******************************************************************************************** Chrissie Bligh Normal Chrissie Bligh 1 2 2001-11-02T15:52:00Z 2001-11-02T15:55:00Z 10 3289 18749 HP 156 37 23025 9.2720 Print 75

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With Callé safely at school, Sabé ventured into the palace.  It was two months since she had broken up with Obi-Wan, and it still hurt that she had.  It was one month before the elections, and today the candidates would be announced.

Including herself.  Sabé nodded slightly to a couple of women she passed on her way up to Padmé's rooms, trying, without much success, to hide the case of nerves she was having.  When she failed, three times in a row, to key in the access code to her friend's rooms, she slammed her fist against the wall in frustration.

Dormé opened the door, revealing her amused face, half covered by her handmaiden hood.  "Come in, why don't you," she invited wryly.  Sabé gave her a glare, then marched through to be greeted by Padmé, resplendid in her red Royal robes.

"Help!" Sabé pleaded desperately.  "I can't do this, Padmé, I really, really can't!"  Padmé shook her head, trying to hide her smile.  "You can," she said firmly.  "What's more, you will."

She inspected her friend critically.  Sabé had worn her usual, simple tunic and leggings, but Padmé knew that would not do.  So did Yané and Rabé, unfortunately for Sabé, because after meeting Padmé's eyes, they pounced on Sabé, pulling her hair from its plaits and tugging her tunic off.

"Rabé!" Sabé protested with a screech as her hair wrenched.  "That hurt!"  Rabé shrugged.  "Beauty hurts," she commented blithely.  Dormé, Cordé and Versé disappeared to find a suitable gown, and Rabé began to brush through Sabé's hair, which had grown slightly in the last few months.

"You'll be fine," Padmé reassured her friend, observing the pale face and wide eyes with a little concern.  Her eyes fell, as they so often did, to the slightly pale ring of skin on Sabé's finger, and then raised again to meet Yané's eyes.  Yané gave a shrug, and helped Rabé.

An hour later, Padmé pronounced Sabé ready.  Sabé hesitantly stepped in front of the mirror, and cautiously nodded.  The form-fitting blue gown complimented her features, and made her look slightly older.  "It's not bad," she agreed.  She turned to Padmé.  "But, Padmé, I don't want them to think that this is who I am."

Padmé raised an eyebrow delicately.  "And when I ran, this," she waved an arm at her gown," is who I was.  They know better now.  They'll know better for you."

Rabé nodded.  "It's true," she agreed.  "Don't worry, Sabé."  Sabé nodded slightly, twisting her hands together .  She glanced down at them, almost surprised to see herself doing that, and stopped.  "I wish Saché was here," she said softly.

"Well, she's not," Yané said brusquely – too brusquely for anyone to not understand that she cared deeply about that remark.  "And we'd better get going.  The announcement and conference is in ten minutes."

Padmé nodded, suddenly business-like.  She straightened her skirt slightly, brushed a minuscule speck of dust from her shoulder, and smiled slightly as the handmaidens assembled behind her, with Sabé in between Dormé and Yané at the back.

"Let's go," she commanded.  They all swept out of the door, an impressive sight, even more so than usual because of Sabé's presence in their midst.  Sabé carried herself so well that some, passing them in the halls, only knew the difference between her and Amidala because of Padmé's richly embroidered robes.

When they reached the throne room, Padmé motioned for Sabé to sit in the circle of chairs usually reserved for governors and ministers.  The men and women seated there today eyed her curiously, but said nothing, and the other candidates were ushered in soon after, seating themselves near Sabé.

Finally, when everyone had arrived, Queen Amidala started the conference.  When she cleared her throat slightly, the room fell silent, and all eyes turned on her.

"I believe everyone knows why we are here," she started.  "There is an election in one month, and today the candidates will be revealed.  Could each candidate rise, and give us their name."

"Count Taaku," one man said, rising then sitting again.  Two other men and a woman rose and gave their names, then Sabé stood.  She kept her eyes locked on Padmé's, which gave her strength to speak. 

"Sabé Belacque," she told them all.  Then she sank back into her seat to uproar.  She closed her eyes for a second as the other candidates stood up and loudly demanded if that was her real surname, and the governors demanded if she was any relation of the thieving family – more specifically, the infamous Sabé Belacque who had never been caught.

Sabé met Padmé's eyes with a quiet desperation.  Padmé nodded slightly, then her voice rang out in the throne room.  "Ladies and gentlemen, I must insist that you be seated and be silent.  If you have a question, address it to myself and Lady Sabé will decide whether or not she wishes to answer it."

Reluctantly, the candidates seated themselves again.  Padmé leant back slightly on the throne, surveying them all.  She nodded at Count Taaku, who was almost writhing in his seat with questions.  He rose.

"Your Highness, is this…Lady Sabé any relation of the Belacque thieves?"  He sat, awaiting either Amidala's or Sabé's answer.  Padmé looked at Sabé.  They'd discussed this, knowing that the question would be among the first she was fired with, and Sabé nodded.

"I will answer that, your highness," she said quietly.  She turned to Count Taaku.  "You are correct.  I am related to that family."  Then she sat back in her seat. 

In her seat behind Padmé, Yané smiled slightly.  Sabé was going to make them fight for every inch. 

The other female candidate, Maria Theta,  raised an eyebrow, then stood.  "I think what Count Taaku was trying to ask," she remarked with a cold smile, "was whether or not Lady Sabé is in fact Sabé Belacque, one of the most infamous thieves of the last century."

Padmé raised an eyebrow delicately.  "Lady Sabé, will you answer?"  She knew that Sabé had to, or any credibility she had would be lost in an instant.

"Thank you, your highness," Sabé murmured.  She looked at the woman.  "Lady Maria.  Yes, I was that thief.  Please, if you have a problem with it, I'll be happy to answer any and all allegations you have against me."

Score one for Sabé, Rabé thought victoriously.  She glanced at Padmé, sitting in the throne to her right.  She couldn't wait until she told them that she, the queen, would not be running.

"I think we should turn our minds to more important matters," Governor Bibble said authoritatively.  "We now know who our candidates are; Count Taaku, Lady Maria, Lord Harré, his highness Prince Sandé of Theed, Lady Sabé, and her majesty Queen Amidala."

But Amidala raised a hand.  "You are mistaken, Governor Bibble," she said, her voice soft but commanding.  "We have only five candidates this year; I will not be running."

A ripple ran through the throne room.  Governor Sao Machent stood up.  "Your highness," he said, his voice soft and musical.  "Might I inquire as to why?"

"I am not running for sovereign again," Amidala replied simply.  "I have spent eight years on the throne; that is enough.  I will, however, be running for senator of Naboo."

Governor Machent nodded, and sat down again to murmurs and whispers.  Then Governor Bibble took charge again.  "Let's proceed," he said.  "Have each of the candidates decided on their policies?"

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A loud beeping invaded Sabé's ears, and she groaned, flinging out an arm to stop the alarm that insisted she get up.  Then something landed on the bed, snuggling up to her, and she draped an arm over Callé.

"You have to get up!" Callé reminded her brightly.  She wriggled off the bed, moved over to the window, and drew the curtains, making Sabé moan and cover her head with the blankets.

Then Yané moved in and stripped the blankets from the bed.  "Up, Sabé," she commanded.  Sabé opened her eyes fractionally.  "What are you doing here?" she mumbled.  Yané gave a brilliant smile.  "Padmé sent me to make sure you're dressed suitably," she replied.  She moved over to Sabé's wardrobe and started looking through the clothes whilst Callé brought out a wet sponge, dripping water on her mother's face to wake her up more thoroughly.

"I'm up, I'm up!" Sabé protested, sleepily sitting up and forcing herself out of bed.  She rubbed her eyes, yawned, stretched, and sat back down again.

"Honestly, do you have any clothes that aren't tunics and leggings?" Yané complained, shoving clothes aside in her quest for more suitable clothes.  "You'd better get that sorted once you're elected."  She flashed a smile.

"I'm not elected yet, Yané," Sabé warned.  The younger woman gave a shrug.  "By noon you will be," she forecast.  "Results have been coming in all night from the farthest provinces; you're tying with Prince Sandé right now, but you're inching towards a lead."

"When you're queen, will that make me princess?" Callé piped up.  Sabé smiled at her eager face.  "I'm not sure, little one," she replied.  "We'd better ask Auntie Padmé, huh?"  Callé nodded.  "You go get ready for school, okay?"  The girl disappeared from the room, and Sabé sighed.  "She's so little," she murmured wistfully.

"Come on," Yané said practically.  "Let's get you dressed."  She held out one of the few dresses Sabé owned, a deep green, flowing affair that Sabé personally detested, because it required that she wear a corset with it.

"Oh, no, please not that one," she complained, but Yané fixed her with a look.  Then she softened.  "This could be my last day as a handmaiden," she told her friend.  "Let me be one, please?"

Sabé recognised the quiet desperation that Yané so rarely showed, and she nodded instantly, standing and stripping off her nightgown, groping for fresh underwear as Yané moved to look through Sabé's hair ties.

Then Yané rummaged through the closet for the corset, and Sabé sucked in her breath.  She'd have to hold it for the rest of the day, she reflected miserably.  But Yané tied it slightly looser than normal, knotting the strings firmly before helping Sabé carefully pull on the under-dress, silky light green.  Then came the gown itself, and Sabé's hair was almost caught in the metal hooks that tied it securely at her back.  The tight bodice and long sleeves made her itch a little, but the long, full skirt whispered whenever she moved.

"Where are the shoes that go with it?" Yané demanded distractedly.  Sabé shrugged.  "In the wardrobe drawer, maybe," she suggested.  "I don't often wear this dress."

"I know," Yané observed dryly.  "You wore it once, to that ball a couple of years ago when Obi-Wan was here for -," she broke herself off on seeing Sabé's pain-filled face.  Slowly she moved towards the older woman, the shoes in her hand.

"Why did you give him back the Promise Ring?" she asked, almost in a whisper.  It had been a taboo subject ever since it had happened; Sabé had confessed all to Padmé alone, and Padmé hadn't spoken of it except to warn her handmaidens to not talk about it.  But Yané sensed that Sabé would talk now, if she was asked.

"I couldn't keep doing it," Sabé hesitantly replied.  "He was hardly ever here, Yané, and we were growing further apart…"

"And yet you're still in love."  Was it a statement or a question?  Sabé didn't know, but she nodded anyway.  "I love him so much it hurts," she managed, her voice cracking.  Then her voice strengthened.  "But we agreed that our relationship wasn't particularly good for either of us."

"You sound like a teacher," Yané reprimanded, a little sternly.  "Sabé, you're in love.  I'm not going to say whether you should or shouldn't be together, but please, listen to your heart…especially if he ever comes back.  Don't be stupid and proud, like I know you can be."  She paused.  "Promise me?"

"I promise."  Barely a whisper, but Yané heard, and Yané understood.  They stood for a moment, their eyes meeting, exchanging something that neither of them fully understood.  Then Sabé crossed the room and buried her head in Yané's shoulder.  Yané held her tight, and for moments more nothing was said, and Sabé's cheeks grew moist with silent sobs.

Then Callé came skipping in, dressed in her school uniform, beaming.  "I watched the news, Mum!" she sang out.  Sabé quickly moved away from Yané, drying her eyes roughly with her hands.  "You're doing really well!"

Sabé turned to her daughter, her eyes still a little moist, but smiling down gently at the brown-haired, green-eyed girl.  "You ready for school?" she inquired softly.  Callé nodded.  "Then let's eat breakfast."  She turned back to Yané, who was suspiciously bright eyed.  "Would you like to join us?"

"Are you cooking your famous pancakes?" Yané probed.  Sabé raised an eyebrow at Callé, who was nodding emphatically.  "I guess so," she laughed.

"I'm in," Yané said decisively.  "With jaaku syrup, please!"  Sabé rolled her eyes and moved into the kitchen, followed faithfully by her daughter and her friend.

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Sabé waited with Padmé and the others in the throne room as the results continuously poured in from all over Naboo.  Outwardly she was the appearance of calm.  Inside she was nervous as hell.

When noon finally came, and the final results were being counted, sweat started to appear on her brow.  She and Prince Sandé were neck and neck, and she'd poured so much effort into this election that she felt like she'd explode if she didn't hear something soon.

Just as the results were due in, an attendant came hurrying in with a datapad.  The other candidates watched with interest as Sabé quickly read the datapad and paled.

"Please excuse me, your highness," she stammered, rising quickly and handing the datapad back to the attendant.  "But, I have to -,"

"What is it, Sabé?" Padmé asked, still in her 'Amidala' mode but unable to stop her concern showing through. 

"My daughter," Sabé managed.  "There's been an accident, and I…"  but Padmé was nodding.  "Go," she said gently.  "We will inform you of the results as soon as we know.  I hope Callé is alright."

"Thank you," Sabé threw over her shoulder as she hurried from the throne room.  She cursed the dress Yané had chosen as it stopped her from running as fast as she would have liked.  She ran into Panaka in the hall, and his jubilant face was lost on her as she muttered an apology and hurried on.

She caught a transport, and she ignored the odd looks the driver was giving her as she ordered him to go to the hospital where Callé had been taken.  They reached there within three minutes, and Sabé hurriedly paid the driver before moving into the Emergency entrance, meeting Callé's teacher who was giving some details at the reception area.

"Oh, Sabé" the frantic teacher, Amda Tirocla, greeted.  "Thank the stars you're here."  She turned to the receptionist, a young man who obviously recognised Sabé.  "This is Sabé Maberrie, Callé's mother.  She can tell you more than I can."

"Thanks, Amda," Sabé said quietly.  She turned to the man, who was obviously impressed at her calm.  "What's happened to my daughter?"

"Uh, she broke her ankle and her arm," the man replied.  "But it would be better if you talked to a doctor about that; she's stable, they're fitting the casts now."

Sabé nodded, her panic flowing away easily now.  "What details do you need?" she asked, forcing herself to concentrate.  The man fumbled a little, then looked at his computer.  "What's her date of birth?" he asked then.

"Uh, the third of the fifth month, three thousand twenty-seven," Sabé replied, dredging that up from her memory. 

"And her full name?"  Sabé considered in an instant what to reply.  "Callé Ama Belacque."

Amda and the receptionist didn't stare at her; because of the elections they knew her real name, but Amda shifted on her feet and the receptionist glanced back at the computer uncomfortably.

"Ah, here's the doctor," Amda observed at last, relieved.  Sabé looked up to meet the man who was approaching them.

"Mistress Maberrie?" he inquired hesitantly; he obviously recognised her.  Sabé made a sound.  "Lady Sabé Belacque, as you well know," she said sharply.  "How is Callé?"

"Your daughter is fine," the doctor soothed.  "I'm Doctor Sam Greyla.  Callé has broken her left ankle and her right arm, but they were both clean breaks and we've put casts on them.  They'll be fine within a month, but it would be a good idea to keep her off her feet for a couple of weeks."

Sabé nodded distractedly.  "Can I take her home?" she demanded.  Again that hesitancy – she wondered at it.  "Of course," Sam replied.  "But…"   He gave up on tact then.  "Lady Sabé, have you seen the news?"  Sabé frowned, shaking her head.  "What does that have to do with anything?" she demanded.

Sam sighed, then led her over to a holonet receiver.  He dialled onto the Theed station, and moved aside so Sabé could see the latest news.  The blood rushed from Sabé's face, and for a moment she trembled on her feet.

"Perhaps you'd prefer to take her to the palace," Sam smiled down at her.  "Your highness."

To her eternal shame, Sabé almost fainted then.  Sam moved her to sit on one of the waiting chairs, and Amda moved to sit on her other side.  She tried to take a deep breath, but the corset she ore prevented that.

"You should loosen your corset," the doctor observed, with a little mirth.  Sabé nodded vaguely.  "Blame Lady Yané," she tried to smile.  "Oh, Gods."  Calming herself, she moistened her lips and took a breath.  "I want to see Callé."

"Of course," Sam nodded.  "Come through here."  He led her through a door and up an elevator, then along a ward and into a side ward.  There were four girls in here, all with casts on, but Sabé went instantly to Callé's side.

"Mum!" Callé complained as she was hugged tightly.  "I'm fine – Mum!"  Sabé drew back, brushing Callé's hair behind her ear.  "Sorry, little one," she smiled softly.  "You just had me worried."  She looked Callé up and down, noting the casts.  "When you do something, you don't do it by halves, do you, Callé?"

"Nope," Callé replied cheerfully.  "Have the results come in yet?"  Sabé coloured slightly as Sam looked knowingly at her.  "I think so," she said carefully.  "Let's go see Auntie Padmé, okay?"

"Sure," Callé readily agreed.  She carefully moved to the side of the bed, accepting the crutch that Sam held out for her, and leaning heavily on her mother, they began to walk.

"Thank you, Doctor," Sabé said gratefully as they moved down to the ground floor.  "Do I need to bring her in again?"

"Can't I just go to the palace med. centre?" Callé objected before Sam could reply.  "It's so much closer!"

Sam chuckled slightly.  "Yes, you can do that," he agreed, his eyes twinkling at the girl.  "I hope to never see you again, Callé – in the nicest possible way."

Then Sabé and Callé left the hospital, hailing a transport and hurrying back to the palace.  Sabé noted the looks she was getting now, slightly confused, and winced at the bows and curtseys she received.

And Callé noted them too.  "Mum – you won, didn't you!  You're the queen!"  Sabé looked down at her daughter.  "Apparently so," she nodded.  "Even more reason for us to go find Padmé, okay?"

Callé nodded, but didn't speed up as they moved slowly through the palace corridors.  She looked up as Cordé moved down the corridor to them.

"Sabé!" she exclaimed.  Then she bit her lip.  "I mean, uh…"

"Don't start," Sabé warned her.  "Cordé, you know Callé, right?"  Callé grinned.  Cordé inspected the girl with amusement.  "We've met," she remarked.  "Callé, how on earth did you manage to do that?"

Callé shrugged.  "Some boy was calling me a stuck-up princess," she explained.  "I sorta got into a fight."

Sabé was appalled.  "Callé, how could you?"  Callé shrugged.  "He was really mean, Mum," she tried to get out of being in trouble.  Sabé stared at her for a moment more, then shook her head resignedly. 

"Where's Padmé?" she asked Cordé then.  Cordé looked up at her.  "In her rooms," she replied.  "Getting ready for the passing-over ceremony.  It's at two, by the way."

Sabé groaned.  "Let me guess: another dress like this one."  Cordé smiled sympathetically.  "Don't worry," she remarked.  "I'm sure Rabé will find something nice."

Sabé snorted slightly.  "Don't count on it," she muttered.  "Callé, you'll have to wear something suitable too."  She inspected the casts.  "Or maybe just something we can fit over you."

"Very funny!" Callé glared.  Sabé was suddenly overcome with a wave of fatigue, and she didn't reply to her daughter as she would normally have, merely nodding at Cordé to lead the way.

Ten minutes later – they'd had to move slowly because of Callé – Sabé keyed open Padmé's door.  The new respect she'd been shown by the courtiers on the way up had slightly put her on edge.  When she entered, Rabé, Yané, Versé, Dormé and Padmé were nowhere to be seen, so she helped Callé to a seat and ordered her to stay put.

"Keep an eye on her, Cordé," she smiled at the girl, who nodded seriously.  Sabé gazed at her for a moment, wondering if there had ever been a time when she had been that innocent, then moved into Padmé's room.

The four handmaidens were helping their former queen into a robe silently.  Padmé's face was bare, and the gown she was dressing in was traditional of passing-over ceremonies – dark blue, with her symbol etched into it at the front.  When she caught sight of Sabé in the mirror, she turned hurriedly with an exclamation.

"Sabé!  Is Callé alright?"  Sabé had to laugh at her.  "Callé got into a fight and broke her ankle and her arm," she informed her friends.  "You'll be hard pressed to find a gown that'll fit over her casts, Yané."

Yané gave her a serious look.  "You know then."  Sabé nodded.  "I found out from Callé's doctor, who kept on giving me the strangest looks," she remarked wryly.  She held up a hand as Rabé moved over to her, her intent obvious.  "No, Rabé, I am not wearing yet another of these gowns.  I want something loose and comfortable."

"You're the boss," Rabé remarked lightly.  Sabé winced slightly at those words, but she nodded anyway.  "And I'm not wearing that make-up," she warned.

"Your choice," Yané shrugged.  Sabé stared.  "Would you guys please give me some opposition here?" she begged.  "It's no fun if you're not yelling at me!"

Padmé laughed long and hard at her friend.  "Welcome to the world of ruling," she managed between laughs.  Sabé tried to frown, but ended up laughing with her.

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