Handmaiden

Chapter 20

As soon as Saché was safe in the hospital, Rabé ran upstairs to find Harlan. He would still be with Padmé's group. She ran faster than she knew was possible up the stairs, nearly crashing into him on the third floor.

"Raba!" He cried, as she leapt into his arms.

Harlan picked her up and spun her around, his grin unmistakable, if not a little blurry.

She struggled to steady her breathing. "Are you alright? Is the Queen-"

"I'm fine," he said breathlessly. "But the handmaiden girl in my group... she took a bullet to the shoulder."

"Yané? Oh no!" Rabé took off towards the throne room. Sweet Yané.

"Raba! Hey, hey, hey!" Harlan said, finally grabbing her arm to slow her down.

Rabé turned to face him, and felt a rush of relief upon seeing how calm he was.

"They sent her to the medical center down the road. She's gonna be fine."

She took a deep breath. That was the same place Saché went. The medical professionals there seemed very competent. They'd be okay.

"I should go see the Queen," Rabé said.

They began walking towards the throne room at a fairly brisk pace. It felt nice to not look over her shoulder for danger.

"So... did you know that the Queen had a decoy?" Harlan asked, his hands in his pockets.

Rabé nodded, but didn't speak. She didn't know the protocol going forward. Would the news spread? If the guards and pilots told people, the Queen would be in more danger, and the handmaidens too.

"What do we do now?" He asked. "I don't know if I can just go back to the main hangar. It feels different now that I've seen people die in there."

She sighed. They came to a stop outside of the throne room door. Inside, Padmé was seated at the throne, arguing with Panaka while a medic stood behind him.

Rabé glanced at her brother, who had changed a lot since she had gone to prison for him. Back then, she'd never have dreamed they'd end up working in the Royal Palace. Yet here they were.

"I don't know, Harlan. We can decide later. Right now, I have to attend to the Queen."

He didn't seem satisfied with that answer, but nodded anyway. They stepped inside the throne room, and Harlan made a beeline for Commander Olié. The two men shook hands firmly, chatting about the battle.

Rabé managed to convince Padmé to be checked over by the medic. The exam took only a few minutes, and then Sabé and Eirtaé arrived. They had seen Yané, and said that she was doing well. Saché was stabilizing, and enjoying the medication that the doctors gave her.

"Your Highness, the guards brought the rest of our things from the west woods. Your clothes are in your chambers. Would you like to get changed to see off the Viceroy? The Senate guards will be here soon to take him to prison on Coruscant." Captain Panaka said.

"Excellent idea, Captain," Padmé said. "Girls, do you care to join me?"

Rabé, Sabé, and Eirtaé were quick to follow her. Rabé glanced back at Harlan, who was embracing some other pilots. He really fit in with them. Despite everything he had gone through, Harlan became a functioning member of the Royal Pilot Crew. She had never been more proud of him.