CHAPTER 3
The great hall of the Jedi temple was quiet as the sunrise pierced through large colorful windowed art, made of stained glass that filled the entire open space with a warm relaxing light. In this hall many Jedi came to sort things out, to try and focus their minds on the Force to seek the answers to the questions they could not find themselves. For the past twenty-ones years Yoda Skywalker has been spending as much time as he can afford to take refuge in this place. Ever since the discovery of the cloned Old republicans, the bearded Jedi has been searching for the solutions to the questions that have plagued him since that fateful day on the once lost world of Kamino. The Sith resurgence, the War that came from it now seemingly gone quiet after the attack on Russan three years ago. The Sith had taken another crippling blow to their numbers and with New republic now aware of Sith's return other systems have offered their navy's to help aide in the War effort. This only helped to increase the odds of the Jedi Forces over the Sith fleet. The Jedi were sure to succeed in this war of the light, but if that were so how would the Prophesy of the Old Sun apply to all that has happened? Like an illness, Yoda was plagued by anxiety that something was wrong. What it was? He did not know, nor did he truly wish to find out for it might lead to things he did want for anyone to experience, not again. The prophesy foretold of a great Battle upon the rock of the universe how could that great battle happen if the enemy were not equaled in power to fight against the Jedi let alone the combined number of the Republic fleet. Master Skywalker was befuddled, he had read through the text of the Old Sun Prophesy and viewed the recording left by Quinlan Vos more times than he can recall in the past twenty years. 'Deeply disturbing indeed.' he said, breaking the silence of his mind as he stopped to look at one of the busts in the great hall. This one held special meaning to Yoda Skywalker, unlike the numerous paintings of his ancestors and even the large statue of his namesake which prospered over all other memorials in the long alcove with its slinking ears and powerful stare, the sculpture of Pacres Oden will always serve as close a reminder of pain of War. Yoda stood in front the bronze portrait of the man he was proud to call 'friend'. Pacres was a person of great strength in the Force, something that was well passed onto his son, Aled. "If only you were here to see him Pacres." Skywalker said to the stone faced head of metal. ".You would be so proud of Aled." "He already knows." whispered the compassionate voice of Dorshe' Oden as she lightly stepped to the side of her fellow Jedi Master. ".he has always known." She implied with unfailing knowledge that her husband did know of his son from beyond this plain. "There is no death." ".Only the Force!" he finished with a smile looking down to see Dorshe's silver eyes locked with the eyes of her husband's bust. "He was a powerful Jedi, much like his son." "Yes." she agreed. ".but Aled has already accomplished so much, I believe his attunement with the Force is something that surpasses his father's own abilities." "I have seen it as well." Yoda continued to gaze at the statue. ".Noble Aled has a great future ahead of him." those words stuck in the back of Yoda's mind as if his worries of the Old Sun Prophesy were intertwined with the Young Oden as his mother had said to Skywalker before. It was possible, many stranger things have happened in the past of the Jedi's history and Aled was born on the exact same day the clones were all hatched. Could it be that this meant of a greater connection? Aled was taught along the side of the Jedi clones as were many his age in the Temple and he even befriended Obi-wan and Mace, quite possibly the two most honorable of the replicas as far as their names and their templates. Yoda could have shaken this theory off his shoulder like dust that collected on his old Padawans tunic that still hung in the back of his closet, but then he realized that Aled was just assigned to protect the Ambassador of Naboo, Amidala, another product of the ancient cloners of Kamino. By his own orders no less, Skywalker couldn't deny that much. "I know!" Dorshe could sense Yoda's mind wonder on his thought of Aled something she had sensed a number of times in herself. "You still carry his lightsabre?" Yoda pondered having noticed the weapon that once belonged to Pacres hanging by her belt line. "Yes." She admitted seeing no wrong in it. "After Aled was born I had little time to build another for myself as time passed I grew accustom having it with me." She reflected on the moment she had last seen her lover, and how she had hidden it to keep him from leaving. "It is one of the two things I have that he left for me." "Aled being the other he left you?" Yoda smiled as Dorshe nodded, now in control over her pain of loss. "There is something I never told you Yoda." this caught the man's attention. "What would that be?" he cocked a grayish blonde brow at her statement. "During the battle on the Sith 'Kidnapper' ship, do you remember the Sith I fought on the hanger?" Yoda did recall that Sith being, it was the same horrid man who had taken the unidentified clone from the Jedi, Skywalker held his death with little regard or importance even though the replica was never retrieved. "Yes I do, why?" he expelled. Dorshe searched for the words, despite all the time she has had in the past to sort out her confusion, she still is not completely sure how to explain what happened. "When I was trapped with the Sith and separated from you an the others. I should have been killed by that Sith." "But you weren't?" he was curious to where this was leading. "No!" she said in a tone a surprise. "As we dueled I lost my focus to anger." Dorshe admitted humbly despite her rank. ".and because of my misguided reaction I became vulnerable to a fatal strike which the Sith warrior would have delivered had." this was where she became confused. ".Aled not stopped him." this made Yoda's eyes bulge from their sockets. "Aled? But how? At that time he was nothing but a fetus let alone a Force capable being?" "I don't know how it happened really?" she continued. "One moment there was a lightsabre pointing at my chest and the next thing my whole body is overcome with this warm calming sensation, like when my mother used to wrap a blanket around me when it got cold at night. Then I notice that all time around me had stopped." Skywalker was amazed by what he was hearing, it all made sense to him as he recalled the incident which she spoke of that happened twenty one years past. The unidentifiable tremor in the Force which led him and Chevacca to the Sith vessel to which she and Grem Venad had been imprisoned, was the same source of power that Dorshe spoke of now and it was her own son. Surly this has some connection to the Old Sun Prophecy for Yoda had never heard of anything like this before. "But even though time had halted I could move in it freely like a river through a canal, as I striked him down before he could kill me." She took in a deep breath a relief. "It sounds a tad crazy, I know but I believe in what I experienced Yoda and that's how it all happened." Master Skywalker sighed as he stroked his beard. "I do believe you Dorshe, but this does make things more complicated." "I understand." Dorshe said as she gazed upon her husband's bust. ".just be thankful Aled is on our side." Skywalker could sense her open nature, Yoda knew well what her son meant to her life he saw it in his own children to him and Angle, but he never could comprehend how much Aled would mean to the Jedi.
In a place of endless dark, a sole man dared to bow before the open space as his pulled back the cowl of his cape and reveal his short, choppy hair that hued of violent blonde strands. Then as if he had expected it, a luminous artificial projection of another hooded creature appeared to him. Frail and raspy in speech, this transmission gave off an impression of power and fear, despite its neutral tone of voice. "What have you to tell me my Apprentice?" The young but well menacing character spoke with his eyes barely meeting his imposed Master's waistline. "The Jedi have prevented the Bounty hunter's attempt to kill the Ambassador as you foresaw my Master." The young pale skinned man finally met eyes with the projection. "All is going as planned." "Good." The frail looking creature replied. "You know what must be done next, now go out and fulfill what your legacy could not, Vader." The Dark figure then arose to his feet as he pounded his right fist into his chest. "For you my Master." The hooded image then disappeared into nothing as the empty room fell dark.
As the morning hours came to fruition, accompanied by the small partings of light that emanated from the sun, past the small valleys between every tall building that sprung from Coruscant's unseen surface floor. The strips of sun-risen light instinctively reached for Aled's face as his eyes gradually came out from his deep meditative state. His trance was not so much broken because of the stinging light but rather the sense of Padme's own awareness as she too woke from her slumber in the next room. The Jedi uncrossed his legs that were stiff from remaining in a position that helped his unconscious mind to keep it beyond natural attention on the young and beautiful Ambassador, feeling every wince her body made as she slept, every rustle of the thick velvet sheets as her body moved and even sensing her dreams which seemed to dwell on matters of her own heart. Aled turned his prying mental eye away from her private thoughts, for even in the most basic of mental processes a Jedi still must be mindful of their own actions and temptations. As Noble Oden stretched his tense muscles, he managed to slip out of his simple under garments in order to hop into the fresher shower before his morning meal. The orveasian then waved his hand to activate walked to the wash station to rain a small drizzle of water as he finally stepped into the small chamber and closed the screen to prevent any spill onto the smooth surface of the small room. Never taking his mind off of Padme's every movement, for it was his duty.
* * *
As Ambassador Amidala entered into the main hall leading from her chambers to the small but quant dinning chamber, she could not help but feel as if eyes were probing her. Despite the gaze of her four distinct Handmaidens and even the guards that stood at attention near every room in the Plaza's apartment, no this was something different something that troubled her inhabitations to find out why she felt these extra on looking eyes, but was quelled by sensations of comfort and easiness that made her focus on the day ahead. Once in the dinning chamber, Padme was welcomed by the sight of Jedi Oden who politely stood in front of the door way and bowed upon her entrance into the room. "Good morning M'lady I hope you slept well?" he stated then brought his head back upward to meet the slender woman's focus. Padme smiled, she had always been treated with great regard and manners, but never as warmly or with such an honest approach than in the presence of a Jedi, and especially when one of those Jedi happened to be a certain silver eyed orveasian. "I did and good morning to you too Jedi Oden." Padme waved her hand signaling her four robed aides to leave her and attend to there own nutritious needs for breakfast their Ambassador ate in private with her Jedi protector. Aled was silently amused by this show of her powers over her subjects, with a simple wave of the hand she had just displayed to him something only thought to have been wielded and executed by a Jedi. As the Ambassador stepped forward to sit at the head of the table, Aled pulled out her chair keeping his hands on the backrest awaiting her to sit so he might help her position into comfort. She smiled as she slipped her bodice into the plush cushioned chair Aled then helped her legs under the table and then moved to his seat across the table at the other end. He then noticed that she was void of all elaborate dress and now garbed in a similar night dress and sleeping robe from the one he saw her in last night, but in a different color, now blue and offset white. A few silent moments passed as the two sparred with awkward smiles until the meals finally arrived by a small wheeled cart pushed by one of many of Amidala's security soldiers carrying two steel covered dishes. The leather clad gentleman took the plates and placed them on the tablemats before their respective consumer and removed the covers with gloved hands. "Breakfast is served Ambassador Amidala." The stocky man dressed in blue and red armor stated. "Thank you private you may leave us now." Padme returned as the soldier gave a formal Nubian salute then about-faced for the door leaving the two once again in a bout of quiet which was broken by the long brown haired politician. "Could you pass the salt?" Padme inquired to Aled, who was staring at the nubian delicacy in front of him before she spoke up. The Jedi eyed the cylindrical container of white salt then grasped at it with the Force, without lifting so much as a finger Aled guided the object into the air. Hovering a foot above the center of the table from its holder, next to the pepper and garlic spice. His eyes locked in an invisible hold over the salt shaker as he slowly floated it next to her plate not noticing the curious look of amusement on Padme's face as he did this. "Thank you." she responded, then taking the glass shaker from the air as if it were some creature waiting be caught. "I almost forgot that you were a Jedi." Aled returned a smile as Padme began to lightly sprinkle the shaker's contents over her meal which was identical to Aled's, but still unknown to him. "I don't believe I'm familiar with this delicacy, what is it exactly?" he questioned while prodding the food on his off white dish with one of the many different forks that lay next to his place mat along with three other knives and equal number of spoons. Padme giggled as the Jedi poked at his food, like a child fearful of what his mother has given him to eat. "It is Hopin root, with a side of wild lotus stalks sautéed in onionloins." She said with clear knowledge as she placed the salt container next to her dish. "A complete herbivore friendly breakfast I assure you." She began to cut at the large green vegetation on her platter, knowing that Aled was a vegetarian by heritage she did not wish to insult his beliefs with food that was cooked from meat, not found of the taste of animal flesh and always being the diplomat. The Jedi cut off a small piece of the steamed root, and stabbed it with his fork, which he was still unsure of the exact purpose the tool served he placed the vegetable in his mouth. Aled was pleased with the sensations that swam through his taste buds, so much so that he didn't bother to fight back the urge to moan as it sunk into his throat. Padme was a bit caught off guard by his reaction to the food, not so much that he made the noise but the fact that he was Jedi and he seemed so openly satisfied with the Hopin root. "Do you like it?" she inquired. "Yes." he muttered while slicing another piece to engulf. "...it's wonderful." Aled answered. Padme was happy to hear this as she began to eat her own breakfast. She cut of a part of the food before she began to speak again. "Are you aware of today's agenda Jedi Oden?" Aled then focused his eyes to meet the Ambassador's as he lightly wiped away any food that was evident on his face with a small white cloth napkin before he responded. "Of course M'lady." Aled murmured through the napkin then continued once he was done patting his mouth. ".I looked over your entire schedule, your Captain of security gave it to me last night." The Jedi placed the napkin on the table to the far right then began to quote all he had committed to memory of this day's events. Padme then continued to eat at her meal, keeping attentive focus on Aled's words. "After breakfast, Ambassador Amidala is to attend the morning precessions for the galactic Senate hearings at the New Republic Senate hall on tenth hour. Once her duties have been fulfilled, she is to return to the plaza and await the senate's next course of action after notifying her majesty of Naboo of any turn of events during the conference." "Impressive." Padme uttered having barely enough focus to have enjoyed her food. ".you managed to condense my entire day schedule into no less than two sentences." Aled smiled. Something that reminded Padme of the short time they spent together as youths. "Well I had to take into account all the small possibilities before assessing the primary tasks. Such as small feuds between political dignitaries which would only stand to waste time for the Senate, any speeder traffic delays." Aled smiled as he reached out for his glass of water. "...or even the setbacks caused by a handmaiden posing a certain Nubian dignitary." Aled then sipped of his drink not taking his stern glare of the startled Padme who was wide eyed with hopin root hanging from her mouth. He knew of her little secret. "You might be able to fool High Chancellor Antilles with that little 'trick' of yours M'lady, but you could never hope to pass truly undetected when in the presence of a Jedi." Padme tightened her jaw. ".especially me." He made clear, before shoving another helping of hopin root into his mouth. The Ambassador set her dining utensils aside, as she channeled her voice into a stern tone as Aled continued to eat. "What gave it away?" she pressed. "Honestly." Aled started. ".several things. Your voice for one, even with Mitre's clever impression did not completely pass my ear." Padme nodded. "Also it was the feelings you gave off, all Jedi can sense the people around them and their emotions you have that undeniable defiant spirit that I remembered from so long ago." She blushed at the tone Aled used when he spoke about her. ".but what really gave you away.." Aled's voice drifted slightly into bliss ".were your eyes Padme." This triggered the young nubian woman's face to glow with a reddish hue, she had never received such a heartfelt and earnest comment about herself, let alone a Jedi. Aled noticed her embraced look, but could sense the feelings flow through her like a river of unending pleasure. He couldn't take his eyes off hers own were so enticing , brown and dark with irises that seemed to open up a whole new world to him one that he very much wanted to be apart of. "My eyes are no different in color from my handmaiden." Padme humored. "It's not the color that I noticed." Aled injected after swallowing the food that churned in the back of his mouth. "Your eyes they burn with a-a fire, a spark of adventure and curiosity and also with strength that cannot be defied by a single being as well as a sense of longing." if nothing before surprised Padme, this surly did just that.
".longing?" she questioned. "And what do you mean by that Aled?" The Jedi was without any more words, he knew had had stepped over a boundary that was probably best left untouched. Luckily for Aled the Force had once again saved his hide from another 'dangerous' situation, as one of the Ambassador's Handmaidens entered the room. "M'lady I apologize for interrupting your meal but it is eighth hour." the hooded woman pressed. ".You need to prepare for your arrival at the senate." Padme pushed her chair back as she began to stand. "Thank you Tuhmi I will be there in a moment." The Handmaiden exited the room waiting for her Ambassador on the other side of the door. "I must begin to prepare myself for the conference." She said somewhat wistfully. "I will see you afterwards before we depart for the Senate Hall." "Of course M'lady." Aled rose from his seat. "May I escort you to your room?" he asked in gentle voice. Padme reluctantly declined his offer "That won't be necessary Jedi Oden, I have faith that I can find my quarters on my own." She then turned to the door. "Besides." he looked to the back of her head. ".I have enough eyes watching me as it is." She teased, leaving him alone to finish his meal, which was now the last thing on his mind.
The great hall of the Jedi temple was quiet as the sunrise pierced through large colorful windowed art, made of stained glass that filled the entire open space with a warm relaxing light. In this hall many Jedi came to sort things out, to try and focus their minds on the Force to seek the answers to the questions they could not find themselves. For the past twenty-ones years Yoda Skywalker has been spending as much time as he can afford to take refuge in this place. Ever since the discovery of the cloned Old republicans, the bearded Jedi has been searching for the solutions to the questions that have plagued him since that fateful day on the once lost world of Kamino. The Sith resurgence, the War that came from it now seemingly gone quiet after the attack on Russan three years ago. The Sith had taken another crippling blow to their numbers and with New republic now aware of Sith's return other systems have offered their navy's to help aide in the War effort. This only helped to increase the odds of the Jedi Forces over the Sith fleet. The Jedi were sure to succeed in this war of the light, but if that were so how would the Prophesy of the Old Sun apply to all that has happened? Like an illness, Yoda was plagued by anxiety that something was wrong. What it was? He did not know, nor did he truly wish to find out for it might lead to things he did want for anyone to experience, not again. The prophesy foretold of a great Battle upon the rock of the universe how could that great battle happen if the enemy were not equaled in power to fight against the Jedi let alone the combined number of the Republic fleet. Master Skywalker was befuddled, he had read through the text of the Old Sun Prophesy and viewed the recording left by Quinlan Vos more times than he can recall in the past twenty years. 'Deeply disturbing indeed.' he said, breaking the silence of his mind as he stopped to look at one of the busts in the great hall. This one held special meaning to Yoda Skywalker, unlike the numerous paintings of his ancestors and even the large statue of his namesake which prospered over all other memorials in the long alcove with its slinking ears and powerful stare, the sculpture of Pacres Oden will always serve as close a reminder of pain of War. Yoda stood in front the bronze portrait of the man he was proud to call 'friend'. Pacres was a person of great strength in the Force, something that was well passed onto his son, Aled. "If only you were here to see him Pacres." Skywalker said to the stone faced head of metal. ".You would be so proud of Aled." "He already knows." whispered the compassionate voice of Dorshe' Oden as she lightly stepped to the side of her fellow Jedi Master. ".he has always known." She implied with unfailing knowledge that her husband did know of his son from beyond this plain. "There is no death." ".Only the Force!" he finished with a smile looking down to see Dorshe's silver eyes locked with the eyes of her husband's bust. "He was a powerful Jedi, much like his son." "Yes." she agreed. ".but Aled has already accomplished so much, I believe his attunement with the Force is something that surpasses his father's own abilities." "I have seen it as well." Yoda continued to gaze at the statue. ".Noble Aled has a great future ahead of him." those words stuck in the back of Yoda's mind as if his worries of the Old Sun Prophesy were intertwined with the Young Oden as his mother had said to Skywalker before. It was possible, many stranger things have happened in the past of the Jedi's history and Aled was born on the exact same day the clones were all hatched. Could it be that this meant of a greater connection? Aled was taught along the side of the Jedi clones as were many his age in the Temple and he even befriended Obi-wan and Mace, quite possibly the two most honorable of the replicas as far as their names and their templates. Yoda could have shaken this theory off his shoulder like dust that collected on his old Padawans tunic that still hung in the back of his closet, but then he realized that Aled was just assigned to protect the Ambassador of Naboo, Amidala, another product of the ancient cloners of Kamino. By his own orders no less, Skywalker couldn't deny that much. "I know!" Dorshe could sense Yoda's mind wonder on his thought of Aled something she had sensed a number of times in herself. "You still carry his lightsabre?" Yoda pondered having noticed the weapon that once belonged to Pacres hanging by her belt line. "Yes." She admitted seeing no wrong in it. "After Aled was born I had little time to build another for myself as time passed I grew accustom having it with me." She reflected on the moment she had last seen her lover, and how she had hidden it to keep him from leaving. "It is one of the two things I have that he left for me." "Aled being the other he left you?" Yoda smiled as Dorshe nodded, now in control over her pain of loss. "There is something I never told you Yoda." this caught the man's attention. "What would that be?" he cocked a grayish blonde brow at her statement. "During the battle on the Sith 'Kidnapper' ship, do you remember the Sith I fought on the hanger?" Yoda did recall that Sith being, it was the same horrid man who had taken the unidentified clone from the Jedi, Skywalker held his death with little regard or importance even though the replica was never retrieved. "Yes I do, why?" he expelled. Dorshe searched for the words, despite all the time she has had in the past to sort out her confusion, she still is not completely sure how to explain what happened. "When I was trapped with the Sith and separated from you an the others. I should have been killed by that Sith." "But you weren't?" he was curious to where this was leading. "No!" she said in a tone a surprise. "As we dueled I lost my focus to anger." Dorshe admitted humbly despite her rank. ".and because of my misguided reaction I became vulnerable to a fatal strike which the Sith warrior would have delivered had." this was where she became confused. ".Aled not stopped him." this made Yoda's eyes bulge from their sockets. "Aled? But how? At that time he was nothing but a fetus let alone a Force capable being?" "I don't know how it happened really?" she continued. "One moment there was a lightsabre pointing at my chest and the next thing my whole body is overcome with this warm calming sensation, like when my mother used to wrap a blanket around me when it got cold at night. Then I notice that all time around me had stopped." Skywalker was amazed by what he was hearing, it all made sense to him as he recalled the incident which she spoke of that happened twenty one years past. The unidentifiable tremor in the Force which led him and Chevacca to the Sith vessel to which she and Grem Venad had been imprisoned, was the same source of power that Dorshe spoke of now and it was her own son. Surly this has some connection to the Old Sun Prophecy for Yoda had never heard of anything like this before. "But even though time had halted I could move in it freely like a river through a canal, as I striked him down before he could kill me." She took in a deep breath a relief. "It sounds a tad crazy, I know but I believe in what I experienced Yoda and that's how it all happened." Master Skywalker sighed as he stroked his beard. "I do believe you Dorshe, but this does make things more complicated." "I understand." Dorshe said as she gazed upon her husband's bust. ".just be thankful Aled is on our side." Skywalker could sense her open nature, Yoda knew well what her son meant to her life he saw it in his own children to him and Angle, but he never could comprehend how much Aled would mean to the Jedi.
In a place of endless dark, a sole man dared to bow before the open space as his pulled back the cowl of his cape and reveal his short, choppy hair that hued of violent blonde strands. Then as if he had expected it, a luminous artificial projection of another hooded creature appeared to him. Frail and raspy in speech, this transmission gave off an impression of power and fear, despite its neutral tone of voice. "What have you to tell me my Apprentice?" The young but well menacing character spoke with his eyes barely meeting his imposed Master's waistline. "The Jedi have prevented the Bounty hunter's attempt to kill the Ambassador as you foresaw my Master." The young pale skinned man finally met eyes with the projection. "All is going as planned." "Good." The frail looking creature replied. "You know what must be done next, now go out and fulfill what your legacy could not, Vader." The Dark figure then arose to his feet as he pounded his right fist into his chest. "For you my Master." The hooded image then disappeared into nothing as the empty room fell dark.
As the morning hours came to fruition, accompanied by the small partings of light that emanated from the sun, past the small valleys between every tall building that sprung from Coruscant's unseen surface floor. The strips of sun-risen light instinctively reached for Aled's face as his eyes gradually came out from his deep meditative state. His trance was not so much broken because of the stinging light but rather the sense of Padme's own awareness as she too woke from her slumber in the next room. The Jedi uncrossed his legs that were stiff from remaining in a position that helped his unconscious mind to keep it beyond natural attention on the young and beautiful Ambassador, feeling every wince her body made as she slept, every rustle of the thick velvet sheets as her body moved and even sensing her dreams which seemed to dwell on matters of her own heart. Aled turned his prying mental eye away from her private thoughts, for even in the most basic of mental processes a Jedi still must be mindful of their own actions and temptations. As Noble Oden stretched his tense muscles, he managed to slip out of his simple under garments in order to hop into the fresher shower before his morning meal. The orveasian then waved his hand to activate walked to the wash station to rain a small drizzle of water as he finally stepped into the small chamber and closed the screen to prevent any spill onto the smooth surface of the small room. Never taking his mind off of Padme's every movement, for it was his duty.
* * *
As Ambassador Amidala entered into the main hall leading from her chambers to the small but quant dinning chamber, she could not help but feel as if eyes were probing her. Despite the gaze of her four distinct Handmaidens and even the guards that stood at attention near every room in the Plaza's apartment, no this was something different something that troubled her inhabitations to find out why she felt these extra on looking eyes, but was quelled by sensations of comfort and easiness that made her focus on the day ahead. Once in the dinning chamber, Padme was welcomed by the sight of Jedi Oden who politely stood in front of the door way and bowed upon her entrance into the room. "Good morning M'lady I hope you slept well?" he stated then brought his head back upward to meet the slender woman's focus. Padme smiled, she had always been treated with great regard and manners, but never as warmly or with such an honest approach than in the presence of a Jedi, and especially when one of those Jedi happened to be a certain silver eyed orveasian. "I did and good morning to you too Jedi Oden." Padme waved her hand signaling her four robed aides to leave her and attend to there own nutritious needs for breakfast their Ambassador ate in private with her Jedi protector. Aled was silently amused by this show of her powers over her subjects, with a simple wave of the hand she had just displayed to him something only thought to have been wielded and executed by a Jedi. As the Ambassador stepped forward to sit at the head of the table, Aled pulled out her chair keeping his hands on the backrest awaiting her to sit so he might help her position into comfort. She smiled as she slipped her bodice into the plush cushioned chair Aled then helped her legs under the table and then moved to his seat across the table at the other end. He then noticed that she was void of all elaborate dress and now garbed in a similar night dress and sleeping robe from the one he saw her in last night, but in a different color, now blue and offset white. A few silent moments passed as the two sparred with awkward smiles until the meals finally arrived by a small wheeled cart pushed by one of many of Amidala's security soldiers carrying two steel covered dishes. The leather clad gentleman took the plates and placed them on the tablemats before their respective consumer and removed the covers with gloved hands. "Breakfast is served Ambassador Amidala." The stocky man dressed in blue and red armor stated. "Thank you private you may leave us now." Padme returned as the soldier gave a formal Nubian salute then about-faced for the door leaving the two once again in a bout of quiet which was broken by the long brown haired politician. "Could you pass the salt?" Padme inquired to Aled, who was staring at the nubian delicacy in front of him before she spoke up. The Jedi eyed the cylindrical container of white salt then grasped at it with the Force, without lifting so much as a finger Aled guided the object into the air. Hovering a foot above the center of the table from its holder, next to the pepper and garlic spice. His eyes locked in an invisible hold over the salt shaker as he slowly floated it next to her plate not noticing the curious look of amusement on Padme's face as he did this. "Thank you." she responded, then taking the glass shaker from the air as if it were some creature waiting be caught. "I almost forgot that you were a Jedi." Aled returned a smile as Padme began to lightly sprinkle the shaker's contents over her meal which was identical to Aled's, but still unknown to him. "I don't believe I'm familiar with this delicacy, what is it exactly?" he questioned while prodding the food on his off white dish with one of the many different forks that lay next to his place mat along with three other knives and equal number of spoons. Padme giggled as the Jedi poked at his food, like a child fearful of what his mother has given him to eat. "It is Hopin root, with a side of wild lotus stalks sautéed in onionloins." She said with clear knowledge as she placed the salt container next to her dish. "A complete herbivore friendly breakfast I assure you." She began to cut at the large green vegetation on her platter, knowing that Aled was a vegetarian by heritage she did not wish to insult his beliefs with food that was cooked from meat, not found of the taste of animal flesh and always being the diplomat. The Jedi cut off a small piece of the steamed root, and stabbed it with his fork, which he was still unsure of the exact purpose the tool served he placed the vegetable in his mouth. Aled was pleased with the sensations that swam through his taste buds, so much so that he didn't bother to fight back the urge to moan as it sunk into his throat. Padme was a bit caught off guard by his reaction to the food, not so much that he made the noise but the fact that he was Jedi and he seemed so openly satisfied with the Hopin root. "Do you like it?" she inquired. "Yes." he muttered while slicing another piece to engulf. "...it's wonderful." Aled answered. Padme was happy to hear this as she began to eat her own breakfast. She cut of a part of the food before she began to speak again. "Are you aware of today's agenda Jedi Oden?" Aled then focused his eyes to meet the Ambassador's as he lightly wiped away any food that was evident on his face with a small white cloth napkin before he responded. "Of course M'lady." Aled murmured through the napkin then continued once he was done patting his mouth. ".I looked over your entire schedule, your Captain of security gave it to me last night." The Jedi placed the napkin on the table to the far right then began to quote all he had committed to memory of this day's events. Padme then continued to eat at her meal, keeping attentive focus on Aled's words. "After breakfast, Ambassador Amidala is to attend the morning precessions for the galactic Senate hearings at the New Republic Senate hall on tenth hour. Once her duties have been fulfilled, she is to return to the plaza and await the senate's next course of action after notifying her majesty of Naboo of any turn of events during the conference." "Impressive." Padme uttered having barely enough focus to have enjoyed her food. ".you managed to condense my entire day schedule into no less than two sentences." Aled smiled. Something that reminded Padme of the short time they spent together as youths. "Well I had to take into account all the small possibilities before assessing the primary tasks. Such as small feuds between political dignitaries which would only stand to waste time for the Senate, any speeder traffic delays." Aled smiled as he reached out for his glass of water. "...or even the setbacks caused by a handmaiden posing a certain Nubian dignitary." Aled then sipped of his drink not taking his stern glare of the startled Padme who was wide eyed with hopin root hanging from her mouth. He knew of her little secret. "You might be able to fool High Chancellor Antilles with that little 'trick' of yours M'lady, but you could never hope to pass truly undetected when in the presence of a Jedi." Padme tightened her jaw. ".especially me." He made clear, before shoving another helping of hopin root into his mouth. The Ambassador set her dining utensils aside, as she channeled her voice into a stern tone as Aled continued to eat. "What gave it away?" she pressed. "Honestly." Aled started. ".several things. Your voice for one, even with Mitre's clever impression did not completely pass my ear." Padme nodded. "Also it was the feelings you gave off, all Jedi can sense the people around them and their emotions you have that undeniable defiant spirit that I remembered from so long ago." She blushed at the tone Aled used when he spoke about her. ".but what really gave you away.." Aled's voice drifted slightly into bliss ".were your eyes Padme." This triggered the young nubian woman's face to glow with a reddish hue, she had never received such a heartfelt and earnest comment about herself, let alone a Jedi. Aled noticed her embraced look, but could sense the feelings flow through her like a river of unending pleasure. He couldn't take his eyes off hers own were so enticing , brown and dark with irises that seemed to open up a whole new world to him one that he very much wanted to be apart of. "My eyes are no different in color from my handmaiden." Padme humored. "It's not the color that I noticed." Aled injected after swallowing the food that churned in the back of his mouth. "Your eyes they burn with a-a fire, a spark of adventure and curiosity and also with strength that cannot be defied by a single being as well as a sense of longing." if nothing before surprised Padme, this surly did just that.
".longing?" she questioned. "And what do you mean by that Aled?" The Jedi was without any more words, he knew had had stepped over a boundary that was probably best left untouched. Luckily for Aled the Force had once again saved his hide from another 'dangerous' situation, as one of the Ambassador's Handmaidens entered the room. "M'lady I apologize for interrupting your meal but it is eighth hour." the hooded woman pressed. ".You need to prepare for your arrival at the senate." Padme pushed her chair back as she began to stand. "Thank you Tuhmi I will be there in a moment." The Handmaiden exited the room waiting for her Ambassador on the other side of the door. "I must begin to prepare myself for the conference." She said somewhat wistfully. "I will see you afterwards before we depart for the Senate Hall." "Of course M'lady." Aled rose from his seat. "May I escort you to your room?" he asked in gentle voice. Padme reluctantly declined his offer "That won't be necessary Jedi Oden, I have faith that I can find my quarters on my own." She then turned to the door. "Besides." he looked to the back of her head. ".I have enough eyes watching me as it is." She teased, leaving him alone to finish his meal, which was now the last thing on his mind.