Hello everyone, sorry for the delay. Busy things in life kept me from writing.

Anakin and Padmé deal with the aftermath of Dormé's confession, the traitor makes a move, and Great-Aunt Padmé Lydonia puts herself in danger.

Enjoy.

Chapter 18

How was someone supposed to feel in a situation like this?

Padméfelt so many different kinds of emotions inside of her like a hurricane, but the most prominent feeling she felt right now was lost. Ever since she came back to Naboo that's the one emotion she felt. Her grandmamma's death, Malorum, Palpatine, her great-aunt's secrets, Vatié's death, the traitor, and now the information Dormé had given her.

Anakin was faring far better than Padmé had expected. After Dormé left, Anakin's first instinct had been to hunt Typo down and beat him to a pulp. Padmé had stopped him, and now he was pacing the room like a caged animal. A year ago he would have ignored Padmé's pleas and given in to his anger until the damage was done. Although he seemed to have better control, Padmé could sense the turmoil in him.

"Did you know?" Anakin suddenly asked, stopping his pacing, his back to her.

His question startled Padmé. "Know what?"

Anakin looked at her as if she had spoken another language. "About Typho's feelings for you?"

A year ago Padmé would have instantly denied, but now, with Dormé's confession it felt futile. "I… When I began in the senate I had some suspicions. Captain Mariek, Typho's aunt, had assured me it was simply a crush that would fade with time, and I believed her. Then Typho and Dormé began to spend more time together, having dinners, going to museums in their time off together. I had believed that they were dating and were growing closer, especially when we lost Cordé and Versé."

Padmé had to stop to swallow the lump in her throat. It had been four years, but the loss of them felt as fresh as if it had happened yesterday on top of Vatié and Karté's deaths. What was wrong with Typho? He had a chance to be with someone amazing, who cared for him deeply, and whom he can start a family with. Padmé considered Typho a friend, but right now she wanted to smack him for the pain he caused Dormé, and was unwittingly continuing to cause.

"Would you have preferred him in the beginning?" Anakin asked.

Padmé looked at him and saw his vulnerable expression, similar to the time she told him that they needed a break around the Clovis incident.

"Why in Shiraya's name would you think that?"

Anakin shifted on his feet and looked away from her. "A senator in a relationship with her bodyguard would have been less scandalous than being with a jedi would have been. Plus you would have been able to be with him more than me." It had made Anakin jealous of Typho during the war. To see her every day and talk to her, and be near her.

Padmé couldn't believe what Anakin was saying. Perhaps being with Typho would have been a safer option in many people's eyes. If there was a scandal, well she wouldn't have been the first politician to have an affair with her bodyguard. But it wasn't Typho Padmé had fallen in love with.

She stood up from her chair and took Anakin's hands in her own. "I love you, Anakin Skywalker. I fell in love with you. I married you. I have two beautiful and wonderful children with you. I pick you, and I wouldn't change it."

A soft smile came to Anakin's lips, his love for her evident in his eyes. "I love you too, Padmé."

They leaned forward and their lips met in a sweet kiss.

"I would like to punch Typho for being an idiot and a jerk," Padmé admitted when they pulled apart.

Anakin grinned. "I'll hold him down while you go at it."

They shared a brief chuckle before becoming serious.

"Do you think Dormé will tell him? About the baby?" Anakin asked.

Padmé didn't even have to think on it. "I believe so. Maybe not now, but soon. Dormé's strong and resilient, but it's helpful if the baby has both of its parents involved. And with Dormé's parents and her Costil family…"

"What?" Anakin asked.

"As you've probably noticed, Dormé isn;t close with her father's family. The Costils are old-fashioned, and when Dormé's father married her mother, a member of the Perine family, they all but disowned him. They barely tolerate Dormé."

"What's wrong with the Perine family?"

Padmé explained, remembering the stories Dormé had told her. "The Perine family is notorious for producing handmaidens to high-ranking officials over the years since the Gungan Wars. Every daughter has served as a handmaiden, and to some families like the Costils, handmaidens are looked down upon as servants. Dormé's family history was actually one of the unique qualities why she was chosen as my handmaiden along with her many talents."

It disgusted Padmé how people looked down upon her friends. To her, handmaidens were more than just servants, they were her bodyguards, her companions, and an extension of herself. Padmé knew without a doubt that she would have been long dead, and would not be the person she was today without them.

"Wait a minute!"

Padmé turned to the desk, grabbing the datapad with all her friends' personal files and the holo article she had read that morning.

"What is it?" Anakin asked, perplexed by his wife's sudden change.

"I just remembered something. I think… yes! Here it is." She showed him the article, pointing to the image of a woman who looked similar to Dormé. "Veta Perine. She was Dormé's grandmother and one of Celestine's handmaidens who was killed in the bombing."

Anakin took the article out of Padmé's hands to look closer. Was this another coincidence? Anakin knew people could follow the same profession as other family members, but still. What were the odds that the descendants of people from Padmé Lydonia's past were entwined with her great-niece's life?

"That's not all." Padmé continued, looking at the datapad through Dormé's history. "Veta also had a sister, Xoana who was mute. She was an aide to Lady Eirtaé Veruna while also training to become a handmaiden herself. A couple of months before the bombing, Lady Veruna was murdered by a bounty hunter in her home office, and Xoana was injured fighting the attacker. According to the files, after Xoana recovered she pursued the assassin to Karlinus and was later found dead along with the assassin. They never found out who sent the bounty hunter. At least according to public officials."

She suspected others in the Naboo government did though. When she was elected as Queen, Padmé had access to governmental secrets, but after the reigns of Tapalo and Veruna, much of their illegal activities had been swept under the rug. Padmé had done her best to correct their wrongs and make amends to their victims, but many had fallen in the cracks. Had Xoana Perine been one of their victims? Had her great-aunt known Xoana, and why she and Lady Veruna were murdered? Padmé needed to find that diary. Who knew what secrets it carried.

She set the datapad and holoarticle down and began to pace. "I need to talk to Lieutenant Panaka and Liné again, see if there was anyone else my great-aunt knew and could have trusted," she said out loud. "But who? It sounds like everybody she trusted was killed in that bombing. 'Behind the red flower.' What could that be?"

"What's the significance of the red flower?" Anakin asked. Over the years, in their downtime, Padmé would tell him myths and legends of Naboo, but he couldn't remember anything about a red flower.

Wait a minute!

His dream that morning they were going to see Pooja-

"In Naboo folklore, it was said that Padmé the Pixie was born out of the blooming of a rare red flower. Maybe the location has something to do with the legend," Padmé suggested.

She returned to her pacing. "Her home in Claines? No, she never returned after her mother's death. The palace? Maybe, but where would she hide it that it still wouldn't have been found." She paused and turned to Anakin. "Maybe. It may be in the old Naberrie home here in Theed."

Anakin had a bad feeling where this was going. "I thought your family moved out into a new home after the Occupation."

"They did, but much of the structure remained intact. C-Cordé's family, the Greduns, turned it into a jewelry and tea shop. I remember many of the rooms having flower design on them. It's worth a try," Padmé said.

"You're not going alone!" Anakin protested.

Padmé narrowed her eyes. "I need to do this myself, and until we've cleared everyone of suspicion, it's better if you stay here and keep an eye on everybody."

Anakin protested again, and Padmé stopped him. "We've already cleared Saché and Dormé of suspicion so we can trust them to go to work without alerting anyone. If everyone all of a sudden skipped a day of work, that might alert Palpatine that we're on to him."

Anakin sighed, conceding that she had a point. He needed to keep an eye on everyone, including Ferus. He still needed to figure out what secret he was carrying and if it made him a threat to Anakin's family.

"I'm not happy about this, but fine. You keep a comm on you, as well as a blaster, a knife, and whatever gadgets you have on you, and you keep your hood up."

Padmé took his hands and squeezed them assuringly. "I'll be alright, Ani. In the morning though, I'd like to talk to Sabé and figure out what Dormé had meant."

"About what happened to Karté all those months ago?" Anakin asked.

Padmé nodded. "I don't believe she's the traitor, but I need to know what happened, and I need to know if she's keeping something for fear of hurting me."

"Do you know why Yané would blame Sabé for Karté's death?"

"Yané and Karté became friends during the Occupation. Karté had been chosen as my handmaiden because she had been pursuing a degree in medicine before the bad economy forced her to drop out. In the Occupation, Karté and Yané had been with my handmaiden Moré when the droids shot and killed her. They tried to save her, but… and then shortly after that, Saché was captured and tortured. While they treated her, Yané decided to pursue a degree in medicine as soon as she left my service. Karté became her teacher until she could go back to school," Padmé told Anakin. "I need to hear Sabé's side."

She sighed, feeling as if a huge weight was sitting on her shoulders, threatening to crush her. "I hate this. These are people I've trusted, who have been my friends for years. Now I see in their faces,they know I'm suspicious. They know I wonder and that I'm not sure it isn't them. I've had my secrets and they've had theirs, and we never pried nor confronted each other over them. It makes me wonder if I know the people I love anymore."

Anakin wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his embrace. Padmé surrendered easily, feeling exhausted both physically and mentally.

"We should probably go to bed now. Anyone hoping to make a comm call will be jammed here, so we won't get any unexpected surprises coming for us tonight," Anakin said, glad for the still working jammer he had kept from his war days.

"That sounds nice. You would think with twins we'd be pros at running on a couple hours of sleep," Padmé muttered into his shoulder.

Anakin laughed. "Must be getting old."

A sudden commotion outside the library caused them to jump.

"Now what?!" Anakin exclaimed.

There was yelling and screaming up above their heads.

"That sounds like Eirtaé," Padmé recognized.

Anakin's eyes widened as he felt the rising emotions. "Not good."

He sprinted out of the library, Padmé on his heels as they raced up the stairs towards the commotion.

She flew past Saché and Yané then Rabé, and barely registered doors in the hallway opening. She followed Anakin to what she recognized as the trophy room, and felt her heart leap to her throat at the sight before her.

There stood Ellé next to a broken display case filled with blaster rifles, her hands on one of them along with a charge pack, and a few feet from her stood Eirtaé pointing her blaster pistol at her.

"Put it down," Eirtaé told her.

Ellé shook her head, fear evident on her face.

"I'll put this right through your head," Eirtaé threatened, but there was a shakiness in her voice.

Ellé looked like a scared animal cornered that it broke Padmé's heart.

"Are you guys going to listen to Eirtaé? Are we going to continue staying in this house? The traitor could be her!"

By now everyone had gathered in the doorway and in the hallway outside. Ferus stood behind Anakin, and Anakin felt him prodding Eirtaé and Ellé with the Force. Anakin heard his sharp intake of breath.

"They're both drugged," he whispered.

Anakin felt his wife's fear as well as his own spike up. Drugged? He felt Ellé and Eirtaé's presences with the Force, and sensed their anxiety and paranoia growing. He delved deeper and found the chemical flowing through their systems.

This was not good. Both of them had blasters, and one wrong move could hurt someone.

He slowly approached them, and felt Padmé do the same.

"Hold on. Take it easy," he told both women gently. "Put the rifle down Ellé."

Ellé didn't. She just turned her fearful gaze at him.

Padmé took another step, becoming shoulder to shoulder with Anakin. "Put it down, Ellé. Eirtaé, you don't want to hurt anybody."

Eirtaé shook her head. "No."

"Put it down, Ellé," Anakin repeated.

Ellé hesitated.

Anakin tried to appear relaxed, while secretly planning to use the Force if he needed to. Slowly, Ellé kneeled down, setting the rifle down on the floor, her eyes never leaving Anakin, Padmé, and Eirtaé's blaster.

Some of the tension left the room, but not all of it. Eirtaé was still pointing her blaster at Ellé.

"It's on the floor, Eirtaé," Anakin reminded her.

Eirtaé spun around as if she had forgotten all about them and was startled to be reminded. She pointed her blaster at them and the others gathered behind them. "I didn't kill Vatié! I swear on my father's grave and my son's life I didn't do it."

Padmé remained calm as she approached Eirtaé with her hands out. "I believe you, Eirtaé. You and Vatié were close friends. It's been a long and rough day, and we're all tired, scared, and grieving. Let's sit down and talk."

Eirtaé hesitated as Padmé held her hand out for the blaster.

"I promise I will find the person who really did this, and I will protect you," Padmé swore.

She didn't like the scared and paranoid look in Eirtaé's eyes, but she had to try and save her friend from herself. Eirtaé's hands trembled, but she managed to place the blaster in Padmé's hands without incident.

Anakin and Padmé guided Ellé and Eirtaé to separate bedrooms. While Padmé took care of Eirtaé with the help of Yané and Sabé, Ferus followed Anakin and Ellé along with Moteé. The poor girl in Anakin's arms stumbled and was on the verge of collapsing. Anakin guided her to her bed, and motioned Moteé to attend her.

"Is she going to be alright?" the older woman asked worriedly.

Ferus held Ellé's wrist, felt her pulse and nodded. "Her pulse is starting to calm down. I don't think she took much of whatever caused her to do this. Our best bet is to let her sleep it off until we find out what exactly she took. Do you know what happened?"

Moteé shook her head. "No, I was getting ready for bed when Ellé left to go get a drink. Next thing I heard was Ellé and Eirtaé shouting at each other, then when I stepped out, I saw Ellé running up the stairs, down the hall towards the trophy room with Eirtaé chasing after her."

Anakin narrowed his eyes. Something wasn't right. He could sense it. When he glanced at Ferus he saw the same suspicion in his own eyes.

"Do you know why Ellé and Eirtaé would argue like this?" Anakin asked.

Moteé shook her head. "I don't know. Unless there was a misunderstanding and Ellé might have heard something and became suspicious of Eirtaé."

Anakin nodded, sensing that part as truth. A couple of minutes later, Dormé came in to help tend to Ellé who had fallen asleep, and Anakin and Ferus left them. Since their discussion of the traitor it had been decided that they would all sleep in groups of three since no one knew who exactly the traitor was. Dormé, Moteé, and Ellé would sleep in one, Saché, Yané, and Rabé in another, Padmé, Sabé, and Eirtaé together as well, and finally Anakin, Ferus, and Typho would be in another as well. Anakin didn't much like this arrangement, with Padmé rooming with a couple of potential suspects, and himself rooming with Ferus and Typho, the latter of whom he wanted to punch for Padmé an Dormé's sakes. However, Padmé argued that it would make things more difficult for the traitor to secretly comm someone with more eyes and ears open, and Anakin couldn't disagree with that kind of logic no matter how much he wished to.

He and Ferus hurried down the stairs and headed towards the kitchen to find what Ellé and Eirtaé could have eaten or drink that drugged them.

They were in luck.

There were two sets of tea cups on the kitchen island, another set shattered on the floor near the entrance, and an overturned tea pot on the counter with tea spilled all over the island and dripping onto the floor.

Both men rushed to save the running liquid.

Anakin grabbed the pot and noticed something inside. He had never personally made Naboo tea, but he had watched on occasion his wife make her own which allowed him to recognize some of the tea leaves in the pot. The healthy green leaves he recognized as Karlini tea leaves, but among them he found a couple of dark purple leaves.

"Here it is," Anakin showed Ferus.

Ferus took the pot and sniffed it. "I can smell the Karlini leaves, but these other leaves, I can't detect any odor."

"I didn't know you were familiar with this particular tea," Anakin said, a little suspicious.

If he remembered correctly, Padmé once told him that they never imported Karlini tea leaves outside the Chommell Sector until near the beginning of the Clone Wars. To his surprise, there was a hint of sadness in Ferus' eyes.

"I… knew someone who developed a taste for it during the war. He liked to drink it on special occasions."

There was a tenderness in his voice, making Anakin realize that this someone was special to Ferus. Was this the same Ferus Olin Anakin knew five years ago?

Anakin shook his head and turned to the two tea cup sets on the island. "This one looks half empty while the other looks barely touched," he observed. He looked towards the broken cup on the floor. "There were at least three people in here."

"Two of them were definitely Eirtaé and Ellé. The third must have been the poisoner," Ferus deduced.

But who?

000{{*}}000

65 bby

Padmé struggled to concentrate writing in her diary in the dim light, her mind distracted with thoughts of Sheev.

Today had been wonderful. She had woken with a slight headache that went away after eating breakfast. Later on, the entire household had gone out swimming.

It had been so much fun.

Padmé got to see Celestine- Nadié out of her Queen ensemble, Pooja, Liné, Veta, Peggé, and Sagé out of the shadows, and playing in the water like a group of young normal friends. Despite the numerous people, Padmé's father did well, only asking where he was a couple of times as he and Mammy rested in the shade. Luke was carefree and happy away from any political talk as he played with Ruwee in the water. Ryoo and Winama were able to relax on the sand, taking a break from the stress of clothing orders. The best part of the day for Padmé however, was when Sheev showed up. After clearing it up with Captain Blantyre who was guarding them, Sheev joined her and Jobal in making sandcastles. Padmé was having so much fun she didn't notice Pooja had taken a holo of her, Sheev, and her entire family until they were preparing for tonight's events.

The Costil faction was hosting a cruise down the Lake Country that night, using their own private yacht as well as the Palpatines' to garner votes and allies in Reggie Costil's campaign for the throne. Padmé had hoped to see Sheev again, but as luck would have it, the yacht that picked them up belonged to the Costils, not the Palpatines.

Perhaps it was for the best.

Padmé needed to focus on her mission. The cruise was lovely. The Costils had hired the best caterers, serving all different kinds of dishes as well as wines and sparkling ciders. Among the Queen's entourage, there were several members of the high council as well as other powerful Naboo officials here. Padmé had to be careful and discreet in her listening to their conversations. She needed to determine who were the bad eggs, and help Celestine dispose of their power before she left office.

She was now hiding near the stern of the yacht, trying to write down all the things she heard in certain conversations. Nothing incriminating had been said, but suspicious enough to investigate or suspect. She would report her findings to the Queen as soon as possible, and hopefully Pooja or one of the other handmaidens could look into them. There were so many leads to follow however, and not enough trustworthy people to investigate.

Padmé sighed, slamming her diary shut as she leaned back into the bench. There was a cool breeze in the night air which felt soothing.

Padmé nearly closed her eyes to relax and enjoy the peace when she heard footsteps coming towards her. Her eyes flew open and she turned her head to see the intruder.

It was only Pooja, to her relief. She almost blended into the darkness dressed in her midnight blue handmaiden robes. A perfect shadow.

"I was wondering where you disappeared off to." She went over and sat down on the bench next to Padmé. "Any progress tonight?"

"Maybe," Padmé admitted, looking at her diary shut and locked securely. "Many of the nable classmen seem to be looking towards Tapalo based on some of the comments I've been hearing."

Pooja nodded, not seeming surprised. "He must be offering them deals or future cuts."

"They know better than to admit it in such a public setting," Padmé told her.

The Tapalos were a wealthy family from the plasma industry, which was why Bon Tapalo wanted to open trade negotiations with the Trade Federation: to expand their business. Governor Tapalo seemed different however. From what Padmé had heard, Toun Tapalo had been training to take over his family business by helping to manage one of their plasma mines. One day while inspecting, the mine collapsed, trapping Toun and dozens of miners for days and killing many others. The event had shaken Toun Tapalo so much he left the plasma industry and pursued a career in politics, hoping to better conditions for the poor, hard-working miners. Toun, however, was different from the rest of his family who sought power and wealth for their own ambitions. When Padmé had first come to Theed years ago, she never thought that the people, especially the noble classes would ever consider Bon Tapalo as their future monarch.

"Perhaps Tapalo won't be elected as King," Padmé pondered out loud. The idea sounded naive even to her.

"He might not," Pooja conceded. "The nobles would prefer Costil who would be more like a puppet King. Cosinga Palpatine would fight with all his power to prevent Tapalo from becoming king."

"How can you be sure of that?" Padmé asked. From what Sheev had told her of his father, Cosinga Palpatine didn't seem to care for the actual power, only the illusion of it.

Pooja looked at Padmé with surprise. "I forgot. It's not well-known or talked about. I don't know if Sheev's told you this, but it's been rumored that during the Gungan Wars, many of the mercenaries hired to claim plasma sources were hired by the Tapalo and Veruna houses. When the patriarch of the Palpatine family, I believe Sheev's great-grandfather, found out decades later, he challenged the head of the Tapalo family, Toun and Bon's father, to a duel of honor. The duel caused the Palpatine patriarch to be severely injured, and he died from his wounds."

The information surprised Padmé, but it made sense. It explained why Cosinga Palpatine allied himself with a fool like Reggie Costil against Bon Tapalo, as well as the hostility Padmé had witnessed in court. It did tell Padmé what kind of man Cosinga Palpatine was: one who was a traditionalist. It did not bode well for her and Sheev if Cosinga decided his son should find a bride of higher class.

"Are you alright?" Pooja asked.

"Huh?" Padmé was pulled from her thoughts.

Pooja looked at her in concern. "Earlier I noticed when you were conversing earlier, you seemed… distracted."

"Oh," Padmé was surprised. She really needed to focus on keeping her mask up and improving it. "I… I may have a lead on the woman Veruna is seeing."

It was a deflection, and one Pooja obviously saw through, but thankfully didn't call her out on. Padmé told her of her run-in with Veta's sister Xoana and the information she discovered, as well as her struggle in following all these leads on her own.

"We handmaidens can help pick up some of the slack. Once Veta is informed, she'll get a hold of her sister, and help us get to the bottom of this," Pooja told her.

Padmé nodded, feeling relieved and a bit disappointed that she wouldn't be there for it.

The two of them descended into silence, enjoying the night air with the distant idle chatter of the passengers.

"Your Lifeday is coming up," Pooja said out loud.

Padmé had nearly forgotten until Mammy had mentioned it that morning. "In two weeks. We haven't made plans as to how we're going to celebrate, but given the past year I doubt we'll make a big fuss over it."

She remembered the plum cake her mother made, the presents her family had made for her, and the games she and the other children of the village had played. Now, with it being her first lifeday without her mother and Jon, with the state of her father's mind, and so many other things going on, she didn't expect it to be like any previous lifedays.

Pooja disagreed. "Nonsense. You'll be sixteen going on seventeen. On some systems like Alderaan and Corellia, you would be considered an adult.'

Padmé smiled ironically. "Unlike here where if I complete the exams can I vote and even become an official. I'm still considered under the protection of my parent or guardian until I'm twenty-one."

Pooja grimaced. "I wouldn't complain too much. Many of the nobles have been discussing lowering the legal age of Naboo. Veruna has been spearheading the motion."

Padmé grimaced as well, having a good idea why Veruna wanted to lower the legality age.

There was a sudden scream that broke through the quiet night, causing both women to jump to their feet.

"What was that?" Padmé whispered.

That scream sounded too distant to have come from their own yacht. The women went over to the stern's railing and looked out into the darkness. A mile upstream behind them was the Palpatine yacht, its lights still beaming in the darkness. However, even at a distance, Padmé could see the commotion of people running, jumping overboard into the water, followed by the sounds of screams then blaster fire.

Padmé gasped, but Pooja was already digging into her robes for her commlink. "Captain Blantyre, we have a situation," she said calmly, but urgently. There was no response. "Blantyre? Captain Blantyre?" But the only response was static. Pooja cursed. "My commlink's not working. I have to tell Blantyre we're in danger."

Padmé had gone over to the lights and lamps hanging around the deck, shutting them off. "I'll find Blantyre. You go find whoever is steering this yacht. Have them shut down all the power before whoever is attacking detects us next."

Padmé couldn't believe what was happening. It was as if something hidden inside of her woke up and took control.

Amazingly Pooja didn't argue, but nodded. "Alright. I'll do that. Be careful Padmé. We can't cause a panic just yet."

Padmé understood and the women separated for their different missions.

Padmé hurried to the front of the yacht, slipping and pushing herself through people, ignoring their outrage as she located Captain Blantyre standing by the Queen's side, and made her way over to them. They were quick to read the urgent fear on her, and when she told them what she and Pooja had seen, they along with the two handmaidens at Celestine's side looked at her in alarm.

"Are you certain?" Blantyre asked.

Padmé nodded. "There's no mistaking what I saw."

Blantyre still looked out towards the Palpatine yacht and took out a pair of binoculars. In the light, Padmé could see his skin turn pale before taking his commlink out. He barked a series of orders, but like with Pooja, the only response he got was static.

"Blast it!" he cursed. "Whoever is attacking us must have a long-ranged jammer."

"We're further downstream than the rest of the noble estates. Even if someone swam to shore after the power's turned off it would take too long to get help," Celestine observed.

"What about the cabins down below?" one of the handmaidens, Sagé asked. "If we could pile everyone down in them and barricade ourselves until help arrives."

Blantyre shook his head. "Too risky. I couldn't tell who exactly was on the Palpatine yacht, but they were definitely offworlders, and there are at least a half dozen of them. We can't leave our lives up to fate."

"Then we have to evacuate to the shore," Celestine said.

"How?" the other handmaiden, Liné asked. "I toured this yacht and the Costils have one lifeboat to carry their family, and there's the chance that not everybody here can swim."

That was a good point. As ironic as it was to hear a Nubian who couldn't swim, Padmé had met a couple.

The lights suddenly powered down, and the engine cut off. There were panicked yells and screams from the passengers, and they increased as they all realized what was going on at the Palpatine yacht. Everything was loud, worrying Padmé that their attackers wouldn't need to see them to find them.

Celestine seemed to have the same worry as well, and spoke in her queenly voice over the crowd, "You can see that the Palpatine yacht is being attacked. If you want them to come at us next, by all means, continue screaming."

That quieted everyone down, even if some of them whispered in fear.

"Costil!"

The timid man came forward. "Y-Yes, Your Highness?"

"Take out any lifeboats you have. Those who are unable to swim must pile into it while those who can swim to shore do so."

There were cries among the crowd as everybody realized they were being evacuated. Some protested that they didn't want to get their nice clothing ruined, others that they weren't strong enough to make the swim, but one person cried, "What about those on the Palpatines' yacht?"

Padmé felt her heart in her throat as she thought about Sheev, and prayed that he'd ignored his father and didn't get on. She looked at Celestine and in the moonlight saw the conflict in her. She wanted to help the people on Palpatine's yacht, but must look after the people in her care.

"My guards and I will stay behind and draw their attention until help comes."

Now, Padmé didn't need to look to see that Captain Blantyre was ready to blow a gasket.

"Now we need to hurry. Go!"

Costil had two of his servants begin to assemble the lifeboat, and everybody looked around nervously. Some people began to remove their outer clothing and jump down into the water. Padmé hurried and was relieved to find Luke and Winama who had come aboard this cruise, and even more relieved that the rest of her family had stayed behind on Varykino.

Winama took Padmé into her arms for a tight hug. "Who's doing this? We've been a peaceful planet ever since the end of the Gungan Wars," Winama whispered.

Luke, who had been looking over the side towards the attacked yacht, went over to his wife's side. "I don't know. Right now, we need to focus on surviving the night. If I'm right, we should be five miles from Varykino right now. Even if we can get into contact, it will take help a while to get here," he said, then frowned, looking out towards the shore. "The Kim family's estate is the nearest shelter. If we can make it to the shore, we'll just have to hike two miles to get there. But Padmé-" Luke looked at her desperately. "The Queen must not stay behind. It's admirable, but right now Naboo needs a leader not a martyr."

Padmé knew he was right. If Celestine was killed, the government would be in chaos. Tapalo and Costil would fight over the throne, and Shiraya knows what damage they would cause. She knew what Luke was telling her: to persuade Celestine and convince her that staying behind was a bad idea. Padmé agreed. She had to try.

"Both of you get out of here, and get to safety. I'll be behind you," she told them.

Winama looked like she wanted to protest, but Luke stopped her, his look expressed his worry and faith in her.

Padmé turned and hurried after Celestine who went up to one of the upper levels of the yacht. It gave them a better view of the approaching Palpatine yacht and an advantage point. There, Padmé found Celestine, Blantyre, and all her handmaidens. The Queen and her head of security were already arguing.

"My decision is final, Andrei. Now please, you and your men make sure the passengers get to safety. Make sure those who need to get on that lifeboat do so."

"But-" Blantyre argued.

"You have your orders, Captain."

The man sighed, looking as if the weight of the world was falling on him, but complied to Celestine.

Once he was gone, Liné was next to argue."Need I tell you how foolish this is?"

"You might, but it won't change my mind," Celestine said as she looked out the viewport.

Padmé stepped forward. "They're all right. We don't know who's attacking us, or what they really want. We can't take the chance that they'll kill you."

Celestine turned to Padmé, her expression softening. "I appreciate what you're all trying to do, but stop. Yes, I am important, but so is the body of the government as well as the innocent people onboard these yachts. If their aim is important officials, then why would they resist having the Queen of Naboo?"

The resolve in her told Padmé no amount of cajoling would change her mind.

"My decision is final." She turned away from them.

Liné sighed. "Then forgive me for this, my Queen." She pulled out a blaster from her robes, shot a stun bolt, and the Queen collapsed in a heap.

Padmé and the other handmaidens cried out in shock or outrage.

"Liné!" Pooja scolded.

"What? You all know that she's not going to listen, and we all need to protect her even from herself."

As the handmaidens argued, Padmé looked upon Celestine's unconscious form. Liné's actions suddenly reminded her of a story she had accidentally uncovered while training under the handmaidens, and it gave her an idea. She looked at the violet gown Celestine was wearing, then the headpiece she was wearing.

"Do you guys have your makeup kit?" she asked.

Her question startled the handmaidens out of their argument.

"Yes. Why?"

Padmé began to undo the clasps and ties of Celestine's gown. "We're going to pull a Polana and Qiané."

The handmaidens looked at her in awe. Anyone who's served in the Naboo guard, knew the story of the brave queen and handmaiden. When faced with capture, Polana's handmaiden Qiané disguised herself as Polana and sacrificed herself so her mistress could escape and rally their troops to defeat their enemies.

Understanding what Padmé was trying to do, the handmaidens quickly followed her lead.

Sagé and Peggé continued to undo Celestine's gown while Veta undid her hair, and Pooja began to apply the ceremonial makeup on Padmé. Liné stood guard by the door while also keeping an eye on the approaching Palpatine yacht.

"Costil should have the lifeboat set up now. We'll need to hurry if we want to get Nadié off," she told them.

Veta began to set up Padmé's hair as Celestine's, while Padmé tried not to sneeze as Pooja hurried. If they all weren't so tense and pressed for time, Padmé would have been impressed at the skill and speed they went. Celestine, now Nadié's hair had been brushed out, her face wiped clean, and the top heavy layers of her gown had been removed, leaving her in a purple underdress that would be covered by Padmé's gray cloak. As for Padmé herself, Pooja finished by applying the scar of remembrance on her lip, Sagé and Peggé assisted in putting Celestine's gown on, and Veta completed the look by the light over her head.

"How do I look?" Padmé asked.

The handmaidens looked at her with awe and respect.

"Close enough," Liné answered. "We could probably fool our attackers long enough until we can get the real queen to safety, but watch your voice. Celestine has a deep tone."

Padmé tested it while Peggé and Sagé covered Nadié and lifted her.

They made their way down to the lifeboat which was nearly filled. Blantyre saw them and there was relief on his face. When they got closer however, the Captain frowned. "Your High-"

"Padmé is unwell, Captain, and is unable to make the swim. Put her in the lifeboat along with Sagé and Peggé. They'll be needed to help the passengers get to safety," Padmé told him.

The whole time, she kept telling herself that she was Celestine, to be Celestine. She saw the realization in Blantyre's eyes through the veil, saw him bite his lip before he reluctantly nodded. "Very well, Your highness."

Sagé and Peggé looked at her, surprised, but they could not disagree with her, not while she was dressed as their Queen without giving up their ruse. Nadié would need at least two handmaidens while the rest stayed to keep up their act. The three women boarded the lifeboat and set off.

Blantyre turned to Padmé and there was absolute respect in his eyes. "That's the bravest thing I've ever seen."

Padmé swallowed the lump in her throat, feeling some of her fear threatening to escape.

Blantyre turned to those still on the yacht. There were four of the Queen's guards, one of them Padmé recognized as Gregor along with a couple of private guards who stayed behind, and several frightened servants who were left behind. Blantyre ordered the guards to get into position, and for the servants to either swim to shore or hide. With just Padmé and the three handmaidens left, Blantyre turned to them.

"Can you shoot a blaster?" he asked Padmé.

"It's been a while, but yes."

"Good." He pulled out a spare blaster out of his boot and handed it to Padmé. "You saved her life, and for that we'll defend you as if you were really her, but if you see any of those bastards, don't hesitate to blast them."

Padmé nodded, trying not to shake.

Pooja, Liné, and Veta began to lead Padmé to a place to hide, and that's when their attackers finally arrived.

Blasters were fired.

Padmé couldn't make out who was attacking them through her veil, but she could make out their figures. Blantyre tackled one of them, and began to wrestle with him.

"Run!"

Padmé felt Liné's hand, and she led the younger woman away from the fight. Padmé ripped the veil off, and was able to see better. They ran inside the yacht, down the halls, coming out on the other side of the yacht. Padmé could feel her heart beating loud and tried to control her breathing as she and the handmaidens hid in the shadows.

They could hear the screams of the poor servants discovered by the assassins. They pleaded with them to spare their lives, that they had nothing, and that their employers had already fled. Padmé could hear them laughing before they fired their blasters followed by the collapse of the poor soul's body. It went on until one servant girl cried, "The Queen's on the rear deck!"

Blast it!

She felt Liné, Pooja, and Veta tense, preparing for the upcoming fight. Padmé and Veta hid behind the bench facing the doorway the assassins would have to come out of while Pooja and Liné hid in the shadows. When they came, Padmé and Veta fired their blasters, killing the first attacker while Pooja and Liné tackled the second one. He was a giant fellow and lizard-like, and when Liné and Pooja struggled to take him down, Padmé and Veta helped by firing several shots.

"Over there!"

Padmé was panting. Celestine's gown was making it difficult to move, and that thing nearly killed Liné and Pooja.

"I think we've got their attention," Veta said.

More assassins were coming.

"I think we can retreat now," Liné said.

They hurried over to the railing. Veta was the first to jump followed by Pooja. As Padmé prepared to jump next, their assassins reached them.

"Go!" Liné screamed as she fired at them.

Padmé hesitated before jumping into the cool water.

Padmé had grown up in the mountains where there were rivers to swim in. She was an excellent swimmer, but as she surfaced, she realized how heavy the Queen's gown was. The heavy fabric soaked through, becoming an anchor too heavy to carry. Padmé sank beneath the surface. She tried not to panic. She tried tugging the gown off, but no luck. Next she reached for the clasps and ties, but her fingers fumbled with them and the water tightened the knots. Her lungs were burning. She tried kicking her legs and moving her arms, but it was difficult.

She was sinking, and she could do nothing, but watch the moon shining above the surface. Was this it? Was this how she was going to die? She didn't want to die. She wasn't even seventeen yet. She wanted to live, to help Naboo, to see the galaxy. She wanted to marry and have babies.

She saw something gleaming in the dark. Her pixie comb! It must have fallen out of her pocket. She reached out and held it close to her chest.

She thought of Padmé the Pixie. In one version, the pixie died protecting the children from Wraith. In the other version, she died as a result of Wraith's jealousy. In either version Padmé the Pixie died. Perhaps that was to be the same fate for Padmé Lydonia. She tried to comfort herself that soon she would see her beloved Mama again.

The last thing she remembered before everything went black was the sound of a splash and the image of someone swimming towards her.

000{{*}}000

So what do you guys think? Did I keep Padmé and Anakin in character? Thoughts on the Ellé and Eirtaé episode? And Great-aunt Lydonia's decision to play decoy? I thought it would be a great idea, the ancestors of Padmé and her friends following in the footsteps of their ancestors. I've also read fanfics of Naboo using the decoy act for previous monarchs. Lydonia is still growing into her own person and doesn't have the same level of training handmaidens would have, but that wouldn't stop her from trying to protect her friend.

Let me know what you guys think.