The first day past in a blur of excitement and celebration.  Being chosen as a handmaiden to the Queen was one of the highest honors on Naboo.  The second day, I went shopping with Yané and Riv.  Riv is not a good person to go shopping with.  He has no patience.  He said he would rather be chased by wild Tusk-Cats than go shopping with us again.  He said at least that would be exciting. 

                The day after that, I met Amidala for the first time.  I got to the Palace a tad early, and, as if confirming my suspicions, Sabé was already there, waiting for me and the other, mysterious handmaiden.  We chatted for a bit, until, much to my surprise, Eirtaé walked up the stairs. 

                "Handmaiden number three?"  Sabé asked her.

                "Yes."  She said as I blinked in surprise.  I mean, she has blond hair.

                "Well, then, shall we go in?"  Sabé asked.  We went in and Lt. Panaka came down the main stairwell at the end of the Great Hall. 

                "Good.  You're all here.  Let's go ladies, her highness is waiting for us in the Turrent room."  We followed him up a couple staircases and down a couple halls to a small room with many windows that looked out over the Solleu cliffs.  In that room was Queen-Elect Amidala, sun-washed as she stood and looked out the window out over the Solleu.  I stared.  Her and Sabé could be twins.  Her highness wore a plain blue dress with gold embroidery on the cuffs and hem and her hair was braided around her head.  She wore none of the fancy white make-up that we had usually seen her in.

                "Your Highness?"  Lt. Panaka said.  Amidala turned from the widow she looked out of to us. 

                "Yes, Lieutenant?"  She said in an even, modulated voice.  She was fully in control, and she knew it. 

                "These are your handmaidens.  This is Sabé Hirota-" Sabé came forward and curtsied to Amidala, who looked at her evenly and nodded.  "-Rabé Napola-" I came forward and curtsied to her and she nodded to me.  "-and Eirtaé Bukuro."  Eirtaé came forward and curtsied to the Queen-Elect.  Amidala nodded at her too.

                "Excellent Lieutenant.  When does their training begin?"

                "Tomorrow, your highness."  Panaka said.  She nodded at him.

                "Thank-you Lt.  Now, I would like a word with my handmaidens."  She looked at him directly.  "Alone."  She said, raising a single plucked eyebrow at him.

                "Of course, your highness.  I'll wait for them outside."  So, Panaka left, and Amidala walked over to us.  I was slightly nervous, what did she want to talk to us about?

                "First off," she said, her voice softer and younger, "I would like to thank you all for taking on this-" she paused, searching for the right word, "-responsibility."  She smiled shyly at us.  "Sometimes it's greater than my responsibility.  You have to take care of me."  We all kind of laughed nervously at that, still uncomfortable in each other's presence.  "I'm know we'll be seeing a lot of each other in the coming months, and I am sure you must start your training, so I'll let Lt. Panaka take you around the Palace now."

                We all curtsied to her and walked out the door.  Lt. Panaka then proceeded to show us the exercise room, which was where the obstacle course was during the testing, the Throne Room, the Handmaiden Suite, which was where we would be staying once Amidala was coronation, Amidala's room, which was directly adjacent to the Handmaiden Suite, the Banquet Hall, the Royal Ballroom, the Royal Vaults, basically, all the major parts of the Palace.  We saw King Veruna and were introduced to him, although I already knew him.  I didn't see Riv at all, and that was probably a good thing. 

                After midday meal, Lt. Panaka had a private conference with each of us.  Sabé went first.  She was in there for about ten minutes.  Then it was my turn.

                "Rabé, you are the second most important handmaiden."  Panaka started as soon as I sat down.  I blinked.  Okay.  I thought to myself as Panaka continued.  "In times of great danger, the Queen will disguise herself as a handmaiden, by the name of Padmé Naberrie, and Sabé will take her place.  If Sabé is not available, you will take the Queen's place.  You can tell no one about this plan.  And I mean no one.  Not your friends, not your family, not anyone."

                I nodded my acceptance, although I doubted I would ever have to take the Queen's place.  I doubted Sabé would ever have to take the Queen's place.  Panaka gave me a quick smile.

                "Thank the Gods.  Both her highness and Sabé fought with me about that."  Then he continued.  "You will also be the main bodyguard.  I'll instruct you in more martial arts techniques, this time, not only for defense, but for attack.  Also, her highness will join you for these training sessions.  You will be given extensive weapons training and vehicle training.  More so than the other handmaidens.  You will carry a small blaster on you at all times.  If assassins get past the guards and I, you and the other handmaidens will be the Queen's last line of defense."

                I nodded my acceptance of this as well.  Panaka tapped a few buttons on his datapad.

                "You and Sabé and Eirtaé will move into the Palace the day her highness is coronation.  You will be the Queen's hairdresser-"

                "What!?"  I exclaimed.  Lt. Panaka looked at me sternly.  "Sorry.  It came as a shock.  Please, continue."

                "You will be her highness' hairdresser.  I know you will need some practice, so we have a model for you to work on.  You will need to come in everyday so we can practice your Martial Arts and the hairdressing."

                I nodded again, slightly in shock.  Hairdressing?  Me?  Go figure.

                "As a handmaiden, you will work six days a week.  You get one day off, but you are on call at all times.  You get two weeks of vacation a year.  It cannot be taken all at one time.  The most you can take off at one time is five days, and you are still on call.  You get unlimited sick days, but only if you are very ill."  He looked at his paper.  "Also, there can only be one handmaiden gone at a time, so, if Sabé or Eirtaé is gone, you need to stay in the Palace."

                "Understood."

                "All right.  I need you to sign this contract, and we'll be set to go on your training."

                "Okay."  I picked up the pen and signed the paper, stating that I understood and agreed to undertake the risks, importance, responsibilities, and etc. that a handmaiden must accept. 

                "That's all for today Miss Napola.  Report to the exercise room at 0800 hours tomorrow to begin your training."

                "Thank you Lt." I said, then I left the room.  Eirtaé walked in the door.  I went home and told Natan about my day.  He thought it was interesting the way the Palace worked, and that he would miss me when I moved into the Palace. 

                People keep abandoning me! He joked.  First mom and dad, then Master Plo, then Zak, and now you!  I'm going to be so lonely!

                I'm sorry! I exclaimed.  I didn't realize that it would be just him and the servants in the house after I left.

                Don't be.  This is a great opportunity for you.  Not everyone gets to be a handmaiden for the Queen of Naboo.

                A sudden thought hit me.  Oh no!  I moaned.

                What?

                I'm gonna have to quit dance, won't I?

                I suppose you will.

                Madame Joualier is gonna kill me!

                I'm fairly positive it won't come to that.  Send her to Panaka if she gets out of hand, although I'm pretty sure you could take her. I laughed and he hugged me.  I'm gonna miss you, baby sister.

                I'm gonna miss you too, big brother. And that's as emotional as we got.

                ~~~