Theed Palace Plaza, Naboo, 32 BBY

Anakin Skywalker looked at the Queen once again, his gaze filled with more questions than answers. Is the Force lying to me? No, the Force does not lie. That means SHE lied to me.It was the only logical solution. Anakin had felt that the aura of the Queen had been the same one as that of his handmaiden last night during the small ceremony that the Jedi performed for their fallen comrade. Back then, he believed that they were somehow interfering with his abilities. He didn't probe harder, lest they realize that he controlled some measure of the Force. But now, out in the open under the gentle sun of a Naboo spring day, Anakin could feel her once again wearing the Queenly Mask.

He studied her more intently looking for the little signs that would confirm her identity. The way her cheekbones curved when she smiled, the spot that her mole was, now covered by makeup, the gleam in her eyes. It was all there.

He wanted to rush to her, move closer, demand some kind of explanation from her. But he couldn't just yet. Tenacious as he was though he would keep working at it. For now he would watch the Gungans, the planet's natives, as they marched on their beasts alongside the surviving warriors from the battle at the fields. On their formation's head was Boss Nass, their ruler, a gigantic green amphibian that had the bearing of a King. He waved at the crowds confidently, as a people that had until a few days ago looked down upon him and his people. Now they thanked him for their lives and freedom and of course like the true Boss that he was Nass took it all in. Anakin could respect such strength in any being. After a few minutes, the procession came to a stop. Nass came down from his carriage and walked up the stairs of the Palace as if the whole ceremony was meant to be his own crowning. He towered over the Queen before giving her a small respectable bow. Padme handed him over a sphere made of plasma, a sign of peace and cooperation between their two people that were, just days ago mortal enemies. The amphibian grasped it in his hands and raised it triumphantly above his head, shouting the word peace for all to hear.

Peace was the furthest thing from his mind at the moment

Later at the interior of the Palace

He had worked on his approach for a quarter of an hour but he had decided that a more direct approach was necessary. Beating around the bush wouldn't get him anywhere. Anakin had spend the better part of the ball in her orbit, waiting for his opening. A Queen, especially a victorious one was the center of attention and his window of opportunity was small. Finally, as some officials from Coruscant finished with her, she was alone for a few precious moment. Anakin sprung into action as quickly as his feet would carry him, coming in front of her within a few seconds. As he came to a stop, he briefly studied her one last time. She looked resplanted in her regal attire, a simpler white dress than the one she had worn at the ceremony, yet no less cumbersome. The Naboo liked to dress their Queens in layers upon layers of fabric. Padme could only manage the merest of movement. Anakin looked with his other senses as well and they confirmed what he had figured out.

"You lied to me", he told her directly and without reservation, a slight tinge of anger coloring his words.

Sabe's or rather Padme's smile was sweet and vaguely ironic, just as it had been when they first met. If she had been offended or otherwise moved by his words, she didn't show it. "Let us make it up to you then. Walk with us", she said calmly, serenely. It caught Anakin off guard. Her Captain of the Guard moved to protest yet he was silenced with a simple flick of his Queen's wrist.

"Captain Panaka, I think that I am not threatened by the Chancellor's son. We will be fine." The Captain nodded at his Queen's order and let them on their own. "Follow us, Anakin", she said and began making her way towards a side door. What is she up to now?,Anakin thought but followed nonetheless.

They walked alone through the Palace's corridors, as Anakin noticed the blaster marks on the walls and columns around them. He stopped for a moment, touching a black mark on the otherwise pristine marble. She was in real danger,he thought, the feelings of anxiety and worry that he felt the last few days returning to him momentarily, trampling his anger for her deception. A Sith should be above these things,his Master would have told him. Attachment was as hated by his Order as it was by their sworn enemies, one of the several similarities between them. Anakin knew that he was in the wrong but wasn't anxiety and worry just another emotion?

Padme's chuckle broke his thoughts. "Most people fawn over the paintings or the architecture. Not the blaster marks."

Anakin looked behind his shoulder and smiled in return. "If people on this planet spent the same time working on their blaster aim that they spent on building this…", he said pointing to the roof with a turning finger, "perhaps there wouldn't be any marks to marvel at", he concluded.

"In that case, you wouldn't be admiring the Palace", she retorted quickly before waving at him to continue.

"Just so", Anakin replied while one of his hands rubbed his chin, a gesture that made him look like Palpatine a little. He locked step with Padme, still thinking on their conversation. "Where are you taking me?", he asked suddenly realizing that she was essentially leading the way for him. So effortless. Even when she wore the Handmaiden's mask, she could command a room.

"To my Throne Room", Padme graceful blurted out, as if everybody had one of those tucked away somewhere.

"Now you are just showing off"

The heavy twin doors gave way and hid themselves into the wall, allowing them to enter the throne room. Anakin hadn't seen a more luxurious and richly decorated room. Even Plagueis' apartment on Coruscant couldn't compare. Anakin walked into the immense, cavernous hall with its high, vaulted ceiling. The walls and floor of the throne room were adorned with polished marble slabs of differing colors and patterns, ranging from gray to red. Beyond that, the chamber was sparsely furnished, containing nothing else but a work station that probably served as the Padme's desk and a few seats, no doubt reserved for her guests. Behind the desk laid the Throne of Naboo. It was quite modest for a throne but Anakin suspect that it was quite expensive, if the intricate wood carvings were any indication. It was flanked by tall windows, carefully placed in order to bathe the seated monarch in sunlight, a clever ploy to overwhelm any visitor just as it was overwhelming him.

Anakin walked slowly, listening to his footsteps as they echoed off the polished floor. More blaster marks were on the walls here, signifying the extent of the hostilities. He looked upwards at the ceiling, to the painted scenes of Naboo's history looking back at him and then his eyes fell on the throne. Such a cumbersome little thing. All this fighting, all this bloodshed over it and none of it really mattered in the end. All of it was simply a part of the greater Plan.

"Let me guess", Padme cut in. "You are imagining yourself sitting on it, aren't you?"

"What if I was?", Anakin retorted quickly. "You did it. And you are doing it quite well too", he continued as he paused for a little bit more before continuing. "I think you can do anything you set your mind to. You certainly can tell a lie as well as my father, Sabe. Or is it Padme? I am a slow learner", he said with an awkward smirk, trying to be cheeky.

Padme rolled her eyes while tilting her head back. "You're anything but. You are crafty as well. I looked into your Apprentice Assembly records", she said as she approached with careful, calculated steps, a necessity due to all the different layers of her outfit. "You passed the entry exam two years ago, when you were 8. Just like me. You are quiet but thoughtful, finding the most efficient solution to a given problem." She chuckled once again, a sound that Anakin compared to a little songbird, their verbal spat obviously amusing her. "If you play your cards right, you might be the one sitting there in a few years. Especially if you listen to your father. And I could be your Senator, perhaps."

Anakin tried picturing that future. It was a pleasant fantasy but ultimately a futile one. The Kingship of Naboo was too small of a prize for him, as it had been for his Master. Their vision was grander, much larger than anybody around them could or dared to contemplate. Yet, she couldn't be faulted for lack of ambition,he thought. Most Naboo Monarchs retired after their two terms in office, going on to do menial political tasks or write their memoirs. Padme wanted to be a Senator instead, still addicted to the political maneuvers, moves and countermoves of politics. "That would be wonderful but I don't think that Kingship is in the cards for me. I am aiming for the Academy at Presfeld. I always wanted my own ship. I'll even be able to save Queens in need of rescuing with it one day."

"A soldier?", Padme said, half way between a question and a statement. "I wish I could say that the Galaxy had overgrown the need for soldiers but that would be naivety bordering on stupidity on my part, especially after what happened here. Someone has to engage in aggressive negotiations when regular diplomacy fails."

"Indeed", he agreed before returning his gaze to the throne while something unspoken lingered in the air inside the room. "Listen, I...", he began.

"You have nothing to apologize for", Padme snapped, interjecting herself quickly. "I shouldn't have left you in the dark but there were other things at play that didn't allow me to reveal my true identity. That is why I won't apologize, myself"

"So if neither of us has nothing to apologize about", he began again, quickly grasping the centerpoint of her budding argument, "there was no misunderstanding to begin with. An elegant solution, your Majesty. That means we can still be... friends", he concluded, quickly capturing himself before making an unrepairable blunder.

Padme's face lightened up before she nodded in approval. "Precisely. Another peace treaty for my bottom line and you get to save face. And escort a Queen back to her guests."

Anakin's stomach was close to being tied in knots as something that felt like winged little creatures made a mess of things in there. Her handmaiden persona had intrigued him, surely but this smart, ambitious, driven girl was all the more intoxicating. All the more irresistIble.

I've truly met her for the first time today. And by the Force, she's even more perfect that she was before.Anakin tried hard to remember his etiquette lessons as he approached Padme and took her hand, gently leading her out of the Throne Room.

Author's notes: -And thus the veil is lifted

-I've been trying to write Padme as slightly more ambitious and driven than she appeared in the movies, more akin to her Clone Wars portrayal. You don't decided to be a Queen at sweet 14 and fight a war to keep your Throne if you don't have a SLIGHT drive to succeed. Besides, she is a political prodigy from a planet famous for its political prodigies.

-I've been thinking about adding an extra POV character, most probably Padme herself but I don't know if it will widen the story too much. If you are interested in seeing something like that, drop a line below with your ideas and suggestions.

-A heartfelt thank you to the reviewers as always. Seeing you respond is what makes this worth it.

-Till we meet again.