Old Property 10

Luke was equally relieved and reluctuant to step onto the docks where Sola Naberrie (Janren) and Ryoo Naberrie (Ruchard) waited.

'MiLord, Knight Skywalker, welcome to Varykino. We hope that your stay at the Resort was comfortable?'

'It was.'

'And the ride over the Lake?'

Luke smiled. 'A different experience. Its very peaceful here. Naturally undisturbed.'

'Indeed. We've always found time in here relaxing,' Sola concurred.

'Pooja went to meet the Millenium Falcon, and repast is almost ready.' Ryoo rejoined. 'Shall we go inside?'

oooooooooooooo

Luke was shown to a large sitting room with several lounges, a closet and a full en suite refresher.

Shortly after he emerged from the facilities, Han and Leia were ushered in by Pooja, who departed with a quick bow.

'Hey Kid,' Han greeted, but he strode directly to the fresher, and the Skywalkers were left alone.

'Hey Leia,'

She nodded in acknowledgement. 'Luke.'

'I'm glad you came.'

'Me too,' she replied softly. 'I talked to Pooja on the way from the Meadow.'

She did not apologize to him, but Luke could feel her regret. He hugged her, and she responded in kind.

'The Solo twins ready for lunch yet, Your Highness?' Han interjected when he re-joined them.

'Actually, we're nearly starving.'

'Better hurry, then. They let us all know their displeasure if that goes too far...'

Leia scowled at Han, but Luke laughed.

'You know its true, Leia. They always make you sick if you don't eat when they want, or if you have something they don't like.'

There was a soft knock on the sitting room door, and a young woman looked in.

'Repast is served.'

ooooooooooooooo

'Welcome again to our home,' Sola greeted from beside the Buffet in the dining room. 'Goddess be praised, She has answered the secret supplications of our hearts in our favour. May She bless our Repast, open our hearts and guide our speech this day,'

The Naboo and Jedi bowed, and Han followed suit.

Fortunately for Varykino's guests, pallies, grapes, shurra, breads and meats were to the Solo twin's liking. Everyone served themselves then sat around the large formal dinner table.

'We were shocked when we first heard of the Patronage,' Ryoo remarked carefully around the shaak in the room some minutes after they started. 'Then his identity came out.'

'Thank the Goddess it was Justice Eirtae leading the bench at Tribunal. She closed the case, or we might be having this conversation surrounded by holo reporters in Theed,' Pooja chimed in.

'I wonder why the Justice made that decision.' Leia mused.

'We won't ever find out for certain.' Pooja said.

'Why not?' Luke asked.

'Eirtae was a Royal Handmaiden. They trained together and ran for office at the same time. She served as an Next Advisor when Padme was Queen.' Pooja seemed to think that was all the explanation needed.

'That sounds as if she knew Queen Amidala well,' Luke continued with a note of hope.

'She'll never respond to questions about Padme.' Sola's tone held resigned bitterness. 'Handmaidens and Menservants to the Throne swear lifelong loyalty to the Monarchy of Naboo. They take each other's state and personal secrets to the grave as a matter of duty. I can share what I know with you if you wish.'

Luke and Leia agreed, so she continued.

'The Trade Federation invaded Naboo during Padme's first term as Queen. Escorted by the Jedi, my sister took a delegation to seek the Senate's intervention on Coruscant, but their ship was damaged running the Federation blockade, and they ended up stranded on Tatooine.
They met Anakin there. He helped them get the ship repaired. The Jedi realised his force ability and took him to join their Order. He was with them for the rest of the mission, including the return trip to Naboo.
As Next Advisor, Eirtae was probably part of the delegation. She was aware of their first meeting, Anakin's role in the mission and perhaps more.
Either she knew enough to suspect the outcome of the case, or her Handmaiden's Oath obligated her to protect my Sister's privacy and what was left of Anakin's legacy.'

'What legacy?' Leia asked, barely kept scepticism in her voice.

'Anakin Skywalker was instrumental in the defeat of the Federation, and was hailed as a Hero of that War. He also protected our Senator and defended our planet several times during the Clone Wars. He saved more lives here as Anakin than he took as Vader, though one does not absolve the other.'

'Wasn't Father a juvenile the first time he came to Naboo? How was he involved?'

'The details were classified, but according Padme Anakin was very precocious,' Sola explained. 'He won the Boonta Eve Classic to get them off Tatooine.'

Luke and Han felt their eyes widen and their mouths cease movement in shock as Sola continued.

'Pod races were so violent they were illegal in most of the Old Republic. If he won one, he was well acquainted with battle before he came to Naboo.'

'So that's why he got Residence and Emancipated Minor Status here? A reward for services rendered?' Luke queried.

'Actually no. It was an old, we thought outdated, policy. The Monarchy of Naboo offered refuge to newly freed or escaped slaves who entered the Chomell sector when the Republican slavery abolition process was formalized. The law was still on the books, and applied to his case.' Sola waited for the information to be processed.

'We confirmed the slavery a few years ago from our grandmother Shmi's journal, and one of his childhood friends on Tatooine.' Leia said.

Sola nodded and continued. 'He had the opportunity to train as a Jedi available to him, and he took that instead of staying here. He did not return to Naboo for ten years.'

'Why did he return?' Luke asked.

'Padme was in danger. After two assassination attempts on Coruscant, the Jedi assigned Anakin as her personal body guard. That's when the rest of the family met him. His feelings for her were obvious, but Padme insisted nothing could happen between them.'

'Then why did Pooja think of him as Uncle?' Leia asked.

Pooja blushed and Ryoo answered.

'Unlike the rest of the family, who suspected something between him and Aunt Padme, Pooj and I knew the truth.'

'What? How?' Sola exclaimed.

'They told us,' Pooja responded matter-of-factly, though some blush remained.

'Why would they confide in preteen children, and not the rest of the family?' Sola's voice broke, hurt at her sister's lack of trust.

'Oh, Mom, it wasn't a choice to confide, it was a choice to not lie.' Ryoo consoled.

'We walked in on them together, maybe a year before Aunt Padme died, and she didn't want to set a bad example.' Pooja explained.

'I can't imagine anyone catching my Father unawares, even in a former life.' Luke commented, remembering his personal encounters with the man over the years.

Pooja shrugged. 'Their surprise seemed genuine. They were kissing in an alcove in the gardens. I think he forgot we were nearby. He was actually playing with us by the boundary hedge before she called. We were supposed to go inside to for lunch, but I snuck around the garden instead...'

Pooja seemd lost in the memory so Ryoo continued.

'Aunt Padme had us sit down with them. She explained that they loved each other, and they were married, but because of their Republican duties it had to remain a secret until after the war.'