Some sketcheys of this AU because I needed to get some of it out of my system

Why We Need to Appreciate Padmé Amidala

In spirit of #SWisagirlthingtoo making its way around Twitter, I thought now would be the perfect time to make a post I’ve been wanting to write for a while. Star Wars up until recently has not given much attention to its heroines, perhaps with the exception of the iconic Princess and General Leia Organa. It is incredibly sad that it has taken this long for the franchise to realise that characters such as Leia, Padmé and Rey (as well as the many animated heroines we have met such as Ahsoka and Hera) have been and will forever continue to be definitive factors in the way many girls have and will grow up.

When it comes to Star Wars, I loved Leia and I love Rey, but they are both not the heroine I connected with. I connected with former Queen and then Senator Padmé Amidala from the highly criticised (although increasingly less so) prequels and then again in the animated series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Any Padmé fan knows that loving her as a character most often means you’ll often be told that in the end she did ‘nothing but cry over Anakin’ or is in no way comparable to her daughter, you’ll find it frustrating that no reference is made to her at all following Episode III and you’ll know that she has little to no presence in merchandising even when you are more than willing to throw coins down Disney’s way for her.

But Padmé deserves to overcome all of the above. Padmé constantly has to battle against both what people expected her to be (arguably a Leia clone) and the often restrictive and limiting definitions of what makes a “strong female character”, especially in pop culture. Regardless, here is why Padmé is such an underappreciated and amazing character.

The Phantom Menace:

Padmé is elected queen at 14 years old, a competent and strong leader wise beyond her years. She was educated in public service from an early age, earning the trust of her people after serving as the Princess of Theed and becoming a junior senatorial adviser upon joining the team of Apprentice Legislators from the age of 8.

She is one of the first people to acknowledge and realise the failures of the Republic (“It is clear to me now that the Republic no longer functions”, “Wake up, Senators, you must wake up!”).

She is brave enough to take part in espionage missions in order to allow herself to take part in both negotiations and the action, as well as to keep herself safe.

When the time comes, she is brave enough to reveal herself as the queen even though it is not asked of her.

It is her idea to form the Gungan Alliance and to try retake Naboo herself. She is able to realise that a diplomatic solution is no longer plausible for her home planet and instead of sitting back and ordering action from the sidelines, she fights alongside her people and risks her life in doing so.

She delivers victory, bringing the two species of Naboo together and liberates her people.

Padmé served the full two terms allowed by Naboo’s laws but was so popular as a leader that her people wanted to amend the constitution in order to allow her to remain queen.

Attack of the Clones:

Padmé continues to serve her people as the representative of Naboo in the Galatic Senate, even as her life continues to be threatened and also after she watches her decoy (and friend) die.

Despite more threats to her safety, Padmé is selfless in going with Anakin to Tatooine to try and save his mother as well as wanting to help and rescue Obi-Wan.

Padmé is prepared to put her career first. She denies her feelings for Anakin right until she believes she is going to die on Geonosis and understandably realises that her career does not have to be the only satisfaction in her life. She accepts that she is entitled and allowed to love, even when Anakin does not share the same luxury.

She decides to become committed to hiding her relationship so that she can continue her duties for the Republic as well as attempting to ensure Anakin is not denied his life as a Jedi.

Her every action is not driven by her love for Anakin. She decides to go rescue Obi-Wan when Anakin argues against it and whilst Anakin and Obi-Wan bickered when chained up on Geonosis, she instead took the time to rescue herself and reach higher ground.

Padmé survived the Battle of Geonosis as a clever politician and as a blaster-weilding fighter whilst many other Jedi and trained clones died. She proves again that she can fight.

The Clone Wars:

Padmé essentially becomes a hero through her politics.

We see more of her in action in the Senate, particularly in the episode The Pursuit of Peace where she gives an unforgettable speech. “Who are we fighting for? My people, your people, all of our people. This war is meant to save them from suffering, not increase it. I support our brave soldiers whether they come from the clone factories or from any of the thousands of systems loyal to the Republic… It is our duty and our responsibility to preserve the lives of those around us.” The full version can be found on Youtube.

Padmé continues to be the target of further assassination attempts but continues to expand her power and influence nonetheless.

Padmé cleverly earns the attention of the galaxy’s most important players and is able to come to adaptable and sufficient compromises with them despite differences in beliefs and alliances.

Missions with Ahsoka!!

She again does not let her decisions be influenced or driven by Anakin. When Anakin does not want her to go on a mission he deems to dangerous in the episode Senate Spy, she replies “You’re not going to let me? It’s not your decision to make, it’s mine”. Padmé puts her duty to the Republic first, even when it bothers Anakin on multiple occasions.

She is brave enough to leave Anakin when he violently attacks Rush Clovis, whom she had been previously romantically linked with.

Revenge of the Sith:

Yes, many of her scenes where she is active in the early formations of the Rebel Alliance are cut and we will never forgive George Lucas 5eva. The original ending where she attempts to assassinate Anakin also would have been awesome. This movie is where Star Wars fails Padmé, but her role in it still can not be ignored.

Padmé is able to question the state of the Republic when many around her are too afraid to in fear of accepting what it may truly mean – “What if the democracy we thought we were serving no longer exists and the Republic has become the very evil we’ve been fighting to destroy?”

She recognises that Palpatine has gained too much power in the Senate upon becoming Emperor and reorganising the Republic into the Empire, famously stating “so this is how liberty dies, with thunderous applause”. This leads her to form the early stages of the Rebel Alliance that would ultimately become a deleted scene but should still be considered canon.

Once learning all that Anakin has done, Padmé states that he is “going down a path [she] can not follow”. She is not blinded by love and is able to see his actions for what they are and who he has now become. He ultimately destroyed everything she had worked so hard to preserve.

Whatever way you want to believe Padmé died, she went through unimaginable heartbreak and her emotions should not totally be criticised because her pain will never be understood by most. People also often fail to realise that Padmé’s fate is also that of the Republic. She was fated to die with it as she was symbolic of its spirit. I think it is fair to say that she was never destined to live past the birth of Luke and Leia (despite that one line from Leia in Return of the Jedi which can be argued for) as Vader would never have been fully committed to being Palpatine’s apprentice with Padmé around and her future would have had to have been reduced to one of hiding.

It is Padmé that instills the hope and kindness in Luke that allows him to refuse the dark side and resurface the last bit of humanity left in Anakin/Vader. Luke does not win over his father through combat or power but through embodying the eternal impression of light that his mother left on his father. Like his mother, Luke knows that fighting, or ‘aggressive negotiations’, will not always be the answer. A New Hope is ultimately a product of Padme’s legacy.

I know myself that I would not be the person I am today without my favourite female characters. Through female characters, as girls we can feel as though we have defeated great evils, overcome inner conflicts and sometimes even get to save the boys for a change. We might not be able to pick up a blaster or lightsaber in real life, but we learn it’s okay to take charge and that there is absolutely no reason we should feel ashamed for doing so. We learn that we can aim for and strive for any goal whilst also feeling confident and every bit capable to get the guy on the side if we wish to and that having such feelings should not be seen to diminish our strength in any way.

Padmé carried the weight of her gender throughout the entirety of the prequel trilogy and for that reason alone she was never going to please everyone. She was the new female lead and many hoped she would be a character who was along the lines of being Force sensitive or perhaps even a pilot like Rey. But Padmé’s strength was in being kind when she had every reason not to be and was a force to be reckoned with through her intelligence and diplomacy that helped preserve the security and stability of the Republic for as long as it was able to stand under Palpatine’s manipulative rule. She was the humanitarian the galaxy needed when it began to lose all humanity.

Many people who grew up watching the prequels first probably connect with Padmé more because they never tried to fit her into a mould or an already established idea. But I do hope that fans of any age can come to recognise that Padmé is as worthy of being centre stage in the Star Wars arena as any other female character and I truly hope Forces of Destiny can help bring that about. Of course we need more representation in the Star Wars universe and I will never deny that, but I am lucky enough that I did gain a character from Star Wars that I adore so much. I also appreciate that these female characters can be every bit important to male fans as they are to female fans and any male fan that is able to appreciate our heroines as equal to our heroes is helping fandom and pop culture take a step in a better direction than it has in the past.

It was my birthday yesterday, and I was wondering if you would be willing to part with a snippet from early in Anabasis? No pressure at all if not. (Thank you either way)

Hey anon, sorry for the delay in replying. And happy belated birthday!

Early Anabasis, huh. Okay. I can definitely do that, though I warn you: this story is so long and I’ve been writing it over such a period of time that I already know I’m going to probably end up making a lot of changes (and possibly significant changes) to the early chapters especially. But what I’m posting here hasn’t seen those edits yet. So, some Early Installment Weirdness is probably to be expected.

Then again, diving back into the early chapters reminded me just how much fun philosophical debates between Obi-Wan and Padmé are to write. Obviously I need to revisit this more in later chapters.

This snippet is from very early on in the story (the earliest bit I’ve ever posted, actually), well before Anakin’s deposition or even the discovery of what his detonator actually was. At this point, even Padméknows very little about him.

Immediately before this, Padméand Sabépaid a visit to Anakin’s cell, along with most of the Jedi Council.

“Senator, I think you do very unwisely in this,” Obi-Wansaid, his voice pitched low to avoid the ears of civilian construction workersand the few Jedi who passed them in the Temple halls. Sabé followed behindthem, a silent shadow. “A Sith Lord is hardly trustworthy, and this one is hismaster’s apprentice.”

“Maybe,” said Padmé. “And I certainly don’t trust him ineverything. But you weren’t there, Obi-Wan.” She stopped walking, halting justbefore the door that opened onto Speeder Bay 6, and turned to face him. “Youweren’t there, but you know what that explosion did to him. There was a bomb inside of him, and it was the Emperorwho detonated it. I can’t forget that.” Her eyes slipped closed momentarily andshe shuddered. “I can’t ever forget that. And neither will he, of that I’mcertain.”

“Padmé,” Obi-Wan said, and she was surprised to hear thefrustration in his voice. At another time she might almost have laughed; ittook quite a bit to shake Obi-Wan Kenobi’s calm. But now was not the time.

“I don’t want to argue about this, Obi-Wan,” she saidfirmly. “I’m not a Jedi, and I don’t fully understand the Jedi concept of theworld, but I do understand grief. And I’m not advocating for amnesty for him,you know that. I only – ”

“But you might,” said Obi-Wan, and there was no disguisingthe emotion in his voice now. “The Council knows the line of investigationyou’ve been pursuing, but I’m afraid you’re only deceiving yourself, Senator. DarthVader may be young, but he’s far from innocent, and a Sith regardless of hisage. Indeed, the Sith Master now, as well you know.”

Padmé drew herself up sharply and leveled a glare at himthat had caused many an opponent to quail, on the Senate floor and in battle.“I don’t need a lecture from you, Jedi Kenobi,” she snapped. “My investigationis conducted at the behest of the Senate. While the Jedi Order is a respectedand valued institution of this Republic, the Jedi Council cannot expect the Senate or all members of the Republic to abide byits codes and precepts. This is a Senate matter and I will thank you not toinvolve yourself unasked!”

Naked surprise shone in Obi-Wan’s eyes, and his face wastroubled now as he stepped away from her. “Forgive me, Senator,” he said. “Itwas not my intent to impose anything on the Senate. I only meant to offeradvice to a friend.”

At this Padmé softened, her glare fading to a sad ghost of asmile. “I know, Obi-Wan,” she sighed. “I know. And I do appreciate your concern.But in this I really think you’re wrong, and I wish that you would respect myneed to understand.”

Obi-Wan nodded. “I don’t understand, that’s true,” he said.“The Sith have fooled the Senate and the Jedi alike once before, and the lossto the galaxy was incalculable. I don’t understand why you would wish to openyourself to that same deception.” Padmé looked ready to protest again, andObi-Wan quickly held up a hand to stall her. “But I do respect you, Padmé. Ihope you know that.”

“Yes,” she admitted. “I do. But how can you not be curious?How can you not want to know? There are no records in Imperial files, no birthcertificate, no medical history, not even record of a speeder sale or a credithistory. Darth Vader is a ghost, and as far as any record is concerned, AnakinSkywalker never existed at all. How can that not raise questions for the Jedi?”

Obi-Wan gave a twist of his shoulders and walked past her,into the speeder bay. Padmé followed, rather annoyed still, and Sabé trailedher, alert and silent, but smirking in a way that did nothing for Padmé’s mood.

“Because he’s a Sith,” Obi-Wan said, slipping into the backseat of the Naboo senatorial speeder with Padmé as Sabé took the controls andbegan to maneuver them out of the bay. “Of course there are no records. TheSith were secret for over a thousand years. If there ever were records, Vadermost likely destroyed them himself, and that ought to tell you a great dealabout him.”

“It doesn’t!” snapped Padmé. “It doesn’t at all. I watchedhim explode from the inside out, Obi-Wan, and all because he refused to killme. Is that something that fits your perfect picture of a Sith Lord?”

Obi-Wan glanced away, but Padmé gave him enough credit toknow he wasn’t really avoiding her. His eyes flicked with minute focus overeach passing speeder and to the windows of each towering skyscraper, ever alertfor danger or anything out of place. Her Jedi protector. She felt a suddenflash of guilt for her temper. He’d seen most of his order and his whole way oflife destroyed, largely at the hands of the man she was so desperate tounderstand. It was a sobering thought, and it cooled her anger. But it didn’tchange her mind.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I really am. I appreciate all you’redoing for the Republic, and for me. But Anakin isn’t a Jedi, and the Republichas no laws concerning Sith Lords. Therefore he must be regarded as any othercitizen of the Republic under the law, and we need to know as much about hiscase as possible.”

Obi-Wan frowned, but all he said was, “Just be careful,Padmé. He’s dangerous still.”

At that Sabé laughed, twisting to look over her shoulder atthem even as she piloted the speeder to a landing on the roof of 500 Republica.“Of course he’s dangerous, Kenobi. But for once he may not be a danger to you.”

Obi-Wan narrowed his eyes at her, though whether in responseto her comment or to her piloting methods, Padmé wasn’t certain. But they’dlanded safely enough, and she had work to do.

Before her handmaiden could provoke the Jedi further, Padméstepped out of the speeder and turned to Obi-Wan. “I’m grateful as always foryour assistance, Jedi Kenobi,” she said formally. “But now I’m afraid I mustattend to other business.” She smiled. “I’ll see you again soon, for the nextvisit.”

“Until then,” said Obi-Wan, still casting a suspiciousglance at Sabé, then with a bow he turned and hurried away, toward the nearesttaxi terminal.

“Well, that’s that,” said Sabé, ushering Padmé into theelevator that would take them down the seven levels to her senatorialapartments. Her tone was casual, but her stance was ever alert, and thetelltale bulge of a blaster showed at her hip.

Padmé caught her eye and motioned vaguely around the squareof the elevator. Sabé’s gaze flicked rapidly over every surface, and thenagain, more slowly this time, and then her stance relaxed just slightly.

“Clean,” she said.

“Good,” said Padmé, rounding on her handmaiden. “Then youcan tell me what it was that you left for him in the fountain.”

Sabé blinked at her. For a long moment she said nothing, andPadmé had to fight the urge to laugh. For all her cunning, Sabé forgotsometimes that Padmé was no stranger to espionage herself.

“How did you know?” the handmaiden said at last.

“I’m glad you’re not denying it,” Padmé said, giving in tothe urge to laugh, just a little. “But you forget I spent six years as a Rebelspy in the Imperial Senate. I like to think I know a thing or two aboutstealth.”

“Do you think the Jedi noticed?” Sabé asked. Padmé couldn’trecall the last time she’d heard her friend sound genuinely nervous aboutsomething; her faint laughter died away.

“No,” she said slowly. “I don’t think they did. I can’timagine they would have let it go, if they had noticed. But mostly, I thinktheir suspicions of him kept them from paying much attention to either of us.We weren’t the danger in that room, for them.”

Sabé snorted indelicately. “Oh weren’t we? Sometimes, Iwonder if the Boss isn’t right about Jedi.”

“Sabé!” Padmé exclaimed in horror, but Sabé only waved heroff.

“No, no, I don’t mean like that,” she said. “Of course notthat. But they are a bit full of themselves, aren’t they?”

“I really don’t think they are,” Padmé said coldly, and asthe lift came to a stop, she strode rapidly through the doors and into herapartment, not once looking back at her handmaiden. “They’re survivors of agenocide, and I really don’t think making a mockery of that is – ”

“But you want to defend the man who enabled that genocide,”Sabé hissed, her voice so suddenly vicious that Padmé spun back to look at herin shock. “You want to understand. And if you really do, maybe you ought tostart by taking his views seriously.”

For a moment Padmé was still, caught suddenly by herhandmaiden’s words. It was not something she’d really considered before, andthere might be something to Sabé’s anger. But Sabé was in some ways likeAnakin, or more likely she’d learned the trick from him, and Padmé knew him toowell now to fall for his tricks from someone else.

“And perhaps you ought to answer my question,” she said,smiling at the faint surprise in Sabé’s eyes. “Your advice is noted, but so isyour avoidance. What did you leave in the fountain?”

The sudden venom melted from Sabé’s face, replaced by aferal grin. “All right, you caught me,” she said, though she hardly soundedconcerned. “It was a com. One-way, untraceable, encoded, easily destroyed.”

“And who does it contact?”

Sabé eyed her for a moment, the struggle more obvious on herface than she probably would have liked. At last she let out a long breath andsaid, “Another of his agents.”

Padmé blinked. “There were more of you? But I thought – he’sonly ever talked about you.”

“The Boss is good at keeping secrets,” Sabé laughed. “Youought to know that. And of course there were more of us. I’m good you know,Padmé, but I can’t be everywhere.”

But Padmé was hardly listening. She was thinking back overtheir visit, over the half-joking exchange between Anakin and Sabé and the waythey’d behaved more like old friends sharing an in-joke than like a Sith Lordand his agent. And she wanted to laugh at herself, because of course that was the joke.

“Two,” she said. “You said, ‘Two,’ and that’s the contact.”

Sabé raised an eyebrow at her, but her mouth was alreadytwisting in a grudging smile. “Very perceptive,” she said. Her eyes traced overPadmé’s face, searching. At last she said, “Are you going to tell anyone?”

Padmé was silent. She should, of course. She knew nothingabout any of Vader’s other agents, not even how many of them there might be,and she knew far less about Sabé than she wanted to admit to herself. It shouldprobably worry her, that her handmaiden seemed to owe greater loyalty to animprisoned Sith Lord than to her, that she could not be entirely certain of Sabé’smotivations – that even now, she knew Sabé had certainly not told hereverything, and would not.

But she’d known all of this when she hired the other woman.And she knew why it worried her less than it really should have. The detonatorwas still in her pocket, and Padmé thought that she and Sabé were really not sodifferent, after all.

She let out a long breath of air and turned back to Sabé,her shoulders dropping with her sigh. “No,” she said wearily. “I’m not going totell.”

What We Could Have Been - Episodes 1&2

So after my recent (well, it was recent when i started this six months ago) experience rewatching the prequels and my discovery of the Obidala ship, I realized that it would make so much more sense for Obi-Wan and Padme to be a couple because (in my opinion) they're much better suited for each other. So here’s my take on how the prequels could have featured Obidala and yet still have been OT canon compliant. (Continued here)

 When Padme Amidala escapes the Naboo blockade, she finds herself drawn to the tall, handsome Jedi apprentice who helped her escape. She approaches him when they’re on the ship together, in part out of desperation for someone new to talk to - her handmaidens are wonderful, but they are living reminders of all the people she’s left to the mercy of the Trade Federation. To her surprise, he understands when she describes her shame at leaving her people behind; though she talks from the perspective of a handmaiden, she feels like his response is an answer for her feelings as a queen. When Qui-Gon dies, Padme is the one Obi-Wan turns to for comfort; she's the only one one the planet (other than Anakin) who significantly interacted with Qui-Gon. At first, he just cries on her shoulder, too grief-stricken to care about emotion not being the way of the Jedi. Eventually, tears give way to talk; Obi-Wan tells Padme about his time as Qui-Gon’s apprentice, about lessons he'd learned, adventures they'd been through together. About how Qui-Gon took him back after he left the Jedi Order on Melinda/Daan, about the fights the two of them had, about his Master’s irritating habit of adopting pathetic life forms. Padme shares her own stories about her own brief interactions with Qui-Gon on Tatooine, about how frustrated she'd been with his recklessness in putting everything into the pod race, while still being impressed by his kindness toward the two slaves. They talk late into the night, and eventually Obi-Wan falls asleep with his head on Padme’s shoulder. It's about a week after Obi-Wan leaves Naboo that he gets his first letter (email? Whatever the Star Wars universe digital equivalent of letters is). It opens with a solid paragraph of question - how is he doing, does he enjoy being a Jedi knight now, how’s Anakin, and so on - and ends with description of Naboo recovering from the occupation - which of course, she says, wouldn't have been possible without him and Qui-Gon. Never before has someone he’s befriended on a mission contacted him like this afterwards. At first, he only responds out of politeness and a feeling of debt - Padme helped him through the night his Master died, the least he can do is respond to her letters - but pretty soon he starts enjoying hearing from her. They discuss everything - Anakin’s training, Obi-Wan’s missions, Padme’s duties (first as a queen and then as a senator), childhood memories, favorite books, politics, and pretty much every other subject. Obi-Wan always tells himself it isn't really an attachment, because it’s not like he ever actually sees her, and it’s not against the Jedi code to have friends, for force’s sake. Still, he never mentions to anyone - not even Anakin - that he’s still in touch with Padme. Fast forward to ten years, to when a bounty hunter attacks Padme and Obi-Wan and Anakin are assigned to protect her from danger. Obi-Wan has mixed feelings about the assignment - he’s happy to see Padme, of course, but he’s also worried about her safety - even for senators, assassin attacks aren't normal. So he and Anakin walk into Padme’s rooms, and Obi-Wan thinks that this is just going to be a normal assignment until he sees Padme for the first time in ten years. His mind just totally blanks for a second, because he does not remember her being this beautiful? She was a girl the last time he saw her, but now she’s a woman - and an extraordinary one at that. So Obi-Wan just stares at her in shock for a minute while she exclaims over how much Anakin’s grown, and Anakin makes an idiot of himself responding, and then Obi-Wan pulls himself together enough to greet her and say how wonderful it is to see her again and the like. On the other side of it, Padme sees Obi-Wan for the first time in ten years and her first thought is oh. Because sure, she thought he was cute ten years ago, but in the past 10 years he's become more of a voice than a face. It’s a bit of a surprise to realize that this very attractive man is the same person as the cute Padawan she met ten years ago. She’s significantly better than Obi-Wan at hiding this type of emotion, however, so she’s able to continue on with the reintroduction unflustered. When Obi-Wan finds that Kamino is missing from the Jedi Archives, the Council decides there’s more going on than they can see and sends Mace Windu to investigate. Obi-Wan and Anakin are both sent to Naboo with Padme, because at this point (before the war), it’s extremely irregular for an Padawan and their master to be sent on separate assignments. During the journey to Naboo, Anakin finds out that Padme and Obi-Wan have been pen pals for the past ten years - he’s surprised his master never mentioned it to him. Padme is also curious why Obi-Wan kept their correspondence a secret, but, ever the diplomat, she says nothing about it. Anakin has been hopelessly in love with Padme since the first moment he saw her, but he does not attempt to make his feelings known, mainly because Obi-Wan’s there and he doesn’t ever get the chance to talk to Padme alone. Mostly, Padme just does senatorial work - even when she’s in hiding, she can still draft bills, review laws others are suggesting, and keep updated on the current Senate meetings so she won’t need to be filled in when she returns. Anakin and Obi-Wan stay close by, but mostly leave Padme to her own devices. During this time, Anakin tells Obi-Wan that the dreams he’s been having about his mother have been getting worse. Obi-Wan tells Anakin that they must stay focused on the senator - she’s their current assignment, and they can’t let anything compromise their ability to keep her safe. Anakin understands, he really does...but after one more awful dream about his mother dying in horrible pain, he can’t take it any more. One Jedi really is enough for a bodyguard, Anakin thinks to himself. Obi-Wan doesn’t really need him here on Naboo, but his mother does need him - he can feel it. So he leaves a note for Obi-Wan, steals a ship, and hightails it to Tatooine. Obi-Wan is both furious and conflicted when he wakes up the next morning to find Anakin gone. Furious, because why can't his Padawan listen to him just this once, and conflicted between his responsibility to his mission guarding Padme and his duty as a Master to Anakin. For a Padawan Anakin’s age to desert his mission and disobey direct orders from his master.....the Jedi Council could expel Anakin for this. They’d almost definitely argue that it is proof that Anakin is controlled by his attachments to others, and that he is unfit to be a Jedi. But if Obi-Wan can get Anakin back fast enough the Council doesn't have to know....on the other hand, Padme is in real danger; she could be killed if he isn’t around to protect her. As soon as Padme hears that Anakin is gone, however, she insists that they go to Tatooine to find him. Obi-Wan tries to protest, saying that he can’t risk taking her into the domain of the Hutts, but Padme insists that she refuses to risk Anakin being expelled from the Jedi on her behalf. So they find the most nondescript ship they can get their hands on, and head off after Anakin. Obi-Wan’s surprised to find that Padme is actually a pretty decent copilot. When he comments on this - saying that he didn’t think it was something taught to Queens or Senators - Padme just laughs, saying that she learned from his letters that people can have need of many skills that aren't usually expected of them. Even though Obi-Wan’s worried sick about Anakin, he realizes he hasn't enjoyed a flight so much in...well, possibly ever. Conversation with Padme is just as enjoyable in person as it was through letters, and even in a dusty traveler’s disguise she’s so beautiful and full of life that he can't help but stare at her (attachment is forbidden, part of his mind whispers, but he shoves it aside because she is his mission, and what's the harm him talking to her if they have to be together anyway?). They find Anakin as he buries his mother. Obi-Wan can feel the Dark Side of the Force coiling around Anakin, as though it was toying with him, though Anakin himself doesn't feel Dark. It’s obvious that something happened before they got there, but Anakin refuses to tell Obi-Wan anything. Obi-Wan doesn't know what to do because Anakin won’t talk and he won’t apologize, and every minute he spends on Tatooine puts Padme in more and more danger. He’s about ready to drag his padawan back to their ship by the ear when they receive a holocom from Mace Windu, who demands to know what the hell they’re doing on Tatooine before immediately launching into a description of what he found at Geonosis and requesting backup. The transmission is cut off abruptly as Mace is captured by the Geonosians. Both Anakin and Obi-Wan know that whatever help the Council can send won’t arrive in time to save Mace, so Obi-Wan leaves Anakin with strict orders to take Padme straight back to Naboo. On the way home, Anakin, torn up by guilt, confesses his slaughter of the Tuskens to Padme. This confession, unlike the one in a different universe, holds no anger, only shame - it occurs long enough after the event that only guilt is left. In this universe, Padme is shocked and horrified, and perhaps even a little scared. Slaughtering an entire village - including children - out of rage? Padme’s gotten to know quite a bit about the Jedi from Obi-Wan’s letters, and she knows that what Anakin’s done goes against everything the Jedi stand for. This Padme isn't blinded by love - she realizes the horror of what Anakin’s done. It takes years - and the knowledge that they've all done equally terrible things throughout the course of the war - for her to be able to look him in the eye. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan is captured, and Yoda appears with the clones to save the day. Obi-Wan duels Dooku and loses; Yoda enters to battle his former apprentice. Just before Yoda appears, however, when Obi-Wan is disarmed and on the ground with Dooku’s lightsaber pointed at his throat, he’s surprised at the direction his thoughts turn: toward Padme. As he thinks he’s about to die, Obi-Wan realizes that he’s in love with Padme - that perhaps he has been for years, but seeing her again is what cemented it. And then Yoda shows up, and Obi-Wan doesn't die, but he knows the truth of what he felt. Padme has the same realization when she sees Obi-Wan again, bruised and battle-weary, after he returns from Geonosis to come back for Anakin and escort her back to Coruscant. The worry she’d felt over the past few days, knowing she might never see him again, might never get to open another one of his letters....everything had been overshadowed by emotion from Anakin’s confession, but now her feelings are crystal clear: she’s in love with Obi-Wan Kenobi. And so before they leave, Obi-Wan sends Anakin to go ready the ship, and they have a moment, just a moment, to confess their feelings for each other and to share a brief, secret kiss. They return to Coruscant, and Anakin is Knighted. He and Obi-Wan become generals, and Padme preaches peace and diplomacy to the Senate. But there is no wedding in this story. Obi-Wan loves Padme with everything in him, but being a Jedi is who he is - there’s no way he could ever leave the Order. Especially while a war is breaking out, and he knows that they’ll need every Jedi they can get. But Padme and Obi-Wan become...something. They are not lovers in the ordinary sense of the word, because Obi-Wan knows that if he crosses that line, he’ll never be able to go back. But neither are they simply friends. They are soulmates, on every level. They are each other’s anchors during a turbulent, seemingly never ending war. But that’s for the next episode. In this moment, when Anakin becomes a Knight and the Clone Wars begin, a silent promise is made, no less strong for all that it is unspoken. A promise to love and support, to care for and to cherish. Till death do them part, and all that.