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ELLI WATCHED ANAKIN AS HE STOOD, EYES CLOSED, FACE TOWARDS THE DYING SUNLIGHT. His chest rose with each breath, deep in focus. In truth, she couldn't understand how he did it. Each second that passed, she forced herself to look away from the young boy in the corner. Xanthe's eyes lingered on the back of her head, but Elli forced herself to keep looking at Anakin.
In her mind, she imagined what Xanthe would have said if he could see them - the real them. Would Elli still have fallen into Padmé's service? Would she have left everything she knew behind to watch over a queen, and a senator? She couldn't say.
One thing she knew, Anakin would always have taken the Jedi path. She hadn't been so sure all those years ago, but now she knew, observing as his muscles constricted and relaxed. Xanthe had told her as much when Qui-Gon had made the suggestion, and she hadn't believed him at the time. Her little Ani, her bub. All grown up.
"Are you going to tell me what's bothering you?" Anakin kept his eyes closed as he spoke, but Elli still jumped a little at his voice.
"I've just... been thinking."
"About?"
She bit her bottom lip. "The past," Elli admitted, her chest feeling tight as she spoke. But the dragon in her stomach roared its approval. Its brother reached out inside Anakin, twin souls crying to one another. "I've... I've been having nightmares." The words came out in a breathy exhale, but Anakin understood her nonetheless.
"I have them, too. About my mother."
Tears sprouted in Elli's eyes. She had missed Shmi Skywalker, had left her to rot on a sun-scorched planet, and left her as a slave. What must Anakin think of her? She should have gone back after all this time, all these years in service. "I'm so sorry," she said, holding back a choked sob. "I should have... I should have gone back for her."
Anakin shook his head. "We are not to blame," he muttered. "But I worry about her. I dream of her every night, every time I close my eyes. It's been years, why do they come now? I'd rather dream of something else. Like Padmé."
Elli took in a great gulp of air. "I... I dream of Xanthe."
Anakin's eyes peeled open slowly and he turned towards Elli. His eyebrows scrunched together in deep thought, his eyes studying her like an X-ray. "He's gone, Elli," Ani said gently. "These dreams can't hurt you."
Elli looked away, her cheeks turning hot. "I know he's gone. Don't you think I know? I was there when he died in my arms, I was the one covered in his blood. You have no idea what that is like, bub. I pray you never do."
