Summary: Anakin really is the chosen one. Qui-Gon was right.
<g>
Warnings: Involves my fix of the ending of TPM. I saw the movie
for the first time today after reading everyone's wonderful
fiction. I knew I'd be hooked and I really don't need another
fandom but I'll be damned if I let Qui-Gon die. Nope. No way.
Never going to happen.
I bowed my head yet again at one of my remaining lords, half
of my attention on his report of the damage to our winter grain
storage, the other half on where I was headed. At least we were
moving in the right direction now. I needed to be at the space
port when Anakin landed. Odd how connected I felt to the little
one who'd just blown up the Droid Command Ship. The news had
been relayed to me via the comm link we'd confiscated from the
Viceroy and I was rejoicing on the inside.
Captain Panaka paced on Councillor Bahrens' other side, his
eyes sweeping the halls for any enemies who might be hiding.
The dear Captain didn't realize it but he was overdue for a
promotion and I meant to see that he got it. 'General Panaka'
sounded just right. There had to be some perks to being Queen
besides the right to get shot at, taken hostage and used as a
pawn.
Simmer down, your highness. No sense in scaring poor
Bahrens to death. I took a calming breath and smiled at the
old man who'd been my mentor after my mother died. "I am so
glad you survived, Councillor. You are just the person to help
solve the problem of feeding our people this winter. I'm sure
the Republic will be more than willing to help us, now that the
Trade Federation has shown their true colors."
We entered the hangar bay to the cheers of the returned pilots
and the crews who'd survived the battle. Waving at them all
with that little wave that Mother taught me when I was two, I
searched for Anakin's blond head. When I saw him approaching on
the shoulder of burly Cressa, I let go of the sigh that had
been building since I'd seen him take off.
He waved excitedly at me and grinning Cressa set him down to
run across the hangar to us. Captain Panaka hid a smile at the
look of horror on the good Councillor's face when Anakin threw
himself at me and hugged me tightly. No one was supposed to
touch the royal person except for my hand maidens but that was
one of those traditions that I meant to change.
Might as well start now. So, I hugged him back while murmuring
in his ear. "Well done, Anakin. I'm so proud of you. You helped
save us all. And you even brought R2-D2 safely through the
battle too."
That bright little face sparkled up at me with an impish look
of delight. "He got the autopilot off in time for me to keep
from getting fried, Padme." His eyes widened and an almost
frightened look crossed his face. "I'm s-s-sorry, Your
Highness."
I leaned close to his ear and whispered. "My friends call me
'Dala, little Ani. When we're alone or with Captain Panaka, you
may call me by my name. All right?"
He nodded slowly then grinned again when I tousled his hair.
"Where is Master Qui-Gon? I want to tell him what we did."
Straightening, I cast a questioning look at Captain Panaka.
"He's right. Where are the Jedi warriors?"
"I'll check, Your Highness." Bowing his head, he immediately
turned away to use the comm link.
I joined in the celebration with Anakin's hand in mine while
the pilots took turn describing the space battles that had gone
on while we were fighting for our lives against the guard
droids. The awe in their eyes when I spoke with them slowly
muted to enjoyment, especially when I asked one of them a
question or encouraged a further explanation of an event.
Anakin was drinking it all in with wide eyed pleasure at their
obvious liking of the youngest pilot. I couldn't help but
contrast this successful flight to the pod race he'd won so
doggedly back on his desert home. He deserved so much better
than his life up to this point.
"Your Highness." Captain Panaka had on his poker face but I
sensed a kind of horror in his voice that brought me up short,
excusing myself with a gracious nod to the crew with whom I'd
been speaking.
We took a step away from the crowd and he bent closer so no
one else would hear. "The guards near the generator say the
young Jedi just appeared with the dead body of his master.
Obi-Wan appears to be in shock, Your Highness."
No! I kept the cry inside while schooling my face to
neutrality. Not Qui-Gon Jinn. Anakin clutched my hand
and I realized with a shock that he'd overheard.
"I need to see him." His eyes widened and slowly filled with
tears that only a lifetime of slavery kept from falling. No
child should have to be so rigidly controlled. But he wasn't
the only one who'd had a lot of practice at showing no emotion.
"Captain, have the guards direct Obi-Wan to the Royal Chapel
with the . . . body of his master. We will join him at once." I
turned back to the celebrating crowd and raised my voice. "I am
so proud of all of you. Please continue with the celebration.
You deserve it." And waving at them with a smile, I regally
walked towards the nearest exit with Captain Panaka clearing a
path for Anakin and me.
Once out of the hangar, we picked up our pace and took a short
cut through the back halls towards the Royal Gardens where the
ancient chapel of my family drowsed in the late afternoon
sunlight. The way I was feeling, it should have been late night
with brooding clouds and rain coming down in sheets. My brain
just kept repeating over and over, it can't be true. Not true .
. . not true . . . not true.
The guards at the entrance bowed to me and I took a deep
breath, gripping young Anakin's hand tighter before nodding to
Captain Panaka to push open the heavy door. The scent of carada
oil wafted out to us from the eternal flame that burned on the
altar to my ancestors. It was dimmer here in the small anteroom
to the chapel and it took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the
reduced light.
For a moment I could not see them but the pull of Anakin's
hand soon showed me where they were. Master Qui-Gon lay in
repose on the wide stone just below the altar, his long hair
cascading over the cold marble onto the next step. His
apprentice knelt by his side with his head up, staring into the
dancing flame upon the altar. His face was streaked with tears
and he didn't seem to know we were there.
The young boy hesitantly approached them, kneeling by
Obi-Wan's side and looking up at the grieving man. My own eyes
blurred and I turned away, motioning Captain Panaka to close
the door behind us. The price of our freedom seemed unbearably
high at this moment and I steeled myself to go to the man who'd
driven the evil Sith Lord from our Planet. I knew enough of the
Jedi to know that Obi-Wan must have killed the man who'd
murdered his master or he too would be dead.
Leaving the Captain to guard the door, I crossed the swirling
patterns set into the crystal inlaid floor and sank down onto
the other side of the young Jedi. He had yet to acknowledge
either of us and Anakin tugged just a little on the frayed
sleeve of the charred cloak.
"He made me promise to teach you, Anakin. The Council will not
deny him . . . this time." His voice seem to come from the air
around us but his lips didn't move. Those beautiful blue-green
eyes remained locked on the yellow and orange flame on the
altar. "The Sith Lord is dead. But there is at least one more.
The Jedi will need all the warriors we can get in the years to
come."
It sounded eerily like a prophecy. I could feel shivers begin
deep inside of my stomach and I had to take a deep breath to
quell them.
"S-s-sir." Anakin tugged a little harder on his sleeve.
"Obi-Wan. It is not his time. He's still here."
The gaze finally moved away from the flame and down to the
earnest, upturned face. A tear eased its way down the damp
cheek and he tried to smile. "I'm sorry, Ani. He took a light
saber straight through . . ."
He couldn't finish the sentence but I'd already made a note of
the scorch marks on his over tunic and I understood what he
meant. Hopefully, Anakin wouldn't have to know the horrible
details. I wasn't sure I wanted to know anymore myself although
I felt a savage satisfaction in knowing the Sith was dead. But
that wouldn't bring back the gentle man who'd taken such good
care of me on Tattoine.
The boy just nodded and grabbed Obi-Wan's hand in his two
small ones. Gently, he laid it on the wound site and I heard
the Jedi's breath catch in a small sob. "Dala, help Obi-Wan.
There's still time."
I extended my fingers to cover the Jedi's and felt a jolt like
a sudden shock of electricity. Young Anakin laid both his hands
on Qui-Gon's chest over his heart and closed those big blue
eyes of his in fierce concentration. A tingle of energy
traveled up my arm and the bone chilling cold of the chapel
seemed to warm a little.
Captain Panaka came up behind me and I could feel his strength
glowing like a lamp in the dark. And suddenly, I knew what the
youngster needed. "Captain, give of your strength to young
Skywalker. Please."
"Your Highness." He gently placed his hands on Anakin's narrow
shoulders and I felt the temperature rise higher yet. The
tingle had become a hum in the still air and I felt pulses of
energy surrounding us with a palpable rhythm of power.
When I focused my eyes, I could see a golden glow begin to
shimmer over the still figure of the Jedi Knight. Brighter and
brighter it grew until it was like looking into the sun and I
was forced to close my eyes or go blind.
"Call him, Obi-Wan." Anakin's voice sounded deeper than I'd
ever heard it. "Now."
"Master. Come back to us." His voice caught then steadied.
"Qui-Gon Jinn. Return and finish what you started. It is not
yet your time. Come back . . . to me."
It felt as if I were watching a dozen different scenes against
the back of my eyelids. Connected to Obi-Wan through this field
they called the Force, I could see his memories of their lives
together. His training, their missions, the arguments and the
laughter. But mostly, I felt the love that the young apprentice
felt for his master.
All consuming, everlasting love.
It made my heart ache with sudden memory of the lost love of
my parents and I felt the tears I'd kept hidden for so long
well up and roll down my cheeks. His anguish was unbearable and
his pain echoed through both of us like a tidal wave of
longing. Teacher, friend, companion. Qui-Gon had been all of
those and more to Obi-Wan. I saw into his secret heart and felt
the unrequited love he'd kept hidden from his master.
The light swelled even brighter, if that was possible and I
heard a deep clear resonance ring through the still air. Like a
great bell of crystal vibrating in the ether, it rang on and on
and on. Just one note that shook the chapel in its intensity.
My bones ached with the sound and I clenched my jaw to keep
from crying out.
Then as suddenly as it had come, the light was gone and so was
the sound. I felt blinded and deafened by their absence. And I
was afraid to look at the man we'd just tried to bring back
from the dead. What if it didn't work? And what was that
anyway?
"Padawan." The whisper was shocking in the stillness and it
made my eyes fly open in disbelief. The chest beneath our hands
was rising and falling slowly and in the quiet came the welcome
sound of a heart beat that had been absent for too long.
"Master." Prayerfully came the answer from the weeping man
beside me.
I saw Anakin smile shakily at the two of them before his eyes
rolled up in his head and he collapsed backward into Captain
Panaka's arms. I rose from numb knees and pressed hard on
Obi-Wan's shoulder. There were things that had to be done.
Decisions to be made.
"Obi-Wan. Do we keep this secret or no?" I asked him urgently
with a little shake and he raised dazed eyes to mine.
//Secret.// I felt Qui-Gon's answer inside of my mind. //I
must be dead for now. Yoda . . . only . . . needs to know.//
I gulped hard and tried to act as if he'd said it out loud.
"There is a secret passage from here to an underground chamber
where my ancestors used to retreat when the world became too
much. The guards will be told to let no one but ourselves in or
out."
Pressing a carved renette flower on the altar, I watched a
flagstone slide to one side, revealing a flight of stairs
descending below the chapel. "We'll bring you food and fresh
clothing in a few hours. I'll tell the court that Obi-Wan is
mounting a vigil over you and is not to be disturbed."
"Th-thank you." Obi-Wan looked a little more alert now and I
squeezed his shoulder encouragingly. "Anakin?"
"We'll take care of him and see that he is safe. My word on
it." I vowed.
//We could ask for no better guardian.// And those wise blue
eyes opened and gazed up at us. //You see, Padawan, he is the
chosen one.//
"Yes, Master." The joy in Obi-Wan's smile lit the room with
its radiance. "I'm sorry I ever doubted."
Someday, I would like to see someone look at me like that. I
grinned before settling a solemn look on my face and turning to
leave this sanctuary. But not just now. Catching my Captain's
eye, I nodded to the entrance and he followed me, still
carrying Anakin who was out cold.
For now, I needed all my wits about me. We had to figure out a
way to present a dead body that looked like the Jedi warrior to
the public. Hide the real warrior. Get to the Jedi Council on
Coruscant. Could we trust all of them? Clean up after the
invasion. Deal with the political situation. Find out who the
new Chancellor was and see if he could be trusted.
The next few days would be very interesting. I shook my head
and left the chapel with a sad look on my face. Being Queen had
long been an exercise in acting. Now, my stage had grown to the
size of a galaxy and I was rather looking forward to seeing how
this drama came out.
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