Amidala was draped in midnight blue. Her painted face was
expressionless. Five handmaidens surrounded her. Twelve advisors sat
before her in a semicircle. The thirteenth advisor was standing.
He was a handsome man. He was tall. When both were standing he
towered over the young queen. His once blond hair was grey now. His
face was thin, but not unattractively so. Brown eyes showed a shrewd
intelligence and fierce loyalty. He was currently addressing Amidala.
"Your Majesty, you have been the Minhara for two months now.
You are almost old enough to be married. You must choose your
consort."
"Advisor, We assure you We will choose a consort before it is
too late. However, We will be rushed into nothing. We will announce
Our consort when We have found someone suitable to father the next
Minhara." The advisor nodded his head.
"A wise decision Your Majesty."
"We are glad you agree advisor. Do you have any other business
to discuss?"
"No Majesty."
"Then We recognize advisor Norilie in the matter of the Trade
Federation."
Amidala walked slowly. It was not becoming for a queen to
rush. Her advisor, the same one who had spoken of her consort, walked
a step behind her. The queen's handmaidens followed closely.
"Amidala something must be done about the Trade Federation."
"I do not see what can be done advisor. They have broken no
laws."
"I doubt that will last for long."
"If problems do arrise then senator Palpatine will speak with
the senate." The advisor frowned.
"I don't trust that man, and I'd advise you not to either."
Amidala glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
"No politician can be trusted advisor."
"Yes, but I fear Palpatine has a secret agenda, and I would
advise you to never speak with him alone."
"Are you implying that I can be easily swayed advisor?" He
shook his head quickly.
"Of course not, but that man. There is something altogether
wrong about him."
"I will keep that in mind. Now as to the matter you wished to
discuss."
"Yes, the search for my daughter."
"It has been eleven years."
"I realize that, and I realize that to ask you to spend money
on a search for someone who has not been heard from for eleven years
is selfish, but I can't help but feel that not to would be to abandon
my daughter." Amidala smiled.
"I do not think you selfish advisor. Of course you worry for
you daughter and her son. It is only natural. The search will
continue. No citizen of Naboo will be abandoned as long as I am
queen." He smiled.
"Thank you Your Majesty." He stopped and fell to his knees.
"You need not thank me advisor , and you need not worry. We
will find Shmi and Anakin."
expressionless. Five handmaidens surrounded her. Twelve advisors sat
before her in a semicircle. The thirteenth advisor was standing.
He was a handsome man. He was tall. When both were standing he
towered over the young queen. His once blond hair was grey now. His
face was thin, but not unattractively so. Brown eyes showed a shrewd
intelligence and fierce loyalty. He was currently addressing Amidala.
"Your Majesty, you have been the Minhara for two months now.
You are almost old enough to be married. You must choose your
consort."
"Advisor, We assure you We will choose a consort before it is
too late. However, We will be rushed into nothing. We will announce
Our consort when We have found someone suitable to father the next
Minhara." The advisor nodded his head.
"A wise decision Your Majesty."
"We are glad you agree advisor. Do you have any other business
to discuss?"
"No Majesty."
"Then We recognize advisor Norilie in the matter of the Trade
Federation."
Amidala walked slowly. It was not becoming for a queen to
rush. Her advisor, the same one who had spoken of her consort, walked
a step behind her. The queen's handmaidens followed closely.
"Amidala something must be done about the Trade Federation."
"I do not see what can be done advisor. They have broken no
laws."
"I doubt that will last for long."
"If problems do arrise then senator Palpatine will speak with
the senate." The advisor frowned.
"I don't trust that man, and I'd advise you not to either."
Amidala glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
"No politician can be trusted advisor."
"Yes, but I fear Palpatine has a secret agenda, and I would
advise you to never speak with him alone."
"Are you implying that I can be easily swayed advisor?" He
shook his head quickly.
"Of course not, but that man. There is something altogether
wrong about him."
"I will keep that in mind. Now as to the matter you wished to
discuss."
"Yes, the search for my daughter."
"It has been eleven years."
"I realize that, and I realize that to ask you to spend money
on a search for someone who has not been heard from for eleven years
is selfish, but I can't help but feel that not to would be to abandon
my daughter." Amidala smiled.
"I do not think you selfish advisor. Of course you worry for
you daughter and her son. It is only natural. The search will
continue. No citizen of Naboo will be abandoned as long as I am
queen." He smiled.
"Thank you Your Majesty." He stopped and fell to his knees.
"You need not thank me advisor , and you need not worry. We
will find Shmi and Anakin."
