Chapter 11
Lara sat on the sofa, listening as Anakin and Kitster talked about the situation. Apparently there was a contract out on her life, but Obi-Wan and Padme were looking into it and trying to find out who ordered it in an effort to prevent it.
"I have an idea," Kitster said. "Ani, you go back to Coruscant like you and your bride planned, and I'll escort Lara back to Coruscant a few weeks later, only we'll do the decoy thing."
"The decoy thing?" Anakin laughed. "In other words, we need to employ Laila's services."
"Lalima," Lara corrected. "Laila's on Coruscant, cleaning out my senatorial apartment and keeping an eye on my office, making sure no one, who doesn't have clearance, goes in." She raised her eyebrows at her husband, hoping he caught her meaning. He did, remembering his Jedi mission with the Loyalist committee that his new bride belonged to.
"Are you on Naboo?" he asked.
"Yeah, I made fighter tracks as soon as I overheard your surrogate brother talking about the hit. I'm in Theed now."
Anakin chuckled. Knowing his best friends like he did, chances were that Obi-Wan and Padme let Kitster overhear their conversation so he could contact them, allowing them to keep their promise to the newlyweds. Never knew my old master was so sneaky, he thought with another chuckle.
Lara reached for her comlink to contact the palace in Theed where her decoy was currently staying as bodyguard to Queen Jamilla.
"Yes?" the captain-at-arms said in greeting.
"This is Senator Naberrie Skywalker," Lara said. "I will need Lalima for an escort back to Coruscant in two weeks. Will she be available for me?"
"Yes, my lady. Her Royal Majesty will make sure she's available for your escort back to Coruscant. We shall send her to the lake country house where you are staying a few days before you are to depart."
A few days later, Anakin and Lara were out on the patio, watching the portable holo when they saw the news report. Due to health concerns, Queen Jamilla decided to step down as queen of Naboo. Lara turned to her husband.
"Looks like our honeymoon is turning into a working vacation," she said glumly. "As senator, I'll have to go to Theed to oversee finding one of the handmaidens, past or present, to serve as queen until the next election."
Anakin nodded. "I'll come with you," he said, hugging her close. "We should send Padme and Obi-Wan a message informing them of what happened."
She nodded and let Anakin do all the talking when he sent the transmission. "Our honeymoon just turned into a working vacation," he said.
"What are you talking about Ani?" Padme asked, puzzled.
"You haven't heard?" he asked back.
"No, what's up?"
"Queen Jamilla's been ill for the past few months," he told her. "She's now decided to step down from the throne of Naboo, feeling that her health won't allow her to serve the people of Naboo the way they deserved." He shrugged. "She didn't seem that ill to me when we visited her soon after getting here."
Padme nodded. "If she's still in the area, then consider Sabe Valaria to fill in," she told Lara. "You remember her, right?"
"Yeah, she was your decoy during your time as queen, and was especially invaluable during the blockade, I remember. When we get to Theed, I'll talk with the queen about it." She smiled. "Katya's serving as a handmaiden to the queen, but I don't think she'd be comfortable with the responsibility of ruling Naboo yet."
Three days later, Lara and Anakin took a boat the capital city of Theed. Queen Jamilla had taken to her bed, her body having begun to break down on her. It was then that Lara and Anakin realized it was more serious than the news reports let on.
"There is a canker in my breast," the queen admitted. "I have been receiving treatments from the castle healers for several months now, enjoying a few months of what the healers call 'remission'. Now, the illness is back and even the best healers have determined there's nothing more they can do." She smiled sadly. "I'll probably become one with the Force, as you Jedi like to say, in a few months, a year at the most, if I'm feeling lucky."
"You're d-dying?" Lara stammered, thankful for her husband's presence. She felt Anakin reaching out to squeeze her shoulders.
"I'm afraid so," the queen replied. "I'm not afraid to die; I'm just not looking forward to what I have to go through before it happens. But we won't speak on it now." She shook her head, wanting to change the subject. "We should discuss who we think should be appointed to rule Naboo for the rest of my term."
"Yes, I actually talked with my cousin a few days ago. She knows you're ill, but she doesn't know the extent of your illness. She suggested we try to track down Sabe Valaria, her former decoy from her time as queen and see if she'd be willing to serve as queen until the elections. I think I'm with her on this."
"Perfect," Jamilla said. "I'll talk with Yane and Sache; they've kept in touch with Sabe through the years. I'll request she have an audience with me. I'd like you to be present as well, Lara. We can talk to her together."
Lara nodded. "Would you like us to stay in the palace or are there any apartments nearby?"
"If you and Master Skywalker are comfortable, you may stay here." The ill queen smiled as she saw Anakin and Lara back away so they could talk. In the end, both husband and wife decided it would be more convenient to stay in one of the apartments in the palace since Lara would be assisting the queen in finding someone who could finish her term. While they enjoyed the creature comforts of the Theed palace, they both felt an underlying sadness that the only reason they were here was because the Naboo queen was dying. Anakin was content to stay in the background and give Lara his support, but they knew it would be coming out about Jamilla's illness and terminal state. They both decided to send a transmission to Padme and Obi-Wan, and in turn, try to schedule a transmission when Bail and Mon Mothma would be there. It would be better that way.
Padme found herself worshipping the porcelain god for the second morning in a row. She weakly reached up to flush away the remnants of her breakfast and leaned against the wall. She didn't know how she was going to be able to make herself presentable for the Loyalist committee meeting she was to attend that afternoon. Finally, she forced herself to get up and step into the shower. Once she cleaned up, she felt much better. She slipped into a lightweight dress and rouged her cheeks so she wouldn't look so pasty. Maybe I should see Bant in the Healer's wing before they come, she thought. She had her suspicions but she wanted to make sure.
Thankfully, the Mon Calamarian was there and she wasn't busy. Padme quickly described her symptoms to her husband's longtime friend. Bant asked her a few questions, some of which made her blush, and then the Jedi healer ran a battery of tests on her.
"I have some good news, Padme," she told the human woman before her. "Your tests came back normal for someone of your condition, and everything seems to be progressing nicely."
Padme's eyes widened as she sensed her suspicions were correct. "Are you saying I'm…?" her voice trailed off.
"Yes, you're going to have a baby." The Jedi healer smiled. "You're almost three months along, so the nausea should ease up soon, for which I'm sure Master Kenobi should be relieved as well."
Padme blushed. Obi-Wan had recently been found slumped on the floor of the training center, usually during the times that Padme was worshipping the porcelain god in the 'fresher. Once even Padawan Zett Jukassa had brought him back to their apartment on orders from Master Windu to get some rest.
"That's the understatement of the millennium," she said, finally finding her voice. "I'll tell him before our meeting with Senators Organa and Mon Mothma."
Padme felt like she was on top of the universe as she made her way back to the apartment she shared with Obi-Wan. She wasn't surprised to find him waiting for her.
"Obi-Wan, there's something I have to tell you," she said softly.
"I was told you went to see Bant in the Healer's wing." His face was a mask of concern. "It's about time. Did she find out why you've been so sick?"
"Yeah." Padme smiled broadly. "We're going to have a baby."
He stopped dead and looked up at her. The illness he'd been feeling on her behalf wasn't due to a deadly disease; it was because she was carrying life inside her, a life they'd made together from their love. He crossed over to her and took her into his arms, holding her tight.
"I'm the luckiest man in the galaxy," he whispered, kissing her passionately. "I love you so much."
"And I love you," she whispered back, enjoying this moment they had together to marvel in the life they created from their love.