Chapter Fifteen

oOo

Nyla insisted on having one ceremony to crown her and for the wedding. "This will save money to be used to assist the people not fluff my ego." 'And I won't have to get dressed up but once.' She thought. The only problem was both were long ceremonies. /No accidental marriages here./ She Force told Moth half way through the ceremony. Moth turned and gave her a fatherly smile, he had been asked to stand in for her father for the ceremony and looked very distinguished in his Royal blue velvet robes with silver buckles to match his lightsaber. /You are wearing your lightsaber to my wedding, do you think you are going to need it?

/You wouldn't want me to come to your wedding half dressed would you/ Moth answered as he watched Tra Gon Jinnel being escorted into the hall and up to his bride. / He really loves you, I always thought he was sweet on you. That is why the council sent him on a mission after he recuperated from the attack on Lidio, to avoid a problem in the making. /

/ Anyone see Nyla? This can't be her; she isn't standing like a Jedi. / Gen asked.

/ Delī gave me standing lessons, the first I've had since I was one year old. / Nyla sniffed at him.

/ Is this a private conversation or can anyone get in on it.../ Delī asked. / I don't know what the rules are. /

Moth raised an eyebrow at Delī's being able to join in on the conversation untrained, but realized the bond between twins probably assisted in her abilities.

/ Join in. / Nyla said.

/ Doing this during the ceremony, should you?.../ Yoda asked.

/ It's my ceremony, I'll talk if I want to. / Nyla said.

The Magistrate signaled it was time for the vows to be said. "Repeat after me. 'I, Tra Gon Jinnel…' "

oOo

"Yoda, why are you sitting under the table meditating at the coronation banquet of your best friend?" Moth asked as he picked up the napkin he 'accidentally' dropped and peeked under the table.

"Mixed feelings some have about the monarchy, dark emotions some feel, concerned for Nyla, I am." Yoda raised his head but keep his brown eyes closed.

"That's why we are here, to see to it no one takes out their anger on Nyla or her family. Do you sense anyone in particular?" Moth asked.

"Older man in red robes and man in green discussing 'tyranny of monarch soon to come back, Hear queen has temper, soon we feel heat of anger. Time to act now. Know someone, do job.' " Yoda said eyes still closed.

"Yes, I read the reports of the old government he was a prominent leader in the political party. He must have a lot of clout to get in to the coronation ceremony. We can't act on discussions between old friend reminiscing on the good old days but we can keep an eye on them." Moth raised up and excused himself from the table and approached the Head of the Queen's guard and informed him of the suspicions.

"We are aware of him and have him on watch alert." The guard said matter-of-factly.

"Why wasn't I told about the danger?" Moth asked concerned about the Head Guard's lack of concern.

"We can do nothing until he actually makes a move. This is our responsibility, enjoy the banquet." He dismissed Moth.

"Well, if the Queen is harmed because you failed to act, you will suffer the same fate as the assassins." Moth warned the Head Guard. Moth returned to the table and dropped his napkin again but found no Yoda under the table. / Be careful. / Moth said through the Force. Nyla and Gen had apparently watched the whole process and were aware something was going on.

/ Is that a general distress call or someone specific?.../ Gen asked through the Force.

/ Both. Some one is plotting against the Queen and the Head Guard isn't properly concerned and Yoda just disappeared. / Moth warned them.

/ They had better not hurt my sister. / Delī screamed through the Force.

/ Delī, we are going to have to work on your volume control. / Nyla flinched.

/ Sorry… / Delī whispered through the Force.

The banquet concluded without a problem and Gen and Nyla were escorted to the Queens chambers for their first night together. "You look like you are going to be executed." Gen whispered to his bride.

"I feel like it to. Why didn't I run while I had the chance?" Nyla lamented.

"You aren't afraid of me are you?" Gen asked.

"No, just life altering changes." She sighed.

The guards opened the doors and stood ceremonially by while the couple entered then closed the doors behind them. Setting on the foot of the bed holding two snakes just behind their heads, one in each hand was Yoda. "Wedding present, someone left for you. Checked rest of room, I did, safe you are." Yoda added as the snakes coiled and uncoiled around his small arms.

Gen walked over to the doors and told the guards. "Call the Head of the Queen's Guards!"

Moth stepped out of the shadows at the other end of the hall. "Is there a problem?"

Gen said. "Yes, Yoda found a present someone left us." He motioned to Yoda who was sliding off of the bed, dragging the still wiggling snakes.

The Head Guard came into the room and saw Yoda. "Move they made, now act you can." Yoda bounced up on the table and handed the terrified Head Guard the highly poisonous snakes.

The Head Guard handed the snakes off to the subordinate guard, shook and asked. "Who did this?"

"Man in red robes and man in green robes talked to him." He said pointing to a guard standing back outside the door to the hall.

"Arrest him and Councilman Dennic and Councilman Waccon!" He ordered the guards. Then turning to Nyla. "I am so sorry Your Highness I never suspected that guard. I will personally run an in-depth security check on everyone in the Palace. I beg your forgiveness it will never happen on my watch, again." He backed out the door sure he was going to be beheaded by the Jedi Master.

Just then Juri Force jumped up on the balcony and asked. "Do you need any help? I heard a commotion."

"No, Yoda took care of it." Nyla assured her. "Everything is safe now. Someone slipped snakes in our room. Go check on Delī and her family."

Juri ran out of the room and down the hall to Delī's apartment and checked to make sure they were safe.

Delī came down the hall, half out of her makeup and wearing a night robe over her remaining undergarments from the banquet. "What happened?"

"I'm safe, Yoda found two snakes someone left in my room. Calm down! I'm safe. Delī look at me. I am safe." Nyla had to repeatedly reassure her distraught sister.

Finally, as everyone was being ushered out. Moth said he would be on guard in the hall and Juri would be on guard in the garden outside the balcony. Nyla had asked. "Yoda, Would you sleep in Drew's room for my and Delī's peace of mind?"

"Glad I would be to watch over Drew." Yoda said and he slept like the small child knowing everything was safe for tonight.

Nyla and Gen checked the room again for snakes or other dangers before they were able to relax. As they were about to fall asleep Nyla noticed something hard under her pillow… a small jewel encrusted lightdagger. "Yoda."

oOo

The next morning Yoda was in the cookery bright and early checking on the kitchen staff. "He makes me very nervous. He's so small and green and that face he looks like a swamp rat from the mountains where I was raised." One of the cook's assistance whispered when she was sure he had left.

"And those claws, only three fingers." The other assistant added.

"The new Queen trust him and thinks he's civilized enough to have in the house so that's good enough for me." The cook scolded the assistants. "Besides, I hear he can read thoughts and intentions so you had better shut up because here he comes again." She nodded toward the door that had swung softly open while they were huddled together whispering.

Yoda strolled in stretched as tall as his two foot two inch frame would stretch and stared at the cook's assistants with an all-knowing grin on his face. "Yoda no rat, Yoda a great Jedi Padawan."

The assistant got so nervous she dropped the fruit she was pealing and it rolled across the floor and stopped at Yoda's feet. He Force picked it up and floated it to the assistant, who immediately turned and fled the cookery. The head cook turned to him and asked boldly. "Now who is going to peal all the fruit for the Queen's pies."

"Intentions bad, she had." Yoda said showing the cook the bag of brown power that the assistant dropped. "Need new Queen if pies made with this."

"Well, I'll be… she has been my assistant for over a year. I never suspected her of anything like this." The head cook declared.

"Not everyone as glad to see the Monarchy as first told, we were." Yoda informed her. "On guard you must be. Others may try to harm Queen, too."

"I will. You can come in anytime you want to check the cookery. Franque bring that tall stood over here so Jedi Yoda can watch, see better. Put it right here and set him… Oh! You can sure jump for a little fellow." The cook was caught off guard when Yoda bounced up on the stool unassisted. He sniffed of all the pots and inspected all the ingredients, as they were prepared. (She soon learned not to allow him to assist in the cooking.) Then he went to the Queen's private dining room and checked it for and dangers, crawling or otherwise. Afterward he went to escort her and her family to breakfast. Then he started the same process for lunch and dinner. He would check the Throne room repeatedly during the day including the royal fresher.

oOo

"Have you seen them this morning." The Throne room guard asked his fellow guard.

He nervously shook his head not wanting to say anything out loud.

"How many of them do you think there are?" The guard ignored his fellow guard's fears.

"A lot." He finally said then added a little too loud. "And a fine job they are doing protecting the Queen."

"I hear there is one in the cookery, one in the Throne room, one in the royal bedroom, one that watches the Queen's sister and her family, one in the garden and one that stays with the Queen at all times. That makes let's see, three, six in all. They all look alike and dress alike to hide their number."

Just then Yoda stepped out of the shadows and strolled past the guards smiling mischievously and said as he left the room. "Sure only six are you?"

"See I told to be quiet about them. They hear everything! You heard about the one that caught the snakes and handed them to the Head Guard. I want to keep my head, I hear they carry a light thing and can cut your head off before you even know he's in the room. Jump right up and swoop and your head, it goes rolling down the hall and doesn't even bleed. Now shut up about them." The second guard erupted.

'For someone who doesn't want to talk about them he has a lot to say.' The first guard thought.

Over the next few weeks the palace guard of Pyotr came to think there was an army of little green things running around the palace. He checked the rooms before Nyla, Gen or Delī went anywhere, ferreted out three other staff members that were loyal to the political party and wanted to cause problems for the new monarchy. It seemed as if he was everywhere. If someone was plotting against Nyla Yoda was there. He gained the reputation of being the Queens most trusted protector. His size proved to be an asset, he was able to move around and even hear plots when he couldn't possible have been in the room.

The Head Guard was jumpy for a time after the snake episode until he finally realized Nyla hadn't inherited her ancestor's bad personality traits. His loyalty grew as he realized she was a Queen for the people and wanted to help them prosper not the rich government officials. She took the time to look into every ruling, every law change and every proposition that came before her.

oOo

Not long after the coronation Nyla got a call form the Council requesting that she have Moth contact his 'wife' some sort of emergency. Nyla sent for Moth at once.

"Your Majesty, how may I be of service?" Moth asked.

"I received a call from the Council for you to call your 'wife'." Nyla told him.

"If she called the Council it must be something drastic. May I use your holo link Your Highness?" Moth asked in his most regal yet worried voice.

"You may." Nyla said still adjusting to her new station in life.

Moth punched in Taryn's information and waited. Taryn answered almost immediately which really worried him. "Taryn, what's wrong? Are you all right? It must be something drastic for you to call the Council."

"Kotn, I'm fine. I just need to talk to you. How is Yoda's training coming along?" Taryn asked trying to ease into the real reason for the call.

"He is doing quite well." A very confused Moth answered. "You didn't call the Council and have me paged to check on Yoda, did you?"

"No, I needed to tell you…something…I…a…When you were here last month…you …left something." Taryn said unable to blurt it out.

"Just set it aside and I will pick it up next time I come for a visit." Moth said clue-less.

"You will have to wait about seven and a half months to pick it up." Taryn said with a concerned look on her face.

'What did I leave?' Moth thought naively.

Nyla, who was hearing the whole conversation, busted out laughing. "Moth, you are a healer and you don't recognize those symptoms."

Moth looked at Nyla then back at Taryn her green eyes were pleading. 'Please be happy, don't be mad.' Moth smiled and said. "Oh! That something, really! Seven and a half months, that's the fall on Verrell. I wish I were there. I can't show you how happy I am at this news over a holo link."

"You are, you aren't upset, this will up our schedule and the Council won't be pleased." Taryn still concerned.

"I recently learned from my former Padawan that there is life outside the Jedi order. Nyla has been crowned Queen of Pyotr, is married and trying for her own little miracle." Moth proclaimed his wife.

"Queen Nyla of Pyotr, former Jedi Knight?" Taryn said puzzled.

"Actually, Queen Quina Nya Jinnel, but she graciously allows her old friends to call her Nyla in private though. It's a long story. I will tell you about it when I get to Verrell. I… let me see what I can work out and I will be there as soon as possible. I have to go the Ambassador is here for a meeting with Nyla. I love you, Taryn. Soon, I promise." Moth hated to cut the connection but couldn't hold up Nyla's meeting any longer. He stood in shock for a few seconds after Taryn's image faded.

He turned to see Nyla's face beaming. "Poppa Moth, Who knows maybe someday our kids will be Jedi together." Nyla said. "You have to go to her."

"I can't leave until you are safe. This is why Jedi are not allowed to marry. My loyalties are divided, I want to be here protecting you and I want to be there for my wife and child." Moth reasoned.

"Maybe we can work something out to get you together sooner." Nyla assured him "Now I have to consider a trade agreement with Felipé."

oOo

Moth had been trying to come up with a solution to his problem all week and hadn't come up with anything yet. 'I have to many conflicting emotions. I want to be there with my wife and child but I can not abandon Nyla, she needs me. My emotions are clouding my thinking and as usual my Padawan has disappeared. Probably off foiling some plot or looking for new roots to eat.' Moth's train of thought was interrupt by a Queen's messenger.

"Her Majesty Quina Nya, Request the honor of your presence in the Throne Room."

"Assure Her Royal Highness I will be there promptly." Moth said reaching for the elaborate robes that the Court officials insisted he wear as the Queen's Jedi Guard.

Moth changed and hurried to the Throne Room, Nyla never sent for him so regally so something had to be up. As the doors were open to allow him to enter he saw the unmistakable outlines of Master Lemuel Poof, Master Mead Loren and Master Gael Freene. 'Should I run now or stand and take my medicine like a Jedi.' He thought, he chose to stand.

"Master Moth, as Queen of Pyotr, I requested a permanent Jedi presents on Pyotr. I requested you as the head of that delegation. The Council has graciously agreed. Masters Poof, Loren and Freene have come to Knight Juri and Yoda, who will be assigned to me for the time being." Nyla pronounced.

"I am honored by your request but I have obligations to Taryn…" Moth started then stopped when he heard the doors opening and felt a familiar presence behind him. In came Yoda and Taryn dressed in her 'wedding dress' and chocolate brown velvet cloak.

"I also contacted Taryn and asked her to be my personal healer, she has agreed. Surprise!" Nyla was shocked she had pulled this off without her former Master knowing anything about it.

"I am speechless!" Moth said putting his arm around Taryn and fighting the impulse to scoop her into a Wookie hug in front of the Masters. As it was they frowned at him.

"Master Poof would you like to conduct the knighting ceremony." Nyla asked.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Juri Jonan would you step forward." Master Poof called Juri into the center of the medallion in front of the Queen's throne. "You are now Jedi Knight Juri Jonan." He drew his lightsaber and deftly removed her braid. "Yoda step forward." Yoda stepped to the center of the Medallion and wondered how he would be Knighted without a braid to remove. "Yoda you are now a Jedi Knight, do you have a last name?"

"No! Master." Yoda said proudly.

"Jedi Knight Yoda." Master Poof squatted down and with a swooped of his lightsaber, skimming just above Yoda's shoulder.

"Master Moth as long as you are remaining in this assignment on Pyotr as the Queen's Jedi Guard you may remain a Jedi Master. If you leave this assignment you are to resign or divorce the choice is up to you. Now if there is no additional business with the Council, we will return to Coruscant."

As the Masters filed out Moth noticed a white rose in Master Freene hand and a smile on her face. After the door shut behind the Masters, Moth scooped Taryn up and swung her around. Then realized where they were. "Excuse me Your Highness, I was carried away for a moment."

"You have my permission to kiss you wife, if you like." Nyla teased regally.

"Your orders I will happily obey." Then he kissed her tenderly. Then he heard.

"Jedi Knight Yoda, Nice ring does that have." Yoda tried out the sound of his new title.

"And Jedi Knight Juri Jonan, Queen's Guard." Juri added.

"I decided to try out this new power as Queen and see if I could get a solution to your problem without you having to resign from the Jedi Order at least for now. With a few suggestions from Yoda and Gen about sending for Taryn and Knighting Yoda and Juri. I think we will have an interesting court on Pyotr."

"Moth, how did you not realize I was here?" Taryn asked.

"I didn't think anything about Yoda disappearing, he does that from time to time. I was so upset about not being able to be with you that I just didn't recognize the sensations, I knew I felt closer to you but thought it was our bond just growing because of the baby. The baby!" He said then placed his hand on her stomach. "It's a boy!"

"Yes, would you mind if I…we named him Ben after my Father."

"Ben Moth." Moth said proudly.

"Ben Moth Kenobi. On Verrell a child takes the Mother's last name but we can do both. Ben Kenobi Moth off Verrell, if that is all right with you." Taryn added concerned she might have offended her husband.

"I have learned from Gen that sometimes a man can take his wife's name. So Ben Moth Kenobi, it is."

"Speaking of announcements, we have one of our own. I won't be far behind you." Nyla announced.

oOo

A/N: To faraway friends just returned, this chapter is dedicated. The real life Delī, returned to the fold she has. Doing the happy dance we are.