Title: A Clever Seduction
Author: Chrissykat
Ship: Dormékin
Category: Drama/Angst/Romance
Part: Picnic in the Meadow
Rating: PG/PG13/R (Future Chapters)
Authors Note: Here is the latest installment of my Dormékin tale. The characters of Dormé Jaffa, Anakin Skywalker, Palpatine, do not belong to me and I am using them without permission of Lucas Films ltd. The Dormékin ship belongs to Cariel and I thank her for letting me dabble in this wonderful fandom.
Please remember to read and review! Enjoy!
Dormé smiled at him over her shoulder, giving him a come-hither stare. Anakin smiled back as he raced towards her. She laughed, springing up from where she sat before running away.
Teasingly he called out to her, "I'm going to catch you eventually Dormé!"
She looked back him as she ran across the sand towards the water, "Then come and catch me!" Dormé yelled back, peddling backwards then turning back around.
Anakin laughed, his feet kicking up sand in his pursuit. Just as Dormé reached the water, everything around them shifted. Now they were running through the streets of Theed. The smile had faded from Dormé's face and when she looked back at him, he could see her terror-stricken face. Every time he was in arms length, another person would block his path. He pushed through each one, panic rising within him "Dormé, wait!"
She kept running, almost tripping once or twice in her haste. When she turned to look at him again, her eyes grew wide and she screamed, "ANAKIN".
Time seemed to slow down as he ran towards her. He was calling out her name repeatedly, but it was as if she could not hear him. His feet pounding on the hard ground hammered in his ears. Anakin was almost within arms reach when she screamed in pain and he looked in horror at the lightsaber protruding through her chest. "NO!"
The blade owner slowly removed it from her chest. Dormé slumped to her knees onto the ground. She looked up at him, whispering "Anakin", before falling to her side. Her eyes fluttered closed, the color faded from her beautiful face and Anakin felt her spirit return to the force. He sank down next to her, cradling her head in his lap. He stroked her cold cheek, softly begging her to come back, but her eyes remained closed. Anakin closed his eyes, fighting back his tears. He opened his eyes, turning an anger-filled stare at the one who had slain his dear friend.
Master Windu stood there, his purple lightsaber glowing. The purple light faded as the Jedi Master turned off his weapon. "Attachments are forbidden, Padawan Skywalker."
Anakin lowered Dormé carefully back to the ground before standing up. He glared at Master Windu before glancing over at the other figure who had stepped forward. Obi-wan looked back at his padawan with a grim expression. Anakin was fumbling for an answer. Why hadn't Obi-wan stopped this? He looked at his master in disbelief.
Obi-wan peered down at the girl then back up at Anakin, "I'm sorry Anakin."
Anakin stared at Obi-wan with a mixture of confusion and pain before the scene melted away. He woke up, breathing hard as if he had actually been running. For a few moments, disorientation grasped him; his eyes moved rapidly, peering around the room in an attempt to piece together where he was.
Once he had regained his bearings, Anakin pulled back the covers and swung his legs over the side of the bed. Grabbing the robe that had fallen off the end of the bed, he swiftly left his room. Making his way down the hallways towards Dormé's bedroom, this latest dream turned nightmare continued to puzzle the young Jedi as did his sudden need to check on her. As he approached the door to Dormé's room, Anakin chalked his concern up to responsibility and duty; after all, he was here to protect her while she played the role of Padmé.
Not once did Anakin take into account how he had kissed her. He opened the door to Dormé's room and looked inside to find his pretty companion sleeping peacefully. Dormé's even breathing assured him that she was indeed alive and safe. That should have been enough to satisfy him, but Anakin remained at her door watching her sleep, his eyes taking in every detail; from her long brown hair splayed out across the pillow, to the flash of skin on display as the black nightgown she wore rode up her leg.
This was wrong, wrong for so many reasons. Obi-wan had often berated him for his obvious attachment to Padmé, but he couldn't help what he felt. He loved Padmé. She was his angel, the woman he had vowed to marry someday all those years ago.
So why was he now so enraptured by her handmaiden?
Unable to rationalize his behavior and more confused then ever, Anakin finally turned his eyes away from Dormé, closing the door so as not to wake her. He took a few calming breaths before retreating to his room. Knowing he would be unable to get back to sleep, Anakin decided that this might be the perfect time to hone his skills. For the rest of the night, Anakin alternated between lightsaber practice and numerous attempts at meditating. By the time the sun began to rise, he stood out on the balcony outside his room making one final attempt to meditate.
On the balcony is where Dormé found him.
After waking up, she carefully slipped on her bathrobe wincing at the pain in her arm. It was her hope that she and Anakin could go back to Theed to have her burns repaired that day. Her fingers crept up to her lips as she walked down the hallway towards his room. She smiled at first remembering how his lips had felt against her, but it vanished when she thought of how he had pulled away.
For a few moments, Dormé stood silently outside his door. He had made it clear that their kiss had been a mistake. While he had laid no blame upon her, Dormé was certain that deep down she had caused some horrible shift in the budding friendship.
Dormé was no stranger to being attracted to someone of the opposite sex and Anakin was undoubtedly very handsome. Something about the way he smiled sometimes; an almost dangerous glint in his blue eyes that beckoned her to discover what was behind it.
Realizing she was acting ridiculous and entirely unprofessional, Dormé took a cleansing breath. Raising her hand, she knocked on the door only to discover the door already slightly parted. Though it seemed like an odd and perhaps dangerous thing to do, she stepped inside Anakin's room.
One of the first things she noticed upon entering was his unmade bed. She smiled before letting her eyes gaze around the room. Dormé walked further into the room, her long blue bathrobe trailing on the floor behind her. As she ventured along, she saw that the doors to the balcony were open. Without thinking, her feet carried her towards the open entryway and she breathed a sigh of relief when she spotted the object of her recent thoughts.
Dormé stepped out onto the balcony, approaching Anakin slowly. As she drew closer, she realized that he had his eyes closed and that he appeared to be meditating. Judging that it was probably best not to disturb him, Dormé turned around to go back inside.
"Please don't go" Anakin spoke softly, not moving at all.
"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to disturb you." Dormé blushed as she spoke. As if things between them weren't awkward enough, now she added a rude intrusion into his privacy to the list.
Anakin sighed, opening his eyes. His concentration had broken the moment Dormé had entered his room. He had felt her force signature even before that. Meditation always came easy to Obi-wan, but for the padawan learner this discipline eluded him. He turned around facing Dormé and swallowed hard.
She stood before him, her cheeks colored red with embarrassment, but not enough to cover the freckles that dotted her face. The long black nightgown he had glimpsed the night before left every curve of her form visible. Her brown locks blew lightly in the morning breeze, unrestrained by pins, bands, or headpieces. Anakin cleared his throat to get his mouth working once more. "No, no need to apologize. I was just finishing."
Dormé nodded her head. He had been staring at her without speaking, which only increased her embarrassment and made her somewhat self-conscious. Was the problem her outfit? Was it too inappropriate? As if sensing her discomfort, Anakin reassured her that her apology was unnecessary and she smiled. She could tell he was trying to return her smile, but there was something missing. "You must have been up early. Is everything alright?"
Obi-wan had been adamant that the dreams about his mother in pain would pass, but this new dream was just as frightening. His fingers gripped the balcony railing, nearly turning white. Only when he felt Dormé's hand on his shoulder did he loosen his hold.
"Anakin, what is it? What is wrong?" Dormé could feel the tension in his body as her hand came to rest on his shoulder.
After much debate, Anakin thought it best not to scare her by mentioning what he had seen. "Nothing, it was just another bad dream." He took her hand in his, feeling its warmth helped to block out the memory of how cold her skin had become in his dream.
"Are you sure?" His words may have said he was fine, but the sound of his voice worried Dormé. She was surprised when he took her hand, but if it comforted him then who was she to deny him. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Tracing the lines in her palm, Anakin shook his head. Choosing his words carefully had never been his strong suit; in this instance, it was just as hard. "It's just…when ever I fall asleep all I seem to dream of lately is…bad things happening to people I care about."
Dormé placed her other hand over his. "Like your mother." No wonder he was so distraught; it had to be torturous for him to watch his mother crying out for him in each dream yet be unable to do anything about it. She assumed that the separation from his mother for so many years had been the catalyst that began these dreams.
Anakin's blue eyes peered down into her brown orbs. Telling her the real subject of his dreams could push her away. With every fiber of his being, Anakin knew that he did not want to lose Dormé friendship. He had already risked that with his actions the previous night, which he now recalled with stunning clarity. Keeping this in mind, "Yes…my mother; before I left I promised her that I would be back to set her free. What if I go back and I'm too late?"
Once again, Dormé found herself trying to relate to his situation. Her parents had spent much of her childhood bickering back and forth, acknowledging her only when necessary. She had craved their affection but they denied even the smallest amount. By the time she was working in the factories, her fathers drinking had reached its peak. Her mother had left her husband and daughter behind with only a note to explain her departure.
She was determined that Anakin would not suffer without his mother for longer then possible. "I promise you, I will do all I can to make sure you see her again after this mission. If I have to I will speak with Master Kenobi myself and demand that he allow you to go and visit her." Dormé held her head high and proud as she spoke. Even though she was well aware that her power was limited when it came to such things, in her mind it would be well worth the shot.
The thought of this petite woman poking Obi-wan Kenobi in the chest while she made her demands clear was enough to break Anakin out of his funk. He smiled, wrapped an arm around Dormé, and pulled her into a friendly hug. "I can only imagine how Obi-wan would react to that. Do make sure I'm around and within sight when you make your stand against him." He laughed at the shocked expression on Dormé's face.
Her shock wore off quickly enough; she was just so pleased to see Anakin smiling once again. That glint had returned to his eyes, demanding her attention. "I'm sure we could arrange something. For now though, how about some breakfast?"
Anakin's stomach answered for him, grumbling loudly. He blushed before replying "Probably a good idea".
"Make sure that the medical equipment reaches its appropriate destination doctor, or there will be serious repercussions." Chancellor Palpatine ended the transmission before the doctor had a chance to reply.
It had cost him dearly to have the equipment delivered so quickly, but the outcome would be priceless. Palpatine was certain that when Skywalker realized that Palpatine himself had paid for the handmaidens care, the impetuous Jedi would be more inclined to come to him when the time was right. Anakin's attachment to the handmaiden was already growing, before long the boy would do whatever was necessary to protect her.
That included betraying the Jedi and taking his proper place at Palpatines side.
After finishing off a delicious breakfast, Anakin told Dormé that when she was ready he would accompany her back to Theed to visit the doctor. She was agreeable to the suggestion seeing as how her arm was beginning to throb even with the pain medicine. They were just about to leave when Teckla informed them that the doctors' assistant had arrived with several deliverymen.
Falling right back into her role as decoy, Dormé went to speak with their visitors, with Anakin following close behind to observe and intervene should one of these men overstep their bounds.
The doctor's assistant bowed upon seeing Dormé. "Senator Amidala, my apologies for arriving so early, I am Dr. Onuda's assistant, Sagee Leith." He pointed to the three men behind him. "These men are here to setup the equipment that I will use to repair the damage done to your arm." When he had finished explaining, he folded his hands together.
Slightly overwhelmed but still able to maintain her calm, Dormé motioned for Leith and the other men to proceed. She stepped aside to allow them access and Leith quickly went about pointing out where he wanted each piece of equipment. It was a mad flurry of activity.
Though he was grateful to the doctor for arranging all this, Anakin was curious as to how the good doctor had managed to assembly everything so quickly. When he asked Leith, the man said that Dr. Onuda had been at the office early, probably overnight, in an effort to gather all they would need and to get it shipped to the lake house as soon as possible. Leith had no idea how his boss had done it and Anakin could sense no deception coming from the older man. He chose instead to return his focus to Dormé who stood quietly off to the side, watching the managed chaos nervously.
Careful to keep up appearances, he approached, bowing his head. "Milady, are you alright?"
Dormé kept her eyes upon Leith who was having the men assemble the final piece of equipment; a collapsible, portable bacta tank. "Yes, I suppose I'm just a little nervous about all this."
Anakin followed her gaze. "Don't worry senator. I will remain here while you undergo treatment." He leaned down to whisper in her ear. "If I sense even the slightest danger, I promise you will remain unharmed."
Leith approached, holding a white garment. "Senator, while we make the final adjustments to the bacta tank, you may wish to put this on." He handed the bundle of white fabric to Dormé, who graciously took it, exiting the room to change.
Dormé returned, clothed in a long white medical gown. Anakin took her hand and led her over to the table she would be getting the skin grafts on. He could feel her hand trembling in his own and the waves of fear coming from her. "Have no fear Milady".
She closed her eyes and took a deep, calming breath before lying down on the cold table. Leith began the process of hooking her up to numerous monitors.
"Alright Senator, I am going to give you something that will put you to sleep and when you wake up, your arm will be as good as new." Leith smiled kindly. As someone who had undergone a similar procedure, he was well aware of how the young woman was probably feeling. If his training taught him anything, it was that medical personnel should have a good bedside manner with their patients. "Are you ready?"
Dormé's eyes wandered over to Anakin. He leaned over, "I will be here when you wake, Milady". The young Jedi padawan gave her a reassuring smirk before stepping back.
"Alright, I'm ready. You may proceed." Dormé took another deep breath. Leith nodded, before motioning the medical droid to begin. Before long, the heaviness in Dormé's eyelids became too much; the world around her slowly grew dark.
Dormé drifted into darkness; she assumed Anakin's concerned face would be the last thing she saw until she awoke.
She was wrong.
As Dormé slipped deeper under the influence of the anesthesia, the darkness receded to reveal a picturesque beach. Waves lapped against the shore and the sun was beaming down on the sand. It was a beautiful setting and at first Dormé thought she was alone, but then she saw a small child playing in the sand, a little girl with blonde hair. Scooping up the sand to make a castle, the little girl hummed softly. Dormé smiled, remembering the tune as an Uriashian lullaby. Dormé watched in fascination as the blonde haired child carefully piled the sand up into a tower, brightly smiling upon seeing the little ones success.
"Aené…" Dormé heard a voice call out, puzzled by the familiarity of it. She saw the little girl look to her left, a grin appearing on her face at seeing the one who had called her. The child stood up, brushing the sand from her tiny knees, before running almost in slow motion toward the caller. She called back, "Ama!"
Dormé held back a gasp of surprise when she recognized the face of the person Aené was calling Ama.
It was her.
The other Dormé held her arms out and Aené rushed into her ama's embrace, giggling when her Ama lifted her into the air and twirled around with her. The other Dormé kissed Aené's cheek and the little girl giggled before returning the gesture. She cried out excitedly that her Ama had to see the pretty castle she had made.
As she watched her other self kneel down next to her daughter in the sand, Dormé pondered the idea of having a child. Would her child look like this little girl? Would she have a little girl at all or would a little boy be in her future?
What a pleasant thought, perhaps not one she had seriously considered as of late, but still, looking at how happy mother and daughter were, Dormé could not help the warm feeling that overcame her in that moment.
Suddenly a cold breeze spread across the beach. The once bright blue clouds in the sky turned grey and then black. Calm waves became violent and Dormé knew a storm was brewing. It was then she heard little Aené crying. She was gripping her Ama's arms tightly, her Ama held onto her just as tightly.
Dormé tried to call out to them to get away from the water, to get inside, but the wind had picked up and was so loud that it was practically deafening. Lighting streaking across the sky gave infrequent periods of light. Through the wind, Dormé saw a dark shadow creep across the water onto the shore. It moved slowly towards little Aené and her Ama.
Dormé heard Aené and the other Dormé scream as the dark shadow devoured them.
As the dark shadow crept forwards and finally crashed over her, Dormé swore she heard herself scream Anakin's name and then an evil laughter that would forever haunt her.
Anakin paced back and forth as Leith and the medical droid placed Dormé into the bacta tank. The skin grafting was completed successfully, with only one scary moment. Midway through the procedure, Dormé's heart rate had skyrocketed nearly sending her into cardiac arrest.
Leith had scrambled to stabilize her, while Anakin watched helplessly, unable to do anything and frightened that his friend was about to die. Thankfully, Leith was highly skilled and soon Dormé's heart rate returned to normal. Anakin had demanded to know what had caused the dangerous condition, but even Leith was not certain, stating only that it did happen sometimes when a person was under anesthesia. He assured Anakin that she was all right and then completed the skin grafting.
She looked so fragile floating in the bacta, but alive and that was the most important thing in Anakin's mind.
Leith patted him on the shoulder, breaking him out of his thoughts. "She did remarkably well. The skin grafts took perfectly and the bacta will finish the job."
Anakin's eyes never wavered from Dormé's form as he breathed a sigh of relief. "How long will she need to be in there?"
"She will have to remain in the tank for a few hours in order for the grafts to completely form to her arm. By this evening, we will be able to take her out of there. I will continue to monitor her vital signs to be sure she has no further spikes in her heart rate." Leith explained calmly, while he punched some information onto the data pad in his hands. When he lifted his eyes to look at Anakin he smiled. "Why don't you sit down and relax young man. She isn't going anywhere right now and you look like you could use a little rest."
Only then did Anakin realize how long he had been on his feet. He nodded his head in thanks and slumped down on nearby chair. His hands fiddled with his utility belt, a nervous habit he had developed over the years, and a habit that constantly grated on Obi-wan's nerves constantly.
Anakin lifted his eyes back to the tank that held Dormé's petite body. He was impressed with the work Leith had done on her arm and was hopeful that when she woke up Dormé would be as well. The advantage of the bacta was that she would not have to deal with any scarring, something he was certain was on Dormé's mind.
Sighing, he once more went back to fiddling with his belt. Waiting for the process to be finished was not nearly as harrowing as watching Leith work frantically to stabilize her, but nonetheless, Anakin could not help but feel impatient. He missed hearing his friends' voice and in those moments where she had been clinging to life, he had been so scared that he would never be able to speak with her. Again, confusion gripped the young Jedi. He did not understand the feelings that had surfaced inside him for the pretty handmaiden.
Brushing off his confusion for now, Anakin readied himself for the long wait as he began tinkering with his holoprojector. He was planning to have a little surprise waiting for his friend when she finally woke up.
Leith carefully looked over the readouts on the senators vitals. So far, there had not been any more complications. Excusing himself for a moment, he went to contact Dr. Onuda on his comlink. After giving Onuda the details of the procedure and the good outcome, Leith was surprised to hear the immense relief in the doctor's voice. The abrupt way in which Onuda ended the discussion, was equally odd.
He returned to his patient pondering the strange behavior of his mentor.
The day passed by, with Anakin tinkering away and watching Dormé. Leith kept busy, eyes scanning his patients' vitals and observing the changes to the grafts on her arm. Teckla had come in to check up on her mistress and to bring Anakin something to eat around midday.
By the time the sun was beginning to set, Anakin had completed his surprise and Leith informed him that Dormé's time in the bacta tank was complete. Carefully, both he and Leith removed the unconscious woman from the tank and laid her back down on the operating table. Knowing that the table was less then comfortable, Leith had placed a blanket down onto the cold metal beforehand.
Leith made a final check on the skin grafts. Wiping away some of the residual bacta, he smiled at the results. Horribly burned skin now looked as if there had been no damage done to it at all. "Amazing, the skin looks brand new."
Relieved as he was by the news Anakin was incredibly impatient. "When will she wake up?"
Placing another blanket down over his patient, Leith made a few notes on his data pad before answering. "It won't be too long. She may be groggy for a bit when she wakes, a normal side effect."
Anakin nodded. He couldn't wait to show her the project he had been working on. "Thank you for all your help Dr. Leith. I am sure the Senator will want to give you her thanks as well when she wakes up."
"I was honored to be of service. Senator Amidala has done so much good for Naboo." Leith began packing up some of the nonessential items. "When she does wake and the grogginess has worn off she'll undoubtedly want to shower and she may be hungry. Both are fine; the shower won't cause any damage to the skin grafts and I recommend a light meal."
Leith's comments about Padmé almost threw him. He recovered without the junior doctor noticing. "I'll have to see if one of the senators' servants can prepare some food for her." Knowing his skill in the kitchen, he wasn't about to attempt making anything. With his luck, he'd end up blowing up the house. The thought brought a smile to his face; he was quite sure if that happened he'd never hear the end of it, both from Obi-wan and Padmé.
Leith smiled, reaching his hand out to shake Anakin's hand. "Very good, I must return to my office to give Dr. Onuda my final report. It was a pleasure to meet you sir." The two men shook hands and Leith was about to leave when he stopped snapping his fingers in the air. "Oh, I almost forgot, Dr. Onuda has arranged for the rest of the equipment to be shipped back to his office in the morning. I would not wish for the senator to wonder why strange men are wandering through her home." He said with a hint of amusement in his voice.
Anakin cracked a smile. "No, indeed she would be not be overjoyed at that prospect. I will inform her when she wakes." He watched as Leith bowed his head before leaving then turned back to Dormé.
She was already beginning to stir, one hand slid out from under the blanket and off the side of the table. Anakin gently took her hand in his before placing it back on her stomach. He watched with anticipation as her eyes began to flutter open.
It was so bright, too bright as Dormé finally surfaced from the dark recesses of her mind. She moaned, letting her head roll to the side. Opening her eyes slowly, she recoiled at seeing a blurry dark figure standing over her. When she tried to sit up, Dormé felt two hands gently push her back down.
At first, she panicked, trying to push back against the restraining hands. Then she heard a calm voice speaking, "It's alright, your safe." She knew that voice. Blinking her eyes in an attempt to focus on the figure looming above her, Dormé whispered, her voice hoarse, "Anakin?"
"It's me. I promised you I would be here when you woke up and I always keep my promises." Anakin grinned.
It took a few moments for the grogginess to wear off, but Dormé was soon able to stand up from the table on her own. Anakin guided her to her chambers where she was able to shower and change her attire. When she came out of the fresher, Anakin was waiting with a tray of food for them both. She smiled weakly, still reeling from the strange images she had seen while unconscious before sitting down next to him.
As they ate, Anakin noticed immediately how distracted Dormé was. She would take a small bite of food before staring off into nothingness; one hand twirled a strand a hair, while the other pushed her food around the plate. Though he enjoyed the opportunity to observe her without embarrassment, he also loved when she was lively and talkative. Between bites of food, he spoke up. "I was thinking, if you are feeling up to it that is, if you would like to get out of this house for a little while tomorrow."
Dormé, lost in her own world was brought back by the sound of her companion speaking. "Huh, oh, um, yes that sounds lovely." She paused to gather her thoughts, an idea forming in her head. "Perhaps a picnic in the hills, I've heard it's lovely up there."
Anakin grinned, nodding hid head in approval of her idea and the conversation turned to what they would bring with them on the picnic as well as what they could do afterwards. They both agreed that sitting all day at the lake house with nothing to do would probably drive them both out of their skulls.
As they joked and laughed, Dormé couldn't help but let the odd images seen during her operation dissolve.
Back on Coruscant
After reviewing the information before her, Sabé set the data pad she was holding, down onto the table in front of her. The former decoy sighed, rubbing her weary eyes. So far, things were progressing smoothly. Every security precaution that she and Typo had set into place was working at top efficiency; keeping the Senator safe.
A task not easily accomplished with how stubborn the former Queen of Naboo could be. Padmé was normally very strict about her meeting schedule. However, in the days since her current decoy had departed Coruscant, Padmé had been sneaking off more and more frequently without a security detail. Though Sabé was not certain, she had a good idea where the Senator was spending her time: in the company of Senator Organa.
Several times, she had overheard holo comm conversations between Padmé and Bail of Alderaan. She had no knowledge about what the two friends and colleagues were discussing, but Sabé could only assume that whatever the topic was, it was going to lead the senator from Naboo into more danger. However, Sabé also knew she had no say in what recklessness Padmé was getting herself into. All she could do was keep a close watch on her friend and hope that any ill fortune could be prevented in time.
This was the reason why she was sitting in the suite, alone, going over every detail of security with a fine-tooth comb. She had been sitting in the same position since Padmé, Rabé, Moteé, and Typo had left earlier to speak with the Chancellor. Nothing could be left to chance when it came to protecting the Senator of Naboo. Just as she was about to review Padmés itinerary for the next day, the door chime sounded. While she was frustrated at being interrupted, Sabé couldn't help but be a little relieved at the reprieve. Standing up, she brushed a wrinkle out of her dress and strode towards the door to answer it.
Hesitantly, she opened door, relieved to find Jedi Kenobi standing outside. He smiled politely, bowing as he spoke. "Good day to you my lady. I apologize for my unexpected visit."
Sabé returned his respectful gesture with a bow and smile of her own. "Not at all Master Kenobi, the senator always welcomes a visit from the Jedi. Please come in." She stepped to the side to allow him to enter the suite.
Obi-wan stepped inside allowing the door to close behind him. He turned to address her. "I was hoping to speak with the senator about my investigation into the recent attacks."
Sabé walked with him towards the couches. "I'm sorry, Senator Amidala left earlier this morning. She was summoned to a meeting with the chancellor."
Rubbing his whiskers, Obi-wan frowned. "I see. There have been some recent developments that I wished to discuss with her, but I suppose that will not be possible."
Praying that she did not come across badly, Sabé replied, "The meeting should be over soon. You are welcome to wait here until then."
While he knew he must depart soon to follow up on his latest discovery, Obi-wan did wish to inform the senator of the progress he was making. Perhaps, he could speak with the Lady Sabé about what he had found out. She was one of Padmés most loyal handmaidens and second in charge of security. "Thank you, though I am short of time. In fact I must depart from Coruscant very soon." He sat down on one of the couches, pulling his robe closer around him.
Sabé nodded as she sat down across from the Jedi. As if reading his mind, "Has something occurred on Naboo?"
"Not yet, but that is a good sign. I have made some progress into my investigation though. I have learned where the dart that killed the last attacker was made and have been ordered to head to the planet Kamino to investigate." Obi-wan explained, knowing how eager all of Senator Amidala's handmaidens were to put an end to the recent threats.
"Kamino; I have never heard of that planet before. Where is it located exactly?" Sabé leaned back a look of confusion passing across her face.
Obi-wan was not surprised by her lack of knowledge about the strange system. "In all honesty my lady neither had I before today. My source tells me that the system is not a part of the republic. It is located beyond the outer rim."
Sabé folded her hands in her lap as he spoke. "If this system is so far away and has no role in the republic…who there could want the senator dead? Senator Amidala has never, to my knowledge, traveled there."
"I must admit, this is all very perplexing and disconcerting. With any luck I will uncover the answers to these questions soon." Obi-wan gave her a comforting smile before standing. "I should be going. The sooner I reach Kamino the sooner we can put this messy business behind us."
"Thank you for taking the time. I know Senator Amidala will be pleased to hear that progress is being made." Sabé stood up, walking with him towards the door. "I will be sure to inform her as soon as she returns."
Obi-wan looked at Sabé, "Please tell her that I am confident that this situation will be resolved soon and should I receive any information from Naboo, I will send a communication to her immediately". He bowed his head.
Sabé was certain that matter where well in hand on Naboo. She had a great deal of confidence in Dormé's abilities. Strangely, she was more concerned with Padmés behavior. She hoped Obi-wan was right about the matter being settled soon. As he was about to step out of the apartment door, Sabé stopped him with a hand on his shoulder "Master Kenobi, be careful and be safe." As she spoke, Sabé bowed her head.
Grateful for her kind words, Obi-wan replied "And you as well my lady." With one final kind smile, Obi-wan left the apartment.
The door closed behind him, leaving Sabé alone once more. This latest information was disturbing. Could these strange meetings with Senator Organa have anything to do with the recent attempts on Padmés life? Moreover, what did this odd, practically unknown planet have to do with it all?
With any luck, Obi-wan would figure everything out. Settling back into her seat, Sabé picked up her data pad and resigned herself to the current task before her, protecting Padmé
She had no idea that her mission was only going to get harder as the days passed.
Back on Naboo: Next Morning
Dormé and Anakin traveled up into the hills early the next morning for their picnic. The sun shined brightly but a cool breeze made the heat bearable as they made their way to the picnic spot.
When they reached their destination, Dormé could not help but be amazed at the beautiful waterfalls that surrounded them. Never in her life had she seen such magnificence. The sunlight danced off the water as it rushed down to the river below, making it sparkle.
"Piece of echuta". Anakin's outburst caused Dormé to shift her gaze onto where he stood laying out the blanket. While the breeze was incredibly cooling, it was causing some difficulty when it came to keeping the blanket on the ground. For the fifth time, she watched, amused, as he stamped his foot down onto one of the corners.
"Do you want some help?" Dormé asked, trying to hide her amusement. She watched him put a hand down to flip one of the other corners down.
Anakin looked up, lifting his hand. The corner stayed in place and he grinned, only to watch in complete disbelief as another breeze flipped it back. "Iquicha, I give up." He sat down in the middle of the blanket in a huff.
Dormé shook her head before walking over to where her Jedi protector sat. "There is a simple remedy to this predicament." Leaning down she slipped off her shoes. She held them up with a smirk, laid one down on the right front corner than placed the other down on the other front corner. Dormé looked back up at him. "That's two corners."
Taking her hint, Anakin removed his boots, placing them down on the back corners of the blanket. When he turned around Dormé was biting her knuckle to keep from laughing. "Very funny".
"You should have seen your face." Dormé said as she laughed. She tried to mimic the angry expression that Anakin had been wearing.
Her imitation had him laughing along. "Well you certainly took long enough to point out a simple solution." Anakin looked at her, a friendly challenge in his eyes.
Never one to back down from a challenge, "I didn't think a Jedi would have such trouble defeating a simple blanket. Next time I'll try to come to your rescue sooner." She winked before sitting down next to him.
When the laughter died down somewhat, Dormé began to pull all the food out of the basket they had brought. They ate in silence for a while, simply enjoying the beauty of the day. Anakin went to grab another piece of bread when he felt something small hit the side of his head. He looked down to see a small berry at his feet. Looking back up, he noticed Dormé trying desperately to focus on anything but him. "Did you throw this at me?" Anakin picked up the berry, holding it up.
Dormé bit into her own berry. "Hmm…oh…of course not." She looked away finishing off the berry in her mouth.
She wasn't fooling him, but he would play her little game. Just as he leaned back to grab his bread, another berry came flying at him. Quickly he reached his hand back and caught it. "Now, I know you threw that one."
"What if I did?" This time it was Dormé presenting the challenge.
Anakin shook his head chuckling as he sat back. "Your completely different from all of the senators other handmaidens. At her curious gaze, he clarified. "What I mean is…they're all so serious, all the time."
The breeze blew a few strands of hair in front of Dormés face and she brushed them back into place. "I'm serious when I have to be, but I've learned…that life's too short to be serious all the time." Her grin was replaced by a very serious expression, as she asked "Just how many of her handmaidens have you met and spent time with, Anakin?"
"Well…um…I…uh…" Anakin stuttered, his face quickly turning red. He had met Sabé, Padmé's former bodyguard and decoy, and that was years ago when he was a small boy. Even when Sabé's identity was revealed in the Gungan village, the elder handmaiden had remained as cool and proper as before.
Dormé burst into laughter. "I was only joking Anakin. Your impression of us handmaidens is partly correct. Most of the others do spend an awful lot of time being practical. We have to take the jobs assigned to us seriously though. If we are careless for even a second the senator would be left vulnerable and then…" Dormé could not bring herself to speak the words, but the implication was clear. "However, unlike most of the other girls, I choose to be lighthearted and silly when the opportunity presents itself." She smiled cheerfully before popping a berry into her mouth.
"Personally, I could do with people who are less uppity. Obi-wan has been a wonderful teacher and he's like a brother, but he never just relaxes. I don't even think he knows how to." Anakin bit into a piece of bread as he finished speaking.
Dormé looked down, nodding her head. "It can be dangerous to become too relaxed. One never truly knows when there might be a…sneak attack" Dormé grinned before launching a whole mess of berries at him.
Anakin caught as many as he could and deflected a few more, but several bounced off his head. He looked from the berries in his hand up to where Dormé was laughing hysterically. A huge grin spread across his face. "Attacking a Jedi, that was not a wise move milady."
"Perhaps not, but it certainly was fun." Dormé said still giggling. She didn't notice Anakin moving closer to her on the blanket.
"You've left me with only one course of action to pursue." Anakin sighed, as he slid slowly towards her.
Dormé peered over at him, now aware that he had come closer. They looked at each other, tiny grins on both of their faces. As if reading his mind, Dormé shot up just as Anakin tried to reach out and grab her. "Hah! You'll have to be much quicker then that."
Anakin pulls himself up, ready for a new challenge "Oh, you better run Dormé." Now on his feet he rushed towards her.
Without hesitating, the young handmaiden dashed away. Even barefoot, she managed to elude him. Dormé yelled to her pursuer. "I don't think your trying very hard." She kept running, amused that she was able to get away so easily. As she raced down the slope of the hill, she stopped short, startled by what she saw.
Oblivious to the fact that his prey had stopped moving, Anakin came running down the hill. His eyes went wide when he realized that Dormé was standing stock-still. He called out to her, "Dormé, look out!"
Broken out of her stupor, Dormé turned around. Quick reflexes allowed her to step out of his path. She grabbed his arm as he passed by and felt one of his arms wrap around her waist. "Anakin…whoaaaa" his forward momentum spun them both around until they finally collapsed on the ground, dizzy.
Dormé landed on top of Anakin as they hit the ground and she heard him grunt from the force of the impact. "Are you alright?" Anakin's eyes were closed and from the sound he had made, Dormé worried that she had injured him.
It took a few moments, but eventually Anakin opened his eyes. "I guess I caught you after all milady." A cheeky grin spread across his lips.
Relieved that he was okay, but not amused at his joking, Dormé smirked then started to hit his arms and chest lightly. "You sir, have very poor manners".
"Hey, I have very good manners. I could have just plowed into you, but I'm a gentleman." Anakin spoke up as he fought off her attack.
Dormé laughed, ceasing her attack and flopping down beside him on her back. "Note to self, don't grab a hold of the "gentleman" as he runs past you down a hill" She turned her head to look at him, snickering.
"Oh, that's sound advice, unless of course the gentleman in question is heading towards the edge of a cliff." Anakin laughed before pulling himself off the ground. He reached a hand down to help her up.
"Thank you." Dormé accepted his hand, brushing off her dress as she stood up. "I should apologize to the gentleman than. If I had not just stopped neither of us would have wound up end over end."
Anakin waved off her apology. "No harm done, though I am curious as to why you stopped so suddenly."
Dormé blushed. She had completely forgotten about the strange creatures she had seen. "Oh, um I um…" She pointed further down the hill, where a small group of Shaaks' was nibbling at the grass.
While they the animals looked harmless, Anakin knew that looks could often be deceiving. "They don't appear ferocious to me. Do you know what they are?" Anakin asked curiously, his eyes pulling away from the oddly shaped quadrupeds.
"I think they're called Shaaks. I've heard about them, but I've never seen one before. At least not this close" Again, Dormé blushed, looking away, realizing how silly he must think she was.
Anakin smiled. "Weird looking creatures; good thing you stopped me when you did. I might have wound up being stomped on by those things." He took her hand in his, "They seem to be enjoying their lunch. Come on let's go finish ours."
Grateful that he didn't seem fazed, Dormé grinned. "Sounds like a plan. I think there was still some desert left."
Anakin was never one to pass down desert, "What are we waiting for?" With that said, the pair began the climb back up the hillside to their abandoned picnic.
Tbc
I know, I know. Not much excitement in this chapter, but I'm still sort of trying to build up the relationship between Dormé and Anakin with little moments. Things will start to pick up next chapter.