Down the pathway
The wind blew across the small town harshly, giving the place a sinister edge. A silhouette appeared on the deserted street, walking briskly. The woman stopped in front of an old-fashioned building, pulling the heavy coat tighter around her frail form and tightening her grasp on her luggage. The petite brunette shivered, casting the building a dubious glance before entering inside. Looking around at endless corridors, she finally spotted a lone figure in a hallway.
"Excuse me!" she asked, still shaking from the cold.
A humanoid, in his forties, halted, turning around and smiling in the distance.
"Miss Naberrie, we were not expecting you so soon…" the man said softly, approaching her and shaking her cold hand.
She smiled, relieved to see she had not gotten the wrong place after all her detours.
"Please, no 'Miss Naberrie', I'm a married woman." She responded softly.
He looked slightly surprised but did not inquire further, instead, offering to take her coat and bags. As they walked in the corridors, he explained the specifics of the mission to her. Padmé was shivering still, casting curious glances here and then. The man was still talking, explaining the way the educational program worked on Corellia. She soon learnt that this small town mainly contained farmers and illiterate people. She smiled inwardly.
Exactly what she was here for.
When she began to work on the program, she was only teaching Naboo people. After a couple of years spent teaching very old literature to eager pupils she came to see that most students were already well-versed in those areas. There was so little she could teach them as culture was so valued on Naboo. When one of her new pupils, who came from a nearby planet, arrived into her class and still didn't know how to even read Basic, she took it upon herself to teach her properly, staying late at school to help her as much as she could. But this girl was not enough. Studying the issue further, she discovered many planets, even entire systems, neglecting to grant education to most people. The leaders of these planets wanted to keep their leashes on people, maintaining them in ignorance and darkness.
Blood boiled in her veins the day she realized this.
There was a hint of a smile on her sister's face when she explained it to her family heatedly. That day, she decided to begin a program to help people who didn't know how to read on close planets. Soon enough, as the program became more and more successful, getting subventions from the Republic, she was moving further and further from Naboo discovering new worlds and sharing her knowledge. Padmé knew there had always been a part of her rising within, willing to go to the public place and change things. She wanted to be the voice of all those too weak to speak. When she was young, she had even considered entering the public service.
Her parents had refused to expose her to this kind of environment.
She couldn't be more grateful.
She wasn't made for politics. Too much corruption, from what she could see. Whenever she heard Chancellor Palpatine discussing bills in the Senate, she was astonished to see all those ungrateful Senators, like vultures around him, ready to take the power away from him. After all he had done for the galaxy and their planet, especially during this awful blockade…
No.
She liked her simple and free life. She helped others, teaching what she liked best in the world.
Literature.
When she wasn't off planet, taking part in various teaching programs, she was living near her parents home, close to her sister and soon enough, if the Force granted her wish, she would have a family of her own.
This thought brought her back to reality in a second.
She had forgotten to send a transmission to her husband. He hated seeing her off Naboo, so far from home, always worrying uselessly. She fought the urge to roll her eyes, picturing the discontent expression on his face. Sometimes, she almost treasured those moments far away from home, eager to discover new cultures and ways of life.
A small part of her always enjoyed challenges.
Redirecting her attention towards the man in charge of the program, she listened attentively. Fortunately, Corellians spoke Basic. It would be much easier to teach them.
"Most people here are underage but some of them are adults, wishing to learn so they can leave the planet or at least reach Coronet. Apart from the capital, Corellia is not a really interesting planet, you know."
They soon reached the second floor and her room. With a last smile, he left her luggage on the ground and left.
She smiled.
There was much work to be done. And she could hardly wait.
But first she had to call him. She didn't need other worries on her mind.
Padmé Naberrie looked at the childish faces in front of her, and then looked behind them, assessing the situation. More adults than she'd have thought. But challenges were interesting.
She introduced herself swiftly, beginning the first lesson enthusiastically. She was in the middle of her introduction, explaining to her audience how she wouldn't stay long here but they would manage the basics, and even start to learn Naboo literature, when a young man burst inside the room, blushing and muttering apologies before taking his seat in the last row.
She stopped her sentence, narrowing her eyes.
"Since you were here late, I'd like you to come closer, please."
The young man looked up. He was barely younger than she was. And somehow it was even more saddening to her. Once again, she was thankful for growing up on Naboo.
His eyes wouldn't leave her face yet and it was slightly unsettling.
Still blushing, he stood up at last, and reluctantly took his place in the first row. Satisfied, she resumed her introduction, taking the datapads she had brought with her and distributing them to her would-be pupils.
The young man avoided her eyes when she gave him his.
Frowning, she didn't think much of it and began teaching written Basic.
An hour later, she was growing desperate. Between the young children, who were completely lost and the grown-ups who didn't look like they understood anything of it either, grumbling because they needed something more concrete, she thought she would lose her mind.
She bit her lip, ready to rip her elegantly twisted braids out and decided to divide the assembly into different groups. Obviously, they didn't await the same thing from this program. Moving between the ranks, she leant down to help a young girl with her datapad. A few minutes later, she heard the young man mumbling something.
Surprised, she looked sideways to see him pointing to a young boy next to him, showing him the basics. Widening her eyes, she watched him as he explained what she had spent an hour saying to the young boy. The child looked relieved and happy he had finally understood something.
Smiling, she left the girl and approached the young man.
"You have already finished," she commented, standing next to him and peering above his shoulder.
He looked up, startled and blushed again.
Her eyes settled on his and she finally noticed he was quite tanned, more than someone who had lived on Corellia should be.
But what attracted her almost distractedly were his eyes.
She had never seen such blue eyes in all her life.
He looked away swiftly and nodded.
"You already knew how to read this, you should have told me." She said mind-absently.
He shook his head.
"No, your lesson was perfect." He blurted out and then stopped himself. "Things just come to me… easily…" he whispered almost inaudibly.
She watched him with curious eyes now. Her eyes were attracted to the faint scars on his wrists, the way he had so easily assimilated the first lesson and she knew this young man was something more than a late incomer into a group, like thousands of groups she had already taught…
"Miss?"
Her head whipped around and she left him, turning to a young woman behind.
She could almost swear his eyes had not left her, even her back turned to him.
The afternoon passed by quickly and soon enough, night had already settled outside. There was squirming and annoyed glances sent to the chrono behind her and she knew when to give up.
"Sorry for holding you out for so long." She said in apology. "You have worked hard the whole afternoon and I'm really glad of your progress."
Addressing them a last smile, she watched as the adults left swiftly and the children ran into their parents' awaiting arms right behind the door. She smiled when she heard one of the young girls commenting on her progress enthusiastically.
She lived to hear those comments.
It was only then she realized the young man had stayed behind slightly.
Her lips twisted up and she found herself smiling when he shifted on his feet nervously.
"You did more than all the others combined today," she said, not without a hint of admiration in her voice.
He looked up from his boots abruptly, eyes slightly widened as he heard her words.
"Thank you, Miss Naberrie."
"On my planet, we do not call married women 'Miss'," she said softly, showing the ring on her finger slightly.
"Oh."
That was all he said, his blue eyes suddenly settling on her hand a little bit sadly.
"I didn't know… Well, here, people don't wear rings." He elaborated.
The tone of his voice surprised her. He looked at once hardened and young. Much older in maturity and yet with this odd sense of innocence lingering.
"What's your name? You must be the only one who didn't say it to me."
"Anakin." He said, his eyes catching hers completely this time. "Anakin Skywalker."
"Then, I am glad to meet you, Anakin. I guess I'll teach you something special tomorrow. All of this is too easy for you. Are you sure you didn't take any-"
"No." he interrupted her. "I couldn't afford any courses. And before," his expression hardened momentarily. "Well, I couldn't at all."
Uncomfortable silence settled between them.
"Well, I have to go." He said slowly, looking reluctant to leave somehow. "My mother needs me at home."
And with a last smile, he left.
She found herself staring at the door for some time before gathering the datapads.