trust

part thirty-six

i clasped my hand around his bicep as we made our way out of our sanctuary - eventually leading me out to the lake after he brushed away my hair from my lips.

"the last time we felt real peace." he began, pulling off his robe as he reached the lake.

"i know what you're gonna say."

"what am i gonna say?"

"you're gonna tell me to get in - or you're gonna pull me in like last time." i laughed, rushing to his side with my hands out in front of me.

"at least i know now that you're not gonna say no." he smiled, pulling my wrists with him as he backed in.

"can i at least take off this dress first?"

"you want me to turn away?" he asked me, watching me carefully.

"this isn't like last time." i giggled, stripping down to my underwear. "but it's nice to see that you still have respect for women."

"what can i say - obi wan taught me well." he shrugged, picking me up gently into his arms as he took us further out.

the instant chill of the water sent chills up my spine while goosebumps covered my body, anakin reacted to this by force pulling his cloak to us, wrapping it around me while i was still in his arms.

"thanks love." i stuttered, shivering greatly.

"it's quite alright - you can keep it." he smiled, spinning us slowly.

"but it's your jedi cloak?"

"it doesn't matter it's yours."

his eyes told me something else, as he began again.

"i had a vision."

"a vision?"

"i saw our future together - the council weren't part of it. it has led me to believe that we should put them in the past. for our own good - for our safety."

"okay - okay, but what else are you hiding from me." i questioned him as i saw something else lingering on his tongue, but he didn't want to spit it out.

"you're right - there is something else."

"what is it anakin?"

"when i said that i was going to meet the council - i didn't really meet them - i went somewhere else..."

"yes?"

"and somebody came to me. just me - alone."

"who were they?"

"i- i don't know aria. but they said something to me that has stuck in my brain since."

"and what was that?"

he lifted his gaze to my eye level, switching from each feature on my face, to my collarbones. the colour of blue somehow had switched, he was changing. but i couldn't quite tell, how.

"they told me - that... that... look, i haven't got much time." he whispered, his lip quivering.

"anakin you need to tell me exactly what happened."

"they threatened your life. but- not if i gave myself, over. to them."

"anakin i thought all of this dark side nonsense was over! oh my god...."

tears began to flood my eyes as his soft hands cradled my cheeks.

"but i found a way, i, i can still be with you! i just can't be there all of the time..."

"you have to be joking with me right now." i stuttered, resting my head in his neck.

"i'm going to deal with them. i promise."

"is that- is that why you proposed?"

"no - no this happened afterwards."

"and you still want me as your wife after this?"

"always and forever sweetheart - i'm not letting you go just for this."

"this is the sith that we're dealing with anakin."

"i know." he whispered, wiping away the remaining tears from my eyes.

he pulled me in closer as the information sank in deeper.

"i'm sorry my love."

"if you're gonna do this - i'm gonna do it too."

"do what aria? i'm not letting you go anywhere near them." he demanded, wrapping me up further.

"wherever you go - i'm going too." i shrugged.

"no - you aren't."

"yes - i am."

"i can't let you slip into the hands of the sith."

"you're already slipping, so i'm gonna make sure you don't slip all the way!" i replied smugly, swimming back to the shore.

"don't be metaphorical with me - i'm being serious. you aren't working for the sith, even if it's not real."

"but you are? what's the difference?"

"they want you dead."

"then i'm not aria djarin - i'm someone else, a separate apprentice." i proposed, sitting myself down on the grass.

"i see your proposal... but it's not gonna happen." he shook his head aggressively, following up after me.

"you can't stop me."

"i guess not - but if i see you trying to sneak into the separatist base i swear to god aria i-"

"anakin - just leave it to me." i smiled, kissing his cheek before i ran back to the house, spring in my step as the plan set into motion. and the motor works of my brain ticked.

i sat down at the nearest table i could find - scribbling down my ideas.

pretend to be a sith lord? no, they'd notice.

blend in with the storm troopers? that's a possibility.

have anakin sneak me in so we can put an end to the inquisitors? possible also.

"you're crazy - you know that right?" anakin sighed, leaning on the door frame behind me.

"i'm doing this for you." i smiled, putting the pen and paper to the side.

"i can't let you get into this type of danger."

"i can handle it."

"i know." he whispered, "but i can't risk it."

"they won't find me." i insisted, dragging myself to him with a blanket wrapped around my shoulders.

"and what if they do find you huh? what're you gonna do?"

"get myself out."

"cmon." he shook his head, throwing his hands up in annoyance as i noticed his eyes starting to ease while he truly thought about it.

"relax." i whispered, rubbing his arms, looking into his fierce glance.

"i'm relaxed." he replied, staring down at his feet.

"you said you had somewhere to be? that you don't have much time?" i reminded him, as the deep, rumbling sounds of ships sounded from around us.

"it's them - i need to go. stay here."

"i'm coming with you."

he hesitated, grabbing his lightsaber while staring at me blankly.

"fine. i'll sneak you on. but if they catch you - i'm dead, and so are you."

"i've got this - i studied the sith for years."

"alright - may the force be with you my love, now, come with me, and we'll get you on board."