Only Wan

Episode II

ANAKIN

Anakin Skywalker wasn't one for sitting around, but as he rested in the meadow, he could think of nowhere better to be.

The mountains of Naboo were the most beautiful place in the galaxy. Blades of green grass covered the floor of the meadow, and bright flowers bloomed everywhere he looked. He could hear the heard of the harmless shaaks in the distance as they grazed.

Peaceful. So unlike Thebes when he had first arrived on Naboo years ago with Qui-Gon Jinn. Anakin remembered the droid army and the swamps were the gungans had gathered their army, and the queen who had lead her people into battle.

"I don't know," Padmé Amidala said, a light laugh biting at the ends of her words. She plucked at the grass with her fingers.

Grinning, Anakin sat back. "Sure you do. You just don't want to tell me."

Behind Padmé, he could see a lake, the water shimmering in the sunlight. Naboo couldn't have been more different from the planet he had grown up on. While Tatooine had been dry and sandy, Naboo was blooming with life.

He glanced back at Padmé and she giggled, biting her lip. There was something enchanting about her, the way she held her herself perhaps. Curls of dark hair fell down her back, her brown eyes wide.

"Are you going to use one of your Jedi mind tricks on me?" she asked playfully.

This time Anakin smiled. "They only work on the weak minded. And you are anything but weak minded."

Padmé seemed to blush, but she ducked her head to pick another flower. "Alright, his name was Palo. We were both in the Legislative Youth Program. He was a few years older than I. Very cute. Dreamy eyes."

"All right, I get the picture." Anakin threw the blade of grass he had been toying with. "What ever happened to him?"

"I went on to become a queen. He became an artist."

"Maybe he was the smart one."

Sensing the change in his voice, Padmé raised her eyes and searched his face. "You really don't like politicians, do you?"

"I like two or three." Anakin shrugged, daring himself to look at her. "But I'm not really sure about one of them."

A small grin crossed his face, one Anakin couldn't contain. This was not the way of the Jedi, he knew. But there was no one here to tell him to stop, no Master Kenobi to complain or intrude upon the conversation.

Obi-Wan and the others were a lifetime away, somewhere in the centre of the Republican System. As far as Anakin was aware, there were no more Jedi on Naboo, and certainly none in the meadow.

It was just him and Padmé. Alone. Together.

"Annie, are you alright? Anakin." Padmé reached for his arm and Anakin blinked, swallowing as he shifted on the blanket. What had happened? He had felt something, a great disturbance in Force - a disturbance so strong it had distracted him from Padmé.

"Something is wrong," he said slowly. It was hard trying to decipher the Force; harder still that Anakin had to concentrate while sitting next to Padmé, her sweet face twisted by a look of concern.

Thankfully, Padmé didn't interrupt him. She sat back silently, waiting as she would in the senate chamber for the Chancellor to come to a decision.

"Master Kenobi," Anakin flattered. "I sense something terrible has happened to him."

"What should we do?" Padmé asked without hesitation. "Where is he?"

"I don't know."

Padmé stood then, waiting for him to join her. "We should contact the Temple. Other Jedi must have felt whatever it was too. Perhaps they will have answers."

Although Anakin nodded and numbly answered, he was sure the Council wouldn't have an explanation as to what had occurred. It was all he could hope for that they had an idea as to where Obi-Wan had gone.

Regardless, it was not Anakin's mission to save his Master. He had been charged with keeping Padmé safe. Should he fail to do so, it wouldn't be the anger of the Council which he feared, but seeing Padmé hurt.