Chapter 8
Arana Bandér was more than a little surprised by the sound of the door chime and looked up from where she was finishing the bookkeeping for the day. She was even more surprised to see a very familiar young woman enter with a young man behind her. With as much haste as her aging body could allow she went to greet the pair.
"Never thought I'd see the day when Padmé Naberrie came to visit after hours," she teased, winking at the young Senator before looking at the young man holding her hand like it was something to be treasured. "I take it you've finally found a worthy man."
Padmé blushed and nodded, clutching Anakin's hand even tighter. "More than worthy, Arana," she said softly, her eyes drifting up to meet his. "Anakin, I want you to meet Arana Bandér, she's Ruan's wife. Arana, this is Anakin Skywalker."
"It's a pleasure to meet you M'lady," Anakin said, bowing his head respectfully.
"And you Anakin," she said with a warm smile that reminded him of his mother's. "I take it you two are here to see my husband?"
"If it isn't too much of a bother," Padmé said.
"Go settle in, I'll fetch him," Arana said, motioning towards a door at the back of the shop.
"Thank you," the couple said together.
The room was lit by the single light that hung over a well worn table, illuminating the tools of the craft and the three chairs they would sit in during the ceremony. An old man emerged from another door and indicated that they should take a seat.
"It is an honor that you chose me to do this for you, M'lady," Ruan said softly, his eyes glittering through the lenses he wore in the dim light.
"You were the only choice after I saw what you were able to create for my sister," she replied.
He inclined his head in pleased acceptance. "Have you chosen a symbol?"
"We have," Anakin said, pulling out a piece of flimsy with the design they had agreed on, a much more refined version of the symbol from the Japor snippet, sketched by steadier hands than the hands of the boy he had been when he carved them.
The artist took the time to study the sketch, pleased by its simplicity and intrigued by the meaning behind the unfamiliar markings. "If you would please give me your hand, we shall begin," he said, his eyes meeting Anakin's over the small table.
As Padmé had instructed him to do, he placed his hand flat on the table in the middle; his fingers spread enough to allow the artist the space to work. Hugo picked up his tools, his hands steady, and leaned in close. He tapped the frame of his lenses to magnify what he was looking at to ensure perfection before he began the work. Anakin's eyes found hers as the tiny needle made its mark.
The simple design, done on such a small scale, took no time at all for someone as skilled as the old man. When he pulled away to allow them to see the finished product, Anakin was surprised to find that the ink was a light shade of red and not the traditional blue he had expected. He was quite pleased by the finished mark as he held it up to the light to examine it. Padmé gently clasped his hand and kissed the knuckle just below the freshly marked skin of his finger, as tradition dictated. When she released his hand, Ruan gently wrapped the fresh mark with a bacta patch to ensure it healed faster and did not scar.
With a deep breath and a glance at Anakin, Padmé placed her hand where his had been, preparing herself for the marking. Anakin held her gaze the entire time the old man worked, unable to look away from her with the knowledge that in many ways this night bound them together for all time. He repeated the gentle kiss once her marking was done and then helped her to her feet. On impulse, he tenderly tilted her chin up as he leaned down to kiss her, sealing their bond with a kiss.
The old man stood before them and placed their newly marked hands together, their fingers twining on their own accord. "May the Mother Goddess bless this union," he said. "May the Goddess of Safety protect you. May Shiraya guide you through whatever darkness you encounter."
"Thank you, father," they both spoke, completing the ceremony.
Ruan offered them a small goblet of ceremonial wine and they both drank from it before he walked them to the door of his shop. He was quite pleased by the work he had done for them and happy to see their beloved leader so happily in love. Arana was beaming and gave them her own blessing as they prepared to return to her parents' home.
Sola was waiting just inside the door when they arrived. She saw the way they looked at each other as he took her cloak and hung it by the door and their freshly bandaged fingers gave them away. "I'm pretty sure that I know what you two were up to," she said, "But for right now, you need to keep quiet about it. Mom was able to talk some sense into Dad but I don't think he'd be too pleased that you did that without telling them."
Padmé frowned as she slipped her hand into Anakin's and glanced toward their father's private study. "Perhaps I should talk to him," she said.
"I don't think that's a good idea," Sola replied. "He's in one of his moods. I think he's trying to come to terms with the idea that you're planning on getting married."
"Give him time," Anakin said. "He's accepted that you and I are in love but I think it would be best to leave it alone until I'm gone."
"Oh, perfect timing," Jobal said as she herded her granddaughters inside, a knowing smile lighting her face. "Dinner is ready; Darred is just putting the dishes on the table."
Anakin looked confused by the name and Padmé tugged him behind her. "Darred is Sola's husband," she explained as they entered the dining room.
"I hear you've caused quiet the uproar," Darred teased as he entered carrying a steaming platter of pasta.
"Not intentionally," Padmé replied, moving around the table to embrace her brother-in-law.
"I'm glad you're safe," he said. "Your sister was worried sick after we found out you had been involved with that battle."
"I'm fine, honestly."
"More than fine if what I overheard your mother and sister whispering about," he said, glancing behind her to where Anakin stood.
Padmé was beaming when she returned to Anakin's side and led him over to meet his future brother-in-law. "Darred, this is Anakin," she introduced.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you," Darred said, offering his hand to the young Jedi.
"And you," Anakin replied.
"It's not every day that you meet someone who has managed to save our planet and one of our most beloved leaders," Darred teased. "Sola couldn't stop gushing about you after you met a few weeks ago."
Anakin blushed and glanced down at his feet. "Thank you… I think."
The family was just sitting down at the table when Ruwee finally emerged, still looking slightly defeated but even more so like a father reminiscing about his child growing up too quickly. The mood was light, but his soured just slightly when he spied the matching bandages on the left hands of the couple to his left, a glance at his wife quickly made him snap out of it however. Jobal made an effort to keep the conversation light as they ate, not wanting to ruin the good mood that seemed to have settled over her family, and kept a close eye on the frown that marred her husband's brow.
They settled into the warm sitting room after everyone had eaten far more than they needed to and the dishes had been cleared by the men, and Anakin found himself feeling like a part of the family. Most of them had welcomed him with open arms and he was grateful to be given such a gift so soon after the loss of his mother. As she so often seemed to do, Padmé picked up on his mood, a loving smile lighting her face as gentle fingers traced over his arm. She leaned her head against his shoulder and let out a tiny sigh of contentment that did not go unnoticed by everyone in the room, even Ruwee had to admit that the boy brought something out of her that he had never expected to see.
It was late when they returned to the palace, he had wanted to stay but she had insisted on returning so that they could have their last night to themselves, knowing full well that her father would have insisted Anakin sleep in the guest room with the door locked had they stayed. Captain Typho was not pleased with how long they had been gone but she simply dismissed him with a look and a polite goodnight as she continued on to her bedchamber with Anakin following her.
They undressed each other in the dark, peeling away the layers of clothing until they stood bare of everything, and instead of falling headlong into the passion that always simmered just beneath the surface they found themselves content to rest in each other's arms, watching the other by the light of the twin moons. They talked in the darkness, baring their souls to each other as they made their silent promises between lingering kisses that spoke of the desperation they felt creeping into their final night together.
As the hours slipped away and the night grew closer to dawn, their need seemed to overtake everything else within them and they found themselves insatiable. They made love slowly and tenderly, taking their time to stretch out the moment as long as they could. Their passion tempered only by the need to sleep. And as the night gave way to morning they were again caught within passion's spell, loving each other with a fierce possessiveness they had never known before.
The day started with rain, the birds outside singing their complaints about the sudden downpour, and it was all the activity that pulled Padmé from her restless slumber. She found it oddly fitting that a storm had come in, the dull grey sky mirroring her own tumultuous emotions. Anakin was asleep beside her, his head turned towards her and his lips parted temptingly. She pulled herself into a sitting position beside him, taking the time to simply watch him sleep, loving the way the sheets draped over his long, lean body and the way one rather large foot stuck out at the corner. His breathing was deep and only the occasional soft snore came from him. The arm that had been draped around her shoulders as she slept shifted restlessly behind her as if to pull her back into his warm embrace. And then with a jerk and a half snore he woke, sleepy blue eyes searching out his surroundings before they found her. The sleepy smile she had found made her heart race tugged at his lips as he gently urged her back down to his side.
"You're beautiful in the morning," he murmured as he shifted onto his side so they could lie there face to face.
She felt herself blush and smile shyly at his words, such simple words but they were spoken with honesty and love. "You're not such a bad sight to wake up to either," she teased.
The calloused pad of his thumb swept over her cheek as he looked at her, his eyes seemingly able to see into her soul. "I'd love to wake up like this for the rest of my life."
"I might just let you."
He grinned and leaned in to kiss her with a tenderness she found impossible to ignore. "I don't want to leave," he whispered against her lips.
"I don't want you to leave either," she replied, suddenly finding herself fighting back tears.
"We could just…"
"Don't Anakin," she gently cut him off. "We both agreed that we would go through with this, that we would continue to do our duty to the Republic."
"I know."
"It doesn't change the way I feel about you, nothing could change that," she continued. "But for right now the Republic needs us."
"You're right," he said, a new determination in his eyes as he slowly rolled her beneath him. His hands sifted through her hair, helping it to fan out around her in silken waves as he memorized every detail of her face in the morning light. "For now, no more talk of the Republic, we only have a couple more hours before my transport leaves."
She slid her arms around his neck and nodded, a sly smile pulling at her lips as she gently wound his Padawan braid around one graceful finger and used it to pull him down until their lips met in the briefest of kisses. "Let's make the most of our time," she agreed breathlessly against his lips before he claimed her with a fiery passion that ignited her blood and singed every nerve ending in her body.
The transport station was bustling with activity when they arrived, heavily cloaked and dressed in civilian clothing. She had wanted him to take one of her ships to return to Coruscant but he insisted that travelling on a public transport would raise fewer questions and she could not argue with that logic. Typho had insisted on driving them to the station to protect her once Anakin was gone but they had left him waiting where he had parked the speeder to give them time to say goodbye.
Her fingers slid between his as they reluctantly made their way towards the terminal where Anakin would leave her side for the first time after nearly two months. She could see the pain in his eyes, the lost look she had prayed to never see on his face again after that Tatooine morning not so long ago was back, all sense of confidence gone. She knew her own face was a mask of pain that surely wasn't helping him face their imminent separation. He stopped them just before the terminal gate and pulled her into a fierce hug that stole the air from her lungs even as she clung to him like her life depended on it.
"I can't do it," he whispered against her neck. "I can't leave you."
Watery brown eyes lifted to his as trembling hands lovingly framed his face; he was beautiful even when his face was contorted with grief. "I don't want you to go," she said, struggling to get the words out around the lump that had formed in her throat. "I don't know when we'll see each other again."
His eyes widened and a single tear slid down his cheek as he sucked in a harsh breath. "Don't say that," he hissed. "Please, don't say that. I can't…"
She knew that he feared losing her, that he was terrified of something happening to her while he was helpless to protect her, and she knew that fear came from his horrific loss. She gently brushed the tear away and offered him a shaky smile. "I'll be fine. I know how to take care of myself."
He nodded his head weakly, his eyes closing briefly to savor her touch in these final moments. "I'll see you soon," he said, trying to make them both believe his words. "It should just be a few weeks and then…"
"Just come home to me Anakin," she said, her own tears spilling down her cheeks now. "That's all I ask."
"I will, I promise."
The final boarding call blared over the speakers as beings crowded all around them, oblivious to their goodbye.
"I love you," he said as he leaned down for one final kiss.
"Always," she breathed against his lips.
He started to pull away from her but stopped long enough to press his lips to her forehead, lingering long enough to inhale the sweet scent of her hair and the heady fragrance of her perfume. And then with a final glance he grabbed his bag and disappeared into the throng of beings boarding the transport.