Chapter 10
A week in total solitude was finally at its end as Anakin ignited his new lightsaber, pleased with the blue blade that emerged and more than happy with the way it felt to wield in the few practice forms he tried. The new weapon was lighter than his previous one had been and moved more accurately with his naturally swift movements. When the blade easily slid back into the hilt, he clipped it to his belt and finally emerged from his tiny room.
"Is it finished?" Obi-Wan asked when his Padawan finally emerged.
"It is," Anakin said proudly, unclipping the hilt from his belt and offering it to his Master for inspection.
"You found a way to make it lighter," Obi-Wan noted as he examined the fine craftsmanship that had gone into the creation of the hilt, Anakin's attention to detail had always impressed him and this new creation was no different.
"I used that new alloy that the Temple was able to get from the clones," Anakin explained. "It's lighter but it's stronger."
"Stronger is good with your knack for destroying lightsabers, young one," Obi-Wan teased as he ignited the blade. "You used a Pontite crystal. Where did you find one?"
"I've had it since I made my first lightsaber on Ilum," Anakin said. "I didn't know that it was anything special, I just grabbed a handful of crystals to keep handy in the Temple in case I needed to replace my lightsaber."
"Always thinking ahead," Obi-Wan said with a wry smile as he swung the blade with his own expertise. "The Pontite crystal is very rare, and is considered to be the most powerful type of Adegan crystals. It is said that its aura can cool tempers as well as skin."
"I thought it was like all the other crystals I picked up," Anakin admitted with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Leave it to you to be the first Jedi in a hundred years to create a lightsaber with a Pontite crystal," Obi-Wan said as he extinguished the blade and handed the hilt back to Anakin. "Would you like to put your new creation to its first proper test?"
"Have the healers given you leave to spar?"
"I can assure you I am in perfect health again."
"Well, if you feel up to the challenge I wouldn't mind the opportunity to put it to use," Anakin said.
The Council had postponed their departure for the planet Raxus to discuss the peace treaty with the Separatist Congress to allow Anakin the time needed to complete his new lightsaber and ensure that Obi-Wan was completely healed from their dual with Dooku. Now that both tasks had been fulfilled Anakin knew that it would only be a matter of time before they were sent off planet. Padmé had returned to Coruscant two days earlier and he had managed to get an encoded message to her during his solitude, he had told her what he knew about his upcoming mission without giving too much away just in case it had been intercepted. Her response had been simple but the heartfelt "come home safely" at the end had meant more to him than he would have expected it to.
Anakin and Obi-Wan walked together through the grand halls of the Jedi Temple to the sparring dojos, drawing the occasional attention of the passing groups of Padawans and younglings, their admiration for the pair making Anakin smile. Obi-Wan's quiet acceptance of his flaws, however un-Jedi-like they were, had helped boost Anakin's own confidence over the two weeks he had been on Coruscant. His Master seemed to accept that there was a darkness that lingered within him but he was more than determined to remind Anakin that the good in him far outweighed the darkness. Their relationship had almost healed since the night he told his Master everything and for that he was grateful.
They chose the farthest dojo from the door in the hopes of having privacy as they sparred, despite knowing that they always managed to draw an audience once word got out. They hardly spoke as they prepared for their sparring match, stretching together to ensure there would be no unnecessary injuries. Anakin had always preferred to train without his tunics, claiming that he learned the movements better without the layers of clothing hindering him, while Obi-Wan preferred to keep his modesty.
The pair faced each other in the center of the room, bowing in respect and saluting each other with their now ignited blades before Anakin made the first move. He came in swiftly on the left, his speed would have been unnerving for anyone who had not faced the boy before, but Obi-Wan knew his preferences and parried the strike with an effortless downward stroke of his blade as he danced out of the way. Obi-Wan had always been impressed with Anakin's natural skill and had he not been more concerned with avoiding an injury at his Padawan's hands he would have taken the time to admire the skill that he exuded effortlessly.
Anakin's next attack came in the form of spinning, over the shoulder strike that knocked Obi-Wan off balance long enough for the younger Jedi to twist again and attempt a strike that he deflected with a little more effort. Obi-Wan pushed forward, striking high only to retract and slice low, keeping Anakin on his toes as they moved around the dojo with the speed of master swordsmen. They were evenly balanced, having spent the last ten years sparring together, and neither could get a good strike against the other.
They had an audience of eager young Padawans and a few older students crowding the observation balcony, eager for a chance to watch Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi spar. Their legend had grown within the halls of the temple since the events of Geonosis and now they were the heroes to many of the younger Jedi. Even a few Knights and Masters had joined the younger students to watch the pair as they dueled.
Below the crowd, the two Jedi increased the already incredible speed of their attacks, playing to their audience and drawing cheers of approval. The pair was in good spirits, trading good natured jabs as often as their lightsabers met, and their laughter only made their audience enjoy the spectacle even more. As the intensity of their sparring session increased, the occasional strike made its way through their defensive maneuvers, small burns the price to be paid for getting sloppy.
They maintained their incredible level of intensity for close to an hour until they were both exhausted and covered in sweat. Following Anakin's final strike, the pair extinguished their blades and bowed to each other before bowing to their cheering audience. Obi-Wan stepped close to his Padawan, a pleased smile on his face as he touched the boy's shoulder and mouthed the words "well done" to Anakin, earning an exultant smile from Anakin.
Anakin disappeared into the fresher as soon as they returned to their quarters, having technically won their sparring match and earning that right. Their official orders arrived in the form of Master Yoda himself briefing them in the privacy of their quarters. The rest of their afternoon was spent in quiet meditation as they prepared themselves for the beginning of their mission the next day.
It was late in the evening when Obi-Wan watched his Padawan slip out of their quarters with his natural stealth. He had suspected the young man would try to disappear for the night now that they had their official orders and he could not find it in himself to stop him from going to see the Senator.
Padmé was waiting in the shadows of her veranda when he arrived, hopping out of his speeder with an eagerness she felt equaled her own as she practically ran to him, embracing him fiercely. His joyous laugh rang in her ears as he picked her up and twirled around, never letting her feet touch the ground even as his lips laid claim to hers. Her much vaulted self-control all but disappeared the moment his lips met hers and she could do little more than return the kiss with equal passion.
"I've missed you," he breathed as his lips ghosted over the curve of her cheek and he finally lowered her feet back to the floor. "Oh gods I've missed you."
She laughed shakily, even as her eyes closed and her head tilted back just enough to give him access to the graceful column of her neck. "It hasn't been that bad has it?" she teased breathlessly. He lifted his head to stare down at her in disbelief, had she not been aching every moment they were apart? But when her hands moved to frame his face with a tenderness only she was capable of, he knew just how hard their separation had been for her as well. "You don't have to feel like you're alone in this Anakin. Everything you felt since we last saw each other I can assure you I have felt as well."
He smiled weakly and turned his head enough to press his lips to her palm. "I guess we just have to get used to being apart," he said.
"I don't know if these separations are something we can get used to or if it is just a matter of accepting it," she said as she slipped out of his embrace and reached for his hand, turning to lead him up the stairs to her bedroom.
But he stopped her and asked, "You don't regret it do you?"
She turned back around to face him and placed her free hand over his heart as she looked up into his eyes, shadowed as they were by the dim light. "Regret what Anakin? Loving you?" she replied. "I could never regret loving you."
The confident tilt of his lips reminded her in a rush just how much she had missed everything about him. But that grin faded as his eyes shifted from hers to stare at something on the wall that she could not see.
"I don't mean love, that was something neither of us could control. Although you did try," he said softly. "I meant agreeing to this. Living in the shadows like this to be together."
Her hand slid up his broad chest to gently touch his cheek and force him to look at her again. "I don't think I have it in me to regret any of the time we are given together," she answered. "Every moment is a blessing and to think otherwise would only taint the time we do have. You don't regret it do you?"
"Of course not!" he denied vehemently.
"Then why are you even asking me such things?"
His hands gently slipped around her waist and she let him pull her close. "Maybe I'm just worried that I'm going to wake up from this dream and you aren't going to love me when I do," he whispered.
She looked up into his eyes, holding his gaze steady with her own as she spoke, "There is nothing that could change the way I feel about you."
He kissed her then and she molded her body against his in her desperation to get even closer to him, fingers fisting in his short hair as they lost themselves to their passion. He used the Force to guide them up the stairs, kissing her with every step. His impatience won out and he finally just scooped her into his arms, letting her wind her legs around his waist as he practically ran the few remaining steps. After they finally tumbled into the large bed neither of them were capable of coherent speech or thought long into the night.
Anakin's restless shifting and low murmurs pulled Padmé from her slumber. She reached out to him, placing a loving hand on his chest in an attempt to banish whatever was troubling him. But his murmurs turned into shouts and she swiftly sat up, shaking his shoulder with a gentle insistence as she repeated his name.
With a final shout, he sat up with a gasp, and for a moment he was disoriented by his unfamiliar surroundings. His body was tense with fear and his breathing raged as he tried to calm himself. The feel of a soft hand sliding along the backs of his shoulders startled him and he jerked away from the touch.
"Anakin," she said softly, trying to soothe him as she moved closer to him, her other hand coming to rest over his racing heart. "You're safe Anakin, it was a dream."
"Padmé," he whispered, his body instantly relaxing at the sound of her voice. He turned his head to look at her and she offered him a reassuring smile while slipping closer to him.
"Do you want to tell me what you saw?" she asked, leaning her head against his shoulder as her hand sifted through his hair.
"It was just flashes of… I honestly don't know."
"It's all right Anakin," she assured him. "Do you think it was another vision?"
"No," he said, his voice cracking around the word. "No it couldn't have been one. It wasn't as clear."
"Can you remember anything that you saw?"
"Fire. Lots of fire," he said closing his eyes in an attempt to recall what he had seen. "And screams. I think it was a battle."
She gently urged him to lie back down and curled up at his side, finding comfort in the heavy security of his arm wrapped around her. "Just relax," she whispered. "You're safe with me."
He tightened his arm around her and pressed his lips to her brow before he let out a deep sigh and seemed to relax back into the luxurious comfort of her bed. "I love you," he breathed as his other hand came up to hold her dainty hand where it rested on his chest.
"I love you," she replied, pressing a soft kiss to his chest. "Now sleep, my love."
Anakin wasn't beside her when she woke up the next morning, but she had not expected him to be. She pulled herself into a sitting position; her legs pulled up to her chest so that she could rest her chin on her knees, and wrapped her arms around her blanket clad legs. She felt oddly empty without him there beside her and she knew that emptiness would be her constant companion until he returned to her side. But she could not let her emotions take control of her life, there was simply too much to accomplish to turn into that woman now. She would allow herself to miss Anakin but she would not dwell on his absence. With a deep breath, she steeled herself in preparation for the challenges that lay ahead of her and the rest of the Republic.