Yay! Chapter two! Thank you very much to all who reviewed.
To say he was surprised to see Skywalker coming to him, for help no less, was an understatement. Mace could literally feel the anxiety pouring off of the young Knight. "Please, sit Knight Skywalker." Anakin bowed low, and sat cross legged on the floor in front of Master Windu.
"Master, I have only one request before I begin, and that is to please withhold judgment until I am finished explaining." Mace gave a short nod, brow furrowed in confusion. Anakin took a deep breath, not wanting to admit that the thought of the powerful Jedi's reaction scared him senseless. "I had a dream, no, a vision last night. It began with images of the past, starting with the death of my mother. She died in my arms, and I just...I just felt so angry...I had to have revenge." The look in Anakin's eyes was not what Mace expected. He seemed almost...remorseful. "I killed them all, Master. Men, women, children, it didn't matter. And that wasn't the last time my anger got the best of me. Many times during this war I have drawn on my hatred to defeat my enemies."
Anakin drew in a deep breath, and looked up at Mace, but the Jedi's face was passive, waiting for him to continue. "Next I saw what happened on board the Invisible Hand, my battle against Dooku. I had cut off his hands, he was unarmed, but I killed him anyway, at the insistence of the Chancellor."
The older Jedi's mind was racing. Skywalker was admitting to using the Dark Side, was scared of it, when Mace himself had witnessed the young Knights dismissal of it's dangers. What had him so afraid? "During all of these acts, darkness grew around me, more and more until I was completely encased in it. I then witnessed where my path would take me. I massacred all of the Jedi." Windu's eyes widened at this. He now realized that this truly was a vision born of the Force, because for all his mistrust of the headstrong Jedi, he never thought of him as a danger to the Jedi Order.
Anakin braced himself, for what he said next would determine his entire future. "And finally, I saw myself killing..." He sighed deeply, "Killing my wife." He lowered his head and awaited Master Windu's response. After several long minutes, Mace spoke.
"Knight Skywalker, I am proud of you." Anakin's head shot up, eyes wide. He was NOT expecting that. "You saw the price of your failings, and were able to face up to it. It is not an easy thing to face ones weakness." Mace closed his eyes and sighed. "As for your marriage, may I ask to whom?" "Senator Amidala, Master." Mace nodded slowly. "I suspected as much. How long?" "Three years." The look on the Master's face was stern. "I strongly disagree with your attachment." Anakin closed his eyes, felling tears beginning to well up. They were going to separate him from his Angel, just as he had feared.
"However," Mace continued, his expression softening, "It is clear that to tear her away from you would do more harm than good, based on your actions on Tatooine. Additionally, this attachment has in no way interfered with the performance of your duties. In fact, it was your attachment to your wife, your desire to keep her safe, that has lead you to seek out my help. When you go before the Council to find a way to defeat this darkness within you, rest assured you have my support."
Tears were now streaming down Anakin's face. "Forgive me Master, for lying to you and my fellow Jedi for so long. I always thought I would be reprimanded and lectured, that I would be expelled from the Order. In reality, you have proven far more understanding than I could have ever hoped, when I thought you would be the one most opposed to my decision.
Mace smiled, and stood up, moving to sit next to the man he was gaining an increasing respect for. "I admit, I have not always given you reason to think otherwise. I didn't trust you because I saw you as a rash, arrogant child. You have proven me wrong today. Now, go compose yourself, and fetch Master Kenobi. I will call together the rest of the Council, and we will decide how to proceed from here." Anakin looked at Mace nodding as he wiped tears from his eyes. "Yes Master."
As he walked out the door, he turned back. "Thank you Master Windu." "Your welcome, Knight Skywalker." The two men parted ways, both with a newfound respect for one another.
TBC