chapter seven Choices We Need To Make

Well, well. We've found ourselves nearing a decision. What will become of Siv after her outburst in the Council Room? Read on and see in this next chapter. I promise you won't be dissappointed.


Anakin finished his visit with Obi-Wan to find Master Yoda. He was in his Meditation Chamber. He knocked on the door.
"Master Yoda? May I enter?"
"Of course, young Skywalker," he called, from inside.
Anakin walked in, pulled back his robe and sat cross-legged on the pad in front of him.
"Fear and resentment, I feel, in you."
He nodded.
"Troubled over your padawan, you are?"
Again, he nodded.
Yoda shook his head. "These things, feel, you should not," he began, trying to ease his nerves and pain. "Her choice, it was, to turn from the light. Your guidance, we will need most."
"What are you saying, Master?"
"Agrees and permits, your leave, the Council does. But retain your training, you should."
Anakin gave him a funny look, which made the venerable master chuckle.
"Am I still to be an active Jedi?" he inquired.
"Your abilities, we will need, to search for the Sith. Gone, but not for long, they were."
Anakin thought back to that day with Count Dooku in the hangar; as if on cue, a phantom pain ran through his mechanical arm. He hadn't killed Dooku. The Count was a Sith, that was for sure. But what of him now?
"Many forms, the Sith can take. Always two there were. No more, no less; a master and an apprentice."
"So, when Master Windu and I destroyed Darth Sidious, his apprentice, Count Dooku, remained?"
"Mmm, yes. Smart you are."
"And, now, he is the Master?"
"Yes."
"And a Master relies on an apprentice that has been trained in the Jedi arts to carry on what he has learned--"
"Taken, your padawan, he has, I believe," Yoda finished, growing deeply troubled at what they were learning. If the Sith was reforming, and the Clone Wars are far from over, then this could definitely get worse.
Anakin didn't know what to say. His padawan, whom he had trained for years, had abandoned all her training, seemingly and had turned to the Dark Side. How had he not seen this coming? Why didn't he see the signs that had been so adamantly there? They were clearly evident to Obi-Wan and Master Yoda, however elusive the source. How had he not seen this coming?
He stood up, bowing reverently to the green master, when Yoda spoke once more. "Troubled, you should not be, Anakin. Your choice, it wasn't. Only hers," he said, hoping to bring a peace to the younger master's mind.
"Thank you, Master," he said, turning toward the door, his cloak swirling about his boots. He felt little consolation, wishing in all the galaxy that it hadn't really been his padawan. But, unfortunately, it was.

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Padmé sat at the edge of her bed. She was still a little tired, but had to finish readying for her departure. She was going to Naboo to personally inform King Damaca of her leave of absence from the Senate. She wasn't quitting. By no means. She was merely taking an extended leave. Representative Binks, her trusted Gungan friend, would serve in her place. He knew how much she loved helping her people, and with Chancellor Organa, the Galactic Senate was safe.Padmé started to pack her dresses, laying out the ones she was taking when a knock was heard at the door.
"Milady? It's Dormé," said a quiet voice.
Padmé told her to come in. Seeing Dormé in Sabé's old uniform brought tears to her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Milady. I didn't mean to upset you."
"It's okay, Dormé. You just reminded me of Sabé."
Dormé, although just a handmaiden, walked over to the senator, embracing her tightly. Padmé smiled a little. I am truely blessed to have a friend like her.
"It's just still so fresh..."
Padmé, too, was awash in her feelings of the past few days. Between losing Sabé, to her near-death, to finding that Anakin was leaving the Order for her just a wild shaak ride of emotions.
I wonder if all this is a premonition of what's to come? Will our lives together be always this hectic?
Padmé and Dormé let go of their embrace, and the two chatted about going back to Naboo while packing her suitcase.
"Milady," Dormé began. "Why are you going back to Naboo on such a short trip?"
Padmé smiled at the question, showing off her famous grin.
"I am taking an extended leave and wish to personally address King Damaca about it," she said.
"If it's not too bold for me to ask, Milady," Dormé inquired. "Why?"
Padmé was taken aback by the frankness of her bodyguard. "Because, I believe I've fallen in love with Master Skywalker."
Dormé giggled. "Why, it was obvious. All of us could tell you were smitten, Milady," she said.
Padmé's cheeks reddened at that. "Were we that obvious?" she asked, meekly, slowly taking a dress from the shelf.
"Yes. I believe even a protocol droid could see that, if you pardon the expression."
The pair laughed, and, it was, for the first time, in a long time, Padmé felt truly happy about what the universe would bring tomorrow. Dormé and Padmé finished packing and then Padmé called Captain Typho on her comlink.
"Captain Typho?" she said into the comlink.
"Yes, Milady?" said her personal bodyguard and captain of her security and ship.
"Ready my ship. We are going to Naboo for a short visit with King Damaca."

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Anakin had got wind that she was leaving from Captain Typho downstairs from her apartment suite. He wanted to visit her one more time before she left. He walked with Captain Typho, talking to him about the Senator's leave. He wondered how he was going to do what he wanted to do in private, but he would just have to make due. With her recent attack, no one would leave her side.
"Captain Typho," Anakin began. "Is there any way that you could let the senator and I speak privately for a few moments?"
The captain seemed leery, but, because he knew who the Jedi was, he consented. Anakin was escorted to the Senator's suite and then followed the captain to the door. The captain seemed to rest his eyes on the Jedi. He had a feeling what he was going to do, and he wanted to make sure that the man did things right.
She's like a daughter to me. If he is going to ask her, he better ask her right, thought the aging captain.
Anakin knocked on the door. Dormé answered the door.
"Hello, Master Jedi," she said. "I am assuming you are here to see the senator?" she asked, a smirk spreading across her face.
"Yes, I am. Is she busy?" he asked, smiling back.
"She is still packing. I'll let her know you are here," said Dormé, letting him in and going back to Padmé's room.
Anakin walked around the room. He didn't have some special piece of jewelry, but he knew she wouldn't care about that. She wasn't one who cared about jewels and decorative, frilly things. She loved the simplicity of a peasant's outfit. He'd seen her only once in that outfit, but once was enough to tell all about her. Anakin had to laugh to himself, knowing what he was doing. So, I am really asking her? After all these years, I am going to ask her. He waited another few minutes and then heard soft steps. She had just finished packing and was wearing her dark blue travelers gown. Her hair wasn't done yet, so it hung in ringlets around her face and down her sides. The japor snippet, which he had given to her so long ago, still hung about her neck.
"Hello, Anakin," she said, her soft grazing drifting over his new Jedi robe and freshly washed hair. Absently, she played with the pendant around her neck. She had kept it under all her gowns. She never took it off.
'Hello, Padmé," he said, bringing back his lop-sided grin from when he was a boy.
The two fidgeted, and, after a few moments, Anakin walked over to her and kissed her lightly on the cheek. He held her for a moment, taking in her soft scent before preparing what he wanted to say.
"I have something special to ask you before you leave," he said, straightforward.
"My, my, what is the question, Master Jedi?" she said, smiling brightly, curious as to what the man was thinking of.
Anakin asked her to quietly stand in the middle of the room. She did so and he followed her, clearing his throat.
"Close your eyes," he said. She did so, still having her bright smile on.
"Anakin," she began, smiling and giggling. "What are you doing?"
"You'll see," he smirked. Anakin bent down, on one knee, and took the senator's hand gently. He kissed it and told her to open her eyes. She laughed and giggled, knowing full well what he was doing. Her laughter soon became tears of joy, and she started to wipe them with her free hand.
"Padmé, from the first day I met you, I loved you. When you told me I was missing my mother, I really was afraid I was never going to see you again. I wanted to be near you, to feel your soothing presence all the time," he said, clearing his throat. "After all those years without you, I knew what I wanted to do when I saw you again. Padmé Naberrie Amidala, it would be my privilege to be chosen as your husband. Angel, would you marry me?"
Padmé sobbed. She had never been so happy as she was at this moment in time."Yes!" she cried out, leaping into his arms, kissing his face. He picked her up and swung her around, laughing happily. This was what they both had waited for a very long time. A very long time.
Outside, in the hall, a venerable captain smiled. He did well.