entire acquaintance for quite some many months," Anakin announced, his words leaving no room fro who was not on his list. Quickly bowing to hid his flushing cheeks, Anakin left the room.
To this revelation, Miss Talek had no reply but sat there stunned with her mouth one in such a manner that, had the person not been herself, she would have been quick to criticize.
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Spoiler for the next chapter: A Modest Proposal (cookie for anyone who can name the author/work that I ripped the title off of!)
Mace Windu was an orderly person. Though he had resided in his new quarters for a mere day, the Jedi had arranged it to his liking and was sitting at the desk sorting through datapads when a booming sound interrupted his solitude.
Reaching out through the Force, he felt a most disturbing presence on the other side of the door.
Madame DesLauriers.
Before
he could even blink, the door slammed open so forcefully that he, a
great Jedi Master, jumped in surprise.
A tall, angry woman glared at him. "You must come quickly!" she managed to gasp out, obviously having run the entire way to him. "Palo just asked Padmé to marry him but she won't have him!"
Author's Note- Sorry if I acted crabby on Friday- I had a really off day!
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