Chapter 21
The five years that followed were hard and dark ones for Padme, her hope and faith in Anakin had all but died out as he continued his reign committing unspeakable atrocities. She knew he felt it as he came to see her less and less as the months went by leading to the point, she only saw him when public appearances required the Empress to be at his side. Today being the fifth Empire Day was one of such occasions, her droid woke her presenting her with the gown Vader had chosen for her to wear for the ball later that evening.
"Lord Vader had this sent for you Lady Padme." T-654 greeted as her mistress slowly sat up in bed.
After Belme and Commander Bly vanished without a trace and Vader realized they were both in on Padme's plan he only ever allowed her to be in the company of droids and the occasional Clone from his most trusted of men. He would allow her to communicate with her family but never face to face and never without supervision from the droids. Although T-654 did help with her loneliness being around the droid always made her think of 3po and R2, how she missed them.
"Did he leave orders to when I am expected to be ready?"
"Yes milady, you are to be ready by 10 for the begging ceremony and then will be accompanying him to the dinner this evening."
"Did he mention why? In four years, I have only ever been required at the closing party."
"Shall I ask for clarification for you?"
"No… That will be all 654…. I have a lot to get done." Padme dismissed the droid as she entered her fresher.
Padme sat on the floor of the shower, bringing her knees up against her chest and just stared blankly as the hot water washed over her. She must have lost track of how long she had been there as before she knew it the water had gone ice cold. She quickly jumped up and shut it off then wrapping herself in a large towel. Getting ready had become a difficult feat for her, without her handmaiden's assistance and only being out of practice as she rarely left her room. She starred at herself in the mirror of her vanity and sighed. At only 35 years old she felt as if her life had all but ended and the thought of death grew more appealing.
She had no hope left of ever being able to see her children ever again. The comfort of knowing they were still safe from Vader even after all his attempts to hunt them down was a small consolation of that fact. She often spent her days wondering what they were doing, she didn't even know if they had been reunited with each other as she told Ahsoka she didn't want to know what their plan was in case Vader tried to get the info from her. She had hoped they had and that Ahsoka found Obi Wan and together they were protecting and even training the twins to be able to fight if ever danger found them.
As it always seemed to do these days' time had seemed to escape her and it wasn't until her husband's intimidating image appeared in the mirror behind her. "I said 10."
"I… Yes, I was told… I guess I just didn't realize the time and how long getting ready for a formal event such as this takes me longer as I do not have the assistance I used to."
"And who should be blamed for that…." His tone was cold and harsh, no trace of love or adoration seemed to remain as it once had.
"I don't wish to fight with you…. I will be ready in fifteen minutes…"
He nodded at her and to her surprise he sat close by her just watching. She tried to not show her discomfort as she went about applying a simple make up look and began to fiddle with her long curls.
"Don't." He said unexpectedly causing her to jump slightly.
"Don't what?"
"Put your hair up…. I like it when its down…. I was told that the dress I chosen was one that you would wear your hair down with…. I didn't realize that there were rules to what hair with which dress, but the shop girl explained it to me…. In excruciating detail."
She couldn't help but let out a small laugh and was caught by surprise that he had been the one to actually go shop for her clothes. She always assumed he sent one of the female imperials to do it. "…. As you wish milord." She answered before brushing her hair out of her face and pinning it there leaving her thick curls to shower down her back.
"Do you like the dress?"
She looked over at it and nodded softly. "I guess I should have known you picked it out, it looks like the kind of dress you always seemed to like seeing me in."
"Simple but elegant… and easy to take off." Vader made eye contact briefly with her before standing. "I will leave you to dress."
"Wait…. I will need you to zip it for me…"
Vader walked over and stood behind her so close she could feel the heat from his body his eyes locked on hers through their reflection. He reached out to touch her which caused her to flinch in surprise. "I'll send in the droid." He said as he turned to leave her alone.
She felt a little wave of guilt in her gut, she knew he wasn't going to hurt her but the thought of being touched by him after so long just was an uncomfortable though to her. She couldn't even remember the last time he touched her besides allowing her to hold onto his arm as the entered the dinner last Empire day. It wasn't that she was afraid of him it was that she just didn't recognize who he was anymore, and it made her feel unsure.
The shuttle ride to the event was filled with a tense silence at first, making the uneasy feeling in her stomach more intense. He sat fifteen feet away from her even though they were the only two in the back. Whatever he had been feeling earlier seemed to be gone and she was left with his seemingly uncaring mood. The holo news was playing on the small screen before them announcing how Emperor Vader had found five rouge Jedi hiding on Naboo and single handedly found and executed them along with the Queen who had been harboring them. She couldn't help but scoff in disgust before shutting off the monitor and turning to face away from him.
"Glad to see I continue to affect you in such passionate ways." His sarcasm was not missed by her.
"Does there go one day where you do not cause harm or kill?"
He was silent a moment with a devilish grin on his face as he slid in closer to her. "So far today my hands remain clean of any blood… Does this earn me a prize from my Empress?"
She could feel his hot breath on her ear as he whispered into it.
"Don't do that." Her words were only a whisper while she shifted in her seat to give herself what little distance, she could between them and turning to face him.
"Why not?" The smile he gave her reminded her so much of the look he gave her that day in her room as she packed to go into hiding before the war.
She took a good look at her husband for the first time in forever and she wished she hadn't. Her heart still fluttered, and he still took her breath away. She didn't see the scars that took over half his face or the fact his eyes were burning the color of the Sith instead of his beautiful blue. She saw her Ani and even now she had trouble coming to terms with that.
"It makes me uncomfortable."
"You are my wife… I have a right."
"A right? And I have no say in what happens with my body?"
"I wasn't talking about sex Padme! I just wanted to be close to you… touch…" He sounded pained for a moment but caught himself. "Forget it. I expect perfection today Empress… Speak not unless you are spoken to and only when it looks good on my and the Empire. Am I understood?"
"Why do you even make me come her. Everyone knows I am a glorified prisoner… a possession and hold no power or influence."
"That's my business…." He sat back watching her intently. "Don't underestimate your value. You think you know everything, and you are wrong."
"Enlighten me then… "
"Enough! We're here." He snapped as he stood and walked to the shuttle door.
Dr. Anella was there waiting an arrogant smile on her over done face, at least until she saw Padme wrap her arm around Vader.
"Empress… What a surprise to see you."
Padme nodded her head slightly in acknowledgement and unconsciously pressed herself closer to Vader as they walked. "Good Morning Doctor."
"Milord I didn't realize you would her with you." She spoke as if Padme were not standing beside them.
"She is my wife and Empress of my empire, why wouldn't she be here?" The volume and tone of his voice caused Anella to squirm uncomfortably which put a satisfied smile on Padme's face.
"Forgive me milord I just think you should have a woman at your side who lifts you up and fulfills and satisfies all your needs and desires."
Padme didn't have time to even register what the woman had said before she saw her go flying across the platform slamming hard into the side of the shuttle and falling down to the ground with a loud and sickly thud.
"You dare disrespect your Empress in my presence?!" Vader shouted holding out his hand, the way he had done year ago on Mustafar and began choking the already broken Anella. "My satisfaction of my needs and desires are my wives to take care of when she sees fit!"
Padme reached for his extended hand and pulled him around hard to face her causing him to release Anella, leaving her to wail about trying to catch her breath. "Don't, please."
"You would have another woman make a move on me right in front of you? I mean that little to you that you are okay with this?"
"Ani of course not. I just don't want you to kill someone over it."
"She disrespected you… this will not stand Padme."
"Remove her rank… Take her position not her life. Send her away where we don't have to interact with her. Please…."
The rage in Vader's eyes only intensified with the annoyance he felt from his wife's bleeding heart. He turned and walked over to Anella, lifting her roughly to her feet. "You should get on your hands and knees and kiss the Empress feet for her mercy. It is because of her you still have your worthless life. I will make this clear. Commander Bly chose a former man over being with you and you think you are worthy to have me leave my wife's bed for yours? You disgust me. She is everything you could never be, get out of my site and wait for my decision of what is to become of you."
Anella looked at Vader fear and embarrassment radiating off her through the force. She didn't dare look to Padme knowing he would sense her feelings if she did and most likely end her. As she was instructed, she hurried off the best she could, still unable to get a whole breath in.
Vader turned back to his wife and walked over to her extending his arm for her to take once again. Padme took hold without hesitation, even resting her head against him as they walked as she used to. "Thank you for respecting my wishes in this instance."
The open affection was not missed my Vader who instantly became excited at the feel of her against him again. "Since my hands are still clean of blood perhaps, we can renegotiate some sort of reward." His tone was flat, but she picked up on the playfulness in it.
"Had I not been here, what would have happened?" She couldn't help herself but to ask.
"I'm not sure. She probably wouldn't have said anything she just did. However, any woman who suggests they come to my bed are punished. You are my wife and we may not be on the best terms but… I have no interest in sex that isn't with you and no one disrespects you or our marriage."
Padme felt a ping of pride replaced quickly with disgust in herself for it. "Ani… Why am I here…. You have never taken me to the opening ceremony before."
She felt him tense up. "Our empire needs us on a united front. The growing Rebellion has started to cause many problems. I need you to help keep the moths in control. I may have been ruling for five years but I still don't know politics."
