Chapter 8
Padmé woke up at the sound of the rain. A violent storm darkened Miriette. Lightning cracked across the sky as the rain intensified. Padmé had always enjoyed storms. When she was a child, she had spent hours looking through the window at the violent Nubian tempests, dreaming of crazy adventures.
Miriette's storms were violent, but Padmé found them wonderful. Facing the nature unleashed, the young woman had never felt more peace in her life. She moved to come closer to Anakin and looked at him tenderly. He was her husband now. She still couldn't believe they'd gotten married so quickly.
Padmé left the room on tiptoe and went into the living room. Anakin had brought a communication device in the house and she was grateful for that. As much as she loved him, she knew that the situation would arouse suspicion. She would need all of her persuasion skills to avoid trouble. Padmé turned the communication device on. Obi-Wan and Ahsoka immediately appeared.
"Vice Chancellor Amidala! I'm happy to see you are safe and sound," the Jedi Master said and smiled at her.
"Master Kenobi," she greeted with the same friendly tone. "I'm fine, there is no reason to worry."
"It seems that taking you away from Coruscant was a wise decision after all. We caught a group a bounty hunters trying to break into Chancellor Organa's apartments."
Padmé felt both relieved and sad at this announcement. It would make the fact that she ran away from the Galactic capital with a Jedi more believable, but at the same time knowing that one of her dearest friend was in danger was not a reason to rejoice.
"We suspect that General Grievous is behind this attempt against the Chancellor's life," Ahsoka said.
"It is possible," Padmé replied sadly. "I don't think their goal was to kill Chancellor Organa. If they could capture him, he would bring in a lot of Credits. The war ruined the Separatists. Do you know where Grievous is hiding now?"
"Not exactly. Our sources indicate that he has been seen recently in the Utapau System," Ahsoka answered.
"The Council is sending Anakin and I to investigate. Ahsoka will escort you back to Coruscant," Obi-Wan added.
Padmé nodded slowly. She tried not to make her apprehension noticeable. The politician knew that duty came first. Anakin and Obi-Wan were the best suited for this mission. The wife, however, couldn't help but to worry about the man she loved.
"Our ship is on the way to Miriette. We will be there before nightfall. Where do you stay exactly?" Obi-Wan asked.
"At your place," Padmé answered with a smile. "The gift you received is very useful."
"Anakin apparently told you about the effects my magnetic charm has on women," Obi-Wan laughed.
Anakin came out of the bedroom still sleepy, wearing only a light sleeve and his sleeping pants. He noticed that Padmé was on transmission with Obi-Wan and Ahsoka so he decided to join them.
Padmé looked at him with dark eyes. What would the Jedi think if they saw him dressed like that with her? They had to protect their secret and he was obviously not paying much attention. Obi-Wan and Ahsoka gave Anakin a surprised look but didn't make any comment.
"Anakin! We are on our way to Miriette. We will be there tonight. You and I are leaving directly to Utapau for our next mission," Obi-Wan declared.
"I'm extremely excited," Anakin answered sarcastically. "And what kind of humanitarian mission are we going there for?"
"General Grievous' capture," Obi-Wan answered with a smirk.
He knew perfectly that it would arouse Anakin's interest. The young man's eyes were sparkling, showing a light that could only be revealed in him by an exciting mission. Anakin loved being a Jedi. It was the most important part of who he was and Padmé would never forgive herself if he lost it because of her. She looked at him with both amazement and fear. It was wonderful that something could fulfill him so completely, but the mission would be dangerous and she knew how he handled danger.
Padmé turned the device off and went outside. She sat at the table on the terrace and looked at the mountains surrounding the lake. The sun was slowly rising and the view was breathtaking.
"So this is our last day," she said sadly.
"This mission won't take long. Now that the war is over, my absences will be shorter."
"Please be careful anyway," she replied with concern.
Anakin found her anxiety touching. He could feel how much she loved him and that made him happier than he could express. Having someone who worried about him, besides Ahsoka and Obi-Wan, was enjoyable.
"Don't worry. I'll always come back for you," he whispered and kissed her.
Padmé looked at him with a smile and held him tight against her. His promise was wonderful, but she knew it would not only be up ton him to hold it. She married him and knew that from now on she would never stop to worry about him.
"Next time you want to participate to an official transmission with the Jedi, please dress completely before you decide to join," Padmé said with a smirk.
Padmé's tone showed clearly that she wasn't angry, but that she wasn't particularly enchanted by his behavior either. She raised an eyebrow and looked at Anakin with a smile.
"I asked you to be discreet in public and you show up half naked!" she said and laughed.
"Well, your definition of half naked is certainly not the same as mine. But we can arrange that if you want," he added with a smirk.
"Stop teasing me and just do what I ask."
"That sounds very much like a dictatorship to me," he teased again.
Padmé remembered those words. She had said that a very long time ago about another topic. She understood that, once again, Anakin was trying to make fun of her. He wasn't taking the discussion very seriously, so she decided to do the same. Padmé was not one to miss an occasion to tease him neither.
"So? If it works?" she replied with the same answer he gave her years ago.
Anakin burst out laughing. Those were good memories, even if they had been apart for a long time. They had both changed since this discussion and his perspective on politics was not the same anymore. Especially since the revelation of Chancellor Palpatine true identity.
However, Anakin decided it wasn't time to think about that. He shook his head lightly and looked at his wife with a smile. Padmé was so different when she was with him. She had nothing to do with the famous politician the Galaxy knew. In these moments, she could simply be herself.
"Don't look at me like that. I'd be much too frightened to tease a Jedi Master," she said, deciding to continue making fun of him.
"Enough now," he answered and pulled her against him to kiss her.
The sound of the roaring engines on the Jedi transport that was about to land on Miriette was not matching the quietness and the peace of the place. They had the effect of a painful reminder for Anakin and Padmé: their moments alone were over and it was time to go back to their normal life.
The ship's ramp went down and the door opened with a loud clank. Obi-Wan and Ahsoka went out side by side.
"Master Kenobi," Padmé greeted. "I hope you had a good trip."
"Vice-Chancellor," he answered with the same respect and bowed. "I'm afraid the situation is more complicated than we expected."
"What do you mean?" Padmé asked, worried.
"We received confirmation of Grievous presence on Utapau. It seems that the Separatists leaders have also been located there. Some of them still strongly reject the end of the war and the possibility of joining the Republic," Obi-Wan explained.
"That's catastrophic!" Padmé exclaimed. "Did the Senate send a diplomat to accompany you on this mission?"
"I'm afraid this won't be possible. We are going there to arrest General Grievous, news of the Separatists leaders' presence only came after we left Coruscant," Ahsoka said.
"What are you going to do with them?" Padmé asked, her voice full of concern.
"They will be arrested and judged for their crimes," Ahsoka answered firmly.
"Some of them are innocent," Padmé argued, shocked by the news. "The lack of attention to peoples' needs and opinions was the reason of the war. If we continue on this path, we will never be able to end the conflicts!"
Anakin shook his head in disagreement. He knew Padmé too well and understood exactly where she was going with this.
"I wish to accompany you on this mission," she said firmly. "As a member of the Senate, I can help and find a peaceable solution for those who want to collaborate. If we listen to the Separatists' complains, we will certainly be able to make a compromise. We could even rally some of them to the Republic! If they feel attacked, we will never be able to gain their trust."
"Absolutely out of question," Anakin cut coldly. "Ahsoka is here to bring you back to Coruscant and that's what she is going to do."
"Really?" Padmé asked sarcastically. "Chancellor Organa has decided that Jedi and politicians should collaborate more from now on. It is a good occasion to start. I am sure he will support this mission."
"Maybe, but I don't think it's a good idea. It is not a peaceful mission. It will be dangerous for you," Anakin said, trying to hide his concern.
"Finding diplomatic solutions to conflicts is my duty and also my goal as Vice Chancellor of the Republic. I never pretended it would always be safe."
Anakin eyes were dark. He disapproved completely. Padmé looked at him and shivered a bit. His gaze could be intimidating. It expressed a great anger. Another woman would have backed up in this situation. Padmé couldn't afford this luxury. She knew that they would disagree on many things during their married life and she couldn't do whatever he wanted just because she was afraid of his reactions.
"Do I have to remind you that the last time you told me you would resolve a conflict with diplomacy, we ended up chained in an arena, sentenced to death?" he asked, obviously irritated by the situation.
"We got out of it well," she answered simply.
"Yeah, I lost one arm in the process but I guess that's just a small detail," he retorted.
"That was not my fault!" Padmé defended herself.
Ahsoka and Obi-Wan looked at them fighting. They had never witnessed such an exchange. However, the scene unfolding before them was somehow humorous.
"You two really look like an old married couple," Ahsoka sighed.
"WHAT?" Anakin and Padmé both exclaimed.
They were speechless. Ahsoka probably didn't realized how much her comment affected them. They had to keep their secret, but they were obviously not doing a good job so far. Fighting in public was evidence that they cared a lot about each other.
Obi-Wan was looking into the vastness of the Galaxy. Ahsoka was by his side, twisting her hands nervously, staring into the void. Anakin and Padmé were in the transmission room of the ship to establish a connection with Chancellor Organa's office on Coruscant.
"You seem very pensive," Obi-Wan commented.
"This is a very important mission. I'm a bit anxious, I guess," she answered distractingly.
"There is nothing else?"
Obi-Wan didn't need Jedi powers to understand that she was bothered. He knew perfectly that her relationship with her former master was the reason of her current state of mind. Ahsoka also knew that she was showing her emotions, even if she wasn't proud of it. Not being able to share her thoughts easily was probably something she had developed during the time she had spent with Anakin. She had grown up with him and, on many ways, her personality and his were similar.
"When Anakin disappeared, I felt lost," she sighed.
"What do you mean lost? You did an amazing job with the Chancellor. He holds you in high esteem."
"I know. But it was the first time I found myself truly alone. He had always been there for me somehow. Even when we were sent on different missions, I knew I could always count on him. This time it was different."
The silence that followed this declaration was painful for the young Jedi knight. Obi-Wan understood her feelings all too well. He had felt the same way when her master Qui-Gon Jinn died. Being entirely alone for the first time was never easy.
"I'm a Jedi Knight, I shouldn't hold to this link that binds us. I should worth better than that."
"You are too harsh with yourself. Being a Knight is not an end. You still have much to learn and if you need Anakin to guide you, don't consider it a weakness," Obi-Wan explained.
Ahsoka didn't answer. Somehow, she knew he was right but admitting her faults had never been a domain she excelled in. However, the connection she shared with Anakin was precious to her and she felt that something was different. There was peace in him and she had never seen him like this before. That change coincided by chance with the moment a certain Senator came back into his life. With that thought, Ahsoka could not repress a smirk. She was convinced of Anakin's feelings. He was trying to hide them but he was not making a very good attempt at it.
It hadn't take long for Padmé to convince the Jedi to take her with them on this mission. Obi-Wan was even happy to have her on board. He was known across the Galaxy as "the Negotiator" but having a politician on their side would be helpful. Padmé was sitting in front of a transmission device. She was waiting for Chancellor Organa's transmission. His opinion was on the subject was valuable and she wanted to have advice.
Anakin was sitting at another table. He was making little metallic coins fly around his fingers with the help of the Force. The young Jedi was not angry, just very worried. The idea of spending more time with Padmé was enjoyable, but it would have been much better in other circumstances.
The signal indicating an incoming transmission made him come out of his thoughts. Padmé accepted the call and Chancellor Organa appeared at the centre of the device.
"Padmé, I'm relieved to see you are safe. We were expecting the worst."
"Thanks to Master Skywalker, I was in no danger," she reassured him.
"Your decision to take part into the mission on Utapau worries me more," he said anxiously.
"Showing collaboration between the Jedi and the Senate will reassure the people. I want them to know we will be doing what's best from now on. If we can find a diplomatic solution and stop General Grievous at the same time, it will confirm that your election means change and a return to pacifism."
Bail Organa looked at Padmé with great pride. He had not chosen her randomly. She had nerves and was not afraid to fight for her convictions. Her idea was audacious but she was right: the Republic needed to be trusted again.
"You have my blessing," he said without hiding his profound respect for her.
Anakin was only half listening to their conversation. He had never been a big fan of politics and was not willing to argue with his wife about her choices. Now that her decision was made, he would do anything to protect her.
The young Jedi didn't even notice that the transmission was over. Padmé came closer and sat next to him. She placed a light kiss on his cheek and held him. The silence was heavy but Padmé decided to break it.
"We do really behave like an old married couple but yet we have only been married for a few days," she said and smiled.
This comment made Anakin smile but was not enough to make him recover his good mood.
"You are mad at me," Padmé said sadly.
It was halfway between a question and a statement. Anakin looked at his love with a light smile. He had always believed that couple disputes didn't concern him, that if he were lucky enough to be with Padmé, nothing would come between them. He had been wrong. He realized at that moment that these disagreements did not mean in any way that their feelings were not powerful. Rather, they showed their passion knew no bounds and that the danger was difficult to manage.
"I am not mad. This is new for me. I don't know how to handle all the dangers that surround you," he explained.
"You simply need to trust me," she said with hope.
"I already do," he sighed. "Padmé…"
Anakin stopped talking for a second and thought about what he wanted to say. All his mixed feelings were playing with his mind.
"I could not bear to lose you," he said, his eyes full of fear. "I've waited my entire life to be with you and now that I know you love me back, I can't let you get away."
This declaration made Padmé shiver. His devotion was so complete and his love so absolute that it was almost frightening. It was wonderful but such powerful feelings were also scary. And yet, Padmé had to admit she felt the same way about him.
"You won't lose me, I promise," she reassured lightly.
Padmé took Anakin's mechanical hand in hers and looked at him.
"I am also terrified to lose you. I felt this fear during the entire war. Why do you think I spent nights in front of the Holonet? I was waiting for news, any news that would indicate me you were safe. It is human to be scared for the people we love," she explained.
Anakin nodded slowly. In theory, he agreed completely. However, in this situation, everything seemed more complicated. Stifling his fears and trusting fate had never been his strongest asset.
"And don't forget. We are not just anybody," she said with a smirk.
Anakin looked at her and raised an eyebrow. He didn't know where she was going with this declaration.
"We are Skywalkers, therefore we are invincible," she clarified.
Anakin laughed at her comment. Padmé always found a way to restore his good mood. He closed his eyes and shook his head lightly.
"You've only been one for a few days. Skywalkers' temerity takes some practice."
"So I count on you to teach me," she said in a seductive tone before kissing him.
Padmé was as unpredictable and stubborn as him. She shrank from nothing and when she had an idea, it was almost impossible to make her change her mind. Now that she was a Skywalker, as she had so proudly declared, things were not going to get better. If she kept being so reckless, the future would not be easy.
"May the Force be with me," Anakin sighed. "I will need it more than ever," he added with a smirk.
Hey! Thanks to all the people who review! It's great to know the story is appreciated :) Some of you even review in French: you are so so so nice! It really makes me happy each time I read your comments. And for my 81 followers who don't review... well, I hope you're enjoying what you are reading, even if you are doing it in silence ;)
I would like to thank my beta reader becky! You are GREAT, I could never publish in English if you weren't there to help me.
See you soon for chapter 9.
