Author's Note: As this story is being received so much better than I expected (thank you so much!) I decided to be nice and post this short but sweet chapter early. By popular request, it's mostly from Obi-Wan's point of view. Enjoy!

Updated Author's Note (2010): What I really wanted to do in editing these early chapters is add some more detail and depth to Obi-Wan and Sabé's developing feelings and make them a bit less cheesy and rushed. I hope the changes help to put that across : )

Chapter Five – Insomnia.

Outside the throne room, in the safety of the deserted social area, Obi-Wan sat thinking. The feelings that tugged unwillingly at his chest were dangerous ones. Past experiences had told him that.

"Possession and attachment are forbidden," he muttered to himself. "A Jedi knows no love."

That wasn't entirely true, but Obi-Wan hoped to get the message through to himself. He could not afford to fall in love, especially with the Queen of Naboo.

"Wait, this is not love. It's not even close. You don't even know what she looks like under all that make-up and costume."

This sounded highly shallow, especially spoken out loud. It was only an excuse and he knew it. Obi-Wan had put himself in the habit of speaking his thoughts aloud, as going over them in his head sometimes meant that Qui-Gon could hear them. He certainly didn't want his Master to hear these reflections. He wasn't even sure what to make of them himself.

Obi-Wan knew the signs. He'd felt them once before. He truly liked Amidala, cared about her, even. The time had flown by when he'd been talking with her. Despite the regal pomp and ceremony and the obviously false accent she was adopting, he hadn't found anyone since Qui-Gon that he could talk to so effortlessly. Given time he could easily fall for her. Knowing that, knowing how easy it would be, worried him immensely. With these rather unsettling thoughts spoken he allowed himself a few hours of sleep.

Rabé and Eirtaé slept too, stretched out on the benches. The ship that they had made their hasty retreat in was designed for short journeys only. Short journeys like a routine visit to Coruscant, for example. There was no space for sleeping quarters. Sabé remained awake, sitting on another bench with her feet drawn up. She had removed her feather headdress, but was still uncomfortable in the gown. Taking it off was not an option, as she had no desire to wander around in her undergarments. Although she'd quite like to see the expression on Obi-Wan's face if he saw her doing so.

She decided to take another walk to clear her head. The main problem would be getting out of the throne room without waking her fellow handmaidens. Rabé and Eirtaé had been trained to sleep lightly in case the Queen should need them. But Sabé had been trained just as well, if not better. She slipped off her shoes and lifted her layers of fabric so that they did not rustle. Then she slid noiselessly from the room and repeated her circuit of the ship.

She came across several guards asleep in various places and one who stood by the entrance of the ship. He gave her a curt nod and a hasty bow before she moved on. She came to the cockpit eventually and entered it. There was a lone figure sitting there and for a moment Sabé thought it was Obi-Wan, but the face that greeted her when he turned around showed her that it was Captain Panaka.

"Are you all right, Sabé?"

"Yes, Captain. I just couldn't sleep."

"Neither can I. I keep thinking about my family back in Theed, hoping they're okay."

"I'm sure they are. Everyone here has left people behind. I pray that the Queen can do something on Coruscant."

"Don't we all?"

Sabé turned to look at him. Worry lines creased his forehead. "Don't fret, Captain. Ari is a sensible woman, she'll be all right."

Ari was Panaka's wife, who often visited the palace and had become friends with Padmé and the handmaidens. She had recently given birth to a baby boy. Panaka had been on paternity leave but had been recalled at the arrival of the Trade Federation, as Theed Palace had never found a replacement as good at the job as he was.

Sabé turned her attention to the cockpit window. The dunes of Tatooine shone white in the pale moonlight.

"It's a very unique landscape, isn't it?" she commented.

"Yes. I prefer Naboo."

"So do I, really." Sabé's first look at the desert planet would not be her last, although even in later life she would continue to hate the ongoing mounds of sand.

There was a moment's silence, then Captain Panaka said, "If you don't mind, I should go get some sleep."

"Of course, Captain."

"I'll send somebody up. We shouldn't leave the cockpit unattended."

Sabé nodded and looked back out the window. She massaged her neck with her fingertips. The heavy headdress had left her stiff and headachy. Then she raked her fingers through her hair, trying to tease some of the tangles out.

Obi-Wan watched her silently from the doorway. She looked so small without her ornate feathered headdress to hide behind, the young girl that everyone seemed to forget she really was. Her hair was loose, making her seem much younger, much more informal. The moonlight hid half of her painted face in shadow. She looked troubled and not how he had pictured a young Queen to look. She was beautiful in a grand and regal way. Then he heard footsteps and disappeared into the shadows.

The pilot, Ric Olié, entered the cockpit.

"Your Highness? I didn't expect you to be here."

"I was just looking at the landscape."

"It's quite something isn't it?"

"It's certainly…different." Obi-Wan heard her move towards the door. "Take care, Olié," she said before leaving.

She swept past Obi-Wan, heading back to her throne room. He sighed to himself and turned to go to a quiet room to meditate, but stopped upon hearing Eirtaé's words as the Queen entered the room.

"Where have you been, sabé?"

But the door slid shut, cutting off any reply. Obi-Wan frowned. He had never come across the word 'sabé' before. Naboo had no native language, but every planet and region had it's own local slang. Perhaps it was a nickname. Pushing the thought aside to concentrate on more important things, he made his way to the social area.