A/N- I haven't written much in over a year and this story has been sitting in my brain for a few months now, so I thought now is the time to bring about a chapter and see if there is any interest in it. If you enjoy, please follow or leave a review so I know you would like to see it continued.
Chapter 1- Heroic Delusions
The beat in her heart shares the same 3 quiet taps she makes against her dress. She tries to keep her breathing calm and serene, even though that is not what she feels at this moment. Is there truly a feeling more than the panic in her chest?
There is only silence in the hall around her as she stares at the painting on the wall as she has been doing for at least the past half-hour now. She had moved from her spot perhaps 15 minutes prior when she swore she had heard low angry voices penetrate the barrier of the golden door. However she hadn't been able to make out whose voices had risen? Had it been her mother's? Her father's? Did it matter who had been the one shouting in the first place?
Angry bursts within her burning chest, along with the panic The mere thought as to why her parents had been quarreling or rather " debating" her situation shouldn't be theirs to choose! At 21 years old, shouldn't she be able to choose the person she would be marrying for the consecutive unforeseeable years to come? For Sith sake, she had been one of the handmaids to the Queen of Naboo for 6 years and had to make quick decisions on the fly to protect her every day! Why can't she simply choose her future husband and not her parents?
Ah-yes- she had the simple problem as many other wealthy women on Naboo. The law is not in her favor. After the Invasion of Naboo during the Clone Wars, many citizens were killed within the cities, so the government determined that the population needed to be controlled once more. Naboo had an ancient cruel law in place for times such as these. All eligible citizens of every race, gender between the ages of 17-25 must marry to repopulate and their suitor could be chosen by mainly the parents of those eligible citizens or next of kin if neither parent was living to choose a suitable suitor for their child. Padme' had avoided this law due to her position of protecting the queen, but now that Queen Jamila had chosen to resign even though she had won reelection for a fourth term, her parents had dived at the opportunity to find her a suitor.
That had been a week ago and now her parents apparently had several possible suitors for her. She had met a few of these suitors while at the Queen's final ball. Her parents had attended the ball in a sign of their respect for the monarch. Padme' had been off duty that night, but wanted to show respect to her longtime friend and farewell to her journey over the last six years.
She had worn upon her mother's request a soft lilac dress that clung to her hips and hung low around her ankles. The dress had a low-neckline which did not emphasize her breasts as much as her mother thought it would. Padme' had never cared for showing herself off in public as a display of being a young woman. Dorme' had done her makeup light with eyeshadow that matched her dress. Her lips had been a shade of light pink as well. No blush was needed as Padme' hadn't ever worn a lot of heavy makeup unless she was the queen's decoy. Her hair had been twisted around her head and placed in a clasp with her favorite image of a waterfall near Lake Valkaryo.
The night had dragged on with introductions by her mother and father to some of their friends and to members of the court guests. Padme' had plastered the political mask of Queen Jamila on her face after each introduction. One of these introductions had been to a man in his early twenties that Padme' hadn't seen in many years. His dark eyes had met hers and graced her with amusement. His hair was still thick and curl, not tamed by a comb but wild as she remembered them at 12 years old. He had grown into his manly features. He had grown to be several inches taller than herself and had been wearing the traditional red garb of artists of Naboo. Standing in front of her had been Palo- her one time crush in the Junior politics program.
" Padme? My goodness, you have grown into such a beautiful flower." His voice had overcome her ears and she had put a small smile on her face at recalling his nickname for her. Beautiful flower.
" It is a pleasure to see you again, Palo. I have heard you have been traveling often with your gallery."
His hand behind his back reaches for hers to clasp it and kiss the top of it. She does recoil from his touch nor feel the connection she once had with him. Palo though seems affected by her presence.
His response is light and cheerful, " Yes, yes, my work has been prolific for the last few years. Naboo has such a rich country and I am inspired by it. Though I have decided to take a short sabbatical from my work this month. I wanted to give my wishes to the Queen before her final day of her reign."
Padme nodded her head and attempted to keep a tear in her eyes from falling. Her days of being a handmaiden were coming to a close. Her days of freedom from being shoved into a loveless marriage were coming too.
" Yes, my dear daughter has been a loyal companion to her majesty for her reign, but it will be nice to have her at home." Her mother, Jobal comments on their conversation.
Padme plastered that smile back on her face and commented, " Of course mother, It will be wonderful to be close to my family once more."
Her statement hadn't been false, as she hadn't been to visit her parents in more than three years. Her leave as a handmaiden was far and few in between. She had only been able to take off a few short days when her sister, Sola had been married to Darren in a small wedding as they hadn't been very forthcoming about their nuptials until the last minute. This had been all due to Darren's stature and his job. He had recently graduated from the local university and had become an assistant professor. He did not have a lot of assets, but loved her sister very much. Sola had told her family of their engagement and that they would need to wed soon because she had been expecting a baby in the spring. Her father had been furious to know one of his co-worker's hadn't come forward with his relationship with his oldest daughter. But her mother Jobal had been delighted to plan her oldest daughter's wedding because she was marrying off one of her daughters and getting a grandchild all in one year. That had been the last time Padme' had been home, and her niece was already three, whom she hadn't even met yet.
" Perhaps I can offer myself as an escort with this dance, Ms. Naberrie?" Palo had offered his arm to her and she had been drifting in her thoughts when he had been chatting about some of his work.
She had consented to a dance with Palo. He had glided her across the dance floor and he had nonstop chatted about his work. Padme' had tried to keep track of their conversation, but she hadn't been interested in art since she had been in the program with him. He had always wanted to talk about his works of art or others they had seen at local museums. Padme' would much rather talk about the current state of their homeworld and how she could be doing good work right here in Theed.
Many Naboo had lost their farms due to the invasion back two years ago. The Separatists had invaded instead of just blockading the planet. She remembered after the invasion how war torn Theed had looked. Reconstruction had been slow all over Naboo and many Naboo had come begging in the streets for their monarch and government to help them. The government had been slow to act because of the chaos during the time of the Invasion. And now that the current state of affairs are in much better order, although there are still citizens that suffer and relied on the generosity of others.
These were mostly farmers, or poorer citizens who had to move to the city and become conscripted into the newly formed army of Naboo. At least they were paid, but their families had to live in tents outside of the capital of Theed until larger housing units were produced. Padme' would much rather spend her time helping those who had no comforts of home than be part of her upper class. But most of the upper class did not care for those who had lost so much due to the senseless civil war the galaxy had gone through.
Her mood had become sour and she excused herself from a second dance with Palo. She could not allow herself to argue with a man she hadn't seen in nine years in public. As a handmaiden she had learned to be invisible and a unit of one. This tactic had been put into place by the former Senator Sabe' Amidala when she had been queen of Naboo, and she had needed a moment to herself.
She had calmly walked onto one of the back verandas where she knew she could find some peace and quiet. The night air had been humid and sticky and her hair had begun to curl up and fall from her tight bun due to the heat. She had placed her hands onto the cool stone of the railing and peered out at her city.
She had known this place would help cool her anger. Nature always helped her meditate and she was able to ponder her thoughts when she had a few minutes to herself during her days of duty. She just couldn't stand to be around the man Palo had become anymore. He obviously had tuned out the last five years of events- between the Three years of war and two years of reconstruction around the galaxy.
The Galaxy hadn't quite been the same since the attempt by the former Chancellor to overthrow the Republic and murdered all of the Jedi with an Order called Order 66. This had been a wake up alarm for most of the Republic and Separatists home worlds. The deception by Chancellor Palpatine by both sides had been uncovered by none other than Former Jedi Anakin Skywalker. He had uncovered the deceit by his mentor and had been the one to kill him. The stories had varied across the Holo Net when it had been reported.
Padme' remembered the shock that had rocked her homeworld. His betrayal had come with furious citizens and the statue that had begun construction that year had been bombarded and destroyed by regular citizens with fire. The Chancellor's own manor in the country had been set ablaze as well. Many citizens were feeling the anger of their leader who had caused them to lose so much of their livelihood over a senseless war. Padme' had been one of those angry citizens too. She hadn't acted upon her anger like many others, but she had been more outspoken behind closed doors with the Queen and her other fellow handmaidens. Then the grief for her and her homeworld had come. Within forty-eight hours of hearing the betrayal of Palpatine, the news came that they had lost a precious leader, Senator Amidala.
Senator Amidala had been beloved by many citizens of Naboo for many reasons, including her bravery as Queen of Naboo at 14 years old. She had saved the planet and had stopped the blockade some fifteen years ago. Padme' had been around 6 during the blockade and didn't remember too much about the restricted camps in Theed. But she had remembered the grief she had felt for losing Sabe'.
She had had the pleasure of being part of the Senator's staff for her many visits to Theed. The reason she had been chosen to serve as one of the handmaids during her visit was because it had always been a joke as to how much she had looked like the former queen. They were not related in any sense, but had shared the same oval face, tan complexion, and dark eyes. Padme' had been honored to serve on her staff. She had befriended the Senator and had kept in contact over the span of the war. Sabe' had been full of life and hope, but Padme' had sensed a sadness within her eyes as well, as if she had been missing someone during their time apart. Padme' had never known of any Bo's of the Senator other than Senator Clovis who had died on a mission during the Clone Wars. But she had taken the Senator's death personally, because she felt a kinship towards her. In some way she had idolized her ideals and if she had chosen to follow a political position after her time as a handmaiden then her ideals would be similar to the Senator's.
" It is a beautiful night out," A male voice had shaken her out of her ponderings of the past.
She had turned her head in the direction of the voice. That voice belonged to one of her heroes. She blinked and her eyes landed on the golden haired man leaning against a railing near her. She hadn't even noticed anyone else out on the veranda. Most of the guests had complained about the summer weather and had chosen to stay in the cool palace ballroom.
Padme' had nodded in agreement, but she couldn't think of anything to say. She had been struck by his presence standing within a few feet of her.
His blue eyes struck her pounding heart, as she felt the rush of a blush coming on.
It had been quite a joke between her and her friends that she had a huge crush on the mighty hero during the Clone Wars. She had been the one to watch every holo news casting about the Hero without Fear. It hadn't mattered even if there hadn't been a clip of the man before her. She had been enamored with his adventures and yes- perhaps as a young 15 year old girl had thought he was attractive for a Jedi. She had always told her friends that wasn't the case, that she just admired his bravery as a Jedi and that since he was a Hero of Naboo she kept track of his campaign during the war. She knew that attraction had been true. She couldn't stop her heart from beating while feeling like he could see right through her and straight to her core.
He hadn't been expecting her silence so he had apologized, " I didn't mean to impede your peace. Have a good night-"
She had found her words at this point and commented with a shaky voice. " No, you are not intruding. It is a beautiful night. I have always loved the humid nights in Theed."
He had inclined his head and returned to the few feet away from her. He had commented, " Yes the heat is a welcome compared to the controlled cool nights on Coruscant."
She had not been sure where to take their conversation as Anakin Skywalker wasn't known for his conversational moods at galas like this. He hardly showed his face in public since the war. After the war had ended, Padme remembered worrying if the warrior had been killed during the attacks on the Jedi. News had soon spread that he had indeed survived, and had left the Jedi for personal reasons. The Holonet had suggested many rumors, including that he had had some love affair and had chosen to leave his adventurous life. Weeks after this news, it had become known to the staff of the Queen that the former General had moved to Naboo and had volunteered in their newly forming army. He had risen quickly to the rank he deserved of General and had helped train troops within the Capital. Padme' hadn't had the pleasure of running into him over the years as her work kept her near the monarch and when he had been to the palace, she had been off busy with her duties for the Queen.
But General Skywalker had become somewhat of a public recluse, if he wasn't training his troops or inspecting the newly built weapons to protect his new planet, he kept his private life within his own home. He very rarely took an invite to public outings, even though many of Naboo's elite invited the famous General to every major event.
His gaze had returned to the city lights and domes lit up for their departing monarchy. Padme' had tried to tear her eyes away from the General, but she felt the pull of cord between them. She couldn't explain the pull- perhaps the force had been tugging on her senses. She believed in the force, but didn't have the high midichlorian count a Jedi needed to utilize. Yet, whatever cord had tugged on her in that moment and she felt the need to continue their brief conversation.
" I am surprised you have honored our departing monarch with your presence," She mentioned in their silence.
His eyes had stayed on the city below and a small curl of a grin had appeared on his face. He had commented sarcastically, " Of course, I enjoy galas of the elite and their continuous parades of delusions of the economy and joy of the average citizens of their planet."
She had felt a chuckle escape her lips and added, " Very true, and ask you to recount stories of your valor during the war, which you've probably told the holonet many times before."
It had been his turn to chuckle at her response. His body had seemed at ease of whatever annoyance he held for this gala. His striking azure gaze locked onto her own and she had felt her heart race once again.
" I believe your name is Padme' Naberrie?" He had questioned.
Her mouth had gone dry more than once and there was a lack of words coming from her mouth. He knew her name? How did he know of her? They had never met prior to this moment. The fact her hero knew her actual name had made her feel warm inside her stomach- almost butterflies fluttering around.
His smile had grown at her silence and shock that he knew her name. He had expected that, as they had indeed never met before, but his wife had spoken of her and her fondness of the younger woman. He had listened over their comms of the stories Sabe had told of her visits to the palace. She had spoken of many times Padme' had been a comforting friend in the lonely nights when he hadn't been there.
" We had a mutual friend who spoke highly of you," He murmured quietly. The smile had still been on his lips at thinking of the women he had spent three short years of marriage with.
The admiration Padme' felt for her friend grew within those words spoken. Sabe' had spoken of her to Anakin Skywalker. She had known that Sabe had a longtime friendship with him and General Obi-wan Kenobi as well. The holonets had spoken of their many missions together and even at times had rumored that the Senator must have a romantic connection to one of them. But Padme had never listened to any of those rumors. Sabe had spoken of a few of the missions she had been on with both of her friends, but only briefly. She never seemed to want to dwell on the war or think of the whereabouts of her friends at the time and Padme' had respected her wishes.
Padme' had replied quietly, " I miss her letters. She had such a flair of making the debates in the Senate seem interesting and theatrical. I was fascinated by her letters and of how she described Coruscant as well."
General Skywalker's eyes had shone with admiration while listening to the wonderful memories this friend of his wife had of her. Sabe' had been truly a remarkable person and everyone that had known her well, knew how much she loved the political area. They also knew how much she worked hard for the people of the galaxy too.
He had agreed, " Yes, her natural abilities of negotiation held the same par as Obi-wan's abilities during a mission. Although I don't truly think I listened to all of the debates she mentioned over the years, politics has never been my forte."
Padme' had heard once or twice of Sabe's complaints of her friend's boredom when it came to politics. But she had heard of his brilliance and rashness when it came to the field of battle. Sabe' had mentioned his battle tactics were not always thought out very well but usually his plans succeeded without too many errors.
" Yes, she mentioned that to me once or twice," Padme' had chuckled and felt the ease of speaking to the man she had only heard about through their mutual friend and their rumors of the holonet.
" What of your future career? Now that Queen Jamila's reign has ended?" He had questioned, steering the conversation away from the war and his dead wife.
Her smile had become small but she had said, " I wish to visit with my family for a while. My niece is three years old and I never had the time off to officially meet her. I will be staying with my parents for a time so I can enjoy some time off before my next adventure."
He had titled his head in thought and remarked, " So your future is still undecided."
Her smile twisted into a bitterness on her young features. Her voice had not hidden the bitterness in her voice. " No, it has been set for me in a way. The government and my parents have decided it is time for me to settle down and find a career more suitable for a family."
He had shaken his head in understanding. He was aware of the government law that had conscripted thousands of middle and upper class citizens to marry and start building families within a few years. He understood their need to repopulate after the war, but forced marriages on young men and women who may desire to continue their careers that do not account for a family or the desire to wait until a later age to choose someone as their spouse that they actually loved.
" If the law and your parents did not have a say in your future , what would you rather be doing with your life?" He had wondered out loud.
She had sighed and exhaled frustration into the humid night. The what if's didn't matter. She would be forced to marry and find a quiet career where danger wasn't part of her job description or adventure. She would probably apply for a job working for the governor's office which had hours that would be normal working hours for someone who had a family. She couldn't do what she truly wanted to do, which was to start a charity foundation to help those who had lost everything on Naboo and have their voices heard within the government so that the elite stopped ignoring them and listening to the average citizens in misery.
" I want to become an advocate for those who are forgotten by our government and the Republic. I want to start here in Theed to help those affected by the War and help them rebuild their lives and then perhaps help others in nearby cities as well. The normal citizens don't have a voice and I want to be that voice." She had stated with such determination but had added with bitterness, " It is just a pipe dream. My parents are set on me staying in Theed, settling down like my sister, Sola and finding a quiet career that doesn't involve travel. My mother has always said if she had kept her career as a musician when she married my father, then she could never have been the mother she was to us."
He had leaned against the railings in thought. His hands had been clasped together as he had sensed her anger and resentment. He had responded, " Maybe your dance partner, the artist will advocate for you. Your parents seem well intrigued by his offer of marriage."
Her eyes had widened in surprise at his honesty and she had whipped her body around to peer into the ballroom. Her eyes had fallen onto her parents laughing and talking with ease with Palo. Her throat had become dry and a lump formed in her throat. She had felt the ease of their conversation turn on a dime. She had turned her head back in her hero's direction and had asked, " How? How are you aware of what they are conversing about?"
He had casually offered in honesty, " His force signature is shooting off in a million directions. I can't hear what they are saying, but his joy of their agreement is apparent, and your mother cannot herself from feeling giddy at the moment. She seems well-taken by the artist."
Padme' whips back around towards her solitude. How would she cope with marrying a former boy who had no taste for the world? He only had eyes for nature and the beauty of painting. He was no different than her parents, uncaring for those in dire need. Her stomach had recoiled at the idea that she'd have to marry a man like him. He would never agree to her future plans. He'd want her by his side in his delusions of being her hero and having a life of travel across Naboo and previewing his artworks perhaps even in the museums on Coruscant in the future.
Tears had attempted to spring from her eyes knowing the fallout of her life. She had tried to keep them at back because there had been no sith's hells way she would cry in front of the man she had admired for many years. Her body had jumped upon feeling the light touch of a hand on her shoulder. Its large calloused touch had squeezed her arm in a sense of comfort. She had known he probably had felt her anger through the force.
Her eyes had lifted upon his light touch. She had starred back in those lost oceans of blue as he had said, " I am sorry you feel trapped. I understand the feeling."
He had said that like he really had known and shared that feeling. She hadn't even attempted to hide her true feelings of the situation. There was no need to do so with him. Sabe' had been right in how she had described the Hero without Fear. He had a true honesty about him and lying was pointless. Padme' had hidden her true feelings from many people, but the man in her presence had an ease about him, a trusting personality. She couldn't explain it, but that cord tying them together within that moment had a purpose.
She hadn't felt the tear escape her eye, all she felt was the warm brush of his fingers on her cheek. Her breath had caught in her throat at feeling his warm touch. She had swallowed hard and attempted to escape the heat she felt churning in her stomach. Yes- again she felt that attraction seeping into her bones. She had pulled away, afraid of that warmth crawling into her heart and skin.
" Thank you for the comforting words, but I should head back inside. I'm sure my parents want to discuss his offer of marriage with me." She had murmured between them.
He had stepped back so she could glide back into the ballroom. Yet, before she had reached the doorway, he had called out, " I think your luck is about to change."
She had whirled her head around to watch him stride to her. His eyes had shone with the determination of a plan formed in his mind. She turned so her body faced him and she held her hands up and stated, " General Skywalker- I appreciate your determination to help others, but we've only just met. I don't think your intervention on my behalf in whatever you are planning is needed."
His eyes still held onto that determination and he had corrected her. " The formalities of my titles are not needed. You are a friend of a friend who would want me to intervene in this matter and I'd like you to hear my suggestion before making your decision to accept your fate."
She tried not to chuckle at the horror that had crossed his face by being called General Skywalker. And she had been intrigued by his unspoken suggestion, but at the same time had felt terrified to know it as well. He wasn't known for his rash thinking or the consequences of his plans either. He always had been known to live in the present, never thinking of the future- just the present moment. In his career, that was his main goal, but she didn't know how well it served when helping others.
" Alright- Anakin, I will hear your suggestion, but I fear it might be the worst suggestion ever made." She had replied with a tone of amusement.
His pink lips had curled into a larger grin upon hearing her response. His eyes glimmered in the moonlight and she couldn't help noticing how husband he truly was in the light. The holonet did not do him justice. She had bit her lip and squashed her thoughts. He after all could sense one's feelings if they were shooting into the force. The thought of him knowing of her attraction to him, was embarrassing and she'd want to die and bury herself six feet under.
" What do you suggest I do with my predicament? Turn down the lovely famous artist, in front of not only my parents, but the entire court?" She had mocked with a slight bit of amusement.
He shook his blond waves in disagreement. " No, I'm suggesting you marry someone whose future plans align with yours."
She had been taken aback by his statement. Had he meant she would marry him instead of the artist? They had only met minutes ago. They hardly knew the other! She found her best choice of words carefully, " General-" He had held up his hand and had demanded with a pause.
" You promised you'd hear me out. I have my own predicament to solve and I will be willing to share on a future occasion, but like you, I want to help the citizens of Naboo. I helped destroy the homeworlds of many and I wish to help rebuild them in time. I may be a simple minded soldier Ms. Naberrie, but I was a part of that senseless war and the killing of civilians. I came to Naboo to find peace and help rebuild this world for future generations. You have the same vision for this planet and I could use someone with a political view and background to help me get the project off the ground."
She had taken in all that he had had proposed and knew there was more to his plans. She had felt that yank on their cord at that moment, as if the Force was shouting at her to follow through with his proposal. She whispered quietly, " General- forgive me but you have many admirers in the galaxy and I'm sure you could find someone out there to experience a romantic marriage with."
His eyes had slipped to look at the purple of her dress at that moment. He murmured back without a thought, " There was someone long ago who held my heart, but she's gone now."
Her heart had felt like it had dropped and broken for him. He had lifted his blue eyes to gaze into hers with honesty. The grief was fresh in them. The unspoken name was upon her lips, but she dared not repeat her name in public of the palace. The unspoken truths between the rumors and the burden in her former friend's eyes were enough for her to understand the love between them. The love he apparently still held for her, even though she had passed two years ago.
" And what of you? Can you choose to marry a man with no intentions of romantic promises?" He questioned though his voice seemed unsteady through his raw grief.
Padme' pondered on that question for a mere second. The man in front of her was offering her a life of helping others, as a partner. Not to put his career first, nor his ideals of a family. He was offering her freedom to travel and be the advocate she wants to become for her people. All her pipe dreams could become her reality, but she'd be sacrificing any chance of a romantic love that her sister and Darren had found. But an inner part of that romantic side of her felt a need to heal that part of the man in front of her. The broken parts of him left behind by the woman that haunted him. The part of her that had felt the rush of warmth of attraction between them, desired for her to find out what she felt between them in time.
" Yes, I think I can find a way to live without those sorts of promises." She had stated, though she knew what she was saying could be untrue. That the attraction she clearly felt by his touch was a sign that she was lying to herself and she might fall head over heels for the broken man offering her freedom.
The ghost of a smile appeared on his lips and the determination of his plan returned to his eyes. He touched her hand and lifted to his lips and her fingers vibrated with the tingling his lips left on her fingers. " Then lead the way, I have a proposition for your lovely parents."
Her thoughts pop back to the present as the door to her father's study slides open and her mother appears from the doorway. She looks exhausted from their argument and gestures for Padme' to follow her in.
The soft taps of her fingers stop as she crosses the hallway and walks into the study. She eyes the digital holo clock on the wall. She had been thinking about that night for just fifteen minutes, which had led her parents to the heated debate this evening. Her mother gestured in a huff, " Your father thinks you should be the one to have the final say. But I want you to hear out my concerns."
Padme' crosses her arms around her chest and uses an open handed gesture to allow her mother the floor. Her mother's brown concerned gaze stays on her and she begins, " Palo has a substantial estate in Theed and in the countryside. His artwork is renowned for its beauty and you both would be traveling across Naboo and perhaps off-world, but you would be well taken care of and you already have things in common that you shared in public service together."
Padme' eyes her mother and respectfully disagrees, " Mother, he and I are two different people. Palo wants to serve no one but his own self interests. He wants a trophy wife to shine in public and share a bed with and perhaps have children with. I am by no means am that sort of woman. I cannot be subjected to a man who is not willing to look past his own selfish needs and wants."
Her mother scoffs and argues back, " But that- that Jedi does? Padme' listen to yourself. General Skywalker may be a hero, but what can he offer you? He is a former member of an unfeeling warriors cult. He may have a small estate, but he is a soldier. Soldiers get restless. They crave chaos and have an appetite for war. Is that the life you want to lead?"
Padme' shifts her footing at the insults thrown at General Skywalker. She had learned more about him in those ten minutes than she had ever had with a man that intrigued her. " What are your thoughts on General Skywalker, father?"
Two pairs of eyes fall upon the blue-eyed aging Ruwee'. He runs his hand through his graying hair and he sighs. " General Skywalker is a hero to everyone here on Naboo and the galaxy. Padme' to be honest I admire the man for his bravery. But do you think marrying him will bring you freedom and happiness? All I want for you is your happiness."
Padme' smiles and runs to her father's arms. She embraces him with a burst of laughter and suggests with determination, " General- Anakin cares about the people of Naboo. He wants to help the galaxy rebuild and make peace with the past. I want the same things. I don't want to be stuck with a man who cannot see my ambitions to help others. So yes father, I choose General Skywalker."
Her father nods, " Then you have my blessing, and I'm sure your mother will come to give you her blessing in time. I believe you should call upon General Skywalker to tell him your answer and our consent to your marriage."
Padme' pulls away with a newfound courage within her gut. She feels a fresh zeal for her future that hadn't been too clear a week ago. She also feels the curiosity to eventually explore the bond she felt towards Anakin. She is drawn to him, and her heart dares not to feel any hope of finding something she hasn't ever felt for a man before. And she is a bit afraid that her heart might find that delusion and break in the process. But her homeworld needs her help. Her future as an advocate for her people is more important than an inkling to fall in love with her hero. Right?
To Be Continued….