Author's Notes :: Hello again! Well, after watching Episode One yet again
last night, I decided to write another chapter. I know it's still a little
boring, but.... I'm working on it. ^_^; Thanks for reading!
Darkness swirled around the young queen. No matter where she looked, she could see no signs of light. Two seemingly menacing shadows gasped at her sides. She jumped, clearly frightened.
"Are you alright, your majesty?" Rabe asked softly.
Padme's eyes were wide with fright. She sat up slowly as though she were afraid any sudden movements could get her killed. The handmaiden's exchanged a worried glance then focused their attention again to their queen.
"Your majesty?" Eriate inquired, but Padme didn't respond.
"It's as if she doesn't see us." Rabe whispered.
"Or like she doesn't want to see us." Eriate replied, "I have never seen fear in her eyes before. Never. Something is terribly wrong."
"Perhaps I should send for the Captain." Rabe said as she slowly rose to her feet. Padme jumped again at this. The shadow she saw seemed to tower over her with an evil gleam in her eyes. Padme too slowly stood and began to back away from the two 'shadows'.
"Don't hurt me.... please don't hurt me...." Padme whispered. Her eyes held a haunting gaze - so haunting, in fact, that it looked as though the heart of fear itself dwelled within them. She continued walking until she reached the corner of the room. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she slowly slid to the floor. She hugged her legs to chest and cried softly.
"I'll watch over her. Hurry and get Captain Panaka." Eriate said, trembling as well from worry.
Rabe nodded and quickly slipped out into the hallway.
~*~
Remaining calm was something young Anakin was never quite good at. He shivered slightly as he entered the council room partly from fear and partly from just being cold. It had been nearly a year since he had brought before the council. Nearly a year ago his life was normal. Nearly a year ago, his master was the student to one of the greatest jedi knights. Nearly a year. The master and padawen held one thing in common - their thoughts still dwelled in the past. Anakin desperately missed his mother and their simple life on Tatooine. He constantly struggled with the fear of never seeing her again. It was difficult to hide the fear from the mindful eye of his master.
Obi-Wan didn't have the right to say anything to the boy though. Fear had dwelled in his heart since that time as well. He had grown up under Qui- Gonn's care since he was a mere boy. He had tried every day to more like his master. He strived for the perfection his master seemed to have. Despite the broken rules and defiance to the council, Obi-Wan truly believed Qui-Gonn was the grandest jedi knight who had ever graced the universe with his presence. But there was fear and doubt that Obi-Wan had yet to overcome. Deep in his heart he knew Qui-Gonn had said he was ready to face the trials simply because he wanted to train the boy. Perhaps Qui- Gonn truly had faith in him, but Obi-Wan knew it was because of the boy. In their last moments together, Obi-Wan had tried desperately to fight to the Sith and save his master. The Sith was defeated, but the Jedi was as well. Qui-Gonn offered no words of reassurance or comfort or love. "Train the boy." he said, "Train the boy."
"Don't be afraid, Annie. The council just wants to ask a few questions," Obi-Wan said while placing a strong hand upon the boy's shoulder.
Anakin glanced around at the council. His gaze finally rested upon Mace Windu. The older jedi offered a reassuring smile.
"How feel you?" Yoda asked.
"Tired, sir." Anakin replied.
"What is the Force saying to you now?" Mace inquired.
"I... I can't hear it very well. Everything seems kind of... dark." he said timidly.
"Very good. Step outside for a moment please. We must question your master as well, young Skywalker." Mace stated.
"Yes, sir." Anakin replied as he bowed and slowly exited the room.
~*~
In her worried state, Rabe nearly stumbled over Captain Panaka and Sabe. Glances of worry and fear passed between them. Rabe said nothing, for guards were all around the building. No one knew of Sabe posing as the queen, and it was best for things to remain that way. Questions were best dealt with in these situations if they were avoided all together.
"Come quickly." Rabe whispered.
Upon entering the room, Sabe couldn't see the queen at first. She didn't notice anything until she heard the choked sobbings coming from the corner. The sight before her was a terrible one. Padme's normally lovely face was red and splochy from the tears she had shed. Her hair was a mess around her. She continued to tremble as fear danced around in her nearly red eyes.
"Oh my..." Sabe gasped, not knowing what to do.
"Perhaps we should send for the jedi." Captain Panaka suggested.
As soon as the word jedi escaped his lips, Padme grew completely silent. Part of her wanted to demand that the jedi be brought before her at once, but the other part of her screamed in defiance, "No! Don't let them hurt me! Keep them away from me!"
"Quickly." Sabe whispered to the Captain, "We shall try to keep her quiet until you return."
~*~
"It's a damned emergency!" Captain Panaka demanded to the guard. His glare was certainly a powerful one. The young guard of the Jedi council was visably frightened by the officer in front of him.
"Sir, I'm sorry, but the council is meeting. I have strict instructions not to-" the guard stammered.
"And I have strict instructions to protect the queen's life at all costs!" Captain Panaka yelled, "If the Jedi don't see to her -now-, there's no telling just what could happen. And believe me, if the queen dies, you'll suffer the pain of a thousand deaths, I swear it."
"I... I see... I shall see what I can... do..." the guard mumbled.
He nervously tapped upon the large, silver doors. Suddenly they were opened. The unexpecting guard nearly fell over. Captain Panaka saw a golden opportunity and pushed his way into the room. He knew his actions seemed rude, but the queen's well-being came first.
"Captain Panaka?" Obi-Wan stated, clearly confused.
"Forgive me, but there's been an emergency." he said.
"Concerns your queen it does." Yoda stated.
"Yes, sir. Amidala was addressing the senate, when all of a sudden she fainted. When she awake, she acted like a small child - trembling and shaking with fear. The handmaidens said it looked as though she couldn't see. She kept pleading with us not to hurt her." he said.
"When did this happen?" Mace inquired.
"A few hours ago, sir." Captain Panaka replied.
The council members exchanged similiar expressions and nodded as if they had all thought the very same thing at the same moment. Captain Panaka was disturbed by this, for he had always been a bit doubtful about the Jedi.
"Obi-Wan, go with the Captain. If our suspicions are corrent, the disturbance is near Amidala. Return to Naboo with her. It isn't safe for her here. Stay with her until you discover the source of it then report to us." Mace stated.
"Yes, Masters, but what shall Anakin do?" Obi-Wan inquired.
"Considering the circumstances, it isn't safe for Anakin to go with you. We'd like to test him further. Leave him with us until your return." Mace said.
Obi-Wan nodded and bowed. Captain Panaka considered bowing before his exit, but he couldn't bow before a group he somehow still didn't respect. Besides, they thought him rude enough anyways, what was the point in acting respectful now?
Darkness swirled around the young queen. No matter where she looked, she could see no signs of light. Two seemingly menacing shadows gasped at her sides. She jumped, clearly frightened.
"Are you alright, your majesty?" Rabe asked softly.
Padme's eyes were wide with fright. She sat up slowly as though she were afraid any sudden movements could get her killed. The handmaiden's exchanged a worried glance then focused their attention again to their queen.
"Your majesty?" Eriate inquired, but Padme didn't respond.
"It's as if she doesn't see us." Rabe whispered.
"Or like she doesn't want to see us." Eriate replied, "I have never seen fear in her eyes before. Never. Something is terribly wrong."
"Perhaps I should send for the Captain." Rabe said as she slowly rose to her feet. Padme jumped again at this. The shadow she saw seemed to tower over her with an evil gleam in her eyes. Padme too slowly stood and began to back away from the two 'shadows'.
"Don't hurt me.... please don't hurt me...." Padme whispered. Her eyes held a haunting gaze - so haunting, in fact, that it looked as though the heart of fear itself dwelled within them. She continued walking until she reached the corner of the room. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she slowly slid to the floor. She hugged her legs to chest and cried softly.
"I'll watch over her. Hurry and get Captain Panaka." Eriate said, trembling as well from worry.
Rabe nodded and quickly slipped out into the hallway.
~*~
Remaining calm was something young Anakin was never quite good at. He shivered slightly as he entered the council room partly from fear and partly from just being cold. It had been nearly a year since he had brought before the council. Nearly a year ago his life was normal. Nearly a year ago, his master was the student to one of the greatest jedi knights. Nearly a year. The master and padawen held one thing in common - their thoughts still dwelled in the past. Anakin desperately missed his mother and their simple life on Tatooine. He constantly struggled with the fear of never seeing her again. It was difficult to hide the fear from the mindful eye of his master.
Obi-Wan didn't have the right to say anything to the boy though. Fear had dwelled in his heart since that time as well. He had grown up under Qui- Gonn's care since he was a mere boy. He had tried every day to more like his master. He strived for the perfection his master seemed to have. Despite the broken rules and defiance to the council, Obi-Wan truly believed Qui-Gonn was the grandest jedi knight who had ever graced the universe with his presence. But there was fear and doubt that Obi-Wan had yet to overcome. Deep in his heart he knew Qui-Gonn had said he was ready to face the trials simply because he wanted to train the boy. Perhaps Qui- Gonn truly had faith in him, but Obi-Wan knew it was because of the boy. In their last moments together, Obi-Wan had tried desperately to fight to the Sith and save his master. The Sith was defeated, but the Jedi was as well. Qui-Gonn offered no words of reassurance or comfort or love. "Train the boy." he said, "Train the boy."
"Don't be afraid, Annie. The council just wants to ask a few questions," Obi-Wan said while placing a strong hand upon the boy's shoulder.
Anakin glanced around at the council. His gaze finally rested upon Mace Windu. The older jedi offered a reassuring smile.
"How feel you?" Yoda asked.
"Tired, sir." Anakin replied.
"What is the Force saying to you now?" Mace inquired.
"I... I can't hear it very well. Everything seems kind of... dark." he said timidly.
"Very good. Step outside for a moment please. We must question your master as well, young Skywalker." Mace stated.
"Yes, sir." Anakin replied as he bowed and slowly exited the room.
~*~
In her worried state, Rabe nearly stumbled over Captain Panaka and Sabe. Glances of worry and fear passed between them. Rabe said nothing, for guards were all around the building. No one knew of Sabe posing as the queen, and it was best for things to remain that way. Questions were best dealt with in these situations if they were avoided all together.
"Come quickly." Rabe whispered.
Upon entering the room, Sabe couldn't see the queen at first. She didn't notice anything until she heard the choked sobbings coming from the corner. The sight before her was a terrible one. Padme's normally lovely face was red and splochy from the tears she had shed. Her hair was a mess around her. She continued to tremble as fear danced around in her nearly red eyes.
"Oh my..." Sabe gasped, not knowing what to do.
"Perhaps we should send for the jedi." Captain Panaka suggested.
As soon as the word jedi escaped his lips, Padme grew completely silent. Part of her wanted to demand that the jedi be brought before her at once, but the other part of her screamed in defiance, "No! Don't let them hurt me! Keep them away from me!"
"Quickly." Sabe whispered to the Captain, "We shall try to keep her quiet until you return."
~*~
"It's a damned emergency!" Captain Panaka demanded to the guard. His glare was certainly a powerful one. The young guard of the Jedi council was visably frightened by the officer in front of him.
"Sir, I'm sorry, but the council is meeting. I have strict instructions not to-" the guard stammered.
"And I have strict instructions to protect the queen's life at all costs!" Captain Panaka yelled, "If the Jedi don't see to her -now-, there's no telling just what could happen. And believe me, if the queen dies, you'll suffer the pain of a thousand deaths, I swear it."
"I... I see... I shall see what I can... do..." the guard mumbled.
He nervously tapped upon the large, silver doors. Suddenly they were opened. The unexpecting guard nearly fell over. Captain Panaka saw a golden opportunity and pushed his way into the room. He knew his actions seemed rude, but the queen's well-being came first.
"Captain Panaka?" Obi-Wan stated, clearly confused.
"Forgive me, but there's been an emergency." he said.
"Concerns your queen it does." Yoda stated.
"Yes, sir. Amidala was addressing the senate, when all of a sudden she fainted. When she awake, she acted like a small child - trembling and shaking with fear. The handmaidens said it looked as though she couldn't see. She kept pleading with us not to hurt her." he said.
"When did this happen?" Mace inquired.
"A few hours ago, sir." Captain Panaka replied.
The council members exchanged similiar expressions and nodded as if they had all thought the very same thing at the same moment. Captain Panaka was disturbed by this, for he had always been a bit doubtful about the Jedi.
"Obi-Wan, go with the Captain. If our suspicions are corrent, the disturbance is near Amidala. Return to Naboo with her. It isn't safe for her here. Stay with her until you discover the source of it then report to us." Mace stated.
"Yes, Masters, but what shall Anakin do?" Obi-Wan inquired.
"Considering the circumstances, it isn't safe for Anakin to go with you. We'd like to test him further. Leave him with us until your return." Mace said.
Obi-Wan nodded and bowed. Captain Panaka considered bowing before his exit, but he couldn't bow before a group he somehow still didn't respect. Besides, they thought him rude enough anyways, what was the point in acting respectful now?
