Padme was exhausted. The Senate had been in for a whole 2 hours before the
Treaty was approved and signed, even though there was still opposition.
Supreme Chancellor Palpatine had smoothed it all over though, and the
opposition had dwindled until it was just Alderaan and Naboo, and maybe 3
others.
Bail Organa had exchanged a look of tired defeat with her and sat down, and
Padme had done the same. The Treaty was ratified and the Senate was
dismissed for the session.
Padme walked out of the Senate to her personal transport, still shaking her head. How could they be so blind. Perhaps Ani was right, the Senate took up too much of her time, time that could be spent with him, enjoying their life. As she boarded, Captain Typho bowed and said, "You have a visitor, he's waiting inside." Padme was puzzled, but entered, knowing anyone Typho to be very careful about who he and his security team deemed safe. She smiled as Obi-Wan stood and bowed to her. He gazed long at her, going over the words he'd rehearsed in his head. He cared for Padme and didn't want to hurt her, or Anakin. "Obi-Wan, this is a surprise. To what do I owe the pleasure?" Padme asked. "My lady, I need to discuss a delicate matter with you alone." Obi-Wan said quietly. He could sense her going on guard at his tone. Padme knew immediately that the formality in Obi-Wan's manner meant something was wrong. They had become friends since Ani and she had been married, even though she knew he disapproved of the relationship. She gestured into a sitting room and left word that no one was to disturb them. "Take us home, Captain." She ordered, then closed the comm. She turned to her husband's Master and raised her eyebrows expectantly. "What's wrong, Obi-Wan, you are very seldom this solemn." Padme asked. He nodded, his mouth moving into a small smile. Then he looked Padme in the eyes and said, "It's Anakin. The Council is thinking of censuring him, perhaps asking him to leave the Order." Padme was shocked. "Why? Because of us?" He shook his head. "No, that issue is long over. He is losing control again, Padme. Surely you see it. His temper, impatience, even the nightmares are back." Padme bowed her head, "I have noticed that he is having trouble being calm, even rational at times. But," she reached out with her hand, almost as a plead, "He has always been this way, Obi-Wan. It is his nature. He is a passionate man, he's had awful things to overcome. Surely some latitude can be granted." Obi-Wan gazed at her in wonder. "Latitude? Padme, what do you think Anakin has been given this whole time? He massacred the Tuskens, overlooked, married you, overlooked, too old to being training, overlooked, he uses aggressive techniques to negotiate, overlooked. The Council will not overlook everything for one man." "But he is your Chosen one, one of the most talented Jedi you've ever seen, that's what you said." Padme said pleadingly. "It doesn't matter, he is dangerous. He can't control himself and he will not take counsel from any but yourself and the Chancellor. He has been questioning even Master Yoda. He does not meditate, and without proper meditation he cannot be one with the living force. He will not be able to find peace. That is why the nightmares have returned, why he becomes more unstable. You must help him, Padme, or he will be lost." Obi-Wan urged. "Lost?" Padme echoed. "Master Yoda senses the dark side of the Force in Anakin. He feels it. The hate, anger, and aggression. Anakin needs help now. He was sent away so that I could speak to you of this. His jealousy is also growing. He would not understand our speaking alone." Padme lowered her head. "Yes, I know. Anakin has forbidden Bail access to our home because of our close association in the Senate. His possessiveness has become stronger, it is true. But, with meditation and help, he will be fine, isn't this true?" she asked Kenobi, looking hopeful. He nodded, "We hope that this is so. But, Anakin has to want it, he has to work hard, and he has never had patience for lessons that didn't come easily." "He just needs some understanding, he'll come back around. I will speak to him, you'll see." Padme assured. "Be careful, Padme, do not push him beyond his limits. He could become..dangerous." Kenobi warned. They had reached the apartment docking platform. It would be dangerous to linger. Padme almost laughed, despite the seriousness of the conversation. "Anakin would never hurt me, Obi-Wan, you know that." "I'm serious, Padme, be careful. You don't know all that Anakin is capable of." Obi-Wan tried to warn again. But, he knew her love for Anakin was a blind for much of his darkness. "I leave it with you. Anakin does not know I have returned. I will speak to him as well when he comes home tomorrow. Good day, my lady." He bowed and left the ship. Padme took a deep breath. She would speak to her husband, and he would listen to her counsel, he loved her, and together, they would win this battle as well.
Obi-Wan stood in front of the Jedi Council and related the events of his conversation with Padme. "Think you that Senator Amidala can sway Skywalker?" Yoda asked. "I believe so, my Master. Anakin loves her, beyond all else, including himself. If he realized that he is hurting the marriage by not following the teachings, he will try to change." Kenobi answered. "Try, you say?" Yoda admonished. "I cannot swear he would be successful, Master. You know him. He is arrogant and impatient. He does not fail well. He has never learned to fail. Therefore it is possible that he will try, and give up." Kenobi answered wearily. "Will you help your apprentice in this endeavour?" Mace Windu asked. "Of course, he is my apprentice, I will always help him however I can." Obi- Wan answered. "Distant, you and he have become. An adversary, not a mentor, does he see you as." Yoda pointed out. Obi-Wan took a deep breath to still the hurt that the truth in this comment brought to the surface. "I realize that our relationship is changed, but I will still help him." Obi-Wan replied. "Be wary, Master Kenobi. If you antagonize him, and he mistrusts you more, you may push him even farther away." Windu warned. Kenobi bowed his head, "May the Force be with you." And left.
Padme walked out of the Senate to her personal transport, still shaking her head. How could they be so blind. Perhaps Ani was right, the Senate took up too much of her time, time that could be spent with him, enjoying their life. As she boarded, Captain Typho bowed and said, "You have a visitor, he's waiting inside." Padme was puzzled, but entered, knowing anyone Typho to be very careful about who he and his security team deemed safe. She smiled as Obi-Wan stood and bowed to her. He gazed long at her, going over the words he'd rehearsed in his head. He cared for Padme and didn't want to hurt her, or Anakin. "Obi-Wan, this is a surprise. To what do I owe the pleasure?" Padme asked. "My lady, I need to discuss a delicate matter with you alone." Obi-Wan said quietly. He could sense her going on guard at his tone. Padme knew immediately that the formality in Obi-Wan's manner meant something was wrong. They had become friends since Ani and she had been married, even though she knew he disapproved of the relationship. She gestured into a sitting room and left word that no one was to disturb them. "Take us home, Captain." She ordered, then closed the comm. She turned to her husband's Master and raised her eyebrows expectantly. "What's wrong, Obi-Wan, you are very seldom this solemn." Padme asked. He nodded, his mouth moving into a small smile. Then he looked Padme in the eyes and said, "It's Anakin. The Council is thinking of censuring him, perhaps asking him to leave the Order." Padme was shocked. "Why? Because of us?" He shook his head. "No, that issue is long over. He is losing control again, Padme. Surely you see it. His temper, impatience, even the nightmares are back." Padme bowed her head, "I have noticed that he is having trouble being calm, even rational at times. But," she reached out with her hand, almost as a plead, "He has always been this way, Obi-Wan. It is his nature. He is a passionate man, he's had awful things to overcome. Surely some latitude can be granted." Obi-Wan gazed at her in wonder. "Latitude? Padme, what do you think Anakin has been given this whole time? He massacred the Tuskens, overlooked, married you, overlooked, too old to being training, overlooked, he uses aggressive techniques to negotiate, overlooked. The Council will not overlook everything for one man." "But he is your Chosen one, one of the most talented Jedi you've ever seen, that's what you said." Padme said pleadingly. "It doesn't matter, he is dangerous. He can't control himself and he will not take counsel from any but yourself and the Chancellor. He has been questioning even Master Yoda. He does not meditate, and without proper meditation he cannot be one with the living force. He will not be able to find peace. That is why the nightmares have returned, why he becomes more unstable. You must help him, Padme, or he will be lost." Obi-Wan urged. "Lost?" Padme echoed. "Master Yoda senses the dark side of the Force in Anakin. He feels it. The hate, anger, and aggression. Anakin needs help now. He was sent away so that I could speak to you of this. His jealousy is also growing. He would not understand our speaking alone." Padme lowered her head. "Yes, I know. Anakin has forbidden Bail access to our home because of our close association in the Senate. His possessiveness has become stronger, it is true. But, with meditation and help, he will be fine, isn't this true?" she asked Kenobi, looking hopeful. He nodded, "We hope that this is so. But, Anakin has to want it, he has to work hard, and he has never had patience for lessons that didn't come easily." "He just needs some understanding, he'll come back around. I will speak to him, you'll see." Padme assured. "Be careful, Padme, do not push him beyond his limits. He could become..dangerous." Kenobi warned. They had reached the apartment docking platform. It would be dangerous to linger. Padme almost laughed, despite the seriousness of the conversation. "Anakin would never hurt me, Obi-Wan, you know that." "I'm serious, Padme, be careful. You don't know all that Anakin is capable of." Obi-Wan tried to warn again. But, he knew her love for Anakin was a blind for much of his darkness. "I leave it with you. Anakin does not know I have returned. I will speak to him as well when he comes home tomorrow. Good day, my lady." He bowed and left the ship. Padme took a deep breath. She would speak to her husband, and he would listen to her counsel, he loved her, and together, they would win this battle as well.
Obi-Wan stood in front of the Jedi Council and related the events of his conversation with Padme. "Think you that Senator Amidala can sway Skywalker?" Yoda asked. "I believe so, my Master. Anakin loves her, beyond all else, including himself. If he realized that he is hurting the marriage by not following the teachings, he will try to change." Kenobi answered. "Try, you say?" Yoda admonished. "I cannot swear he would be successful, Master. You know him. He is arrogant and impatient. He does not fail well. He has never learned to fail. Therefore it is possible that he will try, and give up." Kenobi answered wearily. "Will you help your apprentice in this endeavour?" Mace Windu asked. "Of course, he is my apprentice, I will always help him however I can." Obi- Wan answered. "Distant, you and he have become. An adversary, not a mentor, does he see you as." Yoda pointed out. Obi-Wan took a deep breath to still the hurt that the truth in this comment brought to the surface. "I realize that our relationship is changed, but I will still help him." Obi-Wan replied. "Be wary, Master Kenobi. If you antagonize him, and he mistrusts you more, you may push him even farther away." Windu warned. Kenobi bowed his head, "May the Force be with you." And left.