The following contains large sections of text from the films Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, and Star Wars: The Revenge of the Sith. All rights belong to George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd.
Part One: Queen
Chapter 1: Royalty
The wind whistles through the perfectly pruned trees, and the sun shines across the polished cobblestones of the square. Around me on all sides are the majestic parliament buildings, built from towering stone and decorated with tall columns and intricate engravings of gargoyles. Then, in front of those buildings is a crowd, thousands of people strong, all of them silently looking on in excitement. The only sound I hear is the sound of my heart pounding in my ears. I kneel inside a circle of sculptures, each one a different woman, a leader of our people. I am amongst the queens. Each queen wears a sullen expression, their faces downcast. A scar of remembrance divides their lower lips, and two small circles of colour sit perfectly centered on their cheeks. Each queen is another chapter in the story of my people, and I am about to become the next chapter.
My name is Padmé Naberrie, though my formal name is Amidala. That's the name I'll be taking today, Queen Amidala of the Naboo. I'm the newly elected queen of my people, and today is my coronation day. I wear an intricate dress, made of tiny teal-green scales and gold leaf, my hair pulled back into a thick, voluminous braid encircled in tiny golden discs. For my protection, I'm surrounded by tall, strong bodyguards, dressed in brown leather vests with blue long-sleeved shirts and red pantaloons.
I'm wearing almost every element of a queen's proper makeup, except for the scar. That's the "crown." When I receive that scar, I become a rightful queen of the Naboo.
The last few years of campaigning have finally paid off, I've made it. But, somehow, I still feel insecure, even though I won this election, fair and square. Perhaps it's because I'm still very young for a queen. I'm only fourteen, after all.
"Padmé Amidala, do you promise to protect and serve the people of the Naboo to the best of your ability, to prevent all conflict and strengthen our people, as long as you shall stay in office? Do you promise to care for those in need, to consider the needs of the many, and to make only the decisions which benefit us all? And finally, do you accept your new title of Queen? What is your answer?"
"I do."
"All hail Queen Amidala of the Naboo!"
Trumpets blast and a choir begins to sing as the bishop adds the final stroke of paint across the middle of my lower lip and down my chin. I stand up tall and proud, but I do not smile, as is traditional. The people scream and cheer, each one clamouring for the attention of their queen. I descend the staircase, in the square which is full of sculptures, and step into the royal carriage, a thickly armoured but intricately decorated speeder.
It only gets harder from here.
oOo
The carriage finally pulls to a stop in front of the palace entrance, which is ornamented with gold and bright jewels. A long red carpet is laid out across the square and up the stairs, and public service officers stand on every second step, in full uniform. I take my first step towards my new home, the birthplace of democracy on Naboo, and breathe my first breath of air in my new home.
Bang.
I'm pushed over, and I fall, my hands crashing against the rich red carpet, and I hear my dress rip, loudly, as several guards come running.
"What happened," I hear captain Typho ask.
What ensues is calamity as men scramble to get the fallen guard off of me. I can't see anything, but this man weighs more than I do, so I can't get up.
Three guards help the other guard off of me, and another takes my hand and helps me to my feet.
"What is going on?"
Suddenly, a woman from the crowd lets out a scream, as she realizes the fallen guard sacrificed his life for me.
"What happened," I demand.
"Assassination attempt," captain Typho mutters, as he whisks me under him, him towering over me. Several other guards join him, so that I'm tightly encircled in their group, them using their arms and heads to protect me as they whisk me toward the palace doors.
The public services officers follow closely, all of them now holding their blasters, and looking around as if scouring the area for the person who tried to kill me.
I'm escorted to the safe room immediately, and seven other guards enter the safe room with me, for protection. The rest of the guards and officers make their way to their stations for lockdown, and the room is locked tight.
I take a seat in one of the chairs, and fiddle with my fingers, trying not to seem too concerned or scared. I wear a blank expression, as the queen is not to show emotion or fear. The queen is proper and perfect, she does not fear, nor does she break down when something happens that she cannot control.
I take a deep breath and wait for it to all be over.
oOo
"Your majesty."
A young guard approaches me, and I notice that all the others here have taken a rest.
"You should sleep," he says, "you need your rest."
"I will not rest in this time of danger."
"You are a noble queen, my lady, but you really must rest."
I only now start to notice how tired I truly am.
"I cannot rest."
Something in his expression changes, and his sweet, caring smile shifts to a disgruntled frown.
"You will sleep," he says, raising his hand to strike me.
I let out a scream.
"What's wrong?" The others spring to life, drawing their weapons.
Just as they stand up, the guard brings his hand down and slaps me, hard, across the face. I let out a yelp of pain, and the other guards pounce onto him, angry faces and furious fists pummel him all over, all of them getting revenge for me.
"You scumbag," Typho yells, landing another punch, and reeling back for another.
"Stop," I plead. "Stop hurting him, and arrest him already!"
A few of the guards are harder to pry away from their victim, but eventually every other guard stands over the traitor, their arms behind their backs, as Typho arrests him.
The traitor spits at me as Typho escorts him out of the safe room, and places him in the care of the nearest high-ranking official.
"I'm sorry, my lady," Typho winces. "We went too far."
"I am grateful that you rescued me, captain. However, I wish to remind you that violence is never the answer to any problem."
He nods. "I'll try to remember, my lady."
oOo
We wait a while longer until we receive the "all clear" from the squadron leader, and then we can make our way out of the safe room.
"My lady," Typho says, "I think it would be best to assign a guard squadron to accompany you at all times, for your protection."
"Captain, I respect your guard, but how can I verify that all of your officers are trustworthy?"
"You can't," he replies, shaking his head. "But, I do have a group of young handmaidens trained in the martial arts and experienced in fighting. I think these young women may be the solution to our problem."
"Very well, captain, but I have a condition."
"Anything, my lady."
"I want to train with these women. If I cannot protect myself, how can anyone protect me, truly?"
Typho stares at me, incredulous. "I cannot allow you to go into harm's way!"
"I intend to, captain, whether you approve or not. Besides, it would be best to find a young woman to act as my decoy for dangerous missions."
He nods, hesitantly. "I suppose you are right, my lady."
"Good. I shall leave in the morning."
I stand up from the throne, and the Royal Guard follows me, silently moving through the grandiose hallways behind me, their boots not even squeaking on the polished marble.
oOo
The next morning, I awake early, and take a simple hooded gown from my traveling closet, not painting my face, and pulling my dark brown hair into a simple bun.
When I leave my room, no one gives me a second glance, thinking that the girl in the simple clothes is probably a maid or a cleaning lady. I make my way through the palace without a second glance, and enter the throne room with ease.
Nobody comes to this room this early in the day, so the room is eerily silent, the towering marble echoing every step I take.
"Hey," someone yells, from the entrance. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm sorry," I say, whipping around to face him.
Typho looks at me for a long moment, until realization dawns on his face. "Your majesty," he stutters.
I shake my head. "My name is Padmé. I'm to be escorted to the secret training facility for the new secret service.
I am to serve the Queen."