XVIII. AFTERMATH
word count: 1871

               Elia first visited the royal infirmary when she was still Alana. With her mother's job at the palace as one of Ianthe's handmaidens, the Uttara family often spent stretches of time at the palace. By the time she became Elia, she knew her way around most of the corridors and secret passages. Alana was six when she scraped her knee badly and her father brought her to be fixed up by the nurses. After thirteen years, the infirmary had not changed.

Small and sterile with a high ceiling and long windows, there were six beds in the main ward but they were seldom filled. The infirmary was operated by both Apheli humans and droids. With guards posted at the door and Artoo sitting beside her, Elia felt safe to curl up in the chair next to Oberyn's bed. Still both in their wedding gowns, Elia had pulled her legs to her chest and rested her chin on her knees as she watched a droid peel away the ruined fabric of Oberyn's white shirt and apply bandages over his wound. He grimaced and bit down on his bottom lip, huffing grumpily when the droid finished and left them alone.

"At least we don't have to get married now," Oberyn said, finding his smile despite it all.

Elia managed a chuckle. "I won't be surprised if my mother never lets anyone into the castle ever again."

"Any word of how this was even able to happen?" The attack was two hours ago now, the air still felt tense.

"I spoke with guards. Either they don't know, or they won't tell me."

Oberyn shifted how he sat, propped up against pillows, to test how much he could move his left arm without flinching (turned out it wasn't far). "I think we — you — should get away until the unrest is settled. Once the threat to Padmé is lifted, Naboo will be safe for us. This is the Queen's burden to fix."

"But I want to help. They're my people too."

Oberyn reached towards her, gently taking her two hands in his. "You can't change things overnight. Believe me, I know and I wish it could be different. You can't bear the planet's weight on your shoulders when it isn't yours to hold."

Elia chewed on her bottom lip. They were quiet for a moment. "You said nine years ago that if we were unhappy, we would run away together. Can we do that without getting married?"

"We can go at first light, if you want."

"Everyone would probably think we're eloping." Elia giggled.

Oberyn squeezed her hands tighter. "Let them think what they want. I'm not sure I ever wanted to get married in the first place. This attack was surely a sign from the gods."

"Am I that intolerable?" Elia joked, laughing.

"Never. I love you, El. I have ever since I found you trying to climb that wall–"

Elia folded her arms and put on a fake frown.. "I still think I would have made it if you had not come to distract me!"

Oberyn rolled his eyes. "And then you could have been forced to marry someone horrible." He laughed. "And you would have never seen my brother again."

It was Elia's time to roll her eyes. "I–"

"I saw how you looked at him on that altar, El. Hey, don't try denying it now. I think it's funny. Frankly, I'm not even offended."

Elia swatted at his uninjured arm.

"Let your mother do whatever damage control she sees fit. But how I see it, we're both free now. If you need to find Anakin and talk to him, go." A grin formed on his face. "I'll just hit him later."

"But Anakin is a Jedi. I can't. It isn't right."

Oberyn laughed, only stopped when he flinched after shaking his left shoulder too much. "Even as a kid, Anakin wasn't too fond of rules.

Elia gave a short chuckle. "And you were always a stickler for them?"

"You wish." Oberyn gave her a gentle push to get Elia out of her chair. "Now, go and talk to my brother. I know he's insufferable, but you've been making eyes at him since you were fourteen. And I don't want you to be miserable on our fake honeymoon."

"I'll hit you again," Elia warned but she was unable to stop a smile from taking hold. "But you'll always be my favourite Skywalker."

She rose from her seat and turned to Artoo, crouching down in front of her droid. "Keep him safe for me. And make sure he doesn't do anything silly."

Artoo trilled and swung back and forth as if nodding in acceptance of his new job.

Elia left the infirmary. She didn't even know where Anakin would be. Was she crazy for doing this? Her head said yes: flashing memories of the last two weeks at her. But her heart said no: sending butterflies to her stomach, reminding her of that summer so long ago and almost as many fair moments of the last two weeks. Anakin's confession to her had been honest, Elia could feel it — but she was equally as ready to test it.

Halfway towards where she knew Anakin's quarters lay, Elia was stopped in her tracks. In her haste, the skirt of her wedding dress billowing like a cloud beneath her waist, she almost tumbled headfirst into someone.

A woman was before her — statuesque with a beauty that felt like a cold summer. Her pale blonde curls tumbled to her waist and were streaked with silver. Piercing, opalescent eyes glimmered as her thin lips curved into a smile when she recognised Elia.

"My apologies, I'm so sorry." Elia dropped into a small curtsey, a flustered warmth rising in her cheeks.

The older woman laughed, a noise softer than Elia was anticipating due to her sharp features. "Elia Valarys, the runaway bride. My, you are an interesting little dove. I should be the one bowing to you." She extended a hand to the Princess. "Viserra Palpatine. I've known your fiancé for a long time."

Elia knew of the Chancellor's younger sister. But in all her summers visiting Naboo and trips to the Palpatine family's estate, Convergence with her royal family, she was surprised she had not met — or truly seen — the Chancellor's sister before. "I'm glad you could visit Aphelion. And I'm even more glad you made it out of the ceremony safely."

"You're very polite for a princess," Viserra marvelled. "My heart broke watching Oberyn get hurt. An attack against the Crown of Aphelion and Naboo. And with the attempts against the senators too..." She shuddered and shook her head gravely. "Has your mother's security determined who was behind this? I would not be surprised if it was all connected."

Elia thought of the night at Kaldani Spires: the bounty hunter could have killed her. Should have killed her twice. The assassin did not fear that the Jedi were in the next room. Was it a warning? Her memories of the protest at Nolwenn had grown hazy, but they had all cowered when Anakin lit his lightsaber. The interloper at the ceremony carried themself differently: fearless, and their aim at Elia would have hit true if Oberyn had not shielded her, but they wore the mark of the protestors. Apheli were supposed to be peaceful people. None of them would travel to Coruscant to attack senators. Surely none of them would attack a royal wedding. Nothing will ever change. Fear could drive people to do wicked things. (Smoke filled her lungs as she thought about Arius running into the flames that night.)

"I came in my brother's stead," Viserra continued over Elia's quiet contemplation. "I wouldn't have missed this day for the world. Would you walk with me?"

Elia hesitated. Her legs itched to run. But if what she hoped was true, she had all the time in the world. Elia fell into step beside Viserra.

"It is a hard thing to be a woman in our world," Viserra said. They walked to a window that overlooked the palace gardens, which were being patrolled by guards. "We are always overlooked because of a man's greater shadow." Elia supposed Viserra was talking about her brother. It could not be easy to live with someone like that. Elia bit against the inside of her lips, she was lucky she had never been put in such a position.

They continued their conversation, with Viserra sharing advice that Elia felt too young to understand.

✶

Oberyn sat back against the pillows of his bed, flicking through ten different articles from his council on Naboo that needed his attention. But he put it all aside as soon as Anakin came inside. Oberyn glanced at the chronometer above the infirmary door — Elia had not left that long ago. Had things gone well? The young King's eager expression faded when he saw his brother's stricken face.

"Anakin, what's the matter?" he asked, sitting up straighter.

"Do you remember when I told you about the dreams I was having?"

Oberyn paused and nodded. It had been almost a week ago when Anakin had sought him out in the middle of the night. Anakin recalled his sleepless nights to his brother, which made Oberyn bitterly aware of how little he understood of the Force. The last Oberyn had heard of their mother was five years ago. He only heard whisperings from Sabé — Padmé's former handmaiden and decoy from when she was Queen — and Athena from their trips to Tatooine trying desperately to help free slaves (the job Fallon Uttara had started).

In the royal gardens under Aphelion's twin moons, Oberyn promised his brother that they would go find their mother as soon as their immediate duties were relieved. But looking in Anakin's eyes, Oberyn felt twelve years old again and the sand was starting to pull him under.

"Mom is in trouble — I feel it stronger than ever. I'm going to Tatooine to find her."

Oberyn pushed himself out of bed, wincing when he put pressure on his left arm. He'd need a new shirt, and a better cover up for the desert. "Let me change and I'll come with you."

Anakin shook his head and blocked his brother from moving any further. "No. You're hurt. Rhea is coming with me."

Oberyn frowned. "She's my mother too."

Anakin surrendered and stepped back. Oberyn hailed a medical droid to fetch him paper to leave a note for Elia when she came back — they would have to catch up later. Which reminded him there was a fresh set of clothes tucked in his nightstand.

"I'm coming too," Artoo chittered.

The Skywalker boys chuckled. "After you've spent nine years complaining about Tatooine more than us?" Oberyn asked.

"Alana said to not let you do anything silly," the droid replied. "And we'll need Fallon."

Artoo was the only one who Fallon frequently transmitted to, the one who could get in contact with her easiest. The droid was truly invaluable — Fallon and the kids' safety depended on him. But it was true: they would need him and Fallon if they had any hope of finding Shmi Skywalker on the barren sands of Tatooine.

✶

AUTHOR'S NOTE

another short one (im sorry 😭😭) i also completely forgot to post this oops. only two more chapters of aotc and we never have to think about this shit ever again!!! 😁