Stars Collided

Twenty One

After their talk, Obi-Wan had excused himself, to go into the town, to retrieve Anakin's new prosthetic arm, and when he had come back, the two had gone for their own private conversation, apparently they had pressing matters to discuss, involving the Order, and the looming War.

"It's nice, Ani." Lovisa told the boy, when she had snuck into his room, later that night.

He didn't seem too happy about his new arm, as she was hoping.

"But will it be beneficial for me?" He muttered, almost to himself, as though she were not even there, as he tinkered with it, using some tool he had found, around the Palace.

"If it is not good enough, I will take it back to the Blacksmith, I asked for the best, I will get you the best, Anakin, I promise it, or he will never make another of anything, again."

"It will do, there is nothing else he could possibly do to improve it, my love." Anakin faced her, though none of his usual charming happiness was present. "Though, Obi-Wan has informed me, that I am to be knighted, once we return to Coruscant. The Council has decided that I have proven myself, on the mission, and that I am no longer to be a Padawan."

"That is wonderful news, Ani!" Lovisa cheered, clapping her hands together, in delight.

"Don't, call me Anakin." He told her "Ani makes me sound like a child."

"But, I always call you Ani." She frowned. "Since we were young."

"Exactly, and how am I ever supposed to be taken seriously, as a real Jedi Knight, if even the Princess of Naboo, refers to me as Ani" He explained.

"Oh." Lovisa fell back onto the pillows, folding her arms across her chest, as she looked down at the duvet. "I didn't think you cared all that much, I guess not." She rolled her eyes.

"Vis, do not be like that." Anakin groaned, reaching for her, but she shrugged him off.

"You shouldn't call me that, Skywalker, I am the Princess, and future Queen of Naboo, it does not look good, for my reputation." She rolled her eyes, again.

"But you hate it, when I call you Lovisa, or anything but Vis." Anakin raised a brow, as if he had won their mini feud.

"Well, I don't like it when you call me that, but maybe I will, when my future husband does." She batted her eyes.

"What is that supposed to mean?" His face darkened.

"Oh, did I forget to tell you?" She sat up, so now she was on her knees, facing him. "I found out whatever my mother had been collecting RSVP's for. She has been planning an roulette, behind my back, and yet, I'm the one it's for, it seems as though she really is serious about this."

"How did you find this out?"

"I had Colo sneak into her office, during dinner." She shrugged her shoulder.

"Lovisa, I- I can't handle this, the thought of you getting betrothed to someone else, it's breaking my heart." His brows furrowed deeply, as he grasped her hands.

"I fear I have no other choice, my sister is getting married, and I am the last heir, never mind I am of age, and yet, appear to be single. Apparently the council are becoming apprehensive about it, too, especially considering we are now at war, apparently it makes me vulnerable."

"But, Padme is four and twenty years, and she has only just become engaged."

"Yes, but Senator Clovis and her, have been courting since they were five and ten years. Whereas me, I have been scaring off my suitors, as soon as I was eligible. The time is ticking, they are afraid that if I don't find a suitable match, soon, then I will have reached my prime, when it finally comes to producing an heir."

"But, I love you, and you love me."

"Ani." She tutted, brushing a strand of hair behind his ear, with pity. "Things like that don't matter here. It's very rare that people actually like their spouses, in my world. But, that doesn't mean we have to end this, I will perform my duties, with reluctance, but I still want you, my darling." She smiled. "We can still be happy, together, in secret."

"I will not be your whore, Lovisa." He frowned, at her.

"Don't see it, as such, see it as a way for us to be one, whilst living our destinies, it's the only viable plan we have."

"You expect me to just sit aside, love you from behind curtains, whilst you have a husband, and his spawn, and you think I would be okay with that?" His voice rose, as he got more angry at her.

"Shh, you want us to get caught?" She hissed at him.

"You are not being fair!" He pointed at her.

"I'm not being fair?!" She stood up from the bed, aggressively. "You have no idea what it is like, to be in my position."

"Of course I don't, because if I wasn't a Jedi, who was bound from Love, I'd be a slave, and still, I wouldn't be able to be with you!"

She stared at him, as though he had just thrown a bucket of freezing cold water, over her.

"Then, I guess we are just doomed, no matter what. So what is the point, at all." She looked at the ground. "The universe never destined for us to be together, so why are we forcing it, so much."

"What are you saying?" His voice was rough, as he tried to keep his voice under control.

"That we won't need to worry about keeping it a secret, because this should have never begun. I was foolish to think it ever could survive." She laughed, harshly, at herself, as she went for the door.

"Don't." He argued, grabbing her arm.

"Let me go, Anakin." She looked at him, in his eyes.

"I can't." He shook his head.

"You need to, we're just setting ourselves up for disaster."

"I don't want to lose you, Lovisa, you're all I have." His voice cracked. "Please, I'm sorry, I will do anything you ask, but please, do not leave me." He dropped to his knees. "From the moment I met you, all those years ago, not a day has gone by when I haven't thought of you. And now that I'm with you again... that I have had you close to me, for this long... I'm in agony. The closer I get to you, the worse it gets. The thought of not being with you- I can't breath. I'm haunted by your presence. My heart is beating... hoping that our time, will not become faded memories. You are in my very soul, tormenting me  What can I do? I will do anything you ask. If you are suffering as much as I am, please, Lovisa, do not end this."

Her eyes watered, as she nodded her head, her fingers running through his hair, as he looked up at her, with such pain in his own eyes.

"It hurts, Anakin, it hurts so terribly. When ever I am near you, in public, knowing that everyone around us, is blind to the love that we share for one another, that they will never understand or relate to this all consuming feeling. And yet, we are to be punished for it, by being forced from it, and yet ending up in places where we are to be so close, it is torture!"

His eyes lit up, knowing that he was not alone, in this pining.

He got to his feet.

"Ani, we do not know how much time we have here, left." Lovisa spoke, in almost an whisper. "I want to give you all of me, I want to make you a promise, that I will always be yours, that you will have something of me, that no one else will ever be able to. So, that when we are forced apart, you will always be able to think of our time, together, when you are away on your missions, or in battle."

"Lovisa." He choked on her name. "Are you saying..."

She nodded, sheepishly. "All of me, tonight."

The Princess stepped away from the Jedi, remaining eye contact with him, as she tugged down the straps of her nightgown, allowing the fabric to pool to the floor, around her feet, leaving her bare, in the moonlight.

Anakin's jaw had slacked, as his eyes fluttered, basking in her beauty, his eyes scanned her, memorising every inch of her.

"Come, Jedi, let's make it a night to remember, for eternity." She wagged her finger, at him, beckoning the boy, closer.