Chapter 7
"Prince Consort, this is an outrage!"
Zekk managed not to wince at the formal title which seemed to echo around the courtyard outside the hall. Everyone in the vicinity would have heard her and she wasn't exactly being shy about her intentions. Mila had been dispatched with the utmost haste to take over the vacant position as Allana's bodyguard - despite the fact she didn't need one - and was raising hell over the fact no one had been able to point her in her appointed charge's direction. In fact, she was madder over the fact she couldn't see the princess, than the fact that everyone seemed to casually assure her that Allana was "around somewhere."
"I demand to see the Princess immediately!"
"Any more of your demands, Mila, and I'm going to toss you into that tree over there." He waved his hand at one of the tall, strong-limbed trees that shaded the buildings outside the main Jedi Academy complex. "Allana is perfectly capable of taking care of herself; she doesn't need you."
Mila looked aghast. "Even the late Queen mother had bodyguards, Prince Consort."
"And they did such a wonderful job that she's still with us." Zekk returned dryly. "I'd rather not put my daughter under your protection. She'd done fine for the last fifteen years without you, she'll do fine for another fifteen."
"Unthinkable." Mila told him curtly. "The Princess will need tutoring in the arts of the Hapan court, including the Royal protocol of keeping a bodyguard. If you had not kept us away and misinformed, I would have been here years sooner."
"You're here decades too soon as far as I'm concerned," he returned, barely civil. He ignored the shocked look on Mila's face. "Allana will likely be scarce until the party this evening. After it's over, I might consider introducing you if you behave."
"Unacceptable and unthinkable."
Zekk crossed his arms over his chest, his stance unforgiving and unyielding. Today was a day he just wasn't going to compromise for Hapan meddlers. "If you keep complaining or demanding, I'll make it tomorrow. Keep it up and I'll make it a week from today. You get me?"
She snapped her mouth shut, her eyes flashing dangerously. "You're making a mistake, Prince Consort."
"A mistake, Mila, would be letting you ruin my daughter's last day of freedom before she's forced to choose between her hereditary obligations or her dreams."
"She can't possibly refuse the crown!"
"She can," Zekk told her quietly. "And if she chooses to do so you and your little mob will pack up quietly and toddle off to Hapes like good little Hapans and never give her another thought. If she chooses to accept for now, she will follow your instructions. But I warn you, Mila. If I get any inkling that she's not happy, that you're forcing her into something that's not her own choice, we're going to have a discussion - you, me and my lightsaber."
"Jedi don't kill in cold blood."
"Who said anything about killing?" His smile was flat and dangerous, as hard as the look in his emerald eyes. "You're here to teach. You can teach just as well with one arm as you can with two."
Her jaw dropped.
He nodded once, seeing she understood him, and turned on his heel to head back inside. He stepped through the door and was stopped by a familiar voice.
"It's not like you to use threats to get what you want, Zekk."
Zekk barely spared the barefooted blonde a glance, his head tilted back to stare at the low ceiling of the hall. "More your style, Tahiri?"
"More Jaina's," she corrected, her tone impish. "I brought the last of the decorations, including some flowers and ribbons, but they're fake so, if you treat them gentle, you can reuse them."
"If Allana chooses to take up her Hapan responsibilities what exactly am I going to do with purple and pink decorations?"
"Mauve and violet," Tahiri returned teasingly. "There are other children who celebrate life days, you know. I'm sure you'd find a use for them."
"Like Valin and Anja's daughter?"
Tahiri chuckled. "Hardly. Jaliva's about as tom boyish as they get."
"And Allana's not?"
"I think Jaliva would shred pink decorations if Anja even considered them an option."
"Mauve, not pink."
She smacked his shoulder. "Whatever. I was more thinking about the kids who're only now starting their Jedi training. Some of those apprentices, a lot of them actually, don't have any family around. The girls might find those decorations heartening."
"Then you can claim them after the party," Zekk told her with a half-smile. "I think Allana's out grown some of them anyway."
Tahiri chuckled. "You mean the bows she objected to last year?"
Zekk flushed with a sheepish smile. "How was I to know she'd think them babyish?"
"I distinctly recall she told you so."
"At the party."
"The year before, Zekk." Tahiri shook her head. "But I guess men can't be expected to remember these things."
"Sheathe the claws, Tahiri, I've enough on my plate without you busting my balls for petty mistakes."
She patted his shoulder sympathetically. "Not to mention Jaina's back and you've never been much use with her around."
Zekk whirled on the younger woman only to have her dance away with a teasing grin. "Good luck with set up, Prince Consort; looks like you'll need it."
Zekk shook his head as she disappeared. Imp. Allana liked Tahiri's sense of humor but she got on his nerves on the best of days. He sighed, turning back to the boxes that had multiplied since his minor confrontation with Mila. Tahiri had brought down the last of the decorations - if he remembered correctly - and Anja was due any time with the newest ones.
He grimaced. Wasn't anyone at the academy male anymore? With a sigh he headed towards the boxes to begin the task of decorating. Maybe, just maybe - if he was lucky - Jaina would wander back his way to keep him company.
The thought brought a smile to his face and a slightly off-key whistle to his lips as he dug into the first of the packing crates.
--
Allana ducked as Ben lunged at her, turning swiftly in place to catch his reverse and then gasped as he caught her and dragged her back to the mat. She squirmed, attempting to break his hold as she'd been shown, but didn't have the leverage. Her world careened again and the breath was forced from her lungs as Ben planted her solidly on the mat, his torso sideways across hers to pin her.
For the fifth time.
She lay where she was, waiting.
The slow clap of their instructor drew her gaze and Mara Jade-Skywalker's green eyes were almost dancing. "I never thought I'd see the day he'd be able to beat you at something, Allana."
Allana blushed, pushing at Ben to try and dislodge him. He didn't budge, didn't even appear to feel the nudge as he remained in place. Pinned, she met Mara's amused gaze. "He's..." She stopped, breathing in and out to regain her normal tone, and shrugged as best she could. "He's determined to get the upper hand somehow."
Mara chuckled. "Size and strength don't mean much when you use your brains. Alright, Ben, let her up."
"Why?" He turned an innocent look on his mother. "I'm quite comfortable."
Allana shoved him as hard as she could, but her position didn't allow for any leverage and he didn't so much as twitch. "I'm not your mattress and your ribs are digging into mine."
"Not much for padding?" His tease was almost malicious.
"Ben!"
He pushed himself back and rolled into a crouch beside her, letting her go free. "I know, I'm horrible."
"You're also incorrigible." Mara told him sternly, shaking her head. Single silver stands glinted in her hair was, though it did nothing to distract from her vibrant presence.
Allana had always found, secretly, that the silver hairs on the Jedi Master's head gave her an even more dangerous air for the simple fact she'd not tried to hide them. Age, while obviously taking its toll on the extremities of Mara's body, had done little to diminish the dangerous presence about her. Like some coiled serpent that would spring at any moment.
The Hapan princess pushed herself up into a sitting position and then to her feet. She stretched, looking back at Mara and the silent ring of younger students who sat watching. Mara quirked an eyebrow at her, as if to inquire if they were going to try again. Allana nodded, and turned back to Ben.
"Alright, Skywalker, I'm not going down so easily this time."
"You said that last time."
Allana tilted her chin stubbornly before dropping into a crouch across from him. He met her gaze with a grin, and she nodded back towards Mara. "Master, if you could please?"
"Take your places."
Allana backed up to her corner of the mat as Ben did the same. Mara stepped down to the middle, looking beyond her son and his friend to the students who continued to watch avoidly. Mara was excellent at presenting by-play information as well as technique and move description and uses; it was one reason her class was so popular. The kids could not only expend some stress in a physical contest, but learn at the same time.
Allana was, thus far, proving a rather adept pupil. Ben hadn't been able to use the same moves on her in the same fashion more than once, twice in a particularly difficult set, but still had the upper hand in experience.
Ben grinned roguishly as he pushed his bangs off his forehead, taking his position opposite Allana. "I'd have thought you'd lost interest in losing by now, Princess."
She arched an eyebrow at him. He rarely called her 'Princess' except when he wanted to bait her. "A lot can be learned in a loss, Skywalker."
"Like how to eat the mat?"
"Keep bragging and I'll make you eat the mat."
"You and what army, Twitch?"
"I don't need an army," she retorted acidly.
Mara stepped off the mat. "Begin."
Allana circled to the side, keeping her eyes on Ben's shoulders as he did the same. She'd learned in one of their first classes years back that you could usually tell by watching the chest of your opponent where his next strike would come from. She could feel Ben's gaze on her chest, a feel that was as disconcerting as it was flattering. She could tell by the way he fought to maintain his focus that he wasn't as unaffected by her appearance as he often pretended to be. Her smile was secretive and a little wicked at the knowledge; one couldn't keep all their defenses up on the sparring mat.
Allana moved in first, testing to see what kind of defense and counter attacks Ben would choose to use. He deflected her grab with the turn of one arm, rolling it in an attempt to grasp hers. She counter moved, rolling with the movement and twisting away at the last second.
Mara's description of the match to the other students was lost to Allana as her focus narrowed to Ben and his movements. The rest of the room seemed to disappear as her whole world became the sparring mat and the man opposite her. She deflected a blow, hopping neatly over the sweep of one leg before ducking inside his reach for a heart beat.
Ben stumbled backwards, but didn't fall, as she knocked him off balance but didn't follow through. His gaze narrowed as he took in her tactic and regained his balance. She likely wouldn't get a second chance, but she now knew his center of balance. Armed with the knowledge of their previous matches, she proceeded to work her way around him, carefully working up and down to put him off balance.
Ben responded admirably, but didn't appear to be aware of her strategy. She leg swept him, feigning the move admirably and connected as he made to hope over her leg. Ben went down and she went down with him, seeking to pin him mid-roll.
Exhilaration sung through her veins. She was going to win! She was -
Her world upended and the breath whooshed from her lungs for the second time that morning as Ben slammed her down on the mat, pinning her in place.
She was defeated.
Again.
She let out a frustrated groan. "Ben, I swear, I'm gonna-"
"Princess!"
Everyone in the room froze, and Ben's gaze locked with Allana's at the shrill cry. He was suddenly ripped from her, his hands forced behind his back by a woman wearing the colors of the bodyguards of Hapes. Allana's heart sank for the briefest of moments as she stepped forward. "Release him!"
The guard stopped trying to subdue Ben and stared at her monarch dumbfounded. "He touched you!"
"Of course he touched me, you idiot; it was a wrestling match."
"Males are not allowed-"
"Spare me!" Allana cut the woman off acidly, disliking her on sight. "I know very well what males are allowed and not allowed to do on Hapes. This isn't Hapes and I said release him; Ben is my friend, I won't have him harmed."
"Punishment must be-"
"I'm going to be your Queen Mother, you spiteful hag. I don't want to have to repeat myself every time I give an order. Release him or suffer my wrath."
The guard's hold eased reluctantly and Ben shrugged her hands away. Mara stepped in, placing a firm, displeased hand on the shoulder of the Hapan bodyguard. The guard whipped around, outraged that someone would dare lay a hand on her, to encounter Mara's stony glare. The guard's eyes flashed. "I am Mila, assigned as the bodyguard to her royal Highness, Allana, the Churme'Da of Hapes! Unhand me at once."
"Allana?"
Allana's fists had clenched at her sides, the only visible sign of her outrage, but Ben could read it in her posture. She made to move towards Mila, and Ben intercepted her, placing his body between her and the bodyguard, his left hand slight cocked to the side to impede her. "Easy, Twitch," he murmured softly, his concerned blue gaze on her face. "She's Hapan; born to be high and mighty. She doesn't know you can take care of yourself."
Allana's gaze flashed to his and he could see the pain she was hiding beneath her anger. The pain of having her freedoms ripped away unceremoniously; of having the reminder slapped in her face in such a way there'd been no avoiding it. He reached out, sliding his hand along her waist to her hip, and smiled when she automatically caught it with her hand. Their fingers twined together, hers squeezing his with such force they went numb.
Mila shrieked in outrage and made to move forward, but Mara, her grip firm, squeezed the bodyguard's shoulder, driving the other woman to her knees. Mila's cry turned from anger to pain in a split second as she attempted to free herself from Mara.
Neither Ben nor Allana noticed. Allana's gaze never left Ben's and he quirked his lips, nodding towards the door. She darted a look over his shoulder to where Mara held the guard immobile with one hand; her green eyes flashed dangerously as she explained in succinct words that the guard was not to lay a hand on her son again or she'd answer to her.
Content the guard was occupied and well ensnared, Allana turned, keeping Ben's hand in hers, and tugged him along as she darted from the classroom. She dropped it once outside and took off at a run. She heard Ben shout her name but didn't wait. The urge to be as far away from the self-proclaimed bodyguard and all she represented was so overpowering that Allana simply ducked her head and dashed away.
So much for a carefree life day.
