SouL PurPosE

Chapter Twelve

The moon and stars were hidden behind cloud cover, casting a dark shadow upon Naboo. Automatic glowlights lining the path and hanging from the mausoleum pillars had already switched on. Using the Force, I disabled a few of them to ensure we would stay hidden within the darkness.

As my Padawan had done, I pulled open the tomb containment drawer and observed the empty shell of Padme's body lying there. I had expected to witness some evidence of decomposition, so was rather surprised to discover that even though three days had passed, there had been very little decay. Actually, none whatsoever. Although I could not sense evidence of life, she looked the same as she had before.

Tentatively, I touched her full lips, withdrawing my hand immediately as if I'd touched a red-hot poker.

"What's wrong?" Dorme asked, stepping closer herself to view the contents. "Did you get shocked or something?"

"I don't understand," I informed her, deciding she should experience what I had or else there was a good chance she wasn't going to believe me.

Even with more caution than I had used, the young woman gingerly placed her fingertips upon the rosy cheek of her employer and gasped. "She's still warm! How's that possible?"

"I don't know," I answered her honestly right before the young woman collapsed. I managed to catch her before she hit the stone beneath our feet and carefully propped her up against the base of the tomb.

"Dorme," I called out quietly to her, giving her shoulder a slight shake. I wasn't certain how far Anakin had gotten and if he could sense me using the Force from a distance, but I had no choice. I placed my hand upon the young woman's temple and once again propelled myself into her consciousness.

I sensed nothing alarming that required my immediate attention, though gradually a landscape was revealed before me. Soon, I was able to behold a magnificent river with its waterfall plummeting off a distant cliff. Standing next to it upon a rocky perch with her long dark hair and lilac gown flowing along with the strong breeze was Padme.

I called out her name and took a step forward. First, she gazed up at the blue sky, then turned her head around and smiled at me in such a way I had never seen her do before. It was as if she was experiencing no pain, worry, or stress. She was completely free for possibly the first time in her life.

And then she fell. Off the cliff, diving down along with the plummeting water. I ran forward and frantically gazed over the cliff's edge, prepared to retrieve her if I could, but she was nowhere to be seen. She had vanished completely.

"Obi-Wan," I heard my name floating on the breeze in a hoarse whisper.

This was it. The moment I had been anticipating with so much dread. It was time to say goodbye. I suddenly wasn't sure I could form the words. I opened my mouth to say something, anything! What came out was nothing like I'd wanted to say.

"Wake up!"

The loud command wasn't spoken by me. It was female although it wasn't Padme's.

No. This couldn't be a dream! Surely, the Force wouldn't do such a thing to me! Hadn't I served it well? Hadn't I sacrificed enough already?

Numb with anxiety, I forced open one eye and was startled to see another one gazing at me from very close proximity. Perhaps I should use both eyes, I decided before popping them open. It was the assistant, Dorme, who was staring down at me, I discovered.

"You passed out," she informed me before half of a rather ornery smile appeared on her face.

Why was she grinning? Padme had just passed into the Force! I didn't think her expression was appropriate for the situation and I was about to tell her so, but I suddenly became aware of another presence and held my tongue just in time.

"You've been out of it for about an hour," she explained to me. "There's someone here who wishes to speak to you."

It couldn't be! My mind refused to believe it, but my senses didn't lie. Once I'd come to my feet, Padme Amidala herself, obviously having regained her physical form, stepped toward me, a tender smile on her face, her eyes aglow with an expression I was having trouble defining.

"Thank you," she told me softly.

"I can't…I can't believe it…" I stuttered as her hand came to rest on my cheek. Her touch was warm and affectionate and I responsively leaned into it. "How?" I managed to ask once I'd recovered from the shock of seeing her standing here alive. She was alive!

"This is what I always wanted," she told me with steady assurance. "I've been given the chance to make up for the mistakes I've made. To live a life full of joy and love…a life with you."

By the Force she was beautiful. I didn't understand what I'd ever done to deserve sharing this unique opportunity with her, but I wasn't about to question the Will of the Force. I boldly stepped forward, took her in my arms, and kissed her as I'd dreamed of doing for the past thirteen years.

I was pleased to discover she fit perfectly in my arms and not only returned my affection but eagerly strengthened and even prolonged it. When the kiss ended, we simply held onto one another without any concerns about the galaxy's problems or the fact she'd have to become a fugitive. We were even ignoring the rather annoying voice trying to gain our attention.

"Hey you two," Dorme was saying. "I know this is a miracle and all, one which I'll never be able to talk about because no one would believe it…but you should really think of leaving Naboo. You're not safe here."

I was rather reluctant to let go but did manage to lift and turn my head in her direction.

"Are you coming with us?" I asked the young woman who'd been through so much recently.

"Please, Dorme. I'd like that. And besides, I owe you," Padme added.

"You've got that right!" Dorme teased before shaking her head while revealing a sweet smile. "No. I belong here on Naboo. It's my home and my family's here. I'll stay, but you should both go. I mean it! Get out of here!"

She was right. The galaxy was crawling with bounty hunters, stormtroopers, as well as Inquisitors. We needed to get somewhere safe as quickly as we could.

"This is goodbye then," Padme told her friend before pulling her into a fierce hug. "Thank you for everything. Hopefully, we'll see each other again."

Dorme stepped back and smiled at us both tearfully. "We'll meet again. May the Force be with you. Both of you."