Unification Part Deux

Favistad Eve, Alameen

The Temple at Parthenia was abuzz with activity. Every Lord and Lady from each Family House had gathered for Lady Miriam Sakarté’s announcement, the Blessing of the Heirs.

The Temple’s ala alabaster columns were coiled with ivy laced through with heavy crimson blooms that scented the air. Heavy velvet banners from each house hung along the entrance, their gold and silver trim swaying in the breeze. A banquet had been prepared, and all the nobles were seated.

Lady Miriam rose and rang her crystal goblet, signaling quiet. “My esteemed Lords and Ladies, for many years I have served as Lady Sakarté since my late mother’s untimely passing. It is with bittersweet emotions that I pass this title on. I propose a toast: To the new Lady Sakarté, my daughter, Acaciah Skywalker!”

The room erupted in uproarious applause; Acaciah rose and curtsied. “I am honored, noble Lords and Ladies. I intend to take my husband, Anakin Skywalker, as my Lord Sakarté.” Applause sounded again and goblets clanged to the table.

“That is well and good,” Celianthos of Aramatiea began. “But Anakin is not of Fiona blood. There is the matter of the Gauntlet…he must prove his worth to rule.”

Anakin stood and silenced the murmurs of the guests with a wave of his hand. “I am willing to do whatever it takes if it pleases my lady,” he announced.

“Good,” Etos Savros replied. “Step outside, Anakin. The Gauntlet awaits.”

They left the Temple proper and stepped onto its verdant fields where a long tunnel of swinging knifes was mounted in its center. Several Fiona noblemen stood along it, epaliers at the ready.

“Gauntlet! Gauntlet! Gauntlet!!” the crowd chanted, reminding Anakin of his fateful podrace on Boonta Eve.

Etos signaled for quiet. “Anakin Skywalker,” he began, “you wish to prove your worth to join your bride as the Lord of the House of Sakarté. You will run the Gauntlet to demonstrate your connection to the Force. The tunnel walls contain jewels. You must collect them and bring them to Acaciah. You may take no weapons, save your skill in the Force. Leave your lightsaber with your Lady.”

Anakin nodded in assent, removed his cloak and handed Acaciah his lightsaber. She bit her lip. *Don’t worry; I’ll be right back. * He winked at her, and Acaciah leaned in and kissed his cheek.

The Gauntlet loomed, its blades glinting in the afternoon sunlight. Anakin surveyed it a moment, aligning himself with the Force. “I’m ready,” he announced.

“May the Force be with you,” Etos said.

Anakin stepped into the Gauntlet’s tunnel and leapt over a blade that spun at his ankles. An epalier whirled toward his head; he waved it aside into the knives clinking in front of him. A red glint alerted him to the first jewel; Anakin palmed it and plunged on. A long blade swung toward his throat, and Anakin dodged it, twisting past the obstacle. The soft glow of pearl greeted him on the other side of the barrier. He drew it to him with the Force. Another epalier launched toward him, and he used it to tear into the next set of blades as he picked up a heavy emerald.

Anakin endeavored on past the clanging knives and swords, collecting loose gems until he reached the last obstacle in the tunnel, a tiara set on a stand. It appeared mercifully unguarded.

‘Fat fucking chance!’ Anakin thought. Upon closer inspection the tiara was sitting on a button of some sort; Anakin glanced from it to the exit, noticing that there was no door. ‘The tiara must open the door,’ he thought, ‘but not without setting off some sort of booby trap.’ Anakin reached behind him for the remains of an epalier. ‘Hope they’re the same weight,’ he thought, levitating it over the tiara. He switched them quickly, releasing the exit’s door and a hail of shrapnel. He used a burst of Force speed and sailed clear of the Gauntlet tunnel, to the crowd’s eager delight.

Anakin knelt before Acaciah, gemstones and tiara in hand. “For you, my Lady,” he said. Acaciah embraced him gratefully. Etos and Najara Savros brought a crown on an emerald pillow.

Miriam took the tiara from Anakin and placed it on Acaciah’s head. Next she took the crown from Najara and placed it on Anakin’s head. “Most noble Lords and Ladies, I give you my heirs, Anakin and Acaciah Skywalker, our new Lord and Lady Sakarté.” The crowd again broke into ovation.

Anakin and Acaciah rose and waved; he motioned for silence. “Let the revelry begin!” he cried, and they made their way back into the Temple.
~~

The temple was alive with the throng of revelers; Joss pushed his way through the masses, which were already well lubricated with alcohol. “Congratulations, Lord Sakarté,” he said, clapping Anakin on the back.

Geraint and Janae, who were now Lord and Lady Ravenas, came to pay their respects. “Hello, cousin!” Janae beamed at Acaciah, hugging her tightly. “Mother Sakarté,” she said, bowing to Miriam, who held Aiden on her lap. “I see the Vitas has blessed you with a beautiful little boy,” Janae cooed. “Geraint and I are working on another of our own,” she said, patting her belly. “Rhiannon is getting a little brother,” Janaet ont on. “Aiden looks like you,” she remarked.

“Yes, but he’s got the Skywalker eyes,” Acaciah said proudly, brushing the soft hair on Aiden’s forehead. “Anakin already wants another one, you know!”

Joss glanced over at the chatting women beside them. “Anakin,” he nudged his friend. “What are the Vitas?”

“It’s Fiona for the Living Force as it relates to family,” Anakin replied. “The Vitas is what creates new life.”

Aiden stretched and yawned in his grandmother’s arms. “He’s getting tired,” Miriam remarked. “You ought to take him upstairs and put him to bed,” she suggested to Acaciah, who scooped him up.

“I’ll see you in a bit,” she whispered to Anakin, brushing his cheek with her lips. He kissed Acaciah and Aiden as she exited to the upstairs. * Go talk to him, Anakin, * she urged, inclining her head toward Obi-Wan, who sat beside Miriam hand in hand.

Anakin nodded, and swallowed hard; he’d almost rather run another Gauntlet, at least that he could do without bungling. He and Obi-Wan had often been at odds, from the time of his childhood on; their relationship had become especially strained after he began courting Acaciah, Obi-Wan objecting strenuously to their age difference, among other things. He approached the couple, quelling his nervousness. “Hello Master Kenobi. How are you?” he asked, bowing politely.

“I am well, thank you Lord Sakarté,” Obi-Wan replied. Anakin waited for Obi-Wan to go on, but he said nothing else. Dammit, Anakin thought, suppressing a frown, he’s going to make this difficult.

Miriam regarded the two men, sensing Anakin’s intentions; she gave her husband’s hand a squeeze. “Excuse me a moment, gentlemen, I’m going upstairs to check on Acaciah and Aiden,” she said. “I’ll be back in a moment.”

Anakin sat beside Kenobi. “I’m sorry Obi-Wan,” he began without preamble. “I should have asked your permission to marry Acaciah. She’s missed you terribly, and I’m sorry I took her away from you.”

Obi-Wan gave him an incredulous look. “I don’t believe you’re sorry, Anakin; but for Acaciah’s sake I’ll forgive you.”

Anakin was taken aback. “You don’t believe me?”

“No, sorry means if you had to do it over again you would do things differently. You’d still have married her; you wouldn’t do it any differently. You don’t like to wait, Anakin, you never have.”

Anakin was silent a moment. “I am sorry I hurt you.”

Obi-Wan’s expression softened, and he put his hand on Anakin’s shoulder. “That I do believe.” He looked out into the crowd. “You two fit in well here,” he remarked. “If I were you, I’d mingle, Lord Sakarté.”

The two men rose and gave parting bows. Anakin decided to make the rounds of partiers while Acaciah got Aiden to sleep; he wanted to do some celebrating in private with her later. He figured that soon the throng would be drunken enough not to miss him. Joss and Liza joined him, mingling and greeting. Eventually, they came to their friend Jace Solo and an inebriated courtesan at a Sabaac table.

Jace had several Fiona nobles’ worth of money and jewels spread out before him. “Care to join us?” he inquired.

“No thanks, I’ll watch,” Joss replied. Liza nudged him. * For our future daughter? * She pathed. *She could use some nice jewels for her dowry. *

*Against Jace? Are you drunk, darling? * Joss asked, and Liza laughed aloud.

“Too bad,” Jace said. “Anakin?”

“I think not, my friend. Acaciah is waiting for me upstairs. She has all the jewels she needs already.” Anakin winked at Jace. *Don't win all my newfound wealth, friend. *

***

Joss and Liza were on a burgundy divan talking to the new Lord Sakarté as Acaciah returned from upstairs with Janae and Geraint Ravenas in tow. “Aiden’s asleep,” she said, settling beside Anakin on the divan. She stroked Anakin’s cheek with a velvet glove; he kissed it and gave her a smoldering look. Acaciah returned it and he slung his arm low around her waist, his hand resting on her thigh.

Joss offered Geraint and Janae a hearty handshake. “Good to see you; I understand you two are Lord and Lady Ravenas now!”

“Yes,” Geraint replied. “Janae’s parents are Mother and Father Ravenas now.”

“I believe the Unification movement is of more interest to learn than arcane Fiona cust dea dear,” Janae suggested. Her earrings and bracelets glinted golden over her coffee-colored skin. She had golden bells wrapped into her thick raven tresses, which matched the ones on her garnet velvet gown. “I understand you mean to unify the Force? How are you going to persuade the Jedi?”

“Much of the Jedi’s power lies in its pull with the Senate,” Anakin replied. “If we can weaken them there, we can loosen their stronghold greatly.”

“And the Jedi themselves?” int int inquired.

“There are many in the Jedi who would like to do as we have done, marry and have a family,” Joss replied.

“Those we target simply by example,” Liza added. “We did as we pleased, and did not go Dark Side, as the Council swears those with possessions will.”

“There shall be many fine opportunities for those with the foresight to look beyond Alameen and its politics,” Acaciah remarked. “The Jedi are restless, and Papa admitted to me that many are looking to join the movement. He is considering resigning from the Jedi Order as well.”

“To live with Mother Miriam?” Janae looked delighted. “Oh, she deserves to be happy!”

“I believe she’s made him grovel enough to let him come back to Lachere!” Acaciah laughed. She turned back to Anakin, “I think we should ask Papa to make himself available for those who want to defect. He could give us some names and we could set up provisional housing and such for the defectors. Part of the Order’s hold on its Jedi is that they are allowed to have no possessions.”

Geraint threw Janae a lusty look, “Possession isn’t all bad.”

“Indeed it is not,” Anakin remarked, and he and Acaciah rose to retire.

Loud laughter erupted from the Sabaac table, drawing their attention. Liza looked over and smiled before patting Joss gently on the hand. “I’m feeling tired, would you mind if we retired?”

Joss nodded and smiled at her before turning back to Anakin and Acaciah. “We are expecting again, another set of twins, the energies the girls raised at the Teahouse did their magic!”

Anakin shouted with laughter as Acaciah looked at Liza and winked. Liza blushed slightly as Joss put his arm around her waist and escorting her to the door.

Upstairs and finally alone, Anakin and Acaciah embraced eagerly. She gave him a wicked smile and ran her gloved fingertips over his lips. “And how would you like to celebrate, mi amarr?” she inquired, her eyes aglow with desire.

Anakin devoured her mouth with his; when their lips parted; Acaciah took a breath to compose herself enough to him him in the eyes. “I have a surprise for you,” he said, and drew a keypad out.

“What’s this?” she asked.

“This controls the security, lighting, air, holoprojectors and other appliances in our new house on Coruscant,” he replied proudly. “It’s near Joss and Liza’s house, so you two can get together with the children and play and talk to your hearts’ contents.”

Acaciah beamed and threw her arms around him again. “It’s perfect, Anakin!” she exclaimed. “You’re erfuerful! Aiden will be so happy to be near his friends, and he will always have someone to play with as he gets older.”

“He should have someone to play with no matter where he is,” Anakin suggested, his hand drifting down to the zipper on Acaciah’s gown. She shrugged out of the gown deftly and began to remove her gloves; Anakin stayed her hand. “Leave them on, mi priana,” he said, winking mischievously. He knelt to devour her luscious globes and Acaciah tugged at hiir, ir, bound at the nape of his neck.

“Strip, love,” she purred. “I want to look at you!” Anakin shed his clothes and laid Acaciah on the plush bed in the center of the room. He ran his lips up and down her body tenderly, his stubble tickling Acaciah lightly; it shot shivers of desire through her.

They tangled together, their bodies’ primal rhythm an expression of their devotion to each other. When they were finished, Anakin caressed Acaciah’s womb, “Aiden has a little brother now,” he winked.