Chapter Five
The trip to Naboo was not a long one, but for Anakin it seemed so. He was anxious about his mother and would only relax once he knew that her life was no longer in danger.
There were other reasons for his anxiety however; he knew that it was only a matter of time before Palpatine summoned him. And what would he tell him? How would he explain that Senator Amidala was very much alive?
Anakin had not wanted to reflect on the reasons that Palpatine wanted Padmé dead; for the truth of the matter was, he was beginning to have doubts. Upon confronting Padmé about her alleged allegiance with the Separatists, she had denied it vehemently. And while that was nothing unusual, Anakin could read in her mind that she was telling the truth. Padmé was not a Force sensitive; she did not have the ability to hide her thoughts from someone who was. And it was crystal clear in her mind and her heart that she was telling the truth. Moreover, it was true that she had tried to help him when he had been rejected by the Jedi; in fact, everything she had told him was true. Which lead to only one conclusion: Palpatine had lied. He had lied about everything, and had been lying for many years. But why? Why??
Sensing that his mother was awake, Anakin got up and left the cockpit to attend to her. Entering the passenger lounge, he saw that Padmé had fallen asleep on the chair where he had left her. The sight of her curled up in the small and rather uncomfortable chair did something to him, but he couldn't quite describe what it was. He found an extra blanket and draped it over her, watching her sleep for a moment. All the while, he too was being watched. Shmi could see how her son looked at Padmé, and it didn't really surprise her. Anakin sensed her attention upon him and turned to her.
"How are you feeling?" he asked as he approached the bed.
"I've been better," she said with a wan smile. "Padmé has been very kind to help you," she asked, wanting to see his reaction.
Anakin nodded, glancing over at the sleeping Padmé briefly. "Yes, she has," he replied.
Shmi watched him closely, seeing the conflict he was struggling with. "What is it, Ani?" she asked.
He looked back at her. "What do you mean?" he asked.
"I can see that something is bothering you," she said. "You are not yourself."
"I'm worried about you," he replied at once. "That's what is bothering me."
Shmi nodded, not believing him for a moment. "I'm going to be okay," she assured him. "Thanks to you."
Anakin smiled, and for the first time since their reunion, she saw the little boy she had said goodbye to eleven years ago. "I knew you were in trouble, Mom," he told her. "I had to come find you. I'm just glad I got to you before it was too late."
"Yes, so am I," Shmi said, feeling drowsily once again.
"You rest," Anakin said. "We'll be at Naboo soon."
"Ani," she said, once more. "Where is Cliegg? My husband?"
Anakin hesitated, trying to think of the right words to say. "I…He went out to find you," he began. "When you were taken by the Tuskens. He and a number of others formed a search party. I'm sorry, Mom; he was killed in his efforts to find you."
Shmi could only stare at her son, a feeling of numb disbelief filling her. "No…" she began. "How do you know? What makes you think he's dead??"
Anakin sat down on the edge of the bed and took his mother's hand. "Owen told me," he told her gently. "We went to the homestead first to look for you, and he told us what had happened. I'm sorry, Mom."
Shmi closed her eyes as the tears filled them. She could only imagine how Cliegg had suffered. "He was a good man, Ani," she said softly. "You would have liked him. He wanted to meet you and now," she stopped as her grief overwhelmed her and she started to cry. Anakin put his arms around her and held her as she wept, wishing he knew the right words to make her feel better.
Padmé woke up, the uncomfortable chair hurting her back. She sat up stiffly and looked over at Shmi and was surprised to see Anakin holding her closely as she wept. She heard the words of comfort he offered her, the gentle tones with which he spoke to her. I knew you were in there somewhere, Ani, she thought. I knew your mother would find you somehow.
The central hospital of Theed had been alerted that Senator Amidala was bringing a seriously injured party to them, and were prepared for her arrival. A medical crew met them on one of the landing pads and escorted Shmi into the facility at once. Padmé and Anakin followed, but were not permitted into the intensive care unit, and had to wait in the waiting area just outside of it.
"These people are the best physicians on the planet, Anakin," Padmé assured him. "They will take good care of her."
Anakin nodded, watching the doorway to the ICU for any sign of a medic.
"Have you thought about where you will bring her after she is released? Anakin, did you hear me?"
Anakin turned back to her. "What did you say?"
Padmé walked over to him. "I asked what your plans for her are once she is released," she said.
He shook his head. "No," he said. "I haven't. She is too depressed about the death of her husband to discuss the future right now."
"I understand," Padmé replied. "It would be very hard for her to return to Tatooine now."
"I won't take her back there," he said, the anger over the way the Tuskens had abused her rising up within him again. "I won't let her be harmed, not ever again."
Padmé nodded. "Of course you won't," she replied. "What about Coruscant?"
And how would I explain that to my master? He wondered. He does not want me to think about her; much less have her in my life…
"That wouldn't work," he said simply.
"Because of Palpatine?" Padmé asked pointedly.
Anakin turned and looked at her. "Did I say that?" he snapped.
"You didn't need to," she replied, nonplussed by his anger. "She represents your past, and the good person you were, the person that Palpatine has spent a decade trying to destroy. He would not permit you to have her live with you."
Anakin could not deny a word she had said, so he simply turned away from her. "You don't know what you are talking about," he said at last.
Padmé knew that her words had hit a nerve, so she backed off, for now. "If you wish, I will arrange for her to stay with my parents," she suggested. "At least until you have figured out an alternative."
Anakin did not reply, bewildered yet again by her kindness and compassion. How could she be willing to help him after what he had almost done to her?
"I thought perhaps the Lake Retreat would be a good place for her to recuperate," she went on. "It's very peaceful and quiet up there."
Anakin still did not reply.
"Anakin? Did you hear me? Say something!"
He turned to her at last. "Why are you doing this?" He asked at last.
Padmé frowned. "Doing what? What am I doing?"
"Helping her," he replied, "helping me. Why are you doing it? Why do you care? What is your motive?"
Padmé shook her head sadly. "I don't have a motive, Anakin," she said tiredly. "I want to help. Your mother is a special person to me, and I want to do everything I can to help her. Why do you assume that I have an ulterior motive for helping her?"
Anakin turned away again, not having an answer for her question.
"I think I know," she said, stepping in front of him so that he'd be forced to look at her. "It's because Palpatine has taught you to mistrust everyone but him," she said. "He has taught you that kindness is weakness, and not be trusted. Isn't that right?"
He remained silent, and Padmé began to grow exasperated. "Why won't you answer me?" she demanded, taking him by the arms. "What are you so afraid of? The truth?"
Anakin wrenched free of her grasp, giving her an angry look. "Leave me alone," he said. "Or..."
"Or what?" she retorted. "You'll hit me? Or maybe rape me?"
He shook his head. "You're a foolish woman, Padmé," he said, keeping his voice low. "Don't you realize that I have your life in my hands?"
"Yes, I realize that," she countered. "So when are you going to do it? When can I expect my life to end?"
Again, Anakin had no reply and merely turned away from her. She didn't have a chance to pursue the matter further, for at that moment the door slid open and a medic approached them.
"Anakin Skywalker?" the medic said.
"Yes, that's me," Anakin replied. "How is she? How is my mother?"
"She's going to be fine," the medic assured him. "We have repaired her injuries, given her a blood transfusion as well as an IV treatment for her dehydration."
"That's great," Anakin said, the relief flooding him. "When can I expect her to be released?"
"Not for a day or two," the medic replied. "She will need more hydration, and we'd like to keep her here while she regains her strength for observation. But there is no reason to expect that she won't make a full recovery."
"Thank you so much," Padmé said with a smile. "May we see her?"
"Of course, Mrs. Skywalker," the medic replied. "I'm sure she'll be glad to see you both."
"Oh, I'm not Mrs. Skywalker," Padmé replied. "I'm just a friend of the family."
"Oh, I just assumed…" the medic replied awkwardly. "Well at any rate, you may see her now. We have moved her to recovery, please follow me."
Anakin and Padmé followed the medic through the doors and through a small maze of corridors to the recovery ward.
"We've given her a sedative for the discomfort she is still experiencing," the medic told them as they entered the room where Shmi was. "So she may be a bit sleepy."
"We won't stay long," Padmé assured him.
"Very well," he replied, and then left them.
Anakin approached the bed and stood looking at his mother. Now that he knew she was going to be alright, he was free to contemplate how different his life would be now that she was back in it. Padmé's question had been a valid one; where would Shmi live? Taking her to Coruscant was out of the question, as was Tatooine. Padmé's offer had both surprised him and relieved him; it was a perfect solution. But he did not want to admit that. Nor did he want to admit that the thought of killing her now was utterly repugnant to him.
"How are you feeling?" Padmé asked as she took Shmi's hand.
Shmi smiled. "Not too badly," she replied. "Rather sleepy though," she added.
Padmé nodded. "The painkillers," she said. "The medic said you'd be ready to leave in a few days. Isn't that wonderful?"
"It is," Shmi replied. "But…where will I go?" she asked. She looked up at Anakin. "The Jedi won't allow me to live with you, will they?"
Padmé looked up at Anakin, as the realization dawned upon her. Shmi didn't know that Anakin had spent the past decade as the apprentice of Palpatine that he was not a Jedi Knight at all.
"No," Anakin replied, "they will not."
"My parents would be happy to have you come and stay with them," Padmé said.
"That is very kind of them," Shmi replied as the sleepiness began to overtake her. "I only wish," she stopped as the thought of her husband jumped to mind. She closed her eyes. "Poor Cliegg," she said softly as tears slipped down her face.
Anakin frowned, the thought of the Tusken Raiders angering him anew. "Don't worry, Mom," he said. "Those monsters won't hurt anyone else," he told her.
Shmi did not wish to consider what that meant, and was too tired to do so anyway. In a matter of moments she had drifted off to sleep again, under the watchful eyes of Anakin and Padmé.
"I think we ought to consider getting some sleep as well," Padmé said to Anakin as they left the room.
"Yes, I agree," he replied. "Any suggestions?"
"My parents live just outside of the city," she said. "We could go there, I'm sure they won't mind."
Anakin nodded, and then realized that this would not work. He had already been to the Naberrie home days earlier, and had told them that he was Obi-Wan Kenobi. Great, now what?
"No, that won't do," he said at last.
Padmé frowned. "And why not?" she asked. "They live but a few kilometers from…"
"It won't do!" he replied curtly.
"What is wrong with you?" she demanded. "You just agreed that we need a place to stay, and yet…"
"I changed my mind," he interjected, walking away. "We'll stay here. I'm sure they have a cot somewhere you can sleep on."
Padmé watched him leave, feeling utterly confused and frustrated by his strange behavior.
"You could at least have the courage to tell me why you are afraid to go to my parents' house," she said to his retreating back.
Anakin stopped mid-stride and turned to look at her. "What did you say?"
Padmé swallowed hard, willing herself not to be intimidated by the steely look in his eyes. "You heard me," she said.
He walked back to her slowly. "Are you calling me a coward, Senator?"
"Maybe I am," she replied evenly, matching his hard stare with her own. "It wouldn't be the first time now, would it?"
Anakin shook his head. "No," he replied. "But your opinion of me doesn't really concern me, Senator. We're staying here, and that's final."
With that he walked away, leaving Padmé alone and fuming.