Chapter 4.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
'Those Who Are Meant To Be In Your Life, Will Always Gravitate Back To You, No Matter How Far They Wander.'
Padme's eyebrows arched in panic, what did this woman want?
"You have 10 seconds to get away from my land!" Padme threatened, she was usually quite a soft person, kind and caring but right now there was too much at stake and she couldn't risk anything or anyone. Yutee looked to her as she lay on her back, the staff pinned to her chest. "I'd recognise the eyes of a senator anywhere..." Was all she said, Padme swallowed hard and took a step back, retracting her staff away from the woman. "Who are you?" She asked once more, she felt no threat but still protectively stood in front of her door, Yutee stood up and held her hand out slightly to imply she was no threat. "I am someone who wants to help..." was all she said simply, Padme was so confused, she looked around and took a deep breath, that breath helped her come to her senses and trust her instinct, before walking back inside her hut signalling for her to come in too. "My children are sleeping I'd appreciate if you didn't wake them." She said quietly as they walked through to the main lounge, closing the door to her bedroom to keep her children safe inside with Threepio, before offering the woman a cold damp cloth for the mark on the face Padme had caused.
Sitting opposite her it was silent, silent like the dead of night, much confusion came over Padme yet she felt not threat of this woman. She just watched her intently, trying to figure out how this woman from Tattooine knew who she was yet she had no clue who this woman was. Yutee removed the damp cloth from her wound and cleared her throat before looking to Padme. "My name is Mali...Mali Skywalker, I am the sister of Shmi Skywalker." She said softly looking to her, Padme's ears rang, she didn't know Anakin had an aunt, not a biological one anyway. "Excuse me?" she forced out through her ringing ears, afraid she had misunderstood. Yutee...Mali knew she had to explain further for her to understand properly. "Our father sold my sister Shmi as a slave when she unexpectedly became pregnant, pregnancy out of wedlock is dishonourable to the family name...even here on Tattooine." she said softly remembering Padme's words to not wake the babies. She paused for a moment watching as Padme became pale unsure how to take it, but listening intently. "I was the only one that stuck by Shmi, I was even there when she gave birth to Anakin...she had the choice, send him to the orphanage in hopes someone would find him and bring him a new life, or raise him, in a life of slavery. She told me that she trusted in the universe, that the universe gave her this child for a reason and to give him away would disrespect the plans of the galaxy. So, I supported her, secretly of course, I gave her food and water, money if she needed it whilst she raised Anakin under the control of her slave master. A few days after Anakin's 9th birthday, two Jedi arrived in the town, with a girl...you." She said simply. "I kept my distance but you looked no younger than 14, so beautiful, and clean, well represented although you tried to hide it, I knew you were an important figure. I watched how Anakin grew an attachment to you, how Shmi couldn't help but smile when she saw her son living a normal life, even if it was just for a moment. Then this new opportunity occurred, for Anakin to train and become a Jedi Knight, to make a difference to this galaxy...Shmi knew even in her heartbreak that this was meant to be, and although she could not be with him, she asked me to follow him throughout his life, guide him, tell her about her son and so I did." Padme felt a small tear roll down her cheek at the story of Anakin, her Ani, oh how she missed him, how she wondered about his new life, he must be so frightened, so lost. "I stayed on Coruscant for some time, worked in cheap bars to get me by, I was so worried when you had a target on your back Padme, but Anakin saved you, he always did save you and you saved him. I could see how much he loved you. Before his mother's death I returned to Tattooine, told her the news, that you were in love, and although you had refused it, it was clear to see. It was meant to be." She said softly. "Anyway, the time had passed and I followed you less and less, I felt like I was intruding on a life that wasn't mine anymore, that and it was difficult to follow a Jedi Knight who was on a different planet every few months. A few weeks before Anakin returned to you on Coruscant, I was held hostage on a ship, so dark and terrifying and I was threatened, by the emperor I had heard so much about. He told me that if I continue to watch over Anakin that terrible things would happen to the remainder of my family, that Anakin could not know I lived." She shrugged at the words, still not understanding it. "I came back to Tattooine under a new identity ever since. I have not seen my family since, but I have heard the stories, Anakin's fall broke my heart...I felt as though I had failed his mother." Mali was too becoming emotional and Padme felt so guilty, so connected to this woman. She was her family...by marriage of course but still, her twins were the last thing she had of Anakin, now Mali was too. Padme wiped her tears once more before simply leaning her hand over to Mali's placing it on top. "I am so sorry for the pain you have endured." She said softly looking to her.
After a moment of silence between the pair as they connected and took everything in, even Mali who had not spoke of this story to anyone in months. Padme already knew that this was a hard time for a lot of people, but how deep it had effected so many people wounded her in ways she didn't think it was possible. Mali knew her story was still not over and looked to Padme, "I am no force user, but I do practice communications with those who have passed. It's why I am here...Shmi Skywalker heard you." Padme choked instantly at her words, her visit to her mother in law's grave, what she thought was simply a pointless closure for herself, became so much more than that. "She wanted you to know that you did not fail Anakin, you gave him the love he needed most, you took care of him when she couldn't and for that she is forever grateful. She also told me to tell you that she wants to apologise to you, for the pain Anakin has caused you, she knows that this is not the boy she raised, and that one day he will return. She is proud of you Padme, proud of what you have done and are doing for the twins, she says they're beautiful and that she will be with you always." Just when Padme thought she had stopped crying, her tears once more drowned her cheeks. "She asked me to watch over you, guide you and help you as you start this new life...if you will let me?" Mali asked with an arched eyebrow, looking to her nephew's wife. Padme took a moment before taking a deep breath to swallow her tears, before nodding, "One condition..." She said softly. Mali nodded for her to tell her. "My identity cannot be known, as far as you are concerned I am Annie Varla, a nobody who fled her dying planet as a result of the war for a safer more peaceful life for her children. If the Sith find my babies..." Padme paused at the thought of the evilness capturing her children, it tormented her. "They can't find my babies." She stated strong. Mali nodded, "I will die before allowing any harm to come to them." She promised, she was so sincere, and she was true. Padme felt that, she felt no threat, no lies, no deception.
Padme woke up to the sun shining through the following morning, she had fallen asleep at the table, her eyes puffy and heavy from the crying the night prior. At first she thought it was all a dream until she realised everything that Mali had said last night was real. Having someone else around that understood her pain would be nice, someone else to help raise her children and someone else to protect them, but she knew that convincing Obi Wan of this would prove to be her greatest challenge. Still, what she decided for those children mattered more now than ever. Seeing that it was still rather early for the babies to wake up yet, she quickly checked on them before stepping outside her hut to see the suns rising high in the sky. Moving her hand to her heart. Looking up to the sky and smiling to herself as she showed her gratitude to her mother in law.
"Thank you..."