TO LOVE A SITH
Chapter Three
Padme opened her eyes sleepily and looked around. The room was strange and she wasn't in her bed. She sat up suddenly and her eyes fell on a sleeping Vader. Her new husband. For a second, she gazed at his handsome face, then quickly got out of bed and headed for the refresher.
She splashed some cool water on her face and stared at her reflection. She didn't look any different, now that she was a married woman. She had expected something to have changed, especially given the monster that was now her husband. What had happened to the man that had been Anakin Skywalker? The sleeping figure in her bed had the dangerously handsome face of Anakin, yet, he was Vader now. And Vader was a heartless murderer. He had killed millions of innocent people, not to mention countless members of the Senate and every Jedi that could be found. He was a contradiction. The face of an angel, and the mind of a monster. He had been so gentle with her earlier, almost loving, like a husband is supposed to treat his wife. And his eyes that were always so cold and unfeeling, they changed when he looked at her. She knew that he had held her heart from the moment they were reunited two years ago, and even now, she still loved him. And he could never know.
"What happened to you, Anakin? Where did you go?" She whispered.
Her thoughts were interrupted by moans coming from the bedroom. Cautiously, she left the refresher and walked slowly to the bed. Vader was tossing and turning. So, his nights were still haunted by nightmares.
"No, mom. No. NO!"
She rushed to his side and shook him gently. Before his eyes even opened, his hand shot out and closed around her throat.
The second his eyes opened, they widened in surprise and he quickly released her throat. She backed away from him, now extremely frightened of her husband. He swallowed nervously and sat on the side of the bed with his head in his hands.
"I'm sorry, Padme. I didn't realize…"
She shook her head uneasily. There was absolutely no excuse for what he had just done to her. Sith or no Sith. He couldn't treat her like that.
"Padme…look at me…please, I didn't mean…"
She dared to look at him and was met by somber, guilty eyes.
"I heard you and I was just trying to help you." She whispered.
He felt a pang of guilt pierce his heart. He really hadn't meant to hurt her. In truth, he hadn't realized that it was her.
"Padme…"
"What will you say when this happens again, and then when it happens after that and after that…I'm sorry isn't going to be good enough…I will not be treated this way."
"Padme, I swear to you…it will never happen again. I was disoriented and thought it was an intruder. What can I do? I'll do anything you ask."
She winced at his familiar words. The desperation in his eyes made her waver for a moment, yet she knew that she couldn't give in to him. She couldn't live life if this was the way he was going to treat her. Gentle one moment then ferocious the next. Besides, how did she know that he was even telling her the truth?
"I think you should leave." She whispered coldly.
His once soft and desperation eyes quickly turned to ice. He roughly pushed her out of his way and put on his discarded clothes. Then he left, but not before casting an irate glance in his wife's direction.
Padme let out a soft sob and covered her face with her hands. She couldn't live like this. She just couldn't.
Vader slammed his door shut as he entered and immediately began to savagely destroy anything and everything he could find. This was not how it was supposed to be. And on their wedding night of all nights. He berated himself for his instinctively brutal reaction to her innocent attempt to comfort him. He didn't know what had come over him. Yet, she should have forgiven him. He apologized, hadn't he? She had haughtily told him to leave, and he had obeyed her. What was happening to him? She had an effect on him, an effect that unnerved him. He didn't take orders from anyone except his Master. Yet, he had obeyed her. Reluctantly, but he had obeyed her wishes all the same.
He threw himself onto his bed and fell into a troubled sleep.
"Lord Vader?"
"What do you want?" was the muffled, yet rough reply.
"The Emperor wishes to speak with you."
"I'll be there shortly."
"Lord Vader, I trust you had a pleasant evening with you wife?"
"It was fine, my Master."
"Good. Now, you will go to the planets Naboo and Alderaan to round up the rebels that our intelligence has discovered. Once you find them, dispose of them immediately."
"Yes, Master."
Vader bowed dutifully and turned on his heel.
Padme was startled by the knock on the door. She immediately looked at Sabe and Sabe ran to answer the door. She smoothed the nonexistent wrinkles in her dress and took one last glance in the mirror.
Sabe barely got the door open as Vader pushed his way through.
His ice blue eyes locked with his wife's soft chocolate ones. His eyes quickly flicked over her appearance and nodded with satisfaction. She was always beautiful. His thoughts immediately shifted to the previous night and his eyes seemed to turn even colder.
They stared at each other for several long moments, neither one wanting to be the first to speak.
Finally, Vader let out an exasperated breath.
"We'll be leaving tomorrow."
"Where are we going?"
"I have business to tend to on Naboo and Alderaan."
Padme's eyes sparked with hope and happiness.
"We're going to my home?"
"Yes."
She paused briefly to gather her thoughts.
"Can I visit my parents? I haven't seen them in months and they don't even know if I'm still alive."
He studied her hopeful face and realized that he wouldn't be able to deny her this. After all, she was his wife and despite their confrontation last night, he wanted her to have happiness.
"Yes, you can see your family."
"Will you come with me?"
"If that is your wish."
"It is."
"Then I will accompany you."
"Thank you."
He nodded somewhat respectfully at her, then without much thought, he closed the short distance between them and kissed her cheek.
Then he turned on his heel, leaving a confused Padme alone in her room, with her hand softly resting on her cheek.
