Anidala: Across the Stars

Chapter 19: Dinner with the Queen

Leia and Luke ran ahead of the group, Obi Wan chasing after them. Padmé and Anakin were walking behind Rex and Ahsoka.
"I get the feeling that our family is more than just us and the twins." Anakin said.
"I get the feeling that you're right." Padmé said looking over the others, "It feels like yesterday when we were getting married on the balcony at the side of the lake."
"I had never dreamed that we would be able to be together out in the open. Yet here we are, with our family, exploring the streets of Naboo together." Anakin said, grabbing Padmés hand.
"Together." She smiled at him, "I love you, Ani."
"I love you too."

"Rex, are you excited to meet whatever poor handmaiden Anakin set you up with this time?"
"What?"
"Oh come on, Rex. You don't think he'd let you go to a royal dinner without sitting you next to one of the queens handmaidens." Ahsoka commented. Rex laughed.
"Let's just hope it doesn't end up like last time. He truly doesn't make a very good spy, especially not when he's pretending to take Luke and Leia out on a nice "dinner"" Rex remembered the last date Anakin had set him up with. Ahsoka laughed.
"I bet this one works out. Padmé might have to disown the twins if they make as big a mess as they did last time." Ahsoka commented.
"I really don't know why the General thinks bringing those two tornado twins along will make any female want to spend another minute with me." They both laughed at that.

"Alright everybody. I welcome you to the palace of Naboo." Padmé said, picking up Luke. Anakin picked up Leia and the group continued their walk toward the palace where the queen and her handmaidens were waiting for them.
"Padmé I congratulate you on your new appointment as Supreme Chancellor, and I am happy you have chosen to stay as the Nubian Senator. We are glad to have you here with us tonight." The Queen said as the group approached.
"Your Majesty, it is an honor." Padmé curtsied, expertly supporting Luke as she bent to the ground. The rest of the group behind her followed her lead.
"Masters Kenobi, Skywalker, it is an honor to have such highly regarded Jedi here. I have heard many tales of your bravery."
"The honor is all ours, your majesty." Obi Wan said as he accompanied the queen into the dining hall.
"Master Skywalker, may I hold your daughter? Padmé has told me that she wishes her to be trained in the art of politics as well as training to be a Jedi."
"Of course, your Majesty." Leia gave her father a questioning look as she was passed to the stranger. He smiled at her reassuringly.
"Hello." Leia said shyly.
"Hello. My name is Apailana, what's yours?"
"I'm Leia."
"Would you like to sit next to me at dinner, Leia?" She slowly nodded her head.
"I will have a very special seat placed next to mine just for you."
"Thank you, your majesty." Leia said softly.
"Tell me about yourself little one." The Queen walked inside with Leia as she started talking.
"The Queen will regret asking Leia to talk in about 3 minutes." Ahsoka said walking next to Anakin.
"I bet she regrets it in 2." Rex added, joining the crew on their way to the dining hall.
"I give it four. She has very interesting thoughts sometimes. As master yoda says: "truly wonderful the mind of a child is."" Said Obi Wan, bringing up Luke, and the rear. Anakin longingly watched the Queen whisk his daughter away.
"To dinner then?" Ahsoka asked.
"To dinner, snips." Anakin agreed.

Queen Apailana sat at the head of the table, Leia sat on her right, and Padmé on her left. Anakin sat next to Leia, Ahsoka next to Anakin, and Rex next to Ahsoka, and Obi Wan next to Rex. At the other end of the table, opposite the queen, sat Gregar Typho. On the other side of the table, Luke sat next to Padmé, and next to Luke were the handmaidens. The Queen was talking to Leia and occasionally Padmé who was trying to feed Luke as he played with one of the handmaidens. Anakin and Ahsoka were subtly goofing off, with the occasional input of Rex, and Obi Wan was talking to Typho. Most of the handmaidens were talking amongst each other, but one was watching Rex intently as he laughed with Anakin and Ahsoka. Ahsoka bumped Rex's arm.
"Pretty handmaiden, right across from you Rex. Shes been watching you all dinner. You should say hi." Rex spit out his drink and the handmaiden hid her laughter. Anakin tried to add in something, but Ahsoka quickly shut him up.
"After the last disaster, you've been demoted to co-wingman skyguy." Anakin made a face at her, and the two continued their conversation.
"Ah. Hello, my lady. I am Captain Rex, and you are?" Rex asked, awkwardly trying to start a conversation with the handmaiden.
"I'm Maeka." She said.
"Well it's, uh, very nice to meet you Maeka. I'm Rex." He said.
"Yes I know." Maeka laughed. Ahsoka and Anakin facepalmed as Rex's face turned bright red.
"Would you like to join me for a walk after dinner? Her majesty allows my fellow maidens and I free time after meals."
"I would, uh..." Ahsoka kicked Rex under the table, "ow! Uh yes, I would like that very much, uh sir, no I mean, Madame, I mean, my lady." Rex epically fumbled over all his words, making the handmaiden giggle. Anakin and Ahsoka quietly made fun of their friend as he turned back to them, his face as red as the wine he was drinking. Ahsoka put a hand on his shoulder, consolingly.
"What?" He asked.
"We need to get you out more my friend." She said, failing to hide her laughter.
"You got that right snips." Anakin said, taking a sip of his drink. Rex glared at his friends, but quickly hid his smile behind his wine.

"Leia. Tell me what you know about the Queen of Naboo."
"You are like my mother, but for one planet and not all. The people choose you, and you are queen for 4 years."
"That is correct, little one. Did you know that your mother was queen once?"
"Yes. She was very beautiful." Apalaina laughed.
"Yes, she was little Leia. Would you like to be queen someday?"
"Yes. I will be the first Jedi Queen. And Jedi Senator."
"Very ambitious little one. An admirable quality for a Queen and a Senator."
"I will be a Jedi Queen, and a Jedi Senator, and I won't stop until I am."
"And determined. You will be a wonderful queen child, a wonderful Senator, and a powerful Jedi."
Leia nodded vigorously.
"My mommy calls it aggressive negotiating." The Queen and Leia laughed at that.