A/N: Kind of a fluffy ending of this chapter.
Chapter Three
I sat in the office that I shared with my father when it came to political matters and listened to what the allies thought of the New Republic. I looked towards the door, knowing that Anakin was just on the other side of it ready to come in if needed.
"Princess, what do you think?" a voice said from my left snapping me out of my daydreams.
"I'm sorry other things were running through my mind. What was the discussion again?" I answered truthfully.
I heard my father sigh from beside me.
"It was whether or not we should start swaying the neutrals to see more of our side now, or to wait and see how the war goes." The same voice said, Nioce I believe was his name.
"I think we should be subtle at first and as time approaches to be a little more forceful, perhaps resorting to more aggressive means for those or are hanging on to the old ways." I responded looking around the circle of men. "What is going to be the most difficult is the little fact that Queen Amidala has the most support among the senate. We need to be subtle and then we can pull the rug from under her and her supporters without them even having an idea."
At that I saw everyone's head nodding and the look of approval on the Chancellor's face. I looked at my father and saw the look of pride on his face. At that point my father looked at the clock and declared it time for lunch and the end of the meetings for the day. He invited everyone to dine with us and to utilize the palace's vast resources.
I watched everyone leave until it was only my father, the Chancellor, and I in the room. I stood from my chair and started walking towards the door until I was stopped from my father's voice.
"Anya, wait please." He said, and I turned to face them.
"Yes father?"
"I want to talk to you about your future." He said, and I felt the cold hand of dread grab my heart the way he said it.
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Anakin's POV
I stood outside the door of the office with another guard as the meeting went on. After a few hours I saw the door open and a flow of people walking out of the room continuing their conversations. I expected to see Anya behind the group of people but, there was no sign of her and the door closed after the last person left the room.
I went back to my position next to the door and continued waiting for the Princess to walk out. I hated these moments of silence because I thought back to my beautiful friend and what she meant to me. I let out a small sigh when I started remembering the fun times we had growing up and how over time I saw the young girl become a very attractive woman.
I knew I was falling in love with her but I knew that it could possibly never be. I knew that her father trusted me and approved of my skills or I would not be the princess' champion. She was a formidable woman in her own right however it was not seemly for a young woman of her status to carry more than a hidden dagger on her person.
I stood outside that door for what seemed like an eternity until I heard the door slowly open and I saw Anya come out. She was pale as a sheet and looked like she would collapse at any time. I quickly went to her side and before I even knew what happened she grabbed me and led me to a alcove far away from the office door.
I didn't even get a word out before she jumped into my arms and I felt her start to sob. I wrapped her in my arms and just let her cry on my shoulder as my one hand went up and down her back to soothe her.
After a while she took a calming breath and pulled away from me. I still saw tears in those beautiful violet eyes of hers and I took my other hand to wipe the tears from her face. She pressed her face into my hand and put hers on top of it.
"What happened, My Princess," I said after a moment longer of silence.
She sighed.
"My father wanted to talk about my future plans and visions." She said in a shaky voice.
"What about it?" I asked and felt a chill run down my spine.
"My father wants to step down as king and place me as the queen. But, before that happens both he and the chancellor think that I should have a companion at my side." She continued, and she looked me directly in the eye. "Whoever impresses them in the war will earn my hand in marriage."
I looked down at her in shock.
"Anya, I will not let that happen to you." I said caressing her cheek with my thumb, lightly brushing against the bottom of her lip and before I knew what I was doing I started leaning towards her. "Do you know why?"
"No, why?" she whispered as she leaned up to me.
"Because I think I love you." I said claiming her lips with mine.