Tahiri was waiting by the ladder of her X-wing when Tenel Ka entered the hangar bay. The Dathomiri warrior turned queen was escorted by armed bodyguards and the flustered messenger Tahiri had met upon arrival.

Tenel Ka looked well from what Tahiri could see. Her friend was dressed in a resplendent violet cloak overtop of her Dathomiri armor, a jeweled tiara settled atop a mass of red-gold warrior braids that fell almost to her knee and her skin was a healthy tone. However, Tahiri knew there was more beneath the surface, mostly because she felt this way herself. Calm was outward, sorrow was inward.

Reaching Tahiri, Tenel Ka stepped forward and embraced the younger Jedi tightly. Tahiri returned the hug, thinking of how long if had been since she'd had another person touch her affectionately.

"I'm glad to see you here, my friend," Tenel Ka said softly. Her mouth smiled, but her eyes were sad. Tahiri knew she'd probably looked the same lately. Her own eyes were usually slightly red from crying.

Tahiri smiled brightly, "I hope you don't mind that I dropped in unexpectedly. There isn't exactly an 'official' reason I'm here."

Just a very important personal one, she added in her head.

Tenel Ka made an off-handed gesture, "No matter, I appreciate a distraction."

Tahiri raised an eyebrow. The old Tenel Ka would never have said something like that out loud, it was too much an admission of defeat for her. It just went to show how deeply affected she had been by the mission to Myrkr.

"So," Tahiri said, walking forward with Tenel Ka out of the hangar, "What's been going on here? Anything interesting happening? Are you really busy?"

The corner of Tenel Ka's mouth twitched slightly. "I have been involved in the responsibilities of the Queen Mother for the most part. There is diplomatic proceedings and government meetings to preside over."

"Sounds boring," Tahiri commented, wrinkling her nose.

This managed to get a full smile from Tenel Ka, but a laugh seemed a far thing. Then again, she had never been one to laugh easily. Jacen had been the only one who could do that.

"Guard," Tenel Ka said in a demanding tone, turning to one of the bodyguards, "Time?"

The big burly man that she had addressed bowed before speaking, "Twenty standard minutes before the evening meal your Majesty."

Tenel Ka acknowledged this with a stately nod of her head, "Tahiri Veila will be joining me, inform the cook and my grandmother and father. Take her bag to the room across the hall from mine. Promptly.

"Yes your Majesty," the man said with another bow then hustled off.

Tenel Ka turned back to Tahiri with her usual expressionless face. Tahiri stared at her with a bit of awe.

"What is it?" Tenel Ka asked, seeing the look on her face.

"The way you can order people around like that. You know, 'pick up my bags,' 'inform this person of this,' 'do that,' 'do this,' and 'oh yeah, wash my feet.' Promptly. And the bowing and 'Your Majesty,' 'Whatever you say your majesty,' 'Right away your Majesty,' 'Let me scrub your boots your Majesty,' 'Oh no, please your highness, let me scrub your boots…'" Tahiri babbled.

Tenel Ka grimaced, "Yes, it is rather tiring."

"Are you kidding!" Tahiri exclaimed, "That would be so fun."

"Ah. Aha," Tenel Ka said, "I suppose it could be."

Tahiri gave her an infectious smile, and walked along beside the taller Jedi. Conversation with Tenel Ka could be very one sided, with her to-the-point attitude and lack of contractions. It was hard to understand her in some ways, but Tahiri found Tenel Ka interesting. The toughness and strength had always stirred admiration and she'd had a similarly strange background, though being heir to the Hapes Cluster was just a bit more prestigious than being raised by Tusken Raiders.

They reached the palace and Tenel Ka pointed out bits of Hapan art and architecture, the crystal fountains, the ceramic statues of magnificent creatures from all sixty-three worlds, the graceful buttresses holding up the walls, etc. Everything seemed incredibly polished, expensive and tasteful and Tahiri was afraid to touch any of it.

The room Tenel Ka opened for her was less elaborate, but still held a certain royal flair. There was a plush white silk bed, black walls of igneous rock, rich grey carpets that made seem like you were walking on pillows, and a refresher that was as big as Tahiri's old bedroom in the Jedi Temple had been. Tahiri blinked once then let out a whistle.

"If you ever want to trade lives Tenel Ka…" she teased.

Tenel Ka raised her eyebrows in a sarcastically cocky way, then nodded and exited the room. She slipped in "There are gowns and dresses in the wardrobe if you prefer," as she closed the door.

Some girls might hate wearing dresses, but Tahiri found it an enjoyable experience. Never having the chance to play dress-up as a little girl, she sifted through the glimmering, airy gowns searching for something suitably extravagant. When she finally found a dress in her size and tastes, she twirled happily in front of the full length mirror in a corner. The dress was mostly a light rose colour, but the layers of silk grew a darker pink underneath, like a true flower. The material certainly felt like petals in any case and Tahiri ran her hands lightly down the sides, enjoying the texture. It was backless, but the front was high, so she felt very grown-up. She smiled to herself in the mirror.

Anakin would have loved to see me in this.

The thought dropped like an atomic bomb, shattering whatever enjoyment she'd been building. There would always be these subtle reminders, triggers that set off an excruciatingly painful reaction. Would there ever come a time when everything didn't constantly hint to her what they had and could have had?

Tahiri turned away from the mirror and took a deep breath, preparing to face one of the many enemies she'd come to warn Tenel Ka about.