Elan
"I'm not particularly pleased that you're associated with the Jedi," Ni'Korish said, in a tone so casual and light that Elan almost missed the undercurrent of a fear underneath. She's afraid of me? Elan thought, feeling amused until she remembered that no one here had seen anything like a Skywalker before. Except for Anakin. And she had no idea what he was capable of.
"I'm not either," Elan said, letting amusement creep into her voice. Ni'Korish blinked, smiled faintly, and reached out as though to touch the screen.
"I have seen the truth of who you are," Ni'Korish said, and Elan felt a wash of relief. "And I will grant you the protection of our name in this time and place. You shall be known as my daughter-in-law, the wife of a son who died too young, as our Dwen did."
Our Dwen. Elan's heart ached.
"You are gracious and kind, Queen Mother," she said softly. "I cannot express the joy I have at being claimed by family in such a strange place."
The woman sat back in her chair, sweeping her white hair behind one ear. Behind her, sunlight had started to filter through the curtains; dawn in Hapes, Elan thought, longing for the warm, golden beauty.
Ni'Korish seemed to read her face and smiled gently. "Do you wish to come home?"
Elan felt something in her stomach constrict painfully. "Very much. But..." The Force was prodding at the back of her mind. "But...Queen Mother...something is happening here. Something that will change the entire galaxy. I cannot simply stand by and watch."
Ni'Korish nodded. "The Sith Darth Sidious."
Of course she knew. The Queen Mother had spies everywhere.
"He will try to destroy my family in the days to come," Elan said somberly. "If my knowledge of timewarps is correct, this world is different from my own, a parallel place. Any change I make here will not change my life in my world and time, if ever I can get back there."
Ni'Korish closed her eyes briefly. "As the ruler of Hapes, I see no gain in saving this rotten Republic."
"As the ruler of Hapes," Elan said, leaning forward, feeling a passion she hadn't known in months, "you would be lauded as the savior. You are already so powerful in your own realm and the minds of the people of the Republic. But you are not loved by the people here. Imagine if you were to save the Jedi, are magnanimous toward those you hold no love for. There is great power in being seen as the one who chooses who lives and who dies. You would be seen as the one who sanctions the future direction of the Republic."
"I cannot be manipulated," Ni'Korish said, but she was smiling. "Elani"-Elan hadn't heard the diminutive, familial version of her name since she was a child visiting Ta'a Chume-"you have more cunning than any of my own children. Would that you were the next queen of Hapes."
"I think you will find Ta'a more than up to that task," Elan said.
Ni'Korish raised her eyebrows. "Is that so? My daughter seems so quiet and small."
"She scared me as a child, for a little while." Elan was surprised at how much she missed Dwen's fierce, intense grandmother. "But she showed me love that I did not expect. She liked me more than anyone else in my family. But never fear, Ni'Korish. She is strong. She will be a powerful Queen Mother."
"I am glad to hear it," Ni'Korish said. "Well, my Elani, we will speak again in coming days. For now, go to the Hill and find the statue of the ancient gods. You will be met there and taken to a home I will provide you; Hapes' mourning princess, in self exile as she grieves."
Elan bowed her head, feeling overwhelmed. "You are good and great, Queen Mother. I will honor you here."
"It would be in your best interest to do so," Ni'Korish said, very quiet. There was a threat there, but one Elan and Ni'Korish both knew the Queen Mother could not enforce. Not now that Ni'Korish knew what she was capable of. The Queen Mother was placing great faith in her. Elan knew that what was to come would not make Ni'Korish happy, but Elan hoped she could spin it enough to keep her as an ally in this strange place.