Author: valsolo
Category/Rating: Romance/ PG
Disclaimer: Once again, I'm not trying to make any money. This is written in honor of the wonderful world of Star Wars created by George Lucas. Enjoy!
After making sure Padme was safe in her room, Anakin returned to his. He had to speak with Obi-Wan about the strange vibes he was getting from this Raveneau character. Luckily, Obi-Wan was waiting for Anakin as he entered their chambers.
"Good, you're back," the Jedi master said as he jumped up from a chair. "Where have you been? We need to talk."
"I --- I was just----," Anakin began, but Kenobi cut him off by holding up his hand.
"Don't bother. I think I know where you were," Obi-Wan said with a slight grin.
"Yeah," Anakin muttered sheepishly, running his fingers through his tousled hair.
Obi-Wan had known of Anakin's infatuation with Padme for years. Now, he could sense the development of her mutual feelings, as well. However, he knew that Padme's status as a planetary queen and Anakin's position as a Jedi padawan were not exactly conducive to any kind of romantic relationship. The council was not very accepting of these types of distractions for its Jedi, and the people of Naboo would surely expect their queen to marry royalty. Obi-Wan was sure that Anakin was headed for heartbreak.
"Anakin, why don't you sit down?" the elder Jedi stated. Anakin cast a questioning glance at his master before easing down into a chair.
"All right....," the young man said apprehensively, unsure of where Obi-Wan was going with this conversation.
Jedi knight Obi-Wan Kenobi knew he had to choose his words carefully, for a young heart in love is a fragile thing. His pupil had suffered so much loss in his nineteen years, that Kenobi hated for him to endure anymore hardship.
"Anakin," he began with a fatherly tone, "I have noticed your growing fascination with Queen Amidala and also hers with you."
Was he going to talk about what Anakin thought he was going to talk about? Skywalker wasn't sure whether to laugh or blush. He shifted uneasily in the chair.
"You know that Amidala holds a very important position in galactic politics and society."
Obi-Wan glanced at Anakin, knowing he sounded rather unsure of himself. Anakin sat there anticipating his master's next words.
"You are also aware of the council's stance on romantic entanglements. They see them as a distraction to a Jedi, especially a padawan learner." The last part was emphasized for meaning, and slowly Anakin began to realize the point Obi-Wan was trying to make. Putting Obi-Wan at ease, Anakin spoke up.
"Obi-Wan, I know what you're getting at."
"Thank heavens!" Obi-Wan muttered as he plopped into a chair, breathing a big sigh of relief. As he sat down, Anakin stood up and walked behind his master.
"Look, I know what the council says, and I know that Padme holds a very important position. I also know that you care about me, and you're only trying to protect me." Obi-Wan was suddenly very proud of his padawan's mature attitude towards the whole situation. This would be easier than he thought.
"BUT---" Anakin stated as he moved to face his master.
"Uh-oh. Nothing good ever comes after that word," Obi-Wan muttered defeatedly. "But what?" Anakin knew he had to be convincing to get his point across.
"But...... I'm not a boy anymore, Obi-Wan. I'm a grown man who happens to be totally in love with a grown woman," Anakin stood straight and proud, ".... and she just so happens to be the ruler of a planet." The last part was said softly and quickly so as not to draw too much attention to its reality. Kenobi started to interject, but Anakin cut him off.
"Now, I know that things might not work out exactly the way I'd like, but I'm willing to take that risk. I want to LIVE life, master--- even if that means bending a few senseless rules of the council or Naboo society. I love her... I always have and I always will, and if there's a chance that she feels the same---- well, I'm going to take it." With that, the young Jedi sat back down, mentally giving himself a pat on the back.
Obi-Wan looked into the face of his student and friend. What could he say?--- "a Jedi doesn't deserve happiness?" No, Anakin had already made his mind up, and Obi-Wan knew better than to try and change it. That had never worked. Anakin wasn't an ordinary man or a typical Jedi. He had to live life his way, and Kenobi knew his pupil well enough to let the subject drop.
"All right then," Obi-Wan conceded giving Anakin a smile of understanding. "Well, we have other problems to deal with besides your love life, my young padawan."
A silent understanding passed between them, and then they redirected their energies to one Lord Raveneau of the Falleen.
"I don't like him," Anakin stated bluntly.
"Come now.... don't try to hide your feelings, Anakin," Obi-Wan said sarcastically.
Anakin chuckled at his transparency, but then became deadly serious. "I feel the dark side coming from him.... and the way he kissed all the women---- I don't like him."
"Well, I have to admit that I was sensing a bit of darkness from him as well, but I'm not sure if it's the dark side or just the fact that he's a charismatic playboy." Anakin laughed again at his master's assessment of the new man. "He was overdoing it a bit with the ladies. You know, I might be crazy, but I could have sworn that his skin changed colors when he shook their hands."
Anakin snapped his head towards Obi-Wan. "You saw it too?! I thought I was the crazy one. What was that all about?"
"I don't know. I've never come in contact with a Falleen before. I'll contact the council in the morning and see what light they can shed on our friend, Raveneau. Until then, we must be very careful and keep the women under close protection." Obi-Wan shot a sly grin over to Anakin. "I'm sure you won't mind, right?"
Anakin felt himself heat up from embarrassment, but Obi-Wan was right. He would love every minute of 'protecting' the queen in disguise.
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A soft tapping entered into Padme's dreams of pleasant things, and it took her a moment to realize it was coming from her door. Rabe was still soundly sleeping, so Padme decided to answer it herself. Padding quietly to the door, she suddenly felt a quiver in her stomach. 'Maybe it's Anakin,' she thought with a smile. Anxiously opening the door, she was surprised at the source of the knocking.
"Lord Raveneau?" she asked in amazement. There before her stood the handsome Falleen gentleman in his long dark cape with a gorgeous smile on his face. Padme self-consciously wrapped her arms around herself, remembering she was only in her light nightgown.
"My dear Padme--- that is your name, right?" Padme nodded weakly. "I am sorry to interrupt your slumber, but I have some important information regarding Queen Amidala's safety." He wore a look of extreme sincerity on his face, and try as she might, she couldn't help but believe every word he said.
"What information?" she asked in all seriousness. "Let me get my partner." Padme turned to go to Rabe, but Raveneau gently grabbed her arm and pulled her back to the door.
"No need to wake her," he said as he looked deeply into Padme's eyes. "I have to be extremely careful that I am not seen with you. There are enemies of the queen about in this palace, and I will become a target of their treachery if I am found out." He leaned in close to her face and whispered, "You are the only one I can trust. I felt it as soon as I touched your hand this evening."
Padme felt a rush of sensations flow over her body when he spoke. His voice was low and melodic and seemed to soothe any apprehension she felt. For a moment his green face seemed to blush red, even though Padme thought it was probably just the lack of bright lighting. She felt drawn to this strange man, and found herself willing to follow him anywhere.
"What do you want me to do?" she questioned innocently. Raveneau delighted at the apparent effect his pheromones were starting to have on this woman--- this queen in disguise. She was quite lovely, an added bonus to his mission. He would savor every moment of her seduction to the dark side by his own hands.
"Please come with me and I can show you what I've found out about the governor. Then you can come back and inform your friends. It won't take long." He continued to hold her hand and her gaze as she tried to decide what to do. In her mind Padme knew that she should by no means go with this man, but the rest of her body was beginning to feel rather--- unusual Some crazy part of her secretly wanted to be alone with him.
"Well...." she debated, looking back one more time at Rabe's sleeping form. "All right. Let me just grab my robe."
With that, Raveneau let her hand go and watched her with a feeling of triumph. 'So easy,' he said to himself. He recalled the many others he had 'persuaded' over the years even before he had come to Sidious. He knew he was quite talented, for never before had he failed to accomplish his goals, whether they be for his own personal satisfaction or for the greater good of the dark side.
After grabbing her robe, Padme returned to the door to leave with Lord Raveneau. As they began walking, her eyes drifted to a door across the hallway---- Anakin's room. A quick pang of guilt entered her mind, but was quickly forced out by Raveneau's touch on her arm. With each step, Padme felt herself falling further and further out of control.
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Lord Raveneau of the Falleen led Padme through the dark and twisting corridors of the Rabeed Palace. For the first few minutes, she had tried to keep herself oriented, but it soon became impossible. One minute they would be going up stairs, and the next they'd be going down. Warning bells were sounding in the young queen's mind. She know knew for certain she had made the wrong choice in coming with this man. What had come over her?
"Where are you taking me?" she asked, stopping to catch her breath.
"Someplace where no enemies will find us," he replied, meaning of course HIS enemies. "Privacy is of the utmost importance in these types of dealings. Don't worry. We're almost there, my dear." Again he took her hand, and an unnatural calm spread over her fretful mind as they began walking again.
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"Nooooo!!!" Anakin screamed as he sat bolt upright in his bed. Obi- Wan popped up almost immediately upon hearing his padawan.
"Anakin? Are you all right?" the man asked. "Are you dreaming again?" Anakin took a few deep breaths once he realized he was in his own room, safe and sound.
"Yeah... yeah. I'm okay. I just got a sudden burst of desperation--- not from me but from someone else."
"This Raveneau character really has you on edge, doesn't he?" Obi-Wan questioned. He had to admit that he was also feeling quite uncomfortable about the Falleen's presence here. Kenobi sensed a dark purpose beneath all that charm.
"You know," Anakin said as he got out of bed and slipped his clothes on, "I think I'm going to go check on Padme..... just for my own peace of mind." The young Jedi walked across the hall and knocked on Padme's door. In a moment, a sleepy-eyed Rabe answered, surprised when Anakin pushed his way in.
"Are you okay, Rabe?" he asked as he moved to Padme's bed and realized it was empty. "Where is she? Where's Padme?" he demanded of the young handmaiden.
"What?---- I...I don't know, Anakin. Let me check the refresher," Rabe responded, thinking the Jedi had finally lost all sensibilities.
Horrible thoughts began to race through Anakin's mind. "I knew something like this would happen," he muttered under his breath. By this time, Obi-Wan Kenobi had entered the room and instantly picked up on Anakin's despair and growing anger.
Rabe returned with a confused look on her face. Silently, she walked to Padme's bed and began searching for something. "It's not here," she said as she became frantic. "It's not here!" Obi-Wan grabbed her and tried to calm her down.
"What? What's not here?"
"Her robe--- it's gone..... she's gone." The handmaiden sank onto the bed in shock. "Why didn't she wake me? How could I let this happen?"
Anakin was now frantic as well. "She's gone?! I've got to find her. I've got to find her!" he repeated several times. As he turned to run out of the room, Obi-Wan caught his arm and pulled him back in.
"Calm down, Anakin. You'll be no help to anyone in this state, so sit down." Anakin unwillingly submitted even though every bone in his body was shouting for him to go. Obi-Wan knew he had to take control of the situation. "Now, we don't know for certain that anything is amiss. Perhaps she just went out for some fresh air, or---"
"Oh, you don't believe that!" Anakin declared, his anxiety building with each passing second.
"All right," Kenobi conceded. "Rabe, you go check on Sabe. I'll go get our holoprojector and contact someone in the Council. We've got to know who we're up against before I let you go barging off," he directed at his headstrong padawan as he walked out the door.
"Yeah, well, you'd better hurry because I'm not going to waste time meeting in a committee!" Anakin shouted back. It took all the force he could muster to make himself stay in the room.
Rabe soon returned with a disheveled Sabe, and Obi-Wan quickly placed a call to the Jedi Council. Soon enough, the hologram face of Jedi Master Mace Windu was staring at the small group of concerned faces.
"A Falleen, you say?" Mace inquired. Obi-Wan shook his head. "I agree that it is quite unusual for a Falleen to be on Naboo. They generally keep to their own corner of space. Tell me, have you noticed anything 'unusual' about this man?--- about his skin, perhaps?"
Both master and padawan looked at each other and then back to Windu. "Yes, Master Windu. Anakin and I both saw his skin change colors when he was near the women."
"Hmmm...," Windu contemplated with his finger on his chin. "Do any of you know anything about the special capabilities of Falleen males?" All heads shook 'no.' "Well, Falleen males produce certain chemicals, or pheromones as they are called, which can affect a human female in... strange ways."
"What do you mean, Master?" Anakin asked with a sense of dread.
"What I mean, my young padawan, is that if this man does in fact have the queen, she may be unable to ward off any 'advances' he may make towards her. And if he is a Sith--- well, then, he is that much more of a danger. I sense that the dark side wishes to have her. You must find her. May the Force be with you." Mace Windu's face slowly disappeared as the transmission was ended.
Anakin's heart dropped as he jumped up from his seat. "I'm going, Obi-Wan, no matter what you say. I've got to find her!" Then Anakin Skywalker bolted out the door to his destiny. Obi-Wan ran into the hall, calling after his student. "Wait! Wait for me, Anakin! Remember to control your anger!" But before he could finish, Anakin was out of sight.
More to come!....