The meeting lasted for another hour before it was adjourned and the 'prisoners' set free. Governor Ember informed them of the dinner arrangements and then had them shown to their quarters. The queen's room was, of course, quite lavish, adorned with plush red velvet everywhere one looked. The six Theed visitors looked around to take it all in. Amidala was the first to comment.
"A bit much, I think," she said with a hint of disgust. The handmaidens nodded in agreement.
Next to the queen's room was the handmaidens' chamber and across the hall was the Jedis' room. Once they were all settled in, Obi-Wan brought them back together for a quick briefing before dinner.
"I'm still not convinced that there is no danger for you here, your highness," he stated to Amidala. "I sense a dark force somewhere...hidden from us at this point, but present nonetheless. I think it would be wise for you to stay incognito for the time being."
"Okay, but why?" Amidala wondered aloud. "Why would they want to target Naboo? We are so small compared to many other worlds, and we have nothing of unusual value."
"Perhaps it is not the whole planet that is being targeted," Obi-Wan suggested as the others looked at him in confusion. With a solemn face, he turned to face the queen. "Maybe it's just YOU they're after."
A cold shiver ran down Amidala's spine, and a wave of shock rippled through Anakin. Why hadn't Obi-Wan shared this opinion with him before now? The initial shock graduated to fear and then anger at the thought of someone harming Padme... his Padme.
"I won't let anything happen to you, Padme. I promise," Anakin stated with such force that no one in the room dared doubt him. Even Padme was a bit stunned by his
certainty, but secretly his actions were only pulling her more fully under the spell he had cast on her heart.
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After the meeting, the small group journeyed down to the banquet hall. All were quite famished following the day's events and happily filled their bellies with the many traditional Naboo dishes provided by their host.
As the meal was ending, Anakin noticed the entrance of an unfamiliar figure through the door at the back of the hall. It was a man--- he assumed, although he had never seen a man like this before.
"Ah, my friend. I see you've decided to join us," Governor Ember announced as all other faces turned to see the lone figure approach the table. Instantly, the eyes of every female in the room became transfixed upon the newest dinner guest.
He was tremendously handsome, in an exotic sort of way. His greenish-colored skin, which displayed a taut, muscular build, reminded Anakin of some kind of reptile. His finely chiseled face sported a pair of eyes that were black as night, and an air of dignified arrogance that Anakin, as a former slave, had seen often enough on the faces of slave owners back on Tatooine. Already
Anakin knew he didn't like this man.
"Hello," came the deep smooth voice as the man greeted the others. The governor jumped up and moved quickly to his friend's side.
"Queen Amidala," he said looking at the decoy queen, "I would like to introduce to you my friend, Lord Raveneau of the Falleen." The new man bowed politely and then took Sabe's hand in his own, sensuously placing a kiss on it.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, your highness," Raveneau said as he gazed deeply into Sabe's eyes. Anakin's stomach turned at the man's over-the-top display, and he could swear that the man's skin had- if only for a moment- blushed red. Something about this man gave Anakin the
creeps.
It took a moment for Sabe to find her voice. She had been overwhelmed by the mere touch of this attractive newcomer. "Likewise," she finally muttered breathlessly. Regaining her composure, she continued to introduce the other members of her group. When she had gotten to Padme, Anakin had had to stop himself from reaching for his lightsaber, as the man had let his lips linger a bit too long on her hand. What made it worse was the blush that had come to Padme's face and the giddy little laugh that had escaped her mouth as he commented on her extraordinary beauty.
A snarl was still present on Anakin's face when Sabe got around to introducing him.
Reluctantly, he shook hands with Raveneau, being sure to use his firmest grip. Raveneau's eyes rose in delightful surprise as he retrieved his hand from Anakin's.
*So, a bit jealous, eh?* Raveneau chuckled inwardly as he cast a devilish grin at the young Jedi.
"Anakin Skywalker..... I've heard about your.....accomplishments." Anakin thrust his chin into the air as the Falleen continued. "Quite impressive---- for a boy who was once a slave." The last sentence was said with such contempt that Anakin's hand did reach for his saber this time,
unbeknownst to anyone except the two at odds. "No disrespect intended," the Falleen added smugly.
Obi-Wan Kenobi could sense the anger building in his padawan and knew the situation had to be diffused immediately. "Well, Governor and Lord Raveneau, I believe we should return to our quarters and get some rest. Thank you for dinner. Tomorrow will be a day of resolution for us all." The queen and her entourage bowed graciously and began to get up from the table.
*You have no idea how right you are, Kenobi,* Raveneau thought to himself. What his master had in mind would resolve a great many things, and the dark apprentice was more than willing to be the one to bring it all to pass.
"Yes, of course," Raveneau agreed. He turned again to Padme and took her small hand in his. "I do hope we will see one another again soon," he said as he gently placed another kiss on her hand.
*There it is again!* Anakin swore to himself. The man's skin had turned red again. This time the young Jedi was sure of it. He walked over to the twosome and placed his hand under Padme's elbow to try to usher her away from this-- predator.
"Time to go, Padme," Anakin whispered in her ear. Her eyes were locked with Lord Raveneau's own, and Anakin had to practically pull her away. That shifty grin came to the Falleen's face again as he bid goodnight to the other guests.
*This is going to be better than I ever could have hoped,* Lord Raveneau told himself. Yes, he would take great pleasure in this mission.
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Once outside of the banquet hall, Padme shook her head as if coming out of some sort of daze. *What just happened in there?* she asked herself. She knew she had been fully conscious of all that transpired, so why did she feel like she had been totally out of control?
Anakin still holding onto her arm, slowed to let the others get ahead of them, then he spun around to face her.
"What was that?!" he asked in an angry hush. Padme, stunned by his reaction, stood speechless for a moment as she noted that familiar look of hurt in Anakin's eyes.
"What was what?" she finally muttered, knowing full well what he was talking about.
"That whole little giggle, kiss-on-the-hand thing that just went down in there. Did you actually enjoy that?"
Padme knew she would have to choose her words carefully. Honestly, she did kind of enjoy the attention of such an attractive man, or Falleen, rather, but she sure wouldn't let Anakin know. It wasn't anything he should worry about. She loved him, but something about that man had made her lose her senses.
"Oh, Anakin, you're being silly. Lord Raveneau was just being friendly, and I was a bit flattered--- but there is nothing else to worry about. So stop jumping to conclusions. Remember what happened the last time you lost your temper." She was hoping she could get his mind off of the subject by bringing up that sore topic, and she almost did. She could see he was mulling it over in his mind. *Whew!* she thought to herself.
"All right. I'm sorry--- I just don't trust this guy. I get a bad feeling about him. Just try to stay away from him, okay?" That concerned look on his face melted Padme's resolve, and she heartily agreed.
"Okay, Ani," she replied.
"Good," he said as he carefully backed her up against a wall with a roguish grin. He pulled both of her hands to his mouth and placed a soft kiss on each. "I want to be the only one doing this to you," he said as he gazed into her eyes hungrily. Padme's heart sped up, and she could feel her heated blood coursing through her veins as he leaned in closer and whispered, "I have a few other things I'd like to do you, too..."
Padme swallowed hard as a million pleasurable visions suddenly flashed in her head. She closed her eyes and waited for his kiss---- but it didn't come. Disappointed, she opened her eyes to see a wicked smirk on Anakin's face as he let her hands drop.
".... but they'll have to wait---- you did say two days, right?"
"Why you!---" Padme hit Anakin in the arm as he continued to laugh at her.
"Ow!! That hurt! You're a queen. You're not supposed to beat up a Jedi!" he exclaimed jokingly, as he grabbed her hand and led her back to their rooms.
More to come!