Highness || anakin skywalker [REWRITTEN]

|four|

Anakin didn't let go of Corinna the entire way back to the castle. He had even noted that she had started to limp a little after walking for awhile. 
"Did you hurt your ankle?" he asked, pointing at her right leg. Corinna shook her head trying to push through it and pretend like she was fine.
"No, I didn't think so...I must have just stepped wrong when I was running." 

Anakin didn't reply but he did stop, pulling Corinna into him. She gasped as he flipped her up and into his arms, carrying her. 
"You do not have to carry me." she informed him. 
"I don't want you to hurt yourself more...also you're shaking." 
"It's because I'm wet and its getting cold." 

Anakin tried to walk a little faster, wanting to get her home as soon as possible. He was frustrated with himself more than anything. He shouldn't have left her and he should have been able to sense the danger nearby. Corinna could see on his face that he was upset, it was clear as day by his furrowed brows and the frown on his lips. 
"What's wrong?" she asked, her arm wrapped around his neck tightly while the other rested on his chest. 
"Nothing." 
"I can tell something is wrong." she looked up at him while he intently stared forwards. 
"I'm just concerned about the Sith and trying to find him." 
"You and Obi-wan will figure it out, I know you will." she tried to ensure him.

It didn't work, Anakin was feeling the build up of a range of emotions. Anger, worry, frustration...fear. Fear of what? He thought. What was he scared of? A Sith Lord wasn't scary...Jedi were to destroy the Sith and bring peace to the galaxy.

Eventually they made it back to the castle and neither Corinna nor Anakin would know what to say when they walked in. Obi-wan was the first to see them, his smile dropping from his face. 
"What happened?" he inquired.
"The Sith tried to attack again." Anakin sighed heavily.
"What happened to him?"
"He got away, I didn't get a look at him..." 
"Are you okay your highness?" Obi-wan turned his attention to Corinna. She nodded quickly, seeing the concern on his face. 
"Oh my! Dear! What happened?" someone hollered out. 

Corinna perked up to see her parents walking into the foyer of the castle. 
"I'm fine mother." Corinna instantly tried to diffuse the clear panic on her parents faces. 
"Mr. Skwalker, take her to her room...We will discuss today's events when you return." the King instructed the Jedi. Anakin nodded, walked past everyone and towards the stairs while Corinna rode in his arms. 
"They're upset with me, I can feel it." Anakin said to her once they were in the hallway. 
"What for? You did your job." Corinna placed a hand on Anakin's chin, forcing him to look at her for the first time in awhile.

He looked down at a scratch on her cheek, her delicate face now blemished. 
"Not well." He continued to beat himself up and Corinna knew she couldn't change his mind on that. Anakin took her to the room and placed her gently on the bed. 
"I should get changed, this dress is driving me nuts." Corinna chuckled, sitting up slightly. 
"Can you hand me that white nightgown?" she asked, pointing to the article of clothing on the bench at the foot of her bed. Anakin agreed, hastily snatching it and then handing it over. 
"I'll let you get changed." he uttered, heading towards the door. 

As he gripped the handle, Corinna stopped him. An urge of wanting him there caused her to call out to him. 
"Please don't go." she begged. Although she wouldn't want to admit it, she was scared to be alone at the moment. She also felt safe around Anakin. 
"I can have your handmaiden come in and help you change." he suggested. 
"No, I don't need help changing...I just uh-don't really want to be alone." she explained, her hand on on top of Anakin's. 
"I'll turn around." 

Anakin faced the door and placed his hands behind his back. He politely stared at the wood, admiring the intricate cut and color. Corinna stepped towards the end on her bed and carefully unhooked the straps of her dress before peeling it off. The dress was still stuck to her, it felt like a second skin and when she finally shed the dress, she felt relieved. Anakin heard the sound of the dress hitting the floor. His breath hitched, he didn't know why he started sweating as a knot twisted in the pit of his stomach.

Corinna slipped on the white nightgown and grabbed a cover to put over as well. 
"Okay, you can turn around." she said, her arms crossing over her chest. Anakin slowly turned back around, looking her up and down. The old dress pooling at her feet. He stepped towards her almost hesitantly. However, he ended up right in front of her, only a few inches away from her. His hand raised, grazing the scratch on her cheek. 
"Can I get you something?" he asked. 
"No, no...You have to head back down stairs anyways." Corinna reminded him, her hand reached up and grasped his wrist, pulling it away from her face. 

Anakin forced a smile and excused himself. Corinna, now alone, didn't know what to do with herself. She fiddled with her thumbs for a minute before snatching her ruined dress from the floor and carried it out of the room. 
"Princess? Are you okay?" Corinna stopped in the hallway and turned around to see Lola behind her. 
"Yes, can you throw this out for me?" Corinna asked handing the pile of dress to Lola. The handmaiden stared at the dirty and disgusting gown in shock.
"What did you do?" 
"Uh-had a little accident. I'll be right back." Corinna rushed back down the hall and down the stairs. 

She started to be more quiet as she neared a room. She could hear her father's voice boasting loudly. 
"How could you lose her? You have one job Skywalker!" the King hollered. Corinna winced at the sound, she could only imagine how Anakin was feeling.
"I apologize your majesty. I should have been watching her more closely." she heard Anakin reply. 

What was she? A child? A dog?
"She could have been killed! It's bad enough that she's covered in scratches " 
"I didn't mean for her to get hurt." 
"Anakin, you should have sensed that there was danger nearby." she overheard Obi-wan's politely say to Anakin.
"I'm sorry Master, I guess I was distracted."
"I knew we shouldn't have allowed a new Jedi Knight to protect our daughter." the Queen huffed. 

Corinna frowned at how awful they were being. Eventually, she couldn't take anymore of it. Corinna bursted into the room, still slightly limping. 
"Do not blame Anakin." she snapped, jotting a finger at her parents.
"You could have died." her father retorted.
"Anakin was there, he wouldn't let that happen. I walked away from Anakin so it was my fault we got separated." she tried to argue, it was all true though. 
"How did you manage to walk away from him if he was with you the whole time?" her mother questioned, her arms steered crossed over her chest. 
"He was getting dressed-" Corinna started to explain before she abruptly stopped. 

Everyone's eyes widened, she then realized how bad that sounded coming out of her mouth. Corinna raised her hands to stop her parents from freaking out.
"Not like that, we went swimming." she hastily continued.
"Mr. Skywalker's job here is to protect you, not go swimming and have fun." Corinna's father said sternly. She had never seen him so upset before. 
"Yes, sir. I truly apologize for my mistake today...it will not happen again." Anakin informed them. He stood straight with his hands behind his back like he always did. Corinna felt awful, she felt as if this all was her fault and that she only made it worse.
"You will not make this mistake again." 
"Yes sir." 

The King and Queen exited the room fuming, leaving the two Jedi and Corinna. 
"How could you be so reckless?" Obi-wan was quick to ask Anakin. 
"I'm sorry Master, it won't happen again." Corinna could see how distressed Anakin was which made her feel worse. Obi-wan looked at Corinna and then back to Anakin. He could sense something the other two didn't. 
"Anakin, please take the princess back to her room and then we will discuss plans on how to capture the Sith." Obi-wan advised Anakin, waving them off. 

Anakin nodded before sharply turning towards Corinna. He gave her a soft look as if he was telling her thank you for standing up for him. The two adjourned to Corinna's quarters once more. She fell onto her bed with a thud, making Anakin chuckle. 
"Get some rest your highness." he said as he pulled the blankets over her. 
"You're supposed to be my bodyguard not my mother." she laughed. 
"I know, but you've had a long day."
"I still have business in town, would you accompany me tomorrow?" Corinna glanced up at Anakin who stood before her. 
"Well, I have no choice now do I?" he teased. 

Corinna shrugged her shoulders before curling into bed a little more while closing her eyes.
Anakin headed towards the door, his hand grazing hers. She reached up and grasped it, stopping him from leaving once again. 
"Thank you for everything today." she uttered softly as she started too feeling weary. 
"Goodnight Corinna."