Chapter 6: "You're my Only Hope"
Anakin and Obi-wan continued glaring at each other as the time passed by slowly. The tension between them built up even higher as each cruel second went by with such painful apathy, leaving no pity for the two men. Time seemed to be torturing them, offering no mercy to their suffering. Both were aware of this, but had no intention of being the first to give in. Sure, to anyone else, this would be absurdly pointless, but to them, it was like the final duel that would determine how everything was going to end up. One single mistake, one false move, could change the outcome of it all.
While the master and the apprentice were having their silent battle, Padmé was watching from the window ledge with a hopeless look in her eyes. "Sabé, I don't know what's going on between those two right now, but all I know is that it's not good," she said. "I know, I know, Pad, but all we can do is hope for the best," Sabé said with equal despair in her voice. She finished the now unpleasantly cold leftovers from the breakfast that was supposed to be Padmé's special surprise. It was now almost into the early hours of the evening. They both thought of how things were supposed to have been back to the way they were before.
"If only I hadn't done that dreadful thing, everything would have been great, and today would have been like any normal day," Padmé said with desolation drowning her throat before she burst into tears again. It seemed to her that she'd be crying for the rest of her life at this rate, but it didn't matter anymore, because neither love nor happiness would ever find her again, and pretending to feel content when she didn't was definitely not worth it. But then again, if she deceived everyone else, they'd think she was pleased with how life treated her, and they'd never stop to ask why she was weeping. That way, she'd never have to experience that long, dismal night ever again.
"Padmé, stop blaming yourself. You're just going to make things worse for the both of us. You have to try to be optimistic during times like these," Sabé said before wondering why this had to happen to them. Their lives were going perfectly fine, and they were all filled with joie de vie. She was so grateful that they were blessed, but now fate took a harsh turn, and all she could think of was how it was so unfair that their love was to be doomed forever. Sabé suddenly realized how selfish she was being, since Padmé must have been feeling even more inconsolable and heartbroken than she was right then.
"Padmé, I'm so sorry. I never thought that you could feel as bad as I do. We have to stick together now, and look for the best in what destiny will bring us. Anakin and Obi-wan have been devoted to us and to each other. I'm sure that they will remain loyal friends for eternity," Sabé said with real assurance in her voice. Hearing the will and certainty in her tone, Padmé was comforted and gave her a small smile. "You're right, Sabé. I've doubted the love and friendship between the four of us lately for strange reasons that I don't even know of myself. I wish that this fear would just vanish from my mind and heart, but it just won't go away," she said with sheer confusion in her expression.
Sabé looked at her with sympathy and compassion in her eyes. They just sat there in stillness until it was midnight. Sabé saw how late the hour was, and before turning to go back to the handmaidens' quarters, she pleaded, "Come on, Padmé, we can't wait here all night. We have to get some rest. After all, tomorrow is another day (yes, yes, I know that little quote was sooooo "Gone With the Wind"), and so are all the other days of the week, month, and year. It just can't only take a day for us to get back on track, you know. But as long as it takes, we'll get things back to the way they were before. I promise." "I know all of those things you just said, Sabé, but I can wait here all night, if that's how long I must be awake to see if things progress. You go on ahead, Sabé, you're just as tired as I am. Good night," Padmé said. "Good night, Padmé, tell me everything that happens in the morning," Sabé said before she turned again and left for her bedroom.
Padmé just sat there, trying not to fall asleep. Her eyes kept closing and fluttering open. She couldn't believe that those two were still out there. They could be as stubborn as mules if they wanted to be. But that was a Jedi trait, so that they could refuse to go to the Dark side. Sometimes she wondered how they could be so great, yet be forbidden to fall in love, which can make a Jedi or even a common person invincible. She didn't know what she would do without her beloved Anakin. "Oh, Ani, you're my only hope," she whispered before she slowly closed her eyes, fell asleep, and dreamed of her wonderful future with Anakin, wondering if it would ever come true.
Anakin and Obi-wan continued glaring at each other as the time passed by slowly. The tension between them built up even higher as each cruel second went by with such painful apathy, leaving no pity for the two men. Time seemed to be torturing them, offering no mercy to their suffering. Both were aware of this, but had no intention of being the first to give in. Sure, to anyone else, this would be absurdly pointless, but to them, it was like the final duel that would determine how everything was going to end up. One single mistake, one false move, could change the outcome of it all.
While the master and the apprentice were having their silent battle, Padmé was watching from the window ledge with a hopeless look in her eyes. "Sabé, I don't know what's going on between those two right now, but all I know is that it's not good," she said. "I know, I know, Pad, but all we can do is hope for the best," Sabé said with equal despair in her voice. She finished the now unpleasantly cold leftovers from the breakfast that was supposed to be Padmé's special surprise. It was now almost into the early hours of the evening. They both thought of how things were supposed to have been back to the way they were before.
"If only I hadn't done that dreadful thing, everything would have been great, and today would have been like any normal day," Padmé said with desolation drowning her throat before she burst into tears again. It seemed to her that she'd be crying for the rest of her life at this rate, but it didn't matter anymore, because neither love nor happiness would ever find her again, and pretending to feel content when she didn't was definitely not worth it. But then again, if she deceived everyone else, they'd think she was pleased with how life treated her, and they'd never stop to ask why she was weeping. That way, she'd never have to experience that long, dismal night ever again.
"Padmé, stop blaming yourself. You're just going to make things worse for the both of us. You have to try to be optimistic during times like these," Sabé said before wondering why this had to happen to them. Their lives were going perfectly fine, and they were all filled with joie de vie. She was so grateful that they were blessed, but now fate took a harsh turn, and all she could think of was how it was so unfair that their love was to be doomed forever. Sabé suddenly realized how selfish she was being, since Padmé must have been feeling even more inconsolable and heartbroken than she was right then.
"Padmé, I'm so sorry. I never thought that you could feel as bad as I do. We have to stick together now, and look for the best in what destiny will bring us. Anakin and Obi-wan have been devoted to us and to each other. I'm sure that they will remain loyal friends for eternity," Sabé said with real assurance in her voice. Hearing the will and certainty in her tone, Padmé was comforted and gave her a small smile. "You're right, Sabé. I've doubted the love and friendship between the four of us lately for strange reasons that I don't even know of myself. I wish that this fear would just vanish from my mind and heart, but it just won't go away," she said with sheer confusion in her expression.
Sabé looked at her with sympathy and compassion in her eyes. They just sat there in stillness until it was midnight. Sabé saw how late the hour was, and before turning to go back to the handmaidens' quarters, she pleaded, "Come on, Padmé, we can't wait here all night. We have to get some rest. After all, tomorrow is another day (yes, yes, I know that little quote was sooooo "Gone With the Wind"), and so are all the other days of the week, month, and year. It just can't only take a day for us to get back on track, you know. But as long as it takes, we'll get things back to the way they were before. I promise." "I know all of those things you just said, Sabé, but I can wait here all night, if that's how long I must be awake to see if things progress. You go on ahead, Sabé, you're just as tired as I am. Good night," Padmé said. "Good night, Padmé, tell me everything that happens in the morning," Sabé said before she turned again and left for her bedroom.
Padmé just sat there, trying not to fall asleep. Her eyes kept closing and fluttering open. She couldn't believe that those two were still out there. They could be as stubborn as mules if they wanted to be. But that was a Jedi trait, so that they could refuse to go to the Dark side. Sometimes she wondered how they could be so great, yet be forbidden to fall in love, which can make a Jedi or even a common person invincible. She didn't know what she would do without her beloved Anakin. "Oh, Ani, you're my only hope," she whispered before she slowly closed her eyes, fell asleep, and dreamed of her wonderful future with Anakin, wondering if it would ever come true.
