Chapter Two
Senator Padme Amidala stood in front of her mirror, trying to discern when her own reflection had become a stranger. Hidden in the depths of her own chocolate-brown eyes were too many secrets, too many lies. She wasn't completely honest with anyone anymore…not even the person she committed the secrecy and lies with. There wasn't a shred of truth left in her and it disgusted her, kept her awake at night. She was a queen, a senator, someone who had had morals and conscience bred into her. These days she couldn't even recognize herself. All she saw in the mirror was his.
With a sigh drawn from the depths of her gut, she ran her fingertips down the draped lengths of her purple shimmersilk robes. It was like pure air upon her skin, light as a breeze and shamefully expensive-an import from the Hapes cluster. Anakin had purchased it for her. With that intense, desiring gaze, he had told her it was perfect for her, that it made her skin as glorious as the dawn of twin suns and her eyes sparkle like stardust. Then he had ravished her. She wore it today to remind her of him, to try and drive away her guilt…but it didn't alter anything. She was secretly glad her husband was away.
It was a relief, like a great burden had been mercifully lifted off her shoulders. All the constant lying, the sneaking about, the midnight meetings, the abandoned mornings. The growing metamorphosis in Anakin. It was all wearing her down to a submissive shell of herself and she hated it. He had done this to her, enslaved her in passion, chained her in paralyzing love. Molded her from dignified royalty to a whore with secrets. Sometimes she hated him for it.
Immediately she shuddered and pressed her forehead against the cool glass, allowing it to soothe her flushed face. She could never shake the irrational fear that Anakin could hear her every thought, sense every doubt. A seed that had been planted by him.
"You're mine, Padme. You always have been. I'm under your skin. I'm in your blood. You'll never escape me."
At the time she had taken his words to be the ardent declarations fueled by the drunkenness after love-making. These days she wasn't so sure. There was something cold and cruel growing in his eyes, something fired by possession. Iron in his touch where there used to only be velvet. Fierce demands where there used to be sweet nothings.
She started at the hiss of her opening door and watched in the mirror as Obi-Wan Kenobi entered her refresher in long, determined strides. Her body went cold, certain he had discovered she and Anakin's deepest secret. Obi-Wan watched her endlessly since Geonosis in a distant, suspicious way. The warmth he had used to greet her with was replaced with surveillance at arm's length. The man she had considered her friend was now stranger. She briefly wondered if anyone or anything in the galaxy was the same anymore. In her fear she snapped at him automatically,
"Do Jedi waive the rights of other's privacy now too?"
Obi-Wan was no stranger to the bite of Padme's tongue but it still took him aback. There was a severe edge to her tone now like the slice of a vibroblade. He cleared his throat and replied as friendly as he could muster.
"Now, now, Senator, is that any way to greet an old friend? I come with good tidings."
She frowned, unswayed by the cultured accented voice that was similar to warm honey. Nor was she convinced of his motives. Relief that they had not been found out yet eased her tensely held body though. Walking across the room to perch on a hover chair, she settled her chin in her hands with a sigh.
"Tell me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, why don't I believe you? I don't think there are any good tidings left to be had in this galaxy."
"So negative, Senator," he clucked his tongue against his cheek. "When did we come to think such dark thoughts? Where's the bright shining hope of the government?"
"Everything must reach an end, Obi-Wan. Now don't mince words. Tell me why you've come and so rudely if I must say."
Obi-Wan paced slowly before her, hands tucked behind his back. He began engagingly, knowing no amount of charm would win her over anyway. He was thoroughly positive he would have to carry the fine lady kicking and screaming off Coruscant.
"Well, m'lady, let's just say you've been offered an all-expense paid trip to Alderaan. No credits needed, just pack a few woman essentials and we'll be on our way. You'll sightsee…you'll get some rest…you'll…" He trailed away at the silent rage boiling in her eyes and gave up niceties. "It's been ordered you go to Alderaan and I'm escorting you there. Tonight. As soon as possible."
On the brink of explosion she bit her lower lip fiercely and contemplated all the profanities Anakin had taught her. She wanted to scream at this new intrusion into her life. She hissed,
"And from whom does this order come from?"
"You're under the constant protection of the Jedi, Amidala. The Council is worried for your safety and as the government has entrusted us to be your guardians, we must act in your best interest."
"Oh so now my best interest is being determined by a council of elitist, highbrow Jedis?! No, this isn't possible. The Jedi Council does not run my life-I will not allow it too!"
Dimly she heard Anakin echoing the same sentiments the night before he had left for Corellia. Instantly her temperature cooled by many degrees-the last thing she wanted was to start hearing Anakin speak through her. Her hands still shaking with the bottled-up anger, she swallowed hard,
"Why am I being forced to go to Alderaan, Obi-Wan? Hs the danger gotten that bad? Must I run and hide now?" she paused briefly, her thoughts drifting to the face that was never very far from her mind. She asked quietly, "Does Ani know?"
Obi-Wan's head snapped to attention, his gaze pinned carefully on her downcast face. He measured every twitch, every blink as she reacted to his answer.
"No, he doesn't and he can't know either, Amidala. The Council has forbidden it-no one is to know your whereabouts with the exception of myself and Bail Organa who will be arranging our stay."
The gears in Padme's head turned like a clock and slowly her brain cranked out a problem. She gaped, throwing her hands up,
"You?! Anakin can't even know and you have to accompany me! You have got to be joking…why, it's not-"
"Fair?" he finished the statement for her. "Do you think I'm pleased by the situation, young lady? I'm a Jedi and a general of the republic! Force, don't you think I have more important things to do than baby-sit a spoiled, stubborn politician? I'm no more pleased than you!" On the final note of his roar, he grimaced, hearing the echoes of unconstraint mock him. Painfully he reared in his aggravation and said calmly, "We leave in less than an hour. I expect you to be ready and at the docking bay."
With a swirl of his drab robes, he stalked towards the door. Before exiting fully, he wagged a warning finger at the dumbfounded senator.
"And don't make me come after you, Amidala. Or this trip will be worlds worse than you can imagine."