Chapter 22 - Bittersweet Farewells

After the flames died down and faded from existence, the attendees slowly made their way out of the dome. Obi-wan and Anakin followed the procession behind Padmé and her handmaidens. As they reached the illuminated main steps, the Jedi, Chancellor, and Republic guards headed for the left staircase where their sleeping quarters were located while the Nubians and Gungans walked towards the main steps. Obi-wan quickened his gait to catch up to Padmé's retinue. This would be his only chance to talk to Sabé in private before he left for Coruscant.

"Your Highness?" Obi-wan called out softly.

Padmé bade her guards and the Gungans to continue forward while she spoke with Obi-wan.

"What is it, Knight Kenobi?" Padmé's eyes were red-rimmed with sorrow. Her fellow handmaidens were in a similar state.

He tamped down his guilt for not informing them that Qui-Gon still lived. It had to be this way. "Could I have a word with Sabé?" Obi-wan scanned her handmaidens and frowned when he didn't see Sabé. Where was she?

"I'm afraid Sabé has left, Obi-wan," Padmé said solemnly. "We said our goodbyes to her hours ago."

"Oh," Disappointment crashed over Obi-wan. He was too late.

"I'm sorry," Padmé reached out and squeezed his hand. "Safe travels."

Obi-wan stood frozen in place as Padmé and her handmaidens disappeared into the palace, leaving him in darkness.

"Obi-wan?" Anakin tugged on his hand as the last few stragglers left.

"What is it?" Obi-wan looked down at him.

"There's someone over there waving at you," Anakin pointed to their right.

Obi-wan's gaze followed his finger to an archway and his heart lifted with joy. The bit of Sabé's auburn hair not obscured by her cloak's hood glinted in the moonlight as she beckoned to him from the shadowed columns.

"Sabé!" Obi-wan couldn't keep the joy from his voice. She hadn't left after all. His Kyber crystal chimed in with a greeting of its own.

"Hello, Obi-wan, Anakin," Sabé smiled and motioned for them to follow her. They strode through the palace grounds, walking through willowy trees and around sweet-smelling flowerbeds until they reached a gate covered with honeysuckle.

"We won't be disturbed in here," Sabé whispered. She waved her hand over the lock and the old wooden door swung open, revealing a secluded garden.

"Ummmm," Anakin said awkwardly while Obi-wan blushed.

Laughter trickled through the leaves and Starré and Terrikan stepped onto the path beside them.

"Don't worry, Anakin," Starré chuckled. "They're just going to talk."

"Of course, mother," Sabé tugged a mortified Obi-wan into the secret garden. They sat down on one of the exquisitely crafted benches as fireflies lazily drifted around them.

"I'm sorry about this cloak and dagger routine," Sabé smiled up at him as she lowered her hood. "We can't make our presence known to the Jedi Council, but we wanted to say goodbye."

"Thank you for staying," Obi-wan smiled at her.

"How are you holding up?" Sabé took his hand.

"As well as I can be," Obi-wan admitted, welcoming her touch. "Have your parents been able to discern what's happening to Qui-Gon?"

"No, I'm afraid not," Sabé lamented. "They spent all of last night and today trying to reverse the process. The medical stabilizer is only doing so much and it's starting to fail. We'll need to leave soon and get him to some real medical professionals."

"I hope those healers know what they're doing," Obi-wan breathed in deeply, trying to keep his rising fears at bay. "Starré and Terrikan are among the most powerful Jedi I know. If they can't figure out what's happening to Qui-Gon…"

Sabé tugged him into a hug, which he gratefully sank into. He needed humanoid contact and comfort.

"If my mother thought the Jedi healers could help him, she wouldn't hesitate to take him there," Sabé said with conviction. "She must have faith in the healers she wants to travel to."

"The worst thing is that even if they do help him, I won't know about it," Obi-wan despaired as he straightened from the hug.

"No matter what, I promise I'll let you know what happens," Sabé swore, clutching his hands tightly.

Obi-wan smiled. Some of his deep-seated terror about the uncertainty of the situation faded away.

"Thank you."

"What will you do now?" Sabé asked curiously.

"I'm going back to Coruscant. I have a duty to the Jedi and to Anakin now," Obi-wan supplied. He'd been thinking about this a lot. "I can't afford to mess up."

"Don't worry so much," Sabé said. "I'm sure you'll do a great job training Anakin. He's a bright young boy and eager to learn."

"I'll do my best," Obi-wan smiled.

He hoped he was up to the challenge. Just twenty-four hours ago, he had been a Padawan, and now he was a Jedi Knight with his own Padawan learner. He looked to the sky, which was brightening and taking on pink and purple hues. "Do you have to leave soon?"

"Unfortunately, yes."

Sabé faced turned to the sky and Obi-wan stared at her, mesmerized by the way the fading starlight made her glow. Sabé shifted and fiddled with the hem of her tunic.

"Obi-wan, you know how I can shapeshift?"

"Yes," Obi-wan nodded. He didn't think that was something he would ever forget.

"Well, I don't exactly look like this," She motioned to her face. "Not exactly, anyway."

"Oh," Obi-wan tilted his head, waiting for her next move.

Sabé peered at him with caution before closing her eyes. Her facial structure didn't change this time, but inky grey patterns swirled into being on her alabaster skin and her hair shifted out of the way as two sets of short, tawny horns grew in circular, concentric rings around her head.

"What do you think?" Sabé asked defensively, unsure of Obi-wan's response to yet more deception on her part.

Obi-wan smiled at the wonderful person in front of him. "I think you look beautiful, as always. It doesn't matter to me what you look like. You're still you."

Sabé smiled radiantly and Obi-wan wrapped his arms around her as she leaned forward and pressed her lips against his. The sweet, simple kiss lasted only a few seconds, but it was magical. The sun rose further, casting its light onto the garden. The fireflies' clicking faded and birds chirped greetings.

Sabé leaned back but kept her arms around Obi-wan's neck. "We'll see each other again," she said with certainty.

"I know," Obi-wan said, feeling the truth of the statement reverberate through the Force.

Sabé caressed his cheek and Obi-wan smiled broadly. He wanted to remember this moment forever.

"Sabé!" Starré's urgent whisper floated through the air to them.

"Goodbye, Obi-wan," Sabé gave him one last smile before rising and striding out of the garden.

Obi-wan watched her walk out of his life… for the time being, that is.

-oOoOoOo-

Sabé stood motionless as she looked out the window of the starship, lost in thought. She blinked as she heard footsteps come up behind her. She turned as her mother and father walked into the cockpit.

"Are you going to be alright?" Starré softly asked, a flash of worry glinted in her eyes as she gazed upon Sabé's forlorn figure.

Sabé smiled sadly. "Yes, I'm going to miss the ladies and Obi-wan though."

"It's not like you're never going to see them again," Starré came to her and gave her a comforting hug.

Sabé breathed in her mother's comforting scent. "I know," she said as she looked at Theed in the distance. "Do you think it's stupid of me to pursue a relationship with Obi-wan?"

"He is a Jedi, sweetie," Starré cautioned. "But that was hardly a barrier for me and your father. You and Obi-wan have a connection. Given time, it could evolve into something more meaningful. From what I've seen over the past few weeks…"

"Oh! Don't remind me," Sabé stepped away. Blood rushed to her cheeks as she remembered how her mother had caught her in a passionate embrace with Obi-wan. "I have never been more mortified in my life than I was in that moment."

"Don't be embarrassed, sweetie," Starré said with an evil smirk. She wrapped her arm around Terrikan's waist. "Your father and I did that all the time. Still do, actually," She angled her head up and tenderly pressed her lips to Terrikan's, who happily reciprocated the kiss.

Sabé shrieked and covered her eyes. "Mom! I know we've been acting like sisters for the past year, but that doesn't mean I want to know about your sex life!"

"Alright, we'll stop," Starré chuckled.

Sabé cautiously peeked between her fingers to make sure her parents had indeed stopped before lowering her hands.

"All I meant is that you and Obi-wan forged a strong connection in a short amount of time," Starré said sincerely. "It's not going to be broken so easily."

"I say don't worry about it," Terrikan said with a smile. He stepped forward and slid into the pilot's chair. "If you two are meant to be, the Force will guide you back to each other. Just like it did for me and your mother."

"I hope so," Sabé said with a bit more optimism as she took a seat and buckled in.

Her father was right. It would be best to let the matter go for now and focus on the present. They needed to take Qui-Gon to a proper medical facility.

"So where to, my love?" Terrikan asked Starré as he flew the ship into the air. Theed vanished into a green and brown blur as they rose into the atmosphere.

"The Far Xandil Sector," Starré brought up the navigation charts. She verified the coordinates on the small device strapped to her wrist and entered it into the console.

Terrikan brought the hyperdrive online and inputted a trajectory into the dashboard. The stars melted into a stream of light and Sabé smiled as she hurtled towards her new life. She didn't know what the future would entail, but she knew it was her destiny to find out.

THE END

A/N: Thank you to everyone who stuck with this story to the end! I hope you enjoyed reading it. Please take a moment to like and leave a review. :) The sequel, Connected Across the Stars, has been posted! It takes place approx. ten years after the Battle of Naboo, before the Clone Wars. Let the adventure continue!