A peaceful slumber was a long time coming for the young queen. Nightmares continued to plague her throughout the night, which Obi-Wan gratefully discovered he could banish away with judicious use of the Force.
He guarded her dreams until the rays of the morning sun began to fill the room and Sabé stirred in the chair beside the bed, rubbing her neck and squinting toward the slumbering queen.
Padmé soon stirred as well and with her handmaiden's assistance, showered and prepared for her day.
And still Obi-Wan hovered close by, not yet willing to leave her side.
Darkness threatened in every corner. Something evil was coming. The Force nearly sang in his ears of the danger, although he couldn't quite define it. He therefore, resolutely decided to stay with her until he knew she was safe.
Helping the Jedi would have to wait. Padmé was his priority now.
His sense of foreboding heightened as a knock sounded on her door and Sabé moved to answer it.
To Obi-Wan's alarm, the sith lord himself stood outside the doorway. But instead of fear being revealed on Padmé's face, she looked genuinely pleased to see the older man and practically rushed into his embrace, softly weeping as the Chancellor held her.
"There, there, my dear." The Republic leader cooed while Obi-Wan paced.
"Come sit down." Palpatine motioned to a sitting area by the balcony doors. Padmé numbly followed his lead, leaning forward in her chair to grasp onto his hand.
"I came as soon as I could. Are you all right?"
Padmé sniffled and Palpatine offered her a white handkerchief he brought out from within his robe.
"Yes, considering." She responded flatly, meeting the gentle blue gaze across from her.
"Such tragedy for someone so young." The older man noted before he grinned with what he considered to be good news. "I bring a visitor with me. Someone I think you will be happy to see."
Padmé dabbed at the corners of her eyes and showed interest in his statement with a raised brow.
"Young Skywalker insisted on joining me on this trip. He's worried about you."
Obi-Wan continued to pace about the room, circling the seated pair as he listened intently to the conversation, his jaw set firm as he glared at the dark lord.
Padmé's spell of grief passed and a small smile appeared on her face. Surprisingly, the fact that Anakin had come to see her was quite comforting. "I'd be delighted to see him."
Palpatine smiled in return. "His Master came as well, I'm afraid, but there's no need to bore you with his presence. I will ensure that the young man come see you alone."
"Thank you." Padmé responded. Meeting with Qui-Gon Jinn right now was not exactly something she desired. Another smile lit her face as she met Palpatine's gaze. "You're so good to me." She noted while Obi-Wan fumed.
"I have even more good news for you." The older man continued with a grin. "Before you make a decision, however, I want you to think on it and then get back to me. As you know, when I became Chancellor, the Naboo senatorial position came open. I have chosen not to fill it until I had a chance to talk to you."
"Me?"
"Yes, you, my dear." The older man continued, chuckling at the young woman's naivety. "I would like for you to consider filling that position and joining me on Coruscant."
The young woman dropped her head and shook it gently back and forth. Give up the throne? Leave Naboo? She wasn't sure if she could.
"There's nothing for you here." Palpatine kindly noted as he caressed the small hands he once again held. "And I promised your father I would look after you." He added as Obi-Wan threw his hands up behind his head in disgust and continued pacing.
This wasn't happening! How could he stop this?
To his horrified amazement, Padmé wasn't declining the offer. In fact, she seemed to be considering it. She smiled and shook her head affirmatively. "Thank you, Chancellor. I'll consider it."
"Good." Palpatine smiled broadly before rising up from his seat. "I'll go inform young Anakin that you would like to see him."
"Wait." Padmé stood as well, following her visitor to the door. She hesitated and then flung her arms about the older man. "Thank you."
The older man returned the embrace, but was startled by a crash sounding from across the room. Padmé spun out of his arms and faced the table near the bed where a crystal vase had fallen and shattered upon the granite floor.
"It must have been the wind." Padmé explained, noting a slight breeze fluttering the curtains that hung from the window behind the nightstand.
The Chancellor, however, looked warily about the room. There had been no breeze strong enough to cause such damage.
Unknowingly, his gaze was met with one of revengeful fury, as Obi-Wan stood directly before him. Palpatine backed away a step, a slight change of his features to one of startlement before he turned and left the room.