Saga Anniversaries of the Heart - Vader Angst and A/P mush COMPLETE - Cover Art added 6/22

Very heartfelt and special thanks to my friend and beta, Jedi Trace.

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[image=http://www.rhonderoo.com/aoth.jpg]


[b]Anniversaries of the Heart[/b]


[i]The holiest of all holidays are those
Kept by ourselves in silence and apart;
The secret anniversaries of the heart.
~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow[/i]




[b]Chapter One[/b]



The day turned to twilight as iron and silver tipped clouds succumbed to the luminosity of a gold dusk, then gave up their glory to the indigo night and twinkling stars that blanketed the skies of Coruscant, now called Imperial Center.

It would always be Coruscant to Lord Vader though, the Dark Lord thought as he looked out of the viewport to the city outside from his official chambers inside Imperial Palace. It was one of the only indulgences of disagreement with the Emperor he would allow himself, as the thought of banishing the planet?s former name from his vocabulary left with him with an ironic bitter taste in his mouth.

One would think that for its past transgressions, this bastion of Imperial might would be given fully to the Empire in Vader?s judgment. It was something he could not explain himself, but he did not waste precious time pondering it. In fact, he did not waste time pondering anything these days. Everything presented itself to him through the Force in stark contrasts of black and white, or it had until recently. That clarity could almost be quite refreshing when one allowed oneself to feel, which was very rare.

Lord Vader frowned under the mask. For someone who didn?t ponder, he was doing it with increasing frequency of late.

It was the height of Imperial Fair, as the local elite on Imperial Center called it, or Feté as it was known in the Old Republic, and the week long celebrations were starting.


Darth Vader loathed this time of the Galactic Year.


The pomp and tradition tried his patience immensely. Anything to do with the holiday or its former Republic name of Feté Week galled him. For him, only bad memories of a time when the galaxy wore a gilded veil of bureaucracy and corruption remained. Much like what was left of the accursed holiday of Imperial Feté. He did, however uncharacteristic, allow his subordinates time to celebrate and attend the many balls and celebrations held at Imperial Palace and on their various home worlds. It afforded him time to get his affairs at his residences in order.

He would have liked to have thought that this year was the same, but it was not. The incident with Skywalker at Bespin now haunted him, and he found himself thinking about his son more than was either healthy or intelligent. There were plenty of things to keep his mind occupied and away from Skywalker: like Black Sun crime lords, the ever-increasing presence of the Rebel Alliance on the Outer Rim or appointing the planning commission of the second Death Star.

That these items eluded him so strongly made him realize that he needed to focus his energies, now more than ever. He needed time to meditate and draw strength from the Force, the darkness always served to calm and center him. The comm on his desk buzzed and the presence of Admiral Piett drew Vader away from his reverie.




****




Although it was not widely known outside the Imperial Navy, serving in Darth Vader?s fleet had its advantages. Besides being the most elite and prominent assignments, it provided the best training for advancement. It was not as bad as one would think it would be, if one played their cards right and kept a low, but dedicated profile.

The Dark Lord had a private, mysterious streak and if one was successful enough to make it to his ?inner circle? - if it could be called that - they were privy to his more private moments, and his calmer demeanor. If they were really efficient and worthwhile, they might also know more important tactical and dangerous secrets, like the fact that his hunt for Skywalker was often left unlogged.

That was a matter of confidentiality that would surely be d

 

dark and cold this Fete Holiday is....

but you've got my attention!

 

Ohhh I so like the start of this myself! Great job! Can't wait for more!

 

It's up! I love this story, roo.

I like that you gave some of Piett's backstory. It's apparent in the movies, ROTJ especially, that there is a certain amount of mutual respect between Vader and Piett, and I can imagine his background probably has a lot to do with it.

The part about the holo of Luke is heartbreaking.

 

It was a holopicture taken of Luke Skywalker by a reconnaissance reporter. Through one of his most trusted sources, Darth Vader had paid handsomely for it. Why, he did not know.

Awwww! I suppose that even Vader would want a picture of his kid, even though he's... you know, Vader.

Uppies!

JS

 

Very cool start! I know this will be a good one and you'll do my large man in black justice, LOL!

 

SarkaVrae - Can you tell I was feeling all goth when I got this plot bunny? Never fear, I got out of it before I wrote the whole thing.

Kynstar - Glad it caught your attention!


Jedi Trace - Thanks, girlfriend! Admiral Piett is one of my fave imperials, and he seems to garner the most respect from Vader out of them all. I read that he was from the Outer Rim, too. Maybe that's it. Vader feels they're kindred souls.

Jazz_Skywalker - Yep, Vader is Luke's daddy deep down, no matter what he feels at first.

VaderLVR - Thanks! One would never want to get him wrong. That would be bad.

Thanks for stopping by, you guys!

I should have the next chapter up tomorrow. I'll post the other four in this era in the next couple of weeks.

 

Chapter Two





[image=http://www.rhonderoo.com/anniversaries.jpg]






Twisted spires of obsidian punctured the bleak, gray skies of Vjun. Their irreverence to the heavens betrayed the ambiance of the planet. Vjun was not known for its welcome to travelers. Above the gray shadows and pointed tips of castle turrets, the atmosphere wove a tapestry of deep russet, purple and red.

Below the thick, damp blanket of air, a swirling snow was falling slowly as Darth Vader disembarked from the shuttle on the landing pad of Bast Castle, his personal residence away from the capital. It cast a shadowy, dreary pall over everything, making it hard to see the way to the entrance of the castle. How fitting, he thought ominously. Things were beginning to change, just as they had in the dying breaths of the Old Republic, and the uneasy murkiness gathered heavier with each passing day. The landing pad door hissed behind him as he disappeared into the castle.





****





There are few choices in life if you are a girl child born to the untitled on Vjun: Administrative maid of a titled household or personal maiden of a titled household are two of the most prominent and prized. The difference, Myr's Mum had told her, was how the Lord of the Castle treated you and what he asked of you. Myr considered herself lucky enough to have been chosen for the better role of administrative maid of the household, she guessed, as her Lord had never said one way or the other, but asked nothing of her but to keep out any prying eyes while he was away and to keep things in order ? and to keep out of his way when he was on the property, unless called for.

She assumed she wasn?t wanted for the role of personal maiden because of her somewhat plain looks. She wasn?t ugly, nor was she breathtakingly lovely. She just was. Her dark brown hair hung in waves down her back when it wasn?t pinned in her bun, and her soft brown eyes complemented her light olive skin. When she did have to consult with Lord Vader, she only had to humanize the mask he wore when outside his personal sleeping chambers. She had stood before him unflinchingly when she had interviewed for the job. She was sure it had been to her advantage.

He always arrived at a moment?s notice and the other servants would retreat to the safer, unseen duties, clamoring to remain invisible. She never knew what mood he would be suffering from, although she suspected he saved his more volatile moments for Imperial Center. She had long ago deduced that he came to Bast when he wished to be alone, to escape from whatever haunted his dreams so fiercely. He never seemed to escape them, though, from what she could tell. He would never know that she sometimes heard him in the night, pacing away his demons. It would be her death as sure as the winters were cold on this cursed planet.

The comm chimes rang, signaling that Lord Vader was being escorted from the hangar and smoothing the folds of her dress as she went, Myr hurried to welcome him home. She met her Lord at the foyer entrance and bowed, ready to take anything that was needed from the shuttle captain. A footman droid stood beside her, its servos whirring patiently as they awaited their instructions.

The captain handed the droid the small business case, and bowed to Myr. He then turned and saluted Lord Vader crisply and left Myr standing with the hulking figure of the Darth Vader alone. He waited expectantly and Myr almost forgot herself. ?I?m so sorry, my lord. Your room awaits your arrival,? she said with another small curtsy. ?Would you like your case taken to your study??

?No,? the baritone voice resonated in the black marble foyer. ?You may have the droid take it to my personal chambers. I will be there for most of my stay.? He inclined his head slightly and moved past Myr to go up to his chambers. She gave him a wide berth and sent the droid upstairs.




****



The planet of Vjun had always attracted the Sith. Dark energy on the planet drew t

 

Hey this Myr gal seems pretty cool! hehehehe so she doesn't know who Vader was, eh? Definitely will prove interesting!

(oh rhonderoo read the newest Clone War book? Dark Rendezvous? Curious since you're mentioning this planet and the fact Dooku was there at one time hehehehe this Chateau seems soooo coool! At least it is in the book too )

Loving this so far!! Keep up the good work!

 

*cue sinister music* oh my! it just may kill her...Myr better be careful!

lovely idea about the gift & note from Padme--very cool.

and did you get her name from a wise man's gift?

 

This is so heartbreaking and sad even tho it's not intended to be outright so.
Please post more soon?

 

lovely idea about the gift & note from Padme--very cool.

Yes, I loved that as well. Wonderful start(s), rhonderoo!

JS

 

Wow, this is great! I love your characterization of Vader.

Can't wait for more!

 

Administrative maid in Darth Vader's house....now that would be an interesting job.

I love the descriptions of Vjun/Bast Castle...the snow and acid rain. Very 'fitting' for Vader.

 

Very interesting, rhonderoo. I can't wait to see where this goes. So he still has nightmares, hmm?

 

this is really great, rhonderoo! I'm loving it! It's so sad! But in a good way!

 

I'll post author replies a little later, but thought I would go on and post this now.

Anniversaries of the Heart

Chapter Three

Icy fingers of frost crept up the darkened transparisteel viewport of the private chambers of Darth Vader, like claws holding to a diminishing surface. The hyperbaric facilities were kept clinically cold due to his condition anyway, but this morning the temperature seemed to have plummeted past cold to frigid. He had already managed to complete many of tasks he had planned for the length of his stay in the time that he had been here. He finished documenting the staffing situation on the station that would be located in the orbit of the small moon Endor and decided he would make the holotransmission to the Executor in the study downstairs.

The transmission completed, he rose from study?s the ornate desk to look at the snow through the viewport. It was something of an enigma to him, as he had never experienced it in detail until his time on Naboo. There had been snow on Ilum, where he made his first lightsaber, but it was hard and inhospitable, so different from the flakes that had blanketed the Lake House the first holiday that he had spent there with his wife.

?And what is the big, bad Jedi going to do when a snowball hits him right between the eyes?? Padme?s eyes twinkled with mischief. In her upturned hand she held a snowball the size of a large guranga fruit.

?He is going to grab the naughty, little senator and carry her back to the house and make her listen to Threepio tell the genealogical history of the four hundred and eighty-seven diplomatic clans of the Livuarian monks of Ithor. How?s that for aggressive negotiations? Huh?? Anakin raised a brow mockingly to emphasize the seriousness of his threat.

Padme drew her hand back even more. She grinned and raised her brows, drawing back to throw the wet projectile at her husband, but before the snowball could leave her hand, Anakin grabbed her from behind. He broke her fall with his body and laughed as she looked at him in offense.

?That is not fair!? Padme playfully slapped his chest. ?You used the Force! You had to, that was way too fast!? She slapped him again on the chest, harder this time. ?That?s it. This is war.?

He opened his mouth to protest when his wife brought a whole handful of scooped snow down on his face. She sat up to straddle him and laughed out loud at the look of sheer surprise on his face.

?Geez, Padme! That was cold! I?m from a warm planet, remember?? He started to get up when she leaned down and placed both hands on the ground beside his head. She then placed her mouth a mere centimeter from his.

?Oh no, you were being a bully, throwing your weight around like you were some sort of Jedi Knight or Sith Lord or something,? she smiled as she moved even closer.

?Now you must pay,? she said as she lowered her lips to his. Anakin forgot all about the cold and the snow.

Vader shook himself from the reverie. He very rarely indulged in memories, choosing to bat them away insignificantly when they crept up. Or at least he did before. It seemed that he was losing control over some of the capacity he had gained for shutting the past out. He despised feeling this lack of control. If it had been a sentient being that reminded him of his painful past, he could dispose of them. In fact, he normally did. But how did one keep oneself from visiting old, painful memories, especially when the search for a son brought them so vividly to the fore?

It occurred to him that he was, perhaps, fooling himself and it troubled him greatly. Over the years, he had unconsciously surrounded himself with reminders of his past. The girl, Myr, was one. He frowned under the mask. He could not put his finger on who she reminded him of, but he respected her gentle practicality and innate nobility. To share a residence with him, no matter how infrequently, took courage.

He knew the girl had been standing in the corridor for most of the time he had been in t

 

Wonderful chapter! I love all the imagery.

And then there's this....

?Oh no, you were being a bully, throwing your weight around like you were some sort of Jedi Knight or Sith Lord or something,? she smiled as she moved even closer.

?Now you must pay,? she said as she lowered her lips to his. Anakin forgot all about the cold and the snow.

Oh my. *fans self* And that's not even "my" ship.... Is it getting warm in here?



If it had been a sentient being that reminded him of his painful past, he could dispose of them. In fact, he normally did. But how did one keep oneself from visiting old, painful memories.

He can conquer everyone but himself...



Before she knew what she was doing she held it up to her face, surprised by the faint smell of clean leather.

I don't care what Edna Mode says. You gotta love the cape....

 

Rhonderoo: If only Lucas could read your Anakin/Padme snowball fight scene that he might know what chemistry really is. This story is absolutely stunning in its emotional energy and imagery. I'm anxiously awaiting chapter four.

And that letter from Padme.... Geez, girl. I went and got all misty-eyed there for a moment. I had to go and say words like "Budweiser" and "Tractor Pull" to regain my manliness.

This should be nominated for the Readers' Choice Awards if it's not too late. If it is, then we must remember it for next year!

 

I listened to that Boston Pops version of Carol of the Bells all the way to work this morning. From now on, I'll think of this story every time I hear it.

 

wow! i loved the scene between Ani & Padme--it really shows what they lost. *sigh*

does Myr remind him of his mom?

 

THoroughly satisfying posts, they were wonderful! I love Myr, she seems to be just the type person Vader needs around him right now.

He also had nightmares. As one who was familiar with the curse of nightmares, she had suffered from them herself, she knew the sounds one made after the lengthy silence of sleep. The abruptness of footfalls as one fought their way out of the black hole of a nightmare. Her nightmares had gone away as she got older. She would have allowed herself to pity her master, if she had not been of the opinion that he neither wanted nor needed pity from anyone. In fact, it was probably viewed as a very grave transgression.

I thought this passage was beautiful, because it captures both of their personalities so well. A wonderful, amazing story!

 

What a sweet A/P moment, rhonderoo, and I'm glad you made him remember it. I have to think that there were times that he couldn't help but remember. Great job!

 

*happysighs* Aww, sweet!
The last paragraph - the dream of any Vader fan.. *sighs again*

Love this fic!

 

awesome O like it can't wait for more