Chapter Ten: Sturm and Drang
AN: Yes, well, apparently the author's notes for my last chapter somehow did not make it into the story, so I'm putting them below the chapter title this time. Anyway, as I was going to say, Aerin, no, Jacen and Tenel Ka were never married before, it was just kind of an expression… Does that make sense? I hope not, because if it does it means I'm becoming normal. Also in the last author's notes, I was going to say, I promised myself I would never make Jacen and Tenel Ka get married, but hey, it worked with the story. Oh yes, and big shiny prize for Sadge for recognizing that quote! J Anyway, on with the story.
To Tahiri, it was a relief to finally bring the X-wing out of hyperspace. With only the mottled, sporadic patterns of the faster-than-light speed to keep her company, there was too much time to think.
The procedures for entering atmosphere and making a landing were steadily becoming more familiar, she realized as she set the craft down beside Jacen's shuttle. She began to hurry with her safety straps, her fingers almost shaking in near panic. Maybe if she rushed she could get out of the landing area before Jacen and Tenel Ka left their shuttle and leave without being noticed. Then she could find a place to be alone for…
Snap out of it for Force's sake, a voice suddenly scolded her out of nowhere, You're being silly and childish. You have to move on with your life sometime. Sooner better than later.
Tahiri sank back in her seat under the weight of this unexpected revelation. She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head slowly.
I'm not being weak and childish, she argued vehemently in her mind, The only person that ever cared about me is gone. Is it selfish to mourn?
The other voice responded immediately, but more soothingly this time.
There are people here who care about you. They may not be Anakin, but they are your friends and they want to help you. Don't push them away. Not unless you want to be wretched and miserable for the rest of your life.
Tahiri sighed. Whatever she was telling herself, there was still a part of her inclined to be sulky. Maybe it was because she was jealous, or maybe because she was depressed. She'd lived in both emotions for the past few months and her negativity was taking over, threatening to completely engulf her. Without resistance and some serious attitude changes, there was no doubt it would.
Consider this a wake-up call, that sardonic part of her mind piped up.
She smiled wryly to herself, the muscles used in the gesture stinging with disuse.
She realized that the mechanics and technicians were probably wondering what was taking her so long and roused herself to get out of the cockpit. She couldn't quite see the landing bay's exit because Jacen's shuttle blocked it, but doubtless there were people waiting to ambush Tenel Ka on her arrival.
There was never a greater understatement.
As Tahiri walked towards the hangar doors and the exit came into sight, she saw an enormous mass of holonews reporters. All were holding recording devices of some kind and being held back by barriers and armed guards.
The commotion heightened as the boarding ramp of the shuttle opened with a metallic hiss.
Tenel Ka, resplendent in a magnificent violet dress and a full silver cloak that trailed like ocean waves behind her, stepped coolly and confidently down from the ship. The reporters started yelling questions and badgering her immediately, but she didn't spare them a glance. Behind her, Jacen strode casually down the ramp, flanking her like a guard without realizing it.
Where's Vergere? Tahiri wondered as no sign of the little bird creature presented itself. What could she be hiding from?
Her thoughts were abruptly cut off by the increased clamor from the reporters.
"Your Majesty, what are your thoughts concerning the murder of your cousin?"
"Your Majesty, is it true that you and your cousin were targets of the same assassin?"
"Highness, what are the reasons behind your recent absence? Who do you think is behind these attempts on the Royal Family?"
"Your Majesty, do you deny that you had your cousin murdered?"
At the last question Tahiri felt Tenel Ka's surprise through the Force, though the warrior woman continued to walk calmly and steadily through the throng of harassers. Movement caught Tahiri's eye as she followed the two older Jedi from the landing bay. Jacen had clenched and relaxed his hand violently, like he wanted to strangle the reporters, though he exuded only control and amicability through his Force presence. Tahiri smiled slightly at his protectiveness of Tenel Ka. If there was ever a monarch who didn't need a bodyguard, Tenel Ka was she.
As it was, Tenel Ka merely held up her hand and one of the nearby guards scurried forward. Tahiri couldn't hear what she said to him, but the guard pulled out a comlink and moments later the group of them started to escort the reporters firmly away from the landing pad. It was clear Tenel Ka wasn't going to put up with any of gossip chains or holotabloids.
Minutes later, they entered the palace and a steward came rushing forward, hands waving in frustration.
"Queen Mother! You're alive! Your grandmother asked to see you immediately after you arrived!"
Tahiri saw Tenel Ka raise an eyebrow skeptically.
"My grandmother should know the chain of command. I'll see her when I see fit," Tenel Ka replied decisively.
The steward bowed frantically and backed away, "Yes, your Majesty. I'll tell her right away, your Majesty!"
"See that you do," Tenel Ka murmured as she watched the servant retreat.
"What do you think Fa'ael wants?" Jacen asked.
Tenel Ka gave a tiny shrug, "I am unsure. I only refuse to be led by her wishes."
Jacen grinned, then turned in Tahiri's direction.
"What do you think Tahiri? I personally don't want to get between two Hapan monarchs."
Tahiri couldn't help smiling back, "Me neither."
"Regretfully, there are matters I must see to," interceded Tenel Ka, "But I will send summons later when dinner is prepared."
With a solemn nod, with a trace of knowing smile in Jacen's direction, she turned and walked briskly.
"Jacen, where's Vergere?" Tahiri asked, remembering her earlier question and flooded with a mix of concern and suspicion.
Jacen shot a glance at the door, then shrugged, "She told me she had to meditate on the ship. I'm not sure why it had to be there, but I didn't want to ask. Questioning Vergere usually results in me feeling stupid."
He smiled at his joke, "But I was thinking of doing some meditation as well. Do you want to come with me, or wander around on your own?"
Recent habit almost agreed to the latter, but she caught herself. Usually, she would have liked nothing better than to slip off on her own, but she reminded herself that she shouldn't be trying to shut herself away in seclusion so much. Reluctantly, she nodded her head.
"I'll tag along," she answered, managing another smile. She must be breaking some kind of record for grinning today.
If Jacen was surprised at her reply he showed no sign of it, and they took off in amiable silence to the palace gardens.
* * *
Tenel Ka walked through a secret hallway to her bed-chamber, rifling through her memory to remember the twists and turns of a corridor she had only used once before. She paused at an intersection, wondering the correct route. Usually her head was clear, but everything around her seemed to be rapidly altering. First, there was this assassination attempt, and more disturbing, the implication from a reporter that she was behind it. Such a thing had never happened before and it made her vaguely nervous. Only vaguely, of course, because she was confident in her ability to handle any sort of trouble. Still, it made a normally cool mind turn confused.
She reached back into her conscious with an old Jedi trick and found the proper direction, then plunged forward again. Ahead she saw the door that led to her room and reached out with the Force to detect any hostile presence that might be lurking there.
The only life signature she found was exuding anxiety and tension, though she knew so many people like that she found it hard to distinguish precisely the person.
She hit the door panel and stepped surely into the room as a large portrait slid shut behind her.
The character she'd detected was frantically tidying the room. Or, more specifically, the desk. The woman, a jittery little secretary who arranged Tenel Ka's daily appointments, seemed to be in such a frantic haste that she didn't notice when Tenel Ka entered the room. When the Dathomiri warrior cleared her throat, the secretary leaped almost three feet in the air.
"Aniva," commented Tenel Ka dryly, a pleasant greeting by most Hapan royalty standards, as the secretary whirled around, her hand on her heart.
"Erenda!" Aniva gasped, "You frightened me half to death! I was just preparing for your arrival-"
The woman seemed about to say more, but Tenel Ka cut her off with a sharp hand movement and moved to sit in a chair where she promptly began pulling off the uncomfortable high-heeled dress shoes that matched her violet dress.
Silly of me, she thought to herself, I should have learned by now that dressing like real monarchy doesn't impress anyone. The media and public see me as a one-armed monstrosity either way, and it only bends to my grandmother's requests.
She realized Aniva was talking again and tuned in as the secretary's voice rose in pitch to near hysteria.
"… and the senator said that even if it wasn't murder, there was a conspiracy charge! Oh Majesty, please say that nothing will come of this, I don't want to work for another member of the Royal family. They are so dreadfully wicked and-"
"What?" Tenel Ka asked sharply, turning steel grey eyes to Aniva and holding her in place with that gaze, "What did you say?"
"Conspiracy your Highness! That's what I've been trying to tell you! And the Hapan guard will arrive soon to question you! Majesty, please say that they cannot arrest you!"
Tenel Ka began to feel a sensation like snakes slithering around her in stomach and her mouth became very dry suddenly. She covered it by demanding again, in a clear, steady voice.
"Aniva, stop. Begin again, and slowly. Leave out any unimportant details."
Aniva, though she was practically fainting with fear and shaking visibly, took a deep breath and began to explain in a thin, wavering voice.
"The morning the bomb went off, a message was discovered in the palace and brought into the court when they met to decide a temporary solution to your sudden death."
More likely they each wanted to quickly grab as much power and monetary resources as they could before the monarchy could step in, Tenel Ka thought bitterly to herself. She'd seen more about the inner workings of politics in recent months than she'd been taught in sixteen years of royal tutoring, but that was probably her grandmother's intent.
"The message was brief but clear: Kill every member of the Royal Family and then form an alliance with the Yuuzhan Vong."
Aniva's voice quavered as she spoke the name of the alien invaders. Tenel Ka knew she had never seen the species up close, but they seemed to be like some nightmare story to Aniva, larger than life and scarier in her head than in actuality.
"It was assumed that the assassin who had attacked you would strike again, but nothing else happened until Haleigh was killed this morning. The information that you were coming home produced a great deal of speculation. Then the message sent on the morning of your departure was alleged to have come from your office. Now certain senators are accusing you of killing your monarchy and collaborating with the Yuuzhan Vong."
The sickly feeling grew rapidly inside of her, twisting her innards and making her want to retch. Yuuzhan Vong collaboration? Her? What kind of allegation was that? Surely the senators, power-hungry and devious as they were, understood that such a claim could never be proved?
She struggled to keep her voice calm.
"How did they come to that conclusion?" she asked Aniva.
Aniva wrung her hands together in worry. "I didn't understand completely your Majesty, but for some reason, they took your absence and return as proof that you were trying to kill your family. That wouldn't have been outstanding, except for the implication that you might be trying to eliminate all opponents and then throw in with the Yuuzhan Vong."
Tenel Ka sighed. She didn't want this right now. She was prepared to whip her government into shape, to hold her conniving grandmother in line, and to lead her people into war. What she really wanted was just to plan her wedding, to sort out the little, picky details, to subtly tease Jacen about his part in everything, to…
Oh, what was the use? It wasn't going to happen now with a conspiracy charge against her.
"What are the rules of the arrest?" she asked wearily.
"I'm not sure, Your Majesty. The Hapan guard said they would be here shortly to meet with you," Aniva answered nervously.
"My day keeps improving," Tenel Ka said with unaccustomed sarcasm, standing from her chair and moving hastily towards the armoire with her preferred clothes. There was an entire room filled with dresses and shoes next door, but she rarely looked in there.
Instead, she pulled out a long, severe black gown, the kind that made her look powerful and cruel, but beautiful and unattainable.
"Order some food and drink brought. Tell the guards I will be with them shortly," she requested firmly, exiting to her dressing room with a distinctly frustrated stride.
