Chapter Three

She found herself pacing again. This time in the brig. It seemed to be a common occurrence. Before, when she was younger, she used to sit patiently, watching, and listening. Now… she couldn't sit still. It was like something was keeping her from the peace she so desperately craved.

The elder Jedi had left with the gungan and Padmé for a nearby settlement. The Queen had wanted to send Everett, because she had been to Tatooine before, but Padmé had pleaded. She wanted to see the rest of the galaxy also.

So, Everett found herself stuck here. If it wasn't for the blasted heat, she would be outside. If they had landed on a forest planet, she would have climbed the nearest tree.

The Queen and the rest of the handmaidens were in the next room, discussing wardrobe or something of the sort. She had politely excused herself, which the Queen granted. Everett had never been one for social mixers.
"Lady," Captain Panaka called to her. She turned, looking at him. "How is her Majesty?" She knew he believed Everett was stuck on Naboo and managed to change her voice to a timid girl. Everything she wasn't.
"Doing well, given the circumstances."
"And you?"
"My feeling, Captain, mean nothing… How fare the travelers?"
"Hopefully on their return now."

He left her and she sat down at one of the tables, thankful that her hood was on. He would scold her for her deception later when they reached Coruscant, but she was under vow to keep her identity secret.

A little while later, Everett was startled when the younger of the two Jedi rushed into the room.
"My Lady, the Queen wishes to speak with you." She nodded and stood, brushing piece of dark hair out her eyes.
"I never caught your name." He blinked, then flushed slightly.
"Terrible manors on my part, my lady. I am Obi-Wan Kenobi."
"And your… teacher?"
"My master," he corrected. "Qui-Gon Jinn."
"Thank you for your help, Kenobi. I am Moteé" He gave her a small smile and she followed him to the Queen's chambers.

The man left her with the Queen, and she bowed lowly.
"My Queen, you summoned me."
"Can you keep a secret, Senator Alvera?"
"My whole life is secrets," Everett answered.
"I am not the Queen."

Such a revelation should have shocked Everett.
"I assumed you weren't, Sabé."
"You knew?" Sabé voice reserved for the Queen dropped in surprise.
"Of course, you always look to Padmé for direction."
"Nothing escapes your notice, Senator," Sabé muttered.
"It's not that noticeable," Everett assured her. "Why does the Queen wish for my presence to be unknown?"
"I know very little of Padmé's plans," Sabé admitted. "But she is not here, and I need help. There is a transmission coming from Naboo and I won't know the best course of action."
"I am here to serve, my lady."

The young Jedi, Obi-Wan, came in a few moments later and Sabé immediately resumed her role as the Queen. She did her job well, masking her emotions at the transmission of Bibble.
"… the death toll is catastrophic… we must bow to their wishes… you must contact me…"
"It's a trick," Obi-Wan declared. "Send no reply… Send no transmission of any kind."

He was a direct sort of person and Sabé cast a side eye at Everett. The disguised girl nodded in agreement with the Jedi.
"It would be unwise to contact them," she murmured quietly. Sabé looked to Obi-Wan.
"We will do as you say, though I grow anxious to help my people."
"I assure you, Your Highness, we feel the same." He bowed to the Queen, sent Everett a small smile, then strolled out of the room.
"He's a good-looking young man," Sabé quipped, her voice changing once more. "Is he not, Senator Alvera?"
"Is he?" Everett asked as Eirtaé and Rabé started giggling.
"She only has eyes for the guard, Sabé," Rabé reminded the Queen's decoy. "The Senator would never find a jedi attractive."

She went along with their playful chattered, trying to ignore the gloom settling overhead.
"Senator Alvera," Eirtaé said quietly. "How did you know Sabé is not the Queen? I can hardly tell the difference and I helped her dress."
"I work closely with the Queen, and she is the only one willing to call me by my given name instead of my title. Which I beg of you all do as well. Senator Alvera is much too stuffy."

It broke the ice around them, giggles commencing once more. Everett listened to their conversations, joining in every once in a while, but spent most of her time staring out the windows at the endless desert of yellow sand. She missed Gregar, she missed Tatooine. But she mainly missed a time before the politics, back when she was allowed to be a carefree young maiden like the girls before her. Of course, they put themselves in life altering situations as well, but they would never feel the weight that rested on her shoulders.

This chapter is really short, but I tend to put scene breaks when I'm writing and instead of continuing with tons of line breaks in each chapter, I broke some of the chapters into shorter segments. I hope you are enjoying!

-Amy Thorton

All Rights belong to Disney and Lucas Films.