It took a while, but by the second morning after his vision, Obi-Wan had hiked back into Theed. On the way, he had turned on the comlink to monitor any news that might have broken in the time he was gone. He learned of Liraé's treachery, and was proud to hear of Sabé's part in her apprehension.
The Majordomo at the Palace greeted him, and arranged his return to his room. As he cleaned up, he peered at his unshaven face, and studied the growth accumulated from his time in the woods. He took the razor, and started to go back to the clean style he had been accustomed to, but stopped a moment and thought. He chose to leave part of the beard and worked around it.
After dressing in fresh robes, he took care of such business as sending Anakin a message.
He found the Queen at one of her few spare moments and asked her if she would care to add to the message. Amidala must have seen the change in him. She seemed pleased, and in her portion of the transmission, made a sly comment to Ani on his Master's new look.
When the holo was sent, Obi-Wan turned to the Queen. "I heard news of your close call. I'm glad to see that you were not injured."
"It might have been worse, if not for Sabé. You were right to advise her to watch Liraé," Amidala said.
"She'd have figured it out in time. I'm sure of that," Obi-Wan said, brushing off the compliment. "Anyway, what will happen to the criminal?"
"Supreme Chancellor Palpatine sent for her the moment he heard of the incident. He wanted to take full responsibility for her actions, as he was the one who had recommended her for the job. He assured me that she would be punished appropriately." The Queen's expression took on a mysterious look. "I have no doubt that whatever he has in mind for her will be far more severe than anything we would have done."
Obi-Wan tried to call Sabé, but she was out of touch most of the day. He assumed that she was busy with the duties of her office, so he didn't worry too much over it. He spent the time accompanying the Queen as she made the rounds meeting with officials.
When Rabé came on to relieve Eirtaé, she leaned over to Obi-Wan. "Meira is sick today, and Sabé has her at the healers."
The Jedi was alarmed. "Should I go to them?"
"No, join them later. It's not serious, just one of those childhood complaints." The handmaiden then took her place behind and to one side of the Queen.
When he got back to his room, he checked the chronometer. He saw that the hour wasn't too late, so he entered a name on the vidscreen.
Sabé answered, but she did not send an image. The voice sounded strained and tired. "Obi-Wan?"
"Sabé...can I come and look at the baby? If she's sleeping, I promise, I won't wake her. I just want to see her, and you too, if that's all right." He held his breath, awaiting her answer.
After a few seconds, she replied. "Yes, if you want to come now, I don't mind. She will be sleeping. I'll be ready when you get here."
He made his way across the square to the block of apartments that housed the Queen's key staff. Finding his way to the one where she lived, he quietly knocked.
Sabé opened the door, her finger to her lips. Even though she was quite fatigued, her eyes opened wide when she saw him. She grinned and nodded in approval. "The goatee is very handsome," she whispered. He smiled warmly, glad she found it so.
She motioned to the girl's room and let him in to see her.
The child was sleeping in a crib. A light was coming in through the window, enough to softly illuminate the room. Obi-Wan knelt down to peer through the slats and study his daughter.
His daughter-the very concept left him in awe. He looked at her face, saw which details were his features, and which were Sabé's. She continued to slumber, and her father felt an overwhelming love for her come over him. She was beautiful, she was perfect, she had to be the most intelligent child in this galaxy and he must be sure she was protected no matter what the cost. As his complete acceptance of her set in, he felt closer to peace in a way he had not known since before Qui-Gon's death.
Obi-Wan turned and looked up at Sabé. She was smiling, glad to see that he was happy with his child at last. She motioned for him to come back into the outer room of the apartment.
"Thank you for coming to see her, Obi-Wan. I know you won't get to visit often, but whatever you can do, it will help her." Sabé rubbed her eyes, trying to stay awake. "I'm sorry. The last two nights have been difficult, first dealing with Liraé, then the baby getting sick. There's still so much to say..."
"You can say it in the morning," Obi-Wan told her. He led her to her bed. "I'll be here to watch Meira, I'll call you if we need you." He waved his hand at Sabé. "Now, sleep."
The Majordomo at the Palace greeted him, and arranged his return to his room. As he cleaned up, he peered at his unshaven face, and studied the growth accumulated from his time in the woods. He took the razor, and started to go back to the clean style he had been accustomed to, but stopped a moment and thought. He chose to leave part of the beard and worked around it.
After dressing in fresh robes, he took care of such business as sending Anakin a message.
He found the Queen at one of her few spare moments and asked her if she would care to add to the message. Amidala must have seen the change in him. She seemed pleased, and in her portion of the transmission, made a sly comment to Ani on his Master's new look.
When the holo was sent, Obi-Wan turned to the Queen. "I heard news of your close call. I'm glad to see that you were not injured."
"It might have been worse, if not for Sabé. You were right to advise her to watch Liraé," Amidala said.
"She'd have figured it out in time. I'm sure of that," Obi-Wan said, brushing off the compliment. "Anyway, what will happen to the criminal?"
"Supreme Chancellor Palpatine sent for her the moment he heard of the incident. He wanted to take full responsibility for her actions, as he was the one who had recommended her for the job. He assured me that she would be punished appropriately." The Queen's expression took on a mysterious look. "I have no doubt that whatever he has in mind for her will be far more severe than anything we would have done."
Obi-Wan tried to call Sabé, but she was out of touch most of the day. He assumed that she was busy with the duties of her office, so he didn't worry too much over it. He spent the time accompanying the Queen as she made the rounds meeting with officials.
When Rabé came on to relieve Eirtaé, she leaned over to Obi-Wan. "Meira is sick today, and Sabé has her at the healers."
The Jedi was alarmed. "Should I go to them?"
"No, join them later. It's not serious, just one of those childhood complaints." The handmaiden then took her place behind and to one side of the Queen.
When he got back to his room, he checked the chronometer. He saw that the hour wasn't too late, so he entered a name on the vidscreen.
Sabé answered, but she did not send an image. The voice sounded strained and tired. "Obi-Wan?"
"Sabé...can I come and look at the baby? If she's sleeping, I promise, I won't wake her. I just want to see her, and you too, if that's all right." He held his breath, awaiting her answer.
After a few seconds, she replied. "Yes, if you want to come now, I don't mind. She will be sleeping. I'll be ready when you get here."
He made his way across the square to the block of apartments that housed the Queen's key staff. Finding his way to the one where she lived, he quietly knocked.
Sabé opened the door, her finger to her lips. Even though she was quite fatigued, her eyes opened wide when she saw him. She grinned and nodded in approval. "The goatee is very handsome," she whispered. He smiled warmly, glad she found it so.
She motioned to the girl's room and let him in to see her.
The child was sleeping in a crib. A light was coming in through the window, enough to softly illuminate the room. Obi-Wan knelt down to peer through the slats and study his daughter.
His daughter-the very concept left him in awe. He looked at her face, saw which details were his features, and which were Sabé's. She continued to slumber, and her father felt an overwhelming love for her come over him. She was beautiful, she was perfect, she had to be the most intelligent child in this galaxy and he must be sure she was protected no matter what the cost. As his complete acceptance of her set in, he felt closer to peace in a way he had not known since before Qui-Gon's death.
Obi-Wan turned and looked up at Sabé. She was smiling, glad to see that he was happy with his child at last. She motioned for him to come back into the outer room of the apartment.
"Thank you for coming to see her, Obi-Wan. I know you won't get to visit often, but whatever you can do, it will help her." Sabé rubbed her eyes, trying to stay awake. "I'm sorry. The last two nights have been difficult, first dealing with Liraé, then the baby getting sick. There's still so much to say..."
"You can say it in the morning," Obi-Wan told her. He led her to her bed. "I'll be here to watch Meira, I'll call you if we need you." He waved his hand at Sabé. "Now, sleep."