Hi I'm back and I am so sorry for the delay. Since I last updated a lot has happened over the past couple of months. First I had to get an endoscopy done, then I lost some notes I had been using for years to help me write this story which made me a little sad and I had to restart from scratch. Luckily I have some other notes to help me build off of. Then I got a bad cold a month ago which made me unable to concentrate on writing and I still have a bad cough. I was also unsure how to go about this chapter and connect to future events I have in mind. I think after this chapter I'll take a break to try and recharge my batteries, but I hope you guys enjoy this chapter all the same.
Anakin and Sabé search for answers, and Great-Aunt Lydonia sees a different side of Sheev.
Just a reminder I don't own anything.
Chapter 22
Sabé looked on with worry as her friend and former mistress made the trek down the street to get on the transport to take her to the Greduns' neighborhood. Eirtaé's home was positioned in a higher section in Theed so for now the waters just flowed down in a shallow stream.
The cellar where Vatié's body was being kept hadn't flooded yet, but they would have to move her eventually. Saché had left to attend court, excuse Eirtaé's absence, and to inform Governor Bibble of his daughter's death. The school Dormé worked at had canceled classes, allowing her to stay and help care for Ellé and Eirtaé while Sabé, Anakin, and Ferus tried to figure out who the traitor was. Typho, Yané, Rabé, and Moteé were the ones who hadn't been cleared yet.
Sabé supposed it was easier for her to accept the fact that one of her friends was a traitor than it had been for Padmé. Maybe there was a small part of her that had already suspected it ever since Karté's death. That didn't mean it wasn't a difficult pill to swallow. Sabé had trained and served alongside them for half her life. They had become her family, even Moteé whom the original handmaidens had barely tolerated because of what she and her sister put Eirtaé through.
Because of their suspicions, Yané and Moteé were the most likely candidates. Which one of them was it though? Both? Or was it neither of them?
After Anakin and Ferus updated her on everything they knew, they proceeded on their next course of action. While Ferus watched over their suspects, Anakin and Sabé began to search Eirtaé's garden for Vatié's bag. Eirtaé seemed to have been convinced Vatié had hidden it before her attacker had managed to kill her. Sabé wanted to believe she was right even if there was the possibility the bag had been taken and the computer destroyed.
From the heavy rains, the garden had become like a swamp and every step submerged their feet. It left Sabé very little hope that they would be able to find the computer intact even if Vatié had hidden it up a tree.
As they searched the garden, Anakin spoke up. "Here's what I don't get: why did the traitor poison Ellé and Eirtaé? Why them? Why not the whole house? It seems pretty sloppy to me."
Sabé had to agree. "It seems impulsive. Maybe Eirtaé and Ellé saw something, or maybe it was random to cause some kind of chaos in the house. Unless-"
"Unless they were pressured into doing something drastic?" Anakin finished, pushing aside an uprooted shrub.
"But why pressure them? And how did they do so on such short notice? Nobody has left the house since yesterday and your jammer has been working since we all got back. There's no way they would have gotten word from the palace or even gotten those Atinama leaves on such short notice," Sabé commented.
They reached the gateVatié had probably ran through to escape her attacker in a desperate attempt to save herself.
Anakin looked out the alleyway towards the street, and Sabé saw him frown. "What do you know about the Yelninas?"
Sabé felt herself stiffening, her mind remembering Moré. "Acros Yelnina, the patriarch of the family was a cruel man, still a cruel man to this day. He was one of Veruna's political advisors and he tried to make Padmé's life miserable while she was the Princess of Theed. He was always trying to involve her in some kind of scandal to ruin her public image and eliminate her as a threat to Veruna. When Veruna abdicated and Padmé became Queen, she had enough evidence to expose his part in Veruna's web of corruption. He was forced to resign. He tried regaining his power by having his daughter Moré apply to become a handmaiden."
Sabé remembered those days. Back then before Panaka had become Captain of the guard, he and his wife were among the then Princess Amidala's small security. Sabé herself wasn't an official handmaiden yet. She was still training at the Academy when Panaka had approached her and had asked her to become the Princess's aide until her training was complete and she could become an official handmaiden. She had agreed, not yet knowing the full dangers in the court of King Veruna. She pushed past the set of painful memories.
"Back then in the Academy, the Handmaiden Program had very few candidates. Naboo had had Kings for over thirty years and there weren't enough female officials that required handmaidens. There are hundreds of students in the program today, but back then there were only a couple dozen when I started the program."
She could feel Anakin's surprised gaze on her, but Sabé continued. "When word of Veruna's abdication spread around, more girls applied in the program. There were twenty-five girls who met the criteria, but only thirteen would be chosen to be Amidala's handmaidens. Panaka almost didn't let Moré make the cut because of her father, and his fear of allowing a serpent into Padmé's circle. It took the head of the program, Aemiliaé Phoenia, before she became Lady Bibble, to strong arm him. Moré was the last of the remaining candidates she thought suited Padmé. She had tutored many girls in Theed over the years and believed Moré to be very different from her father. Padmé trusted Aemiliaé's judgment and accepted her as her handmaiden. I feel bad when I think about how prejudiced we were towards her. Yané and Karté told us she had died while taking out a droid factory the Trade Federation had begun to build. She was only fourteen years old."
Sabé sniffed and she had to wipe the tear that shed from her eye, remembering the young woman so determined to prove herself. "She was so brave, so smart, and even nice despite how everybody treated her with suspicion. Unlike her selfish and cowardly father. He had disowned her, and didn't attend her funeral. He even forbade his family from going, so his wife and second daughter Tessé had to sneak out in order to attend."
And even then, Sabé remembered they had watched from a distance, so scared were they of word going back to Aros. "We kept an eye on them over the years. Aros made Tessé go into the Legislative Youth Program and when she graduated, she served as ambassador to many different planets over the years. The rest of his daughters he married off to money, hoping to rebuild the Yelnina family glory. Last I heard, he and his wife were visiting relatives in the far southern hemisphere of Naboo, but no doubt they'll come back for Tessé's swearing in as Senator."
Anakin was silent for a moment, no doubt pondering Sabé's words before he spoke again. "What are your thoughts on Tessé?"
"I've never actually interacted with her," Sabé admitted. "I've only seen her a handful of times since Moré's funeral, but based on what I've heard, she's definitely loyal to her family and seems to embrace the new Empire."
"Would she be a threat?" Anakin asked.
Sabé didn't have to think too hard to know what he was implying. "Possibly. Based on the type of household I've heard about, Aros could have molded her into whatever he wanted. If she thinks gaining the Empire's favor will also gain her father's approval she might be willing to do anything."
Anakin nodded as if she had already confirmed his suspicions.
"What?"
"Panaka might not be the only one the traitor informs. Stay sharp."
With that they continued the search for Vatié's bag. Sabé had to watch herself as she trudged through the mud puddles, trying to feel a hint of Vatié's bag. If Vatié had been chased, why would she bother to hide the bag if she was running for her life? Common sense would have been to just drop the bag and run for the house. She had been found close to the house. Maybe if she hadn't taken the time to hide the bag she would have reached the safety of the house, informed them who the traitor was, and still be alive? Oh, Vatié why? Did she already know she was going to die?
"What made you want to become a handmaiden?" Anakin suddenly asked, making his way through a couple of dead shrubs.
His question caught Sabé off guard. "What?"
"What made you decide to become a handmaiden?" Anakin repeated. "You said yourself that back then there weren't many handmaiden positions open, but you applied and trained to become one before Padmé even became Queen, so… what made you decide to become a handmaiden?"
Sabé was silent for a moment. "I'm sure Padmé has already told you I come from a large family?"
Anakin nodded and Sabé continued. "In my family there were two directions to go in careers: becoming a hallikset player or joining the family business in merchandising. I, on the other hand, wanted to become a professional bolo-ball player. I joined the Handmaiden Program to keep in shape and help my credentials. It also seemed cool to twelve-year-old me at the time. However, the longer I was in there the more I wanted to learn. They told us about how being a handmaiden was more than just being a bodyguard or servant. A handmaiden is an extension of her mistress. They told us stories of so many who had bravely served as handmaidens to queens and officials of Naboo, and that's how I found out about my Aunt Liné's service under Queen Celestine. Growing up, our parents told us to never ask how Aunt Liné got her scars, and I didn't find out the truth until I joined the program. One of our instructors showed me her service record, and I realized how much she went through."
"The fact that she had been so injured as a result of the bombing didn't deter you?" Anakin asked.
"Not at all. It gave me a new awareness as to what I was getting into, but I was determined to succeed as a handmaiden. Becoming Padmé's handmaiden and shadow had its ups and downs and a set of pain, but I never regretted my choice."
"Thank you," Anakin said.
Sabé looked at him. She could admit that when she found out about him and Padmé she had her doubts that their relationship would last. Yet as the years went by, she saw how happy and carefree Padmé was, something she hadn't seen since the Blockade, and after talking with Padmé last night, she realized that she had been wrong. He was good for Padmé and she was good for him. Too aggressive for Sabé but then didn't people always say the same thing about her? She knew she could trust Padmé's life to Anakin. Her best friend's life.
She bowed her head. "It is my privilege and honor."
They continued their search. Another storm was beginning to brew and they needed to hurry. When Sabé felt like throwing in the towel, that's when Anakin finally found it.
Sabé wanted to laugh and cry.
The bag was hanging off a tree limb pointing inside another tree. If you hadn't been looking for it, you could have missed it. Anakin tugged the bag free. "Think it will work?" he asked.
Sabé looked at the bag soaked through. "Let's find out."
000{{*}}000
Anakin kept his face expressionless as he and Sabé entered the library where Ferus was watching over Typho, Rabé, Yané, and Moteé. Anakin could feel their irritation and worry.
Everybody looked at him and Sabé.
"Did you find it?" Typho asked impatiently.
Anakin kept his anger tightly wrapped. "We found it." He observed their reactions and felt a great sense of fear.
"What condition is it in?" Moteé asked.
"Vatié kept it off the ground which kept it from getting completely ruined from the mud puddles, and the material of the bag just barely protected it. It's still damp, but once it's dried I can access it, and with any luck we'll know who the traitor is in a few hours," Sabé explained.
With that being said, the two of them left, followed by Ferus. He closed the door behind him and approached them.
"Can you really find the traitor out in a matter of hours?" he asked in a low tone.
"I made it up," Sabé revealed.
Ferus' face was filled with surprise. "You what?"
"The computer was out there in pouring rain all night. The greatest technician wouldn't have been able to save it. It's fried," Anakin told him.
"Then why-" Ferus stopped himself, and Anakin felt him realizing their plan. "You're pushing the traitor into making a move."
Anakin nodded. "You're pushed into a corner with no way out, they'll do something to get themself out."
Ferus looked unsure. "It's risky."
"It is," Sabé agreed. "But we're running out of options. Vatié's dead, Eirtaé and Ellé could have died, and Anakin and Padmé have been nearly captured more than once. We can't waste anymore and keep endangering everyone."
"In the meantime, keep an eye on those four. Sabé will go upstairs and help Dormé with Ellé and Eirtaé, and try to give off the impression she's decrypting the computer," Anakin explained his plan to Ferus.
"And what will you be doing?"
"I'll be watching from the hidden passageways as backup."
Ferus still thought it was risky, but agreed to it.
While Ferus returned to watch their suspects, Sabé showed Anakin how to get into the passageway he had been in the day before. Using a glowrod, Anakin made his way through the hidden passageways, kneeling and crawling through narrow holes when he had to until he reached the library. There was a peep hole he could see out of and observe the inhabitants. As he watched them, Anakin wondered which one of them was the traitor.
He recalled meeting Yané and Rabé as a child. Yané was a renowned hero of the Resistance despite her young age, having figured out ways to communicate with the other cells through passing fabric materials with weaved patterns as well as leading several attacks on droid patrols. Rabé, who had been kind to him, a newly freed slave boy in a new world, and had stayed by Padmé's side, and protected her as they fought to liberate their planet. Moteé, who despite the bad history she had with the original handmaidens had kept Padmé's secrets and protected her in the Senate. Even if she had disapproved of their relationship at first, whenever Anakin came to visit Padmé, she and the other handmaidens had made Anakin feel welcome, and it almost felt like he and Padmé were a regular couple among friends. As for Typho… Anakin wished that he was the traitor. With Panaka being his uncle it would make so much sense, and it would excuse Anakin for wanting to beat him to a pulp for lusting after his wife and getting Dormé pregnant and leaving her alone. The more Anakin thought about it, the more appealing it seemed, until he remembered Clovis.
He remembered walking into the apartment, hoping to apologize to Padmé for the way he talked to her earlier when he walked in on them. Clovis was holding Padmé in his arms, leaning down to kiss her while Padmé tried to push him away and telling him to stop. Anakin had reacted on instinct, wanting to pull the serpent off his wife. He used the Force by grabbing his throat. He wanted Clovis to suffer for even attempting to force himself on Padmé when she obviously didn't want it. Of course the idiot had to challenge him. Ha! Even Bail Organa would have put on a better fight compared to this stupid coward. Forget the Force, even without it, Anakin was a warrior who fought in many hand to hand combat and bore the scars for them. This coward was nothing, and as Clovis ran his mouth, Anakin felt the dragon he always kept in check, release inside of him. He unleashed his anger onto Clovis. Punch after punch, fist after fist, Anakin unleashed it all.
For allowing Padmé to be poisoned.
For claiming to love her, and yet willing to let her die if Anakin hadn't strong-armed him.
For betraying the Republic.
For coming back into their lives and causing havoc.
For pursuing Padmé.
For being allowed to love her openly while Anakin had to hide his love like it was immoral.
If Padmé hadn't stopped him, Anakin probably would have killed him. When it stopped, all Anakin could feel was shame and self-loathing, but it was the fear in Padmé's eyes that stuck to him the most. Fear of what he was capable of when he lost control. Anakin would not repeat his past mistakes, he couldn't lose control again, but if Dormé needed a hand in beating Typho up, Anakin would gladly volunteer.
Time passed slowly, and as Anakin wondered how Padmé was doing, he kept an eye on them. Pretty soon the traitor would have to make a move. If they thought they were being closed in on they would do something in self-preservation. The longer they waited the more anxiety Anakin felt in that room.
Moteé was trying to relax herself in her chair, but was obviously tense. Rabé leaned against an end table with one hand holding her hold while the other tapped against her leg. Yané was looking outside the window, one hand playing with something around her neck, a necklace most likely. Typho walked around the shelves, looking at titles of holo and flimsi books in an attempt to distract himself.
Anakin hadn't been on a stakeout since the war, and his muscles were beginning to cramp from standing still for so long.
Finally someone broke.
Moteé had to use the fresher.
"Make it quick," Ferus told her.
Anakin moved, making his way back to the passage Sabé had shown him through just in time to hear Moteé's footsteps passing by in the direction of the downstairs fresher. He felt a nudge from Ferus in the Force, signaling he was clear.
Anakin opened the passageway, and hurried to the kitchen, going out the back door. He hurried around the house, going where he figured the fresher's window was just in time to see Moteé climbing out of it.
Anakin nearly laughed.
Desperate indeed and foolish.
He approached her from behind when she jumped down and grabbed her shoulder.
She turned around, startled.
Anakin grinned at her coldly. "Hi."
000{{*}}000
Sabé never tried drugs when she was young. She was in the Handmaiden Program and trying to get into bolo-ball. They screamed often and kicked out everyone who failed the drug screening. She couldn't afford to risk it, and throughout her life as Padmé's shadow she had to keep herself on constant alert, never doing more than several alcoholic drinks.
Eirtaé hardly drank more than a couple glasses of wine in the evening. Like Sabé, Eirtaé liked to be alert and in control. So while neither of them had been in the habit of partying hard, they did have friends who did and therefore knew how to take care of them. So as Sabé wiped the sweat off Eirtaé's forehead, her thoughts split into two directions back and forth.
She thought of Padmé risking a trek to the Greduns who may or may not help her. She thought of Anakin and Ferus watching Rabé, Typho, Yané, and Moteé, and trying to figure out which of them was the traitor.
She felt useless.
Ever since Palpatine had declared himself Emperor and had named Padmé a traitor and outlaw as well as the Jedi, she had sought to make herself useful. Padmé had disappeared without a trace, and Sabé and her friends were interrogated heavily by Admiral Tarkin. Sabé remembered how he'd questioned her. He knew about Padmé and Anakin's relationship, and that Anakin was the father of Padmé's unborn child she had tried to keep hidden. Sabé had revealed nothing, and neither did Typho or any of her sister handmaidens. However, the interrogations had revealed information of their own to Sabé. She had no way of knowing if Padmé was alive or if Anakin had survived the purges, but if Tarkin and Palpatine knew of them, their lives were in danger. It was one thing to suspect that they were having a secret affair, but it was another to outright know they had been secretly married. No one, but Padmé's close circle knew about them, as well as the priest who married them.
It became Sabé's goal and mission to discover who had betrayed such personal information to Palpatine, endangering Padmé and Anakin's lives, and eliminate them as a threat. In the meantime, Sabé got into contact with Senator Bail Organa, an old friend of Padmé's and now secretly leading the developing Rebel Alliance to restore the Republic. While she investigated the traitor, Sabé used the connections she had formed secretly smuggling slaves to freedom, as well as Eirtaé's and Yané's connections to smuggle ships and supplies to the Rebellion. She felt that's what Padmé would have wanted.
Then she found out it had been Panaka who had betrayed Padmé to Palpatine. The sense of betrayal Sabé had felt had nearly overwhelmed her. Panaka, who had trained all of them, who devoted eight years of his life serving and protecting Amidala. They had looked up to him, and Padmé had trusted him, and yet he had betrayed her for Palpatine. With his rising powers and the rumors that he would replace Bibble as Governor instead of Saché who had been diligently serving the Naboo for years had infuriated Sabé as she recognized the price for his betrayal. She had remembered the oath Phoenia, Mariek, and Panaka himself had made her memorize and swore as Amidala's handmaiden. Panaka was a traitor and therefore was to be eliminated as one. Her sister handmaidens had been torn as to how to deal with him, but Sabé had been determined to take out Panaka.
An outright assassination would have had devastating consequences for Naboo, so she would have to resort to other methods. Poison. It left a foul taste in Sabé's mouth, and if done incorrectly the consequences would be dire, but it was the best method to use without drawing too much suspicion. First, she needed someone skilled in medicine to figure out the poison as well as having access to Panaka. Karté had been the best choice. Although she had dropped out of medical school before becoming a handmaiden and later going into politics, Karté had kept up with her medical skills and knowledge. Sabé had thought her the best option in eliminating Panaka. They had kept the secret between them (or so Sabé thought), and told none of their friends for fear of implicating them. When Sabé heard about Karté and her fiance's deaths, she was shocked. She could remember Karté's happiness when she told them of her girlfriend's proposal, and she remembered the looks on Karté's elderly parents' faces as they buried their only child. For months Karté's death had haunted Sabé, and now she realized it was because one of their own had betrayed Karté to Panaka. Now, Vatié was dead, and Padmé, Anakin, and all their lives were in danger. Sabé wouldn't let the traitor off or Panaka for that.
Eirtaé shifted, drawing Sabé out of her thoughts.
Eirtaé blinked her eyes blurrily. "What… what's going on?" Her voice sounded groggy and weak.
Sabé helped her sit up and held a cup to her lips. "Take it easy. Do you remember what happened last night?"
"Um…" Sabé watched as her friend struggled to remember through her foggy mind. "I remember… I remember moving Vatié to the cellar. I remember Moteé accusing me, saying I was the traitor. I-" Eirtaé broke off like she was struggling not to cry.
Sabé wanted to comfort her and tell her to take her time, but this was their chance and they were running out of time. "Eirtaé, do you remember drinking anything after that?"
Eirtaé struggled to think. "I… I remember wanting to drink some karlini tea to relax myself before bedtime. It tasted weird… like… like minty. That's the last thing I remember."
"But do you remember who brewed it?" Sabé asked, struggling to keep her impatience in check.
Eirtaé was quiet for a long time. Finally, she answered. "Yané. It was Yané."
000{{*}}000
65 bby
Padmé's days in the hospital gave her a lot of time to think. Celestine, the handmaidens, and Captain Blantyre had all come in to keep her updated on the events happening in the palace.
Ever since her and Patté's things had become more intense as word spread inside the palace. The man they had arrested for pushing the shelf onto Padmé and Patté still claimed it was an accident, and nobody who witnessed it came forth to deny it, so they were forced under law to release him after so long. Padmé realized that they all must be in on the missing kitchen supplies or they were afraid. They would have to investigate further.
In the meantime, Padmé tried to focus on her healing. Her hand had responded perfectly to the bacta treatment, allowing the doctors to remove the pins in her hand, but her hand still ached, especially when she wrote for too long. She couldn't write as often in her diary to arrange her notes, instead, having to type them down on a datapad using her left hand. It was slow work, but Padmé didn't trust anyone else to write them down. The Queen had loaned her Patté and Veta to help lighten her load in the secretary office until she and Patté had recovered their full strength. It helped significantly, giving Padmé the free time to fulfill her promise to help Pooja's daughter with her project.
Speaking of which…
"You look so pensive," Monié scolded from behind her easel. "You're supposed to look out with longing like you're waiting for Set."
Padmé had come to Pooja's home where her mother and daughter lived to pose for Monié's painting of Veré. She had even changed into a blue gown of flowing shimmersilk Monié had borrowed from her school's costume department, as well as having white blossoms weaved into her cascading brown locks. Her hand was still wrapped in bacta bandages, but they had arranged for it to be hidden from view as Padmé sat on the bench of the bay windows with moonlight shining down on her face. The twelve-year-old was an artistic prodigy and had a good eye in arranging the perfect setup.
Padmé shook herself from her thoughts. "I'm sorry," she apologized before resuming her pose. She noticed Sheev in the background move closer to look at the painting Monié was working on.
Ever since the incident, Sheev had stuck to her side, even going so far as to skip classes and sit in Bowen's office while she worked. It was as if he was afraid if he turned his back, something would happen to Padmé. It was rather sweet, if somewhat stifling. Padmé enjoyed getting to spend more time with Sheev, talking about their families, school, and palace intrigues, and even sneaking kisses when no one was looking, but too much time together was… too much for Padmé. They only parted when Padmé returned home and Sheev was reassured that she was safe.
She saw Sheev smile as he studied the painting. "What?"
"Nothing. You look…" Sheev pulled his gaze away from the painting, his pale blue eyes meeting her soft brown eyes. "Ethereal."
Padmé couldn't contain her blush, certain that he was exaggerating like he always did when it came to her beauty. Pooja always commented that she was a beautiful girl as did her family, but it felt different when others commented as such.
Sheev moved closer to her, making sure he wasn't in Monié's way as she painted. "What are you thinking, Padmé?" he gently asked her.
"So many things," Padmé admitted. "The people involved in mine and Patté's 'accident', the upcoming elections, but most of all the upcoming anniversary of the Plague in my village."
It had been nearly a year since she had lost her mother, brother-in-law, and many neighbors and friends. Padmé herself had barely survived it, and she could still remember how weak and drained she had felt.
Sheev looked at her with the rare sympathy he only showed for her. "Are you planning anything for it?"
"They're hosting a memorial back home in Claines," Padmé answered. "Ryoo and Jobal will be going to visit Mammy and Papa, and Ryoo's mother-in-law."
"And you?"
Padmé had to look away from his peering eyes as she admitted guiltily, "I'll be staying here."
"Posture Padmé," Monié reminded her.
Padmé corrected her posture while Sheev asked her why so.
"I'm needed here. Celestine needs me helping to arrange documents, meetings, and filling in for Bowen," Padmé explained. "I also need to keep an eye on Bowen. I'm worried he'll do something foolish, so I had his manservant give me the key to his blaster cabinet and lock up any sharp objects."
She had even gone through the trouble of hiring a housekeeper to help the manservant keep an eye on Bowen.
"You really think he'll try to commit suicide?" Sheev asked.
"I can't be sure. I hope not, but Fayé was the light in his life, and his only family. With her gone it's like the life in him has been sucked out. Celestine has too much going on to check on Bowen and the rest of her family is too wrapped up in their own grief to worry about him."
It was understandable, but concerning. From what Padmé had heard, President Cesare had locked himself up in his estate and was in a depressive state. Nadié's younger sister, Hara, had gone back to school on Coruscant and had buried herself in her studies, according to what Padmé had heard. There was no other family. It saddened Padmé.
However, the other half of her was afraid to return home. Could she return to Claines, knowing that so many people who were once in her life were now gone? Could she enter the kitchen in their home where her mother spent hours cooking and baking? Could she go into their backyard where Jon would play ball with her and Jobal? Could she roam the vineyards where she and the neighborhood kids would run around and play, passing workers gathering the harvest? Padmé didn't think she could. At least not yet. Perhaps it was selfish and cowardly of her, but she hoped Ryoo, Jobal, and Mammy would understand. With so much going on and so little time, Padmé was needed at the Palace more than ever.
Shortly afterwards, Monié finished painting for the night.
Padmé changed into her own clothing, fixed her hair, and said goodnight to Monié and Clotia before making her way back home with Sheev beside her. The streets were dark early in the evening this time of year. The street lights provided little light, giving the neighborhood an eerie feeling. It made Padmé glad to have Sheev walking beside her.
When they had walked a block in perfect silence, Sheev spoke up. "Is this what you had in mind when you entered politics? Your life constantly in danger?" he asked.
"No," Padmé admitted. "I never expected my life to be in such danger, especially when I'm so young and early in my career. But then, perhaps I should have expected it. Senator Maddox's predecessor Joaquin Mar was killed in a mysterious accident, as has many past politicians. It's unavoidable when politicians make enemies so easily."
"But you're only a secretary," Sheev pointed out. "You don't speak out in public. You're actually an aid, but you've only been in that position for a few months, and you've currently been in charge of the secretary's duties for not even a fortnight and somebody's already attacked you."
"Because I'm doing my job!" Padmé told him, slightly miffed at how he referred to her position. "I may be a secretary, or aid, or even the "Queen's Pet", but my job is to help run the Palace, make sure everyone is doing their jobs right, and assist the Queen in running the Sector."
She quickened her steps, putting a few steps between her and Sheev.
The nerve of-
Sheev hurried up after her and grabbed her arm. "Whoa, whoa, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to sound that way. I'm just worried about you."
Padmé's anger eased, realizing that what Sheev said came from a good place even if it stung. "I appreciate that Sheev, but I can't stop if that's what you're going to ask me."
"Why is this so important to you?" Sheev's question made her pause.
This whole year had changed her that she had almost forgotten why she had started on this path in the first place. She took a deep breath. "You know how my family are farmers who harvest grapes for wine?"
Sheev nodded.
"Growing up we had very little money, especially around the poor harvests. I remember my parents toiling all day from dawn till dusk with the other adults. My mother's hands would be torn up from all the weeds she would pull, and my father would be so tired and worn he would collapse and fall asleep on the couch for the night without eating dinner. Around harvest time, Ryoo, Mammy, and I would help squish the grapes into wine. Our hands and feet would be stained for days. Even with all the work we put into, sometimes- a lot of times- it wasn't enough. Then I scored high on the aptitude tests. My mother always highlighted the importance of an education, especially for women, so she constantly had me study whatever educational book she could find. I was nine when I scored well on my tests and my parents were proud. My teacher said that I belonged in a more advanced school, and that I would do well in the Legislative Youth Program.
'We had no money. Our other option was scholarships, so I applied, studied, and worked for as many as I could while my parents did extra work to afford the tuition fees. My father worked even after dark to make sure the harvest would grow, and my mother washed clothing around the neighborhood to earn extra credits. It took three years for us to earn the credits, and while we were trying to get me accepted at the program, we also had to find living conditions for me that we could afford. After several months, Ryoo got in contact with Winama since they were childhood friends, and she remembered Winama moving to Theed years ago. Winama and Luke had plenty of room, so they agreed to take me in while I studied at the Legislative Youth Program."
Padmé paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. "My family sacrificed so much to give me the opportunities I have now, and I've learned so much from the Program, Luke, Lady Veruna, and all my friends in the Palace to know how important the work I do is."
"But don't you wish you could have a more safer job, but still be able to help?" Sheev asked incredulously.
"Of course I do!"
Truthfully, however, Padmé felt a sense of thrill when she could spy and listen in on conversations without getting caught, but times like the attack in the Lake Country, Fayé's death, and Celestine's assassination attepmts, and the recent attack that almost killed herself reminded Padmé how vulnerable she was and how lucky she was to be alive. So yes, while spying on corrupt officials was thrilling, Padmé did not want to have to constantly worry about her life being in danger all day long.
"It would be wonderful if I didn't have to constantly worry about someone trying to kill me, but if I don't do the job who will?" She looked up at Sheev, silently pleading with him to understand.
"Can you promise me that you won't put yourself in jeopardy?" he demanded.
Padmé couldn't promise that. She had talked to Lady Veruna and Lady Tonsort earlier today. They had heard rumors that one of the noble families in the plasma industry was treating their workers unfairly, even abusing them. Padmé had already discussed it with Celestine, and she agreed to send Padmé as soon as the doctors declared her fully healed, with Lady Veruna and Lady Tonsort to investigate the mines. It would be dangerous, especially if the rumors proved to be true, and Padmé would be out in the country where she could easily disappear.
"I have to fulfill my duty to the Queen and to Naboo. You know that Sheev, but I can promise that I will be careful and aware. If it makes you feel better, I'll ask the Queen to assign a guard to watch over me. I have friends among the Royal Guard; they won't let anything happen to me."
It prickled Padmé, but if it could get Sheev off her back and lessen his and her family's worry for her, she would do it. Sheev didn't look too happy or convinced, but his sigh told Padmé that he conceded.
Before she could celebrate her victory, the hair on the back of her neck stood up. Sheev stiffened in her arms and his gaze hardened as he looked past her. Padmé turned her head.
Several yards from them, near the corner of the street were several figures. Padmé couldn't see their features in the dark, but instinct told her this was a gang. Theed was a wonderful city, but it still had its bits of criminal activity.
"Well what do we have here?" one of the gang members asked, most likely the leader. "A couple of lovebirds out for a lovely stroll at night."
Padmé could feel Sheev tense beside her. These men made her skin crawl, and she would like to slap them from the way she felt their eyes roving down her body, but there were five of them to her and Sheev's duo. They wouldn't stand a chance in a fight, so it was best they get out of the situation as quickly as possible.
"Come on, Sheev. Let's go," Padmé said, taking his arm and steering them away.
That is when the leader blocked them. "What's your hurry, Beautiful? Too good for us? The night is young. We can all show you a good time."
His friends behind them laughed, jeered, and made lewd comments that made Padmé's blood boil. Sheev obviously had enough of them too because he grabbed the leader by the collar and threw him behind them where he landed at his friends' feet. The gang looked up at them as if they couldn't believe someone dared to lay a hand on their leader, until he pulled himself back up.
"Tough guy wants to play, huh? Let's play boys!"
Padmé saw the gleam of vibroknives being pulled out, and her anger turned into fear.
"Padmé run!"
But Padmé couldn't. She found herself frozen as she watched Sheev attack. He moved so fast it was almost like he was a blur. He moved gracefully too, ducking and dodging as if he was dancing. And when he struck it was brutal. He hit one of the boys in the throat, the guy falling to his knees with his hands holding his throat and gasping for breath, Padmé feared his windpipe had been broken. Sheev grabbed the arm of one of the others holding a vibroblade while ducking the swipe of another.
The logical part of Padmé's brain told her she needed to run and call for help, but what about Sheev? Although there were four now he was still outnumbered. By the time she got help, would it be too late for Sheev before he was overwhelmed? Padmé knew despite how stupid it was, that she couldn't leave him, but how could she help? Her bag had some solid weight, carrying her diary, a couple of law books, and some datapads. It would do.
Grabbing it, Padmé swung as hard as she could, aiming for the head of the guy closest to her.
Thrack.
The guy stumbled, falling down to the ground. The boy next to him looked at her in surprise, unable to believe this slim girl had taken out his buddy. Then he lunged for her. Padmé swung her bag again, hitting the arm with the vibroblade, but unfortunately, not knocking the knife out of the boy's grip. He lunged again and this time, Padmé used her bag as a shield. The blade stabbed the bag and got stuck. Padmé used the distraction by kicking the boy in the abdomen, glad for all those self-defense lessons the handmaidens and guards had taught her.
When she turned back to help Sheev, the guy she thought she had knocked out earlier, snuck behind her and locked her head with his arm. Padmé dropped her bag and she struggled to fight back until she saw the vibroblade and felt it close to her exposed neck.
"Enough!"
The fighting stopped.
While she had been fighting, Sheev had seemed to have broken the arm of one of the gang members, and stabbed the other in the leg. In the streetlight, Padmé was able to see the look on Sheev's face. She couldn't accurately describe it, but it was something that would have frightened Padmé if she knew it was directed at her.
"If you so much as harm a hair on her, I will drag you down to Death myself." Sheev's threat sent shivers down Padmé's spine, and she could sense the guy holding her hostage shaking.
She had to do something. The slightest mistake would lead to her throat being slit and bleeding to death out on the street. She had to stay calm and focused. That's when she remembered the safety pin holding her cloak together since the strings had fallen apart earlier that day. As carefully as she could without alerting the gang member, she reached towards her collar where the safety pin was fastened. She kept her eyes on Sheev, hoping that he saw and understood what she was doing. There was a slight question in his eyes before he realized her plan, locking his jaw and preparing to attack the second he had the opportunity. Padmé undid the safety pin and jabbed as hard as she could down the gang member's hand holding the vibroblade.
He cried out, jerking his hand away from Padmé's throat. Padmé wasted no time. As soon as the vibroblade moved away from her throat, she ripped herself out of the guy's loosening hold.
Once she was free, Sheev tackled the guy onto the ground. Grabbing her dropped bag, Padmé turned and watched as Sheev and the gang member wrestled on the ground, fighting over control of the vibroblade. padmé
Could feel her heart in her throat. It would take the slightest mistake and someone could get hurt or killed. Sheev!
But Sheev overpowered the gang member, his fury a major factor. His expression scared Padmé. He looked one second from murder, and as he raised the vibroblade over the gangmember, Padmé screamed.
"No Sheev!"
He stopped, frozen before he turned his head and looked at Padmé with wild eyes. It shook Padmé.
"No. not like this."
Sheev turned back to the gang member. The guy's face was bruised and bleeding from where Sheev had punched him repeatedly, and his eyes were filled with fear.
It frightened Padmé.
A tense moment passed before Sheev got up off the scared fellow, still holding the vibroblade. He turned to Padmé, took her arm, and together they hurried down the street, away from the injured and frightened gang members, and towards the safety of Padmé's home. As they quickly made their way home, Padmé's mind kept seeing what had just happened.
How Sheev fought so many like it was nothing to him, the cold anger in his eyes as the gang members jeered and threatened Padmé, the violence, and how ready he seemed to plunge that vibroblade into that gang member. It was like she was seeing a different side of Sheev. Sure, Sheev had a temper, but he never lost control of it until now. Was that really Sheev or something else? Padmé was afraid to find out.
They reached the Naberrie home, and as Sheev was about to leave her at the door, Padmé grabbed his arm. It was instinctive, even as her injured hand ached and every cell in her brain was screaming how stupid she was. Sheev looked at her. The anger and coldness in his eyes had left them since they left the fight only to be replaced by fear and trepidation. Padmé knew that he would never harm her. It was so late, and she didn't want Sheev to walk out there alone in case he ran into trouble again.
"Stay."
Sheev didn't say a word, only his stiff posture relaxed as Padmé tugged him into the Naberrie home. He would have to sleep on the sofa tonight, and Padmé would have a lot of explaining to do in the morning, but she wouldn't worry about that now.
As she and Sheev prepared to get some sleep, Padmé couldn't get the image of Sheev's cold eyes as he prepared to stab his attacker out of her mind.
000{{*}}000
So what do you guys think?
I know that in a Queen's Hope Sabé didn't seem to like or approve of Anakin and Padmé's relationship, so I wanted them to be able to move past that and come to a better understanding and possible friendship. Moeté and Yané both? What shall happen in the next chapter?
As for Great-Aunt Lydonia and Sheev, I wanted to give off a glimpse into the future dark lord we all know. Now Sheev Palpatine hasn't met Darth Plageus yet, but he has the potential, and Lydonia has just caught a glimpse of it.
I hope you all have enjoyed this chapter. I'm going to take a break for a little bit but I do plan on publishing the next chapter by Christmas. In the meantime have a Happy Halloween. Boo!
