It was a relatively nice day in the City of Theed, on Naboo. The sun blazed up high in the sky, and only a few white puffy clouds adorned the otherwise empty blue sky.

But Leia Organa Solo took no notice of what was above her, she simply gazed intently down at the towering waterfalls from a gargantuan window in the Royal Palace of Theed.

How she had gotten into the Palace was easy to explain, she was a Jedi Master, and a high ranking NR official, she was quite welcome to enter the nonpublic sections of the grand building.

But why she was here was not so obvious. In fact, it was completely a mystery.

Even to Amalia, whom she had sent for to meet her here in a few more minutes. She tucked her hands into the opposite sleeves of her robe.

And waited.

Amalia slowly ascended just one of the many sets of stairs that filled the Royal Palace of Theed.

It was not often that Amalia found herself in such a grand, magnificent, looking place such as the palace.

In fact, her purpose for being here was an unknown revelation. She had been called to the palace, not at all knowing why.

The person who had saught her presence stood in very plain view of Amalia's sight now, her back was turned toward Amalia. She stood just a foot or so away.

That is where Amalia stopped. She did not speak, but simply waited in silence, so as to not disturb the Jedi Master, knowing that Leia would feel her presence near soon enough.

Leia had been aware of Amalia's approach, and had been tracking it through the Force. But as many Jedi tended to do, she did not turn to greet the new arrival until Amalia had stopped at her desired place and stood patiently.

All at once a bright smile crossed Leia's face, and she turned around and engulfed Amalia in a hug. The action, it's suddeness, or both may have surprised the other.... or not.

After a moment Leia pulled back so that she could look Amalia in the eye and speak.

"It's so good to see you again, we haven't met 'unofficially' in.... forever."

Leia moved away from Amalia and went back to the window, gestured at it and the view it provided.

"Unfortunately my stay here will be brief, I have a planned departure in only a few hours..... I have to get back to Corellia, though I don't know why they want me, when I get there they don't have anything for me to do... at any rate, I don't have that much time to waste at the moment, though that will change the moment I step foot on that transport..."

She snorted derisively.

"Anyways, what I meant to be talking to you about, well, rather asking, is that we are rather behind the times, and I can't stay here because 'they say so'....

Want to go to Corellia?"

Leia's sudden amiable gesture toward Amalia had caught her off guard, she was a little baffled at first but only for a second or two before the feeling wavered away, and a small smile fell on her lips.

She watched as Leia moved away from her and back toward the window. Leia started to speak, as she did so, disappointment set in for Amalia. After the word unfortunately, Amalia's hearing somewhat strayed from it's speaker's words. This action did not last for long as her sense of hearing soon found its respectful place back toward Leia, listening attentively. She knew rightfully so that she at least owed Leia the respect she deserved, although she cared not to press on because of the sudden dissatisfaction which she now hid from Leia.

Her disappointment was soon thereafter replaced with utter surprise and a touch of gratification when Leia had paused to ask her if she wanted to go along with her. From the conversation that had taken place, Amalia had only expected her to say that her visit with Amalia now would be short and brief, as it so often was, but that was not to be made true just for the sheer question that had passed from Leia's lips and into Amalia's ears.

"I..uh...With you?!"

Amalia seemed a little dumbfounded too, and it showed.

"..I...alright..."

She didn't say anything else, her mind was still trying to process and fathom what Leia had just asked her, her face expressing a small hint of wonder as she looked at Leia.

Leia smirked and crossed her arms, an eyebrow quirked as she surveyed the befuddled Amalia. She had caught many of the changes Amalia had undergone all the while she had been speaking.

"It <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> has<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> been a while.... hasn't it?"

With an odd subtlety Leia glided from where she had been standing, brushed past Amalia, and began to inch down the hall, the sarcastic edged humor so characteristic of Leia fading to seriousness again.

"I know it's a rather sizeable question for such short notice, but..."

Leia shrugged, not really knowing what else to say on that particular matter. The warm and easy smile returned to her expression.

"Would you like company while you gather your things? I really don't have much to do before departure and could lend a hand if you wished"

Amalia gathered now, that Leia could easily sense and had taken note of all her displays of hidden behavior, and even her not so hidden expressions.

Can't fool you, I see...

She turned and followed Leia down the hall, although lagging behind somewhat, only due to the fact that she was deep in thought, thinking of Leia.

Leia's behavior seemed to be disturbing her a great deal. Though it was normal behavior for Leia, it wasn't something Amalia was used to, or behavior Amalia was supposed to know and remember at least.

Her mind suddenly wandered back to the present as she found herself catching back up to Leia, catching her firmly by the arm as she did so, turning her around to get her attention. Her face grew extremely serious as she looked at Leia, one thing on her mind.

It's not the question that disturbs me, it is you...

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> It's not the question that disturbs me, it is you...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

Leia pursed her lips into a thin line, nodded gravely.

Somehow she had known for a while, the last time she had spoken with Amalia for more than a five minute time span, Amalia had seemed uncomfortable then as well. But Leia had not pieced together what she knew to arrive at a conclusion.

Well, that in itself was a problem.

Leia could only begin to venture as to what troubled Amalia and why, because as far as Leia knew, she hadn't changed how she acted anytime recently.... so she could not comprehend what Amalia would see that was any different from before.

Unless....

Leia met Amalia's eye with an even gaze.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> You don't know Leia, do you? You know Master.... and Master never acted like this, did she?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

The flicker Leia caught from Amalia was enough to verify the truth in her idea, she was sure Amalia was drawing the same conclusions about her in her own mind.

Now Leia reached out and gently but just as firmly took Amalia's elbow.

"I didn't know exactly why I knew I should ask, I just knew it was what needed to be done at the time. Maybe the asking itself is a nonissue, but what it will bring as a result of being carried through... could not possibly be measured.

...Already I have learned more than I ever would have given I had not asked you to come here today.

And yet, I feel that is only the beginning. I know you, yet I don't... You know me, but not as Leia, the normal person. That cannot be, it must change.

Leia simply quit speaking, let go of Amalia's elbow, and resumed walking. Amalia was following behind. Leia knew this, because they were communicating now through a special bond in the Force that had been formed long ago.

But had not been used nearly enough in the recent past times.

Amalia did not respond to Leia for a moment or two, her mind seemed to be thinking of too many thoughts at once, questions were mixed in with her own thoughts.

She softly bit down on her lower lip after a time, frustrated with her own thoughts, thoughts that should not have been in her own mind. Her thoughts were filled with doubts, confusion, emptiness.


The question was indeed a nonissue, at least for Amalia, anyway. She gained nothing from the question itself, except maybe for a small enlightenment that Leia somehow, in some small way, now understood Amalia's own troubled thoughts.

It's who you are...but I don't recognize any of it. I don't understand it. I knew you once before, well, a little better than I do now, anyway. Now..Now I don't know you at all.

She did not like having to walk and talk at the same time, but she knew there was only so much time before Leia needed to be on her way. She wondered though, if Leia would have the time, after all, Leia didn't even know what she was be called for. She realized at that moment why she didn't know Leia, and a part of her....grew annoyed.

Can't you stop?!...

Her words came out, the annoyance she felt, made evident and clear in Leia's mind.

Her eyes narrowed in frustration and she stopped walking, her eyes on Leia.

Her next words were much more softer, her feelings and tone of annoyance were replaced with sadness.

...For a little while?...

She already knew the answer...

If there was one thing Amalia knew very well about Leia, it was the schedule she had and how she fulfilled it. Amalia had grown into her own busy schedule, but she always tried to manage her time equally, just as Leia did. Perhaps she had more time than Leia herself was ever given, and she knew it wasn't Leia's fault for the way things were now, it was just how it was. It was the consequences that occurred because of lack of time that made things difficult for Amalia.

I'm sorry...

She continued to walk once again, though more slowly this time, wishing that she could know how to tolerate the consequences that came her way.

Leia heaved a resigned sigh, started walking again. She was battling off the effects of her own frustration at well, everything.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> There is no need for you to be sorry, for either of us to be.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

She could not help her schedule, and Amalia knew that. However frustrating it was at times for both parties, Leia still had to follow it, it was her life and she knew no other way, would have no other way.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Once we are on the transfer shuttle to the... well, my stateship, there will be plenty of time to slow down, we just can't do that at this instant. No, I don't know why I am being summoned, but I do know that only my presence is wanted, they don't have any work for me to do. I may have to do a few things while I am there, but for the most part I know my time will be free.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

They had finally reached the main doors of the Palace, and Leia stepped through them out into the warm sunlight. Amalia was quite a ways behind her, having deliberately slowed her pace, and Leia stopped to wait on her to catch up.

Amalia quickened her pace when she no longer saw Leia in view, knowing that she had lagged behind for far too long.

She did not respond back to Leia, she was not being, nor trying to be rude, she just had nothing to say.

After a few moments, Leia's presence finally came into Amalia's view once again as she stepped outside only to find Leia standing there waiting for her. This was not surprising to Amalia, as Leia often waited for her.

She stopped walking only for the fact that Leia had not yet ressumed walking herself.

"Why did you have me meet you here, of all places?"