Jarel seemed to be everything she had ever wanted in a man. Good breeding, good looks, many of the same likes and dislikes but enough differences to be interesting. Also, he seemed to know her very well, anticipating her wants even before she knew what she herself wanted. He knew her better than she knew him and that was something she would have to rectify soon.

It was cute the way he pouted when she told him she could not see him today because of her Senatorial duties and the way he frowned when she mentioned Bruce until he realized that Bruce was her boss. To make up for taking up so much of Duvessa's time, Jarel offered to take both Bruce and Duvessa out to dinner that night so Bruce could have a good look at him. Duvessa and Bruce both accepted the invitation.

"Does this look good?" Duvessa appeared to Bruce wearing the fourth gown she had tried on in the last hour.

Bruce stifled the urge to say 'Yes, just like the last three gowns.' Instead, he considered her gown with great scrutiny. Finally, he shook his head. "I don't like this one as much as the second gown - the one with the high neckline and bare shoulders. That one was more sophisticated. This one looks... well, low class to me." He nodded to himself with a serious air, as if he had just made a major political decision.

Duvessa's eyes widened as she looked in the mirror. "You're right! I'll wear the Omegan gown." She leaned over and hugged Bruce. "Thanks! You're the best!" Then, she disappeared into her room again.

Bruce smiled to himself as he settled back with something to read. "You just gotta figured out what they need and give it to them." He muttered under his breath.

A few minutes later, Duvessa reappeared, looking elegant and beautiful. Bruce stood and smiled. "Yes. Definitely that dress." He nodded, giving her the reassurances that he knew she needed. The door chime rang. "And right on time." He said as he headed to the door.

Jarel stood there, looking as dashing and handsome as always, wearing a classic Bolerdourian formal suit. "Good evening, Sir."

"Evening Jarel." Bruce let him in.

Duvessa and Jarel smiled, exchanging greetings and chaste kisses as their hands mingled.

"Are we ready to go?" Bruce asked.

"Of course, Sir." Jarel nodded, escorting Duvessa between the two men. He was the epitome of the perfect man.

The three of them headed down the hallway towards Bruce's private car. They chatted amiably about the latest Coruscant news and favorite music. Duvessa accidentally dropped her bag with a small clatter. Both Jarel and Bruce reached for it with Bruce getting there first. There was a bit of laughter over the small incident and much joking about the possible butting of heads. Duvessa was pleased to see that Bruce was getting along with Jarel. It was important that he approved.

As they turned to continue on their way, there was a sound that could only be the sound of a blaster firing. Suddenly, Bruce was flying back from them with a gasp of pain. Jarel immediately tackled Duvessa knocking her to the floor. The blaster shots kept coming as he dragged her to the side.

"Bruce!!" Duvessa screamed, struggled against Jarel, trying to reach the unmoving form of her mentor lying on the floor.

"Duvessa, stop! You'll be shot!" Jarel pinned her against him behind cover and waited. He peeked around the corner when it was silent. "I think it's safe." Other people who had dove for cover were beginning to move as well.

Duvessa pushed Jarel off of her and scrambled to Bruce's side. "Bruce?" She touched him. He did not move. "Bruce!!" She cried, shaking him.

Jarel was at her side, checking his pulse. "He's alive."

"Somebody help us!" Duvessa was half hysterical as she leaned over Bruce's still form.

Jarel gently pulled her from Bruce's side as the Senatorial guards and medical personnel appeared, buzzing around like angry bees. Bruce was immediately sped away toward the medical center. Duvessa and Jarel were put into protective custody once it was discovered the bolt that had injured Bruce had actually passed between the couple. Any one of the three of them could have been the target.

Once everyone was in one of the Senatorial guard's office, Officer Collins identified himself as the man in charge and began to piece the incident together. Once he had a picture, he began to question Duvessa and Jarel as to who they were and if they could think of anyone who would want to harm them. The polite but necessary questioning was interrupted by another guardsman.

"Sir, we have the evidence from the scene." The man dropped off the evidence and then left.

They looked over the scant evidence - a piece of cloth and a blaster. "Who's this weapon registered to?" Officer Collins asked, looking it over after dismissing the cloth with a cursory examination.

"Punching it up now, Sir." There was a pause. "It's registered to... Aremus Trine... Senator of the Bolerdourous system." It was clear that the guard was surprised.

He was not the only one. Duvessa gasped and Jarel looked grim. "That bastard." He muttered.

"I take it that you both know him?" Collins asked, eyebrows raised.

"Unfortunately. He's the Senator for my system. We have a personal disagreement. ... Bordering on hate you might say. Also, he has an interest in Duvessa." Jarel's voice was very angry. "I was probably the target."

"Really." Collins made some notes on his datapad. "Is that true, Miss LiCidan?"

"What? That Aremus is interested in me? Um. Maybe. He did make a pass at me a couple of days ago, but I'm sure it's nothing." Duvessa blushed.

"Did you accept it?" Collins watched her steadily.

"The pass?" Duvessa frowned, her cheeks flushing more. "Of course not. I'm not that kind of girl."

Collins nodded. "And you are now seeing Mr. Vassily." She nodded. "Whom, according to him, Mr. Trine has had past negative dealings with." She nodded again. "Interesting." Collins turned to a couple of men. "Find Mr. Aremus Trine and bring him here. Remember, he is a Senator." Both men nodded and disappeared out the door. "Miss LiCidan, Mr. Vassily, I suggest you go to your quarters and stay there. I will have my men escort you."

"I'd like to stay with Duvessa." Jarel stood, holding her close.

Collins looked to Duvessa who nodded. "That's fine. Oh, Miss LiCidan, your father will be here within the hour. Luckily, he was already on his way."

"Thank you, Officer." Duvessa smiled a little. She was sure her father would be able to make everything alright again. Jarel and Duvessa were escorted up to her quarters.

Aremus was very angry by the time he was brought to Collins' office. "What is the meaning of this?" He demanded.

Collins was unruffled. "Good evening, Senator. Sorry to drag you out at this time of night. Please, have a seat." Once Aremus was seated, Collins pointed to the weapon on the table. "Do you recognize that?"

Aremus leaned forward, looking at it carefully, but not touching it. "It looks like a blaster."

"Have you ever seen one like it before?"

Aremus nodded. "Yes. It looks like one I own. A common blaster."

Collins made a note. "That is, in fact, your blaster, Senator. Registered to you. It was used in an attack on Bruce Orian, Duvessa LiCidan and Jarel Vassily." He watched Aremus' reactions very carefully.

Aremus sat back, rubbing his finger tips together as he frowned. "Were any of them hurt?"

"You tell me." Collins wrote some more.

"I don't know. This is the first I've heard of it. Was anyone hurt?" His jaw set in annoyance.

Collins ignored the question. "I see. What have you been doing this evening? Where've you been?"

He sighed. "I've been in my room, doing research.... And no, no one came to visit. I have no alibi except for the log of me being on the computer - which, of course, as you well know, can be faked."

Collins regarded with Aremus with a thoughtful air. "We'll still have to check it out."

Just then, Jules LiCidan was escorted in by a guard. He frowned upon seeing Aremus then turned to Collins. "Is my daughter alright?"

Jarel and Duvessa were curled up together on the couch. Jarel continued to comfort her, murmuring soft words and holding her close. "I won't let anyone hurt you. I promise. I won't let anyone get between. No one."

Duvessa nodded. "Are you thirsty? I am." She got up and got them both something to drink. "I just can't believe Aremus tried to kill you. I hope Bruce is going to be OK." She sighed as she leaned back and Jarel put his arm around her. "I don't think I can take much more of this."

"Poor dear. You have had it hard." He squeezed her tighter for a moment. "Facing the Senate alone the first time you have to speak. Someone trying to kidnap you. The transport car wreck. Your friend hurt. And having to deal with Aremus. I swear, I'm going to take you away from all of this."

She nodded. "I think my life has become that old curse - 'May you live in interesting times.'" She laughed a little. They sat in silence for a few moments, listening to the light music that floated through the room. Duvessa frowned as something nagged at her brain. Then, it dawned on her... "Jarel, how did you know that someone tried to kidnap me?"

He shifted next to her. "You told me, remember?"

She sat up, pulling away from him enough to look him in the face. "No... I don't. I wouldn't have told you that. I wasn't supposed to tell anyone." She bit her lower lip as she searched her memory.

Jarel smiled an easy smile. "Of course, you did. How else could I have known?" He tried to pull her close again. "Shhhhh. You've had quite the shock with Bruce being shot. I'll take care of you. I'll take care of everything."

Duvessa resisted him. "No. I want to know. How did you know about someone trying to kidnap me? I want to know now!" She knew her voice was rising to a hysterical level but she did not care. It was suddenly very, very important to her that Jarel explain this to her satisfaction.

He held onto her, not letting her go. "Duvessa," he chided. "Don't be difficult. It's not important how I know."

"Yes, it is!" She insisted and twisted out of his grasp to stand up.

Officer Collins filled Jules in on the situation - Duvessa was in her quarters with Jarel, safe and sound and Bruce was still in the medical center healing from the blaster shot to the chest. Then, he told Jules about the evidence against Aremus. Jules calmed down once he knew Duvessa was safe. He shook his head, listening intently to Collins explain the situation.

"Something's not right here." He murmured to Collins. "I know Aremus. He's smart and devious. This isn't his style. If he did this, he's a lot sloppier than I imagined. I think something different is going on here." Then, he told Collins about the poisoning of Bruce and the attempted kidnapping of his daughter three weeks earlier.

Collins listened with growing concern. "This picture is growing holes again. If it's one thing I can't stand is an unfinished puzzle."

The two men turned and contemplated Aremus. "Why is it that you don't like Mr. Vassily?" Collins asked.

"Because he's a dangerous psychopath who has no regard for laws or safety as long as he gets what he wants." Aremus looked at his nails and then polished them on his jacket. "I've had to deal with him, convincing him that he and his corporations really -do- want to follow the laws set down by the Senate." Aremus was calm and serene, but the dislike in his voice was apparent.

"What's your opinion of Duvessa LiCidan?" Collins ignored Jules' raised eyebrows.

Aremus glanced at Jules and then answered. "She is a lovely young lady with a lot of potential as a Senator. She also has lousy taste in men." He leaned forward. "You see gentlemen, I do believe Duvessa is in grave danger, but not from me."

Jarel's face hardened as he watched her pace in front of him. "You need to calm down, Duvessa."

"Stop patronizing me and answer the question!" She glared at him.

Something snapped in Jarel's eyes. Something dark and foreboding awoke within his presence. "How did I know about the kidnap attempt? I knew just like I know your favorite perfume is Darkling. Just like I know your favorite colors are black and red. Just like I know your favorite store is Ontkeanias and that you take the exact same route every time you go shopping with Marion." Jarel slowly stood, keeping his eyes locked to hers. "Just like I knew exactly where that transport car would wreak." His voice was intense. "There is nothing about you I don't know."

Duvessa listened to Jarel in horror, watching her idea of a dream man slowly morph into a nightmare. She backed away from him. "You caused the transport wreck...?" She shuddered at his answering smile. "You... you tried to have me kidnapped." It was a statement. "But why?" She was afraid of his answer but she had to know.

Jarel slowly stalked the room towards her, keeping himself between her and the door. "Why? Isn't it obvious? Because I must have you." He mused to himself. "Though, I hadn't decided if I was going to save you from the kidnapping or not. Ah, well. It's all academic anyway." Turn his gaze on her once more.

"Did you poison Bruce, too? What did you gain from that?" Duvessa worked to keep something between herself and this stranger she once thought she knew so well.

He looked confused for a moment, eyebrows furrowed. "No. Why would I do that?" He shrugged then continued to slowly close the net around her.

She looked around for a weapon, anything to protect her. "Why me? You can have any woman you want."

"Yes. I could. But, there is only one Duvessa LiCidan, daughter to Jules LiCidan, Duke of a neighboring system. With you as my wife, I consolidate my power. My family's power." He smiled the smile of a madman. "And because, I get what I want. No matter the reason."

She thought frantically to stall his advance. "I'm too much trouble. And my father will never let you get away with this."

Jarel laughed. "But I already have. Everyone has seen us together. We've been inseparable. No one will be surprised when you leave with me to visit my home. Especially after an assassination attempt. With Aremus is in custody for that, the Senatorial guard won't need to need to look any further."

"You're forgetting something." She picked up a vase.

"What's that?" He growled, eyeing her more carefully.

"You need me to cooperate!" Duvessa threw the vase at him as hard as she could and ran for the door.

"Would you care to enlighten us with what you mean by that?" Collins sat back. Jules leaned against the wall.

"I told you I was in my quarters, doing research all evening. What I was researching was the coming and goings of both Duvessa and Jarel." Aremus looked between the two men. "For the past two hundred days, they have coincided..."

"Wait." Jules interrupted Aremus. "Duvessa didn't know Jarel until six days ago."

Aremus nodded. "I know. Hear me out. As I was saying... for the past two hundred days, they have coincided... Duvessa is a Senator. It is not unusual for her to be here. However, Jarel as no reason to be here. No businesses. No contacts. Nothing I can connect to him. Yet, for the past two hundred days, he has always arrived within two days of Duvessa and left within two days of her leaving. I have all the data in my quarters if you'd like to see it."

Collins nodded. "And we'll have to talk about how you got that information..." Aremus shrugged, unconcerned.

"But why would he be interested in Duvessa?" Jules asked.

Collins and Aremus looked at him. "She's a beautiful young woman for one." Aremus answered.

"She's a Senator and he might have political motivations." Collins added.

"And, Jarel's is an obsessive madman. It makes him a very successful businessman, but a dangerous man. He once had a woman kidnapped so he could rescue her. It was his way of impressing her." Aremus scowled. "She was badly hurt in the process."

"I suppose you have documentation to back this up?" Collins asked, making more notes.

"It's a matter of public record." Aremus responded. "Though, Jarel's family immediately moved to protect him. He was never brought to trial over it. It was considered a 'prank' that had gotten a little out of control."

Jules asked Collins, interrupting Aremus. "Wait, wasn't Duvessa rescued by Jarel from the transport wreckage?"

He nodded. "Yes. And we found the transport crash to be sabotage. Someone had rigged small explosives in that car and along the rail."

"Someone from the Bolerdourous tried to have Duvessa kidnapped a few weeks ago." Jules murmured, mostly to himself, looking more and more alarmed.

"What?" Aremus stood abruptly. "Officer Collins, you have the wrong man. It's obvious I was set up. You must see that by now. Duvessa is in grave danger. You must separate her from Jarel Vassily. I tried to warn her, but she wouldn't listen to me."

Jules nodded, agreeing with Aremus. "I know it's circumstantial for now, but I want Jarel away from my daughter until Senator Trine's claims can be investigated further. Better safe than sorry."

Collins considered the two men, then agreed and grabbed his coat, ordering two of his men to go accompany them as they headed towards Duvessa's quarters.

Jarel easily dodge the vase, threw himself at Duvessa, catching her around the waist and knocking her to floor. She cried out as she hit a table, then struggled with him. She did manage to get in a few good shots before he overpowered her, entangling her in her long gown. Using her sheer shawl, he bound her hands tightly behind her back, ignoring her struggles and sounds of pain. "You will cooperate. If I have to knock you out and keep you that way until I get you home, you -will- do as I say! Once there, it won't matter anymore." He hauled her to her feet, gripping her tightly.

Duvessa began to struggle even harder, fearing that he was right. Already feeling stupid for falling for all of his tricks, she was determined to make things as difficult as possible for him now, while she tried to think of a way to escape.

He hissed in pain as she caught his instep with her heel. Slamming her to the wall, making her gasp for air, Jarel whispered harshly in her ear. "I don't want to hurt you, Duvessa. But I will if I have to." He shifted her to look in her eyes. "Things were so much easier when you didn't fight me. We can have that again. We will have that again. If you just stop fighting me."

Duvessa nodded, frightened, tears streaming down her face. "OK. OK. Don't hurt me." She pleaded.

"That's a good girl." He smiled and leaned close to kiss her.

At first, she turned away. Then, she allowed the kiss... just long enough for her to bite him hard and stomp on his foot. She wriggled away from him as he yelped in pain, holding his mouth. Duvessa ran for the door, trying to open it with her bound hands. The door was locked. She could not see the keypad well enough to punch in the unlocking code. Then, the door chime sounded. "Help! Somebody please help!" Duvessa cried.

"Duvessa?" Jules called from the other side of the door. Collins, Aremus and the guards waited in the hallway. Weapons were drawn at the sound of the young woman's cry for help.

Duvessa heard her father's voice and just started screaming, praying that he would get to her in time. "Daddy! Help! Daddy! It's Jarel. He's crazy. He..."

Jarel grabbed her from behind, covering her mouth with his hand. He pulled her from the door and slammed her into a chair. "Now, you've made me angry. Now, you've done it." He pulled out a small hold-out blaster and pointed it at her. "Don't move." He commanded.

"Duvessa! Duvessa!" Jules yelled through the door, looking very concerned. Aremus stood back, watching silently.

Collins looked at one of his men. "Get this door open now."

"Yes Sir!" The man snap out and went to work on the door lock.

Duvessa watched Jarel as he stood there, weapon in hand. She was still scared, but feeling triumphant. "You can't win. Let me go. They won't let you get past them."

"Shut up! Or so help me, I'll kill you right now." Jarel snarled, then looked at the door. He frowned, muttering to himself. "Must think. Must think of a way..." He heard the door start to move and grabbed Duvessa from the chair.

Collins was the first through the door, quickly followed by Jules and the guardsmen. Collins immediately held up his hand to halt the guardsmen when he saw Jarel standing there with a blaster to Duvessa's temple.

Jules had to restrain himself from leaping full on at the man who held his only daughter captive. Instead, he took a breath, stepped back and let the professionals do their job. Collins instructed the men to lower their weapons, his gaze not leaving the wild eyed Jarel who looked to be on the verge of panic. "Mr. Vassily, why don't you let Miss LiCidan go and we can talk about this."

"No. Why don't you and your men move over there. We wouldn't want to startled me, making me put a large hole in Duvessa's head, now would we." He pressed the barrel of the blaster tighter to her temple, making her whimper.

"You're right. We don't want to make you nervous. She's too pretty of a woman to damage like that." Collins motioned Jules and his men toward the other side of the room. "What are you going to do, Mr. Vassily?"

"I'm going to take my fiancée to my ship and then we're going to fly home." He started edging towards the door, keeping a watchful eye on them.

Collins shook his head. "That's really not a wise idea." He took a step forward, keeping his hands raised. "That would be kidnapping a Senator and a noble. It wouldn't be considered just a harmless prank that got out of control."

Jarel scowled deeply at the comment, allowing Collins the luxury of knowing he stomped on a nerve. "Back off! We're leaving now and you can't stop me!"

There was the sudden sound of a blaster and Jarel's body jerked. He lost his hold on Duvessa, who bolted towards her father. Jarel looked very surprised as he looked over his shoulder at the door.

"But I can stop you." Aremus murmured as he stood in the doorway, blaster still drawn and pointed at Jarel.

Collins and the guardsmen quickly subdued Jarel, putting him in cuffs. They were careful of his injuries but firm in keeping control of him. By the time they were ready to take Jarel away, he was his calm, wonderful seeming self again. He paused in front of Duvessa. "We could have had so much..." He smiled at her. "You'll always be my girl. Remember that."

He looked so sincere, it broke Duvessa's heart. She just turned from him, rubbing her still sore wrists.

Collins pulled Jules aside. "You realize that he'll probably be considered mentally unstable and unable to stand trial. Or his family will pull some serious strings to get him sent home."

Jules nodded with a sigh. "I know. I know."

Duvessa was left mostly alone with Aremus, who regarded her silently for a moment. "Are you alright?" He asked.

She blushed bright, nodding her head. She could not quite meet his eyes. Not yet. "Yes... thank you... for everything."

"Duvessa look at me." Aremus looked down at her as she forced herself to look up. "I am going to say 'I told you so.' Because I did. Perhaps next time, you'll listen to me."

"I'm sorry." She mumbled and looked down at her hands again, feeling miserable.

"Duvessa." She looked up at him again. "Don't you get tired of things just happening to you? Don't you want to make things happen the way you want them to?" He looked at her intently, trying to convey his message. "Aren't you tired of being a victim?" He finally saw the light in her eyes he was looking for.

"Yes." She whispered.

He leaned forward, his soft words precise and clipped. "Then stop daydreaming and -do- something about it." Aremus then stood tall and walked away, leaving her to contemplate his words. He nodded to Jules and Collins as he left, heading back to his room.

Several hours later after everything had been cleared up with the Senatorial Guard, Aremus was back in his quarters, data pads scattered around him. He nodded to himself then made a call on his private channel to Aldaran. Bail Organa appeared in the holo screen. "Hello Aremus. To what do I owe the honor of this call?"

"I have a favor to ask of you." Aremus came straight to the point as this was hideously expense call. Also, the shorter the call, the less chance of it being traced or the encryption being broken. "You know the mission you're about to sent Meric Faerivin on? I need you to add another person to that mission. A woman by the name of Duvessa LiCidan."

Bail tilted his head. "Why?"

"Because it's right and she'll be important to the mission." Aremus knew his words were cryptic. "Other than that, I cannot say."

"Are you sure she'll be valuable? I have to pass this by Meric." Bail made a note on his pad.

"Yes. She's the junior Senator from Amador. She'll be going on a much needed leave of absence soon. It's perfect timing. And, she'll be useful if they get into any sticky political situations. She's young but has great potential."

Bail nodded. "Alright. I'll add her the mission list. Someday, you'll have to tell me the full story."

"Deal. I wish you well, Bail." Aremus cut the connection after Bail's parting good-bye. He got up and fixed himself something to eat, pondering the events of the last couple of days and the young woman he had taken under his wing - whether she liked it or not. "Time for you to show your value, Duvessa. This is the perfect way to get you out of Jarel's reach and get you to show the Rebellion that you aren't as foolish and careless as you pretend to be." He smiled to himself, pleased that things were working out exactly as he had planned.

This is the prequel to the "Tales of the Iridum Rose" from Duvessa's point of view.
(c) 1999 - Eden Blackthorn