Happy New Year! Hope all of you have a productive 2019!
I play with the necklace that is draped around my neck. It is warm to the touch, comforting as if it pulses with the Force. It seems to grow warmer the more I dwell on the crystal, but that's probably just my imagination in this stressful time. The war doesn't slow as I sit in Padmé's room, watching her and Dormé pack. Ever since I became pregnant, Dormé has been her lead aide. While jealous, I know it is for the best since I can't protect my lady as well as I used to. I don't know if I ever can again.
Padmé pauses as she looks up at me from her suitcase. At the look of worry on my face, she joins me on the bench in front of her bed. "Don't worry, Leya," she tells me, rubbing my shoulder. "I should only be gone for about two weeks. Also, it's a purely diplomatic mission, and it's Naboo. I'll be fine."
"You say that every time," I inform her. "And every time, you get into trouble."
The corner of her mouth raises a little in amusement, but she didn't deny it. "Well, this time I'll have Anakin."
I didn't blink. "He is a beacon for chaos and drama." Padmé opens her mouth to retort, but she can't find the words. Instead, she stands and resumes packing. I roll my eyes. I've left her speechless and unable to argue.
The Queen of Naboo had received intel that the Gungans could be siding with the Separatists for an attack on Theed. Knowing Padmé and her track record for trouble, as well as Anakin's, there will be fighting and running and fewer negotiations than she assumes. Dormé places another dress in one of the suitcases and closes the lid. She grins at me as Padmé enters her closet. I'm glad someone else agrees with me. "Take care of her, Dormé," I say, my voice small.
"I will," she replies before picking up the suitcase she had just closed and exiting the room.
Padmé walks into her room again, turning off the closet light and packing a headdress in the second suitcase. She closes the lid as well and turns to me. "I shouldn't be gone long. You'll have Teckla, Moteé, and Ellé: the whole bunch."
I fold my hands in front of me. "I'd rather have you." Padmé smiles at me. "I've got a bad feeling that something will go wrong. Something always goes wrong, and I can't be there to protect you."
Her expression becomes sad as she sits next to me and pulls me into a hug. "I'll return shortly. And Anakin won't let anything happen to me. I promise that everything will be alright." Padmé lets me go, grabs her suitcase, offers me one last smile, and leaves the room, ready to travel to Naboo. I stare at the door for a few minutes after she left, already missing the wild Senator.
A few days pass as Padmé, Anakin, and Dormé travel to Naboo. From Coruscant it takes a long four days. She contacts us on Coruscant about halfway in to tell us that the flight it going smoothly, then she calls when they land on Naboo. Both times, Padmé's voice was a mixture of annoyed and elated, both most likely directed at her lover, but I'm glad nonetheless. Padmé couldn't have a better protector than Anakin. Then another day passes before I hear from Padmé again. This time she gave us the news that the invasion of Theed was stopped and that the Gungan leader had been manipulated into siding with the Separatists. But she also relayed her worry about Anakin's whereabouts as he had left to chase after the Gungan minister.
I tell her not to worry as Anakin always finds a way out of sticky situations. While he has a knack for getting into trouble, he has a knack for getting out of trouble, or at least surrounding himself with people who can help him get out of trouble. I also tell her that I was right to be worried since they did walk into conflict. She will never stop walking into a conflict, for as long as she lives. And Anakin will hopefully be there to pull her out of it.
Padmé recounts the trip in more detail during the holocall on their way back to Coruscant. I beam the moment I meet them at the starship platform with Ellé and Teckla. Padmé glides down the ramp like the Queen she used to be with Anakin by her side like he's her king. I'm fairly certain the whole crew aboard the starship knows they are an item.
The two stop in front of me as Ellé and Teckla help Dormé with the luggage. I look at Anakin and say, "I heard you were held hostage. Just another day in the life of Master Skywalker."
Padmé giggles as Anakin looks mildly offended, but he shakes it off quickly and fires back with his own retort. "Are you having some troubles with your shoes?"
I playfully glare at the Jedi and he returns the favor. Padmé shakes her head and cuts in, "Okay, children. It's time to go inside."
Roughly a month later, Padmé tries the negotiation thing again, this time with actual Separatists. She allows me to go with her since the meeting is on a neutral system, Mandalore.
I am dressed in heavy, baggy robes with my hair in an elegant braid down my back as I stare out the starship window at the beautiful planet. It isn't the most peaceful planet, but after being on Coruscant for so long, anywhere seems peaceful. While it isn't beautiful in the standard sense, looming trees and deep water, the desert had a relaxing feel that an untamed forest couldn't provide.
A door opens behind me from the cockpit. I refuse to tear my eyes away from the planet we were flying closer to since I could tell by the heavier footprints that it was Bail Organa. He stops walking once at my side in front of the window. "Are you feeling well?" he asks.
"Yes, thank you," I reply.
I see Bail nodding in the corner of my eye. "Thought I would make sure. Stress can sometimes bring harm to a pregnancy." I didn't say anything. For a while, I wasn't even sure that Bail had known I was pregnant. My stomach is definitely not small at the moment, but I tend to hide it fairly well since before I became pregnant I usually wore baggy clothing too, so it wasn't much of a change. And in my experience, men typically aren't very observant. But Bail never ceases to surprise me. "If you don't mind me asking, how far along are you?"
I glance up at the senator then back at the planet as we enter the atmosphere. "Seven months." Bail smiles sadly, as I'm sure he's thinking about his wife. "How is Breha? Not only is she Queen, which is admirable, but she is also the Minister of Education, correct?"
"Yes," Bail chuckles. "I'm sure if she could she would be a teacher instead of Queen. She is mostly tending to how the war has affected Alderaan. It's straining and stressful, but if anyone can handle it, she can." My smile widens at his admiration towards his wife. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to be married and have a home, but I don't think that will ever happen. "Do you know if you're having a boy or girl?"
Shaking my head, I answer, "No, I decided to keep it a secret until the baby is born, much to Padmé's chagrin. Sometimes I think she's more excited than I am." I place a hand on my stomach.
"Well, she isn't the one going through the pain." I laugh at Bail's joke. "I am glad you decided to accompany Senator Amidala to this meeting. Sometimes a change of scenery can be refreshing."
"I definitely didn't come as her bodyguard, that's for sure," I say, nodding my head a little. Ahsoka was Padmé's chosen bodyguard to this negotiation. She believes that Ahsoka can learn patience and negotiation in a natural setting while here. And having a Jedi by your side, even a padawan, doesn't hurt when dealing with the Separatists.
The moment we disembark, I can feel Duchess Satine's gaze on me, studying me as I walk next to Ahsoka, behind Padmé, Bail, and Mon Mothma, who is the other chosen senator on this voyage. But nonetheless, Satine welcomes us with open arms and the group is led to the throne room. Three chairs a lined up facing each other on either side of the walkway. Four Senatorial guards accompany us. We aren't waiting long as three representatives from the Separatist Alliance enter the room with their own droid guards.
Senator Voe Atell sits across from Padmé. Senator Bec Lawise sits across from Bail. Senator Amita Fonti sits across from Mon. It is an interesting group, to say the least. I also note how all the senators representing the Separatists are aliens, while the ones representing the Republic are human. I wonder if that says anything about the ongoing discrimination in the Republic towards aliens despite anti-discrimination laws. Of course they want to leave.
The introductions and negotiations start of smooth. Ahsoka stands by Padmé's side while I hide off by the windows. I'm just here to provide support and travel before I can't travel for a while. The tensions are high between the two groups, but it is obvious that they both want the war to end, though perhaps in different ways.
"The Republic recognizes the tragedy of war," Padmé says, "but there is nothing we can change that has already occurred."
Atell speaks next. "Say it aloud before this gathering, as representative for Chancellor Palpatine, that you declare, without reservation, the Separatist state legitimate." Fonti nods along with the senator's request. It's understandable. They want to be taken seriously before things move forward.
Padmé hesitates. Bail, Mon, and Padmé are all here as representatives for Palpatine. If they say the wrong thing, something bad could happen. Before Padmé can talk, however, someone interrupts. "I have something to say," the new voice announces as the doors to the room swing open, "about the legitimacy of the Separatists." In walks Lux Bonteri, son of dead Separatist senator, Mina Bonteri. Murmuring occurs from the Separatist representatives. Obviously, this intrusion was not planned. Even Ahsoka bent down to speak to Padmé quietly.
Lux walks to one of the podiums near the throne and stands behind it after bowing to the duchess. Satine doesn't say anything, but waves her hand, permitting his unexpected presence. "I stand before you, son of Mina Bonteri, loyal Separatist, a patriot, a friend," the boy begins. At the last title, he looks at Ahsoka, pausing at the sight of her for a moment. Oh, dear. "It has come to my attention that my mother was murdered by Count Dooku in cold blood!"
Senator Lawise jumps from his seat and yells, "That is a lie! Remove this traitor immediately." I stand tall, no longer leaning against the window.
Ahsoka starts to move forward, probably to protect her boyfriend, but Padmé stops her, which also stops the Separatists from doing anything against those of us from the Republic. This is neutral ground and it needs to stay that way. Separatist droids move in towards Bonteri and restrained him. "I will not be silenced!" Lux proclaims, slamming his fist down on the podium.
The duchess rises from her chair. "Stop this!" she orders. Her guards stand at the ready.
Atell is the one to diffuse the situation. She stands and says, "We would ask you to respect that we deal with this matter ourselves."
"No, Dooku is deceiving you!" Lux calls out as he is dragged to one of the side doors. "You will all be betrayed, just like my mother!" The doors close behind the boy and the droids.
"I apologize for such a rude interruption," Lawise says. He's the only one I think isn't being truthful. "Please let us continue." He takes his seat.
A short silence is tense as I spot Ahsoka whispering to Padmé. She wants to help her boyfriend, how cute. I can only imagine that Padmé gave her the green light to help Lux since Ahsoka quietly exits the room as talking resumes. Padmé glances over at me and discreetly waves me over. I head over to her as Mon Mothma has a discussion with Voe Atell. I bend down close to Padmé's head. "Yes?" I ask.
"Contact A-Master Skywalker," Padmé says. Her stuttering on his name is adorable, but she definitely doesn't want anyone to potentially overhear her call a Jedi by his first name. "Tell him what has transpired."
I nod and leave the room, pulling out my holocam. Just outside the throne room, I stand in the corner and contact Anakin. He answers after the first ring. His face in the hologram looks worried, as he never gets calls from me. "Is something wrong?" he asks urgently.
"Padmé asked me to call you," I tell him. "Negotiations, while still trying to continue, have basically failed thanks to an interruption by Lux Bonteri. He claims Count Dooku killed his mother." I pause for a moment before continuing. "Granted, I wouldn't be surprised if he's telling the truth, but Separatist droids dragged him away. Your padawan ran off to help him."
Anakin nods. "Thank you for the information. Is Padmé alright?"
I roll my eyes and glance around, making sure no one is around. "Yes, your beloved is fine. Probably disappointed that the negotiations are no longer going to happen."
The Jedi nods again, visible frustration evident in his expression. "I'm going to get into contact with Ahsoka. Hopefully, she doesn't do anything rash." Boy, she is your padawan. You two are the epitome of being rash. I don't reply though. I simply nod in farewell and turn of the device, slipping it back into my sleeve. Now to wait for the meeting to end.
The meeting ends a lot faster than I had presumed, which is saying something, only a few minutes after I called Anakin. Padmé immediately stands at my side and asks, "Did you get a hold of him?"
"Yes," I reply. "He said he'll call her."
"Good." Padmé stares off into space as we wait for Bail and Mon to join us.
Instead, Satine joins us. "Sorry to interrupt, but it seems like your ship was hijacked," she informs us.
Padmé and I glance at each other, not surprised. "Bummer."
