Post by Carissa on Jan 9, 2008 4:24:36 GMT -5
Author's note: This story’s timeline is set in early TPM. It’s been a long time I wanted to write a story when Padme was still a Queen (when she was 14) and her first encounter with Anakin Skywalker when he was 9. They hadn’t been in love yet but I’d like to tell a story about their friendship.
* * *
Padme Amidala was just 14. She couldn’t believe she finally made her way to the Theed Palace. She couldn’t believe she had become the ruler of her birthplace – Naboo. But being a young ruler like she was now was not her own dream. It had begun when her mother Jobal forced her to go into Naboo academic school when she was only 8. Jobal always wanted her to be a politician, remembering that there had never been a politician in the Naberrie family.
Sola wanted to be a housewife, so she married and had two children. Jobal herself was also a housewife. The Naberrie family wanted one of their members to shine on Naboo and they finally chose their youngest daughter, Padme to be the one. Padme herself didn’t know what she wanted to be in her future. She didn’t have any choices. Although she finally made her family proud of her achievements by becoming a Royal Naboo member, she still didn’t know for what purpose she was elected to sit on Naboo’s throne replacing King Veruna.
Padme always thought that it shouldn’t be her to replace King Veruna. She wouldn’t have had to be a Queen if Veruna hadn’t died. She took a moment to absorb all things she had to sort through in her early days as Queen. Although she had befriended some of her handmaidens, she still felt lonely. She didn’t know why she had to stop going to school. She was still young and needed to learn more about reality. She wanted to be like the other 14 year old girls who often played with the others outside, while Padme had to stay ruling in the palace and meet with other politicians. Politicians that were much older than her. Padme sometimes thought that it was a little unwise to elect such a young Queen. That afternoon, Padme had some free time. (The day before, she had had meetings all day.) These days she was always busy with introductions, treaties, and meetings. So far, people hadn't realized that the Queen wanted to have time to do things besides meet with politicians. She wanted to do things that a 14 year old girl should do.
“You’re not the youngest, Your Highness.” Sabe, her most trusted handmaiden said one day.
Sabe was quite convincing and so were the other handmaidens. Many of the handmaidens were older than Padme herself! One of them, Yane was at least 3 years older than she was. The handmaidens actually knew her true feelings but they couldn’t do anything. Padme was so lonely in the palace and needed friends to play and chat with her.
Until one day, she accidentally met a young boy when she was walking around Theed. She was actually in disguise so everyone wouldn’t notice that she was the Queen who should need protection and bodyguard everytime she went out.
Padme wore no make up. She only wore casual clothing and tied up her curly, brown hair into a small single bun and she didn’t forget to wear a hood to cover up her identity. They met in the busy Theed hallway. People and other creatures were walking along the hallway. They met when Padme was about to buy some accessories in a booth in the corner of the hallway.
“Hello.” the boy who was also about to buy accessories in that booth, greeted her at first.
“Well, hello.” Padme replied nervously as she bent down so she could barely see the boy who was much younger and shorter than she was. Padme, who wasn't used to being greeted by such ordinary people, was shy.
“You’re not going to school?” the boy asked her – thinking Padme was a school girl without realizing that she was actually a Queen.
Padme shook her head. “How about you? You’re not going to school either?” she encouraged herself to ask another question to the boy whose hair was sandy blonde. She couldn’t believe it, for the first time of her life as a Queen, she could talk to ordinary people.
“Nope.” the boy confidently said and handed his hand to shake hands with Padme, “Let me introduce myself. My name is Anakin Skywalker and I’m from Tatooine. Well, I actually followed my cousin Owen Lars to Naboo. He’s having a holiday on Naboo after winning a lottery on Tatooine.”
“Oh, you’re from Tatooine?” Padme was surprised, “well, good to see you. I’m Padme Naberrie. I’m from...near here.”
“So, if you’re not a school girl, what do you do?” Anakin asked.
Padme was looking for the right answer to reply “uumm, I work in the Theed palace as a servant – handmaiden.” she let her mouth speak although she knew that it was lie. She didn’t want people to know that their Queen was actually among them, disguising as one of them.
“Wow, you’re a royal member?” Anakin was startled, “well, it’s very nice to see you!”
Padme couldn’t believe it. After hearing what the young boy said, she laughed! It was the first time in several busy days, but she finally found herself laughing. “Well, I see you’re buying ruby earrings. Who are you going to give them to? To your...girlfriend...perhaps?”
Anakin giggled. “No I don’t have one yet.” he said, “to my mother. She loves accessories. So I thought I should buy one as a souvenir. Well, I’ll stay for a week on Naboo until Owen asks me to return to Tatooine.”
After they had a short chat and introduction, they left. Padme was glad to see such a young funny boy like Anakin. She was hoping that one day, she could meet him and maybe have another chat. Although she knew that it was impossible for her to meet him again this week. For the next few days, she would return to her normal life as Queen Amidala. A chance like this was maybe once of her lifetime.
* * *
The next day, she had free time again–the last time before tomorrow, when she went back to be Queen Amidala. Her schedule book said that tomorrow she would meet Senator Palpatine for the first time and this made the Queen quite a bit nervous, because Palpatine was well known. He was wise and most importantly, he supported Padme’s election.
In the early afternoon, Padme walked in the palace’s garden to get some fresh air. Again, she was not wearing her make up or even formal dress. She went with her casual clothing and without any protection from the bodyguard.
“Padme! Padme!” she heard a voice near the border of the palace, “over here!”
She suddenly saw the young boy she met yesterday in the hallway in front of the palace’s gate. She was – however – surprised and couldn't believe that she had met him again. She was glad to see him. She put off the hood which covered her head and greeted him in the front entrance gate.
“Anakin?” she replied and smiled at him, “wow it’s so nice to see you again.”
“This is my second to last day on Naboo, Padme.” Anakin said, “tomorrow I’ll go back to Tatooine. The departure day was moved back. I should have stayed longer-for another four days actually.”
Padme then looked up into the guard’s tower above the gate and ordered him to open the gate and let Anakin come in. “Alright, Your Highness.” the guard answered her.
Anakin was startled. “Your Highness?” he repeated what the guard had said.
“Well, I’ll explain inside.” Padme responded nervously and after the gates opened, she let him enter the palace. They quickly entered the palace using the back door so no one would know that the Queen was bringing in an ordinary person. There had never been any ordinary people that had entered the palace. The palace was only for the Royal Naboo and politicians and only those who had special purpose to meet with the Queen.
They finally arrived at Padme’s giant room and she began to tell him about how she was really the Queen, but that she didn't want anyone to know she was walking around in ordinary garb without any protection. Hearing this, Anakin was startled to hear that the young girl he met yesterday and now, was the actual Queen!
“Wow, it's so great that you can manage the plan to escape from the palace.” Anakin complimented her.
Padme only smiled shyly. “My position is not so important when I meet a guy like you. We’re friends, right?” she said.
Anakin confidently nodded. They had a chat inside the room for hours. No handmaidens came into Padme’s room because Padme had locked it. Anakin told Padme that he had seen a Jedi Knight visiting his homeplanet. “I want to be one of them. I want to have my own lightsaber.” he confided his obsession to her.
“I bet you will be, Ani.” she encouraged him, “you’re a smart boy. Trust me that someday, you’ll be the greatest Jedi ever.”
Realizing the hours their chat had taken, Anakin got up from the sofa in Padme’s bedroom. “I’m not going to take a long time here, Padme. I know you’re busy. I have to go now and do the packing for tomorrow.” Anakin explained.
Then, he put his hand into one of his simple clothes’ pocket and grabbed something in it. When he pulled the thing out, Padme was surprised because it was a beautiful silver necklace that was shaped like a chain!Anakin handed the necklace to Padme. “This is for you. I carved it myself and named it the Japor Snippet. I didn’t know who I was going to give it to. When I met you, I realized that you’re the one who deserves to wear it.” he said, “take this to remind you of me.”
Padme examined the Japor Snippet Anakin had just given to her. “Thank you, it’s...so beautiful.” she said and tried to wear it on her slim neck, “how do I look, Ani?”
“You look like an angel.” he quickly answered. Padme frowned and then Anakin continued, “my mother said that Angels are the most beautiful creatures in this galaxy. They live on Iego.”
Padme’s cheek flushed red as she stared at Anakin’s blue eyes. “Well, thank you...again.” she said, “so, you’re going to take off tomorrow?”
Anakin nodded. “When will we meet again, Padme?” he asked.
Padme giggled. “You’re funny little boy.” she said. Padme knew it was impossible for her to meet him again. They probably wouldn’t ever see each other again. “Someday, we’ll meet again. Soon.” she continued.
“Promise?” Anakin asked and handed her his little finger.
Padme confidently nodded and also handed him her little finger. The fingers at last fit together as they promised they would meet again as soon as possible. Anakin got up and went out of the palace. It was a nice encounter and Padme was glad to meet him. Anakin was the first person who had made Padme confident to meet ordinary people like him. In her heart, Padme hoped that she would meet him again. But she was confident enough that she would meet him again someday. Maybe years later when they both had grown up.
Padme clutched the Japor Snippet tight-she would never take it off. Padme thought Anakin was such an extraordinary boy. She could barely even imagine how he would be when he grew up. He would be the greatest Jedi ever just like he wanted. Padme smiled as she stared at the Japor Snippet. Are you an angel? Anakin’s words were still echoing in her head. What a funny little boy, she said in her mind and smiled. She wouldn’t meet a person like Anakin any time soon.
Force knew when they would meet again. Padme was later destined to be the part of a famous, tragic love story with a person she desperately hoped to meet again. This encounter was only the prologue of the story. It was only the beginning of it.
THE END
September 25, 2006
