Chapter Nine: Unwritten

Paonga Swamps, Naboo

20:32 CT

Their steps were unaccountably loud over the fallen leaves and brush of the quiet forest floor, and it seemed that the very trees themselves had eyes, watching resentfully as they passed.

They had started out on the more familiar southern banks of Lake Paonga. But when Jar Jar Binks had surfaced from the lake after swimming to Otoh Gunga, he'd told them that the city was deserted. Now he claimed he was taking them to a hidden Gungan sanctuary, but as they worked their way deeper and deeper into thick swampy forest passing trees that must have been hundreds of years old, Sabe felt that they must be infringing upon virgin territory. It was unlikely that any human had ventured this far, at least. The brush grew thicker with every step, vines catching her dragging feet and thorns catching at the material of her battle dress. Mud six inches deep in places sucked at their boots. The air was thick with moisture and the sickly-sweet scent of decay.

Her head swam. She had nearly dragged herself from bed that morning, her limbs clumsy and leaden. She'd felt so ill that she'd nearly told Padme she could not act in her stead today. But then the Queen's cold words came back to her.

"If you are so uncertain in your duty, perhaps you should not act as decoy at all."

She'd gone to great lengths ever since to conceal wracking chills from Rabe. But she had begun to feel progressively worse, and now she was beginning to hallucinate. She could swear there were grey and orange shadows moving amidst the bushes…

As they rounded a huge tree trunk criss-crossed with inch-thick vines and suddenly faced a bewhiskered Gungan riding a kaadu, Sabe realized she had not been hallucinating. The Gungan made a low warble in his throat and the orange and grey shadows took shape and moved into the light. Within a moment there were thirty or more additional Gungans standing with him.

They were as different from Jar Jar as could be possible. Their movements were controlled and smooth, their attitudes those of hardened warriors. Muscles rippled beneath their rubbery amphibious skins, and their golden eyes were predatory. Not all were males. From what little she knew of Gungan culture, Sabe recognized the distinctive clothing and tied-back ears of more than one sharp-eyed female. There was even a small number of young, and she noticed that the adults were careful to position themselves between the outsiders and the small figures lingering in the dimness of the underbrush.

The Gungan said nothing, but leveled his spear at a spot somewhere between Sabe's eyes. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan moved in front of her, dragging Jar Jar with them and keeping their hands on the hilts of their lightsabers.

"Binks!" The Gungan exclaimed. "Noah gain!—"

"Ah, heyo-dalee, Captain Tarpals," Jar Jar said sheepishly, waving. Obi-Wan elbowed him. Jar Jar cleared his throat and said more confidently. "We comen to see da boss."

The Gungan leaned down from his kaadu, his eyes narrowing menacingly. "Ouch time, Binks," His golden eyes flickered over the rest of them. "Ouch time for all-n youse."

Taking a breath to quiet her screaming nerves, Sabe drew herself up an inch or two. It was time to take command of the situation. "I am Queen Amidala of the Naboo," she said in court accent. "I seek an audience with Boss Nass."

"Outlanders," the Gungan hissed. "Yousa come beggin' now da machineeks come."

Sabe could only guess that he was referring to the droids. She realized that she was as guilty of prejudice as Rabe, who had never made a secret of her contempt for the Gungans. Sabe too had expected them all to be dimwitted and clumsy. She glanced at Padme. "The droid army poses a great threat to both our nations," Sabe continued. "It is vital that I speak with your leader."

The bewhiskered Gungan stared at her for a long moment. Sabe kept her chin up and returned his stare unflinchingly. At last he made a frustrated sound and turned his animal, making her understand with an abrupt movement of his spear that she was to follow. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon allowed her to pass, and she tried not to hesitate as she followed the Gungan to the ruined temple where Boss Nass held court.

As she approached, she became aware that the Gungan ruler was much bigger than she had imagined. Just one of his meaty hands was larger than her head. It was a lucky thing she was too giddy with fever to be much afraid. He stood on the knarled roots of a giant tree, among the stone ruins of what must have once been a vast temple. The roots he stood on curved around the carved stylized head of an ancient Gungan. The other Gungans followed the group of outlanders and then passed them to stand amidst the ruins themselves. They were all armed to the teeth with spears and blades. But Sabe did not see a single blaster. She relaxed somewhat. If things turned ugly, they at least had the upper hand in that regard.

"Jar Jar Binks," Boss Nass rumbled in a great voice that seemed to come from the ruins themselves. "Yousa payen dis time. Who's da uss-en others?"

It was difficult to understand his syntax at times, but the little poke in her side from Jar Jar let her know that it was her turn to speak. She stepped forward, her head spinning, and tried to make her voice as commanding as Boss Nass's in spite of her discomfort. "I am Queen Amidala of the Naboo. I come before you in peace."

She seemed to fail in her attempt. Boss Nass snorted contemptuously. "Naboo biggen. Yousa bringen da Mackineeks…Yousa all bombad." He gave a dismissive gesture with his huge hand. His golden eyes glittered threateningly. "Yousa all die'n, mesa tink."

Sabe felt Captain Panaka and the crew tense behind her, and saw Gungans on her right and left lower spears. The little speech she'd practiced in her head on the way here was not working. But she did not have the concentration to think up another so quickly. She was so tired… Closing her eyes briefly, she tried again. Her voice sounded frail even to her own ears. "We wish to form an alliance—"

"Your honor." Sabe's eyes snapped wide as she felt the restraining hand on her shoulder. Padme stepped in front of her and stood fearlessly before Boss Nass with her hands fisted at her sides.

"Whosa dis?" Boss Nass boomed.

"I am Queen Amidala of the Naboo," Padme said. Sabe's heart sank as a murmur went up around her. Padme looked so small without elaborate gowns or headdresses, standing there before the huge king with every Gungan weapon pointed at her. Padme turned back to Sabe. "This is my decoy…my protection…" Her eyes softened. "My loyal bodyguard."

She approached the Gungan king without any sign of hesitation, continuing. "I am sorry for my deception, but it was necessary to protect myself. Although we do not always agree Your Honor, our two great societies have always lived in relative peace."

"Ah," Boss Nass rumbled. He seemed as thrown off balance by the sudden reversal as the rest of them.

"The trade federation has destroyed all that we have worked so hard to build. If we do not act quickly, all will be lost forever. I ask you to help us. No…" Padme dropped to her knees. "I beg you to help us."

She glanced back at the rest of them. Sabe dropped immediately to her knees, followed by Captain Panaka and the crew. After a moment even the proud Jedi sank to their knees.

Padme turned back to Boss Nass. "We are your humble servants. Our fate is in your hands."

Boss Nass looked flabbergasted, his heavy jowls practically quivering. Sabe tried to see Padme as he did, an unimpressive slip of a girl who claimed to represent the society he had thought of as powerful and condescending. It was no surprise when he began to laugh. But it was a guileless laugh that rang in the treetops. "Yousa no tinken yousa greater den da Gungans?"

Padme shook her head.

Boss Nass's belly shook with his mirth. "Mesa like dis. Maybe…" He leaned forward, his hands on his knees. "Wesa bein friends."

Padme's face broke into a wide grin. She jumped to her feet and dashed forward to shake the Gungan's hand. Everyone else looked at one another dazedly, and then laughed in relief. Sabe shook her head, astounded. A fourteen-year-old girl had just done what dozens of Naboovian rulers could not. She had just bridged a two hundred-year-old gap. Sabe laughed disbelievingly, and moved to stand from her knees.

It was then that her head seemed to spin on her shoulders. The world tilted crazily, and a red haze blurred the edges of her vision. Beside her, she heard Rabe's voice. "Sabe! Are you all right?" But she could not reply. Swaying on her feet, she sank back toward the ground.

Before she could get there someone's arm wrapped around her waist, steadying her. She turned her head weakly.

It was Obi-Wan. He took one look at the unnatural color in her cheeks and slipped an arm beneath her knees, lifting her as easily as a child.

She pushed against him weakly. "Let me go!"

"Be still," He commanded abruptly, but his hold was gentle. "You are very ill. You should not have made this march with us."

She still thought of fighting him off, but she lacked the strength or will. Reluctancly she relaxed into his cradling arms and soothing body heat. He left the others and carried her toward a nearby grove of trees with a patch of dry grass beneath them, carefully deposited her before one of them so she could lean against it. As he did the light dressing around her wound shifted and she squeezed her eyes shut against the tears that threatened, pressing her hand to her side. Her teeth chattered, and he shed his robe, wrapping it snugly around her shoulders.

Padme appeared at his side. "What's wrong?"

"That wound you acquired in Tatooine," Obi-Wan said. "Let us see it."

"It's just a scratch," Sabe whispered.

"Don't be a stubborn, Sabe," Padme said sternly and dropped beside her, helping her to remove the outer coat of the battle dress. Sabe reflected that this would be humiliating if she'd been in any shape to care. But as Obi-Wan lifted the edge of the camisole she wore beneath and began plucking at the tape holding her dressing in place, all she could think about was the pain.

He finally got the dressing off. Padme gasped, and even Obi-Wan's face paled a little. Sabe looked and immediately wished she hadn't. The gauze dressing was stained with blood and pus and the wound itself was oozy with angry red streaks radiating from it. She was beginning to get the feeling that she had pushed it too far this time.

"What on earth were you thinking coming here with a wound like that—" Padme began.

But Obi-Wan raised his hand to silence her. "Are there medics with us?" He asked her tensely.

"No," Padme said. "They were all left behind in Theed. Can you not treat the wound?"

Obi-Wan shook his head. "My healing abilities are tenuous at best. This is beyond my skill."

"All I need is a new bacta patch," Sabe mumbled.

"You need stitches and intravenous antibiotics," Obi-Wan retorted. "And until you get them you will remain ill."

"I will tend to her."

They all turned in surprise at the quiet voice. Qui-Gon stood watching them, his arms folded across his chest. "After all," he said with a smile. "I have tended to her cuts and scrapes before."

"This is hardly a scrape, Master Jinn," Padme said, her hand resting protectively on Sabe's shoulder.

"Well, I do not pretend to be a career healer, your highness. But it would not be the first infected wound I have tended in a field of battle," Qui-Gon replied calmly.

Padme looked doubtful, but glanced at Sabe for her approval. Sabe nodded. Padme and Obi-Wan withdrew to give him space to work. Kneeling, Qui-Gon removed a small case from his belt and bent to lift her camisole again, taking care to preserve her modesty. His touch was delicate as he probed the wound. Sabe hissed through her teeth and he frowned.

"You have let this go too long, youngling," he said.

Sabe managed to give him an exasperated look despite her near delirium.

He chuckled. "Oh, don't worry. I am sure your Queen will give you a thorough education on your foolishness later."

Reaching into his case he brought out two transparisteel vials, a few extra bandages, and bacta. Sabe looked at the vials curiously. One looked to be full of sand, and the other was three-quarters full of a clear substance.

"A quick-clotting agent, and a medical adhesive," Qui-Gon explained.

"You're going to glue me together?" Sabe asked nervously.

"A temporary solution, but a strong one. I have seen many a Jedi continue to fight with larger wounds after they were treated," Qui-Gon said.

He examined her wound one final time and looked at her closely. "But it is a bit caustic. It can be quite painful, and I have no anesthetic."

"I don't care," Sabe said with more bravado than she felt. She tried not to think about the Jedi's ludicrous pain tolerance, about the fact that if they admitted something was painful, it was probably agonizing. "Just do it."

At the first touch of the adhesive on her skin, she had to choke back a scream. It felt as if Qui-Gon was slowly and deliberately setting her on fire. He stopped immediately, shaking his head. "This will not do."

She felt the surge in the air as he turned grey eyes swirling with power toward her face and tapped her forehead with two fingers. Immediately, she fell into a trance.

She awoke screaming. She was five years old again, and she had been dreaming of terrible things; Horrible dark shapes that seemed poised to overwhelm her, monsters with fangs dripping blood, writhing slick-scaled snakes encircling her feet, blast doors that no human power could open. She looked around wildly, not recognizing the living area of Qui-Gon's quarters. And she did not know whom to call for, for she had never had anyone to come when she called.

There was a stir in the adjoining room, and a light flicked on. Then she heard a calm male voice. "Peace, my apprentice. I will see to her." Dimly, she saw Qui-Gon's tall form enter the room and approach the pallet where she lay.

She scrambled back against the wall, more frightened of the living person than her nightmares. He hesitated a few feet away. When he stretched out his hand, she curled herself into the smallest defensive ball she could.

To her relief, he did not touch her. He flicked his fingers lightly across her field of vision. "There is nothing to fear," he said softly.

Normally it would not have worked. But in her weakened and sleepy state, she gave in to the gentle persuasion in his voice. "There is nothing to fear," she whispered. She felt warm, soothing energy flow from him and pool around her, relaxing her muscles and dissipating her terror.

He came forward then, and sat down beside her. Sabe curled into his side, whimpering, and he put an arm around her, chafing her shoulder lightly. In a few moments he began to hum, and a few moments after that he commenced to fully sing. Soon her eyelids began to grow heavy, and it was not long before she relaxed into a dreamless sleep, probably the deepest she would ever have.

For years afterward she would recall the tune he had chosen. Her home world was a harsh place, and had almost no soft tunes like that. It was perfect that Qui-Gon would be one of the few who knew one. Sometimes, even years later, if she could not sleep and dark thoughts and anxieties threatened to overwhelm her, she would hum that tune to herself and her mind would soon quiet. It was his gift to her, a particularly rare and precious one; a Coruscanti lullabye.

Sabe opened her eyes slowly. Her discomfort was diminished, and she looked up to see Qui-Gon putting away his supplies. It was dusk now, and she could see the others nearby, talking quietly around campfires. Her hand went automatically to her side, where she found her wound neatly bandaged beneath her clothing. "That was—"

"A force illusion," Qui-Gon tucked the medicinal packet back into his cloak.

"You made that?" Sabe asked in surprise.

"No. You did," he said matter-of-factly. "I simply took hold of one of your pleasanter memories."

Sabe took a deep breath, pleased to see that she could do so with little fear of her pain. "I had almost forgotten," she admitted.

"I had not."

She raised her head. The stern mask he so often wore was gone, replaced by a look of fondness. "I have often hoped our paths would cross again."

Something hard, little, and cold within her split, a defense mechanism she had not even known existed. She inhaled shakily, her throat tight. Before she could stop them, tears were hanging from her lashes. "Master…" she breathed, and Qui-Gon smiled. She inhaled and continued. "I…I'm sorry."

He looked surprised, and waited for her explanation.

"At the temple…I…failed you. And then," The tears were sliding down her cheeks now. "I…ran away. I thought you would care nothing for me after my rejection, so I didn't want to see you again."

His grey eyes were warm. "There was only one lesson I ever wanted to teach you. That, regardless of where you came from, your future is still unwritten. Have you learned it now?"

Sabe's focus drifted to Padme, who was sitting by one of the fires with a group of Gungans and Obi-Wan and Anakin. As she watched, a very young Gungan crept up into the young Queen's lap, and she laughed and put her arms around it. "I suppose I have," Sabe said quietly.

Qui-Gon leaned forward and flicked a tear from her cheek with his thumb. "Then you have done very well for yourself, youngling."

With that, he stood and moved to join Anakin and Obi Wan by the fire, pausing mid-step to turn back toward her. "Rest now," he said gently.

Sabe nodded and lay down, folding herself within the blankets he'd tucked around her. Her last sight before she drifted off was Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Padme, their faces lit by flickering light as they talked animatedly around the fire.

A/N : The idea of some Qui-Gon and Sabe interaction was interesting to me (not in a shipper sense, you sickos). But when I first got the idea for this story, the flashback was just about the first thing I wrote. As I've been working on this, it's evolved more into a coming of age thing than just a Sabewan. But I'll get them there, with some careful development.

Emerald Tiara : Hope I didn't give you nightmares or anything ;-)

GreenTeandHoney: Your screen name makes me thirsty. As for the sabewan, in this particular story I predict a lot of unresolved tension rather than outright declaration. A sequel is already being planned...

Cariel : Hee, pride cometh before a fall.

Until next time!