Note: A many thanks so far to all of those who have been patiently reading and reviewing this as it progresses. I know there have been calls for more Obi-Wan and I promise he shall take a more active part later on in the story, as truthfully I could not keep him out of it for long being ahem the fan that I am.In the meantime I am trying to piece and build Sabe's character, andIthank all of you who have been following as I try and develop her.

V

The old anvil laughs at many broken hammers
There are men who cannot be bought.
The fireborn are at home in the fire.
The stars make no noise.
You can't hinder the wind from blowing.
Who can live without hope?
- Carl Sandburg

Another step I take, and am thankful that there is no end in sight.

The rain could be heard echoing across the palace. It had a musical chime as it glanced across the windows. The beauty of the planet was half owing to the amount of rain it received. Those who inhabited Naboo usually welcomed such days.

A changing of the guard was underway. Queen Amidala's term had ended and she was stepping down despite wishes that she would stay. For her reign after the Battle of Naboo had come to be known as 'The Glorious Years'. An amendment had recently been made and passed that allowed a Queen to reign for more than two terms. But Padme made it clear that she was more displeased with the amendment than flattered, and she quickly worked so that the law receded.

But Padme had a thrive for politics, so when she was offered the position of Senator by the Queen elect, it was something she was pleased with and did agree to take upon her shoulders. Sabe told her that she was the kind of person who could never be at rest unless she was doing something, she was a paradox. Padme supposed this to be true about herself. But Padme felt that if it was true of her, she felt it would also be true of Sabe.

But more than one obvious change was to come about with Queen Jamillia taking over and Padme taking the place of Senator. Padme had felt that she should relieve her current handmaidens of their duties. " I am indebted to each of you," Padme spoke. " You have all been duty bound and have never wavered. You have held your tedious positions with dignity that I find inspired my own. I feel it would be unfair of me to ask you to spend your entire lives devoted to this work, so I am relieving you of your duties so that you can move forward and attain your own goals. I thank you for your friendship and loyalty." Padme observed each one of them, they had all changed in many ways. When they went about the palace in their traditional attire, they were no longer the same height and shape. Each had the appearance of an individual woman now.

On the day of Queen Amidala and her Administration's departure, each handmaiden was to leave as secretly as when they had entered eight years ago. They were to go out individually, alone; and no one was to ever know who they were or what they had done.

Sabe's lone figure walked the back halls of the palace. Her face now uncovered, and she was dressed in a normal Naboo fashion free of heavy royal garb. Upon her shoulder she carried a knapsack that held the little of her possessions, all that she was personally allowed to own during those eight years. She had grown tall, and even gangly in some respects. But she had a graceful lilt to her walk. Her hair was dark, as were her eyes. Her features were still very similar to Padme's own, but now that her face was free of any tricks or nuances to remain anonymous, one saw that there were aspects about her face that were her own, that were unique.

" Sabe," She heard a well-known voice behind her call out. She turned and saw Padme hurrying toward her, " I am bending the rules a bit I know, but I could not let you go without saying good-bye individually. I am not sure when I shall see you again," She finished with a shake of her head, looking up at her friend who was now taller than herself.

A joyful grin spread across Sabe's face," Well I am glad you have bent the rules, however much it may incur Sio Bibble's wrath."

Padme smiled as well, but her face held hints of melancholy, " It will not be the same without you, and I am selfishly going to miss you."

Sabe's own face sobered, " When are you to leave for Coruscant?"

" In two weeks approximately. But what about you, what are your plans?"

" I have decided that my talents lie in arguments," she said wryly and a hint of amusement hovered about her lips, Padme smiled. "And the best forum for that ambition as you know are the courts. I am thinking of trying to earn a law degree."

" Where shall you attend school?" Padme questioned.

" I think I may try my hand at a school in Coruscant, since there can be no greater public forum in this galaxy."

Padme nodded, " Agreed...Well you will astonish the courts with your talents I'm sure," Padme encouraged her friend.

" We shall see," Sabe replied simply.

" You are self-deprecating," Padme countered.

" I was not always, I think I picked up that trait from you."

" I always thought you should have been my sister," Padme mused unable to deny the claim. " Shall you visit your father before you leave?"

Sabe shook her head, her voice sad, " I honestly do not know. I will make an effort although."

They had reached the end of the corridor. Sabe turned to her friend, " Take care of yourself Padme. You will not loose complete contact with me?"

Padme shook her head," I would not wish to."

Sabe and Padme embraced, " The years of safety will go by quickly I am sure for all of my handmaidens." " We will see each other again," Sabe agreed.

Sabe then turned and her thin figure took its last steps out of what had been her home and life's work for eight years.

It was odd to walk out into the city without a cloak or shrouding. She almost felt as an entirely different person now. No one recognized her, and in some ways she felt like a foreigner in this city; although she knew the streets well, they did not know her.

She walked through the active, yet somehow not bustling, city until she came to a street she knew well. She stood in front of her home for the first time in eight years. How strange to be so near your home and yet never see it for eight years. Yet in many ways it really did not feel like her home. With a push of her long fingers she moved the dark, wavy strands of hair out of her eyes and behind her ear. She walked up the steps to her home, neither hurrying nor halting. She had no expectations and no fears.

" Father," She called as she entered. Her voice echoed across the empty house, and no reply was given. She walked forward. Nothing had changed in eight years. The furniture was were it had always been, and the decor was exactly the same. This did not surprise her, her father never had liked change and her mother was apathetic. She entered the kitchen, " Father," She called again, although this time she did not expect to receive an answer.

But there he was, his head on the table of which was full of paperwork. He was breathing slowly, obviously in a state of slumber. His hair had grayed to a point where there was little black left, and his face was more worn with the years. She expected this, yet somehow it still affected her. She reached out and softly covered his hand with her own. She sat down next to him and would wait for him to awake, however long that took.

A little droid entered the kitchen and started fumbling with pans to begin cooking. It was obviously a cheap droid, as it was inefficient in trying to prepare. Her father must have not cared about eating well.

Thanks to the noise she felt her father stir. With a groan he lifted his head and tilted it in effort cure an obvious cramp. Sabe observed the wrinkles that now lined his face, particularly around the mouth - as if he pursed his lips often.

He started when he saw her.

" I'm sorry papa, I did not mean to frighten you."

He leaned closer and recognition came to his face, " Sabe?"

She nodded, " Yes."

A smile of delight took over and standing up, he pulled her into his arms, " I cannot believe it is you my girl." He then pushed her back a little, and observed her, " You've grown fairly tall. But you are as skinny as always. You get that from your mother I suppose. But I think you look more like me than her overall." He took her face into both of his hands, " Oh, 'tis so good to see you!"

Sabe was overwhelmed and asked in surprise, " You are?"

" Of course I am!" He replied unaffected, his smile still large. He turned away and started look about kitchen, sidestepping the droid. " Are you hungry? Would you like something to eat?"

" No thank you papa," Sabe said quietly, feeling touched and more emotional than she would like. She hurriedly assisted her father, as he started fumbling around making the same amount of noise as the droid, " Here papa, you sit down. You're hungry I know so let me prepare you something before dinner."

Her father looked at her and did not even acquiesce, he turned and sat down willingly. " So..." Sabe heard her father start as she searched his bare storage holes for something. " You were serving the Queen all of these years right? I can't really remember."

Sabe's hands slowed. " Yes," She replied.

" Ah," Her father spoke lightly, " That's nice. Hmmm, so what will you do now?"

" I am thinking of going to school. The prospect of law interests me," She spoke finally alighting upon something in that kitchen to prepare.

Her father continued upon a different subject, his face thinking, " You know my costumer today failed to give me his order number. I have to fix that. Don't let me forget Sabe."

" I'll stick notes in every room, I find that helps me," Spoke Sabe a bit bitterly now, but her father did not notice. Her smile and lit eyes were now gone; nothing had changed.

Sabe spent a month with her father. She made sure he had enough food stored, and bought him a new droid. He had become more absent-minded then he used to be, and so she took to organizing his business. It kept her busy, and she liked to be busy; for then one did not have to focus upon their own thoughts. " What would I do without you Sabe, " Her father told her one day. " It is really wonderful that you are doing all of this, that work for the palace really has made you quite competent."

She never dared to ask about her mother. For one thing was certain, her mother was now gone and it had affected him. She did not need to know anymore, he would not have been able to tell her anyway.

" Listen papa," She spoke, as she put down her bag in the doorway, " Here is where you can contact me. Please do so if you need anything. Also yes," She anticipated his question, " I do have your business cards and I will promote like a telemarketer interrupting a comlink."

He laughed, well pleased. " I will miss you my girl."

" I shall always been there if you need to talk to me," She assured him. Then she added tentatively, " I love you papa."

She meant it, and he saw that. " Yes Sabe, I know you do and really I do not deserve it." He shrugged with ease and then hugged his daughter, " I love you too," He told her.

Sabe forced back tears that threatened and slowly pulled away, " Goodbye papa."

She turned away, and her father watched her walk away, noticing that there was something both melancholy and strong about her pace.