Anakin ran to Padmé, who was chained to the same wall that the Emperor had chained Anakin to when he punished him for the failure at Alderaan. Her arms were secured above her head and she had been dressed in a metal bikini similar to the one she had worn when Anakin had first met her.
"Are you alright? Did he hurt you?" Anakin asked as he approached her. He waved a hand at the chains, and used the Force to release them.
"No, I am fine." Padmé replied as she was released from her chains. "But what are you doing here? You should be helping the rebels!"
Anakin smiled, "Last I checked I was helping a rebel."
"Yes, but…"
Anakin quirked an eyebrow at her as he interrupted her, "Besides, when have I ever followed your orders? Did you honestly think I would have left you to Sidious?"
Padmé remained silent at this, and looked down at her feet. She did not know what to say. A part of her had wished that Anakin would come to her rescue, but she would also willingly sacrifice herself for the good of the rebellion.
Anakin placed a hand under Padmé's chin and gently tilted her head up so that her eyes locked with his, "I could not let him hurt you, I love you." Padmé blushed at the remark and was about to reply, but Anakin cut her off again. He glanced back and forth to either side of the throne room as he asked, "Do you know where Sidious is?"
Padmé shook her head, "No. I have not seen him since he locked me in here a few hours ago. I had been locked in the detention area."
Anakin's eyes narrowed, "He brought you up here?"
Padmé nodded, but remained silent. Anakin was silent for a moment as well as he took in this statement. Sidious had moved her. This could not be a coincidence; obviously his former master had a plan. Anakin glanced around the throne room again before locking his eyes on Padmé again and spoke to her, "You need to get out of here. I know my former master is up to something."
"What do you mean I have to get out of here, I think we…" Padmé stressed the last word, "…need to get out of here."
Anakin shook his head, "You said it yourself. I must stop him. The galaxy is not safe with him in control. I am the only one who can stop him. I'll walk with you to the Palace entrance. Once outside, take the Jedi starfighter on the landing platform and meet up with the rebels. I want you as far away from Coruscant as possible. If we meet up with my former master before we reach the outside, I want you to run as fast as you can in the opposite direction. There are multiple doors out of the palace, find one. I will hold him off."
"I will not leave you." Padmé replied sternly.
"Yes, you will. It is not safe, and I will not have you hurt." Anakin replied authoritatively.
Padmé quirked an eyebrow and smirked at Anakin, "You should know by now, that I do not follow orders from you. I am staying with you." She stated with conviction.
Anakin rolled his eyes at this comment and sighed in exasperation. He then locked his eyes back on Padmé's. They seemed to plead with her to see reason as Anakin replied, "Padmé, please…."
However, Anakin was cut off when Padmé wrapped her arms around him and drew him into a passionate kiss. She broke the kiss momentarily and whispered in his ear, "I am staying with you." Padmé then continued the kiss before Anakin could argue with her.
Anakin wanted to argue with her, but when he felt her lips meld against his all rational thought left him and he gathered her into his arms holding her to him as their kiss deepened. At the moment, the only thing that seemed to matter was the fact that the woman he loved was safe, in his embrace, and returning his love.
The two of them were so caught up in their passion that they did not notice a dark figure enter the throne room. Nor did Anakin feel or notice the brush of the Force against his mind. It was not until the voice of Darth Sidious called out to them, that they ended their kiss.
"How sweet. The Sith apprentice and the rebel leader. Or should I say the former Sith apprentice and the lowly Imperial slave." Sidious cackled as both Anakin and Padmé turned to look at him.
Both Padmé and Anakin glared at Sidious as he cackled at them. "Consorting with the enemy. I would never have thought you two would do such a thing. It is a good thing I am here to end this little affair."
"Padmé, run, get out of here now." Anakin whispered firmly to her as he stepped in front of her, shielding her from Sidious's view. However, Padmé did not leave. She could not leave Anakin Skywalker, the man she loved, at the mercy of the vile man before them.
"Your reign is over, your highness." Anakin spat out.
"Oh no." Sidious paused for a moment before continuing. "I'm afraid you are much mistaken. My reign will continue and you will either join me or die." Sidious smiled at Anakin.
"I will not join you!" Anakin shouted.
"Why? You used to follow me. Have you let the charms of a lowly slave sway your decisions?" Sidious looked over Anakin's shoulder and smiled evilly at Padmé.
Anakin's anger grew at Sidious's taunt, "She is not a slave. She is a saint, an angel, and a queen compared to you."
"A queen?" Sidious smirked at Anakin and then continued his goading. He could feel Anakin's anger rise with each taunt, he would soon fall prey to the temptations of the dark side once more. "And does her royal highness know that she is consorting with a worthless slave boy from Tatooine. A slave, I helped rescue. A slave, that now turns his back on the help I gave him. I saved you from bondage, and now you thank me with betrayal."
Anakin's eyes narrowed at this comment as he yelled back a response, "You lied to me! You used me! You never saved me from bondage, you just moved me from one enslavement to another!"
Sidious's smile dissolved into a sarcastic pout as he replied, "My apprentice, your accusations wound me deeply. Your slave has poisoned your mind and turned you against me." Sidious pulled out his lightsaber hilt and took a step towards Anakin. "I will need to remedy this situation and reshow you the true nature of the dark side.
Anakin glared at Sidious as he replied, "You will try." He then attempted to use the Force to call his lightsaber from his belt to his hand. However, nothing happened.
Sidious launched Force lighting from his fingertips directly at Anakin, while the young man was distracted. Sidious cackled, knowing that Anakin had not realized that Sidious had brushed his mind earlier and blocked his use of the Force. His former apprentice was powerless and at the mercy of the dark lord.
"Your feeble skills are no match for the powers of the dark side, my young apprentice." Sidious coolly responded as Anakin fell backwards after the blast of Force lightning.
Padmé quickly kneeled down towards Anakin's fallen form and running a hand through his hair she anxiously asked, "Anakin! Are you alright?"
Anakin had the wind knocked out of him from the powerful blast and was breathing heavily. He grimaced as he looked up at Padmé. He had to protect her. Still shaken from the Force lightning, he gingerly stood up to face Sidious. He stood in front of Padmé again guarding her from the Sith Lord.
Anakin kept his eyes locked on Sidious as he stood, but called back to Padmé. "Padmé, get out of here now! He has blocked my Force ability, you must leave now!"