Cyana's note: Sorry about the short chapter before.I didn't mean that to
happen.it just, well.happened (It's pretty late,folks.I'm not thinking
properly) Anyway, here's Chapter 5, which, as promised, is longer than
Chapter 4.
Chapter 5
Sabé returned to the private chambers. "Sabé!" Eirtaé cried. "Why were you outside in this storm?" She immediately began fussing about the room, gathering supplies to heal her by morning.
"H-how.?"
"It's in your face, Sabé" Rabé explained, sitting on the bed, letting Eirtaé pamper Sabé. "But, I also see something else in your face.something about you and a certain Jedi, perhaps?" She asked with a twinkle in her eye.
Sitting next to her, Sabé protested, "It's not what you think!"
"Then pray tell us, Sabé, what should we think?" Eirtaé asked, sitting behind her, combing out all the sand in Sabé's hair.
"I went outside, and the Jedi was there and we started to talk-" Sabé began, cut off by Eirtaé.
"-Talk? That's not what we call where I come from."
"Shut up. Anyway, the dust storm came, and he helped me come inside. Nothing else."
Rabé mused thoughtfully, "Well.you're leaving out a lot, but right now that doesn't matter." Sabé looked at her, her face blank. "Oh, come on! The Jedi, Kenobi, I think that was his name, knows who you are. So, tomorrow, what if he requests your presence or something? It'll look suspicious if the two handmaidens are by the Queen and neither is Sabé."
Sabé sighed, "Always a bigger problem." After some time, she exclaimed jumping up (knocking Eirtaé over) "I know! Eirtaé'll be the handmaiden by me, and Rabé, you could stay here, pretending to be me. Therefore, if anyone wants to know where I am, we could say that I'm in the chambers, because I didn't feel well after the storm last night." Her stomach churned at the obvious fact that Obi-wan would take the blame for 'her' not feeling well, but that couldn't be helped. It was either that, or let everyone know she wasn't the Queen, but the decoy, and in turn, put Padmé in danger.
"That's actually a really good idea, don't you think, Rabé?" Eirtaé agreed. Rabé nodded. "I'll go and get Sabé's gown ready. I'll be right back," she said cheerfully. Sabé restrained from rolling her eyes at Eirtaé obvious behavior to please Sabé. After Eirtaé left, Sabé turned to Rabé.
"Why is she acting so cheerful?" Rabé grinned. "Uh oh.you talked to her, didn't you?" Rabé nodded, still grinning. "What did you tell her?" No reply. "Rabé!"
"Alright, alright. I confess I talked to her. I told her everything you told me, I believed she had a right to know. So.she told me she thought YOU were perfect, so there wasn't much of a difference. I think she realized how much pressure being the Queen's decoy is.anyhow, she promised to be friendly to you, and form what I see, she has." Rabé smirked, "Even after you jumped up, making her fall."
Sabé laughed, as Eirtaé returned. Eirtaé looked at the two, her eyes darting back and forth. "Hm.you know, I have a strange feeling that I've been talked about."
"No more than I have." Sabé added. The two burst out laughing, while Rabé tried to figure out what she missed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The next morning, Sabé slipped into her gown, and Eirtaé powdered her face white, as Rabé applied the red makeup. "I really hate this gown," she muttered. ("Stop moving your lips!" Rabé complained.)
"It looks quite elegant." Eirtaé remarked.
"It's too itchy."
"The feathers make it look regal."
"The feathers make it look like an overgrown bird."
Eirtaé, stunned at the remark of the Queen's royal gown, burst into laughter, dropping powder everywhere. Rabé groaned, as she cleaned up the mess. Once they were done frolicking, Sabé and Eirtaé elegantly made their way to the throne room, while Rabé lay in bed, impersonating Sabé.
As the two were walking to the throne room, Obi-wan Kenobi caught up with them. "Excuse, me, Your Highness," he bowed politely. "But today, while you usually have 2 handmaidens, you have only one. What, may I ask, happened to your other?"
Sabé tried to her voice calm, and Queen-like, "Sabé, you mean? She's taken ill, after the storm last night." The worry and guilt in Obi-wan's eyes were evident, only for a second, that Sabé thought she imagined it.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I was just curious," he murmured, backing away.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Obi-wan sat dully in the control room of the ship. Sabé was ill? He was so tempted to run over to the chambers and see her, but the Queen would never approve of that. But perhaps he could reach Sabé using the Force? Closing his eyes, he called to her, with the Force, though the result was not expected. Sabé refused to allow his presence inside her head, and her fear was evident. She was pushing him away, to her dismay.
Withdrawing his mind from hers, he was greatly disturbed. Why was Sabé shunning him? She was afraid not angry, so no blame was attached to him because of last night. But what was Sabé hiding that she didn't want Obi- wan to know? Suddenly, the door opened, and Eirtaé walked in.
"Ah.Master Jedi." she fumbled for words. He nodded for her to continue, "The.Queen and I.noticed your concern for Sabé, and she was worried about you this morning.It was not proper to do.well, in front of the Queen, and so, I came here to."
"Yes?" Obi-wan asked, trying not to let his agitation show.
"Well." Eirtaé's hand shook as she gave him a small envelope. "Sabé sealed it.I didn't look at it, I swear," Obi-wan studied her face. She was telling the truth. "She asked if I'd give it to you.and so." she turned sharply and left.
After the handmaiden was well out of sight, with trembling fingers, he opened the small envelope. Inside was a note, which he opened quickly, his breathing increasing rapidly as he read on....
///Dearest Obi-wan,
First I want to tell you that I have never felt the way I feel about you, about anyone at all.I know it doesn't make much sense.but I'm not one for much sense. But, I'm just sixteen, a mere child, and I'll dismiss it as a normal crush everyone, well.almost everyone, goes through. I must ask you, never to contact me, by any means. I may very well lose my position for this, but there is something about.something you don't know, something you shouldn't know. Everyone has their priorities, and mine is to protect the Queen. Please try to understand. I must protect my Queen.
Goodbye Obi-wan,
Sabé ///
Obi-wan reread the letter, his throat tight. Had Sabé feared that he would discover whatever this secret was? She put herself in great danger of losing her position, or perhaps an even greater danger, to tell him this, however little the information was. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he began to meditate. Before anything started, he had better nip this at the bud, however pretty and sweet the flower may be.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Sabé watched Obi-wan's mixed emotions as he read her letter. He seemed shocked, surprised and concerned. His handsome face was contorted in confusion. But if he put so much effort into protecting her, a mere handmaiden, then what would happen when he found out Padmé was the Queen? And especially now, when she is believed to be the Queen, he was in danger. If they ever dared to get close, then whatever dark forces were backing up the Federation, would attack him, not Qui-Gon who was with the real queen. She laughed harshly. Life was complicated. Here she was, a simple sixteen year-old handmaiden faced with so many difficulties. And to think, only a few years ago, she, Padmé, and Saché would worry the most about which actor was in which holo-vid, and such.
Leaving her thoughtless musing behind, she walked back to her quarters, promising herself that from that night on, the friendly relationship between her and Obi-wan no longer existed.
*********************************************** TBC
Chapter 5
Sabé returned to the private chambers. "Sabé!" Eirtaé cried. "Why were you outside in this storm?" She immediately began fussing about the room, gathering supplies to heal her by morning.
"H-how.?"
"It's in your face, Sabé" Rabé explained, sitting on the bed, letting Eirtaé pamper Sabé. "But, I also see something else in your face.something about you and a certain Jedi, perhaps?" She asked with a twinkle in her eye.
Sitting next to her, Sabé protested, "It's not what you think!"
"Then pray tell us, Sabé, what should we think?" Eirtaé asked, sitting behind her, combing out all the sand in Sabé's hair.
"I went outside, and the Jedi was there and we started to talk-" Sabé began, cut off by Eirtaé.
"-Talk? That's not what we call where I come from."
"Shut up. Anyway, the dust storm came, and he helped me come inside. Nothing else."
Rabé mused thoughtfully, "Well.you're leaving out a lot, but right now that doesn't matter." Sabé looked at her, her face blank. "Oh, come on! The Jedi, Kenobi, I think that was his name, knows who you are. So, tomorrow, what if he requests your presence or something? It'll look suspicious if the two handmaidens are by the Queen and neither is Sabé."
Sabé sighed, "Always a bigger problem." After some time, she exclaimed jumping up (knocking Eirtaé over) "I know! Eirtaé'll be the handmaiden by me, and Rabé, you could stay here, pretending to be me. Therefore, if anyone wants to know where I am, we could say that I'm in the chambers, because I didn't feel well after the storm last night." Her stomach churned at the obvious fact that Obi-wan would take the blame for 'her' not feeling well, but that couldn't be helped. It was either that, or let everyone know she wasn't the Queen, but the decoy, and in turn, put Padmé in danger.
"That's actually a really good idea, don't you think, Rabé?" Eirtaé agreed. Rabé nodded. "I'll go and get Sabé's gown ready. I'll be right back," she said cheerfully. Sabé restrained from rolling her eyes at Eirtaé obvious behavior to please Sabé. After Eirtaé left, Sabé turned to Rabé.
"Why is she acting so cheerful?" Rabé grinned. "Uh oh.you talked to her, didn't you?" Rabé nodded, still grinning. "What did you tell her?" No reply. "Rabé!"
"Alright, alright. I confess I talked to her. I told her everything you told me, I believed she had a right to know. So.she told me she thought YOU were perfect, so there wasn't much of a difference. I think she realized how much pressure being the Queen's decoy is.anyhow, she promised to be friendly to you, and form what I see, she has." Rabé smirked, "Even after you jumped up, making her fall."
Sabé laughed, as Eirtaé returned. Eirtaé looked at the two, her eyes darting back and forth. "Hm.you know, I have a strange feeling that I've been talked about."
"No more than I have." Sabé added. The two burst out laughing, while Rabé tried to figure out what she missed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The next morning, Sabé slipped into her gown, and Eirtaé powdered her face white, as Rabé applied the red makeup. "I really hate this gown," she muttered. ("Stop moving your lips!" Rabé complained.)
"It looks quite elegant." Eirtaé remarked.
"It's too itchy."
"The feathers make it look regal."
"The feathers make it look like an overgrown bird."
Eirtaé, stunned at the remark of the Queen's royal gown, burst into laughter, dropping powder everywhere. Rabé groaned, as she cleaned up the mess. Once they were done frolicking, Sabé and Eirtaé elegantly made their way to the throne room, while Rabé lay in bed, impersonating Sabé.
As the two were walking to the throne room, Obi-wan Kenobi caught up with them. "Excuse, me, Your Highness," he bowed politely. "But today, while you usually have 2 handmaidens, you have only one. What, may I ask, happened to your other?"
Sabé tried to her voice calm, and Queen-like, "Sabé, you mean? She's taken ill, after the storm last night." The worry and guilt in Obi-wan's eyes were evident, only for a second, that Sabé thought she imagined it.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I was just curious," he murmured, backing away.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Obi-wan sat dully in the control room of the ship. Sabé was ill? He was so tempted to run over to the chambers and see her, but the Queen would never approve of that. But perhaps he could reach Sabé using the Force? Closing his eyes, he called to her, with the Force, though the result was not expected. Sabé refused to allow his presence inside her head, and her fear was evident. She was pushing him away, to her dismay.
Withdrawing his mind from hers, he was greatly disturbed. Why was Sabé shunning him? She was afraid not angry, so no blame was attached to him because of last night. But what was Sabé hiding that she didn't want Obi- wan to know? Suddenly, the door opened, and Eirtaé walked in.
"Ah.Master Jedi." she fumbled for words. He nodded for her to continue, "The.Queen and I.noticed your concern for Sabé, and she was worried about you this morning.It was not proper to do.well, in front of the Queen, and so, I came here to."
"Yes?" Obi-wan asked, trying not to let his agitation show.
"Well." Eirtaé's hand shook as she gave him a small envelope. "Sabé sealed it.I didn't look at it, I swear," Obi-wan studied her face. She was telling the truth. "She asked if I'd give it to you.and so." she turned sharply and left.
After the handmaiden was well out of sight, with trembling fingers, he opened the small envelope. Inside was a note, which he opened quickly, his breathing increasing rapidly as he read on....
///Dearest Obi-wan,
First I want to tell you that I have never felt the way I feel about you, about anyone at all.I know it doesn't make much sense.but I'm not one for much sense. But, I'm just sixteen, a mere child, and I'll dismiss it as a normal crush everyone, well.almost everyone, goes through. I must ask you, never to contact me, by any means. I may very well lose my position for this, but there is something about.something you don't know, something you shouldn't know. Everyone has their priorities, and mine is to protect the Queen. Please try to understand. I must protect my Queen.
Goodbye Obi-wan,
Sabé ///
Obi-wan reread the letter, his throat tight. Had Sabé feared that he would discover whatever this secret was? She put herself in great danger of losing her position, or perhaps an even greater danger, to tell him this, however little the information was. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he began to meditate. Before anything started, he had better nip this at the bud, however pretty and sweet the flower may be.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Sabé watched Obi-wan's mixed emotions as he read her letter. He seemed shocked, surprised and concerned. His handsome face was contorted in confusion. But if he put so much effort into protecting her, a mere handmaiden, then what would happen when he found out Padmé was the Queen? And especially now, when she is believed to be the Queen, he was in danger. If they ever dared to get close, then whatever dark forces were backing up the Federation, would attack him, not Qui-Gon who was with the real queen. She laughed harshly. Life was complicated. Here she was, a simple sixteen year-old handmaiden faced with so many difficulties. And to think, only a few years ago, she, Padmé, and Saché would worry the most about which actor was in which holo-vid, and such.
Leaving her thoughtless musing behind, she walked back to her quarters, promising herself that from that night on, the friendly relationship between her and Obi-wan no longer existed.
*********************************************** TBC