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(Y/n)'s POV
Anakin was off the bed and on his feet in an instant, his eyes wide, he was nervous, "Open the door," I demanded, shooing him towards my fathers continuous knocks.

"What are you going to say?" He asked in a low hush as he walked to the door. It does not look good having him in here with the door locked, even as my guard it is frowned upon. With only the door closed would be fine, it is the locked part that raises suspicions.

"Trust me and do it," I whisper shouted. My Father may be too preoccupied with coming to check on my well being to put too much thought into it, "Go with anything I say."

He nodded and unlocked the door, then opened it. He bowed, "Your highness," And stepped to the side so my father could enter the room. He hardly glanced at Anakin when he did, his full attention on me.

"Sweetheart, why do you have the door locked?" He asked, approaching my bed and sitting on the edge next to me. He inspected a small cut on my cheek I got from my fall and stroked it softly with his thumb. I heard from Anakin that my parents were livid, the man who attacked me was now awaiting trial and it did not look good. The attacking of a Royal, especially the future Queen is enough to warrant death.

I sighed and leaned my head back against the board, "Sorry Father, I am still a bit shaken up," I milked the trauma, despite feeling perfectly fine now. I am a tough girl. I have to be in order to inherit my future, no one wants a weak and feeble Queen, "I wanted a nap and I felt safer with a locked door and a trusted individual watching over me." I glanced at Anakin—he was failing at hiding a smile—then back to my Father.

He seemed so understanding of my feelings and gently stroked my arm and shoulder, "You need to start being more careful," He retracted his touch. It saddened me, it reminded me of my childhood. A time of innocence and easiness, I'd give a lot to go back to that time. Responsibilities can ruin a person, "We have rules for good reason, your protection, your life," He raised his voice ever so slightly, but took a deep calm breath before continuing, "I do not want to hear about you going into the woods again without permission or I will have the stable boy get rid of those wolves you have hidden there."

Of course he knew.
But how did he know?

"I saw them last night when I had decided to have a late ride alone," He answered as if he saw the question swimming in my head.

"So you are saying that I am allowed to keep them?"

He tilted his head, "You know they are wild animals right?"

"Every pet is a tamed animal, nothing is meant to be sheltered," I tell him as he tucked my blanket for me, as he used to do when I was five. He tends to get like this when I am either sick or fear strikes his heart. Overbearing. But I do not mind it, it reminds me how much he really cares, "So can I?" I was planning to hide them, but it would be easier to not have to. I have grown attached to one, and Piett and Anakin grew attached to their own too.

"Let us see how they behave over the next few months and decide then," People can sometimes mistake him for being cruel due to his position as King. He has had to make many decisions that were difficult, yet necessary. But he has always been a kind and decent man, or perhaps that is just me being being biased, "Now can you promise that you will do as I say and stay out of the forest unless given permission to leave grounds? And mean it."

Yes your highness, I will remain here in your fancy prison until granted permission otherwise, is what I would love to say, but I said something less snarky instead, "Yes Father, I promise."

He smiled with a quiet relived sigh, "Good, but let us not tell your mother about the wolves though, at least for now. I have a feeling she will not be too keen on the idea." He cringed, standing up, "I would love to stay longer, but I have—"

"Obligations to attend to," I recited the same line I have heard my whole life. I guess it was nice to get at least a few minutes with him today.

He nodded and bent down to kiss my cheek where the cut was, "I am sorry my daughter, I promise to make more time for you soon." I have heard that my whole life too. But he does try, I will give him that. I am an understanding woman, I know he has important obligations, an important role. But I am still a daughter and he is still my father. I sometimes feel society forgets that and only sees us as individual leaders to look up to and not a family. Which is why his attention is so demanded, they do not think of me. Why would they?

I watched him leave, and this time he gave Anakin a head nod as an acknowledgment before the door was close behind him, "If it makes you feel any better, your Dad spends more time with you than mine does with me."

He always knew what was upsetting me without me having to say the words.

I sighed, looking at him now that he was back on the bed with me, but he gave us some distance, "Anakin, your Father left before you were born."

He drunkenly admitted that to me one night when he had one too many cocktails at a ball. God that was a mess of a night, I had to hide his condition from my parents, Obi-Wan, and basically everyone else at the party.

He threw up on my dress.
Ate the cake before it was cut — it was a wedding ball.
And slept in my closet, curled up in a pile of my clothes.

I let it slide only because his birthday was that week.

"Exactly," He shrugged, "Your Dad is already winning by a landslide."

I rolled my eyes and scooted down to lay my head in the soft pillow. A nap sounded good right now, I had nothing better to do than that. Unless...

I felt him lay next to me.

He placed his arm around me and pulled me to him. For a second I thought we were going to finish the conversation that was interrupted, but he never said a word. Like he was afraid to ruin our quiet moment of tranquility. I listened to his breathing, I felt it too, fanning my back and making me shiver. He thought I was cold and pulled the blanket over me to cover my shoulders, unaware it was his closeness that affected my body.

"How long?" I asked.

"What?"

"How long have you been hiding your feelings Ani?"

Silence.

He traced his own name on my exposed back with his fingertips, silently thinking of his answer, "It is a simple question."

He sighed, "Princess, does it really matter?"

"Your feelings have always mattered to me," I did not hesitate to reveal just how much I have always cared for him. He drove me crazy these past few years, but I can not deny that there was always... something there.

He paused his tracing, and gently placed his whole palm on my back, then used force. He was giving me a massage, "With all honesty, I am not sure," He brought his fingers to my neck and rubbed the back of it, "For a long time I suspected it to be my will to protect you. Until one day when I was watching you with the citizens of the town. You were so kind, compassionate, you really listened to them," He praised and I opened my eyes, "It was the first time I saw your heart and that was the moment it hit me that I was not only this protective because it was my job, I was infatuated. Since then, I knew I would always die for you without a hesitating thought." He traced his fingertips all the way down my spine.

"I always thought you hated me." It makes me laugh.

"I do," He laughed, "Trust me, I really do. But the line has always been weary."

I turned around so I could look into his eyes. I saw the ocean. Sapphires. The sky. Stars. Most things about this world that are beautiful and natural, I saw in his eyes.

"I hate you too."

He smiled, lips as pink as pinkest roses, "Well, it is a good thing you will not have to be bothered with me for much longer. Once you marry Anthony, I am sure I will be replaced by his own."

That idea made my heart ache, "I doubt it," I hope not, "You are just as famous as I. To break apart our partnership is basically a crime." It is not even the turn of events lately that have made me think this way. I have never wanted him gone. No matter what, I have never and will never want him gone, "And need I remind you that I have not chosen a husband."

"I know you well. King Anthony happens to be the only one you can stand." He is not you. My intrusive thoughts are starting to take over, and they are more dangerous than Anakin's temper. They can be very persuasive.

I breathed heavily, exhaling through my nose, "I want a nap Anakin, no more conversation." I closed my eyes, his being the last image I saw. It took a few seconds for blue to disappear from my mind.

He sighed in defeat, "Fine. Can I at least take one with you?" I scooted closer to him, letting him know my answer that way. He responded by putting his arm over me, now I was warm enough so the breeze from the slightly open balcony door would not affect me, "Do you want me to close it?" He asked like he read my mind.

I shook my head, "No." I liked the sound of the birds, it was still daylight after all.

The day was young and come nightfall, a trial awaits.

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