Sabé's days and nights returned to their former mundane routine. Miera
continued to grow and develop as young children do. The first two months
were the hardest on them. Meira would call for the "Jeddi" but soon she
began to pronounce the word " Jedi" as everyone else did. Sabé made sure
she wouldn't forget Obi-Wan and Anakin by telling stories from their
letters and displaying holos of them all around the apartment. Even so,
the wonderful time that the two of them had shared with Obi-Wan seemed to
drift away faster than she thought possible. Sabé hoped that he would
return before the little girl forgot the bond and her relationship with her
father.
Then one evening, five months after Obi-Wan's departure, Meira called out from her room.
"Maa-meee!"
Sabé didn't look up from her work, but shifted a part of her focus to listen closely to her daughter; there was urgency in her voice, along with a happy anticipation sent through their bond. "What is it, Sweetie?"
"Jedi here?"
She sighed before she replied. "No, the Jedi aren't here. Mommy's sorry." She hoped she was successfully concealing her lonliness for Obi-Wan from the little girl
"Jedi here soon," Meira stated.
At that moment, a tone sounded from the workstation to notify the user that a communication had arrived. Sabé opened the file that contained unread mail. Her eyes widened and a broad smile spread across her face.
---------------------------------------------------
The Supreme Chancellor made the trip to Naboo in a grand manner. Half of the Jedi Council accompanied him as guardians and protectors, a circumstance that seemed to please him or vex him, depending on when one caught up with him.
It did bother him that he had barely had a chance to speak to the young saviour of Naboo, one Anakin Skywalker. No matter when he went looking for the boy, it seemed he had just missed him by moments. The Masters were very polite and offered their assistance, but he waved them off while putting on a jovial face. Inside he couldn't help but think that there had to be some reason the boy was sent on some errand whenever he wanted to speak to him.
After his arrival, he endured few brief and unproductive meetings with the Queen. Her mind seemed to be on something else, which Palpatine found most annoying and disrespectful. During a recess from official business, he wandered around, looking for Skywalker, and though he failed to find the boy, he did encounter two knights.
"Good Evening, Supreme Chancellor." Adi Gallia smiled softly at Palpatine. Her former padawan, Siri, was at her side, stoic expression on her face.
Palpatine nodded, geniality shining through every pore. "I was hoping to speak to Knight Kenobi and that charming Anakin Skywalker, but I keep missing them. You wouldn't happen to know where I could find them, would you?"
Adi's smile broadened. "I see. Knight Kenobi and Padawan Skywalker have been reassigned, Supreme Chancellor. We will be happy to find you an available team of Jedi. What is your need?"
"No need. I merely wished to speak to the heroes of Naboo. Perhaps I can send them a note."
"It is not our policy to divulge the whereabouts of individuals, Supreme Chancellor. I'm sure you understand," Adi said.
An edge crept into Palpatine's voice. "Of course. Perhaps our paths will cross one day, then. Thank you, Master Gallia, honored Knight." He turned, but as he walked away, his anger was such that the Jedi had no trouble at all sensing it.
Master Adi and Siri turned and gave each other a concerned glance. Though no words passed between them, they understood that this man would bear watching.
It was a frustrated Palpatine who sought out Amidala early the next morning. Though it was hours before their next scheduled meeting, he wanted to make headway and attempt to depart from Naboo by the afternoon. As he approached the entranceway to the Throne Room, he could already see that the Queen was nowhere nearby. A tall Gungan female and a young woman dressed in matching robes guarded the closed doors.
The ladies bowed low as the Supreme Chancellor stepped up to them. The Gungan was the first to speak.
"Greetings, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. We are honored by your presence. How may we serve you?"
"You may find your Queen and tell her that I wish to speak to her at once. My duties back at Coruscant have become pressing. I find that I must conclude our business here and return to the Capitol."
Jeré looked him over for a moment. Her calm demeanor infuriated Palpatine, though he was most careful to conceal any sign of his feelings. She should be bowing and scraping, but still she stood in place and made no move to carry out his order.
"Supreme Chancellor, I regret to inform you that Queen Amidala is indisposed for the remainder of the morning. Court will be held after the midday meal. I'm sure Her Highness will be pleased to address your concerns at that time."
Palpatine flashed a tense smile, then returned to his quarters to consult with his entourage until he could speak to Amidala much later in the day.
Jeré and Cordé kept their expressions perfectly stoic until the Supreme Chancellor was well out of hearing range. Then they turned to one another and laughed, the echoes bouncing off the tall marble walls.
"So there are advantages to being a Gungan Princess after all," Cordé giggled.
Jeré nodded. "Even if he gets mad, I can pull rank on my own homeworld." She leaned against the door and performed a haughty gesture at the air. "It's good to be the Princess." That brought a fresh round of laughter from the two ladies.
"He'll be back though, you know? So we'd better straighten up, Princess," Cordé advised.
"Yes, you're right. Here we go-straight faces for the rest of the day." Jeré stood back up. The pair regained their dignity.
After five minutes of standing at attention, the Naboo lady leaned toward the Gungan and whispered. "Still, I can hardly wait to tell Her Highness about the look on his face"
The laughter echoed again.
Then one evening, five months after Obi-Wan's departure, Meira called out from her room.
"Maa-meee!"
Sabé didn't look up from her work, but shifted a part of her focus to listen closely to her daughter; there was urgency in her voice, along with a happy anticipation sent through their bond. "What is it, Sweetie?"
"Jedi here?"
She sighed before she replied. "No, the Jedi aren't here. Mommy's sorry." She hoped she was successfully concealing her lonliness for Obi-Wan from the little girl
"Jedi here soon," Meira stated.
At that moment, a tone sounded from the workstation to notify the user that a communication had arrived. Sabé opened the file that contained unread mail. Her eyes widened and a broad smile spread across her face.
---------------------------------------------------
The Supreme Chancellor made the trip to Naboo in a grand manner. Half of the Jedi Council accompanied him as guardians and protectors, a circumstance that seemed to please him or vex him, depending on when one caught up with him.
It did bother him that he had barely had a chance to speak to the young saviour of Naboo, one Anakin Skywalker. No matter when he went looking for the boy, it seemed he had just missed him by moments. The Masters were very polite and offered their assistance, but he waved them off while putting on a jovial face. Inside he couldn't help but think that there had to be some reason the boy was sent on some errand whenever he wanted to speak to him.
After his arrival, he endured few brief and unproductive meetings with the Queen. Her mind seemed to be on something else, which Palpatine found most annoying and disrespectful. During a recess from official business, he wandered around, looking for Skywalker, and though he failed to find the boy, he did encounter two knights.
"Good Evening, Supreme Chancellor." Adi Gallia smiled softly at Palpatine. Her former padawan, Siri, was at her side, stoic expression on her face.
Palpatine nodded, geniality shining through every pore. "I was hoping to speak to Knight Kenobi and that charming Anakin Skywalker, but I keep missing them. You wouldn't happen to know where I could find them, would you?"
Adi's smile broadened. "I see. Knight Kenobi and Padawan Skywalker have been reassigned, Supreme Chancellor. We will be happy to find you an available team of Jedi. What is your need?"
"No need. I merely wished to speak to the heroes of Naboo. Perhaps I can send them a note."
"It is not our policy to divulge the whereabouts of individuals, Supreme Chancellor. I'm sure you understand," Adi said.
An edge crept into Palpatine's voice. "Of course. Perhaps our paths will cross one day, then. Thank you, Master Gallia, honored Knight." He turned, but as he walked away, his anger was such that the Jedi had no trouble at all sensing it.
Master Adi and Siri turned and gave each other a concerned glance. Though no words passed between them, they understood that this man would bear watching.
It was a frustrated Palpatine who sought out Amidala early the next morning. Though it was hours before their next scheduled meeting, he wanted to make headway and attempt to depart from Naboo by the afternoon. As he approached the entranceway to the Throne Room, he could already see that the Queen was nowhere nearby. A tall Gungan female and a young woman dressed in matching robes guarded the closed doors.
The ladies bowed low as the Supreme Chancellor stepped up to them. The Gungan was the first to speak.
"Greetings, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. We are honored by your presence. How may we serve you?"
"You may find your Queen and tell her that I wish to speak to her at once. My duties back at Coruscant have become pressing. I find that I must conclude our business here and return to the Capitol."
Jeré looked him over for a moment. Her calm demeanor infuriated Palpatine, though he was most careful to conceal any sign of his feelings. She should be bowing and scraping, but still she stood in place and made no move to carry out his order.
"Supreme Chancellor, I regret to inform you that Queen Amidala is indisposed for the remainder of the morning. Court will be held after the midday meal. I'm sure Her Highness will be pleased to address your concerns at that time."
Palpatine flashed a tense smile, then returned to his quarters to consult with his entourage until he could speak to Amidala much later in the day.
Jeré and Cordé kept their expressions perfectly stoic until the Supreme Chancellor was well out of hearing range. Then they turned to one another and laughed, the echoes bouncing off the tall marble walls.
"So there are advantages to being a Gungan Princess after all," Cordé giggled.
Jeré nodded. "Even if he gets mad, I can pull rank on my own homeworld." She leaned against the door and performed a haughty gesture at the air. "It's good to be the Princess." That brought a fresh round of laughter from the two ladies.
"He'll be back though, you know? So we'd better straighten up, Princess," Cordé advised.
"Yes, you're right. Here we go-straight faces for the rest of the day." Jeré stood back up. The pair regained their dignity.
After five minutes of standing at attention, the Naboo lady leaned toward the Gungan and whispered. "Still, I can hardly wait to tell Her Highness about the look on his face"
The laughter echoed again.