Chapter 21 - Aftermath
The day after the battle was filled with much celebration and cheer, but Obi-wan did not take part. The victory felt hollow. So many had been lost or injured, the Naboo, Gungans… Qui-Gon. Obi-wan pushed away the grief that threatened to envelop him. He had spent enough time falling apart the day before. It was time to be strong and continue protecting the Queen and fulfill his promise to Qui-Gon.
He walked through the palace halls to the throne room. Padmé had beckoned him to come before her that morning. He walked into the magnificent room and bowed to Padmé, who had exchanged her battle dress for a somber and traditional Naboo costume with minimal makeup. Four handmaidens in violet robes stood in formation beside her, their faces partially obscured by their hoods. Anakin was standing next to the smallest handmaiden. Obi-wan frowned as he examined the handmaidens and didn't see Sabé among them.
"Jedi Kenobi, I would like to express my gratitude to you for helping me wrest back the Naboo from the Trade Federation," Padmé gave him a regal nod. "Many great lives were lost, but we shall never forget them. Qui-Gon Jinn shall live on in our memories and his part in our liberation will be recorded in our annals."
"Thank you, Your Highness," Obi-wan nodded in thanks, ignoring the lump growing in his throat.
"Starré?" Padmé beckoned to her tallest handmaiden.
Starré stepped forward before Obi-wan and handed him a familiar lightsaber. His Kyber crystal screeched in happiness at their reunion and sadness that Qui-Gon was not there with them. Obi-wan smiled. He'd thought it would be irretrievable.
"The overflow pit was empty save for this and the remains of the Sith warrior," Starré said, smiling gently.
"Thank you, Starré," Obi-wan said gratefully, his spirits lifted.
"I've received word Senator Palpatine was elected Supreme Chancellor," Padmé continued as Starré stepped back into place. "He will be landing on Naboo within a few hours."
"Yes, I've heard the same," Obi-wan clipped the lightsaber onto his belt. "The Jedi Council will be accompanying him. If it would be permissible, we would like to hold Qui-Gon's burial ceremony here on Naboo."
"Of course, Obi-wan," Padmé's eyes softened with sorrow. "I understand that only his cloak could be recovered. I'm very sorry. We'll hold the ceremony tonight."
Obi-wan nodded his thanks and bowed. "If you'll excuse me, Your Highness. I must prepare for the Chancellor's arrival."
Padmé nodded regally and dismissed him. He turned on his heel to leave.
"Wait, what's going to happen to me now?" Anakin's squeaky voice piped up.
Obi-wan turned back to face the lost-looking boy. "I have to speak with the Jedi Council. They will decide your fate."
Anakin nodded, looking disheartened. Obviously, he remembered the Council's dislike and distrust of him during their initial meeting. Obi-wan's heart went out to Anakin as he left the chamber. Why had he ever been jealous of this sweet boy? He vowed that no matter what the Council decided, he would train Anakin. Not just because it was Qui-Gon's wish, but because the boy deserved a chance to prove himself.
-oOoOoOo-
The Queen and handmaidens entered the Queen's quarters and as one, they all pinned Sabé with identical, stern gazes. Sabé sighed and stopped pacing. She had been excluded from attending this morning's court because her leg had been aching. Her overprotective friends had insisted she take it easy for the morning. But she'd been unable to resist moving to relieve the agitation she felt at having to tell Padmé something. She flopped onto the bed with a sigh.
"Are you alright, Sabé?" Padmé asked, sitting down next to her and lovingly smoothed the hair from her forehead.
Rabé and Voraté sunk onto the bed next to them. Starré had already left the palace after attending court to prepare for their journey.
"Of course," Sabé sighed, deep in thought. "Padmé?"
"Yeah?"
"I… I'm going to be leaving with my parents soon."
"What?" Padmé gasped as Rabé and Voraté protested. "Why?"
"I'm afraid we can't stay on Naboo," Sabé explained. "The Jedi Order still considers my father a fallen Knight and the Council hasn't rescinded the order for his arrest. If they learn of his involvement in the invasion of Naboo, they'll try to seize him and bring him before the Senate for a trial. It's already too risky for him to stay in our starship orbiting Naboo, even though he is wearing one of our life signature scrambling anklets," Sabé sat up and clutched Padmé's hands. "And I have to find out what this power is inside of me. I don't want to leave you, but I have to see this through."
"I… understand," Padmé said as tears rolled down her cheeks. "I'll miss you. You've been the most loyal and courageous friend anyone could ask for."
"I'll miss you too, my friend," Sabé sobbed and embraced Padmé.
Rabé and Voraté started crying too and they joined the hug.
"What are we going to do without you?" Rabé asked Sabé. A vulnerable look graced the usually strong-willed seventeen-year-old woman's face.
"You'll be fine without me," Sabé chuckled wetly. "Though I will miss you berating me for my bad language."
The ladies chuckled at that.
"I promise I'll stay in touch," Sabé assured them after the laughter died down.
"We'll hold you to that," Voraté said seriously.
Padmé's comlink buzzed. She wiped away her tears and answered it.
"Your Highness, Chancellor Palpatine's spacecraft has entered Naboo space and begun its descent toward Theed," Panaka's voice filtered through.
"Understood, Captain," Padmé replied. "We'll meet you in the main entrance hall in twenty minutes," She tossed the comlink onto the dresser. "Do you have time to be my handmaiden one last time?"
"I wish I could, Padmé," Sabé grasped her hands. "But my parents want to avoid being in the same vicinity as the Jedi Council. They've asked that I do the same."
Padmé nodded sadly.
"I recommend Tallé and Saché as your new primary handmaidens," Sabé suggested.
"No one could ever replace you and Starré," Padmé furiously wiped her tears away. "No one."
"Of course not," Sabé teased, trying to lighten the mood. "No other handmaiden is as reckless and hotheaded as I am."
The ladies giggled and their spirits lifted.
"Now let's get you ready," Sabé tugged Padmé up and led her gently over to the vanity. "I'll tell you one thing. I won't miss putting this white gunk on my face," she said as she unscrewed the jar of white face paint.
Padmé chuckled and held still as Sabé refreshed her makeup while Rabé commed the secondary handmaiden quarters and asked for Saché and Tallé to join them.
A few minutes passed before there was a knock at the door. Voraté let Saché and Tallé into the room.
"My lady, you called for us?" they asked, bowing deeply.
"Yes," Padmé addressed them while putting on her boots. "Sabé and Starré are leaving Naboo and I would like the two of you to become my primary handmaidens."
"We are honored, Your Highness," Tallé bowed, her eyes wide with shock.
"Yes, but why are you leaving, Sabé?" Saché turned to Sabé. Although they hadn't been secondary handmaidens together for long, the two had struck up a friendship which had been solidified by their joint effort to save Padmé from the Feritan assassins. "Padmé isn't that overbearing, is she?"
Sabé laughed and embraced Saché. "No, she's a peach. I'm leaving to travel the stars, to find my purpose in this galaxy."
"Well, good luck," Saché hugged her tightly. "I'll miss you."
"And I you," Sabé whispered into her ear.
Padmé's comlink buzzed again and Panaka's voice rang throughout the room as she answered it. "Your Highness, the Chancellor's ship is approaching Theed. He'll arrive at the main steps in ten minutes."
Sabé glanced at the handmaidens. None of them were dressed yet.
"Kriff. You ladies need to hurry if you want to make it down to the plaza on time," She ran to the wardrobe and grabbed the honey-colored handmaiden robes.
The ladies donned the robes in record time. Padmé led the way to the door, but stopped and turned to say her last farewells to Sabé.
"I wish you the best, my sister," Padmé embraced her tightly. "I love you."
"I love you too," Sabé responded, returning the hug. Stars, this was harder than she'd thought it would be. Who knew spending a couple of years with this woman would have forged a bond stronger than Durasteel? "Goodbye."
"Goodbye," Padmé sniffed back her tears and strode out of the room, her head held up high.
Rabé and Voraté voiced their own farewells, almost sending Sabé into tears again. The handmaidens followed Padmé out into the hall and Sabé watched tearfully as her friends – her sisters in truth – walked out of sight.
-oOoOoOo-
Obi-wan shifted in discomfort as his legs protested from kneeling on the cold marble floor for so long. But he ignored the sensations and listened to Master Yoda protest his request to make Anakin his Padawan learner.
"Confer on you the level of Jedi Knight, the Council does," Yoda said as he paced across the sunset-lit floor. "But agree with you taking this boy as your Padawan learner, I do not!" He banged his walking stick against the floor in emphasis.
"Qui-Gon believed in him," Obi-wan defended calmly.
"The Chosen One, the boy may be," Yoda nodded. "Nevertheless, grave danger I fear in his training. Unknown, his future is."
"Master," Obi-wan gently persisted. "I gave Qui-Gon my word. I will train Anakin," He continued as Yoda began pacing again. "Without the approval of the Council if I must."
"Hmph," Yoda stopped pacing. "Qui-Gon's defiance I sense in you. Need that, you do not," Faint disapproval colored his tone. "Agree with you, the Council does. Your apprentice, Skywalker will be."
Obi-wan nodded his head in thanks, grateful to have the Council's approval. It would have caused unnecessary tension if he were to rebel against the Council's decision. He had the feeling this would not be the last time.
-oOoOoOo-
Night fell and the Naboo, Gungans, Jedi, and Republic officials gathered under the dome that held the burial pyre, watching the flames engulf the brown cloak which had once belonged to the indomitable Qui-Gon Jinn. They hadn't been able to burn the body as tradition dictated since Qui-Gon was still alive.
Starré hadn't a clue how to stop the de-aging process, so she'd hurriedly shuffled them all out of the palace's plasma refinery and to her starship. Luckily, she'd had a stabilizer onboard; it would be enough to keep Qui-Gon in stasis until they could get him medical attention.
Obi-wan stared at the blaze, his hood raised with respect. He couldn't help but worry about Qui-Gon's wellbeing. Starré and Terrikan would be taking him to a healer, but there was no telling what the diagnosis would be. Would they be able to help Qui-Gon? Would they be able to tell him if they did?
There came a tug on his arm and he turned to look down at Anakin. The boy looked beseechingly up at him with sad blue eyes, questioning what the Council had decided.
"The Council has given me permission to train you, Anakin," Obi-wan said softly. "You will be a Jedi, I promise." At that moment, he got the briefest glimpse of a vision of Anakin all grown-up and masterfully dueling someone. He would see it become reality.
Tears welled up in Anakin's eyes and he hugged him. Obi-wan draped his arm around the boy and together they watched the pyre burn.
A/N: Obi-wan has changed from the excitable Padawan we met at the beginning of this story. Will it be enough to help him weather the stress of keeping a romantic relationship secret and raising Anakin to be a great Jedi Knight?