Padme sat on the bed, the tears flowing. She
knew this was Obi-Wan Kenobi's room without being told; knew that he had
brought her to a place he was intimately familiar with, where nobody could
launch a surprise attack. He had gone into the hallway, giving her
a chance to be alone. Something must have happened to Anakin.
It couldn't be the same one who had loved her for so many years. Are
you an angel?
"The coast is clear, Senator..."
He looked uncomfortable, seeing her sitting there.
Yet compassion was the law of the Jedi Knight, and therefore, his job to
comfort her.
"Obi-Wan," she murmured, "I mean, Master Kenobi...I'm
sorry Anakin let you down. It was my fault to allow him to get so
close. I didn't think...didn't think that it would come to anything."
"Anakin has been certain that it would 'come to
something' for eleven years," Obi-Wan replied sourly, "And I'm sure he
was quite persistent in his pursuit."
Padme laughed at that. How true it was.
From their conversation while she packed to return to Naboo, he had made
his interest clear. At first out of duty she had rejected him, but
there was a part of her that felt smug satisfaction that she was married
to a Jedi, that he had chosen her over the greatest gift the galaxy had
to offer. How arrogant she had been. How stupid.
"Do not blame yourself, my lady," he responded,
but his eyes were at the door, one hand ready to flip out a lightsaber.
His tension was tangible, like a rubber band about to snap, "Anakin has
become less and less predictable in the last few months. I wondered
why he was so calm the few weeks after we left Naboo...I suspected that
something had happened between you two, but I would never have guessed
you would marry Anakin."
She smiled, "You mean you thought Annie would be
impulsive enough to marry me but not vice versa? If it hadn't have
been for that encounter on Geonosis, you probably would have been right...but
I did fall in love with him. He was so sweet. A bit whiney,
for certain, but I've been on my own since I became Princess of Theed.
There are so many people around me who act like my friend but would turn
their back on me...Anakin was just - himself. I've never had anyone
love me like that..."
Her eyes fell on the speeders racing by the window,
knowing she had revealed too much, but needing to tell someone. Dorme
was not here. Thank god for that. She was never good around
violence...
When she turned back, Obi-Wan stood in front of
her, his face placid, but his eyes darting around the room nervously, like
a captive animal.
"Senator," he began quietly, "I have been asked
to relay some unfortunate news. Dorme has been found."
"Is she injured? Is she all right? I
have to see her..."
"Padme," he touched her arm, indicating that she
should stay seated, "She was found at ground level. It looked like
she had been hit by a passing speeder while she was on the balcony, then
had fallen over the edge."
Fallen over the edge. Hit by a passing speeder.
The balcony was nearly one hundred and fifty stories up. She hadn't
liked heights after spending so much time in the low palaces of Naboo.
She had been doing her job, but Padme was the one the speeder had been
destined for. Such a brave life, visiting faraway lands, in dangerous
jungles and cities, only to have it cut short by a speeder accident.
What would Anakin have done if the speeder had hit her instead?
"No," she murmured, then righted herself, "Thank
you, Master Kenobi. I would appreciate if you could contact the Naboo
government and arrange for Sache to be sent to Coruscant."
"Senator, I've already arranged for you and Viceroy
Organa to return to Alderaan, under the protection of Jedi Master Prevu
Fan Fa."
"I don't want protection," she replied, feeling
like a sulky child as soon as the words left her lips.
"My lady, it is not a matter of what you want.
I would have thought you would have learned that of the Jedi already."
"I already was protected by a Jedi once, and look
where that got me."
"Senator Amidala...Senator Skywalker? Either
way, it doesn't matter. Anakin is the most headstrong, arrogant...and
stubborn man I have ever met. At first I thought he would turn out
like Qui Gon...but that is no matter to you."
"Of course it matters to me, I am his wife!" she
cried. "Please, Obi-Wan, I beg of you, tell me what happened to him..."
He bit his lip, pitying the young woman.
"I cannot," he replied, trying to look stolid, "Not
yet, Senator. Both you and I must regain our composure."
"I understand, Obi-Wan," she replied, patting his
hand, "He is your best friend too...but I beg of you to stay with me until
I return home."
***
Anakin Skywalker stalked through the Imperial Senate,
heading for the office of Chancellor Palpatine. Lately, he was so
angry, so confused. A talk with his mentor would help. Padme...guilt...
Mentor. Padme.
Suddenly a vision came to him. Padme, his
Padme, sitting on a bed. A plain gray bed in the plain rooms of the
Jedi Temple. Back in her room? No...her eyes were red.
Sith, what had he done to her? Anakin felt nauseous. Where
was she? She was touching someone on the hand. Who?
Obi-Wan. Damn him. Already he was jumping
on his wife, touching her, trying to steal her. If given the choice,
Padme would choose Obi-Wan, especially after today. He could feel
blood rushing to his head, the rage. Obi-Wan. He ruined everything.
Her alabaster fingers brushed Obi-Wan's tenderly.
"I understand, Obi-Wan, he is your best friend too."
Obi-Wan's roaming eyes, a nod.
"Stay with me..."
What betrayal had gone on here? His vision
went red, he could see only the vision, his wife, his former mentor.
Anakin had to find her. Find him. Make
him pay.
()()()