Title:
Anakin’s Proposal (Between Episodes II and III)
Author:
Anakin_Padme4ever
Rating:
PG-13 and some AA, depending.
Feedback:
Please…this is my first fic that I’m having people read, so if any of you have
an comments and/or suggestions, please feel free to tell me…
Disclaimers:
Well, I can’t really say that these characters are mine because they aren’t
mine, they’re George Lucas’s, I guess.
Italics
are for a thought.
Chapter 1
As
Anakin awakes from his dreaming sleep of Padme, there was a sudden knock on the
door. He used the force to open it, it was Obi-Wan. "Anakin, good
morning."
"Same
to you Master," Anakin says as he sits up on his bed.
"So
I see you are again not ready for your lesson," Obi-wan says not very
pleased.
"I’m
sorry Master, I stayed up late constructing my second lightsaber; it won’t
happen again," a topless Anakin says as he gets out of bed and hops into
the ‘fresher.
"I
hope not Anakin, for you sake," Obi-wan said more serious than ever.
Anakin
popped his head out of the ‘fresher, "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Anakin,
it means, you had better not be late for your next lesson; the council has the
impression that you being late can result in an act of not caring and they think
it might lead to you joining forces with the dark side of the force."
Obi-wan said nearly between a soft voice and a yell.
As
Anakin got out of the ‘fresher, he replies, "Well, that’s
ridiculous…Master, do you think the same as they do?" He asks.
"My
visions are quite unclear to be honest Anakin, I hope you don’t though, I made
a promise to Qui-Gon just before he died that I would train you to be a fine
Jedi knight and I intend to keep that promise, now the choice is up to you; if
you really want to be a Jedi knight you are going to have to start being more
responsible and getting to your lessons on time," Obi-wan told Anakin.
"Yes,
Master, I understand, it won’t happen again, I promise," Anakin says as he
thinks about the older, wiser Jedi knight that had been the one who had freed
him ten years ago.
"Well,
now that we got that settled, meet me down on the main floor Master Windu has
something very important to tell us, be there in five minutes and don’t be
late," Obi-wan says as he turned and walked out of the room.
"Yes
Master, I’ll be there," Anakin said as he was finally left alone to
collect his thoughts. So…Obi-Wan wants me to start to be on time for my
lessons…well, it’s not my fault Padme is so beautiful that I have dreams about
her…
Anakin
walked over to his closet, he picked out the brown traditional, but comfortable
Jedi garbs. He put them on and the left his room to meet Obi-Wan on the main
floor.
As
he walked downstairs, he bumped into another Jedi student. "Oh, I am
terribly sorry, here, let me help you."
"Uh,
thank you…hey, aren’t you Anakin Skywalker?" The other jedi asked as she
got up from Anakin’s sudden push.
"Yeah,
that’s me, why?" "Oh nothing, well, I haven’t talked to you, but I
have heard a lot of things about you?" "A lot things, really, like
what?" Anakin said as he gave her a smirk. "Well, I don’t know
exactly, like, I just heard people mention your name and all, " "Oh,
ok," "Well, I’ll see you around," "Yeah, see you too,"
he said as he continued down to meet Obi-Wan. That was strange…
"Anakin,"
Obi-Wan called. Anakin nodded his head and hurried over to his Master and
Master Windu. "Good morning Master Windu," "Same to you
Anakin," "So, what is it that you wanted to tell us, Master Obi-Wan
says that you needed to tell us something urgent?" "Well, yes, I did,
in a way," "Well, what is it?" Anakin said growing very
impatient and Mace Windu could sense it. "If you would please follow
me," "Okay…" Anakin replied as he and Obi-Wan followed Master
Windu.
They
went down the corridor and turned into what used to be the old Jedi council
room. "Why are we in here?" Anakin wondered. "You are in here
because no one must know what I have to tell you," "What is it?"
Anakin repeated a second time, now getting more impatient than ever.
"Anakin, patience," Obi-Wan scolded. Anakin just rolled his eyes. Alright,
Alright…but please hurry up and get to it…
Mace
Windu stood waiting for them to pay attention. "Well, the council has felt
a disturbance in the force…" "What? Where?" Anakin said suddenly
all worried, "Continue Master Windu, I’m sorry about my padawan’s
disturbance, it won’t happen again," Obi-Wan said giving a glance at
Anakin to pay attention. "Anyways, to answer you Padawan’s question
Obi-Wan, we felt it on the planet Naboo, you do remember Naboo, don’t
you?" "Yes, I remember the trade federation invaded Naboo about nine
years ago," "Well, yes…" "So what do you want us to
do?" "Well I was just getting to that; since we felt the disturbance
on Naboo, we fear that the queen may be in danger, I want…no, the council wants
you two to go down there and protect the queen…" "Yes Master Windu,
we shall leave tomorrow in the morning," "Alright, and contact me if
there are any problems you feel the council should know about," "Don’t
worry, we will," "Well Anakin, let’s go, we have got a lot of
preparation to do before we go tomorrow," "Yes, Master," Anakin
said following his Master.
~*~
Chapter 2
Obi-Wan
and Anakin walked around the Jedi Temple’s garden quietly until Anakin finally
couldn’t take the silence anymore. "Master, do you really think Padme is
in some kind of danger?" "I don’t know my young padawan, that’s why
we are going down to Naboo; to protect her," "Alright Master…well,
I’m going to go and get ready for our trip to Naboo," "Right, see you
later Anakin." With that Anakin walked off to the lounge. I’m so
hungry, maybe I could get some lunch before packing. He went to check what
there was to eat. After, he hurried up to his room to begin his packing.
Later,
he saw his second lightsaber on his desk, well, I’m done packing, and it
wouldn’t hurt to work on it some more. After about an hour or so, he decided to
practice with the lightsaber. He moved it swiftly through the air, slowly, he
tried on some defense attacks, he twisted it, he kept doing this until finally
when he shut off the blue blade.
There
was a sudden knock on the door; it was Obi-Wan, he could sense it. He used the
force to open the door. "Hello Anakin," "Hello Master,"
"I see you have finished your packing," "Yes Master, I’m just
practicing my lightsaber training," "Good, well, you should head to
sleep early tonight Anakin, we will be leaving first thing in the morning, I
have prepared our ship for our trip," "Sure Master Obi-Wan," Who
does he think I am, of course I’ll go to bed early and wake early.
"Well then, I’ll let you go now, see you tomorrow," "Yeah see
you Master." Finally…I’m alone at last…
Anakin
gets ready for bed. He slips on plain, but loose and comfortable boxers and
finally takes his shirt off and gets in bed as he uses the force to shut the
lights. As he sleeps he dreams about Padme in his arms again. Except the good
dreams of Padme all of suddenly changed to the bad tossing and turning dreams,
he yelled, "No Padme, No, don’t leave me, No…I’ll save you…" The
dream stopped as he quickly woke up. As he lay in bed with his eyes wide open,
he couldn’t get back to sleep as he kept thinking of Padme. He got up from his
bed and went to window. He stared out, still keeping his mind on Padme; he
missed her, and to admit he was worried about her now, if anything happened to
her he didn’t think he would be able to live with himself. Well, I can’t go
back to sleep, now what should I do. "It wouldn’t hurt to practice my
lightsaber skills again," he said to himself as he took out his lightsaber
from his bag. He did swift moves. He was starting to get angry, he thought, I
swear, if anything happens to Padme before we get there I’ll kill the people
who did it…No one and I repeat No one, will lay a hand on my Padme. He was
now sweating as he turned off the humming blue blade of the lightsaber. He went
to his washroom and splashed his face with water to cool himself down. He just
stood there looking into the mirror for a while, until finally shut the water
off and headed for bed and tried to sleep for the long day he had ahead of him
the next day.
~*~
The
next morning as Anakin woke up to the sound of his alarm clock, he got up and
went to the ‘fresher. As he was getting ready he couldn’t help but think of
Padme and his dream, But I thought Jedi Knights don’t dream…but if that
wasn’t a dream, what was it? Could it be that I just had a vision of the
future, if so, then Padme could be in danger… "If that is true, I WILL
protect her with all of my will," Anakin said to himself as Obi-Wan opened
the door, "Good morning Anakin, I see you talk to yourself," Obi-Wan
yelled from his room to the ‘fresher. "I’m sorry Master," Anakin said
as he got out of the ‘fresher, got his change of clothes and popped back in to change.
"Master, I have a question…" "Yes Anakin…" "Well, do
Jedi’s have dreams?" "Not really, those dreams are mostly visions,
why do you ask?" "Well…" Anakin says as he walks out, "I
had a "dream" about Padme last night, it wasn’t pleasant
either," "What about Anakin?" Obi-Wan said more seriously now.
"Well, in my "dream", one time she was in my arms and the next
she was being taken away from my arms, and then I woke up realizing that I was
talking in my sleep," "Well Anakin, as far as I know, Jedi’s do not
dream, this has to be a vision and if it is true then we had better hurry and
get to Naboo as soon as possible," "I know what you mean Master,
nothing and I repeat nothing is going to happen to Padme as long as I
live," Anakin said more fiercely. "Anakin, calm down, don’t give in
to anger, she’ll be alright, we can only hope so now," "Alright
Master, but I’m telling you now, if anything happens to Padme, I don’t think
I’ll be able to live myself," "Anakin, I am going to go down to the
Council, meet me there in five minutes and we will tell them about your vision,
they should know," "Yes Master, I’ll be there," Anakin said as
he was finally left alone to think about Padme. God, I hope she’s alright…
After
he got ready, he took his bags and went down to the Council room to meet
Obi-Wan and the other members of the council.
As
he went down he couldn’t get his mind off Padme and his vision. He hoped that
it wasn’t true, he didn’t know what he would do if he lost her, but if he found
out who did it, he swore he would kill that person.
As
he sees Obi-Wan just down the hall, he yells, "Master Obi-Wan, I’m
coming." Obi-Wan acknowledges. Anakin hurries over to Masters Yoda, Windu
and Obi-Wan. "Padawan Anakin, Master Obi-Wan here has told us that you
have had a vision about Naboo and the queen," Master Windu said. "Yes
Master Windu I did…" "Do you want to tell us?" Not really,
but I guess I have to… "Fine, I’ll tell you exactly what I saw,"
Anakin finally said, "One moment it was when I dreamed of Padme in my arms
and the next it was she leaving my arms and I don’t know why because well, I
woke up at that moment," "I see…we will keep that into account, thank
you Anakin, but you must go to Naboo and protect the queen, this job—"
"I know, I don’t want anything to happen to Padme; Master, can we please
go now?" Anakin yelled, Obi-Wan just gave him a look that told him to be
patient. How can I be patient when Padme might be in some kind of danger… "I’m
sorry Master Windu, is there anything else you had to tell us before we left
for Naboo?" "Not really, other than, have a safe trip and tell us any
information that you feel the Council should know about," "Well then
Masters Yoda and Windu, I guess we’ll be on our way, with my padawan’s visions
I don’t want to take any chances, we don’t know what can happen," "We
understand Obi-Wan," Mace replied. Obi-Wan motioned for Anakin to follow.
~*~
Chapter 3
They
had just made the jump to hyperspace. Obi-Wan was in the pilot’s chair, while
Anakin in the copilot’s chair. It was completely silent until Anakin couldn’t
take it anymore, yet he didn’t know what to say, he was speechless, he was too
busy thinking of Padme and then all of a suddenly Obi-Wan said something that
surprised him, "Anakin, be patient, the queen will be alright, we will get
there on time and we will do our duty; protecting her."
"I
sure hope so Master, but I do wish I did not have that vision yesterday."
Anakin said worryingly.
"I
understand what you mean Anakin, but it’s normal, you can’t control them, it’s
not your fault," Obi-Wan said trying make his padawan understand.
"Gee,
thanks Master, I feel a lot better," Anakin said sarcastically. Obi-Wan
just rolled his eyes.
Anakin
got up and walked towards the cockpit doorway. Just before he walked out he
told Obi-Wan, "Master, I’m just going to go down to my cabin and rest
before our arrival. Obi-Wan just nodded for acknowledgement and with that
Anakin walked to his cabin aboard the ship.
Anakin
goes into the room and slides the door shut. He lays on the sleeping pallet to rest
for their arrival, but thinking of Padme interrupts him. Padme, I hope
you’re all right; you just have to be…
I
hope you remember me Padme. I wonder if she remembers the junk shop on
Tatooine, the place where we first met. He hadn’t been to Naboo for over ten
years now. She was 14 years old then and he; well, he was 9 years old. He tried
to imagine how beautiful she looked. When he first saw her in the junk shop, he
had told her she was an angel and he was sure she still was. They both laughed
and then she had called him a ‘funny little boy’. He had to admit; he loved
her. It was almost like love at first sight. It was beautiful.
He
closed his eyes as he lay on his bed and thought about Padme and him talking in
the junk shop.
"Are
you an angel?" he had said.
"What?"
Padme had said.
"An
angel. I heard the deep space pilots talk about them; they’re the most
beautiful things in the world. They live on the moons of Iego, I think."
"You’re
a funny little boy, how do you know so much."
At
that moment, he just smiled at that comment that she had last told him.
"Oh Padme, you called me a funny little boy and I called you my angel and
I have to admit, to me, you still are," Anakin said to himself.
His
thoughts were shortly interrupted by a voice on the intercom. It was Obi-Wan’s.
"Anakin, come down to the cockpit; we will be jumping out of hyperspace in
about one standard hours." Aww, man, I guess I’ll have to continue my
little daydreams of Padme later.
He
got up from the bed and walks down to the cockpit. He walks to his seat in the
copilot’s position and sits down to get ready for the jump out of hyperspace.
He kept shifting in his chair and Obi-wan noticed that he must be nervous to be
going back to Naboo. "Anakin, stay calm, don’t worry, and don’t be nervous,
it will be alright."
Anakin
was surprised that Obi-wan could read his thoughts, but then again he
remembered that well, they are Jedi’s, so that was obvious. "I know
master. I’m nervous because I haven’t been to Naboo in over ten years
and…"
"And
your afraid that Padme won’t remember you?" Obi-wan finished for him as he
gave his padawan a small smile, which Anakin only caught a glance from his eye.
"Yes,
master, that’s it," Anakin admitted nervously.
"Anakin,
don’t be afraid, remember what I told you; Fear leads to anger, Anger leads to
hate, and Hate leads to suffering; it will be alright, I’m sure she will
remember you."
"I
hope so master…" Anakin said as his trailed off when he looked out of the
view ports and down at the beautiful planet of Naboo.
Obi-wan
knew that his padawan understood him. He continued to pilot the ship down to
the palace’s landing bay.
~*~
They
both saw a welcoming committee standing out watching the ship land. Anakin
looked at them and could not sense Padme anywhere. "Master, I cannot sense
Padme down there with the welcoming committee," Anakin finally told
Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan
just looked at him and Anakin thought Obi-wan was just about to laugh, but
instead, he said calmingly, but jokingly too, "Anakin, she could in the
throne room, or getting ready, or even, maybe she’s feeling the same way as
you, nervous that you might not remember her; Anakin, I don’t know, but I
assure you, I’m sure she’s al right."
At
that moment, Anakin thought how stupid he just was to ask that kind of question
without realizing the possible reasons why she might not be down there right
now.
It
was silent again. Both of them haven’t said anything to the other after Obi-wan
had just told Anakin about the possible whereabouts of Padme, which had made
Anakin feel stupid at the moment and he had decided not to say anything more.
Obi-Wan
finally got the ship landed in front of the welcoming committee. He shut off
the engines. He got up from his seat and walked out. Anakin followed his master
down the corridor of the ship and down the ramp, which led to the welcoming
committee.
~*~
Chapter 4
As
they reached to the bottom of the ramp, a lady, probably in her early 20’s and
probably a handmaiden for the queen first welcomed them. Anakin had guessed
that from the clothes she wore; her clothing was the same to that when he saw
them nine years ago. "Welcome General Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, we
thank you for coming to Naboo to help us, my name Sabé."
"Why
thank you Sabé, we would like to meet with the Queen as soon as possible if
that’s alright?" Obi-wan answered in a very worryingly tone.
"Yes,
certainly, if you would follow me…" Sabe told him as she walked towards
the palace and led them to the throne room.
Obi-wan
glanced in Anakin’s direction ever so often and would see him dangling with his
lightsaber. He figured he must be nervous and worried at the same time to be
seeing the Queen after a long time. He sent a message through the force,
telling Anakin not to worry and everything will be alright.
How
can he say that; not worry about Padme and everything’s going to be al right. Anakin
thought.
As
they reached the throne room, he saw Padme sitting on the throne waiting for
their arrival. She seemed somewhat calm and unharmed, he felt. She got up from
her throne and walked toward them the rest of the way. Obi-wan bowed to her
majesty, soon thereafter Anakin followed with the same gesture.
"M’lady,
we come to protect you," Obi-wan explains his reasons for coming to Naboo.
"Master
Obi-wan, I thank you for your concern; it is good to see after all these
years," the Queen replies back to Obi-wan.
"It
is good to see you too, m’lady," Obi-Wan says as he bows again in respect
to the queen.
When
it came for Anakin to say his greetings, the Queen and Anakin just stood there
eye to eye looking at each other in silence. Everybody else in the throne room
all stared at the Jedi Padawan and the Queen.
Anakin
finally broke the silence, "It is good to see you m’lady," he said as
he bows to the queen.
"You
to Anakin; my, you’ve grown from the last time I saw you," the queen
replies amazed. She finally called on Sabe. "Sabe, show General Kenobi and
Padawan Skywalker their quarters, we’ll let them get settled in," the
queen told her loyal handmaiden and best friend.
"Yes,
your majesty; this way General Kenobi and Padawan Skywalker," Sabe
motioned them to follow.
The
queen tells them before they go, "I’ll see you tonight for dinner."
"Yes,
your highness," Obi-Wan was the one to speak.
Anakin
and Obi-Wan bow to the queen and then turn and walk out of the throne room
following Sabe to their quarters.
As
they walk down the corridor to their quarters, Anakin somewhat feels a bit
relieved after seeing Padme and Obi-Wan could sense it.
Sabe
finally turned to face the two Jedi and motioned them to their quarters.
"General Kenobi, this will be your room, and as for you Padawan Skywalker,
yours is the one right beside this one; I hope you enjoy your stay," she
said as she pointed to it.
"Thank
you Sabe, we will see you shortly," Obi-Wan thanked her as he entered his
room and Anakin in his. Sabe had walked off to the queen’s chambers to help her
get ready for tonight.
~*~
In
the queen’s chambers, Sabe asks her queen, "Is this one good?"
"Um,
I don’t know Sabe, how about this purple one?" The queen said curiously.
"But
Padme, I made that for you for when you get married," Sabe told her.
"I
know…hmm, then how about this one, you did make this for any occasion
Sabe," the queen said.
"Well,
okay, then that one it is, your royal majesty," Sabe said jokingly and the
both laughed. Sabe helped her with the dress and made her hair. Then she put on
her make up and Padme and Sabe walked out of the room and to the diner hall.
~*~
Chapter 5
Everyone
was already there waiting for her. They walked to the table and sat down
waiting to be served the dinner. It was unusually quiet, so the queen thought
she might bring up some sort of conversation, while they waited for their food.
"So, General Kenobi, we only talked briefly about you and Padawan
Skywalker’s comings to Naboo; if I may ask, why would you think that right now
I would need the protection from the Jedi Order?"
"Well,
m’lady, the council got a rather urgent message from the palace and the Council
had given us; my padawan and myself, the duty of coming down here to take care
of the business," Obi-Wan explained to the queen.
"Oh,
I see, but I still don’t understand how that has to deal with the protection of
myself?" The queen said confusingly.
"Well,
the Council hasn’t specifically told us why either, but they felt an unusual
disturbance in the force and they felt that it was going to come to Naboo, so
they told us to come down here to protect you," Obi-Wan said as the
servants walked in carrying several trays of food. They placed them on the
table before them.
As
the servants lifted the cover off the trays, revealing the delicious food,
Anakin’s mouth went from dry to watery and Obi-Wan almost burst out with
laughter when he sensed Anakin wanting to dig in to the food, but he remained
calm and sent Anakin a message to do the same.
Aww,
alright Master…damn it, I’m so hungry…and this food looks so delicious… Anakin
thought.
The
queen acknowledged at what the General had just said and said, "Well, I
see the food is all ready, why don’t we start, shall we?"
The
servants served each person. The food was delicious to everyone’s satisfaction.
After they finished eating, everybody started to go back to the their own
quarters, after all, they had a long day ahead of them.
Anakin
felt like he was in desperate need of a shower. He hopped into the ‘fresher. As
he got out in nothing but a towel, he grabbed his sweatpants and slipped them
on. He took his saber out of his bag and practiced for a little while before
going to bed. He shut off the blue blade after a bit of his saber training and
set it down on the table beside the bed and settled down to sleep because he
knew he would be very busy tomorrow. Aww…damn…not again…I saw Padme and she
seemed al right, why do I keep having these visions, he thought. "Why,
why is this happening again…" He cursed to himself. He tried to forget it
and only think of Padme when he first saw her calm in the throne room earlier
and at dinner. He started to get settled down to sleep.
Again,
the same "dream" that he had on Coruscant came back once again and
again he found himself talking to himself in his sleep. "No Padme, don’t
leave me….Nooooo……" The "dream" was cut short, as he awoke
drenched in his sweat.
He
got up from the bed and walked over to the over-sized window. He opened the
door to the balcony and walked out. As he held onto the rail, he looked out at
the sky. It is so beautiful…just like you Padme… He grunted through his
teeth as his vision started to come back slowly.
If
I am actually going to get some sleep around here, I had better check on Padme
right now, just so I can be rest assured that she is al right and be done with
all this nonsense once and for all.
He
grabs a t-shirt from his bag and slips it on, and then he leaves his room and
heads to the Queen’s chambers.
~*~
Chapter 6
As
he continues to walk towards the Queen’s chambers, he sees Sabe walking toward
him. "Oh, Anakin, what are you doing up already?" Sabe asked him
curiously.
"Uh…me
up already…noooooo…" Anakin said pointing to himself stunned.
"Well
then, why are you "roaming" around the palace, and not to mention,
near the Queen’s chambers?" Sabe asked more curiously.
"Hmm…Sabe,
I could have just wanted or needed to get out of my room and just walk around
before I go to sleep…or could I have done that, Sabe?" Anakin said with a
joking seductive grin.
Sabe
just gave a low giggle and replied, "Alright, Alright, I understand, but
don’t go disturbing the queen, ok?" Sabe walks away to her room, but in
midway, she turns back to face Anakin, who was still standing where they were
talking, "Anakin, it’s so good to see again after a long, long time."
With that Sabe turned the corner to her room and went in.
"It’s
good to see you too, Sabe," Anakin said in low tone to himself. He looked
at the door to Padme’s room. Even though Sabe told him not to disturb the
queen, he just felt that he had to go in to see if she was al right, so he
could end all these nightmares of visions about her in his mind and concentrate
on the good dreams of Padme that he had once before.
He
opened the door slowly, not to disturb her. He crept into the room and even
though it was pitch dark and he wasn’t near enough to the bed to be noticed, he
heard Padme call out to him, as if she knew he was in the room with her.
"Anakin…is that you? Ani?" Padme said confidently.
Anakin
didn’t know what to do. He just made sure that he was quiet and didn’t make a
sound, not even once. When he finally heard her stop, he continued on his way
toward her bed. He saw that she was all snuggled safe in bed and calm as a
matter-of-fact. He was about to turn and leave, but something caught his
attention, she was holding something in her hand and he wanted to find out what
it was. He slowly walked over to the other side of the bed and quietly sat on
it, leaning in toward the hand that was holding this thing that he so much had
to find out what it was.
He
leaned in closer to her hand and grabbed it ever so gently and very slowly
opened her fisted hand to reveal……a carving in some stone. Anakin’s eyes lit up
surprisingly in realization that she still had the stone that he had given her
only ten years ago when he was only nine.
At
that moment, Padme snapped her eyes open only to reveal that she was eye to eye
to Anakin. "Anakin, is that really you?" she said as she took her
hand and caressed his cheek softly.
He
took a hold of her hand and kept it there for a moment, until bringing her
closer to him. Finally, he couldn’t take the silence anymore, he decided to
give in, "Yes, Padme, it’s me."
Padme
said nothing after that, she just kept her eye on Anakin’s never taking them
off even for a second. "Padme, I…I…uh, I have a confession to
make…well…" Anakin said stumbling over his own words.
"Yes
Anakin…" Padme said looking deep into his eyes, listening to what he had
to tell her.
"…Well…ugh,
fine, I’ll just come right out and say it…I love you Padme, I have always loved
you, ever since the day we met at the junk shop…" Anakin finally finished.
Padme
looked at him, as she used the hand that was still on his cheek to pull his
mouth closer to hers. They finally united their lips in one for a moment. I
have got to get out of here…what if someone comes in here and sees both of us…
Anakin
breaks the kiss. "Uh…Padme…I should go back to my room to bed…after all,
we do have a long day ahead of us tomorrow…I just wanted to come to see that
you were ok…" Anakin explains to her lamely.
"Oh,
ok…I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then Anakin…" Padme said a little
disappointed.
"Yeah,
Padme, I’ll see you tomorrow…" Anakin said and with one last kiss he
quietly left her room and walked off quietly to his room to go to bed. He felt
somewhat relieved to see that she was al right. He went into his room. He took
his shirt off, shut the light and went to bed.
~*~
Chapter 7
Padme
lay awake on her bed. She couldn’t believe what had just happened tonight. She
took her fingers and ran them smoothly against her lips. She tried to get back
to sleep, but couldn’t. She wanted to go to Anakin’s room to see him, she
didn’t, no, she couldn’t wait until tomorrow, she had to see him tonight.
She
got up from her bed and, still holding the stone, she walked down the corridor
to Anakin’s room. She opened the door slowly and walked over to the side of the
bed where she saw Anakin tossing and turning. After a second or two, she heard
him say, "No…don’t leave me…noooooo…" Padme looked at him confused.
She was almost about to shake him lightly to wake him, until he awoke
instantly. Padme had a surprised look on her face. She sat down on the bed
beside Anakin and hugged him. "Padme…Am I still dreaming…is it really
you?" Anakin stuttered.
"No,
Anakin, I’m really here, I’m with you…it isn’t a dream…you just had a horrible
nightmare…" Padme said as she pulled him closer to her and hugged him.
"But…but…it
seemed…all real…I mean, you were being taken away from me…" Anakin’s words
scared her.
"Anakin…what…what
do you mean?" Padme said confusingly.
"It’s
the same dream I had before me and Obi-Wan came here…I told him and he said
Jedi’s don’t have dreams, but this…this is a vision……Padme, I hope it’s not
true because if it is, I don’t think I could live with myself if I lost
you…" Anakin told her in a trembling voice.
"What…that’s
why you came down here to protect me…" Padme said trying to understand it
all now.
"Yes…it
is…" Anakin told her.
"Well,
nothings going to happen to me Anakin…ok…nothings going to happen." Padme
told him confidently.
"I
hope your right Padme…" Anakin said as he got out of the bed. He
desperately wanted to change the subject, " So…why did you come
here?" Anakin questioned.
"Oh
that…well, I couldn’t sleep and I just had to come to see you, I mean, I
couldn’t wait until tomorrow…" Padme answered.
"Oh…so,
what did you want to see me about?" He asks in his sexy voice as he walks
over to her.
Padme
giggles, but doesn’t say anything, instead she pulls him closer to her and
kisses him. Anakin breaks free for a moment to say, "Oh, I see, that’s why
you came to see me…"
All
Padme could say was, "Oh, hush, and kiss me." She brought his mouth
to hers and he willingly continued with the passionate kiss they were just
sharing.
Suddenly
there was a knock at the door and Anakin had just the idea who it was, and he
was right.
His
angry master came storming into the room without hesitation. Anakin just
figured he must have felt it through the force that he and Padme were together.
But why would he be so angry for me and Padme to be together…what’s it to
him that we are together or not…
He
looked at Anakin and then at Padme and back at Anakin. "Anakin! How can
you explain this?! Have you forgotten the Jedi code?!" Obi-Wan said
angrily.
"Master,
I have not forgotten the Jedi code…but I DO love Padme and nothing can take
that away from me." Anakin told him confidently as he walked toward his
master and now stood face to face to him.
In
a whisper, in which he thought Padme wouldn’t hear, Obi-Wan told him,
"Anakin, if you love Padme as much as you say you do, will you be able to
sacrifice your training for your love for Padme?"
Obi-Wan
was mistaken, Padme had heard his every word that he told his padawan,
"Anakin shall not HAVE to sacrifice anything for his love for ME…why can’t
he continue with his training and still love me, huh?" Padme said
fiercely.
"The
code forbids it, m’lady…" Obi-Wan’s tone was much calmer as he spoke to
Padme.
Anakin
put his hand on Padme’s shoulder and told her, "Padme it’s ok, I can
handle this, maybe you should go back to your chambers now—"
"No
Anakin, I will not…we are going to resolve this now." Padme interjected.
"Padme…"
Anakin said as he looked into her fierce brown eyes. "…go now, I will take
care of this…don’t worry, I will make everything work out…don’t worry about
it…" Anakin finished.
Padme
looked back into his eyes and saw the seriousness in them, but tried to refuse
his offer, "But Ani…I want to help you…" Padme said helplessly.
"Padme,
I’ll be ok, this is something that I, and only I can take care of…just go and
I’ll see you tomorrow, ok?" Anakin told her.
"Ok,
I will, but I’m doing this for you Anakin…goodnight Ani." Padme finally
said and with one last, quick kiss she left the room without another word.
~*~
Chapter 8
Anakin
walked over to the bed and picked up his shirt as he put it on. Then, he turned
to face Obi-Wan, who stood there looking at him, still furious. "Anakin…I
made a promise to Qui-Gon just before he died in my arms, I told him that I
would train you to be a fine Jedi knight, regardless if the council accepts it
or not and I intend to keep my promise, the choice is now up to you; will you,
no, can you sacrifice your love for Padme for your training, you’ve already
worked so hard to be where you are right now, think about what you will be
throwing away for your love for Padme," Obi-Wan tried to make him
understand in a more controllable tone now.
Anakin
looked at his master for moment before saying, "I love Padme as you said,
and no, I cannot sacrifice what I have with her, but nonetheless, I am still
going to continue with my training; she won’t be a distraction master, I
promise."
"Anakin,
don’t make any promises you can’t keep, you must understand, this is important,
you must think about this long and hard, you can’t just decide this in one
shot. In life sometimes you can’t have both, it’s either one or…the
other," Obi-Wan told his padawan.
"Your
wrong about one thing, I can and I will keep my promise to you. I will still
have my love for Padme and continue my training." Anakin told him
annoyingly.
"Anakin,
I am going to leave now and I can expect you to think about what I just told
you, we will talk in the morning and you can tell me your final decision then,
but for right now, I would sleep on it if I were you." Obi-Wan said just
before he turned and headed out of his padawan’s room and into his. Anakin was
finally alone to collect his thoughts. He shut his door using the force and
walked over to the balcony, he looked out and even though he had already made a
decision, a decision that his master didn’t except, he thought long and hard
just as he was instructed to do.
Why…why
is this happening to me? Obi-Wan told me to give up my love for Padme for my
training…but I can’t, but I still want to continue my training…why does this
have to be so hard, why can’t the Jedi council understand…and why is there this
Jedi code for not to show love…why?? Anakin thought to himself.
Anakin
didn’t want to choose between the two, he wanted both, but he knew he couldn’t
have both, yet, he still couldn’t decide which one to have and which one to
give up/throw away. Should he throw away his love for Padme…or…his Jedi
training? He didn’t know what to do and it hurt him inside. He remembered
Qui-Gon, the older, but wiser Jedi that he had met on Tatooine when he was just
a boy, a slave. He had been freed by him, he was going to get the life that he
has always dreamed of, he was going to be a Jedi, until Padme…it wasn’t until
he saw Padme, that he had first fell in love with her. She has been the
obstacle in his life, in his training to be a Jedi. He loved her, but he didn’t
want to lose her.
Finally,
Anakin decided to sleep on it. He walked over to the bed and lay down, trying
to sleep and dream, of what might be his last dream, of Padme.
~*~
Chapter 9
As
Anakin finally got settled down to sleep he began to dream of him and Padme
together. He smiled as he turned onto his side. It was beautiful and seemed
peaceful. They were both laughing and enjoying the picnic they were just
having. The dream was cut shortly as Anakin snapped his eyes open and sat up on
the bed. He got it, he knew what he would do, yes, he knew exactly what he
would do. "I will propose to her," Anakin said to himself as he also
thought about how his Master would react to this news. Anakin knew for certain
that his Master would not be too happy.
I
know...we can keep it a secret until I complete my training, then I will tell
Obi-Wan about me and Padme's marriage to one another.
He smiled
confidently at the thought and settled back down to sleep and continued the
dream that he had had before.
~*~
As the
morning sun rose and shone through the window of Anakin's room, Anakin awoke
with a smile spread across his face. He let out a sigh. I just had the most
amazing dream. As he slowly got out of bed, he looked at his alarm clock. He
knew it wouldn't go off because he had shut it off before he went to bed last
night. He got up and grabbed a towel as he hopped into the 'fresher.
Hmm...I'm
so happy today...I'm going to ask Padme to be my wife! He smiled as he got
out and changed into his clothes. He quickly got ready and went to his Master's
room.
There, he
knocked on the door and was pleasantly greeted by his Master. "Why hello
my young padawan, good morning," Obi-Wan said.
"Good
morning to you too Master. Did you sleep well?" Anakin asked rather
pleasantly.
Obi-Wan looked at his padawan strangely as he replied, "Well, actually, I
did...I did sleep well indeed..."
"Well,
that's good Master, shall we go down now then?" Anakin asked his Master.
"Sure, let's go. Everyone must be waiting right now," Obi-Wan
replied.
Anakin and Obi-Wan walked out of Obi-Wan's room and headed down to the meeting
room in the palace.
Everyone
was already there. Padme nodded as they entered and smiled as she began to
speak, "Well, now that everybody is in attendance, I guess we should
begin?"
She paused
to see everyone's acknowledgement and to glance at Anakin, who seemed to be
looking at her very closely. He just smiled and nodded at her. She looked back
at everyone else in the room and began, "So, Master Kenobi and Padawan
Skywalker have come to warn us about a threat that is upon me; as the Jedi
Council discussed with them, they came down here to protect me, I will accept
their protection, but that will not be enough, as only two people cannot
protect me themselves. I do not want to start a war, but I suppose with much
thinking, we should be prepared...some of you will help Master Kenobi and
Padawan Skywalker protect me, while we will think of some sort of plan to
prepare ourselves from this threat. Now, if there are no further questions, you
all are now aware of your positions in this plan and I will dismiss you to your
duties." Padme finished as everyone walked out, leaving only Padme alone with
Master Kenobi and Padawan Skywalker.
She nodded
to them to follow her. She led them into the garden of the palace. They walked
in silent for awhile until Padme finally spoke, "Although I hope this does
not turn into war, I am greatful that the Jedi Order is helping us..I do
remember your help nine years ago with the Trade Federation invasion..and for
that I am thankful too."
Obi-Wan was the next to speak, "It is our pleasure to be of service to you
m'lady."
Anakin was too lost in thought, he was thinking how he could just get Padme
alone to tell her.
They were
walking in silent again, until Padme turned around and spoke again, "Well,
we should head indoors now...but first, I would like to speak with Anakin...if
that's alright with you Obi-Wan?"
"Oh, sure m'lady, I will wait inside the palace for you and Anakin."
Obi-Wan bowed to Padme and walked away from them towards the palace.
~*~
Padme led
Anakin to a place a little far from the palace, she explained that she comes
here when she feels she needs to be alone, away from the world of politics that
surrounds her all the time. She then looks Anakin straight in the eye, before
asking him, "What's the matter Annie, you didn't seem to say a word when
we were all walking back there, is anything on your mind? You do know you can
tell me anything."
Anakin
looks back at her and takes a hold of her small, fair hands, "Actually,
Padme, there is something on my mind, something I very much have to tell
you..." he replies.
"What is it Annie?" Padme asks him for the second time.
Anakin
decides he can't stall it anymore, he comes right out and tells her.
"Padme...we have a strong love in which no one can take away from us,
although it is forbidden, we still continue to love each other...will
you...will you marry me Padme?"
Padme, who is shocked at hearing this, sits down on the rock behind her,
thinking of what to do. She then looks back at Anakin, who was still looking at
her. "But...but Annie...you know it's impossible...you know very much as I
do what Obi-Wan will say about this..we both know he will not approve..."
Padme replies, still shocked.
Anakin
kneels down in front of her, "I know Padme...I am aware Master Obi-Wan
will not approve, that's why I've decided not to tell him right away...I've
decided to finish my training first and then tell him about us."
"Annie...its sweet, but I just don't think we could make it work...I mean,
without Obi-Wan or the rest of the Jedi Council knowing.." Padme told him.
Anakin knew
Padme had a point there, but he just wasn't on the verge of giving up yet. He
had his determination to make Padme his wife and he planned on sticking with
that, no matter what Obi-Wan or the Council think. "Padme, regardless of
what they think, I love you and nothing can change that, I want to be your
husband and I'm sure deep down inside, you love me too and want the same
thing." Anakin tells her, still looking straight into her eyes.
Padme felt beat, she knew Anakin wasn't the one to just easily give up on
something if he so desires it. He would do anything to be with her. Even defy
the jedi code, that much is clear now. She decided that there was no use in
sitting there and arguing. The agrument wouldn't go very far anyway. She
decided to give in. She looked at him and said, "Well, Anakin, if you are
certain that the Council will not know until your training is complete, then
who am I to argue..."
Anakin smiled at her, "Padme...are you saying what I think you're
saying?"
Padme just nodded and replied, "Yes Anakin...yes, I will be your
wife." And with that they shared a passionate kiss.
