Chapter 26

'Parental Approval'

'Young Sith: Fists of Fury'

'A Slippery Slope to Sithdom'

The escape from the Horn architectural gallery takes Sigrid and Dantius to the terrace overlooking the south end of the fjord. The stars are sparkling brightly in the night sky. There is no obstructed view from star cruisers or shuttles. The waters are calm with the exception of muffled sounds of glacier ice tumbling into the sea. Sigrid grabs an eider down duvet, wraps herself in it as she leans over the rail. She gazes up to the sky.

"This is one of the best parts of being home. I have a great view of the sea…It makes me feel that everything in the galaxy is good."

"This is your personal view of the sea?"

"Sure. My dad built my room to face the south fjord. I see the sun when I wake up. My room is right back here. Want to see?"

"Uhm…sure..."

Dantius would say yes to anything she asked. The sound of her voice was intoxicating. Sigrid leads him through a glass door and into a white door to her room. Dantius surveys the room. The bed is decorated with a handmade lace bedskirt, topped with beautiful pale blue bed linens with a featherbed and matching duvet folded neatly on a bench at the foot of the bed. The walls of the room are covered with blue and white mountain flowers and yellow rosebuds. A panoramic mural of a holograph is mounted at eye level. The mural has a collection of milestones throughout her childhood and teenage years. A hand carved heirloom armoire, a matching dresser, and night table rounds out the collection of furniture in the main part of the room. There is an alcove located on the far side of the room has a desk, chair and computer. The study area has a sliding door to close it off from the rest of the room.

It looks beautiful and peaceful, much different from his room back home on Naboo. There are no lively colors or cheerful murals on his walls there, only browns Siena's, ochre's and dark wood framed windows. It was cold and austere, practical. It was not for lack of trying by his mother. He seemed comfortable with it. Sigrid's room by contrast felt warm in a land known for its long cold alpine winters and short, temperate spring and summers. It embraced you. Sigrid lets the duvet she is wrapped in fall to the floor. She places her hands on her hips and smiles softly, satisfied with this room and happy to be home again.

"Nice, isn't it?"

"Uhm…yes…it's beautiful."

"My mother helped me to decorate it. It was the biggest project that my parents ever let me participate in at such a young age. I would spend hours gazing at the wallpaper. It had a big choice of patterns from which to choose. There was one green and ivory pattern with big vermillion Felucia water orchids. My mother reminded me to take my time to select the pattern... She said, 'Select carefully because this paper will be on your walls for a long, long time.' So I tried to imagine what those big, vermillion flowers would look like... ...on all the walls of my room... ...every night when I was falling asleep... ...and every morning when I was getting dressed. So I said to her, "Which one would you choose, Mother?"

And she said, 'The one with the edelweiss and the little yellow rosebuds... ...because edelweiss is such a homey flower...and rosebuds are so cheerful and always waiting to bloom after the spring thaw.'

"It sounds as if you and your mother have a close relationship."

Sigrid nods thoughtfully.

"I made a million plans looking at this wallpaper. I was always waiting for these rosebuds to open."

"You made a good choice."

"Want to see something amazing?"

"Sure."

Sigrid grabs the duvet she dropped on the floor and opens the outer door leading to the terrace. She wraps herself up in the duvet then nods for Dantius to take another duvet folded up on one of the two chaise. He takes it and wraps himself in it. Sigrid points to the sky over the glacier range.

"Look over there. This is my favorite time of night when the Mt. Ison lights appear."

"Lights?"

"Let your eyes relax. Don't squint….see it rising over the top of that glacier?"

"No…Oh! I think I do see something. Wow!"

"Cool, eh? This is the best view, better than on the other side of Mt. Ison."

They watch as the flickering and swirling lights dance across the dark blue sky. It is beautiful."

The powdery pinks, yellows, the ripples of blue and ribbons of white flash across the sky. Each color flowing like translucent sheets of silk. Dantius is mesmerized as flickers of electrical energy makes crackling noises like bubble wrap.

He is comfortable laying back on the chaise cocooned in the duvet. The night temperature is 30 degrees below but one would never realize it given the warmth that the duvet provides.

Dantius turns to his left see Sigrid's beautiful face illuminated by the heavens. A lock of her golden hair flows outside the duvet as the wind picks up. She smiles and curls up in her duvet wrap. She speaks to him in a soft, dreamy voice.

"Goodnight, Dani."

She is asleep.

He reaches over to touch her hair. Tiny crystals ice collect in his hand. They resemble diamonds. Suddenly, the luster of the crystals become dull and dissolves into sand between his fingers. The Mt. Ison light show ends abruptly, cloaking the sky into a somber darkness.

Morning –

Dantius wakes up to find Sigrid gone. The chaise where she fell asleep last night is empty. The duvet she used is also gone. The morning sky is overcast. He unwraps himself and leaves the duvet in a clump on the chaise as he hurries inside. He finds his way down a common hallway since the doorway leading to Sigrid's room is locked. He finds his way to the guest room where he was to have stayed the night before.

After a shower and a change of clothing, Dantius joins the Horn family in the breakfast room. Sigrid is absent.

Mrs. Horn sips her coffee. Dantius bows his head out of respect.

"Good morning, Madame."

She nods politely with a faint smile as Dantius takes a seat.

"Good morning, Dantius."

Meanwhile, Dr. Horn and Jacobs are having a quiet but pointed conversation. Dr. Horn glances across the table at Dantius.

"Ah. So, you have come to join us."

"I apologize for arriving late….stargazing last night. I must have fallen asleep."

A servant pours a cup of coffee and sets it in front of him. A covered silver dish has been set out for him prior to his arrival. The servant removes the lid to reveal a warm breakfast roll, smoked kippers and a soft-boiled egg.

"I know. So, what do you think of us so far?"

"I beg your pardon, sir?"

"Are we everything you thought we would be?"

"Oh, it has been an amazing experience."

"Some visitors to Hoth find us quaint. Do you consider us 'quaint' Mr. Palpatine?"

"I actually find your culture rich and amazing."

Jacobs smiles.

"Well, we're amazing…hmmm…that's progress." He winks back at Dr. Horn then takes a sip from his cup.

Dantius butters his breakfast roll.

"Where is Sigrid?"

Her father responds.

"She's on a call with a friend."

"Oh…"

Dr. Horn watches him. He waits for Dantius to finish his breakfast then reaches into his inside blazer pocket and pulls out his tobacco pouch. He fills the bowl of the pipe with the rich brown tobacco then lights it. After a few puffs, he leans back in his chair.

"Dantius, let's you and I take a nature walk. It's a beautiful day."

Dantius turns and looks towards the large bay window. He would not call this a beautiful day. The skies are gray and cloudy. A breeze picks up. He can tell be the green awning trim over the patio flapping wildly in the wind. He turns forward to see Jacobs and that cocky smirk on his face.

Dantius is beginning to resent this man for no other reason than the fact that he has the ear of Sigrid's father and it is obvious Jacobs does not like Dantius, or at the very least, suspicious of him.

Dantius feels, however, that he has no choice. He sets his cup on the saucer and looks at the head of the table at Dr. Horn.

"I would like that very much, sir…to go on that walk."

The two men venture out into the frigid morning air. Dantius digs his gloved hands as deep as he can into the pockets of his blue parka. The cold is unforgiving as he hunches his shoulders to insulate himself. His host, on the other hand seems unbothered by the weather. Horn strolls calmly along the path wearing a chestnut brown nuna suede jacket, matching gloves, and a brimmed hat. He continues to puff on his pipe. Billows of musky smoke rise from the bow of the pipe. He looks over at Dantius. Horn appears to be amused by Dantius who scuttles along.

"Cold?"

"A little. It sure wasn't like this when I arrived."

"You folks from Naboo are just too pampered. It's not in your blood to tolerate this weather."

"No, it's not that. I think it's just too bloody cold."

"Humph…so…tell me, young Mr. Palpatine, what really brings you to these parts? Why come to Lnteelfjord? And don't tell me it was because my daughter invited you. Was there any other reason?"

"I was intrigued. I wanted to get to know its people…its culture."

"Hah! Everything but the architecture you so abhor."

""I was wrong about that and I sincerely apologize. It was not my attention to offend you."

"What else do you like about Hoth?"

"I like…Sigrid."

"Aha!" Horn shakes his long, slender finger at Dantius. It is as if he has caught the young man in a true confession after a long string of lies. "I knew it! So, you have joined the throngs of young men vying for the hand of my daughter…."

Dantius becomes defensive as he almost shouts back at the man.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, my lovesick young man, you really think you have a chance? You are truly naive. You see, Sigrid loves everyone. She loves helping others, the downtrodden, the disenfranchised…many would-be suitors discover this very late in the game. They mistake her compassion for them, as romantic love. She is a good person with a good heart. She is not searching for a beau. She means well in bringing you up here, but lad, you are not the One. Besides…" He stops to reignite his pipe before he continues to speak. "Do you seriously think that I would approve of such a union? My daughter is a special person, as you well know. Her mother hand I have already approved of her suitors. Don't you think I have done some homework of my own? Mr. Palpatine, you come from a decent family. I have reliable sources that confirm you have already been committed to another…royalty no less. I am impressed. Why would you throw all that away? You would be well advised to marry the young maiden and make a quiet life for yourself. My Sigrid is not the quiet type. "

Dantius feels the snub like a kick in the face. This man dares to investigate him? Dantius is in shock but he is also angry. Who told? How could this man know about Vernu? Was it her parents? Who despises him so much to sabotage his chances to win Sigrid? It had to be that smug Jacobs.

Dantius forgot how cold he was. He could feel his heart in the pit of his stomach. He feels nauseated too.

Dr. Horn continues.

"So you see this is all a wasted trip."

How could he be so presumptuous? Did anyone even ask Sigrid how she felt? Just as quickly as Dr.

Horn gave Dantius the '4-1-1' on his 'suitor disqualifications', Sigrid's old man puffs on his pipe. He gives Dantius a hearty pat on the back.

"Let's take a walk out to the fjord. Have you really seen it? There is nothing like getting a personal tour from one of the locals…someone who knows the land. Forget about the shuttle. It's makes for a nice ride but you don't really see the true life of the fjord!"

He says this with great pride and conviction. Dantius wonders: Is this is the same man who had just insulted him? The man is treating Dantius like an old friend. As they look over the water's edge. Dantius feels an urge deep within to do something horrible. He wanted to shove Horn into the frigid fjord. The conditions were cold enough to make an instant 6 foot 5 inch ice coffin. Timing is everything.

They watch as some fish swims effortlessly beneath the sheet of ice. Horn points excitedly.

"See that? It's the largest herring in Lnteelfjord… The locals refer to him as 'Old Nick'. No one has been able to catch him. Amazing creature isn't it?"

"It is."

"That fish would feed a hundred wedding guests easily."

"You'd have to catch him first."

Horn stares blankly at Dantius then erupts in thunderous laughter. His echoes bounce across the fjord.

"Aha-hah-hah-hah! Touché, touché!"

Dr. Horn continues to laugh but the laugh quickly turns into cough. He leans forward, precariously over the waters edge.

Dantius watches with a disturbing calm. His pale hands are curled into tight fists inside the pockets of his parka. The wooden barrier suddenly cracks and Horn's pipe hits the snow-covered ground. This is the most thrilling moment for Dantius all morning.