Note:

I do not own StarWars, all belongs to George Lucas!

I am just using his brilliance to further my own imagination.

I am writing for my own enjoyment, but I hope you might find some as well.


Sabé awoke, feeling more rested than she had before. She tried to cling to the few remnants of sleep and peace, before reality came crashing into her mind. The pod race was bound to begin shortly. She decided to change back into the heavy mourning gown, a sign of faith in the Jedi and the Force. Rabé fixed her make up as Eirtaé helped fix her hair back into place before placing the feathered headdress down on the crown of her head. She had not missed its weight. They worked together in silence this morning, fear of speaking too hopefully for their departure today. Jedi Kenobi had informed them he would find a way to stream the race for them. Again, she was faced with not knowing which was better, the unknown and waiting or anxiously watching the events unfold. Regardless, they met with him and Captain Panaka in the throne room; tension replaced with relieved smiles on everyone's face as their champion finished the race first place.

She anxiously awaited take off, doing the best to sit still in her chair, clutching the arm rest to keep her hands from fidgeting. Padmé had returned and was now to her left again. She explained that the Master Jedi would be returning their Eopies and finishing some business. Jedi Kenobi had informed them thusly when he had finished installing their new parts. They had all been waiting anxiously for what felt like hours, when the ship abruptly took off. Sabé searched her fellow handmaiden's eyes for answers, knowing she would find none. Padmé was also eye wide and concerned, and abruptly left the throne room for the cockpit.

Sabé could feel Padmé's concern as she returned. She could not give her new information to their abrupt take off, but Sabé knew it would soon reveal itself. She listened intently as Padmé relayed all that they encountered on Tatooine. Sabé quickly noted how often she mentioned the young boy Anakin and how fondly she spoke of him. He must have been quite the little boy to impress her so. Indeed he must have, as Padmé presented his gift he had given her. Sabé was grateful to him, some source of comfort and distraction for her queen. Captain Panaka came later to inform them of their arrival to Coruscant.


Sabé took a few moments to breathe deeply, her façade solidified, as she walked towards Senator Palpatine and Chancellor Velorum.

"It is a great gift to see you alive, Your Majesty. With the communications breakdown, we've been very concerned. I'm anxious to hear your report on the situation" Senator Palpatine began, but to Sabé his intended concern did not meet his eyes. She had never been a great fan of this man. There was always something elusive about him, something fake. As a decoy herself, she could see the way he resigned his features. To her, he had telltale signs of a liar, and she did not trust him. However, he had mentored Padmé and the Queen held him in high regard, so she must also.

"May I present Supreme Chancellor Valorum?" He finished.

"Welcome, Your Highness. It's an honor to finally meet you in person." The Chancellor spoke.

"Thank you, Supreme Chancellor."

"I must relay to you how distressed everyone is over the current situation. I've called for a special session of the senate to hear your position." Unlike the Senator, the Chancellors concern was evident in his voice and his face, something that calmed Sabé's anxious mind. She could only hope this trip was not a futile effort and that they had not extended their people's suffering.

"I'm grateful for your concern, Chancellor." She finally acknowledged, Senator Palpatine now stepping in stride with her.

"There is a question of procedure." He began. "But I'm confident we can overcome it." She only nodded in response, not allowing herself to put confidence in this man as he led her into their air taxi.

As they ascended, she wished she could have better thanked the Jedi Kenobi for his company, distraction, and for finally affording her the rest she needed. However, there had been no opportunity to do so and her duty came first. She wondered if she had not been a decoy, if they perhaps could have even been friends. He was easy to talk to and a good Sabacc player. She appreciated his current diplomatic approaches, but wondered what he was like when not in negotiation or on a mission. Perhaps in another time, they could indeed have been friends. She allowed these thoughts to float away as they finally approached the senate quarters designated for them.

Rabé and Eirtaé helped Padme change into her visitation robes in preparation to meet with the Senator, as Sabe´ wiped the make up off her face and prepared her own crimson handmaiden cloak. While she often spoke politics for Padmé, they decided the situation too dire to rely on her trusting Padmé's face and gestures to guide her. For this, Sabé was almost thankful. The weight of such decisions lifted form her shoulders, but with a heavy heart, she placed it back upon the shoulders of her dear friend.

Sabé had found herself zoning in and out of the conversation. The Senator was set on hearing his own voice and she did not care for it. It was in the moment that she heard him suggest a vote of no confidence in the chancellor that she zeroed back into the conversation. The Queen's shock mirrored her own. She could hear the strained attempt to keep an even voice as Padmé admonished the senator, claiming the chancellor to be their strongest supporter. She could see the resolve in Padmé's stance as she continued her admonishment of the courts and lamented their people's death. No doubt, they both felt this was not going to plan and they feared the worst.

"To be realistic, Your Majesty, I think we're going to have to accept Federation control for the time being." She felt her own anger rise at this statement. They had not just risked everything to turn their back on their people and accept such an outrageous atrocity. She was grateful for Padme's steeled words.

"That is something I cannot do." Echoing in her mind.

She was doing her best to keep her anger controlled and her face impassive as they entered their quarters. She did not want Padmé to be influenced by her own opinions without her first asking them of her. It did not take long for Padmé to notice her though.

"Sabé, I can feel the tension as if it were my own. You do not need to attend the senate meeting. Rabé and Eirtaé can join me. Take a moment to release your emotions and prepare for what is ahead. I feel as though we are far from finished with our duties."

"Thank you, your Highness." As much as she would like to know the outcome, she knew it was futile to argue. They had just finished helping the queen into her senatorial robes, when there was a buzz at the door. It seems the young boy from Tatooine had come to visit Padmé. She realized that she would be seen as an extra handmaiden, and hid herself from view. She could hear the Queen relay her absence to the boy.

"We will tell her for you. We are sure her heart goes with you." Sabé could hear the sincerity in her voice. This boy really had her wrapped around his finger. She felt sad for her friend, that she also could not say a proper goodbye. Duty always calls. The rest of the entourage shortly left afterwards, leaving Sabé to her own devices. With their need for an escape, Sabé had not brought much with her. She heeded Padmé's parting words and tried her best to release her anger at the senator. As she felt her tension slowly ebb away, she began to prepare and strategize for whatever scenarios may come their way. By the end of the senate meeting, they would return to Sabé surrounded by multiple layers of flimsi, all strategically placed for any given situation.

She only needed to look upon her friend's face to know it had not gone well. She could for a moment, again see her young friend. Her eyes holding her deep sadness and concern for their people.

"Yousa thinkin your people gonna die?" The Gungun asked the Queen.

"I don't know." The sadness now clearly evident in her usually crisp monotone voice. Sabé's heart went out to her.

"Gungans get pasted too, eh?"

"I hope not." Her sincerity rang clear.

"Gungans no dyin' without a fight. Wesa warriors. Wesa got a grand army. Dat's why you no liken us mesa tinks."

At this, Sabé's eyes shot up to meet Padmé's, her eyes reflecting her own thoughts. One of Padmé's eyebrows rose slightly and Sabé knew the plan. They would return home, they had a planet to save. Padmé's face became passive and steeled once again. The young girl Sabé saw, disappeared, replaced by a frightfully powerful queen, indignation evident and her resolve growing. Her demeanor had not changed, even as the Senator came in glowing that he had been nominated for chancellor.

"Senator, this is your arena. I feel I must return to mine." Her eyes met Padmé's as she finished her statement, further confirmation. She was glad that the Queen stayed in their newly formed plan, despite the senator's certainty that he could change the tide. Despite him trying his best to dissuade her. Padmé always impressed her, speaking with the air and wisdom of one much older than herself. She tried to not rush from the room to prepare their departure.


It felt different for Sabé this time, aboard the ship as a handmaiden. She almost needed to be more careful, not allowing anyone to realize she had not been aboard before. It was almost as if she should be a decoy for the handmaiden Padmé now, before too many questions were asked. Thankfully, the other handmaidens had taken her suggestions to keep all of their hoods as low as possible, keeping them all disguised. She sighed, knowing she could still not be free to wander as she pleased. It was imperative that her position as decoy be kept secret between as few people as possible. Initially she had been relieved they would have the assistance of the Jedi, but she now feared the queen's journey with them on Tatooine would make it more likely they would discover her true identity. She had briefly overheard them discussing tensely before boarding. She hoped it was not about their return to Naboo, they would need all their support to succeed. She had gone to the main hull of the ship, hoping to breath alone for a moment. None other than Jedi Kenobi immediately invaded her privacy, the one person she was sure would find her out. She did her best to keep her hood low, before silently acknowledging him with a small nod.

"Handmaiden Padmé?" He called. She slowly turned. Again, hoping her face was concealed enough.

"Anakin has been looking for you Padmé."

"Please extend my apologies, the Queen has needed us in these last hours. I am to retrieve her tea and return swiftly." She hoped she sounded enough like Padmé to not rouse suspicions. She hoped that her excuse of tea would remind him of the tea he had with the queen, and squelch any sign of façade he might sense. Without giving him time to respond, she swiftly left the area; again worried they might become aware of their ruse.

Now, as they stood in front of the queen, she realized her fear was for naught. Their argument seemed to have been over something else, a distinct tension between the two Jedi was present.

"As soon as we land, the Federation will arrest you and force you to sign the treaty." Captain Panaka's disdain for this idea flowing through his words.

"I agree." Master Qui-Gon spoke. "I'm not sure what you wish to accomplish by this."

"I will take back what is ours." Sabé's pride in her queen swelled again. She was admirable and fierce. It is what drew their people to her.

"There are too few of us, Your Highness. We have no army." Captain Panaka spoke again, this time no attempt at holding back his opinion.

"And I can only protect you. I can't fight a war for you." The Jedi Master concurred. There was definitely a tension between the two Jedi. Jedi Kenobi had not looked at his master once and Sabé felt the distinct difference in his use of 'I' instead of 'We'. She only hoped this would not affect their current plans.

"Jar Jar Binks." The Queen called.

"Mesa, Your Higness?"

"Yes. I need your help."

From there the Queen explained their plan to seek out the Gungun leader and to unite their people to free the planet. With their dismissal from the throne room, Padmé turned to Sabé once more.

"Sabé, it is time, hopefully the last time, for you to bear the name of sovereign. I wish for you to attempt negotiations with the Gungan leader. I know you will not fail."

Sabé admired the faith she placed in her. "I will do so my Queen, for you and for our people. I can think of no greater honor."

Preparations were swiftly made and Sabé found her face again covered in white and a more battle ready gown donned. Rabé had found a lighter headdress for her this time, allowing more swift movements. Padmé and the other handmaidens also dressed in easier attire, trading their cloaks for burgundy tunics over black jumpsuits.


Time dragged on as they awaited Jar Jar to return from the underwater city, only to discover the Gungans were not there. Sabé's anxiety only grew as he now led them to a sacred place, all of their hopes resting in the assurance they would be there. She was relieved to observe during their walk that the tension between the Jedi seemed to have resolved. She felt selfish gaining from their peace. She was only thinking of the Naboo and had worried their tension would distract them. Selfish thoughts would be no good here, and she did her best to just be happy in their resolution, whether it helped them or not. They had finally reached the sacred place and all let out sighs of relief as the Gunguns led them to their leader.

"Your honor, Queen Amidala of the Naboo." The Gungun introduced her to their leader.

"Uh, h-heyo dadee, Big Boss Nass, Your Honor." Jar Jar started to speak from in front of her.

"Jar Jar Binks." Boss Nass' voice echoed gravely from his position above the fallen statue. "Who's da uss-en uthers?"

Sabé stepped forward slightly, just enough without raising signs of disrespect.

"I am Queen Amidala of the Naboo." Sabé was doing well to keep her voice monotone and her face impassive. She would have been a prime example of negotiation if this were any where but the Gungun's sacred home. "I come before you in peace."

"Ah, naboo biggen. Yousa bringen da mackineeks. Yousa all bombad" His words brought disbelief to her cause and seemed to accuse her of bringing the droid army to them. She felt this may not end well, but carried on as she had been instructed.

"We have searched you out because we wish to form an alliance." As she finished her words, Padmé stepped forward brushing her arm slightly. All she needed was that touch to signify she had not failed. Padmé had foreseen this.

"Your Honor." Her young queen began, stepping in front of her.

"Whosa dis?" Boss Nass asked, tongue clicking fiercely.

"I am Queen Amidala." Confusion rippled through those around them and Sabé distinctly felt the gaze of the Jedi, it seemed they had fooled them as well.

Turning to look at Sabé, she continued. "This is my decoy, my protection, my loyal bodyguard." Sabé took a moment to glance towards the Jedi, catching an amused expression on the young Jedi's face. She felt slightly guilty for deceiving Jedi Kenobi after he had shown her kindness, but duty came first, as she was sure his came first as well. It made her anxiety calm to see his expression was not one of distrust, but a smirk playing along his lips instead. He nodded to her in slight acknowledgement, his padawan braid swaying as he did. For the first time in his presence, Sabé smiled back at him, no longer held to her façade, before turning around to listen to the rest of Padmé's heartfelt cry for help. She knelt low with her, as they hoped the Gungun's might offer their support, pride swelling for her queen once again.

"Our fate is in your hands."

With a laugh from Boss Nass, their support had been secured. Sabé felt the physical tension roll from her shoulders and then lift with relief. Phase one of their plan was accomplished. Padmé had already approved her strategy; they just awaited the arrival of their scouts before presenting it to the rest of their entourage.