Chapter 8
Landing just a small walk away Obi Wan and I stepped of the ship, feeling the cool breeze brush my hair across my face, I held the two bundles closer to my breasts. I felt my heart pounding through my chest as though it was trying to escape it. Obi Wan walked of first to see if the coast was clear whilst I stayed on board with Threepio and R2. I hated just waiting there, it filled me with anxiety. I knew I was an easy target to take down, a mother with two babies, a protocol droid who could not even kick a wampa rat and an astromech droid who was just as daft as a youngling. Watching Luke sleep, reminded me of when I watched Annie sleep when we were in my apartment, never waking, never moving. A crunching noise began to approach the ship, as someone walked across the gravel. 'Oh god' I thought to myself terrified at the thought of someone killing my children. I stepped back, holding my children closer to my breasts as the ramp opened up.
The sound of boots walking up the ramp filled my ears as I turn from the light.
"Padme, what are you doing?" a voice sounded to my ears as Obi Wan looked at me curiously.
"Oh Obi Wan" I gasped out lunging towards him, and then realising that had my children in my arms.
"…Right, um the coast is clear" Obi Wan said, turning slightly red, bemused and embarrassed by my actions.
"Oh, ok. Lets go Threepio"
Walking out of the ship I felt the rays of the Naboo sun shining down onto my back as I stepped onto solid ground again. The feeling was good. All around us were tall trees, colourful flowers and a sense of safety and peace. But peace never lasts long. Breathing in the rich air I walked along side Obi Wan, watching his fluent movements, his flickering eyes; it all made me feel safe. Obi Wan turned and saw me just watching and staring at him as he walked. He smiled to himself as he walked towards me and carefully scooped Luke into his arms making me shake my head and come back to reality. His smile was so addictive, so warming so 'Padme get a hold of yourself your married' I thought to myself coming back into reality. But I couldn't resist smiling when Obi Wan took his arm and entwined it into my own, as we walked arm in arm, towards the River House.
I interlocked my arm with Padme's, feeling her warm skin brush against my own, and her heart-warming smile made my insides twist. What was I doing? This lady, this woman was married, had two children. She had all the things I had wanted but could never have. Could never have because the Jedi Code forbids it. But life had changed, no Jedi remained, all the clones had become allies with the power that they had fought against all these years. Yes life had changed. We walked arm in arm towards the River House where a beautiful ripple made its way across a pond ahead of us, as a leaf from a nearby blossom tree had fallen, silently but seemed to catch the attention of Padme. She watched as it floated down the pond and slowly sunk, weighed down by the water and disappeared. 'You should swim in the pond during the summer months Master, its beautiful and so silent, so peaceful. You'll love it I just know it' Anakin's voice rang through my head, reminding me of just how much he had meant to me, how much I had meant to him. But that had all changed now; he was no longer Anakin Skywalker, the small boy I had met after Qui Gon's duel with Maul had turned into a apparently terrifying Darth Vader, Black suit, mask and cape. Force powers so great they rivalled Master Yoda's; we all knew that was true, from a certain point of view.
The River House came into view, it was beautiful. The slated, tiled roof suited the environment; the white walls glowed in the Naboo sunshine making the whole area seem so much more beautiful. Sighing I looked at the building, this was to be my home, our home for however long we could stay hidden for, and that even with the force was a future unclear to all.
