The evening passed swiftly into night and inevitably, the night gave way to day, but for Dormé whose dreams replayed the shared passions of the night before, the transition went by unnoticed. Even their shared passions could not compare to joy of waking in his arms. Dormé had never felt so loved and at peace with herself than when she was with him. Had it not been for her previous experiences with men, she would not have appreciated this nearly as much as she did. Anakin was her darling, her best friend and companion. She never wanted to be without Vader and was thankful that would never be the case. For who would dare challenge their love?
Dormé watched him as he dozed, recalling one of the occasions she had fallen asleep on his couch during their late night meetings in which conversations of work evolved into late night discussions about life or worldviews. He looked so peaceful when he slept, so beautiful.
As a contented smile made its way across his face, a smile of her own awaiting him as he opened his eyes. Finding himself exactly where he wanted to be, he moved to hold her closer. He studied her sleepily, looking as peaceful as she felt. Running a hand through her hair, he murmured, ‘Waking up in your arms is greater than any dream I could ever have.’
She momentarily closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of him stroking her hair as well as relishing his soft words which echoed her own thoughts. Dormé stroked his back, her fingers brushing over his healing scars which served as a reminder of all he had been through and how much she wanted to be there for him. 'I love you,' she replied.
She cooed in response to the feel of his warm breath against her neck and the vibrations from his throat reverberating on her skin. He nuzzled slightly against her in response and she kissed his forehead.
After a moment, his attentions seemed to divert to the candles decorating the room. There had only been a few occasions that she mentioned them in conversation. Candles were considered sacred by Naboo culture and now Vader’s sanctum was host to as many of these sacred objects as he could find. Dormé looked to him curiously as he began to wield the dark side on the melted candle wax. She wondered what he was up to, though she continued her ministrations on his back. As the candle wax began to manipulate and move in strange formations, she gasped, 'What- How-'
When she noticed what the pattern meant to be, she gasped, amazed. It was ‘I love you’ in the ancient dialect of Dormé’s people. It was so eerily beautiful and sacred. 'You remembered!' Beaming, she looked to Vader. 'Oh, Anakin, it's beautiful.'
His smile turned shy as he said, ‘I hope I wrote it correctly. I'm still learning,’ as he gazed into her eyes.
When he turned shy, admitting he was still learning, she assured him, 'It's perfect,' touching his cheek, 'just like you are to me.'
‘I'm so glad you like it,’ he murmured, touching her cheek in return.
She leaned into his touch, smiling before kissing him. There were no proper words to express just how he made her feel, but she had a feeling he knew all the same and that was what mattered.
After the sweet kiss, she leaned her head on his chest, holding him tightly. She closed her eyes momentarily as she exhaled slowly. Being in his arms was so peaceful, she wanted for nothing here, so thankful for everything that had transpired to make this wonderful moment possible.
It was all so uncanny, how they ended up here, but she wouldn't change anything. She did not question the circumstances for she was too happy to care. She wanted to stay here forever. Time seemed to move on so quickly outside of these quarters.
The comlink chimed in the other room and Anakin muttered a soft curse. ‘Forget it. They can wait..."
Opening her eyes, Dormé began planting kisses over the healing scars on his chest until the comm went off in the other room. She sighed dejectedly, as she was reminded it was no doubt late into the morning now. She looked up at him, as if begging him to change the day to night.
He closed his eyes and she wondered what he was up to.
Suddenly, the sound of a small explosion was heard followed by the shattered parts clattering to the ground.
The explosion caused her to jump slightly. 'What was that?'
With a satisfied sigh and a cocky grin he opened his eyes to gaze back at Dormé with a look of amusement. "I dare them to bother us now."
His cocky grin and casual remark brought a smile to her face as she realised what had happened. Instead of enquiring just what he had done or how he had accomplished it, she was too glad the comm had ceased warbling and resumed her ministrations.
He closed his eyes and purred to her kisses as his hands ran through her dark hair.
Soon the minutes bled into hours and it was not long before the day was drawing to a close. Unfortunately, it also meant that much had occurred in the Sith Lord's absence. Much which would return to haunt him later, for elsewhere, the Emperor once more learnt of his apprentice's lack of action. Even worse was the fact that Palpatine learnt that the mission Vader was meant to embark on never occurred. As a result, the matter pertaining to the Corporate Sector's foothold over certain resources was never tended to properly. It was a costly matter one that placed the Empire at a direct disadvantage over the Corporate Sector's and her allies.
Palpatine was far from impressed and was even more furious upon discovering that the Sith Lord was not responding to his messages both through conventional means and via the Force. Having had enough of his young protégé's poor behaviour, he decided to go about a far more deceitful means of drawing his attentions. While Anakin's former mentor might have been able to tolerate such insolence, his current one would not.
As such Vader suddenly found himself once more being pulled back to reality with such force that it took all of his control not to cry out in pain. His master was not one to be trifled with and despite his vast mental blocks and means of mental protection the older Sith Lord quickly cut through them. It was horrifyingly painful to say the least giving the sensation of having a knife cut through his skull.
With a low whimper, he clenched his jaw and clutched his head in pain as he heard simple message given. You are to meet with me. Now.
The interruption was quickly put from her mind as they enjoyed their time together. Dormé was unaware how quickly time flew by and that they were both needed to attend their duties. She was also completely unaware of the mission her lord was meant to embark on, so she continued to bask in his glorious presence, having never felt so joyful as she did in moments such as these.
Suddenly, Anakin grabbed his head, slightly whimpering in pain and all at once, Dormé was concerned for him, thinking it was something she did. 'I'm sorry...' She moved away cautiously. 'Are you all right?'
Vader was far from happy and it showed. However, as he turned his attentions back to her, touching her cheek, he said, ‘My love, there is no need to apologize this isn't your fault.’ He sighed deeply. ‘It is my Master. I purposely blocked my thoughts from him and since he was unable to reach me, he used a less-than-kind method of getting my attention. I'm fine now, but he wishes to speak to me immediately,’ he concluded with a disappointed frown.
Relieved that she hadn't caused him pain, she studied him carefully. When he spoke of his master, she nodded in understanding, but wondered why he would hurt his apprentice. Protective of Anakin, she did not approve of that method of communication. 'You should go then,' she said softly, stroking his shoulder.
At her gentle words he gave an unenthusiastic nod. Moving quietly, he slipped his hands through her dark hair and leaned in, giving her a gentle kiss. ‘I'll return as soon as I can. I promise.’ With much reluctance, he moved to get dressed and prepare himself for what was certain to be a difficult meeting.
Palpatine did not have a problem with Vader’s attachment to the girl so long as it did not interfere with his control over the Empire he had created. When Jaffa became closer to Vader, Palpatine thought she was either very clever or very stupid. He began contemplating ways to have her removed. He allowed just enough information to pass through the security captain, feeding enough information to Jaffa in turn to pin him as a mole. He made certain that it was Agent Maberrie that would fire the killing shot to turn against her former protégé and murder her. But that planned had failed because of the superior imperial forces who were so quick to respond to her distress call.
Then something else happened, though Palpatine, as much as he hated to admit it, was clueless as to what had happened exactly, which caused Vader to have her transferred to another vessel. He thought his apprentice had finally tired of his little whore and that he would no longer have to worry about her. Unfortunately, this was not the case. It was not more than a week later that Vader failed to attend to his duties, finding out it was due to that little witch!
That was the final straw, or so he thought. Palpatine summoned her to his office.
Exiting Emperor Palpatine’s office, Dormé could not remember exactly what she had been doing before he summoned her or what further duties she was supposed to complete that day. Instead, she returned to their quarters. Her head was pounding and she could not recall if she had excused herself politely from the Emperor or not, but at this point, she did not care.
‘A pleasure to see you, Agent Jaffa,’ Palpatine welcomed her, his voice saturated with the feigned niceties of the Republic days. ‘Please,’ he said, indicating she take a seat across from him.
After bowing to her lord’s master, she took a seat.
He commended her for her efforts in the last rebel confrontation, mentioning the last Intel from his spies within the fledgling Alliance. ‘Your presence certainly left quite an impression,’ he remarked offhandedly.
Dormé remained silent.
He sighed as he casually asked, ‘What exactly are your ambitions, Miss Jaffa?’
‘Ambitions?’ she asked, furrowing her brow in confusion. ‘To serve the Empire.’ She nearly shrugged her shoulders at this, not quite understanding the question.
‘A noble ambition indeed,’ he replied. ‘Why did you come here?’
‘You summoned me, Your Excellency,’ she said.
The various questions continued and she answered to the best of her ability, but her head began to ache as though her mind was being intruded, though she was unaware of that possibility.
Seeing flashes of bright lights in her mind’s eyes, Dormé rubbed her temples as she made her way through the halls. Finally, she reached the wing that was forbidden to everyone except Lord Vader and her. She palmed the door open and went straight to lie down, praying she would soon be relieved of the throbbing in her skull.
The pain was so fierce it brought frustrated tears to her eyes. At least it’s dark in here, she thought miserably.
It seemed like an eternity before, she assumed, Vader had finished with his duties and was returning to their quarters. Upon the sight of him, she couldn't prevent the tears from escaping as she sat up to fall into his arms.
‘Dormé what happened? Who did this you?’
‘My head--it aches so fiercely,' she sniffled. ‘Make it stop!' Clinging to her lord, she took in a deep breath, finding some peace in his arms, despite the piercing ache. ‘I was--in a meeting with Emperor Palpatine--I don't remember--I can't recall if I properly excused myself--’ she lamented, hoping she hadn't done anything that would bring shame to her lord. ‘I'm sorry-- Ah, my head!’
After recalling what she could, Dormé whimpered slightly from the pain, feeling as though her brain was imploding. Then he touched her temple which hurt at first, but upon closing her eyes she felt a cooling sensation eliminate the ache.
‘Is that better?’
His words, though muffled through the mask carried a sweetness to them and she opened her eyes once more, nodding. ‘Thank you,’ she said. Feeling a bit guilty, she added, ‘I don't know what came over me. I've never experienced such a headache before. I do hope I didn't offend the Emperor...’
He growled as he moved his hand from her cheek to his mask. When he began removing it, Dormé automatically moved to help him, but he was so angry and she did not know why. But she would not push him, knowing he would tell her when he was ready. So relieved that her head was not aching, the confusion did not entice her with tempting curiosity.
He remarked in cold tones, ‘I know exactly what happened and I am going to make certain it never happens again. If anyone needs to apologize it is him, not you.’ After a moment of silence to clear his thoughts, he continued, ‘He was probing your thoughts and quite thoroughly might I add given your headache.’
Once he seemed to calm down slightly Anakin spoke once more, the words leaving her floored. ‘He was in my head?’ she asked. 'Mind probing? Whatever for?’
Anakin scowled in response to her questions. ‘He thought it was fitting to question your loyalties.’
Her loyalties? Dormé couldn't believe what she was hearing and gaped at him. When had she ever proven a traitor? When had she ever-- It was such a depressing thought to think the Emperor thought so little of her.
His grip tightened on his helmet and, had it not been made with the finest of metals, it would have crumpled. ‘He has no right to do that to you and I swear I will make sure he thinks twice before he tries that again,’ he said gritted teeth as his blue eyes flashed in rage. ‘You are the most loyal and noble member of this Empire. For him to think otherwise goes beyond insult and disrespect. I will not tolerate him treating you in this fashion.’
‘I did not intend to be the cause of conflict between you and your master,’ she said apologetically. ‘If he does not wish for me to be here...’ She withheld speaking of her intentions to leave should it come to that, for protecting his name and honour as well as his respect with his master was more important than her own feelings and she would make that sacrifice for him.
Furrowing his brow, his expression turned pained as he released his vice-like grip on his helmet and cupped both of her cheeks instead. ‘My love, please do not blame yourself. None of this is your fault, it is all his. Please do not ever speak of such things, for it will never come to that. I'd rather die, then be without you,’ he said fervently, resting his forehead against hers.
Anakin's reaction and his passionate words reassured her that this was not the case and his master had made a grave error. Even so, at the same time, she couldn't help worrying about her lord. For if the Emperor didn't want her polluting his apprentice then that would only mean... As she attempted to speak her thoughts on this, his powerful words resonated within her. She closed her eyes briefly when he rested his forehead to hers. Just as he held her heart, so too did she hold his and the resolution filled her with stone confidence. Whatever was to come, they would face it together. Of this, she was certain.
‘I don't care if he wishes you to remain by my side or not. You are my angel and that is all that really matters to me.’
With his boots and armour on, he was even taller than normal, but she raised on the balls of her feet to kiss him.
‘We are as one, and nothing will change that,’ he said fervently.
Oh how foolish I have been, Dormé thought. For so many years she had thought forbidden love was the most romantic and sacred thing that a person could be blessed with experiencing, but this, oh this... Forbidden romances were nothing compared to the uniting of two souls! 'Let the galaxy know,' she replied, her voice matching his in intensity, 'should anyone try to come between us...with all the powers of darkness, they will meet their destiny.'
Dormé words brought a dark smile to his features as he studied her ardently. ‘So let it be written, so let it be done.’ Drawing her in for another kiss, he added softly, ‘I'll tend to the matter of my Master in bit. Right now, I have more...important things in mind.’ A wry smirk crept into his features before her kissed her once more.
A/N: This is far from the end of their troubles. mwhahaha
As for the question regarding children: Mustafar had to serve some purpose, right? XD Although perhaps in an AU fic I just might explore that possibility...
on to chapter eight
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