Diary of a Handmaiden 4–Following Protocol–Eirtaé's Diary--Entry 7

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<–...> It's funny because all of these really amazing, important, serious things have been happening, but as I look over my last entries, they're all about how sorry for myself I feel, and there's barely any mention of these mind-boggling events.

Does that make me self-centered? Don't answer that.

Then again, this is the only place I allow myself such a luxury. I spend most of my time trying to help everyone else, I really do. "Trying" being the key word, since I'm not sure I really succeed very often.

I'm doing it again. On to the important stuff–the events of the past few days.

I've already mentioned about the Federation blockade, but I don't think I ever even explained about why we left Naboo or ended up on Tatooine. Here goes:

The day the Jedi were expected, the Federation invaded out planet. It was horrible to see those blasted droids flooding our beautiful city and planet. And we were on our way to be processed when the Jedi finally showed up. They freed us from our escort and then encouraged the Queen to leave.

Now this was the first time we put Panaka's plan into place and had one of us–Sabé–dressed as the Queen. She and Padmé very smoothly managed to communicate, and I don't think anyone sensed "the Queen" looking to "Handmaiden" Padmé for guidance. Padmé's decision, which Sabé put into action, was to leave and go to Coruscant to plead our case to the Senate. Yané and Saché were left behind–not only are they the youngest, but they will be able to represent the Queen while she is gone, for all the good that will do. I really hope they're okay. Who knows what the Neimoidians and their droids are capable of?

Anyhow, Sabé, Padmé, Rabé, and I, along with the two Jedi–Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi, as well as a Gungan they seem to have adopted–and Panaka and a small group of his men boarded the Royal Starship and our pilot got us into space. Once there, we faced the blockade and would have been blasted to smithereens had a little droid, R2-D2, not managed to save our shields. We made it past the blockade and into hyperspace, but the hyperdrive was somehow damaged and so we needed to stop for repairs. We ended up on Tatooine.

Once there, Master Jinn headed for the nearest city with R2-D2 and the Gungan he's befriended, Jar-Jar Binks. Padmé had decided she was going along and Panaka helped her convince Master Jinn to allow this. The rest of us stayed behind on the ship, with Sabé still acting as Queen.

The plan Master Jinn concocted was to sponsor a young boy in a podrace. If the boy won, we'd have the parts we needed; if he lost, well, we would have spent a loooong time on Tatooine. (And I, for one, have a feeling that Master Jinn's Jedi defense skills would have been to put to the test. Unless the rest of us were too busy fighting over who should get their shot at him first.)

Meanwhile, back on the ship we received an idiotic message from Governor Bibble, which must have been a fake. I don't have the highest of opinions of the Governor, but I don't believe he would ever send such a stupid message. Poor Sabé. She had to pretend to be in control and Queenly, and I think she was terrified. None of our training was quite enough to prepare us for this situation. I don't think any training could. Experience is what's needed, and we're getting that now for next time.

Oh, Force. I sincerely hope there never is a next time.

Anyhow, fortunately for us, the little boy won, and we got our parts.

Anakin Skywalker is ten years old, and he was a slave until Qui-Gon had him freed as part of the deal. Now we're all hurtling through hyperspace on our way to Coruscant. Finally. This is where I can be a help. I know more about Coruscant politics and etiquette than any of the others, and Padmé will need me.

Right now I'm keeping Sabé company. She's laying down, trying to sleep while she has the chance, and I'm whispering into my vocoder in my chair across the room. Padmé and Rabé have both disappeared to who-knows-where.

When we get to Coruscant, Sabé will remain Queen until we get somewhere where she and Padmé can switch places without arousing suspicion. Hopefully, we'll be able to do this before the Senate session. Otherwise, we are in BIG trouble.

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