Come Undone

Chapter 23

               When Padmé reached the small privet quarters the Jedi had assigned to her she paused, taking a deep breath before she went inside. She would NOT show weakness, she would NOT CRY!

              It took her three attempts to finally key in the correct code that granted her access and when the door finally opened, she rushed into the little room where her children lay sleeping. Sabé, who had traveled back to Coresaunt to be with Padmé and the children, was roughly pushed aside. Shocked at her mistress's irrational behavior, she stood at the doorway, uncertain as to what to say.

               "Mistress Padmé?" she asked tentatively, and receiving no answer she tried again.

              Padmé had picked up both Luke and Leia and cradled them both in her arms, sobbing.

              "Get OUT!" she screamed. "Just leave us alone Sabé! Please!" At this out burst, both children started crying lustily, joining in their mother's tears.

              She failed to notice Obi-wan Kenobi joining Sabé in the doorway. Sabé was about to speak but Obi-wan raised his hand against it. Very slowly he made his way over to Padmé and carefully, one at a time, he removed the twins from her arms and handed them to Sabé.

        "Padmé" he said gently, holding her close, her sobs wracking both of their bodies. He motioned to Sabé to take the children back out into the main sitting room and began rocking Padmé back and forth, whispering small endearments trying to calm her down. At long last, her sobbing began to subside and she slowly pulled away from his embrace, regarding him for a moment.

             "Padmé," at last he whispered softly. "I'm so sorry..."

             Suddenly she slapped him, hard and angrily across the face, Obi-wan winced but said nothing.

       "SORRY?!" she choked. "Damn you Obi-wan! Why didn't you tell me?!" she made to slap him again but this time he was too quick for her.

        "Please Padmé," he said quietly. "I assure you I didn't know it would be that bad for you. Even Jedi, they forget what it's like to..."

             "To what?" Padmé spat. "Is it common practice to whisper, and make accusations... Don't they know I HEAR THEM? I see them LOOKING at me with either utter loathing or what is almost worse, false sympathy? They say he's become a MONSTER! My ANI! And that you... you've FAILED him and that it was MY fault that he's "turned"! That he broke the blasted "Jedi code"... that he will... he will..."

             She broke down sobbing, unable to continue.

    Obi-wan pulled her close again, allowing her to cry, silently cursing Anakin all the while. He saw the flashing light that heralded the incoming message but for the time being, he shielded Padmé's attention from it. The whole world was crashing down around her, around them, and in his heart of hearts, he knew that the message would only bring her more grief.

"Damn, you Anakin Skywalker!" he said quietly under his breath. "Damn you…."