The Will of the Force

Chapter 10: A Golden Age

Padme glanced at the mirror, straightening her robes and making sure her lightsaber was hanging from her belt. Six months since the rise of the New Republic, today was to be the first official meeting of the new Jedi Council. 'How long do I have C3PO?' she asked as the protocol droid entered her room.

'You have twenty minutes before you are required in the council chambers, Battle Master Skywalker.'

'I've told you, you don't need to call me by my title.'

'Oh, and Grand Master Skywalker wished me to inform you that Master Luke and Mistress Leia need your assistance in getting ready,' C3PO continued as if he hadn't heard her remark.

'There is definitely no need to call Anakin Grand Master all the time, it'll inflate his ego,' she said pointedly to the droid as she headed for the twins' rooms. Her hunch about Yoda had been right. He'd passed his title to Anakin, saying that the Jedi must evolve and not repeat their previous mistakes. Her appointment as Battle Master had come as more of a surprise to her. Anakin informed her that she was the foremost warrior in the Order, apart from himself. There'd been a distinct tease in his voice on that last part. Not that she complained about her position, in fact, she was honoured. The Battle Master gave lightsaber instruction to the most promising young recruits and was effectively second to the Grandmaster.

She reached Luke's room and could sense that Leia was inside.

'Hold still you sleemo,' Leia admonished her brother as he wriggled and made it difficult for her to straighten his robe.

'These robes are too constricting.'

'Today is a very important day. We're officially going to become Jedi.'

'Jedi Padawans. There's still years before we're actual Knights.'

'Patience is a virtue of the Jedi Luke,' Padme intervened before an argument could begin. They didn't have time to be changing robes because of a force-wielding competition, which was how Luke and Leia usually settled their disagreements.

'Yes Mum,' Luke conceded quietly. He really was looking forward to becoming part of the Order and had only argued with Leia to settle his nerves.

Leia finished tidying her brother's robes and turned so that Padme could inspect them both. Luke's hair had been cut for the occasion and Leia's hung loosely around her shoulders. Both wore miniature versions of the Jedi attire – a white shirt and pants, covered by a brown robe and accompanied by a brown belt and boots.

'You two look wonderful,' she said hugging each of them. 'Come on, your father's waiting for us near the chambers.'

Luke and Leia exchanged grins as they followed their mother along the hall. Large portions of the temple were still under re-construction, but the living quarters, entrance area, Council chambers, and some of the training rooms were already complete having been given priority. They were slowly filling with life as surviving Jedi returned to the fold and new younglings were found. One of Anakin's first acts as Grand Master had been to change the rules so that Jedi could engage in relationships and have children. Today's ceremony would be a step to realizing the advantages of that decision, Padme reflected as they continued. Coming to an intersection, they met with Yoda who surveyed the two children with approval.

'Ready to join the Order are you young Skywalkers?' he asked joining them as they walked.

'Yes Master Yoda,' Leia replied eagerly with Luke enthusiastically nodding in agreement. Anakin had offered the aged Jedi a seat on the council, citing that his wisdom would be valuable, and he accepted. Padme knew that it was also his way of apologizing for Order 66, although she also knew that Yoda had long forgiven him for it.

'Great Jedi you will become. Feel it, I do,' he said wisely.

They came to the entrance of the council chambers, Anakin speaking to Obi-Wan as he waited for them. Padme still felt a flash of resentment towards Anakin's former Master when she saw him around the temple, although she was careful to mask it. Two weeks after the empire's fall, he appeared on Coruscant and asked to speak to Padme and Anakin. He apologized fervently for his actions on Mustafar and Polis Massa, and Anakin, ashamed of his own actions during that time, readily forgave him. Padme was a little slower to do so, having trouble reconciling the man she once called her friend with the man who had mutilated her husband and separated her children. However, she no longer felt the overwhelming urge to punch him whenever they were in close proximity, so that was progress. Obi-Wan nodded as he saw her approach with the twins and Yoda, aware of his lingering anger and distrust towards him. The two older Jedi excused themselves and went inside to take their seats, leaving the Skywalker family alone.

'You two ready?' Anakin asked hugging both of his children.

'Yes Dad,' Luke said, his voice muffled by his father's robes.

'You know what to do?'

'Yes Dad,' Leia sounded exasperated. They had rehearsed the ceremony hundreds of times in preparation.

Padme placed her hand gently on her husband's shoulder. Stop making them wait Ani she teasingly reprimanded.

He winked at her and said to the twins 'Alright then.'

R2 beeped encouragement as he arrived with C3PO, ready to record the prestigious event.

'You'll do wonderfully Master Luke and Mistress Leia,' C3PO chirped. 'I do hope that I can make it through the ceremony without a recharge...' R2 beeped gleefully at this statement. 'I do not have an obsession with remaining fully charged. I merely ensure that I have sufficient power to effectively carry out my daily tasks.'

Anakin and Padme exchanged a smile. They entered the chambers and took their seats, the droids standing behind them. The other council members – Yoda, Ahsoka, and Obi-Wan – were waiting and she noticed Qui-Gon's ghostly form appear in the corner of the room, quietly observing the proceedings.

'Is everyone ready to begin?' Anakin asked. The gathered Masters nodded their heads. 'Very well. Luke and Leia Skywalker, enter.'

Proudly watching on as Anakin officially inducted the twins as the first Padawans of the new Order, Padme was certain that a golden age was ushered in throughout the galaxy and felt eternally grateful it was the will of the force that she be a part of it.

A/N: There you have it! My first ever fanfiction complete. I know that the later chapters were a bit short and choppy, I intend to go back and smooth them out at some point. I hope you enjoyed reading :)