Across the Stars: A Senator's Tale of Love and Loss

by DMatukaitis

A fanfiction novel depicting the events from Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith through the eyes and point of view of Padme Amidala. As the Republic crumbles and the Clone War rages on, Padme must do what she can to protect her beloved democracy, forbidden marriage, and secret chid. I own nothing. I seek no profit. Rights remain to whoever they belong to.

18. Part 2: The Skiff

VII

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In the blackness of my mind, I see his face. I see it as I saw it last. It's angry. It's different. It's frightening.

His eyes, scowling at me, a fire in his pupils. His mouth, twitching, with clenched teeth. The burning impression of his face haunts me in my dreams. I try to force it out of my mind. I try to forget about it.

Suddenly, it transforms from the twisted evil grimace back to the handsome, caring smile that made my heart flutter time and time again.

This is the face of Anakin Skywalker. This is the face that belongs to the kindness and generosity I know is inside a man capable of redemption. I know he isn't all evil. His eyes still can flicker with sunlight. His mouth still has potential to smile on his sharp, angular face. His cheeks can still be rosy with emotion, not with the heat from surrounding, burning flames.

The face twists a third time, and I see him suddenly in pain. I see him screaming for help. His brows bent upward. His eyes are pleading for forgiveness and relief. Where is he? What happened to him? Is he in danger?

I feel myself stir and come to.

A hand strokes my shoulder, and I jump slightly, startled. But I cannot move. I can barely lift my head. I feel weak—too weak. Almost too weak to even care.

It's Obi-Wan.

I don't detest his presence.

How did he get here? And where am I?

Suddenly I remember. I see the bright, interior of my Naboo Skiff. I've made it back onto the Skiff. I remember going to Mustafar after Anakin, chasing to find the truth about his supposed actions. And I remember why Obi-Wan is here, now. He stowed aboard the ship when I left Coruscant.

I'm not angry with him for coming to Mustafar. I'm not angry that he interrupted my privacy with Anakin. I don't seem to have the energy to be angry.

I try to look him in the eyes, but the brightness of the inside of the Skiff is too much for my eyes to adjust to.

But I need to know where Anakin is. I need to know where he's going, what he's doing, and where I can find him. It's all I can focus on.

Squinting, I use all the breath in my lungs to ask, "Obi-Wan, is Anakin all right?"

And before I know it, before he could even answer me, I feel light and tired again, and my vision goes blurry and black. My mind experiences a sense of relief and in the blackness of my mind, I begin to dream.