Hello everybody! I had a wonderful trip, and got to spend some quality time with my grandmother. It's taken me longer to write this chapter than I had intended, but I got impatient and wanted to make this chapter longer than previous ones instead of just doing section after section. I hope you all will enjoy this latest chapter.
Padmé learns more about history from Liné, everybody finds out about Vatié's death, cat comes out of the bag, and Great-Aunt Padme Lydonia secures an ally and friend but also an enemy.
Chapter 16
The rain poured hard against the small cottage, and Padmé worried another leak would come down.
She and Sabé had been delayed from returning to the Lasara Home when the storm grew heavier, and leaks started to come down Liné's ceiling. The older woman had grabbed buckets to catch the water while the younger women helped to mop up the mess. They managed to clean up the mess, and there didn't seem to be any more leaks. Liné had gone back to check and see if her gondola was covered and tied up to the cottage deck leaving Padmé and Sabé to sit down in the little parlor to think about what Liné had revealed to them just before the storm hit them.
Padmé pulled out from her pocket what used to be her great-aunt's comb, but was now a melted clump of gold. The heat and force of the bomb explosion had caused the comb's teeth to melt together and bend, the red jewel Padmé had seen in the holos was gone, but she could still make out the wings, the head, and maybe even the arms of the pixie even if the rest of the details had been melted away. When she was a child, Padmé could remember walking in to see her grandmamma polishing it, and trying so hard to get the hard to reach places. Padmé realized now that the dirt in the cracks was ash and residue, but young Padmé had wanted to help her frustrated grandmamma. She had thought her smaller fingers would have better luck, but it had only made Padmé just as frustrated. Her grandmamma had smiled and thanked her for trying before taking it back and continuing her polishing. She had said to Padmé, "It may never be as it was before, but with a lot of love and patience, it can still carry its own beauty." Padme had held on to those words. Now, the gold comb shined and gleamed, not a hint of dirt on it.
For forty-seven years this melted comb had no use, but had been loved and cared for by its former owner's sister. It made Padmé sad for her grandmamma to carry such a heartaching pain. She realized now that there was probably no chance of unlocking her great-aunt's diary with the state of its key. So why did Palpatine want it? Did he want it?
Her musings were interrupted by Sabé's shout. "Kriff!"
Her former handmaiden and best friend went to the corner of the parlor where another leak was dripping. She grabbed the holo pictures hanging on the wall before they got wet and ruined. Padmé hurried over to help rescue them, and Sabé went to grab a mop and bucket. As Sabé cleaned the mess and Padme arranged the holos in a dry spot, Liné returned to the parlor.
"Another one?" She came over to help Sabé with the mess.
"This makes it the fifth leak. It's a miracle the roof hasn't collapsed. Honestly Aunt Liné, why didn't you call Mama, or me, or one of the guys? We would have helped you check the roof before winter came."
As Liné explained how she didn't want to be a bother to anybody, Padmé looked through the holo pictures she saved. She recognized the holo of Sabé with her parents, sister, and Aunt Liné during the Festival of Light that must have been taken years ago. She looked at the older holos and saw a young Liné who looked so similar to Sabé. She was dressed in handmaiden robes, and stood next to a woman Padmé recognized as Celestine without the ceremonial makeup. The two women reminded Padmé so much of her and Sabé that she knew their friendship had probably been like Liné and Celestine's. Another holo of Liné had her standing in the arms of a handsome man that looked like Eirtaé's brother Endre that Padmé knew had to be her fiance Shon. The love and tenderness in their eyes reminded Padmé of the love between her and Anakin that her heart felt empathy for the pain of loss she knew Liné had to be carrying.
"Careful with those!" Liné's shout made Padmé jump.
The woman came over and took those two holos from Padmé's hands and inspected them both for damages. When she confirmed they were both unharmed, she held them close to her chest and sighed with relief. She held the two holos as if they were her lifeline and then left the room with them.
Padmé looked at Sabé and began to apologize. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean-"
Sabé shook her head. "It's alright. Aunt Liné gets upset with anyone who touches her holos of Celestine and Shon. One time when we were playing, one of my cousins accidentally knocked the holo of Shon down, and nearly broke it. My aunt got so upset my mother had to take her out of the room because her yelling made my cousin cry. You did nothing wrong. We just need to give her a few minutes to settle down."
Reassured, Padme looked back at the holos, but didn't pick them up this time. She recognized one. "Is this the one of your family after the Blockade?"
She recognized many members of the Olnick family standing in front of the damaged main home of the Olnicks. Many of them held Naboo standard blasters of ELG-3A and S-5, and E-5 blasters that had to be stolen off of battle droids during the occupation. The entire family stood proudly in front of their damaged but still standing home, and in the middle of them was Liné holding a stolen E-5 and an old hunting rifle.
Sabé came over to Padmé and smiled down at the holo with sadness and pride. "When you let us go to our homes to check on our families after the occupation, I came to my family home to find it in the state it is in the holo. I was terrified that the Trade Federation had killed my entire family, and then lo and behold when I opened the front door, my mother was there to embrace me, and my entire family had not only survived, but had resisted the Trade Federation during the whole occupation."
"I remember," Padmé said. "Journalists kept hounding the palace for a long time, wanting to know the inside scoop as to how your family had been able to survive and resist the droids."
It was indeed an incredible story. Padmé could still remember when she first heard about it from Sabé. At the start of the Trade Federation's occupation, droids had begun to round up Naboo citizens and escort them to prison camps. The Olnick family, instead of following the droids, fired upon and destroyed their droid escort. The family traded in all kinds of marketing including weapons. The family held back droid patrols that tried to invade their home. They hid their younger children in the wine cellar and the rest of them were positioned to pick off the droids. When destroyer droids came, they used hand grenades they'd stolen off of fallen droids to get rid of them as they fired upon the home. When the Trade Federation sent two tanks that's when things became more deadly. They fired upon the Olnicks' home, causing one of the wings to collapse and nearly crushing a few family members. They got lucky when one of Sabé's cousins managed to sneak off to one of their partners and take a few ion grenades, and return to their home to destroy the tanks before they brought the rest of the house down on top of them. By then Amidala had returned and with the help of her pilots, the Gungans, and young Anakin Skywalker, defeated the Trade Federation and destroyed their droid army. The entire Olnick family had managed to survive and remain unconquered.
Sabé picked up the holo of her family who were as battered as their home but undefeated. "Indeed. I was so happy and proud that my family had rallied together and resisted the Trade Federation in their own way and survived. It was actually my Aunt Liné who led them against the droids, but she wasn't comfortable with interviews from strangers."
"I did promise your cousin Shudu he could use our story in one of his movies when he grew up," Liné said as she returned to the room, more composed. "However, I almost gave your friend Vatié Bibble that honor after I read her articles on the Senate corruption over a year ago."
Sabé handed her the holo, and Padmé saw nostalgia in the old woman's expression. "That rifle I'm holding was given to me by my father Thetch Olnick when I was ten years old. My father had been in charge of protecting merchant ships from pirates. On one mission, they came out of hyperspace to a large ship run by one of those criminal gangs in the outer rim. The conflict was deadly, but my father managed to capture their attackers and was rewarded the bounty they found on the ship. My father used that to build our home in this holo from the ground up. He planted our vineyards, and began our company himself. His sweat, and blood, and soul went into building everything we have today. He taught us all to stand our ground and protect what we love no matter the odds."
There was a fierceness in her that made Padmé believe this woman, the same age as her grandmamma, had led her family against an entire droid army. "Now I know where Sabé gets it from."
The old woman laughed and wrapped an arm around Sabé, and Padmé was surprised to see her old friend blush. "My great-niece reminds me so much of myself when I was young. It fills me with as much sadness as pride, but she is much stronger than I was."
Sabé reached out and hugged, and Padmé could see the fierce love she had for her great-aunt. It reminded her of her grandmamma that she had to turn away and wipe a few tears away.
Liné released Sabé and turned to Padmé. "Yes, there's nothing more important than family."
She motioned for them all to sit down in the parlor chairs. "You remind me of your aunt and namesake, Padme Lydonia. When you see an injustice, when you sense an injustice, you stand up against the odds and do your best to put that situation to right. You remind me of your grandfather as well, Luke Naberrie."
"I do?" Padme was surprised by this. As a child her father would tell her stories about her grandfather, and when she was still alive, her Grandma Winama would talk about how wise and compassionate her husband had been. The stories of her grandfather had helped Padme in deciding what to name her son while she was pregnant, but it was more than that. In Naboo folklore, Luke meant light, and to the Naboo light represented hope.
Liné nodded. "Indeed. I've been watching your career for years. The way you command the attention of everyone, firm, and yet passionate reminds me of Councilor Naberrie when he would talk during council meetings."
Padme didn't know what to say. A part of her felt pride, but another part of her mourned. She never got to know either of her grandfathers. Her great-grandfather Ruger Lydonia died when she was six years old, and she hardly knew him because he could barely function on his own without her grandmamma there to help.
Liné nodded as if she sensed Padme's thoughts. "Your grandfather and great-aunt were both good people. As was Celestine, and as was all those people who died in that bombing."
"Do you… do you have any idea who was behind the attack?" Padme asked. She felt a sense to uncover the truth not just for her own family, but for the families of those killed in the bombing.
Liné shook her head sadly. "It's hard to say who was behind it. As I'm sure you are aware of your history, near the end of Celestine's terms, the Trade Federation was trying to set up trade negotiations for our plasma. There were those like Tapalo and Veruna's allies who supported the deal, then there were those like Costil and Cosinga Palpatine who were against it. The prices they were asking us for our plasma were insane. The amount of credits they were offering us, an average miner would have to work sixteen hours every standard day for a week, and they would barely make enough to feed and house a family of four, let alone other possible costs such as clothing, medical costs, speeder expenses, or if you're providing for more family members. Celestine and many of us who were with her were against the deal, but we also knew that to refuse the Trade Federation would not be taken lightly."
Padmé understood that better than anybody. King Veruna had been forced to abdicate because Padmé, who had been Princess of Theed at the time, and all her allies had discovered the level of corruption he and his cronies were involved in thanks to the Trade Federation's influence. Padmé had been determined to clean up the corruption that had been destroying her planet for decades. However, when she had refused to pay the high taxes the Trade Federation had been raising, Nute Gunray had ordered a blockade around them to starve them out. Padmé and all of the Naboo had learned the hard way not to let bullies hold them down under their boots.
Liné nodded as if again she could sense Padmé's thoughts. "Yes, with Celestine's terms coming to an end, we knew we needed someone who cared for the well-being of our people, but was also strong enough to protect and defend us from invaders. Tapalo would gladly hand us to the Trade Federation. Costil would say no, but would then shrivel and give up at the first sign of conflict. We needed someone else. In fact, on the day of the bombing, during the council meeting, your grandfather had been nominated as a candidate, and the Queen had been ready to endorse him when the bomb went off."
That was news to Padmé. She knew her grandfather had been a good and popular leader, but she hadn't known about that.
Liné continued. "There's a good chance the Trade Federation was behind the bombing, but it had to have been an inside job to place the bomb in the Queen's throne. I used to think Tapalo might have been involved, but his brother was the Governor of Naboo and a staunch supporter of Celestine, and also one of the victims who died in the bombing. Rescue teams back then had been unable to remove him from the scene without the high risk of instant death."
In Naboo culture, family was considered sacred. Padmé never knew Bon Tapalo personally, he stepped down from King long before her time, but she remembered hearing in her studies that he always carried a pocket chrono with the image of his brother inside, and he left all his possessions to his eldest nephew upon his death. He didn't sound like the kind of man to endanger his brother even for political gain, but Padmé had learned in the Senate how the promise of power made beings do despicable things.
"What about Veruna?"
Liné shrugged. "Possible. He could be as spineless as Costil, and he was a disgusting pervert, but I was never entirely sure he would resort to murder. Then again, he seemed different since the murder of his mother."
Padmé suppressed a shudder, remembering all too well when as a thirteen-year-old princess, how Veruna would look at her as if he was trying to imagine her without her clothes. Eirtaé once admitted that he tried to make a pass on her in the royal gardens before he resigned.
"Would the killer still be alive today?" she asked.
Liné shook her head and looked thoughtful. "I doubt it. Over the years I've noticed many of the potential suspects had a humiliating or gruesome end."
"What?" Padmé asked, her heart feeling as if it was going at lightspeed.
"Just a couple of months after the bombing, Cosinga Palpatine, his family, and bodyguards all died in a accident, except his eldest son, Sheev who hadn't been on the yacht when it crashed."
That wouldn't have seemed suspicious to Padmé a year ago, but now she couldn't help but find it convenient.
"Shortly after their deaths, Palpatine's mistress and Costil's sister Regina was found out to be pregnant with his child. She was forced to leave Theed and disappeared. Two years later, her body was found in the waters of the Lake Country. Everybody assumed suicide."
It was a sad story. Padmé knew that in her grandparents' generation that to be pregnant, unmarried, and no father to show was to be severely looked down upon. By Padmé's generation people were more lenient now, and things had changed since then. Still, her heart went out to the poor woman.
"After he lost the election, Costil was found in his apartment barely a year later. He had gambled away his family's wealth, leaving them all destitute. It turned out he had racked up big debts with some dangerous people who lost patience with him.
"Senator Jessé Maddox died in her Coruscant apartment in a murder-suicide. Her killer it turned out had been her deformed daughter she had given up when she had been studying in the Legislative Youth Program as a teenager. The poor girl had apparently discovered her heritage and had gone to Coruscant to confront her mother. Maddox must have angered her that she snapped and attacked her before stabbing her to death with a broken vase and then slit her own wrists."
Padme had heard that Senator Maddox had not been looked upon kindly, but her death had shocked the Chommell Sector.
"After Tapalo stepped down as king, he was ill for months. The doctors believed it had been some new kind of lung disease that caused him to cough up blood until one day it became too much for him; he drowned in it in his sleep one night."
"And Veruna had not even settled back into his family estate upon his resignation when he and his bodyguard were both found dead the next morning," Sabé added in. It had been Veruna's death that had prompted Panaka into taking more drastic measures in protecting Padmé when she was elected Queen.
Liné nodded again. "I can go on and on about who was suspected and how they died. Point being, I'm not sure we'll ever truly discover who was behind the bombing and find clarity for the families of the victims."
This saddened Padmé. "So nothing can be done? The investigation back then couldn't find anything?"
Liné shook her head. "No, there was an investigation that lasted for several months, but they didn't tell us anything. I always suspected that the investigators were covering for someone."
Corruption again. Padmé wished that she could be surprised, but she wasn't. She was surprised however when Liné leaned forward and took her hands in her own, and looked at her with her deep brown eyes.
"My generation was from a different time. It wasn't just the deaths of those in the bombing that made the story tragic, but it was also losing the cause we had fought for, and Naboo paid for that loss for thirty-three years." She squeezed Padmé's hands. "Then I saw you, Princess Amidala of Theed, who took down Veruna and was willing to face the Trade Federation next, and I knew that Celestine's true successor would accomplish what we could not."
Padmé was struggling not to choke, overwhelmed as she was by Liné's words.
A beeping penetrated the air. It was Sabé's comm. She left the room to answer it in private.
Liné turned back to Padmé. "Your great-aunt became a dear friend of mine and Celestine's, and you honored the wishes of my dear mistress without even realizing it. If you need anything, I beg of you, do not hesitate to ask."
Padmé could not refuse to promise her.
Sabé ran back into the room, and Padmé was alarmed by her expression.
"We have to hurry back. Eirtaé commed me. She couldn't tell me what was wrong over the comm. Only that we had to come back immediately."
000{{*}}000
Anakin grimaced as he, Ferus, Typho, and Eirtaé looked upon the body of Vatié Bibble.
They had to move her. It was becoming darker outside, the rain kept pouring, and it was wrong to leave her out like this.
"We're not going to be able to find out what happened to her in these conditions," Typho spoke quietly through the rain.
Anakin could sense the grief inside him as he struggled to contain his own as well as his guilt. He knew Typho was right. With the rain continuing to pour, any traces of tracks or evidence would be washed away.
"Can we please take her inside?" Eirtaé begged, her voice thick with emotion.
They carefully lifted Vatié into an old rug, and brought her inside.
The other handmaidens had hidden themselves in the parlor, their grief loud in the Force.
Eirtaé directed them down to the cellars where they could store Vatié's body for now. They placed her on top of a table and covered her with a sheet Eirtaé provided. Before they did cover her, however, Anakin and Ferus insisted on looking her over now that they had better light.
Her eyes were still open, so Anakin carefully closed them in respect. The rain had washed a good bit of the mud off of her, but there were still traces of it on her, especially in the front.
"There's bruises on her knuckles," Ferus observed.
Anakin nodded. "There's a bruise on the right side of her head as well."
"So she fought against her attacker until he stunned her," Ferus guessed.
"When she was a handmaiden, Vatie's position had been that of a guard. She wouldn't have gone down without a fight," Eirtaé informed them.
"Can you tell what caused her death?" Typho asked.
There wasn't any visible mark that showed that she had been stabbed or shot. As they carefully looked her over, Anakin couldn't find anything until Ferus pointed out something. "Here."
Anakin looked closer and found traces of mud inside Vatié's nostrils and inside her mouth.
"My theory is that her assailant attacked, and as they were fighting, Vatié tried to escape but was stunned by a blaster. She landed in a mud puddle face down and slowly suffocated to death," Ferus said.
"Can you be certain?" Eirtaé asked.
Ferus shook his head. "It's a guess. I can't find anything to tell us how she truly died without an autopsy."
"So he just stunned her and left her to die?" Typho asked, the anger evident in his voice. Anakin couldn't blame as he himself felt the same anger towards the coward who did this.
Anakin lifted the sheet and covered Vatié's body, but not before looking at her one last time in grief and guilt.
"Where's her bag?" Eirtaé suddenly asked. The three men looked at her in surprise. "Vatié never went anywhere without her bag carrying her computer."
"The attacker must have stolen it," Ferus said.
Eirtaé shook her head. "No. I knew Vatié. Her computer contained all types of sensitive information on it. She wouldn't have risked anyone getting a hold of it, and destroying it."
"Could she have hidden it somewhere?" Anakin asked, feeling a hesitant spark of hope.
"She would have tried. A thief wouldn't have jumped her in my gardens. They had to have chased her there, and she would have found somewhere to hide and dump her bag."
It was a slim hope, but a chance all the same.
They left the cellar and headed over to the parlor. The whole atmosphere was filled with grief and tears. Yané had managed to calm Saché from the state they had found her in with help from Rabé. Dormé was sobbing uncontrollably as Moteé held her with Ellé sitting beside them, staring at her hands laying in her lap.
Anakin tried to imagine any of them attacking and killing Vatié, and he could not. Their grief was so tangible it threatened to consume Anakin. He had only known Vatié for just a few days, and yet he grieved for the loss of such an intelligent and loyal woman who had served his wife. He also felt guilty for the amount of pressure he put on her in finding the traitor while also keeping it a secret from everyone including his wife. Finally he felt anger towards the unknown traitor. They had been telling Panaka their whereabouts, endangering his and Padmé's lives, and now they had killed Vatié, a sister in arms and a friend of his wife's. For that Anakin would make the traitor pay when he found them. His anger allowed him to feel the Dark Side creeping inside him, it's seductive voice whispering promises just as it did six months ago. Ferus nudged him, and Anakin could see suspicion and concern in his eyes, and forced himself to calm down and shove the Dark Side out before it controlled him like it did in the past.
Saché spoke, her voice still choking from her tears, and near panic attack. "Vatié was… to be married next month...around the New Year."
"How do we tell her family?" Yané asked, her brown eyes on Anakin.
That was a question Anakin had been pondering ever since they found her body. Her father was the Governor of Naboo, if word got out about this things would escalate even more on the planet. Divo would be back, and this time he would arrest everyone on account of suspicion. Yet Anakin knew that they couldn't hide Vatié's body in the cellar forever. She needed to be returned to her family who would make sure she was given a proper burial. They couldn't keep her death a secret for long either. Eventually her family, especially her fiance would wonder where she was and report her missing.
"For now, we keep this to ourselves. Her body is safe in the cellar for the time being. If word gets out about this, it's over for everybody," Ferus answered.
"People will be wondering what happened to her," Rabé pointed out.
"We can call her workplace, and tell them she's feeling too unwell to come in. That'll work for a few days," Moteé suggested.
"Her family will be a different matter however," Eirtaé added in. "She lives with her fiance, and her family would never accept a comm message explaining where she was unless she told them herself."
That did present a problem. Anakin tried to remember everything he knew about Governor Bibble. He had been Padmé's closest advisor while she had been Queen. He had stayed behind during the Blockade to try and help Naboo, but had been taken captive and used to try and lure the Queen back into Trade Federation hands. He had remained loyal to Padmé throughout the years, but was he still loyal?
He asked them, and Saché answered with certainty. "He has absolutely no love for the Empire. He was frightened of the dangers posed on Vatié for her articles against the Empire, but he supported her. He would keep quiet about her death if he knew what was at stake."
"Her fiance will be a different matter though," Eirtaé reminded her.
"If I ask Sio, he'll talk to Dal and keep him from doing anything rash for a little while."
Anakin nodded at Saché in gratitude.
"Why would anyone kill Vatié?" Ellé spoke up.
They were all quiet. Anakin wondered about telling them about the traitor, but before he could decide, Dormé, who had at last calmed down, spoke. "The Empire could have sent an assassin after her. She was a freelance investigative reporter who couldn't be bought or frightened into submission. Why wouldn't they see her as a threat?"
"She was killed right in Eirtaé's gardens. That could mean we're compromised!" Yané realized with alarm.
The sound of a door opening and closing caused everyone to jump and reach for their weapons. Anakin recognized Padmé and Sabé's signatures in the Force and warned them down.
Padmé and Sabé came in, drenched from head to toe, and were startled by everyone pointing their blasters at them. Upon seeing them, they all quickly put their blaster away.
"What's happened?" Padmé demanded.
Anakin hesitated. He knew Padmé loved and cared for all her handmaidens like they were her family, and he remembered how she would grieve every time she lost one of them. Now, he would have to tell her she lost another one, and explain his part in it.
"Vatié's dead," Typho told her before Anakin could.
Padmé and Sabé turned pale, and Anakin was struck by how alike they looked.
"No," Padmé choked in a whisper.
Anakin pulled her into his arms and allowed her to sob into his chest while keeping an eye on Sabé. the former shadow of Queen Amidala was shaking, her hands grasping the wet tendrils of her hair.
"No, no, no, no. It can't be. Not another one."
Rabé came over and tried to comfort her, but she pulled away, shaking her head, and Anakin thought he saw tears escaping her eyes before she turned away.
Padmé lifted her head off of his chest and looked at him with her red-rimmed eyes. "How did it happen?"
Anakin, Ferus, and everybody explained how Saché had stumbled upon her body in the gardens, and how her screams had alerted Anakin, Ellé, Moteé, and Ferus to her. After they had brought her inside, Eirtaé and Typho arrived, followed by Yané then Rabé and Dormé. They had taken her body and stored it in the cellar where they discovered her cause of death, and then their decision on whether and how to tell the news to the Bibble family.
"I agree, Sio should be told. This news will devastate him, but it's better than letting him and his family wonder what had happened. Which is why we need to find out who did it," Padmé said.
Anakin could see that determined glint in her eyes, and knew that he had to tell her about the traitor. "Padmé, I need to talk to you. In private."
Padmé was taken aback by his request but agreed. They left everybody in the parlor and went into the library. Anakin felt like he was back on Shako, balancing on the pipe, trapped by certain death. He was going to tell Padmé that there was a traitor in their group, and that he and Ferus had known all this time.
"Anakin, what's going on?" Padmé was not Force-sensitive, but she could feel the apprehension in Anakin to know that there was more to it than Vatié's death.
"There's a traitor in our midst."
Anakin's words made Padmé's heart stop. "What?"
Anakin explained how he and Ferus became suspicious when Divo had found them at Varykino so quickly. Padmé protested that they could have been waiting for them in a trap. Anakin disagreed. Although he believed Inspector Divo was a complete dunderhead, he didn't believe the man would wait so long to spring his trap in case his prey tried to escape. He went on to how Panaka had been patrolling the market sector so close to Theed Care Center where they were at, the fight with Malorum actually admitting that there was a traitor, and Jar Jar telling him that Panaka had been informed by a mysterious tip.
"So you've known since Varykino, and didn't tell me?" the hurt in Padmé's eyes stabbed at Anakin's heart.
"I only had suspicions, it wasn't until the fight with Malorum that they were confirmed. I didn't want to cause you unnecessary worry."
"Unnecessary-" Padmé nearly shouted before she stopped herself, and continued more quietly. "'Unnecessary worry?' Anakin, I am not some delicate flower to be shielded and protected from everything. If I allowed everybody to treat me such I never would have been able to oust Veruna from office, let alone survive the Trade Federation and the Senate. You could have shared your suspicions with me that night. And when Malorum confirmed your suspicions, you still didn't trust me enough to inform me."
"By the time you got back last night, you were in a state after hearing that Palpatine had been your aunt's secret boyfriend, and the only time we were able to talk today was when I woke up from my fall, and you were preparing to leave for Liné's," Anakin reminded her.
Their voices were rising, their anger growing as they glared at one another. Padmé was furious. To her it seemed like Anakin was making excuses. Yes, she was vulnerable and emotional last night, perhaps more than she should have been, but Anakin could have told her earlier today before she left to meet Liné.
"Is there anything else you haven't told me?"
Anakin took a deep breath to calm himself, and told her how he and Ferus had enlisted Vatié's help to find the traitor by hacking and tracing everybody's comm frequencies to find out which one of them had contacted Panaka.
Padmé felt as if she had been slapped. "So you'll work with Ferus, a man you barely trust and then include my friend in it without consulting me?" Padmé shook her head and sighed. "You know what? It doesn't matter. What matters is finding the traitor, finding that diary before Palpatine finds it, and stopping Malorum before it's too late."
With resolve she began to leave the library when Anakin grabbed her arm.
"What happens when you find the traitor? Are you going to just kill them yourself?" Anakin demanded.
"What?" Padmé looked at him in shock. What made him think-?
"Vatié told me that if a handmaiden betrayed her mistress and sister handmaidens, she would face the possibility of execution," Anakin explained. "So if the traitor is one of your friends, are you willing to kill them? Or if the traitor is Typho are you going to make him submit like he was one of your handmaidens?"
Padmé couldn't answer. Could she? Was she willing to judge and sentence an old friend to death? There had been handmaidens in the past executed by their mistress or the head handmaiden for treachery. Padmé had never thought that she would have to do something like that. Panaka had been the one to choose the candidates, but it had been Padmé who made the final decision in who served her as handmaidens. Every woman in that parlor had been Padmé's closest companion for years. They had trusted her with their lives, and Padmé had done her best to repay that trust. She had known Typho since the Blockade when he had been among the surviving prisoners the droids had captured and tortured. He served as part of her guard when she had been Queen and became her head of security as Senator. They were all her friends, and yet she saw Vatié's face appear to her. Vatié who had died so young, who would never marry as she had planned, and who would never fulfill her dreams. She owed it to Vatié, she owed it to her advisor Governor Bibble and his family to find the traitor that killed her and deliver justice.
"I…" she hesitated. "First, we'll find the traitor, and once I have all the facts then I will pass judgement."
Anakin wasn't sure about this. He wanted the traitor found and punished just as badly as Padmé for Vatié's death. Maybe it was the idea of his compassionate and level headed wife deciding the fate of someone and executing them. As a former general Anakin had witnessed and even performed executions against traitors of the Republic. He knew the consequences of performing such an act, and feared what such action would do to Padmé.
Some of her anger towards him softened a little. "I understand that you're worried about me, Anakin, but I need you to trust me. I know these people. I know them better than any personal file can. I also know that I'm going to need your help. Yours and Ferus to find out the traitor. If we're going to do this and succeed, we need to trust one another. No more secrets, no matter our intentions. Agreed?"
Anakin recognized the mistake he made in not trusting his wife with this information and regretted it. He knew well enough that it might take a long time to earn her forgiveness and rebuild their trust, but he would work and fight hard for it.
"Agreed."
He suddenly felt a disturbance. He sensed a bunch of anger and distress coming from the parlor where everybody was at.
"We better get back to the others."
Padmé recognized the urgency in his tone and quickly left with her husband out of the library and back into the parlor and was appalled by the sight before her. Everyone was yelling at each other, throwing insults, and in the severe case, Moteé and Eirtaé were being pried from one another as they traded blows. Within the chaos, Padmé was able to make out the words "traitor" and "murderer".
With the most powerful voice she had perfected for years in the Senate, Padmé was able to project "ENOUGH!"
It silenced everybody. They looked at Padmé, ashamed of themselves. Moteé and Eirtaé were moved to opposite sides of the room. Ferus, who had been standing between the two women, moved to the side, nursing his bruise jaw he had received for his intervention.
The tense silence was broken by Sabé. "We need to find out who the traitor is."
Anakin and Padmé were taken aback by this. How did they know?
Anakin glared at Ferus. "I didn't tell them."
"He didn't have to," Yané said, rising from her seat. "We figured it out on our own."
Now that presented a problem. The traitor now knew they were on to them which made it even more dangerous for Anakin and Padmé. Anakin suddenly felt tired and exhausted. He did not want to do this now. "Let's just contact and deal with Governor Bibble."
"Tell us Skwalker!" Typho demanded, angrily.
"Anakin, there will be troubles and difficult tasks everyday. People like Vatié's family will need our help, but we're not together if you-" Sabé stopped as if the last word choked her before she finished. "Suspect us."
"Alright!" Padmé stepped forward, standing between her former handmaidens and her husband. "It's true."
Everybody looked at PAdmé as fear began to grow inside them at the realization.
Padmé continued. "One of you is betraying us. You're communicating with Panaka, telling him where we're at to be captured, and you're responsible for Vatié's death."
Everybody looked at each other. Anger, confusion, and fear was tangible in the air ready to be ignited.
"Don't," Padmé warned when it seemed another argument was brewing. "If the guilty person comes forth and confesses right here, right now, I'll listen."
It was the best mercy Padmé could offer. "Tell me what Panaka has said, what he offered, and why. Step forward now. This is your chance."
Nobody came forward, nobody confessed. Everybody looked at one another, fear and accusation evident in their expressions.
Padmé sighed in disappointment. "Whoever you are then, you've now made your choice, and I swear in the name of the seven goddesses I will find you."
Padmé was not Force-sensitive, and yet in that moment she shown a power of certainty, and the traitor felt themselves filled with fear.
000{{*}}000
65 bby
It was such a beautiful day.
The sun shined. The air was filled with the smell of wild flowers, the sound of nearby waterfalls, and the feeling of merriment.
Padmé wore a light blue silk dress and had never felt more free. Noble and merchant families who were staying in the Lake Country were beginning to set up for the bolo-ball games. Some families had laid out blankets to sit on, positioned umbrellas for shade, and were setting out picnic baskets with snacks and meals in them. Some of the wealthier noble families were having their servants set up canopies, chairs, and tables for them to sit as they watched the games. A larger and sturdier canopy had already been set up for the Queen and her entourage with a table filled with food and drinks, and cushions to sit or lay on.
Men and women conversed on politics and court gossip while their children played. The children were scattered, playing their own game of bolo ball, chasing each other in a game of tag, or playing in the stream created by a nearby waterfall.
It was all so exciting to Padmé.
They had arrived before the Queen, and already Luke had been kidnapped by a set of colleagues to discuss the taxes on Naboo's economy. Ruwee and Jobal had run to join the children after begging their mothers. Padmé walked behind Ryoo and Winama as they made their way over to an empty lot to set up their picnic blanket and basket. As they were setting up, Padmé noticed Princess Blantyre kneeling down by the stream. Padmé excused herself from her sister and friend as soon as she was certain everything was in order, and made her way over to the Princess of Theed.
In the past couple of days, Padmé had been slowly getting to know the younger girl. Despite Padmé's earlier impression, the Princess was very smart and intelligent as was expected from her position. Padmé had also learned that the Princess was barely able to trust anyone except her brother the Captain. These past couple of days, Padmé had figured out how to penetrate her shields through her own niece and Ruwee. In the early hours of the morning, the children would wake Padmé up and demand that she played hide-and-seek with them. Somehow they also managed to rope in Princess Blantyre into playing with them, and that's how Padmé and the Princess began what looked to be a friendship.
The Princess looked up and noticed Padmé approaching her. A smile grew on the young woman's face and she tucked Padmé's hand in the crook of her arm, continuing their stroll down the stream.
"I've nearly finished that lilac scarf you ordered off of Winama and Ryoo. I can give it to you tomorrow morning after breakfast," Padmé told her as they walked among the wildflowers.
The Princess was surprised. "How did you get it done so fast?"
Padmé smiled enigmatically. "I'm a fast worker."
Truthfully, ever since word went out that the Queen would be staying in the Naberries' lake house of Varykino, Winama and Ryoo had been swamped with commissions. Ryoo, who needed every credit she could get her hands on to pay for the mortgage on their farm, and to keep Jobal clothed and fed, was so busy she barely had time to sit down and study for her business classes, let alone spend time with her daughter. To help lighten her load, Padmé had taken the Princess's order, and since Ryoo had insisted that Padmé have the credits from that order, she planned on using them to buy some oil for Mammy's aching feet.
There was a slight commotion, and the two girls looked to see the Queen, her handmaidens, and guards arrive. The Queen wore a lovely rose colored gown made of silk with her hair up in twisted braids with orange blossoms arranged in her dark hair while her handmaidens followed her in marigold uniforms. Padmé felt sorry for Celestine with her makeup on, and the handmaidens with their hoods up while in the sun. People bowed or curtsied as the Queen passed them until she sat beneath the royal canopy and signaled for the games to begin.
Teams had been formed of young people from noble and merchant families. As the games went on, Padmé noticed the troubled expression on the Princess's face and realized that she was clenching her fists. Padmé followed her gaze to the field.
She recognized the Lady Yolané Yelnina kicking the ball and ramming off anyone who got in her way. Her brother Aros Yelnina was playing too, and so far it seemed like their team was winning.
"Friends of yours?" Padmé asked, although she knew better.
It was common knowledge that the Lady Yolané had been a fierce competitor in the campaign for Princess of Theed against Viola Blantyre nearly two years ago. From what Padmé had observed in court, Yolané was a spoiled and power-hungry harpy with a short temper. The Yelnina family were known for producing many politicians, several of them holding governor positions throughout the Naboo.
"Hardly," the Princess answered stiffly. "Our mothers were step-sisters who barely got along while mine was still alive. When she and my father died, I was placed in their "care" for three years until Andrei was old enough to take guardianship over me."
This information surprised Padmé, but it was useful. From Blantyre's tone her stay at the Yelninas had been far from pleasant.
The Princess continued. "I have four more years left on my term as Princess, but Celestine has only months left on hers. When they're up, she and my brother plan to return to our home in Keren. When that happens, I'll have no one in Theed."
It was beginning to become clearer to Padmé. The poor girl must be terrified of losing the people she trusted and being on her own. Padmé felt empathy for her.
"I'm sure it won't be as you think. You have more friends in court than you realized," she assured her.
Cheers came from the bolo-ball court as Yolané scored a goal.
The Princess frowned. "I've been without my parents for so long. My brother has been my whole world ever since he got me out of that house. I don't want to interfere with his happiness, but I'm scared."
Padmé squeezed her arm in comfort. "My mother passed away not too long ago, and my father is unable to care for me at this time which leaves me under the protection of my older sister who's also caring for my niece as well, so I understand," she confessed. "If you ever need anyone to talk to, I'll listen." She then smiled. "Besides, you're the Princess of Theed. The only ones who can reprimand you are the Queen and Governor. If anything, the Yelninas should be fearing you."
The Princess laughed.
They completed a circle around the game's courtyard, conversing with nobles, politicians, and families they knew. Before too long, the announcer declared Yolané's team to be the winners, and the Queen bestowed upon them a magnificent marble statue of Queen Polana the size of a child. Yolané seemed smug as she made her servants carry it while she sat under her family canopy and drinked some surra punch. Padmé shook her head, feeling sorry for the two servants as they struggled to carefully lift the statue and carry it while also feeling annoyed at Yolané's arrogant behavior.
There was a lunch break. Allowing the teams to rest and eat while also allowing new teams to form up for the next game.
The Princess joined the Queen's entourage while Padmé joined her family to eat the blossom bread and fruit, and drink the tea Winama had packed. Ruwee and Jobal were excited, talking about the fun they were having and the friends they'd made.
Once Padmé was done, she rejoined Princess Blantyre who was talking to members of the court while also avoiding the Yelninas. Padmé made certain to turn on her recording device in her comb as she listened to certain conversations. Pooja had informed her about this gathering, making it a direct order from her Queen to listen and spy. She also tried to deftly avoid the canopy where the Palpatine family were at. She had to be firm in her decision not to see Sheev again, although she knew she owed him an explanation. She could not however make it obvious out here in public where his father could see. That was just asking for trouble.
Soon the new game was announced, and this time the prize was a box of jewelry.
Padmé recognized the handmaiden Sagé carrying an elegantly carved ebony box, probably donated by Liné's family along with other jewels gifted by other noble families.
As people oohed and awed at the prize, Padmé noticed Princess Blantyre's frown and narrow eyes. As Sagé began to pass them, Blantyre stopped her. She reached in and pulled out a beautiful gold bangle with emerald jewels in it. She was studying it so intently Padmé feared she would take it and run.
Apparently, Sagé thought so too. "My Lady?"
It seemed to snap Blantyre back, and she reluctantly placed the bangle back into the box. As the handmaiden continued on, Padmé turned to Blantyre in concern. The poor girl looked to be on the verge of crying.
"What's wrong?"
"That was my mother's," the Princess whispered.
"What?" Padmé asked, surprised. She knew the Princess's mother was dead, and she knew by the sound of it, Blantyre wouldn't have just given it away.
The Princess explained. "My mother passed that bangle down to me. It has our initials in it. It went missing years ago and I could never find it."
Such a beautiful piece handed down by one's long lost mother, Padmé couldn't imagine losing something her own mother had gifted her.
"How?"
Realization seemed to show in Blantyre's expression. "When I was living at the Yelninas, some of my belongings would go missing. I'd ask the servants, but I was always given excuses as to how it could have been misplaced."
Then her eyes grew desperate as she looked at Padmé. "I hardly have anything left that belonged to my mother. I have to get that bracelet back."
She turned and headed towards the Queen's canopy and Padmé chased after her. She grabbed the Princess's arm before she did anything.
"You can't just ask the Queen to give it to you after she's already presented it to the court as a prize."
The Princess stopped for a moment before nodding. "You're right. I'm going to have to win it, but how? I hardly know anyone here well enough to form a team, and the guards are forbidden to play while on duty."
An idea formed in Padme's mind. She knew enough people. With hardly any problem, she gathered enough people to make up the team of five Blantyre would need. She talked to Liné who enlisted two of her older nephews to join and one of Shon's brothers who were all close to the same age as Padmé. For their final member, Padmé managed to grab Councilor Mikael Excenil who owed her a favor. Princess Blantyre had already changed into clothing suitable for bolo-ball, and thanked Padmé and the team she set up, promising to split the prize with them should they win.
The Yelnina team was preparing to go back on the field. Apparently, Yolané wanted that whole box of jewelry and thought that the Princess was selfish to try and fight her cousin over it. Padmé was close enough to hear Blantyre trying to explain that the bangle inside the box had been her mother's, and she couldn't care less about everything else in the box. She could hear Blantyre practically beg Yolané to let her keep the bangle should she win, and Yolané could keep the rest. Yolané had laughed, saying the bangle was the prettiest item in the box before she jogged onto the field to start the game.
Padmé's heart went out to the Princess. If it was her mother's belonging, she would fight tooth and nail to get it back. The Princess was obviously no athlete. Liné's nephews and Shon's brother were in better shape, but Councilor Excenil was more scholar than athlete while everybody on Yelninas' team looked beggar and stronger, even Yolané.
Padmé watched with growing dread as the ball was tossed, and the battle began. The Princess was not used to these games and had trouble keeping up as Yolané instantly scored a goal and prevented her from scoring any.
As she watched, Padmé didn't notice anyone walking towards her until a glance made her do a double take .
Sheev.
"Sh- I mean, Lord Sheev," she corrected herself, mindful of her surroundings.
Sheev nodded at her, and thankfully kept an appropriate amount of distance between them.
"You like bolo-ball, Miss Lydonia?" he asked, mercifully keeping up that charade of just being two former classmates saying hello.
Padmé nodded, watching as Blantyre struggled and Yolané scored another point.
In all their conversations, she had never told Sheev that she loved playing bolo-ball. In their village of Claines, the children loved playing bolo-ball, and it was a favorite. However, she had been playing bolo-ball when she had gotten sick from the Plague and nearly died. She hadn't played since then.
"I haven't seen you in days," Sheev spoke to her.
Her breath hitched, and she worried anyone looking at them and hearing his words. "Lord Sheev, is this really the best time? Everybody's watching."
Indeed, she could feel many eyes on them, and if she listened carefully, she could hear their whispers.
"We're just having a conversation, not committing a crime," Sheev assured her.
Maybe not, but nonetheless, Padmé did not want to give more fuel to the gossip fires, so she kept her gaze focused on the game.
"I miss you," Sheev admitted.
If Padmé was to be honest she missed him too, but she had a job to do, and she couldn't let her feelings get in the way. She turned to Sheev who moved to take a step closer to her when a painful cry went out.
The Princess had been tackled by Yolané, and had landed hard on the ground.
The Yelnina woman had no problem stealing the ball and kicking it into the goal, but the Princess… Padmé's worry grew as she realized that she struggled to get up.
Liné's nephews came and helped her up, but it was revealed that her right foot had been injured. As the boys helped her limp back to the canopies, Padmé could hear her call out to Yolané.
"Please! You can have everything else. I'll give you my own jewels, just let me have my mother's bangle,"the Princess begged.
Padmé was glad that only she and Sheev could hear them, but her anger grew as she heard Yolané's cruel taunts.
"All for a fancy bangle. I actually don't need it. I just want it because you so desperately want it."
Padmé hurried over and helped the boys carry Blantyre, and noticed the tears coming down her face. She scrambled to make sure nobody saw them, and when she saw Captain Blantyre approaching them, she shook her head. If he left the Queen to attend his sister in front of so many it would look bad on them. She saw the worry on his face, and she sent him a look she hoped would assure him that she would look after his sister. He looked uncertain, but then nodded and returned to his post.
Padmé led the Princess and the Olnicks to her picnic spot where Ryoo and Winama immediately helped her sit down and look at her foot. It wasn't broken but it was sprain and already beginning to swell. As Ryoo applied ice to it, Padmé knelt next to the Princess. The poor girl was suppressing her painful sobs as people looked at them, so Padmé leaned in so Blantyre could whisper to her without breaking.
"Oh Lydonia, I don't think I can get that bangle back."
Padmé looked back at Yolané prancing on the field, proud and arrogant like she had already won. There was still time left in the game. Padmé's blood boiled with rage at the cruelty Yolané bestowed upon the Princess Blantyre. And Padmé knew just what to do with that rage.
"You will get it back because I'm going in your place."
Before anyone could say or do anything, Padmé grabbed her pack she brought with a change a clothes just in case and had Jobal come with her. They found a place behind a canopy. Her niece held up a sheet high enough for Padmé to change out of her dress and into a green tunic, grey leggings, and athletic boots. She pulled her pixie comb out and quickly arranged her hair into a long braid. She handed the comb to Jobal and made her promise not to lose it. Hopefully she would be standing next to some powerful people and the comb would be able to record.
As she returned to Princess Blantyre's side, she noticed that Excenil was missing from the team. "Where's Councilor Excenil?"
Shon's brother (she couldn't remember his name) answered her. "When he saw our team down a leader he gave up."
That made them short a player then.
One of Liné's nephews looked at her in worry. "Do we still play?"
Padmé nodded her head firmly. "We play."
"Team Blantyre, you're still short a player. You going to play," someone from Yelnina's team called out to them.
All eyes were on them now. Everybody had realized that Padmé would be taking the Princess' place, but that Councilor Excenil had abandoned them.
The Princess tugged Padmé's hand. "Lydonia, you don't have to do this."
Padmé turned to her. "That bangle was your mother's. I want to get it back for you."
She squeezed her hand before letting go, and turning back to those looking at her. "Let's play!"
There were loud murmurs, people wondering how they could play with one player short.
It surprised everyone when Lady Veruna stepped out from beneath her canopy, untying the outer layer of her outfit as she announced. "I will play with her!"
Her son protested, but Padmé felt a wave of affection and respect towards her former mentor.
Everybody was surprised again when Sheev stepped forward. "Let me play with her instead."
Padmé could barely breathe as he began to shed the outer layer of his clothes.
She walked over to him as close as she dared.
"You can't!" she hissed.
He looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Why not?"
Padmé nervously glanced at their audience, most particularly where his father and mother were sitting.
"Well let them see," Sheev shrugged. "You've done nothing to earn their ire. Besides, you're better than all of them combined. Does this prize mean that much to you?"
Padmé could only nod.
"Then get out there and show them what you're made of."
So she did.
Her team consisted of two Olnicks, a Lasara brother, and Sheev Palpatine. There was an excited commotion in the air as Padmé's team went on the field.
When the ball was tossed, Padmé wasted no time. Her blood was boiling from the anger she felt towards Yolané, and her cruelty towards a girl wanting to keep a precious memento of her long lost mother. She zoomed past Yolané, kicking the ball towards her goal. She ran so fast she caught everybody by surprise when she scored a goal so quickly.
Very quickly everything fell into place as they played. Padmé learned how great of bolo players the Olnicks were despite their young age, Lasara was a brilliant tactician, and even Sheev was a good player with quick reflexes that allowed him to dodge tackles. They scored goal after goal until finally both teams were tied up, and it was announced that there was one minute left in the game.
As they played, Padmé noticed that Yolané's temper had been growing shorter. At every opportunity she tried to tackle Padmé to the ground with Padmé barely managing to dodge them which only served to anger the noble lady more. Padmé knew that she shouldn't, but she couldn't help the glee she felt in being able to get under the woman's skin.
The last minute of the game was rough with Padmé battling Yolané and Sheev fighting Aros as they managed to pass the ball to each other until they scored the final goal that allowed them their victory.
Padmé could hear the loud cheers echo across the field as her team was announced the winners. She felt so happy and free, and she couldn't keep the smile off her face. As she made her way towards the Queen's canopy to retrieve their prize, she sensed Sheev right behind her. She was beyond grateful for his help, and knew that she needed to thank him and also talk to him about their relationship. Which is why she whispered, "find a gondola for tonight. When everybody is asleep tonight, I'll light a candle in my window for you to paddle under and I'll join you."
She didn't get to hear his reply as they were joined by Princess Blantyre who limped over to them with help from young Ruwee.
"Oh, Lydonia." The Princess embraced her, and Padmé let out a happy giggle.
They walked together to the Queen's canopy where Celestine awaited. Padmé suddenly realized how unpresentable she was covered in sweat and mud with her hair coming undone from her braid. She also realized that she hadn't been doing a good job with her mission and was worried what the Queen, Pooja, Liné, and all the other handmaidens would say.
When she saw Celestine, her fears were abated by the radiant smile on the Queen's face.
"Lady Lydonia, this wasn't an easily won match."
Handmaiden Sagé presented the box of jewels.
"Congratulations."
Padmé received it and curtsied. "Thank you, Your Highness."
She turned to Princess Blantyre and held out the box. The Princess opened it and took out the bangle. She then took one of Padmé's arms and lifted it.
There were cheers from all around them.
The Princess turned back to Padmé. "Thank you so much."
Padmé smiled. "I told you, you would get it back, My Lady."
"Viola," the Princess corrected.
Padmé felt as if her smile would split her face. "Padmé."
Because of their teamship, Viola allowed Padmé, Sheev, Lasara, and the Olnick boys to split their prize. Padmé didn't care much for jewelry, but there were a pair of beautiful jade earrings she knew Ryoo would love to wear as soon as she was out of mourning.
As she headed back to her family's picnic spot, she noticed Yolané's glare. The absolute anger and hatred in her eyes that carried the promise of revenge, actually sent a shiver down Padme's spine. She may have made a friend that day, but she had also made an enemy. Padmé had humiliated Yolané Yelnina, and she would neither forgive nor forget that.
000{{*}}000
And there's the chapter. Whew! So what do you guys think?
I've been reading and watching a lot of movies recently about WWII. One of those movies is called Uprising about the Warsaw Ghetto uprising in 1943. The story is what inspired the one I made about the Olnicks resisting the Trade Federation. It's a wonderful story about resistance and choosing your own fate. RIP to the people who fought and fell in that conflict.
The bit of Padmé Lydonia helping Princess Blantyre win her mother's jewelry back came from the chinese series The Story of Minglan episode 16. Wonderful story about a kind, smart, and wonderful girl who faces a lot of difficulties and conflicts in her life, but manages to find happiness in love and family. I recommend anyone to watch it.
I'll admit it kind of felt like a flip over from mourning and wanting to find Vatié's killer to a cheerful setting of Padmé playing games and winning.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Please review and let me know what you all are thinking.