Six

When she figured they had walked for about two hours, Padmé realized she would never see Luke and Leia again. It took all the willpower she possessed to stop herself from sprawling out in the sand and sobbing. They were about two years old, she figured. She hadn't seen them for more than a year. Perhaps they were already toddling about on their little feet after their foster parents now, calling out to them in a way they had never called out to her.

She squeezed Obi Wan's hand.

"Padmé?" he said.

"I miss my children."

 He was silent for a long time. "I know."

"Do you think they are all right?"

"Yes."

"Promise me you'll check on them when you get the chance."

Confusion fluttered through his face. "Of course, Padmé, and so will you."

"So you promise you'll check on them?" she said.

"Yes, I promise."

They fell silent again. She wished to feel some pain inside her, something to signal to her that the end was coming. What if she just... dropped dead to the ground? There would be no time to say goodbye. Her heart was pounding, but it wasn't from the poison. Her future scared her.

Suddenly, Obi Wan stood still and tugged on her hand. "Probe droid," he said.

"Where?"

"Somewhere behind us. Damn, not again!" He looked ahead and pointed to a cluster of large rocks in the distance. "We can hide over there, come on!"

They ran.

When they reached the rocks, Padmé's legs gave out from under her, and she collapsed against the largest stone, panting. She heard her shoulder blades smack into the hard surface; she felt nothing. It terrified and relieved her at the same time. Soon. Very soon.

"Are you all right?" Obi Wan crouched down beside her.

"Just a little tired. Why are the probe droids still here?"

"The poison droid carried a camera," he said, taking out his lightsaber. "They take very grainy pictures and send them out to the probe droids in the surrounding area. The probes probably saw us and realized we were still alive." He sighed. "The droids are going after me, not you. They'll recognize the brown cloak and won't stop until there's a dead person inside of it."

"Then the Empire will stop chasing you forever," Padmé finished.

"Of course."

"Are you sure?"

Obi Wan frowned. "Yes. I don't understand what you're trying to ask me."

She swallowed down the lump in her throat. "Obi Wan, I have something to tell you, and then I want you to promise to do exactly as I say. Promise me now."

"Padmé, what's wrong--"

"Just say you'll do as I say! I don't have time for this!" She pinned him with her stare. She saw the confusion build in his beautiful blue eyes, gather, and disperse as a new expression hit him. Realization.

"Padmé--" he began.

She beat him to it. "Yes, Obi Wan, I'm dying. It was Venenum."