Padme was sitting on the balcony that overlooked the ocean, when there was a commotion, coming from inside the apartment. Her silence was broken by the one person that she did not want to be around.
“What is this about, you not wanting to have dinner with me and my family, along with a couple of friends?” Prince Branndyn came over to Padme and glared down at her.
“I am not feeling too well and am also not hungry.” Padme replied, and just kept looking straight ahead, watching a few dolphin-like creatures, surfacing the water as they feed on the fish.
“Then, I will send a doctor here to check you out. If he says there is something wrong, then you can have dinner here, but if he cannot find anything wrong, then you will come and have dinner with us. Do I make myself clear, my dear Senator?” Prince Branndyn came closer to the Padme and grabbed behind her neck and squeezed.
“I will not have dinner with you or your family.” Padme looked up at him.
“You will do what I said, or I will . . .” Branndyn started to say.
“You will do what? Beat me, put a shock bracelet on me? You see, I know about your dirty little secret.” Padme jerked her body away from him.
“What do you know about that?” he had a huge shock on his face, when he learned that she knew about his business.
"Am not that stupid. I have seen the bracelets on your servants or should I say slaves. That is one thing I will not stand for, because slavery is so very wrong.” Padme got up and was heading for the railing of the balcony, when Branndyn grabbed her by the arm.
“I do not care how you found out, but I can tell you, that you will get dressed and join my family and guests for dinner. If you say one word, on what you know, then you will be so very sorry.” He dragged Padme into the apartment, through the living area and into the bedroom.
Branndyn kicked at the door and went into the room, as he pulled Padme behind him. Going over to the bed, he roughly pushed her towards it, in which she fell down onto the floor next to it.
“You will pay for this and I will never do anything you want me to do.” Padme slowly climbed upwards on the bed.
“Oh yes, you will do what I tell you. It is you who will pay, now get up.” Branndyn came up to her and pulled her up to her feet.
“Oh, you are so very wrong . . .” Padme began to say, until she felt the sting across her right side of her face.
“I am not playing around, Senator. You will put this dress on and act like a dutiful soon to be Princess and if you do not, then I will sell you into slavery. Good, Melaka, get the Senator ready for my dinner party. I will have a guard bring you downstairs in twenty minutes.” Branndyn moved away from Padme and looked at the scared slave girl, who came into the room.
Padme was back on the floor, with tears rolling down her face. She had total hatred burning in her eyes, as she watched the Prince walk out of the bedroom.
“Oh Milady, are you ok?” the young girl came up to Padme and helped her up.
“Am fine, thank you. I just wish my friends would hurry up and get here. I will make sure that His Highness and his family are punished for what they are doing. In the meantime, I must be dutiful.” Padme gave the young slave girl a smile, before she went over to her closet and saw the dress hanging on the door.
With Mekala’s help, Padme had just finished getting dressed, as there was a knock on the door. It was the guard standing there, waiting for Padme to come with him.
Padme nodded to Mekala, before stepping out of the room and following the guard down the stairs to the dining room, where Prince Branndyn, his family and four guests were, which also included the Prime Minister.
“Ah, there she is, my bride-to-be, Senator Amidala.” Branndyn stood up from the end of the long table and held out his hand to Padme.
The only thing that Padme could do was smile and nod her head to the people that were sitting around the table. Taking Branndyn’s hand, he led her to the seat next to him.
“Sorry, that I was not here earlier. I was feeling a little under the weather.” Padme smiled, as she sat down in the chair that Branndyn held out for her.
Everyone just nodded their heads and wished that she is feeling better. Then, the slaves came out of the kitchen and began serving the food to the guests. Three hours later, Padme was finally back in her room. She got undressed and put on her night gown, before stepping out onto the balcony and looking at the two moons.
“Where are you, Anakin?” Padme whispered, as tears began rolling down her face.
Turning back around, she went back inside and headed for the bedroom. She climbed into a very lonely bed and for the first time, in a very long time, she cried herself asleep.