In the Aftermath

Change is in the Air

First to fall were the two Super Battle Droids, each sliced through by a glowing blue blade. Afterwards, both Anakin and Obi-Wan went on the offensive against Dooku. It was all going rather well for the Jedi...up until the moment Obi-Wan was knocked unconscious by Dooku. Padmé winced as the man was tossed unceremoniously from atop the balcony that the fight had progressed to. She didn't think he was dead, though it was admittedly hard to tell from her angle.  However, any hopes that he would've been able to just shake it off and rejoin the battle were quickly crushed, as a section of the balcony was sent down on top of him. 

"Obi-Wan!"  Padmé shouted, struggling against her binders. 

Desperation plagued her, and Padmé was trying with all her might to break free and somehow reach her friend.  If she could just get loose, then maybe she could save him, and then he could go back to help Anakin, who was currently fighting against Dooku all by himself.  Anakin and Obi-Wan would defeat the Sith Lord, and then her, and the babies, and the Jedi would all be able to escape this nightmare. Palpatine would not get his way out of this, whatever it ultimately was.  She just needed to get herself free.  A feeling of utter uselessness seemed to settle within her chest when it became clear that she was just as trapped in place as ever. Beside her, Palpatine frowned.

"Perhaps you should settle down, my dear. Thrashing around like that will do no good in aiding Anakin nor General Kenobi.  It would be best to just let the battle progress, for everyone's sake."

Oh you would just LOVE that, wouldn't you? Padmé thought bitterly.

It was bad enough that she was trapped watching the horror show before her, but to be forced to watch alongside Palpatine was a whole new level of torment for Padmé. Nonetheless, she was currently far too upset to hold her tongue.

"Forgive me for being concerned for our rescuers," she replied coldly.  Before hastily adding, "I only wish that my friends don't come to any harm on my account."

Palpatine gave her a wry smile in return.

"Do not worry, my dear.  I believe that Anakin is actually doing quite well on his own."

Padmé directed her gaze back to the fight, almost surprised to find that Anakin had managed to hold his own. Both he and Dooku had abandoned the destroyed balcony and continued fighting on the ground level. This gifted Padmé and Palpatine with a spectacular view of the entire battle, and made it clear that Anakin was not backing down. However, the duel was still quite intense, and neither side could really gain a tangible foothold. As if realizing that the only way he'd be able to secure the win was through other means than just lightsaber skills alone, Dooku began to bait Anakin.

"I sense great fear in you, Skywalker," the old man taunted, pressing his red blade against Anakin's blue. "You have hate, anger, but you don't use them."

Anakin said nothing, choosing to focus on an attempt to break free of the hold. Unfortunately, it did little good as their blades almost immediately locked together yet again. For his part, Dooku appeared stunned that his words had failed to get a rise out of Anakin. Padmé couldn't help but smile to herself. There was most certainly a time not too long ago that such claims would have enraged Anakin, only proving the point. But, things were different now. Anakin was different, and it seemed that his enemies were a bit slow on the uptake. A subtle side glance Palpatine's way revealed a more serene reaction, though if the tightness of his fists were anything to go by, he too had misjudged Anakin's growing level of self control.

"You surprise me, Skywalker," Dooku suddenly spoke as their blades clashed against each other loudly. "Clearly some of Kenobi's lessons have finally started to sink their way through your thick skull. It only took how many years?"