Chapter 20: Of Debates, Dilemmas, and Familiar Things (PLEASE READ THE A/N)
A/N: I just want to say a huge THANK YOU to every compliment I have ever received...thank you.(: The compliments and the criticisms inspire to write more. I'm considering going back and rewriting the beginning, all in third person, let me know how you feel about that. Should I keep the parts in Anakin's POV that way? Thanks for the review sw1fan, I'm glad I made your day. :D Anyway, I'm writing again. I think I'll watch the movie for some inspiration although the writing is TERRIBLE. WHAT WAS GEORGE LUCAS THINKING? Okay, ideally I would write this entire trial completely with all the gory details. But I don't have time for the research. And I don't feel like putting in that much work, so I'm making it really vague, instead focusing on their feelings and the events more than what they're actually saying. Forgive my laziness.
Disclaimer: George Lucas is dead. (JK NOT REALLY. I just felt like writing that.) This is based on a fictional movie on which I have no claim.
A Few Months Later
The gavel hit the wooden podium and the resounding thunk echoed in the abnormally empty chambers of the Ninth Hall of Justice. The Galactic Court of Justice was brimming with press and interested individuals from all over Coruscant, Anakin and Padmé Skywalker among them. The Twi'lek judge stood behind the podium appraising the court room, as the bailiff announced, "The honorable judge Nawara Shala presiding, all rise."
Padmé clutched Anakin's robes tightly in her hand as they stood in the witness holding block, in extreme trepidation.
"The next court case on the dockett is The Galactic Republic versus Count Dooku, dockett number YB2534."
The lawyers entered the well, and Count Dooku was led out of the holding room in force shackles, looking every bit as smug as usual. The proceedings continued on, Padmé's grasp of his hand tightening slowly. She was slowly cutting off Anakin's blood circulation. He tried to squeeze her hand comfortingly, but her hold was too tight.
"Padmé, you're hurting me," Anakin whispered in her ear. She let out a breath, hesitantly, her eyes flickering towards Count Dooku again. She took several deep breaths to steel herself. "Remember when they call you to the stand, you don't have to go if you don't feel like your testimony is solid enough. The counsel doesn't want you to weaken their case, by appearing shaky."
"I know, Anakin. I was listening, too. Now be quiet," She hissed, her stature becoming tense.
The vital witnesses in the case would be Jedi and some other witnesses. Count Dooku had unsurprisingly opted to refuse to testify and self-incriminate himself any further. An hour or so later, Padmé wasn't really sure, they called Anakin to the stand. He rose to his full height easily towering over most of the people in the room. He gave Count Dooku a cursory glare, walking to his seat. Anakin would wipe that smug smile of that bastard's face if it was the last thing he did, maybe then he would leave his dreams alone. He answered the questions of both the representatives of the Senate and Dooku's counsel, thoroughly and as truthfully as he could manage. Anakin knew now, that as much as he blamed Dooku for much of what had transpired he was an exceptionally biased avenue of information.
At first, Padmé hung on every word that came out of Anakin's mouth. It wasn't long before she retracted back into herself, all it took was one knowing look from Count Dooku. She was back in the holding room where Anakin and herself had been put on trial and then sentenced to a public death in the arena. Vaguely remembering that she had seen this place before, the rest of her memories of Geonosis came back to her at once in the arena.
Her own words echoed in her ears as she and Anakin waited to be released, "I truly deeply love you...and before we die, I want you to know." She was blindsided by the torrent of memories that rushed to hit her, memories of everything that had transpired until their wedding. Her eyes had glazed over, and thankfully she hadn't made one sound. Quite the opposite had happened, she had become deathly still and silent, fortunately that was the appropriate behavior in a court room, of course.
Anakin rose from the stand gracefully descending the few steps and traversing the well to return to his seat. He kissed his wife on the cheek, his blond hair brushing the side of her face, before sitting down again, an action that wasn't missed by the others in their vicinity.
And when it came time to hear Padmé's side of the story, she wasn't all that sure what her story was. The counsel called her to the stand as a witness, and when she squeezed Anakin's hand she was trembling ever so slightly in nervous anticipation. There was a slight pause between her oath when she sat down awkwardly late. Anakin was worried for the debacle that was to unfold in front of his eyes.
Restraining a deep shuddering breath, Padmé panicked. What was happening to her? She was a politican, for Force's sake, she was used to people asking her difficult questions. When the onslaught of questions had began she was utterly terrified of what she would say. She resolved herself to answer the questions as truthfully as possible. And so it began, she took a breath before she answered each question. Answering the questions of the Senate Counselor was infinitely easier than the questions the opposing counsel asked of her. Those questions, on the other hand, required her to delve deep into a past she was quite unsure of, instead of sticking to what she knew of Anakin's stories.
"And did Dooku ever give you any indication that he wished you harm?"
"No, not directly. But he was sitting on the panel that deliberated-"
"Senator, a yes or no will do."
"Pardon me, counselor, but if my testimony is removed from context, it no longer serves the purpose of answering your question. And as this is a trial. I believe it would be prudent to provide the most complete testimony," Padmé paused unceremonially as she turned to address the Judge, realizing she was arguing with the counselor, and it would appear disrespectful.
"Judge Shala, may I answer the question completely?"
The Judge turned to the counselor and answered, "I would like to hear this witness' answer to the fullest extent, and I believe that our jury would as well. I will ask that you not interrupt the Senator," and turning to the senator in question she added, "Get to your point, fast."
Ignoring the brash counselor, Padmé addressed the jury directly, no longer using her decidedly forced conversational tone. "The Count sat on a panel of other Separatists in the box above my trial and sentencing on Geonosis. And by enabling my death sentence, he clearly wished me harm, as he made clear during the preceding interrogation."
The faces of the jury panel were inscrutable, and the counselor began to cross examine his exceedingly difficult witness again, this time more careful of propriety, knowing that she was appearing more credible as time went on.
And when her portion of the trial was over, Padmé almost stumbled down the steps in what seemed to be exhaustion. As she walked across the well to the seating behind the well, Anakin grew increasingly anxious. As she approached him, Anakin stood up seeing that she was unsteady, gripping her under her left forearm and guiding her to the seating.
"I didn't need your help. I can walk just fine, thank you," she articulated to Anakin after they were seated.
"You're welcome," Anakin replied softly as she curled into his side, leaning into his shoulder. Taking comfort in his solid, warmth filled presence, her eyelids slowly began to close against her will. She breathed in his deeply comforting musky scent, knowing she was at home.
And even Anakin was beginning to feel tired, the trial had gone on for five hours without break. The council had agreed that the trial needed to be finished all at once, and the sentencing needed to be carried out within the week. Judge Shala hit the wood of her podium with her gavel rather loudly, and the other occupants collectively let out a breath and shook themselves awake. The most important witnesses had been at the beginning, and the public's rapt attention had dissipated towards the end, waiting for the unforeseeable end to the long trial.
"...We will reach a decision on case number YB2534 by tomorrow at 10 hours, unless deliberation takes an unprecedented amount of time, in which case the announcement of the verdict will be shifted. This trial is thus concluded." With a billowing sweep of her robes, the judge disappeared into her chambers. All interested parties began to shuffle out of the exit.
Anakin and Padmé's Apartment
Obi-Wan Kenobi stood over the play-pen with two young Skywalkers in it. He lowered himself to floor, watching the two babies intently. Reaching out to the Force, he could already feel the their presence strongly. He ruffled Luke's hair, chuckling at the resemblance between son and father already. The twin's sister was staring at Obi-Wan her little eyebrows scrunched together in consternation.
"Your mother and father should be home soon, any moment now," Obi-Wan said quietly to the twins.
From out in the hallway, Anakin said loudly,"Why did they even wait that long to put him on trial, I can't understand."
Padmé answered him quietly, "They were hoping there was going to be a miracle, and I would be able to testify. The respresentative counselors believed that I was the key to getting a guilty verdict."
"He was going to be guilty anyways, and Obi-Wan chose not testify in person. Okay, I can see how they would have been worried about the strength of their case, but even still. He will be executed I have no doubts about it."
"But what if he's not?" Padmé queried, "He wants us dead. He will find a way to make that happen, if he isn't guilty." A hand touched her shoulder, and she tilted her head to see that it was Obi-Wan.
"How are the kids?" Padmé asked abandoning any talk of politics.
"You're losing your touch, Padmé," Obi-Wan admonished gently.
"I just don't want to talk about it anymore. It's bad enough that we had to sit through that for almost six hours," she groaned in explanation.
"How did your examination go, Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked to his former padawan.
"Well enough, I suppose. The cross examination was a piece of cake. They're going to find him guilty, I just know it. You know the sad thing is, I had to lose a hand to get here."
"That's not funny."
"It wasn't supposed to be." Anakin flopped out on a couch and stared at his wife and former master who were still standing.
"It will all work out, okay, I can feel it. There was just too much evidence to the contrary to set him free. To think, I was this close to killing him, forget a trial."
"Anakin."
"Now, that was a joke." Anakin stood up, stretching. He punched Obi-Wan jokingly in the shoulder.
After a decidedly awkward, tension filled silence, Anakin began again,"Padmé we should celebrate, if anything."
Padmé was still unsure. "Anakin, I just want to rest. Do you mind if I just stay home with the kids today? I'm tired." She walked towards the finished nursery, thrilled to see her children. Leaning into the little play pen, Padmé picked up her son, kissing his forehead gently.
"I missed you, baby," she cooed to her child, as she relaxed into a rocker.
Anakin followed his wife into the room, appraising the situation. He rolled onto the balls of his feet, squatting down to place his daughter in his arms. "Don't worry, Leia, daddy loves you more," Anakin whispered to his daughter, winking at her. He leaned into the side of the rocker to press his lips against his wife's face. "If you're staying home, I'm staying home, angel." She turned her head to the left to meet Anakin's lips for a quick kiss, and smiled against his face.
He left the nursery with his baby, preferring the openness of the living area, knowing that Obi-Wan was still there. He found Obi-Wan deep in though sitting on the couch in front of the veranda. Sensing his presence, Obi-Wan spoke, "I can already feel how strong they are with the Force."
"I know," Anakin answered, holding his daughter against him. "How does the council feel about them?"
"They're assuming that they will be incredibly powerful for either good or evil. I still sense it in you Anakin, that edge of resentment and un-adulterated anger."
"It's something I will battle for the rest of my life," Anakin replied honestly.
"I have faith in you, Anakin. I hope you will always make the right choice."
"Me too," Anakin said smiling as his daughter tugged on his robes.
Obi-Wan placed his arm around Anakin's shoulders as he stood, "I have some business to attend to in the Temple, but Anakin, your little ones are something alright." Obi-Wan's lips formed an uncharacteristic grin as he shook Leia's little hand formally, and she giggled at him.
"Oh, believe me, I know. Just look at their parents." Anakin laughed at the expression of contained amusement on his mentor's face as he left the apartment.
A/N: Review! :D What do you think the verdict will be? ALSO this should be a huge clue to if, when, and how Padmé will regain her memory.
love you for reading,
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