- CASTLES CRUMBLING (A.S.) -

- 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘-𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑 -

i promise that i'll love you for the rest of my life.

THE WIND RUFFLED Regina's hair as she stepped outdoors. Facing the lake and the sunset that reflected off the water, Regina took in the sight that beheld her.

Standing about a hundred yards away was Anakin, the officiant that Padmé had recruited, as well as R2-D2 and C-3P0. None of them had spotted Regina or Padmé at the doorway leading away from the house. The small group was busy talking in low voices.

Regina took the time to turn her head to Padmé, and took a deep breath.

"You look beautiful, Regina," Padmé quietly reassured her for the millionth time. "Anakin is going to be swept off his feet."

Regina smiled, looking down at the long white dress that she was clad in. Padmé and Regina had worked long and hard to find something that Regina could wear for the wedding. Considering they'd had limited time—they'd given it a week—both women had scrambled to prepare the gown for the date. In truth—though simple—it was gorgeous. It was a gown-like dress with a long train and a veil made of intricate lace. Designed with flowers and butterflies, the dress was of an old-fashioned style, traditional in Regina's home world. They had simply taken one of Padmé's old dresses and adapted it to make it like one of the traditional gowns would have.

Padmé lowered the veil over Regina's face and steeped back, looking like a proud mother.

"Are you ready?"

Regina could barely speak. She never got emotional--or rarely--but now... She was experiencing feelings that she couldn't quite describe and they were overwhelming.

Padmé reached down and squeezed Regina's hand once before turning and making her way down to the waterside. As soon as Padmé reached Anakin and the others, all eyes turned in the direction in which the senator had come.

But Regina's eyes were on Anakin.

He was dressed in his dark Padawan robes, his short hair neatly combed, his braid resting over his right shoulder. His back was straight, looking right into her eyes, despite the distance between them.

Regina made her way over to him, moving slowly so as to not trip over her gown. As a Jedi, the dress felt impractical and she couldn't remember wearing anything like it, but for this occasion it was what she wanted. It reminded her of her mother, whose necklace was hanging around her neck.

It didn't take too long for Regina to reach the small crowd. As she drew closer, Regina was able to see the exact expression on Skywalker's face and sense his emotions clearly. Regina had never known someone to be so happy and it made her even more emotional thinking about how much he loved her.

As Regina came to a stop in front of him, the priest began to speak.

"We are gathered here today to witness the union of this man and this woman in matrimony," he began. That was the signal and Anakin slowly reached forward, taking Regina's hands. She could feel the difference between his flesh and the mechno-arm, but she'd grown to love that about him. It was a battle scar, much like the one across his face.

"I believe you both have vows you wish to be read?"

Skywalker nodded, not taking his eyes off of Regina. Padmé had been right: he was star struck.

"Will the groom recite his vows?"

Anakin took a deep breath, squeezing Regina's hands gently.

"Genie," he began, "from the moment I met you in the Temple as a very young Padawan, I knew you were special. I mean, you annoyed me at times, but after watching you with the others, I witnessed how remarkable you were."