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Chapter 2, Discovery
One standard day later
Panaka made his way back up to the monastery. One way or another he was going to get to the bottom of this.
Hopefully he could get to the bottom of this. There was some sort of rational explanation. There had to be… There was no way she could…
…just no. Absolutely not.
The Pontifex- no the fool had been alone in the mountains too long. He knocked on the door again. Two of them stayed behind, if he recalled correctly. The familiar younger man, Wallé bowed and greeted him.
Panaka bowed and said hello. "I was wondering if I could search through your archives." he explained, "One of my ancestors may have been married by one of your brothers."
"Our doors are welcomed to all." Wallé gestured down the hall, "Come." He led him down the hall. "You know, it's been many years since one out brethren has performed a marriage since the time of King Narmlé" He had almost forgotten that they could do such a thing.
At last they reached their destination. And one step closer to the truth.
Magnificent.
Even the palace of Theed's archives were not this incredible.
"I'm aware sir." The notion gave him hope that the databook was made of nothing but fantasy.
"If you need any help, I'll be just down the hall. And brother Ladé is in the garden. I'll be back in a while."
Panaka smiled, "Take your time."
Panaka searched the many marriage certificates. They were mostly in order. A few were a bit out of place, but they were easy to go through. Some were scrolls, others just simple pieces of paper. And some were quite old. Possibly dating back to when Naboo was first colonized hundreds of years ago.
He made his way through the shelves and arrived at the last date. He picked up the sheet. From three hundred years ago, not within the last year. He sighed in relief as he returned it to its home…what was this?
A secret drawer in the back of the shelf. Panaka looked around to make sure the coast was clear, and he removed all the papers blocking his view. Then he listened for any noises or footsteps…
There was none. Panaka pulled the drawer open.
Eek!
He looked around…
…no one was approaching, so he continued.
There several documents on the bottom. Scattered around. Holos. Two or three scrolls. Most collecting dust. He pulled out the ones that had the least amount of dust.
Two holos…
And one scroll.
He looked at the holos first… Nothing but blueprints of the building. Relief swept through Panaka again.
Then there was the scroll…
He picked the scroll up, and unrolled it. He had found it…
Certificate of Marriage
Of Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Naberrie Amidala
Union in holy matrimony
Witnessed by one protocol droid and one astromech droid
Ceremony performed by Pontifex Maxiron Agolerga
He read over and over again in disbelief. So, what he read in that databook…
Wedding of Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Naberrie Amidala, 1900 hours at the Lake Country
…was true. Moments passed…
Panaka thought back the crossed out names, Set and Veré. He didn't completely understand it. A new wedding vow custom? After all the characters were two legendary lovers. Many referred to them as the greatest lovers in the history of the Galaxy. But then why were they crossed out in the databook? Could Set and Veré been aliases? And the Pontifex made the correction when he realized who he wedded? Then what about the marriage certificate? Panaka was no expert, but he knew someone who was. Perhaps he could prove this to be a fraud…
But deep down Panaka knew it wasn't. He finally threw the scroll down angrily. He couldn't believe it.
He simply could not believe it!
Had she lost her senses?!
Panaka continued brooding as he put everything where he had found it- except the scroll, and headed towards the exit. It was clear to Panaka now that Amidala was simply no longer that same great young woman that was once Queen. Or had he and the rest of Naboo always been so blind?
Something had to be done.
Something would be done.
End of Chapter Two
I don't know, the more I look at this chapter I feel it's pretty slow, but you guys tell me.
As long as I get some more reviews or other types of responses, chapter three will be posted tomorrow. It's my favorite and I think the best of this story. Chapter three is called Manipulation.