Disclaimer: I own nothing but the characters not seen in the books or the movies. Don't make me name all that I don't own, I'll cry.

A/N: (sister) I'm really sorry it's taken me so long to update. Several things went wrong, not to mention my classes have been drowning me. You can thank my sister, the one and onlyraging-mongoose, that anything on this story has been done. So my apologies to anyone who waited and I hope you like it. And I warn you, this is rather long. Enjoy.

raging-mongoose- BEWARE THE LONGNESS!

(sister) glares for a long time She's making fun of me!

raging-mongoose- ...duh, on with the sho- story...i meant story...

(sorry but the page breaks weren't working so they're not here, sorry if it's confusing)

The next afternoon Dane was the only handmaiden still in the medics care. Eirtae had been sent to her room to rest and Yane's minor concussion had all but disappeared with treatment. Even the Jedi were healed, a combination of Jedi healing skills and lots of bacta patches.

Amidala was with her three remaining handmaidens and Anakin again, sitting patiently through the mundane government proceedings.

As far as they could tell Daten had disappeared completely despite the massive manhunt Panaka had organized. In the meantime, they were maintaining a heightened security level planet wide. Amidala fully agreed with the extra protection measures for her people. None of them would have a chance against him. But the extra guards and other precautionary measures around her irritated her to no end. How would she run an efficient government with all this extra protocol around her?

Panaka pointed out that she couldn't run any government if she was dead and overruled her, much to the Jedi's relief.

Jayden had stopped by the hospital wing to check on Dane and Yane. To his amazement he found both handmaidens asleep. The doctor had said that Dane should wake up in the next few hours so he decided to stay and wait. He figured the faster the Queen heard her handmaiden was awake the faster she'd relax.

After about forty-five minutes, Jayden felt the tug of consciousness pulling at Dane. Standing up from the computer terminal he walked to where Yane slept. Bending slightly, he spoke to her softly. She jerked, looked at him for a second, and smoothly got her to her feet. As she moved next to the bed, Dane stirred.

"Hey," Yane said soothingly. "Signs of life." Dane's eyes slowly opened, revealing cloudy amber eyes. She stared at the ceiling for a few moments, blinking, then meandered her gaze toward Yane.

Dane felt awareness spread slowly. First feeling returned to her body, then her hearing kicked in and she heard someone speak. She couldn't make sense of the words immediately but figured she would eventually. Finally, she got her eyes open, and saw light and white. Dane had just realized that she was looking at a hospital ceiling when what had been said finally made sense.

Slowly, trying not to jar anything, she turned her head. A fuzzy image of a handmaiden came into view. She squinted and the women became clear enough to identify as Yane. Opening her mouth to speak, a spike of pain caused her words to turn into a groan, and she shut her eyes.

A sigh of relief from Yane made Dane want to laugh. She must look pretty bad to make a groan something to be relieved about.

"Dane, are you still awake?" Yane asked

"Uh huh." The phrase slid out of her mouth without too much pain.

"You scared us," Yane whispered.

"Yeah?" Dane said, a smile starting to grow.

Yane huffed. "Dane, you got thrown out the window, got hit by a pillar, and wound up in a wrestling match with a Sith wannabe. You could have been killed."

"Is Amidala okay?" Dane asked carefully. Yane softened,

"She's fine. Sore, mad as all hells, but fine," she said.

"How are the handmaidens? Are we in seven pieces?"

"Eirtae is sleeping off a concussion, Sache has a broken left arm, Sabe, Rabe and Amidala got off with bruises and pulled muscles, I had a concussion, and you had a fractured jaw, deep cuts, lots of bruises, a burn on your chin and a serious knot on your head from where he hit you."

Dane was quiet for a moment.

"He hit me?" she finally asked.

"Yeah," Yane smiled. "I think you annoyed him."

"Good, because he pissed me off." Dane closed her eyes, fighting the sedatives.

"Dane," Yane said quickly before Dane could slip away, "stay awake. There's someone here you need to speak to."

"Can't I have a nap first?"

"Queen Amidala is quite worried about you," Jayden said. That got her attention; her eyes flew open.

"Don't push that button," she warned him. Despite her obvious weakness he fully believed she could and would back up her threat. Even Yane was glaring at him. "You're one of the Jedi from the fight." Her eyes narrowed, studying him.

He nodded. "My name is Jayden Darklighter, and I believe you saved my life in that fight."

"You Jedi saved us so we're even."

Jayden smiled. Interesting math.

"No offense, but why were the Jedi there?" she asked slowly, puzzled.

"The Jedi Council sent us," he said quickly. She raised an eyebrow and Yane looked ready to grill him, but he changed the subject on them.

"Dane, I need to know what you remember," he said.

"Remember what?"

"What you remember of the fight."

"Oh," she paused, thinking. "That guy pulled his lightsaber. Panaka started shooting, but he didn't hit him. Sache and Yane pulled Amidala back around the corner and Rabe, Eirtae, Sabe and I retreated, laying cover, for as best we could." Suddenly she turned to Yane. "What happened to Captain Panaka?"

"He's fine. Daten barely gave him a second glance."

"Who's Daten?"

"The guy in black."

Dane nodded. "Okay. Daten caught up with us in the hall outside of the throne room. Rabe and Sabe had caught up with the Queen. Eirtae and I were closest to him, so," she shrugged, wincing just barely, "we attacked. The others were supposed to escape but they didn't. Daten bounced our shots back at us with his lightsaber but his missed us. We dropped out blasters and Eirtae retreated because she was unarmed and he looked like he enjoyed cutting people to bits."

Yane had to grin at Dane's description, even though she agreed with it.

"You weren't unarmed?" Jayden asked.

She shook her head, and then obviously regretted it. "Ow. No. I had the knife my dad gave me strapped to my leg. I retreated out of his line of vision and pulled it out. That's when the others opened fire on him. I don't think he was expecting it.

"He didn't notice me soon enough. The blade cut his wrist. He was mad. Something hit me and everything kind of went dark and fuzzy. I heard some yelling, and I think something hit the wall."

"That," Yane interjected, "was the rest of us."

"Someone screamed. I think it was Rabe. She was screaming Eirtae name. I could tell something was wrong. I found a gun and shot him, or I tried to. Then you two showed up. You started fighting, which was a little bit disconcerting. I found my knife and the blaster. Then the pillar fell. After that I went through the window. I remember rocks flying around. Your lightsaber landed by my knife. I grabbed both, tossed the lightsaber to you and tackled him." She frowned. "That's all I really remember."

"Okay." Jayden said. "Excuse me." And with that he left the room. The two women blinked and stared.

"Did he ever explain why the Jedi Council sent them?" Yane asked.

Anakin stood off to one side of Amidala's office, bored half to death. The huge, ornate room had long ago lost his interest. And as far as he could see, all the Queen did was read papers, sign or veto them, and talk with slick, fawning politicians. It impressed him how Amidala went through this process over and over without showing any frustration or weariness and how the handmaidens simply sat there, silent as ever, waiting for an order from the Queen. How they could do this day after day was beyond him. He smothered another yawn.

When his comlink beeped he was more than grateful for the distraction.

"Skywalker," he answered. He watched one of the handmaidens turn her head and eavesdrop on him.

"Anakin, it's Jayden. The handmaiden woke up."

Anakin almost sighed in relief, but he knew how well it would echo. "How's her memory?" he asked.

"Intact. All she's missing is Eirtae's attack on Daten. Lot's of it's rather fuzzy but she's in really good condition."

"Great. I'll inform the Queen. We'll be a while, though. We are dealing with politicians."

"Understood. And Anakin?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't fall asleep. You snore."

"Funny, real funny."

"Darklighter out."

"Skywalker out." Anakin turned and walked back to his spot by the wall. He'd been standing there all day. His only amusement was when the Queen's appointments realized that a Jedi was in the room with them. The switch for ultra-good manners seemed to flip in their brains. Many were nervous or resentful that the Queen would let him stay in the room but they wisely said nothing.

As he stood there, wondering how to politely interrupt the politics, he noticed one of the handmaidens was carefully keeping him in sight. He had to smile slightly at the woman. Rabe, he thought, realized she'd been caught and blushed. Anakin nodded at Amidala present audience and tapped his comlink, hopping she would understand. Rabe inclined her head just a few degrees in response, and then had to choke down a smile when he winked at her.

Twenty minutes later the Queen's meeting was over and the officials finally left, looking at Anakin one last, furtive time. The Queen sighed in relief as the door shut. She tilted her head from side to side before she turned to Anakin.

"Well?" she said, surprising him. There must be a communication device hidden in the desk, he thought.

"Your handmaiden is awake, your Highness," he told her.

"How is she?" she kept her voice calm and even despite the staggering relief she felt.

"She's talking and she seems to remember fine. She's probably just very sore."

Amidala nodded in acknowledgement and turned back to her desk. Anakin resumed his post by the wall and watched quietly.

"Sabe," the Queen called as she opened a drawer. Sabe stood and moved to the Queen's side.

"Yes?" she asked softly.

"Do you have any idea where the schedule went?"

"No, Your Highness. You put it away." Sabe answered, refusing to smile at her bosses expense.

"Help me look, would you? This desk is big enough for me to hide in." Sabe looked at the huge desk for a moment in agreement with the Queen before she glanced at Rabe for help.

As the three women went through the drawers the last handmaiden caught the Jedi's eye. Sache slipped her right hand under her cast and exchanged a disk in her data pad. Anakin looked carefully and thought he saw a comlink earpiece in her left ear. Sache noticed his attention and grinned impishly at him

Anakin shook his head. He should have thought of that.

"Here it is, Your Highness." Rabe said suddenly, holding up the data card.

Amidala looked at her handmaiden. "How did it get down there?"

Rabe shrugged, and like Sabe swallowed a grin. Amidala popped the data card into her computer on the desk, then frowned as she studied the contents.

"Sabe, would you please ask Director Losk and the Governor's aide if we can reschedule?" The woman nodded and walked smoothly out the door.

During the next few minutes while they waited Amidala ignored everyone and read some financial reports. Rabe and Sache were sitting silently behind their Queen. They never moved or made a noise, making Anakin wonder again how they did this day after day.

The four empty chairs around the two handmaidens seemed to emphasize how small they were when compared to the furniture. Anakin could sense how uncomfortable they were without Eirtae, Dane, and Yane nearby.

He could fully understand.

Everyone looked up as Sabe hurried in, her hands full of data cards and her faced flushed. Amidala raised an eyebrow as Sabe stopped in front of her.

"Did you reschedule?" she asked.

"Yes, Your Highness." Sabe answered. The Queen sat back in her chair as Sabe blushed again.

"Is this my reading material for the night?" Amidala prompted.

"Yes, Your Highness," Sabe repeated, a small grin on her face. "Director Losk said to let her know if you wish to go over the information with her."

"And the Governor's aid?" Amidala asked, sorting through the cards.

"He'll be back tomorrow to present the Governor's proposal in more detail." She flushed a darker red as she spoke. Rabe and Sache exchanged amused glances that Amidala apparently didn't notice.

"Thank you, Sabe."

A moment later the Queen stood and walked somewhat stiffly to the door. Her handmaidens rose and assembled in a perfectly choreographed move, with the Jedi slipping in next to the Queen.

During their walk to the hospital wing of the palace the group become aware of the whispers and stares Anakin's presence at the Queen's side caused. Rumors had spread about a Jedi guarding the monarch, but no one had expected such a young Jedi. Handsome too. Anakin's icy blue eyes, sandy hair, and tall, lean build drew a lot of attention from onlookers.

"You seem to be attracting some admirer," the Queen teased, watching the Jedi out of the corner of her eye.

"Just be glad Jayden isn't here, too. Their eyes might pop out of their sockets," Anakin was amused to see a smile under her white face paint.

"I heard you and Jedi Kenobi were going to come to Naboo a few years ago when Naboo hosted the Intergalactic Conference," she said casually. He nodded.

"The plan was changed. I assume you were pleased with the Jedi sent in our place?"

Amidala mentally shook her head, unable to stop smiling. "Yes, I was. They were very effective, as expected from a Jedi. Why were the plans changed?"

"We were needed elsewhere," Anakin said, keeping his voice neutral and calm.

"That's vague."

"It was supposed to be."

"Are you evading the question?" Amidala asked, curious.

"Yes," he answered calmly.

One of the handmaidens snickered. He looked back at her and she withdrew back farther into her hood. The group fell silent for a few halls.

"Where did you meet Jedi Darklighter?" the Queen asked carefully. Anakin looked at her for a second.

"At the Temple before he was apprenticed," he answered finally.

"You've known each other a long time, then."

"We've been friends for several years, yes. He's a good man, if a little annoying at times." Anakin caught a strange flash of emotion from Amidala and glanced over at her. "What is it?" he asked.

She looked at him, a smile on her face. "I was just wondering how he's getting along with Dane and Yane," she said simply. For a few more steps they were silent. Finally, the Queen looked back over at him.

"I never asked. Do you mind if we call you Anakin, or would you prefer a more formal title?" He refused to look at her as he answered.

"Whichever you prefer, Your Highness. Titles are not very important to Jedi," he said evenly. She smiled at him, refraining from laughing at him.

"Names and titles are very important here on Naboo," she informed him, still smiling even though he wasn't looking at her. "I have a question, Anakin," Amidala said after a moment, deciding to see how far she could push it.

Anakin nodded. "Go ahead." The Queen frowned at his empty, bland tone, but otherwise she chose to ignore it.

"Is there a reason both you and Jedi Darklighter haven't been wearing traditional Jedi robes?" After the question Anakin was so silent she wondered if he was going to answer her.

Anakin thought about it, wondering how much detail and information he wanted to give her. Finally he settled on the simpler answer.

"If I hide the lightsaber, no one would recognize me as a Jedi," he said carefully.

Amidala waited, but that was apparently all that he was going to say. "And?" she prompted, slightly impatiently.

"And?" he repeated, finally looking at her. "And," he continued, emphasizing the word, "you are extremely nosy." The handmaidens nearly stopped in their tracks as they stared dumbfounded at the Jedi. Amidala merely laughed, never missing a step.

"You didn't answer me," she pointed out cheerfully, ignoring Anakin's surprise.

"I like them," he said, caving. "Besides, Master Kenobi almost didn't recognize me in them. They make it easier to blend in, to go unnoticed."

The Queen fell silent, obviously considering the answer to see if she wanted to be satisfied or not.

"So while we're on the subject," Anakin said to head her off and distract her, "why do you wear the elaborate outfits all the time?"

"Do you not like them?" she asked innocently.

"That's not the issue. You don't like them, Your Highness, and you know it. They must weigh as much as you do."

"True. But they are a tradition for Nubian leaders, especially for the Queen. My people expect them. They're part of the job. And eventually you get used to them."

At that moment they arrived at the medical wing and Amidala pulled back into full Queen mode. She nodded regally to him as he opened the door for her. She had no idea how relieved he was to end the conversation.

Dane and Yane looked up as the door opened. They both grinned as they saw the Queen enter. One by one the handmaidens filed into the room, all smiling at Dane's relieved expression. They knew how much she hated being in the hospital.

"Dane, how are you doing?" Amidala asked as soon as Rabe shut the door behind her. Dane looked at her, amusement glinting in her eyes.

"Fine, Your Highness," she said, her demure handmaiden voice contrasting with her mischievous expression.

Amidala gave her a sheepish look and walked over to the bed to hug her friend. "Good," she said, visibly relaxing and dropping the 'Queen' voice. "I was worried."

"That's sweet, Padme, but you shouldn't. You'll get wrinkles," Dane said straight-faced. They all laughed.

"What happened to Jedi Darklighter?" Padme asked as Sabe stepped up to get her hug in. Dane blushed, tried to hide it against Sabe's shoulder, and didn't answer. Padme arched an eyebrow at her before turning to Yane for an explanation.

Yane fought back a grin. "Jedi Darklighter and Dane had a difference of opinion and he found it prudent to find something important to do elsewhere," she said.

"Difference of opinion?" Sache asked as she came forward for her hug.

"Yeah," Dane said, grimacing.

"That's not very explicit," Sache commented. Dane glared at her.

"Clarify, Dane," Rabe ordered calmly, trying not to laugh at her friends' expense.

Dane looked around the room at everyone before giving in. "He thought he was so very charming," she said, trying not to let her disdain leak into her voice. "I disagreed with him. He elected to go hide."

For a second the room was quiet, then the handmaidens burst out laughing. They couldn't help it when confronted with Dane's expression. Half defiant, half sheepish despite her best efforts to appear serene; even she couldn't help laughing after a moment. Padme just shook her head, not really surprised.

Anakin could barely hear the laughter from the women in the other room. He certainly couldn't make out their words without using some Jedi enhancement trick, and he wouldn't eavesdrop on them like that. Besides, he didn't need any tricks to know how happy they were to see Dane awake and healthy. Their joy and amusement rang out through the Force clearly, making him smile.

That smile did not disappear as Jayden approached. If anything, it grew. Anakin look at his friend as he sat in the adjoining chair.

"What happened?" Anakin asked. Jayden glanced over, grimacing very slightly.

"We had a small difference of opinion," he said, clearly not interested in discussing it.

"What kind of difference?" There was no way Anakin was going to let Jayden off that easily.

"On proper etiquette," Jayden said, sounding both baffled and disgusted.

"Jayden, Jayden, Jayden. What did she say?"

"Nothing. Forget it." Jayden backed up his words with a glare, neither of which fazed his old friend.

"Do I have to ask them?" Anakin asked, nodding to the door. Jayden stared at him, the gaze losing its heat, before he sighed.

"She said," he answered, leaning back and closing his eyes wearily, "that if I was going to try and manipulate someone by pushing their buttons I should learn to be subtle about it." He may have edited her words a little but there was no reason for Anakin to know that.

"Jayden, Jayden, Jayden," Anakin said in a fatherly tone, causing Jayden to glare at him on principle, "a little humility is good for you." Then he stood up. Jayden didn't move.

"This is only funny because it didn't happen to you," he accused.

Anakin shrugged, not bothering to deny it. "It never will, either."

"What about Recee?" Jayden countered.

"A fluke," Anakin said firmly, not flinching. "Not relevant to this conversation.

Jayden snorted but stood. "Fine, whatever. Let's go."

The knock on the door caught them all by surprise. Padme was slumped in a chair, letting Yane rub her sore neck. Dane was sitting up, after a very careful effort, and she quickly pulled her bare legs up under her long nightshirt. Rabe did a quick one over of everyone before reaching for the door, ensuring everyone was back in character again.

No one said anything as the door opened to admit the Jedi. Both groups in the room were too busy sizing the other up to speak. Then Anakin glanced back at Rabe, who was still holding the door open, waiting for her to seal it before he spoke. She refused to take the hint. She didn't take orders from him anyway.

"Would you please shut the door?" he ordered firmly. Rabe looked past him to Amidala. The Queen nodded fractionally at her, and the door shut.

The quiet click of the door seemed to echo in the room. As the silence stretched from moments to seconds and threatened to go into minutes, Jayden took the opportunity to study the Queen's entourage without their hoods up. Very quickly he did a double take, caught off guard. Anakin was waiting for it, since he'd seen them all before, and he mentally smirked at his friends' expense.

Jayden felt like glaring at him again. When Anakin took his attention off the Queen and looked around even he was a little unsettled by how similar all the women were. All of the handmaidens had long dark hair, the same skin tone, and the same unreadable eyes.

"Are you all related?" Jayden asked mildly. They looked at each other blankly, wondering where the question had come from. Then Dane understood, and couldn't help a quick grin.

"Are you referring to how much we look alike?" she asked, already knowing the answer. Both the Jedi nodded.

"Do you remember the decoy trick?" Queen Amidala asked. At the question Anakin's eyes narrowed just barely.

"You've used that trick, Your Highness. It's common knowledge," he warned. Jayden looked between the two of them, unaware of what had both of their backs up and wincing inwardly at Anakin's tone.

"I know that," the Queen said in a calm, exquisitely measured tone. "When my handmaidens were first selected the decoy security measure was a requirement. That's why my handmaidens look alike."

"Except Eirtae," Sache added, falling silent quickly under Sabe's instructive glance. An uncomfortable and tension-filled silence sprang up again.

Jayden cleared his throat loudly, ending the stare-off between Anakin and the Queen. Everyone in the room was very aware that a line seemed to divide the room, Jedi on one side and Nubian on the other.

"Your Highness," Jayden started, and felt ice enter his bloodstream as the Queen's cold gaze turned to him. "The Jedi Council sent us here to help you. We cannot protect you without your cooperation." He hoped she hadn't noticed the deep breath he'd taken before speaking again. She wasn't going to like what he had to say. "Daten will almost certainly try again. Without your help, he may win." Jayden hated saying this. "And he will not be inclined to leave any survivors. Not after what just happened." Involuntarily the Queen swept her gaze over her handmaidens protectively.

"Why Naboo?" she demanded. "Why here again?" To the surprise of her audience her frustration was leaking into her voice, showing just how upset she was over this.

"We don't know," Anakin said quietly. The Jedi glanced at each other, wondering who should do the explaining.

"Then what the hell are you doing here?" she snapped, catching both men off guard. Even her handmaidens looked surprised at the Queen.

Anakin spoke slowly, wary of tripping Amidala's temper. "The Jedi Council sent us, Your Highness. Our job is to keep you safe until they can find and stop the people behind this."

"But why Naboo?" she asked again. They had to know more, she was sure of it. When they didn't answer immediately she got mad.

"What are you not telling me?" she demanded. They held out another moment, clearly at a loss for the right words.

"It isn't Naboo, Your Highness." Jayden reluctantly said. "He was looking for you. If you were to die now, you couldn't oppose them later."

"Them?" she asked, her voice noticeably different. They'd shaken her.

"The Sith," Anakin told her. "That man that attacked you was here for you. You are fortunate that you have such devoted bodyguards." He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "When you came back to Naboo and drove the Trade Federation out, you showed the whole galaxy what kind of ruler you are. Nothing in the last decade has changed that. The Sith see you as an obstacle to the completion of their plans, and want you out of the way. They need you out of the way."

The Queen sat down abruptly. Sabe then took control, waving the others off as she knelt beside her long time friend. After a few moments of silence the Jedi bowed to the Queen and left her to the care of her handmaidens.

The second the door was shut the women jumped to the Queen. Sabe asked for a glass of water and made Padme drink all of it.

"Better?" she asked. Padme nodded.

"Yeah. You'd think I'd be used to people hating me," she quipped weakly. They didn't laugh.

"Sache, go get Eirtae," Sabe ordered.

"No!" Padme protested. Sache didn't even notice as she slipped out the door. "No, she needs her rest."

"She needs to be here," Rabe contradicted gently.

"She belongs here," Sabe added. Padme gave up and slumped in her seat. The handmaidens looked at each other, debating what to say.

"That went well," Jayden said as the door shut behind them. "We scared her."

"Actually, you scared her," Anakin corrected. He immediately held his hands out as a defense against Jayden's ire. "Hey, don't get mad. You were the one that said he'd kill all of them if he could."

Jayden relented. "One of us had to say it." He sighed silently and rubbed his eyes.

"What are we going to do if she won't cooperate?" Jayden asked after a moment. Anakin shrugged.

"Work around her, somehow," he said calmly. "I doubt we'll have to, though. She'll do anything to protect her people. And those handmaidens are more valuable to her than her own life. She'll let us stay to protect them if nothing else."

"She'd probably feel better if the handmaidens left."

"She might. Unless Daten decides to take them out away from us. They really pissed him off." Anakin pointed out.

Jayden agreed. "They did exceptional work."

The men had been surprised to see one of the women exit the room so soon. They stood to meet her but she ignored them and walked away, pulling her hood up.

When, a few minutes later, the woman returned with another handmaiden in tow they simply watched. Neither woman said a word and they quickly disappeared behind the door.

"Who wasn't in the room?" Jayden asked.

"Padme?" Eirtae said as soon as she shut the door. She'd rarely seen the Queen look defeated in all of the time she'd known her.

"Eirtae, sit down," Padme said. Since the monarch was in the only chair in the room Eirtae sat on the bed next to Dane and Yane.

"What's going on?" Eirtae asked, looking worried. As Padme filled her in Eirtae's eyes got wide. She said nothing, however, until Padme had finished.

"What do we do?" she asked. "Do the Jedi have a plan?"

When Padme didn't answer immediately, seeming lost in thought, Dane spoke up. "They seem to have a plan but they haven't shared it with us. All they said was that they needed the Queen's cooperation," she whispered.

"I could leave Naboo," the Queen said, returning in full force. "The Sith would have no reason to stay."

"Maybe not, but you escaping-" Sabe said slowly, surprised again when the Queen cut her off.

"I am well aware of the risks to my people, Sabe! I don't need to be reminded of them."

"Your Highness," Yane said softly, in her handmaiden voice, "you can't leave Naboo right now."

"What is stopping me?" Amidala said, even more imperiously than before.

"Your term is not up for five more months and you'll be needed for the preparations and transition time. The Queen is needed here." Rabe told her, her eyes daring the Monarch to deny it. For a long moment Amidala looked at her handmaiden. No one moved.

"Tell the Jedi I wish to see them," the Queen told Sache.

Jayden and Anakin looked up as one of the handmaidens exited the room. She didn't close the door behind her, catching their full attention.

"The Queen requests your presence," she said quietly. They followed her.

The first thing they noticed was the tension in the air. Whatever had been said behind the closed door had not gone over well. They stood at respect in front of the Queen and waited for her to speak.

"What is it you wish of me?" Amidala asked. "Keep in mind I won't risk my people." Both men relaxed fractionally. The Queen was accepting their help.

"There is a plan, Your Highness. First, you are accompanied by one of us at all times. Second," here Anakin winced slightly as he spoke, "Panaka's security measures stay in place." The Queen raised an eyebrow but said nothing. The handmaidens looked slightly relieved. "Third, you do exactly what you were doing before the attack."

"You want the Queen to make herself a target?" Sabe asked slowly, keeping her face and voice carefully blank. Anakin nodded.

"We are trying to buy some time," he said. "We are catching up on what the Sith are doing. The Queen is a target we have identified, a target that we can protect."

Jayden spoke up, relieving Anakin. "The Sith made their first move in four thousand years here, twelve years ago. They would not be coming after you without good reason and they aren't going to move on until you're taken care of." Jayden ignored the handmaiden's expressions although he understood how they felt. "We can tie them up here, now."

The Queen nodded slowly. "Interesting. For now, consider your plan approved. I'd suggest a consultation with Panaka in the morning." And with that they were dismissed. The Jedi bowed.

"I'll wait for you outside," Anakin said. Then they left.

"Dane, when will you be fit for duty?" they Queen asked. The young woman shrugged, then winced in reaction to the pain caused by the movement.

"She'll be released tomorrow and can resume duties day after that." Yane said. They chuckled at Dane's face; she hated the hospital and she hated lying around with nothing to do. Amidala did not laugh.

"And Eirtae? When will she be returning?" she asked, still looking at Yane. Yane looked confused. How would she know that?

"The doctor said tomorrow," Eirtae said, frowning at her employer. The Queen was acting odd.

"Very well," Amidala said, waving for the handmaidens to stand, "I'll see you then." And with that she left, collecting Anakin without a word and returning to work. Jayden watched them of confusion before turning to the remaining handmaidens. They weren't much help, however, as they were too loyal to the Queen to betray her. Eirtae shut the door.

"What the hell was that?" Dane asked as soon as the door clicked.

"I have no idea, but if she doesn't loosen up this could get ugly," Eirtae replied. She looked critically at Dane, who got annoyed. She was stiff, tired and bone deep hurting but Dane had her pride and refused to let it show. She didn't want anyone to worry about her.

"Do you need anything?" Eirtae asked her. Dane smiled. She should have known Eirtae wouldn't bring up Dane's condition.

"Could you have tomorrow's outfit sent here in the morning? I'm making a break for it." Eirtae laughed at her friend's desperation but readily agreed to the request.

"How about you? Do you need anything?" Dane asked Eirtae. Eirtae opened her mouth, stopped, frowned, and sobered up. "No, nothing you have," she said quietly. Now Dane frowned.

"Eirtae, is everything okay?"

"Yeah! Don't worry about me. I'm just tired."

"Then go to bed," Dane ordered. "I'll be fine."

"I think I'll do that. Good night."

"Day. It's day, Eirtae."

"Shut up." And with that Eirtae left. Dane curled up carefully in the bed and fell quickly asleep.

As Eirtae exited the hospital room she noticed with some surprise that one of the Jedi, Darklighter she thought, was still standing just outside the door. He looked up from a datapad and smiled briefly at her.

"Is she asleep?" he asked politely. Eirtae raised an eyebrow in the shadow of her hood.

"She will be in just a minute. Now would not be a good time for a visitor, Jedi Darklighter." And with that, enjoying the look of surprise on his face as she stumped him, she left for bed.

Jayden leaned back against the wall slowly. He hadn't realized that was what he'd been planning to do. He wanted to apologize, though he still wasn't sure what he'd done exactly. Reaching out with the Force, he felt through the room to Dane. She was fast asleep, the aches of her body gone from her mind. He could feel her body's fatigue even through her sleep.

Taking himself firmly in hand, he left, throwing himself into his next task.

That night, dreams plagued many of the handmaidens. Eirtae didn't remember the dream once she jerked herself awake, tears streaming down her face, but she couldn't stop shaking for a long time. Dane struggled through several vivid though confused dreams before falling into a deep sleep toward dawn. Sabe and Rabe tossed and turned all night and the rest of the handmaidens managed only a few hours of sleep each.

Even the Jedi had trouble that night. Anakin slept lightly, jerking awake several times during his sleep shift because of disturbing flashes of dreams he couldn't quite catch. Jayden chose to spend his sleep shift in meditation. Several visions appeared to him but they came and went too fast for him to understand or comprehend them. He woke the next morning refreshed physically but troubled.

A/N: rm-like we said, long. REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW OR MY KITTY OF DEATH SHALL SLAY YOU!

(sister): knock it off or they'll run. On second thought, run. She won't get therapy for her aggression issues. Run very, very fast. AHHHHHHH!

rm- MWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!FEAR MY INSANITY!