Note 49

Padmé,

Well…so far on my search for my mother…I have not been able to locate her yet. I'm not going to stop until I do, though. On my way out into the section of the planet where I know most people do not live, I ran into a group of Jawas. I asked them where the nearest Sandperson camp was. They told me. (My father had told me before I left which direction the Sandpeople had gone to, and Owen let me borrow his speeder.). It's a long way down, Padmé…but I'm going to jump. Using the Force, I'll be all right. I don't know what I'll find, but I will NOT turn my back on my mother.

I am glad that you take situations seriously between us. Facing things together is definitely something we will have to do together someday. I only hope that I can be as good about it as you have been.

My father might act like a nice man now, but I cannot believe that his actions are genuine. Anyone that sells their wife and unborn child could never be kind or gentle. I will never forgive him for doing what he did…never. That might sound cold to you, but you did not have to endure slavery as I did. I'm glad that my brother has been polite to you too. If anyone in my family tries to harm you, tell me immediately. I will not have them do that! I don't know if my family knows that we are in love or not. Have you heard any indication that they know? You said that Owen seems very pleasant to you. Good. If you have to talk to anyone, I'd rather you talk to him. He's the one I trust the most.

No, Padmé, it's not that you would be in my way…it's just that I could never blame myself if something were to happen to you. That's why I didn't want you to go with me when I looked for my mother. You're helping Beru a lot? What do you think of her? She hasn't made that much of an impression on me yet, but I have spent very little time in that moisture farm. By the way, what do you think of the moisture farm? I had never been in one before this. I think it's rather interesting. Did you notice the painted ceiling in the eating room? And did you see their garage? I happened to have a brief look around…and I would love to spend a few hours in that garage to see what it's like, look at all the machines… And how many bedrooms do they have in this house? If I'm not mistaken, I think there are 3. (Probably one for Owen, one for Rhun , one for my parents). The last time I was there, when I freed my mother, I did not get a chance to actually see the house…only meet everyone outside.

And my father…have you talked much to him?

Good…I'm glad you have enjoyed my family's company a lot. I'm sure they all like you…they have no reason not to. I just don't know how they'll feel about me…their relative that they hardly know, getting married. I know I put both you and them in an awkward position, but I couldn't help it.

You will marry me then? WONDERFUL. Now all we have to decide on is when…it has to be soon…so that the ceremony can take place before the Jedi Council sends me on another mission. I want to spend as much time together with you as I can. We don't have to have a big wedding…in fact we shouldn't. Maybe the ceremony would be more meaningful if you weren't worried about decorations and fancy stuff. Your concentration would be more centered on our commitment, our relationship…

I'm glad that you are pleased with the dress, and that you will cherish it the rest of your life. May it forever be a reminder of our love for each other.

Yes, you did mention your friend Channa earlier in the letter. Maybe you could tell me more about your friends than you already have said. I don't believe you have mentioned them all to me yet. Your friend is a member of the Corellian embassy? Well I guess you certainly know a lot of people in high places. Your other friends Mark and Nia also work at the embassy. Oh….. Well if you want to invite your most inner circle of friends to the wedding, that would be fine…but no more than you think would be absolutely necessary. We don't want the Jedi Council to find out about this wedding…or anyone that might inform them. Padmé…we have to be very careful about how many trips we make. You must remember that an assassin is still after you. We are safer if we remain in a few places rather than go all over the galaxy. Do you think you could contact your friends and parents by a different way…such as sending them messages or something? I need to see how everything is with my mother. If she is fine when I find her, then we will not need to stay on Tatooine much longer, and we could return to Naboo shortly….

Thanks for the compliments on my lightsaber. And yes, I did enjoy "Will to Love." Sorry if I seem distracted right now, but I am trying to rescue my mother from a very dangerous place.

Okay, Padmé…I look forward to the swimming lessons, instructed by you. You must excuse me. I have neared the camp now.

All right…I'm back now at the homestead. I brought my mother back…I'm not sure if you saw her yet, but if you didn't I don't want you to see her. She's in bad shape, Padmé. She was barely alive when I found her. Somehow she managed to keep herself alive…though she was beaten very badly. If I had not come when I did, I don't think she would have been alive by the next hour. I already took my mother to the Tatooine medical facility. It's so horrible…Padmé.

After I jumped down to the level of the houses, I tried to reach out to my mother through the Force. I felt her presence coming from one of the little dirt huts where two bone dogs were fighting. I used my lightsaber to cut the wall so that I could get inside. After I kicked back the part of the wall, I just saw her tied up against some sticks, standing or leaning upright. She had blood all over her, and cuts and bruises…and I could tell she was near death. I…I don't want to talk about it much, but I was able to talk to her a little bit, and she recognized me…and said that she loved me before she fainted. I knew she didn't have much time left, and took her home, and then to the medical facility. I couldn't take her directly there because I would have had to cut across too much land without getting her any medical attention whatsoever. Beru tried as best she could to stop some of the bleeding and put some medicine on some of her wounds…and give her something to drink. After that, I took her to the medical facility.

If you're looking for me, I'm in the garage. I…I just don't know what to say. I'm trying to fix one of the machines in here. The shifter broke. Life seems so much simpler when you're fixing things. I'm good at fixing things. I always was. I feel terrible…and….IT'S ALL OBI-WAN'S FAULT. HE'S JEALOUS. HE'S HOLDING ME BACK. If he hadn't prevented me from coming to Tatooine sooner, I could have spared my mother from the beatings. When I took her to the medical facility, the doctors there all shook their heads, saying that there was no hope. I told them that they HAD to try…so eventually they did. I'm afraid that she's going to die, Padmé. And…and…something else…I…no…I HATE those Sandpeople!

You must excuse me…but I am in no mood to write any more. Please, though, you must understand that I do love you….I love you very much.

With love,

Anakin Skywalker