The Fall Of Theed's Palace
An arranged marriage brings Padmé Amidala and Anakin Skywalker together… but not like you would imagine. Exuberant wealth, unbridled passions and hatred. Love. All will be contained within the walls of Theed's Palace. Gothic Romance Anidala AU.
Mature content.
Chapter 1: The Wedding
Night had fallen in Theed's Palace.
The usually quiet, peaceful mansion had uproar everywhere.
Every large hall, usually deserted and darkened was at the moment filled with people, servants and aristocrats alike; lighted by candles and chandeliers.
Tall light posts had covered the previously abandoned garden; the wild trees cut into amazing shapes; the flowers usually cut, left free, so that the fragrance all around was the most delicious one. Most people now stood in the behemoth ballroom, where at every corner, by every extreme, beautiful young ladies in elaborated gowns danced with handsome Imperial officers. The music being classy, the environment up tight, some might say stuck up… simply fancy and imperial.
At the center of Naboo's capital city, the Great Palace enjoyed the biggest party of the century: Princess Naberrie Amidala's wedding.
She is by far the center of attention. Everyone regards her image, angel-like, stunning in all its white gown glory. The Naboo men are sure, as they watch her, that there had never existed a more perfect image of beauty. She has just turned eighteen years old, and she perhaps looks smaller by the arm of her new husband, he is so tall and dark, unmatching Padmé's great light.
When they dance he is the envy of every single male in the ballroom, specially thinking about the night that awaits him with his young bride… His one hand rests on her petite waist while his other one captures her fair palm. He spins her around, her every step being graceful and soft. Her white wedding veil covers her face, so people cannot see her expression, though most guess it to be triumphant. She married the richest man in Naboo, for all his lack of youth and beauty, Sheev Palpatine remains, according to the opportunist crowd, a great catch.
The women are as jealous of Padmé as the men are of her husband. Not just for her incredible beauty, but for the great riches and power she will live with forever.
All in all, the party is fun and animated. The guests enjoy the extravagance of the wedding, the banquet, the bride… only one person is not enjoying himself.
Sitting alone on the most exclusive table, refusing to ask a single lady for a dance, Anakin Skywalker watches the newlyweds with an expression of hatred he cannot conceal. The whole thing disgusts him, to the point he's unable of tearing his eyes from the image.
He hates her.
Words cannot express just how much he detests Padmé Naberrie Amidala of Palpatine. The new lady of the castle. The richest woman in Naboo. His father's new bride. Anakin's step-mother.
He simply could vomit just thinking about it. This child, two years younger than himself, will be the mistress of his house!
Oh, he hates his father for allowing the whole sick situation to unfold. But his resentment cannot lie to much in Palpatine, as he is his father and Anakin loves him. All his rage is directed towards the young Amidala. It is her fault, for her lack of honor and respect for herself, marrying for money to a man whom easily triples her age…
Gold-digger.
Deceiver.
Opportunist.
Skank.
Whore.
The insults are just at the tip of his tongue. That is the reason Anakin had been avoiding the bride all day and night. He's afraid, he's sure, the second the two look at each other and share a few words, he'll unleash all that he thinks and feels.
Any woman Palpatine had chosen to replace Anakin's mother he would have scorned, but this young thing whom every man currently observes with desire? Anakin's mind turns dark, he thinks of horrible things to do to her, should he have her alone…
It makes him tremble with dark excitement.
"Anakin," a voice interrupts his evil thoughts. "Come, boy, your father is calling you."
"Mr. Tarkin," Anakin's voice is filled with respect, "pardon me but…" he cannot think of an excuse.
"Come, Anakin. Your father and his bride will soon leave so you have to go and say goodbye."
He knows he has no choice.
Sighing, he walks besides Governor Tarkin till they reach the stage, where Palpatine and his bride stand.
"My boy!" Palpatine smiles. "At last you come. I was about to take off but I had to give you a hug first," he puts his wrinkly hands on Anakin's shoulders, and the two embrace like father and son. "Wish me luck, my son. And say goodbye, also, to my love. But Darling, uncover your face, please," Palpatine says to his bride. "Let them all see the great prize I have won."
Instead of waiting for her to do what he asked, Palpatine goes ahead of her and takes away the veil, pushing it back, allowing Anakin to finally well see the woman his father married.
At first, he doesn't know what's happening, because it feels like his heart stopped. Anakin is struck, against himself, by her impressive beauty. It's strange… he already knew her to be gorgeous, that's the only reason Palpatine chose her, after all. But watching her closely is something else… Her dark eyes capture him, prim yet fiery; he could stare at them forever. Her soft features, she is like molded by angels… the pink cheeks, above olive skin. The full lips, inviting as they speak—
"It is a pleasure to meet you, boy," she says, her voice melodic, more relaxing than the most beautiful song. "I have heard so much about you. I hope we can get along just fine."
His beating heart rings in his ears now, as she stretches her gloved in white lace hand to him. He shakes her hand, and not being master of his emotions, without realizing it, he smiles at her.
"Goodbye, boy," she says, withdrawing her hand and again putting on the veil.
Palpatine captures her waist, and arm in arm, the newlyweds start walking, as the crowd cheers and screams for them. They little by little disappear, and just like that, Amidala's charm is broken, and as he no longer sees her face, as she once more becomes a faceless white figure stealing his father away, Anakin again hates her.
Fuming like burning lava, Anakin shakes his head, feeling sick to his stomach, just imagining his father taking his bride away to the west wing, where alone husband and wife will have a honeymoon…
A crowd of girls circle Anakin, who stands at the center of the ballroom, unconscious of his surroundings. They try to grab him and pull him for a kiss or dance, but he thinks only on rejecting, afraid, what he can't deny is… like every other man he had judged on this wedding day, jealousy…
And now he hates himself, too. Because he also wishes he was in his father's place, alone with her…
No, no, no! What is he thinking? Shaking away the sinful and treacherous thought, Anakin remembers the hatred he has for Amidala. He focuses on nothing as he takes drink, after drink…
The morning after he is in bed, not remembering how he got there. There are two girls in his bed, he doesn't know what happened…
Shaking his head in disapproval for himself, he enters the fresher and takes a much too needed shower. Quickly he puts on clothes, he dismisses his female guests, as politely as he can muster… and finally leaves his bedchamber.
His plan is to avoid at all costs any direction that could take him to the west wing, but he is received by a great surprise.
He had expected that now everything would be back to normal. No more parties, no more celebration. Theed's Palace should again be secretive, quiet as death, alone…
But no.
By every hallway there are servants running and screaming.
Soldiers marching.
Imperial officers making inquiries.
Complete mayhem.
And Anakin doesn't understand what the commotion is.
In vain he asks, no one can answer him coherently.
His heart beats with vehement violence, terrified by an awful, ominous gut-feeling that something horrible has befallen his home; and the feeling becomes a confirmation when the screams become whole, and he understands:
"He's dead! Master is dead!"
"Oh for the love of the Force!"
"What's going to happen? How did it happen?!"
Anakin keeps walking, not knowing where he is going nor how. The screams do not subside.
"Master Palpatine is dead!"
Author's Note: Halloween is almost here and I am excited! That prompted me to write this story, which will get a bit dark here and there, though it is mostly a love story. Expect death, violence, sex, frights and fights, ghosts… It won't be overly long.
Thanks to anyone who reads it, and please if you do, review, let me know what you think! :D
