********************************************* Chrissie Bligh Normal Chrissie Bligh 1 2 2001-11-02T15:56:00Z 2001-11-02T15:59:00Z 11 3690 21035 HP 175 42 25832 9.2720 Print 75

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Taking a deep breath, Sabé met Padmé's eyes.  For once the girl-Queen wore no make-up, and rather than revealing her relative youth, it made her seem more mature.  Sabé had privately resolved that she wouldn't even consider wearing the thick white and red paint, but for a moment she almost wished that Padmé had worn it to the passing-over ceremony.

She was acutely aware of all the holo-vid reporters and all the politicians that were watching them, but she tried to block them out, focusing entirely on Padmé.

Her friend looked beautiful, she had to admit.  The dark blue robe accentuated her eyes, and her hair was simply done, the Royal Coronet carefully placed on her head.

Then the High Minister began the ceremony.  He only spoke a few sentences, and then it was Padmé's cue.

"I, Padmé Amidala Naberrie," she started, "Queen of the People of Naboo, do willingly relinquish my throne unto you, Sabé Belacque, Lady of the Royal Court."

Sabé curtseyed deeply.  "I, Sabé Belacque," she spoke, controlling the trembling in her voice and continuing, "Lady of the Royal Court, do willingly take the Royal Throne from you, Padmé Amidala Naberrie.  I swear to protect our People to the best of my ability, to not tolerate injustice or cruelty, and to always act in Naboo's best interests."

Then Padmé lifted the coronet from her head, stepped forward, and carefully placed it on Sabé's head.  It was heavier than Sabé had expected, and she shared a secret smile with Padmé before the former queen stepped back.

Then Padmé curtseyed, as deeply or deeper than Sabé had, and rose to be enveloped in Sabé's arms for a brief moment.  Padmé grinned as the politicians muttered between each other at this disruption to the ceremony.

"Queen Amidala has stepped down!" cried the High Minister.  "May the Gods bless Queen Sabé!"  Sabé smiled involuntarily, and she and Padmé turned to face the crowds.  Callé limped forward on her crutches, and Sabé knelt to hug her daughter easily.  As holo-cameras snapped, she hid a tear in Callé's shoulder at the loss of her privacy. 

Then she rose, and met Yané's warm eyes.  "Versé and I will get Callé out of here," the young woman mouthed.  Sabé nodded, and whispered something in Callé's ear.  Yané and Versé moved to whisk Callé out of a back entrance, and Sabé and Padmé moved through the crowds to reach the outside of the church. 

A barrage of questions was shot at her amid the noises of Theed once she and Padmé were outside.  Padmé's hand found Sabé's reassuringly, and Sabé took a breath.

"One at a time, please!" she laughingly called.  "I can't hear you all."  There was an uncertain ripple of laughter, then reporters tentatively came forward to ask their questions.

"Your Majesty," one started, "Is it true that you were once Senator Naberrie's handmaiden?"  Sabé smiled slightly.  "Yes, it's true," she acknowledged.  "For only a few weeks when I was sixteen."

Another reporter shoved to the front of the crowd.  "Senator Naberrie, what made you decide to run for senator and not for queen this year, and why did you help Queen Sabé run?"

Padmé smiled.  "I want to take a more active role in the Republic," she replied smoothly.  "And I helped her highness run because Sabé and I have been close friends for over eight years.  She has risked her life for mine on many occasions, and I felt that assisting her was the least I could do."

"Your highness, I don't see your daughter with you now," another probed.  Sabé hid a smile.  "Yes, Callé had a slight accident at her school this morning," she affirmed.  "Hopefully she'll be up and about again in a few weeks."  She paused.  "On which note, I'm afraid I'll have to defer any other questions until a later date to go and see her.  Thank you."

She and Padmé then hurried to a transport that was waiting nearby.  When Cordé and Rabé had closed the doors between their section of the transport and Sabé and Padmé's private area, Sabé sat back in relief, tugging the coronet from her head.

"It's not over yet," Padmé warned with a smile.  "I can bet Captain Panaka will be all over you about handmaidens and security once we're back at the palace."  Her sharp eyes noticed that Sabé's face had closed up slightly when Padmé had said the word 'handmaiden'.  Acutely aware that her own former handmaidens were eagerly awaiting a decision from both Sabé and herself on that subject, she decided to broach it now.

"Have you decided, Sabé?" she inquired, her tone light.  Sabé shook her head.  "I've asked Cordé, Versé and Dormé to come with me.  They've agreed," Padmé told her friend quietly.  "Yané and Rabé have said that they want to resign from Royal service, providing you don't need them.

"I won't let them be my handmaidens," Sabé ground out.  "They're my friends first and above all."  Sabé nodded quietly.  "Who will you have then, Sabé?" she asked.

Sabé sighed heavily.  "I don't know if I even want handmaidens," she admitted.  "It's not like I need the protection, and I only intend to wear head-dresses and robes on formal occasions – celebrations and things.  For those I can just get a couple of palace girls to help me out."

Padmé wasn't shocked by her friend's decision, but as she sat back, she knew Panaka would be.

And, two hours later, he was.  Sabé sat stoically on her new throne as he ranted at her; no one else was in the throne room, and she knew he wouldn't let loose on his temper like that if there was.

"What do you mean, you aren't having handmaidens?" he demanded again at last.  He turned back to face her.  She raised an eyebrow.

"Just what I said, Mark," she told him.  "I'm not going to have any handmaidens.  I don't see the need for them, except to give a handful of girls unnecessary jobs."

"Unnecessary?" Panaka repeated faintly.  Sabé rolled her eyes and rose from the throne, moving over to stand in front of him.  She'd changed long before from the passing-over ceremony dress to a looser, more comfortable gown, but she was still an impressive and graceful sight, especially with her trademark determined look on her face.

"Okay, the reasons for having handmaidens," she started, holding up her hand and ticking off fingers as she listed the reasons.  "One, protection.  For stars sakes, Mark, if I have handmaidens I'll have taught most of them their skills.  Two, to help me with dresses and hair and things.  I don't plan on wearing dresses like Padmé did except for special occasions, in which case I'll get a couple of ladies-in-waiting to help me."  She paused.  "The third reason, which is tradition, is pretty much a dead end with me anyway."

"I hate this," he muttered.  She knew he would agree, and sure enough, he did.  "You'd just better be damn sure, Sabé."  Sabé grinned.  "I'm never anything but," she remarked airily.

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Two years later – ten years after The Phantom Menace.

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When Padmé Naberrie, Anakin Skywalker, and Obi-Wan Kenobi quietly entered Sabé Belacque's rooms, they moved softly to avoid waking Callé.  Padmé silently nodded to the two Jedi to follow her into Sabé's actual bedroom, but when she got there and reached the bed, she stopped in surprise to see the empty sheets.

"She's not here," she muttered.  "Dammit, Sabé, this is not the time for you to have another burst of insomnia!"  Anakin smiled slightly, but his serious concern for his friend soon erased the smile from his face.

"Where could she be?" Obi-Wan demanded in a low voice.  He stretched out his senses, but he could feel nothing – although, he reflected, she had good mental shielding, from him especially.

"Try right here," came a cool voice from the door. The three midnight intruders whirled around to see Sabé, her long white nightgown making her appear like one of the ghosts of Naboo myth.  "What's the matter, Padmé?"

Padmé noted vaguely that Sabé was avoiding Obi-Wan, but she was in too much of a hurry to grill Sabé on it.  "I need help, Sabé," she said swiftly.  "Someone's trying to assassinate me."

Sabé's eyes flickered to Obi-Wan for a split second.  "Therefore the Jedi escort," she noted.  "Why are you on Naboo – not that I'm not glad to see you," she corrected herself swiftly.

"Anakin and I are going to my home," Padmé replied.  "Obi-Wan's leaving us here to go and follow a lead on the assassin."  Sabé nodded.  "I'll authorise a transport," she told her friend quietly.  "And any other protection you think necessary."

"Thank you," Padmé replied quietly.  She hesitated.  "Anakin, can I have a word?"  She took his hand and moved to the door, then halted beside Sabé, meeting her friend's eyes.  "Sabé – Cordé  - she…"  She licked her lips, not really knowing how to continue.  "I've brought her body back," she managed to say finally.

Sabé gasped and clung to the door post as Anakin and Padmé hurried past her.  Her eyes fluttered closed, then they opened again to meet Obi-Wan's eyes, darker in the shadowy room.

"Hello," she said softly.  A small, bitter smile curved Obi-Wan's lips.  "Hello," he greeted.  She closed her eyes again, and in an instant he was beside her, his arms encircling her, letting her cry a little for Cordé.

"I'm sorry," Sabé managed at last, moving further into her room and drawing a robe over her thin night-gown.  "I just…Cordé talked to me a week ago."

"I understand," Obi-Wan murmured.  Sabé looked at him sharply, then nodded.  This time he really did understand.  She licked her lips, a little nervous of the tension and attraction between them still.

"Sabé – I need to tell you something," Obi-Wan said suddenly.  Sabé, curling herself up in a soft chair next to her bed, nodded at him to continue.  "I still love you."

Sabé's heartbeat stopped for a second.  "Why are you telling me that?" she demanded hoarsely.  "Why?"

"Because I need to know if you still love me," he told her ruthlessly.  "I need to know if…if there's still a chance."  She shook her head, hiding a tear from him.  "There's no chance," she told him, her voice hard.  "I can't be involved with someone who I hardly see – even more so because I'm queen.  You know that, Obi-Wan."

"Do you love me?" he demanded, moving to crouch in front of her.  She nodded silently.  "Can we make it work?"

"No," Sabé murmured softly.  "It will not work, Obi-Wan."  He shrugged.  "I want to give it another try," he told her.  "I have missed you so much I can't say…"

"I've missed you too," she murmured.  Impulsively she leant forward and pressed her lips to his.  Drawing back, she shook her head again.  "It will not work, Obi-Wan."

Staring at her for a moment more, he nodded grimly.  "If that's the way you feel," he murmured.  "I'll respect that."  He rose, and moved to the door, pausing as a sob escaped Sabé.  the queen was being torn apart inside by her decision, but through the confusion, Sabé remembered one thing.

Her promise to Yané.  As Obi-Wan sighed heavily and moved to leave, she rose suddenly, calling to him quietly.  In an instant he was at her side again, and her hand crept up to cup his face.

""I'm sorry," she told him earnestly.  "I thought it was for the best."  He put a finger to her lips.  "Shh, Sabé," he told her softly.  "I know."  His lips met hers, and all the pent-up longing of the last few years was expressed in that one sweet kiss.

Then Padmé and Anakin returned, and Obi-Wan broke away swiftly.  Sabé could hardly conceal her feelings as she looked at her friend.  "I'll call Palace Transport," she told them.  "By the time you get down there, you'll have clearance."

"Thank you, Sabé," Padmé spoke softly.  In one swift motion, the two were hugging.  "Good luck," Sabé whispered to her friend.  "Come back safe to me, 'kay Padmé?"

"I always do," Padmé replied quietly.  She met Sabé's eyes one last time, then she, Anakin and Obi-Wan swiftly left Sabé's rooms.  Sabé, even more tired now that she had been when she'd awoken several hours before, wearily dropped into the chair.

The dim light from a lamp still burning in the main room glinted on a metallic object that rested on her bedside table.  Curiously, Sabé reached out for it, almost laughing when her fingers ran over the familiar texture of her Promise Ring that Obi-Wan had left her.  Carefully, she slid it back onto her finger, and moved to curl up in the bed.  Daybreak would come all too soon, she reasoned quietly to herself, and it would herald a long day.

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Three and a half years later (approximately Episode Three)

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"Force take it, I don't want another estimate!" Sabé snapped.  "I want numbers, names – anything!"  The young governor quailed slightly under her glare, and Sabé forced herself to relax.  She took a breath.  "Find out how many, Governor," she told him quietly.  "How many more have died."

The governor nodded, and hurriedly left the room with a bow.  Sabé rose from the throne and moved to stare out of the large window at Theed.  She could see Naboo hurrying from place to place, no doubt stock-piling in case there was a shortage of food.

Sabé bit her lip, then turned back to the room, the picture of serenity again.  "Please continue your report, Captain," she told Panaka.  He met her eyes for a moment, then nodded. 

"Still no word on where the armies are being cloned," he stated, reading off a datapad.  "Senator Naberrie is currently working with the senators of Alderaan and Kashykk to find the facility, and the Jedi are also following up leads."

Sabé nodded thoughtfully, and Panaka continued.  "They've captured another planet," he told her.  She winced.  "One even closer to the Middle Rims this time."

"They're getting closer," she muttered.  She glanced up again, meeting his eyes.  Whatever she was looking for, she didn't find it, and she glanced around at the other governors.

"Your highness, we must request some protection from the New Republic ships," one governor started urgently.  "Our volunteer corps will not be able to hold their own against these clone armies, which are drawing ever closer to us!"

Sabé raised an eyebrow.  "I have more faith in our troops, Governor.  Perhaps you've forgotten the invasion of thirteen years ago, when Queen Amidala retook the palace with only the help of our volunteer corps and one small boy."

"And Jedi Jinn and Kenobi," another governor chimed in.  Sabé shook her head, a small smile playing on her face.  "There was a Sith here then, Governor," she reminded the governor.  "Jedi will not come for a fear, only for something substantial."

"Knight Kenobi would," someone muttered, not counting on Sabé's hearing.  The queen caught the young aide's words, and her eyes turned icy.

"I hope you are not suggesting I use my personal relationship with Knight Kenobi to insist on his protection," she remarked coolly.  "Because I assure you, even if I were to do such a dishonourable thing, he would never agree to it.  At any event, he is currently the official bodyguard of Senator Naberrie, due to the repeated attempts on her life."

The aide looked suitably chastised, but he had worded the idea that many of Sabé's governors had been thinking about, and they were not so easily dissuaded as the aide had been. 

"Your highness," the governor for the Tarké region started, "is it such a bad idea to ask Knight Kenobi for some measure of protection?  Surely if Senator Naberrie were to return here, at least her husband, Knight Skywalker, would be here to protect Naboo."

"I have spoken to Senator Naberrie about the idea of her returning to Naboo," Sabé admitted heavily.  "But she did not agree, nor will I force her to return against her wishes.  Anakin and Obi-Wan will not come to Naboo unless we need help from the Jedi Council and they are sent, or unless Senator Naberrie returns here and they with her, is that clearly understood?"

"Yes, your highness," murmured the council of governors, and Sabé nodded in satisfaction.  "Good," she murmured.  She was about to say something else when the door slid open, and her fourteen-year-old daughter stepped in uncertainly.  Sabé's face split into a warm smile.  "Well, it seems this meeting is adjourned," she commented.  "I'll see you all at the next meeting, tomorrow morning," she added, as everyone gathered their things and started to leave.  Out of the corner of her eyes she noted that Panaka remained, obviously to talk about her words to the governors.

But she tried to banish all thought of the war with the clones as Callé came walking up to her.  Sabé knew better than to try to embrace her daughter, so she settled with a warm smile.  "Are you on a break?" she inquired.

Callé shrugged.  "I wouldn't be here if I wasn't," she reminded her mother.  Sabé smiled softly, and tried not to remember that when she had been Callé's age, she hadn't attended school at all.

"Have you heard anything from Padmé?" Callé asked suddenly.  Sabé shook her head gravely, standing and moving again to the window.  "She's very busy in the senate," she reminded her daughter.  "But I'm sure if anything happens, she or Obi-Wan will let us know." 

Callé sighed, and moved to stand next to her mother.  Callé was about the same height as her now, Sabé reflected whimsically, but her green eyes transformed her appearance.

"You'd better get back to school," she said at last.  "I have to speak to Captain Panaka."  Callé nodded, and after a slight hesitation, moved away and out of the throne room.  Sabé stood staring out of the window for a moment more, then turned back to Panaka.

"What would you have me do, Mark?" she demanded in a low voice.  "I cannot go against my principles, and Obi-Wan will not either, even if I did ask him to come."

"I know," Panaka replied quietly.  "But I do think that we need more protection –you specifically."  Sabé gave a moan.  "We've been through this," she warned.  "I will not have more protection than I already have, and I can take care of myself."

"Of course, your highness," Panaka replied, a little sarcastically.  Sabé sent him a glare, and he subsided slightly.  Then he changed the subject, at least outwardly.  "I've had a transmission from Ladies Rabé and Yané and Eirtaé, all requesting that they be allowed audience."

"They ought to know they needn't ask," Sabé cried, her eyes twinkling.  "When are they coming?"  Panaka gave a small smile.  "Later tonight," he replied.  "I've ordered that they be taken directly to your rooms."  She grinned.  "You know me too well, Mark," she mildly remarked.  He shrugged slightly, then bowed and left, leaving Sabé to her melancholy thoughts. 

When she returned to her rooms, several hours later and after having taken a long detour to the gym, Yané, Rabé and Eirtaé were all waiting for her.  Callé had gone to stay with a friend, Sabé recalled distantly as her friends hurried her onto a couch, so she needn't expect the girl home.

"It's so good to see you all," she smiled at her friends.  "You guys haven't come up for ages!"  They glanced between each other, then smiled awkwardly.

"Well, I've been a little busy," Eirtaé evaded.  "Jack is three now, you know, and he's quite a handful."  Sabé smiled softly.  "Kids are," she agreed.  "but you look less tired than I was when Callé was that age."  Eirtaé shrugged.  "But Yané, Rabé, you have no such excuse!"

A sad look came over Rabé's face.  "Yes, I do," she contradicted.  "My elder sister and her husband died in a fire three years ago, and I've been looking after their two children ever since."

"Oh, Rabé, why didn't you tell me?" Sabé murmured, stricken.  Rabé shrugged.  "You have a lot on your plate," she replied.  Sabé was suddenly a little suspicious.  "So how come you three are here now?" she demanded uneasily.

Yané bit her lip.  "Padmé asked us to come," she confessed at last.  "She seemed to think that you weren't listening to suggestions that you have more protection.  She was worried."

Sabé's temper flared, but she controlled it as she stood and started pacing rapidly.  "Padmé has no right to do this," she snapped.  "I can take care of myself, you all know it."

Eirtaé sighed and rose.  Her blond hair fell in waves about her face, making her appear older than she was.  "We know it, Sabé," she said softly.  "But it wasn't just Padmé.  Obi-Wan is worried about you too."  Sabé stopped dead, turning back towards her friends.  They were surprised and shocked to see tears on her cheeks.

"I can't worry about myself right now," she whispered.  "Not with Obi-Wan and Padmé out there in the thick of it, and me stuck here, useless!  Now I know how Padmé felt thirteen years ago when we were invaded."  She threw herself down on the couch, and bit her lip to keep from crying any more.

"Oh, Sabé," Yané murmured, moving closer and taking her friend in her arms.  "You mustn't worry so."  Sabé shook her head.  "I have to worry," she said hoarsely.  "I haven't seen Obi-Wan in six months, and I haven't seen Padmé in longer.  What if something happens to one of them?  And then there's Anakin – they're really worried about him now, Yané, and I…"

She broke off, not trusting her voice anymore.  She collected her thoughts whilst Yané, Rabé and Eirtaé looked on sympathetically.  "I can't do this anymore," she said at last.  "I cannot live like this anymore."  She looked up, meeting Rabé's eyes.  Rabé wasn't surprised by the conviction in Sabé's brown eyes, but when Sabé spoke, she was extremely taken aback by the queen's words.

"I want to abdicate," Sabé told them truthfully.   "I was fooling myself when I thought I could be queen, and after five years, I've had more than enough."

Eirtaé took a breath before speaking, and the silence she broke was deafening.  "Are you certain, Sabé?  You know you can't take a second shot at this."

Sabé nodded.  "I know," she replied evenly.  "But I don't want a second shot at it.  You know I always make the most of my first opportunity – you never know if it'll come round again."

"Some things do," Yané sent her a sad smile.  "But not most, you're right."  Sabé nodded, silently thanking Yané for her unspoken support.  Then Rabé spoke.  "You can't abdicate now, Sabé," she warned.  "No one will allow you, not whilst we're in the middle of a war."

Sabé suddenly smiled brilliantly.  "I know," she agreed.  "But it gives me a reason to go on the way I do – once the war is over, I'm going to give up all this," she waved at the room, "and settle down somewhere with Obi-Wan.  We agreed on it a couple of months ago, when he asked me to marry him."

"You're engaged!" Rabé squawked.  Sabé had to laugh at her.  "Not just Promised?"  Sabé nodded.  "Properly engaged," she agreed.  She met Yané's knowing eyes.  "I made a promise to a friend that I wouldn't be proud, so I wasn't," she admitted softly.  Yané smiled warmly at her, then  looked up as Panaka walked hurriedly into the room without pausing to ring the doorchime.

Sabé instantly straightened.  "What is it, Mark?" she demanded, seeing and feeling the worry in him.  "What's happened?"

Panaka took a breath, nodding at the three Ladies before returning to look at his queen and friend.  "We've had news from Coruscant," he admitted quietly.  "Chancellor Palpatine has revealed himself to be Darth Sidious of the Sith, and has declared himself Emperor.  Over half the senate has sided with him."

"But that's not all," Sabé realised with a sick feeling inside.  "What's happened with Anakin?"  Yané, Rabé and Eirtaé all looked at her, then back to Panaka, expectantly awaiting an answer.

"Anakin is Palpatine's apprentice," Panaka managed.  "His name is Darth Vader."  Sabé gasped, the air knocked from her body.  She rose, almost feeling her way to the window.  "Are you sure?" she demanded finally.  Then another thought struck her.  "Padmé, Obi-Wan, where are they?"

"I don't know," Panaka shook his head.  "We've had no word from them – but neither has anyone else, that we know of."  Sabé nodded.  "Thank you, Captain," she said.  "I appreciate you telling us."  Panaka nodded, and after a moment left in the same fashion he had come in.

Sabé fell to the ground, her legs not supporting her anymore.  She didn't weep – she felt as though she had no tears left in her – but she shook her head sadly.  "Oh, Anakin," she murmured.  "What have you done?"

Eirtaé rose and moved to help her to the couch.  Sabé smiled tiredly at her, and shook her head again.  "They expected something like this to happen to him," she confessed softly.  "Obi-Wan especially was worried about him."  Her heart wrenched again.  "Oh, Padmé…"

"Do you think she'll come back here?" Rabé inquired quietly.  Sabé shook her head.  "He'd know to come here," she explained.  "She'll have to go somewhere that neither Anakin or Palpatine would know to look.  They'll be looking for her, because she's one of the most influential senators."

Yané nodded.  "What about you"? she demanded then.  "Won't Anakin come looking for you, so that he can hurt Obi-Wan?"  Sabé met her eyes, then rose and moved to a drawer, opening it and drawing out a long metal cylinder.  She pressed a button on the side, and a deep blue blade emerged from the hilt. 

"Just let him try," she told them determinedly.  "Let him try."

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