Chapter 3

"Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.
Desmond Tutu

Later that evening the snow fall began. The wind beat hard against the windows, and the torch light in the hallways made the shadows stretch into dark shapes before Ben's eyes as he followed the Queen of Onderon back to her rooms. Kyp was waiting outside of her rooms, and with a dip of his head, he opened the door and stepped aside so she could enter. Kiala offered him a smile and then passed by, her dress whispering across the floor as she entered her room. Kyp bowed his head again and went to close the door only for the Queen to glance over her shoulder and say to Ben, "thank you for stay with me tonight."

Ben nodded and then bowing his head he took a step back and started down the corridor to his rooms. Kyp sighed at his actions and then stepping back as well he said, "I apologize on his behalf, good night you Highness."

Kiala lowered her eyes to the tile floor and then nodding tensely, she disappeared into the darkness of her rooms whereupon Olie, who had been sulking in the shadows, slammed the door behind her. Kyp eyed the doors for a moment, distaste and annoyance rolling of him in waves, all directed towards the guard. Not a dash of respect or humility was present in the young man, and quite honestly, Kyp was on his last nerve with him. He had met many men like this, egotistical and brash with no respect for anyone but themselves, and it never ceased to amazing him how irritating they could be.

He paused in front of Ben's doors on his way back to his own, debating whether or not to let the situation defuse on it's own, or go in and take it apart piece by piece. Of course Ben would probably be upset either way, leaving Kyp between a rock and hard place and putting Ben through the same thing. In brutal honesty, Kyp believed that they should leave that night. It was obvious the queen was fine, and if anything went wrong she had her omnipotent guard to protect her. She wouldn't need them, as Olie had said earlier, they were nothing but extra meat shields incase something did happen, and Kyp had no interest in becoming cannon fodder for the pretty little queen.

The door opened and Ben narrowed his eyes at Kyp before saying, "are you going to come in or are you just going to stand out here the whole night watching my door?"

Kyp smiled before side stepping Ben in the huge doorway and entering the room. Ben's room was more sparse than that of the queen's but still well decorated. He had appeared to have not settled in at all, his bag was sitting on one of the chairs in the small living space, his boots were still on, and he appeared rather agitated by even being here.

"Struggling to settle in?" Kyp inquired as he stepped into the more grandiose living space; he collapsed onto the couch and propped his boots up on the small knee high table in front of him, trying to get comfortable. Ben closed the door to the cold hallway outside and then stepped into the room, watching the snow batter the window and howl as it maneuvered its way through the canyon created by the mountain peaks. Kyp glanced out the window and then said, "quite the view you have here."

Ben snorted to hide his amusement and then recoiled, "if the snow wasn't there, you would be able to see the durasteel wall right there." He gestured out the floor to ceiling window and then paced towards it and put his hands in his pockets. Resting against one of the huge pillars that framed the entrance to what would have been a balcony, he stood in silence. Kyp sighed and then rose and followed Ben's steps until he stood next to the young man and said, "a shame, I'm sure my view is no different."

Ben finally cracked a smile at that one, but didn't respond. Kyp felt a smile tugging at his lips as well, good, he was half-way through the hardest part of this conversation then. Sighing, he turned to look out at the snow and then murmured, "quite the dinner tonight," he paused to see Ben's reaction and sure enough, the young man's features darkened considerably forcing Kyp to choose his next words carefully, "what did she say on the balcony, I saw you two speaking, then you left rather agitated."

"It was nothing," Ben insisted as he tried to turn and leave the scene quickly. Kyp put his hand on Ben's shoulder though and pushed him back up against the pillar and warned, "not so quick, you're going to talk to me whether you like it or not."

"Glad you can understand that," Ben jested as he tried to pull away again, only for Kyp to press his forearm across Ben's chest, forcing him up against the pillar. The two men glared at each other momentarily until Ben lied, "she told me that she was uncomfortable talking to Tenel Ka."

"Ah, and that is why you were so very upset when you left the balcony," Kyp drawled as he released Ben slowly. Ben rubbed the spot where Kyp's elbow had been pressing into his chest and retorted, "yes, I was upset because it was disrespectful when Tenel has done nothing to her."

He moved past Kyp who in turn followed him around the couch and confessed, "I don't like the Captain of the Guard either, the longer I spend around him, the more he irritates me."

Ben was silent as he unbuttoned his tunic, his back to Kyp, leaving the Jedi Master rather curious at what his reaction might be. He paused from removing the tunic, apparently aware of the older man's eyes. The silence was stifling as Ben remained with his back turned and his expression hidden in the shadows. Eventually, Ben slipped the tunic off his shoulders and whispered to the stillness, "glad we agree on that as well."

Kyp snorted and watched Ben step into the sleeping room, there was a soft rummaging and a thud as Ben tossed his bag into the corner of the room where it was out of sight. He emerged from the room dressed in a loose, thin, long sleeved shirt. The dark, midnight blue color blended into the shadows behind him and the only thing that let Kyp know that Ben had returned was the youth's titian hair. He settled down in the chair across from Kyp and whispered, "the more time I spend around her, the more I want to dig into her parent's deaths and figure out what happened. I feel like it plays a suspiciously large part in her recent actions."

Shrugging slightly, Kyp gazed out the window at the wild flurries of snow that danced across the balcony, trying to put together a picture that was missing far too many parts. He had two parts now that Ben had mentioned that comment, one was that the queen's parents were a sore subject with her and should be further investigated, two was that Ben was very interested in the queen, a little too interested now that Kyp thought about it. He glanced over at Ben, who had his elbows on his knees and his forehead resting on his steepled fingers, and prodded gently, "do you enjoy her company?"

Ben glanced up, his blue-grey eyes were wide and his lips were open just slightly. As soon as his shock had worn off, which was fairly quick, Ben's eyes narrowed and replied, "what does it matter?"

"Oh, it doesn't. I was just wondering since it might be in our best interests if we leave tonight." Kyp watched Ben for a reaction, hoping that the youth would explode in fury, he wasn't disappointed.

"Leave! As in leave for good? We can't do that, that would be wrong, completely and absolutely wrong," the youth had leaped to his feet and was pacing back and forth in front of Kyp who in turn was watching the spectacle with a bemused smile, "further more, it's our duty to protect her! If we leave, what good would we be doing then? Besides, I think that Olie is doing something to her, that would explain the glass on the floor and the cut-"

Kyp's smile fell instantly and he was on his feet with his hands on Ben's shoulders, forcing the youth to look at him as he interrupted, "wait what! What is this about glass and her being injured? Is emthat /emwhat she was talking about tonight with Tenel Ka?"

Ben remained frozen, his stare blank, and it was then Kyp knew that Ben had kept this from him on purpose. The agitation that rose up inside of him quickly turned to fury at the fact that the young man didn't trust him enough to help Kiala. He released Ben's shoulders with a huff and growled, "you kept that from me, didn't you."

It wasn't a statement, nor was it a question, leaving Ben rather worried about if he should answer or not. Eventually, he nodded slowly, turning away from Kyp. They both remained a few steps away from one another, both trying to stifle their emotions. After a few more moments of intense silence, Kyp let out a tenuous sigh, his shoulders sagged gently and he glanced over his shoulder at Ben who had taken those few moments to sit on the couch. Kyp rested his hand on Ben's shoulder, squeezing gently he whispered, "I won't ask why you didn't tell me, but I expect you to tell me everything in the future if you don't want to jeopardize this mission."

Ben's reply was a dip of his head, an unspoken promise, one he intended to keep.

(/)

The night wind howled though the hallway, and as Ben lie awake looking up at ceiling he couldn't bring himself to fall asleep. The amount of sleep he had had in the past two days had been none, and he knew he needed to sleep more than anything else. He couldn't bring himself to, not with how disturbed he was by his own thoughts. The Captain of the Guard seemed so sincere in his care of the Queen, but his constant actions sent shivers though the Force to Ben, who received them with a mildly biased opinion. Was his opinion his instincts though, the Force hitting him above the head and telling him to pay attention? He wanted to believe that the guard was bad for the queen, so badly that it twisted his insides into knots, but he didn't want to believe it was jealousy. He refused to be jealous of the guard, there was no reason for him to be.

He didn't want to admit it to anyone, not even the storm of his own thoughts that he liked the queen more than he should. He had hardly known her, but the more time he spent thinking about her, the more he wanted to be around her. She had dug into his mind and heart with her story and as he tossed and turned, he couldn't help but think about her.

A particularly large gust of wind slammed into the window, snapping Ben awake and causing him to stumble up. He paused in the doorway to his sleeping area and glanced around the room, his eyes narrowing as he extended in the Force to sense any presence but his own. He heard only the sound of the howling wind which was actually decreasing slightly, apparently the worst of the storm was over.

He stepped into the freezing room and shivered slightly at the cold before turning to go back to his restless night. As he crossed the doorway, he heard a soft whispering of a door closing. He flipped around, calling his lightsaber to his hand from the night table. It slammed into his palm and he ignited it as he brought it up to a defensive posture. The blue light from his blade sent erie shadows along the walls and he took soft steps around the room looking for the intruder. He paused before a small section of the wall, and reaching out to touch it, he sensed another presence that had just passed though the wall.

Whispering to himself that ghost did not exist, he pushed on the wall. It swung quietly inside and he frowned as he glanced inside. The hallway beyond was dark and musty, with heavy stone walls that seemed to continued for a few meters in the darkness. Ben slipped inside quietly, his bare feet cold against the stone floor. Reaching behind him, he brought the door to a closed point, open barely a crack, allowing him a quick escape should he get ambushed. Taking tentative steps into the darkness, he held his lightsaber aloft and used its light as a glowstick.

After about twenty meters, Ben found another crack in the wall. Running his fingertips along it, he found a small latch that opened it slowly. He glance through the crack he had created and was not surprised to see the Queen's rooms. This was the servants passages then, nothing too interesting. Now though he had to figure out who had slipped into his room and fled so quickly. He leaned against the frame and tried his best to see around the room while relying on the Force. Someone was awake, and he saw a slight shadow pass in front of his hiding place, causing him to duck quickly back into the passage to avoid detection. They passed softly and he heard a soft female voice whisper, "Is everything alright ma'am?"

"Yes, thank you. I-I was just having trouble sleeping." Kiala's voice wasn't very far away, and judging from what he could see, he was exactly where he had seen the servant disappear earlier that day. Frowning, he opened the door a little further and saw Kiala standing near the doors to her balcony, her long blond hair falling in loose curls down her back. She had her back turned to him, but he could still tell that she was hugging herself tightly, almost trying to keep warm. Olie passed by the door and Ben once more slipped back, not as quickly as before though. When he came back to the crack he saw the guard step behind the queen and growl, "you should sleep, you will not have time to get enough in the coming days."

He waved the servant away, who bowed softly, and then turned and started to come towards the door. Ben cursed silently and pushed himself up against the far wall, a few steps down the hallway. The young servant entered the passage and closed the door softly behind her. She turned from the door and started away from the Ben with a candle glowing softly in her hand. He held his breath as long as he dared and once he was sure that she was gone, he cracked open the door again and watched Olie as he stepped up to Kiala and hissed, "what did he want when he followed you to the balcony?"

Kiala pulled away and crossed towards the vanity whispering, "nothing, he was just doing his job."

"You mean my job. It is my duty to protect you here. Don't forget that." Olie warned as he followed her. With a shaking hand that Ben could see from his position, Kiala picked up a brush and started to run it through her hair. Olie growled softly and then grabbing her shoulder and flipping her around he hissed, "are you even listening!"

Kiala narrowed her eyes at him and set the brush down. Olie smiled softly and then running his fingers down her cheek softly he whispered, "what did he want?"

"Nothing, I was the one talking to him." Kiala turned quickly with her comment and Olie turned as well, which meant from his vantage point, Ben couldn't see Olie's reaction, but the guard must have been furious because he grabbed Kiala's shoulder tightly causing her to yelp softly.

"What did you talk to him about?" Each word was a blaster bolt through Kiala it seemed as she tried to pull away.

"I just asked him about his mother, and told him a little about mine."

Olie released her shoulder and growled something under his breath at her before stalking out of the room. Kiala took a few shaky breaths after her departure before she sank onto the stool on front of her vanity. Hwer hands trembled as she rested her head in them and she remained that way for a few minutes, her breath labored and her face buried. Eventually she straightened herself though, and rose to cross to her sleeping chambers. She passed the door and Ben closed it softly then, refusing to see anymore.

The next morning Ben was waiting in the hallway outside of the queen's rooms, his breath creating a small puff of mist every time he exhaled. Eventually Kyp joined him, rubbing his hands together against the cold. He gave Ben a weak smile and said, "stars it's cold. I could have sworn it was warm yesterday."

Apparently their conversation last night had been forgotten, and Kyp had forgiven Ben for withholding information. Ben smiled and tugged his tunic collar up high, trying to keep as much body heat trapped as possible. "It was sunny yesterday. We must have just arrived at the beginning of winter."

Kyp snorted but their conversation was cut short as the door to the queen's cambers opened. She stepped out wrapped in a think winter cloak to fight the chill. She offered Ben a smile and then through a slight chattering of her teeth she whispered, "quite the weather they have, I was expecting something warmer. They must be having a very cold winter."

"I suppose so your Highness." Ben replied as he and Kyp both bowed their heads. She smiled and then glancing down the hallway she murmured, "I suppose Olie will not be joining us this morning."

"We have yet to see him your Highness," Kyp responded with a tight smile that didn't really reach his eyes. If the guard decided not to show up then there was no point in waiting for him, or mourning that fact. Kiala smiled gently and then glanced out the window behind Ben, her eyes widened in awe and she moved past him to whisper, "I didn't realize it had snowed so… much."

Ben glanced over his shoulder at her, and Kyp didn't miss the extra protectiveness that the youth threw in his gaze. Reaching out to touch the window, Kiala smiled wildly and whispered, "I want to go outside."

Ben raised his brow in surprise and said, "are you sure? You did indirectly mention that you did not pack for this kind of weather your Highness."

Kiala laughed gently and turning to Ben she replied coyly, "then come with me and help me keep warm." Her eyes were bright and playful for the first time, and Ben hated to admit, but he liked the way they sparkled when she was really happy. Her eyes turned mischievously down the corridor and gathering the edges of her cloak in her hands, she took off down the corridor at a slight jog. Ben cried out and took off after her, leaving Kyp to watch them, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he turned away and head towards the Queen Mother's rooms.

(/)

Kiala came to the large front stairway, laughing she took the steps down two at a time, almost succeeding in falling twice. Ben paused at the top and deciding against his more adult intuition, he sat on the railing and slid down after the queen. Arriving only a few steps behind her, he leaped off, stumbled with the movement but continued after her none the less. Kiala reached the doors first, pushing against them with all her might but never getting them to budge. Ben laughed as he came up next to her and pulled one of them open to reveal the crystal white courtyard outside. Kiala paused for a moment, her laugh shaking out to nothing as she took a step out into the bitter cold. The snow crunched under her foot and she glance down quickly before reaching out and running her hand along the stone statue to her immediate right, brushing some of the snow off. She gathered some in her hands and glanced over her shoulder at Ben who had his back turned and was closing the door. With a mischievous smile she pressed the snow together in a vague ball shape and turning slowly to not make any noise, she threw it.

There was a moment of silence when the snow hit Ben in the back of the head, until Kiala broke into a fit of laughter. Glancing over his shoulder at her, with pieces of snow stuck to his cheek and hair, he watched the Queen with a smile that he was obviously trying to hide as she grabbed at the statue to support herself and her fit of giggles. Ben smiled crookedly and couching down he gathered up a small mound of snow in his bare hands. It bit into his warm skin, but at the moment the desire for even the meekest from of playful revenge was too much. He rose slowly, after he had gathered a good handful of snow, to make sure that the young woman had plenty of time to see what he was doing.

Kiala's smile fell quickly and her giggles stopped when she realized the game she had started. Still smiling at the poor girl's coming misfortune, Ben packed the snow and informed her, "I should let you know that among my cousins and most of the children my age, I was the best at snowball fights. You should probably run now."

Kiala let out a scream and took off running across the courtyard. She scattered snow behind her, and he ruby red cloak swished across the snow behind her as if she were leaving a blood red train in her wake. Ben struggled after her, letting her win even though he knew that if he wanted to, he could over take her in seconds and easily hit her with the snow. She turned a corner deeper into the courtyard and towards a small grove of semi-barren trees, with Ben following close behind. She ducked behind one of the huge trees, with the leaves concealing large mounds of snow in its branches. The tree she had chosen appeared safest, with its giant trunk that could shelter from any projectile from behind. If she had looked up though, she would have noticed the branches laden with mounds of snow that were trapped between the mass of tangled branches.

Ben noticed this with a smile as he appeared behind the tree. A small sliver of the Queen's face appeared from behind the tree as if she were trying to gauge how long she would be able to hide there, before that sliver vanished with a swish of golden blond curls. Ben stopped a few steps away from the shadow created by the branches and reaching up in the Force with a malicious smile, he shifted a branch just slightly and was rewarded with a loud shriek of surprise from the Queen. She came out from behind the trunk, brushing snow off her shoulders and out of her hair. As she brushed herself off she threw Ben an annoyed glance that would have melted all the snow around them if she actually put fire behind it, and whined, "That's not fair, you used the Force."

Ben's smile widened, his eyes actually lighting up with his laughter that he was barely able to contain. He dropped into a deep bow and teased "I apologize your Highness, you never said anything against it."

With a snort Kiala continued to brush herself off, apparently not amused by his teasing. Ben watched her as he rose from his bow, amused with her reaction. Eventually, Kiala lifted her eyes, and the concealed snowball hit Ben hard in the chest. He cried out in surprise and stumbled backwards at the force of it. Kiala laughed at her triumph before turning and screaming in terror as she ran through the grove, away from Ben who had stooped down to pick up more snow.

(/)

Inside it was much warmer, and as Ben opened the door to the Queen's rooms and bowed his head to her, he felt a tug of emotion. It had been years since he had laughed as much as he had in the courtyard, and it had been even longer since he had let all his barriers down and just enjoyed himself. The Queen appeared to have that startling effect on him, drawing out his most private thoughts, and holding his most precious emotions in her hands. She held them like a frightened bird though, cradling them as if they truly meant something to her. For a moment, Ben entertained the thought that perhaps they did, but he turned away quickly from that, the Queen of Onderon did not care for him that way, she never had and she never would.

Kiala paused in the doorway and turning to glance at Ben over her shoulder she whispered, "would you like to stay? I don't have many people to talk to," she paused for a moment and Ben took that moment to meet her eyes, as soon as his blue one's met hers, she continued, "it has been so long since I have just talked with someone."

Ben raised his brow in speculation, as much as he wanted to say yes and continue into the Queen's rooms, it was not his place to do so, and although a secret part of him yearned to appease her and to allow her to curl up inside of him and find comfort there, he knew that his place was outside of her walls. Bowing his head in respect he whispered, "forgive me your Highness, but I'm sure Olie would not be please to return and find me here."

Kiala turned her face away and whispered her response, "of course, thank you Ben, you may go then." With that, the Queen of Onderon stepped into her chambers and Ben watched her receding form as it entered the darkness. She glanced over her shoulder at him only once, as if inviting him one last time, and Ben almost couldn't resist the temptation to follow her. Forcing his emotions and desires down though he bowed smartly once more to her. She nodded her head, the gestures of both almost a parting now, a permeant farewell between the two of them, where whispers were shared that no one could understand. Pulling himself out of the bow, and closing the door behind the Queen, he paused outside them. He debated once more, only to turn and force one foot in front of the other as he began the long steps down the hall to his own doors.

His foot falls echoed along the flagstones as he quickened his pace, refusing to turn and succumb to Kiala. To fall into those icy blue eyes would mean binding himself to a woman who had yet to prove that she was trustworthy, and yet out in the courtyard, he had so desperately wanted to trust her, to know that she was nothing more than a young woman thrown into an unfortunate situation. Her eyes had melted every so slightly in that hour they had spent together, and Ben hadn't missed how they had become like warm pools of melting ice, as if the coolness between them had melted as he lowered his walls. Pausing outside his doors, he reached his hand out only to feel another presence down the hallway watching him. Turning slowly to the left, he saw Olie coming down the hall towards him, passing Kiala's chambers and continuing toward him. Sighing heavily, Ben adjusted his wet robes as best he could, and tried to appear presentable, even though he was dripping water onto the flagstones. Olie's confident gait slowed until he was standing almost toe to toe with Ben, and glaring down into the Jedi's face he smiled and said, "it appears you actually know your place around here."

Ben snorted softy and then turning the handle on his door he murmured, "I've just learned my lessons well."

"I apologize Jedi Knight Skywalker, I'm bad of hearing, what was that?" Olie whispered with a greasy smile. Ben sighed once more and then glancing at Olie with a smile of his own, replied, "are you not supposed to be guarding your Queen?"

Olie's smile fell slowly only to be replaced with a sneer quickly, his eyes bore into Ben's, freezing him in place with the intensity of the stare. For a moment, the Force was alive between the two of them, whispering from one to the other. Dancing like falling snow flakes between them, it swept along the hallway like a whirlwind and alerted Kyp that something was transpiring between Ben and another soul.

Ben returned Olie's glare and whispered, "I know my duty, do you know your's?"

"Are you daring to question me?" Olie growled, his hand falling to the wicked rapier at his hip. Ben narrowed his eyes, his own hand gracing the hilt of his lightsaber but not quite reaching to draw it. For a moment they stood toe to toe, both of them radiating annoyance at the other until Ben pulled himself to his full height and growled, "I've never done anything to harm you, leave or I will make you leave."

If anything, Olie took Ben's warning as a threat. He brought himself to his own full stance, which was half a head taller than Ben, but malicious intents always made one shorter. For the span of one breath Ben swore that he thought Olie was going to leap at him and start the skirmish that was in the making. From down the hall there was a slight cough as the Queen's aid appeared. He was dressed in dark crimson and the image drew to mind a hazy vision before Ben's eyes that he couldn't quite picture clearl y enough to understand.

Olie growled under his breath and the aid rested his hand on Olie's shoulder as he appeared behind the guard and resting his other hand on Ben's shoulder as well, he squeezed tightly. Ben almost pulled away in surprise at the ferocity of the older man's grip but he was held in place by some force. The aid smiled icily at both men before whispering, "perhaps you would care to break apart your little powwow before someone notices?"

He turned those icy eyes on Olie and hissed, "the Queen is in need of you presence," his voice dropped to a softer growl that Ben almost didn't catch but picked up none-the-less, "I didn't bring you on this assignment to start fights in hallways." He released Olie's shoulder and the young man pulled away in reproach and then throwing one more sneer in Ben's direction he turned on his heel and stormed off.

As soon as Olie was far enough away the aid turned to Ben, his eyes betrayed the calm on the surface as he hissed, "try to keep yourself in line Jedi Knight Skywalker, I approve of many things my Queen does, but I did not approve of her choice in you. You are here because of her good graces, do try to keep yourself there."

Ben and the aid remained in the same position for the span of one breath until the aid narrowed his eyes and with a slightly nod, passed Ben and continued down the hallway as if nothing had happened. Ben glanced at the aid's back over his shoulder, he shivered slightly before opening the door and continuing inside.

(/)

An hour later, after Ben had changed and sat methodically thinking about what had transpired in the hallway, he had his thoughts interrupted by the door into his chambers opening. He stood before the fireplace, his forearm rested on the mantel as he stared into the flames. It was dark in the room since another storm had hit the palace only minutes before, hence the fire Ben had started for warmth. From behind him Kyp questioned, "what happened earlier?"

Ben closed his eyes and sighed, his chest constricting around the worry he felt every time he thought about what the aid had told him. The warmth from the flames licked at his face and for a moment he just wanted to disappear into the fire and burn until there was nothing left of himself. Resting his head onto his fist slowly, he murmured, "I have no idea, Olie started it this time-"

"And let me guess, you finished it?" Kyp offered as he came up behind Ben. He paused a few steps away and whispered, "or are you going to deny that?"

Ben turned away from the fire and faced Kyp, his irritation at the Jedi Master's assumptions obvious. "I'm not denying anything, the aid finished it, if you are so inclined to know! I didn't even have to do anything."

They were silent for a minute before Ben lowered his eyes and turned back to the fire, his silence obvious in meaning. Kyp stepped up behind him and looking into the fire as well he whispered, "the Queen requests that you accompany her tonight. Olie has been ordered to remain behind."

Ben snorted and growled, "I'm so glad that the Queen tells me these things, and alerts me first before planning something."

Kyp smiled slightly, it dropped shadows all across his face because of the fire light, and with a voice that was trying to hide it's amusement said, "a pity I'm sure, you two didn't seem to have that problem early today."

Ben's grimace was obvious, yet ominous in the firelight. The lines in his face were pulled deeper by the shadows as he turned to look out the window at the heavy falling snow. He ran his hand down his neck and murmured, "what am I accompanying her to?"

"A dinner of sorts, apparently it's a great honor to be invited and there are very few people that will be there. My guess is it's a way to gain alliances, so try not to get involved, okay?" Kyp replied with a tight smile as he patted Ben's shoulder before turning to leave. Ben flipped around to look at him and called after the older man, "what the hell am I supposed to do then?"

"I don't know Ben," Kyp answered without turning around, flicking his hand like he was swatting away a fly he continued, "stand and look attractive off to the side? After all, we Jedi do such a fantastic job of modeling our robes and boots."

Ben watched Kyp leave through the door, still completely unsure of what he was supposed to do. As soon as the doors had clanked shut, he turned back the fire and then let out a groan of frustration at the Queen, Kyp, and pretty much every other problem in his life in general. He turned away slowly and moved towards his rooms only to pause in front of the secret door into the passage way. He hesitated for a moment, debating whether or not to satiate his pleasure to check on the Queen on to just stay where he was and assume she was fine. He knew going meant he would most likely not keep true to his word of staying quiet, although he couldn't quite resist the temptation. Furrowing his brow he stepped towards the door and slid it open to just listen into the passageway for any sounds. There was nothing but a hallow echoing of wind from the storm outside, and the soft drip of water from the condensation. He took a step back slowly and closed the door ever so softly, there was still a thud though as the door snapped shut completely. He stepped away from the door slowly, his eyes never leaving the faint crack in the wall, never forgetting what he had last seen when the Queen appeared to cross her Captain of the Guard.

(/)

Dressed in the nicest dress tunic he owned, Ben stood outside of the Queen's chambers. His lightsaber was hanging from his belt at the small of his back where it would be hidden from those who would be present at the dinner. He adjusted his jacket as best he could, hoping he looked at least somewhat presentable. If there was one thing his mother had taught him when he was younger it was that you could look presentable and be deadly at the same time. Not only did he have his lightsaber on him, he had his mother's viroblade tucked at the small of his back as well, with a number of other small weapons tucked away where no one would guess to look for them. His time in the GAG made him effective with all the weapons he had on him, and honestly, Ben was thankful for that, even if no one else was.

The doors from the Queen's room opened and when the aid slipped out he turned to face Ben and as he took the young Jedi in, he grimaced and then growled, "of course she did."

Ben raised his brow in surprise and then said, "so she kept this a secret from you as well?"

The aid narrowed his eyes and murmuring under his breath, he passed Ben. The young man watched the aid's back for a moment before he gained the courage to say, "I could just not go and you could take Olie with her, I'm sure that's what you would prefer."

The aid flipped around, his eyes alight with blue fire as he stormed up to Ben's face and hissed, "never undermine her authority, she makes a decision, let her suffer the consequence, the best teacher is death himself.

Ben took a half step back in surprise not the ferocity of the words, but at the bitter fury that radiated from the older man, so much animosity was built up in that comment that Ben almost felt it slide through him like a steel dagger. The aid took a step back and smoothing his tunic out he growled, "you will follow the lead of myself and the Queen, step out of line tonight, and we will see just how much longer you stay here with your friend."

Ben narrowed his eyes, but before he could reply curtly, the doors opened next to him and Kiala stepped out. Ben's eyes grazed her momentarily, but his head snapped back to look at her again. She radiated warmth, yet power seeped from every pore in her body, dousing her in a light that radiated from inside of her. She wore an elegant ball gown. Pure white, like the snow outside, it blossomed out at the low waist line, and flowed to the ground in a skirt that was decorated with flower imprints and tiny silver beads inside of them. Half of her hair was hanging down her back and the other half was twisted up simply in a beautiful style that Ben was sure his aunt would have worn if she was still in politics. Kiala smiled up at him and then stepping out in the light of the hallway, the angelic vision of her slipped away like dust in the wind, and Ben witnessed reality slipping in when he saw the tiara she wore. Her line of birth came back at him like the pain he used to feel when he was first dealing with losing his mother. She stepped up next to him and looking at him expectantly she inquired, "you will be joining us then?

Ben shook himself out mentally, refusing to be sidetracked by Kiala, and inclining his head to her, whispered, "of course your Highness, you requested it."

When he brought his eyes back to her's, one of her brows was raised in mock surprise as she whispered, "I did?"

Sighing at her games, Ben nodded and glancing over at her aid who was practically boiling over off to the side, he replied, "I suppose we should be going your Highness."

Sighing politicly at his attempt to be blunt, she nodded and said, "I suppose so Jedi Knight Skywalker."

Her aid stepped in then and offered his arm which Kiala looked at in surprise before exclaiming, "oh! I was under the impression that Jedi Knight Skywalker was escorting me tonight."

If the aid had been upset before, he was murderous now. Narrowing his eyes at the young queen he growled, "your Highness, I beg of you to reconsider your little endeavor."

Kiala narrowed her eyes as well before stepping closer to Ben and slipping her slender arms around his right one, and pressing herself to his side whispered, "I don't see why I should, I'm sure that Ben knows how to escort a young woman."

Opening his mouth to refuse and actually deny Kiala's statement, he was quickly interrupted by the aid hissing, "this is not a game, Kiala."

If anything, Kiala's grip became tighter on the comment, her fingers digging into Ben's arm as if she were trying to latch on and escape the position she had obviously put herself in. "I think perhaps," Ben began softly as he looked down at Kiala, "you need to be escorted by your aid your Highness, I'm not educated in the ways of etiquette like he is."

"it's not that difficult," Kiala argued as her grip grew even tighter, practically stopping the blood flow from the rest of Ben's body into his arm, "all you have to do is bow your head and stay next to me, it's really not that hard."

Ben narrowed his eyes down at her and whispered chastely, "please your Highness, I think it's for the best." He slipped his arm out of her grip and the moment he did it he felt like he had shattered her. She stood alone and as he took a step back from her, Ben saw that flash of agony cross her features, agony mixed with something else. Fear, yes, he was sure it was fear. Utter terror mixed in with that flash of agony and Ben's brows furrowed in confusion for a moment, before he could question the queen though, the aid grabbed her arm and wrapped it around his as he pulled her down the hallway. Kiala looked over her shoulder at Ben, her eyes practically begging him as she was almost dragged down the hallway after her aid. Ben lowered his eyes, but followed none-the-less.

As they passed the torches in the hallway Ben would look up every so often, and he would catch Kiala looking back at him. He didn't miss the silent plea she sent to him, and every time he simply turned his head to the side. Her relationship with her guard and her aid was no business of his; sure, if they hurt her then it became his, but at the moment, they had done nothing to physically harm her. Olie was questionable, but the aid was not. Ben doubted the older man even knew about the guard's little dark streak that he kept hidden away behind the curtains of his mask.

Eventually the aid turned them towards the grand ballroom that Ben was sure was in this direction, but he doubted he knew exactly how to find that room. They passed many small antechambers through which Ben saw many diverse groups speaking in hushed tones. Some glanced at them as they passed by and Ben lowered his eyes in submissive respect ever single time. Kiala by then had stopped struggling against her aid as much and had begun walking on her own. The aid continued to tug her arm though, as if trying to get her to speed up a little more every turn.

Eventually, they reached the grand ballroom. Its doors were once more thrown open to the grand audience and Ben paused outside with the aid, who had finally let go of Kiala's arm. Bowing his head to whisper in her ear, he gripped her wrist tightly and when he had finished, took a step away from her and into the ballroom. Ben watched him vanish among the crowd of dresses and well groomed occupants, although he never lost sight of the man in the Force. He milled about the crowd for a moment, like a fish in a stream and then vanished within the folds of many minds.

"Will you stay the whole night?" Kiala's voice rang through the turmoil in his mind, causing Ben to glance to his right where she was staring out into the ballroom, her hands clasped loosely in front of her. Ben turned to see what she was looking at, and when he couldn't see anything but the tops of heads and the far wall, he gave up and replied, "I'm not sure, but I'll stay as long as you need me to your Highness."

Kiala reached up and slid a strand of hair behind her ear, as her fingers pushed the hair away, Ben saw a tiny sliver of white behind her ear. He frowned and tried not to point out the scar, but it drew his gaze like a magnet. Kiala seemed to sense his gaze because her icy blue eyes snapped back to him as she whispered, "is something wrong?"

Ben turned his own gaze away quickly and whispered, "no, I-I-"

"It happened a long time ago, I don't even remember what happened." Kiala whispered as she went to brush out the imaginary wrinkles in her dress, purposefully avoiding Ben's gaze. They both shuffled their feet for a moment more before the aid returned and waved the Queen forward.

She shook herself out and then smiled brightly before starting into the room, someone announced her and she was instantly swarmed by a few young men who must have taken interest in her the other night. Ben followed a few steps behind her and remained on the edge of the circle that had formed around her. A young man asked her to dance and Kiala laughed softly before whispering that she wasn't very good at dancing. She slipped away from them then, and Ben trailed after her. He got a few glares from the courtiers as he passed them, but bowed his head in respect to them anyway.

Kiala stood off to the side when he found her again, and her aid was introducing her to a two older men who took her hand and kissed it right on the knuckles and then whispered in their language a greeting. Kiala then returned a curtsey and whispered in their native tongue her thanks. Ben stepped to her right and Kiala gestured to him and introduced him. Ben blinked in surprise and her aid growled softly. Kiala smiled at him and whispered, "Ben this is the leader of Naboo, Proddo Taluka."

Ben bowed deeply and the man offered a smile to Ben as he said, "you look much like your father."

Ben smiled as he rose and said, "thank you, it's an honor to meet you."

The older man laughed and his eyes grew bright as he said, "oh no, it is an honor to meet you, young man. Not many people in the galaxy can say they spoke with a Skywalker directly."

Ben laughed at the truth of the statement, of course many people knew of his family, but few actually could say they knew him and his father. The other man in the group was a Twi'lek that offered Ben a dip of the head and a greeting in his native tongue. Ben bowed his head and tried his best to appear like he understood what was said to him. Kiala smiled and then said to Taluka, "it feels like it's been an eternity since we've seen one another, how are your children?"

Smiling, the older man wrapped his hands around Kiala's and pulling her away so that they were walking together he whispered, "wonderful, in fact young Chaz was almost begging to come along with me, just so he could see you." Kiala laughed as she slipped her hand into the crook of the older mans elbow and continued through the expansive ballroom.

Kiala laughed again at something the older man had said, and Ben slipped after them, deciding that being Kiala's shadow for the night was his job, and not exactly a terrible one at that. As soon as they were away from her aid, Kiala dropped the fake smile and Ben saw her grow rather serious as Taluka asked her how she was faring after her parents untimely deaths.

"I can't say I'm well, I miss them greatly." Kiala whispered, and Ben forced himself not to notice the pain in her aura as she thought of her parents. Taluka sighed softly and whispered, "your father was great friend of mine, let us not forget his memory. In fact, at the last summit here, he and I were discussing trade negotiations, perhaps we can continue them in his memory."

Kiala smiled and whispered, "I would like that very much."

(/)

After a few hours of standing behind Kiala as she talked to other leaders and even shooed away courtiers, Ben couldn't help noting that the more time she spent away from her aid, the more at peace she was. After shooing away another young man out for her hand that night, she huffed and said, "you'd think all they noticed was the jewels and the title before my name."

Ben smiled and said, "I've had my own fair share of those experiences."

Kaila smiled as she stepped close to him and said, "oh yes, and who captured the allusive heart of the great Ben Skywalker?" She laughed and Ben forced one with her, and tried not to think about Vestara in that moment. Kaila turned her gaze back to his as a slow waltz came on. She closed her eyes though, and turning her head slightly as if crocking her ear to listen more closely, began to sway back and forth. Ben watched her with amusement until Kiala whispered, "I know this song, my mother used to have them play it on my birthday and my father would always dance with me."

She smiled wistfully and Ben smiled sadly as he said, "it helps to hold on to the happy memories."

She opened her eyes in surprise at his comment, but avoided the comment altogether when she responded, "have you ever heard this song?"

Ben laughed and shook his head, there was very little doubt in his mind that he'd so much as heard any of the music that had been played tonight. Kiala frowned in playful annoyance before saying, "at least tell me you know how to dance!"

Ben shook his head, laughing still, only for Kiala to cry exasperated, "then I suppose I'll have to teach you!"

His laughter ended quickly as Ben said, "your Highness, I don't think-" but Kiala pulled him out onto the balcony before he could refute her. She smiled as they entered the darkness and whispered, "it will be fine, no one will see us out here."

She stopped them away from the doors, under the eves where the snow had not gathered. Taking his hand off his lightsaber she set it on her waist and whispered, "you set your dominant hand here," taking his other hand in hers she whispered, "and you hold my hand like this."

Her fingers rested softly in his and smiling up at him she took a step back, pulling him with her and then a step to the side, causing Ben to stumble slightly. Kiala laughed lightly as she breathed the count to the song. Ben eventually managed to predict the movements, forwards, backwards, right, center, right, center, backwards. Each step flowed into the next and Ben smiled as he eventually led Kiala in the dance. She smiled up at him and in the soft light her eyes were bright and warm, like stars. The lantern lights glowed in the them and turned her irises to a milky opulence, that brought that fluttering feeling back to Ben's throat. Slowly she peeled away from him, and he turned her slowly, watching as her skirt fanned out around her, and her hair floated around her like a halo. When she returned to her original position, they held each other's gaze for a few steps until Kiala slowly laid her cheek on his shoulder and closed her eyes. Ben tensed in surprise for a moment.

This wasn't right.

He shouldn't be doing this

But he didn't want to stop

Kiala's breath was warm on his neck and as they continued in the steps, unable to stop themselves, he felt himself tumbling farther and farther away from the reality of the situation, and how sacrilegious his actions were in this moment. Slowly, Ben relaxed as he finally gave into the dark recess of his heart, and Kiala seemed to melt against him as they stopped stepping and just swayed slowly. Kiala eventually whispered, "my father used to say that everything happens for a reason."

Ben nodded, his eyes closing as he went to lay his head on Kiala's. She sighed softly and then whispered, "he lived by that saying."

They swayed a little bit more before Kiala continued, "my mother wasn't always a royal. She was a stable girl in a small village on the way to the western city," she paused as if recalling something and Ben quirked his neck slightly so he could hear her better. "He was riding to meet his betrothed in the west city when his horse sprained it's ankle. My mother's stable was the closest one and when he reached it, she helped mend his horse," Ben could hear the soft smile in Kiala's voice as she continued, "he fell in love with her. If his horse hadn't sprained its ankle, then I would have never been born."

Ben glanced at the softly falling snow beside then and then whispered, "if my father's hyperdrive had never been broken, he would have never ran into my mother… literally."

Kiala glanced up at him and with a furrowed brow said, "how did he manage that?"

Ben smiled and shaking his head said, "with his normal ability to be in the complete wrong place, at the wrong time, for the right reasons."

They both laughed softly until Kiala set her cheek back on Ben's shoulder and whispered, "I suppose everything does happen for a reason then."

When Ben glanced down at her, he saw her gazing thoughtfully out into the distance. Eventually, she closed her eyes again and they fell into silence. The song ended with a flourish and as soon as the music stopped, so did the magic of the moment. Ben stepped away from Kiala quickly and coughing to clear his throat said, "we shouldn't have done that."

Kiala blinked in surprise at his abruptness before whispering, "I never meant to make you uncomfortable-"

"There you are!"

They both turned to see Kiala's aid storming across the balcony to them. Kiala's eyes closed and locked down once more as the aid grabbed her arm and growled, "what are you doing out here, there are people inside that want to speak with you."

"I-I-" Kiala stuttered for a moment, her body shaking at the cold now that she wasn't pressed against Ben sharing body heat.

"Her highness was looking for some fresh air, I just accompanied her outside." Ben answered for her, setting a soft hand on her shoulder, and offering her a smile. Kiala's eyes melted again at the smile and the corners of her lips turned up the slightest bit. The aid appeared not to care for their excuse, since he pulled Kiala towards the doors and growled something in her ear. Ben watched them go and just as the aid pulled her into the ballroom, Kiala looked over her shoulder and offered Ben a bright smile that for the first time, melted away all her grief and guilt.