Chapter 6: Sadness
The next day, in the afternoon, Tharpas took me to the lake and let me play with Galo in the water. I felt more relaxed and cheerful, and I enjoyed the company of my Zaalaca and my friend Tharpas. We spent a pleasant afternoon playing and having fun together in the lake, forgetting for a moment about the problems and dangers I had left behind.
When it was all over Tharpas helped Sheev to take out his hair. "Your hair is very beautiful, it is very soft. You are the first human I have seen who has red hair, I like your hair." He confessed.
His words made Sheev smile and made him feel special. He appreciated his compliment and felt relieved to know that someone appreciated his appearance and did not judge him for his differences.
"Your mother… is she a redhead like you? Does she have pale blue eyes like you? Where is she? She must be very worried about you" Tharpas asked curiously.
Palpatine was overwhelmed with sadness. Memories of his mother flooded over him and he felt tears threatening to fall. He couldn't respond, as the thought of his mother filled him with nostalgia and longing. He remained silent and sad, trying to process his emotions in silence.
Tharpas, seeing the boy so sad that he was starting to cry, immediately apologized "please forgive me, I didn't mean to make you sad, please don't cry" he asked in a soft tone.
In the evening Tharpas was cooking a delicious soup for Sheev accompanied by some fruit, bread and milk and chocolate cookies.
In the evening, Tharpas had prepared something very special for me, he wanted to make sure I was fed and cared for properly, and his gesture made me feel pampered and cared for.
Despite Tharpas' efforts to prepare a special dinner, I felt sad and low spirited after my mother was mentioned. The thought of her had ruined my appetite, and though I tried to hide it, Tharpas noticed my melancholy and his heart softened.
"Come on little one, lift that face and put on a smile, I prepared something very delicious just for you and it smells good" Tharpas said trying to lift Palpatine's spirits.
Her smile and kind tone made Palpatine feel a little better, and though he was still sad about the thought of his mother, he realized that Tharpas wanted to make sure he was as comfortable as possible.
Tharpas left for a few moments because he had something to do, apparently the Gungan Chief wanted to meet with him and he didn't know the reason.
When Tharpas left the kitchen, I was left alone with my head down and no hunger. Even though the food smelled delicious, I had no appetite due to my depressed and melancholic mood. A few minutes passed in silence as I waited for Tharpas to return, trying to contain my emotions and deal with the sadness that was overwhelming me.
But seeing the food again, I decided to try it before it got cold. I liked it so much that I ended up eating it all. Despite my previous mood, the taste of the food made me temporarily forget about my sadness and I felt a natural joy take over me. I thanked Tharpas for preparing such a dish and felt grateful to have someone to take care of me in such a way.
Tharpas returned to the kitchen to talk to Sheev as he had already learned that he was the son of one of the nobles of Naboo. And that his mother Bremé Palpatine was looking for him, intending to return him to his family but then saw how the little boy was happily eating the food she prepared.
"He is so cute when he eats. It was obvious that he was hungry" Tharpas said as she watched Palpatine from the door with a smile on her face. "I wonder what could have happened to him" she said as she looked at Sheev with affection and compassion, hoping that he was better and ready to support him if he needed to talk about what was bothering him. "I am not going to bother him, so he will finish his meal and be able to eat in peace" she said deciding not to bother little Palpatine as he finished eating, leaving him in silence. She watched as Sheev ate more calmly and relaxed, apparently forgetting the momentary sadness and focusing his attention on the delicious food in front of him.
The next day Tharpas, Galo and Sheev were in the Naboo grasslands picking very pretty flowers.
"So… are you still afraid of the dark?" Tharpas asked curious about Sheev's confession.
Palpatine simply nodded "I don't know how to explain it, but I feel like I'm still afraid that the monster will eat me at night"
"Don't think about it, I like to see you happy with a smile, that's all I want from you"
"Little one, you have become a very important person in my life" Tharpas confessed tenderly and Sheev just smiled in response.
"You are also very special to me Tharpas" Sheev confessed and Galo grumbled "you too Galo" and the Zalaaca settled down next to him.
Tharpas and Sheev prepared to eat what they had brought, they felt very comfortable on the grass. And Sheev handed him the tray of milk. "Thank you little one, you know what you are, you are my little guardian" Tharpas said with a smile.
Everything was fine but the guards found Tharpas and me in the meadow. My father, Cosinga, pretended to be relieved that I was okay, but I did not want to return to Convergence. I clung to Tharpas, even though my mother asked me to return home. I felt safe with Tharpas and I did not want to be separated from him.
"That's enough, come with me brat" shouted Cosinga trying to get Sheev away from the Gungan.
"No please!" shouted Palpatine not wanting to be separated from Tharpas.
"What the hell are you doing with this poor child!? He is shaking from fear of him!" shouted Tharpas angrily.
"You have no right to meddle in my affairs, give me the child" threatened Cosinga.
"Tharpas please no" begged Palpatine crying sadly.
"Honey, don't worry, no one is going to hurt you, I won't allow it," the Gungan said, looking at Cosinga. "You can't treat a child like that."
"You're going to defend the brat, stay out of these matters and go back to the swamp you came from," said Cosinga.
"Tharpas, please! I don't want to go back! I don't want to!" Sheev shouted sadly, and his mother just cried silently.
"What the hell are you doing to this child? The little one is shaking with fear. What's wrong with you!"
"Don't get involved in my affairs, give me my son," said Cosinga threateningly.
"Enough! I won't give you the child, I won't allow it!" Tharpas shouted defiantly next to Galo.
The guards forcibly separated me from Tharpas, and I cried inconsolably while my father, Cosinga, held me by the arm. My mother watched with a sad expression on her face as I resisted and struggled to get back to Tharpas. Cosinga scolded me for running away and told me it was time to go home. I begged him to let me stay with Tharpas, but he firmly refused.
Galo, my Zaalaca, was out on the meadow when my parents and the guards found us. He watched as I was forced away and watched me cry as I tried to get back to him. Galo was nervous and agitated by the situation, as he could sense my distress and desperation. He tried to get closer to me, but the guards kept him away. He wanted to protect me, but he was helpless in the situation as he watched me being taken to Convergencia.
When we returned to Convergencia, my mother tried to comfort me, but I was devastated and did not want to stay there. The next thing I remember is my father taking me to my room and locking me inside, leaving me alone and heartbroken.
"Now listen to me, brat, you've seen what I'm capable of. You better not say anything and keep your mouth shut," Cosinga threatened, and Sheev nodded slowly through tears.