I don't own Star Wars or its characters, but Nadia Aomori and my other OCs I own only.
Enjoy!
Fire of the Rebellion
Chapter 20: A Queen's Duty
Inside the banquet hall within the Theed Royal Palace, Queen Costil was drinking a cup of Karlini tea.
Queen Costil wore a long gown with teal under layers and gold sheer over layers. There were sheer off shoulder straps and across the chest, a thick band in dark teal covered with a large gold and teal brooch. Teal ribbons, gold ornamentation and sheer orange fabric flowed downwards. Long pale gold sleeves with large, pale pink lotus flowers at the top and gold ornamentation down the sides. Wrapped on her arms was a long sheer teal shawl. Though not shown, her feet had on dark teal slippers with gold borders. On her ears were earrings with a gold crescent moon and attached white orb. Around her neck was a gold necklace with inlaid green gems. Her dark blonde hair was tied into two bunny ear-shaped buns at the back. Two long strands and straight bangs frame the face. Attached on her hair was a golden headpiece, decorated with teal gems and a teal-white flower.
The Theed Palace Banquet Hall was a vaulted room for the purpose of hosting an official reception in the Royal Palace of the people of Naboo, in the city of Theed.
A set of tapestries displayed in the Banquet Hall depicted the hisrory of the Naboo, from the crash of the colony ship Beneficent Tasia, to a nomadic tribe arriving at the Dee'ja Peak and on to the growing prosperity of Theed.
The Banquet Hall also contained a statue over five meters high depicting a Queen of Naboo holding a globe and a scepter in her hands.
Once she finished her tea, the Queen of Naboo went to the royal gardens to see the various flowers in it.
Queen Costil smiled upon seeing the middle aged gardener named Thomas.
"Good morning, Thomas."Queen Costil greeted.
Thomas bowed at Queen Costil.
"Good morning, your majesty."Thomas responded.
"Where are the lilies that used to be here?"Queen Costil asked.
"I'm afraid they have grown dried, so we were told to remove them."Thomas admitted."They were your mother's favourites."
"What was my mother's reaction when the Empire took over?"Queen Costil asked in a soft yet firm tone."Tell me."
Thomas was silent for a moment before replying to the young queen.
"Senator Amidala had been furious and horrified. She was not happy what the Empire stood for nor ever attended to join it."Thomas stated kindly."Though you must know she was beautiful. Even in death. She shall never be forgotten."
Queen Costil took a few steps forward as she fiddled with a blue daisy.
"So, she wasn't afraid even though she..."Queen Costil started.
Thomas nodded in response.
"Your mother loved roses too."Thomas commented with a smile."There might be some left in the other bushes."
Queen Costil followed the gardener and he brought her where the rose bushes were.
The fifteen year old girl slowly touched a soft pink rose, carefully not wanting to prick her fingers on any of the thorns.
"They're beautiful."Queen Costil admitted kindly.
"Thank you."Thomas answered with a bow."I've planted these roses in memory of your mother."
A bittersweet smile appeared on Queen Costil's face.
"I don't have any memory of my mother. But I know what kind of person she was from the stories I've been told by my relatives."Queen Costil complemented."Beautiful. Kind. Smart. Fearless. I'll make sure my own children will know that too."
"Make sure to tell your grandchildren about her as well."Thomas insisted.
Queen Costil nodded in agreement.
"I will, Thomas."Queen Costil responded."Thank you."
Sometime later, Queen Costil made her way to visit Padmé Amidala's mausoleum.
The resting place of her late mother.
Various emotions grew inside the young Queen of Naboo as her left hand gently stroked the sarcophagus that was decorated with the stylized emblem of Naboo.
She carefully used the Force to carefully remove the dust that was on the sarcophagus.
Padmé Amidala
46 BBY - 19 BBY
Queen Costil took a deep breath before letting it out.
"Hello, mum. It's me again. I went to celebrate my 15th birthday with our family members."Queen Costil admitted with a small smile."Don't worry. I wasn't caught. Dalné acted in my place just like Aunt Sabé pretended to be you during the Trade Federation incident."
No respond.
"Uncle Ferus and Aunt Nadia are doing fine."Queen Costil remarked."They have their own kids now named Zack and Gwen. You would've loved them."
No respond again.
"Can I tell you something? I sense the suffering of many people in the galaxy, mum. But I actually attend to help many as I can during these dark times."Queen Costil exclaimed."Though I don't attend to ignore my responsibility as Queen of Naboo. Part of me wants to always remain here to help the people in our home planet while the other half of me wants to pilot off to save the whole galaxy from the Sith."
A small chuckle escaped from Queen Costil's mouth.
"I guess I am 50% you and 50% dad."Queen Costil admitted and became troubled."But you know what? Sometimes I feel a part of me is missing. It's like I am missing something in my life like a brother and a sister which I don't understand why since I am your only child. Do you happen to know why I feel like this, mum?"
There was no respond for the third time.
Queen Costil stroked the sarcophagus, refusing to let out any tears.
"Everyone tells me it's not my fault that you passed away. But sometimes I can't help but feel guilty. You left the galaxy after bringing me into it."Queen Costil stated before giving a firm look."Despite that, I get it. I know neither you or dad didn't want me to deal with your problems. But both of you are part of me and I have to deal with what you left behind."
The moment she said that, the Queen of Naboo suddenly felt at ease and began to leave the mausoleum.
Like she had let out what she needed to say to her deceased mother.
Queen Costil stopped walking to turn around and look at her mother's sarcophagus before making her way out.
There she found Dalné waiting for her.
"Everything alright, your highness?"Dalné asked.
"Yes, Dalné."Queen Costil responded."Let's go."
In space, the Naboo Royal Starship flew towards Onoam; one of the three moons that orbited Naboo.
Queen Costil spoke with Dalné and the rest of her handmaidens.
"You know what I heard about the Emperor's Retreat in Moenia?"Queen Costil said with a frown."The Emperor typically attended there by a large collection of courtiers, hangers-on, Army and Navy officers, and high-level bureaucrats begging for advantages, positions or just a bit of the Emperor's attention. It's like they worship the Emperor as if he was their own saviour or something like that."
Farinaé shook her head.
"The Empire is filled with dangerous individuals that are strongly loyal to the Empire, your highness."Farinaé complemented."But you shouldn't ever say anything out loud against the imperials which shows your disrespecting the Emperor."
"Also, don't give your opinion to anyone you don't know."Vatié warned."If anyone says, 'Long live the Empire', you say 'Long live the Empire."
Jaanie let out a sad sigh.
"I knew people who turned in their neighbours because they believed they were doing the right thing."Jaanie stated."It's a system. Everyone is stuck in the Empire's web."
"It's devilish because no one trusts one another."Queen Costil said with a frown.
"We trust you, Lisa."Altah assured strongly.
Queen Costil nodded. "I know."
Upon arriving to Onoam, Queen Costil and Dalné took a transport that would take them to the entrance of the underground mines.
According to the files Lisa studied, the relationship between Naboo and it's mining colony on Onoam had always been fractious.
A generation before, the miners had repeatedly gone on strike for larger shares of the profits and some splinter groups had even committed minor political violence like breaking windows and security shields. Even burning a vacant warehouse on Naboo itself.
No doubt the present miners would have been given much to work in the conditions their predecessors had found so objectionable. Before the miners of Onoam had wanted to be treated more fairly, but now they wanted to be acknowledged as human beings.
As the cargo lift with the first load of equipment sank lower into the shaft, light became a rarer resource; the scant illumination down there was hardly enough to work by and no more than that.
Both Queen Costil and Dalné coughed at the dust in the air.
The environment wasn't safe for them or anyone else.
The sentients were only allowed to mine for medicinal spice.
The duo along with a protocol droid, arrived to the deepest level for the equipment, a small group of miners waited for their royal visitor.
They might have been any other committee come to greet a visiting dignitary if it weren't for the handful of stormtroopers milling around in the background in every exit.
The queen's protocol droid gestured to a tall skinny man.
"Brel Ti Vorne, designated representative of the miners."the protocol droid said.
"My queen."Ti Vorne replied with a bow.
"I have brought supplies for five hundred miners."Queen Costil admitted gesturing to the crates coming in by a hover droid."Safety belts, atmosphere masks, portable force fields that can purify the air and a few other things I thought you might need."
The smile in Brel Ti Vorne's face vanished as the miners murmured to each other.
"My gifts trouble you, may I ask why?"Queen Costil asked.
"These items would make our labours much easier, your highness."Brel Ti Vorne admitted.
The Queen of Naboo send a surreptitious glance towards the nearest stormtroopers.
But they didn't appear to give any particular attention.
She took a few steps toward Brel Ti Vorne.
"They can't hear us."Queen Costil commented quietly. "Tell me the truth."
"You may give the equipment to us, your highness."Brel Ti Vorne complemented."We may even be allowed to use some of it, at least for a shift or two. But eventually everything will be taken away as a punishment or because the equipment's supposedly defective or we'll be told it was lost. Something like that. We've managed to save up a few things of our own every now and then until we realised they'd all met the same fate. The imperial major in charge of the mine sells them off and pockets the profit."
Queen Costil frowned. "That's criminal."
"Not if the one in charge does it."Brel Ti Vorne stated.
"Your plight upsets me and moves me to action."Queen Costil said.
"Then you're already better than most, your majesty."Brel Ti Vorne admitted."We've reached out to others recently. Including some we thought might take action for us. Nothing yet."
"Then let me do what I can for you."Queen Costil suggested."Please accept these gifts on behalf all the miners. I intend to find a way to ensure that this time you keep them."
A grateful smile appeared on Brel Ti Vorne's face.
"Your goodwill is a gift itself."Brel Ti Vorne stated honestly.
Afterwards, Queen Costil and Dalné were on the cargo lift that would take them up and away from the underground mines.
"We all know of imperial corruption."Dalné responded."It reaches everywhere. I didn't know it dug so far underground."
"They can't eat goodwill and can't breathe either."Queen Costil stated in disappointment.
"Surely there is something you can do, Lisa."Dalné admitted.
Queen Costil held her chin in thought before she snapped her fingers as an idea formed inside her head.
"I can demand an audience with higher officials."Queen Costil suggested.
"Grand Moff Panaka?"Dalné assumed.
Queen Costil shook her head.
"I'll talk to Sir Ebenn Q3 Baobab."Queen Costil admitted."He may hold the title Imperial Laureate, but he has no love for the Empire."
See you all in the next chapter and have a wonderful day!