"Happy Republic Days!" Dormé chimed bright and early.
The Coruscant Republic Festival was scheduled to last five days, and Padmé hoped she wouldn't have to endure her bodyguard's annoyingly good mood for the duration of it.
"And as per Coruscant tradition, I present you First Gift."
"Thanks Dormé." The young senator accepted the wrapped present with a smile. "Yours is on the table."
Usually exchanged between spouses, close family members, or lovers, since it appeared that neither Padmé nor Dormé were going to around any of those this holiday season, they decided to exchange the Days' Gifts with each other.
Padmé opened the gift box to find an attractive holoframe complete with a changing image of her family on Naboo. They were smiling and waving, and her mother blew a kiss from her hand. It was a touching gift, but it made Padmé's heart ache all the more to see them.
"Thank you, Dormé."
"Your mother sent the holo." She said. "And thanks for the broach. It looks antique." Dormé noted as she inspected the silver hair adornment encrusted with purple and cream jewels.
"The shop owner said its at least a hundred years old." Padmé noted.
The two women stared at each other in comfortable silence until Dormé bounded up from her seat on the gold divan. "Oh! I almost forgot! There was a delivery for you. No return label, but it passed Captain Typho's inspection."
The young woman hurried away to the hall and brought back a small package wrapped in plain paper, placing it on the table in front of Padmé.
From her parents maybe? She wondered. But they had decided to exchange gifts after the season, when Padmé could get away and join them on Naboo.
"Maybe you should open it." Dormé said sarcastically, to which Padmé stuck out her tongue.
Inside the box was a card that Padmé read aloud.
"The first of five.
But none less true.
The last with which,
Reveal myself to you."
"That's it?" Dormé asked incredulously.
"That's it." Padmé answered, flipping the card over in her hand.
"No name? No signature?"
"Nope." The senator answered before diving into the box to retrieve an object wrapped in blue velvet. Within the covering was a crystal pendant. It fit into the palm of her hand and when she held it one way against the light it appeared blue. When she held it another way, it changed to green.
"That's gorgeous!" Dormé exclaimed.
"And expensive, I imagine." Padmé noted as she placed it back into its container.
"You're not going to wear it? It will match your new gown perfectly."
Padmé continued staring at the box and Dormé continued.
"You know…the gown that you're wearing to the Republic Ball?"
"I'm not going." The senator announced. "And I'm returning this." She placed the box back on the table.
"What? Are you crazy?"
"Dormé! I don't even know where this came from!"
"Who cares?" The bodyguard exclaimed, grabbing the box from the table and examining the gift card. "You know, we could have this card tested. The ink and paper may give us a clue to the sender."
"You can if you want. But if you find out anything, let me know so that we can return it."
"Well," Dormé said, sounding a bit disappointed. "Whoever your secret admirer is, he has good taste."