Chapter 17

“ It is hard to believe that tomorrow you and Obi-Wan will be leaving us and heading back to your Jedi Temple.” Vanessa put the bowl of oatmeal, with slices of fruit down in front of Anakin, as he sat the small table.

“ I know what you mean. In a way, I want to stay here, but I know I really cannot, because it is my duty to the Republic to keep everyone safe, from the hold of the Separatist.” Anakin picked up his spoon, as Vanessa sat down at the table with her bowl of oatmeal.

“ I understand that you and Obi-Wan have your duties to the Republic. It is just that I will miss you.” Vanessa just kept her eyes downward, so that way, he could not see the tears coming to her eyes.

“ I will miss you too. If I can take you with me, I will do it in a heartbeat. We both know I cannot, because of the stupid rule that I cannot have any kind of attachment to anyone.” Anakin reached out, took a hold of Vanessa’s hand and held it, and gave it a gentle squeeze.

“ I know.” Vanessa looked up and gave Anakin a small smile and returned his gentle squeeze.

They ate their breakfast in silence and each one of them had their thoughts on the following day and how both their lives will change, after Anakin leaves with Obi-Wan and goes back to the Jedi Temple. Twenty minutes later, Anakin went with a few men and headed out to one of the fields. They helped plant some seeds for the upcoming fall harvest, while Obi-Wan with a small hunting party. Vanessa was just finishing making the bed and began washing the dirty dishes, when there was knock on the door.

“ Come in!” Vanessa called out to the person, who was knocking on the door.

“ Hey. So, are you ready to head out?” Allyson came into the room and saw that Vanessa was washing the dishes.

“ Yes. Just let me finish these two bowls. Are the water barrels full and loaded up on the wagons?” Vanessa took the wash cloth and began cleaning one of the bowls that her and Anakin used this morning at breakfast.

“ Yes. Everything is ready and the workers are ready to head out too. The men that are planting for the fall corps are already out in the fields. We are to work on the north side today.” Allyson came up to the wash tub and began drying the bowl that Vanessa put in the drain.

“ Thank you. Ok, that sounds good to me. Well, let me get my hat and we can head out.” Vanessa wrung out the water from the cloth that she was using to wash the dishes with. She hung it on the drying bar that was near the small fire in the fireplace so it will dry.

“ Ok. I will wait for you outside.” Allyson went to the door and opened it up.

Vanessa went over to her trunk that was at the foot of the bed. She began looking through it for her big floppy hat, that she sometimes wears when she is out in the fields that does not have any kind of shade. Once Vanessa had her hat on, she joined Allyson outside the hut, and they both made their way to where the wagons was waiting for them. Once they were on the wagon, the driver took to the field that they were going to be working in today.

Ten minutes later, the driver stopped at the field and the twelve people that were working in the field, got out of the cover wagons. They began gathering up their tools, so that way, they could go into the field. Three hours later, the lunch horn blew, to let everyone in the fields know that it was time to eat their mid-day meal.

“ So, are you ready to head back to the village and get cleaned up before heading off to lunch?” Allyson wiped the dust her hands onto the apron that she had on.

“ Yes, I am ready. All I need to do is wash my hands, face and change clothes. Oh, hey, Anakin, Obi-Wan. We were just about to head back to the huts, so we can get cleaned up for lunch.” Vanessa wiped her hands, just as Anakin and Obi-Wan, who had some birds that he had killed for dinner, joined the small group at the wagons that will take them all back to the village.

Thirty minutes later, the workers and the two Jedi were sitting at the dining tables eating lunch, when one of Lord Melrey’s body guards came into the room. He came up to the table where Anakin and Obi-Wan was sitting at.

“ Excuse me, Master Kenobi, Jedi Knight Skywalker, Lord Melrey has asked me to come here, to let you know that after lunch, you are needed to see him.” the guard bent down so only the two Jedi could hear him.

“ Ok. Let his Lordship know that we will be there in about twenty minutes.” Obi-Wan nodded at the guard and looked over to Anakin, who nodded back to him.

“ Very well. I will let his Lordship know.” the guard nodded back to the two Jedi and left the dining hut.

The two couples continue eating their lunch.

“ I wonder what he wants?” Anakin took a sip of his drink, as he looked over at Obi-Wan and the two girls that were sitting with him.

“ I do not know.” Obi-Wan stuck his fork into the piece of chicken.

“ I think it may have something to do with Allyson and I.” Vanessa looked at the older man and she could tell that he was clueless. She looked at Anakin straight in the eye and he just gave her a nod.

“What would that be?” Obi-Wan looked at the couple in front of him, before turning towards Allyson, who was beside him.

“ I really do not know what he would want. Do you know, Nessie?” Allyson looked at her cousin in confusement.

“ I really do not know what he would want to see you two about.” Vanessa looked at the older man, before looking at her cousin.

“ Well, I am done here.I think I will head back to the hut and change my clothes, before heading to Lord Melrey.” Anakin got up from the table and headed out the door.

I think I will go too. I have a few things that I need to do around the hut. See you guys at dinner.” Vanessa also got up from the table and followed Anakin out of the hut.

“ Why do I get a feeling that your cousin has not told Obi-Wan about herself?” Anakin slowed down some, so that Vanessa could walk next to him.

“ I have a feeling that she has not told him that she too is a slave. I have a feeling that he is about to find out about her.” Vanessa stopped, as Anakin opened the door to the hut.

“ I believe that he will be shocked and would not even have anything to do with her. He is such a stick in the mud, and strict to stay with the Jedi Code.” Anakin walked into the hut, went over to the dresser and pulled out a clean shirt.

“ I see. I have noticed that you are not like him, at all.” Vanessa sat down on the edge of the bed and watched Anakin take off his shirt, before going over to wash bowl and began cleaning himself off, before picking up the dry towel and drying himself off. ,p> “ That is because I do know what it is like to be a slave. Obi-Wan has never been a slave. So, I know how your life is like. To be honest with you, Lord Melrey is treating you a lot better than I was treated, when I was a slave.” Anakin put on his shirt, just as there was a knock on the door.

Anakin went over to Vanessa, leaned over and gave her a kiss, before going to the door and saw Obi-Wan standing there waiting for him.

“ Are you ready to see what his Lordship wants with us?” Obi-Wan watched Anakin come out of the hut and shutting the door behind him.

The only thing that Anakin could do was shrug his shoulders, as they began walking towards the Melrey Estate. When arrived at the gate of the Estate, there was a guard standing there waiting for them.

“ Jedi Knights, please follow me. His Lordship is waiting for you.” the guard looked at the two men and motioned for them to follow him.

They followed the guard and entered the building and walked down the hallway to the room that they have been before. The guard stopped, knocked on the door and they waited for Lord Melrey to tell them to come into his office.

“ Enter.” Lord Melrey called out.

The guard opened the door and Obi-Wan and Anakin walked into the room and stopped in front of the desk.

“ You wanted to see us, My Lord.” Obi-Wan looked at the older man, sitting there behind the desk.

“ So, you two will be leaving us tomorrow. You are not allowed to leave empty handed. Here is the papers and money that I owe to you both for both Allyson and Vanessa.” Lord Melrey held out the papers and money to the two Jedi. When he looked at the older man, he noticed a shocked look come across his face.

“ Um, papers and money for what?” Obi-Wan looked at the other man.

“ I am selling my rights to the two slave girls to you both.” Lord Melrey noticed the younger man slightly ball up his hands into a fist, and the older man still had the confused look on his face.

“ Um, you said slaves? . . . You mean to tell me that everyone here is a slave?” Obi-Wan looked at Lord Melrey.

“ Yes, I did say slaves. Not everyone here is a slave.” Lord Melrey looked at Obi-Wan, before reaching down and grabbing the glass of water and took a sip of water.

“ Um, we are not allowed to have slaves, and we really cannot take them with us.” Obi-Wan told the other man.

“ Then, I guess you are stuck here, because you have to have the two girls. They are yours now, because you both have slept with them.” Lord Melrey sat back into his chair.

“ The Jedi are not allowed to own anyone. We really must get back to the Temple and if we are not back there soon, they will send a search party to come look for us.” Obi-Wan looked at the older man.

“ You have a choice. Either take the girls and leave, or not take them and stay here for the rest of your lives. We will take our chances with your people and I will give you by tomorrow to give me your choice.” Lord Melrey hit a button and the guard came into the room.

The only thing that the two Jedi could do, was nod their heads, as they turned around and followed the guard out of the house.

“ What are we going to do, Obi-Wan?” Anakin asked, as they walked back to the huts.

“ There must be another way. I will think of something.” Obi-Wan just looked straight ahead, as they walked down the path.

Five hours later, Vanessa got undressed and climbed into bed next Anakin. She could tell that something was bothering him, but she knew better than to ask him what was bothering him. She did remember the conversation they had earlier and she wondered why Allyson did not tell Obi-Wan about being a slave. She now knew what Lord Melrey wanted with the Jedi and told them they had a choice to make; either take her and Allyson as their slaves and leave, or if they do not take the two girls, they will be here forever.

“ Good night, Anakin.” Vanessa whispered, as she pulled the covers over her.

“ Goodnight, Nessie. Come here.” Anakin rolled over, so he was facing the girl and pulled her into his arms.

Vanessa moved into Anakin’s arms and then they both started to drift off to sleep.