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(y/n)'s POV
"It is not fair," Ahsoka paced around my bedroom. Anakin and I sat at the end of my bed, our eyes and heads following every move, "It is not fair to be forced into this life that I did not ask for. I do not wish to marry some fool who will see me as nothing but a trophy wife as he galavants with the whores of the town." She paused her steps and faced us, tears in her eyes, "I do not want to be a royal."

I sighed, understanding where she was coming from. I do love being a Royal and I love my people and town, but it can be exhausting. What we want hardly matters and it is a situation that is unfair to most, "Unfortunately, we do not get a choice."

Listen to me, I sound like my Father.

"But why?" The tears in her eyes broke free and streamed down her cheeks until they met on her chin, "Why must it be this way? Why can I not go and do what makes me happy in this life that I live?" She placed her hand on her chest.

"I wish I had an answer," I looked away, to the floor, "And I wish things were different too. I do not believe love should be limited to a certain selection, a not very good one either." I rolled my eyes thinking about all the candidates that made me want to stick a fork in my eye. Or cover my ears to tune out their annoying singing and voices.

"Do you wish to know the..." She scrunched her face in revulsion, "Barbarian my parents have chosen for me? Lux Bonteri." She began to laugh, maniacally leaving Anakin with a nervous expression, as if she was going to lose her mind any moment, "You hear that? Him, and I do not even get a say."

Lux Bonteri is a man her and I have known since we were children. He was kind for the most part, until he got older and arrogant and now walks with a stick lodge straight up his arse — more than Anakin. There is also talk about him now being promiscuous, much like his father.

His Mother is not in the picture, she disappeared with rumors of her running to have a better, quiet, life. Not a soul blamed her.

"Who is he?" Anakin spoke for the first time during Ahsoka's crisis.

"No one worth my time," She dropped to the floor, placing her head in her hands, "I am sure he would much rather marry (y/n) than I anyway, he always had a crush on her. Like most of the boys back then." She laughed, glancing up for only a moment before covering her eyes once more.

"Perhaps back then," I stood up from the bed and walked towards her, "Now is a much different story, based on what I have heard about him. He is much too busy with tavern whores and maids to think about marriage." I knelt down beside her and placed my fingers under her chin to lift her gaze, "Maybe he does not want this as much as you. You can try talking to him to see if he can put an end to this. Him, I am sure they will listen to because apparently having male parts makes one more superior."

I wish I could help her. To end all of her tears, but my hands are tied. The only way this could not happen is if Lux calls it off, or Ahsoka's father. The second choice will likely not happen, but the first... maybe there is hope.

Before Ahsoka could respond, there was a light knock on my door, "Get in the closet," I whispered in a panic as I ushered her back to where I found her and closed the door on her worried expression. It is only a matter of time before her parents realize she is gone, and only a matter of a time before they come looking for her here. Which raises a question that I had failed to ask her, how did she get here? Because surely she was not escorted.

Once Anakin saw Ahsoka was hidden away, he answered the door, "Piett, what do you want, we are a little busy at the moment."

Piett pushed past his best friend with an annoyed look in his eyes. His clothes were in disarray and he was covered in mud. At least I hope it is mud, "Princess," He bowed to me before looking at Anakin, "You promised me that after the Princess had her dance lesson. You would come and aid me in giving the wolves a bath, more specifically, yours." He wiped the mud from his cheeks with his bare hands before cupping Anakin's cheeks and sliding his hands down to cover them with the wet dirt. I covered my mouth with wide eyes, holding in laughter, "My appearance is at the curtesy of Menace, there is even mud in my teeth."

Anakin breathed heavily through his nose and glared at Piett, "I am busy at the moment and I never said you had to start without me."

"It was getting cold." He folded his arms over his chest, "I can not bathe them when it is cold or they will get sick."

"Well I do not know what you want me to say, I got busy and—"

"It is my fault Piett," Ahsoka opened the closet, revealing herself, "I held him up with my constant rambling. I apologize on his behalf."

The once irritated stable boy shifted his composure and posture when his eyes landed on Ahsoka. He stood straight with a deep inhale and quickly wiped as much mud off of him as he could, causing it to landon my floor, "Do not apologize Lady Tano—"

"I asked you to call me Ahsoka, Piett." She corrected him politely, "And please do not tell a soul that I am here, I left my home without any authorization or an escort."

"Of course Ahsoka, your secret is safe with me," He smiled in a way I have never seen him smile before. Perhaps I did miss something because last I checked, they got on each other's nerves, now it seems one has a crush.

"Not that I do not love you or your company, but how long do you think you can hide here?" I asked, tilting my head slightly in a way to display sympathy. If it were up to me I would let her stay here indefinitely, but as soon as anyone outside of this room—not including Padme, gets a whiff of her presence, she would be sent back home immediately. I will also get the scolding of a life-time, which will be worth it to give her this temporary freedom.

"As long as I can," She sighed as reached behind her and closed the closet doors.

Piett took a step towards her with a napkin in hand that he pulled from his pocket, "Your eyes are tearing up, here," He held it towards her. She accepted it with a sniffle, "May I ask what has happened to cause you to run away from your home?"

Her lips parted, but not a word slipped from her tongue. I could see it in her eyes, she did not want to tell him. I am starting to realize that I may have missed something before. The longing stares, the flushed cheeks, the unnecessary closeness—it is like Anakin and I are looking into a mirror.

What a life, it is screwing us all.

Before anyone could say another word, there was another knock on my door. I rolled my eyes at yet another interruption, "Who is it?" I questioned before Ahsoka could rush back into the closet.

"Padme," She announced herself as she pushed opened the door without a second to spare, "It is time for you to—" She paused when her gaze landed on more people than she thought was in the room, "Get ready for bed." She finished slowly, "Ahsoka, I was not made aware that you were coming or else I would have prepared your usual room for you."

"No one knows I am here Padme, and I would like to keep it that way." Her eyes held a pleading glimmer that mixed with her sadness and tears.

Our best friend nodded, understanding swimming within her gaze, "Shall I prepare a room for you to stay in? Perhaps one that is never used and isolated?"

"No," I dismissed her offer, "You will not take part in any of this Padme. Your punishment would be much harsher than ours, you know nothing and saw nothing, understood?" I raised a brow and waited for her to agree.

Her eyes flickered to mine, her reluctance fading, "Yes Princess," She sighed to herself, "Can I at least know what is happening, why you are here?"

Ahsoka took a deep breath, "My Father's patience with me has run thin," She walked towards my bed and sat at the edge of it. Her fingers nervously picked at the fabric on her blue gown, and her eyes kept glancing in Pietts direction, "I can tell you more tomorrow after I have had some rest. For now I would like to figure out where it is that I am going to sleep."

"Why not in here?" Anakin asked.

Ahsoka stared at him with annoyed glare, "I am trying to be inconspicuous Ani. Surely staying in the Princesses bedroom is far from that."

"The King or Queen can walk in here at any moment." Piett agreed, never taking his eyes from her, "So what about the stables?"

"The stables?" She shot her head in his direction with furrowed brows, "You want me to sleep on dirt and hay like a savage?"

Piett rolled his eyes, "It is a lot cozier than it sounds, and warm. Also, if you think I do not have blankets and proper pillows then I am deeply offended. No one ever goes there but I, so you will not have to worry about unwanted visitors."

"What makes you so sure that you are not an unwanted visitor?"

He chuckled, shaking his head as he slowly stepped to my balcony doors, "Do not bite the hands that feed you," He grabbed the doors and swung them open, "So, what do you say? No one else is giving you a better option."

Personally, I liked his idea. It is isolated over there and the only ones besides Piett that find themselves there is usually just Anakin or I. It is the perfect place to hide a run away of her status.

She grimaced, "Is it dirty?"

"Again, I am deeply offended if you think I do not take proper care of my stables," He folded his arms and leaned against the door frame. Wind from outside whisked in and blew his hair slightly forward, causing a few strands to brush over his eyes that looked Ahsoka over for the third time since he has seen her.

"It is the only option you have right now Ahsoka." I agreed with Piett, "At least stay there for tonight and we can search for a better solution tomorrow."

After a few moments, she finally sighed in defeat as she stood from the bed and stopped a few feet in-front of him, "Fine, but how am I going to get there without being seen? It is late and patrol in the palace is much higher. It will be nearly impossible to not be spotted."

She has a point. There are probably two to three guards in my hallway as we speak.

Piett turned his head to look behind him, then back to her with a smirk, "How good are your climbing skills?"

Her eyes widened and she took a step back, bumping into Padme who grabbed her shoulders to steady themselves so neither would fall, "You can not be serious, what if I fall?"

The smirking stable boy held his hand out towards her, "Then, my dear Lady Tano, I will catch you." He muttered softly.

I saw something flash in her eyes. A feeling that has become familiar to me lately, adoration. And without hesitation, she placed her hand in his.

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