The Apprentice || Anakin Skywalker x Reader

Chapter 21: I Belong to You

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(Y/n)'s POV
"Oh my—this is absolutely beautiful," I exclaimed as I stepped off the ramp and into a vibrant field of flowers, as well as a few waterfalls nearby. It was one of the most breathtaking sights I had ever seen—the only one actually. The air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming petals, and the colors were so vivid they took my breath away. "Where are we?" I questioned, glancing at my Master, who was leaning against the ship with a warm smile that lit up his face.

"This is the meadows of Naboo," he replied. "I regret keeping you locked up in that palace for as long as I have, so I thought I'd show you the finest beauty nature has to offer in this galaxy." He pushed off the ship and made his way down the ramp toward me.

"I can't believe a place this gorgeous actually exists." Transitioning from barren sand and dull gray walls to this was like stepping into a dream. The vibrant shades of the flowers—crimson, violet, gold, blue, pink—swayed in the gentle breeze, and the greenery seemed to stretch endlessly in every direction. It felt like the first time I was truly seeing green, a color that had been absent from my life for far too long. There was so much color surrounding me that I was almost afraid to blink, fearing it might all be gone once I opened my eyes again.

"There's so much more that I want to show you, but this spot in particular is one of my favorites," he said as he reached me, placing his hands gently on my shoulders. His touch was reassuring, grounding me in this moment of beauty. "No one really explains how peaceful the Force feels in a place like this." He leaned in closer, his breath warm against my ear, and whispered, "There's no anger, no sadness, no emotions whatsoever—only the calmness of nature. If you close your eyes and listen, you can hear the waves crashing crashing against the waters below, feel the insects moving freely through the soil and the fish swimming through the waters. You can hear the flowers dancing in the breeze while the birds sing along with the wind."

I chuckled, "You sound like your poetry books."

He chuckled too, "Just do me that favor and close your eyes and feel it all. Don't think of anyone or anything, just feel."

I closed my eyes, allowing his words to wash over me like the gentle mist of the nearby waterfalls. The sounds he described surrounded me, creating a symphony of nature that brought me the most peace I had ever felt. I could almost feel the pulse of the earth beneath my feet, a reminder of the life that thrived all around us.

It truly was an unforgettable moment.

As I stood there, breathing in the sweet fragrance of the flowers, I suddenly heard laughter. A fleeting image danced in my mind of two people tumbling in this very field.

When I finally opened my eyes and turned to him, I recognized his face as one of the two from my brief vision. "How do you know this place?" I asked, my curiosity piqued as I watched the water from the waterfall crash into the lake, sending a light mist swirling toward us.

He hesitated for a moment, but then surprisingly replied, "My ex-wife and I visited here once, a long time ago."

I blinked, taken aback. "Ex-wife?" I had known there was someone from his past, but he had never shared much about that relationship—other than the fact that he had killed her himself.

He nodded slowly, gazing out at the field. "Yes, and I loved her... deeply."

A sharp pang of jealousy twisted in my chest. "Do you still love her?" I blurted out before I could stop myself.

He paused, as if contemplating his own thoughts, then sat down and motioned for me to sit down with him. As I settled beside him, he began, "No, which is odd because I thought my love for her would last forever; it felt that strong." He picked a yellow flower from the ground, twirling it gently between his fingers. "But when I discovered her betrayal, all that remained was anger and hatred." He met my gaze, brushing my hair behind my ear and placing the flower there.