Well, I finally got around to writing some more and here is some fantastic news; I have been writting like a mad woman. That means that you, the reader, won't have to wait more then a week to get a new chapter! Yep, great news! Plus I have my muse back! Yay me! Ok, so just keep up the reviews and this will kept getting better and better!!!
Chit chats with Master Quigon resulted in many silent bashes to each others pride. Padme was relieved when everyone but two of her handmaidens had left the room. The stress over these past weeks had brought her to a point of weariness. Her people were in pain, the Senate wouldn't lift a finger to help, she was in a spat with her so called best friend, and that old bearded man continued to treat her like a child.
"I cannot fight a war for you." Padme rolled her eyes. "His smart remarks are eating away at my core!"
Like her true nature, the sweet Rabe came to console the queen. "He means well."
"Ha, sounds like it."
Eirtae folded her hands together. A frown crossed her face as she glanced past Rabe. "It is too late to care what people think. We are on our way back to Naboo to help our people. I don't think there could have been a better choice."
Smile was what Padme wished to do though her mind wouldn't allow it. It was times like these where she longed to have Sabe lend an ear. The handmaiden never thought about her words before she spoke. It was the raw, blunt remarks which urged Padme to go on but Sabe was not here. Padme had practically banished the girl from her sight. Had she been too harsh? Certainly both of them were being silly girls with the same crush. This showed her how young she truly was.
Maybe it was time to reconcile with Sabe. The silent war was crushing her spirit and it needed to be lifted.
Before Padme could send for Sabe, robes had caught her eye. Obi-Wan had come back into the small throne room with a grave countenance about him. She had sensed a distance during the meeting but hadn't given it a second thought.
Her handmaidens quickly stood at attention. Padme had also straightened her posture. "Is there something you have forgotten?"
"No, your highness." Obi-Wan bowed his head then cleared his throat. "I was hoping that I could seek an audience with you before I went to the cockpit."
Suppressing her curiosity, Padme raised her hand. Without a single word Rabe left the room, followed by Eirtae. Both of them exchanged glances but neither would utter a word. Something more was going on that their eyes didn't see. It felt awkward to be left in the dark but both girls were glad to not be apart of the drama.
Hearing the door close behind them, Obi-Wan sighed; his shoulders falling. Padme opened her mouth though when he raised his hand, she fell silent. "I want to speak first." He walked up to her and bent to one knee. "I want to apologize for what happened last night in the apartment. It was out of line; a dishonor to you. Don't think harshly of me."
Her jaw nearly dropped to the floor. Last night she was at a dinner party with Senator Palpatine. What in the galaxy was he blubbering about? "I…"
"I know… I understand what you said but the wrong often feels right. Even staying after… that… well, I should have left right away." He took her hand in his. "Don't think harshly of me."
A lump welled in her throat rendering her unable to speak. His hands clasped about hers made her heart leap. Oh, and how piercing were his eyes. Then, like a brick wall, she crashed back into reality. Last night Sabe had stayed back at the apartment and that… was… could the unthinkable have happened? Padme rose to her feet. Rage was running through her body and her first impulse was to punch the wall but she refrained.
In her fury, she had pulled her hand from Obi-Wan's. He now stood to his feet with eyes gazing with sorrow. She bit her bottom lip. Sabe would pay for impugning her honor but Obi-Wan had no clue of their game. Placing a hand upon his shoulder, she forced a small smile. "I could never think any less of you even if you tore the sun from the sky."
Obi-Wan finally let a smile cross his face. "Honestly?"
Nodding her head, Padme held back her tears. She didn't want to remove her hand from him but this wasn't the time to drag on the problem. "You had better be going. They will come looking for you."
"Thank you Amidala." He turned to leave though he halted. "Maybe after this war is over, we can retain a relationship based upon friends?"
"I would like that."
It hurt to speak those words but Padme needed to face reality. He was a Jedi Knight and his interest in women was to be obsolete. Friends; she could do that. This was political anyway how silly was she to think that there was a chance.
Her smile vanished once he had disappeared from her sight. Now she had to deal with her 'once' best friend.
------(&)------
Space was cold; allot colder then Sabe had remembered. Still, nothing could dull her to the drama that encircled her at this present time. Obi-wan dared not to come near the queen or any of her staff. It could have been the political matters. She prayed it was because of the political matters but the handmaiden couldn't help the sting of rejection. No man had rejected her. Why did he turn her away? Was she not beautiful enough for him? Her mind whirled; eyes pulling away from the small window of the queen's chambers.
The robes of a secret maiden burned her skin. No one knew where she came from nor did Obi-wan know her real name. He thought her to be the queen. If only she was still disguised as the queen, Sabe would summon him and speak her mind; the mind of a princess with no regard for anyone else. This journey home was turning into a silent hell and Sabe just wanted to fly away.
Her ears perked when hearing the gushing of the door. Anger welled within her as she saw Padme enter the room. Rabe and Eirtae followed close behind. Tension crept into their hearts. The last time they all were together a brawl sprang up. Padme took off her purple head piece and threw it to the ground. Next was her over coat and sash. "Sabe, pick those up." She glared at the handmaiden. "Then you can tidy up my dressing room. There are clothes everywhere. It disgusts me."
Sabe clenched her teeth. At that very moment she swore that her veins in her temples were ready to pop. "As you wish, your highness."
As Padme flung her shoes into the corner, she sighed. She was excellent at pretending she didn't care. "Oh, and I will be needing you to get ready."
"Get ready for what?" Sabe asked while grabbing hold of a shoe.
"We will be landing near the Gungan settlements. It won't be safe for me to be gallivanting around as myself."
Rabe and Eirtae had already disappeared into the next room and Padme went to follow. She glanced over her shoulder when she reached the door frame to the next room. "And one more thing; if you go near him and make a spectacle of my leadership once more, you will pay." Padme looked Sabe over. She wasn't doing this to be a bitch but Sabe had crossed the line. "Don't think that I am oblivious to what happened in the apartment. He wanted to tell the 'Queen' he was apologetic for his actions and it will never happen again. It won't happen again, will it Sabe?"
Breath had ceased to emit from Sabe. Her pulse was beating a mile a minute. Good job or not, this was a situation that could scar her career. She was fearful now. "No, it will not your highness."
"Then hurry. We land in an hour."
Padme let one final glare burrow into Sabe's skull until she disappeared into her dressing room.
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