Chapter Four
Padme moved aimlessly around her bedroom in her lake retreat home. She was packing her things. At least, Pialle, her handmaiden, was packing. By the time Padme had taken out and replaced the same dress four times Pialle finally spoke up.
"Here, milady, you just sit while I finish."
"I'm sorry, Pialle. I know I'm getting in your way, but I'm so nervous right now."
"Oh, no, milady. You're just a little distracted. I wanted you to rest. You're not in my way."
"It's okay. You can admit it. I'm just not completely sure what my plans are. All I know is that I have to do something or I'll lose my mind."
"Where are you going?"
"Corusant."
Padme heard Pialle's sharp intake of breath. "But milady, the last time you where there you were nearly killed! If the Jedi had not."
"I'll be fine, Pialle. If it makes you feel any better, I'm going to find Dorme and have her stay with me. If the need arises she can be my decoy." Padme's voice faded out at the end and she looked out the window.
Pialle stopped packing for a moment and looked at her mistress. She walked over to her and sat on the bed beside her. "Milady, are you still thinking bout Corde?" She tentatively put her hand on Padme's back. "She did her duty. All of us would do the same for you. She would not want you to be so upset."
"I know that Pialle. In my heart I know what you are saying is true, but I can't help but think that things could be different. If only. I don't know. All I know is that I'm responsible."
Pialle frowned but did not press anymore. She went thoughtfully back to her packing, allowing the silence to settle about them for a moment before asking, "And once you are at Corusant?"
Padme shook off her gloom and forced a smile. "I suppose I'll find Jar- Jar, Representative Binks, and find out what has been happening in my absence. Then perhaps I can go to the Senate meetings for a while -"
Pialle smiled and asked softly, "And will you try to see Master Anakin?"
Just thinking about him brought a warm smile to her face. She knew they were up against a lot by marrying, but she needed him. "I don't know if that will be possible. No one must suspect that there is anything more between us than old friends, if even that."
"Milady," Pialle said, coming to stand in front of Padme, "Please be safe."
"I will Pialle, I promise. I'm not taking registered transport. I've found a Corellian merchant by the name of Solo who's willing to take me without letting anyone know. No one on Corusant even knows I am coming. I have to go, Pialle. I can't sit idle while people are suffering."
Padme moved aimlessly around her bedroom in her lake retreat home. She was packing her things. At least, Pialle, her handmaiden, was packing. By the time Padme had taken out and replaced the same dress four times Pialle finally spoke up.
"Here, milady, you just sit while I finish."
"I'm sorry, Pialle. I know I'm getting in your way, but I'm so nervous right now."
"Oh, no, milady. You're just a little distracted. I wanted you to rest. You're not in my way."
"It's okay. You can admit it. I'm just not completely sure what my plans are. All I know is that I have to do something or I'll lose my mind."
"Where are you going?"
"Corusant."
Padme heard Pialle's sharp intake of breath. "But milady, the last time you where there you were nearly killed! If the Jedi had not."
"I'll be fine, Pialle. If it makes you feel any better, I'm going to find Dorme and have her stay with me. If the need arises she can be my decoy." Padme's voice faded out at the end and she looked out the window.
Pialle stopped packing for a moment and looked at her mistress. She walked over to her and sat on the bed beside her. "Milady, are you still thinking bout Corde?" She tentatively put her hand on Padme's back. "She did her duty. All of us would do the same for you. She would not want you to be so upset."
"I know that Pialle. In my heart I know what you are saying is true, but I can't help but think that things could be different. If only. I don't know. All I know is that I'm responsible."
Pialle frowned but did not press anymore. She went thoughtfully back to her packing, allowing the silence to settle about them for a moment before asking, "And once you are at Corusant?"
Padme shook off her gloom and forced a smile. "I suppose I'll find Jar- Jar, Representative Binks, and find out what has been happening in my absence. Then perhaps I can go to the Senate meetings for a while -"
Pialle smiled and asked softly, "And will you try to see Master Anakin?"
Just thinking about him brought a warm smile to her face. She knew they were up against a lot by marrying, but she needed him. "I don't know if that will be possible. No one must suspect that there is anything more between us than old friends, if even that."
"Milady," Pialle said, coming to stand in front of Padme, "Please be safe."
"I will Pialle, I promise. I'm not taking registered transport. I've found a Corellian merchant by the name of Solo who's willing to take me without letting anyone know. No one on Corusant even knows I am coming. I have to go, Pialle. I can't sit idle while people are suffering."