Author Note: Hey guys. Here's the next part, and now we finally find out Padme's feelings about this whole thing. I was trying to write the story so that Padme was bad / to blame for once, but I just can't seem to do it. No matter what I make he do, I always see the logic in her actions somehow, or feel sorry for her because I know how she feels. This might just be because I'm writing the story, so I'm making her act how I want but...I dunno. Lets just read the story shall we? Yeah. Lets just read the story...
Obi-Wan was sitting on his bed beside Sabe, who was nursing their baby boy. Obi-Wan looked exhausted as he stared at his son.
"He has no idea what's happening," he sighed.
"Thank the gods," Sabe answered, but Obi-Wan didn't seem to hear.
"The man who killed Dexter outside the temple -- I've never seen a spear thrown like that. An impossible throw..."
There was a long pause and then at last Sabe broke the silence.
"Beru was in the temple this morning."
Obi-Wan sat up straight and stared at Sabe.
"Are you sure?"
She nodded, swallowed hard and closed her eyes. After a moment, Obi-Wan, full of sorrow, ran a hand through his long hair, deep in thought.
"I need to see my brother," he said at last, standing up.
"Don't go," Sabe clutched his arm.
"I need to speak with him."
"I mean tomorrow. Don't go. You've fought enough. Let other men go out there."
"You think I want to fight, my love? I want to see my son grow tall. I want to see the girls chasing after him."
"Just like they chased his father?" Sabe teased, allowing herself to smile.
"He's much more handsome than I ever was."
For a moment they watched their son quietly, then at last Sabe spoke again.
"I lost seven brothers in the Corellian Wars. You'd think I'd be good at losing by now. I can't lose you. I won't survive."
Obi-Wan pulled her close and kissed her. Everything was in that kiss - his love for her, her love for him, their entire past together.
Sabe finally let him go and Obi-Wan walked out of the room, waving fondly to Ben as he did so. He heard Ben give a little giggle and smiled.
oOo
As Obi-Wan was walking to Anakin's room, he spied someone in a dark cloak sneaking down the candle-lit hallway -- an assassin maybe?
"Wait!" he called, but when the cloaked figure looked back and saw him, they ran. Obi-Wan chased them through the archway at the end of the corridor and into the garden.
Obi-Wan ran into the garden, and being far faster, managed to seize his quarry and pull aside their hood.
It was Padme.
"Padme?" Obi-Wan exclaimed, and by the light of the moon, he was able to examine her face. The stress of recent weeks had taken its toll, but the shadows beneath her eyes made her face more irresistable than ever.
Embarrassed by the awkwardness of their position, Obi-Wan stood and helped Padme to her feet.
"What are you doing out --" Obi-Wan began, but as soon as he had let her go, Padme had run again.
Obi-Wan caught her again after a few strides.
"Let me go," Padme cried, struggling against his grip.
"Where?" Obi-Wan replied. Again Padme struggled, but it was useless.
"Let me go!" she cried again, still struggling. But now she began to cry. Obi-Wan pulled her to his chest and she cried for real now, violently sobbing, her mouth muffled against Obi-Wan's body.
"Shh. Shh," Obi-Wan soothed, stroking her soft hair.
"I saw them burn. I saw them burning on the pyres. It's my fault," she sobbed.
"No."
"It is. You know it is. All those widows. I still hear them screaming."
Padme took a deep breath and managed to control and compose herself.
"Their husbands died because I'm here."
Obi-Wan couldn't deny this, so Padme pushed herself away from his grip.
"I'm going down to the ships."
"No. You're not," Obi-Wan said firmly.
"I'll give myself back to Grievous. He can do what he wants -- kill me, make me his slave. Anything's better than this."
"It's too late for that. You think Sidious cares about his brother's marriage? This is about power. Not love."
"Anakin is going to fight in the morning?" Padme asked, and Obi-Wan nodded.
"Yes."
"Grievous will kill him."
Obi-Wan looked away, stung by the words.
"I won't let that happen," Padme continued.
"It's his decision."
"No. No. I can't ask anyone to fight for me. I'm no longer Queen of Endor."
Obi-Wan bowed to Padme and kissed her hand.
"You're a princess of Theed. And my brother needs you tonight."
Padme stared at Obi-Wan in wonder. The words seemed to bolster her spirit, and she smiled though her eyes were still wet. She nodded, touched his arm and turned to go back to the palace.
oOo
Up and down the beach, the next morning, thousands of Imperial clones prepared for battle. Despite their vast numbers, the clones were oddly quiet, each absorbed with his own thoughts.
In his tent, Jango sat cross-legged, arms held straight out in front of him, palms up. An electrospear was balanced on his palms.
Boba and Nute, armored for battle, entered the tent. Jango did not look away from his spear. Though the spear must have been heavy, his arms did not tremble.
"My lord? The army is marching."
"Let them march. We stay."
"But the men --"
Jango turned to glare at him and Nute faltered.
"-- the men are ready."
"Sidious spat on my honor yesterday. I promised that girl her safety and he stole her from me. Let him fight the Nubians today."
Nute and Boba exchanged glances and Nute bowed to Jango before exiting the tent. Boba remained behind.
"When I was very small I saw my father kill a man with his bare hands," Jango said, breaking the silence. Boba didn't know how to respond so in the end he said nothing.
"There's so much blood in a human body."
He fliped the spear in the air and caught it by the handle, examining the point.
"You're ready to fight, Boba?"
"I am," Boba replied at last.
Jango rested the spear against a table and stared at Boba for a moment before speaking.
"You're ready to kill?"
Boba hesitated.
"At night I see their faces. All the men I've killed. I see them waiting for me."
Boba stood absolutely still. He had never heard his father speak this way before.
Jango inspected the knuckles of his fist.
"Never hate the men you fight. All of us are mortals. All of us, wretched things, will die at some time. Only the gods are free from sorrows."
"I hate no one, Father," Boba admitted in a quiet voice.
"Good," Jango smiled. "I taught you how to fight, Boba. But I never taught you why to fight."
"I fight for you," Boba replied firmly, but Jango shook his head.
"Who will you follow when I'm gone?"
Boba hesitated, unsure how to answer.
"Most soldiers battle for kings they've never met. They do what they're told; they die when they're told to die."
"Soldiers obey," Boba said.
"We don't have much time to walk in the sun, Boba. After this life comes the underworld, an eternity telling stories to other shades. Don't tell them you died following some fool's orders."
"And what should I tell them?"
"Tell them your name. If your life has been worthy, they'll know the rest."