Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars, Disney does. Some, if not a lot of the dialogue in this chapter was pulled and tailored to the introduction of this story. Quotes and snippets you recognize are not mine, but the owner of George Lucas and Disney. The title of this story belongs to Snow Patrol who wrote The Planets Bend Between Us. The title of the series "The Kingdom Prevails" is a song by Tenth Dimension and all things you recognize I take zero ownership of.
Author's Note: Welcome to the Au! So in short, I was talking to a friend about how I wish the prequels weren't a trilogy because to me their biggest flaw is how rushed they have to be because it's three movies under three hours. I respect that George Lucas wanted to show us Anakin as a young boy and I love TPM (idc it was my first Star Wars movie and I love it and will defend its right to exist always), but as we talked I had this thought watching the meadow scene (that and my milk and honey is Vaderdala AUs where they've never met and he has to have her be in his establishments for whatever reason) and have been trying to fight it but I know I'm right: I don't hate the Anakin/Padme age difference and will forever ship them, but Padmè being twenty-four and a young queen at the age of fourteen and senator at eighteen and then falling into the secret relationship shenanigans doesn't really make sense. I love it, but like her being with a nineteen year old as immature as Anakin just confuses me. I love Anakin, he's my favorite character of all time, but we can be honest, AOTC!Anakin and ROTS!Anakin are night and day and AOTC!Anakin is kind of embarrassing (as he should be, he's a kid but again, he's immature so my point stands!).
Anyways this is AU and Padmè is nineteen and Anakin is twenty, on the verge of twenty-one, and this is for no real reason beyond I just feel like him being a touch older with the shenanigans works better. There's no right or wrong reason, it's just an AU thing I like.
Also, again, like all the greats before me (shout out to Vader's Angel and Eros Turannos, must reads — go read them immediately!), they've never met before. Anakin was a young slave and was rescued, and Padmè's planet was threatened but these two didn't happen together. Padmè became a senator at eighteen, just after her second term as queen and her assassination attempts are happening for the same reasons, but also different. Anakin has been assigned to be a bodyguard and we are raising the stakes. Also, Padmè's handmaidens are gonna be Sabè, Rabè, Ellè, Dormè, Eirtaè, and Yanè because I feel like it. Sachè is also going to be involved, but as a legislator, as she is in the EK Johnston series. And because I personally think it's fun, is Anakin going to be Darth Vader height? Yes. I've read too many Vaderdala fics (go read the two above — go READ them!) with this, and I know it's ingrained in my soul so it is what it is. The man's over two meters. And no JarJar. I know, it's heartbreaking, but I refuse to write "Yousa" and "Wesa" and have that voice in my head. I deserve better, so ergo JarJar? What's a JarJar!?(100+ points to anyone who catches the reference!)
And just so no one is confused: Artoo is Anakin's droid. He built and programmed him, which would explain so much of why Artoo is the way he is. It kills me, because I love how Padmè gives Anakin her trusted droid and in turn, he gives her Threepio, but we soldier on friends.
Also, all that aside and completely off-topic, disrespectfully, Padmè not using her own resources to free Shmi? Bullshit. That's unrealistic. There's no argument that will ever be presented to me that would make me agree with this.
The girl in the white dress had her mother's brain and her father's heart, and a spark that was entirely her own. Brilliance and direction and compassion as bright as the stars. But now she was alone, and no one could help her. Whatever happened next, however it was recorded and remembered, she was entirely on her own.
—E.K. Johnston, The Queen's Peril.
the shells crack under our shoes / like punctuation points / the planets bend between us / a hundred million suns and stars.
—snow patrol, "the planets bend between us."
Padmè knew it was a weakness to sit in shellshocked silence, her heart racing like a bird ensnared in a net, trying to keep her political mask on. She could hear the men around her talk, but she felt lightyears away, back on her homeworld, in her quiet meadow where nothing ever hurt her, surrounded by waterfalls and wildflowers.
Childish, she spat, scolding herself harshly. There was no time for daydreams like that, or fantasies at all. Mariek, Cordè, and Versè were dead, and everyone was grasping for reasons and making plans to keep her safe, and what was she doing? Imagining a blooming field a galaxy away.
Selfish, she hissed angrily, balling her fists slightly, though she knew Sabè noticed, Rabè, too. They were the only ones she brought with her. She didn't want to bring any, but Sabè was relentless.
"My hands are yours, Senator," the taller girl had said as she pinned her veil in place. Sabè, despite being tall, always still seemed to blend in just as she did when they were mirror images of one another. It was almost fascinating to watch, no matter how many times she'd watch Sabè become invisible to those around her.
Padmè knew the Jedi were aware of Sabè by the door, and Rabè to her right against the red wall of the Chancellor's office, but she doubted even the force-sensitives paid them mind.
"My dear," Palpatine continued with imploring blue eyes, "it would kill me to lose you, even for a vote as important as this one."
She bristled and almost broke her mask. She'd been perfecting her immovable features since she'd been a young child — "never show weakness," had been the most important advice from her father. He'd been a representative of Naboo for Coruscant before Sola was born, and then the elected official for their district outside of Theed, and he'd trained his youngest for this life. She would not break. Not now, and not ever if she could help it.
"This bill is to stop a war, Chancellor," she said evenly. Despite the lack of the voice she used as Queen Amidala, the coolness slipped in. "Our Queen did not ask me to do this job to see senseless violence and civil war — nothing is more important than this, not even my life."
For a moment, not even a full second, brown determined eyes met blue, and she could see an emotion inside, but it was not fear or love, it was something else that his eyes broke away from her's to quickly to determine what he'd been feeling at the response.
"As right, the senator is, to die it is, we wish not to see you, Senator," Grandmaster Yoda said in earnest. "Grave danger, you are in. Clouded is your future to us."
She looked down at him, her brown eyes softened slightly. Padmè had always trusted the Jedi. Before his death, Master Jinn and his padawan had saved her and her peoples' lives during a blockade, and she felt guilt in what she admitted. "I think the one behind these attacks is Count Dooku, Master Yoda," she said, bowing her head in respect, unable to bear the burden of her shame.
Sabè and Rabè had volley balled the theory around many times over the course of a month. Dooku had been very instrumental for the politicians of the Separatist movement, and Padmè had taken a firm stance against him and the threat of war looming amongst planets, along with the other loyalists like Mon and Bail, but Padmè was not blind.
She had influence not a lot of senators had, even for being so young. At just nineteen, she had captivated the republic that hadn't known her from her time served as Queen, though the tales of her legacy was vast. The people trusted her, and they knew she listened and cared — their burdens were her burdens, and while many of her peers scoffed at her naive desire to help, even they begrudged she had a firm point. The people elected her, and the numbers of her support for it didn't lie.
Padmè hadn't wanted to believe Sabè and Rabè's theory. She still didn't. Count Dooku may have been a former Jedi, but the accusation was an insult to the masters before her, and to an entire order she held in the highest esteem.
"Count Dooku is a political idealist, milady, not a murderer," argued Ki-Adi-Mundi, and she could hear the underlying outrage in his tone.
Mace Windu looked at her, and his piercing gaze made her feel small, as if she were being a petulant child and it made her back go straighter, as impossible as it seemed. "You know, milady, Count Dooku was once a Jedi," he said and her cheeks colored slightly, "he couldn't assassinate anyone. It's not in his character."
Yoda looked at her thoughtfully, then towards Rabè, "Dark times these are," he acknowledged. "Very dark, the horizon of the republic is." Then he sighed, shaking his head in almost dismay at what they had all become. "Grave danger you are, Senator. Your influence of this vote has made you an enemy, and many there are to choose from."
Palpatine looked upon them, dropping the hands he'd steepled during this discussion, a worried and hesitant look crossing his features as he said, "Master Jedi, if I may suggest that we place Senator Amidala under your protection?"
Bail Organa came forward, "Chancellor, do you think it's the wisest choice during these times. The Jedi have been stretched thin due to the confederacy, perhaps we could —"
"Chancellor," Padmè argued as Bail began, unable to keep the aggravation and outrage from her voice, "The situation is not about security —"
But Palpatine cut her off, "If the situation has escalated this far, who knows what else these terrorists will try and do to you. This is the fifth one in a matter of weeks, and you're lucky none have been successful. If the Jedi could spare even one, your odds would increase."
Yoda eyed the Chancellor, but Padmè's eyes never left Palpatine's. "I do believe the situation is serious, and I know additional security would disrupt you, but perhaps if it was someone you were familiar with," the Chancellor paused before giving her a warm smile, "like Master Kenobi."
Mace considered it for a moment before nodding, "That is possible," he said, turning to Yoda, "He just returned from a border dispute in the mid rim. He and his padawan could be dispatched for the time being."
Yoda looked to Padmè then back to the Chancellor, a frown marring his features.
"Do it for me, milady, please," the Chancellor pleaded with the tiny brunette before him, her features softening at the genuine emotion in his voice. "The thought of losing you, it is truly unbearable."
Padmè felt herself deflate as she agreed. Palpatine was one of her oldest advisors and supporters, even back when she'd been Princess of Theed the year before her assent to the throne. He'd encouraged her, guided her, even after all these years; it had been his suggestion to Queen Jamilla for her to the choice as Senator, and how could she deny him?
When they adjourned and Padmè, Sabè, and Rabè were back on the ship heading home was when Sabè finally said it: "I have a very, very bad feeling about this."
Padmè silently agreed. Something was at work here, and she felt like a pawn who'd been moved, but like any pawn, she couldn't see the game being played. It made her shift slightly. She'd be played for now, because as such in life, the game would slowly unveil itself. She could only hope that by that point it wouldn't be too late.
oOo
The first thing she notices about the padawan before her, as shallow as it is, is that he's tall. Really tall.
While Padmè was petite, it shocks her when he bends under the threshold to enter the sitting room following Master Kenobi. She'd been standing by the window, replying to Eirtaè when they'd entered, and her smile had almost frozen at the initial shock but then she took him in: His hair was cropped short with the padawan braid, and she knew the small wolf's tail would be in the back at the base of his skull, as it was for all padawans she'd met throughout the years, and his eyes were a piercing blue with full lips and tanned skin. He was undeniably handsome, but she didn't allow herself to focus on that. What she did focus on, however, was the way both men bowed and how she forced herself to move toward him.
There was something magnetic between her and this padawan. It wasn't something that happened often, despite what Sabè would argue, but Padmè very rarely felt a pull to people like this. She'd felt it when meeting Sabè her first night as queen, and most of her handmaidens, and felt it with Master Jinn and Kenobi, but it had been a long time when it felt like destiny was saying this person was meant to be in her life.
It was, ironically, a scary thought. One she pushed out of her mind. This tall man couldn't have been that much older than her, and he was training to be a Jedi and was here to protect her. The reminder soothed the feelings of distrust she'd had since sitting in Palpatine's office. Being cautious was one thing, being argumentative and isolating would be very unwise and probably what her potential assassin would want. It'd be an advantage if she acted like a spoiled princess about those risking their lives for hers.
"Milady," Obi-Wan said as he rose from his low bow, "it is a pleasure to see you again." He held out a hand and she took it, giving him a warm smile.
"Master Kenobi, it's been far too long," she replied in kind, her smile big and earnest as she looked at the man.
The master gestured to his padawan beside him, "And my padawan, Anakin Skywalker."
The boy shook her hand, dwarfing it entirely. "Milady," he said politely.
She looked up (and up and up) at him and smiled before they let go, ignoring the sparks that ran between them. It was familiar, warm, and unwelcome. He was a Jedi-to-be and she was a senator, and even more so, he was now protecting her.
She gestured toward the couches and they took a seat.
"Our presence here will be invisible here, Senator, I assure you. We do not want to disrupt your privacy."
"I appreciate that," she said honestly, bowing her head to him.
Captain Typho stepped up, "I'm Captain Typho, the head of her security, and I assure you, the situation is more dire than she cares to admit. I am grateful that you both are here, Master Kenobi. With the recent attempt, we lost a lot of good people. We are in your debt."
Padmè felt her heart stop and she clenched her hands in the sleeves of her dress. Even though the thought of Versè and Cordè and Mariek being gone was too much to bear, yet she had to. She couldn't cry or mourn, she had a job to do and their deaths wouldn't be for nothing. Not if she had any say in the matter.
"We don't need security, we need answers," Padmè said, her voice harsher than she meant to. She felt Anakin's gaze on her, and just like with Sabè, she knew he saw everything, even without his force powers. "I want to know who's trying to kill me," she said bluntly, looking at the two before her.
"With all due respect, Senator, we're here to protect you, not start an investigation," Master Kenobi said.
She felt a spike of anger and betrayal at that, but was surprised when Anakin said, "We will find out who's trying to kill you, Senator." His voice held an unbreakable promise, and she could tell he wouldn't have said it to her if he hadn't meant it.
Obi-Wan, however, was having none of it. "We will not exceed our mandate, my young padawan," he scolded like an angry father and she almost found it amusing. Almost. Somehow, Anakin looked smaller, younger, even, as his master glared at him for the defiant vow and it made her want to protect him. She wanted to open her mouth and defend Anakin, or thank him for having some sense in the matter, but she didn't.
"I meant it in the interest of protecting her, of course, Master," he said and she could hear the arrogant scoff implied in his tone. It shocked her. She had never been so bold, and had never known a padawan to be anything but a demure learner to their master.
"We will not go through this exercise again, Anakin, and you will pay attention to my lead." Obi-Wan snapped, his voice stern and so full of command that Padmè noticed her handmaidens stand straighter, even she found herself sitting straighter at the tone of voice, making note that Master Kenobi would not be one to disobey. She eyed Rabè, praying she took note that none of her normal shenanigans would be tolerated if he were present.
"Why?" Anakin asked, turning fully to his master whose eyes widened in shock. Even Padmè felt her jaw run a bit slack. Looking at Rabè, she prayed the girl didn't laugh or snort with glee.
"What?!" Obi-Wan questioned, surprise marring his stern features.
"Why else do you think we were assigned to her, if not to find the killer. Security is for the local law enforcement or security, not Jedi. It's overkill. It's even implied in our mandate," he argued easily. Oh, she knew right then and there he'd get along splendidly with the likes of Sabè, Rabè, and Eirtaè. They loved bending rules in their favor, and had been Quarsh Panaka's nightmare during his time serving her as queen.
Her heart twisted at the idea of him finding his wife to be no more, as she felt for Typho. Padmè eyed him. The tall man had held together tighter than a star destroyer, and even now, as he watched the two men, he gave nothing away.
"We will do exactly what the council has instructed us to do, Anakin. And you will learn your place," he finished turning from his padawan in anger, his nostrils flaring as Anakin had the decency to look somewhat ashamed as he looked at the floor.
"Perhaps," Padmè began diplomatically, unable to stand the sight of him looking so small and defeated, "with just your presence the mystery of this threat will be revealed."
Anakin's blue eyes darted to her and for a brief moment, they gave each other a small smile.
She stood. "Now, if you will excuse me, I wish to retire. It's been a trying day, and I think it's best if we all get some rest," she said, looking straight at Captain Typho who stiffened and turned to Master Kenobi.
"I know I'll feel much better having you here. There is an officer stationed on every floor, and I will be in the control center. My second will be taking the first shift," he said pointedly at her, but his eyes never left the Jedi Masters. She almost scoffed, but she understood. They couldn't be weak. That would be a luxury for after. Always after.
After hardly seemed to come anymore, but she didn't dwell on it. This was the path her life was on, whether it pleased her or not.
Anakin stood, bowing to her and she paused and did the same, smiling up at him before exiting for her room.
oOo
Anakin stood in front of the entrance to the balcony, letting the cold night air soothe his thoughts and bruised pride. He was tired, but knew sleep was no friend to him anymore — not recently, anyway. His thoughts were still haunted by the pain and suffering of Shmi Skywalker, how she pleaded for him and called for him. At first, Anakin thought they were no different than his usual dreams.
Since his freedom ten years prior, Anakin had often been plagued with intense nightmares of his mother. How she was sold to a master that hurt her, or did unspeakable acts to her, how he was always too far away and too slow to save her. But these were different. They didn't feel like nightmares.
He could see them as clear as the Coruscant traffic before him; as if he were a phantom witnessing her pain, and not a person at all. He could feel it in his bones. Something had happened, and he was powerless to stop it.
How many masters had told him to let go of his past, his mother, his burdens? He was always to be mindful of his thoughts, his feelings, and his instincts that were not becoming of a Jedi, and as always, he couldn't. His mother was as a part of him as his heart. She was everything to him, even now as a grown man, and he ached for her love and wisdom, her peace.
He felt Obi-Wan's return to the sitting area before he heard the door to it open, but he ignored his master's reappearance, letting himself be lost in the force for a moment longer, reaching out to his mother, desperate to feel the connection. He was so close, if he could just go a bit further, he'd —
"Captain Typho has enough men downstairs," he informed Anakin as he walked to where he stood, "no assassin would try there. Is all okay up here?"
"Quiet as a tomb," he informed, not opening his eyes, despite the connection falling and bringing him back down to the planet. He gave a quiet sigh and turned to his master, "I don't like standing here, waiting for something to happen to her."
It wasn't the right thing to say, especially from a Jedi's point of view, but he couldn't help it. Despite just meeting her, something in him wanted to protect her — as if that had been his reason from birth all along.
Obi-Wan frowned, then checked his datapad and frowned harder. "She covered the cameras? What is she thinking?!"
"She didn't like the idea of us watching her, so I programmed Artoo to watch her. Don't worry, I can sense everything going on in there, she'll be safe."
"What are we? Using her as bait?" he scoffed. "Besides, your senses are not that attuned, my young apprentice."
Anakin bristled. The insult burned, more so because they both knew it was a bald-faced lie. Anakin was, admittedly, arrogant. Even he would agree to such an assessment, despite begrudgingly doing so, but he knew his arrogance at least had a foundation. He'd been nine when found, ten when he began training, and despite only having natural talents he'd honed in at an early age, he was miles ahead of those who had trained since birth. Yet, no matter what, the council always — always! — held him back. It outraged him, and his already bruised ego couldn't withstand the comment. "And yours are?" he snapped, eyebrow raised. They both knew who was stronger in the force, and his master crossed his arms.
"Possibly. Besides, there's more than one way to kill a person, she's a fool to risk it."
Anakin clenched his hands and breathed in, trying to calm his temper as he ventured further out, wishing that single thread to his mother would come back. He'd been so close. So, so close.
"You look tired," Obi-Wan commented after a few moments.
Anakin turned to him, "I don't sleep well anymore," he reminded needlessly. He knew people in the temple heard him talk in his sleep. He heard the whispers and the teasings of his fellow padawans — no one dared say it to his face anymore, not after the few times he put them in their place. Despite what the Jedi said, dominance was the only way to make people respect you. He still had the scars down his back from those lessons. He had no qualms sharing them with his fellow students who mocked him for being a slave, too old to be trained — anything they could get their hands on that would make him feel shame, and Anakin had always brought them to their knees, fearing even his name leaving their lips.
He shut his eyes and breathed in, trying to shake the darkness that clouded his mind.
"Is it still about your mother?" Obi-Wan asked softly, a worried look crossing his face.
Anakin nodded. "I don't know why I keep dreaming about her, but I know something's wrong."
"Be mindful of your thoughts, Anakin," he said softly, but the warning was clear, "they betray you. You have sworn an allegiance to the order, and it is something that is not easily broken."
Anakin swallowed before moving back inside, "I know she's somewhere in pain. I can feel it as if it's my own," he said with a shaky breath. He didn't know what he wanted from Obi-Wan, or he did but knew it was a pointless desire. The Jedi had never cared about his mother. His attachment to her was seen as a weakness, something that'd lead him to evil, but what could he expect? No one had ever had a family in the order. Only him.
He used to think this life would bring him freedom and freedom to his fellow slaves. A joke, he scoffed in disgust, but he tried not to dwell on it. If he did, he knew he'd scream, and he'd scream so loud the universe itself would cave in.
"Dreams do pass in time," Obi-Wan offered, as if such an empty sentence could help Anakin, but he accepted it anyway. He tried to remember that his master had never known love, from his mother or otherwise. He was a Jedi to the letter, and Anakin knew he was letting him down.
"Yeah," was all he said, crossing his arms and looking towards the hallway where Padmè lay.
"When did you get Artoo?" Obi-Wan asked, as it dawned on him what Anakin had said.
Anakin shrugged, "Me and the Senator had a negotiation. One of her handmaidens went for him."
Obi-Wan nodded. "At least they're with her. They're capable enough. Most of them have been serving her since her first term as queen."
Anakin nodded. He'd sensed the devotion, the worry, and more importantly, the distrust. The tallest of the bunch was deeply suspicious of a plot against Padmè, and had been angry by the downplay Senator Amidala was giving to her danger; and the other, whom the Senator kept looking at during Obi-Wan's lecture, faired no better. He could sense the mischief in her, and decided he trusted both for her well-being and the bending of rules he knew Obi-Wan would unrealistically have.
Senator Amidala had a job to do, and he could tell she'd do it even if she had to take his lightsaber and cut down her assassin herself.
"Her protocol droid is also down that hallway, and he takes orders well. You'd like him," Anakin said with a teasing smile and Obi-Wan scoffed before they both paused. Something ominous passed through the force and before either could comprehend it, Anakin took off in a sprint to the hallway and burst into the senator's room, causing Artoo to beep and whirl in surprise, but Anakin ignored him and jumped onto Padmè's bed, sensing it before seeing the poisonous slugs near the Senator's pillow. In an instant, blue plasma cut both in half and Padmè shot up, looking at him with wide brown eyes as she gasped. The saber deactivated, but not before Obi-Wan dove out the window, causing the glass to shatter.
"Oh dear!" the protocol droid, CD-17, exclaimed, but he was nearly bowled over by the tallest handmaiden who rushed in.
"Padmè!" she shouted, taking in everything and moving aside as Anakin took off in a sprint.
"Stay here! Do not leave this place," Anakin commanded both of them, and the rest of the women who'd come out into the hall. He rushed off after Obi-Wan, ignoring the bad feeling in his gut. Something told him this wouldn't end well, but concluded that it'd be because of the death of this scum bag and prayed it'd be nothing more than that as he hopped into a speeder and took off.