Author's note: This story was written before Revenge of the Sith came out and was my solution to how Luke and Leia came to live with their foster families. I also answered the question of how Leia could have remembered anything of her mother (something that I feel that the prequels never sufficiently answered). This story originally appeared in print form in the zine Remote Control (Issue 19, 2002).
Dagobah was a world perpetually shrouded in a thick, heavy, white fog. The landscape was equally nightmarish, deep murky swamps, twisted gnarled trees, quicksand, and creatures that only existed in this far-flung corner of the galaxy. Dagobah was a tiny world, far out in the Outer Rim, and although it teemed with life none of it was human or any of the other civilized species.
So it was here that they came. Here in a primitive hut did Padmé Amidala Skywalker, former queen and senator, give birth to twins, a boy and a girl. She named the boy Ruwee after her father and the girl Cordé after the handmaiden who had given her life in Padmé's service. The girl looked like her mother. The boy broke his mother's heart when she looked down into those eyes, so much like his father's.
Although she loved her children deeply, when she looked at her son Padmé could not help but be reminded of the man who had won her heart and of the dark nightmare he had become. She bonded closely with Cordé, but kept Ruwee at a distance.
Tonight, Padmé was watchful as she sung her children to sleep, Cordé in her arms, Ruwee in his crib nearby. Although she could not bear to hold him, Padmé tried her best to show him that she still loved him. In time, if they had time, she would get past the pain of Anakin's betrayal. For the moment, they were safe from her husband and his dark master.
Safe here on this world where Master Yoda had defeated the evil Darth Tyranus, but unwittingly left an opening in the ranks of the Sith. An opening that Anakin Skywalker had filled. Yoda had explained that the balance between the evil presence of the Sith Lord and the good presence of the Master Jedi sheltered them from Force users. Yet Yoda worried about the effects that the evil might have on the Force-sensitive infants.
Soon it would be time to move on.
The curtain used as a room divider was pulled aside. Dormé, the former senator's trusted advisor and handmaiden, now heavy with child, entered the room.
"General Kenobi has arrived, my lady."
"So it is time then," Padmé said softly.
Dormé nodded sadly and then moved to take Cordé from her mother.
Obi-Wan Kenobi was standing in the main room of the hut. He was dressed simply, not in the robes of a Jedi, but in the simple garb of a peasant. Padmé noted that he looked exhausted and aged beyond his years. The war had taken a toll on him, but she knew that what haunted him most was losing his only apprentice, a boy whom he had become quite fond of, to the Dark Side.
"General Kenobi," she said simply in greeting.
"My lady." He bowed his head briefly. "Are the children well?"
"Quite well, thank you. Is there news from Coruscant?"
Kenobi paled.
"It's not good, is it?" she asked.
"No. We must move quickly. I am not entirely certain that I was not followed."
"I thought that Yoda's balance protected us."
"Strong the children are in the Force. Soon found we will be," came Yoda's voice from the doorway.
"Besides, my lady, we have agreed that this planet is no place to raise children. We must move on."
"But where will we go? Anakin will surely find us."
Obi-Wan and Yoda exchanged glances across the room. It quickly became apparent to Padmé that they had decided something that they had not discussed with her.
"What is it?" the young woman demanded.
"Strong the presence of the twins is. Separate them we must."
"No!" Padmé shrieked. "You are not taking one of my children away from me."
The two Jedi again exchanged glances. As if by some unspoken agreement, Yoda left the room.
Her husband's former master laid a hand gently on her arm. "Padmé, I know you are upset. But had the Jedi Order not been broken, your children would probably have been taken away to be raised in the Temple."
"I know that." She shook off his comforting hand and began to pace around the small chamber. "But they are all I have left. I have lost my home, my position, my family, and my husband. All I have to remind me of the good in Anakin are my children." Padmé's voice choked with emotion as she turned away from Obi-Wan so he would not see the sudden tears. "I cannot be parted from them."
"Padmé, you told me yourself that you are having trouble bonding with Ruwee," he said gently.
She sighed heavily. "Because he reminds me of Anakin, Obi-Wan. I have been hoping that time will allow me to get over that." The young mother turned around to face Obi-Wan once more. "But I'm afraid I no longer have that time."
"No, you do not." Obi-Wan came nearer, placing a gentle hand on each of her shoulders, staring into her brown eyes. "Listen to me; the twins are very powerful when they are together. Anakin will surely find them. We cannot let that happen. Separation is their only hope. I will take Ruwee myself and go into hiding."
Padmé nodded reluctantly, then paused as if a thought had occurred to her. "You told me that Master Yoda was mediating on their futures. Has he seen anything?"
"I have told you that the future is always in motion."
"Yes, but there is an important decision to be made. Where we hide the children depends on what he has foreseen. I know this to be true," she said firmly, taking Obi-Wan's hands off of her.
Obi-Wan cocked his head to the side. "You speak as if you knew the ways of the Force."
"I have been around Jedi for years, Obi-Wan. Besides, I was trained to be a leader, a public servant. I was trained to observe those around me. I have seen you and Yoda together and I know you have knowledge you have not shared with me." Padmé spoke in the same commanding tone that had served her well as queen. "I am their mother- my decisions are the final ones."
"Yes, my lady," Obi-Wan said softly, after several heartbeats as the former queen had stood silently staring at him. "Yoda senses that while together the twins are very powerful, separately Ruwee has the potential to be a great Jedi Knight, one who may well set right what has gone wrong. But he shares some of his father's traits, a propensity for arrogance and stubbornness. We feel that perhaps an upbringing with hard work and steady discipline will curb those tendencies."
Padmé nodded as if pleased. "And Cordé?"
"Cordé is strong in character already. Yoda senses that she has the potential to be a great leader. She shares your traits, towards service and leadership. She would do well to be trained to be a leader. Yoda feels that while her Force strength is not as great as her brother's, her leadership skills will be just as important to the future." Obi-Wan spoke earnestly. "You do realize that your children are our only hope?"
"Yes, I know," she said with determination. "I have made my decision. Call in Master Yoda."
