Eighteen-year-old Dormé Jaffa’s schedule was completely changed with the arrival of the senator that morning, however, just exactly how it changed was far from what she expected. The deaths of Cordé and Versé meant she was next in line to be the senator’s decoy, even though she had barely been serving as a handmaiden for a year. It was only a few months ago that she was still in training, though her best friend, Moteé had already moved up into handmaiden status.

The deaths of the two women did not bother her nearly as much as it did her mentors Saché and Sabé. Both the senior handmaidens worked so hard training them and Saché especially seemed to favour them. Actually, Moteé and Dormé were neither favoured nor expected to be much more than extra security for the senator. But now Dormé, by default of her height, was next in line to serve as decoy.

Instead of mourning, she was extremely nervous about the quick ‘promotion’ and felt unprepared. She spent the morning with Padmé at a senate meeting then accompanied her to the chancellor’s private office to discuss further protection for her. The Jedi would be arriving this afternoon to aid in her security. Before Saché left with Captain Typho accompanying Padmé to another senator’s office, Saché ordered her to remain behind, mostly for the purpose of tidying up the vast living quarters, including the handmaidens’ rooms.

While Dormé was already getting used the idea of serving as decoy, she understood the importance of remaining out of sight and silent. This would make it easier for her to replace the senator at formal and informal her hair slightly falling down from exertion, cursing the fact Saché had not allowed a cleaning droid for security purposes, Dormé finished the last bit of cleaning and collapsed on a couch. She knew it would be a few hours at least before Padmé and the others returned.

Dormé considered going back to the handmaidens’ quarters to grab her datapad with the romance novel she was reading, but was too lazy to get up. She ended up closing her eyes for a few minutes instead.

The door chime went off, echoing through the vast living chambers.

Startled from her relaxation, Dormé sprang up from the couch, a hand to her disastrous hair which was falling down in protestation. The senator was back? No, she would not ring the chime to her own chambers! That did not make wondered who it could be and palmed the door open only to find a young man in Jedi garb standing there. Eyes wide, she panicked, feeling extremely self-conscious. What could she say?

Obviously expecting to find Senator Amidala, the Jedi blinked in surprise, staring in disbelief at the unfamiliar young woman. ‘I’m here to see Padmé—I mean Senator Amidala,’ he began.

‘You’re the Jedi—’ she said aloud without thinking and quickly shut her mouth as he explained he wanted to see the senator.

As she spoke of his title, the Padawan gave a cocky grin. ‘Yes—I’m here as part of the security.’

Part of the security? Did that mean there were more Jedi coming? she wondered. Dormé quickly snapped into handmaiden mode, nearly forgetting herself out of surprise. She bowed to him and motioned for him to enter. ‘She hasn’t returned yet,’ she explained, ‘but you’re more than welcome to stay here to wait for her.’ As they spoke, she met his blue eyes, holding the gaze a bit longer than she ought to. When she caught herself, she moved aside so he could step inside, she watched curiously as he walked in and looked around.

He bowed his head slightly in reply before following her inside. He glanced around the room momentarily, but frowned at her words. Nodded slightly in reply, he said, ‘Thank you,’ as though it were an afterthought before moving through the main living quarters in what seemed like silent curiosity.

She couldn’t help letting her eyes linger more than appropriate on the young Jedi who didn’t look that much older than her. She took in his Jedi attire, the lightsaber hanging at his side. He was very handsome and had a bold stride. Dormé did not understand why she was acting so shy, for she normally was not like this around men. However, she concluded that it had to do with the attacks and her recent promotion. Thoughts of her promotion filled her with enough confidence to ask politely, ‘May I get you some sort of refreshment? While you wait, I mean...’

‘Excuse me?’ he asked, having missed most of her question. He casually approached her.

Dormé vaguely wondered if the rest of the Jedi security would be as handsome as whoever this Jedi was. However, her thoughts returned to the present and she offered him a drink. He seemed a bit distracted, but that was all right because since he missed her almost shy attempt to offer him a refreshment, she saved face. This time, she asked more confidently, ‘Would you care for something to drink?’

Now the Jedi was moving toward her and she met his eyes once more, feeling a mixture of emotions she could not make sense of for the life of her. She felt a bit nervous and shy, but invigorated with a need to make a good impression on him. Her eyes danced with curiosity about who he was and hoping he would be able to better protect her mistress than the security captain and her fellow handmaidens. Of course, he would be able to, for he was a Jedi. Perhaps he would find out who was trying to assassinate her as well and bring them to justice.

‘I’m not sure what sort of beverages Jedi are allowed to partake in, but I’m sure I could find something suitable,’ she added with a hint of mischievousness.

Now giving her his full attention, he caught her more confident question and nodded slightly. A slight smile crept into his features as he shrugged. ‘I’m sure it will be fine,’ he said nonchalantly as his eyes began to wander once more to the door briefly as though in the hopes that Padmé might enter.

When he agreed to something to drink, she moved to the adjoining room which contained a wide variety of various beverages catering to various officials and politicians’ tastes. There was a few different types of tea, vita water...and a green alcoholic drink that she sometimes stole sips of when no one was looking. She peered back into the other room where the Jedi was looking towards the doorway again. Shaking her head, she decided it would be something to help his nerves, or so she thought when in reality she had nerves to be rid of as well. She poured a glass of the emerald liquid and then hesitated. She knew she really oughn’t...but she had just been promoted, hadn’t she? She deserved a little celebration, despite the means of gaining the promotion. She took the liberty of pouring herself a glass as well.

Gracefully reappearing, she handed him one of the glasses, eyeing him to see if the Jedi recognised it. ‘It’s one of my favourites, but don’t tell anyone.’ She winked and moved over to the couch where she had been lounging before, but this time she kept up proper posture and appearance. Dormé took a long, leisurely sip, not considering that this might be the first time he had ever tasted it. She enjoyed how full-blown and uncompromising the flavour was as if it stimulated each taste bud on her tongue. It was meant to be savoured.

Taking the glass in silence, he furrowed his brow inwardly wonder just what it was he was about to drink. As she explained, it was one of her favourites, he raised a brow slightly and shrugged. Taking a rather large gulp, his eyes widened in shock, no doubt to the potency of the drink. Clearly, this was not at all what he expected for he seemed to struggle not to choke on it.

‘I should have warned you,’ she said, placing a hand over her lips so as not to offend him with her growing amusement.

‘What in the blazes is this?’ he sputtered as he struggled to recover. But not wanting to appear weak he took another sip this time mindful of its strength. This time it wasn’t so bad, in fact he found he rather enjoyed the taste far better this time around.

His question sobered her and she dropped her hand to her lap. ‘Apsinthos, although I am probably pronouncing it incorrectly... I believe it is named after a star which fell into the waters of its planet of origin, causing the water to change into this colour,’ she said, indicating the glass thoughtfully. Even if it was merely a marketing ploy, the idea was certainly romantic and she fancied reading. Dormé watched the Jedi intently as he tried another sip of the beverage, gathering its potency was not off-putting to him and unknowingly putting this to mind as well as the intensity of his blue eyes. ‘What about you?’ she asked. ‘Do you have a favourite drink?’

He shrugged slightly and gave a smirk. ‘I never really considered it before. I know as a youngling I used to love blue milk...But I tend to agree with you, this is quite good.’ His expression turned mischievous as he added, ‘Despite the lack of warning about its strength.’

‘Blue milk?’ she wondered. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever heard of that.’ She wondered if it was something the Jedi drank for rituals and was suddenly far more interested in religion than she ever had the mind to be before meeting him. Technically, according to the strict rigours of the handmaiden oaths, she was not supposed to consume alcoholic beverages, especially while on duty and wondered what the rules were for Jedi.

He nodded slightly at her words. ‘Not many do, it’s a native drink to Tatooine. Everyone drinks it there. Apparently it’s an “acquired” taste or so I’m told because it’s strong,’ he admitted. He continued to sip on the beverage.

She was beyond pleased that he took a liking to her favourite drink, but even more so at that mischievous expression making its way across his features which intrigued her beyond measure. Finishing her drink, she set the now empty glass on the table, saying, ‘I say spontaneity is the spice of life. If you knew everything that was to come, that would be a trifle bit boring, wouldn’t you say?’ She rose to her feet, taking her purple, modest handmaiden robes from the couch and wrapping it around her shoulders in preparation for the senator’s arrival. ‘Which is why I think it’s perfectly all right to be a little impulsive every so often.’

‘When you’re Force sensitive it’s hard not to anticipate things. But that just means one has to be more impulsive to make up for the loss,’ he said.

‘Oh?’ she asked, raising an eyebrow at his comment. Dormé moved closer to the Jedi, about to remove his glass as well in case the senator happened to return. ‘And just how can one be more impulsive?’ she wondered, reaching for his glass.

‘Oh there are ways, perhaps one day I’ll show you,’ he remarked in a casual tone.

‘An offer I couldn’t refuse,’ Dormé replied, smiling at him with matched impishness. Her fingers accidentally brushed over his as she took hold of the empty glass and she gazed up at him, nearly finding herself losing composure for she was struck with thoughts she oughn’t be thinking, but before she could follow any of her thoughts through to conclusion, the doors parted for Captain Typho and doubtless her mistress as well. Dormé swiftly ducked into the adjoining room to hide the glasses, albeit carelessly before returning to the room in which the intriguing Jedi stood.

Immediately the Jedi’s attentions turned to the doorway, stepping forward to greet the entering Senator and her security captain.

Soren palmed the door open, his trigger hand poised over his holster in preparation for possible attacks. He entered before Amidala to find an unrecognizable young Jedi and gave him a questioning look before nodding to the senator that she could enter safely. When Dormé passed into the room, he looked from her to the Jedi and saw the Padawan braid. He stood within range of Amidala and wondered where Kenobi and why his apprentice was here alone.

Dormé’s first reaction was to move to the Jedi’s side, but upon seeing her mistress, she snapped back into handmaiden mode, bowing her head slightly as she flanked Amidala. Captain Typho’s confusion was not missed by her, but once next to her mistress, her eyes wandered back to the handsome young Jedi.

‘You’re here early,’ Padmé began, sounding surprised. ‘Forgive me, this is most unexpected. I had been informed that the Jedi weren’t due to arrive until a bit later.’ Taking notice of Dormé, she gave a grateful smile before returning her attentions back to the Padawan before her. ‘I trust Lady Dormé has ensured you are comfortable Jedi—’ she began, before realising just who this was.

‘There’s no need to apologize, it’s me, Padmé. Anakin,’ he began.

‘Annie? My, you have grown!’ she exclaimed, obviously happy to see him once more. Unlike Anakin, her joy was that of a big sister seeing a younger brother or a relative she hadn’t had a chance to visit in a long time.

As Dormé found her gaze wandering to the Jedi, she had not expected her mistress’s old friend to be looking at her the way he was looking at her now. Anakin, she thought, memorized his name, wanting to speak it, but knowing she oughtn’t. Jedi Anakin... Anakin... Padmé’s almost dismissal of him didn’t register with her as she was too caught up with the way he was looking at her. She did not know it at the time, but her building anger was out of jealousy, unwarranted jealousy. She didn’t even hear Padmé calling him a nickname saved for younglings.

‘So have you—more beautiful, I mean...’

Padmé gave a kind smile to his stumbling words as she politely thanked him for his compliment. ‘It isn’t to say I am not grateful for your presence here, Annie, but I am curious to know why Jedi Kenobi isn’t with you for there is much we need to discuss.’

‘I’m not entirely certain Senator,’ he admitted.

---

Upon their return to Coruscant, Obi-Wan informed Anakin of their new assignment. Anakin sat repairing a droid when he spoke to him and promptly Anakin’s attention was on the senator. Obi-Wan did not need to see the look in his eyes; the apprehension and eagerness radiated of him in undulating waves. He told him they were to report to the Senator within a standard hour. A small smile worked its way onto his face at the thought of Anakin’s nervousness. It was amusing, while at the same time a bit disconcerting. He knew he would have to watch Anakin even more closely than usual. Just how closely, however, was not registered until after seeing his old friend.

For the entire hour, he spent it sparring with Sabé. She was now the head handmaiden of the Naboo queen-turned-senator’s entourage. And now with Amidala’s death threats, no doubt Handmaiden Sabé’s life was at stake as well. He found, through their reunion that he was more in tune with her Force signature than he ought to be. Even after ten years apart, that bond forged during their time on Tatooine was just as strong.

As he returned to his shared quarters with Anakin, he found himself reflecting on her. He thought of just how much he had missed her and how just being in her presence returned a sense of peace to him, a peace that did not take the Force for him to find. This reassuring feeling was so uplifting; he wanted to indulge in it forever. Though Anakin occupied a great deal of Obi-Wan’s thoughts, Sabé’s whisper It has been far too long echoed in the back of his head. She made him want things he knew he oughtn’t. Especially if he wanted to eventually, attain a place on the Council. This conflict within him would, no doubt slowly abate as he decided what to do about it. However, these thoughts moved to the back of his head when he found Anakin was not in the room.

Following his Force signature, he wound up where they were expected: at Amidala’s quarters. Furrowing his brow, he introduced himself to the guard outside her quarters and was admitted. Upon entering, he spotted Anakin and sent him a disappointed look before bowing and apologising to Amidala for being ‘late’ even though he was right on time. ‘It’s a pleasure to see you again, m’lady.’

‘It is a pleasure to see you again, Jedi Kenobi. Please come in,’ she invited motioning for the Jedi to join her in the living quarters.

After apologising and bowing lower than required of his status, Obi-Wan gracefully accepted her offer to enter and moved to take a seat next to his Padawan.

Soren only moved slightly closer to the couch whilst remaining standing as he said, ‘I am very grateful you are here, Master Kenobi. The situation is more dangerous than the Senator will admit.’

Dormé took a seat next to her mistress, slightly disappointed at the arrival of Anakin’s master? Certainly Anakin didn’t need a master. Unfamiliar with the Jedi way, she didn’t know that he was a Padawan, nor what that entailed. She was more disappointed that the other Jedi was not as young, nor quite nearly as handsome as Anakin. Her eyes, as well as her thoughts, remained solely on Anakin.

‘Our presence will be invisible, m’lady,’ Obi-Wan put in.

‘I don’t need more security, I need answers. I want to know who is trying to kill me,’ she said in determined tones as the memory of Cordé and Versé’s limp forms echoed in her thoughts.

---

Soon Captain Typho returned to the command centre downstairs where Saché was busy monitoring the security systems and the two Jedi were left alone in the senator’s chambers.

Disturbing as it was using Amidala as bait, it proved to be useful as Anakin saved her from being poisoned and Obi-Wan found a dart of unknown origin that might lead to the assassin.

It was then decided Amidala, for her own safety, would have to leave the capital. However, Padmé was less-than-thrilled, to say the least, about not being present when the fate of the Military Creation Act would be decided. Instead, she chose Dormé to replace her, despite Typho’s objections.

Now in the senator’s quarters, Padmé was giving Dormé the final details of this mission, as well as a fair amount of her wardrobe to keep up the appearances of being a senator.

Dormé overheard the entire conversation between her mistress and the young Jedi, trying to withhold her discontent with the way he was looking at Padmé. This time around, she noticed the tension and almost anxiety Padmé felt at the way he was acting. This did not, however, ease her concerns. She had to console herself with the fact that they would soon be faraway from her mistress.

Being the senator’s decoy was starting to wrench her own nerves as well. There was so much to remember, so much was expected to do and say, and what she was to tell Queen Jamilla. It was this that she blamed her discontent on and not Anakin’s intense gaze on her mistress.

After arriving at Theed and informing Queen Jamilla of the affairs on Coruscant, Sio Bibble and Queen Jamilla wondered about her safety.

Portraying Senator Amidala to a tea, Dormé said, ‘I was thinking I would stay in the Lake Country. There are some places up there that are very isolated.’

‘What is your opinion, Master Jedi?’ asked Sio Bibble.

‘I was going to suggest a place that was more populated myself. After all some of the best hiding places are out in the open,’ he offered thinking this was quite a good plan indeed.

‘In the open?’ Dormé balked at him, thinking this was a very bad idea. After all, Padmé herself ordered Dormé to go the the lakehouse and she was rather excited to see it. After all, she had not grown up in a family with money like Amidala’s had and couldn’t wait to enjoy the perks of an upper class life without having the other handmaidens around. She knew there were even servants there and wouldn’t have to cook her own food.

‘She is right,’ Jamilla agreed, not too trusting of the Jedi’s suggestion. ‘The Lake Country is the most isolated and also provides a good view of the surrounding areas. You would be safer there.’

Dormé would have agreed with Anakin as she had much more fun in the city, especially the nightclubs on Coruscant, she had to follow Padmé’s orders and sent him a look in order to gain his support.

Anakin frowned slightly to Dormé’s response.

Ignoring Dormé’s look of silent support Anakin then proceeded to speak his frustrations and in doing so also overstepped his bounds.

‘Am I not in charge of the Senator’s security? If my opinion is held in such low regard, then why are you asking me what I think?’

The teenager’s eyes widened at the Jedi’s remark. He said that to the Queen of Naboo! Trying to regain composure as the decoy of Senator Amidala, she said, ‘While your opinion is valueable to me, I am a native of this planet and I feel you should trust my opinion on this matter.’ She emphasized herself, when she was inferring Padmé’s. She felt torn between making a good impression on him and following her mistress’s orders.

Jamilla also appeared shocked at his audacity and looked to Sio Bibble whose fault it was anyway for assuming this boy was a Jedi in the first place.

‘Besides,’ she added, with a hint of mischievousness, ‘where I go, you must follow, Jedi Protector.’

Jamilla seemed amused by this. ‘Perfect. It’s settled then.’

Dormé sent him a secret smirk before existing the palace to where the boats were kept.

Falling silent, Anakin clenched his jaw as if finally aware of the fact he had overstepped his position. As they departed, the Padawan caught Dormé’s secret smirk which seemed to lessen his agitation for he returned the smirk with one of his own. Everything went smoothly from then on…until the Padawan caught sight of the boats.

‘Is this really necessary? Can’t we just fly there? It would be so much faster,’ he began as he felt his heart beginning to race in concern and fear.

Upon reaching the speeder gondola’s, Dormé turned to him at his question. ‘And where would we land? The island doesn’t have a landing pad. We’d have to take a gondala speeder from the landing pad anyway.’ She was confused and didn’t understand why he was objecting to this form of travel.

‘It’s perfectly safe, young Jedi,’ said Paddy, the gondola driver. ‘Never fear. Come on then. It’s good to see you are safe, milady,’ he said, helping ‘Amidala’ onto the gondola.

‘It doesn’t have a landing pad? What sort of place is this? Everyone has landing pads for ships...’ he sputtered.

Anakin looked like he was about to pass out or something and Dormé was concerned for him, however, like her senator counterpart, she merely waited for him to board, hoping he would not be sick on the journey. After all, these were borrowed gowns and she did not want to muck them up.

Falling silent, he boarded and began to fiddle with his lightsaber hilt.

‘Been taking people to and from the islands ‘round ‘ere for more ‘an sixty-two years...’ Paddy went on.

‘It’s beautiful, isn’t it?’ she remarked, not paying attention to either the driver or Anakin, but rather on the scenery as they sped towards the island. It was hard to conceal her joy at not only being back on Naboo, but in the Lake Country, which she had only seen pictures of. The last time the senator paid a visit, Dormé was with the handmaidens in training on another training session with that witch Tamé.

Anakin continued to shift between the seats and upon hearing Dormé’s words, he could only scowl. ‘Water is for fish, not humans...’ he muttered under his breath.

At Anakin’s words, she furrowed a brow, trying not to take offence to his little muttering under his breath. How could one not appreciate the beauty of nature like this? Looking back at him, she noticed his anxiety and didn’t understand what it was that made him so anxious. ‘And you’ll soon join them if you don’t keep still,’ Dormé remarked. ‘Unless you have a mind to fall overboard?’

At her words, Anakin immediately scowled, but suddenly stopped his shifting in the seats. He clutched his lightsaber tightly. ‘Aren’t there large water beasts that live in these waters?’

At the boy’s question of sea creatures, Paddy told them a tale of the ancient creatures who lived in these waters and how the elders prayed to the beasts for safe passage.

Dormé was forced to put a hand over her mouth so as not to laugh aloud at poor Anakin’s fears. She would have spoken up to assure him it was nothing but fairytales or moved to sit near him, but as it was, she was far too amused to say anything until the old man was finished with his tale of the deep. Sobering as best she could under the circumstance, she asked him, ‘You did say the customary prayer before boarding, didn’t you?’

‘What prayer? I thought this was only a legend. I don’t believe in Naboo gods so it doesn’t apply to me...’ he snapped a little too quickly to deny his doubts.

When Paddy went on about something else entirely, Dormé leant forward to grasp Anakin’s knee. ‘I was only teasing,’ she said, smirking at him. ‘I don’t believe in them either,’ she added, in regards to the Naboo gods.

Her touch seemed to distract him for a moment and with his attentions now solely on her, the Padawan caught her remarks about her lack of faith in the gods and sent her a small smile of his own.

Soon they had reached the island that belonged to Amidala.

Dormé did not hear what the old man said as they prepared to exit along with their minimal luggage. A female servant girl was on the dock awaiting to help with their luggage.

Dormé couldn’t help snickering at just how swiftly Anakin got out of the speeder and onto the island, but when he offered his hand, she pursed her lips and took it.

The servant attended their baggage and she led the way, remembering Padmé’s specific instructions on where each room was located.

---

A/N: Credit for Anakin’s portrayal and dialogue (with minor grammatical and word choice/order changes) go to Jody, who also suggested this avenue for an AU. m( )m You are to blame for the Sithy Plot Bunnies of DOOM.