The music started up for the next dance, another smooth waltz. Obi-Wan started to excuse himself when he saw Sabé and Holben begin. So, she seemed to want to play games, he thought to himself.
"Perhaps another dance, Lirae."
"Ooooh, I'd love that," the handmaiden purred.
Sabé listened to Holben as chatted about the latest speeders, and surfing on the best beaches of Naboo. She smiled politely and responded in the right places. All the while, her glance would dart around to check on Obi-Wan and Liraé's place on the floor. She was more than a bit satisfied to see that the Jedi was less than comfortable with his current companion. His covert glances toward her proved that. She also caught sight of Captain Panaka beaming in approval of her dancing partner. He had never liked her relationship with Obi-Wan, so he was quite happy that she was with one of his guards. Poor,dear,family friend Panaka, she thought. If only he knew what I have in mind.
It wasn't long before the waltz ended and the band leader announced the next number.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, our next dance will require picking up the pace a bit. Please form circles for The Royal Round."
Everyone gasped as Amidala rose, and stepped to the dance floor. Even though the dance was called The Royal Round, seldom did the monarch actually participate. She gestured to Governor Bibble to join her, and they took position.
As Lirae moved Obi-Wan into position, he asked, "What's this dance? I'm not familiar with it."
"It's an old court dance," Lirae said. "Men on the outside circle, women on the inside to start, but we'll do a kind of weave in and out. You'll go to the right, we'll go to the left. clasp hands with each one and do an inside step as you pass. It's very simple, don't worry. It'll start slowly, then the tempo will pick up. It's fun, but I will say, I don't like sharing you. I was hoping to get to know you better tonight." She winked and smiled alluringly, shaking her shoulders to position her cloak back and give Obi-Wan a view of her cleavage.
Obi-Wan responded with a half grin. Now he knew he wanted to ditch this girl.
//Is that sweat I see forming on your brow?// came into his mind. He shifted his look to the part of the circle where Sabé was standing with Holben.
//Sabé?// He was surprised by the contact. It was the first time she had lowered her shields to him in two years.
//Yes, it's me. Do you want out of this?//
//I'd like nothing better// He responded.
Lirae sensed there was something going on, she looked from Obi-Wan to Sabé, and back again.
//Do you still trust me?// Sabé asked.
Now that he had calmed down from the news of Meira and the concealment of her paternity, Obi-Wan realized that he did want to trust her, even needed to, for some reason.
//Yes,// he sent back.
//Then just do the dance. I'll take care of the rest.//
The music began, and all the spectator's eyes were on Amidala in her elaborate gown, as she appeared to float across the dance floor. She was a vision in blue and green jeweltones with iridescent ruffles. Her movement recalled the grace and beauty of a tropical bird.
Checking the positions of those in the circle, Sabé decided to take a different place.
"Holben, let's go stand between Rabe and Rowan and Eirtae and Max. I haven't been able to talk to them much tonight," Sabé suggested.
"As you wish, Minister," he said, leading her to the spot.
The music started. Liraé showed Obi-Wan the required step, which was really quite simple. The pace started slowly enough that everyone had a chance to practice a step or two before it picked up very much.
The circle moved, and Obi-Wan found that he was changing partners fairly often. After a few changes, he suddenly faced Sabé's mother, Raisa. She was studying the Jedi with a hard look.
"Madame Ambassador, is anything wrong?" Obi-Wan asked, with great apprehension.
"No, nothing's wrong, Jedi. I was wondering what you're doing with my granddaughter's eyes," she said in a low voice, just before the change.
Amidala began adding a few simple variations to the dance as the pace quickened. Her brilliant dress caught the light and made her appear all the more fantastic. She was the center of attention as Sabé met Obi-Wan at the edge of the circle near the balcony.
Sabé took Obi-Wan's hand. She looked to either side meeting Eirtaé's and Rabé's eyes. They inclined their heads just slightly.
//Ready, Obi-Wan// Sabé sent.
//Past ready// he sent, accompanied by a sigh.
Amidala executed a flamboyant turn, Sabé moved to the outside circle in the pass, grasped Obi-Wan's hand firmly, and pulled him with her past the curtain to the outside balcony. Rabé and Eirtaé closed up the hole left by the departing couple and continued the dance. Their partners stifled laughter and cooperated.
At the end, the circle broke up and the next number started. Amidala returned to her throne on the platform. Liraé and Holben were left wondering where their conquests had gone.
The spurned guard ogled the handmaiden and decided he didn't mind being abandoned by the Minister so much after all.
He strutted up to Liraé, full of confidence. "Care to dance?"
The handmaiden was fuming. "No, thank you," she said, dryly and stalked off the floor.
"Perhaps another dance, Lirae."
"Ooooh, I'd love that," the handmaiden purred.
Sabé listened to Holben as chatted about the latest speeders, and surfing on the best beaches of Naboo. She smiled politely and responded in the right places. All the while, her glance would dart around to check on Obi-Wan and Liraé's place on the floor. She was more than a bit satisfied to see that the Jedi was less than comfortable with his current companion. His covert glances toward her proved that. She also caught sight of Captain Panaka beaming in approval of her dancing partner. He had never liked her relationship with Obi-Wan, so he was quite happy that she was with one of his guards. Poor,dear,family friend Panaka, she thought. If only he knew what I have in mind.
It wasn't long before the waltz ended and the band leader announced the next number.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, our next dance will require picking up the pace a bit. Please form circles for The Royal Round."
Everyone gasped as Amidala rose, and stepped to the dance floor. Even though the dance was called The Royal Round, seldom did the monarch actually participate. She gestured to Governor Bibble to join her, and they took position.
As Lirae moved Obi-Wan into position, he asked, "What's this dance? I'm not familiar with it."
"It's an old court dance," Lirae said. "Men on the outside circle, women on the inside to start, but we'll do a kind of weave in and out. You'll go to the right, we'll go to the left. clasp hands with each one and do an inside step as you pass. It's very simple, don't worry. It'll start slowly, then the tempo will pick up. It's fun, but I will say, I don't like sharing you. I was hoping to get to know you better tonight." She winked and smiled alluringly, shaking her shoulders to position her cloak back and give Obi-Wan a view of her cleavage.
Obi-Wan responded with a half grin. Now he knew he wanted to ditch this girl.
//Is that sweat I see forming on your brow?// came into his mind. He shifted his look to the part of the circle where Sabé was standing with Holben.
//Sabé?// He was surprised by the contact. It was the first time she had lowered her shields to him in two years.
//Yes, it's me. Do you want out of this?//
//I'd like nothing better// He responded.
Lirae sensed there was something going on, she looked from Obi-Wan to Sabé, and back again.
//Do you still trust me?// Sabé asked.
Now that he had calmed down from the news of Meira and the concealment of her paternity, Obi-Wan realized that he did want to trust her, even needed to, for some reason.
//Yes,// he sent back.
//Then just do the dance. I'll take care of the rest.//
The music began, and all the spectator's eyes were on Amidala in her elaborate gown, as she appeared to float across the dance floor. She was a vision in blue and green jeweltones with iridescent ruffles. Her movement recalled the grace and beauty of a tropical bird.
Checking the positions of those in the circle, Sabé decided to take a different place.
"Holben, let's go stand between Rabe and Rowan and Eirtae and Max. I haven't been able to talk to them much tonight," Sabé suggested.
"As you wish, Minister," he said, leading her to the spot.
The music started. Liraé showed Obi-Wan the required step, which was really quite simple. The pace started slowly enough that everyone had a chance to practice a step or two before it picked up very much.
The circle moved, and Obi-Wan found that he was changing partners fairly often. After a few changes, he suddenly faced Sabé's mother, Raisa. She was studying the Jedi with a hard look.
"Madame Ambassador, is anything wrong?" Obi-Wan asked, with great apprehension.
"No, nothing's wrong, Jedi. I was wondering what you're doing with my granddaughter's eyes," she said in a low voice, just before the change.
Amidala began adding a few simple variations to the dance as the pace quickened. Her brilliant dress caught the light and made her appear all the more fantastic. She was the center of attention as Sabé met Obi-Wan at the edge of the circle near the balcony.
Sabé took Obi-Wan's hand. She looked to either side meeting Eirtaé's and Rabé's eyes. They inclined their heads just slightly.
//Ready, Obi-Wan// Sabé sent.
//Past ready// he sent, accompanied by a sigh.
Amidala executed a flamboyant turn, Sabé moved to the outside circle in the pass, grasped Obi-Wan's hand firmly, and pulled him with her past the curtain to the outside balcony. Rabé and Eirtaé closed up the hole left by the departing couple and continued the dance. Their partners stifled laughter and cooperated.
At the end, the circle broke up and the next number started. Amidala returned to her throne on the platform. Liraé and Holben were left wondering where their conquests had gone.
The spurned guard ogled the handmaiden and decided he didn't mind being abandoned by the Minister so much after all.
He strutted up to Liraé, full of confidence. "Care to dance?"
The handmaiden was fuming. "No, thank you," she said, dryly and stalked off the floor.