Chapter 15

Anakin stepped into the room hesitantly and then shut the door. The sun shone through two open windows, creating a cozy feeling as the light's rays hit the pale yellow walls. There hung holo pictures of Padme's family, one of which was an actual painting of a sunset over a lake.

Her bed had a comforter and pillow that displayed every type of flower that grew on Naboo. Under one of the windows, there was a desk, stacked with datapads. The bed lay just vertical from it, under the second window.

Her room smelled fresh and the air felt cool against his face. He took off his cloak and sat down on her bed. Why did Padme's sister send me into Padme's room? Where is Padme?

The bed felt so inviting, offering him a chance to let him rest from his search. My search for what? was his last coherent thought before he fell into a deep, refreshing sleep…

Anakin found himself in a white room in which he saw Padme sleeping in a bed. On the left side of the bed sat three wooden cribs that rocked gently as a warm breeze came from an open window.

Anakin walked closer and peered inside the first one to see a small baby no more than a few days old. She had soft brown ringlets, and, he noticed, she had his nose. The baby opened her eyes and gazed at him for a moment before they drifted back shut.

He went on to the second crib where a second child lay: a male with wisps of light brown hair. The little baby also opened his eyes briefly, his bright blue eyes looking into Anakin's own.

Anakin drew in a shuddering breath and looked into the last crib, expecting to see a third child. A chill ran through him when he saw that it was empty; reaching down inside, he touched the unused covers and found them cold to the touch.

He stepped back, an indefinable ache in his heart. The room shimmered for a second and then disappeared. This time he found himself walking along a beach in the moonlight. The waves crashing against the sand, reaching yet falling back, ever reaching. The sound of the crashing waves was like thunder during a stormy day. With a roar they come crashing down. He walked further up the beach and saw a fire and as he got closer it took the shape of a platform. Fear clenched his heart and a shiver ran down his spine although the night was warm. There, there in the flames on the platform was Padme.

Anakin gasped and struggled to reach her, but he was held back by unseen hands and was forced to watch the pyre burn. He closed his eyes, anguish gripping his soul. When he opened his eyes again the pyre, beach and ocean were gone.

In its place stood two children around ten years old. The girl resembled Padme with her long brown hair and soft brown eyes. The boy who stood on the right had light brown hair and deep blue eyes.

The scene shimmered again and the two children disappeared, and in their place stood a boy who resembled Anakin. When the boy reached out a hand, reaching yet not touching, Anakin also reached out his hand to grasp the boy's hand but failed to make contact.

"Father," the young boy called desperately before he too vanished…

Anakin woke up with a start, sweat beaded on his forehead. He wiped his face with his hands and then headed for the door, grabbing his cloak in the process.

Ryoo reached for the second branch with both hands, balancing precariously on the first branch. Her feet slipped and she tumbled to the ground with a scream.

Drengin saw her slip a few seconds before it happened. Using the Force, Drengin cushioned her fall so that she wouldn't injure herself.

Pooja ran to her sister and hugged her, tears streaming down her face. "Are you okay? I'm sorry for making you climb the tree."

Ryoo opened her eyes and saw her concerned sister's face hovering over her. "I think so."

Drengin climbed down the tree quickly and warily walked over to them. "You better get your arm looked at," he stated as he noticed that her left arm was bleeding.

Pooja helped her sister up and wrapped her sister's arm with a piece of cloth from her pocket.

Drengin followed the girls as they made their way back to the house.

Anakin heard the sound of arguing from the top of the stairs and stopped walking. Enhancing his hearing with the Force, he listened in.

"What were you thinking?" An unfamiliar woman's voice yelled, more in fear than anger.

"Padme would have wanted him to know. She loved him, mother," Sola retorted.

"He is a Sith, and not to be trusted!" Jobal replied.

"Padme didn't think so," Sola remarked with certainty in her voice.

"Don't bring Padme into this. We are talking about you bringing a Sith into this house," Jobal said, now pacing the room.

"I did it for her."

"That does not—"

"I'm not a little girl anymore, and I can make my own decisions."

"You could have been killed, just like she was," Jobal responded.

Anakin sank to the ground, his back against the wall and railing. Padme's dead? He buried his face into his hands and cried softly. It's not true, it's not true. She's not dead, she can't be.

All the hope that had been built up in his soul came crashing down and his heart broke in despair. She loved me; now she's dead. His crying became louder as the pain from his shattered soul increased.

Sola heard his cries and, ignoring her mother, went up the stairs to investigate. Finding Anakin near the stairs, she realized that he had heard them talking and was taking Padme's death very hard.

Jobal came up behind Sola and was just about to lecture her when she saw the state Anakin was in. She pressed her lips together and reluctantly made a decision. "Help me get him into Padme's room."

Sola was momentarily shocked by her mother's sudden change of heart, but within minutes they were both helping Anakin back into the bedroom.

Once they reached the house, the girls ran inside to find their mother, leaving Drengin outside.

Drengin walked over to the fountain and sat down on its rim. He listened to the water trickle down from its spout, sending ripples throughout the water.

"Are you going to come inside?" Jobal asked from the doorway.

Drengin shook his head no and just stared at the water.

"Why not?" she asked, walking up to him.

Drengin looked up at her and just shrugged his shoulders. "I just don't."

When Jobal just sat next to him in silence, he relented. "Ryoo tried to follow me up a tree and fell. I cushioned her fall with the Force but she still got hurt. I didn't mean for her to get hurt," he confessed.

Jobal placed a comforting hand on his shoulder and spoke softly. "It is not your fault. She knows better than to try to climb trees. It could have been worse but it isn't. Now come on inside, supper will be ready in a few minutes."

Drengin followed her inside a few minutes later, his stomach growling from lack of food.

Sitting at the table, Drengin noticed that he had not seen Anakin since earlier that morning and wondered where he was.

Ryoo and Pooja sat on his right and Jobal and Sola sat across from them. Their husbands had been delayed and wouldn't make it for supper, and Anakin was still sound asleep.

After Drengin finished eating and felt that his stomach would burst from Jobal's generous servings, he went over to a couch and fell straight to sleep. Pooja and Ryoo were also sent to take naps so that Jobal and Sola could clean up and talk privately.

Outside, two figures watched the house and waited quietly for nightfall.

Anakin, a soft voice called, in a sweet, melodic tone.

Anakin turned away from the inky blackness in front of him, and found himself looking at a bright light. He reflexively shielded his eyes and watched as a being emerged from the glow.

Her hair was long and shiny, golden like the suns on Tatooine. Her eyes were a gentle, light green and her complexion flawless. She wore a light brown robe that swirled about her as she walked.

Anakin's eyes adjusted to the sudden light and he lowered his hand. Who are you?

She smiled mysteriously. I am called many things. You may call me Erana.

A snort came from behind Anakin, and he turned to see where it had come from.

Aww, well isn't that sweet, the new voice mocked from within the darkness. Now get away from him; he's mine!

Anakin strained to see the owner of the voice through the blackness but saw nothing. And who are you?

My boy, you know who I am, the voice said with a dry chuckle.

Leave him alone! Erana told the voice in the darkness. He has dwelt too long with you.

Not long enough, the voice answered, I have yet to conquer his soul.

Erana's eyes flashed with an unidentifiable emotion and she took a step sideways. You will never have him!

Oh, but I will, the voice replied smoothly. Lightning sprang from the darkness and struck Erana in the chest.

Erane absorbed it and threw out her hands in front of her, forming a ball of light just in time to block the next attack of Dark Side lightning.

When the lightning hit the shield, a loud roar was heard as the two energies met. As the battle continued, the black and white sides began to merge, creating a gray, lightning filled area.

Anakin fell to his knees, holding his hands over his ears as the intensity of the battle increased. A cyclone emerged from the gray void and swept Anakin off the ground. The cyclone pulled at him from all sides, twisting and turning him in the turmoil. Then from out of nowhere, a lightning bolt flew right at him.

Anakin sat up straight in his bed, his breathing labored. His eyes snapped open as lightning struck nearby, illuminating the room, with thunder following a second later.

For a moment Anakin thought he saw Padme standing at the foot of the bed as another lightning bolt lit up the room, yet again followed a second later by thunder. His heart beat furiously as he fought to calm himself.

Again the lightning flashed but the apparition of Padme was gone. Yanking the covers off of himself, he found his boots, slipped them on and quickly but quietly left the house.

A couple of minutes later, he was several feet from the house in the pouring rain. He stopped where he was for a moment, his breathing heavy. He bent his head down and closed his eyes and once again tried to calm himself with a relaxation technique that Redav had taught him.

The cold rain made its way past his clothes, soaking and chilling him to the bone. Unable to find his center, Anakin ran further from the house, unable to bear the pain of his shattered soul.

The rain began to die down as the hours passed, and soon the clouds faded away to reveal the rising sun. The dawn went unnoticed by Anakin, who had collapsed from exhaustion, in a field of tall green grass that was gently swayed by a warm breeze.