Chapter Ten

"We'll split up," Obi Wan told Anakin. "We have a lot of ground to cover. It will be more efficient that way."

Surprisingly, Anakin felt his confidence slip.

"But Master...if I should find her first, how will I be able to stop her? Alone, that is?"

Obi Wan faced his apprentice. He put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Trust your abilities, Anakin. Rely on your training and let the Force guide you." He could still see a hint of uncertainty in the boy's eyes. "I'll be with you. You'll be able to feel our connection even though we are physically apart. Trust me." He paused and took a deep breath. "Go now. The Force will be with you."

Obi Wan turned, but Anakin suddenly seized his arm.

"Master! My dream! I must tell you my dream."

Obi Wan knew Anakin must believe his dream held some significance if he insisted on relaying it to him now of all times.

"Tell me then," he urged the boy.

Anakin hurriedly sorted through the details of his dream. "In it, there was this evil. An unseen evil. From an unexpected source. You and I and Tamerlane were all fighting. We wanted to fight the unknown evil but instead we fought each other. The evil had distracted us this way until it could get away." He paused for a breath. "When I couldn't fight anymore, the evil was able to steal something good from us. None of us realized it until it was too late. The evil got away. Something precious to us was taken."

Obi Wan stood unmoving for a moment, digesting the information Anakin had just told him. "Of course, the queen," he said. "We'll need to ensure her safety."

Anakin smiled gratefully. Obi Wan turned and sprinted up the hall.

"Ahh, exsqueeze me, Anny, butta whatta mesa ta do when yousa all fightin da evilles?" Jar Jar inquired.

Anakin thought quickly. "The guards, Jar Jar! Someone should alert the guards! Tamerlane and her companion must be found."

"Oh moi moi!" the Gungan exclaimed excitedly as he bounded off in the opposite direction. "Dis iss bombad jus lika beefor!!"

Anakin grinned, then whirled around and headed for the queen's private chambers.

Tamerlane walked briskly passed the hall which led to the throne room. She had decided to inform the captain of the guard of DiArta's thieving and then hopefully, in the ensuing melee' that was likely to follow, she'd be able to slip away unnoticed.

The Force was crackling with energy. She tapped into it, fine tuning all her senses to acknowledge everything around her. By doing so, she sensed the two jedi knights long before actually seeing them. Their combined power was impressive and intimidating, to say the least. They were drawing freely from the Force, amassing its strength.

Tamerlane slowed, gliding along the wall while trying to look inconspicuous to the occasional courtier who happened by.

The jedi were near. She had to leave this area before they located her. The thought of having to confront them was unnerving at best. She toyed briefly with the idea of leaving the palace without speaking to the guards, but DiArta was right about one thing, she was still bound to the jedi code of ethics and sense of honor. She would not let the Maschan rob the palace, even if it meant exposing herself.

The sensation of the two jedi she felt wavered slightly and divided. This told her they had separated. Tamerlane wasn't sure if this was especially good or bad.

Tamerlane stopped walking and pressed herself against the wall behind a pillar. She wondered who these jedi were and if they were actually here in pursuit of her. Maybe they were here on a mission totally unrelated to her. She hoped, but doubted it. There was no trouble in Theed worthy of their attention except her. And now DiArta.

Tamerlane started walking again, stretching out with the Force, concentrating hard to try to locate the positions of the two jedi. It became harder since they had split up. Their lifeforce was not as obvious as it had been before. One of them was definately moving away but the other was close. Very close.

She began to wonder what would really happen to her if they found her. She knew for a fact she would be hauled back to Coruscant and subjected to punishment. But maybe she would only be forced to surrender her lightsaber. But then maybe, they would sentence her to death like DiArta had said for even considering training outside the order.

She stopped walking suddenly. A sensed presence striking her like a blow to the face. She turned and looked behind her. There, at the opposite end of the hall a lone figure seemed to materialize before her eyes. Tamerlane gasped.

The jedi continued calmly walking towards her, his long mahogany colored cloak swayed gently at his heels, making his stride appear fluid and graceful.

Tamerlane inadvertantly began backing away from him. The jedi knight slowed deliberately, sizing up the situation. The force began to flow between them allowing them a connection all jedi shared.

Tamerlane's heart began pounding. She licked her lips nervously and placed her hand on the hilt of her lightsaber. "Don't come any closer," she warned him.

The jedi obeyed, slowing to a stop. His icy blue eyes locked on hers with an intensity Tamerlane found mesmerizing. She stared back at him and stood her ground, summoning the courage to respond if he chose to challenge her.

"I know what you want," she began sharply. "You've come to arrest me."

The jedi knight shook his head slowly. "No." He took a moment to let her feel his sincerity through their connection. "You've nothing to fear from me, Tamerlane. I've only came to bring you back home."

His voice was soothingly deep and melodic and Tamerlane's tension eased somewhat. She took a deep steadying breath. "Please, just leave me alone," she whispered.

"Tamerlane--"

"No! I'm not going back. I'm never going back there. I'll never be able to live down the shame I've brought on myself. So just leave me alone!" For emphasis more than anything, she drew her lightsaber and activated it. Her face became illuminated with its white gold light.

The jedi merely sighed heavily and shook his head. "Don't make me fight you," he said wearily and without the slightest trace of concern in his voice. "It's inane for you to even suggest such a thing. You can't beat me. I'll win."

Tamerlane found his arrogance infuriating. "Is that so?" she spat. "I think you might be in for a surprise." She lunged at him and he jumped back. He seemed surprised at least, that she was actually following through with her threat. He regarded her through narrowed eyes and reluctantly drew his lightsaber, circling to her left.

"This is pointless," he told her, irritation edging his voice.

Tamerlane struck at him again but he parried and shoved her away from him with his free hand.

"Caught you off guard there, didn't I?" Tamerlane teased.

The jedi smiled slyly. "Hardly." He swung at her ankles and she was forced to jump high to avoid his blade. "I really don't want to hurt you," he went on as they circled each other. "But if you insist on baiting me, I'll have no choice but to teach you a lesson."

Tamerlane shook her head. "In fencing perhaps?" She lunged and released a flurry of blows directed at him. He blocked each strike with his own blade, the sabers locking together and sizzling with lethal energy.

"I do have a reputation as an accomplished duelist," he informed.

Tamerlane grinned. "Do tell..." She lunged at him once more.

Anakin was running, not knowing where he was going exactly, but trusting the Force to take him where he needed to be.

He turned down one corridor and then the next and found himself in a series of spacious rooms. The oppulent furnishings and the crest on the wall told him he had found the royal apartments. He spied a closed door and strode purposefully towards it. Before he reached it, a handmaiden whom Anakin did not recognize came out. She spied Anakin and stopped, blocking his path.

"Who are you?" she demanded. "What is your business here?"

"My name is Anakin Skywalker. I need to see Her Majesty," he began, but the handmaiden refused to move. "Just tell her I'm here. I must be allowed to speak with her."

"Her Majesty is not receiving anyone at this time," the handmaiden countered.

Anakin could feel an intense fear coming from inside her, although outwardly she appeared confident and calm.

"I need to know if she's all right. Please tell her I'm here. I know she'll want to see me."

The handmaiden glanced behind her at the door. She folded her arms across her chest defiantly and stood her ground. "No one is getting through that door."

Anakin eyed her warily. "What do you mean by no one? Are you expecting someone beside me trying to get in?"

The handmaiden didn't answer. Anakin sighed. He didn't like the idea of having to resort to jedi mind control, but presently saw no other option.

"What's your name?" he asked quietly.

She seemed surprised that he would ask such a thing.

"Charne'."

"How pretty," Anakin smiled. He raised his hand slowly and passed it once in front of her eyes. "Now Charne', you will take me in to see Her Majesty without further delay."

The handmaiden looked away as if suddenly deep in thought. "I will take you to Her Majesty without further delay," she repeated automatically.

Elated, Anakin struggled to keep concentrating. He could barely believe he had actually been able to pull such a thing off considering he had never actually tried it on anyone before.

The door opened and Anakin followed Charne' inside. At first glance, nothing appeared out of the ordinary. Amidala was not there however, but Sabe' was dressed in royal robes with another handmaiden standing beside her. She stood up and looked at Anakin in shock.

"Anakin? Anakin Skywalker? Is that really you?" Sabe' asked breathlessly.

Anakin was grateful he was at last recognized. "Yes, it's me." He looked around quickly.

"Well, what are you doing here?" Sabe' continued.

Anakin shook his head. "I don't have time to explain all that. I need to find Amidala. Is she here?"

Sabe' gestured behind her. "She just left, out the back way."

It suddenly occurred to Anakin that Sabe' was not dressed as a handmaiden and that only meant one thing. She was once again acting as a decoy. But for what? Or who?

Anakin bit his lower lip and crossed the room to where Sabe' had directed. "I have reason to believe Her Majesty may be in danger," he began to explain.

Sabe' simply nodded. "We know. That is why she left. If you hurry, you'll find her. But don't worry, Rabe' and the other jedi went with her."

Anakin faced her, alarmed. "Tamerlane? Tall, blonde, pretty?"

Sabe' shook her head. "No, the apprentice."

Anakin inhaled sharply. "Tamerlane is the apprentice."

"Her Majesty was right then. She thought it was odd that the jedi who claimed to be the master was the one wearing the braid." Sabe' exchanged worried glances with the other handmaidens.

Anakin dashed towards the back door.