"You cannot be too much upon your guard. Risk anything rather than her displeasure; and if you find it likely to be raised by your coming to us again, which I should think exceedingly probable, stay quietly at home, and be satisfied that WE shall take no offence." Mr. Bennet to Mr. Collins on his match with Charlotte and her Ladyship's reaction, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin

Chapter 15: The Dastardly Deed

However ironically, Madame DesLauriers couldn't seem to remember her threat and continued to speak with Padmé though she continued to harbor a grudge against the young woman. Also, she apparently forgot to expel Padmé, for no word was mentioned of it after that day. For the next week, while they finished out their stay on Naboo, the Headmistress remained bedridden and wailed quite loudly about how they were all to spend the rest of their lives as uneducated paupers. It also did not help that a certain Jedi Master had not inquired as to her health before leaving the planet.

Indeed, all the Jedi shortly left after the ball. While Anakin seemed glad to get away from Padmé and the overwhelming presence of the other Nubian ladies, Obi-Wan reluctantly left Sabé behind. Though the young women were to return to the Temple at the end of the week, it appeared that time could not pass quickly enough for the couple who were obviously so much in love.

Palo, by all accounts, never spoke to Padmé civilly ever again, but he had been reportedly seen sulking about the Palace and talking to the tapestries. While everyone else found it funny, Padmé highly doubted the truth of that rumor. Her refusal to marry him had infuriated and insulted his patroness, but Padmé did not feel inclined to express any guilt over the matter.

Things started to turn sour, however, on the last day of their stay.

Not wanting to squander anytime, Padmé spent most of her break with her family. With Anakin gone, things were less awkward and much more enjoyable. Sola, as it turned out, was making Padmé an aunt again, and this fact added even greater joy to her stay.

So, on that sold afternoon of their departure, Padmé kissed her family goodbye and, after promising to keep in touch, headed back to the palace. Not two feet from the house, Padmé heard Ruwee yelling after her to 'stay away from that Anakin guy.'

When she reached the palace and before Padmé had even spoken with anyone, she knew that something was wrong. A dour mood seemed to follow her wherever she went, and all of the other young ladies seemed so gloomy.

"Padmé!" a voice cried out from the floor above her.

Looking up, she saw a worried Rabé looking down the railing at her. Hurriedly, Padmé climbed the stairs and followed her friend down the corridor.

"She's not speaking to anyone," Rabé finally whispered, drawing a blank look from her friend.

"Madame DesLauriers? Doesn't she do that all the time?" Padmé asked, her heart lifting at the thought their departure might be delayed.

"No, not her- Sabé. Perhaps she'll speak to you.

"What's wrong with here?" Padmé asked, completely frightened and praying that nothing was seriously wrong with her best friend.

"I do not know," Rabé said in a hushed tone as she stopped before the closed door that led into Sabé's chamber. "She was doing alright this morning but apparently took ill shortly after the mail had arrived."

"Did someone die?" Obi-Wan, maybe? The thought of that nearly broke Padmé's heart.

"I can't possibly imagine what's wrong," Rabé said sadly, shrugging her slim shoulders.

The dour mood now filling her being, Padmé stepped inside the room and found, much to her surprise, that Sabé was not lying in bed much like she had been expecting. Instead, the young woman was standing before the closed window, not moving nor seeming to have noticed Padmé's entrance.

"Sabé?" she quietly asked, prepared to leave if her friend requested to be left alone.

"Padmé!" Sabé cried out, rushing to the other woman and embracing her. "I am so glad you are here."

"What's wrong?" She pulled away to anxiously study Sabé's face. It was evident that the blond-haired woman had been crying, but she was otherwise well. "Rabé said…"

"There is nothing wrong with me," Sabé interjected, her smile melting as a sober look overtook her. As she began to cry, the woman covered her face with her hands but, before Padmé could pry her hands away, Sabé looked back up. "He's not coming back."

"Who?"

"Master Kenobi."

"Sabé," Padmé chided, giving her friend another comforting hug. "Of course he's coming back! He's probably up at the Temple waiting for you to arrive. Do you know what it would take to kill a great Jedi Master like him?"

"No… I mean, coming back to me."

Shock stilled Padmé as she grasped the fullness of Sabé's words. "W… what do you mean? He loves you."

"I've got a letter," Sabé announced. Pulling away, she hastened over to the dresser by her bed. From it, she pulled out an envelope and handed it to Padmé. "Read it- I don't mind," she insisted, wiping at her watering eyes with her sleeve.

Hesitantly, Padmé took the letter and opened it. "It's addressed from Miss Talek," she spat in disgust, confused that it was not from Sabé's lover.

"Read it and all will make sense… somewhat."

Miss Sabé,

As a dear friend, I consider it to be my duty to share a terrible burden with you. Just this past night, a conflict has erupted on my homeplanet of Alderaan and Obi-Wan is to accompany me there. Along the way home, I inquired as to his feelings towards you and was astonished to learn that, for a few days since the ball, he'd been considering ending his relationship with you. For what reasons, Obi-Wan would not reveal, but as your friend and confidant, rest assured that I will take all measures necessary to both discern the truth and keep him out of harm's way.

It also seems that he shall not be returning to Coruscant or the Temple, for that matter, for quite some time. As soon as this conflict is resolved, he intends to enjoy a brief hiatus at an as-of-yet undisclosed location.

Hopefully, you will have received this note before the unfortunate news reaches your ears by other means than myself.

As before, I remain your loyal friend,

Miss Talek.

"The snake," Padmé hissed, resisting the urge to crumple up the letter and throw it into the nearby fire.

"I was supposed to accompany him during his furlough," Sabé whispered, brokenheartedly and promptly burst into a fresh set of tears at this.

"Anakin would not have her so she moved onto your Obi-Wan!" Padmé cried out, plopping herself down on the bed before burring her head in her hands. "That is why she purposefully got him off-planet and away from you!"

"Oh, no," Sabé said, feverishly shaking her blond head. "She would never do such a wicked thing." Fiercely loyal, Sabé riled at the thought of that misdeed.

"Sabé, I know that you can't speak badly of another being, but can't you see- this has her doing written all over it!" She thrust the letter back into her friend's hands though the other woman refused to examine it again. "Obi-Wan loves you- I know it! There is something fishy going on here…"

"Enough," the other said firmly, giving Padmé a mildly agitated look.

This surprised Padmé and she instantly quieted.

"There is no use in wanting a man I can't have," Sabé said in a bold tone though her bottom lip quivered, giving her away.

"Sabé..."

"No, Padmé," she interjected forcefully. Turning around, the young woman held onto Padmé's shoulders and looked her square in the eye. "I was foolish- it was just too… beautiful to be true."

"But…"

"Listen to me," she commanded. "Madame DesLauriers thinks that I am ill, and I want her to continue thinking so. She contacted my parents and they are going to take me on the trip they've been promising me for years." Tears glistened in Sabé's eyes momentarily, but she wiped them away and gave Padmé a trembling smile. "It will help me… forget things and people that I must learn to let go of."

"But what about your education? You just can't leave me here!" Padmé cried out, throwing her arms about her best friend as if that alone would convince her to stay.

"What am I to miss out on? Piloting lessons?" Sabé scoffed. Standing up, she gestured to her bags. "I need to get away, but I promise to keep in touch with you."

"But who will help me survive Remedial Potions and give me hints on homework? Who will help me with S.P.E.W.?"

At this, Sabé just shook her head. "Padmé, I know you mean well, but I eventually have to leave.

"We all do."

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Padmé was the only one there to see her cousin off. After her aunt and uncle heartily greeted her and promised to take her on a trip also later that year, they whisked the mourning Sabé away.

Now, Padmé was stuck with the task of keeping the inquisitive Madame DesLauriers in the dark of the true reasons of Sabé's sorrows.

Eventually, she took to hiding in her room back at the Jedi Temple. She spent many hours there working on her plans for S.P.E.W. Even Rabé seemed to have abandoned her, something which greatly distressed Padmé.

However, one day, Padmé received an even greater shock.

About thirty minutes before her Remedial Piloting class, Padmé heard a knock at the door. "Let whoever it is in," she instructed Threepio, who was cleaning her room.

The droid did so, and, although the door opened and the person entered, he or she said nothing.

Impatiently, Padmé turned around from where she diligently worked and found Rabé standing before her. "Rabé!" she cried out, delighted that help had come.

"I came to tell you the good news," Rabé said, swallowing nervously. By her manner, what the woman had to say was not good news. She took another deep breath before speaking again. "I am to be married."

Padmé found that she could do nothing but gape at her friend. Very studious, Rabé had shown interest in many a man, but she'd never found the time to be in a relationship before. To find out so suddenly that her friend was to be married was certainly… startling. "To whom?" Padmé finally managed to gasp out. The datapad she'd been holding fell to the ground but she did not move to pick it up.

Refusing to look at Padmé, Rabe whispered, "Palo.""

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Spoiler for the next chapter: "Counseling, You Both Need"

Obviously in a bad mood, Anakin started roll call, but he eventually noticed the empty desks and gave Padmé a questioning look.

"You do not want to know, Master Skywalker, even though unhappiness and misfortune seem to be your ways," Padmé said flatly. "My friend was cheated in a way that you would certainly be able to compare to.'"

"Oh, Force, do you have to be in a bad mood itoday?" he mumbled, eyes mostly closed as he sipped on his decaf.

"Are you saying that I am temperamental," she challenged, folding her arms over her chest. For all this, she might have well asked Anakin if he thought she looked fat.

A long silence ensued, but Anakin eventually decided to take the plunge. "That isn't quite the word I'd use."/i
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