Anabeth: New Beginnings

Chapter 9 - Peace Treaty

The net few days went by quietly. There were no more intruders, and their previous one also didn't come forward to cause chaos with the item he had stolen. Anakin was still analyzing the hacker's code back on Coruscant, and until he didn't finish that there was little they could do concerning the investigation of the incident.

Yesterday, the Republic and the Confederacy had finally agreed on a final version of the peace treaty. This meant, Ana was up bright and early today to help prepare the throne room for the grand signing of the treaty in a few hours.

For the evening, there was a small celebratory ball scheduled. The wives and husbands of the Senators were already on route to the planet to join in in this event, and Satine had invited the members of her court as well. Anakin was sadly not going to make it, since he was taking care of the twins with Ahsoka, but Ana had been thrilled to find out that Korkie was invited and that Master Windu would also be arriving for the occasion.

After everyone had signed the peace treaty and had a small lunch together, they went their separate ways again to prepare for the ball and their departure the next morning. The task of welcoming additional guests and brining them up to the palace was left to Bo and the Prime Minster. When it came to Master Windu, Ana and Obi-Wan went to personally welcome him though.

"Windu has never actually been to Mandalore, has he?" Ana casually asked Obi-Wan as she stood next to him on the landing platform.
"No. Most of the Order hasn't. Anakin, Ahsoka and the two of us are the only ones," he replied.

It wasn't long until Windu's shuttle landed and he came out to greet them. They took him back to the palace where Obi-Wan left to check on Satine and Grace while Ana gave him a tour of the palace and introduced him to Alrich Wren. Their tour eventually ended in the throne room.

"So this is where you got stabbed?" Windu asked sarcastically.
Ana laughed. "Don't tell me you came all the way to Mandalore just to remind me of that."
"I wouldn't," Windu replied. "But now that I'm here, might as well make take the opportunity."
Ana rolled her eyes in amusement.

Before long, the evening came around and everyone gathered for the festivities. After dinner had been served, drinks were handed out and people were moving through the room, making conversations with one another.

Ana had already had the pleasure of meeting Senator Vamma's husband andChancellor Organa's wife when she was approached by yet another unfamiliar face.
"Anabeth Velar, isn't it? I'm Ursa Wren, Alrich's wife," the woman introduced herself.

"Ah yes, he mentioned you before," Ana greeted her happily. "Although I truthfully didn't think you'd be here today."
"Being pregnant was not going to stop me from being part of thhis historic moment," the woman laughed. "Besides, I was very eager to meet you. My husband has been singing you praises ever since you got here."

"I'm sure he gave me more praise than I deserved though. I'm just doing my job after all," Ana humbly replied.
"Nonsense," Ursa insisted. "Alrich is hard to impress. If he compliments you, you must have been doing something right."
"Thank you," Ana gave her a smile.

"Alrich mentioned you can speak Mando'a," Ursa continued.
"Yes, I started learning it after my first visit here," Ana confirmed.
"An unusual choice of language for a Jedi."

"Indeed. But I like to think of it as my contribution to bringing our two cultures back together again after hundreds of years as odds," Ana explained.
"A honorable motivation. One I hope will pay off. Although I think the Duchess is certainly moving things in the right direction," Ursa noted.

"Yes. She's never been one to shy away from a good challenge," Ana commented.
"Neither does my husband. I have a feeling the two of them will make a good team that can make some real progress."
"I have that feeling too," Ana agreed.

For the next two hours, Ana continued to spend her time talking to almost every Senator present until the everyone started going to bed. She took a few minutes to talk to Korkie before wishing him good luck on his exams and saying goodbye since she'd be leaving the next morning.

As she went to look through the room, she realized only mace and Obi-Wan were still left, talking to each other. As she went to appraoched them, Obi-Wan bid Windu good night and headed for the door as well.

"He's staying here for a while, isn't he?" Ana addressed Windu as she reached him.
"How'd you know?"
"The war is over now, and Satine and Grace need him more than we do right now," Ana replied. Windu gave her a confirming nod of his head.

"The war is over," Ana mumbled again. "Feels kind of strange to say that."
"Indeed. But I think it's a good thing really. It's about time we return to our usual duties again. Crime families and bounty hunters have been given too much free reign these last few years. There's plenty of shortcomings to catch up on," Mace replied.

"Can't wait for it," Ana chuckled. "But at least everyone is coming home soon. The Temple has been so desolate."
"Imagine what is was like for me while you were here," Windu pointed out.

"Probably just really boring. Not for me though, I had plenty of entertainment here," Ana replied.
"Yes, you made yourself right at home here from what I hear."
"I did. And truthfully, I wouldn't mind staying a little longer. Mandalore is just really beautiful. But I'm also looking forward to going home again," Ana admitted.
Windu smiled at her. "Good, because everyone back home is also eagerly your return."