Yes, I know it's been a while, but I've had a few stumbling blocks while I've worked on this chapter: work, family life, and battling my long term illness. Also getting smacked by writers block and other distractions. I'm not sure when I'll be able to publish the next chapter, but I intend to work on it and see this story through.

In the meantime, I hope you all will enjoy this latest chapter. Thank you all so much for your support.

Chapter 14

Padme took slow, calming breaths as she waited for Sabe near the outskirts of Theed. If Anakin fully knew what she was doing, he would be charging through the streets of Theed to stop her, regardless of the stormtroopers, Malorum, and Padme giving Ferus permission to knock Anakin out if he so much as attempted to leave the Lasara Home. Since coming back to Naboo it seemed as if Anakin acquired one new injury after another. She would make Anakin sit this one out to recover from his injuries while she continued with her investigations.

She tugged the hood of the dark blue cloak she had borrowed off of Motee to further hide her features from passersby.

After serving so many years in politics, her face was well-known to the people of Naboo. Even if someone recognized her and she claimed to be a former handmaiden, it would draw unnecessary attention to herself. She had no way of knowing if the people still loved and respected her since the months Palpatine had taken full control and declared the galaxy an Empire. Better to take a page out of the paranoid book Panaka had taught her during her years as Queen.

At this hour, many were on their lunch hour which meant that Sabe would be here at any minute. Because of her position on the Handmaiden Panel, Sabe had control over which hours she could work. If anyone asked why she left early, she had to visit a sick relative.

Padme looked up when she heard the sound of a speeder coming by and recognized Sabe in her favorite violet cloak. She greeted Sabe as if they were just two friends planning a girls' hangout for the day, and got into the speeder. There were stormtroopers patrolling the roads leading out of Theed, and checking identifications. Sabe had given Padme fake ID chips that would identify her as her sister Sonya Andierre to explain their near identical looks and to avoid suspicion. Only when they had passed security and were traveling through the meadows towards the swamps did they feel comfortable enough to speak as Sabe flew.

"It's hard to believe we have come to this," Padme said as she mournfully looked back at the capital city she had grown up in and lived for many years overrun by military.

"I know," Sabe agreed, her eyes conveying the same sadness Padme felt. "Many people are feeling reminded of the Blockade and it's happening all over the galaxy, to everyone."

Padme felt the guilt wrapping itself around her like thorny vines. Before she was even a woman and out of the confines of childhood, she had sworn to protect the people of Naboo and speak for those who could not throughout the galaxy. Now, here she was: a fugitive hiding in the shadows and powerless to stop a madman she once trusted. When she had given birth to Luke and Leia she had agreed to Obi-wan and Master Yoda's decision to go into hiding so she and Anakin could raise the twins safely away from Palpatine. However, in doing so she had abandoned her friends, her family, and the people she had sworn to protect. What kind of leader did that? Although a fugitive and exile, she had her husband and children while there were many who lost everything to the Empire. She could join the fight Obi-wan and Bail were beginning, but what of her children not even a year old? Could she and Anakin raise sweet little Luke and darling young Leia on the run and in the middle of a war zone, risking the chance of making them orphans or worse? Padme couldn't make herself agree to that. Maybe she was selfish for wanting to give Luke and Leia the kind of childhood they deserved before the day would come that she and Anakin would be forced to fight the Empire head on with their children. Padme dreaded that day.

As they flew through the dying meadows, Sabe told Padme what had happened to Line after the bombing. "Aunt Line was disfigured all over the front of her body. When she was discharged, the monarchy gave her pension to last for the rest of her days. She stayed in my grandfather's house and helped to tutor and raise his children until they moved out. When my parents got married, she stayed with them and helped to look after me and Sonya. She was like the grandmother I never had."

A fond smile graced Sabe's lips before she continued. "After the Blockade, she used the pension she had saved up and bought a cottage along the Lianorm Swamp, and she's been living there ever since."

"How did she feel when you decided to become a handmaiden?" Padme asked. She was curious to know how a former handmaiden who had been through what Line had would react to finding out that her grandniece would be following in her footsteps.

Sabe frowned as she remembered. "She was angry. I remember when I had announced my decision during dinnertime, she slammed her drink down and screamed at me, asking why I would want to throw my life away like that. Knowing what I know now, I understand why she reacted so, but back then it had shocked me and my parents to see her so angry at me. Sure, she would get angry whenever she argued with my parents, uncles, and grandfather, but never around us kids."

Padme frowned. "Did she ever forgive you?" Obviously, her rant hadn't deterred Sabe from becoming a handmaiden.

Sabe nodded. "Eventually. Not until the Blockade though. She wouldn't speak to me for years, even when I found out about her service to Celestine and the bombing. After the Blockade, we finally sat down and talked. I've tried to keep in touch with her over the years, but since the Empire's formation, I haven't been able to keep in contact like I use to."

They were nearing the swamp, and as Sabe flew the speeder, Padme could see them nearing a gray cottage sitting along the edge of the swamp. It had obviously seen better days, but overall it wasn't in bad condition. A woman stepped outside, her eyes on them as they came nearer.

"Keep your hood up while I talk and explain the situation to her," Sabe said as she stopped and turned the speeder off.

Padme nodded. Now, that she had a closer view of Line, she saw the tip of a Naboo blaster hidden in the sleeve of her gown, and was reminded of her meeting with Lieutenant Panaka the day before. She hoped that Line wouldn't threaten to blast her, or more importantly, actually do it.

Sabe had been correct when she said that the blast had disfigured Line. The years had allowed the scars to soften and heal, but only so much. What had once been smooth and beautiful features looked like wax melted before hardening again. What had once been soft, luscious auburn-brown hair was now thin white, but her eyes were the same brown as Sabe's that carried the hard fire within her. A fire that had most likely been in her since the day she lost her friends, her mistress, and her fiance.

Sabe stepped out of the speeder and walked over to her great-aunt. Under her hood, Padme watched as suspicion in the old woman's eyes softened before she embraced her niece. For one moment, Padme was reminded of her Grandmamma and the last time she had seen her alive. It was the morning before she would return to the Senate after revealing her pregnancy to her family. Her Grandmamma had given her a hug that carried the same warmth and love that always made Padme feel safe and comforted. Padme blinked as she felt the tears in her eyes beginning to swell.

Sabe was talking to Line, and the woman jerked away, surprised before turning her gaze unto Padme.

Padme suppressed the nervousness she felt inside her when she stepped out of the speeder. She didn't remove her hood, but she looked at Line face to face to know that the old woman recognized her. Instead of the suspicion and anger she had seen in Lieutenant Panaka, Padme saw resignation.

Line Olnick sighed. "I knew you would come. Your grandmother knew too."

000{{*}}000

Vatie tugged her cloak around her tighter as she tried to maneuver around the crowds seeking shelter from the cold drizzling rain. She was cold and wet, and she really wanted to go to her apartment where her fiance Dal would be. They would greet each other with a kiss before snuggling together in bed, drinking hot chocolate while they discussed plans for their upcoming wedding.

But Vatie couldn't.

She had to get to the Lasara Home before anyone, especially the traitor made it back. She had to tell Anakin and Ferus what she had found when her computer finished searching the comm records right when she was getting ready to leave work for the day.

Bitter tears stung her eyes, almost blinding Vatie's vision as she pushed her way through the throng of people to the other side of the street. How? How could they? Vatie could remember her time serving as Padme's handmaiden. She may not have been one of the five primary handmaidens, but she had been one of the thirteen girls chosen to serve and protect Queen Amidala no matter the cost. Her vows weren't any less sacred than the ones Sabe, Eirtae, Rabe, Sache, and Yane made. Vatie remembered her days serving side by side with them. They had been a sisterhood, supporting one another when their own families couldn't, and continuing to support even when Padme completed her terms as Queen and then became Senator with a new set of handmaidens. Vatie had met them and Captain Typho during their years of training and had known them when they had recited their vows to serve and protect Amidala. Vatie hadn't been what you would call a close friend to Padme, but she had admired and respected her all the same.

Now, to know that someone had willingly betrayed her and all she loved for someone like Palpatine filled Vatie with disgust. Not only that, but it felt like a twisting blade in her back as she thought about the traitor.

She ducked into an alleyway that would lead her to the street where the Lasara Home was at. Almost there. Vatie felt her heart racing, anxious to unload the burden she found herself carrying onto Anakin and Ferus, and figure out where to go from there.

She had made it to the other side of the alleyway. Now, the Lasara Home was just a few blocks away, but before Vatie could go any further, she felt the point of a blaster being thrust into her left side, close to her ribs.

"Go no further, Vatie," the cold voice told her.

Vatie automatically stopped, inwardly cursing herself for letting herself get dropped on.

"Take a step back."

No. It was right there. The home was just a few blocks away down the street. She could run for it, but at this range there was little to no chance of a missed shot. She would be killed before she could tell anyone what she had uncovered.

Vatie took a step back into the alleyway, away from anyone sighting her and coming to her rescue. She turned her head and was face to face with the traitor.

"Now drop your bag, your commlink, your blaster, and any other weapon you have hidden on you," their voice was almost devoid of emotion.

Vatie dropped her bag containing her computer that carried the proof of the traitor. Next, was the commlink she dropped on top of it, followed by the blaster she hid in the sleeve of her gown. She was tempted to leave it at that, but the traitor knew her better than that, so with grave reluctance she reached down carefully, her eyes on the traitor and their blaster, and pulled out the vibroknife she had hidden in her boot. The cold drizzle turned into a light rain, soaking through Vatie's clothing that they clung to her like a second skin. She kept her eyes on the traitor and the blaster as she carefully stood up, dropping the vibroknife with a splash in a nearby puddle.

She glared fiercely at the traitor. She knew she was going to die. Even though she could now see the shame and self-loathing in the traitor's eyes, she also saw conviction in them to know that they wouldn't let her live to tell what she knew. She was fine with that, as long as she figured a way to tell Anakin and Ferus the traitor's identity. Her only regret was that she waited so many years to reconcile with her father, and she hoped that he, her stepmother, her half-brother, and Dal all knew how much she loved them, and that she was sorry.

"Before we do this," Vatie spoke, with a cold calmness. "Tell me what Malorum offered you."

The traitor shook their head, never taking their eyes off Vatie. "I can't say that. Just know that I'm sorry, and that I didn't want it to be like this."

Vatie's last thoughts before she lunged was how much she wished she was sipping hot chocolate and snuggling in Dal's arms.

000{{*}}000

Line had poured them herbal tea in her kitchen before disappearing upstairs, but Padme couldn't bring herself to drink it.

Rain sounded off the rooftop and outside the kitchen window. It had started just after they had come inside and was now outright pouring down.

Since Line had mentioned her grandmother, so many questions had gone through Padme's head that she felt like it would explode. Patience was a trait she had struggled to uphold even while she was Queen, Senator, and while being married to Anakin Skywalker. What did Line know, and would she tell Padme?

She heard footsteps, and Padme looked up to see Line coming down the stairs, an old wooden box in her hand. She came over to the table, and sat across from Padme, next to Sabe and set the box in the middle of them. Padme noticed the carved designs on the box and recognized them from Olnick Holdings. This must have been a family heirloom. Containing what?

Line opened it and took out an old holo before turning it on. There were seven women. Five of them were dressed in handmaiden gowns, but the hoods were down, revealing their pinned up hair that is always kept hidden. One of the other women wore an elaborate gown Padme recognized from the Queen's Wardrobe Archives. She also recognized the woman as Queen Nadie Cesare Celestine from historic cubes without an elaborate hairstyle or the ceremonial makeup. Finally, the last woman Padme recognized was her great-aunt Padme Lydonia.

All of the women were in a circle, holding glasses of some kind of beverage in a toast. They all looked so happy and proud, kind of reminding Padme of times when she and her friends would celebrate after dealing with what seemed like an impossible debate during her time as Queen. There were few people who were able to be in such close conference with the monarch and their bodyguards. For Padme's aunt to be in such close confidence that the Queen and her handmaidens allowed her into their closed circle was no mere feat.

"That was taken two days before the bombing," Line spoke up.

Padme looked and saw the same pain she had seen in Lieutenant Panaka the day before.

Line continued. "We had just figured out how we were going to oust all of the corrupt officials of Naboo's government, including those running in the upcoming election. It had seemed that even though our time in office was ending, we were giving it a fresh start to be run by honest people who cared about the Naboo and not about the fame found in their office, or the credits they fill their pockets with. Padme and Celestine didn't show us their full plan yet, but it was enough to give us hope. The day of the bombing, Celestine had planned to remove and arrest many officials on accounts of fraud, blackmail, bribery, thievery, and many other crimes they had been guilty of. Then she was going to promote and endorse many of the people she knew who would serve and respect their office. The government would have been cleaned up and ready to rebuild itself by the time her term had ended. Instead, the bombing happened, and any hope or chance we had of saving Naboo's economy died."

Padme saw a mournful sadness within the elderly woman. A sadness she had been carrying for over four decades. She remembered her history. After the bombing, the Naboo government had been in a state of crisis. Bon Tapalo had immediately made himself interim king until official elections were made. He won anyway and ruled for nineteen years before he stepped down, and his long-time ally was made King for fourteen years until the Blockade. Around the time Padme had been elected, Naboo's economy had been wrecked with decades of misuse. It had taken Padme almost her entire two terms to undo and fix the damage Tapalo and Veruna had caused.

Line looked at Padme with her dark brown eyes. "Sabe told me that you're looking for your great-aunt's diary and her comb."

Padme nodded. "Yes, I believe that Palpatine plans to use it to control some of the noble houses of Naboo. I was hoping that you would know where it was."

Line sighed, looking down at the box. "Your aunt would write down what she had overheard in the palace, but she would bring in recordings to the Queen, never the actual diary. We handmaidens had also trained her in how to hide things incase anyone tried to snoop for them. Who knows where she could have hidden it."

Padme tried not to feel disappointed in the news, but she knew she should have expected it. "You don't have any idea or theory?"

Line shook her head. "No, I know that your Grandmother Ryoo had tried and searched for years every possible place your aunt could have hidden it, but she never found it."

Poodoo. Another thought occured to Padme. "You said that you and my Grandmamma knew I would come here. What did you mean by that?" Why was her heart thumping so hard? What had her grandmamma known?

"A couple of days after the bombing, your grandmother and I met at the hospital where I was being treated. I had known of her through your aunt's talks of her, but I never met her in person until then. She was still in shock as we all were. She had lost her young sister and had wanted answers as to how and why she had," Line began to explain.

"Palpatine," Sabe spoke. "We know through Lieutenant Panaka that Palpatine was the reason everyone was killed."

Line shook her head. "There's no doubt in my mind that Palpatine was far from innocent in the bombing, but I never believed him capable of pulling something off like that on his own. Not yet anyway."

Padme frowned. "What do you mean?"

"The type of bomb used would have required a great deal of money and connections. Connections a seventeen-year-old heir wouldn't have been able to have back then."

"Who would then?" Padme asked.

"Those higher up like Tapalo, Veruna, Senator Maddox, Lord Palpatine, maybe even Costil," Line shrugged. "There were so many people who stood to lose everything if your aunt and Celestine told their secrets. Back then, I don't believe Palpatine would have pulled it off on his own even if he wanted to."

"If he wanted to?" Padme repeated. "Are you saying that he was forced to plant that bomb?"

"Oh, don't get me wrong. There's no doubt in my mind that Palpatine had planned to kill all of us with whoever it was pulling the strings at the time. Well, all except young Padme Lydonia," Line explained.

Padme took a deep breath. This again. Could Palpatine have genuinely cared about her great-aunt?

Line seemed to know what her thoughts were. "People change. As hard as it is to believe now, Sheev Palpatine was a very different man before the bombing. A man with his own flaws, but with a chance to become something good. I believe that he listened to the wrong people and became an entangled puppet against his will and that set him off on the path that lead him to this day."

Padme and Sabe looked at her in astonishment.

"How can you say that?" Padme asked.

"Because seconds before the bomb went off, the doors were opened and Palpatine came in screaming about a bomb. The last thing I noticed before it went off was his eyes focused on young Padme," Line explained. "He never wanted her to die."

Palpatine was the witness?!

"If he didn't want Lydonia to die, why didn't he come forward, and confess to the authorities?" Sabe asked.

"I've always suspected and believed his father Cosinga Palpatine kept him from doing so. After all, Lord Palpatine had been a wealthy man with high connections, and he was a major supporter of a monarch candidate. It would have ruined his image if word got out that his son and heir was part of the palace bombing. Which is probably why the authorities blamed mine and Lieutenant Panaka's statements on the bombing as the result of head trauma like Pooja if they were in Palpatine's pocket," the hatred and contempt was evident in Line's voice, reminding Padme that though she didn't place the whole blame onto Palpatine, the hurt and damage could never be undone.

"And my grandmother? Was she aware of Palpatine's part?"

Line nodded.

"What about my parents?"

They couldn't have known. If they did, they wouldn't have been good friends with Palpatine or let him become a close mentor to their daughter as she navigated her way in politics.

"They were children," Line answered. "Too young to understand why they had lost a father and aunt because that aunt's boyfriend was so ambitious he helped to kill people in cold blood. As for what Ryoo told me, neither she nor Winama Naberrie told your parents what really happened when that bomb went off."

Oh, Grandmamma, why didn't you? Padme thought. Maybe she would have made better choices while she was Queen and not trusted Palpatine so much. Maybe he wouldn't have been able to become chancellor. She shook her thoughts as Line reached into her box again. Dwelling on the what ifs would help noone.

"When word went out about your disappearance, Ryoo knew it was only a matter of time before Palpatine went after her. I don't know what good it can do for you now, but your family should have this back," Line said as she took out a folded rag bundle and handed it to Padme.

Whatever was hidden in it was small as Padme unwrapped it. She felt her eyes widen for in her hands was the melted piece of what had been her great-aunt's comb that she had been looking for.

000{{*}}000

65 bby

"Thank you, Padme. I'm going to leave for the day and check up on my daughter. Just check the Queen's itinerary for any mistakes, and make certain that the primary handmaidens and Captain Blantyre have received copies of it. Then the rest of the day is yours to enjoy," Secretary Bowen told Padme as he made his way out of his office.

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir," Padme managed to huff out as she carefully organized an armful of datapads onto one of the shelves.

It was lunch time which meant that she would have the entire afternoon pursuing the Queen's task set before her. Normally after working for Secretary Bowen for the day, Padme would go and make a progress report to the Queen, but with the Queen's upcoming trip to the Lake Country, the Queen would be busy meeting with Naboo officials while her handmaidens helped in organizing the packing.

Once she was done with the datapads, Padme made quick work of the itinerary before going outside to the gardens to look through her diary's notes while she ate her lunch. As she chewed on her blossom bread, she thought about her work.

She had been working as Secretary Bowen's aid for two weeks now, starting just a couple of days after her graduation. The work here wasn't much different from when she had interned under Lady Veruna. True, she didn't have to worry about Secretary Bowen losing his temper like Lady Veruna, but he wasn't as bad as Padme had worried he would be. These last two weeks she had come to know that he was a man who buried himself in his work, and if he wasn't, he was a doting father to his three-year-old daughter Faye. padme had met the girl on the few occasions her nanny would bring her to Bowen's office. The little girl's cute little smile, heart-shaped face, and dark eyes reminded Padme of Celestine, Faye's aunt when she wasn't wearing the ceremonial makeup.

It made Padme want to believe that the rumors between Bowen and Senator Maddox were just that: rumors. It also made Padme feel guilty about putting him down on her list of people to investigate in. While people like Veruna and Costil caused her to feel anger and determination to unveil them, people like Secretary Bowen and Princess Blantyre made her feel guilty and fearful of what she might find in her investigations.

"May I join you?" a voice startled Padme out of her investigations. She quickly shut her diary, locking it, and looked up to see Luke staring down at her. Relief filled her, and she felt guilty for her reaction.

"Yes, do join," Padme assured him, gathering her stuff and moving it aside so he could sit next to her.

"So what's going on in that head of yours?" Luke asked.

"Work," Padme answered as she tucked her diary in her bag.

"For Secretary Bowen or for the Queen?"

Padme looked up at him with startled worry.

Luke smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. I don't believe anyone else in court knows about yours and Celestine's… arrangement. Whatever it is."

Padme's shoulders sagged with relief. "How did you know?"

"Aside from the fact that I know when you're keeping secrets, every night you come home late even when I know that Bowen isn't keeping you, and I also know that it isn't Sheev who keeps you. That narrows it down a bit," Luke answered.

Padme was silent, looking at the blooming pooja flowers in front of her. She had known Luke for years, his wife and her sister were the best and oldest of friends, and she loved and trusted him like a brother, but she could not tell him of the assignment the Queen had given to her. Not until or unless the Queen specifically gave her permission to do so. Besides, if word got out on what she was doing for the Queen, she wanted Luke to genuinely say that he knew nothing about her doings. Hopefully, it would be enough.

She heard Luke sigh, and she felt guilt wrapping itself around her.

"I understand if you can't talk to me about it. Even though under the law you are still under the guardianship and protection of your sister, you have completed your education, and are responsible for your own actions. But… your sister is worried about you," Luke told her.

"What?" Padme's eyes widened, and she looked at him.

Luke appeared tired and older than his thirty-two years. "She feels that you're shutting her out. You haven't been talking to her like you use to for months, and she thinks that you're hiding something from her."

Padme hadn't realized that Ryoo had noticed the change in her. She had thought that she had gotten better at hiding things from everyone, but it seemed that it was for naught. She hadn't meant to hurt Ryoo. She had been trying to protect her like she had been protecting Luke.

"Look, I know there are things in our line of work that we're not permitted to talk about to anyone, not even the people we love and trust. When Winama and I first got married, I struggled in what I could tell her and what I could not. Ryoo is worried because she doesn't fully understand what we must do in this line of work. You don't have to tell her what you do or why, just explain that there are certain aspects that you're not allowed to talk about," Luke explained.

Padme nodded. "Thank you, Luke."

They were both silent. Padme finished her blossom bread, and Luke spoke again. "I'm sorry. Before I came over, I saw that you were troubled by something, and I just laid another issue onto you."

A laugh escape Padme before she could prevent it. "It's alright, Luke," she assured him.

She sighed. She may not have been able to tell Luke the details of her mission, but she could tell him of her feelings. "I love the work I do, and I'm honored to serve the Queen in any way I can, but… sometimes I wonder about the choices we make in life. We are suppose to serve the people of Naboo in any way we can, and yet… sometimes I wonder if the methods we use justify our goals."

Padme was gathering information on politicians and evidence that would one day arrest them or force them to resign. Was it any different then the blackmail corrupt politicians used for their own ends? She looked at Luke, his face thinking of an answer he could give her with the little information she had given him.

"I think every politician goes through that kind of dilemma," he answered carefully. "In the beginning we try to do what good we can do by following our hearts with the morals we had been taught all of our lives. But as time goes by, we begin to change without our noticing because we realize the challenges and difficulties we face. Then we catch ourselves doing the very things we thought ourselves incapable of doing."

He looked at Padme with wisdom and compassion showing in his blue eyes. "I can't answer that question for you, Padme, and neither should I. that is something you are going to have to discover for yourself. I know it will be difficult, and you'll have doubts, but I do not doubt that you will see it through."

He got up, and walked away, leaving Padme to contemplate his words. She took her diary out and opened it to where she kept the list of officials under suspicion. There were people who despicable examples of beings while others seemed like they had flaws Padme wished she could help correct. Luke, even though his words had been wise and thoughtful had not helped her in figuring out if she was doing the right thing. She decided to close her diary and call it a day. Maybe go home to help Ryoo and the Naberries pack for their vacation to the Lake Country.

She had left her cloak back in Secretary Bowen's office due to the sudden nice weather, but as she was leaving, she heard a sob from one of the office doors. Most of the high ranking officials had left to prepare for the Queen's trip, leaving only their staff to finish closing court in the Royal Palace for the next couple of weeks.

Padme listened, following the sobs until she reached the office they were coming from. Padme felt her breath hitch when she found herself in front of the one labeled Princess Viola Blantyre of Theed. One of the person's on Padme's list, and sister of the Queen's Captain of the Guard Andrei Blantyre. Padme knew that the Princess was close to the Queen which is why she hadn't shared her suspicions to the Queen yet until she could find actual evidence of wrongdoing. In her observations, Padme had noticed the Princess clenching her fists often enough to leave marks that lasted for days, and her eyes were red-rimmed some nights after leaving work. It was not an image you would associate with a Princess of Theed and sister to the Queen's head of security. Despite her suspicions, Padme didn't believe that Princess Blantyre was a criminal, more like a victim.

Taking a deep breath, Padme raised her fist and knocked.

The sobs stopped. "Just a minute," a shaken voice replied.

Padme waited for a minute, maybe two before she was granted entry.

Princess Viola Blantyre resembled her brother with her hazel eyes, and brown-blonde hair pulled in a simple, but elegant hairstyle, but her makeup had been wiped off, probably because of the tears as evident by the too familiar red-rimmed eyes.

"Miss Lydonia, how may I help you?" her voice was still shaky, and yet Padme could hear a strength inside the Princess that reminded her of the Captain.

Months of training with the Queen's handmaidens had taught Padme how to seek out information through careful conversation that would enable a person to reveal information through their own terms without pressure.

"I was finishing up for Secretary Bowen, and I was thinking about stopping by the Cafe for some tea before I head home. Would you like to join me?" she asked.

She could see the suspicion in the Princess's eyes along with a desire to give in and accept her offer.

Blantyre shook her head. "No, I have too much work to do before the Queen's trip, but thank you."

Padme was disappointed, but she shouldn't have expected Princess Blantyre to open herself up to her. She would have to get closer to her during the Queen's trip. Maybe if she figured out what was bothering the Princess she could help her and gain an ally to help Celestine before her terms ended.

000{{*}}000

So what do you all think? Please review and let me know what your thoughts are.

I'm not sure when the next update will be, but I promise to work on it and publish as soon as I can.