Three days he told her. To meet him at the Congressional Banquet and to sit at his table for what he called "negotiations". The Congressional Banquet wasn't so bad. Others would be there. Nearly all of their peers, members of the Holonet press, as well as the Chancellor. There was nothing to be afraid of. Nothing at all, she told herself. If she could face two monstrous beasts in the arena on Geonosis, then she could stand up to a Senator from the forest planet of Endor.
The Congressional Banquet was a bi-yearly event where various keynote speakers made speeches about the state of the Republic. It was also a time for announcements of both personal and politcally relevant topics. These topics were made by the Senators themselves, or their aids. Sometimes the announcements were about various changes being made to their home planets and abroad. Padme wondered if Cobra Sien chose the Congressional Banquet to make an announcement of his own... one that had nothing to do with him, but everything to do with Padme and Anakin Skywalker. The very thought made her shudder. She could see the Holonet press typing away in their datapads and reporting the scandal to holonet news to be spread throughout the galaxy within a matter of minutes -- the following day, their story would be all over the holonews paper in the social and gossip pages.
Cobra's table was next to the speaker's podium. There were flowers and two lit candles before him and glasses of wine. He rose when Padme approached, and pulled her chair. She reluctantly sat beside him. Cobra looked around, to see if anyone was looking then grabbed the seat of her chair and pulled her closer. Padme cringed, her nose crinkling as though the man emitted a foul odor.
A senator from Rea stood behind the podium speaking passionately about conservation issues and the need of funding for his planet.
Padme's lips formed a thin white line as her eyes rose to met Cobra's face. "You wanted to speak with me about a very private matter, Senator. A matter that should be of no concern to you."
Cobra's smile was one of pure malevolence. "A Senator who violates the rules should be everyone's concern."
"Did you ask me to come here because you wanted to torment me? If you want to tell everyone, then go ahead and do it. I have no wish to be trifled with. The situation is difficult enough."
Cobra shook his head. "On the contrary, I wish to discuss a political matter."
Padme's eyebrows rose. She could deal with this. She could "do" politics. "Then what is it that you wish to discuss?"
"I would like your support on a bill. I plan to submit it to the senate in only a matter of weeks. You're renown for being the 'peace' senator... and I am aware that all war bills that have been thus rejected on the floor were ferociously contested by you and those who follow your lead. You are all that stand in the way of my bill and I am hoping the two of us can work something out."
"And what does the bill entail?"
"My father's company -- my company, Endor Enterprises is requesting a no bid contract to build more weaponry. Our all terrain machines will lead the Republic to certain victory."
"And more wealth for your family, no doubt. Untold wealth..." she whispered incrediously. "So that's what this is about... money? And what about peace? What about a peaceful resolution to the war? Surely the Separatists will only build more weapons to fight you."
"More weapons, more money for me," he answered, taking another sip of his wine.
Padme folded her hands across her lap. "No. I won't do it."
"You know why so many Holonet reporters are here tonight? Because I asked them to come."
Cobra grinned, then lowered his voice to nearly a whisper.
"Your Jedi husband is a very famous man. His many adventures and mishaps along with the Jedi Master Obi Wan Kenobi are well known. He's in the news almost nightly. He's also the face of the Republic and the war against the Separatists. People love him. Imagine their dismay... their disappointment seeing him in such compromising...positions with you, Senator. Imagine how this scandal will obliterate your hardwon reputation."
Padme's shoulders slumped in exasperation and her eyes dropped. Her misery was lost on the crowd behind her as they laughed at the humorous speech of a speaker who had taken the stage. Lost on all but Chancellor Palpatine who did his best to hear them.
"A scandal is nothing compared to the misery expanding the war will bring to the Republic or the many civilians who might die because of your greed."
The speaker left the podium to sit at a nearby table. A table among hundreds that sat thousands of senators.
"Either way, I win. When the scandal breaks, you'll be out of the Senate. I'll have no one to oppose me. Either stand down or suffer the consequences."
Padme gave a defiant shake of her head.
"Very well then."
Cobra stood. A bright light from an overhead strobe shone on their table. Padme blinked, suddenly blinded by its bright lights.
"Good evening colleagues, members of the press... and friends. Tonight I stand before you with a very important announcement to make."
And then it struck her. Everything Cobra said was true if not worse than he dared to state. The disappointment her relationship would bring to trillions of people who admired and trusted Anakin and Obi Wan Kenobi to end the war would be even more devastating than she could possibly fathom --. The scandal would be a mental victory for the Separatists who would cite it as a mark of corruption in the Republic and the Jedi Order. Not to mention the disappointment her relationship with Anakin would cause the Council and Obi Wan Kenobi himself.
Suddenly Padme was on her feet, her hand on Cobra's arm. "Please don't..." she whispered, eyes low.
Cobra's eyes stayed focused on the crowded room. "Tonight, I wish to announce... that Senator Padme Naberrie Amidala and I are to be married."
A collective gasp rose around the room. Then sudden applause. Padme's mouth nearly dropped to the floor. How could he?!
Cobra took her hand and raised it before the crowd, parading her before thousands of colleagues, and possibly the several trillions watching them on Holonet. She swallowed nervously.
Please...please don't let my husband find out... Padme thought.
Cobra smirked, slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her to him. "We will make an announcement detailing the date of our wedding... the most lavish wedding in the history of the Republic!" He added in a thunderous voice.
...Lavish enough to get the attention of one Anakin Skywalker. Cobra threw his head back and laughed.
The grip on Padme's hand was iron as Cobra led her through throngs of Senators, civilians and press alike, all with questions about the pending nuptials.
What nuptials? she thought.
Cobra was a professional liar. How easily he led everyone to believe they were a couple and about to be married no less! All with a smile across his lying face. Despite this, all Padme could do was think of Anakin.
When she and Cobra were finally out of earshot, she turned to him, her nails digging into the flesh of his hand.
"Engaged! How could you do this?" she hissed.
Cobra feigned a smile. "I wonder what Skywalker will think..." he droned. Then getting close to her face, he whispered, "A shame my bride is already ruined."
The digging of Padme's nails intensified, as did Cobra's grip on her hand. The couple turned to find Chancellor Palpatine upon them, face smiling.
"Senator Amidala... I hear congratulations are in order." Palpatine grinned like a kindly old uncle.
There was an unmistakably squeamish look on Padme's face. "Thank you, Chancellor," she stuttered. "I'm sorry but I was just leaving... Perhaps we might talk about this another time?"
"So soon? We hardly had time to discuss your wedding," he replied, in a disappointed voice. "Are there plans to marry on Naboo? Or should we expect the festivities to take place here on Coruscant?" Palpatine smiled again. He was enjoying this.
Padme shot Cobra an helpless but angry look.
"Here on Coruscant, of course," Cobra replied. "The Jedi Temple is here. I'm hoping the Jedi will honor us by performing the wedding ceremony. Perhaps I might submit a request."
Palpatine gave Padme a warm smile. "Of course! What a splendid idea. In fact, Senator Amidala is great friends with several of the Jedi... you're particularly close to Anakin Skywalker, are you not? Perhaps he might perform the ceremony for you?"
Padme's vision blurred with unwashed tears and suddenly, she felt awful close to fainting. "Yes, I-I'll have to... go now. Goodnight, Chancellor," she replied in a stoic voice.
Padme raced to the nearest exit. "What am I going to do?" she cried.