The transport emerged quickly through the lake's surface, splashing a wave that radiated outward from the vehicle. A small familiar dock rested at their side with stairs leading up to the lake house that Padme had spent a lot of her childhood with her trusted handmaidens and friends. Varykino was the closest Padme had to being a home; it was a place to relax on the sands after a long swim, it was a place away from the war, a place away from prying eyes, where she could be alone with her husband. She longed to return to a time when there was no war, there was only their love. Now the love was lost, the only evidence of it transcending into her children. She could not believe how grown her own daughter was, she had lost so much time with her.
The cockpit to the aquatic transport opened and the small crew exited onto the dock. Obi-wan held out his hand to help Padme out of the transport. She held up her long blue skirts so that she wouldn't trip on them, on the step out she steadied herself once her feet touched the stone surface. Sabe helped Leia out of the cockpit by picking her up. She set her down beside Obi-wan.
"We should get you cleaned up before meeting with our allies." Sabe told Padme. "I imagine you would like to be more comfortable and prepared for the battle ahead."
"A small reprieve would be welcome." Obi-wan commented. "We have been traveling a while, I'm sure Leia could use some rest."
"I'm not tired." Leia protested.
Obi-wan kneeled down before her, resting a gentle hand on her strong shoulder. "A jedi welcomes rest whenever he can. You never know when the next fight will be." He winked and gently pushed her to follow Sabe and Padme, she gladly bounded behind them.
"You are training her to be a jedi?" Padme interjected.
"Not entirely, I informed the young princess that it would be up to her father." Padme raised an eyebrow at the explanation, Obi-wan continued slyly. "I'm sure you remember Senator Organa of Alderaan."
"You knew my father?" Leia asked excitedly. Padme couldn't help but smile at the girl's enthusiasm.
"I did." Padme started. "I too was a Senator in the republic, I worked closely with Senator Organa on many occasions. He was a close friend."
Leia was beaming, the past was something that her parents rarely talked about. "I'm not a real Organa." She stated. "I don't suppose you know who my real parents are." There was silence as Padme was unsure how to respond, she wanted so badly to pull the child into her arms and tell her everything, but something told her that Obi-wan had been keeping this secret from her for a reason. She gazed toward the weary Jedi, he remained stoic giving her no inkling as to how she should respond. "Sometimes I dream of them." Leia began. "At least I think it is them. I never get to see their faces, but I can feel their love and warmth surrounding me. I like to imagine what they were like. Sometimes I imagine them as smugglers transporting spice through smuggler's run, or pirates going on grand adventures in the outer rim."
Padme's expression softened. "Are they always going on grand adventures?" She asked trying to humor the girl.
"Why else would they leave me?" Leia responded.
Padme's heart ached as she was led through the halls of the Lake house. She was surprised by how populated it was. Naboo and Gungans alike worked side by side, transporting rations and weapons to different areas of the structure. What used to be a living room with couches and a fireplace, now was a medical center. Wounded soldiers lay on cots set up around the room, a few medics tending to the burns from blaster fire. Medical supplies were strewn about the floors and cots as the medical droids whirled around the room. Padme couldn't believe how large this rebel movement had become. She paused, dwelling on the suffering of those who remained loyal to her. How she wished things could be different.
Sabe tugged on her arm for her to continue. "Many of your belongings still remain in your quarters. I didn't have the heart to remove them." Sabe explained. They entered her old quarters; it was just as Padme had left it all those years ago. She walked over to her bed and ran her fingertips over the silky fabric of the sheets.
"You have been staying here." Padme said to Sabe.
"I hope you don't mind." The handmaiden replied.
"What is mine is also yours." Padme gave a halfhearted smile to her friend.
Sabe turned toward Obi-wan, Tonra, and Typho before stating. "You should show Master Kenobi to the briefing room, we shall meet you there."
Tonra nodded toward her before leading the Jedi away from the group. Leia plopped herself down onto the voluminous cloud-like bed and watched as Sabe immediately took Padme to the vanity. Sabe began brushing out her long silky curls, picking the soft white flowers from the strands. She ran her fingers through her friend's hair and began twisting it back into a bun. Sabe stabbed numerous pins into the twists, holding her hair up and out of Padme's face.
"You are not going to tell me what happened." Sabe stated as a matter of fact.
Padme sighed and looked toward her lap, her fingers intertwining amongst themselves, constantly fidgeting as she tried to form the words. It wasn't often that Padme was left speechless, after all, she was a diplomat. "I don't know where to begin." Padme admitted.
"You can start with why you left Coruscant alone." Sabe responded shortly.
"I had to." Padme's jaw tightened.
"You didn't have to." Sabe's voice raised in volume as her anger with her friend revealed itself. All of the feelings Sabe had been holding on to for the past decade seemed to come out all at once. "We were in the middle of a war; you could have been attacked by the enemy or pillaged by pirates. If secrecy was what you needed, then you should have called me."
"We had agreed that I would not ask anything from you ever again." Padme whispered, averting her gaze away from Sabe. "I held up my end of that bargain."
"I would have rather argued with you than attended your funeral." Both women now looked each other in the eyes and understanding washed over them. "Come on, let's get you dressed." Sabe finished with her hair and walked over to the closet. She pulled out long-sleeved white shirt and trousers, along with a belt and white knit scarf. It was an outfit that would allow for a battle should one be needed. Sabe pulled a blaster out of a drawer in the closet and held it out to the former Queen. "For your protection." She stated.
Padme took the blaster and planted it into the holster on her belt. "I once told you that when I fell in love it would consume me." Sabe nodded, acknowledging the memory. "Well, it did. Something tried to drain away my life that day, but I held on to hope. Hope that he survived, that there was still good in him, that our love remained." Padme looked over toward Leia who still lay on the bed on her stomach, paying close attention to the conversation. "I know now that he is dead, but part of his legacy still remains. It's the last hope I have to hold onto."
Leia sat up on the bed, feeling as though she was a part of this conversation. Her small feet plunged into the bedding, causing the sheets to wrinkle around her. "You look at me when you say hope." Leia stated. Padme nodded toward her.
"I look at you because you are my hope."
Leia stood frozen in time; she had dreamed of this moment almost every night. Now the mystery lay to rest, her mother stood before her. Leia was pretty sure this was the most beautiful person she had ever met, an angel. All the warmth and love she felt in her dreams began to radiate from Padme, surrounding her with the force. Leia caught her breath and jumped high off the bed, landing just before Padme. She outstretched her arms and wrapped them around Padme's waist.
Padme squatted to better embrace her daughter; her head curled into the crook of Leia's neck. "Our family is full of secrets." She whispered and pulled away from the embrace, her hands still resting on the young girl's shoulders. "Some of them are ours to keep, some are for others. I deeply regret having you bear the burden of secrecy, but this is something we must uphold for your protection."
"I don't understand." Leia started. "Why does this have to be a secret?"
"If anyone found out who your parents are, it could put you in very real danger." Padme turned to look at her handmaiden, her eyes narrowing into a stern gaze.
"Your secrets are always safe with me." Sabe stated.
"This is because you are in danger." Leia did not ask but told Padme. "Why does someone want to hurt you?"
Padme grinned at the girl; she was very inquisitive. "Because I stand for something they will never understand."
"And what is that?" Leia continued.
"Peace."