A Love That Turned Evil
Chapter Seven
Banished
Since Anakin did not want to leave Padme alone later on, he left a few days after he found out about the twins to tell Obi-Wan all that had happened since they had last seen each other.
Obi-Wan still was unsure that Padme and Anakin were married, although he had some suspicions. But he was surprised when Anakin strode into his room in the Temple.
"Anakin, how nice to see you. How is being a Jedi?"
"Good, but-"
"Anakin, I sense nervousness in you."
"Well, I, well, I sort of, well…"
"I've got a bad feeling about this." Obi-Wan muttered under his breath.
"Well, I ran off with Padme and I married her." Anakin said, speaking very fast.
"Sense this you didn't, Obi-Wan?" Yoda hobbled into the room, clutching his walking stick in one green hand.
"No." Obi-Wan was looking hard at Anakin. "Anakin, you know that the Jedi are forbidden to marry!"
"Convinced himself otherwise, he has." Yoda said. "Married the Senator you have. Forbidden, that is."
"Anakin, this is unacceptable! You are a Jedi now; you are not allowed to marry! You know that! I would not have let you become a Jedi if I had known!"
Anakin's eyes narrowed. He would not let Obi-Wan stand in the way of his love for Padme.
"Well, I AM married to her! And we're expecting!"
Obi-Wan stepped back, as if he had been struck a huge blow.
"Expecting you are, twins. Right that is, Skywalker?" Yoda said.
"TWINS!" Obi-Wan looked angrier than he had ever looked before.
"Bring this before the Council, I shall. Decide they will, if you stay a Jedi."
"You cannot banish me from the Order!" Anakin shouted.
"Yes, they can!"
"Well then you know what?" Anakin kept his hand on the lightsaber blade. "I am more powerful than all of you put together! I doubt if my own flesh and blood could defeat me!" Anakin strode out of the room.
"What are we going to do, Yoda?" Obi-Wan looked desperate and upset.
"Decide, the Council will."
"Very good." Lord Sidious murmured.
Anakin went to contact Padme on his hologram.
"Padme?"
"Ani! How good to see you."
"How are you?"
Padme placed her hand on her stomach and turned so Anakin could see how round she already was. "They haven't started kicking yet."
Anakin smiled, in spite of himself.
"How is Obi-Wan?"
Anakin's face grew dark. Padme sensed that something was wrong.
"Ani?"
"He wants to banish me from the Order!"
"No!" Padme said, disbelieving.
"Yes!"
"Why?"
"For marrying you."
Padme was silent. Anakin could see a tear slide down her cheek.
"I feel torn, Ani. I don't want to stand between you and your dreams."
"But you are my dream, Padme."
"I love you Ani. Good luck."
"I'll contact you when…I know."
Anakin shut off the hologram and paced around his room until he was summoned.
"You married Senator Padme Amidala against the rules of the Jedi Order. It is forbidden." Mace Windu spoke in a powerful voice. Anyone else would not have dared argued with him.
"But I love Padme!" Anakin challenged.
"Love has nothing to do with it." Mace continued. "It is against the laws of the Jedi. Those rules were made for good reason, Anakin! You cannot change them!" He paused. Anakin stood in an angry silence.
"Banishment, the punishment is." Yoda said.
One by one, everyone in the Council agreed.
"I'm sorry, Anakin." Mace Windu said. "But it is for the best."
Anakin's handsome face grew dark with an unexpected fury.
"Your lightsaber, Anakin." Mace said, holding out his hand.
Anakin threw the handle at him. Mace caught it.
"You'll see!" Anakin shouted. "I'll come back! Some way!"
Lord Sidious, who was aware of all that was going on, began laughing evilly and plotting. He could use this Skywalker. He had begun the Path.
The Path to the Dark Side.