This is the first of a series of stories based on the premise what if the Jedi didn't take Anakin to train on Coruscant. How would this change his destiny as the Chosen One? As always, I welcome any comments, suggestions, reviews and criticism in order to improve.
Disclaimer: No surprise, everything belongs to GL. I am just borrowing the car.
A/N: My eternal thanks to my beta Pokey1984 for all her insightful comments and many suggestions in getting this story up to snuff. Any remaining mistakes are mine alone so blame me.
He stared at the funeral pyre for what seemed like hours. Although the boy had only known Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn for a short time, Anakin Skywalker felt as if he had lost his best friend . His pain was further compounded by the disapproving stares of the various Jedi Council members, and the sad glances from his new friend Obi-Wan Kenobi. Anakin didn't need the Force to know that the Jedi weren't going to train him, despite his actions during Naboo's liberation.
While he was still saying his good-byes to the man who helped free him, a soft, melodic voice called out to him as the gentlest of hands lay upon his shoulders. "I'm sorry Ani that this happened."
The boy turned around to see the troubled, painted face of Padmé Naberrie, otherwise known as Queen Amidala. Due to a twist of fate, Anakin had been able to win the parts required to repair her ship in a podrace. Though his intention was to only help the marooned Queen, his selflessness resulted in his freedom.
"I really miss him," he muttered, trying to remain brave.
"I know, Ani." She said, lightly touching the side of his face. "I miss him as well."
Amidala knelt down to look the boy in the eyes. "I believe though Master Qui-Gon would not want us to focus on the negative, but rather all the good that has come from this."
Anakin hung his head down while brushing several tears off his face. The young Queen gently pulled the boy close to her as they cried together. They solemnly embraced until the sixteen year old chief handmaiden Sabé approached.
"Your Majesty?"
"Yes?" replied Amidala as she straightened up.
"Chancellor Palpatine is requesting an audience with you." Sabé said before flashing a quick smile at Naboo's new little hero.
"I will meet with him tomorrow. But first, I want to schedule a meeting with Masters Yoda and Windu. I want to know what their intentions towards Anakin are," she stated tiredly. Amidala smiled at the boy as she added, "Also, have Rabé and Eirtaé setup the dignitary suite for Anakin tonight."
The dutiful handmaiden left to carry out her orders. Amidala then reached down for the boy's hand, which he was more than willing to give her. During their walk towards the palace, the thoughts of the Jedi and what they were planning to do, concerning him caused Anakin to groan aloud.
"Are you alright?"
"The Jedi are not going to take me with them," he said without any doubt in his voice.
The young Queen stopped to look at him. "How do you know?"
Anakin shuffled his feet, while looking down to the ground. "I could hear their thoughts during Master Qui-Gon's funeral. They are all afraid of me except for Obi-Wan. He's too sad about losing his friend to be thinking about much else."
Amidala stood silent as she considered his words. She knew once her Royal Court resumed session, all the problems of the occupation would be revealed, including the tally of all who lost their lives. However, she would deal with that soon enough. Right now, the situation regarding her new friend's future was cause for great concern. Surely the Jedi wouldn't send him back to Tatooine, would they?
Although the details of the Jedi Order were largely an enigma to Amidala, she did know that they ordinarily did not take anybody older than an infant. It was their belief that at a particular age, a person formed too many emotional entanglements to be properly trained. She had also heard Qui-Gon call Anakin the Chosen One, referring to an ancient prophecy with which she was only vaguely familiar.
She needed to gain more insight if she was going to argue in the boy's defense. Padmé could not even fathom what would happen to her little friend if the Jedi refused to train him. One thing was certain, as Queen and especially as his friend; she would not allow him to be sent back into slavery.
With a slight nudge, she motioned for Anakin to continue their walk. Once they re-entered the palace, the young boy looked around the halls in pure wonderment. Amidala chuckled to herself when she saw Anakin's mouth agape as he observed all the elaborate statues, paintings and architecture; this time without any droids shooting at him.
The Naboo were a people comprised of artisans, musicians and thinkers. They relished the beautiful things of life and all that surrounded them. This ideal had brought a long standing peace to their society for hundreds of years. It saddened, yet pleased the Queen that her new friend was able to experience such simple pleasures for the very first time here.
Upon reaching his quarters, Amidala was thankful that the handmaidens already had it prepared. Still in awe, Anakin could barely find his voice. "Who else is staying in here?"
"This room is only for you, Ani," she said, amused with his boyish naivety.
"All of this?"
Amidala nodded in confirmation, which the boy replied to with his lopsided grin. Anakin's curiosity then took hold, causing him to run into the room and jump on the large bed. The Queen felt a slight pang of regret as somewhere deep inside, she wished that she could join in his childish antics. Perhaps one day, she would permit herself a brief reprieve from duty and enjoy being a girl, if even only for a few minutes.
Padmé never regretted her commitment to her people. While she aspired to become Queen, she never allowed herself to believe it would ever happen. And despite her success as a junior legislator or even after her election as Princess of Theed, that dream seemed unattainable. That was until fate intervened and her predecessor, King Veruna was implicated in a scandal, leading to his abdication. The people of Naboo, repulsed by his actions, were ready for a new leader to restore greatness to the throne.
Gaining support from both her mentor Governor Bibble and her parents, Padmé decided to follow her heart and run for the office. Although Lady Amidala was young and idealistic, she favored the traditionalistic elegance and pageantry of the monarchy. She felt under the modernist Veruna, the Naboo lost some of their identity and she promised, if elected, she would work to regain the pride the office once held.
Her campaign was an overwhelming success. Padmé was elected Queen in the quickest election in the history of the planet. It took her best friend and campaign manager Sabé Orllize dragging her in front of the scores of holonews reporters to make her accept her victory.
How a few months could change everything. That was all before the occupation and before her world nearly collapsed around her. From their initial reports, it would be years before the wounds inflicted by the Trade Federation would heal. The young Queen detached from her musings when the blue eyed boy called out her name with worry.
"Padmé…Are you alright?"
Blinking rapidly, she answered, "I'm fine Ani. I'm just… preoccupied."
"Can I help?" Anakin asked with an eager sparkle in his eyes.
"I wish you could," she replied with a hint of regret. Not wanting to be somber, Padmé scrunched her face playfully, causing Anakin to giggle in delight. Happy that she bolstered his mood, as well as her own, she added, "I think though that destroying the droid control ship was quite enough for a day's work."
Anakin chuckled as he attempted to fight back a yawn. She smiled at him sweetly, knowing how tired the little hero must have been. "When was the last time you got some sleep?"
He shrugged his shoulders dramatically up and down as another yawn took hold.
"Why don't you get some rest? We both have a big day tomorrow."
The young boy droop his shoulders as he made his way towards the bed. After grabbing his sleepwear, Anakin asked, "Padmé?"
"Yes Ani?"
"Do you think the Jedi will take me back to Tatooine tomorrow?"
Sensing the nervousness in his voice, Padmé placed her hand on his shoulder, in an effort to comfort him. "Whatever happens, I promise that we will find a solution."
Anakin gave her a sheepish smile as he hugged her in thanks. When he withdrew slightly, the boy beamed at her, much as he had when they first met.
"Padmé?"
"Yes?"
"Are you sure you're not an angel?"
Padmé tilted her head slightly as she gave him a bright smile. She then kissed his forehead before he retreated towards his bed. "Good night, Ani," she said, turning off the light. Before leaving, she paused as she looked back into the dark room.
"I will always be your angel."
In haste, Amidala left the room, closing the door behind her. A large grin eclipsed young Anakin's face, which was hidden in the shadows of the night.
"Good night, my angel," he whispered as he laid back to fall asleep.
While she headed out of his room, Amidala wondered what possessed her to say that. While they had just met a few weeks prior, it almost felt like he had always been in her life.
Upon returning to her quarters, the young monarch changed out of her elaborate robes and into a comfortable dress. Prior to dismissing her handmaidens for the evening, Amidala had Sabé summon Jedi Kenobi to meet with her in the sitting room. Just as she was about to relax, she heard a knock at the door.
"Enter," she ordered.
The young Jedi stepped inside, followed closely by Sabé.
"Your highness, I understand you wish to speak with me," Obi-Wan declared, bowing with respect.
"Yes, Padawan Kenobi. Please sit down," Amidala said, motioning to a nearby couch.
Full of pride, Sabé interjected, "Obi-I mean Jedi Kenobi was just granted full knight status this evening, your Majesty."
Padmé flashed a subtle grin at her handmaiden. She didn't need Force sensitivity to know when her best friend was smitten. However, maintaining her royal façade, the Queen remarked, "Well, then congratulations are in order, Master Kenobi."
"I humbly thank you, your highness," he responded with a touch of sadness in his voice. A brief, awkward silence followed with the room's occupants staring at one another.
"I asked you here because I wanted to gain some insight about the Council's decision about Anakin before I meet them tomorrow." Amidala said.
Before Obi-Wan could answer, Sabé interrupted. "With your permission, your Majesty, I will take my leave."
"Please stay, my friend," requested the young monarch.
Sabé half-bowed in acknowledgement while Amidala returned her attention towards the Jedi. He exhaled loudly as he sensed that the Queen was not going to be pleased.
"I spoke with Master Yoda only a few hours ago and he was adamant about the Council not approving Anakin's training."
Annoyed, Amidala folded her arms tightly against her chest. "What is their rationale?"
"They feel he is too old and possesses too many emotional attachments to ever be a Jedi. They believe to train him would be dangerous."
The young Queen gave him a cold, hard stare. "And is that how you feel, Master Jedi?"
Obi-Wan contemplated her question, bothered that she was further reinforcing his lack of confidence in the Council's decision. "Your Majesty, I must admit that I did not initially agree with Master Qui-Gon's bias towards the boy; and in all honesty I can understand the Council's reservations." Noticing that both women were now scowling at him, he quickly added, "However, after everything that has happened, it is hard to ignore the signs that suggest that Anakin may be the Chosen One."
Amidala folded her hands together as she became lost in thought for several moments. "Please explain to me the prophecy of the Chosen One."
"Nearly a thousand years ago, prior to the end of the last major engagement with the Sith Empire, an ancient Jedi reported that he received a vision of the future. He prophesied that the Force would become unbalanced and a Chosen One would arrive to restore equilibrium. He or she would be conceived by the Force itself and born to a woman of low station. And from those humble beginnings, the Chosen One would rise to be one of the most powerful Force adepts ever."
The two young women listened intently as Obi-Wan continued, "Many of the Jedi thinkers throughout the ages believed that a great calamity would befall the galaxy prior to the arrival of the Chosen One.".
"If this event is so important, then why do your Masters treat Anakin like he's the spawn of a Sith?" Amidala asked innervated.
"The Council members are staunch believers in the Jedi Code. While the prophecy remains important, I believe they feel that when it would happen, it would occur within the Order and coincide with its rules." Obi-Wan stated, uncertain if he still believed that now.
The young Queen rolled her eyes in annoyance. "That seems somewhat presumptuous, don't you think?"
Trying to remain objective, Obi-Wan answered, "It is not my place to question the Council's wisdom; at least not at the moment, your highness."
Now irate at the Jedi's detached appearance, Padmé arose to ominously hover over Obi-Wan. She pointed her finger at him, much like a mother who was about to rebuke a child.
"Whether Anakin is or isn't the Chosen One makes no fundamental difference to me. What is important is his future and I'll be damned if they send him back to Tatooine."
Obi-Wan remained sitting with his mouth slightly ajar while the young monarch focused her attention to Sabé.
"Come with me. We have much to do before tomorrow."
Before the young knight could stand to bow, the Queen stormed out. Sabé offered him a slight shrug of resignation as she pursued Amidala. While he still had lingering doubts about Anakin's future, what surprised him were the overwhelming feelings of protectiveness the girl Queen had towards the former slave. Normally distrustful of most political figures, Obi-Wan was developing a strong respect for this young woman. Her empathy for people, especially Anakin, rivaled that of most Jedi. The galaxy was in desperate need of more like her.
After abruptly leaving her sitting room, Amidala, followed by Sabé, made their way into the Palace's library archives. The young Queen sat at one of the terminals, quickly activating the unit.
"What are you looking for?"
"I'm reading up on the Republic's laws concerning Jedi children, as well as Naboo's official immigration policies," Amidala answered without removing her eyes from the viewscreen.
"What can I do to help?" Sabé asked.
Smiling at her friend, the young Queen pointed to the terminal next to her. "Call up all the pertinent laws concerning adoption."
"Adoption?" the chief handmaiden looked over at her astonished.
With frustration and a lack of sleep getting the better of her, Padmé snapped back. "You heard me." Her face then softened as she quelled her frustration. "Besides, that may be the only legal way we can keep him here."
Without further question, Sabé followed her orders. For the next two hours, they searched several databases, as well as most of the legal archives of the Naboo. During that time, the other handmaidens Eirtaé, Rabé, Saché and Yané became curious when neither Amidala nor Sabé came to bed. Once they discovered them, the other handmaidens were immediately put to work.
After several pots of caf later, the six young ladies moved all the collected data from their terminals to several datapads, which they pilled upon a large table at the center of the room. The blonde haired Eirtaé, the Queen's main advisor for legal and political matters was the first ready to share her findings.
"Your highness, the laws involving the Jedi and children are extremely vague. According to the Republic statutes, once a child is taken into the Jedi Temple, the Council gains sole guardianship. And if the child was unable to conform to the Order's standards, they would subsequently be sent back to their home planet."
"Under what situations is the child returned?" Amidala asked, hoping that there would be something applicable to Anakin's circumstance.
Eirtaé scanned her datapad, then shook her head. "Again, there's nothing specific. They just make the blanket statement of lack of Jedi conformity. I'm afraid that's all I could find on the subject, your Majesty."
Unnerved, Padmé was about to rub the back of her aching neck when she felt the string of the japor snippet pendent. She smiled inwardly as her fingers traced the intricate pattern on the carving. For whatever reason, this brought her a sense of comfort, albeit a brief one.
The young Queen exhaled forcefully in frustration. "That was what I was afraid of."
Eirtaé then smirked at the Queen. "However, your Majesty, there is nothing governing what would happen before they were granted guardianship of the child, meaning…."
Padmé sat up as she interrupted, "Meaning…Since Anakin was never accepted for training, they have no clear claim on him."
"Nor could they forcibly take him from Naboo." Sabé added.
"No, I don't believe they could, your highness." Eirtaé confirmed.
"Do you really think that they won't train him, your Majesty?" asked the normally quiet Rabé.
The young Queen looked to Sabé as they shared a knowing glance before returning her gaze towards the brunette handmaiden.
She nervously clenched her datapad as she said, "According to Master Kenobi, even as of early this evening, the Jedi are refusing to train him."
Yané folded her arms in defiance. "I cannot believe that! He destroyed that droid control ship without ever flying a starfighter before…That was amazing!"
Padmé nodded. "That it was."
The normally rambunctious brown haired handmaiden Saché was uncharacteristically reflective during the discussion. "We owe him our very lives for what he did."
The others sat nodding in quiet affirmation, as Sabé looked down at her chronowatch. "It is near the second morning bell, your highness. With the celebration and your appointments tomorrow, Your Majesty, I suggest that we should retire for the night."
Exhausted, the young Queen nodded as she dismissed her attendants. After the others left, Sabé handed her a datapad.
"Here is all the information you requested about the adoption procedures. It's quite extensive."
Padmé smiled in thanks as she quickly reviewed the datapad. She then looked up to see her chief handmaiden still standing in the doorway.
"Something on your mind?" She asked, remaining focused on her reading.
Sabé slowly approached her. "May I speak candidly, Mé?"
Whenever her friend used Padmé's family nickname, she knew it was always serious and non-official. The Queen immediately placed her datapad down on the table, giving Sabé her undivided attention.
"Why are you going through all this trouble for a boy you hardly even know?"
Padmé nearly scoffed as she recalled using those same words with Master Qui-Gon on Tatooine. It angered her further that her best friend, unknowingly made the same assessment. Are we that selfish? With conviction, the young Queen retorted, "We are all he has, especially if the Jedi choose to abandon him."
The handmaiden shook her head. "He still has his mother who I'm sure would want him back home."
The young Queen suddenly stood up. Amidala, who was beyond exhausted turned to Sabé in frustration. "And then what? He goes home and becomes a slave again. How cruel would that be, Sabé? After everything he has done for our people; to be rejected first by the Jedi, then us." She then gazed downward as her voice softened. "That is something I cannot do."
While Sabé agreed with the crux of her argument, there were other considerations. "So you'll adopt him and then what? You're barely fourteen Mé and the Queen on top of that. I hate to remind you, but the Trade Federation did a pretty good job at wreaking the planet. You won't exactly have time to be a mother."
The Queen stared at her friend bitterly as she shrugged off her argument. "I don't want to be his mother, Sabé. I don't feel that way about him."
"Then how do you feel?" Sabé asked insistent.
Padmé stood silent, mulling over her feelings. "Protective…As if we've known each other all our lives."
She paused momentarily and then looked at her handmaiden; her temper now softened to a quiet roar.
"He's my friend, Sabé…I know it sounds crazy, but there is something that draws me to him, almost as if this was meant to happen."
With a slight smirk, the chief handmaiden walked over to place a hand of comfort on her Queen's arm. "For as long as I've known you, you have always cared more for others than yourself; putting their needs ahead of your own. And when you call somebody a friend, they are your friend for life."
Padmé smiled weakly at Sabé who continued, "I am one of the privileged few to be called that. If you say Anakin is your friend, I know you will do anything for him, and so will I."
The young Queen nodded in thanks to her handmaiden. "Well, enough fretting for one night; tomorrow will be another long day."
TBC-Please be kind and review.