The very world it seemed was humming with chaos around me. How could
the invasion have gone this far? How could Naboo have let it go this far?
Bowing my hooded head I tried to block out the thoughts of the suffering people outside the thick palace walls, to drown out their nerve-rendering pain and their weeping cries. Yet not even the solid stone seemed to aid that.
The fellow handmaidens by my side seemed to be doing the very same; young Yané looked so small now among the older girls. Somehow I've never noticed this before. I remember when she first entered the service of the Queen. Her smile could light up the entire palace even after a grueling day of training. I couldn't help but smile faintly myself - she had come so far. So very, very far.
"Sabé."
Queen Amidala turned away from the large window she was positioned in front off, letting in the beautiful warm sun of Naboo into the cavernous throne room. Lifting my head, I gravely stepped forward among the other handmaidens. Yet somehow I did not feel alone.
"Sabé," The Queen repeated softly, the marble of the grand room almost eating up every audible sound, "I need your help."
I was not frightened, nor was I proud. This was my duty - my duty as a handmaiden, as a Nubian, and as a person. This was what I wake up to face every glorious morning, and what I dream of accomplishing every night. The distant hum of tanks and rhythmic march of droids only cased my feelings of loyalty into stone.
"I am brave, your highness."
***
I tried to hold my head up high to intimidate the Nemodian standing menacingly before me, and to convince myself that I was now Queen Amidala. That the fate of Naboo rested partially upon my shoulders now.
Yet a small voice in the back of my mind still rang with annoyance: You are merely Sabe; merely a handmaiden.
"You have come before us with purpose Queen Amidala," Gunray began, his sidekick Rune Hakko standing near. How easy it would be to grab a blaster and end this invasion here and now - in one final swoop. But no: Naboo was peaceful and could not stand to sink to these cowards's level. War was not the objective; neither for Queen Amidala, Naboo, or even myself.
"I was not brought." I spat, disgust icing my tongue. "This is my throne room. I do not recognize your authority Nute Gungray."
Eyes flashing, he and his pet Hakko began walking slowly toward the main entrance of the room, motioning for the skeletal battle droids surrounding us to follow. I could tell he was losing patience; as was I.
Elderly Sio Bibble and Caption Panaka walked in toe behind me; along with Queen Ami - No.Padmé. I wondered with worry heavy on my mind if I was handling this dire situation as the Queen would. Were the Nemodian's suspicious? Was the Queen displeased?
"How will you explain this to the senate?" Bibble demanded, his voice calm.
"The Queen will sign a treaty that will legitimize our occupations." Nute paused only to send a sickening smile my way. "I have assurances that it will be ratified by the senate."
"I will not corporate!" My voice rang throughout the hall as our group walked down the long stone steps to the plaza of the palace. Who in the senate would promise to ratify such a criminal act? My mind reeled and I could hardly keep the huge feather headdress from unbalancing my step. I was running out of options and ideas.
It is not your job to solve this problem Sabé. You must only to protect the Queen.
"I think you will change your mind once you see what we have in store for you and your people, your Highness," Nute said offhandedly as he commanded a droid standing in front of us. "Take them to camp four."
"Roger, roger."
The mindless appliance motioned to the small army of others just like it surrounding us. Just like the mindless that herded us, we obeyed and began walking out of the Palace into the courtyard. The sun heated my skin but nothing else. Not even the beautiful sun of Naboo which shone brightly for most of the year could not take the chilling realization that I was failing. What difference was I making? The Queen had still fallen into the hands of the criminals that now had their hands around our planet. Not even royal makeup or wardrobe, intense combat or strategy training had prepared me for this.
Closing my eyes tightly I tried to convince myself that there was still a way; that there was still hope. I was still Sabé - a mere handmaiden - but I would not fail Naboo or the Queen.
Bowing my hooded head I tried to block out the thoughts of the suffering people outside the thick palace walls, to drown out their nerve-rendering pain and their weeping cries. Yet not even the solid stone seemed to aid that.
The fellow handmaidens by my side seemed to be doing the very same; young Yané looked so small now among the older girls. Somehow I've never noticed this before. I remember when she first entered the service of the Queen. Her smile could light up the entire palace even after a grueling day of training. I couldn't help but smile faintly myself - she had come so far. So very, very far.
"Sabé."
Queen Amidala turned away from the large window she was positioned in front off, letting in the beautiful warm sun of Naboo into the cavernous throne room. Lifting my head, I gravely stepped forward among the other handmaidens. Yet somehow I did not feel alone.
"Sabé," The Queen repeated softly, the marble of the grand room almost eating up every audible sound, "I need your help."
I was not frightened, nor was I proud. This was my duty - my duty as a handmaiden, as a Nubian, and as a person. This was what I wake up to face every glorious morning, and what I dream of accomplishing every night. The distant hum of tanks and rhythmic march of droids only cased my feelings of loyalty into stone.
"I am brave, your highness."
***
I tried to hold my head up high to intimidate the Nemodian standing menacingly before me, and to convince myself that I was now Queen Amidala. That the fate of Naboo rested partially upon my shoulders now.
Yet a small voice in the back of my mind still rang with annoyance: You are merely Sabe; merely a handmaiden.
"You have come before us with purpose Queen Amidala," Gunray began, his sidekick Rune Hakko standing near. How easy it would be to grab a blaster and end this invasion here and now - in one final swoop. But no: Naboo was peaceful and could not stand to sink to these cowards's level. War was not the objective; neither for Queen Amidala, Naboo, or even myself.
"I was not brought." I spat, disgust icing my tongue. "This is my throne room. I do not recognize your authority Nute Gungray."
Eyes flashing, he and his pet Hakko began walking slowly toward the main entrance of the room, motioning for the skeletal battle droids surrounding us to follow. I could tell he was losing patience; as was I.
Elderly Sio Bibble and Caption Panaka walked in toe behind me; along with Queen Ami - No.Padmé. I wondered with worry heavy on my mind if I was handling this dire situation as the Queen would. Were the Nemodian's suspicious? Was the Queen displeased?
"How will you explain this to the senate?" Bibble demanded, his voice calm.
"The Queen will sign a treaty that will legitimize our occupations." Nute paused only to send a sickening smile my way. "I have assurances that it will be ratified by the senate."
"I will not corporate!" My voice rang throughout the hall as our group walked down the long stone steps to the plaza of the palace. Who in the senate would promise to ratify such a criminal act? My mind reeled and I could hardly keep the huge feather headdress from unbalancing my step. I was running out of options and ideas.
It is not your job to solve this problem Sabé. You must only to protect the Queen.
"I think you will change your mind once you see what we have in store for you and your people, your Highness," Nute said offhandedly as he commanded a droid standing in front of us. "Take them to camp four."
"Roger, roger."
The mindless appliance motioned to the small army of others just like it surrounding us. Just like the mindless that herded us, we obeyed and began walking out of the Palace into the courtyard. The sun heated my skin but nothing else. Not even the beautiful sun of Naboo which shone brightly for most of the year could not take the chilling realization that I was failing. What difference was I making? The Queen had still fallen into the hands of the criminals that now had their hands around our planet. Not even royal makeup or wardrobe, intense combat or strategy training had prepared me for this.
Closing my eyes tightly I tried to convince myself that there was still a way; that there was still hope. I was still Sabé - a mere handmaiden - but I would not fail Naboo or the Queen.