Disclaimer: Unfortunately, the Star Wars Universe belongs to George Lucas and all them folks and not to me. sigh However, Anaria is mine and the plot is mine and whatever else you don't recognize is mine, unless of course, you're Star Wars illiterate.

Chapter One- Meetings

The crew members saw a dreamy look cross Padawan Anakin's face, but they were much to in awe of their important passenger to say anything. However, Lieutenant Commander Foksri thought that perhaps Anakin was happy to be going to Naboo on assignment, since he seemed to like it there the last time he went. It was a nice planet, if you liked that sort of thing. Foksri could appreciate the beauty of the green planet since he was from another of its kind. Unfortunately, he did not get any dirt-side leave to see the planet. No, he had to take the ship and fly around a bit running errands until the Padawan was ready to be picked up. He grumbled softly to himself. Life just wasn't fair that a young fighter with Force-powers and one hand could have a ship at his beck and call and he, an experienced naval officer of the Republic, had to do the porting around. No, he said to himself, life really just wasn't fair.

The ship gently set down on the soft landing strip of Naboo. Anakin could barely keep from jumping off the ship and running up to the palace to see his young wife. It had been almost a year since they were married and he only got to see her once since then. But he could hardly afford to give away their secret just to see her a moment or two sooner. So he let himself off the ship with decorum, thanking the captain and crew for the swift journey and letting them know that it would probably a week or so before he was finished and ready to go. He wished that the Jedi Council had let him fly himself, but they had felt that such an important diplomatic mission required the use of a diplomatic Republic cruiser, no matter the inconvenience it caused him. He kept himself from racing up the stairs to the palace and walked an even, fast walk like the almost-Jedi he was. To keep himself from losing his concentration by thinking of Padme, he forced himself to contemplate what Obi-Wan had told him moments before he left- that if he came back successful, the Council would deliberate about letting him take the Trials, even though he was still too young and unpredictable and, as they saw it, easily influenced by passion and politics. The very thought of that made him take the mission with the utmost care and dignity, even though all his heart wanted him to do was to see his beautiful Padme.

After his briefing with Queen Jamilla, he inquired as to where he might find Senator Amidala as he had a message for her. The Queen nodded, knowing of their friendship and directed him to the gardens near the Senator's apartments. It was not exactly a lie, since he did have a message for her, even though it was from himself, and they were friends, even though they were much more than just friends. He smiled and thanked her, assuring her that he did not need a guide and that the Force could locate her if pointed in the right direction. He bowed and gracefully exited the room, not outwardly showing his excitement and haste.

In the gardens, Anakin still forcibly kept himself at a fast walk, knowing that there could possibly be security as well as spy-droids to notice and record his unusual behavior. He played as though he was enjoying the gardens, which in fact he was, just not so much as he was making out to. That was, until he came upon two figures locked in hand-to-hand combat. He broke into a run and as he got closer, realized that one of the figures, the losing one, was his beloved Padme.

She's being attacked! He thought frantically and immediately jumped in the fray. The attacker, head covered by a helmet, immediately turned his attention to Anakin and kept trying to pull them away from Padme, who stepped out of the battle and pulled off her helmet. Anakin was too worried about keeping himself between Padme and the assailant. The assailant whirled with surprising speed and grace and moved to kick out Anakin's legs from beneath him. He jumped at the last possible moment and moved to land and subsequently crush the attacker's ribs. If possible, he wished to keep the assailant alive and question him. But his attacker moved away from the assault with ease and skill and commenced in a flurry of moves that kept him to busy to reach for his lightsaber. Anakin tried to summon the Force to push the attacker away and succeeded for a second before another attack followed the first. He realized with astonishment that the attacker was actually using the Force in an unconscious, crude way to aid himself with speed and dexterity. Anakin twirled using his cloak to camouflage his movements and reached to strike the assailant's head but the assailant was not where he was and came down hard while Anakin was distracted, throwing him on the ground. But Anakin used the Force to pick himself up and drew his lightsaber. Its brilliant green light struck up and the assailant stopped hesitantly and drew a retractable vibroblade out of its green jumpsuit and had a handful of something in the other hand. Something whizzed past his ear and he ducked, not even having enough time to bring up his lightsaber. He moved towards the assailant.

"STOP! Both of you just stop it!" a voice called out, almost laughing.

Both Anakin and the assailant spun to face Padme incredulously. "But he was attacking you!" they said in unison, and then turned to stare at each other.

Padme couldn't help but laugh then. "That was a display!" she finally managed to get out. "But I think its time that you two stopped trying to kill one another. Padawan Anakin Skywalker, may I make you known to Handmaiden Anaria Demaret?"

Anakin cut the power to his lightsaber and grudgingly held out his hand. The assailant sheathed her vibroblade and concealed her handful of miniature throwing darts in her uniform. Then she tugged off her helmet. Long, auburn brown hair fell in a wave behind her shoulders and her brown eyes sparked in a face that was hardly even red from fighting. She tucked her helmet under one arm with efficient grace and grasped his proffered hand quickly and dropped it. Anakin was startled by her resemblance to Padme, and also her youth. She couldn't be more that sixteen to Padme's twenty-five and yet they were alike in looks as two sisters.

"Nari," Padme said. "Now that you know I'm in no danger, why don't you wash up and have a light refreshment sent up to my suite."

"It is my job to protect and guard you Senator," the girl said, emotionless but clearly on guard.

"I'm in perfectly safe hands able to guard me with Padawan Anakin. He served as my protector just over a year ago himself. I'm sure you'll feel much better after a wash and have Dorme draw me up a bath as well, will you?" Padme said nicely, though the set in her eyes told Nari that the Senator was not requesting or suggesting, she was ordering.

"As you wish," Nari said bowing and left.