The Wedding
The
trip back to Naboo was incredibly uncomfortable for Jordana. She
spent the entire trip in the cockpit, away from Anakin and Padme's
constant kissing. She dreaded the moment they finally arrived,
because she knew this day wasn't going to end well. As Anakin and
Padme discussed what they were going to do, Jordana watched
everything from a nearby balcony. She turned away every time they
kissed to look at the sunset, the mountains, the lake, anything but
them. Her concentration was broken when Dorme approached her.
"They
look so cute together don't they?" she said
dreamily.
"Yeah…cute." Jordana sighed.
"You don't
seem very happy."
"This isn't going to be easy for me to
watch."
"You're sad because he's your best friend, and
you're worried you won't be as close to him." Dorme
suggested.
"That's only part of it." She whispered. Dorme
finally understood.
"You love him, don't you?"
"You
guessed it." she answered, surprised she had given out such
personal information so quickly.
"And you never told him?"
"How
could I? He's been in love with Padme since he was ten; I can't
compete with that. Besides, I knew he loved Padme when I fell in love
with him, I should have known it would end up this way sooner or
later." Dorme sighed. "Of course you know you can't tell anyone
about this or I shall be forced to kill you." Jordana said, only
half joking.
"Of course not Jordana. I wouldn't dream of it.
Actually I came up here to tell you that Padme wishes to see you."
Dorme lead Jordana to Padme's room and left them alone. Padme
turned to her, holding some kind of headdress.
"Do you think I
should wear this? I know it's tradition but I think it's
ugly."
"I agree. It looks like a beaded, crochet skullcap. And
this isn't exactly a traditional wedding." Jordana walked over to
her.
"Do you know any hair styles?" she asked.
"One or
two. I take it you want help?" Padme nodded. Jordana walked over to
her and began brushing her hair, in silence.
"You seemed quiet
today." Padme commented.
"Sorry…concentrating…"
"It's
alright. It's just that Anakin always said you were talkative."
"He
talked about me?"
"Yeah, a lot actually. I thought you two
were an item. Until of course he said he loved me." Jordana wanted
to yank the piece of hair she was working with so hard it would come
out.
"What did he say about me?"
"He told me about how
long you two have known each other, your abilities, the trouble the
two of you got into at the Temple when you were younger, how you were
always there for him, that you understood him when very few did, and
that he trusted you more than anyone…"
"Yeah well, when
you've been friends with someone for ten years, you're bound to
have a lot of memories." She said as she finished Padme's hair.
She turned around.
"You do know that you can't tell anyone
about this marriage. Anakin could be expelled from the Order."
"Don't
worry Padme, the last thing I ever want to do is get Anakin in
trouble." She said. Padme was still admiring her hair when Jordana
added, "Padme, since Anakin is my best friend, I am obligated to
tell you something."
"Yes?"
"You break his heart…and
I'll kill you." She threatened. They stared at each other for a
moment before Jordana broke the tension with a small laugh. "But we
won't have to worry about that will we?" Padme gave a nervous
laugh.
"No, of course not." Jordana smiled.
"Good. Now if
you won't be needing me, I have something I wish to talk to Anakin
about."
"Of course."
"Thank you Milady." She bowed
and left the room.
She found Anakin standing on the balcony,
meditating. She watched from a distance, admiring him. A strong rage
surged through her at the thought of what Count Dooku had done to
him. Her shoulder began to ach and a small groan escaped her lips.
Anakin heard her and turned around slowly.
"Well don't just
stand there." He said. She walked over to him, and sat down on the
balcony railing. "Be careful you might fall," he teased,
referring to when she fell off a balcony when she was eleven. She
looked down at the waves crashing against the rocks.
It would be
less painful for me to fall and hit these rocks than to watch you
marry her.
"If I remember correctly, you pushed me."
"Not
that hard." She looked down, remembering everything that Padme had
told her.
"So I hear you told Padme quite a lot about me."
"Why
wouldn't I? You are my best friend after all."
"It's just
weird that after being with the woman you love again after ten years,
you would want to talk to her about me, instead of other...more
romantic things, I guess."
"She wanted to know more about my
life at the temple, and you're a big part of that."
"Well
now you've got an even larger life. You're getting married, and
you'll probably have a bunch of kids, and you'll be dividing your
time between your Jedi duties and them."
"I'll make sure the
kids get to know you. You'll be their Auntie Jordie."
"Oh
God Anakin! I don't know how to be an auntie."
"It can't
be all that hard. I mean, they aren't your kids."
"May the
Force be with those poor, poor children."
Both of them got a
good chuckle out that one. When they calmed down, Anakin took her
hand in his.
"Jordana, I want to thank you for everything you've
done for me over the past ten years. You've been the best friend
anyone could have asked for."
She felt her cheeks blushing
slightly, "Ain't no big deal, Anakin. Even after you get married
and have your children, I'll still be here for you."
Anakin
gave her a brief hug as the tears pooled in her eyes.
The sun
was setting between the mountains on Naboo, creating a reflection on
the lake. Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala exchanged their vows and
shared their first kiss as husband and wife. Only three witnessed the
event. R2-D2 and C-3PO stood side bye side. Behind them, stood
Jordana Darai, leaning against the balcony. She turned away from the
sun, in hopes that no one would see the tears pouring down her face.
C-3PO noticed.
"Miss Darai, is everything alright?"
"Yes
3PO everything is fine." She lied, "I always cry at
weddings."
After dinner, Jordana decided she had to
leave.
"Anakin, I think it's time for me to leave now."
"Are
you sure? I mean you could always stay in a guest room." Padme
offered.
"No, I really think that I should go."
"Well,
alright. I'll have Captain Typho take you back to Coruscant, it'll
be safer than having you go alone." Padme said.
"Thank you
Padme." She said and gave her a hug. She turned to Anakin and held
him close.
"Thank you for coming Jordie." He said.
"Don't
mention it Anakin." She said. Looking at both of them together, she
said, "Congratulations." She turned and walked away; heading
towards the ship Captain Typho had waiting. For the entire trip back,
she sat in her private room and cried. As they approached Coruscant,
she asked him not to land on the Temple's landing platform. He
landed about a mile away, and left. Jordana walked the streets of
Coruscant, alone. It wasn't dark yet, so she didn't feel
threatened. She approached a club, and decided to get a drink. She
walked up to the bar.
"What'll it be, Missy?" the bartender
asked.
"Something with alcohol."
"You sure you're old
enough for that?" he asked suspiciously.
"I am old enough."
She said, waving her hand. He nodded and brought her the mix of the
day. She turned and watched the activity in they club, sipping her
drink occasionally.
"How the hell am I going to cover this one
up?" she asked herself.
The holoscreens all switched to one
channel. Supreme Chancellor Palpatine stood in front of a bunch of
reporters, flanked by Master Yoda and Master Windu.
"My fellow
constituents, it is with a heavy heart that I make this announcement.
The war with the Seperatists has begun..."
"Great," she
mumbled, taking another sip of her drink, "just fucking great."
