Futures Past

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Chapter 5- Pride

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"Milady?"

Padmé jerked in surprise, turning to face the servant standing on the bank beside her. She was aware of her semi-nudity and dipped further underwater.

"Please, call me Padmé." She said, trying to mask her irritation.

"P…Padmé" the servant stammered a little unsure of himself. "There is a holo-message from Coruscant, the Supreme Chancellor has called the senate back in session. He wishes for you to make an appearance. Would you like to see the message?"

"Yes, please." She nodded. The servant pushed a button on the small pad he was holding and a fuzzy hologram of Chancellor Palpatine sprung up.

"Senator Amidala, we are debating the uses of the Imperial Army of the Republic, the Senate has been called back to session, we require your presence on Coruscant I'm afraid, I hope this message finds you well, and I am most apologetic about the intrusion, but it is most urgent that you return. I eagerly await your homecoming, please come as soon as possible. Thank you." The little figure bowed and faded out.

Padmé tutted under her breath then turned to the servant.

"I suppose I will have to leave then, have Aria set some… appropriate clothing out for me and inform my family, I shall have a family lunch before I depart. Thank you." The servant nodded and left.

Padmé watched him leave and then dipped underwater again. She opened her eyes in the crystal shallows and dove deeper. The water wasn't too deep but Padmé was looking for something specific. Her hands grazed the firm mud at the bottom, scattered with glittering stones and gems that the bed was littered with. The treasures of Naboo were mostly by natural placement and it never failed to amaze her of the wonders that the planet had to offer.

She sought out a particular large grey rock with glittering crystals locked inside its skin. Padmé pushed it aside slightly then went up for more air. She dove back down finding the rock quickly this time. She rolled it to one side then stuck her hands into the gooey mud. She pulled chunks away from the ground and made a small hole with her fingers. She soon found what see was looking for, a part with resistance in the bed. Sticking her hands in further she discovered the corners and yanked out a small wooden box, still perfectly in tact due to the waterproof elements in the wood. She swam back to the surface gasping deep breaths of the cool air.

Raising her treasure in the air and wading cautiously out  of the pond- all the servants wandering around these days, it wouldn't do for them to catch her in a compromising appearance-she struggled out onto the bank.

Pulling a towel around her lithe form and clutching her dress and box to her, she made her way quickly back to the villa.

She padded back to her room and saw her garments laid out carefully Bless Aria. She thought gratefully as she knelt on the floor uncovering a secret compartment under her bed, she pulled out a key and fitted it to the box.

It clicked open and Padmé looked down proudly at her treasure.

A selection of gems and jewellery, her most prized possessions, a small diary of her earlier years, a picture of her first love, a small bottle of perfume that her mother had given her, a chip of the Royal Gem of Naboo, given to all royalty that had reigned. But at the very bottom she opened her secret draw and uncovered her prize. A pure gold ring with a single black jewel which had a dot of white in the centre.

"This will be my gift to Anakin." She smiled looking at the glittering band.

It had been handed down through the generations of women in her family, to give to their husband as a token of affection and loyalty, and most of all, love.

She placed it carefully on her finger, to keep safe until she could give it to Ani.

Then she pulled on a simple blue and white dress and went down to her farewell lunch with her family.

*

"Master, can't we wait a little while longer, I want to say goodbye to Padmé, the Chancellor said he'd called her back to the senate." Anakin pleaded with Obi Wan.

"Anakin, we cannot postpone your trials for you to give a goodbye kiss to the senator, people are dying down there and all you are worrying about is how you will miss Padmé! When you are a Jedi, this behaviour will not do!"

"So does that mean a yes?" Anakin said hopefully.

Obi Wan, allowed a small smile onto his features. "Alright." He sighed. "But we are leaving as soon as the sun is directly above the temple, that is the proper time that trials start. If you are not there, you fail."

"I won't be late Master." Anakin grinned and dashed off in the direction of the landing bays.

"That boy." Obi Wan tutted and made his way back inside the Temple.

"Worried you seem, think he will fail do you?" Yoda hobbled up to Obi Wan.

"I don't know Master, he wants to say goodbye to the Senator."

"Amidala I would assume, otherwise worrying the boy is, hmm?" Yoda joked lightly.

"Indeed Master." Laughed Obi Wan.

"Do not worry Obi Wan, fine teacher you have become, proud Qui-Gon would be." Yoda reassured him.

"Thank you Master. But maybe you would've been better. He is too powerful, he can hardly control himself, so how could I have any chance?"

"Better I would have been, yes, but of course who is better than Yoda." The old Master teased.

"You are very light-hearted today Master, I don't think I've seen you so upbeat for some time."

"Allowed to be happy I am, not always doom and gloom hmm? I have faith in your abilities Obi Wan, a fine Jedi Knight Qui-Gon raised, no matter what you both thought. With time and training Anakin will learn, sure you must be that tempted he is not by the Dark Side of the Force, a mighty blow that would be to the light. Problems there Senator Amidala may cause."

"When he thinks about her he cannot concentrate on anything else Master, it is dangerous, I fear there is something he is not telling me."

"How sure are you?"

"I can see it in his eyes Master, he is my bonded, I can sense something is different with him."

"Trust your intuitions Obi Wan, let the Force guide you." Yoda nodded.

"Thank you Master, for all your advice and words, Qui-Gon was not the only wise and great Jedi Master who taught me to be who I am, so the other Master deserves much credit too."

"Like to meet him I would. A fine job he has done, strong he must be." Yoda smiled.

"Oh he is. The most powerful and revered, it was an honour to be taught by him."

 "And an honour it must have been to train you."

"I learn more from him everyday."

"Well learn to have faith in your abilities then, Master Kenobi, for raised you were to be strong, be proud of your abilities, but never arrogant, for arrogance leads to darkness, and hope I do that you are never tempted by its lies."

"I won't be Master, and I hope Anakin never thinks of it either."

"Go you should, keep an eye on that unruly Padawan of yours hmm?" Yoda beamed at Obi Wan, a small hint of pride in his large eyes.

"Thank you Master." Obi Wan murmured as Yoda tottered away.

*

The senator walked down the large ramp from her craft.

After reaching the floor she was approached by one of the guards accompanying her.

"All seems to be clear now Sabé, there is no need for this, I should've been able to come without a disguise."

"We can't be to careful milady, you are far to precious to risk endangering." Sabé smiled as Padmé hugged her gratefully. She and Sabé were the closest of friends, even though Sabé was one of her handmaidens she was also one of her best friends, they always stuck together. Sabé dressed like the senator when they travelled anywhere and there was a chance of assassination.

"Padmé?" Anakin ran over, hugging Sabé closely.

Padmé suppressed a giggle as she tapped him on the shoulder.

"What?" He turned and glanced at both confusedly. "Padmé! You and your disguises!" He turned to her and kissed her deeply.

"Ahem!" Sabé coughed. "We are in public here JEDI IN TRAINING!" She reminded him.

"Sorry." Anakin pulled away slowly. "Wouldn't do to create the wrong impression would it milady?"

Padmé smiled.

"What are you doing here Ani?"

"I came to say goodbye to you, I'm taking the trials!"

"Ani that's wonderful news! Im so proud of you!" She hugged him. "How long have you got?"

"A little while yet."

"Good, escort me to my quarters would you? I have something to show you."

"Milady I don't think that's a good-" Sabé was interrupted by Padmé

"Sabé you can wait for me outside my room. Tell Captain Typho to have my things unloaded and taken upstairs please." She commanded.

"Yes ma'am." Sabé nodded, casting a suspicious look to Anakin and a raised eyebrow to Padmé. "Are you sure you'll be alright?"

"I have my Jedi here to protect me." She smiled.

She led Anakin upstairs and into her apartment. She locked the doors behind them.

"What did you require me for milady?" Anakin asked, a small smile on his face.

"I have something for you."

"Really, what?" Anakin enquired sitting on the corner of the bed.

"This." Padmé pulled out the ring and placed it on Anakin's wedding finger.

"By the Force! It's almost as beautiful as you. Why have you given this to me?"

"It has been handed down to the women in our family for years, to give to their husbands as a symbol of loyalty, affection and love."

"Padmé it's amazing!"

"I hoped you'd like it."

"But I have no gift for you."

"You do Ani." She smiled unbuttoning the first button on her uniform, she lifted a necklace over her head and showed it to him.

"The pendant I made you." He gasped.

"Yes, you carved it out of…"

"A japor snippet, to bring you good fortune!"

"That's right!" Padmé smiled, "I've worn it ever since you gave it to me."

"Thank you." Anakin smiled.

"No Ani, thank you." They locked eyes, she could get lost in those eyes, they reminded her of a stormy sea. She leant over and kissed him, running her hands through his hair.

"I hope Sabé doesn't come in." He joked.

"Good thing I locked the door." She smiled as he nodded eagerly, climbing atop her as their bodies became one, once more.

*