royal handmaidens bot

When they had to separate for Padmé to go on the mission, she would know that Sabé would be waiting for her when she came back.

“My brave decoys,” Padmé said, uttering the word that was almost never spoken, even now. “You have all given your best to Naboo, and to me, and I thank you for it.”

“‘ We’?” Padmé said, her heart in her mouth. “Of course we,” Sabé said.

She felt like she could do anything, be anyone, be Senator Amidala, be Queen of Naboo again.

They were all brave. That was how the handmaidens were chosen, or at least it was a strong part of it. That was why Saché had scars on every part of her body: because they were brave.

“My hands are yours,” Sabé said.

It was difficult for all of them, particularly Rabé. She’d already developed an accent for school to mask the fact that she’d come from the Western Provinces, and the Queen’s voice required an entirely new way of speaking.

“I got the strangest message from Harli Jafan just now,” Sabé said acidly. “And frankly, I’m surprised I didn’t get even a slight heads-up from you.” Padmé stilled.

“Well,” said Padmé, wading toward the shore with Sabé, as always, in her wake. “Soon we will all be able to rest.”

Padmé stood up, Varbarós beside her, and looked straight at Sabé. “I wish you luck in your travels.” “The same to you,” Sabé said.

“Did you think I would give up secrets?” Sabé asked. “Do you really think so little of me?” “No,” Padmé said. “I think the world of you.”

Queen Amidala’s first state dinner after being elected to her throne went, by all accounts, quite well.

“You love her,” Tonra said. Sabé froze.

“My hands are yours,” Sabé said.

She felt at her neck for the locket, forgetting for a moment that she no longer wore it. She had given it to Sabé as a token, two girls on a planet watching the sky above them fill with starships that blocked them in.

The ploy put Sabé, whom she cared for very deeply, in peril.

Padmé stood up, Varbarós beside her, and looked straight at Sabé. “I wish you luck in your travels.” “The same to you,” Sabé said.

Queen Amidala. It sounded regal. Perfect. Beautiful. And, to all appearances, the Queen herself was all three. She must be brilliant as well, but Tsabin knew that brilliance alone wasn’t enough to run a planet.

“And?” Padmé asked. Tsabin would always have to follow the choices of others. The least they could do was give her this. Tsabin smiled. “Sabé.”

“Saché. The lowly page.” No one would think much about seeing her at all.