Morgan Danielle

LIKE THERES NO WAY THIS WOULD BE A PROBLEM, EVEN IF SHE IS SEEMINGLY UNMARRIED. ARE UOU TELLING ME A QUEENDOM WOULD JUDGE OTHER WOMEN RUNNING THE PLANET FOR HAVING CHILDREN WITHOUT A HUSBAND. GET REAL.

On top of that, we never are shown WHY this would be a problem or why even being married would be an issue other than “I’m a senator!” Are elected officials not allowed to be married? That doesn’t make sense, her father was a senator, which also means they can have families

Are FEMALE reps not allowed to get married or have children then? Uh, again, matriarchal democracy, no way. Ok, then it’s a problem because she married a Jedi- except why would she be required to disclose her private life to anyone? You’re telling me she can’t just be like

“I want to keep my private life and public life separate, please respect these wishes”?! Girl has had SO MANY assassination attempts, and MANY lost decoys. Who WOULDNT be like “oh heck, yeah protect your family and their identity” I just???? MAKE IT MAKE SENSE

Even if she did confide in the queen that she was specifically married to Analin Skywalker, the only outcome I can imagine is “oh dayum you not only got that hot piece of ass, you got him to forsake SACRED VOWS?! You clearly can convince anyone of anything, here’s a raise”

Anyway, let’s talk about how the prequels would have been vastly improved if their love was never hidden and instead was a real source of conflict between Anakin and the Jedi- the danger isn’t dying in childbirth, it’s the Jedi targeting Padmé as a danger to their prophecy.

With the Jedi dogma growing increasingly desperate and militaristic over the course of the Clone Wars, it makes sense that they would do something like remove the biggest attachment their supposed chosen one has, AND it gives Anakin a real reason for choosing (not being tricked)

to go to the dark side. In this essay, I will-

I got off track. My point is this wouldn’t have been an issue if the writers instead made it clear Padmé’s concerns were more along the lines of “I’m focusing on my political career and the safety of my people and the distraction of having a secret lover is a problem”

And then had her be like “fuck it, I can do both and do both well, you’re a big boy if you decide to say screw your vows that’s up to you but I won’t be keeping this a secret.”

And Anakin, being too old when he became a Padawan, already questioning the strict rules on “attachments”, unable to save his mother and the millions suffering from slavery because the Jedi are too keen to keep the status quo, witnessing mass child soldiers, says “Fuck yeah”

He’s never made master not because he isn’t trusted, not because he’s reckless, or hot headed, but because he questions the Jedi way. And he says “You need me. So I’m going to get married, and you won’t expel me.” This makes the Jedi big mad. But he’s right. They can’t expel him

They can’t worry about that now though. The next several years are spent focused on the war. Anakin’s personal issues take a back seat. But after the years pass, they begin to win. And they can turn their concerns inward- towards the problems they see plaguing their order.

Anakin asks questions. He advocates for change. He’s thoughtful, reasonable, intelligent. He sees the problems with the Jedi, and he calls them on it. They can’t control him, because he was too old for indoctrination. He’s radical in comparison to the Jedi way, but moderate—

in the grand scheme of things. Of course he is, he wants the balance he was foretold to bring. No more child soldiers, no more shutting off emotions, he embraces his attachments and how strong they make him. The Jedi can’t have THAT. So a plan begins to unfold...

Mace Windu is the militant, right arm of the Jedi dogma that he’s only hinted at being in the films. Yoda, an absent leader, who only sees his mistakes too late. Obi Wan, clueless to the plot to murder his best friend’s wife. But Anakin finds out. And he chooses the dark side.

Because now, the Jedi and the Sith are the same to him; he would prefer neither, he wants a future of balance, of gray, of in-betweens, but he’s forced to choose. And of course he’s going against the order that failed to save his mother and now is threatening his wife and family.

In this imaginary alternate prequel I’ve concocted, Padmé has done what she says she’s going to- she goes to Naboo to prepare a home for their child. So when order 66 is enacted, and Anakin left to make the hardest choice of his life, she’s not there. She’s removed.

That’s where Obi Wan comes to her, someone who has been there for both her and Anakin as the Jedi make their contempt and anger more and more apparent. Sure, Obi Wan doesn’t really GET it, in fact he thinks they’ve both made mistakes, but he loves them despite himself.

And because of that trust, Padmé believes him when he tells her that Anakin has betrayed the Jedi. Because they communicate. She knows what his struggles were, his goals, his dreams of a bright future, but she also knows his fear, especially when it comes to their family-

-and any threats to that future. She is heartbroken, but she believes it, because she knows how it can all become twisted. But her child? No, her child can’t live in a world of darkness caused by their father, even if it was meant to save them. So she flees with Obi Wan.

Perhaps this even happens after she has Luke and Leia- Anakin, getting a few moments, a few months, perhaps even a year of bliss in between the war, and the fighting, getting that taste of what his life could be of he could JUST convince the world of how it must change

So when he finishes his mission at the temple, and he rushes home, remembering his family, unsure what he will tell Padmé but knowing he can help her understand if he could just talk to her before she hears the news— Their home, his one safe haven, is empty. His children gone.

He has no idea where his wife may be. She has met up with other survivors now- Yoda, ashamed of his failures, filled with remorse for the situation he could have prevented, now has to convince this women to part with her children. They have to be separated.

She can’t have it. She’s strong, but she can be strong with her children at her side, can’t she? It is not easy- then finally, Obi Wan offers his assistance. Leia will go with Organa to Alderaan. He will take Luke to Tatooine, the last place Anakin would ever want to go.

He will ensure Luke’s safety, maybe even arrange for Padmé to visit over the years, and she can watch Leia grow up in relative safety and disguise on Alderaan. It’s not a perfect plan. There’s still danger, but it’s less so, and his friend doesn’t have to feel such anguish...

...at the prospect of losing her whole family in a single day. Yoda is not a fan, but ultimately agrees. It’s better than her traveling alone with the children, barely even toddlers. And so a few years pass this way. Padmé has lost contact with Obi Wan.

He never revealed to her exactly where her son would be, and she is so afraid of accidentally revealing herself or her children that she stays put, but she thinks of her son everyday. But she gets to see Leia grow into a small child, and she’s grateful.

Until the day she is tracked down. The news comes through Organa’s connections in the newly established empire, a few friends still in the dwindling republic who have endeared themselves to the emperor. Lord Vader sensed her, and is coming. She has to flee.

It’s only when she escapes, pursued by her husband, now tormented, enraged, and driven to desperation by the years spent apart with no word of her safety or that of their children’s, that something finally happens. She dies, but it’s a warrior’s death.