"Fighting For The Throne"

by Lauren

For previous chapters, https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11353291/1/Star-Wars-Fighting-for-the-Throne

Chapter 4 - Padme Fights Back

As sunrise rose over the city of Theed, Padme never left her spot by the window. She watched how down in the courtyard, they were preparing for the executions of her husband and her brother in law. She had already made contact with the Jedi Council. Obi Wan and Anakin's father Qui Gon was on his way but she knew there would be little he could do to change the council's minds.

She placed her hands down on her stomach, a tear rolled down her cheek. She couldn't let her child grow up with their father or uncle and with Palpatine as ruler. Her father told her she would make a strong minded and kind Queen to the people and she knew she could not let Palpatine rule over her people. She was still staring out the window when she heard a voice quietly speak

"M'lady, I thought you might like something to eat?" she asks. It was her handmaiden and best friend Sabe. Padme shook her head.

"I'm not hungry, thank you Sabe" she replies. "I need to save my husband and brother in law before it' too late" she tells her as Sabe moves over towards her. Padme looked up to see her friend's worried and concerned face.

"Padme, please, you need to eat something, for the baby" she insists "I promise you we'll save Obi Wan and Anakin. My mother and I believe them to be innocent. She had no choice" she tried to explain as Padme gives her friend a small smile

"I believe you Sabe. I need to prove Palpatine is behind this. The Jedi Council can't help me because the advisors and Palpatine say it is their fault for the small uprisings that have been happening around the planet. This is my fight," she tells her as Sabe hugs her friend

"And I will help you" she promises. "The King would not stand for what Palpatine has done, and as a future Queen you need to stop him" she encourages her. Padme nods.

"Then we haven't got a moment to lose. Every second I waste here, I am close to losing my husband," she points out before Sabe moved to help her. If Palpatine thought that Padme needed the Jedi for her protection, he was going to find that Padme had been trained long before the Jedi arrived in the city. She wasn't going down without a final fight.

They had never really spend much time in the dungeons, only to bring in criminals. It was cold, dark, dirty with small animals scurrying around. For Anakin and Obi Wan, they never thought this would happen and they could sense the dark side surrounding the castle and Anakin could sense his brother's concerns for his wife and unborn child - the dark side was coming from Palpatine and if he already killed the king, the Princess was not safe.

Palpatine had taken no chances with the Jedi planning on escaping and had equipped special force resistants cuffs around their wrists and ankles securing them to the wall which prevented them from moving much. They were now aware that he had been planning this for a long time now.

"This is all my fault" Obi Wan heard Anakin confess "I should have kept closer watch on Palpatine from the moment I became the King's royal guard" he reveals. Obi Wan looked over at his brother as he went on "There was something not right about him and for a King's advisor, he was too focused on who will rule the planet Naboo if the King was to die" he adds

Flashback

Anakin walked a short distance behind Ruwee who was talking with his advisor Palpatine. Anakin listened to how Palpatine was voicing his opinions on Ruwee's daughter and her new husband.

"I understand your concerns and as an advisor, you are right to bring up your concerns Palpatine but I know that my daughter having a Jedi for a husband, will ensure protection for not only her but for the city" he reminds him. Palpatine nods

"I understand what you are saying your highness but I'm not entirely sure we can trust the Jedi, history has shown how some Jedi can be reckless" he warns him. Anakin tilts his head. He was talking about past Jedi who were among the lost twenty. Surely he didn't think all Jedi were like them.

Ruwee looks back at Anakin "Palpatine, I have only known the Jedi for a short time now. I don't think they are all like that. Anakin, here, fought in the tournament for my daughter's hand but rather follow through with the wedding, he told her to follow her heart" he reminds him

Palpatine looks back at the young Jedi. "Considering he, himself had feelings for the princess, that information surprises me" he admits. Ruwee stops in his steps turning towards his royal guard

"Is that true, son?" he asks him "You also have feelings for my daughter and yet you allowed your brother to marry her?" he asks. Anakin glares over at Palpatine then back at the King

"Your highness, it is true but when I saw my brother and the Princess together, I realised their love was stronger and she wouldn't love me in the way she looked at my brother" he explains "I am her friend and will protect her like the sister I have wanted, nothing more" he promises him.

Ruwee then laughs "There, you see Palpatine, my daughter couldn't be in safer hands" he reminds him going on "So you keep to council business and Anakin will ensure my and Padme's protection is left in his hands" he explains. He then moved on as Anakin moved past Palpatine. He glared back at him once more and Palpatine knew right there that he would not allowed the Jedi to stop him.

End of flashback

Obi Wan looked over at his brother, "Why didn't you come to me to tell me about all this?" he asks as Anakin sighed.

"And worry Padme?" he asks "You had just been married, I wanted you to enjoy your new life together rather than let you know about those who opposed your marriage" he admitted as Obi Wan sighed and Anakin knew his brother was thinking about his wife. "Padme will save us brother. She knows we're innocent" he tries reassuring him. However, not wanting to worry his brother more, Anakin remembers another time Palpatine tried causing trouble.

Flashback

"I know you had something to do with the attack during the Princess and Prince's tour of the villagers and if I hadn't sensed the attack, Padme and Obi Wan might be dead" Anakin points out as Palpatine smirks from his desk

"My dear boy, I realise your job is to protect the King and his daughter but it is my job to ensure that he listens to me and I did warn him to tell his daughter not to go on the tour but she was stubborn" he replies as Anakin scoffs

"Don't lie to me. I sensed your hatred my brother and I from the moment he married Padme. You want the throne for yourself and according to other advisors, you wanted to marry Padme yourself" he points out. Palpatine shrugs

"My dear boy, you are mistaken. The King takes my advice close to heart but unfortunately his daughter is too stubborn and that will see her killed" he reveals as Anakin glares at him

"I can ensure you no harm will come to Padme, her father or my brother as long as I am protecting them" he assures him "And if I discover you are trying to harm them, you will be brought forth to the king" he warns him and with that exits the room as Palpatine smirks to himself

"Then you, Anakin Skywalker, will have to be eliminated" he mutters to himself.

End of flashback

However, little did Anakin and Obi Wan know, that Padme with the help of her friends, was intent on stopping Palpatine from taking over the city and killing her new family.

Chapter 5

Cloaked and hooded and wearing a tan and beige coloured battle dress showing her pregnancy belly, Padme stealthily moved through the castle with two of her handmaidens Sabe and Motee. The castle had been put into lock down and Padme noticed there were red cloaked guards at every corner - guards that her father never had around the castle and she suspected Palpatine had something to do with this.

She was making her way to his office when all three were forced to pull back behind a corner, hearing voices coming towards them.

"Is everything ready for the Jedi's execution tomorrow?" one figure asked "The master wishes it to be done just as the sun rises" the second replied before they both chuckled

"Then the princess will be all alone and will have no choice but to bow to Palpatine" they laughed. Padme glared from the shadows as they passed her. She was not going to ever bow down to that man. Padme then ensured the hallway was clear once more before she and her friends moved through the castle once more.

She was nearing Palpatine's office when she heard a sinister laugh. "So, you are more defiance than I thought" they muttered as Padme turned around to see Palpatine smirking at her.

"You monster!" she cried raising her blaster "I will not let you kill my husband and his brother! They did not murder my father!" she exclaimed "And he would be ashamed of what you have done!" she cried as Palpatine sneered

"Your father was a foolish king!" he snapped back at her "He thought you would be safe by marrying you to a Jedi but he was weak" he taunted as Padme did not lower her blaster.

"My father was not weak and the Jedi have been welcomed by the people because they will protect us" she informs him "I will become Queen" she reveals making him laugh even more

"My dear child. You are not worthy of the throne. You may be married but you're still the weak little girl I know" he scoffs. Sabe, tired of this man taunting her friend, fired her blaster straight at him however Palpatine only blocked the shot then he lifted her up throwing her into the wall behind them, knocking her unconscious

Padme's eyes widen and she still didn't lower her blaster "You're a Sith Lord!" she cried "You want to see the Jedi dead because you want to bring darkness to the kingdom!" she exclaimed as Palpatine sneered

"Lower your blaster princess and perhaps we can reason their release and your banishment from the kingdom" he suggests as Padme shook her head

"And leave my people to your reign and darkness. My father did not train me to run" she tells him just as she hears footsteps running towards them. Palpatine then saw four more Jedi, lightsabers in hand - Padme recognised one of them as Anakin and Obi Wan's father, Qui Gon. Despite admitting there was nothing he could do, Padme should have knew he would come to save his sons.

"Palpatine" Qui Gon spoke in a stern, deep voice. "You will not destroy this kingdom and you will be held accountable for what happened to the King" he informs him. Palpatine smirks as Padme snaps

"I should have know from the moment you entered our lives that you were nothing but trouble and because of you my child will never know their grandfather" Padme angrily cries as Palpatine laughs

"And they also won't know their father or uncle" he reveals seeing her gasp as Qui Gon and the three Jedi move closer towards them.

"Your highness, get to the courtyard and stop that execution" he tells her as Padme nods but not before she fired one shot unexpectedly right in Palpatine's side. He cried out as Padme took off leaving Qui Gon and the Jedi to take on Palpatine. She had an execution to stop. She didn't know how but she would not lose her husband.

It was still dark when Anakin and Obi Wan were brought out from their cells, cuffed in force resistant cuffs making any escape attempts futile. Anakin and Obi Wan sensed darkness throughout the castle but they had also sense a familiar presence in that of their father and the Jedi. Padme may be strong but she would have also sought out the wisdom of their father.

Anakin decided to find out what was going on. "Bringing us back to your new king" he scoffs at their captors. He cries out as one of the men enacted the cuffs sending a nasty shock through his body. "I know your master is involved with the king's death and Padme won't let him ascend the throne" he only tells him

The men both laugh "And too bad you won't be around to see what happens. You'll be dead and the princess will be banished from the kingdom" one of them reveals. They continued to lead them through the castle as Obi Wan realised that they weren't taking them to the throne room but outside in the direction of the courtyard.

They couldn't see much through the dark, except the light from the wall torches lit leading out into the courtyard. The courtyard was set for their execution - obviously Palpatine had hoped to carry out their executions in secret. The guards pushed them further towards two wooden blocks where two other guards stood holding an axe each.

Anakin exchanged a look with his brother as they were forced onto their knees before the wooden blocks. It is then they heard a voice cut through the air.

"Stop!" they cried.

Padme's Point of View

It was pitch darkness, with the courtyard lit by the orange flames from the torches but I made out the figures of my husband, brother in law and the guards, ready to behead the two prisoners.

I raised my blaster towards one of the executioners and fired seeing them fall back before firing on the other one which had the guards pull out their blasters at me.

"We are carrying out orders of the new king" one informed her as Padme shook her head

"He is not the king. He has no claim to the throne and you are only following the murderer of my father!" I cried "Release my husband and his brother now!" I ordered them however another laughed

"We don't follow your orders, your highness" he taunted "You're outnumbered any way sweetheart" he warned her as I smirked

"Don't be so sure" I replied

Minutes Earlier.....

As Padme raced through the castle, she was soon join by another two figures. She recognised them from her wedding as fellow Jedi and Sabe's mother, one of the few council members who sided with her.

"Princess!" she cried as Padme halted in her steps

"I can't stop, I need to get to the courtyard and stop them from killing Obi Wan and Anakin" she tells them as the woman nodded

"I know but I wanted to tell you there are still those who will follow you and want to help you save the Jedi" she explains. Padme smiles

"Thank you, just tell me what we need to do" she tells them.

Present - Exterior courtyard

As Padme moved down the front steps, her blaster aimed at the guards, she spoke again in a firm voice. "I won't ask you again, release my husband and his brother now!" she orders but they only laughed once more at her.

Padme looks to the far left of the courtyard seeing one of the Jedi. She nods just at the moment the men's laughter was suddenly drowned out by the sound of lightsabers blaring to life, bring a blue and green glow to the courtyard. Padme smirks.

"Ready to surrender?" she asks them seeing them freeze into their place unable to stop looking around at the lightsabers surrounding them. The guards lowered their blasters just as they heard fighting coming towards them, windows shattering and Palpatine jumping from the window.

Palpatine glared over at Padme advancing towards her. She fired her blaster twice at him seeing him deflect the shots. "You think you have won, princess" he scoffs "Your father was a fool to think you could ever rule!" he snapped however he hadn't seen two Jedi free Obi Wan and Anakin from their resistants and hand them two lightsabers.

"Don't be so sure!" Anakin calls out to him as Obi Wan appeared behind him and using the lightsaber stabbed Palpatine straight through the chest. He leaned in closer towards him.

"You will never harm my wife again" he informs him before he watches him fall to the ground. Padme rushes into Obi Wan's arms, the two sharing a passionate kiss together as the dawn sun began to rise in the sky. Anakin took charge of leading the traitors towards the dungeons. He stopped alongside his brother and Padme.

"Your father was right about you, Padme" he tells her "You are strong willed and will be a Queen the people can look to" he reveals as Padme smiles

"I never believed you were responsible for his murder, Anakin. It was all Palpatine's plan to ascend to power and bring the kingdom down, but he is dead and my father can rest in peace" she admits, feeling a little tear in her eye as Obi Wan held her close before Anakin continued back into the castle with their prisoners.

Chapter 7

Two days later......

It appeared that Palpatine's influence and control still remained within the city, with those followers lurking in the castle. Anakin had foiled another two attempts on Padme's life as she prepared for her coronation as Queen. It also would make Obi Wan a King something which Anakin couldn't stop teasing his brother about.

"So, do you prefer Jedi Knight King Obi Wan or just King Obi Wan?" Anakin asks for what seemed the 100th time. Obi Wan sighed. They were moving through the hallway towards his quarters he lived in with Padme.

"I think Obi Wan or brother will be just fine Anakin" he answers him but Anakin smirked

"Wrong, as the royal guard, I shall address you as King Obi Wan" he teases as Obi Wan rolls his eyes. Obi Wan then decided to tease his brother further

"Keep this up brother because I can have you demoted to dungeon guard" he taunts as Anakin shakes his head.

"Like Padme's going to let you demote her best guard" he tells him as Obi Wan smirks.

"Who's her husband?" he reminds him as Anakin rolls his eyes as they reached Obi Wan and Padme's chambers. They open the door to find Padme sitting at her vanity with Sabe styling her hair whilst Motee pulled out her outfit for the ceremony. Padme smiled at Obi Wan through the mirror as he moved over towards her giving her a tender kiss. Padme then looked over at Anakin.

"Is everything ready for the coronation ceremony?" she asks him as Anakin nods

"Security is high and I have guards posted at every entrance, the guests are on their way and the throne room is ready. The people have gathered out in the courtyard awaiting the crowning of their new Queen" he informs her.

Padme then gets up from her vanity and moves over towards Anakin, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you Anakin. My father was right to make you head royal guard. I couldn't be in safer hands" she admits. Anakin gives her a small bow

"I would lay down my life for you, my Queen" he tells her looking over at Obi Wan "Although, not quite sure about the King" he teases. Obi Wan shakes his head as Padme smiles before she feels a small kick from the baby. She smiles as Obi Wan moves over wrapping an arm around her.

"The baby's kicking again, sweetheart?" he asks seeing Padme nod sharing another kiss before Padme turned back to her two friends. "Sabe, Motee, let's get ready for the ceremony and you two" she looks over at her husband and brother in law. "...can wait outside" she tells them as Anakin laughs.

"Not even the Queen and already she is issuing orders" he teases before he adds "I'm going to ensure security's still safe" with a bow, he exits the room as Obi Wan turns to follow him but not before he looks back at Padme.

"You know, perhaps a week on dungeon duty, will cease with his taunts" he suggests as Padme tilts her head.

"Obi Wan" she simply replies which only made him smirk before exiting the room leaving Padme to prepare for the ceremony with her two friends.

The crowds had gathered in the courtyard, the guests had arrived in the throne room. The guards lined the hallway. The advisors stood together at the front whilst an older man stood beside the throne holding the royal crown. Anakin stood by the entrance whilst behind the doors, was Padme.

She was dressed in a beautiful, long sleeved flowing deep purple dress with her long brown hair curled and pulled back into an elaborate hair style. Sabe and Motee stood behind her in their traditional handmaiden attire as Obi Wan stood beside her. He held out one of his hands as she placed one of her hands in his.

"You look beautiful" he tells her seeing her take a deep breath.

"I'm just happy to have you still by my side" she admits seeing him smile.

"You always will" he promised just as the doors opened to reveal all eyes on them. Anakin smiled at them before he started to lead them into the throne room. Obi Wan proudly walking alongside her. His hand in hers as she held her held up high and proud. She felt her child kicking a little inside her once more. She felt all eyes on her many of them smiling. They had been wondering when this day would happen, however for Padme. She didn't expect it so soon, especially while she was pregnant.

As they reached the throne, Anakin stepped aside as Sabe and Motee took their places on either side of the guest. Obi Wan gently kissed Padme once more before he watched her move up towards the throne where she took a seat on the plush, red velvet gold seat.

The older holy man moved carrying the crown and turned towards Padme. He spoke in a clear, firm voice.

"Do you solemnly swear to uphold our traditions and values to all people of the land?" he asks her. Padme looked out at the guests.

"I will" she answered as he went on

"Do you promise to make decision that will protect the people from those who will seek to destroy the kingdom?" he asks her

"I will" Padme replies once more.

"Do you promise to follow the traditions of previous Kings and Queens?" he asks as Padme nods

"I will" she says before he begins to lower the crown onto her head.

"Then I hereby crown you, Padme Naberrie Kenobi, Queen of Naboo!" he announces. He steps back as he watches Padme rise to her feet as he looks out across the throne room. "Long live the Queen!" he exclaims

"Long Live the Queen!" the guests exclaim "Long live the Queen!" they continue to chant as Padme looks down at Anakin and Obi Wan giving them a small smile. It seemed like only yesterday she met the two brothers and here they all were, at her coronation ceremony as a family.

Epilogue

Three months since she became Queen, three months since one of her father's closest advisors was discovered to be trying to take over the throne and three months since she lost her father, Naboo was flourishing under its new ruler, Queen Padme. She was heavily pregnant and everyone was ensuring she was comfortable whilst she conducted her business.

Anakin was her head royal guard, ensuring no harm came to her or her husband, his brother, the King. Still he was getting use to that new title, something Anakin didn't stop teasing about even after he was given dungeon duty for a week. Obi Wan expected nothing less from his younger brother and was preparing for his new role - fatherhood.

Today, Padme was taking a small tour of the city whilst Obi Wan attended to the training of new guards whilst Anakin led the security protecting the Queen through the city. As Padme moved through the lower town, she waved to the people and stopped to collect flowers from some of the children.

"Thank you" Padme smiles at two young children who had just given her some more flowers, as she was getting back up to her feet, she felt a sharp pain in her stomach before shaking it off, not before Anakin was by her side.

"My lady, is everything alright?" he asks "Do you know to go back to the castle?" he asks as she shook her head.

"No, Anakin, it's alright" she assures him moving along to a nearby stall to admire some beautiful jewellery however Anakin was cautious and sensed Padme wasn't entirely telling the truth. He called over one of his guards.

"Inform the medical centre that the Queen will be coming in to see the doctor and have the King notified that his wife will be checking in with her doctor" he whispers. The guard hurries off as he noticed Padme was slowing down. Anakin stepped up alongside her.

"M'lady, might we move in the direction of the medical centre and check in with the doctor" he suggests as Padme shook her head.

"Anakin, I'm fine, I wish to finish the tour and......" her sentence went unfinished as she gripped his arm, crying out in pain. The crowd all looked on curiously and worried as Anakin took action.

"Guards! Clear a path to the medical centre now!" he orders lifting Padme into his arms "And have the hospital on alert, the Queen's in labour!" he informs them as everyone scrabbled to clear a path for Anakin and their Queen.

The training of the new guards was coming along nicely and for Obi Wan, it was a nice break from his king duties. He was watching the guards practice their fighting and blaster skills when one guard came running into the grounds.

"Your highness!" he cried as Obi Wan turned towards him. it was then he sensed a disturbance - involving his wife. He feared for what this guard was about to tell him.

"Your highness, Anakin says for you to get over to the medical centre right now. The Queen is in labour!" he exclaims. Obi Wan's eyes widen and without another word, rushed from the training grounds through the castle and towards the medical centre to be by his wife's side.

Security was on high alert as Anakin brought Padme into the centre and was seen to her private quarters immediately as doctors scrambled to help. Anakin waited outside as he watched them help his sister in law. He thought back to a few moments ago in the town, Padme had been brushing off the pain as nothing and wanted to finish her tour but the baby was coming and Anakin had acted on his instincts and soon there would be a prince or princess.

He then heard his name "Anakin!" they called out. It was Obi Wan rushing in with the guard Anakin had sent for him. He smiled as his brother stopped alongside him.

"It's almost time, brother" Anakin simply says as Obi Wan nods embracing him happily. "Now, get in there and be with your wife" he tells him watching Obi Wan rush into the room straight by Padme's side.

"I'm here, Padme" he tells her "You're doing well" he tells her seeing her look over at him. She was now in a long white gown and sweat dripping from her forehead. She looked over at him.

"Obi Wan" she breathes as they both heard the doctor

"Okay, your highness, it's nearly time" he tells her hearing her cry out once more as Obi Wan took hold of her hand, squeezing it which gave her the strength and support that she needed to continue.

Nearly three hours later, Anakin leant up against the door frame, watching the new parents admiring their beautiful, little prince. He was wiggling his fingers, cooing in his mother's arms as she smiled down at her little boy with Obi Wan's arms around her, sitting on the bed beside her.

"He's so beautiful" she smiles as Obi Wan nods.

"I think he has your eyes sweetheart" he nods as Padme shakes her head

"No, yours" she replies looking up at him where they shared soft, romantic kiss together before Anakin spoke, stepping into the room.

"So, does my little nephew have a name yet?" he asks "You know, Anakin is a strong name" he smirks as Padme shakes her head laughing as Obi Wan looks back at him.

"You already cause me enough taunting, I'm not giving you more ego" he points out. Anakin rolls his eyes before he places one hand on his brother's shoulder.

"I'm so happy for you brother" he says, looking over at Padme. "You two are going to be wonderful parents whilst ensuring this kingdom has peace" he tells them as Padme gently rocks her little boy in her arms. It was at that moment, a name came to mind.

"Jacen, that's his name" Padme told them. "Prince Jacen Kenobi" she revealed. Obi Wan and Anakin looked over at her as she looked at her husband.

"Would you like to hold your son?" she asks him. Obi Wan nods taking his son from Padme's hands into his own arms. Anakin smiled at seeing his brother overwhelmed with emotion as he looked down at his son who was wiggling his little fingers towards Obi Wan. Padme watched her husband and son, bringing a tear to her eye, for she almost didn't have this moment if Palpatine had succeeded in executing him and Anakin. She may be Queen now but she was also a wife and mother now and that had been the biggest fight of her life - to have her family and the throne.

The end! But not quite, for I have decided to turn this series in a little trilogy , so look out for the next story entitled "Fighting for Family"