Succumb

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Epilogue: Sometime During Revenge of the Sith


"In secret we met -
In silence I grieve,
That thy heart could forget,
Thy spirit deceive."

Lord Byron


The dark tentacles of evil and decay weave themselves into the hidden recesses of my mind and the ache in my bones grows. Not even the feel of Anakin's body pressing me beneath him can chase away the darkness. The time when his passionate lovemaking could hold the fear and darkness at bay is at an end. There will be no more chances for redemption.

It is done.

Anakin has taken that last step and there is no going back for either one of us now. The path he has chosen is one upon which I cannot and will not follow. It is paved with anger, fear, and death. The weeping echoes of a foolish woman who thought that love could surmount any obstacle serenades those who tread it.

Now there are no more tears to be shed; no more goodbyes to say. Today I leave my shattered heart behind in a vain attempt to guard the soul that is in grave danger of being extinguished forever. I leave to protect and safeguard my unborn children from the vile man who my husband now misguidedly serves.

Anakin will believe that I have betrayed him and his dark rage will explode. He will come for me. His prized possession cannot be allowed to slip through his fingers.

All I ask is for some time to ensure that my children are safe. Once that is done it matters little what becomes of me.

Anakin, my love….I am sorry. Please forgive me.

Oh gods….is it possible to die of a broken heart?


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I see him in my dreams sometimes, not as he was when I left but as I know someday soon he will be. For that nightmare from years ago has come back to haunt me. Once again I see that dark figure cloaked in black and hear the sound of harsh metallic breathing as it hunts for what is his. I cannot make out the face but I have no doubt that the evil creature that stalks me in the land of sleep is Anakin.

He will come for me.

And I am afraid.


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"The only art her guilt to cover,
To hide her shame from every eye,
To give repentance to her lover,
And wring his bosom – is to die."

Oliver Goldsmith


Many years ago a little slave boy who worked in a sweltering shop on a barely habitable planet told a girl queen that he would marry her. She had not believed him; had dismissed him as a fanciful child who played in the realm of daydreams in an effort to alleviate the dreariness of his squalid existence.

She was wrong.

The girl queen had not understood until too late that dreams and reality had a way of overlapping when touched by that magical boy. When she finally came to understand it was too late for her; too late for her tears and regrets. The boy had become a man and he had come to claim what was his no matter the cost; no matter the consequence.

When they met again it was as man and woman, no longer slave nor queen. The young woman succumbed to his charms and power; seduced with his promises of love and desire.

There was love for the pair but happiness proved sporadic and fleeting. When the man himself succumbed to the power of the dark side the woman fled with a secret - hope for the future and the key to the redemption of them all.

The man howled with rage and pain at his loss, allowing the hate and fear to fester. He focused all of his obsessive energy on finding that one woman - his woman. Beware any who stood in his way. But in this endeavor he failed and without her light he fell further under the spell of the dark side.

Thus the prophecy of The Chosen One took another step towards the night.


THE END….of the Beginning

Feedback very much appreciated.

Author's Note: The sequel to 'Succumb' is 'The End Justifies the Means' and it is from Anakin's point of view. It is complete and up at this same site.