Chapter 21: Home truths

Eirtaé Anidale's POV

Theed, Naboo

The turquoise roof-tiles were dull, and despite them being as pituresque as ever, the backstreets of Theed seemed quite scary in the early hours of the morning with no-one around.

I peered nervously around from under the hood of my dark handmaiden cloak, relaxing a bit as I imagined that I was on a secret mission, like all the heroes of the holodramas that Saché and Rabé enjoyed so much. They had often stayed up too late watching them, and once they never slept at all.

They regretted not sleeping all day, and I had enjoyed telling them off about it inmensely. I felt a pang of guilt as I thought about my friends, realising that if it weren't for them, I would still be the bossy, blonde, stuck-up and posh handmaiden that most at court had come to despise.

I rounded a corner and subtly checked that my blaster was still strapped to my thigh. My secret mission wouldn't be a success without it.

I mean, come on. Everyone knows that holodrama heroes are always armed.

I snapped myself out of my stupid daydream. Not matter how much I wished I was a bounty-hunter, or a spy, I was just a royal handmaiden. Off duty, at that.

And as much as I wished I was about to go on difficult missions, all I was really doing was making my way to see my family.

My dear, dear family.

It was a wonder they were still together. As a little girl, I had always assumed that my mother was very much in love with my father, as he was with her. But her affair with Ars Veruna, the man who had been her first love, proved me wrong.

She was foolish to let her emotions control her. The consequence of Emé Anidale's actions? Her being referred to as one of Theed's most ambicious women, not in the good way.

My father didn't seem to care though. He was on Coruscant most of the time, and he had told me many times that Theed was full of gossips. I never argued with him about it. It must have taken a lot to have forgiven my mother, and I was eternally grateful to him for doing so.

During the federation's occupation of Naboo, my whole family had been taken to one of the neimoidian's prisoner camps. According to the message I'd received fom my brother late after Genei's funeral, they had fought together to get out when the resistance forces arrived.

A family that fights together, stays together, I chuckled to myself.

I regretted the fact that we weren't meeting in the large mansion we owned back home in the large river village of Parrlay. Mainly because I wouldn't be able to make it there and back in time for the celebration parade that was going to be held later today.

I reached the large house that Veruna had given to my mother. It was a traditional Nabooian house, and my mother's servants kept it in good shape when she was in the family home in Parrlay.

I sighed, very loudly.

Yes, they were my family and I was very glad that they were all unharmed, but still, I wasn't looking forward to seeing them at all.

Reaching into my pocket I found the small key, and reluctantly opened the front door.

"Eirtaé Darling, it's wonderful to see you!" My mother didn't even give me a chance to get through the door before pulling me into an embrace.

I let her off though, seeing as it was the first time we'd seen each other since I became a handmaiden.

Then came one of my older brothers, Endre.

"You alright mate? I can't believe you made me get up at these hours!"

"Sorry," I apoligised as we hugged. He then held me at arms length while I shrugged." Handmaiden schedule."

"Your other brothers are on a business trip I'm afraid." My mother shook her head. "They said that they simply couldn't miss the deals today. Despite the fact that the whole of Naboo is on holiday."

Endre had already told me that Ergei and Edvard had left for Keren, but I kept that to myself, aware of how upset and worried my mother sounded.

I knelt down to hug my younger sister, Ellé, as my father entered the room.

"My little girl." Said my father, "I'm so glad that you're safe."

"I can't tell you how glad I am to see all of you safe either."

"Right Eirtaé, enough of the small talk." Interrupted my mother, ruining the small momento I had going on. "Tell me all the gossip surrounding Amidala."

This was going to be a bit awkward.

The reason for said awkwardness would be that the last time I was with my family I had swore that I would gain harmful information on the queen to bring her down, so that I could take her place.

They weren't going to like what I had to say.

###

I was right.

My family were taken aback by the change in me. They couldn't believe that I actually liked the person that had ruined my "career". They wouldn't acept that I was happy being a handmaiden and wouldn't hear of me wanting to pursue a career out of politics.

After trying to defend myself I had stormed out of the social area to the bedroom that belonged to me.

I had thrown a few things around before slumping on the floor and crying.

A lot.

I hated it. Crying was for weak people, and I considered myself to be anything but weak.

Probably more out of curiousity than care, my mother appeared, asking if I was okay.

"No mother. Believe it or not I am not okay." I stood up. "I have spent my whole life training and studying, and for what? You know I was so disappointed that I lost out on the election. But now that I have, I know why! Padmé is a better queen than I ever could hope to be! And I am truly fine with that. So why can't you be?"

"I only want what's best for you sweetheart."

"Then stop lying to me! Do you know how embarrassing the rumours are at court? They say I'm evil because they think that I'm his child!"

"You are your father's child Eirtaé!"

"Wow mother thank you. That clears things up."

"Eirtaé, don't take that tone with me. You used to be so ambicious! So educated and polite! The old you would never have settled for being a handmaiden, much less answer me back!"

"Well the old Eirtaé was a bitch! And I'm proud of myself for changing!" I wiped the pathetic tears that were falling down my cheeks. "I'm sick of this! I have a right to know who my father is!"

"Eirtaé, I have already answered this!" She held her forehead, looking tired.

"Mother! Is Veruna my father?"

"Don't you dare mention that name in this house again!"

"You mean the house that he gave you? No wonder they call you Theed's whore!"

She slapped me hard across the face.

Maybe I deserved it, but I ran past her and down the stairs to the front door, even as she cried that she was sorry. The sun had come up, and the street's of Theed no longer looked scary, though even if they had, I was sure that I wouldn't have been the slightest bit bothered.

I threw my hood up, hoping that it would hide my tears as I ran back to the royal palace.

###

"Eirtaé." Padmé greeted me warmly as I entered the queen's chambers, before noticing my red eyes. "Please come and assist me a moment."

She ushered me into her warm social area, her dark brown eyes full of concern.

"What do you need assistance with your highness?" I bowed.

"Cut it out Eirtaé. I don't know how many times I have to tell you to call me Padmé when we're alone."

"What can I assist you with Padmé?" I curtsied this time.

"Eirtaé!" She practically screeched, grabbing my shoulders. "What is up with you? You should be happy! You've just seen your family, have you not?"

"You don't know my family Padmé. If you did you would feel a fool for what you just said."

She let go off my shoulders, and before I knew it I was telling her about what had happened, not bothering to control my emotions in the slightest.

I really had to learn how not to lose it in front of Naboo's sovereign.

"I'm sorry Eirtaé. I don't quite know what to say." Her eyes were still so full of concern.

"Please Padmé. Stop looking so concerned. You have been too concerned these past few weeks without having to worry about the disfunctional Anidale family." I smiled, but she didn't.

"Eirtaé. I might have a title, but I am still a human, just like you."

"No, you're wrong. I mean, obviously we're both humans and all that, but you have to run a whole planet! You can't compare that to having a few family problems."

"I have help running Naboo, and I believe that you need some help too."

"Help?"

"Just leave it to me." She said. "After everything you've done for me it's the least I can do for you."

"Padmé."

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

"What are friends for?" She smiled, before calling for Saché.

###

I liked my soft green handmaiden robe, even though green was so not my colour.

All of the queen's handmaidens were stood at different places in the large ballroom, looking around for suspicious people.

It was an incredibly boring thing to do, mostly because there never were any suspicious people. Which is a good thing really,I mean, the less people trying to kill Padmé the better.

I stood on the upper level, and had a great view of the dancefloor. When I was little my family had often attended balls at the palace, and all the colourful dresses twirling around brought back good childhood memories.

Then I remembered exactly why my family had been there, and felt sick.

Squashing down the urge to hurt someone or something, I concentrated on the dances.

I knew them all, and was busy going over the steps in my head when I saw a woman, quite similar to me, making her way up the steps to the upper floor.

Damn it Amidala. When she said she'd help I thought that meant, you know, being there for me and stuff. Not inviting my mother to the celebration ball!

I stood my ground and let her come to me, not planning on even looking in her direction.

"Eirtaé, may I have a word?"

"I'm on duty."

"Yes, I can see that, but the queen said that it would be okay."

"Well the queenisn't a handmaiden, nor a guard. It is imposible to protect someone while being distracted by people that you have nothing to say to!" I snapped.

"Saché is here to cover you."

I whirled around, praying that she wasn't there.

She was.

"Fine. But you'd better make it quick."

My mother took me to the palace gardens, to the same spot where I had met with Veruna so long ago. She cried, she begged and she shouted, while I sat there, numb.

I was a child born out of wedlock. A bastard!

In the back of my mind I'd known.

But having it confirmed was something else. Knowing that I had come from something so dirty made me feel sick, and unwanted.

Without saying a word I got up, leaving my mother behind. I ran to my chambers, not bothering to slow down like I had so long ago.

Desperately, I tore my handmaiden dress off, not caring that I'd ripped it and jumped in the 'fresher, hoping that I could make myself feel clean, all the while knowing that I'd never feel the same about myself again.