Wow. It's been a month since I've updated this. Sorry for the long wait, but I've been busy completing my Shroud story. Now that that's done, I am definitely going to be focusing a lot more on this one now.
Chapter 4
He felt naked as he walked into the massive reception chamber. Vulnerable, even. For the hundredth time he ran his fingers through his hair and down to where his old Padawan braid had once been.
The lock of hair that had branded Anakin Skywalker for five long years now lay innocuously in a safe-box somewhere within the Queen's chambers. The removal of it had been a necessity to conceal his identity for the evening's events, but it signified the definite and unalterable end to a part of his life. The braid would stay hidden until Anakin decided what to do with it. He couldn't destroy it yet. Perhaps, not at all, until he knew for certain what the Jedi were going to do with him.
For all his apprehension at life after the braid, Anakin also felt free for the first time in his life as he thought of his old braid with contempt. That braid, he realized, enslaved him as much as Watto's transmitter did on Tatooine. It had trapped him in a cold and unfeeling temple that felt more like a prison, and it held his heart in a bondage more severe than any spare parts dealer could hold. But all that was behind him now. Anakin Skywalker wondered if every sentient being in the galaxy associated freedom with such uncertainty.
So he gave the braid to the one person he trusted in the world, the same woman that he trusted to detach it from his head. That woman now walked beside him, arm in arm, down towards the waiting bourgeois. Anakin inhaled her sweet flowery aroma and intoxicated his soul with the warmth of her presence. Padme was all that mattered now in his life. He trusted her. She would protect him with all the resources she had. And the Queen of a planet can have quite a wealth of resources.
They approached a tall and pompous man that seemed to lived for self-importance. The elegantly dressed man bowed politely at his Queen, and Padme released her grip on Anakin's arm and bowed in return. Anakin quickly imitated the Queen's actions.
"It is always an honor to greet you, your highness." Pure aloofness, Anakin thought. The man radiated insincerity with every fiber of his being.
"The honor is mine also, Governor Duu Repsaj. Allow me to introduce to you my cousin Leo Naberrie from Alderaan."
"Always a pleasure to meet a relative of the Queen." The Governor stood his ground, and after a few awkward moments Anakin relented and took a step towards him as he reached out his hand. He tried to think of a proper greeting for the occasion but ceased his efforts once he realized that the Governor barely gave him a second glance.
"Are they all going to be like this," asked Anakin after they moved on.
"Yes, but none of them will be as bad as our beloved new Governor," whispered Amidala to her newfound cousin.
Anakin heart skipped several beats when the Queen's lips grazed his earlobe as she spoke. Her voice never sounded sweeter, he decided, than when her soothing breath accompanied the sound until it lightly caressed his skin and disappeared back into the Force. Composure, he realized, would be his most unattainable prize tonight.
"He seems like a typical phony politician to me."
"He's that and more, An…Leo." Padme blushed through her white ceremonial makeup as she almost let slip the identity of her friend to anyone who was disinterested enough to eavesdrop on their conversation. "He is a nobleman and a politician. He is descended from a long line of Kings, which is what he believes himself to be."
"So why doesn't he run then?"
"I still can't tell how he won the Governor's election against Sio Bibble, but the people of Naboo would never elect him or anyone else in his family as King. It was the Repsaj line of monarchs that ran our planet into bankruptcy and poverty. Generations passed before we were able to recover."
"I think," said Anakin as he pulled the Queen closer to him, "that I will be keeping an eye out on him tonight."
The two handmaidens following the two Naberries started to noticeably giggle. The Queen offered a sly look back at Rabe and Eirtae before she pointed out a handsome young man with long and wavy blond hair straight ahead of them.
"That is Naszqa Dooku, heir to the Count of Serenno. He is a regular at these functions. I don't know how he stands to come here all the time. I believe that the only reason he is here is to attract the unwavering attention of my dutiful handmaidens."
"I see," said Anakin quietly. I'm fine with him, he thought, as long as he attracts only the attentions of the handmaidens. His head was somewhere else, though, as they greeted more of the gathered nobility. Dooku of Serenno, he thought to himself repeatedly. Where have I heard that before?
It was time. Anakin reluctantly felt Padme's arm slip away from his as she dutifully and steadily approached her throne at the center of the room. Anakin followed her stealthily until she slowed down to let him catch up.
"Have some fun tonight, Leo," she said to him under her breath without turning her head. "I have to announce the night's festivities from the throne. In meantime, socialize a bit. Meet some new people. You'll find that even the aristocrats can be charming."
"Oh, it is their charm that I fear more than a Sith Lord himself."
"Behave," she ordered firmly, "and I might save my first dance for you later tonight."
"As you wish, your highness." Anakin stopped and bowed to the Queen as she walked up the steps to her throne. It was amazing how she could pacify his behavior in ways that Obi-Wan could never imagine or accomplish.
Alone now, Anakin scanned the room for a friendly face. Well, the faces were all friendly, he told himself, but the hearts that hid behind them weren't as affable as he would hope. He picked up an exotic-looking blue-greenish drink from one of the royal waitresses, who gave him an odd look. The boy seemed too young to indulge in the drinks, she thought, but then, who was she to question the associate of the Queen?
The drink burned through Anakin's mouth and into his stomach, but it was strangely satisfying. It must be alcohol, he realized. His first ever taste of it. Anakin took another sip, this time more cautiously. The cocktail tasted much better the second time around as the blend of various Nubian fruits and liquors ran across his tongue. Some of the fruits seemed to resemble the scent of Padme's perfume, he realized. At that thought, Anakin greedily gulped down what remained in the glass and looked around for another. It wasn't long until he tracked down the waitress and took this time a glass for each hand.
"Not the gentlemanly thing to do, is it, to hoard all the Shurran Punch," a voice asked behind him.
"Who said I was a gentleman," retorted Anakin petulantly at his accuser. He turned around to see the young Dooku approaching him amiably, a glass of the punch in each of his hands as well. The slightly older boy gave Anakin an ironic smile.
"Pardon me for my lapse in judgment. I don't blame you, though, for enjoying these fine drinks." At that cue both of them took a large sip from one of their glasses. Anakin sighed contentedly as he swallowed his sip.
"This punch reminds me of everything I love about Naboo."
"It is a beautiful planet." The two of them gazed around in awe at the elaborate chamber they found themselves in. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Naszqa Dooku of Serenno."
"Leo Naberrie from Alderaan."
"I would shake your hand," said Naszqa still with a grin on his face, "but it appears that neither one of us is equipped to do so." The two new friends shared a laugh. "You are relatives with the Queen, then?"
"Yes, or so they tell me. Apparently we share a surname and a very distant great-great-great-great uncle." He wanted to buffer his alleged blood ties with her. Just in case, Anakin reasoned, he and Padme got a little friendly tonight in front of everyone else.
"Well, I congratulate you on your distantly royal blood," Dooku replied with an ample portion of sarcasm.
"Here's to royalty." Anakin raised both glasses towards their counterparts in Naszqa's hands, and the proceeded, to the Serennoan's surprise, to finish both his drinks. "Let's have a few more of these," he yelled in a very un-gentlemanly manner towards a waiter who had the unfortunate destiny of being within the closest proximity to the former Jedi.
"Aren't you a little young to be drinking so much?" Naszqa had an amused look on his face.
"I would ask the same of you," Anakin said after taking a few more gulps from his newly acquired drinks. "You don't look that old yourself."
"Ah, but I am a Dooku. My family has never been hesitant to enjoy the finer things in life," Naszqa said with a bit of flair.
"Your family, eh? I heard through the Corellian-Grapevine that you are heir to the throne yourself."
"Oh, not as much of a throne as a meaningless and wealthy title. My uncle the Count Sar Dooku was a Jedi, so he never had any kids. My father died years ago, so I am the closest male heir."
Sar Dooku? No wonder the name sounded so familiar. Anakin now recalled that the marble replica of Master Dooku had stared down at him every time he paid a reluctant visit to the Temple library.
"Really? Used to be a Jedi? Do you know why he quit?" Anakin was intrigued now. Perhaps he would learn a tidbit of information that not even his former esteemed Masters could figure out.
"Something political." Naszqa smiled as he downed another gulp of punch. "I can't tell you much more because I don't know much more than that. My uncle is a bit eccentric, to tell you the truth, and I have never been close to him. Honestly, I don't think he's ever been close to anyone."
It was then that the two young men saw the Queen approach them, followed by a gaggle of giggling handmaidens.
"Finish your drinks, Leo. I think the ladies would like to use us for the dances."
"Here's to ladies then," Anakin toasted, and the two gentlemen chugged down the rest of the delicious elixir.
As the handmaidens quickly grouped around the Serennoan, Padme discreetly pulled Anakin aside with a disapproving look on her face.
"My I ask for a dance from my Queen and cousin," asked Anakin a little to loudly in Padme's opinion.
"Most certainly, cousin Leo," replied the Queen formally.
As they embraced each other somewhat awkwardly Padme whispered "Even if you haven't been behaving."
"Oh yes I have," argued Anakin in his own defense. "You'll be pleased to know that I am having fun. Even made a new friend, if you can believe it."
He had never danced a step in his life, but Anakin easily adapted as he allowed the extremely high levels of midichlorines and alcohol in his blood to put him in tune with the music and his partner's steps. He wasn't aware of the quality of his performance, but at least he hadn't hurt his partner yet.
"You're way too young to be drinking, Anak…I mean, Leo."
"Tell your waitresses that. Besides, I wouldn't have met my new friend the royal Dooku if it weren't for my new hobby." Anakin was getting better by the second at his dancing hobby too, as he reached out and let the Force guide his every move.
"You do smell like Shurra fruit though," Padme admitted. No, she thought. Reeked is a better term.
"It's must be a delicious fruit."
"It is. It's my favorite."
Anakin's heart skipped a beat, but his feet didn't miss a step. Temporarily allowing himself to forget all that troubled him, Anakin truly became one with the music, the room, and all that occupied it. Including Padme. Especially Padme. Nothing could pull him away from her touch right now. Nothing except for a feeling that slowly crept into his senses. Something was wrong in the room. Very wrong. A heavy hand on his shoulder quickly and abruptly interrupted his thoughts.
"Excuse me, boy. I believe that it is my turn to dance with the beautiful Queen." Anakin looked at the man who dared to intrude into his fantasy. His rival was a tall man with dark-hair, dressed in exquisite and expensive robes. Anakin flared in anger, but he didn't not want to cause a disturbance and embarrass Padme, so he stepped back. Without even awaiting her permission, the rude man took the Queen's arms and twirled her across the room.
Anakin was quickly claimed by another handmaiden. Sabe, he recognized. His concentration broken, Anakin reached out with the Force to search the feelings of the room again, trying to locate what had felt so wrong.
And so very deadly.