Someone pointed out to me that that last chapter was very similar to the scene in Episode II between Anakin and Padmé. I didn't mean to do that. In fact, I had totally forgotten about that scene. I apologize.

Obi and I hastily pack up everything we brought and follow Dormé back to the palace. As we walk, Dormé speaks, "So, I don't mean to pry, but what were you two doing back there?"

Obi speaks, "Oh, it's not what it looked like. Zann-. Zandra had fainted, and I was trying to revive her."

"Indeed." Dormé raises an eyebrow at me, and I respond with a warning look.

We walk the rest of the distance in silence.

When we reach the palace, Dormé takes the basket from us, and tells us to go to the conference room where we had been before. Everyone else is already there, and Obi and I take our seats quickly.

The queen starts, "I have called you all here today, because I have come to a decision. I have talked at great length withKnight Qui-Gon Jinn, and I have decided that I will take his advice and leave Naboo, but only in order to go speak to the Senate, with hopes of peaceful negotiations, or help, if nothing else."

There are sighs of relief from all over the table. But not from me. I mean, sure I'm very happy that she's decided to leave. But she only decided to after talking with Qui-Gon, only from the coaxing of Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. I have been telling her all along that she has to leave, but nooooooo, she won't listen to me. She'll only believe it if the other Jedi say so. My head starts to hurt and everything seems to have a green tint to it. Obi looks at me and tilts his head in a concerned manner. Perhaps I really should have my eyes checked.

The queen continues, "All of my security shall be confirmed by Zandra. If she doesn't like it, it doesn't happen. All right, Zandra?"

Everyone looks at me, but I can't even manage to look up, my head hurts.

"Zanni?" E'Riq whispers from beside me.

"Yeah, sure," I manage to say.

"Will everyone please leave me and Zandra?" Queen Amidala says.

Everyone stands and leaves the room, and E'Riq puts a reassuring hand on my shoulder as he leaves. Obi looks at him do that, and seems a little annoyed. That makes me smile a little.

Everyone leaves the room, and the headache starts to lighten up.

The queen turns and looks at me worriedly. "Zanni, are you okay?"

I feel a lot better now, and nod.

"Are you sure? You've been acting.strange lately."

"How so?" I ask.

"Oh I don't know. Sometimes you seem all sunny and happy, and then other times you'll be carrying a cloud over your head." She pauses. "Oh, and I've been meaning to tell you this, but I just love your eyes!"

"What?" I ask, startled

"You're eyes, how they change color in the light. I've never noticed before how they sometimes seem almost green. Anyway, are you sure you're all right?"

"Yes." I sit up straight and look at her. "I'm fine."

"Okay, well if you need to talk."

"Yes." I smile. "Thank you, Padmé."

"Are you all right with what I've been saying at this meeting?"

I sigh. "I'm very happy that you've decided to leave. But why only after talking to Master Jinn? Is my word really not good enough?"

Now she lets out a sigh. "Zanni, you know I value your word. And I respect you very much. I suppose I just didn't realize the danger until Mr. Jinn spoke to me."

"I've been telling you all a long how dangerous it is. And you know that I speak for Master Yoda and Master Windu as well."

"I suppose...I suppose I've just reached my breaking point. It really has nothing to do with you, orQui-Gon Jinn."

"Okay." I'm not exactly sure what to say now.

She smiles at me. "Let's talk more about this later. We have some anxious guards and advisors waiting outside, not to mention a couple of Jedi. And I know what it's like to keep them waiting."

I smile and she winks at me. "You may come back now," she says to the door, and everyone comes back inside, glancing at each of us quickly before taking their seats. I avoid Obi's eyes.

"Okay, so, Zandra is going to be in charge of my security. Is that understood? Good."

------------------

That evening, Padmé Amidala enters Zanni's quarters after most of the others have fallen asleep. Zanni is sitting in the middle of her bed meditating, her hair down from the usual ponytail flowing down her back. The young queen stops, not sure what to do.

"Come in, and close the door please."

Padmé starts, surprised by Zanni's talking. She does and instructed, and Zanni slowly opens her eyes.

"And how are you this evening, my lady?"

Padmé sits on the edge of Zanni's bed. "Oh for goodness sake, drop that 'my lady' stuff and call me Padmé as I told you."

Zanni smiles. "Okay, Padmé."

The Queen looks at her hands for a minute. "Are you sure you're all right?"

Zanni rolls her eyes. "Yes, I'm fine. Is that what you came here to talk to me about?"

Padmé shakes her head. "Actually, I was thinking about what you had said a while ago about me traveling using a decoy, and posing as a handmaiden myself. And I think that's a good idea. I was wondering, would you like to take my place, pretend to be me?"

"Are you serious? I'd love to!" Zanni grins. "But wait, that wouldn't work. Too many people would figure it out."

"No they wouldn't. You'd look just like me under all that makeup."

"No, I mean, people would notice I'm missing. And besides, I'm the one who they have to come to for security issues."

The queen thinks for a minute. "Well, I could have them tell me first...I suppose you're right."

"Why can't Dormé do it? She'd be wonderful."

"It's just that it would be dangerous, posing as me. Many people want to kill me, and you would be able to take care of yourself well. But Dormé probably wouldn't."

"Don't worry, I'll take good care of her and you."

"Are you sure you couldn't do it? It would be perfect. Who would recognize your absence, truly?"

"Everyone. I mean, they'd wonder where I was."

"Everyone? Or are you thinking of someone in particular?"

Zanni gives the queen a wary look. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, is there a particular Jedi padawan who might notice that you're gone? Who might even recognize you despite the makeup you'd be wearing?"

"I knew it! So this is where you were going!" Zanni exclaims.

"So? Is there? Do you and Obi-Wan have something going on?"

Zanni puts on a perfectly innocent face. "What ever do you mean?"

"Oh come on, everyone's noticed. Well, most of us that know you have noticed anyway."

"Noticed what?"

"The looks you give each other, your little picnics and such."

Zanni blushes. "Well. There isn't really anything going on."

Padmé leans back on the bed. "There isn't really? Okay, spill. Tell me everything."

Zanni sighs and leans back too. "Okay, where to start?"

"The beginning works."

"Okay, fine. The beginning. Well, Obi and I-."

"Obi?" Padmé laughs. "Okay, sorry, go on."

"Well, we were best friends. We grew up together, best of friends, and shared this dream of becoming Jedi knights. Then, when we were about eight years old, Qui-Gon and his master came to our planet. And, basically, took Obi away. They said my future was too clouded, it would be too dangerous to train me. And Obi left. He took our dream, and left." She pauses, her eyes glazed, lost in thought from those years long ago.

Padmé senses Zanni's churning emotions and puts her hand gently on Zanni's. "You don't have to continue if you don't want to."

Zanni looks blankly at Padmé for a moment, but shakes her head. "No, I want to tell someone this, and I know I can trust you."

"Of course."

"Right after Obi left, that same night in fact, our planet was attacked, and destroyed. I lost my mother, and just about everyone else I knew and loved. But Obi had apparently told Yoda and Master Windu about me, for they found and rescued me, and agreed that I could be trained, but carefully. So, ever since then I've been training with them, with the best. I never saw Obi, until here, now. It's so weird, seeing him again."

"But you haven't told him that you're a Jedi, have you?"

"No, I don't know why. I just don't want to share it with him, since he decided to take it from me. I don't know."

Padmé smiles gently. "You're still very angry at him."

"I guess I am. I don't know."

"It's okay. It's okay." She sits up and looks Zanni directly in the eyes. "Do you have any other feelings for him?"

Zanni shifts her weight with uneasiness. "What, has this suddenly become an interrogation?"

"No, I just want you to get things thought out. You don't have to tell me the answer, but think about it yourself." Padmé gets up to leave, but Zanni stops her.

"Wait, stay, please. I... There is something. Though there shouldn't be! I can't, he can't, I'm a Jedi. Jedi can't feel. No romance, no falling in love."

"Oh forget all that. You can't help it if you feel anything. So are you in love with him?"

"Well, no. I mean, I love him as a friend, and kinda.like him, but no I'm not in love with him."

"So you do like him. Okay, now we're getting somewhere."

Zanni gives her a confused look, then laughs and lunges at Padmé, who gets out of the way fast enough. "Tsk tsk. You know that Jedi aren't supposed to go around beating up Queens and such. For shame!"

She laughs and sits back down on the bed, and Zanni sits up again. "Okay, can I tell you something that I don't think I should, but I want to, just to tell someone?"

"Of course!" comes the queen's reply.

"I kissed him." Zanni bites her lip and squints at the Queen, not sure what to expect.

Padmé's eyes widen, and she lets out a laugh. "You kissed him! Wow!"

"Well, actually, he kissed me. Twice." Zanni coughs in a pathetic attempt to cover up the last confession.

"Twice?" Padmé hugs Zanni, and they both start laughing.

"I don't know what to do, though."

Padmé looks at her carefully. "Just do what feels right."

Zanni looks around the room briefly. "Damn it. I was hoping I'd get a different answer."

They both start laughing again, and when they stop, Padmé wipes away a tear. "So, tell me. Is he a good kisser?"

Zanni sits and thinks for a moment. She starts shaking her head tentatively, in a "so-so" manner, than grins. "Oh yeah."