Futures Past
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Chapter 19- Celebrations
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A.N: I don't know how the Jedi celebrate a Padawan ascending to Knighthood so I'm making up how I think it would be. Enjoy!
*
When Padmé awoke, from the small rounded window she could already see the glittering buildings of Coruscant shimmering in the sunlight.
Anakin lay by her side, his fingers stroking up and down her side rhythmically. He turned over to face her as she lay regarding the view presented to her.
"Morning angel." He received no reply as Padmé continued to stare out of the window.
Anakin frowned and hoisted himself up, to look down on her, brows knitted together as he regarded her silent vigil.
"Padmé?"
No reply, although she did blink.
"Padmé? What's wrong with you?"
"I need to go." She said rather mechanically as she raised herself, sweeping a long brown robe round herself that looked a little too heavy for her build.
Anakin recognised the material and design, a Jedi robe, Obi Wan's in fact. But what was Obi Wan's robe doing in Padmé's room, and why was she wearing it?
Without a word Padmé hurried from the room and into the bedroom nearest, but the bed was packed neatly back into place, the room was tidy and clean, but as her bare feet padded across the thin carpet, a tiny pain pinged into her toe. She bent to examine her foot which she raised and balanced herself uneasily upon the other. A miniscule shard of glass had made a little pinprick of blood on her big toe, and it promptly plopped onto the floor with an inaudible splish.
The smell of Obi Wan was all over the room but the Jedi was no-where to be seen. She heard the hum of the engines sound increase as the ship prepared to land.
She made her way back to her now vacant room and chose a plain white sleeveless dress and a shawl to match, then slipped on her shoes and made her way to the hallway where the landing lights were flashing and Yoda, Obi Wan and Anakin were already assembled.
She stood uncomfortably beside Obi Wan, daring not to look at him in case he saw her. The sense of him so near sent memories of the night before into her head and she fought to sustain composure, glancing nervously at the floor.
Anakin regarded her with an eyebrow raised then he glanced at Obi Wan who seemed equally as uncomfortable, staring fiercely at the ceiling and shifting from one foot to the other.
The exit ramp extended down into the Temple hangar and Obi Wan hurried off, relief almost invisible but still there in his eyes. He disappeared down the hallway and Yoda tottered off too, leaving Anakin with Padmé.
"I think I'll go back to the Senate. I've spent too much time avoiding my problems and running away from them, but its time I faced up to them." Padmé murmured softy, almost to herself.
Anakin nodded.
"Padmé?"
"Yes Anakin?" Padmé started to leave, expecting an 'I love you.'
"Why was Obi Wan's robe in your room?" Padmé froze in her tracks, her mind racing and heart pumping. Anakin had made it sound like an innocent question, but she knew his blood was boiling and there was a hidden warning in his voice.
"I…uh, I don't know? I didn't notice it was."
"Then how come you put it on? If you didn't notice it was there I mean?"
Padmé realized her error and let out a sharp breath before turning to him, a smile fixed on her face, usually reserved for her diplomatic persuasions, though in a way this was.
"Ani." She started sweetly.
"NO Padmé!" He boomed. "Explain why Obi Wan's robe was in your room, on you, and not with him!"
"I…" She started, scared at Anakin's unpredictable mood.
"What Padmé? What could possibly explain this?" He sounded triumphant, like a little child who had caught his friend out on a conspiracy.
"Anakin. Obi Wan simply came in to visit me last night to check that I was alright after the kidnapping, I thanked him, we talked for a while, he took his robe off to let some air to his wounds as it was irritating him, he must have left it there when he left." She smiled at him.
"Honestly Ani, you make it sound like we were having a torrid affair while you were out of the room!" She tutted, trying to sound amused and light.
Anakin frowned deeply as if mulling the explanation over in his mind for legitimacy.
"Alright." He finally said, nodding as if understanding, but in his mind he secretly resolved to confront Obi Wan later, just to be sure.
"Young ones!" Yoda called now on his floating chair that hovered at their level. Anakin and Padmé were both pretty aware that Yoda very much enjoyed the floating device as well as the height it allowed him.
"Yes Master?" Anakin bowed.
"Surprise we have for you, now that returned you have, your ascension to knighthood is complete, ceremony tonight there will be, and great celebration hmm?"
"Master Yoda that's wonderful!" Anakin grinned widely and Padmé smiled and hugged him.
"Go and prepare you must, spend these few hours with the Force, think must you about the great honour and responsibility about to undertake you are." Yoda bowed his head to them and floated off at great speed, jiggling slightly and swaying from side to side.
"I will go back to my apartments and prepare Ani, you should too." Padmé nodded to him then swept off, and Anakin was left standing in hall, feeling more confused than ever.
*
The Jedi Temple was alive with noise, the great hall was filled with all the Jedi and Padawan from the Temple, representatives of the Senate and other nobility.
"This is all for you." Obi Wan whispered to Anakin as the two made their way round the hall, shaking hands and being complemented and congratulated so much their hands were sore from so much activity.
"Well I wish it wasn't Master, its so tiring. Too much pressure, have you seen Padmé?"
Not nearly enough as I would have liked. Obi Wan thought, stony faced, but then turned to Anakin and said brightly,
"Not yet, she'll be here though, she wouldn't miss your big night for anything!"
And then he saw her, weaving through the crowd like a radiant angel. Or maybe a smouldering devil. A daringly tight crimson silk dress clung tauntingly to her curves, accentuating every groove, every contour of her perfect body. Obi Wan thought he might melt, and was hoping his tongue wasn't hanging out or he wasn't drooling over the floor.
Her hair was wrapped into a tight bun, with sparkling ruby pins holding it up. A ruby choker adorned her neck, even her shoes were glittering red.
The dress had a daring slit up the side almost to her thigh and a thin net shawl was draped casually round her slim shoulders.
Obi Wan and Anakin gulped in unison, but the elder covered it up with a cough.
Anakin rushed towards Padmé, almost at super speed.
"Wow." He gasped.
"Well I like to make an impression." She smiled irresistibly and looked over Anakin's shoulder as he hugged her, smirking devilishly at Obi Wan standing wide eyed behind them.
"You look hot! I mean great, really, really… great." Anakin stammered, trying to focus on her face and not… anything else.
"Anakin." Obi Wan cut in sharply. "We need to get up there, the ceremony is about to begin."
"Yes Master." Anakin nodded and kissed Padmé's knuckles, before trailing after the Jedi Knight.
"A special day it is, when a Padawan to the rank of Knight ascends. With pride it is that we see Padawan Skywalker become a Jedi." Yoda said, to the now fully assembled nobility and Jedi.
The Jedi Masters stood in a wide semi circle, with Anakin and Obi Wan in the middle, Anakin bowed to his Master one last time, and Obi Wan extended his lightsabre and cut off Anakin's Padawan braid. He then placed the braid into the small fire that was lit on a dais, and it curled and hissed as it disintegrated into nothing.
"So begins your life as a Jedi Knight. Welcome Jedi Skywalker!" Obi Wan cried, and it was repeated by the Jedi Masters after him. Then Anakin bowed to the Masters and all bowed to him.
"Now, let the celebrations begin!" Yoda smiled.
And indeed they did.
*
