How Long Had It Been?

Part One
Chapter One

Theed, Naboo

How long had it been? Two, maybe three years since she last saw her, it had to be that at least with the Clone Wars roaring to life. She wished she had seen her friend more, but their lives were so filled with business, it was impossible to do anything but talk to each other in short conversations once or twice a week.

The last time they had been face to face, they had been children and Amidala had been Queen. She could never have suspected the whirl-wind ride they had been launched into which drove them to all parts of the Galaxy including Coruscant and Tatooine, of all places that sandy desert. But that was years ago; they had both grown up.

She was now an Executive Councilor to the new Queen of Naboo. She hadn't been sure she wanted back in the arena after Amidala left office and here she was and with a position that kept her in close contact with the new Queen. The new queen was young, younger than Amidala had been, and she needed a little guidance. She was there to help in that department as best as she could. She was proud of her job just as she had been when Amidala was queen.

She was on her way to the Queen's personal chambers as she looked back on those times, when the Republic seemed somewhat stable and democracy was a sure thing to keep on existing. Despite all the drama, they were fond memories all the same, ones that she carried with her everyday. She just wished she had heard from Amidala more. Her last communication had been short and nearly two weeks back.

She nodded to the palace security guards outside the door with a slow smile. The doors slid open and she stepped inside and bowed her head to the well adorned, young queen who sat at her desk solemnly. It reminded her of a young Amidala and it brought a sweet smile to her lips.

The queen smiled almost sadly and stood, beads jingling from her headpiece as she walked forward, and around the desk. "Executive Councilor Sabé, I have pressing news. Senator Amidala has been injured."

Sabé stood frozen. Injured could mean a number of different things. It could simply be an injury such as a broken bone, painful but not life threatening. Or it could be something that left her comatose or worse, on the verge of death. Had this been the reason for the lack of communication? A thousand thoughts raced through her mind.

The young queen rested a pale hand on her arm and with the other, held out a datapad with a display of a planet and coordinates. "If you'd like to visit her, I give you leave to. I know how close you had been."

Sabé looked down at the datapad and took it slowly in numb hands. "Thank you."

"Please give her my prayers. She has been an inspiration for all of Naboo." The young queen looked up at her through thick lashes.

"I will your highness. I am sure she will be grateful for them." Sabé replied, though she still couldn't quite understand what had just occurred. She wished she knew more. She nodded her head in a solemn bow and left the queen's quarters still staring at the datapad.

Medical Bay, Outer System

Several guards met her at the transport when she arrived at the medical facility that Amidala had been taken to for treatment. She looked at them nervously and a little awkwardly. They walked in a circle around her, escorting her quickly through the security checks and down the metallic halls that screamed "sterile" and "cold" at her face.

Then they left her at a glass door, framed in silver. The captain scanned in his card and the door slid open. He gestured for her to enter and Sabé took a deep breath before stepping into the room.

It was an open room, clean of any sitting furniture. Large panels of glass formed a wall that revealed a medical chamber. Two large droids hovered around a white bed before moving aside to reveal Amidala, prone and still, clad in white. Sabé walked towards the wall-of-glass and took in a shaky breath. She wished she had been told how bad it really had been, though she didn't know if it would have made a difference.

A figure came up behind her, taller than she, but familiar. He laid a rough hand on her shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze. Sabé turned her head slightly to glance back at the Jedi Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi. She smiled a feeble smile before looking back at her friend.

"I wish I had known she was in such bad shape." She muttered.

"Would it have made a difference?" He asked kindly, echoing her thoughts. "There is no reason to suspect that she will not make it. The medical droids expect the best."

Sabé nodded but couldn't stop the fear and doubt building in her chest. Amidala was always so strong, nothing kept her down. She couldn't believe that she was seeing her best friend lying so still and motionless.

"How did it happen?" She asked. She didn't really want to know, but people always asked.

Obi-Wan turned away, clearly pained and paced across the room, his boots clicking on the hard floor. The sound was deafening.

"You don't have to tell me, honestly." Sabé turned to face him. She watched him silently, much older than the last time she'd seen him in the Parade after the Trade Federation incident. She looked down at her folded hands. "The last I heard, she was pregnant."

He turned to look at her quickly and with a bewildered look. "How..."

"Amidala and I have been best friends most of our lives. She doesn't keep much from me. Don't worry; I've said nothing to anyone about it." Sabé reassured him, but he didn't seem comforted. "Did Anakin do this?"

Obi-Wan turned away from her and crossed her arms over his chest. Sabé nodded in understanding and felt tears brim her eyes. "He loved her," he muttered.

"Loved? Obviously, he doesn't anymore," Sabé whispered. She was angry at Anakin for hurting her friend so dearly, but she was still too concerned over Amidala to much care about him. The anger would have to wait for another time.

"Don't say that! I know he does, deep down he is still good. If he knew what he has done, he would regret it." Obi-Wan whirled around to face her.

"Would he? I'm sorry Master Kenobi, but no one who loves someone as much as you say he does would ever do this. I want to believe you; I do, but look at her! Look what he has done!" Sabé waved a hand at the image before them. "She was pregnant! The baby..."

"Babies, there were two of them; twins. They're fine." Obi-Wan looked at her. "He's not lost."

"Master Kenobi, you know better. Except the facts, I'm begging you, for your own good." Sabé stared hard at him, anger building. "Senator Amidala is fighting for her life because of him! The Republic may be fighting for its life because of him!"

Obi-Wan was silent. He stood there staring at her, making her feel very uncomfortable. Then he drew a slow breath. "If you'll excuse me, Executive Councilor?" He didn't wait for a response, he just left.

Sabé stared after him until he left. She hadn't meant to become angry at him. Master Kenobi wasn't who her anger was directed toward. She was just angry at the whole situation. She hated to see her friend so helpless and she hated being helpless to help Amidala.

She turned back to the paneled window. "Get better quickly, Amidala. You're still very much needed."

Theed, Naboo

Months later, Sabé returned to Naboo, but not alone. She wished to everything that she had been alone in her return. It would have been so much the better if she had been alone, but the facts were that she wasn't.

She stood at the end of the ramp in the Palace docking bay as the armed guard escorted her friend from the ship. It was a beautiful casket, truly beautiful. It was ivory and lined with beautiful silver wisps. Laying over it was the national flag of Naboo. Sabé never saw a more devastating sight before in her life.

The Queen walked before her as the procession moved from the docking bay and to the royal cemetery just outside the palace walls, moving solemnly through the palace halls to arrive there. Sabé couldn't believe that Amidala was gone. She couldn't believe that the woman who had made such a profound difference in this galaxy could pass so easily. Somehow, she'd always thought that Amidala would remain forever; a childhood dream.

She stopped as they passed the throne room that held such memories. Sabé thought that if she stared at it long enough, she could see Amidala with her face painted talking with her handmaidens around the conference table, smiling. That was the Amidala Sabé had always kept in her heart.

She glanced at Senator Bail Organa and his wife who carried the young baby girl that Amidala had given birth too. She was lovely, a spitting image of Amidala's bright vision. Leia; she was perfect. Sabé let them pass; let everyone pass around her until she was alone.

She walked around the conference table, running her hands along its carvings. She absently pushed in a stray chair, lingering at its back for a moment. Then she walked over to the chair the Queen always occupied. Sabé lowered herself into that chair and looked out. Nothing would ever be the same.

"Hello, Sabé." The voice was foreign as it came from the shadows, but Sabé knew the speaker none-the-less. She would have been a fool if she had not known it. Her eyes spilled over with tears. "You were right."

Sabé turned to face the hidden, cloaked figure. "Master Kenobi."

Obi-Wan didn't move and stayed hidden in the shadows, but she could see his blue eyes staring out in the halls, watching the remains of the procession disappear away from them. "You were right." He laid a hand on the arm of the chair.

Sabé still stared at him and gently raised her hand atop his and gave it a squeeze. "I wish I hadn't been."

"So do I."