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Chapter 4

Three years Prior...

Padme's hands shook as she sat down in the common room of her quarters. Her hands eye the red stains pouring out of her dress. She has no recollection of what had happened other than someone stabbed her several times. And her dress is ruined by the velvet maroon stains of her own blood. The way the stains appear, it looks as if she had bled to death. Had she? How could she have dead and returned from the afterlife? It isn't possible. No one had that sort of power. And then- there are the odd sensations from across the room.

Her eyes tear away from her stained hands and that of her companion. He rinses his hands in the sink in the small kitchenette. She senses emotions coming off in waves off of the Jedi Knight. He has a sense of pride, and confusion for what had just happened an hour prior. She eyes him suspiciously. What had he done?

She died in your arms... How did you save her?

Padme' blinks back her own surprise as she hears his words in her head. She had died? No- that isn't possible...

" Anakin, what happened when you healed my wounds?" Her small voice calls across the room.

He shuts off the sink and whirls on her. His hand strokes through his chin length golden hair, wracking his brain for any way to explain the situation to her. He didn't know what had happened. He had felt a surge of power and bam!

How do I explain to her that the force brought her back to life?

Padme' blinks again as she hears his thoughts inside her head. She is no Jedi or force sensitive. How can she hear his thoughts? She shakes as she wraps her arms around herself.

" I can hear your thoughts- What have you turned me into?" She hisses in a tone of demanding.

His eyes widen and she can feel his surprise at this notion. His blue eyes stare into hers and she senses his struggle for the truth. He nears her and attempts to place his hand on her shoulder, but she pulls away. His eyes express the hurt he feels as she demands once more, " What sort of force powers do you wield to bring the dead back to life?"

" Padme'- I-" He struggles for his words and instead attempts to send his thoughts to her.

I don't know what occurred. I do know that you're alive because of my actions.

Her body continues to tremble and again, he tries to reach out for her. This time, she graciously accepts this offer and he wraps his arms around her. She mumbles against his blood stained tunic, " No one can know of this occurrence-"

He shushes her and clutches her to his chest and murmurs back, " I think that is wise for now, until I can figure out how the force saved you."

She inhales his leathery scent and whispers, " I agree. But what have I become? Am I some sort of monster?"

Tears escape her eyelids. He senses her agony and anguish. He can't understand this occurrence but he is damn sure she isn't a monster.

You're not a monster.

Then what am I?

" An angel perhaps?" He comments as he wipes the tears from her wet-stained cheeks. She chuckles as he looks behind her for something.

Dear Jedi what are you looking for?

He chuckles and mumbles out, " Your wings. I've heard from space pilots about these angels that have wings."

She chuckles and embraces her friend once more. He can feel through their newfound bond her body begin to relax into his touch. He would figure out what caused her life.


( Present Day)

Padme' wipes back the sleep from her eyes as there is a pounding upon her door. She sits up in bed and yawns as her door slides open. It is still dark outside and she hadn't been asleep for too long. Her dream had been that of her past. The night of her first death- a night she wished to forget. But to no avail would or could she forget what Anakin Skywalker had given her. He had given her a chance of life. If he hadn't- she wouldn't be in the position she now faced.

Her sleepy haze halts in a horrified expression when she notices the Dark Lord of the Sith standing over her bed- watching her. She pulls the covers up around her thin nightgown and frowns at him. " Lord Vader, why do you disturb my slumber? It is not yet morning and I have not slept more than a few hours."

His yellow eyes watch her and he commands firmly, " You will begin your training this morning."

She frowns and snaps, " Can I not start my training in another few hours?"

The Sith Lord's eyes roam over her state of dressing and he ignores the temptful thoughts his brain conjures up. He commands, " The Emperor wishes for me to train you in hand to hand combat. Your attackers will not care if you are weak and feeble from lack of sleep. Get up, your highness."

He hisses out the last word as his eyes seem to glow down in a commanding stare. She frowns and curses under her breath which he does hear. He is used to being cursed at by his fellow officers. Yet ,hearing the curses from a woman's mouth he knew well, is quite amusing even for the Sith knows from past experiences with the former Princess, that she drops her lady-like manner and knows he has pissed her off.

Good, she can use her anger to fuel her combat training.

He glowers down on her and a small smirk forms at these tasteful thoughts. His Master would agree she needed to fuel her rage in order to protect herself. She is after all the Empress of the darkness- and if she were force sensitive then he would train her in the dark side of the force.

Her mouth thins into a scowl upon seeing his amused smirk on his features. She couldn't read his mind or his emotions anymore, but she is fully aware of the expression on his face now. It meant he is amused with her. To think pissing her off would amuse the Sith Lord is no revelation for her. It is a matter of hurt for her to see the familiar expression an old friend once wore each time he found something amusing.

She snaps, " Leave at once, and I will dress for our session."

He bows with a regal sweep and his cape whirls with a swish as he leaves her quarters. Two women rush to her aid and hand her, her night robe to cover herself. The younger of the two woman mumbles, " Your Highness, we tried to stop Lord Vader from entering, but-" Padme' gestures for the ranting woman to stop her apology.

She orders in a forceful tone, more so than she wants to be, " I don't care what you failed to do. Go fetch me some breakfast before I meet with Lord Vader."

The fearful gray eyes of her handmaiden dart towards the floor. Padme' turns on her other handmaiden whom she is familiar with- Dorme'. She commands, " Dorme' would you find an appropriate attue for an Empress to wear?"

Dorme's eyes quickly follow hers as they both peer at her closet. Dorme' nods and follows orders without a comment. She knows Padme' is furious with the Dark Lord and knows when to keep her mouth shut. When her mistress is in one of her moods, Dorme' knows those around her will pay for her sour mood. Namely those that caused her sour mood and Lord Vader had more than he knew coming for him.

Padme' eyes the fearful young girl with gray eyes. She hasn't left her chambers yet and Padme' observes the younger of the two ladies. Her newest handmaiden had raven like hair which is twisted into a bun. Her gray eyes and pale skin remind Padme' of a gray dull day on Naboo. She eyes her mistress and whispers, " Is that all you wish of me, your highness?"

Padme' rolls her eyes at the suck up of the girl before her. She commands in the same tone as before, " Yes."

The raven girl dashes out of the room quickly. As the door shuts behind her, Padme' groans out a heavily sigh. Dorme' reenters her chambers without a dress for her mistress to wear. Padme' eyes her friend and handmaiden of the last two years. Her annoyed expression does not leave her features and she mutters, " That damn man has no control over me."

Dorme' unladylike plops herself onto her mistresses bed and pats her shoulder in comfort, " No your highness, he is your servant and I think he deserves his own taste of medience."

Padme' smirks at the older woman. Dorme's gray eyes shine with determination and she embraces her friend's hand in her own. Padme' replies, " Yes, I will see to it that Lord Vader, remembers who is in charge. I am not one of his loyal dog officers and he will not order me around like one."

Dorme' giggles upon hearing her comment.

Though Padme's expression alters as her thoughts drift on those of her dream. She had been dreaming of Anakin more so since her arrival at the palace. He hadn't haunted her dreams in many months, since their departure. Before the day prior, Padme' hadn't seen or heard from her old friend in over a year. She had vowed to stay away from him after his turn to the dark side. It was best for her—- and—-

She halts her thoughts upon a forbidden subject. She couldn't think of them. If-

It is as if Dorme' senses her thoughts and she squeezes her mistress's hand in comfort. Her eyes meet her dear friend's and she wishes she could speak- she wishes she could speak the truth.

" Sabe wrote to me and said your niece and nephew are doing well," Dorme' comments on the subject.

Padme' understands her coded message. She smiles and replies, " I haven't been away from them for more than a few days- and I miss their laughter."

Dorme' whispers to her, " Don't worry about your family. They are safe. Now- let's find you something appropriate to wear for a combat lesson from the Hellish Sith Lord."

Padme' attempts to not giggle at her friend's detest for Lord Vader. Hell she didn't care for him at all- she cared about the man he had once been. She had to focus on her mission- to try and redeem him from his dark ways.

To Be Continued...