I
A horrible noise like a firing cannon wakes me from my sleep. I spring up into a sitting position, grabbing the blankets and pulling them up to my chest on instinct. What was that noise in the dead of night? And why are there speeders blaring sirens and zooming through the streets at this hour?
It's pre dawn. The sun is still hours away from rising over the city, bringing daylight to the districts, and expelling the darkness of night.
The sirens continue to sound, and the doorway to my bedroom is suddenly filled with an entourage of security forces and handmaidens. What could be the problem?
"What is it? What's going on?" I ask, still feeling heavy from sleep.
Captain Typho is the closest to me, and the first to answer. I am awake enough to use the darkness and abundance of bedclothes to hide my pregnancy, which my aqua-colored nightgown would otherwise display plainly.
"We're not sure just yet, My Lady. All we know is there was an attack on the city, and now all police and squadron forces are heading to the outer circles of the district, towards the Jedi Temple." Typho does his best to explain.
My thoughts are not very clear and my mind does not accept this news right away.
"Is everyone here safe?" I ask.
"Yes," Dorme, Montee, and Elle reply in unison, but at varying levels of audibility.
"Rest assured, My Lady, now that we are here we will protect you and I will not leave your side until I receive word that any threats have been taken care of." Typho says to me, crouching near me. I can only see his dark silhouette, but I can tell he is wide-eyed and giving me the most serious expression his face could make at this early hour.
"Thank you, Captian. I welcome your help." I reply, forcing myself to resist yawning.
Another booming sound is heard from the distance and all of our heads snap to the window. Captain Typho adjusts the blinds and suddenly all lines of traffic have broken into chaos and anything in the skies is either fleeing, or heading to the outskirts—heading to the Jedi Temple.
I notice all transports heading towards the Temple are ones that are displaying sirens.
"I will have security clear the building. I'll remain here with the Senator. I think each of you should prepare yourselves to take her place if we find it necessary to remove her from the building to a safer location. It appears the attack is on the Jedi Temple." I hear Typho instruct the handmaidens on their impromptu duty.
The only words that catch my attention are "Jedi Temple" and I immediately think of Anakin. Fear and worry spread through me so fast, so furiously, that I feel as if the baby could feel the pain also.
"Wait," I interrupt wishing desperately I wasn't confined to the bed and could get up and look out of the window. "What's going on at the Temple?"
"If I had to guess, My Lady, I would suggest there was an attack. All of these security forces seem to be headed there. My only fear is why are there so many forces heading in that direction? A simple crime thug would never require forces outside of the Jedi, so why is this mass amount of troopers needed? This cannot be good." Typho ponders, peering out of the window.
Thinking on impulse, I begin throwing out commands.
"Do as Typho requests," I say to the handmaidens. They bow and briskly walk out of the bedroom.
"Captain, I understand you want to be by my side, but I need you to secure any entrances to the apartment. That includes the veranda and the front door. If there are mass amounts of troopers going to the Temple, my security may be called next and I will need you to guard the doors."
"As you wish, My Lady." He says, convinced of my theory and runs off to the veranda. I am proud of my quick thinking. This gives me the perfect opportunity to spring out of bed and look outside.
To my horror, I see a massive cloud of smoke, black as the night sky, rising from the distant Temple. If it weren't for the flames that seem to be engulfing the building, no one would probably notice the tower of smoke.
My mouth drops open and I am find myself in shock. I am in disbelief. What could have happened? Was this a Separatist attack? How did the Jedi not see this coming? How could they be so unprepared?
Then I think of Anakin, and how he is not here with me, or across the galaxy on the front lines, and the only other place he could be is there—inside the Jedi Temple.
I feel sick to my stomach. I feel broken. I feel as if someone took every worst fear from the depths of my mind and found a way to create them in reality.
I pray that Anakin is somewhere—anywhere—but the Temple. I wish, desperately that he was either wandering the streets, or even spending some time in a club or bar in the lower levels. For the first time, I find myself wishing—hoping—he is with the Chancellor.
"Threepio. I need you to find out if Anakin has been to the Chancellors office at all tonight. Retrieve any information about his whereabouts that you can." I say, feeling heat in the back of my eyes and my heart pounding furiously in my chest.
"Yes, Mistress Padme." He bows and leaves the bedroom.
I need a better look; I can find a better look from the central room where I was observing the Temple in solace mere hours ago.
Without thinking, I leave the room, neglecting to put on any heavy robes or cloaks that could conceal my bulging belly. I do not care. I have to prioritize my thoughts. I have to watch for any Jedi fighters that may be coming my way, letting me know that he's safe.
I run to the large window, my light nightgown billowing in my wake. The scene looks even more horrible with a clearer view. The black smoke continues to rise high into the sky, and grow in size. The flames too continue to gain more volume and violence. Whatever is attacking the Temple is winning.
Oh, Anakin, please be safe. Please be out of danger and away from the violence. I pray to myself, Come to me and be safe in my arms again. Please.
Suddenly, I hear the tapping of Threepio's mechanical feet approaching again. I can't bear to hear anything but good news from him.
"The Chancellor's office indicated Master Anakin returned to the Jedi Temple. Don't worry, My Lady, I am sure he will be all right." He says. I understand he's a droid and, like all droids, he cannot express human emotions like sadness or empathy or worry, but if Threepio ever could, I know it would be now. I swear if he could cry in fear right now, he would.
But he doesn't need to, because I do it for him.
I cannot control the outburst, but it comes and the tears that were filling my eyes minutes ago stream down my cheeks, and my sobs become loud and heavy in the emptiness of my low-lit apartment.
Why did he have to be there tonight? I ask myself, burying my face in my palms.
I worry for him because I know him. I know he's a fighter. I know he loves the thrill of battle. He lives for it. I know that given the opportunity to fight, he would. And for that reason, I know where he is. I know he's at the Temple, amid the flames and the gunfire.
What hurts even worse is knowing that I am here—so far away from him, and so out of reach. I am in the safety and security of my apartment, now sealed and locked with alarms.
I am here.
He is there.
And there is nothing for me to do but cry for him, his safety, and the Temple, which will surely be reduced to rubble by morning, when the sun has chased away the night.