III

Under the clouds of the night,
I walk toward the clearing
In a slivery burst, I see it,
the moon

It wears the veils of
eternity
Its halo embrace
the stars, my moon
- Anna-Lena Strasse

Wisdom has to be accompanied by a friend, and that friend is time...

The R2 unit seemed to like her, and it was the first to warn her of an attack. The R2 unit burst into the room where she and the handmaidens were sleeping. Sabe's make-up was removed, her black hair was loose over her face, but there was nothing to be done. They all jumped out of their beds. Rabe handed her a pistol, and then ran to the doorway with Eirtae carrying their own pistols to guard against what may enter.

Sirens were now screaming throughout the ship as Sabe hurried to wrap a gown around her nightdress. Then, just as quickly, the sirens abruptly stopped. There was quiet. " Rabe, I think now is a good time to reconnoiter," She spoke. Rabe nodded in agreement and walked out of the door. Sabe put a belt around her waist, and placed her pistol in it.

Rabe returned with Captain Panaka, " Some Tuskin Raiders attacked us m'lady, but the jedi took care of them pretty quickly. They might attack again, so security measures are being taken and a better watch being put up."

Sabe nodded, " Good." She continued, " It appears we are not at a lost for excitement. As it is, thank you Captain Panaka for your work and diligence. Thank the jedi for me as well."

The Captain was just about to bow and comment that her reserve as a decoy was so far was serving her well, but a flash of brown startled the group as a Tuskin Raider fell upon the Captain. Rabe shot him down before he could get far. The sirens went off again and more brown entered the room. Sabe held her gun aimed at the door ready to shoot down more. Yet instead of brown, a flash of blue moved with a speed that brought down the tuskin raiders in a mere second. There was quiet again as the jedi stood up breathing only slightly heavily, as if the exercise had not affect him at all. All eyes in the room now turned upon her, some were glances of worry, others were of curiosity.

She was without her physical mask, but she was not without her mental one. She was determined not to appear disconcerted at being seen, for she was still queen in their minds. Obi-Wan noted that she looked even more like a child without her make-up and towering headdress. She could not be above fifteen, if that. She looked delicate, and Obi-Wan pitied her in that moment. But she did not wish to be pitied. Her black hair was sheltering part of her face, but the eyes that flashed through her hair spoke of determination. Her little frame was poised and her chin was held high. " Thank you master jedi," she spoke, " Your service has been invaluable. But a second attack, and in the chamber, is too much of a surprise for one night."

She was holding her own, that was certain, he thought. " I agree, and I apologize," he returned. " The first attack acted as decoy, and I made the mistake of not recognizing it. A mistake a jedi should not make so easily."

He was penitent despite his pride. But as far as she was concerned his pride would have to suffer again if she could help it. She nodded toward him and he left. She mulled over his comments about the 'decoy' attack, and began to wonder once again if he knew. As if reading her thoughts, Panaka spoke, " I do not think he knows."

Sabe nodded, her eyes now letting down their shield slightly, and she sighed, " Then Padme remains sheltered, or so we hope," She told him.

Panaka nodded, " Yes, so we hope while she is out there."

She looked out over the city of Coruscant; they had made it. She was back in her typical handmaiden garb. The day had been full, as everyday was. But now night had fallen, and for the first time since they had left Naboo, she was allowed to herself and her own thoughts. Everyone was asleep save for her. She liked the night, there was something haunting about it that appealed to her, and she could not help but be attracted to it.

" Sabe," She apparently was not the only one awake, she turned her head and saw Padme enter the room. " What is keeping you up?" She inquired of her handmaiden.

" I could ask the same thing of you," Sabe quietly countered.

" I was thirsty," Padme explained of herself, " Now it is your turn."

" I do not require that much sleep. My biological clock is off," She replied getting mistress a glass of water, " I think I am part nocturnal."

Padme took the glass, " Well, do you mind if I join you?"

" Of course not, " Sabe shook her head, surprised at the question.

Looking out over the planet with Sabe, Padme watched the still congested traffic, " This is your planet Sabe. They do not sleep here either."

Sabe took note of the circles under Padme's eyes. They had recently formed, for they were not always there. Sabe understood Padme's thoughts, for taking on the cloak of queen had given her greater insight into the burdens Padme took upon herself. Padme was wondering if in the move for a vote of 'no confidence' in Chancellor Valorum she had chosen correctly. That was what was keeping her up despite the 'thirsty' excuse. " There really was nothing else you could have done, there was no other path to take. It all led to a dead end," She told Padme. " If you had not done so, action would have been even more delayed than it has. Our small planet cannot risk that. You know this. Our actions define us, but the motive behind actions even more so, and this was done with the best intentions."

Padme looked at her handmaiden, hardly surprised at the sudden speech, " But was it wise?"

Sabe shook her head, " Who is to say? The present is never one to reveal anything, only time will tell. But I am behind believing time will reveal that it was the right course."

The corners of Padme's mouth rose a little, " Thank you Sabe...You have changed greatly." She refocused the subject, and turned it toward her secretive handmaiden who had always only cared for her own, Padme's, well-being. It was a rare trait and it was time that it was recognized.

Sabe smiled a bit wryly, as was habitual to her, " I think we are both older than we should be."

Padme nodded, " We have had to be." She then asked, " What happened on Tatooine?"

" Nothing of very great consequence aside from the message from Governor Sio Bibble...We were attacked by a local tribe, but that has to be expected given our surroundings. I would have been more surprised if we had be stranded for the amount of time that we were and had not been attacked."

" Captain Panaka spoke well of your conduct."

Sabe pushed the words aside and said, " I acted on instinct, it is all I knew to do."

" I knew you would do so," Padme said knowledgeably.

Sabe was a bit taken aback, " Is it good to be known so well?"

" We have to understand each other," She spoke as a matter-of-factly. But then feeling mischievous she continued, " Take comfort in that fact that I am a good judge of character."

" I bow to your skills in verbal flattery."

" Do try not to be jealous."

" I will try. But it is difficult."

In this moment they were their own age without any restrictions of the world pressing down upon them, for in this moment it was forgot. Sabe recognized this. In this moment not a single adult care was upon their minds. But such moments were short.

" Are you tired Padme?" Sabe asked after their moment of teasing reached its end.

" No, but I should return to my sleep shouldn't I?" For once it was Padme who was unsure, for once it was she who did not want to face the real world again.

" I think you should," Sabe spoke. Padme nodded, obeyed, and left.

Sabe returned to her contemplation. A single moment of lightheartedness was over.