Condolences
Author: LVB
Disclaimer: Sorry folks- I don't own!
A/N: The stuff about the Naboo tradition is true, I found it in the RotS visual dictionary. This is being posted unbeta'd so all mistakes are my own. We all need to celebrate the new features of the PM system! Yippee!
It was a bright, happy day when the Naberrie family heard a sharp knock at their door. They had all been summoned to the Theed Palace, without a moment's notice. They had assumed Padme had wanted to meet them there. They were wrong. The entire family had come- Ruwee, Jobal, Sola and Darred plus their daughters Ryoo and Pooja.
They stood as the Queen entered the room, along with a tall man. They had never met him before. "Please, sit," the Queen told them, sombrely. They were confused.
"Forgive me, I haven't yet introduced myself. I am Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan. I am afraid I am the bearer of bad news…"
Fear struck their hearts. Before he had even opened his mouth, they knew.
"It's Padme, isn't it?" Jobal asked, her eyes immediately filling with tears. It was true, then. She had lost her baby daughter.
Bail looked towards the ground. He could tell the entire Naberrie's family's hearts were breaking. The two younger girls had started to cry. He cleared his throat.
"She was caught up in the political mess currently going on in Coruscant. She died in the hospital. Her death was painless, I can assure you. We have brought back her body so she may undergo the traditional Naboo burial," he paused, allowing the family to gain some composure. This was surely a great shock to them.
He lowered his voice as he walked over and laid a hand on Padme's mother's shoulder. He owed her this much. "Milady, did you or your family know that Padme had been pregnant?"
There was an odd hush amongst the group. Even the Queen looked immensely surprised. Ruwee spoke first. "She was pregnant?" he asked.
Bail nodded sadly in response. He knew the truth. He hated to hurt this already hurting family but he had to do it for Padme. For both her children. It was safer this way.
"She was eight months pregnant. I am very sorry, but the baby did not survive. She did not indicate she wished this to be kept secret at her death. I am truly sorry." He bowed, and then left the room.
The Queen stood and made her way to the grieving family. "Padme was a great Senator, she will be remembered. The Naboo will commemorate her loss as soon as possible. As per tradition, you will be required to march in the ceremony."
Ruwee nodded, answering for his own family. The Queen sighed, she hated to make things worse, but this needed to be said. "I am truly sorry, family Naberrie. But you know that it is against the Naboo's traditions to investigate the paternity of the father. Her plaque will mark the unborn child's death as well. I am sorry. She was a brave woman. The Naboo offer their condolences,"
She left the room, to leave the mourning family alone with their grief.