Padme couldn't hear the rest of 3PO's conversation; she was already out the door. She ran as fast as she could through the darkness of the twisting and turning endless hallways. She tried desperately to see through the blackness, but often found herself feeling the walls for direction. Which failed miserably. Time after time Padme found herself at a dead end or a place she had been before. It seemed like there was no escape. It was almost impossible to track her path in the darkness, everything looked identical, and Vader's establishments were much bigger than she anticipated. I don't have much time!Padme thought in a panic as she ran in a direction she was sure she hadn't been before.
She rushed through the halls, hoping… praying for an escape. She needed a savior to deliver her away from this hell. She knew she wouldn't get one. Padme came to a sudden stop when she heard the sound of footsteps echoing from behind her. 3PO! She panicked, taking off to a full sprint down the hallway. Thankfully, the footsteps began to disappear, becoming farther and farther in the distance; but Padme still couldn't fight the urge to look behind her. However, Padme should have been worried about going forward because in the split seconds of turning her head, she crashed full force into a huge, strong, unmovable figure. Immediately, Padme stumbled backwards and fell onto the ground. The air was knocked out of her and for a moment, she believed that she had run into a statue or some sort of droid…that was until she looked up.
Oh no.
"Lord Vader!" she gasped breathlessly, "I'm… I'm so sorry!"
The Dark Lord was silent as he stood towering over the senator that laid on the ground before him. His body was almost invisible in the darkness and as always Padme could only gaze into the black abyss where his face should be. She felt his hidden gaze burning into her, melting her like ice near fire. It was only when the sound of metal footsteps came around the corner that he pulled his gaze away from the senator and toward the approaching droid.
"Master!" 3PO yelled, a mixture of shock and worry in his voice. "Please, it was my fault! I will take Mistress Amidala back to her room immediately!"
Padme pushed herself off the floor as she moved to join 3PO, but something stopped her and she froze between the two males.
"You're too modest Threepio." Vader replied, his voice completely monotone making him unreadable.
"No really, Master." 3PO begged, "It really was my fault. Please."
Vader moved towards 3PO, showing his full height over the droid. Padme almost shut her eyes, afraid that she had sent the golden droid to his doom; but surprisingly, Vader did nothing. If 3PO would have been anyone else, he would have melted under his Master's gaze, but he didn't. He remained silent returning the gaze without fear. Something that Padme had never seen before. They both remained silent and hours seemed to pass before Vader spoke.
"Don't let it happen again." Vader threatened before turning away from 3PO and Padme, making an attempt to leave. She immediately unfroze, but did not move. Her mind was too confused… too shocked about what she had just seen before her. 3PO had disobeyed Vader, had failed him, questioned him, but yet Vader did nothing to the droid. Why? Certainly if it would have been anyone else 3PO would have been dead. Why isn't he? Why didn't Vader kill him?
3PO nodded nervously, "Yes Master An… and do you require anything else from my assistance?"
Vader's head snapped back towards the droid and a low growl escaped from his chest. "I think you've done enough." He stated, a threat that Padme didn't understand behind his words.
"Oh dear." 3PO replied, backing away from his Master slightly, "Then I will be off, Master."
"Good." Vader growled, before turning to Padme. "Get her out of my sight."
Two Hours Later
I'm going to die. Padme thought, as she wrapped herself tighter in the bed sheet. It had been two hours since her encounter with Vader and already everything had changed. C-3PO had left her alone, quite upset at her actions earlier in the night, not that she could blame him. She felt terrible about what she had done to him, but she had other problems to worry about. The tea did not work. Her secret, was failing. Already her room had become a darker, eviler place. Everything, once again, reminded her of that terrible night with the black haired man. "Oh kriffing sith!" Padme groaned, throwing her face into a pillow. She had no idea what to do. Her mind was a mess. It was screaming. She was going insane. She regretted her decision of trying to run away. She needed someone.
Please Threepio, Padme's thoughts prayed, I need you. I need someone. I can't be alone right now.
Swoosh.
Padme's head turned towards the door, hearing it slide open. Had her prayers been answered? She had been too preoccupied with her own thoughts to hear the keypad being pressed and it was far too dark for her to see anything, but she knew she had heard it open. Someone was in her room, but who?
She wished she never got her answer.
"Can't you keep your thoughts any quieter!" Darth Vader's growled, announce hot in his voice. Her heart stopped. Lord Vader? That was not what she expected. That was not who she expected. What does he mean? What was he doing there?
What Padme didn't know is that Vader couldn't even answer that question. He was already mentally kicking himself for his actions and he found himself hating the senator even more. As if it were possible. He had no idea what he was doing; his anger had gotten the best of him. It seemed that before he could control himself, he found himself in her room.
Padme couldn't see where Vader was in her room, he blended into the darkness, but she looked in the area she thought his voice had come and hoped she didn't look like a fool.
"Excuse me?" Padme asked confused.
"Your thoughts." Vader repeated angrily. "Quiet them… Now."
.
.
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