- CASTLES CRUMBLING (A.S.) -

- 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄 -

we're not in love.
we share no stories,
just something in your eye.

REGINA SAT ON THE BED in her small room, folding the single change of clothes that she was permitted to have, along with something that she wasn't supposed to own: her mother's necklace. Clipping the simple piece of jewelry around her neck, she stuffed the opal under her dark brown robes, crammed the clothes—and a couple of holobooks—into a simple bag, and pulled the strap over her shoulder.

After checking once to ensure that her lightsaber was strapped to her waist, Regina glanced around her room. With a satisfied nod, she turned and walked out into the passage outside.

Regina headed out of the Padawan section of the Jedi quarters to the main area. She had to go to Padmè's apartments where she was supposed to meet the senator herself and Skywalker to begin protection detail. As Regina walked quickly—she was already running late—she could feel the necklace thump against her chest.

No, she wasn't supposed to have any possessions. But it had been her mother's, and since she had been fairly old when she had been found by the Jedi—she'd been about five—she could remember some things, details about her previous life. And try as the Jedi might to make her forget her family, Regina knew that would never happen. So she kept the necklace her mother had given to her.

Biting her lip, Regina took a right turn. Now she was indeed in the main part of the Temple. Everywhere, Jedi and Padawans wandered the halls, avoiding groups of Younglings who were on their way to their next lesson. Regina smiled as their small faces peered up at her curiously as she walked by. She could remember all too well when she was their age. It had been much simpler back then. Fewer responsibilities and worries.

Responsibilities.

That thought shook her. She was supposed to be at the senator's apartments a while ago, and after Regina's last encounter with Padmè, she wanted to make a good impression. It wasn't that Padmè didn't like her but, well, she might have some preconceived ideas. Quickening her pace, Regina half jogged toward the flight platform on the side of the Temple.

As she hurried along, she found it difficult to avoid her thoughts. Not only is Padmè expecting me, but Skywalker is, too.

She wanted to groan aloud as soon as the thought entered her head, but she resisted the urge. Instead, she focused on keeping her feet moving. But still, her brain kept thinking. He would never let her live down being late to the first day of this assignment—only her second without her master.

This was why she had never gotten along with him before their little therapy sessions. He constantly made fun of her and teased her over the most obnoxious things. Not to mention, he acted like he was smarter and better than ever at everything. She had hated his arrogance.

Well, that was until their mandatory sessions. After about their third or fourth get-together, Regina had noticed a subtle shift in mannerisms. It was so slight that she would have missed it had she not been paying such close attention to Skywalker, but it had happened.

It was as if he had noticed how much his teasing bothered and infuriated her, and now he only did it every so often. Even then, his jokes usually ended with a well-intending smile on his lips and a sparkle in his eyes. A smile that somehow had softened her feelings toward him no matter how hard she had resisted. She couldn't help it. Every time she met with him one-on-one, Regina got the feeling that she was seeing the true Skywalker, that he was opening himself up. And she couldn't put her finger on why. But if his goal was to lower her defenses, it had clearly worked because—