Chapter One - a trip down memory lane
When I stepped off the starship and into the air taxi to go and prepare Padmé's senatorial chambers, I had no idea that my life was going to change completely in a little over a week. No idea that the downfall of the Republic was coming, and that my actions could help or hinder such a demise. No idea that love of my life would return, and that love had the power to ruin us all.
My name is Sabé, loyal handmaiden to Senator Amadiala of Naboo. This is how the rest of the galaxy knows her, but to a few others and myself she will always be Padmé. She is my best friend and I would die for her, as I know that she would die for me. When we were younger we looked so much alike that I served as her decoy. But with age our features had grown apart and that honor was no longer mine.
I was nearly to the apartment now, my footsteps' echoing along with those of the workman following me. Within the Republic the Separatists were gaining more power and a vote had been called on the Military Creation Act. Padmé would be returning and everything must be in order. That was my duty and I intended to see it fulfilled.
I key in the entry sequence to the apartment, and directed the workers quickly. Here on Courscant, I was more at home then I cared to admit, and it was here that my treasures were kept. After seeing that things were proceeding as planned, I entered the small out of the way room that I knew to be mine.
The room was simple in comparison to the rest of the soon to be lavishly decorated apartment but it suited me like a well broken in shoe, comfortable, tried and true. I retrieved the bed linens and began to make the bed, while admiring the view.
Being a Senator's handmaiden did have its benefits and this was one of them, a fantastic view. Corscuant gleamed under a setting sun as air speeders and transports started to turn on their headlamps.
I finished with the, bed pulled the drapes so as not to be distracted from the view, turned on the light, and moved to the bureau. Dust had begun to settle on to its polished hardwood top and I reminded myself to reprimand the cleaning droid in the morning, for neglecting its duties. My clothes still resided here along with a few other items things that I had tried to keep hidden, though I knew that Padmé had found them, her curiosity was maddening.
Pulling out the sock drawer I pushed the clothes aside to find the latch which lead to the drawer's false bottom. With great care I removed the four items nestled there.
Two were holos; one of my parents standing in front of my childhood home high in the hill country of Naboo, the other was one secretly taken by Rabé taken ten years ago on Tatooine showing me as Queen talking to Obi-wan Kenobi. He was smiling not a full blow smile, but one that was definitely there lurking just below the surface.
The third was a necklace made of the purest Nabooian crystal passed down through generations by my family, given to me by my grandmother. It was beautiful and special, representing everything that my family stood for.
Beside the necklace was a small, leather bound book. Books were supposedly something that had gone out of style centuries ago to be replaced by data chips and computers but a few still made them and I personally loved them. I loved the smell and the feel of the pages, the ache of my hand after I had written too much.
This book was my journal from ten years ago during the occupation of Trade Federation on Naboo. It was small enough to fit under both the robes of a handmaiden and a Queen, which made it particularly useful, during that time of my life. For me it seemed that this was when I really lived, and all the rest of the time I had just been going through the motions, of my duties. With a sigh I plopped down on my stomach on the bed and began to read.
I had the most astonishing night tonight. I know that we are far from home and that my principle concern should be to protect the Queen and save Naboo, but for a while I forgot, forgot not just my duty, but everything. Rabé and Eriaté were asleep and I needed to get away from everything in the only way that I knew how, I needed to fight. I didn't know that my plans were going to be disrupted by another, more pleasant personage.
I had been in the practice room for about ten minutes and had just started the first moves of a Naboo practice dance when he entered the room. I had stupidly left the door unlocked, thinking that everyone else on the ship was asleep. I would never make that assumption again, after tonight. He snuck up on me; I was concentrating so hard on the steps I was executing. It was then that I brought my hand up in an upward strike, only to be meant by opposition. I was shocked, as my eyes met his, then I noticed that my arm was still trapped in the grasp of Obi-wan Kenobi, Jedi Knight. The conversation that followed I think I will always remember, and will document it in this journal. He seemed to also notice that he still held my arm. "I am sorry, my lady." He said turning away from me. "No it's fine. I could us someone to practice with I can't stand all this waiting around." "Certainly handmaiden. I understand the pressures of waiting as well as anyone." I wondered about his eagerness to spar with me but I wasn't going to question it out loud, anymore than I was going to question me asking it of him. "I have one condition. You can't use the force, that would be an unfair advantage." And would make me look bad, but that was also something that I wouldn't mention. "Sure." He said removing his Jedi robe. I myself moved into a guard stance waiting for him to attack. I didn't have to wait long. It seems that the Jedi did not really have to rely too much on the force to do their fighting, or at least not this Jedi. I was hard pressed to defend myself and did not immediately concern myself with attack. After half an hour of defending myself noticing that Obi-wan wasn't tiring like I was I felt it necessary to end this fight. Reaching into the reserves that I had built up, I faked weakness, wiping sweat out of my eyes, I stepped back, when he came into attack me, I jammed my fist hard into his stomach. He fell back gasping, as I thrust my hand palm outward towards the bridge of his nose, stopping millimeters from a killing strike. "I concede defeat, my lady." Obi-wan said while gasping for breath. "You were holding back the whole time, weren't you?" "Yes. I was hoping that you would tire, but you didn't." "I may have cheated a bit, using the force to boost my energy." I remember laughing at this, at the sheer notion that a Jedi, may have cheated. And it didn't bode well with my ego when I knew a Jedi had to rely on the force to fight a fifteen-year-old girl like me. I moved away from him reluctantly to sit cross lagged on the floor. Regaining his breath he asked "May I have the pleasure of knowing your name young handmaiden, or should I refer to you as your Majesty." I was taken aback, how could he have known that I was playing the part of the Queen? Did he think that I was the real Queen? Did he know that Padmé was with Master Jinn? Regaining control of my emotions I decided to test the waters. "My name is Sabé, and I insure you that I am but a humble servant of her Royal Highness." "There is no need for such lies. I will not tell anyone what I have discovered, not even my master. If you believe that your role must be kept secret, it will be." "And what have you discovered, master Jedi?" I replied haughtily, half amused. Wondering how correct he had been in his discoveries. My other half was reprimanding my amused self for such thoughts, thoughts that could compromise Padmé's position. He did not sound offended by my tone, but rather amused, as he continued. "I have discovered that you are in fact, playing the role of the Queen of Naboo, while the real Queen is with my master. I am lead to believe that this is an old safety measure, but why you did not include me in your plans I do not know, but would like to, Sabé." So he knew it all, and somehow I wasn't all that surprised. What I was surprised about was the way he said my name, with a sincerity that was half whispered, almost as if he was pondering it. It was in that moment that knew I would do anything that would cause him to say my name again. I was falling in love and there wasn't anything that I could do to about it. What was I supposed to do about it? "No one but Captain Panaka, and the handmaidens know. It was felt that the fewer people who knew the better." I said while rising to my feet, in a way I hoped was graceful. "But who am I to protect, you the decoy Queen? Wouldn't the Jedi's protection be better spent on the real Queen?" He said quickly with exasperation, and it was than that I realized that it wasn't our deception that was troubling him but his sense of duty to the Queen. "Not that I don't wish to ensure your safety, my lady." He added softly. I moved closer to him before replying "Think this through master Jedi, if the identity of the real queen is discovered, then she will be in far more danger, then she is right now. I am ready to die for her you must sense that?" "I don't question your loyalty, handmaiden. I only question my own abilities." "Look, you have no reason to question your abilities, you have shown me what you can do without the force, with it you must be near invincible. Besides, you have already discovered everything so you might as well call me Sabé." I know that, that came off sounding like I was being overbearing and not sounding quite right, but I wanted to reassure him, and hear him say my name again. "Alright Sabé, only if you call me Obi-wan." He said with the beginnings of a smirk. "Consider it done, Obi-wan." I smiled and laid a hand on his arm, as I turned to leave the room. "You promise that you won't tell anyone?" "I'll promise if you answer one question, Sabé." "And what question would that be?" I asked. "How old is the one woman who has ever managed to defeat me, both in combat and with words?" "Fifteen." I said with pride. He nodded his head slowly, and I finally got a full smile. "I promise." And then he was gone, quicker then I would have thought possible considering the fact that I was the one closer to the door. There must have been some Jedi magic at work.
A knock at my door startled me out of my memories. And I quickly shoved the journal under my pillow, while hoping off the bed. I found one of the workmen at my door.
"My lady, the work is completed, and ready for you inspection."
"Already?" I asked a little surprised considering that these workmen had been asked to return the next day to finish the work.
That was until I noticed what had been done. The center living part of the apartment had been transformed from a barren white, to a beautiful blue. With functional furniture, of the same colour, and the smell of the paint still fresh.
Further inspection of the rest of the apartment, revealed much the same. "You and your fellows are free to go. Thank you, for your time."
As the workman departed I was left, truly alone. Tomorrow the wardrobe mistresses would come. I needed some sleep; it was going to be a busy week. Returning the journal and other items to their hiding spot. Yes it was going to be very long week.
