The Legend of the Jedi Queen

37. The Rainbow Palace

Only a standard day had passed before the Stardust leapt out of lightspeed, and into the orbit of Artorias.

Nellith turned to look out of the portview. The planet looked just as beautiful as it had when she had come with Kyp Durron to find Maz Kanata. But they were going to land on a different part of the planet now.

As the Stardust descended into the atmosphere of the planet, Nellith saw it. It was a diamond palace, which caught the sun and shot rainbows all around the palace and the large landing strip, where several diplomats and senators and reporters were landing.

Nellith recognized other Jedi escorting members of the New Republic and envoys from other planets under the First Order in the Uphatu system inside the Rainbow Palace. It was the largest gathering of people she had ever seen.

Knowing what she did about her mother and great-grandmother, she wondered if Padmé Amidala and Leia Organa would be happy to see this peace conference. Or would they say that the Second Order couldn't be reasoned with?

As Artorian technicians started helping refuel and hook up the Stardust, the envoy disembarked and began walking towards the palace.

Nellith looked up to the crystal blue cloudless sky, and at the meadows surrounding the palace. She only hoped that maybe she could get away from the peace conference to see some more of the planet's beautiful forests.

On the front steps of the palace, greeting the guests as they strode in, stood a girl about Nellith and Tallis's age. Dressed in a simple blue-green dress, it was her posture and the spunky gleam in her eye that tipped Nellith off. This girl was an Artorian royal.

"Hello," the girl said. "Welcome to the Rainbow Palace and the Peace Conference. This must be the Imperial envoy."

The girl then curtsied to Rey and Ben.

"Supreme Leader Solo, Empress Rey," the girl began, "we are pleased to greet you."

"Thank you," Rey said with her warm smile.

"Rooms for First Order envoys can be found on the right side of the right hall," the girl said. "I can only hope that you will enjoy your stay."

"Thank you," Nellith said with a smile.

The girl smiled back and then looked ahead to greet the next guests. Nellith and Tallis followed the rest of the envoy into the Rainbow Palace.

The crystal towers loomed over them, with several skylights to let the light in and allow the colors to bounce around, illuminating all visitors in a spray of rainbow light. Nellith followed her parents down the hallway, amazed at the tall crystal hallways all around her. In the residency areas, such as the one they were entering, the crystal became more frosted and opaque to grant privacy, but still gave rainbows everywhere. Outside each door was a golden plaque stating the names of the occupants in Aubresh.

Nellith quickly found hers, and opened the door to her new room. Lush, and colorful, it wasn't like anything she had seen before. She raced out onto the balcony, and gazed out at the meadow of flowers and oddly reflective lake. It looked like a mirror out there, and it surprised Nellith that she couldn't see any ivies or lilies out there, like she did when she was exploring the ponds and rivers on Aquilae.

It was eerie, almost. As if the pond were hiding something beneath its reflective surface.

Nellith looked to her right just as Tallis walked out from his room onto his balcony. If Nellith stretched her hand out, as far as it could go, she could easily touch him. The proximity, despite the severe gap, excited Nellith in ways she could not describe.

"Like the rooms?" Nellith asked.

"I don't know," Tallis said, looking genuinely thoughtful. "I've really gotten used to Uphatu, you know."

"I get what you mean," Nellith said. She looked out to the forest beyond the meadow. "This whole planet reminds me of home."

"Not Uphatu, then," Tallis said.

"Aquilae," Nellith said. "I miss being out in the ponds and streams. I wish you could've seen them."

"Must've been beautiful." Tallis was looking straight at her, but her gaze was away.

"It was," Nellith said. "The prettiest place, however, was Anch-To."

"Because of your family," Tallis realized.

"It was the only place I got to see us all together," Nellith said, smiling at the fond memories. "I could feel all that love between them, and what they felt for me, so strong that I couldn't help but return it."

Tallis seemed to stiffen. She looked to him quickly.

"Sorry if it reminds you of your family," Nellith said.

The corner of his mouth flicked up in a smile, but his lilac-gray eyes didn't match.

"They don't matter now, and they never have," he said. "My mother's the only one who wasn't suddenly interested in me because I've got the ancestral Force powers."

Nellith nodded, not sure what to say next.

"We'd better get ready," Tallis said. "We've got a banquet to attend."

Before Nellith could reply, he was gone.