Misread Prophecy

AUTHOR: Abigail

SUMMARY: What if the 'chosen one' wasn't Anakin Skywalker? What if the Jedi Council realized their mistake too late?

CHAPTER 2: Premonitions

RATING: T

DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything that was created by George Lucas.

NOTE: Here's my next chapter. Sorry if it's a little long...I never know if people like long chapters of short ones...EEK! Enjoy.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hope apart
And they turn your dream to shame...

-Les Miserables

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Padme lay wide awake in their bed. Her eyes stared up at the ceiling, watching the lights of the city dance across the plain walls. Anakin rolled over next to her, his arm reaching across her stomach. "Why aren't you asleep yet, Padme?" he asked, concern in his voice.

She turned to him, lighting her face up with a warm smile. "I'm fine, Ani. Just not that tired I guess." Padme lightly laughed as she said this, doing her best to hide her obvious emotions from her husband. Anakin didn't believe her, and he sat up in bed, gently rubbing his eyes.

"Padme...please tell me what's going on. You seemed just fine earlier. What's wrong?" he asked, stroking her chocolate tresses of hair that cascaded about her petite face. Padme turned away from him, and sat up. She sighed as she stood up from the bed, walking over to the window which held a magnificent view of Coruscant in the nighttime. Padme placed her small hand against the window, looking faintly at her reflection in the glass. Anakin curiously watched Padme, her petite body looking so small against the large view of the city.

Padme lowered her head and let her hands drift across her stomach, lightly touching the thin spread of fabric that was her nightgown. She quickly turned to Anakin, her smile gone. "I'm pregnant," she said, her sharp words slicing into Anakin's brain. His face of muddled confusion soon turned to one of joy as he stood from the bed, "Padme!" he said.

But she turned away from him, facing the window again. A small tear streaked down her face. Anakin quickly rushed to her, gently wrapping his arms around her, mindful of the tiny soul that was now growing inside of his wife. "What's wrong Padme? That's wonderful news. A baby!" he said, trying to see through Padme's contradictory emotions. He turned her face towards his, staring deeply into her brown eyes.

He could see the confusion, the sadness, the anger... "I don't want a baby..." she said, staring straight back at Anakin. She could feel the anger inside her little heart growing, as she watched Anakin's still happy face trying to process her surprising emotion. "Don't you realize how much this will change everything? My life? Your life?" she said, her tiny voice filled with a growing animosity that confused Anakin.

Anakin couldn't even find the words to say to her...words that would calm her, soothe her...Padme's breathing quickened and more tears slipped down her face. Anakin pulled her closer to him, letting his hand glide over her stomach. Padme removed herself from his arms, standing next to the window. She gently wiped her eyes with her sleeve, and took a deep breath. She turned back to Anakin, a small smile on her lips.

"I'm sorry, Ani. I've just been so stressed lately and...oh. I'm just worried about what we are going to do..." She walked to him and wrapped her arms around him, kissing him lightly on the cheek. Anakin pulled away, his face showing caution and skepticism. He caressed her soft cheek that glowed so heavenly in the moonlight. "Maybe...maybe we should tell Obi-Wan...tell him everything. He could help us out, Padme..." Anakin said, trying to dodge the fact that Padme had told him on their wedding day that she never wanted anyway to know their secret.

"No!" she said, her passionate face igniting again. She protectively placed her hands around her abdomen. "We don't need his help..." she said, her smile slowly coming back. She looked down at her stomach, caressing it gently and closing her eyes. "Our baby is a blessing...not a problem." Anakin watched Padme embrace him again, and slowly walk to bed. He followed, turning off the automatic light and gradually slipping into the silky sheets. Padme turned to him, planting a sensuous kisson his lips.

"I love you," she whispered, a twinkle in her eye. Then she turned, her back facing him. Anakin silently watched her, until her still form spoke of sleep. Anakin closed his eyes, his mind floating with thousands of thoughts and unspoken words. Maybe everything will be fine...he said to himself. But a baby! His mind floated away into his lifetime dream, a son to raise, strong and stubborn like him. Or a little girl, gentle and fragile like Padme. Padme...with this thought on his mind, Anakin drifted off to sleep.

Padme pushed as hard as she could, violent screams erupting from her hoarse throat. The entire world around her was swirling and compounding to the beat of her own blood in her ears. Her whole body was tremulous and shaking, her sweat and tears pouring down her face. She continued to push...squeezing all the strength she had into one last effort to save her child. But it was too late...the baby was stillborn. It had died...Padme cried out mounfully...

Padme flew up from where she lay in the bed. She was panting wildly, the sweat beading on her forehead. She wiped away the stray hairs that were plastered to her face. Padme bent over, wrapping her hands around her stomach. She quickly got up from the bed, sneaking out her bedroom door. Hastilly, she walked out on the veranda and satdown on the bench, letting her head fall into her shaking hands.

The images from her nightmare still swirled around in her head...it was the third time she'd had this horrible vision since she learned she was pregnant. Her despondent face was lifted at the sound of Anakin's hushed footstep coming down the stairs onto the veranda where she now sat. She sat up, avoiding eye contact as he sat next to her, taking her hands in his own.

"You're shaking, Padme. What's bothering you?"

"Nothing..." Padme said, her distraught face a paradox to the words she spoke. Anakin could feel her cold distance, but he could also feel those tiny pinpricks in the force grow stronger, telling him that something was wrong, contrary to what Padme was saying.

"Padme, how long is it going to take for us to be honest with each other?" he said, looking her in the eyes. She listened to his words, letting them enter her brain, and be processed...slowly. A faint breeze brushed over her skin, flowing through her hair and past her ears. The city lights illuminated the horizon, adding to the majesty of this wonderful city. But her mind was focused on things less beautiful, less familiar...

"It was a dream," she said flatly. Padme wasn't even aware of her own voice, monotonously speaking those words to Anakin. Anakinpressed her hands, but she pulled them away.

"Bad?" he asked, hismind searching the force around him, looking for the answers.

"Yes," she said, the images reappearing in her mind again, causing her to wince and blink her eyes, hoping that they would go away. "It was just a dream..." she added, hoping that Anakin would give up. But she knew him too well...

"Tell me," he said, his voice demanding, but Padme recognized the worried look in his eyes. She couldn't keep him in the dark any longer...

"The baby will die in birth..." she said, her voice shaky. The spoken words added much more to the horror of her nightmare, and she could feel the tears coming.

"And you?" Anakin asked, his concern lying deeply with Padme's condition. Padme shook her head softly.

"I don't know," she said dejectedly. Anakin scooted closer to her, pulling her into his arms. Padme let the tears fall, as she wrapped her arms around Anakin, letting his familiarity fill her empty soul. She could feel his hands in her hair, and could hear the gentle whispers that were sung into her ear

"It's only a dream, Padme," he said with hope in his heavy heart. Padme pulled away from him, staring into those transfixing eyes...

"I won't let this dream become real, Anakin..." she said, lowering her eyes. Anakin could feel a ripple in the force, as it coursed through his body, heightening his senses. Padme looked up at him, her eyes glowing, sparkling...

"I'll do anything to save my children," she said, her tiny voice barely reaching Anakin's ears. All he could hear was the force, sending wave after wave of warning through his body. Anakin gave a reply, and returned his gaze back to that of the city, reflecting on his new feelings about the baby...Padme too.

Padme awoke the next day, feeling bouts of morning sickness all through the morning. After almost three hours of vomiting, she finally felt better. "Anakin, tell Obi-Wan that I'm not feeling well. Go ahead and leave. I'll take a nap..." she said, crawling back into bed. Anakin gently tucked in the sheets around her, and planted a kiss on her forehead.

"Are you sure you'll be fine without me here?" Anakin said, moving her hair away from her eyes. Padme smiled and held her hand out to him, which he took happily, laying it against his cheek.

"Of course. C-3PO will be here if I need anything. You hurry up and get to the temple before our Master has something else against you for this week, " Padme said, bringing her hand back down. Anakin returned her loving smile and left the room, his Jedi robes flowing about him, creating a soft rustle in the quiet room. His footsteps soon died away, and Padme could hear the engines of his speeder starting, until the low rumbling noise gradually disappeared too, and she knew that he was gone.

Padme slowly got out of bed, quickly stripping herself of her nightgown and calling in her maid to help her dress. "But miss, if you don't mind me asking, shouldn't you be in bed, resting? Master Anakin gave me strict instructions to make sure you stayed in bed," the maid said warily. Padme eyed the nurse, lifting her arms up as the heavy dress slipped down her body.

"You will remember that you work for me, not Master Anakin. If anyone asks where I am, you tell them that I am sleeping. Keep this room locked." Padme smoothed her gown, checked her reflection in the window, and rushed to her bureau. She grabbed her saber that was deftly hidden in the top drawer. Hiding it in the folds of her dress, she turned to the maid, who held a very suspicious look on her face. Padme's icy glare reminded the maid who was in charge, and the maid quickly began to fix the bed, as Padme left the room.

She snuck by C-3PO, who was easily preoccupied by the other droids in the apartment, who had rendered themselves useless. Padme slipped out the door and walked up the landing ramp of her ship, annoyed that she would have to do her best to fly this ship by herself. After many pokes and prods at the millions of controls, she entered her destination, and sped off towards the Jedi Temple.

Padme arrived, quickly walking down the landing ramp. She found the easiest route that would allow her to see as few people as possible, because she wanted her appearance at the temple today to be a secret one. Padme finally found Yoda's quarters, and silently slipped inside. The little green man sat in the middle of the darkened room, deep in meditation and thought. She stopped breathing for a moment, feeling the way of the force around this powerful Jedi Master. Without moving, Yoda spoke to her.

"Come in. Have a seat, you will." His eyes remained closed as he said this, and Padme slipped across the room, finding a small chair to sit herself down in. Her body relaxed as she let the force flow around her, removing every string of stress that was attached to her.

"Speak," he said, his voice cutting the silent room.

"I've...I've been having a recurring dream, Master Yoda...of the future..." she said, her voice haltingly unfamiliar. Yoda slowly opened his eyes, studying the Padawan and Senator in front of him.

"Premonitions . . . premonitions . . . Hmmmm . . . these visions you have . .?" he said, his croaking voice sounding so wise to Padme's listening ears.

"They are of pain, suffering...death..." she said, the images flashing in her brain again. Yoda continued to watch Padme's emotions splayed in front of her face. He nodded sullenly, then asked her a question.

"Yourself you speak of, or someone you know?" Yoda posed the question, throwing Padme off guard. She wasn't sure how to answer, but didn't want the Master to see her uncertainty.

"Someone..." she said, looking at Yoda. Yoda's eyes slowly blinked...

"...close to you?" he said, trying to lead Padme on.

"Yes," she responded quickly. Yoda nodded, studying Padme again. She could feel his stare looking right through her...right through the mask that was easily placed over her emotions...right through everything.

"Careful you must be when sensing the future, Padme. Fear of loss is a path to the dark side..." Yoda said, his wise words gently flowing about the room. Padme considered his words, but wanted more than a simple warning. She was beginning to feel frustrated...

"I won't let these visions come true, Master Yoda," she said, the grip on her chair tightening. Yoda made a guttural sound, his long fingers curling under his palm.

"Death, is a natural part of life. Rejoice for those around you who transform into the Force. Mourn them, do not. Miss them, do not. Attachment leads to jealousy. The shadow of greed, that is," he answered. As Padme listened, she closed her eyes, trying to make sense of it all.

"What must I do then, Master Yoda?" she asked. Yoda closed his eyes as well, feeling the force and presence of Padme flow through his small body.

"Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose..." he said, finding himself in deep meditation again. Padme tried to interject, but the Force would not have it. She was easily forced out of the room, and found herself standing out in the busyness of the hall, her questions still unanswered, her fears not calmed. Padme hurriedly left the Temple, hoping she would beat Anakin home from his meeting with the other Jedi on the report of the Outer Rim Sieges. Padme was thankful that she wasn't present, and quickly found herself lying in bed again, Yoda's words spinning in her mind, along with the distorted images that were becoming a living nightmare.

Padme continued to reflect on her dream, feeling anger grow inside her heart. She knew with all of herbeing that she wasn't going to give up. She would never let go of her child, and there wasn't a force in the galaxy that could stop her...