Chapter 2
That evening, everyone had retired to their chambers for the evening and the palace was quiet for the evening. Anakin had just done one final round of security before checking in with his guards before he retired for himself. His encounter with Thalia was still in his mind and what concerned him was what she said about being cautious about his allies. Did she mean Bail and Breha? He sensed nothing from them from the moment they arrived and he knew they had been friends with Padme and her family for years unless someone else was coming to the kingdom.
He would need to be on alert in the morning but he was too tired to think about even more as he climbed into bed and didn't even realise his head hit the pillow as he drifted to sleep.
Anakin's dream
Fires were burning across the city as Anakin could hear the screams of panic and fear coming from the citizens around the town, the guards were busy trying to hold back the mysterious masked figures as Anakin then heard three frightened voices calling to him. "Uncle Anakin!" Came Jacen's voice before he turned to see him, Kiara and Lily running towards him
"What are you doing out here?" He asks "Where's your mother and father?" He asks them as Kiara's brown eyes stared straight up at him. "Bad lady took them and they told us to run" she cried as Jacen nodded. "Uncle Anakin, it's the witch from before" he cries. Anakin felt his blood boiling. "Jacen, take your sisters and go lock yourselves in my room" he orders them as Jacen tries to argue "But, uncle—-" he is then cut off, "Jacen, please, just watch after your sisters" he insists taking off down the hallway.
Anakin didn't have to go far as he raced towards the throne room, he heard his brother's voice. "Anakin!" He called out as Anakin skidded to a halt - there in front of the throne room, was Thalia, three Sith witches standing behind Padme and Obi Wan, their hands cuffed behind their backs. Anakin tightened his grip on his sword as his eyes glared at her "Thalia, let them go, you don't want to do this" he warns her as she smirks. "They killed my parents, they need to die!" She cried as Anakin moved towards her.
"Thalia, when we first met, I sensed there was some good in you, you can still turn back" he insists "Perhaps then….." He tried to charm her as Thalia tilts her head before she suddenly spins around and pulls Padme and Obi Wan's hearts from their chests. "No!" Anakin cried however Thalia only crushed their hearts into nothing as Anakin sees them then fall to the floor dead as Thalia turns back to him…..
End of dream
Anakin suddenly woke up, sweat dripping down his forehead and breathing heavily as he tried to understand what just happened. Thalia came to the castle and the kingdom was burning before she killed Padme and Obi Wan and in the dream he tried to get her to turn over to their side. He would not see his dream come true, but tomorrow morning, he would ensure he remained on alert once more and paid attention to their guests, perhaps Thalia's warning was real.
When Padme awoke the next morning, she found Obi Wan still asleep and one arm draped over her waist. She smiles before she brushes the hair from his face seeing a smirk cross his face before his eyes slowly opened "Morning beautiful" he whispers before she leans in to kiss him passionately
"Why do you just make me want to just lie because beside you all day?" She asks as he grins "We still can, we'll just let Anakin entertain the children and Bail and Breha can enjoy our kingdom for themselves" he explains. Padme was silent - strangely enough that felt like a good idea but then she remembered their son. "While that does sound tempting" she grins "We did promise Jacen he'll be able to go down to the training grounds and show Bail his training" she reminds him as he only pulls her closer "But that's not till later this morning" pulling the sheets over them before he hears her giggle then his lips against hers in a romantic kiss.
Whilst Obi Wan and Padme enjoyed a passionate morning, Sabe and Dorme had headed into the children's rooms to ready them for the day. "Aunt Sabe!" Kiara cried as Sabe entered the room finding her already awake. Sabe smiled, even though she was just Padme's friend, Kiara looked to her as an aunt. "Did you sleep well, Kiara?" She asks helping her from the bed as she smiles "Yes, but Lily cried" she replies as Sabe laughs. "She's only little sweetie, she just had a bad dream" she tells her before she sees Jacen sits off to the side playing with his toys
"You're awfully quiet this morning Jacen, everything alright?" She asks as the young boy raises his head. "I'm just excited to be spending the day with father" he confesses. Sabe smiles - ever since Shira and Thalia's attack on the castle, Jacen wanted to protect his family even though he was only eight. It had shocked Padme but she knew her husband wouldn't over do it with his training and he was quite the natural, although as Anakin teased, he picked that up from his uncle.
Kiara pouted "Training's boring!" She cried as Jacen scoffs "Only because you don't know how to hold a sword!" He snaps as Kiara stuck her tongue out "Swords are stupid" she tells him as Sabe cuts in. "Alright you two that's enough, Kiara and your sister will be spending the day with your mother whilst Jacen and his father are in the training grounds and Kiara, perhaps one day you'll want to join your brother" she suggests before she carries her off to get ready for the day leaving Jacen to continue playing with his toys.
As Bail and Breha woke up that morning, Bail was once again thinking about why they had really come here to see their friends. Breha sat on the edge of the bed before she looked over at her husband. "I don't feel right being here Bail" she admits "Padme and Obi Wan have always been good friends to us and what we've been made to do is wrong" she confesses as Bail sighs moving over towards her taking a seat beside her and one arm around her.
"I know Breha, but that witch has your heart and she could kill you at any time and that is something I do not wish to see happen. Our friends are strong and they have defeated this witch and her parents twice. She won't win" he reminds her. "We just need to allow…." He almost choked on the words "her plan to start before it can be stopped" he insists. Breha looked up at her husband seeing his face sombre but seeing a little hope.
"I hope you're right because I've seen how Padme and Obi Wan dote on their children and they don't deserve to lose their parents" she points out as Bail gently kisses his wife's cheek. "And they won't. They're still our friends and we just have to ensure no one becomes suspicious" he tells her "Now, let's get ready for the day" he tells her getting up to change as Breha remained on the bed, ignoring the slight quick pains she was feeling as she feared Thalia was watching them.
One hour later, Obi Wan had taken Bail and Jacen down to the training grounds and leaving Anakin to stay with Padme, Breha, Kiara and Lily. Padme carried Lily in her arms as she walked out in the gardens with Breha as Kiara skipped on ahead. "Your children are adorable Padme. You and Obi Wan are doing a wonderful job raising them" Breha comments. Padme smiles as Lily started playing with her mother's necklace. "Thank you Breha. They're our treasures and we love them all dearly and of course, we have their uncle watching over them as well" she admits looking back at Anakin who smiles back at her.
It was then Anakin spotted in the distance, a fast moving dangerous fire and Kiara was innocently skipping straight towards the flames as she picked flowers. "Your highnesses, get back to the palace now!" He exclaims rushing past them leaving Padme startled "Anakin, what's—" she then sees the fire moving towards them. Padme hands Lily to Breha before she starts to hurry after Anakin but not before Breha pulls her back. "Padme, no!" She cries leaving Padme only to watch hoping her daughter and brother in law would be alright.
"Kiara!" Anakin cried seeing her look over at him. He quickly scoops her up as the fire starts to surround them. "Uncle Ani!" She sniffs clinging to him as he holds her close. "I'm going to get you out of here Kiara" he promises before he senses another presence - Thalia. Meters from him, Thalia appeared. "This is only the beginning of the kingdom burning" she warns as Anakin shakes his head "You'll never win" he informs her as she laughs "That child will soon find herself all alone" she warned as Anakin shook his head "You're wrong" he only replies as he hears Padme and Obi Wan calling for him. "Be careful of your allies!" Thalia warns before she disappears leaving Anakin to see an opening before the flames surrounded them completely and raced through the opening feeling the fire inches his skin but he kept Kiara close as guards ran up prepared to extinguish the fire, the fire suddenly disappeared leaving everyone stunned.
"Mommy! Daddy!" Kiara cried as Padme and Obi Wan rushed toward Anakin and Kiara. Bail and Breha were holding onto Lily and Jacen. "What was that all about?" Obi Wan asked his brother as he looked back towards where the fire was and his encounter with Thalia. "It was no accident fire, this was to send a message" Anakin informs them as Obi Wan and Padme exchanged glances knowing who Anakin was referring to. "She's not going to give up isn't she?' Padme asked as Obi Wan wrapped an arm around her. "I promise you she won't win. Her parents were defeated and so will she" he promises before Anakin leads them back over towards where Bail and Breha stood.
"What happened to the fire?" Breha asked as Bail remained quiet, holding onto Jacen's hand. Obi Wan shook his head. "It was sorcery, no doubt caused by the witches. It appears Thalia isn't finished with us" he explained. Bail straightens as Breha then says "If you want Bail and I to leave" she tells them ignoring the tightening inside her chest as from a distance Thalia was gently squeezing her heart. Thalia then smirks remembering what her mother did with Anakin - "Witches are known for their secrecy why would she risk coming here again especially after what happened?" As Obi Wan shook his head as Anakin curiously looked over at her. "Thalia as vengeance to avenge her parents, she won't stop until this kingdom is hers" Obi Wan explained before they started to walk back towards the palace.
Anakin remained at the back, still hearing Thalia's words in his head. Why was she warning him about allies? Bail and Breha were close friends of Padme's family and he couldn't imagine them harming Padme but then again, had Thalia gotten to them before they arrived? He quickly shook that thought from his head when his brother turned back towards him as they neared the palace once more.
"Thank you for protecting my family and saving Kiara brother" he tells him "I don't know what what would had happened if we lost Kiara" he admits as Anakin laughs "As head royal guard and uncle to those children, I'd give my life to protect them and you both" he reminds him as Obi Wan wrapped an arm around his brother "Well, I'm very thankful for your protection" he replies before they followed Padme, the children, Bail and Breha into the palace.
Deciding to stop Thalia from another attack, and using the cover of darkness to allow him to slip out from the palace once Padme, Obi Wan, Jacen, Kiara and Lily were asleep and under the watch of his guards. He kept his hood up over his face as he made his way through the marketplace and out into the forest. He hoped Thalia would want to confront him once more and he would try reasoning with her, for the sake of his brother and his family. The air was cool and there was a slight breeze in the area as Anakin moved further into the forest but still could see the kingdom in sight. He stopped and looked around before he was then startled:
"You're very brave to leave them alone?' They asked "How were you sure I would come?" They added. Anakin slowly turns around. "Ever since I was your captive, I sensed your feelings for me and even though now there is darkness tracing through you, I sensed whatever was there you felt for me before still is there" he confesses. Thalia, black hood over her face smirked, her yellow eyes staring directly at him.
"If I felt anything for you, that was before you killed my mother!" She shouted, she pushes him back towards one of the trees behind him using her magics to have the vines wrap themselves around Anakin. He struggles as she then approaches pushing her hood back. "You, your brother and the Queen will die and your kingdom will be mine, if you thought coming here was your way of trying to save me, you're a fool" she snaps. Anakin glares back at her, whilst struggling against the vines.
"Thalia, please, your mother and Palpatine are the real villains, you're innocent, don't let Jacen, Kiara and Lily see their parents die" he pleads as Thalia raises one hand to touch his face. "It's a shame you don't join me, and you can be the only relative in those children's lives" she sighs "But at least I'll have no need for them for they'll be on Alderaan" she reveals.
Anakin's eyes widen "What did you do to Bail and Breha?" He asks as Thalia smirks "You'll see soon enough" she warns then with one last kiss, she disappeared and the vines released Anakin from his grip leaving him alone in the woods once more. He wasn't sure how he was going to tell Obi Wan and Padme what he discovered but he was going to ensure the kingdom would not burn.
Anakin's dream
His hands were cuffed behind his back as were Padme and Obi Wan's. They had all been brought to the throne room where Bail and Breha stood sombrely off to the side, holding onto the children. Thalia stood before them, gleaming. "I warned you all this kingdom would be mine" she smirks "And now, before you die, you'll see me take your throne" she informs them as Padme snaps back "You have no claim to the throne, your parents were monsters!" She cries.
Unfazed, Anakin and Obi Wan watched Thalia move over towards Padme and rip her heart from her chest! "No" Obi Wan cried as Thalia, holding Padme's heart in her hand smirks even more "You're mine now, so get up and let the fun begin" she smirks looking over at Anakin "Your highness, I want you to kill your husband" she orders as Anakin's eyes widen "No!" He cried
End of dream
