Chapter 3
When Anakin awoke from his dream, he found Obi Wan and Padme right by his side, full of relief and concern before he realised he was in the physician's chambers. "What happened?" He asks "What am I doing in here?" He adds as Obi Wan answers him. "We were hoping you could tell us. Two farmers found you in the marketplace not from the entrance to the city, unconscious and a wound to your head, mumbling before they sent the guards for us" he explained "You'll be fine but the physician said you've hit your head" he explained as Anakin sat up in the bed trying to remember what happened - last thing he remembered was being in the forest with Thalia.
"I remember patrolling the city for the night checking in with the guards then stopping off in the tavern" he replies, this was half true because it was after he had a drink he decided to seek out Thalia. Padme sighs "You had us all worried, we can't lose you Anakin, especially not Thalia still out there" she reminds him as Anakin places a hand on hers. "I promise, I'll be fine. Protecting you and the children is my priority but the King on the other side" he teases.
Obi Wan shook his head, same old Anakin, never resisted a chance to tease him. Obi Wan then looks at his brother, "Anakin, you would tell us if something was wrong, right?' He asks. Anakin is quiet - he hated lying to his brother but he didn't want to worry about them till after he talked to Bail and his wife. "Of course" he simply replies before Padme speaks up again. "Well, as soon as physician allows you to leave, we need you to watch over the children. Bail, Breha, Obi Wan and I wish to discuss our current peace treaty" she explains.
Anakin looked over at her curiously but said nothing - he thought Bail and Breha were visiting on a personal visit, no business at all, so why do they want to talk about the peace treaty now, was Thalia right about watching their allies closely.
It was an hour later when Anakin left the physician's chambers. Padme and Obi Wan went to see their children whilst Anakin headed straight for the guest chambers where Bail and Breha were. Anakin knocked twice on the door before it opened revealing Bail's surprised face. "Anakin, this is unexpected, is Padme and Obi Wan ready for us?" He asks as Anakin entered the room. "Not yet, they're just with their children but I wanted a moment to talk with you both" he confesses seeing Breha sitting at the dresser. "I thought you had come here for a personal visit, and Padme informs me you wanted to talk about the current peace treaty" he reveals
Bail shrugs innocently "It's only a small conversation, just to ensure everything is in order. When we heard about Shira and Thalia's last attack on this kingdom, we decided to do everything we can so that we are ready" he quietly nods. "Tell me Bail, what exactly do you know about the witches or Thalia in particular?' He asks. Bail straightens and Anakin doesn't miss the worried look on his face as Breha spoke up. "The witches are not to be treated. Padme told us Thalia wants to take revenge on what happened to her parents, we want to ensure we can help" she insists ignoring the tightening in her chest knowing Thalia was watching them somehow right now.
Anakin looks back at her "And you've never seen her before?" He asks right before Bail took action. "Anakin, I think this is highly unnecessary. I don't think Padme or Obi Wan would like to hear that their head guard is interrogating their guests" he reminds him. Anakin says nothing but heads for the door. "I'll be watching both of you. Thalia's been trained well and she will do everything she can to get this kingdom" he warns her before he exits leaving Bail and Breha in thought fearing that he would soon discover their role in Thalia's plan.
"Uncle Anakin!" Jacen, Kiara and Lily cried happily upon seeing their uncle as he entered the library where they were with their parents. Padme, who was holding Kiara, got to her feet. "They're very excited to spend the morning with you Anakin" she told him handing Kiara over to him before he takes Lily in his other arm from his brother. "They just can't get enough of their favourite uncle" he grins as Obi Wan just chuckles. Padme kissed all her children before she headed out of the library. Obi Wan started to follow her not before Anakin pulled him back. "Obi Wan, during the meeting just watch Bail and Breha and let me know if there is anything suspicious" he warns. Obi Wan looked curiously over at his brother "Anakin, are you sure everything is alright?" He asks. Anakin sighs "I hope so, but we need to be prepared in case any allies decide to turn against us" he admits.
Obi Wan nods placing a hand on his shoulder "Padme and I always feel safe with you" he insists heading out and leaving Anakin alone with the children. "Who wants to go to the marketplace?' He asks receiving an excited chorus of me's from his nieces and nephew.
Thalia's plot was proceeding as she had foreseen even with her encounter with Anakin in the forest. The head royal guard was getting suspicious but it didn't matter. She was close to taking to the throne. She looked down through the veil seeing the scene before her - Padme and Obi Wan talking with Bail and Breha. She held Breha's heart in her hand smirking - it would soon be time for this to all end.
The marketplace was busier than ever and Anakin was ensuring he kept Jacen, Kiara and Lily close. He held Lily in his arms as Kiara walked alongside him, little hand clenching his tunic as Jacen walked on the other side of his uncle waving to the friendly townspeople who passed them and smiled back. Anakin had never seen it so busy so he was on alert.
As they passed the tavern, they then moved over to a fruit stall where Anakin picked up three apples and handing the seller some coins including a little extra. He passes one to Lily and one to Kiara before handing the third to Jacen noticing the little boy looked a little upset. Anakin kneels down to his nephew. "Jacen, buddy, is everything alright?" He asks as Jacen shrugs his little shoulders. "Uncle Anakin, I didn't tell mommy or daddy about this but can the witch still come back?" He asks fear in his voice as Anakin goes silent - Thalia was attempting to come back but Anakin knew this would defeat her again so he didn't want to frighten Jacen right now. "Jacen, I promise you that no harm will come to you or your sisters" he insists despite his encounters and dreams, this was a promise he would not break.
Jacen then looked up at his uncle. "But the witches got to you" he sniffs just as Kiara spoke up "I saved you uncle Ani" she giggles referring to how she helped her mother get his heart back from Shira. Anakin then looks at his niece "Were we eavesdropping again?" He asks tickling her hearing her giggle "But I did" she replies as Anakin shakes his head then turns back to Jacen "The witches may have tried controlling me, but your parents didn't back down and they'll continue to protect you" he assures him right before he heard Lily whimper.
Anakin holds her close "Lily, princess, what's wrong?" He asks seeing her bury her head in his shoulder before a voice spoke. "Well, well, look who's wandered from the palace?' They taunted as Anakin looked up toes five, tall, rough looking men moving towards them, three of them he recognised as having been down in the dungeons after several violent alterations and it wasn't uncommon for lowlifes to try and confront the royal family.
Anakin got to his feet, moving Jacen and Kiara behind him. "You guys never learn do you?" He asks "You must really miss the dungeons" he tells them as the leader sneers, fisting clenching "We won't stop till we can send a message to the Queen and King" he simply replies. Anakin places Lily down as Jacen takes hold of his little sister's hand whilst remaining close to his uncle right at the moment Anakin sensed the dark side around them and the marketplace was suddenly empty.
Anakin takes out his weapon as he stares straight back at them. "The only way you can send a message to the Queen and King is on your knees in the throne room with my sword at your backs" he warns them however none of the men backed down instead moving closer towards him. Anakin held his lightsaber towards them before he sees some of his guards running towards him. Anakin looks back at the men "I'd advised you all back down unless you want to see the dungeons again?' He asks however it was at that moment the men, Anakin and the guards were sent flying off their feet leaving Jacen, Kiara and Lily all standing there frightened.
"Uncle Ani" Lily sniffs as Kiara looks over seeing him unconscious as Jacen sees several fast moving cloaked figures rushing into the marketplace followed by one all in black. Jacen stands in front of his sisters as Thalia smirked through her hood before she moves over and kneels down in front of him. She pushes back her hood
"Hello little prince" she speaks "Remember me?" She asks as Jacen stands strong "My family will stop you again" he warns as Thalia laughs "Your family won't even know I'm here until its too late" she warns.
Flashback - 10 minutes ago
Obi Wan couldn't ignore the sharp troubling disturbance he had as he sat with his wife and their guests. It was also at that moment that the weather outside had decided to change, from sunny and clear, to dark and full of thunder. Obi Wan startled his wife and their friends when he suddenly jumped to his feet.
"Obi Wan, is something wrong?" Padme asked "Is the children?" She adds as Obi Wan looks around "We need to get to safety" he insists "Guards!" He exclaimed seeing two of his guards rushing to the room. "Secure the palace and send for Anakin and my children!" He ordered right at the moment he heard Breha cry out clutching at her chest
"Breha!" Bail cried just as the thunder roared in the sky once more as guards swarmed into the room and that dark disturbance Obi Wan felt before, cut through him like sword - his children and Anakin were in danger!
End of flashback
His vision was blurry and all he could see was darkness however the thing that alerted Anakin awake, was the cries of Jacen, Kiara and Lily. "Uncle Ani' Kiara and Lily cried as Anakin pulled himself up finding he was down in the dungeons. He groaned. "I really didn't want to find myself down here again" he mutters before he looks around finding his nieces and nephew holding onto the bars of the next cell beside him, their eyes red from crying
Anakin raced over towards the cell kneeling in front of them "Are you alright?" He asks them as Jacen shakes his head "It's her uncle Anakin, the witch who hurt you" he sobbed as Kiara cried once more "I want mommy and daddy" she cried. Anakin kneels down gently touching her little hands that were gripping the bars.
"You'll see them again I promise" he insists just as Jacen spoke up "I want to help you uncle Anakin" he insists "Father and you have been training me well. I can help" he insists. Anakin smiles over at him "I know but you can help by staying her protecting your sisters" he explains. Jacen looked a little upset but understood before he saw Anakin get to his feet. "Now, I just need to figure out how to get out of here and find your parents" he says.
The throne room was cold and dark, darker and colder than Padme had ever remembered it being, but that didn't matter for Padme glared over at the young woman sitting in her throne staring back at her and with a boastful smirk on her face. Bail and Breha stood to the left, looking ashamed and remained quiet. Her husband had been placed in force resistant cuffs whilst she had her wrists in cuffs.
"It's over, your highness" Thalia scoffed. "This kingdom will be mine, just like my parents wanted and you and your husband will be dead, your children future Sith" she informed him as Obi Wan shook his head. "I won't let that happen" he snaps back as Padme speaks up "Your parents were murderers who killed my father and tried to corrupt Anakin and my son, I will not let this kingdom fall" she informs her as Thalia smirks
"So, you will allow your friend to die?" She asks her taking out a glowing red heart and starts to squeeze it seeing Breha cry out in pain falling to her knees as Bail was quick to her side as Thalia smirked. "You don't have to see her dead" she explains "Just surrender the kingdom to me and you can all live" she goes on. Padme shook her head "Never" she replies shaking her head "This kingdom isn't yours" she warns her. Thalia laughs before she gets up off the throne moving over towards Obi Wan. "Don't you touch my husband!" She exclaims as Thalia grins
"You aren't the one in control here" she warns her placing a hand on Obi Wan's chest right before a voice spoke. "She may not be but you're wrong about her" came Bail's voice. His wife, in his arms as he remained strong. Thalia looked from Obi Wan to him. "You may have my wife's heart, you can take Padme's family from her but you're still a cold, manipulative witch all alone" he informs her.
Thalia turns towards him "Careful your highness" she warns "I may have promised you and your wife would be spared…" she stops before she grabs hold of his face forcing him to look into her yellow eyes "But I can simply change that killing you both" she insists. It was then she heard Obi Wan speak "You won't win. Anakin will ensure this time will be the last time" he warns her as Thalia grins.
"It's sweet you think your brother will rescue you all once again but I know deep down what he really wants" she explains. Obi Wan shook his head "You don't know my brother like I do. Anakin will save us" he informs her as Padme tilts her head - fear clutched her heart once more only wanting to know where her children were, she hoped that Thalia had just imprisoned them.
Thalia was now standing in front of Obi Wan and Padme - "If you won't surrender the kingdom to me, then I know another way of ruling the kingdom" she informs them. Bail's eyes widen as she knew what she was about to do and before he could stop her, Thalia plunged one hand into Obi Wan's chest and the other into Padme's.
Anakin had successfully managed to get out of the dungeons promising he'll return for Jacen, Kiara and Lily once he found their parents. He had just disarmed another witch, even without his weapon when he felt a disturbance in the force - his brother - he was in pain. "Obi Wan" he breathes. He then picks up his pace, he just hoped his "dreams" weren't about to come true.
He fought another two witches who tried to stop him. He picked up one of their staffs to fight the second witch before he knocks her down and he charges on towards the throne room when he heard a voice call out to him. "Anakin!" They cried. Anakin halts in his steps - it wasn't his brother but Padme and her eyes were full of tears and Thalia standing behind her, smirking.
Anakin tightened his grip on the staff "Let her go and where is my brother!?" He snapped. Thalia moved towards him as Padme remained in her spot. "I would have thought this is what you wanted" Thalia points out "You loved her too and I promised you, that if I could control her heart, she's yours" she reminds him.
"You can't force love" he says "Let her go" he tells her before Thalia, instead squeezes Padme's heart she had been holding once more causing Padme to cry out. "If you don't care for her, why should she live?' She asks him "I kill her, I ascend the throne if she's dead" she explains. She places a hand on his arm. "You can help raise those children to follow me" she suggests. Anakin glares at her. "Never" he replies
"Where is my brother?" He asks once more before he hears Padme softly speak "Anakin" she cries as he was by her side. "Padme, are you alright?" He asks as Thalia grins "How long she remains alive, is up to you" Thalia warns him. "I'm taking this kingdom from her and she'll watch as I make my parents proud" she reveals. Anakin shakes his head.
"Thalia, when I met you, back when I was your captive, I sensed that there was good in you but then when your mother died, and you came back to me, I sensed darkness" he reveals as Thalia angrily snapped at him "You murdered my mother!" She cried ignoring Padme's cries once more as she had squeezed her heart once again
"Your mother kidnapped my nephew and I in an attempt to have us help you take over the kingdom. Your father murdered Padme's father, whilst trying to murder her and her new husband. Your parents are Sith and the Sith will never rise again" he informs her. Thalia stares coldly at him before she raised a hand and with her powers, Anakin was thrown back into the wall as Thalia looked over at a tearful Padme.
"Your brother in law is a fool and all of you will be dead and this kingdom will be mine" she informs her. She calls for four witches to drag Anakin away whilst forcing Padme to her feet and following her back through the cold halls. This was far from over.
