Thank you for being so patient with me! These past few months have been very difficult what with finishing college and all. Good news is I am now a college graduate! Bad news is I now need to find a way to use that degree. Won't be easy, but I'm up for the challenge!

Anyway, here is the new chapter!

Chapter 3

Days passed slowly as the Summer months proved to be bountiful in raids, trade, and produce. Their lands were not known to be very fertile but each season they managed to be able to grow enough to supplement what they could not get through other means and this particular season had been very generous. Padme was beyond pleased with this season's product but she worried. She celebrated it with her people when in public, but in private she worried what this bountiful season would mean for the next. Sometimes such good fortune was only a sign of bad things to come and so, in preparation she worked tirelessly to see that whatever bad fortune may come they would at least be somewhat prepared for it. She made sure there was a stock of seeds saved in case the farmers failed to revive the dead plants from winter, she made agreements with Jarls to ensure no war would be fought over food and made promises of more raids to England with them so that they may share in the wealth of that country.

It was a tiring process and one that left her needing a break from her people more often than usual. Padme's favorite place in the entire region were the mountains overlooking the town. Isolated and yet still a part of her lands, she felt like Heimdall the all-seeing, all-hearing guardian of the gods. From the mountain, she could see almost all of her lands and see all the people of Varykino down below as well as the vast ocean that bordered her lands. Alone with nothing but her thoughts and a clear view of everything that mattered to her, she could think more clearly than she ever could sitting on her seat in the long house. She knew the winters would come again soon and she knew that Palpatine was urging her to go on one last raid before the winter comes and that many were in full support of this. She wasn't so sure. With the end of the season, it was more important that all of their harvests be gathered. Not to mention the very real risk that the raiding party could be trapped in England all winter should the waters freeze early or a storm delays them. Palpatine was not someone whose council she could trust but his words were supported by many and simply refusing would be an unpopular choice. But what could she do? Did she go on a raid she didn't believe in? Did she send good men to their deaths simply for the support? Bail was obviously against it and Sabe suggested that she place Palpatine in command in the hopes that the snake would get himself killed. A tempting option, but not one without risk to her position. Padme leaned back in the grass and sighed, letting the warm summer rays kiss her face as she prayed for the gods to show her the right path.

No answer came to her on this day. And as the Sun began it's slow descent, so too did she. Mounting her horse, she made her way down the mountain side. She rode her horse slowly, taking in the sweet smell of pine and listening to the songs the birds sang. She passed several hunters as she made her way back to town, each one smiling and laughing as they returned home with their game. It brought back memories of the first time her father had taken her hunting. Her mother had been against it thinking she was too young at only eight years old. But Padme remembered how much she loved that first trip. She hadn't killed anything, all her arrows had missed. But she remembered her father whispering instructions to her, telling her how to hold the bow, how to draw it back, and how to breathe. And she remembered how he laughed when her arrows managed only to hit the ground a few feet in front of her. She wished he could see how much better her marksmanship was now.

As she reached the gates, she recognized one of the hunters returning from the forest, a string of rabbits hanging over his shoulder. "Obi-Wan," She called, kicking her horse to walk a bit faster.

Her friend turned at the call of his name and he smiled up at her. "Coming down from your mountain?" He asked. "I hope your trip proved more useful than mine," He said. "I tracked a nice fat buck only to end up with these."

Padme laughed as she dismounted in favor of walking beside him, it made conversation so much easier for them both. "I wish," She said. "Easiest thing to do would be to kill Palpatine," She said.

"But he has powerful allies who are known and many followers who are hidden everywhere," He filled in.

"Which is why I can't," She said with a shake of her head. "He's clever, I'll give him that. But he's also a pain."

Obi-Wan nodded in agreement. "Should we keep a closer eye on him?" He asked.

"No," She said, "We can't let him get suspicious or think we're afraid of him. He'd only use that against us."

"Patience then," He said, adjusting the rope holding the rabbits on his shoulder, "I must say as wise as that is, I fear that may give him too much time," He warned.

Padme scoffed, "What choice do I have? It was a miracle I even foiled his bid for Jarl."

"Not a miracle," He corrected. "Skill. You are more talented than you give yourself credit for. And you are loved by many. You are a force to be reckoned with and Palpatine knows that. Otherwise, he would have made his move years ago."

Padme smiled at his words as they reached his home. Anakin was off to the side of the house using the log chopping block to split firewood. In the Summer heat, she noticed his tan shirt was stained dark around the collar and under his arms and a nice sheen of sweat that coated his face and the skin of his chest the unlaced 'V' in his shirt allowed her to see. She hadn't seen much of Anakin throughout the Summer. Her work as the Jarl had meant most of her time had been occupied either by raids, meetings or settling disputes.

At their approach, Anakin looked up from his work briefly. His dark blue eyes met hers and froze her where she stood until he broke eye contact and returned to his work. Padme took the moment to actually look at him for the first time since she had last seen him all those months ago when she had left him in Obi-Wan's care. His hair was no longer the cropped style the Saxons seem to like so much and now reached the middle of his neck, and his jaw now had light wisps of a beard coming in.

"He's well if that's what you're wondering," Obi-Wan said, staring at her out of the corner of his eye. "What exactly are your plans for him anyway?" He asked. He always asked that when the subject of Anakin came up. Every time she was asked she searched her mind for an answer and every time she failed to find one. There were times she thought about simply taking him back to England and leaving him there. This was not his home and Obi-Wan had made it clear he probably never would come to think of it as such. But then she remembered the day she had met him. The look in his eye. A warrior's eye. She knew he was capable of more than whatever life he had back in England and she wanted to see him achieve it.

Padme shook her head at Obi-Wan's question, silently brushing it off. He didn't press her for an explanation and instead gave her a friendly smile, "You should talk to him," He suggested, training his eyes to Anakin. "I imagine he's rather bored of talking to me," He said as he started up the short worn path to his house without another word.

Padme opened her mouth to decline, but no words came to her and instead she found herself standing in front of her friend's house with her mouth hanging open and a confused look on her face. When the door to the house closed, it was enough to jar her back to her senses and close her mouth. With a shake of her head, she backed up a step, with every intention of going back to her long house. But her curiosity got the better of her and instead, she hitched her horse to the house and came to stand in front of Anakin at the chopping block.

She waited a moment for him to stop in his wood splitting and for his eyes to meet hers before she spoke. "Hello," She said.

"Hello," He returned, speaking her language with a thick accent.

"You look well," She said, ignoring how his eyes narrowed at her and how his fingers twitched on the axe handle. "I hope Varykino is to your liking. It's colder here than where you're from but it grows on you."

Anakin rested the head of the axe on the block and folded his hands over the handle, "Stop pretending you care what I think," He said harshly. "You take me from home, name me slave, pass me off to your friend, and leave me for months." He gave a shrug, "What is it you want?" He demanded. "The other slaves taken with me, do you know they dead? Dead by your people. I know not even why. Their bodies I pass by every day. Am I to join them?"

Padme shook her head, "No," She said immediately. "I'm sorry I haven't come by sooner. I've been-"

"Busy," He finished. "Busy raiding my home. Killing good people. Defacing churches." He scoffed as he picked the axe back up and placed a log in the center of the block before bringing the axe down on it hard, splitting the wood in two and sending splinters in all directions.

She wasn't sure what to tell him. There were things about her culture she didn't agree with and as much as she did want to change some things, there was too much opposition in her way right now for her to make such drastic changes, one of them being Palpatine.

Anakin split another log before he sighed and rested the axe again. "What do you want with me?" He asked. "Is my life simply a game to you?"

"No," she said, taking a moment to gather the rest of her words together. "I wanted you to stay with. Obi-Wan to learn our language mostly."

"And?" He asked, "Now that I have, what next?"

Padme was saved having to answer when Sabe came running up to the house. "Oh, you're here," She panted. "I was about to send Obi-Wan up the mountain for you."

"What is it?" Padme asked.

"Palpatine."

And with that one word, Padme unhitched her horse and mounted up, eager to get to the long house where the man was no doubt causing trouble. She didn't even bother waiting for Sabe as experience told her that the longer she was delayed, the more time Palpatine had to sway the minds of those in his charming presence. One of the stable hands was already waiting for her when she arrived and the moment he had the reigns in his hand, she was already walking quickly through the doors of her long house.

"Ah! Padme, so nice of you to join us!" Palpatine greeted from the steps to her seat. He sat on the furs that lined the stairs with Mas Amedda beside him, the two of them happily drinking and talking with the small group of people in her hall. "I was just telling these fine gentlemen about your brilliant plan to go on one last raid this season," He said with a smile.

Padme ignored his words for the moment and instead focused on the tall man before her. "I'm sorry, and you are…?"

"Nute Gunray," He said. "I'm an Jarl from Gotland."

"And what brings you here?" She asked.

Gunray looked to Palpatine, "The raid you spoke of," He said. "I want to share in the wealth of England this season."

Padme bit her lip, "I'm afraid you've been misinformed," She said, "I have no intentions of going on another raid this season."

His eyes narrowed at her and he took a step closer to her, his height towering over her. "You mean to deny me glory while you take it all for yourself?"

What Padme lacked in height, she made up for with the fierce look in her eyes that left no room for questions. "I have no reason to lie. Summer is ending and Winter will be upon us soon. There are more important things that must be done in preparation for the first snow than raiding for gold and glory."

Gunray did not seem to believe her and his eyes glared daggers at her. "You are sailing West again. What reason does your advisor have to lie to me?"

"Palpatine is not my advisor," she said. "He has strong opinions he is very vocal about, but seldom do I ever heed them. This raid he speaks of is a lie. And should you hear of a such a raid happening, know it was not by my orders." Padme noticed Gunray's fingers twitching just over the knife hanging by his hip and rested her hand casually over her own, warning him that she was aware of him and that she would retaliate if he tried anything. Wisely, he backed down and with curses muttered under his breath, he turned and left.

Her fist clenched tightly over her dagger as she ran the situation over in her head. She had only been to Gotland a handful of times but she knew Gunray was one of the more easily offended Jarls of the place. She remembered a story about him she heard years ago from a traveling merchant. Supposedly, Gunray had killed his brother when they disagreed on whether to raid Estonia or it's neighbor, Latvia. The validity of this story was never confirmed but Padme was certain such a story would not exist if there wasn't some cause for concern.

Palpatine stood from where he sat and gave her a small applause, "Nicely handled, Jarl," He said. "I do apologize for the misunderstanding. I had the impression from our last conversation that we were in agreement."

Padme took a breath and bit back what she really wanted to say to him and went instead for her well practiced diplomatic approach. "Don't worry too much about it. I'm sure once he hears there was no raid, this whole thing will be put behind us."

"Ah, well, now that you mention it…" He started, folding his arms behind his back, "I have a request. I have several friends willing to go to England on one last raid. They know the risks and are well prepared for any trouble. Thing is, they need a ship and-"

"No," she said, cutting him off as she passed him to get to her seat. Padme sat tall in the chair, making it clear without words who has the power. "Leaving this late in the season is a risk I cannot take. Especially with what just happened, your friends will have to wait until the Spring."

His eyes narrowed for a moment but relaxed as he continued to play their game of power. "These men and women volunteered for this," He reiterates. "The spoils they would bring back would foster a greater wealth that would serve to add to our Winter stores."

"I appreciate their desire to help," She said. "But the work that needs to be done here has a more practical outcome than a hypothetical 'what if'. The risk is too great and the reward too little for me to condone this raid."

Palpatine feigned shock and disappointment but he didn't argue her. "As you wish," He said, "I suppose I'll have to let them know of your refusal. They will be so disappointed."

"Be sure to let them know I am sorry I cannot grant them this raid. Their lives hold too much value to risk at this time."

"I shall," He said, his lip twitching into a sly smile as if he had gotten exactly what he wanted from her before retreating from the long house. Padme replayed the conversation once he had left as she always did when they have these battles of word and wit. It is hard to tell what Palpatine's end goals are with every confrontation. She knows he wants to be the Jarl and that everything he does has a purpose be it to sow discontent among her people, throw her off, or make her an enemy of a rival Jarl. This seems to be a ploy that could fall into all three categories which just makes the matter of mending the whole thing yet another thing she has to worry about. She wasn't too worried about the men and women who would no doubt be upset with her for denying them a raid but she was worried about Gunray. Come Spring, they could easily be facing a tribal war against the Gotland Jarl instead of raids in the West. Or worse, they could face a war during the cold of Winter. Both risks were dangerous and Padme had been very careful during her reign to prevent wars among other Viking groups. Farther North than Varykino, war between Vikings were fairly common. Wars over territory and bruised egos were a pointless venture to her and Padme wanted to stay away from it as much as possible. But if Gunray was as offended as she suspected he was, it was imperative for her to be careful what she did for the next few months.

With a heavy sigh, Padme slumped back in her chair and tried to rid her mind of all the plots and planning her mind seemed to do every moment of the day. Dorme emerged from behind the curtain that led back to her private quarters with a pitcher in her hands. Padme watched as she walked across the hall and took two empty mugs and filled them from the pitcher before coming to her side and passing her the larger of the two mugs. Padme gave her a grateful smile and traced her finger around and around the rim of it. "What do you make of all this?" She asked.

Dorme smiled and took a drink, seating herself on the steps by her feet. "I think you need to relax," She said.

Padme took a long drink hoping a slight buzz from the ale would help relieve the tension she felt. She knew it wouldn't, but she didn't know what else she could try.

"You worry too much," She said.

"It's my job to worry."

"Then try worrying about something less… massive," She suggested. "All you seem to worry about is Varykino, Palpatine, the economy," Dorme gave an exaggerated yawn. "Far from the most exciting conversation."

Padme shook her head, "Have I ever told you you'd be a terrible Jarl?"

"All the time," She said with a shrug. "Then again, I don't really have an interest in it anyway." Dorme leaned back onto her forearms and let out a sigh, "I saw Obi-Wan this morning, just before he went on his hunt," She started. "That boy, the Saxon, he seems to be well."

She nodded in agreement, "I saw."

"When are you going to bring him here?" She asked. "He seems to be able to speak our language pretty well- though still a bit choppy."

Padme raised a brow at her, taking in the slight curve of her lip. "Is there any particular reason you want him here?"

She gave a shrug, "It'd be nice to have a hand around here? Sabe and Yane are well and good, but they're better at fighting than cooking and masters of making messes rather than cleaning up." Padme gave her a skeptical look and with hunched shoulders, Dorme continued, "He's also cute."

Padme shook her head and rested her arms on her knees. "Alright," She said, "Go and get him."