Queen Amidala and the handmaidens were strolling with grand stoic dignity down the great halls of the palace on the way to court, when Sabé met them. Her step was light and airy, and she smiled. Elation and serenity gave a quiet light to her face.
"Good Morning, Minister," the Queen intoned. "We have received the message that Our honored Jedi guest left for Us. We will be pleased to grant the request."
"Thank you, Your Highness," Sabé said as she bowed. "If you please, may we discuss the details after court?"
"That will be satisfactory." Amidala smiled and winked. "We will see you in the handmaidens' quarters after the court's business is finished."
Dropping the formal manner, Sabé addressed the whole group. "See you all this afternoon," she sang as she continued to her office.
The five women and the Gungan turned their heads and watched Sabé's happy stride. Amidala and Rabé broke into big smiles. Eirtaé grinned. Jeré and Yané stared curiously. Saché's expression was one of triumph as she balled her hand into a fist and brought it down through the air. "Yes!" she pronounced as if she'd achieved a great victory.
*****
"Everything's going to be fine," Obi-Wan told Sabé as they approached the restuarant. She had made reservations at the same place they had dined together weeks ago, thinking it would be safer to meet on what seemed to be neutral territory. It wasn't quite neutral, as Maglus, the host, adored the Minister. Not in a romantic way, Sabé had assured him, but the Jedi planned to keep his eye on that man regardless.
"Even if you don't bat an eye, she's going to embarrass me!" Sabé replied, indulging in a rare fret. She looked ahead and spotted her parents waiting at the doorway.
//Oh dear, she's wearing the saffron gown. I hate it when she wears the saffron gown,// Sabé sent to Obi-Wan.
He smiled in reassurance at his fianceé. //It will be all right.//
Raisa was indeed in a saffron gown and her hair was done up in a severe and formal style. Hasin wore a casual masculine Naboo garment in understated browns. Obi-Wan had taken advantage of another of the outfits arranged by the Queen that wasn't quite so fussy as the two he had tried before. A dark burgundy satin tunic with the large sleeves that the Naboo preferred was paired with trim pants and black boots. He was pleased to discover that it was almost comfortable. Sabé had arranged to borrow a complimentary gown of burgundy satin enhanced with matching velvet trim.
Obi-Wan recognized the host as he greeted them at the door. Maglus bowed with flawless courtesy at the two couples. "This way to our most comfortable private area." The dining room he led them to was the most sumptuous the resturant had to offer. Rather than a holocurtained booth like Obi-Wan and Sabé had dined in before, this was an private room, with artwork on the walls, an antique polished wood table with matching chairs, and the rich glow of brass lighting fixtures.
The waiter who accompanied them opened a set of folding doors and offered drinks. When they had selected their refreshments and ordered, they were left alone for awhile.
Raisa opened the conversation. She narrowed her eyes and studied Obi-Wan. "I've heard stories about Jedi. It's been said that you roam the galaxy taking advantage of vulnerable young women." Sabé gasped at the statement, while Hasin sat back and waited for Obi-Wan's reaction.
Obi-Wan's face shone in a serene smile. "Madame, while there may be vulnerable young women on Naboo, I've yet to meet any of them. And as for taking advantage...I can't speak for my fellow knights, but I assure you that has not been the case between us."
"Oh? My girl here would be quite a catch for anyone. Beauty, rank, social position...are you saying that's not what you're interested in? Particularly since when you first met her, she was disguised as a queen."
Sabé shot Raisa an angry look. "Mother, that had nothing to do with what happened. It was easier on Obi-Wan when I didn't turn out to be the Queen!"
She returned her daughter's look. "I'm sure it was. If it was all so right from the start, why did you lie to me about who Meira's father was? And why didn't he step forward from the first and take care of you and the baby?"
"Mother, that's not fair. Obi-Wan didn't know. Nobody planned this, it just happened!" At that statement, Obi-Wan flinched a tiny bit, but only Raisa caught it. Sabé continued, "We still can't go public. Don't you understand that if it was known that Meira was the daughter of the Sith killer, she would be in great danger. We let the public believe that her father died in the war, and she's safe. And if you must know, the reason I lied to you about her father is..." Sabe bit her lip and turned away.
"Go ahead and say it," Raisa challenged.
Turning back and looking her mother in the eye, Sabé blurted, "Because I knew if I told you the truth, you would be ashamed. And that little baby didn't deserve to have a grandmother that would be ashamed of her."
Raisa's face turned red. "Meira's not the one I'm ashamed of."
Sabé's shook her head. Tears had been in her eyes, but she'd quickly wiped them away. " Fine. Now that that's out in the open, there's something we have to tell you. Give me a minute, I'll be all right." She turned to Obi-Wan, but he wasn't there. Then she noticed that her father was gone too.
Raisa turned to where her husband had been. "How did they slip out on us like that?"
Sabé shrugged. "They're good at their jobs. Let's peek outside and see if they're there."
Sure enough, the two men were at the bar, mugs of beer in front of them. They waved when they saw Sabé and Raisa pop their heads out from behind the door.
The women went to join them. Hasin put his arm around his wife and spoke quietly, but in a jovial tone. "Young Kenobi here is going to marry our girl. Isn't that wonderful?"
Sabé took Obi-Wan's arm and smiled. //Sorry about that in there. We tend to do that.//
//My Love, you must make your peace. You never know...//
//You're right. I'll do better, but it's going to take time to learn an new habit.//
Raisa was teary eyed this time. "I'll have you know that I'm opposed to this. But once it's done, I'll not say a word against it. Now, how long will I have to prepare? There's so much to get done!"
"It's tommorrow evening, Mother. It'll be taking place after court. The next person we're waiting for is Anakin, who should be arriving a few hours before the ceremony. He'll stand with Obi-Wan."
"You mean, you're not going to have a nice wedding? Oh my!"
"And you can't tell anyone either, Mother. I'm sorry...really, I am. I know this isn't what you would have wanted for me. But this is how we have to do it," Sabé said, in her most soothing tones.
"I suppose we'd better get back to the privacy of our room. We can't speak freely out here," Raisa pointed out.
"Not till the Peacemaker arrives. That's the only guarantee I have that you'll both be civil to each other," Hasin said firmly.
Only moments later, Maglus wheeled in the stroller that transported Meira. "A delivery for you, Minister."
Sabé broke out into a large smile. "This is perfect! I should have just brought her in from the start. Thank you, Maglus. She'll make a bit of a mess in there. I'm sorry, we'll keep it contained."
"Not a problem, Minister. Always glad to be of service," the host said, before he departed.
By that time, the waiter was returning to the room with food, so they went in and finished the evening. Meira kept the tension at bay by charming her mother and grandmother in the usual ways.
At the end of the evening, Raisa watched Sabé and Obi-Wan leave, hand in hand, as the Jedi carried Meira.
"They really are in love." There was sadness in her voice.
Hasin put his arm around his wife's shoulder and drew her closer. "Yes."
Tears welled up in her eyes. "He's going to take my babies away."
"Sabé's not a baby anymore, Dear. It's time to let her go."
"Good Morning, Minister," the Queen intoned. "We have received the message that Our honored Jedi guest left for Us. We will be pleased to grant the request."
"Thank you, Your Highness," Sabé said as she bowed. "If you please, may we discuss the details after court?"
"That will be satisfactory." Amidala smiled and winked. "We will see you in the handmaidens' quarters after the court's business is finished."
Dropping the formal manner, Sabé addressed the whole group. "See you all this afternoon," she sang as she continued to her office.
The five women and the Gungan turned their heads and watched Sabé's happy stride. Amidala and Rabé broke into big smiles. Eirtaé grinned. Jeré and Yané stared curiously. Saché's expression was one of triumph as she balled her hand into a fist and brought it down through the air. "Yes!" she pronounced as if she'd achieved a great victory.
*****
"Everything's going to be fine," Obi-Wan told Sabé as they approached the restuarant. She had made reservations at the same place they had dined together weeks ago, thinking it would be safer to meet on what seemed to be neutral territory. It wasn't quite neutral, as Maglus, the host, adored the Minister. Not in a romantic way, Sabé had assured him, but the Jedi planned to keep his eye on that man regardless.
"Even if you don't bat an eye, she's going to embarrass me!" Sabé replied, indulging in a rare fret. She looked ahead and spotted her parents waiting at the doorway.
//Oh dear, she's wearing the saffron gown. I hate it when she wears the saffron gown,// Sabé sent to Obi-Wan.
He smiled in reassurance at his fianceé. //It will be all right.//
Raisa was indeed in a saffron gown and her hair was done up in a severe and formal style. Hasin wore a casual masculine Naboo garment in understated browns. Obi-Wan had taken advantage of another of the outfits arranged by the Queen that wasn't quite so fussy as the two he had tried before. A dark burgundy satin tunic with the large sleeves that the Naboo preferred was paired with trim pants and black boots. He was pleased to discover that it was almost comfortable. Sabé had arranged to borrow a complimentary gown of burgundy satin enhanced with matching velvet trim.
Obi-Wan recognized the host as he greeted them at the door. Maglus bowed with flawless courtesy at the two couples. "This way to our most comfortable private area." The dining room he led them to was the most sumptuous the resturant had to offer. Rather than a holocurtained booth like Obi-Wan and Sabé had dined in before, this was an private room, with artwork on the walls, an antique polished wood table with matching chairs, and the rich glow of brass lighting fixtures.
The waiter who accompanied them opened a set of folding doors and offered drinks. When they had selected their refreshments and ordered, they were left alone for awhile.
Raisa opened the conversation. She narrowed her eyes and studied Obi-Wan. "I've heard stories about Jedi. It's been said that you roam the galaxy taking advantage of vulnerable young women." Sabé gasped at the statement, while Hasin sat back and waited for Obi-Wan's reaction.
Obi-Wan's face shone in a serene smile. "Madame, while there may be vulnerable young women on Naboo, I've yet to meet any of them. And as for taking advantage...I can't speak for my fellow knights, but I assure you that has not been the case between us."
"Oh? My girl here would be quite a catch for anyone. Beauty, rank, social position...are you saying that's not what you're interested in? Particularly since when you first met her, she was disguised as a queen."
Sabé shot Raisa an angry look. "Mother, that had nothing to do with what happened. It was easier on Obi-Wan when I didn't turn out to be the Queen!"
She returned her daughter's look. "I'm sure it was. If it was all so right from the start, why did you lie to me about who Meira's father was? And why didn't he step forward from the first and take care of you and the baby?"
"Mother, that's not fair. Obi-Wan didn't know. Nobody planned this, it just happened!" At that statement, Obi-Wan flinched a tiny bit, but only Raisa caught it. Sabé continued, "We still can't go public. Don't you understand that if it was known that Meira was the daughter of the Sith killer, she would be in great danger. We let the public believe that her father died in the war, and she's safe. And if you must know, the reason I lied to you about her father is..." Sabe bit her lip and turned away.
"Go ahead and say it," Raisa challenged.
Turning back and looking her mother in the eye, Sabé blurted, "Because I knew if I told you the truth, you would be ashamed. And that little baby didn't deserve to have a grandmother that would be ashamed of her."
Raisa's face turned red. "Meira's not the one I'm ashamed of."
Sabé's shook her head. Tears had been in her eyes, but she'd quickly wiped them away. " Fine. Now that that's out in the open, there's something we have to tell you. Give me a minute, I'll be all right." She turned to Obi-Wan, but he wasn't there. Then she noticed that her father was gone too.
Raisa turned to where her husband had been. "How did they slip out on us like that?"
Sabé shrugged. "They're good at their jobs. Let's peek outside and see if they're there."
Sure enough, the two men were at the bar, mugs of beer in front of them. They waved when they saw Sabé and Raisa pop their heads out from behind the door.
The women went to join them. Hasin put his arm around his wife and spoke quietly, but in a jovial tone. "Young Kenobi here is going to marry our girl. Isn't that wonderful?"
Sabé took Obi-Wan's arm and smiled. //Sorry about that in there. We tend to do that.//
//My Love, you must make your peace. You never know...//
//You're right. I'll do better, but it's going to take time to learn an new habit.//
Raisa was teary eyed this time. "I'll have you know that I'm opposed to this. But once it's done, I'll not say a word against it. Now, how long will I have to prepare? There's so much to get done!"
"It's tommorrow evening, Mother. It'll be taking place after court. The next person we're waiting for is Anakin, who should be arriving a few hours before the ceremony. He'll stand with Obi-Wan."
"You mean, you're not going to have a nice wedding? Oh my!"
"And you can't tell anyone either, Mother. I'm sorry...really, I am. I know this isn't what you would have wanted for me. But this is how we have to do it," Sabé said, in her most soothing tones.
"I suppose we'd better get back to the privacy of our room. We can't speak freely out here," Raisa pointed out.
"Not till the Peacemaker arrives. That's the only guarantee I have that you'll both be civil to each other," Hasin said firmly.
Only moments later, Maglus wheeled in the stroller that transported Meira. "A delivery for you, Minister."
Sabé broke out into a large smile. "This is perfect! I should have just brought her in from the start. Thank you, Maglus. She'll make a bit of a mess in there. I'm sorry, we'll keep it contained."
"Not a problem, Minister. Always glad to be of service," the host said, before he departed.
By that time, the waiter was returning to the room with food, so they went in and finished the evening. Meira kept the tension at bay by charming her mother and grandmother in the usual ways.
At the end of the evening, Raisa watched Sabé and Obi-Wan leave, hand in hand, as the Jedi carried Meira.
"They really are in love." There was sadness in her voice.
Hasin put his arm around his wife's shoulder and drew her closer. "Yes."
Tears welled up in her eyes. "He's going to take my babies away."
"Sabé's not a baby anymore, Dear. It's time to let her go."