Dormé did not know what to expect when the Empress requested her presence in the palace on Tatooine. There were many things that she was told about the trip that did not prove to be accurate. What she thought would be a first step to making their marriage official and by the book would end up being a test of her true intentions. The entire process of being officially Anakin’s wife would end up taking over three months in comparison to the mere hours it took when they were quickly married upon their return to Coruscant. She was also told that she would be undergoing training in what it takes to lead an Empire, but it was actually intended to make her want to leave Anakin.

Dormé heard many things about Anakin’s homeplanet, but she had never been there herself. It was quite a shock to her just how hot it was. Unaware of the true reasons behind her ‘visit’ to Tatooine, the young wife and unofficial princess, she would soon become aware that Anakin’s mother did not take her seriously. When she first arrived, no one was there to greet her or help her with her luggage.

Unsure of her place, she asked the first person she saw where the empress was, but the man just led her to her temporary quarters and said he would tell the empress she was there. Though she was dressed in one of the gorgeous gowns Anakin purchased for her a few months ago, looking every bit the princess that she unofficially was, another servant arrived and began ordering her around.

‘I’m sorry?’ Dormé asked, trying to keep her cool. ‘I’m afraid you have me confused with someone else. I’m Dormé Sky—’

‘I know who you are,’ the older woman said gruffly. ‘I’m Her Majesty’s head of house when she’s away and until she arrives, you are under my jurisdiction. Is that understood?’

The Empress wasn’t even in the palace yet? Dormé could not believe her bad luck. It turned out that for an entire week, she was with the servants of the estate, cleaning, preparing rooms, setting up the dining room, changing sheets, cooking, all in preparation for the royal visitation. She didn’t know that the empress had in fact already arrived and was watching her on the security vids.

Dormé had no qualms about these duties, for it was all things she had been doing for Queen Amidala for the past five years anyway. She loved working in the kitchens the best, seeing all of the fine dishes, goblets, silverware. She could tell it was far more expensive than anything in the queen’s dining rooms on Naboo.

As her visit to Tatooine moved into the second week, the empress made her presence known to the young handmaiden. She moved her from the servants apartments to the grand apartments Anakin stayed in when he was on Tatooine. Though Dormé had not minded her previous room, she felt much more at home here, though she was unaware that these were Anakin’s rooms. She missed him terribly. Saying farewell to him before coming to Tatooine had broken her heart for she didn’t know when she would see him again. He was joining his Master on the frontlines and this was the second time they had been forced to part since their marriage. The first night in the new rooms, she could have sworn she smelt him on the pillows and it was because of this that she was able to sleep through the night.

The following day marked the beginning of her ‘training’ to become the next empress. She learnt to manage her intimate court, how to properly schedule and follow a set schedule, as well as other managerial skills, how to interact with courtiers and diplomats… It was all familiar to Dormé as well and she switched flawlessly from her handmaiden role into that of decoy queen. However, none of this seemed to please the empress. The end of the day was marked with her disapproving frown.

The women never discussed the hasty wedding, nor spoke of the prince even in passing. Though it ought to have bothered Dormé, she did not feel it was her place to bring it up. Despite this, there were only a few times that Dormé had to catch herself from thinking about him when she ought to focus on what the empress desired of her.

One afternoon, Shmi finally felt she had come to the end of the line. Lady Dormé hadn’t made any objections, hadn’t expressed a desire to return to Coruscant and her old life. Shmi had nothing else left to try to deter her from marrying her son. She summoned the girl to meet her in the atrium. They sat across from each other near the back of the palace overlooking the dunes.

Dormé watched the empress with guarded intensity.

After some time, the empress spoke. ‘Lady Dormé,’ Shmi began, dispensing with formalities. ‘I’ve observed you this past week and, needless to say, I can’t say I’m impressed.’

If that was meant to hurt Dormé’s feelings, it didn’t get past her cold exterior. She had been called worse by her mentor.

‘I know this isn’t the real you,’ she continued, gesturing to the young woman sitting across from her. ‘You haven’t given me any indication of your true self. You have given me the mask of Queen Amidala or performed as a handmaiden.’

When the empress fell silent, Dormé said in plain tones, ‘I don’t know what it is you want from me, Your Highness. I have done everything you have asked.’

Shmi raised her head slightly as her eyes remained locked on the woman her son was infatuated with.

She remained silent for a moment. ‘What I want is…’ She took a breath before continuing. ‘The reason you were brought here, Lady Dormé, was in hopes that you would decide this wasn’t the sort of life you wanted.’

Dormé did not understand what the empress was talking about and remained silent until the empress continued.

‘You are aware that Jedi can’t marry…’

‘I didn’t really think that was an issue since he was already betrothed to my former mistress,’ Dormé countered, struggling to remain stoic. She could tell that the empress was avoiding the real issue, but she didn’t know what that real issue was.

‘I am sorry,’ said Shmi, ‘but I do not believe you are serious about my son. What is it that you want? Wealth? Status? I can give you enough credits that you would be able to live on comfortably for the rest of your days.’

She was offering to pay her to not be with Anakin, paying her to leave and never contact him again. Dormé struggled not to scream curses at the empress for even suggesting such a thing. Keeping her composure, Dormé slid the pouch of credits back toward the empress without looking inside. She did not need a moment to consider the offer. ‘I wanted your approval, Your Majesty, the emperor’s as well, but even without it, I am still Anakin’s wife. I always will be.’

Shmi could not deny that this protestation moved her. ‘This is the first time you’ve been honest with me since you’ve been here.’

This wasn’t true, but Dormé didn’t want to present anything that might cause the empress to once more think ill of her.

‘I wasn’t sure if there was another motive, perhaps even of the basest sort,’ Shmi mused. ‘Tell me, how many other people have you slept with?’

‘Just Anakin,’ she admitted, blushing furiously and feeling quite humiliated by this line of questioning. Tears came to her eyes as she asked, ‘Have you ever been in love?’

This caused Shmi’s thoughts to divert from the young girl to her own past. Though it had been a long time, flashes of the time she spent with Qui-Gon flooded unheedingly to the forefront of her thoughts. His last kiss, the last time he said her name and held her hand. ‘….Yes…Yes, I have,’ she said, though her voice was low, almost unintelligible.

Drawing the empress’s attention back to her, Dormé leant forward across the table. Taking a chance, Dormé declared, ‘Shmi, I love your son. I love him more than anything or anyone in the galaxy. And nothing, no one, will stop us from being together. Not even you.’ She rose from her seat and gracefully exited the atrium with much vigour in her step.

---

Parting ways with Dormé was hell of another sort for the young prince who now found himself on a mission that brought him closer to the frontlines than he could have ever hoped. While he was far from danger, Anakin couldn’t help but enjoy the rush that came with being in the possible line of fire. However while this was exciting his loneliness more than made up for it. While the days flew by and were filled with tactics and training night time crawled and Anakin was filled with longing for his wife. Soon he began to erase the mission logs so he could use the data pads to write letters to Dormé during the long hours of night. It helped ease some of his despair over her absence just as he found recording logs served to help him imagine that she was near. However, despite his best attempts, it wasn’t the same without her around and he longed to hear her voice, see her smile, and smell the soft scent of idaceae that always reminded him of her. The young prince couldn’t help but wonder what she was up to and how her training with his mother was going along. Little did he realise the training was in reality nothing more than a means of dissuading her from Anakin.

But as the days passed, things slowly began to grow more complicated for the young Jedi Padawan. Having unwittingly tasted the dark side only a short time ago, Anakin found his thoughts beginning to take a strange turn. The urges he once contemplated within his mind were now becoming increasingly difficult to resist. It was as though unconsciously he longed to taste the poisoned nectar of the darkness again. The chance came soon enough with the increasing attacks by General Grievous and a new mysterious warrior who was said to have been Count Dooku’s protégé. Little was known about the one known simply as Asajj but the young prince soon found himself caught under the Rattataki woman’s sharp gaze. While his brother was careful to ensure the young prince was never in any real danger it soon became increasingly difficult to avoid.

Anakin ever impatient and most eager to test his mettle once more took full advantage of the fact the warrior was tracking him and soon purposely separated himself from his master to engage in battle. Though it didn’t prove fatal it wasn’t without its price and for the very first time the young Padawan consciously tapped into the Dark side to defeat the fallen Padawan who hunted him. Asajj having now scarred Anakin’s face and chin with her crimson lightsabers had grown cocky for her skills were superior to the young prince’s own. Unfortunately for her, Anakin’s ability to channel the Force was far stronger and in this came her defeat.

With ferocity of a Sith lord, he bound her body with the barbed vines that decorated the Massassi ruins before sending her to her doom—or so he believed—to the canyon below. Though it was a true moment of victory, Anakin was shaken by the ferocity of his emotions during the battle and to the heady rush he felt when he touched the dark side. For a moment, he felt as though he was a god and the entire universe was bowing before him, begging for mercy while he watched them suffer. It was wondrous and frightening at the same time. Now coming down from the rush, the Padawan felt both physically and emotionally ill and soon found himself being sick in the nearby bushes before collapsing nearby from exhaustion.

After coming to, the young prince still a bit shaken managed to stumble back to The Tempest only to find it was destroyed beyond repair. Fortunately for him, Asajj’s ship worked just fine and despite his rage and sorrow over the loss of his beloved Tempest Anakin was able to rejoin his Master. Once reunited with his brother Anakin received basic treatment for his wounds. Though he was healed, the scars still remained, leaving him a bit conscious of his appearance.

The coming days proved equally difficult as Anakin found himself struggling against his darker urges or rather learning how to use it subtly lest his brother pick up on it. However using it wasn’t without its cost and though he enjoyed the heady rush Anakin dreaded the way it always left him feeling out of sorts, confused and lost. As a result he was careful to use it sparingly and only when he was training without the watchful eye of his brother and mentor. But with the Dark side a no amount would ever be enough and soon Anakin found himself trying to channel larger amounts. It was his hope that through this experimental training he would gain a better understanding of this forbidden aspect of the Force.

But on this particular day the dark side and its seductive power was the last thing on his mind as the young prince silently stared at data pad that currently held his latest plan. This time it was not about rescuing princesses, completing missions or undergoing training. This was about escape.

Everything was set in motion, or so Anakin hoped, as he informed his brother that he was going to do some further work on the now repaired Tempest. Since its destruction at Asajj’s hands the young prince had it collected and sent for repairs. Though it lacked the upgrades he had spent hours working on, Anakin was quick to replace them. However this too was of little importance as he was about to embark on his greatest escape plan yet. After two failed attempts, the young prince was certain this time would prove successful. Pretending that he caught sight of something on his radar during his attempts to upgrade, the young Padawan offered to look into it. Whether Obi-Wan knew what he was really up to or not, Anakin couldn’t say, but then he didn’t care either. They’re mission was drawing to a close for the most part and, unless something unexpected arose, they would be returning home within the week. But Anakin was impatient and was more than eager to see his beloved once another word of warning or even waiting for Obi-Wan to permit him to check out whatever it was, the young prince took to the skies. After being apart from his wife for so long, Anakin was more than eager to sleep in her arms once more. After all, while playing with his Padawan braid and keeping his arm wrapped around himself helped create the illusion she was near, nothing compared to the real thing…

---

Once Dormé’s message got through Shmi, the empress formally announced, after speaking with the emperor, that Anakin would be marrying Dormé Jaffa after his scheduled return from the Outer Rim Sieges. The galaxy was soon abuzz with the news, trying to find out anything and everything on the new soon-to-be-princess, including going to Uriash on Naboo to find out more about the lesser noble family Jaffa. Needless to say, what they found only further added to the scandal. Duke Jaffa was unaware he even had a granddaughter and denied affiliation with her at first, saying he disowned his own daughter. After finding out that Dormé was to wed the son of the emperor changed his feelings about her entirely and soon he was plotting was in which to reconnect with his long-lost granddaughter, to show his support, or rather gain something from the union... Meanwhile on Tatooine, Dormé enjoyed a civil relationship with the empress, though it was mostly the two of them tolerating each other. It seemed that their love of Anakin was the only thing they had in common.

In contrast, the young prince, having been closer to the frontlines than to civilization, heard little in the way of news pertaining to his wife and to their now public wedding. For Anakin, his main concern was getting to Tatooine to spend some much needed time with his beloved. He had been feeling more than a little out of sorts in her absence and wanted nothing more than to hold her close, to be reassured that everything was as it should be. Upon his return to Tatooine, the young prince took little time to search out his beloved and was in good spirits to say the least. Everything, for all intents and purposes, appeared as he imagined it would for he was unaware of what had transpired in his absence. For despite the fact he was royalty, communications were forbidden even to him.

With a handful of data pads filled with notes to Dormé as well as hand carved images of her on the outside, the Jedi prince promptly moved through the halls of the Tatooine palace. Though he heard the hushed whispers and felt the amusement from the local courtiers, he didn’t pay it any mind. After all, he was used to the attention and given his relationship with a Naboo handmaiden, the rumours of scandal as well. His only concern was how it was affecting Dormé, for the last thing he wanted was for her to feel out of place and uncomfortable here. Tatooine, as well as Coruscant were mean to be her home, though he imagined she would much prefer the city planet to this dusty place.

Slipping through one of the less used hallways the young prince picked up the princess’s Force signature and couldn’t resist a grin as he picked up his pace. Given that he had returned a few days early, it was his hope that he would be able to surprise her and as he neared her location he grew almost giddy with excitement. It had been far too long and the thought of being able to hold her again was almost too good to be true. Anakin overheard his mother and Dormé arguing over something as he approached the room and for a moment, he paused to listen in despite his eagerness to be reunited with Dormé.

‘NO! No, absolutely not!’ Dormé argued as one of the serving maidens thrust another hideous dress at the unofficial princess.

The empress pressed, ‘It is tradition!’

The handmaidens were now quite used to the bickering between the two women and paid it little mind.

‘It’s tradition to look like an ornament?’ Dormé countered. Though clearly all of these expensive gowns, jewellery, and headpieces were more appropriate for a wedding than the torn, bloodied gown she wore during their first ceremony, none of it even closely resembled who Dormé was. These past few days illustrated just how much of a show this wedding would be, not of how much the pair loved each other. It was about presentation, not about affection.

The young prince winced, knowing his mother’s love of traditions. He could only imagine the gown she had chosen and was relieved to know that whatever it was Dormé refused. But then if Anakin was honest with himself, he would have to accept the fact that his selection for gowns would hardly be considered suitable for a wedding either; for, in his opinion, the less skin Dormé covered with cloth, the happier he would be.

‘I suppose this isn’t too bad...’ Dormé conceded, holding up one that had been tossed aside earlier in frustration. ‘Needs to be hemmed and taken in though.’ She sighed, knowing there was little choice in the matter if she wanted to be ‘officially’ Anakin’s wife.

Upon hearing Dormé agreeing to something, the young prince decided it was time to put an end to the madness. After all, despite the fact they were already married this wedding was supposed to be their big day. If they weren’t permitted to have some say in the matter, then what really was the point? It was with this in mind that the young prince chose to enter without bothering to activate the chime or warn them of his presence. Hardly caring or even noticing the handmaidens who looked visibly concerned and uncomfortable, the young prince moved to approach Dormé eagerly with the intent of giving her a proper greeting.

Dormé had her back facing the door, attempting, with the help of two handmaidens, to wriggle into the gown she deemed not ‘too bad’.

Shmi was instructing the handmaidens when she heard the door swish open. ‘Anakin, you’re back early!’ she gasped, surprised to see him, though worried when she saw his scars. Before she had a chance to ask him, he was barrelling over to the half-dressed former handmaiden.

‘Anakin?’ Dormé asked, forcing the gown over her head so swiftly she almost ripped it. ‘Anakin!!’ She attempted to race over to him, but tripped on the trailing gown that was too long for her.

Rushing towards her, the Padawan grinned. ‘Dormé!!’ he exclaimed as he moved to help steady her. ‘How I’ve missed you!’ he said as he touched her cheek with one hand while slipping his other around her petite waist before leaning in to give her a passionate kiss.

Even if Dormé was wearing the most hideous dress in all creation, she wouldn’t have noticed or cared when her eyes fell on her beloved. She didn’t have to say anything in reply as she eagerly kissed him back.

‘Anakin, this is neither the time nor the place,’ Shmi said.

Her kiss alone made it all worth while and it was easy for Anakin to become lost in her embrace. Purring, he tightened his embrace, not caring what Dormé was wearing only that she was in his arms where she belonged. Only at his mother’s sharp reply did the young prince finally register reality around him and even then, it was only to scowl at her as though she was interrupting him instead of the other way around.

It wasn’t until the untimely interruption by Anakin’s mother that Dormé finally took the time to really look at Anakin. It was then she noticed his scars, but she wasn’t worried about him, since he was home in her arms, but she found the scars to make him look more grown up and rather handsome if she did say so herself.

‘And what’s happened to you?’ Shmi asked, downright concerned. ‘Do you need to see a medic? I’ll have one sent. Rafi, fetch a medic, please.’

The lady nodded and departed.

Turning crimson, Anakin just shook his head and gave a deep sigh of frustration. ‘It’s nothing. Now, would you excuse us? It’s been a while since I’ve last seen my wife,’ he said in obvious annoyance before turning his attentions to Dormé once more as he gave her an apologetic look. ‘I’m sorry. She’s always been a bit over protective,’ Anakin admitted feeling embarrassed by both his scars and his mother’s doting mannerisms. Anakin couldn’t help but feel conscious of himself and the scars he had earned but at her impish smile he couldn’t resist a shy smile of his own. He could soon tell that she wasn’t bothered by the fact his features were now marred and this erased the last of his self consciousness.

She smiled impishly at him as she reached up to outline one of the scars over his eye. If she were tall enough, she would have kissed it, but this was the best she could manage.

His cheeks warmed as she reached up to outline the scar over his eye.

She stood on tiptoe to whisper in his ear, ‘We should go somewhere else then so I can give you a proper welcome home...’

Anakin couldn’t resist nuzzling his face against her neck while kissing it. ‘Agreed. Let’s go,’ he murmured before adding between kisses, ‘And lose that awful dress. It doesn’t show your figure at all.’

As much as Shmi wanted to object to this display, which she found incredibly distasteful, she also knew her son wasn’t going to listen to her either. She huffily started going through the gowns, some which were inherited from over the centuries. Before she knew it, the two of them had disappeared and one of her handmaidens questioned her about Anakin’s belongings, if they ought to be taken from his ship. ‘Yes, that’s fine,’ she said, hardly listening to the handmaiden.

Dormé giggled as he kissed her neck, but laughed at his comment about the dress. Between kisses of her own, she suggested, ‘Why don’t you help me out of it then?’ as they eventually made their way to his room.

Anakin was more than quick to take advantage of the situation and was swift in guiding her out of the room and to his own quarters where she had been living for the past while. Of course, it wasn’t without its many pauses as he couldn’t keep his hands off her despite the dress that she was practically drowning in. As they finally reached their destination, Anakin couldn’t resist a grin at her suggestion, despite the fact he was already in the process of attempting to remove the complicated and hideous gown. ‘Force help me, this gown isn’t a wedding dress; it’s armour,’ he groused between kisses, ‘Why else would it have all of these damned clasps and clips but for protection to keep a husband from enjoying his wife?’

Dormé groaned in frustration as they both tried to get the stupid gown off, not wanting to have to break down and summon an aid to assist. ‘And to think this was the best of the gowns I had to choose from,’ she muttered.

Anakin winced at her statement as he struggled to help her as well. ‘This is utterly stupid. I don’t care what my mother says. You’re going to wear something you want, not what she wants,’ he grumbled. But his frustrations soon lightened up as Dormé accidentally tore the gown, causing him to laugh as he moved to grab her. ‘There, even fate is in agreement with us,’ he teased with a wink.

Hardly bothered that the gown ripped, she broke off in a peel of laughter when Anakin caught her. ‘I swear this dress is trying to kill me,’ she laughed, but thankfully, the gown was much easier to remove now in its torn state and with his help was able to get it off. Looking at it again, she said, ‘It really is hideous,’ unaware that it was a priceless heirloom. But soon she was preoccupied helping Anakin out of his own tunic and trousers between kisses. How she had missed this, missed him...

Only when things had settled between then was Anakin able to finally give a sigh of utter contentment. Being in Dormé’s arms was like heaven itself and part of him feared if he closed his eyes he’d only open them again to find himself back in the outer rims territories. But this was real and tightening his embrace around her, the young prince once more buried his face in her hair and breathed deeply of her scent. ‘It’s so good to be home again,’ he murmured softly in reference to being in her arms.

Anakin’s sigh brought a smile to her face and she nuzzled closer as he buried his face in her hair. If she could love him more, his murmur confirmed it. Eventually, out of curiosity, she asked of his time on the frontlines while twirling his Padawan braid between her fingers. Dormé thought it was incredibly sweet that he wrote her letters while he was in the Outer Rim Sieges and admitted she had started quite a long letter to him as well, but stopped writing when she realised she wouldn’t be able to send it.

He did his best to recall the highlights of his time away. He spoke of the adventures he had embarked on, how he had earned his scars and the fact The Tempest had to be severely repaired. The young prince also admitted to having written her many a letter and with rosy cheeks even admitted to doing carvings of her on the back of the data pads. Growing more serious, he also spoke of how he come to touch the dark side and the heady rush it gave him only to have him return to reality feeling out of sorts and at times physically ill. Though he wasn’t entirely certain what to make of it, he believed if the Jedi were to find out, he would be cast out. Though he didn’t openly admit his thoughts, it was obvious he was confused by it all and welcomed her presence that seemed to make bring peace to his turmoiled thoughts.

The dark powers he experienced intrigued her, especially the way he described it, though he was left feeling ill which concerned her merely because she wanted him to be healthy. He seemed more confused about it all rather than concerned about what the powers did or had the potential to do. As such, Dormé stroked his hair which was quite a bit longer now, though she was hardly complaining about it, and didn’t press him for more information.

Once comfortable in bed with his wife, the young Padawan was more than content to remain there in her arms forever. When she was near, everything always seemed to fall into place and things that had been troubling him during their time apart were soon forgotten. Even his doubts and concerns over being found out by his brother and the Council pertaining to his use of the dark side wasn’t nearly as frightening now. Neither was the fact he was finding excuses to use it more often than not. Dormé as always understood his thoughts and feelings on the matter and her understanding was more than appreciated. Just as her silent gestures of comfort wasn’t taken for granted either. In fact it wasn’t until he felt her fingers running through his hair did he realise that he no longer needed to play with his braid. She was real, all of it was, so there was no need for illusions. However while he enjoyed speaking of his adventures to her, Anakin was more than eager to learn of her own experiences while he was away and was soon asking her about them. He honestly believed his mother when she told him that it was tradition for a princess to learn the ways of politics and her place as a future queen from the empress herself.

When he turned the subject on her experiences on Tatooine, it was her turn to be reluctant. At first, she danced around specifics, but eventually gave in and told him everything. She hadn’t wanted to hurt his feelings or have him be angry with her for the way he spoke to his mother, but she wasn’t about to lie to him either. ‘...which is the only reason I conceded in choosing one of those wretched gowns,’ she admitted, blushing slightly.

Stunned to silence he stared at Dormé in disbelief before frowning in agitation not at his wife but at his mother’s poor behaviour. ‘I can’t believe she did that to you!’ he stated in defence of Dormé. ‘She has no right to treat you—my wife and the princess of the Coruscanti Empire—so poorly. I’m definitely speaking to her about this. I foolishly believed her when she informed me that she was only going to be showing you the traditions and ways of our court,’ he fumed as he held onto Dormé protectively. ‘The nerve!’ he hissed.

Dormé felt awful talking about the bribes she was offered, how it belittled her, but more importantly how it belittled their love. She apologetically told him of her reaction to it all, but concluded how their relationship was now. ‘She never really gave me a chance or tried to get to know me before,’ she said with a shrug. ‘It’s not her fault. She’s just concerned about you and wants what’s best... I just had to be a little more persuasive, I guess.’

Anakin had to bite his tongue and resist the urge to get out of the bed and storm off to scream at his mother right then and there. Had it not been the fact Dormé was obviously embarrassed by the entire situation Anakin wouldn’t have hesitated to depart right away. Despite Dormé’s attempts to see things from his mother’s perspective the young prince was still livid. There was just no excuse for her poor behaviour and he was furious that Dormé had to go through such humiliation to prove what they knew to be true. Frowning he gave a deep sigh as he shook his head. ‘There is no excuse for that behaviour. She has the nerve to give me words about how to be a proper gentleman and then she turns around and does this to my wife no less?! I’m glad you told her off. I wish I would have been there to see her face when you did too,’ he grumbled feeling utterly annoyed and ashamed of his mother’s reaction and treatment of his beloved. ‘I’m definitely going to be talking to her about this.’

Dormé’s hand moved from his hair to his chest, biting her lip as he spoke his mind. ‘I don’t want anything or anyone to stop us from having this publicly acknowledged ceremony. Once that is completed, then she will have to respect me. I shouldn’t have expected her to treat me any better.’ The last thing she wanted was to cause a blow-out between mother and son before their official wedding. To cause something of that magnitude would only increase the empress’s ill opinion of her and perhaps change the emperor’s mind about allowing them to go through with it.

Anakin gave a frustrated sigh at her words. As much as it annoyed him, the young prince couldn’t deny that Dormé was right about one thing they would have to play the game until the marriage was made public. ‘Yes, you should have. You deserve far more respect than she gave you. It shouldn’t matter that you’re not direct royalty. You’re my wife and I love you. If she had any respect for me, then she would have had enough sense to respect my feelings for you and what you mean to me,’ Anakin said with a scowl before giving a deep sigh. ‘But I suppose that discussion can wait until after the public ceremony—but only because I don’t want her to use it as an excuse to ruin things,’ he concluded as he continued to play with her long hair; twirling it between his fingers as it helped calm a little of his irritation.

Anakin’s passionate declarations warmed her heart. She kissed his cheek. ‘I think that’s a good idea,’ she agreed. For now, they would content themselves with what time they had alone together before the emperor arrived. Since Anakin was back earlier than expected from the Outer Rim Sieges, they would be able to have the ceremony sooner, which pleased Dormé very much.

Their time together was enjoyed to the fullest and though there was still a great deal of preparations Anakin was grateful to have been able to escape the frontlines so he could be with his beloved. Little did he realise that unbeknownst to him another was watching and biding their time for very different reasons.

As the day approached, the young prince found himself struggling to keep his temper together. He couldn’t stand the way his mother regarded Dormé and found himself constantly defending his wife from the subtle jabs made pertaining to her. His mother, after all, was one for tradition and Anakin personally couldn’t care less and neither did his wife. He wanted Dormé to feel comfortable on their second wedding day and fought long and hard to ensure this came to pass, but in the end, it all came together and now as he completed his last minute preparations, Anakin’s thoughts grew eager once more. Soon the entire universe would know Dormé was his wife and the thought couldn’t have been more joyous or exciting.

Though the events leading up to this ceremony had been hectic and frustrating, nothing could bother Dormé today. She was so pleased that everyone in the galaxy would know and acknowledge that Anakin and she were husband and wife. With Anakin’s influence, one of the traditional gowns was modified—form-fitting and hemmed short enough for her to walk in—in a way that pleased her. Though she wasn’t technically allowed to be in Anakin’s presence until the ceremony, they figured out a few ways to sneak off to steal a few kisses prior to the beginning of the ceremony.

The ceremony was lovely, though quite formal. Everyone that was anyone was there save for the Order Anakin served. While the young prince was well aware of how marriage and such related attachments were regarded by the Jedi he couldn’t help but think they were taking this too hard. He was royalty after all and was expected to marry at his age -despite the fact it was meant to out of politics over love. Even so, Anakin wished Obi-Wan could be here to enjoy this proud and joyous moment. He knew this wasn’t possible so he tried not to pay it too much mind. However, it was strange that his mother wasn’t here and he couldn’t help but voice this in passing but was assured she was on her way.

Nevertheless, despite the empress’s absence, the ceremony continued and after what seemed like an eternity, it drew to a close leaving Anakin to finally be able to kiss his beloved for all to see. If anyone was bothered by their overly long and passionate kiss, Anakin was hardly bothered by it. This was their special day and he couldn’t care less what the rest of the universe thought.

An elder handmaiden rushed in, shouting, ‘RAIDERS! The empress has been abducted!’

‘Guards!’ roared the emperor. ‘Where are the guards?!’ He wanted to know why they weren’t doing their job.

‘Dead, Your Highness,’ the handmaiden replied. ‘Along with most of the staff...’

The young prince lost in the embrace of his wife didn’t register the news until it reached him personally. Caught off guard, the Padawan could only stare in disbelief as his mind began to race. Turning his attentions to Dormé he furrowed his brow and moved to touch her cheek. ‘I’m sorry I need to go, I have to save her,’ he said softly feeling torn about having to leave and yet knowing if he didn’t do something his mother would surely die.

It took a moment for Dormé to register their attentions were required elsewhere, for she was lost in her husband’s kiss. When he touched her cheek, she reached up to grab his hand. ‘Well, I’m going with you,’ she murmured.

Anakin gave her a look that said all the words he couldn’t say before moving his hand over hers and giving it a squeeze as he moved to depart.

Holding tightly to Anakin’s hand, the newlyweds raced through the hallways, stopping briefly so Dormé could grab her wakizashi.

The remaining security was on their way as well, but unlike Anakin, were not able to sense her Force signature. Anakin moved quickly while trying to keep a clear head about it all. Dormé didn’t say a word for her presence alone helped him maintain some semblance of control despite his panicked thoughts. Without a word, he led wife to the speeder before finally warning her to hold on tight. This was hardly the tour he had in mind when he promised to show her around, but now was not the time for such thoughts.

Dormé had never ridden on a speeder before and she cried out in fright while gripping Anakin’s waist tightly as they raced into the sand dunes. She would have asked him to slow down, but knew that time wasn’t on their side. If they were going to rescue the empress, they had to get to her as soon as possible.

Though he felt bad for scaring her, the young prince knew better than to slow down. The life of his mother was at risk and he couldn’t afford to take his time.

As they approached their destination, Anakin began to slow down the speeder before bringing it to a stop a short distance away. The hour was late now and the Raider camp was lit with bonfires though much of the Tuskens were in their tents. Turning to Dormé, he furrowed his brow in concern as he touched his cheek. ‘I’m going to sneak into the camp and collect her. I know where she is being kept. I can sense her signature,’ he explained softly before moving to depart.

Once the speeder stopped, Dormé let out a sigh of relief, though it took her a moment to regain a sense of balance and steady her legs.

‘It’s probably best you remain here. It’s just safer that way,’ he said with obvious reluctance and concern. He wanted her by his side but didn’t want to endanger her either.

The bonfires were haunting. It was something she hadn’t ever seen before, aside from funeral pyres and the thought filled her with dread. This feeling worsened when Anakin wanted to leave her behind. ‘Nice try,’ Dormé countered when Anakin told her to stay put. ‘Knowing your luck with rescue attempts, I’d wager you’re going to need my help!’ She unsheathed her wakizashi, which shimmered as the moonlight reflected off it.

Anakin, though distracted by his fear for his mother, couldn’t resist a smile to Dormé’s words as she unsheathed her blade. The fires cast shadows on Dormé’s elegant features and danced against the metal of her blade giving the young woman an ethereal appearance that reminded him of the sand sirens he heard about from his mother. She was a remarkable sight and without thinking, he promptly pulled her into a kiss before drawing back as he gave a firm nod. ‘All right, let’s go,’ he said softly before departing for the encampment. Finding his mother wasn’t hard especially given his skills with the Force, but despite his training nothing could prepare him for the sight of his dying mother now strapped to a wooden structure. Though he didn’t know the specifics, he knew enough to recognise that this was part of a ritual of sorts. Wood was a sacred thing for the Tatooine and it was usually used for religious purposes.

Neither of them knew just how long his mother had been captured, nor how deftly the raiders had been able to abduct her. In truth, there had been two separate attacks and the empress had been missing over half a day. No one knew their motives. Once Anakin led them to the tent his mother was in, Dormé stood guard as he rushed in to free her.

Almost as soon as he saw his mother, Anakin swiftly rushed to her side and began to undo the binding that held her in place. ‘Don’t worry, Mother. I’m going to free you.’

Shmi was fading in and out of consciousness. They had bled her and tied her up. She figured they were using her blood in some sort of ritual, though she wasn’t sure. It was hard to think straight, let alone figure out the reasons why this was happening to her. But then she was being cut down and Anakin was there. She had to be dreaming. ‘Ani?’ she asked, repeating his name a few times.

‘You’re safe now. It’s going to be OK,’ he said quickly as his eyes began to tear up to the sight of her wounds and fading Force signature.

She hadn’t seen him since that morning and now to see him here in his wedding garb, tears came to her eyes. ‘You look so handsome,’ she murmured. ‘...so grown up...I’m so proud of you, Ani.’

Anakin nodded at her words as he touched her cheek. ‘I’m here mother, its going to be all right, you’re safe now,’ he whispered hoarsely as tears collected in his eyes. ‘Just hold on I’m going to get the last of the ropes off,’ he continued hoping to keep her attention on him so she wouldn’t lose consciousness. But the empress was fading fast and her words sent chills down his spine.

Outside, one of the raiders took notice of Dormé and she didn’t hesitate to strike him down, hoping the noise of his body falling would not alert anyone else.

‘Mother, please don’t talk. Just save your energy, OK?’ Anakin continued as the tears now began to spill. He could sense a Raider approaching but soon felt its life essence fade away and knew the reason for it. He thanked Dormé for buying him time while still clinging onto the hope that they would all be leaving together alive and in one piece.

And then Shmi saw him.

Qui-Gon’s spirit hovered near, looking on, and seeing his son with Shmi.

So many years had passed since her dearest love returned to the Force, but seeing him now, it was as though no time had passed at all. ‘Our son,’ she murmured. Shmi recalled that last afternoon before he left to introduce Anakin to his half-brother. She recalled the feel of his hand on her shoulder, the last kiss they shared before he departed. But all of that was the past.

It’s time, she heard Qui-Gon say.

Anakin furrowed his brow not understanding what his mother was saying but sensing that she was fading away and quickly. ‘Mother? Mother!? Hold on! I’m going to get you out of here! Please, just listen to my voice,’ he continued in frantic fear.

‘We love you, Ani,’ she said before exhaling her last breath, her soul departing with Qui-Gon.

There was little time now as two more curious raiders made their way over to where Dormé stood guard. She cursed her luck, but dodged their fire and clubs, deftly counterattacking.

Stunned in silence the Padawan could only stare in utter grief and sorrow at the still form in his arms that was once his mother. Struggling against tears, the young prince bowed his head as he closed his eyes. ‘I love you too,’ he whispered not quite registering that she was speaking for both his father and herself. The pain was overwhelming for the young prince who had never really lost anyone he loved in his life, save for his father when he was still a youngling. But with the pain came the hunger for vengeance and soon the Padawan found himself reaching out desperately to the darkness to ease his pain. Wrapping it around himself like a dark cloak or invisible armour, he buried his sorrow and clung onto his bloodlust instead.

He would make them pay, every last one of them until their blood stained the sand red and their bodies nothing more than shells littered at his feet. With silent reverence, he gently carried laid his mother on a nearby mat that was meant for the shaman of this tribe before drawing his lightsaber as he could sense more Raiders nearing. Now was the time and he would not hesitate to unleash his revenge.

Stepping outside, he caught sight of Dormé counterattacking the raiders and frowned deeply. They would even dare to challenge his wife and beloved! If his mother’s death wasn’t encouragement enough, this about completed it and soon the young prince began to unleash the dark tendrils that now wrapped around him on his prey causing them to choke where they stood.

Through the Force, he could hear the requiem of their souls as he could hear their screams echoing in the night air. For a moment it silenced his own pain allowing him to forget the sorrow the gripped his heart and leaving him to freely embrace the dark side. Feeling it course through his veins was wondrous to say the least and soon he was moving through the tents slaughtering them one by one not caring who or what fell to his lightsaber. For in this moment he felt as though he were a god of vengeance and them: his pathetic prey whom deserved nothing more than the punishment he now unleashed upon them.

Caught up in her own defensive and offensive moves, Dormé didn’t catch Anakin leaving the tent, but once she heard the lightsaber humming and the cries of raiders that were not her victims, she knew the worst had come to pass. Dormé assumed his mother was still gravely injured or ill, but was unaware that she had in fact passed into harmony. Many raiders ran for the dunes as more fell prey to Anakin’s lightsaber, but Dormé killed those trying to escape, except for the younglings. She let the younglings go because she knew they were innocent. Unfortunately, this assessment was lost on Anakin and soon she came to realise the truth.

Anakin’s thirst for blood could not be sated and with each body that fell his desire for vengeance grew. He wanted them all to suffer, to feel his wrath, to cower to his power. He wanted them to know the pain of loss, to know what it was like to have everything only to lose it all. Drunk on the dark side, he proceeded with his mad hunt for all of the raiders who resided here, not caring who fell to his lightsaber for they were just animals, mindless creatures…traitors to the Empire and to his mother. As such, his actions felt justified—righteous even—and as he slaughtered yet another family, he could vaguely hear Dormé shouting his name.

As she returned to the main camp where the fire was slowly burning out, Dormé spotted dead bodies of younglings leading her in the direction Anakin was currently in. He slaughtered a family of raiders right in front of her. ‘Anakin! Anakin, what are you doing?! Stop! Anakin! Those were younglings! innocents!’ Dormé raced over to get in front of him.

The sound of her voice threatened to pull him out of his darkness but his hunger for the dark side’s kiss was too strong and as such, he only briefly paused at her words watching her with sickly yellow eyes before turning away. There were still a few who remained alive. Not caring that they were younglings or more importantly that Dormé had freed them for their innocence Anakin promptly went after them for they weren’t too far and through the Force they stood out like beacons in the darkness.

Not only did he refuse to listen, killing the family in front of her, he also went after those younglings she had freed. Despite her yelling after him, Anakin went anyway. That was enough for Dormé. She was ready to leave with or without his mother. She didn’t care anymore. Dormé headed back to the speeder in attempt to figure out how to work it so she could ride back to the palace, unaware of the dangers she would face on her own if she had been able to figure out the speeder bike. Unable to start it, she cursed and kicked the damned thing before folding her arms, looking out over the dunes where they came from. She hoped the rest of the rescue party would arrive soon as she was in no mood to look at her husband, let alone speak to him.

Anakin was too lost in the touch of the dark mistress to properly register Dormé’s words and it wasn’t until the last of the younglings fell to his lightsaber that he was even able to register his surroundings once more. But when he did, the sight that greeted him left the Padawan prince visibly shaken. Little bodies were littered around him all whom had been beheaded while in the light of the moons Anakin could see many more a short distance away, all lifeless having suffered a variety of macabre demises. It was too much for the young man, who though was growing increasingly enamoured by the dark side, was not expecting to find himself with this sort of result. It wasn’t that he cared about the innocent lives he had butchered, rather it was the fact he could barely recall any of it. This wasn’t the first time he had experienced this black out effect and the realisation of it only added to his concern. His other concern was for Dormé’s safety -though he could vaguely recall her yelling at him about something he couldn’t entirely recall.

Before he had a chance to think this through, the young Padawan’s body began to succumb to the after effects of channelling such large amounts of the dark side in such a short period of time. The ground began to spin beneath his feet and his head pounded as though it was about to explode leaving Anakin to race past and over the still forms of his prey so he could be ill behind the rocky terrain nearby. Still shaken by both the events and his body’s reaction, Anakin was forced to sit down until the nausea and the dizziness subsided. Even when this passed, the Jedi prince felt out of sorts. His throbbing head only added to it, nevermind the memory of his mother’s passing. As he stumbled back to the encampment, he sensed that Dormé was a short distance away. Though Anakin wanted to properly tend to his mother’s corpse, he was concerned for Dormé’s safety and soon found himself heading down the path where the speeder now rested.

In her frustration, Dormé kicked the speeder bike again, causing it to rattle, but not doing any damage to it so far that she knew. The rescue teams still had not arrived by the time Anakin was stalking over to her. Dormé took in his appearance, which was rather haggard and disconcerting, and folded her arms.

Anakin frowned at the sight of Dormé kicking at the speeder and shook his head wondering what her problem was and why she was taking it out on the bike. He was still out of sorts and too lost in himself to register that he was the cause of her anger. ‘What are you doing? You’re going to put a dent in it,’ he grumbled before Dormé demanded to know what was going on.

‘What the urugal was that about?!’ she demanded. ‘Why didn’t you let the younglings go?! Didn’t you hear me?!!’

Wincing at her shouts while his head throbbed, Anakin looked at her in confusion for a moment before frowning once more. ‘If I had let them go, they’d only return to wreck havoc in the future. I had no choice it was either tend to it now or pay for it later...’ he said in tired tones as he studied her closely ignoring her last statement as he honestly couldn’t quite remember what she had said. ‘Besides they’re only animals after all,’ he concluded before adding.

Though it would seem that Anakin’s conclusions made sense, it would be something that would haunt her later. The fact he referred to them as animals was a little strained, but Dormé didn’t say anything further.

‘Are you OK? You didn’t get hurt or anything did you?’ he asked trying to change the topic and not registering why she was so angry with him.

At his question, she replied huffily, ‘I’m not hurt,’ shaking her head. ‘...not physically,’ she added under her breath.

Anakin nodded weakly to her reply about to turn away for he wanted to be left alone for the moment. But then he thought he heard her muttering something and glanced back. ‘What?’ he asked in strained but weak tones, still not getting the fact his actions and inability to listen had wounded her.

Then her thoughts turned to the reason they were here in the first place. ‘How is the empress? Has she been wounded?’

The Padawan felt his sorrow return with fury. Bowing his head, he closed his eyes and drew in a shaky breath. ‘My mother’s dead, Dormé. They killed her.’ Without another word, he moved to depart back to the tent he found her in so with the intent of preparing her body so when the rest of the security arrived she could be returned for a proper funeral procession.

Whatever anger Dormé felt about the way Anakin had treated her disappeared, at least for the moment, at the news. Though Shmi and she did not get along very well, they each respected each other’s love for Anakin. A knot caught in her throat and she swallowed hard before going after him. She watched as he prepared the body with what was available in the small tent.

Anakin could feel Dormé following him and despite his wish to be alone to mourn, to recover, he couldn’t help but be grateful for her silent presence. It helped soothed some of the pain and reminded him that he wasn’t truly alone despite what his poisoned thoughts might have believed. He prepared the empress’s body with what he could find in the tent without allowing himself to dwell on what he was doing. It just hurt too much. As he tied the last knot he remained kneeling before the form with a bowed head. He wanted to remain strong to contain his sorrow but restraint was never something he was ever good at and soon the tears returned.

Once he finished, she didn’t hesitate before kneeling next to him and wrapping her arms around him. Whether there was an issue between them or not, it would be dealt with later, but right now, she knew her place was to be there for Anakin. Dormé didn’t say anything though, and she wouldn’t be saying anything of consequence to him until he apologised to her.

It was only when he felt Dormé’s arms around him was he able to truly mourn and slipping his arms around her waist he buried his face in the crook of her neck and softly sobbed into her hair that had since half fallen out due to the events of the evening.

It was not long before sounds of the approaching rescue team were heard, many of them reacting to the morbid scene. Tatooine’s suns had already begun their daily crawl up into the sky and cast an eerily red light into the tent when it was opened by a junior imperial officer.

The Jedi prince hardly registered his surroundings of the fact they were no longer alone. All he knew was the solace found in his beloved’s embrace and that for a moment in time he could mourn in peace. It was something he desperately needed in that moment and though he was still too out of sorts to appreciate the fact Dormé had put aside her own pain to help him through his own it would not be soon forgotten.

Though he kept his back turned from the man, Anakin promptly forced himself to regain his lost composure. Clearing his struggling thoughts as best he could, he drew in a shaky breath as Dormé ordered the officer to retrieve a transport for the Empress’s body. Once alone, he shyly thanked her before drawing back from his embrace and assisting their departure back to the palace.

The media from all over the galaxy at up the story of the macabre wedding. Little was mentioned of how gorgeous the ceremony had been or how fashionable Dormé’s wedding gown had been. It would only be a few hours before everyone was talking about the death of the empress on the day of her only son’s wedding. Empathy toward the young couple would be shown by everyone, except for the Naboo royal court and the emperor himself who was far too lost in grief currently to pay it mind.

Upon their return Anakin remained close to Dormé as though she were the sole reason he was even able to keep himself pulled together. But between his throbbing head, her distant silence and the overall fact he still felt out of sorts Anakin’s mood only grew worse as the day progressed. In the end, having grown tired of Dormé’s silent treatment and the constant questions from the security and intelligence the young prince took to wandering off to the training halls. He often would practice there when he was visiting the palace on Tatooine and right now it served to keep his mind off his sorrow and his frustrations.

Once everything settled down that day, slowly wearing into afternoon, Dormé was exhausted and decided to finally wash up and change before collapsing into bed. She excused herself from the emperor’s presence and went to do so, being sure to lock Anakin out of the room. The last thing she wanted was to have any sort of discussion with him when she was too tired to stand. It would be a losing battle unless she had her wits about her, which meant being able to think straight.

Anakin couldn’t help but feel that if he had done something different, had learnt of her absence sooner, or had been more watchful of threats his mother would still be alive. But she wasn’t and despite the fact killing the Tuskan Raider’s hadn’t brought her back or erased his pain Anakin wanted to kill them all. He longed to feel their life energy return to the Force, to hear their screams of pain as he slaughtered their children and enjoy the requiem of their souls crying to the heavens as he snuffed out their lives. If it meant that for a moment, his own sorrow would be forgotten he would do it again and again if he had too. But despite the dark side’s poisoned whispers and his need to vent his fury upon the innocent Anakin was more than exhausted. By mid-afternoon, he had since given up his training and was slowly returning to their quarters with the intent of collapsing in bed -hopefully by Dormé’s side.

When the young prince attempted to enter, he found that the security of the room had been altered so he wasn’t permitted entrance. Frowning deeply he gave a frustrated sigh as he attempted again not quite believing that Dormé would have reason to lock him out. But after the third attempt it became quite clear that was the intent and with Anakin already in a foul mood the young prince took to rapping on the door loudly to get her attention.

Dormé tried blocking out the sound of the security activation unit each time Anakin failed to enter and put pillows over her ears in frustration. When he began pounding on the door, she tossed and turned, trying to ignore him, cursing under her breath.

‘Just what in the blazes is going on?’ he demanded from the other side of the door.

She huffed over to the door, but didn’t open it as she yelled back at him. ‘You are locked out!’

‘Yes, I can see that!’ he snapped in agitation.

‘How very astute of you! Pity you’re not astute in things outside of yourself!’

Anakin cursed loudly at her snap reply. ‘Outside of myself!? You’re the one who is giving me the silent treatment here not the other way around! What is your problem anyways!? Now would you care to tell me why I’ve been locked out of my own room? Or is this just part of this stupid silent treatment nonsense you’ve been giving me all day!’ Anakin growled. He was at a loss as to why she was acting this way or what he had done to deserve it and was determined to get to the bottom of it once and for all.

Dormé faltered. He had a point. It was his room after all. ‘Fine. You want your room so gods-damned much, you can have it!’ she yelled, opening the door to him only to stalk past him.

Suddenly the door flew open and with a furious Dormé stalking past him leaving the prince speechless for but a second. Whirling around he stormed after her as he wasn’t about to let her take off without at least telling him what was going on. ‘OK, I’ve had about enough of this echuta! Would you mind filling me in on just what I’ve done to deserve this idiocy!?’ He screamed as he raced to stop her from leaving.

‘Idiocy?! IDIOCY?!!’ she railed. ‘How dare you call me an idiot, you haramu nitathdungi! You’re the one who haramu killed innocent younglings, you isthab! Nisaba, you can be so stupid...’ She turned away from him to continue down the hallway.

Anakin balwked at her shouts and glared at her in silent rage. But before he had a chance to answer her back Dormé was storming down the hallway once more. ‘And just why am I’m stupid!? Because I removed a future threat? Because I ensured that our kingdom wouldn’t have to fear these disgusting animals anymore? That I avenged my mother’s death so she could rest in peace!? Well if that makes me a whatever the abyssal you just called me than so be it!’ he shouted back in rage as he once more chased after her in an attempt to once more try to stop her from leaving.

Without turning around, Dormé continued shouting at him. ‘I don’t give an araru that you avenged her death—’

‘And that still doesn’t explain why you’re being such a hag! I thought you understood! Or am I not allowed to avenge my mother’s death in your eyes or ensure this doesn’t happen again in the future!?’ he hissed.

‘You didn’t haramu listen to me, Anakin. You haramu ignored me as though I was nothing more than a lowly serving girl! Why do you think I’m angry?!’

The young prince continued to follow Dormé while shouting in his rage at her. But in his attempts to make her stop or at least explain herself the answer was finally revealed and stunned to complete silence the young prince could only stare at her in disbelief. ‘I ignored you? What? When?’ he demanded not understanding what exactly she was talking about. ‘You’re making absolutely no sense at all!’ he snapped in frustration as he threw up his hands.

Then he remembered.

His eyes widened as he vaguely recalled Dormé calling his name when they were in the encampment. It was still a blur for the Padawan who seemed to recall the events like a dark dream. But try as he might he couldn’t recall her words only that she had spoken his name and the though sent a chill down his spine. ‘...Dormé, I can’t remember what you told me...I only remember that you called my name...’ he said in confused and almost frightened tones. It wasn’t the first time this had happened although he had yet to realise this but it was enough to completely unnerve him.

When she could no longer hear his footsteps following her, she spun around. ‘What the urugal do you mean you can’t remember? What an excuse! Glad to know I’m that memorable!’

Had he not been so lost in his fear and confusion Anakin might have found himself growing intrigued by Dormé’s fiery disposition. However he was too distracted by his discovery to really register it and when Dormé proceeded further down the hall the Jedi prince promptly started racing after her as his temper had faded away to fear and concern.

Too angry to even cry, she stomped further down the hallway, muttering curses about Anakin and his self-centeredness.

‘Dormé! Wait! Listen to me it wasn’t like that! You don’t understand! I was—’ he said before stopping short as though fearing as though his brother would suddenly appear out of no where. Then realising Dormé was still departing he once more raced after her until he was close enough to reach out and grab her arm to direct her attentions to him.

When he grabbed her arm, she wrenched it away. ‘What? You were what?’ she demanded, not feeling any excuse was worth it. He owed her an apology not excuses!

‘Dormé please just let me explain,’ he tried once more.

‘Why should I even listen to you anyway? You didn’t give me the same courtesy—’

‘I was using the dark side, all right?’ Anakin tried to say in quiet tones still fearing that someone might overhear him but Dormé was still shouting and growing annoyed once more—having now had a small taste of how she felt.

She continued on her way, ignoring him in return.

‘Dammit, Dormé! I wasn’t purposely ignoring you! I was using the dark side and just got too caught up in it to register my surroundings all right? Is that clear enough for you to understand!?’ he shouted back not caring if even the Jedi Council heard him.

Dormé didn’t understand what it meant that he was using the dark side. To her, it was just another excuse and she didn’t want to hear it. ‘So what?!’

Anakin gave an exasperated sigh at her demands as he had yet to figure out it was an apology she wanted all along. ‘So what!? Force help me, Dormé, I could have hurt you and not even realised it! You should be grateful I supposedly ignored you! I wasn’t exactly myself back there you know!’ he spouted before registering just how accurate his statement truly was. Growing pale, he ran a shaky hand through his spiky hair as he stared at Dormé in confused fear. ‘...I went too far this time. I could-I could have hurt you...’ he stammered in fear still registering the fact he already had.

‘Well, you succeeded,’ she replied in far weaker tones that she intended. It was then Dormé reached another bedroom, hoping to find it vacant. She attempted to open it, but didn’t have access to it so she continued down the hallways to find yet another room. Dormé didn’t comprehend the powers of the dark side or just what Anakin was capable of doing under its influence. She did not put together the fact that he had been so ‘drugged’ with the dark side he was hardly able to tell friend from foe, that he wouldn’t have been stopped in his need for vengeance.

It was only at her words did Anakin finally comprehend the weight of his actions and how his callous gesture had hurt her. He opened his mouth to speak but then closed it as he followed her to a room that was locked and reserved for high ranking guests. Having now finally figured it out the young prince felt more than a little ashamed of himself despite the fact he wasn’t certain it was entirely his fault. After all he wasn’t exactly himself to say the very least. Anakin knew it was because he was under the influence of the Dark side he also knew that this was something Dormé wouldn’t really understand. Either way he knew without question, he owed her an apology. ‘I never meant to hurt you,’ he began quietly as he tried to stop her from finding another room to rest in. ‘I’m serious, Dormé, I really wasn’t myself back there,’ he continued as the throbbing of his head reminded him that he wasn’t exactly himself right now either.

‘But it doesn’t excuse my behaviour. I should have been more careful to keep my wits about me,’ he said quiet tones. ‘It’s just...I wish I knew how to explain it in such a way that you could understand,’ he admitted as shame flooded his thoughts. Recalling his actions as though it were but a dream Anakin could only imagine how he must have looked to her. The thought left him unable to look at her as he furrowed his brow deeply. ‘I’m sorry you had to witness that. I was so caught up in channelling the dark side and avenging my mother, I could barely even register what I was doing,’ he gave a sigh knowing that given his training he should have been more careful and that this was no excuse. ‘I’m sorry for acting like such a beast to you. You were only trying to help and I— I was too lost in my pain and rage to even register it.’ he apologized in sad and shamed tones.

The next room was locked as well, but despite what Anakin was saying, she just wanted to find another room to sleep in. Though she was glad he was finally apologising to her for his treatment of her, she was still angry with him. She was tired and starting to get a headache herself. Finally she found a room that wasn’t locked and entered. Putting a hand to her head, she sighed, facing him. She recalled his appearance when he looked her in the eyes before ignoring her, how cold and callous he had been. She folded her arms. ‘Yes, I was trying to help you, but I was also trying to help those younglings,’ Dormé said.

Her statement confused him and he furrowed his brow as he studied her. ‘You wanted to help those creatures? Whatever for? They would only have returned to seek vengeance of their own,’ he said as though he were but talking about an everyday event.

‘I wanted you to let them go. Killing them was wrong, Anakin. I know you are in pain, but...’ She shook her head, hardly able to process just how lost in this power he had been.

‘I don’t see how that was wrong, I just saved ourselves a world of problems for the future,’ he stated in confusion wondering how she could possibly want to save what he believed to be nothing more than mindless animals. He glanced away. Deep down he knew she was right but the darkness was still lingering in his thoughts justifying his murderous actions and blinding him to the truth. ‘Oh, now you’re saying that I had no right to avenge my mother?’

‘I didn’t say that!’ she argued, now extremely frustrated with Anakin because he obviously hadn’t listened to her the first time they talked about this. It just proved her point once again. The conversation was not going anywhere.

‘I think we should talk about this in the morning,’ she said, hardly wanting to have a repeat discussion, knowing it wasn’t going to help things and probably just make it worse. ‘Neither of us are in the best frame of mind right now.’

While the young prince was the older of the two in this moment his behaviour made him look like a youngling by comparison to the woman he called his wife. ‘Talk about it in the morning? What is there to talk about? I don’t understand. Why are you still angry with me?! Would you rather I lied and said I purposely ignored you? That I intentionally tried to hurt you?’ he rambled on in agitation as his head seemed to pulsate further from the argument.

Realising he was about to spend the night alone, frantic at the thought of being left alone with his thoughts and the all encompassing loneliness that was ever present in Dormé’s absence, he tried to follow her to the small bedroom. His fiery temper now melted away into concern and desperation.

‘Good night, Anakin.’

‘You’re not serious,’ he remarked. Furrowing his brow, he tried once more to attempt to reason with her. ‘Come on, Dormé, don’t you think this is a bit much? I meant it when I said I was sorry. I don’t know why you are still angry with me,’ he said in almost desperate tones.

Dormé knew if this conversation continued any longer, they would end up saying or doing something that they would regret later. Though she was very much aware that this was their official wedding night, she was too tired and too frustrated with Anakin to want to be in the same room as him. ‘You’re obviously still not listening to me, Anakin,’ she said. She new him well enough to know it was another ploy. He wanted to be distracted and didn’t want to think about things.

She didn’t want to go to sleep angry, but it was apparent that she wouldn’t have much choice since he was being extremely unreasonable and immature. Taking a different route, she approached him and calmly, to the best of her ability, wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a hug. ‘I’m sorry about your mother,’ she said before kissing his cheek and releasing him.

‘Why must you do this to me,’ he muttered finally in sorrow filled tones

‘I’ll see you in the morning.’ And with that, she went to go to sleep without him.

While he knew he could easily use the Force to open the door to assert his presence, the young prince refrained as he respected her too much for such things. So with reluctance, he quietly turned away and departed for his own quarters knowing sleep would most likely not come.

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A/N: Coming soon...the final chapter of the Jedi Prince and the intro the part two of this trilogy!