Title:  Words Never Spoken

Author:  Tam Chronin aka Mary Alexander

Rating:  NC17 eventually for this version.  (PG for part one)

Characters:  Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Amidala, Anakin, Shmi, Palpatine, et al

Category:  AU, Drama

Archive:  Yes, just let me know where it’s going…if you want a PG version
let me know.

Feedback:  If I don’t get any feedback I will start pestering some
people!!!!  Even if you think it sux, at lest tell me why and what I can do
to fix it!  If you love it the surest way to get more is to tell me!  <g>

Disclaimer:  My twisted what if about somebody else’s moneymaker.  None of
this is mine and I’m not doing this for money, only love.  And
practice.  And fun.  And to otherwise get my jollies.  (LOL)

Summary:  What if Amidala’s ship had escaped Naboo unscathed and Qui-Gon
had never freed Anakin?  Ten years later the events unfold.

Notes:  Thank yous to those who volunteered to be my betas and for the
encouragement I received.  I’m sending this with feedback from only one
person, and he’s only going to help me on the PG version.  I got
impatient.  Sorry.  I will be writing two versions of this, one for the
“adult” lists I’m on and one I can put on my PG website when I get it up
and running.

::telepathy::

***

Words Never Spoken

Obi-Wan smiled down at his young padawan, prouder than he had ever felt in
his life.  “First in your class, and now winner of the lightsaber
championship!  Kyraa, you are a pleasure to work with.”  They gave each
other a big hug, the nine-year-old girl squeezing him hard around the middle.

“Thank you Master.”  She blushed cutely and then ran off to brag to her peers.

Behind him a gravely voice spoke up.  “Now you know how I felt, Obi-Wan.”

“Yes, Master.”  Obi-Wan turned to face his old master, Qui-Gon, who had
only a year ago finally made it to the Jedi Council.  They smiled, Obi-Wan
was grateful for every day they had together.  Ten years ago his master had
nearly had his arm amputated by a stranger warrior wielding a double bladed
lightsaber here on Coruscant.  The blow had been meant for a political
figure of some small planet they were helping, but the two Jedi together
had managed to drive the mysterious figure away.  He was never heard from
again.  Qui-Gon’s wound could have been much worse, but in the end the arm
had been saved and he had partial use of the limb.

Qui-Gon picked up on the turn of Obi-Wan’s thoughts.  “You shouldn’t dwell
on such things, the past is behind us and there is much to be glad for today.”

“Sorry, Master.  The tournament brought to mind how beautiful your moves
were, that last time you fought.”

“It is no tragedy that I can no longer wield a lightsaber, Obi-Wan.  It has
given me more time for contemplation.  I have grown much from the
experience, and am thankful that I still have my life.”

There it was, that shared feeling that his life had been at risk in that
last duel.  It was as if the Force were whispering of something that should
have happened but didn’t.  What had changed that path neither knew, but
they had discussed it many times before.  Obi-Wan nodded in acknowledgment
of the discussion they no longer needed to put into words and then turned
to find his padawan.  As usual Kyraa was with her best friends Myshara and
Tasva.  Their shrill giggles carried across the hall to his ears.  All was
well.

****

“Sache, can you make my hair bigger this time?”  Amidala and her most loyal
handmaiden laughed together at the joke.  She had been with the queen from
the beginning, holding her hand when she was unsure, standing in when life
became dangerous.  Sache had risked her life many times for her queen, and
Amidala had come to depend on her and love her as a sister.

“If I make your hair bigger you won’t be able to walk through the
door!”  Sache raised her hands in mock-dismay.  “Would you really want to
break your neck for your suitor just because his *mother* has poor taste?”

“But we need this alliance for the good of Naboo,” Amidala stated, mocking
the stiff tones of Chancellor Palpatine.  “Indeed, it will be for the good
of the galaxy!”  They both screamed in laughter, releasing some of the
tension that had been building over the past few months.

“It’s so good to laugh, you don’t do it nearly enough.”  Sache’s concern
leaked a little into her words.  She was Amidala’s confidante and was aware
of just how wearing it was to be responsible for so much.  It was aging her
too fast, something that the rest of the universe didn’t see behind the
make-up she was so famous for.  If only there could be more joy in the
young sovereign’s life….

The mood became more serious as they began preparing for the official
“courtship”.  There would be no real romance in it, just more political
maneuvering as they came closer to the dreaded date.  Ami would do anything
for her people though, and this proved that in her eyes.

The banquet was served and everyone who was someone walked the halls of the
Theed palace as if it were home.  Even Amidala never truly felt that way
about the palace, but she couldn’t put those feelings into words.  She
looked at the throngs of people, each more pretentious than the last, and
felt more alone than ever.  The false smiles grated on her last remaining
nerves.

A thought suddenly struck her.  “Sache,” she murmured to her aid when they
were alone for a moment.  “Do you remember that really cute Jedi that
helped save us all those years ago?”

“Yes, both of them.”  Sache had to fight to keep the dreamy look off her
face so as not to draw attention to herself.

“I want to invite them to the next celebration…they should be part of this
as a show of gratitude for saving our life.”

“I wonder if Obi-Wan is still single,” Sache taunted her friend.

So do I, Amidala wondered silently.  A wicked thought was forming in her
mind as she remembered the fluid grace with which he had saved her from the
battle droids.  His moves were a dance that she longed to see closer up
before she was locked in a marriage of convenience.

****

Shmi Skywalker frowned at the opulence surrounding her.  It was something
she would never get used to, something that went against the grain of her
personality.  She had spent most of her life in squalor as a slave to
beings who could care less for her comfort or care.  She had been demeaned
and reviled every day.  She was the property of those who could afford her,
and her price hadn’t been so high as to put her in any palace…at least not
before now.  It was her son’s skill as a pilot that had brought her to
where she was now, living on Coruscant with one of the richest and most
powerful men in the galaxy.  Technically he had brought her to freedom as
well, but the reality behind the façade wasn’t as pretty.

Shmi was still a slave in all but name because slavery was illegal in the
Republic.  Instead she had a new title.

Wife.

She frowned slightly, but not enough to be obvious.  She tried not to even
think of her dissatisfaction too loudly.  Her husband tended to pick up on
such things, and she feared him more than anything else.  He had a tendency
to hear her thoughts, just like her son did, and it was only years of
practice hiding things from Anakin that gave her any privacy at all.

Anakin seemed to take the arrangement in stride, fitting in as if he were
born for the life of the son of a politician.  The two of them spent much
time together, bonding as if they were a real family.  A twisted family in
her opinion, for her husband seemed the epitome of evil.  She feared the
influence he would have on her son, but she dared not say a thing.  Her
husband was too powerful, above the law in many ways.

So Shmi smiled, pretending to be the perfect trophy wife.  Outside the home
she was given respect at least.  Even if it was terribly fake.

“…and I don’t think you’ve met my new wife, have you?”  There he was now,
his voice unmistakable even in the crowd.  “Shmi, I’d like to introduce you
to our sovreign, Queen Amidala.”  Shmi bowed, too busy thinking of her own
problems at first to notice that her son had come up behind her, until her
husband’s voice continued.  “Ah yes, and our son Anakin Skywalker.”

Shmi couldn’t miss the feeling in the air as the two of them were
introduced.  It was electric, like she assumed true love would feel.  It
was overshadowed by another feeling, something ominous, like that of an
impending disaster.  She tried to shut it out, like she did so many times
when she got these feelings, but it persisted.

The young woman smiled at them both.  “It is nice to meet you Anakin.”  She
gave a little nod of acknowledgment.  “Mrs. Palpatine.”  Another nod.  “I
have many other guests to greet, but I’m sure we will see each other again.”

Shmi watched as Amidala walked toward a pair of Jedi Masters and a young
Padawan standing off to the side.  Anakin watched the young queen also,
grinning at some secret thought.  “Mom, you have just met your future
daughter-in-law.”

Not if you go by the look on her face now, Shmi thought as she saw Amidala
with the younger Jedi Master.

Palpatine frowned at them both.  “Do you forget, we are here to celebrate
her union to someone else?  Not to you, son.”  His voice was stern, almost
chilling.  ::And certainly not to that Jedi!::  He sent the last directly
to Shmi.  She shuddered at his mental touch and suddenly felt very sorry
for the young woman.