Suffering and Silence--First Part

Hello all!
I, Padmé, am in the process of writing a book called Suffering and Silence. This is the intro to my Alternate Galaxy, in which Padmé does not die in childbirth like it is said at the end of Revenge of the Sith. I'll be putting out parts of the story twice a week.
Enjoy!


Padmé



She could feel the hands on her neck, choking her. She was gasping for air, precious air. He wouldn't let go. The hatred was burning in his eyes. He was a monster.
Padmé Amidala Skywalker's eyes flew open. She reached over for the comforting presence of Anakin, but the bed was empty. Her eyes filled with tears. He was dead.

Padmé reached over for her robe and got out of bed, drawing the robe close around her. She softly glided to the window and leaned against it, letting her hot forehead become cooled by the glass. The sun was slowly rising above the water, painting the sky with shades of pink, gold, and orange. The gentle wind moved gently through the trees, creating a soft music. Naboo was one of the most beautiful places in the galaxy. But Padmé's eyes did not see all the beauty. Her ears did not hear the sounds. Her heart did not take delight in the surroundings. For in her heart there was nothing but grayness and sorrow. All of her dreams, her hopes, her future had been shattered into a thousand pieces that could not be put together.

She reached up and took hold of a chain hanging around her neck. Her hand moved down to the carved japor pendent dangling against her heart. Padmé pressed the pendent to her crimson lips. She remembered in detail when Anakin had given the pendent to her. He was only a little boy of nine, leaving home for the first time. She had been fourteen, Queen of Naboo. He had left his mother, Shmi, back on Tatooine to remain as a slave. It was Anakin who had won the pod race that would enable Padmé and her two Jedi protectors, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, to make their repairs to Padmé's ship and go on to Corsucant to save her people. The win had also freed Anakin to become Qui-Gon's Padawan.

Padmé had come into the room to find Anakin huddled on a chair, shivering. He told her that he was cold and she had informed him that space was cold. He had then given her the pendent, telling her that he had made it for her so she would never forget him. Padmé had assured him that she could never forget him.
“I'm going to marry you.” The little boy voice echoed in her mind. She had laughed, not believing him but he had insisted; because that's what he felt in his heart. Anakin had been a special boy. He had strong reflexes. He had the makings of a Jedi Knight.

After the Battle of Naboo and after the death of Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan took Anakin to be his Padawan, training him to become a Jedi.

Ten years later, Padmé's life had been in danger. Someone wanted to kill her. The Jedi Council assigned two Jedi to protect her. The two Jedi were Obi-Wan and Anakin. Obi-Wan set out to find her attacker, while Anakin took her to Naboo, to protect her. Little did the Jedi Council know that Anakin would break his tie to the Jedi, and marry.

Padmé walked out onto the balcony overlooking the water. Here is where they were married. She and he knew that what they were doing was wrong, but they believed with all their hearts that their love would protect them from everything.


Anakin and Padmé went to Tatooine, to save Anakin's mother from death. Anakin had had visions about her dying and he was worried about her. Anakin got to see his mother right before she died. He then took revenge on the Sand People who had captured her, killing them all. Little did they know that it was his first step down the path that would lead to his ruin.

The Clone Wars started, and as the battles raged on, Anakin and Padmé were increasingly separated. She worried about his safety constantly and he worried about her on Coruscant while she served in the Senate. Three years after the war started, Padmé met Anakin after a fierce battle over Coruscant with the news. He was to be a father. Anakin again had dreams as he had before his mother died. This time they were about Padmé.

Padmé sighed. Anakin had been so terrified about her dying. She remembered how he had vowed to save her from death. He went to Palpatine for advice. Padmé's lips tightened as she remembered Palpatine's kindly, fatherly face. Everyone had believed in him, hoping, praying that he would hold the fracturing Republic together. He was the Republic's greatest enemy.

She remembered in detail that last day. Anakin had been gone for hours. She listened for his footstep in the hall. The baby inside her had moved very fast that day, almost like it was scared of something. Obi-Wan had come in, wanting to know if she had seen Anakin. That was when he had guessed that Anakin and she were married. When dark fell that evening, Anakin had stopped by to tell her that there had been an uprising that afternoon, but everything was fine. He had to go on a mission but he would be home soon. Padmé closed her eyes tight, willing her mind to shut out everything. The Jedi Temple had been destroyed by a monster. Anakin Skywalker had died and a Sith Lord, Darth Vader, had been born in his place.

Palpatine had declared the Republic was no more. An Empire was created, with him as its' Emperor. The death of liberty had happened with applause, much to Padmé's horror. She believed in democracy.

She didn't really know why she had followed him. She wanted to talk to him, find out what was happening. Mustafar was a planet filled with lava. She found out then. Her husband was gone. He told her he did this for them, for their child and the other children they would have. They were going to overthrow Emperor Palpatine, and she and he would rule the galaxy together; going against all of Padmé's beliefs. She had started crying then, knowing that he had taken a path that she could not follow. Obi-Wan had come out from hiding in Padmé's ship to talk to Anakin. Vader was horrified. He accused Padmé of bringing Obi-Wan to kill him. In his anger, he Force-choked Padmé. She remembered no more.

Padmé had woken up in a medical station in space. Obi-Wan was there with her, encouraging her. He had fought with Vader, killing him. Twins were born to Padmé. A son who looked like his father and a daughter who looked like her mother. Luke and Leia.

The medical droid told Obi-Wan that Padmé would not live. Nothing was wrong with her physically, but she had lost the will to live. Her spirit was dying. Obi-Wan had walked over to Padmé. He sat down with Luke in his arms and told Padmé to look at him.