Sabédala

Sabédala is the femslash ship between Padmé Amidala and Sabé from the Star Wars fandom.

Canon
Padmé and Sabé are both introduced in the first film of the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy, The Phantom Menace. Sabé takes up the role of Queen Amidala's decoy during the occupation of Naboo, and Padmé takes up the role of a Naboo handmaiden. We do not see very many interactions between the girls in the film, but though some lines of dialogue from Padmé their relationship is explained to the viewers. Sabé continued to play the role of the decoy Queen throughout the Battle of Naboo. She is not seen again in any of the subsequent films.

Queen's Shadow Trilogy
Padmé and Sabé's relationship is expanded upon in the Queen's Shadow trilogy by EK Johnston.

In Queen's Shadow, Padmé and Sabé work together to try and free Shmi Skywalker from slavery on Tattooine.

In Queen's Peril, a prequel to both the previous novel and The Phantom Menace, Sabé and Padmé first meet. Sabé is selected to join the Royal Naboo Handmaidens specifically because of her physical resemblance to Padmé.

In Queen's Hope, Sabé returns to play the role of Padmé's decoy one final time. In this instance, she is playing the part of Padmé the senator rather than Queen Amidala. Sabé is one of the few that is trusted with the secret of Padmé's marriage to Anakin Skywalker, which shows just how deep their sense of trust runs with each other.

Quotes
"This is my decoy. My protection. My loyal bodyguard."

- Padmé, The Phantom Menace

"She can order me to my death, and I will go. And she knows it."

- Sabé, Queen's Shadow by EK Johnston

"But my hands are yours for as long as you need them. I was only waiting for you to ask."

- Sabé, Queen's Shadow

Fanon
This ship likely sailed as the result of Sabé being the closest friend that Padmé has. Its shipping potential was only emboldened by the publication of EK Johnston's Padmé trilogy, which confirmed that Sabé held romantic feelings for Padmé. These novels expounded on the girls' relationship and gave fans many new scenes of them interacting and growing close. Fans also enjoy the angstier elements of this ship, such as the fact that Padmé dies at the end of the third film. Works around these two tend to center on their time together as Queen and handmaiden.

Sabédala is Padmé's most popular femslash ship, and her fourth most popular overall ship on AO3. It is also the most popular femslash pairing in the Star Wars prequel films, and the fourth most popular femslash ship in the Star Wars saga. There are currently 340+ written works.

Fandom

 * FAN FICTION


 * TUMBLR

Trivia

 * Natalie Portman and Kiera Knightley were said to look so similar in their Queen Amidala makeup that their mothers could not tell them apart.