Author Note: Hey guys...I'm sorry to say that I won't be able to update for a while after this, but I'm finally moving house, so my internet's gotta be disconnected, blah blah blah...but hopefully this chapter doesn't have too big a cliffy...oh, I guess it does really...hmmm, never mind!
Hope you enjoy!
oOo
The refugee transport arrived on Naboo a day later and as Padme disembarked, she paused to take in the scenery. Naboo hadn't changed at all since she'd last been there. Infact, if anything, it was even more beautiful than she'd remembered it. She had no luggage, so she set off straight for the palace. Having been Queen and then a Senator for the planet, plus having grown up on it, she knew the place like the back of her hand and was striding along the halls of the palace in no time.
Pausing outside the throne room, she could hear muffled voices from the other side of the large, heavy doors and wondered if she should interupt. But before she could make a decision they'd opened anyway and she came face to face with Captain Typho. It took a moment for him to register who she was, but when he did, a huge grin split across his face, and it was clearly taking all his effort not to rush forwards and crush her in a hug.
"Senator Amidala, its so good to see you alive. We thought you were dead. Ever since your arrest."
"Its good to see you too Captain. Is it possible for me to speak to the Queen? Its rather important," Padme replied. She'd have loved to stand and chat with the young Captain all day, but other things were more important.
"Of course," Typho replied, stepping backwards and showing her in. "She already has a few guest who I'm sure you'll be pleased to see."
And as she stepped through the door, Padme saw who those guests were. Standing beside the Queen at her throne were Obi-Wan Kenobi and Bail Organa. Yoda was on the Queen's other side in a hover chair and when they saw her, huge grins crossed all their faces aswell. This time it was Padme who was struggling to contain the urge to rush forwards and crush them all in a hug. Instead she walked formally into the room and bowed to the Queen, although she was smiling like a child who's just been given the best birthday present in the world.
"Your Highness," she greeted.
"Padme! I can't tell you how relieved I am to see you alive. Are you well? How did you escape?" the Queen asked, motioning for chairs to be pulled up for all her guests.
So Padme began to tell the group all about her time with Anakin and how the two had become friends.
When she'd finished, Obi-Wan stroked his beard thoughtfully. "So Vader isn't all bad after all."
"There is good in him, Obi-Wan," Padme replied. "I've seen it."
"So why did you escape? If you're such good friends with him," Captain Panaka asked. He'd joined them shortly after Padme had, and was now standing with his Nephew off to one side.
"I didn't escape. He set me free because we needed to find Obi-Wan and Bail, and the Emperor had banned him from leaving his appartment."
"What are you talking about?" Bail asked suspiciously. "Why would Vader be trying to find us, other than to kill us."
"No, no he's not like that. We wanted to find you to warn you about the Emperor. He's knows you're still alive and he's going to have you killed."
"How do we know we can trust you?" Bail asked, and his tone sounded accusing. Padme was hurt at the fact that he didn't believe her, but at least she had Obi-Wan. He was smiling reassuringly at her, and she knew that he believed her. She glanced at Master Yoda, but saw no emotions on the old Master's face. Then she looked at the Queen, who wasn't sure what to think.
Well Padme would spell everything out for them, word by word if she had to. She wasn't going to leave until she'd convinced them all that Anakin was a good person and that she'd been sent to warn them.
oOo
"Fine! If Bail gets assassinated in his sleep, don't say I didn't warn him!" Padme grumbled to herself as she stormed into her room later that evening. All day she'd tried to persuade the others that she was telling the truth and that they were in danger, and while she now had the two Jedi Masters, the Queen and both Captains on her side, Bail still refused to believe that he was in danger.
He just doesn't want to appear frightened infront of everyone, she thought to herself. She'd done that many times. Acted stubborn and defiant when inside she was terrified. Infact, thats what she'd done that first day with Anakin so long ago.
The Queen was allowing her to stay at the palace for the night, and then in the morning Padme was going to go and find her family. The Queen had asked Ruwee to come and give his opinion on what Padme was saying, but Captain Panaka had pointed out that Ruwee was Padme's father, so his answer might be biased towards her. Padme had assured them that this wouldn't happen, but she could see why they were reluctant to risk it.
oOo
The door chime was unexpected and Padme sat up sharply in bed, switched on the light and groaned from the sudden head rush caused by getting up too fast.(AN: I've done that loads of times! It is possible!) Rubbing her eyes and trying to wake herself up properly, she grabbed her robe from the end of the bed, pulled it tight around her and went out into the main room, opening the door to find Obi-Wan admiring a painting on the opposite wall with his back to her. He either hadn't noticed that she was there, or he was just taking his time to acknowledge her presence.
Padme waited patiently, stiffling a yawn, and silently cursing the Jedi Master's terrible timing. At last the Jedi turned around to face her.
"Is this a bad time?" he asked politely and she shook her head. Actually it was, because she was exhausted and needed sleep, but she couldn't say that to the Jedi Master, so she just shook her head again and let him in.
"I'm sorry if it is a bad time, but I needed to talk to you alone, without anyone to argue," he appologised as he sat in the chair that Padme was offering him.
"Its fine Obi-Wan, honest," Padme said, hiding another yawn as she sat opposite him.
"So tell me everything again, in detail," he said and Padme sighed. She'd told everything to him in detail three times already. But then there had been interuptions each time. It might be easier now that it was just the two of them.
So again she started telling him everything, from her arrest to her freedom, to what she'd overheard the Emperor telling Anakin.
Obi-Wan listened patiently, stroking his beard and nodding for Padme to continue every time she paused. Then when she'd finished, he pondered for a moment and then looked up and smiled.
"Don't worry Padme. I think I know a way to convince everyone that Vader is no more and Anakin has returned."
"How?" Padme asked, surprised. She'd thought he was working out a way to keep them all safe, but then if everyone knew that Anakin was back, perhaps they'de believe they were in danger then?
Despite it being gone midnight, Padme re-dressed and followed Obi-Wan down to the thrown room again, where the others were gathered, most still half asleep like Padme.
It was then that Obi-Wan shared his plan with them. They were to go on a rescue mission and bring Anakin back alive. Then together, all of them - even Anakin - could overthrow the Emperor and restore peace to the Republic once more.
Everyone liked the 'overthrowing the Emperor' part, but no-one was very keen on the 'rescuing Anakin' bit, seeing as Padme couldn't confirm 100 that he would turn against his Master.
"Oh for heavens sakes!" Obi-Wan had cried when another argument had broken out between Typho, Padme and Bail. They were supposed to be friends, and yet here they were, at each other's throats.
"Look. Like it or not, we have to try and get Anakin on our side. Without him we simply wouldn't have the power. Now, what I want everyone to do is gather as many fighters as you can. Anyone who can fight, bring them, arm them and send them to the abandoned Jedi Temple on Coruscant. Bail, you gather as many of the remaining Senators from the Delegation of 2000 and bring them too. They can be witnesses to the Emperor's arrest. Padme, you come with me and Master Yoda, and we'll go straight for Anakin to see if we can convert him."
Padme nodded and turned to Master Yoda, well aware that he had not said anything for a while. But Yoda just nodded his approval at the plan and so, after a few more quarrels, it was set into motion.