Title: A Clever
Seduction
Author: Chrissykat
Ship: Dormékin
Category:
Drama/Angst/Romance
Part: Aggressive Negotiations
Rating:
PG/PG13/R (Future Chapters)
Authors Note: So sorry for the long
wait. I'm utterly busy with school and I got involved in making
Icons and Manips for this ship. Anyway, here is the next chapter in
my Dormékin tale.
The characters of Dormé Jaffa, Anakin Skywalker, Palpatine, and Padmé Amidala do not belong to me and I am using them without permission of Lucas Films ltd. The Dormékin ship belongs to Cariel.
Dormé was still shaking as she sat on one of the couches in the sitting area. Saché and Typho were going back and forth from the suite to the command center downstairs for reports on the situation. Padmé, now awake from the ruckus, sat besides her trying to calm the poor handmaiden down. Sabé sent the other handmaidens, who had awakened to the crashing of glass, back to their rooms. The former decoy now stood in the kitchen heating up some water for tea.
"Calm yourself Dormé, everything is alright now. You are safe." Padmé placed a hand on the younger girls' shoulders. The whole experience must have been terrifying for Dormé. To make matters worse, if Dormé was right, Anakin now knew about her decoy.
Looking over at Padmé, Dormé tried to smile when all she really wanted to do was get into her own bedclothes and go to sleep. "Really milady, I'm alright. Just a bit shocked and tired, but none the worse for wear." She did not want Padmé to think she was unfit to be her decoy.
Sabé came back into the room with tea. "Here, this will calm your nerves Dormé." She put the tray down onto a small table and handed Dormé one of the teacups.
The smell was foul and almost made her sick, but Dormé took a sip of it to humor both women. "Thank you" she whispered between sips.
"We have a problem Sabé. In our rush to place Dormé in my place tonight, we neglected to mask her distinct facial differences." Padmé gestured to the freckles on Dormés face. "Unfortunately, Jedi Skywalker noticed. Dormé believes that he is aware of our deception."
"Perhaps it is better this way milady. Master Kenobi already has knowledge of your use of decoys. If he does not already suspect that Dormé is not you, he would soon enough. I am sure we can form a better plan to protect you if you tell the Jedi the truth. No one else need know." Sabé sighed as she sat down across from Padmé and Dormé. She was actually surprised their ruse had lasted this long. Then again, even if he already knew, Obi wan was not one to interfere.
Dormé shook her head. "I'm so sorry milady. This is my fault. I should have thought about covering my face." She put the teacup down, unable to drink anymore. "It was unbelievably irresponsible of me."
Padmé was quick to respond. "You did not exactly get the chance to do so Dormé. This is not your fault. It is no ones fault, but those who are trying to put an end to my life." She lifted her head high, as strong, and confident as always. "We must simply adapt. When Master Kenobi and Jedi Skywalker return we will do as Sabé suggested."
They would not have to wait long. No sooner had Padmé finished speaking, when the doors opened, and both Jedi stepped back into the suite. They looked winded but nonetheless for wear. The room grew suddenly quiet as the two men approached.
Obi wan bowed to Padmé. It appeared that the good senator had finally seen fit to show herself. "Good evening Senator Amidala. My apologies for the chaos, I hope that you are uninjured." He kept his expression neutral.
Padmé stood up to address Obi wan. "Master Kenobi, please sit. Sabé, please bring more tea for our guests." Her own expression was cool. Though she could feel Anakin's eyes on her, she barely glanced at him as she returned to her own seat.
Sabé nodded, sparing Obi wan a sideways glance before heading back into the kitchen to fetch more tea and hot water.
Obi wan gave a nod of his head to Sabé, and then sat down. He could feel Anakin's impatience with the situation, but discretion was required in this situation. "We were able to apprehend one of the persons responsible for the attempt on…your life tonight senator." He paused throwing a look over at Dormé who avoided looking at either man. "However, this assailant was killed by another, a bounty hunter, before we could learn anything of use."
Padmé nodded listening intently. "Do you have any leads to who this other bounty hunter might be?"
"I am sorry senator, but no. We were able to retrieve the poison dart used to kill your assailant, but until we have it analyzed by the computers in the Jedi temple there is no way of knowing just who this bounty hunter is or where they came from." Obi wan explained as Sabé returned. She handed him a cup of tea. Their hands brushed for a moment before Obi wan thanked her politely.
"Well, it seems as if this mystery will remain unsolved for the moment. I want to thank both you and Jedi Skywalker for your quick work tonight. Dormé would be dead now had you not been here." Padmé stated politely though her expression remained just as cool as before.
Anakin had been glancing back and forth between Dormé and Padmé. Seeing them both besides each other, Anakin was now certain that Padmé was not the one he had saved. What he didn't understand was why? Granted he was aware of her use of decoys. He had witnessed this tactic ten years ago. Padmé had fooled Obi wan and Master Qui Gon with that trick. However, he was curious and irritated that she had not made them aware of her plans. Their lack of knowledge about the switch could have placed not only her life, but Dormés' as well. For some strange reason, that grated on his nerves. "Maybe the Senator would care to enlighten us on why she chose to leave her Jedi protectors out of the loop?"
Obi wan looked over at his padawan with a look that quickly silenced the younger man before focusing his attention once more on Padmé. "Senator, we understand the need for you to have your decoys." His eyes flickered over to Sabé.
Padmé nodded. "They are…an unfortunate necessity in my line of work Master Kenobi."
"We are in agreement on that Senator Amidala. My only concern is your safety. If we are to protect you from these assassins you must trust our judgment." Obi wan, ever the negotiator calmly replied.
Dormé watched the interaction between Padmé and Kenobi but found her attention constantly drawn to Anakin whose eyes remained locked on the senator. She vaguely heard Padmé reluctantly agreeing with the Jedi. Only when she felt Sabé's hand on her shoulder telling her she could go to her own chambers for the night, did Dormé finally draw her gaze away from Anakin.
The Next Day
Anakin stood patiently as Padmé and Dormé packed for the trip back to Naboo. Dormé was dressed in what he assumed was Padmés traveling outfit, while Padmé was dressed as one of her handmaidens. The sight was odd to say the least. The two women were speaking quietly, while packing for the trip back to Naboo.
Originally, the Jedi Council had assigned him the duty of accompanying the senator. However, when he had asked Chancellor Palpatine for help in convincing Padmé that she should leave Coruscant for her own safety, the older man was quick to offer another suggestion.
A much wiser and far safer move, in Palpatines opinion, would be to send Padmés' decoy instead. This would lure the assassins away from Coruscant, thus keeping Senator Amidala better protected. To Anakin this seemed like a reasonable plan, but he was not sure if he should put it before the members of the council. A part of him was disappointed that he would not be able to spend more time in Padmés' presence. Palpatine has assured him that they would concede to this change with his encouragement, and he was correct.
When Anakin had informed Padmé of this decision, she was less then pleased. The only reason she finally relented was that it would give her the opportunity to keep close contact with the Loyalist Committee Members during the discussions about the Military Creation act. She had worked long and hard, fighting against the creation of an army for the republic. She absolutely refused to go into hiding right when the fate of the act was to be decided.
He was pleased that he had been able to speak to Padmé…finally. Her icy attitude quickly deflated that joy. Anakin watched as she gave more instructions to Dormé, and then strode out of the bedroom without so much as nod in his direction. His eyes remained fixed upon her retreating form, a frown curling his lips until a snicker from Dormé caused him to break the gaze.
Dormé rolled her eyes as she placed another outfit into the metal suitcase. She adjusted the headpiece she was wearing. "Careful, you are going to burn a hole in her back if you keep staring." She retreated again to the closet to fetch the last item.
Anakin looked at Dormé before turning his gaze away, embarrassed. He cleared his throat before speaking. "It has been years since I have seen Padmé." He stopped before correcting himself. "I mean Senator Amidala, but she…she is still very…lovely." He fidgeted as Dormé came back towards the bed to place one final gown into the suitcase before closing it.
Dormé latched the suitcase closed. She wondered why the affectionate tone in his voice when he spoke about Padmé, caused her heart to sink. It would be months before Dormé would come to realize the reason for this. For now, she shook off her melancholy and pasted another smile on her face. "She is very beautiful…and very concerned about this entire plan, as am I."
"Chancellor Palpatine believes that Senator Amidala will be far safer here then traveling across the galaxy. He is a wise man. I trust his judgment." Anakin stepped over to her side. As he had the night before he felt the shift in her moods. She was probably still frightened about last nights attack.
"I know and I trust his judgment. The Chancellor was one of the Senators most loyal advisors when she was Queen of Naboo. He has been…kind to me as well." She paused taking a calming breath then released it. With a weak smile she continued. "I suppose I am just nervous about all this."
Anakin was curious as to what she meant about the Chancellor's kindness towards her. He put it down in his mind as something to inquire about at another time. For now, he did his best to try to lighten the mood as well as alleviate his own apprehensions, "I think as long as we don't have anymore incidents with scalding hot bowls of soup we both should fair well".
Dormé could not help but laugh at his silly comment. "I agree. No more hot soup for either of us for awhile." They shook hands quickly before Dormé again had to adjust the crown like headpiece. She would be glad when she could remove it completely.
Anakin was pleased that he had made her laugh, yet had no idea why. Dormé was pretty and though she was not his angel, even he admitted she was attractive. As her laughter faded, he took noticed that her freckles were missing.
"I believe that the packing is done. Milady said she would be waiting in the sitting area. There were a few things she wanted to discuss with Captain Typho before we depart for the transport station." Dormé said as she tried to lift one of the suitcases.
Watching her struggle, Anakin quickly went to help her. His hands came to rest over hers on the handle. "Here, let me help you with that." He looked down at her just as she looked up at him. At first, Anakin recognized that he had startled her, saw the slight blush creep onto her face before she removed her hand, and looked away. Clearing his throat again, he lifted the suitcase, allowing her to take the lighter bag. "I'm sure that the Senator wants to be done with this quickly. Master Kenobi will be waiting to speak to me before we leave for Naboo as well." Before she could say anything else, he walked quickly out of the room.
Dormé followed shortly after. This time it was her eyes burning a hole through his back.
"Jedi Skywalker, take care of Dormé. The threat will be on you two now." Padmé addressed him formally. They finally arrived at the transport station. Dormé and Anakin would soon be setting off to Naboo.
Dormé nodded. "He'll be safe with me." The encouraging smile broke and a tear rolled down her cheek. The thought of leaving Padmé alone without proper protection left her feeling as if she were abandoning the Senator.
Padmé placed a hand on Dormés' shoulder. Thinking the younger girl was terrified of this mission, Padmé did her best to comfort her. "You'll be fine Dormé."
"It's not me milady, I worry about you. What if the assassins realize that you are still here at the capital?" Dormé related her concern softly.
"Then my other handmaidens and Captain Typho will have to prove how good they are at their jobs. Don't worry." Padmé gave Dormé a small smile trying to assure her decoy.
While Padmé was speaking with Dormé, Anakin was receiving instructions from Obi wan. He nodded his head, agreeing with everything his master said before turning his eyes back towards the two women.
Obi wan sighed before addressing the senator and her decoy. "We'll get to the bottom of this quickly milady. You'll be back here in no time."
Padmé bowed her head in gratitude. "I will be most grateful for your speed, Master Jedi as will Dormé I am sure."
Anakin looked out one of the windows noticing that their transport back to Naboo was beginning to board. "It's time to go."
Dormé looked over at him and nodded her head. She and Padmé shared a quick hug and she whispered to Padmé. "Be careful milady."
"You too Dormé, good luck" Padmé whispered back before they pulled apart.
Dormé picked up her bag and stepped off the transport, Anakin stepping off right after her.
He stopped at hearing Obi wan's voice. "Anakin, may the force be with you."
"May the force be with you master." They bowed their heads to one another and then Anakin began walking besides Dormé.
Dormé felt her hands sliding along the handle to her bag; her hands were so damp from sweat. "Suddenly I am more frightened than I already was." She spoke calmly as they strode forward.
Though he did not want to admit it openly, Anakin was beginning to feel on edge as well. "This is my first mission on my own so…I'm kind of scared too."
"Well, that's comforting." Dormé glanced over at him, not quite amused by this factor.
Anakin glanced over at her, an almost mischievous twinkle in his eye. "Don't worry, we have Artoo with us." He pointed back at the little droid following them.
Dormés' eyebrows furrowed as she looked back. She had not even realized the little astro-droid was behind them. As she turned her gaze back to Anakin, he began to laugh and soon she was joining him.
Obi wan watched the pair get further and further away, his hand leaning against the doorframe of the transport. "I hope he doesn't try anything foolish."
Padmé stood next to him, with Typho right behind her. "I would be more concerned, Master Kenobi, about her doing something, than him."
Typho grinned at the grim looks both Padmé and Obi wan gave each other.
None of them had any idea just how interesting and complicated things were going to get.
Anakin and Dormé sat quietly eating in the packed dining area of the ship. Occasionally they would look at each other, ask how the food was, and other small talk, but for much of the time they remained silent. Dormé was a ball of nerves. She rarely experienced flying in space. The only times she had were the few trips from Naboo to Coruscant.
The silence was far too uncomfortable for Anakin's liking. He could sense that his companion was not at ease. Her posture screamed with how tense she was. Perhaps if he got her talking it might take her mind off whatever was troubling her. "I'm looking forward to seeing Naboo again. It's…by far the most beautiful place I've ever seen."
Dormé sipped her drink before replying. "I have only seen Naboo and Coruscant. I spent the first years of my training in Theed, but that was several years ago. I would imagine that the capital has seen some changes since then."
"I remember when I first saw it, compared to my home planet, Naboo was a paradise." Anakin spoke as he placed his spoon down on the table.
"Where is your home planet, if I may ask?" Her eyes grew wide at her bluntness. "I am sorry, that is entirely none of my business." Dormé wiped her mouth, blushing when she realized he might think she was prying.
Anakin shook his head, "That's alright, I don't mind. I was born on Tatooine. My mother raised me there until I was nine. What about you, I know you're from Naboo of course, but did you live in the capital city?"
It was Dormés' turn to shake her head. "Oh no, my family lived in the town of Uriash. It is smaller then Theed. Uriash is a mercantile town; factories and such." The thought of those factories sent a chill down her spine making it difficult for her to swallow her drink.
He saw the momentary shiver that went through her body. Anakin thought that maybe the coldness of space was getting to her. "Are you alright? I can see if I can find a blanket if your cold?"
"No, I am alright. Tell me…what is it like to be a Jedi? I know so very little about the Jedi, only what Lady Sabé has told me." Dormé proceeded to draw the conversation away from her background. That life was long over. She did not want to think about those days.
Anakin wiped his mouth before sitting back. "Hard, it is a hard life. The codes of the Jedi are strict as are the lessons. There are places I would like to go and things I would like to do, but my commitment to the Order prevents me from doing so." Realizing how selfish he must sound, Anakin was quick to add, "Obi wan is a good teacher though." He paused, thinking about his mother. "One of the most difficult things about becoming a Jedi is not being able to see my mother. I…I miss her."
It was hard for Dormé to relate to his obvious affection for his mother. She had never been very close with her own mother. However, she could tell by the tone of his voice that the pain of not being able to visit her weighed heavily on him. "Handmaidens and Jedi share one thing in common. We too do not get to enjoy the company of our families very often."
Anakin shook his head. He was happy to have someone who could understand. "It's hard to be away from the ones we love."
Dormé nodded. The mood was starting to depress her. It was time to cheer them both up a bit. "Lady Sabé told me that Jedi are forbidden to love." She was not sure how Sabé had come about that knowledge, but she did recall that the former decoy and Master Kenobi seemed to be rather friendly the previous night. Brushing thoughts of Sabé aside, she smirked, "If that is true, than what do you know about love?" She teased him but was pleased that he did not seem to take offense.
"Attachment is, forbidden as is possession. Compassion, which I would define as unconditional love, is central to a Jedi's life." His grin grew ever wider as he spoke. "So you might say we are encouraged to love." Anakin explained, leaning forward. "Do the handmaidens have similar codes?"
Dormé sat back, her hands in her lap. "Attachment is not necessarily forbidden. Handmaidens swear their lives to the duty of protection. A duty…that at times calls for the greatest sacrifice a person can make." Thoughts of Cordé came to her mind. "Some of the girls have chosen to forgo any emotional attachments because of their duties. We are not shut-ins' who do not see people socially, but we are encouraged not to get too close to the people we meet. Usually a handmaiden will only settle down when she has retired and left her duty." Dormé frowned, "Possession; however, depends on the handmaiden. Most of the girls come from…wealthier families then I so their families send them fancy things from time to time."
Anakin was hesitant to speak about his youth on Tatooine, but her somber mood about how wealthy the other girls were, compared to her made him trust that she would not tease him about his upbringing. "I grew up as a slave. The only true possessions I had were the ones I built. My pod racer and the protocol droid I made for my mother. I was still a happy kid though. My mom was always there making sure of that. When I became a Jedi, not having possessions didn't really matter to me. "
Images from her own childhood flashed across Dormés' mind. Every moment she had worked in the factories in Uriash had been utter torment. Her eyes fixed upon the man sitting across from her. He might have grown up a slave, but he had been happy. That was a feeling she had only felt after fleeing to Theed. Dormé wondered silently if Anakin knew how lucky he was.
Her silence concerned him and he decided to shift the conversation again. As Anakin leaned backward in his chair, preparing to ask her about her hobbies, the chair tilted further then he wanted. Unable to regain his balance both he and the chair went flying backwards. His whole body went end over end and he just narrowly missed crashing into a passenger who was walking by. He landed awkwardly on his side, his lightsaber digging into his hip.
The whole thing happened so quickly Dormé had little time to react before her companion went flying backwards, landing with a thud. She jumped out of her seat, nearly tripping over the long gown she was wearing, and hurried over to help him. Dormé placed a gentle hand on his shoulder as he sat up. "Are you hurt?"
Anakin groaned getting back on his feet with Dormés' help. The only injury he had sustained was to his pride. "No…I don't think so." He winced, "So much for my 'great' Jedi reflexes huh?" He looked down at her noticing that she was desperately holding back her laughter. "Well don't hurt yourself trying not to laugh."
Dormé held one hand over her mouth to muffle the giggles that were escaping. "I'm…I'm sorry." She patted his shoulder with the other hand, "If it makes you feel any better…I don't think anyone else was paying attention." She glanced around the crowded galley. Most of the people who had witnessed the fall had already gone back to their conversations. "Besides", she began then whispered. "It is good to know that I am not the only one who has clumsy moments."
Though embarrassed by the entire thing, he could not help but agree that everyone else seemed oblivious. That eased a bit of the blow his ego had taken. Dormés cheer was also an adequate balm to his bruised pride. He smiled, "I suppose it could have been worse. I could have been holding a bowl of soup."
Dormé stopped laughing and gave him an incredulous look. Anakin winked back at her, and then they both burst into laughter again. Their behavior began to draw curious states and she decided it would be a good idea to head back to their room.
Palpatine smirked with immense pleasure when he received word that Amidalas' decoy and Skywalker were now on their way to Naboo. He would give the pair time to get close. The similarities in their backgrounds assured him that a strong friendship would form between them and perhaps even more. By the time Anakin and his little companion reached Naboo, they would be inseparable.
As he sat behind his large desk, Palpatine mused on the next part of his plan; a little scheme to ensure and tighten the bond he was sure would form between his two little pawns. The time had come to contact Duke Jaffa on Uriash; the man owed him a favor and Palpatine intended to collect it.
Very soon, the image of Duke Jaffa appeared on the screen before him. "Chancellor Palpatine, I am a busy man so tell me quickly what my…granddaughter has done now." Jaffa ground his teeth together when he spoke about Dormé and was sneering the entire time.
The smirk on the chancellors' face faded, "Duke Jaffa, your lack of respect for your betters will be your undoing one day. However, for now I believe it is time you fulfill your part of our agreement." Palpatine stated calmly before his twisted grin reappeared.
Anakin and Dormé headed back to their room on board the freighter. As they came to the door of the room, Anakin was telling her about one of his missions with Obi wan. "We were investigating the planet Vanqor and Obi wan fell right into this nest of Gundarks."
Dormé gasped in shock. Gundarks were fearsome creatures. There were stories about them existing on numerous planets, even Naboo. Vicious, strong, and aggressive she wondered how the Jedi Master had escaped. "What in the urugal made him get that close to a gundark nest in the first place? What did you do?"
He let her step inside their room first before continuing his tale. Anakin didn't know what urugal meant, but he was sure that it wasn't anything good. "He never really explained that to me." He laughed as they sat down on their beds. "I didn't have much of a choice after all I couldn't just let those things maul another Jedi to death, so I jumped in with my lightsaber and rescued him. Of course, he likes to remember it differently." Anakin explained.
Dormé shook her head before reaching up to take the heavy headpiece off. It was starting to give her a headache. "That either makes you very brave or makes you an isthab."
Another of her strange words, "And just what does ishpab mean?" He asked amusement in his voice as he unwittingly butchered her native language.
Placing the headpiece onto the bed next to her, Dormé couldn't help but laugh. Next, she slipped her shoes off. "Not ishpab…isthab. It's Uriashian, my native tongue. It means fool. I have never heard of an ishpab before." She pretended to be thinking about it, one finger tapping her chin.
Anakin blushed, realizing he had mispronounced the word. "Alright, alright that's enough of this picking on the Jedi protector. Have I not suffered enough already?" He fell back against the pillow trying to be overdramatic, but the smirk at the corners of his mouth assured her that he was playing around.
"Oh, yes, yes…you poor, poor dear." Dormé put a hand to her heart jokingly. She stood up and walked slowly towards his bed. "I shall taunt you no more."
"Well I thank you for that. I don't think I could take much more embarrassment today." He put his hands behind his head as he leaned against the pillow. His eyes drifted closed shortly after.
Dormé smiled, taking a few moments to watch him before deciding she wanted to get into something that was a bit more comfortable. "Um, I am just going to go change, if that is alright."
Anakin opened his eyes and nodded. He saw her walk away slowly towards the fresher before closing his eyes again. Dormé was a lot of fun, and she had a marvelous sense a humor that matched his own. Obi wan rarely joked around on a mission. Traveling with her was going to be a unique experience. He yawned, one hand covering his mouth. Echuta he was tired. Lately he hadn't been able to sleep very well at all. The nightmares plaguing him were horrendous. Anakin couldn't help but feel they were trying to tell him something.
While Anakin rested, Dormé attempted to remove her cumbersome dress. When she had finally managed to get the heavy fabric off, she picked it up off the floor and folded it as best she could. Looking through one of the suitcases, she chose one of her own nightgowns that she had brought with her and then pulled on her bathrobe.
His mother was crying out for him, but every time he reached out to her, she drifted farther and farther away. Anakin tossed and turned on the bed, caught in the disturbing dream. "No…mom…no" He moaned softly.
Dormé was stepping out of the fresher when she thought she heard Anakin speaking to someone. Curious as to whom he could be talking to, she hurried back towards their beds. The sight that met her was startling and her heart broke when she heard him call out to his mother. He was sweating profusely, his face scrunched up as if what he was seeing in his dreams was physically painful. She sat on the edge of his bunk and placed a hand on his chest, "Anakin…Anakin…"
The last thing Anakin heard was his mother screaming before he jolted awake. His breathing was fast and his heart was racing. He sat up quickly, in the process knocking Dormé off the bunk onto the floor.
Anakin put his head in his hands. With eyes closed, he sought to regain control over his emotions. The images flashed through his mind then began to fade. Only after his breathing had begun to calm, did he even realize that Dormé was looking up at him from the floor. "Dormé…what…what happened? What are you doing down on the floor?"
"You…you were calling out for your mother. I tried to wake you up and when you did…I…I slipped off the bed." She picked herself up and sat down next to him again. Dormé spoke quietly. She had no idea how to comfort him but she didn't have to be a genius to know that the dream had seriously shaken him.
Anakin carefully swung his legs over the side of the bunk "I'm sorry. I should have warned you. I…I don't sleep much lately."
Dormé shook her head lightly, her hand continuing to rub his back. She was no stranger to bad dreams. They had plagued her childhood. "You don't have to apologize to me. Is there anything I can do?"
"No…no there's not much anyone can do to stop themselves from dreaming." Anakin replied softly. He truly appreciated Dormés' offer, but there was nothing she could do about his dreams. Besides, Obi wan had said they would pass in time.
With a serious expression, Dormé let her hand rest on the bed in between them. She didn't even realize that she had placed it on top of his. "Do you…do you want to talk about it? Sometimes getting your thoughts out helps."
Anakin turned his hand over, gripping her hand lightly. Unconsciously his thumb was now stroking her fingers and without hesitation, he began revealing the images he could recall. "The dreams, they are about my mother, obviously. She's calling to me…almost begging me, but every time I get close to her, she fades away. I don't know what it means. Obi wan says that the dreams will go away, but I'm not so sure."
Dormé listened as he explained his frightening dreams. She wished she could offer him some advice or tell him what his dreams meant, but Dormé was at a loss. She gave what comfort she could though. "Perhaps they just symbolize how much you miss her. Maybe, once this is all over, Master Kenobi will let you visit her. That might put an end to them." Peering down she noticed that his fingers were gently caressing hers. When she glanced back up, Dormé realized just how close they were to each other.
Unaware of how his actions were affecting his pretty companion, Anakin drew closer. "Maybe" he paused taking a deep breath before looking into her eyes. "I want to thank you Dormé."
His touch was utterly distracting and she felt as if his eyes were peering deep into her mind, but she managed to speak. "Thank me, for what?
Anakin shrugged his hand still cradling hers. "For your concern, I mean you hardly know me. I've burned you with soup and knocked you onto the floor, but you still manage to be kind to me. I…I don't like to admit that these dreams disturb me. A Jedi is supposed to be above such things as nightmares."
"That seems rather silly to me. Are the Jedi not mortal beings like the rest of us? I am sure you are not the only Jedi to have nightmares. Everyone experiences them at some point in their lives. As for our rather ungraceful displays, well they've been unintentional. " Dormé inhaled slowly. He was so close to her that she swore if she moved her head, his lips would brush hers.
Anakin spoke softly, "Jedi are mortal, but our training is supposed to teach us to avoid dwelling on such things. We are taught to focus on the here and now."
Dormé nodded her voice barely above a whisper. "I suppose that can be a good thing. Sometimes dwelling on the past only leads to recalling things you…well unpleasant things."
She gave no explanation leaving Anakin to wonder what horrible things had happened to her in the past. It wasn't hard for him to sense her tumultuous emotions when it came to talking about herself but he didn't feel right prying. His eyes glanced downwards to where their hands joined and he blushed. As he cleared his throat, he let go of her hand. "I…um…I think maybe I'll meditate for awhile."
Dormé swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. His withdrawal hurt and she had no idea why. She knew that Anakin was completely infatuated with Padmé. A weak smile formed on her face, "Of course…I have some reading to do. Milady is very specific about what she wishes me to say to the Queen. I need to be sure I memorize it all properly."
"Right, so…um. I'll go into the other room so I don't disturb you." Anakin announced politely before quickly making his way out of the bedroom.
When he left, Dormé slapped her forehead muttering how stupid she had behaved. Sighing she picked up the data pad that was lying on her own bunk.
Theed was as beautiful as Anakin remembered. He and Dormé had arrived only an hour ago and were now heading towards the palace. After returning from his meditations, he had found Dormé asleep with her data pad still clutched in hand. He had sat upon his own bunk and since he couldn't get to sleep right away, watched her for a time.
At some point during his vigil of her, he came to a few realizations. The first was that since he and Dormé had boarded the freighter to Naboo, he had thought about Padmé very little. This fact disturbed him, especially when he was so certain that he was in love with her. However, as he sat and spoke with Dormé in their shared room, something inside him had shifted. The feelings Dormé conjured in him were baffling so he had sought to work them out through meditating. For all his efforts, Anakin had been unable to quiet his mind enough to make any success.
Dormé was nothing like Padmé, his angel. She shared only a few physical attributes with Padmé and with her freckles revealed, no one who knew the senator would mistake the two of them. She was also more inquisitive and less formal then the woman she served. Even as he had fallen asleep, his mind pondered why images of Dormé suddenly replaced visions of his angel.
Now as they walked up the steps of the palace, Anakin kept sneaking glances over at her. She appeared to be in full decoy mode. Heavy makeup covered her freckles and the all-business expression she wore had him doing a double take.
She could feel his eyes on her and tried to ignore it. Dormé knew she had to stay focused if she was going to get through this meeting. Queen Jamilla would be the only one to know that she was not Padmé, so her performance had to be perfect.
Anakin broke into her thoughts as he leaned closer to her. "Did the senator tell you where we would be staying after the meeting with the Queen?"
Dormé only then realized that she not informed him of Padmés instructions. Shaking off the tremor that went through her at his proximity, she spoke softly back, "Yes, she instructed me that we should stay in the Lake Country."
The idea of going anywhere that had lake in the title was unnerving, but before he could inquire further, they had reached the massive doors of the palace and a guard escorted them inside.
"We must keep our faith in the Republic." Queen Jamilla stated before rising. Dormé and Governor Bibble followed suit. "The day we stop believing democracy can work is the day we lose it."
"Let's pray that day never comes." Dormé concurred walking in step with the Queen.
"In the meantime, we must consider your own safety."
Governor Bibble addressed Anakin, "What is your suggestion Master Jedi?"
Anakin cleared his throat, happy that he was finally able to add his own input. He had remained relatively silent throughout the entire meeting, making only a few comments about the Jedi's position. "I was instructed that we would be staying in the Lake Country. I'm not quite certain I favor the idea. However, it is our best option in protecting the Senator."
Dormé looked over at him, trying to maintain her composure. She had to agree that, though the Lake Country was reportedly very beautiful, she would rather be somewhere more…lively. "There are places in the Lake Country that are very isolated, Jedi Skywalker. Once you see it, I am sure you'll agree that it is the perfect place to hide."
Anakin gave her a polite nod of his head and the tiniest of grins, "Of course, milady."
Queen Jamilla looked pleased with the suggestion. "Perfect, it's settled then."
After freshening up, Anakin waited patiently for Dormé. They would be leaving for the Lake Country once she had finished speaking privately with the Queen. He stood with his arms behind his back, looking out one of the large glass windows. He recalled doing the same thing after the battle to free Naboo ten years ago. Closing his eyes, images of Padmé during the victory parade flew across his mind. The opening of a door disturbed his private thoughts and he turned to see Dormé and the Queen saying their goodbyes.
Dormé had changed her attire as well. She was now wearing a lovely, gown, of light yellow, pink, and purple. As she moved down the hallway towards him, the material flowed around her so lightly she appeared to be floating. Half of her brown locks were curly and hung around her shoulders, while the rest of her hair was up in an elaborate twist. He barely noticed the two bags she carried along with her.
Anakin watched her glide towards him, wide-eyed. He began to walk towards her and somehow managed to trip over his own feet in the process. Luckily, this time he did not fall down. He straightened himself up, cleared his throat, and then spoke. "Are you ready to depart, milady?"
Dormé hid her amusement. She had wondered why Padmé had asked that she pack this gown. After all, it really was for occasions that were more formal then a trip to the Lake Country, but Padmé had insisted that Dormé might need it. Now, Dormé was secretly thankful to her mistress. "Yes, Jedi Skywalker."
"Good, we should be able to reach the Lake Country before nightfall. Let me take those for you." Anakin reached over taking the bags from her hands. He avoided making eye contact with Dormé.
"Thank you." Dormé said. He began walking away and she couldn't help the smirk that appeared on her lips. Holding up the hem of her dress, Dormé was soon walking in step with him as they left the palace.
Queen Jamilla had offered the pair a speeder to aid them in their travels to the Lake Country. Unfortunately, the house in the Lake Country was reachable only by water, so the speeder would take them to the boat.
In his head, Anakin reiterated just how much he hated large bodies of water.
It was as they approached the speeder, that he felt a shift the obvious shift in the force. Quickly, he dropped their bags and pulled a very startled Dormé to the ground. A blaster shot flew through the air where Dormé had been standing.
Dormé landed hard on the ground. Her ribs and arms were certainly going to feel that later. Anakin had practically landed on top of her back and when she tried to lift herself up his weight refused to budge. "What the haramu is wrong with you?"
Before he could answer her, more blaster shots were being fired at them and Anakin saw several men dressed in red rushing towards them. "If you hadn't noticed, we have company." He motioned to the menacing soldiers who were getting closer.
Dormé gazed as best she could to where he was motioning. She paled at the sight before her. "Samukka" she whispered.
Anakin heard her whisper but could not make out what exactly she had said. Swiftly, he lifted Dormé up and raced with her for cover. "Are you alright?" He asked with concern, only now thinking about how roughly he had dragged her to the ground.
She nodded unable to speak right then. The blaster fire was growing in intensity. Dormé watched as Anakin's own weapon appeared in his hand. "What are you going to do? You can't fight all of them alone." She questioned him, quite upset by the whole affair. Why were the Samukka here, in Theed?
His lightsaber ignited, Anakin kept one eye on their attackers and the other on Dormé. "I call it aggressive negotiations. These men aren't exactly leaving anytime soon. If I don't fight them off it will make getting to the Lake Country undetected a bit difficult."
Dormé couldn't argue with him on that point. She had no idea why the Samukka would be attacking, but she knew their methods well. They would not stop until their mission was complete. Still, there were so many of them. "I suppose a more diplomatic solution is not likely to present itself. Your going to get yourself killed you know."
Anakin smirked, "Have a little faith in your Jedi Protector, milady." Dormé spied a hint of danger in those eyes as his gaze lingered upon her for a moment. "Stay here and you'll be safe." With that, he dashed from their hiding place.
She watched as he confronted the first of the Samukka guards. The man held out his blaster demanding something from Anakin that she could not quite make out. A serious blunder; Anakin sliced right through the blaster before kicking the man to the ground.
As Anakin twirled his blade around, the remaining Samukka quickly surrounded him. They drew their own swords, but were barely able to strike a blow on the Jedi. Unfortunately, each time Anakin disposed of one guard, another immediately took his place.
As Anakin fought for their lives, Dormé was not idle. She was planning very carefully when to make a move for their bags. Unbeknownst to Anakin, she had packed her own weapon of choice, a wakizashi blade. The fight was moving away from where they had dropped their things, so Dormé rushed out of her hiding spot. Keeping one eye on the fight, she began frantically searching through her suitcase.
He was beginning to think Dormé was right. There were more of these soldiers then he had originally thought. Anakin didn't want to admit it, but he was tiring quicker then usual. Perhaps it was due to his lack of sleep lately. Whatever the cause, he wasn't going to be able to hold up much longer. His thoughts were confirmed when the blade of one of the Samukka sliced his arm.
Anakin stumbled backward growling in anger. "That…was…a…mistake." The guard laughed cruelly at the injured Jedi. Just as Anakin was about to attack, the man screamed in pain, a blade protruding from his chest.
Dormé drew the sword out of the guard swiftly and the samukka's body hit the ground with a sickening thud.
She looked up at Anakin who was at once both astonished and strangely impressed. The moment lasted only seconds before they both were engaged in fierce combat with the Samukka. Every so often Anakin glimpsed Dormé's graceful movements. To say she was skilled was an understatement. Even with her long dress billowing about her, she managed to dispatch each adversary that attacked.
Though her life and Anakin's was in peril, Dormé could not help but love the feel of the wakazashi blade in her hand; how the light reflected off the blade as it arced through the air before slicing through her opponent. Each move was like a step in a dance. Dormé's movements grew in intensity as she felled each Samukka. Never had she felt as powerful as she did during that battle.
Of course, she had no idea that the battle was about to end for her. One of the Samukka had found the perfect spot to fire his blaster undetected and unhindered. Their mission would be completed. Taking careful aim, he fired at the petite beauty.
Everything slowed to a crawl for Anakin. His eyes caught sight of the blaster fire, but he was too far away from Dormé to stop it. Still he shouted, "Dormé no!" as he raced towards her, taking out any Samukka that crossed his path. He was not going to reach her in time. The blast hit Dormé in her left shoulder, knocking the blade out of her hand. She cried out in pain, grabbing her arm as she fell to the ground.
The Samukka who had been standing near her immediately set upon her, his sword pointed at the young woman lying in pain before him. Dormé looked at him with angry tears forming in her eyes. "Urugalshe baraed, ke saabarra" she spit out venomously.
"Sig kinattu!" He shouted back at her as he raised his sword.
Dormé closed her eyes, raised her chin high, and prepared herself for the final blow.
Tbc
Yikes, dangerous situation and its only going to get crazier. Anyway, here is a little sneak peek.
She stood facing him in the darkened hallway. Something was happening to her, to both of them. Dormé smiled as he brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes. She wondered if he too was feeling as off balance by their close proximity as she was. Her question was soon answered.
"I feel like if I let go of you, you're going to run away." Anakin whispered, his arms holding her close. The spark that had been set by their first, short kiss a day ago lingered on his mind. The softness in her voice as she spoke caused that spark to blaze.
"Well then don't let go."
I hope that that will hold you all over for a bit. I have a major final project due next week so I probably will not be able to write much for the next chapter. Keep your eyes peeled for more icons and manips though.