A week later, Padme and Anakin took a watercraft to Theed, so they could get a ship from the palace hanger bay. After a thirty-minute ride from the lake house, they finally docked, just outside the city gates. There was a royal speeder waiting for them.
" Good morning, Milady and Sir. Your cruiser is ready for you and we will be taking off, once you and your bodyguard is on board." one of the palace security guards said, when he held open the door of the speeder for the two passengers.
" Thank you, Captain. Once we are on board the ship, could you please go over the security plans with Jedi Skywalker?" Padme said as she boarded the speeder with Anakin getting in beside her.
" Yes, Milady ... Captain Panaka here." the Captain answered his com-link.
" Captain, this is Kelme. I need to inform you that there is a slight change of plans. Please bring the Senator and Jedi straight to the Palace." the voice said.
" Roger that. We should be there in about five minutes." Panaka said.
" See you soon, Captain." the voice said, before the com-link went silence.
" I'm sorry, Milady, but there seems to be a slight change of plans. You are to go straight to the Palace first. I don't know why." Panaka said, as the driver speed off towards the Palace.
" I understand." Padme said, sitting back and relaxing, as they sped through the gates and town.
" The Jedi Council has told me that there will be a cruiser orbiting the planet, just in case something happens and the Senator needs to get off the planet, should we need too." Anakin said.
" Ok. That sounds like a plan to me. What you need to do is stay very close to the Senator. If you can read these people, then please do, so that way, you may keep one step head of them." Panaka said, as he stared at him straight in the eyes, to let him know that what he says is true.
They arrived at the Palace and Panaka opened the door to the speeder and got out, so he could help Padme and Anakin out of the speeder. Once out of the speeder, they walked inside the Palace and standing in the great hall, was one of the Queen's handmaidens.
" Senator Amidala, it's so great to see you again. Oh, and who is this?" the Queen's handmaiden asked, as she saw Anakin standing right next to Padme.
" Oh, sorry, Kelme. This is Jedi Anakin Skywalker. He is acting as my bodyguard, while I'm here, and when I leave for this mission that I'm about to go on." Padme said, introducing Anakin and the Handmaiden.
" It's a pleasure to meet you, sir." Kelme bowed her head to Anakin.
" Same here." Anakin bowed his head back.
" Please follow me. Her Majesty is waiting for you both in her private chambers." Kelme turned and began to lead them through the hallway and up the stairs, to the Queen's private chambers.
Stopping at the double doors, the handmaiden knocked on the door. It slowly opened,and the head of the elite handmaidens bowed her head, as the Senator and Jedi came into the room. She closed the door, so that no one would hear what they are going to talk about.
" I hope that the Jedi Council briefed you on your mission, Jedi Skywalker"
" Yes, ma'am. They did. They also let me know that there will be a ship orbiting the planet, just in case, we have to get the Senator off the planet really fast." Anakin said.
" That's good to hear, because you never know how these things will go. Mostly, when these are two cultures that have been at war with each other, for over 50 years." The Queen said.
" I'm just glad to know that they want to join us in our fight against the Separatist." Padme said.
" Yes, me too. I'm also glad to see that you are well, because when I heard what happened, I was so worried that you were hurt really bad." The Queen said, looking out the window that over looked one of the waterfalls.
" Thanks, but I was hurt really bad. I still have the scars across my back where the claws slashed me. Anakin, lost part of his arm. I believe we better get going, because its going to be a very long flight." Padme said.
" Yes, of course. I'm sorry to hear about our arm, Anakin. We better get you going. Have a save trip and let me know how things are going." The Queen said.
Both Anakin and Padme bowed their heads and they headed for the double doors that led out of the private chambers. Walking down the hallway, they came across some pictures, that lined the hallway.
" There, you are." Anakin said, stopping in front of the painting of Padme, when she was the Queen of Naboo.
" I remember when that painting was painted. Man, I hated that head piece, because it was so heavy and it gave me a nasty headache." Padme said, smiling as she remembered that day.
" I bet it was. I remember seeing you in some of those head dresses." Anakin said.
" Well, come on. We need to get to going, Ani." Padme said, taking Anakin's hand and pulling him away from the picture.
They headed down the hallway, before coming to the door that leads to the hanger bay, where their cruiser was waiting for them.
" Senator, I'm glad to see that you are doing better. We were so worried about you." Captain Typho said, as Padme and Anakin stepped into the hanger bay.
" Thanks, Captain. It's nice to see you again too. You remember Jedi Skywalker." Padme said, as she stopped in front of the captain.
" Yes. It's good to see you too, Jedi Skywalker." Typho said, as he looked Anakin up and down.
" Same here. We need to get going, Senator." Anakin said, taking Padme by the elbow and leading her towards the ramp of the ship.
" Well, if you all excuse me, I think I'm going to lay down for a couple of hours." Padme said, once they were on board the ship.
" I will let you know, when we are twenty minutes from Felineoid." Typho said, before heading for the cockpit.
Padme headed for her private quarters. Walking into the room, she shut the door and when she turned around, to her surprise, she saw both Dorme and Sabe standing in the room.
" Padme, it's great to see you! I was so worried, when I got word that you had gotten hurt, and that you were at the Jedi Temple, getting medical treatment there." Dorme said.
" It was pretty rough for a couple of days. Sabe, what are you doing here? I thought you retired to the country?" Padme said, when she saw her old bodyguard and decoy.
" Well, I have some business on Coruscant." Sabe said.
" Oh, I see. Well, I really hate to say this, but I really would like to lay down and get some sleep. Please don't be upset that I just want to be left alone, while we are flying to this planet. The medicine that I am taking is starting to take affect on me." Padme said.
" We understand. Well, I'm going to my quarters and lay down too." Dorme said, heading for the door.
" Me too. I'll see you later then." Sabe said, following Dorme to the door.
Before the two women could walk out of the room, Anakin showed up with Padme's bags.
" Umm ... hello, ladies. I just brought the Senator's bags." Anakin said.
" Please bring them in, Ani." Padme said, taking off her cloak.
The two handmaidens left the room and Anakin came into the room with the bags. He carried them straight into the bedroom and sat the bag down next to the bed.
"I guess I better go to the guest quarters. If you need me for anything, just call out to me." Anakin said, before he started walking over to the door.
" Ani, don't go. Please stay here with me. I have news for you. All the guest quarters are taken. If it makes you feel better, you can take the couch." Padme said, coming up to Anakin and wrapping her arms around him.
" Well, I think I'll take you up on that invite, Milady." Anakin leaned his head down and began kissing Padme, as he pulled her close to him.
Anakin picked up Padme and carried her into the bedchamber, where he took off their clothes and climbed into bed next Padme.
Pulling Padme into his arms, he held her until she fell sound asleep. Once he knew that she was asleep, he too began to fall into a very peaceful sleep, holding not only his wife but also his soulmate.