Rabé glanced over to Yané who was secretly conversing with Captain Panaka in the corner of the room. If their plans were going to be successful, they would need his help.
The representatives of the mining corporation had just arrived and while the last of the dinner preparations were being made, the Naboo delegates and other parties involved were mingling about the expansive dining hall.
"He's hovering! Intercept! Intercept!"
It was Sabé who whispered past Rabé, quietly urging the handmaiden to quickly intervene.
"Mi'Lady!"
Her voice was much louder than she had anticipated and all eyes on the room turned to her for a moment before resuming their individual conversations.
Padmé was startled by the outburst. "What?"
"Excuse me, Knight Kenobi. I must speak with her highness."
Rabé escorted the Queen to a nearby columned alcove.
"What is it Rabé?"
"Uhm...nothing that important." She stammered, panicking to find something to say. "You...you have a hair out of place."
Rabé's fingers moved about the elaborate headdress, pretending to tuck in loosened strands of hair that were not even there.
"We can't have her highness making a spectacle of herself, now can we?" She teased.
Rabé She knew that Padmé had a wicked sense of humor and she had always gotten away with her teasing, but from the look that the Queen was giving her now, she was beginning to worry about her timing.
She was also beginning to wonder about the success of her plan, as following a curt and highly suspicious-sounding 'thank you,' the Queen moved immediately back to the Jedi's side.
She cast Sabé an emergent glance, but then sighed in relief as the mining representatives arrived and the small crowed moved toward the dining table.
The large crescent shaped table provided seating all along its outer curve and a few on the inner arch. Captain Panaka escorted the representatives to seats along the arch, and Sabé began to panic as she saw the Jedi moving toward the chair right next to where the Queen sat, in the middle of the outer curve, facing her guests.
Yané was the closest to that location, and Sabé glanced at her furtively.
Apprehension quickly turned to humor at Yané's chosen distraction. She had just intentionally reached across the Queen and spilled a glass of dark red wine all over the cushioned chair.
"I'm so sorry Knight Kenobi." Yané was quickly removing the chair away from the table, and motioned for the young man to take a seat further down the outer curve, at least three seats away from the Queen. The three handmaidens all sighed before sitting in their own respective positions, on the right side of her majesty.
Dinner was going remarkably well and the handmaidens were nearly congratulating themselves on the displacement of the knight. He was beyond contact, and beyond visual range. The design of the table had him seated where he would have to uncomfortably crane his neck to see her, and so far, he had not attempted it.
It was the negotiations that would take place after dinner that worried them.
The dishes were cleared and the other company moved to the council room. Queen Amidala sat upon her designated throne while the rest of the guests seated themselves in a circle about the room. To their dismay, Knight Kenobi seated himself directly opposite the Queen - out of range for anything tactile, but directly in her line of sight.
Their eyes immediately bore upon each other.
"Mi'Lady?"
"Yes Sabé?"
"You have something on your face."
"Yes I know. It's called make-up, Sabé."
There was that humor she knew so well, although it was laced with sarcasm. "No, no, I mean food."
Queen Amidala turned her head in horror, disguising the move by covering the side of her mouth with her hand, pretending to be giving a command to her handmaiden.
Sabé glanced across toward the Jedi. It had worked. The break in their line of sight was enough of a distraction that the Knight was proceeding with negotiations with the miners. Sabé took her time, pretending to remove the bit of imaginary food from Padmé's cheek.
The Jedi's negotiation skills were adequate, Sabé noted, but not enough to satisfy the miners. Hours passed, with the handmaidens finding every excuse to interrupt their concentrated stares -- from stubbing their toe on a chair and yelping out, to picking off imaginary lint from the Queen's wardrobe, to moving about the room and asking the Jedi if he would like something to drink, something to eat, and so on.
It was highly improper on their part to be behaving this way, and they were sure that after the talks had ended, the Queen was going to have a word or two with them about it. Her facial expressions had changed throughout the course of the evening from curious amusement to downright exasperated shock.
Sabé shuddered at the look she was receiving now. Yep. They were definitely going to get it.
The Queen rose from the table and thanked her guests, assuring them that the talks would resume in the morning after breakfast. She nodded her head toward the escort personnel now standing in the room, and customarily wished the guests a good evening and told them they would be escorted to their guest quarters to retire.
She then rose and began leaving the room herself and to the handmaidens' horror, the Jedi Knight moved right alongside her.
All three of the handmaidens moved quickly to dutifully follow the Queen, casting Captain Panaka distressed wide-eyed glances.
He nodded his head, receiving the intended message and moved to intercept Knight Kenobi.
"Excuse me Jedi Kenobi. I was wondering if you would offer me some advice on a new safety protocol we are establishing for the royal guard. I would appreciate your input."
Sabé watched as the Jedi hesitated and then complied. Captain Panaka turned to wink quickly at the trio, who responded with wide grins as they watched him escort the young Knight away.
Their grins vanished immediately at the look that Queen Amidala shot them. She knew something was up.
They were definitely going to get it.