Chapter Two:
"This is a very disturbing development, Knight Skywalker," the always cool and even tone of Mace Windu filled the Council Chamber. Yoda was leaning on the head of his gimmer stick, deep in thought, and Obi-Wan –
Obi-Wan hadn't even seemed surprised.
"We must know, of course, the reason for your…decision," Ki-Adi Mundi drew his attention. Anakin, arms folded before him comfortably, and eyes bright, scanned the faces of the assembled members. After a deep centering breath, he finally revealed his secret.
"I have broken my vow to the Order, Masters," he began, without even a hint of regret in his voice. The knight radiated confidence. The Council members exchanged glances.
"To which vow are you referring?" Mace asked smoothly.
"The vow of celibacy, Master." Mace took the news graciously, as if not fully understanding the transgression. Anakin found himself wondering at that. "And the renouncement of possessions," he added, almost as an afterthought.
"And what possession do you own?" Ki-Adi Mundi asked. Anakin swallowed, feeling the familiar flutter of scared-excitement in his stomach. He met the master's eyes and held them steadily.
"My wife, master."
A hush fell over the already quiet room, as if his words were a black hole that hullified all other sounds, even the soft hum of power coursing through the chamber's walls. Obi-Wan shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Yoda nodded slightly and cupped his chin with his small hand.
"Senator Amidala," Mace said the name as if it were already obvious to everyone in the room. And perhaps it was. Nevertheless, a small spike of surprised fright stabbed into the core of Anakin's heart at the admission. 'They know now,' he thought, 'there's no taking it back now.' But he calmed himself with the thought that, no matter what, he would leave this room a free man. After all, what could they do, expel him? Growing bolder with this certainty, he added joyfully, "we have been married for three years." 'Finally, I can declare my love openly!'
"Retire she must, if revealed your secret is," Yoda finally spoke. Of all of the masters, it was he who seemed the least surprised. Anakin suspected that the diminutive master had known all along.
"We understand this, Master,"
"Understand?" Yoda's voice sharpened, and then at once he was twelve years old again, and he had just 'accidentally' smashed the Master's hoverchair. "At war, we are! Untimely this is!" He winced.
"With all due respect, Master Yoda," he defended, "this is my decision."
"Yes," Yoda said solemnly, and Anakin knew he had been trapped. "A decision that, if the Chosen One you are, effect the entire galaxy it may." Anakin had prepared another defense, but instead thought better of it.
"If I were to stay," he said instead, choosing his words carefully, "would the Council be prepared to accept my marriage without contest?" Obi-Wan looked to the other masters with interest, wondering as much as Anakin what their response would be. They seemed to be communicating with each other through the Force, and reaching an answer, Mace turned back to Anakin.
"Yes." Such a simple word, yet so full of meaning. Anakin's first thought was of how happy this would make Padme. His rejoicing was diminished, however, as Mace began to add the 'conditions' of this arrangement. "We would be willing to overlook this…transgression…until the war is over. You would have minimal contact with your wife for the remainder of the conflict, and would be answerable to us once either a cease-fire or victory is declared." Obi-Wan looked sharply to Anakin, noting the deep lines that had marred the boy's forehead.
"That…" he seemed more than speechless, "that is unacceptable!" His voice seemed to deepen, become older. "I came before you to ask for release from my vows to the Order, and you in turn attempt to pile more of them onto my shoulders? How can you do this? He looked hard into Mace's eyes, as if it were he alone, and not the Council as a whole, who had made this decision. "I will not be separated from my wife for another day. Not now…" If Master Windu had eyebrows, he would have raised one of them.
"Has something changed?" he asked curiously. Anakin nodded, joy breaking out onto his face like sunshine.
"We are expecting our first child," he declared. No, he proclaimed. Obi-Wan again shifted in his seat as the other Masters exchanged yet more glances. Anakin fancied that the hand Obi-Wan raised to his bearded chin was meant to hide the happy smile he knew was somewhere under that beard. 'He knew…'
"Disturbing, this is," Yoda drew back his attention. "Complicates mattes, it does."
"I understand that, Master."
"Understand?" he repeated harshly. "Understand you do not! If understand you did, a wife you would have not! A child you would have not!" He finished this last statement with a pounding of his gimmer stick on the marble floor. Anakin bowed to hide the sadness etching his handsome face.
"Then I have no other choice," he reluctantly concluded. Standing at his full height, he addressed the Council formally, being sharply reminded of the day he was Knighted. "I, Anakin Skywalker, do hereby officially renounce my vows of fealty and service to the Jedi Order." He paused thoughtfully, and then continued. "My wife and I will retire to the Mid-Rim to raise our family in peace. The Lost Twenty has now become the Lost Twenty-One."
A silence fell over the council, deeper than before; It was almost mournful. The others watched him intently, as if he may suddenly take back his words and re-pledge himself to serve the Republic. Finally, the time for repentance lapsed.
"So be it," said Mace.