Chapter Fourteen

Time was against him. It was true Obi-Wan felt as if he was partially responsible for Padmé's current situation and was determined to help her, but her recovery was taking longer than he'd expected. Something was holding her back. There were times she wouldn't give her all and other times when she would just give up completely. He always did his best to motivate her and encourage her to work hard, but couldn't help but wonder about the constant worry behind her eyes.

He suspected she was dreading the day he left Naboo. He was as well, although it couldn't be avoided. Obi-Wan was well aware he was in great danger of falling in love with her if he hadn't already. But knowing they would have to part ways soon could be hampering her success. He had to figure out some way to get her on her feet where she could become the independent and strong young woman she was destined to be.

He just wasn't sure how to do that. He needed insight into the thoughts she didn't or wouldn't share with him, and there was only one person who could help with that.

Sabé and Padmé had become very close during her time in the medical unit as well as the rehab facility. The Queen's handmaiden would visit almost daily and the two young women talked as if they had been lifelong friends. Obi-Wan wasn't sure what they had in common other than serving royalty, but they would talk for hours, laugh, and share stories into the night. They really seemed to enjoy one another's company, so Obi-Wan was hoping the handmaiden could give him some idea of why Padmé had suddenly stopped trying.

He found the young woman training in hand-to-hand combat in the Theed Community Center. Even though the trainer was much bigger than she was, Sabé was holding her own and even managed to flip the man over her shoulder. Obi-Wan enjoyed observing the bout for a few minutes until she finally noticed his presence and took a break.

"Obi-Wan, I'm surprised to see you! Is everything all right?"

He explained his concerns about Padmé's recent shift in mood, invariably deciding it could be due to depression and asked Sabé if she had any idea what the reason for it could be.

The young woman grabbed a sleek container of water and asked him to join her on a bench.

"It took a while," she began explaining after taking a long drink. "But Padmé eventually started opening up to me. It was difficult at first for me to understand that even though she had an intense dislike for her mother, she misses her. I have a feeling what she truly misses is the comfort of family. She has nowhere to go after her therapy is finished. If you think about that, it's pretty easy to understand why she may be sabotaging her own recovery to postpone the inevitable."

Obi-Wan leaned back against the wall and considered Sabé's words, which actually made perfect sense. He had been so thoroughly engrossed with Padmé's recovery, he hadn't even considered her immediate future! He really needed to look at his relationship with her more closely. Was he helping her merely for his own selfish desires? To spend time with her, enjoy her company, before abandoning her to figure everything else out on her own? What was wrong with him?

If he was going to take responsibility for her, then he needed to make sure she was taken care of! Not only now, but when he was no longer around.

"I've spoken with Queen Jamilla," Sabé continued. "I brought up the possibility of Padmé being trained as a handmaiden since there are some similarities of appearance. However, the Queen won't even consider it until she has regained her strength and has been trained in weaponry and combat. At the rate she's going, that may take a while. Where is she supposed to stay before then? What is she supposed to do with her life? There are a lot of things to be considered and I think Padmé is overwhelmed with it all."

"I agree," Obi-Wan noted glumly. He had to think of some way to help. Who else did she know other than the Mer below, Sabé and himself? He'd been racking up a bill of his own at the local inn, but she couldn't do that. She didn't have access to the funds. There had to be somebody here who would be willing to take care of her.

As if the Force jogged his memory, which he suspected it may have, a name came to mind and he brought it up with the handmaiden, to see if Padmé had perhaps mentioned it.

"She once spoke of a nursemaid she had when she was a podling," Obi-Wan tried to recall. "I remember her saying she thought of her more as a mother than her own true one. What was her name…" the Jedi murmured as he scrubbed his beard pensively. "Jonna, Jenna..."

Sabé snapped her fingers. "Jobal! She did say something about her not that long ago. Her name was Jobal, but that's all I know."

"She's one of the Forsaken Mer," Obi-Wan informed her. "Do you think she lives here in Theed?"

"I don't know," answered the handmaiden. "But I can easily find out. Governor Bibble has all the records of citizenship in his office. I'll stop by there on my way back to the palace."

"Excellent," Obi-Wan proclaimed happily. This had to be the answer! If Jobal was as loving and loyal as Padmé had claimed, then she had to be willing to help. Didn't she?

Later that evening as he was preparing for bed, there was a knock upon the door to his rented room. When he answered, Sabé was standing there and handed him a scribbled note.

"That's Jobal's address. She's married to a man by the name of Ruwee. Ruwee Naberrie."

Obi-Wan tucked the information into a pouch on his belt and thanked the handmaiden. At least there was some hope. Now, he could only pray that Jobal Naberrie would be as concerned for Padmé as he was.