Chapter Thirteen

The balcony overlooking the courtyard offered the best view of Naboo's sun as it set, which was why Amidala had taken Anakin there.

Neither one of them was looking at the sky however. They were too busy looking at each other.

"I wish you didn't have to leave again so soon," Amidala was saying. "I've hardly gotten the chance to spend any time with you."

Anakin smiled easily. "You're spending time with me now..." The queen's expression remained unchanged. He sighed heavily. "I know," he agreed. "I wish I could stay longer too. But I get the feeling that no matter how long I stay, it would never be long enough." He turned and leaned his back against the stone wall surrounding the balcony. "Obi Wan and I have to go with Tamerlane back to Coruscant. We need to be with her when she appears before the council."

Amidala nodded. "Oh, I understand, really I do. But I don't have to like it, do I?"

At that Anakin smiled. "You know, a wise old jedi master once told me I have to 'embrace' change, the good and the bad. I told him the most I'd be willing to do is accept it."

Amidala nodded. "I agree with you. Maybe that 'wise old jedi' wasn't so wise after all."

"I'll tell Obi Wan you said that," Anakin teased.

"He said that?"Amidala laughed. "I take it back. Obi Wan is very wise. He's got an infuriating habit of being right about a lot of things."

"He was right about one thing," Anakin continued. "There have been good changes in my life worthy of welcoming. One of those changes was you."

Amidala lowered her eyes briefly. "Thank you, Anakin. That's really very sweet. I feel the same way about you. I think it's wonderful how things are turning out for you. When I watch you with Obi Wan, I can see a connection between you two that wasn't there before. I know it's something you've wanted for a long time." She paused and looked up at him. "You two are a team now. I'm just so happy for you."

Anakin nodded slowly and took a long slow breath. "Now that it's really happening, it's kind of scary. The first time Obi Wan needed me to be his apprentice, I panicked. I wasn't sure if I could do it."

"You did though," the queen stated. "You just need to start believing in yourself." She layed a comforting hand on his arm. "You proved today that you were more than able and I'm sure Obi Wan was impressed."

Anakin grinned. "And pissed off too. I got quite a lecture when I got back from the medical offices."

Amidala smiled. "It's only because he cares about you. He doesn't want to see you get hurt. You took a lot of risks today, Anakin."

"I know. Actually, it felt good, knowing he cares. It's so much better than when I thought he didn't." He paused and turned around, looking out over the courtyard. "I really didn't mean to take risks today. I did what I felt I had to do, that's all. Maybe there were safer alternatives but I didn't see any. Besides, everyone has such high expectations of me, I tend to go overboard trying to find new ways to impress them. You know, most of the students at the temple have been training since they could first walk. They've had their whole lives to absorb it all. I've only been there a couple of years and I'm ahead of them. I know more. I can do more. But I don't understand why."

Amidala sighed. "They wouldn't ask of you anything they felt you couldn't handle. Maybe they expect more from you because they sense you have it in you."

"Maybe." He faced her, his eyes dark with sadness. "I feel so alone there. The other students dislike me immensely. The instructor's seem convinced I already know everything they could teach me. They think I prefer to be left alone. Sometimes I hear talk about me. I'm called 'the chosen one.' But I don't know what they mean by that."

"Things will get better Anakin," Amidala told him. "You are with Obi Wan now. He'll teach you and guide you and look out for you. You're his apprentice and as his apprentice you'll be living the life of a jedi, not just learning about it. Just trust him, Anakin. He won't let you down."

Anakin smiled. "That's all he has ever really asked of me."

The sun had set and stars began dotting the sky like jewels set against black velvet. A cool breeze blew in across the courtyard and hailed the arrival of nightfall.

When Amidala rubbed her arms to warm them, Anakin took off his cloak and placed it over her shoulders. She looked over at him and smiled.

"It is so nice to see you," she began. "I hope you will get to come back to Naboo soon."

"Hopefully it will be a social visit too," Anakin remarked. "Free of life threatening situations in which you get held hostage. I don't like seeing you in danger. My heart can't take it."

Amidala leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. "At least I know whenever my life is threatened, I can count on a handsome young knight to come to my rescue."

Anakin gazed at her fondly. He smiled and placed a tentative arm around her.

"You can always count on me, Amidala. I promise."