𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐕𝐎𝐈𝐃 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐕𝐄 | 𝟏𝟖+

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ❺

Turbulence jolts Anakin and I awake. We both look around, dazed and confused, only then realizing that we had just landed.

Turning towards each other, a small smile creeps along the boy's lips once I come to a realization and excitedly whisper, "I think we're here."

My Father gathers us, along with the others, before we each file out of the ship to greet Supreme Chancellor Valorum and Senator Palpatine. My Dad and his apprentice stay back, just to the side of the ship, to discuss private matters with the Chancellor while Padmé instructs us to follow her and 'the queen' to an awaiting speeder.

Anakin and I look back to the two figures we've grown to trust most, and aware of our nervousness of being separated, my Father gives us a warm and assuring smile, flicking his wrist as an order to follow instruction. Taking a step forward, I notice Anakin's absence from my side and sense his hesitance, so I pause.

Anakin is still staring at my Father and Obi-Wan as my eyes trail over to the young boy. "Ani." I call out, the boy whipping his head in my direction with round eyes.

Taking a deep breath, I step close enough so only he would hear me. "I know you're frightened, believe me, I am too. But they have more pressing matters to discuss. We need to leave them and accompany Padmé."

Still unsure whether to join the presence of the young leader with me, Anakin looks around the landing pad before his blue eyes land back on me. He's understandably quiet, which leads me to gently grasp his hand in mine to lead the boy along, so that we may embark on this new adventure. Together.

Her Highness and staff all board the large speeder to the Senator's office, along with what hopefully may be two new apprentices to the Jedi Order. Once in the very tall building, I notice the decoy and Padmé had switched roles and changed wardrobe. I don't think I'll ever understand how the others do not notice Padmé's little charade.

As she walks past me, and towards Palpatine's office, Padmé sends me a wink, and I smirk and wink back in our secret language. After a few minutes, I turn to look out of the huge glass windows, immediately sulking.

Anakin, who was seated next to me in the waiting area, looks behind him at the tall skyscrapers before glancing at me. "You seem sad." I sigh before plopping myself down on the long widow seat, glancing at Jar-Jar who was just a few feet away and then to Anakin, replying in a soft and almost barely audible volume, "I just miss my mom."

Understanding all too well, Anakin scoots closer, leaving a few inches between us as he looks towards the carpeted ground. "I miss my mom too." He then glances at me sideways and grins slightly, "We'll see them again, Eden." I turn my head to look at the ground as I try to muster up a smile, but in my peripheral, I see Ani lifting his pinky up before vowing, "I swear it." Glancing at the boy again, I slowly curl my little finger around his, lowering our hands to rest on both of our thighs before whispering, "I'll hold you to that."

We lean on each other as we did in the starship and stay like that until it was time to leave.

*•~*•~*•~*•~*•~*•~*•~*•~*•~*•~*•~*•~*•~*•~*•

Elsewhere, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan stood before the Jedi Council.

"It was trained in the Jedi arts. My only conclusion is that it was a Sith Lord." Qui-Gon presents. Ki-Adi-Mundi replies in disbelief, "Impossible. The Sith have been extinct for almost a millennium."

"I do not believe the Sith could have returned without us knowing." Mace Windu directs towards Yoda. The elderly green alien replies, "Ah, hard to see, the dark side is." Qui-Gon looks at his masters before him and becomes annoyed and disheartened at the fact that his words went right over their heads.