1
It was one of the simplest coronations the planet of Naboo had ever witnessed. A young queen simply resting her hand on an oath and solemnly swearing to protect her people. No gimmicks, no parades, no parties.
The planet was in a deep devastation after the reign of King Veruna. After the king resigned his position, a new leader was forced to be elected and thrown into office.
That leader was Padmé Naberrie.
"I am Queen Amidala." The young girl repeated it over and over while staring at the expressionless face before her in the mirror. The line of red lipstick between her lips. The pale face seemed less tragic than the unruly headdress she adorned on top of her head. "I am Queen Amidala."
"How many times do you have to say it before you actually believe it?!" A handmaiden chirped, rustling around in the queen's closet. She yanked out a black feathered dress and shook her head, "So they people expect you to stick to tradition?"
The queen twirled around to face her handmaiden. She faintly smiled and nodded silently. She could feel every pound of the headdress teetering on top of her delicate head, but she remained poised and proper. "The people have chosen me to be their ruler, it's the least I can do."
"Well, I think it's stupid."
"Sabé, you shouldn't say such things. The royal monarchy of Naboo is sacred and meant to be kept sacred."
"Padme, my dear Padme," Sabé stuck the black dress back into the closet and faced the queen, "I am your decoy now. So that means I have to wear some of these hideous outfits as well!"
Padme smirked and glanced over in another mirror in the corner. What she saw was a young and fragile queen staring back at her. Why did I have to do this? Couldn't they of picked someone from the council that was wiser and smarter than me?
A knock at her chamber doors interrupted her thoughts. She glanced over at Sabé and nodded. The handmaiden sprung to the door and cracked it open.
"The queen is requesting personal time before her first speech."
"Well, such an inquisitive young individual! Do tell her I wish her the best of luck…"
Padme could recognize that voice from anyone. "Let him in." Her voice boomed and bounced on the walls, rippling through the room. Wow… Maybe I do have this whole authoritative figure thing down.
Sabé dragged the doors open and allowed the elder man inside. He greeted the queen with a quick keel and kiss on the hand.
"Senator Palpatine, I'm honored to be in your presence."
Palpatine glanced up and croaked, "Darling, it is I who should be honored to be in your presence, remember?"
The queen winced a tad and returned to her mirror. Sabé rushed over and gingerly applied white face paint, just to make it seem like she was doing something productive in front of the senator.
"And what brings you by on such short notice?" Amidala made eye contact with the senator through the mirror and latched on, not allowing him to stray away.
"Well, I was wondering if you needed anything before the big speech. It is your first speech as the leader of a planet you know."
Padme nodded silently. After a couple seconds of stillness, she shook her head and shot a glare at Sabé. The handmaiden scooted away from the queen and over to the senator. "The queen needs her personal time." The girl whispered to him.
Palpatine chuckled and waved his hand around in the air. Before he closed the door to the chamber, he muttered, "Well, you sure have got the spoiled characteristic down…"
Once again, Sabé and Padme were alone in the room. "That guys gives me the creeps." Sabé blurted, hopping on a luxurious couch and stretching out. Padme nodded again and brushed some wisps of hair out of her eyes.
"Hey, you aren't scared about this speech. You'll be great."
"I hope so."
"The guy that makes the speeches should be here any minute. Then its show time! Do you think I should learn how to deliver speeches so that when I stand in for you, I know how you act?"
"Sabé—"
"And if you pronounce a few words wrong, I would know to pronounce them wrong too?"
"Sabé…"
"And if you keep shifting weight on a certain foot, that I should shift weight too?"
"Sabé! Enough! You are really stressing me out right now!"
The handmaiden turned three different shades of red. She rebutted by helping Amidala into her throne room dress. After a couple curses to the planet later, the dress and headdress were on tight.
"You look great." Sabé whispered.
"All thanks to you." Amidala replied. She turned and hugged her handmaiden, not letting go for a good three minutes. A rap at the door interrupted their embrace.
Sabé cracked the door open. She then pulled the heavy wooden door all the way open and gestured a guard over to the queen.
The guard bowed and kissed the queen's hand. "I have important papers to deliver."
"Very well." Padme had to put on a strict and powerful persona when she was Queen Amidala. She slowly began to realize that the only person she could act normal around was Sabé.
The guard awkwardly handed the queen the papers, bowed one too many times, and leaped out of the room.
Padme ripped open the sealed envelope and began to rehearse her speech. As she skimmed the neatly typed words on the paper, she could overhear the large crowd that formed outside of Theed Palace. Sabé whistled loudly and added, "Look at all those people."
Padme finished her practice and glanced in the mirror. "I am Queen Amidala."
Sabé called the royal guards up to the chamber, and the group headed towards the balcony…