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At the Beginning . . .

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Cori'iana felt almost like a child again as she ran through the streets of Naboo with Rassary and Bakmellé. She found herself clinging for dear life to her friends as they wove in and out of the sea of people in the streets. There seemed to be much joy among the people as the trio of women was greeted with claps and much enthusiasm where they went. Cori'ana wished she had removed her mask to enjoy the fun a bit more anonymously, but then she realized she would have had to have a complete outfit and makeup change.

Rassary insisted their first official stop be at a table where the punch had certainly been spiked. The former queen couldn't help but cough after the punch went down, searing her throat. Bakmellé slapped Cori'iana's back as Rassary giggled and took another chug of her punch.

"I thought I might find you here," Tohnaanes Leverre said as he wrapped an arm around Rassary's waist and pulled her beside him. Punch dribbled from Rassary's mouth as she attempted to give him a swift elbow to the side. But he had anticipated this. Instead, he reached down and placed a soft kiss on his wife's lips, which she was more than happy to receive.

Cori'iana averted her gaze from the couple. She always did so when couples displayed any sign of public affection for each other. She wasn't exactly sure why she did it, but she did. Although, it might have something to do with the fact that she had never experienced affection from a partner before. She had never had a partner in the romantic sense before. There hadn't been time with being queen and campaigning to be queen before that. Once her grandmother became a more prominent figure in her life, it seemed she never really had time for herself anymore.

She glanced up, hoping their kiss was ended. Cori'iana blushed when she found Tohnaanes looking her way, very thankful that she hadn't removed her mask. Tohnaanes had also gone to the academy with them and had been Cori'iana's first crush. She had been obsessed with him almost their entire time at the academy, not that he ever knew that. Cori'iana had been very careful to hide her feelings from him, almost embarrassed by them. Not that she had any reason to be embarrassed by crushing on a very attractive person. She just hadn't known what to do with her feelings then. Thankfully she now harbored no feelings toward Tohnaanes except much happiness for his and Rassary's marriage.

"You weren't the one who happened to spike the punch, were you?" Rassary grinned, teasing her husband.

Tohnaanes widened his eyes looking rather sheepish. "Guilty as charged," he said before taking his wife's cup from her and finishing her punch in one chug. He then grinned rather boyishly at Cori'iana. "I hope your majesty doesn't mind."

"I suppose not," Cori'iana sighed, pretending to be disappointed by his actions. "You're just lucky I'm no longer queen . . . or Headmistress Kriprepéls." Cori'iana raised her cup and smiled.

"I'll drink to that," he chuckled before refilling the cup he had stolen from his wife and taking another drink. Rassary then took her cup back and took another swig before she dragged her husband toward the group that had begun to dance in the streets. They looked quite happy together.

Bakmellé stood there rather quietly, holding her cup as she scanned the crowd. Cori'iana eyed her friends curiously. "Are you looking for someone?" she asked.

This seemed to catch Bakmellé off guard. Her eyes widened in surprise and she seemed to bounce onto her toes. Bakmellé then turned toward Cori'iana with her lips tight.

"You can tell me, you know. I won't hold it against you," Cori'iana said as she gently rested her hand on Bakmellé's arm with a tender expression on her face.

"I-I met someone," Bakmellé stammered, her face nearly as red as a tomato from her furious blushing as she cast her gaze downward. "I-I planned on meeting him here."

Cori'iana clasped her hands behind her back and smiled. They had played this game many times in their dormitory. And Cori'iana was well-versed at digging for information. "Where did you meet him?"

"He's part of Naboo's Royal Space Fighter Corp."

"That doesn't answer my question, Bakmellé," Cori'iana teased her friend, gently bumping Bakmellé with her hip. "Where did you meet him?"

Bakmellé groaned as the dam within her broke. "I was watching my brother's house watching his daughter while he and his wife went for dinner. There was a knock at the door and there was the most handsome man I have ever met. He was there to see my brother. So, I let him come in and wait since it was only supposed to be a few more minutes until my brother returned. And we got to talking and . . ."

Cori'iana arched her eyebrow. "And?"

"And my brother came home." Bakmellé folded her arms across her chest and heaved a sigh."I haven't seen him since." She then took a swig of her drink and began to tap her foot.

"When was that?" Cori'iana had never seen this side of Bakmellé before. Then again, maybe it was her perception because to Cori'iana, Bakmellé had always seemed much more confident than her at this sort of thing. But it was her duty as a friend to press for more details.

"Two weeks ago." Bakmellé took another drink.

"Does he know he's meeting you here?"

Bakmellé looked at Cori'iana rather sheepishly. "Not exactly."

"Bakmellé," Cori'iana giggled, giving her friends a playful shove. "How do you even know he'll be here? He could be," she pointed toward the sky, "working for all you know."

"But he isn't! He told my brother that he was on leave for a month and that he had just gone on leave that very day!"

Cori'iana gave a slight nod. She'd give her friend that much. But that still didn't mean he'd be here. "Well, while we have the issue of if he's even on the planet solved, how do you know he'll be at the celebration?"

Bakmellé tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "The RSFC works for you, or at least they did when you were queen and you are a beloved queen. Besides, what space fighter on leave would miss the chance for a party where the drinks are free?"

"Point taken."

"And he told my brother he was coming," Bakmellé muttered under her breath.

Cori'iana took the cup of punch from Bakmellé and set it down on the table behind her. Bakmellé tried to get the cup back, but Cori'iana gently grabbed her friend's hands and held them. "I know we haven't been as close the last few years as we were in school . . ."

"You had a lot going on, Cori'i. I don't hold it against you."

"Then I won't hold it against you if you want to go looking for your handsome starfighter."

Bakmellé pursed her lips for a moment. "I couldn't possibly leave you here alone."

Cori'iana giggled. "Have you not seen the succession of handmaidens following us everywhere? I'm not alone, Bakmellé. Really, go ahead. Don't make me use my power as former Queen of Naboo on you."

"Are you sure?"

"All I've ever wanted for you and Rassary is to be happy. It seems that Rassary has found her happily ever after and now I want you to find yours." Cori'iana looked her dear friend in the eyes and squeezed her hands tighter. She then grinned mischievously. "I only ask one thing."

"Anything."

"What's this man's name? Because if he hurts you, I need to know where to direct my wrath."

Bakmellé laughed. She knew Cori'iana was teasing. Cori'iana was nothing like her grandmother when it came to wrath and revenge. Cori'iana was a mouse compared to the ferocious lion that was Dordirri'ih Sanandrassa.

"Sorlus Kristas," she told the former queen with a shy smile on her face.

"You be sure to tell him that former Queen Cori'iana says hello."

After another laugh from Bakmellé, Cori'iana released her friend's hands. Bakmellé looked over her shoulder as she started to walk away. Cori'iana motioned with her hands for her friends to keep moving. So, Bakmellé turned away and did as she was told.

Cori'iana turned to face her handmaidens. They were standing off to the side of the refreshments table with their hands folded in front of them. They looked dreadfully bored. Even Winni, who could usually mask her disdain. She then placed her hands on her hips and looked at the women she had grown so fond of the past two years.

"The same goes for you lot. You might still be in my employ, but I'm commanding you to go out and have some fun. So, off you go then."

Jysyal and Biala wasted no time before running off. Scerra had started to walk away, but when she saw Winni remain in her spot, she walked back.

"Your majesty, I really don't think we could . . ." Winni began to protest.

"You heard her," Scerra said taking hold of Winni's hand, tugging her away from Cori'iana's side. "Your queen is commanding you to go have some fun. You wouldn't disobey a direct order, would you? Or do you not know what fun is?"

"I know what fun is," Winni said through gritted teeth, rolling her eyes.

"Prove it," Scerra dared with a grin, tugging a reluctant Winni behind her.

Winni looked back at Cori'iana with a save me expression, but Cori'iana simply bid her adieu with a smile and a wave. It would be good for Winni to get out and do something fun. Although, having fun with Scerra might not be what Winni considered fun. Cori'iana giggled at that thought before she turned back to the refreshment table, looking for the punch that wasn't spiked.

After pouring herself a cup of punch, Cori'iana moved to have a seat at an empty table to watch her friends enjoy themselves. It seemed that this was to be her lot in life, but truly she didn't mind being on her own so much. Yes, she needed companionship; but growing up in the countryside with no siblings or friends for miles and miles, one learned that their imagination could be just as good sometimes.

Cori'iana saw Rassary tugging her husband's arm as he feigned a back injury. She imagined them with their teasing banter with a small clan of children tugging at their limbs but smiles never leaving their faces.

She saw Bakmellé standing beside her brother and his wife and Bakmellé was enthusiastically chatting up a handsome gentleman. She imagined that perhaps this man was the one for Bakmellé, seeing her walk down the aisle toward him, knowing just how perfect her friend was.

And then there were Scerra and Winni who were spinning to the music in the middle of the dancers with smiles on both their faces. She imagined lives for them outside the palace where they grew closer than they had in their years together inside the palace walls.

Seeing her friends happy made her content. While it didn't completely satiate her own desires of the heart, it made her content and happy for her friends. But her reverie was soon broken by the familiar there you are, darling.

Those words made Cori'iana's relaxed posture immediately snap into a much more rigid form. She then turned in the direction from which her grandmother's voice had come. Sure enough, there was Dordirri'ih, but on her arm was Sion Kene, Senator of Adrastea. Kodo had been right about that invitation.

Sion Kene had been a newly-elected senator when Cori'iana had been crowned Queen of Naboo and had thereby gained an invitation to her coronation. He certainly was quite handsome and he always seemed to know the right thing to say. And Cori'iana was quite flattered by the attention he gave her, or at least she had been until the first assassination attempt on her life. That seemed to change everything. Sion had done nothing wrong. It was her that had done the changing. But Grandmother still seemed to press them together when she could.

Cori'iana stood and offered them a smile that she had to force on her face. Sion broke from her grandmother and strode toward her with a hand outstretched. She offered him her hand, for him to shake. But after a small handshake, he brought her hand to his lips. "Quite stunning today, your majesty," Sion said.

"Thank you," she managed to squeak. Cori'iana wasn't immune to the man's charms and compliments, but there was no way for him to earn her heart. She wouldn't allow anyone else the pleasure. And it would be rather cruel to give him hope. So, she tried her best to remain as neutral as she could. Or as neutral as one could be when receiving compliments from a handsome man.

"We had the hardest time finding you, darling," Dordirri'ih said taking a seat at the table. "I snuck out to find Sion and come back to your tent to find you gone."

"I didn't realize you were coming back," Cori'iana said, sitting once more on her chair. "You should have said something so I knew."

Dordirri'ih arched an eyebrow. "It was supposed to be a surprise."

"Oh." Cori'iana's lame response did not satisfy her grandmother, whose brow was still arched.

Dordirri'ih slowly drummed her fingers against the tabletop. "And where are your handmaidens? It's hardly appropriate for you to be out without them in public, let alone in a massive crowd of who knows what types of people."

Cori'iana sighed. "I told them to go have some fun. They've risked their lives for me these two years. I thought they deserved it."

Her grandmother looked over the table to Senator Kene for sympathy. "See what I mean?" Dordirri'ih asked him, her voice dripping with contention. The older woman then reached across the table and took the senator's hand in hers. "I alone am not influence for her. She needs a strong and guiding hand, you see."

Cori'iana looked at her grandmother in disbelief, blinking rather slowly. The fire within her wanted nothing more than to argue with her grandmother here and now, but she knew better than to make a public spectacle. Although perhaps a public spectacle would keep Sion from pursuing her. Then again, it could also win him over to her grandmother's cause. Not wanting to risk the latter, Cori'iana simply bit her tongue and tightly pursed her lips.

"From what I've seen, Cori'iana seems very strong and capable," Sion said, patting Dordirri'ih's hand. He then smiled and leaned a little closer to the older woman. "A trait she likely picked up from you."

Sion cast a glance at Cori'iana. Perhaps she had misjudged him a bit.

"Surely you can understand where I'm coming from, as a grandmother, wanting to see my own flesh and blood cared for," Dordirri'ih said, batting her lashes just a bit while grasping Sion's hand a little tighter.

Sion attempted to remove his hand, but Dordirri'ih's grasp was too firm for him to remove his hand without making a public spectacle. "I have no intention of seeing harm come to your granddaughter," he said. "And were she in agreement, I would like to move forward in a relationship."

"Perhaps a summer on Adrastea would do some good? Cori'iana has never been. Perhaps you should tell her about your home planet."

Cori'iana furrowed her brow. Just this morning her grandmother wanted her to return to the lake country with her and now she was trying to push her off to Adrastea? It made no sense to her. Then again, when her grandmother got up to something, it rarely made sense at the time. Dordirri'ih released Sion's hand and the two began chatting as if they were old friends and acting as if nothing that had just occurred had happened. Cori'iana smiled and occasionally nodded, trying her best to ignore the conversation.

Just then a man with dark hair came running their way. "Your majesty," Orys Daraay said breathlessly.

Cori'iana stood up. "What is it?"

"Not you, your majesty. Your majesty," Orys directed toward Dordirri'ih, raking his fingers through his shoulder-length hair. He appeared rather shaken.

Dordirri'ih simply nodded for him to speak.

"My wife is in great need of Cori'iana's assistance." He stopped to catch his breath before continuing. "I'm afraid the new queen has yet to deal with my wife's planet and is unprepared to deal with the situation that has arisen. Cori'iana with all her knowledge of current situations would be very beneficial. I was hoping that I might take her for a time, for the sake of my wife."

After a glance toward Sion, who nodded his head, Dordirri'ih gave her blessing with a simple nod. No words were spoken from Dordirri'ih's mouth. Orys held his arm toward Cori'iana. She took his arm and ran with him through the sea of people until they came to an empty candy shop owned by the Daraay family.

Cori'iana wandered the darkened shop looking for Orys's wife. But she saw nothing but rows and rows of candies and confections. And Orys sitting at the counter snatching a handful of gummy candies. He didn't appear in any hurry at all. Instead, he just ate some candy, leaving Cori'iana desperately confused.

"Orys Daaray, where exactly is your wife?" Cori'iana rested her hands on her hips as if she were a mother scolding her child.

"She couldn't make it, your majesty," Orys said with a grin. "She sends her regrets."

Quite confused, Cori'iana furthered, "You said she needed my assistance."

Orys shrugged his shoulders. "I lied." He popped a gummy into his mouth. "I saw you with your dear grandmama and thought you could use some saving. Or did I read your expression wrong? It has been some time since I've performed that duty."

Cori'iana sighed and folded her arms across her chest. "No, you read it correctly."

"She's up to something."

"You don't say?" She scoffed slightly, flipping her hair so that it cascaded down her back.

"Want some candy?" Orys motioned around the shop with his hands. "Father won't mind, especially if he knew whose clutches I saved you from." He gave her a wink. "He'd probably be hurt if you didn't try anything."

"Well, when you put it that way, I think I will take one." Cori'iana opened a jar of candy that she hadn't had since she was young and popped one into her mouth. She then walked toward Orys. "I was looking forward to seeing your wife."

Orys nodded his head. "She was looking forward to seeing you as well. Something came up last minute and she was unable to make the trip to Naboo. She hoped my presence would be enough for you. I'll be sure to tell her that I wasn't adequately able to fill her absence."

"Oh, you'll do, Orys." Cori'iana offered her friend and supporter a wink. "I'm sure Sundari's need of her was far greater than my own, otherwise she would have come. But be sure to tell her that my schedule is looking rather open from now until forever."

"I'm sure you'll find something with which to fill your time," Orys offered before looking over his shoulder. He then leaned a little closer to Cori'iana. "Or your dear grandmama will," he finished with a whisper.

Orys was a friend she knew because of her parents, not her grandmother. He wasn't so easily fooled as the rest of Naboo when it came to Dordirri'ih Sanandrassa. One of his only regrets was being unable to reside longer in Naboo to help Cori'iana, to keep her from the clutches of her grandmother.

"Or maybe now you'll have the time to find someone," Orys added before taking another handful of gummies. "Although, your dear grandmama seems to have that account managed too. Senator Sion Kene, eh?"

"I'm sure Senator Kene is nice enough, but I have no intent on settling down any time soon." Cori'iana folded her arms across her chest and blew a bubble with the candy in her mouth. But her biggest concern about Senator Kene was that if he was conspiring with her grandmother, he might not be very trustworthy.

"I said the same thing for years. And now look at me. Everyone thought I was a hopeless case, doomed to be a bachelor for life until fate gave me a good slap in the face."

Cori'iana arched an eyebrow. "Is that how one finds someone? A good slap to the face? Are you suggesting I go about slapping others or that they're supposed to slap me? I got a bit lost in translation."

Orys chuckled."I said fate slapped me in the face. I quite literally fell for my love. She was there to catch me from falling from my ship. . ."

Cori'iana groaned quietly before she placed her hand on his shoulder. "Orys, I've only heard you tell this story over a hundred times, on your wedding day alone. At this point, I think the whole galaxy knows how you fell in love."

He had been quite taken with his drinks that day. Thankfully, his bride hadn't minded too much because drunk Orys only seemed to have eyes and adoration for his bride. It had been rather cute to see Naboo's most infamous bachelor absolutely smitten. The man had fallen. Hard.

He smiled, clearly replaying the story in his head. "You have to admit, it is a good story."

"Yes, it is and I'm very happy for you. But, I'm only nineteen. Hardly an old maid by any standards. Besides, Jedi never marry, so why must I?" Cori'iana stood taller, looking rather defiant.

Orys cocked an eyebrow. "Any certain reason you bring up the Jedi?"

"Of course not." Cori'iana couldn't help but blush as she felt him looking at her with a smirk on his face. Sure, Orys had been one of her advisors during the beginning of her reign, but he couldn't have known. Could he?

He smiled and tossed a handful of gummies into his mouth. "Well, I do believe they are allowed to leave the Jedi Order should someone happen to worm their way into a Jedi's heart."

Cori'iana folded her arms across her chest. "Good for them."

"I didn't mean to offend you Lady Cori'iana," Orys said with a small smile. "Just trying to give you some facts, in case you hadn't yet been informed by your gatekeeper of a grandmother."

"Thank you, Orys. I know you mean well. It's just been . . . quite a day," Cori'iana sighed softly, leaning her back against the counter. "And is Lady Cori'iana to be my new title now?"

Orys shrugged. "I suppose that depends on you. If you keep the Sanandrassa name for your mother's sake, then yes, Lady Cori'iana Sanandrassa it is."

Cori'iana mulled his words for a moment. "And if I should return to my father's name?"

He stroked his beard and looked at her with a melancholy expression. "Then I believe, should you surround yourself with the right people, which likely involves leaving the planet and traveling to one far from here, then I suppose Cori'i Dalle could return."

Cori'iana sighed. That wasn't exactly the news she had been hoping for.

"But I'd change that i'i thing with your name, should you choose the latter. Dead giveaway you're a Sanandrassa."

While most former queens of Naboo had the luxury of returning to a life of anonymity, that sort of life didn't seem to be in the cards for Cori'iana. Unless she chose the life of a hermit, which didn't seem all that bad.

Orys walked toward the window at the front of the shop, the heels of his boots clicking with each step he took. He peered between the displays of candy placed in front of the windows. "It appears dear grandmama has taken her leave, but Senator Kene is still sitting there. He does seem quite keen on you." He chuckled to himself. "Get it? Keen? Kene?"

Cori'iana groaned. Orys did always make the worst puns, jokes, and word plays in the galaxy. But to Cori'iana it made all the more endearing having someone like that to depend on. He had been part of her entourage before he fell in love and settled down.

"So, you're saying we're stuck?" she asked, not wanting to run into the senator again.

"I have an idea," Orys grinned. His plans were known for being a little off-the-wall, but they did always seem to get the job done.

She folded her arms across her chest and sighed, looking up at him. "I have a feeling I'm not going to like this, am I?"

"How fond are you of dancing?" he asked with an arched brow.

Cori'iana had no chance to respond, except with a slight squeal as Orys took her arm and dragged her from the shop toward the crowd still dancing in the street. While in the candy shop, the dancing had changed to more of a traditional circle dance of Naboo. It was a dance that Cori'iana's mother had taught her the steps of as a young girl and her father had even danced it with her many times around the house. But she had always loved seeing her parents dance it together.

Orys and Cor'iana made it to their respective circles just in time for the dance to begin. Cori'iana tried to steady her breathing as Orys was rather loudly stating that the handsome senator from Adrastea was sitting by himself. As Cori'iana clasped the hands of the two people on either side of her in the inner circle, she looked back at Orys who winked at her. Cori'iana then cast a glance toward where Sion was seated. It seemed a few ladies were already headed his way, with their sights set on their target.

"You're terrible, you know that?" Cori'iana giggled over her shoulder.

"I said I had a plan," Orys chuckled and looked at her with an arched eyebrow. "I didn't say it was a particularly good one."

Cori'iana shook her head, still laughing.

"Besides, I'd like to think your father would have approved."

Thankfully she didn't have time to dwell on Orys's words because the dance began. If she had, she likely would have been sent reeling after all the events and emotions of the day. 

The inner circle moved counter-clockwise while the outside circle moved clockwise. When each dancer met up with their respective partner they clapped several times before the partners linked arms. Orys swung Cori'iana on his arm several times before they returned to their respective circles. Then, the outer circle moved to the inside and the inner circle moved to the outside.

It was then that Cori'iana caught a glimpse of a figure in a dark hooded robe standing on the grass in a small park. Cori'iana continued to follow the dance, going around the inner circle with her hand clasped to those beside her. But her gaze never left the figure that seemed to be watching her.

Each dancer had a new partner to link arms with. Cori'iana's new partner was Tohnaanes. And despite how handsome the man was and the fact that he was a childhood crush, her eyes never left the figure in the distance. It seemed to smile and beckon her to come.

The figure then pulled its hood back a bit, ever so slightly revealing its face. A smiling face that Cori'iana had seen many times in her dreams.

It couldn't be him, could it?

But Cori'ana/s heart told her that it was him. She didn't know how or why, but she could sense it was him. For the first time since he left, she finally felt safe.

_____· .⋆

Author's Note: If you blinked at the end there, you missed Obi-Wan. haha. Don't worry, the next chapter is ALL Obi-Wan.  It was getting a little long - over 7K words, oops! - so I decided to split it to make it easier for the readers. The next chapter is written, it just needs to be edited. So I'm hoping in the next few days to get it posted.

I'm having SO much fun writing this fic. I've never had such an extended cast before, but MissHiraeth98 convinced me. It's so much fun! But not to worry, we're getting to the canon-ish stuff soon. :) I would

As a heads-up, I get to have my tonsils removed and a have small procedure done on my nose at some point in the upcoming future. I'm going to attempt to write ahead, but we shall see what happens because that also means I have to prep my classroom ahead. Just wanted to let you know in advance if I go "dark" for a bit.

Shoutout to those who commented on the last chapter:  

Darth-Caillic _____· .⋆ MM1776 _____· .⋆ ninjasawakendmystar _____·.⋆   Oneirataxia_girl _____· .⋆ starryeyes2000 _____· .⋆ Winter326 _____· .⋆ wokenhardies 

Go check 'em out!