Diary of a Handmaiden 4–Following Protocol–Eirtaé's Diary--Entry 1

Excerpts from the Diary of a Handmaiden 4–Following Protocol–Eirtaé's Diary--Entry 1

Author: Eirtaé, Handmaiden to Queen Amidala of the Naboo
Editor/Transcriber/Poster: Princess-Sari ;)

Disclaimer: The Star Wars Universe and everything in it belong to George Lucas and Lucasfilm, Ltd. No money is being made off this story and no infringement is intended.

Editor/Transcriber's Note: Eirtaé's Diary was verbally recorded on a specialized vocoder unit. It has been translated and transcribed into the form you see here. <> indicate notes on the tone of Eirtaé's voice, background noise, pauses, etc... The entries have been formatted to make as much sense in written form as possible. Unless otherwise indicated, the words are all confirmed as having been spoken in Eirtaé's voice.
Also note that this is the first in the Excerpts From the Diary of a Handmaiden series. The other Diaries are (or soon will be) available from my author page here at ff.n.

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<–...>I don't know what to do. Padmé needs my help, but I don't know what to tell her.

I've always had some advice and counsel for her in the past.

Like when Governor Shillis publicly announced his opinion that Padmé was completely unqualified to serve as Queen and said that he would take no orders from a fourteen-year-old girl–I knew exactly the kind of response Padmé should make, both to the public and to the Advisory Council. And we all know where he is now.

And then there was that thing with King Tarak of Shazala. Tarak, who is sixty if he is a day, proposed marriage to Queen Amidala in return for his support of Senator Palpatine's latest proposal in the Senate. I knew how Padmé should craft a refusal that would salve the old lech's pride and earn his support despite his disappointment. (Though I secretly wished I could practice some of my sharp-shooting skills on him.)

And then there was Shli Deede, who is ridiculously jealous of Padmé (not to mention the five of us chosen to be handmaidens). She started a really stupid rumor that Padmé was pregnant and wore her elaborate gowns to hide that fact. I knew how to respond to that one, too. And she got what was coming to her, that's for sure.

There are other examples, though I can't think of them at the moment.

The depressing thing is that right now, I have no clue what to do beyond what minuscule advice I've already given Padmé. The message to the Chancellor has been sent and he will be sending a pair of Jedi to help us. I wish he was sending a whole army of them, but that's silly of me. I just have this uneasy feeling that the Jedi won't be enough.<...–>

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