Chapter Fourteen – Serenity.

After the handmaidens had left the throne room, Obi-Wan took Qui-Gon's body to the morgue and then returned to wait for Sabé. He was grateful that she had stepped in to offer herself as a companion, as his current mood would not have allowed for pleasant conversation with a stranger. Sabé, he knew, would understand. Her soft footfalls on the marble caught his attention and he glanced up. She was herself again, face unpainted, wearing her flame-coloured handmaiden's dress.

"Where do you wish to go, Obi-Wan?" she asked, inclining her head.

"Somewhere quiet and peaceful if you wouldn't mind."

She shook her head. "Of course I don't mind. I think that's a very good idea."

The two walked out of the palace and into Theed, where officers of the Nabooian army were freeing prisoners and organising temporary homes for those who had lost theirs. The Trade Federation had occupied the city for less than a week, but had still managed to reduce parts of it to ruin. Sabé sighed, shaking her head.

"Saché and I used to walk to the market along these streets," she said conversationally. "Now look at them."

"It will look right again in time," Obi-Wan comforted.

Sabé paused and led him over to a small stone wall, the only thing separating that part of the street from the churning River Solleu. She pointed to the waterfall opposite.

"That's where I'm trying to go, but it's quite a long walk. Do you want me to find somewhere closer?"

"No. It looks pleasant over there and a long walk will do me good, if you don't mind it."

She shook her head. "I'm used to walking. We handmaidens are always sent flitting about."

Obi-Wan smiled. "They should get you rocket packs."

Sabé laughed and led the way to the top of the waterfall. It took them about forty-five standard minutes to reach it, but it was well worth the effort. It was a place that Sabé had loved as a child, where the River Solleu flowed to its inevitable fall downwards and the spray created tiny rainbows in the air. Her dolls had had some fine adventures here. Theed Palace could be seen opposite, but it was by no means an eyesore. To the dolls it had been a faraway fortress or a grand arena. Pushing the memories aside, she stood back to let Obi-Wan look.

"Yes," he murmured. "This will do."

"For what?" she asked curiously.

"Do you ever feel that sometimes you have to be somewhere peaceful? Just to enjoy being there?"

She nodded understandingly. "Yes, sometimes. Mainly when I've been in the palace too long. It's never peaceful there, especially when Saché's around."

He smiled. "This is perfect, Sabé, thank you."

"Would you like me to leave you alone?"

He paused. "No. I don't think I want to be alone just yet."

"As you wish."

She perched on a rock and pulled both of her hoods back, delighting in feeling the waterfall spray on her neck. She stretched her arms up and winced, letting out a small hissing sound. Obi-Wan glanced up.

"Didn't you get your arm seen to before you came to me?"

"I bound it. It doesn't hurt unless I catch it like that."

"Let me see. You can't just leave it like that, it'll get infected."

Sabé approached him with caution, rolling up her sleeve. "Do you know what you're doing?"

He smiled faintly. "Jedi are taught basic medical skills as part of their training. Trust me, you're in safe hands."

She trusted him, of course, and let him tend to her wound.

"How is it you carry medical supplies in those robes?" she asked.

Obi-Wan shrugged, gently massaging some sort of bacta salve into her arm. The sting started to fade almost immediately.

"Master Windu says it can come in handy to carry a med-kit. As it obviously has."

Sabé smiled briefly, then flinched.

"Sorry," Obi-Wan muttered.

"It's okay. Natural reaction."

He nodded and bandaged her arm once more before gently pulling her sleeve back down. "Better?"

"Yes. Thank you, Obi-Wan."

"You're welcome."

He put away his medical suuplies and sat back to enjoy the Naboo sunshine. Sabé too seemed to enjoy being there. She needed some sun on her alabaster face. Worry and stress had caused her complexion to pale and dark circles could be seen beneath her eyes.

Obi-Wan thought back to his conversation with Qui-Gon about Tahl. 'Follow your heart,' his Master had said. But how could he follow what he didn't fully understand?

"I hope Anakin's all right," he remarked, more to distract himself than anything else.

"Padmé will take care of him."

"I have no doubt of that. I wonder what will happen to him now. I promised Qui-Gon I would train him."

Sabé traced a delicate finger in the cool river. "Is that allowed?"

"No. The Council have forbidden his training. That's why I wonder what will happen."

He watched her lift a scoop of water up only to tip it back. The drops sparkled in the sunlight, making her smile. He used the Force to lift the drops up again, forming them into a star pattern. Sabé's smile broadened and she reached up to touch them. In an impulsive moment of childishness, Obi-Wan flicked them at her, making her shriek. He laughed and raised more droplets. Sabé lunged at him, clasping his hand with both of hers in a feeble attempt to stop his use of the Force. They toppled sideways onto the grass where all laughing ceased. They lay holding each other's gaze, hands clasped lightly, neither one sure what to make of the moment.

"Will you write to me when you go?" Sabé asked softly.

"Of course."

"You're one of the only friends I have, I don't want to lose you."

"I don't believe that," Obi-Wan said. "You must have many friends."

Sabé shook her head awkwardly. "No. Being head handmaiden and decoy is a demanding job. I can't walk from one end of the palace to the other without someone needing me to do this or that. And when I go out nobody pays much attention to me because I can't risk anyone recognising me." She slipped into her court accent. "Or my voice for that matter. I have Padmé and Saché and I'm grateful to them, but sometimes…" she trailed off.

"You'd like the opportunity to meet others," Obi-Wan supplied.

"Yes."

"I know the feeling. Being a Padawan can be quite lonely, especially when you never meet peoople your own age."

"That's how I felt when I was being the Queen. It was…restricting. I couldn't talk to you as myself."

Obi-Wan nodded. "I still find it hard to believe that was you."

Sabé smiled. "It was."

"I know that. It's just strange to see you as both characters."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, as Queen you were taking on the personality of the real Queen, which was very serious. When you were talking to me as Sabé you still had that seriousness, but it was yours and you were more open with it."

Sabé sighed, rolling over to lie on her back. "I think you credit me with more strength than I have, my friend."

He smiled at her, for once letting the depth of his growing affection shine through. "No, I don't," he said softly.

"Obi-Wan," she said at length. "When I was fighting in the palace I felt…I don't know. A pain. Here."

Obi-Wan sucked in his breath. She was gesturing to the place in her chest, exactly the spot where he had felt a vibroblade enter his heart when Qui-Gon had been slain. Yoda's words came back to him and he wondered at the spiritual bond he seemed to have with the young handmaiden.

'Together your paths are bound, young Kenobi. But in which way, the Force has not yet revealed.'

"Obi-Wan? What's wrong?" She was sitting up, a look of concern on her pale face.

"I don't know. The pain you felt came…from me. When Qui-Gon was killed."

"What does that mean? I'm not Force-sensitive."

"I know. I'm not sure what it means." He kept what Yoda had said from her. He didn't want to say it out loud. He feared the implications.

She was silent then and looked pensive until the beeping of her comlink drew her attention. She fished it out of her pocket.

"Naberrie."

"Just me," came Padmé's voice. "Is Jedi Kenobi with you?"

"Yes."

"Communications are back up. I've just been in touch with the Jedi Council. They're on their way here now and should arrive early tomorrow morning."

"Thank you, Your Highness," Obi-Wan put in.

"You're welcome. I'm holding a dinner for friends, Sabé. You and Jedi Kenobi are invited to attend. It'll just be small; you two, Anakin and perhaps Sola."

"Okay. We'll be there."

"See you in a few hours." Padmé signed off.

"Who's Sola?" Obi-Wan enquired.

"Padmé's older sister. We haven't seen her since before the blockade. She recently got engaged."

Sabé stood up and walked to the rock she had sat on earlier. She rested one foot on it and gazed out across the waterfalls.

Obi-Wan watched her, still pondering his link with her. It was becoming increasingly obvious that there was such a link between them. Yoda had foreseen it and Yoda was rarely wrong. Obi-Wan sighed, deciding then and there that he would sort out exactly what it was that he felt for the girl, as soon as he'd made sure that his promise to Qui-Gon would be fulfilled.

Sabé turned around then, as if understanding that some sort of resolution had been made in him. She smiled and he was glad to return it. Her smile, however, was a sad one. Every time she looked at him she was reminded of what could never be. It sobered her a little.

"Come," she said. "Let's go back. Padmé wouldn't like us to be late and I'm sure you want to check on Anakin."