WALK AWAY || a.s.

02

in the morning of padme's departure, marwen felt herself getting antsy. it had been nearly a year since their last trek to naboo, and twice that since marwen had seen her mother. the last time she was there, an advisory conference was being held to debate an issue regarding the harvest seasons distribution to the cities. freya had been right in the mix the entire time. this time, however, marwen was sure she would get to meet her mother's embrace once again.

"all set?" a voice asked suddenly. marwen spun on her heels, gazing towards the apartment exit to the landing pad, where a curious ahsoka now stood. marwen gave a curt smile, nodding. "you don't talk much, do you?" she asked, walking towards the mouth of the ship. marwen watched her, waiting a moment.

"i do." she said sinply, kicking herself as she realized even her counter towards ahsoka's question proved her point. marwen cleared her throat. "i mean i do, talk, that is. it's just difficult to find words sometimes. i'd rather listen." she admitted. ahsoka seemed to study her for a moment, a pleasant smile still on her face. she was kind, and naive, and marwen could read it all over her face.

"i'm sure you do a lot of that in your position anyway. you must hear a lot of important stuff." ahsoka shrugged. marwen sighed.

"what people deem important is relative. i hardly find bureacratic diplomacy important when there are voices right under our noses wanting to be heard." she said, more casual than the words should have felt. this caused ahsoka to pause, if only for a millisecond. her expression changed in agreement to the girl. ahsoka was now intrigued. but before anymore questions could be asked, anakin had made his presence known. the two teens turned to face him.

"obiwan is en route now. we should get going." he commented.

"right away, master. r2 has the ship started and ready for us." ahsoka reported padme followed anakin shortly behind, a more casual attire causing marwen to furrow her brow.

the cluster began to board the ship, marwen waiting behind for padme. "the choice in attire is...new." she prodded. padme didnt turn to her, she instead kept moving, focusing on getting into the ship and closing the boarding ramp.

"formalities are being swept aside, right now i am worried only for our people." she admitted. marwen sighed, deciding to leave it alone. padme was riddled with stress, not only from the attempted attacks, but discourse surrounding the galactic senate as well. marwen made a mental note to check in with her about that later.

"everybody buckle up!" anakin called from the pilot's seat. ahsoka joined him as a copilot as the ship lifted. marwen let her gaze fall to the ground as she let herself dwell on the fact that she would get to see home again, if only for a short period.

staying in coruscant with padme and her advisors was something she never regretted, but marwen would be named a liar if she said she didn't miss waking up every morning with a view of the blooming countryside and green tall grass. naboo was, and always will be, her home.

she had supposed returning to naboo after padme's run as senator expired, but she knew that if her friend had decided to remain on coruscant, so would she. marwen had never been without padme, except for those years in waiting for her to come back to naboo for her, inviting her to come to the city planet. for as long as marwen had been alive, padme had been there. she was a figure of guidance, just as freya had been to the ruling padme long ago. remaining with her through every travel only seemed right.

do you see the shaak? over there, across the lake.

marwen closed her eyes, if only for a moment. she thought back to the sun.

there's not just one. she is a mother. do you see?

it was the afternoon of the changing season. soon, the day would take up the better portion of a rotation.

they're at peace. they know their place in this world. it's something you will come to know yourself one day.

padme was older than marwen. she held wisdom that marwen couldn't catch up to, not even as children.

marwen looked up, remembering her presence on the ship. her friend had now moved to the seat closer to skywalker, leaving ahsoka with an empty spot near herself. marwen looked over at her. the girl was seemingly lost in thought, eyes focused on the floor. she didn't seem much younger than marwen herself, but she carried the ambition of a child. marwen smiled at that. ahsoka knew what was good.

her intense focus on the togruta girl seemed to have gained her attention. instead of an awkward glance, she held marwen's gaze. just for a moment, unsure of what to say outloud. ahsoka herself was still learning her abilities in the force, but knew enough to try and emulate a feeling.

reassurance.

it washed over marwen briefly. the two kept watching each other, waiting for something to happen. but instead, the human girl shifted her posture and looked away.

almost as if on cue, the feeling of reassurance appeared once more. this time though, ahsoka wasn't watching marwen. in fact, marwen wasn't sure where the feeling had come from at all. she glanced around the ship for a moment before resting her eyes on the floor once again.

marwen wasn't sure what to make of it. she knew of the force's existence, and she knew that, if properly tuned, things like empathy were transferable. but the thought of its presence in her mind after ahsoka had broken their gaze left the girl in a state of mild discomfort. while it was pleasant, it was invasive. the idea of someone else, or something else, taking residence in her head didn't sit well. perhaps that was only the beginning.