Disclaimer: Oh, how I wish I owned Star Wars...but I don't, so don't sue me.
PROLOGUE
Cowards die many times before their deaths.
The valiant never taste of death but once.
-WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, Julius Caesar
The capital city of Naboo, which was the centerpiece of cultural and political medley in Naboo, was at a standstill. It was the early morning, just before dawn, and yet the usually-bustling Theed could easily be compared to an uninhabited planet on the Outer Rim. It was nearly two months after the sudden death of the beloved Senator Padmé Amidala, but it seemed that the city was still in mourning.
Sabé stared out into the lifelessness of the Palace Plaza, leaning on the stone balustrade that lined the balcony. She had arrived in Theed three days following the funeral of her former Queen and was invited to stay at the palace by the recently-elected Queen Apailana, who recognized her closeness to Padmé, being her former head handmaiden and decoy.
It had been days since she had gained a proper night's sleep. The dark lines under her eyes seemed to deepen everyday. For nearly a week, she had been lying in bed, staring at the mosaic ceiling until the first light of dawn crept into the room. She knew not the source of this insomnia, but she was sure that the death of her best friend was one of its causes. Though she had not seen Padmé since her election as Senator, they had constantly conversed via holograms and letters.
Padmé's yearning for a political life contrasted deeply with Sabé's desire to retire from the public eye, creating a fork in the road that would forever separate them. Her death had brought Sabé back to Theed for the first time in five years, creating mixed feelings. She hoped for so long to lay eyes upon the beautiful capital of Naboo again -- unfortunately, it had to be under such devastating circumstances.
Sabé sighed in agitation and ran a hand through her messy hair. She turned and walked through the curtains that graced the archway leading to her room. The bedroom was quiet, with the large bed in the middle of the room. Compared to the rest of the chambers in the palace, it was wholly plain in appearance, with her liking it that way. Having grown up in a family of farmers, she was still unused to the luxuries that directly serving a monarch had to offer.
She sat down on the wool spread on the bed, gripping the folds of her cotton slip and running her fingertips slowly over the soft material.
Where would she go from here? She felt like she had outstayed her welcome, though the Queen had assured her frequently that she was a pleasure to host. Would she go home, to her family? They were grieving in their own right; her nine-year-old nephew was murdered during the seizure of the Jedi Temple. This, combined with Padmé's passing, shook Sabé greatly.
She sat in silence, contemplating her future. She had to get away from here. Far away. Somewhere where she could live in peace, where she could get away from all of this war, this death…
The hourly clock tower that stood at the other side of the Plaza rang six times.
Sunlight slowly began to creep into the room. The orange gleam shone upon her troubled face, bringing with it a strange warmth that seemed to comfort her.
Sabé suddenly wondered how the weather on Tatooine fared at this time of year.
A/N: Yeah, not many are Sobiwan fans, but how was it so far? It was a prologue, so it's meant to be short.