My Dying Wish

Padmé was sitting aboard a Republic cruiser whose course was already set for Alderaan. Bail Organa would serve as an escort. Leia was already secured in a comfortable crib-like apparatus, near to her mother. She was propped up on a special chair so that she could be comfortable. Obi-Wan had insisted they install something suitable in the ship. The Naboo Senator was not yet completely prepared to travel but it would be unwise to stay so close to their enemies. Yoda had already fled for a small swamp planet named Dagobah. And Obi-Wan was anxious to begin his training with his old Master, whatever that might entail.

Despite her immense suffering, Padmé was indebted to Obi-Wan who had taken full responsibility in her care. She watched as he made final preparations aboard the ship. Padmé shuffled around and asked him weakly, “Obi-Wan, where’s Luke?”

He flushed and realized he’d forgotten something very important, her last goodbye to Luke. “Of course, m’lady, forgive me.” She forced a smile in reply. Her face seemed unusually pale. He returned a short time later, cradling the baby boy in his arms as if he were about to break. He handed Luke to his mother and watched the pair for a few seconds before leaving them alone.

Padmé looked down at Luke. She had cried so much her eyes were dry and the tears refused to emerge, though she felt great sadness. “Luke,” she whispered with a shaky voice, “I will see you again. Be brave and good. Always be kind and do what you know in your heart to be right. I love you, you are in my heart and in my thoughts for always.” She brought him up and pressed her lips to his forehead. Her eyes slipped shut and she kissed him for several seconds. She pulled away slowly and caressed his small cheek with her finger. “No matter what you may here, your father was a good man and he loved us.”

Obi-Wan returned at that moment and spoke softly, “it is time, m’lady.”

“Take him,” she said, her voice shaking even more, the tears beginning to well up but unable to form completely. She turned away and he picked Luke up from out of her arms. He held the baby close to his chest and knelt down before her.

She could not help but turn her head to look down into those gray orbs, filled with melancholy. As he tried to speak, she realized that she would miss him as well. He had not left her side since everything had happened and she would most definitely feel his absence.

“I will watch over Luke. And I will come to see you very soon, I promise. There is something I must do.”

She nodded and touched her hand to his cheek. This surprised him, his eyes grew a little wide and he flushed. He felt a bit of spark pass from her skin to his and it made him shuffle slightly, but he kept his eyes on her and tried to smile, for her sake.

“Thank you,” she whispered. She let her hand fall slowly and then turned her head to the side, her eyes averted to the hallway that led to the cockpit. “I’m sorry, but I cannot watch you go.”

“Goodbye Padmé,” he said before turning to leave.

------

Leia was barely half one standard year in age. However, she already showed signs of how bright she was going to be. Her mother often sat with her in the gardens of their country home, smiling down at her daughter as she played and enjoying the peace that seemed all too fragile and fleeting.

It was not long before, one quiet morning, she heard a male voice mingled with that of her female housekeeper. Curious, she stood from her chair, Leia firmly in her grasp and wandered through the open door into the house. Her inquisitiveness was rewarded with the site of a rather dusty looking Obi-Wan Kenobi, his hood over his head.

“Obi-Wan,” she called softly and a small smile played upon her pink lips.

At this point, the housekeeper departed, having realized the man was not a threat. Obi-Wan turned and removed his hood as he did so. He bowed deeply and smiled, his gray eyes full of none other than pure joy.

“Padmé,” he said, straightening and closing the distance between them in a few long strides. He immediately looked down on Leia, caressing her small cheek with his large digits. The action was tender in its simplicity. And Leia caught his fingers with her hand, laughing a little.

“How is she,” he asked, and looked up, “how are you?”

“Fine, we’re just fine. This is a lovely place and I have to admit the solitude is refreshing.” She smiled at him but he could see the hint of sadness behind the veil of gratitude. There was always something somber in her tone, her dress, and her eyes especially. It made him hurt inside the deepest parts of his soul. He could only smile in return before continuing.

“I am sorry it took me this long to visit. Some rather… amazing things have taken place. And Luke, he’s growing up rather quickly.”

Padmé smiled and spoke softly, “I wish we could see him. Sometimes I think she knows.” And she looked down at the bundle in her arms, pulling her up a little so she could reaffirm her grip on the child who seemed fascinated with this new bearded man that was talking to her mother.

“She can likely sense something. But please don’t worry Padmé. I promise you I will try to set things right, as soon as I can. We just have to be patient.”

“Sometimes, I feel so weak. Sometimes I can’t stand up in the morning. I feel as if I’m walking over paper thin ice and any day I’ll slip into the water,” she admitted under her breath, gravely.
“Don’t say such things,” he whispered back. This concerned him. He had been worried about her, but it seemed not enough. Her depression was more advanced than he’d feared. “You have to go on Padmé. For the sake of your children… and…”

He paused and studied her for a long while before going on, “and for my sake. I cannot lose another person I care about. I’ve managed to lose my entire family, people I considered closer than siblings. Parents, teachers, friends.”

“I’m sorry,” she added quickly, feeling selfish. Obi-Wan had just as much right to grieve, yet he was holding out hope.

“Don’t be, you’ve suffered tremendous pain. But don’t give up on me just yet.” Again he put his hand on her cheek and again he felt that same reaction when his skin met hers. He seemed to wince subtly before smiling in an effort to comfort her. “I’ll stay as long as you need me.” He was whispering to her, and his body seemed very close to her own, Leia nestled between them.

Padmé did feel comfort and she smiled up at him as she felt a sense of calm wash over her. It felt warm to be this close to him and she missed having someone caress her and tell her everything would be all right. She missed being held and kissed. Perhaps it was that lack of physical contact that widened the gap in her heart and made that desolation creep in more and more each day. But the Jedi Master had convinced her to hold on just a little longer. His great hope was what kept her focused. Why was he so optimistic? Then, she remembered what he’d said and spoke.

“So tell me, what are these amazing things you speak of?”

To be continued...