Hi there.

I got a new computer as a Christmas present from my father. Yea me! It got here on Jan 3 and I finally got it on the internet. So, you all get another update. For those of you who didn't know, my old computer died, it just quit, and that's why this update has taken so long. I thought it would take longer for the new one to get here, but it didn't. Yea again!

Okay, I'm done now. Here are some replies, then on to the story. this chapter is kinda short, but the next one should be longer.

SSG Micheal B Jackson: Thanks. I liked that chapter myself. Watch the plot thicken in this chapter, though.:-) grins wickedly>

Kazzy: Please don't hit me! but, you're going to have to wait and see. author ducks quickly in anticipation of thrown fruit> Don't worry, we will get back to the govenors dispute. Just not right away.

I thought Padme telling them off worked because of the way they were treating her. The people of Naboo have placed her up on a pedestal and she would feel that was wrong. But she wouldn't be above using that position to try and help them. I feel very bad about downplaying Leia's role in this one, but somehow Luke and Padme just jumped tot he front. Leia gets a bigger part in this chapter, though.

Actually, all the big formal dresses don't have to be uncomfortable. I can't help remembering my prom dress. It looked like thisamazing beaded gown, but it was really a shirt and pants. It was very comfortable but it didn't look like it. I never read much about Padme or Naboo, but I saw TPM and I'm sorry, most of those things just looked horrible. (did you seethe look on her face through most of the movie?:-) Besides, I wanted the Luke and Leia moment and the opportunity to play up Luke's clothes.

I've never hit a word limit for the reviews, but I'll bet you could manage it if you put your mind to it. :-)

REV042175: Thank you. Last chapter was all fluff. I'm sorry. I couldn't help it. I'm glad you enjoyed it. After reading your review, I can't wait to get my next post ready. You are going to love the scene that comes up in chapter 11. IT's another flashback. Anyway...

Throughout this story, I keep drawing on that image. What if Anakin hadn't turned. It's been my guiding light so far. I know, Padme is easy in some ways because she does tend to fall back into 'leader' mode. Of course, that makes the family scenes doubly difficult, but it's worth it, in my opinion. I'm glad everybody seemed to like Padme's address. I only hope this chapter can compete.

A/N: As an intersting bit of trivia. This chapter has actually been spellchecked (except for the authors note). This si the first chapter that has been. Enjoy and let me know what you think. :-)

Sorrow Multiplied

Chapter 10

As if fate, or Lisk, was trying to spite Padmè for her optimistic words, the trio waited two hours before finally giving in and going to dinner. Knowing the governors were still arguing was an encouraging sign, and since they still held out hope all three kept their costumes on, but a person could only tolerate so much sitting in one place. Apparently, Lisk's staff was as good as he'd said, because when they exited the room and young woman directed them to a waiting hover car and suggested three restaurants that would be ready to accommodate them. All before any of them had said a word. They thanked the young woman who nodded her acceptance and led them to the waiting car.

Leia looked at the door helplessly and Padmè laughed. The older woman grabbed the sides of her skirt and folded them in, crushing the skirt in a pattern until she was able to climb in through the narrow door. She only took a moment and accomplished this feat gracefully. Leia managed almost as well and Luke managed not to laugh at her. When they were on their way, all three felt better than they had the entire afternoon. It had seemed they would never get out of that chamber and Padmè was beginning to feel claustrophobic in the room she had called home for so many years. Luke and Leia, both long used to action, had felt just as oppressed.

But now, although they weren't accomplishing anything, it seemed as if there was more space in the tiny air car than in the palace. All three breathed a sigh of relief. At least, for a short time. After half an hour, they began exchanging worried glances. The pilot was hurrying, but it seemed the trip was taking far too long. Knocking on the separator plate between the passenger compartment and the drivers, Padmè called out to the driver.

"Is there a problem? Why is this taking so long?"

The driver did not respond. Padmè looked to her two children, both of whom wore puzzled expressions. Leia pounded on the transparent plastic panel hard enough to make the entire air car vibrate. There was a dull thud on their side, but the noise in the cab must have been quite loud. The driver turned halfway and glared at the Princess, who recoiled. This man was not their driver.

The stranger turned back to his controls and pushed the speeder faster. The ground below whizzed by at alarming speeds and Padmè gripped her safety restraints tightly, as if she could make them protect her. Luke lifted his sabre off his belt and tucked it into an inside pocket. Seeing the motions, his mother nodded at him. All three sat in conspiratorial silence through the trip, none wanting to divulge anything that could be used against them until they knew who their captors were. At one point, Luke tried the door, but the locks had apparently been jammed and the panel refused to move.

At long last, after an hour in the air car, The pilot brought the small craft down to land. The place was a small clearing in a forest that only Padmè recognized and none knew. The pilot stepped out of the car and Luke held his hands near his sabre, ready to cut them out of the chance arose. It didn't. After another breath, the tiny space began to fill with a faintly blue gas and despite their best efforts, even the trained jedi could not hold his breath long enough. In minutes they were unconscious.

"I'd be far too frightened to tease a senator," he protested with that silly grin she loved so much. It did not matter how many times she heard that phrase, she never tired of it. He only said it to make her smile, to make her forget whatever disagreement had been brewing. No one else could ever disarm her so completely so easily. That was probably why they argued so rarely. Whenever they disagreed he said something to make their difference of opinion seem silly and insignificant.

She smiled at him and let him kiss her. "How do you do that Ani?"

"What did I do this time, Milady?"

"You always make me forget what I was going to say."

"Perhaps it wasn't as important as you thought and that's why you forgot it so easily."

Padmè smiled at him, her long hair caressed by the slight breeze that blew across their balcony. Lying wrapped up in his arms, it was so easy to let everything else go. Nothing was important beyond this place. "Is that more Jedi wisdom?"

He laid his cheek on top of her head and she could feel his wistful smile. "No, my mother used to say that. I would get excited about something and then get interrupted. I'd get frustrated and she would smile and say that. She always followed it with, 'If it was important, you will remember later.'"

"I admired her, you know."

He sat up, alarmed to find out something new from his beloved. "I didn't know that."

"I never told anybody," she confessed. She shivered slightly and her husband held her more tightly. "I remember, at first, I did not know what to think about her, or you for that matter. Slavery is against the law. I was too surprised and too caught up in my own problems to even have an opinion."

Anakin laughed defensively. Such memories still hurt, even after all this time. "Milady not have an opinion? I find that difficult to believe."

"It's true. Later, though, I had a chance to think. I though a lot about you after it was all over and Naboo was safe. I decided that your mother was one of the bravest people I have ever met. She was able to do anything, willing to do anything, for you. I hope that someday I can be half the woman she was."

"You're brave, Padmè."

"It's easy to be strong, to be brave, when you are surrounded by people ready to help you. It's hard to do it by yourself." She snuggled into his embrace and he pulled up a blanket to cover them both. The sun was setting over the Coruscant skyline and with the light went the warmth it provided. Climate controlled or not, the evening air could be chill.

After several moments of silence, she spoke again. "Now, I feel I understand her a little more that I did even then. I don't think I could do what she did. I don't think I could let you walk away, knowing I would never see you again. I don't think I could do that for my child either, were I too have one."

"Child?" He asked quizzically. The thought had never occurred to him before this moment, but all of a sudden it seemed like a good idea.

"Someday, yes. I want to have children. I did not when I was younger, but now... I want two, one boy and one girl."

"Padmè, the children need you."

She turned her head to look at her husband who was smiling at her.

"What did you say Ani?"

"The children need you Padmè. You have to get up and help them."

The image of her husband blurred. Slowly, the warm smile and deep blue eyes morphed into a pale blue light and a dark brown ceiling,

"Ani?" She spoke quietly, both out of fear and because her voice was weak. Her strength was slowly returning, though.

"Wake up, Padmè. I'm doing all I can, my angel, but I don't have much to give. You'll have to rouse Luke and Leia. I love you."

The dream like memory faded into reality and recent events came rushing back to her. She remembered the speeder and the poison gas. "Where am I?"

"It's a cave, just off the clearing you landed in. I don't know much more than that. If I'm going to be here, I have to follow you." His voice was soft and whisper quiet. Padmè was certain she was the only one who could hear it. She sat up and looked around. She was in a tiny cavern. Luke and Leia lay side by side only a few feet away. The only light came from a tiny glowrod above her head and that was blue tinged.

"I have to go now. I'll still be with you, but I must save my strength."

"Go, Ani. I love you too." She felt another phantom caress and smiled despite the situation. She had never known such things were possible, even through the force and praised any gods that might be listening for granting her such a gift. These thoughts were not solely occupying her mind, however. While she was thinking them, she was evaluating her situation.

The tiny cavern had only one entrance, and consequently only one exit. That passage was blocked by a set of steel bars that looked very solid indeed. The ceiling was just high enough for her to stand up in, her children would have to crouch slightly. The space was roughly half of a sphere, which meant is wasn't very large at all, considering. She stepped over her daughter to shake Luke awake. As a Jedi, he would have inhaled less of the gas than Leia and would probably wake easier.

She had barely reached him when the steel door swung open unceremoniously. Three stout looking guards stepped through the doorway followed immediately by a weasely little man in a black suit. Padmè stood tall, her disheveled headdress brushing the ceiling. Everyone else crouched slightly, giving her the physical advantage.

"What is the meaning of this!" her voice boomed in the most even tone she knew. The sound that had left hero's cringing, had little impact on these men.

"Spare me, your highness," The suited man said. "You are not impressing anyone. You and your children will be joining me until further notice."

Still holding her pose, she demanded answers form this little man. "Why are we here?"

"You are here because my lord wishes it. He is the rightful ruler of this planet and you wish to take that away from him. Until His place has been confirmed, you would do best to stay calm and resign yourself."

"What about my children?"

The little man sneered and glanced at one of the burly guards. The larger man kicked out and caught Luke in the stomach with one boot. Unable to watch, Padmè threw herself at the guard, who batted her away easily, throwing the diminutive woman into the opposite wall. While she tried desperately to get some air back into her lungs, she was forced to watch the guard continue kicking her son. With her first breath she cried out to them to stop.

"Please, don't. I'll stop. Please!"

The little man chuckled, but raised one hand to the guard who delivered a final kick before stepping back.

"Remember this, next time you think about trying anything funny."

The man turned and walked out the open door. The three guards followed and without them the room seemed much bigger. Padmè stumbled across the room, barely standing, to where Luke still lay unconscious. She gathered the young man in her arms and rocked him back and forth.

"Please wake up, Luke, Please be okay. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..." She chanted rhythmically, listening to every breath. He did not seem to have any broken bones, but he would definitely be in pain when he awoke. Amazingly, his lightsabre was still tucked into his pocket. That little piece of information gave her hope. Her own hold our blaster was missing from it's hidden holster and the thought of undergoing that thorough of a search while unconscious made her shudder.

After several moments of trying, she still hadn't managed to wake her son so she turned to Leia. Her daughter lay on her side and was breathing a bit faster than her brother. Padmè shook the young woman and actually seceded in rousing her.

"What happened?"

"We were drugged in the speeder. We're being held captive by someone planning on ruling the planet."

"Oh, yea," Leia said sarcastically. "Anyone we know?"

Smiling wryly, she responded, "I don't think so. His minions seem to be a bit on the crazy side, though."

"How nice. Where's Luke?"

"Unconscious. He was beaten by one of the guards. Leia, it was my fault, I stood up to them..."

"Don't worry about it." Leia said flatly, knowing Luke would feel the same way. She crawled over to her brother and looked him over. She gave her mother a significant look.

"I know. I didn't want to say anything."

Leia nodded and laid one hand on her brother's forehead. "Luke, you need to wake up now. Mother and I need you, Luke."

Luke didn't stir. Leia looked to Padmè. "I can try to reach him with the Force. I don't know how much good it will do. I'm not very good at this yet."

"Try."

She nodded and settled on the floor to concentrate. "Luke, where are you? Mother and I need you to wake up now Luke." Leia thought she heard a whisper of a response and concentrated harder. "Luke? Are you here."

"Yes, he's here Leia."

The strange voice startled her and Leia almost lost her concentration. Sheer will held her focus. Surprised, she nearly forgot about her brother. "Who are you?"

The stranger shied away momentarily, they returned trepidaciously. "I'm some one who cares about Luke... and about you."

The unfamiliar voice sounded to Leia like someone she should know. "Can you help me wake him?"

"I have no strength here, Leia, but I can guide you to him. The drug affected him badly, I think your brother is slightly allergic to it. You should be able to wake him up, but he won't recover fully for a few days. He also needs medical attention as soon as possible."

Leia's eyebrows raised at the stranger's knowledge. "Who are you!"

"I'll tell you when we wake Luke. Does that sound fair?" The voice almost seemed to laugh, but Leia ignored it for her brother's sake.

"Agreed. Let's do this."

Leia felt a warmth envelope her and pull her gently. She felt as though she was traveling very quickly over a very short distance. Soon, she felt her brother's presence and she instinctively reached out for him. "Luke! Luke, come with me, Mother and I need you."

"Leia? My head hurts."

Smiling, she grabbed at him and pulled. "We can take care of that when you wake up."

The path back to consciousness took only a moment but Leia paused just before she made it there. Though she searched, she could not find the stranger who had helped her. The other voice had disappeared without a trace. Silently cursing, she opened her eyes slowly to see her mother holding Luke upright while he coughed.

"Luke, are you all right?"

Padmè offered her an encouraging smile and after a moment the coughing subsided. When he was catching his breath, Leia said to him, "Luke, I think you are allergic to the toxin they used to knock us out. You should be fine, but you will be weak until we can get you some medical help."

The Jedi nodded, having already guessed something of the sort, but Padmè looked at Leia curiously. The princess did not notice. Luke looked around, apparently evaluating their predicament.

"Liar," he said quietly.

"What?" Leia responded incredulously.

He smiled. "You said we could fix my headache."

After identifying himself to traffic control and explaining why he was here, Han was directed to a landing bay next to Padmè's ship. The former smuggler was also directed to a local governor's office. He caught part of the broadcast the local holonet was running and immediately recognized his wife's hand in the arguments. Giving up on the boring discussion, he tried hailing the ship next to his.

"Raven Maiden? This is the Millennium Falcon. Is anyone over there?"

"Hello? Can I help you?" The voice that answered was soft and timid.

"This is Han Solo, I was told this was Padmè Skywalker's ship? I'm looking for her and... For her and Luke and Leia."

"I haven't heard from them all day. They went on to the Palace. Miss Leia told me about you, though and you are welcome to meet them there."

At the palace? Han balked at the thought. The last 'palace' he'd been in had belonged to a Hutt. Before that, he simply couldn't remember one before that. Still, if he wanted to be with Leia, he would have to get used to this part of her life and her past. He might as well go ahead and get it over with now.

"Thanks, hon. I'll do that."

After locking up his ship, the old smuggler snagged a driver outside the spaceport. He didn't know his way around or he'd have walked, but right now he was in a hurry and didn't want to risk being lost.

"The Palace, huh? That's a popular destination today. You have business there? If not, you'll end up waiting outside." The driver's voice was eager, but well worn and he seemed genuinely interested in his passenger, who couldn't have cared less.

"I was told I'm expected." Han answered noncommittally. It took everything he had not to tell the incessantly conversational driver where to put his questions. It was even harder to keep himself from telling the driver to turn around and take him back to the spaceport.

"Well I'm impressed. I don't think a single thing has happened today that anyone expected to happen. What's makes you so special?"

Han looked out the window as the crowd below as the driver circled the palace, both giving Han a good view and running up the fare. He still wasn't sure he would have the courage to tell Leia what was on his mind. "Buddy, I been askin' myself that very same question for a long time now."