Drip.

Drip.

I hear things.

Men barking commands at their under level men.

Blaster bolts passing through flesh and bones.

Lightsabers clashing with one another.

I cannot take these sounds, my eyes close, my hands cover my ears, perhaps I can block the evil out. But another thought shines brighter then any sound of nightmarish images.

Where is my master?

"Anakin" Oh I hear him now, he is here, right in front of me.

"Anakin" I reach out and try to grab on to anything, anything just to get his attention.

"Anakin"

Wait. This is not Obi-Wans voice…

"Your highness, please you must rest." Came the voice of her most trusted handmaiden Sabe. "You can't help him if you're hell on feet, Padme."

"I'm fine Sabe. Just…go to bed, please, we all have a big day tomorrow."

Padme Amidala, queen of the Naboo, looked like she had not slept in weeks, even though it had only been a few hours. Ever since the young woman had been a child she had a tendency to make friends with people who had lesser things then she. After the climax of the battle of Naboo she went out to the most affected spots and helped the families get their lives back on track. She even brought food and supplies to the gungan's who had nothing left. It was agreed by all, that Amidala, no matter her age, was one of the wisest leaders on Naboo of any time span.

But this was not a normal situation where she became the champion of some unlucky being. No, This was her friend, maybe her best friend, whom she held close to her heart. Anakin Skywalker.

After finding out that he was going off to be a Jedi she was the first person who he had told. In fact she has been there for him every step of the way.

Flashback

"Patience Anakin If you keep squirming like that I will most likely cut your ear off" Grinned Obi-Wan.

"I'm trying, but I'm just really, really, really, really excited!" exclaimed A ten year old Anakin. "Did I mention I the word really?"

He was sitting on a tall chair getting his first real hair cut. Back home on Tatoonie he would get his fringe clipped from time to time, but this was a very different matter. This is the time, which starts off the partnership between master and apprentice. The ritual cutting of the padawans hair. Normally the only one's present is the new master, their apprentice and the former master or a council member. But for young Anakin it was very different. Instead of having a Jedi Master attending, Anakin and Obi-Wan had requested that Padme would join them.

The young Monarch, dressed in her handmaiden garb, held on to a length of hair at the right side of his head, that would become his Padawan braid.

"There. Done. You know young one you look like a Jedi already." Obi-Wan said as he put down the scissors to admire his work.

" Do I really?" Asked a nervous Anakin

"Ani I don't think I've met a more handsome Jedi" Padme smiled at him.

At her comment the young boy blushed a bright red. To hide his embarrassment he ran over quickly to the full body mirror to admire his new look. His one piece of uncut hair flew behind him. Padme choosing to laugh at the blush walked over with him and maybe make the boy blush a little more. Hey, even a queen has to have fun. The interactions did not go unnoticed by Obi-Wan, who look on with mild amusement. After a few seconds of watching them it hit him, hard, that as master, Obi-Wan may have to watch them very closely if this kept up when they got older. Obi-Wan shuddered at the thought. Hormones you gotta love em.

End Flashback

Padme ran her fingers through Anakin's hair, thinking of that moment. One of the many times that he had made her laugh. Sabe knew that Padme wanted to be alone with the young man. So with a sad smile Sabe left with a bow, closing the door behind her. The queen didn't even notice.

Padme never thought the last time she had seen and spoken to Anakin or Obi-Wan, that it could be the last. And then there was the fact that it had been by Holo link. She would had never again given Anakin a hug…No she did not want to think like that.

She kept her left hand in his longish hair, as she wiped away some tears with her right. Looking down at Anakin, she let herself have a little smile at Anakin's long, shaggy hair. When Anakin had turned 13 he noticed that boys his age who lived on Naboo had longish hair. He also happened to 'notice'that Nubian girls liked that longish hair. So he went to Master Yoda himself, to ask permission if he could have this particular hair cut. The tiny Jedi Master had shaken his head in amusement and with a small chuckle agreed. But with one condition…No cutting off the braid!

The Palace bells outside striked three. Ding. It was now three hours since Anakin had arrived in his weaken state. Ding. Three hours, and no word from Obi-Wan. Ding. Three hours and nothing had come up, no breaking news on the Holonet, no word of a search party for a missing Jedi apprentice. Nothing. As was appropriate Padme was getting very worried.

Once again the door quietly slid open, revealing this time Sabe and captain Typho. The slightly dark man, with the hard chin spoke. "Your highness, there is a communication coming in from Alderaan."

Padme made no sign of moving.

Typho sighed "Please your highness, it is the prince consort."

Sabe stepped forward. "Padme, I know you and Anakin are very close but the fact remains, you know you must be a queen before a friend."

At this comment no matter how innocent, Padme looked up at her handmaiden hard and angrily. "How. Dare. You. How dare you! Who do you think you are? You have no right to tell me what to do."

She turned back to Anakin, who was now shaking, but not from the cold. "Captain, if you may, you can tell the prince consort I will speak to him later."

The man snapped his feet together and took his leave. But not before taking Sabe with him. When they had left the room. Padme finally let all of her tears fall down her cream coloured cheeks.

"Please Ani, please, I beg of you, Please don't die."

Outside the room, Captain Typho still had his hand on the handmaiden's arm. As he let go, he leaned over to her ear. "Do not let it go to heart Sabe, she did not mean it. Tomorrow she will apologise and young Anakin will awaken. All will be well again."

At his retreating form the girl whispered to her self, a gleam in her brown eyes. "We shall see, you pathetic little man."

It was time to contact her master…