chapter four What Remains Untold

mrs skywalker: the Force is strong with you, my friend. Yoda knows many things and what will become of everything that appears to be going to Hades will be revealed.
Relyan: Yes, I know about the age difference. It's all about how SIV thinks about her master, not the other way around. Bear with me because this ride is only beginning!

Yoda woke to a beep on his comlink. Sleepily, he crawled down from his cot and walked to his table, yawning and rubbing his eyes. He picked up the comlink and heard Obi-Wan's voice.

Master Yoda, I am sorry to trouble you, but there has been a fire in the Visitor's Suite. It was Senator Amidala's.

Yoda's eyes opened further to listen to what his padawan of the Force had to say.

"Yes, Obi-Wan. A dream I did have, about such tragedy. Deathly ill, was she."

What else did you dream, Master? Anything other details?

Yoda closed his eyes, deepening his connection with the Force, rewinding the dream in his mind.

"A girl I did hear. Angry and dark, she was. Saddened and yet evil. Someone we may yet know, Obi-wan. Anakin knows this, he does?"

No Master. I didn't have a chance to tell him about the things I shared with you about his padawan. You don't think she would do something like this, do you?

"Clouded, her past is. Not yet been drawn, has the veil of the Dark Side. With them, I feel, she is."

Are you sure, Master? She is but a young girl. No Sith in history has ever been that young! And how could Anakin not know it, with her be right there in front of him...Palpatine.

"Yes. Hmm. Like Palpatine, she is. Skywalker's life Force hears hers not. Jaded, he is, by his young apprentice."

Jaded, but how? She is his padawan. Not that of a source of abject love. She only appears to... wait a minute! She has fallen in love with him, hasn't she?

"Quick, you are, my Force apprentice."

Will Senator Amidala die as a result of the padawan's jealousy? Obi-Wan said after several minutes of thought.

Yoda, was again, lost deep in thought. Finally, he spoke.

"Dreamt of a blooming lotus, I did. Beautiful and rare, it was. Suddenly came, it did. Rains heavy and dark. Tossed and turned, the lotus was, but held fast, it did, to ground beneath it," he said.

Yes, Master. I think I understand what you are telling me.

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Anakin stared at Padmé, holding her hand, trying to control the despair and hate welling up inside him. He knew he couldn't let the hate take him. Not again. He had almost let it once before, when he fought his mentor Chancellor Palpatine, but he vowed never to let it happen again. He heard a groan and looked to see Padmé's eyes flutter.

She's waking up, he thought.

She opened her eyes, slowly, allowing the bright lights of the Medic Lab overtake her sight.

"Good to see you again, milady."

That voice. She recognized that voice.

"Anakin?" she questioned, dropping the formality between her and the Jedi and hoping her senses were not deceiving her.

"Yes? I am here, milady. I won't let you go. I will stay here with you," he said, meaning every word he uttered to his angel.

"Anakin, while I was fighting my way out, all I could think of was you. I didn't want to die without telling you what we have both felt for many years now," she said, taking in ragged, short gasps. She felt as if her whole body was ablaze, especially her lungs. "Anakin Skywalker, I have loved you more than life itself. We both knew we couldn't let our hearts judge our lives, but," she said, tearing up and looking into his eyes. "I cannot live a lie anymore..." her voice trailed off as she began to sob, coughing in between.

Anakin knew how much he had longed for her, but he had had no idea how she had done the same. They had spent their lives covering up that was too grand and too deep, and now, could hide no longer. He took her hand and placed it on his heart, looking deep into her warm eyes. He could feel the familiar, soothing presence through the Force. "Padmé Amidala," he said, forgetting his place and who she was. "I care for you deeply. When you are near me, I can't breath. Your presence is both soothing and intoxicating. I love you, Padmé."

Padmé's sobs lessened as she realized what was happening. Her first real love was found in a man who couldn't love her back. It wasn't the way of the Jedi. Now, he was willing to give it up. He had served the universe for ten years as a powerful Jedi Master and he was ready to give it all up for her. Could she tell him everything that had happened in that room? The poisonous drink and the awful truth? Could she save him from the horrible realization that his padawan was had been slowly turned to the Dark Side and was trying to kill her?

Anakin sat down on the edge of her bed. He cradled her, holding her until he could feel through the Force that she was calm. She no longer felt afraid, but more anxious. Worried about something that was obviously bothering her. "Padmé? Are you okay? Something is still bothering you."

"I am still thinking about Naboo," she lied, hoping that he couldn't tell. "Just being worrisome, I guess."

Padmé looked back at Anakin's face, starting to feel better, and tried sitting up. Anakin put his hand behind her back, helping her to an upright position. She could feel the burning in her lungs subside and felt the warm, soothing presence of him. It was deep and faint, yet there. Very still, but there. Anakin cupped her face in his hands, pulling her close. He had wanted to do this since he first saw her, and now, after so long, he was trembling with excitement. He reached into the Force, trying to calm himself, and pulled his face in to kiss her. She pressed back, wrapping her arms around his neck, his hands wrapping around her waist.

Anakin found it hard to let her go, but did so when he heard the familiar click-clack of boots coming toward the two of them. He turned to the sound to find his master, shaking his head. "Master, before you say anything, allow me to explain myself." Obi-Wan nodded and allowed his old padawan to explain his actions. Listening to him, he couldn't help but feel slightly responsible.

"You know the Council isn't going to be very happy with your decision, but.." Obi-Wan said, with hesitation, after Anakin was finished. "But what, Master?" Anakin asked. "But, there is one way to keep your title and choose love: The Miraluka Admendment."

"What is the Miraluka Admendment?" asked Padmé, turning her head from Anakin to his old master. "The Miraluka Admendment was made years ago by Gregor Miraluka, a great Jedi Knight. He, too, found love but wanted to still be a Jedi. According to the Order, he couldn't; so he sought out a way that would allow him to 'retire' sort of speak, and produce a family. In a way, keeping the Jedi growing steadily and still keeping themselves in check from the Dark Side."

"So you're saying that Padmé and I can still be together, if I 'retire'?" said Anakin.

"Yes, but it's the Council that has the ultimate decision. They need to see that this is real; they don't want a half-hearted decision, because it would irreversible. Once you retire, you cannot come out of retirement," said Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan looked to the both of them, Padmé's head resting on Anakin's shoulder. Their hope and welled-up love for each other had grown deep despite never once speaking their true feelings aloud. Slowly, the old master inhaled deeply and sighed. "We will need to take this up with the Council, of course, but only one thing remains: the disposition of your padawan, Siv."

The medic droids watched as one Jedi Master stayed back to say goodbye to the senator and the other waited momentarily at the door. The Jedi Master bent down and kissed the head of the senator and helped her lay down on to rest. He then stood up, and with a quick, one last glance, turned and left with the other Jedi Master.

"Are you feeling better, Miss Amidala?" inquired one droid, near her bed. "The scanners indicate that the poison has been cleansed through your system by that of only a miracle."

"Yes," she replied. "And yes, it was a miracle."