#sunset queens

That might be the reason why she dies.

She wonders if Cordé blames her. If Cordé would blame her. Padmé likes to think the woman who became one of her closest friends wouldn’t blame her, but were they ever really friends? If they were really friends, would Padmé have sent her to die in Padmé’s place? What kind of friend was Padmé, if she hadn’t given it a second thought when they boarded the ships this morning.

Suddenly, Padmé’s glad most of her other handmaidens have gone for something to eat, and that Rabé had fallen asleep on the bench across from Padmé. Padmé doesn’t think she could stand to have their eyes on her right now, not after what she’s done.

“Thank you doctor, I’ll speak to her.” A familiar voice drifts down the hallway, and Padmé jerks a little at the sound. The hospital isn’t quiet in any sense, but up until now it’s all been background noises Padmé could tune out easily. This, she can’t

“Chancellor Palpatine?” She asks hesitantly as the older man approaches. He’s wearing a formal navy blue robe, and suddenly Padmé feels very under-dressed in the pilot’s disguise she has been wearing since this morning. Palpatine sits down on the bench next to Padmé.

“Padmé, my dear.” He says after a moment that feels weirdly uncomfortable. “I’ve just spoken to the doctor who was in with your handmaiden.” Padmé’s head whips around to look at the older man.

“What did he say? I haven’t heard anything yet!” She practically cries.

“I asked him to speak to me first.” Padmé opens her mouth to protest, but he continues. “I did it for your own good, my dear. I didn’t think you’d be able to handle bad news from someone who didn’t know how to help you through it.”

Padmé feels the bottom of her stomach drop, and she feels herself sob.

“No. No. Cordé’s alive. I- she can’t be dead.” Padmé insists, even though she knows that when the surgeons had taken her in, they had warned Padmé that there was a chance the operation wouldn’t save her.

“Your handmaiden will pull through.” Chancellor Palpatine says, and puts his hand on Padmé’s shoulder. He’s trying to be comforting, Padmé thinks, even if it falls a little flat. But- Cordé’s alive. Padmé grins like a maniac.

“Oh, thank the force.” Padmé breathes out, a huge grin spreading across her face. “This is good news, then. I’m sorry you came all the way down here unessesarily.” Palpatine’s face is fixed in an expression of pity, and Padmé feels it sap away at her enthusiasm.

“Oh child. I’m afraid the rest of the news is bad.” Palpatine says to her. That’s why she likes him, she reminds herself. He doesn’t sugarcoat things. He never has, even when Padmé was younger. “The accident has left her with significant scaring, and she may still loose an arm. She’ll never be able to serve as your body double again.”

Padmé knows that after Palpatine mentioned the danger to Cordé’s arm he kept talking, but Padmé can’t hear him over the ringing in her ears. It feels as though all her blood is rushing to her head.

“This is all my fault.” Padmé interrupts the chancellor. On any other day she’d feel bad, but Padmé just drops her head into her hands. “I put Cordé up to this. This happened because of me.”

“Oh, my dear, no. Your handmaiden was only doing her duty to you.” Padmé’s crying, she notes absently. It’s the first time she’s cried over this. “She knew what being your handmaiden would involve when she agreed to become one.” Palpatine rubs Padmé’s shoulder in what she’s sure he thinks is a comforting gesture.

“She was involved in an explosion because of what I said.” Padmé sobs.

“It was her duty to do so in your place, to protect you from that.” Palpatine repeats his earlier sentiment.

“And I have a duty to protect her as well!” Padmé retorts, feeling an irrational anger bubble inside, drying her tears.

“Her duty was to serve her senator.” Palpatine insists. Padmé feels anger rising in her chest, and almost wants to hit him.

“And as her Senator, I have a duty to her as well!” Padmé shrieks and pulls away from him. She’s definitely not crying anymore. “And what do you mean, was? Cordé is still my handmaiden!”

“My dear, she can hardly preform her duty as your body double as she is. The kindest thing to do would be to remove her from your service.”

“Her name is Cordé, and she is so much more than just my body double!” Padmé slaps his hand away as he reaches for her.

“With tensions rising as they are, you can hardly keep a member of your help who cannot function as a full member of her team.” The Chancellor speaks, and there’s a hardness to his voice. “You should send for another handmaid from Naboo when you send her back.”

Padmé sees red.

“Leave, Chancellor.”

“My dear-”

“Don’t ‘my dear’ me, Chancellor. If you cannot respect the members of my team as my equals, you are no member of it. I want you to leave.”

“Senator Amidala!” There is anger rising in the Chancellor’s voice. Padmé simply hardens hers.

“You are no longer welcome by my side, Chancellor. Leave. Before my handmaidens return and make you.”

---

“Will they even negotiate?” Rabé asks from her seat across the room. Padmé bites the inside of her cheek. They have to. She doesn’t know what she’ll do if the Trade Federation follows through on their threatened embargo and then refuses to negotiate.

“Your Highness.” The door swings open, and a member of Captain Panaka’s guard steps through and snaps to attention. It isn’t anyone Padmé recognizes; she’ll have to send one of her handmaidens to find out who is on guard duty right now.

“Carry on,” Sabé speaks for Padmé. The character of Amidala uses as few words as possible since she has so many different voices, so her handmaidens take turns speaking for her.

“A guest to see you, Queen Amidala. She says she comes to advise you.” Amidala keeps her confusion off of her face – she has not called for any of her advisors, and her handmaidens wouldn’t do it without telling her. (Barring one incident, but that was more of an intervention when Padmé hadn’t slept in seventy-two hours. Padmé slept last night, that isn’t the case here.) Only the former monarchs traditionally show up to offer advice without being summoned, but Reillata is off-planet right now, touring with the show she is in.

“Skip the commentary and just announce me!” A feminine voice calls from outside the door. It’s familiar in a way that Padmé can’t quite place or describe. A quick glance at her handmaidens shows that most of them are having a similar feeling.

And then the doors are opened, and she steps through, and Padmé instantly knows who she is. Queen Sanandrassa is dressed in a long, beautiful dress of golden lace which forms elaborate geometric designs as it falls around her form.

“Sanandrassa. Welcome.” Amidala herself speaks this time, trying to cover her surprise. It hadn’t even occurred to her that her guest could be Queen Sanandrassa because this is the former queen’s first visit to the palace during Amidala’s reign. She supposes it makes sense, though. Sanandrassa has more experience with the Trade Federation than anyone currently serving in the palace.

“Queen Amidala.” Sanandrassa curtsies before walking into the room to stand in the center of the circular space. She looks Amidala in the eyes, and says simply, “I understand you are having some trouble with the Trade Federation.”

If Padmé had been dressing as a handmaiden, she would have allowed her lips to twitch at that understatement. As it is, she simply inclines her head a little.

“They are threatening a full trade embargo on the whole planet unless Naboo pays all of the fees they have pulled from nowhere to add to the debt we have long paid off,” Sabé speaks from beside Padmé.

“The debt that they were owed for their financial aid following their role in providing financial aid to your programs to repair Naboo from the damages done by King Veruna’s reign was paid off by Reillata, as was agreed on in the contract. They are, predictably, attempting to scam and threaten their way to a cheap fortune.” Eirtaé adds from where she sits, next to Rabé and across the room from Padmé’s throne. Padmé suppresses a wince. Eirtaé is a vocal member of the portion of the population that believed that Sanandrassa’s decision to go to the Trade Federation was the cause of this mess. Padmé continues to reserve judgment.

“That is not why they’re doing this,” Sanandrassa says, and now she has everyone’s full attention, Padmé’s sure. She remembers suddenly that for all Padmé disagrees with some of her diplomatic decisions, the older woman is a gifted orator. “I reached out to one of my old contacts in the federation. The blockade exists to punish us because they disagree with Naboo’s recent legislative choices.”

Amidala is sure that she’s making a face right now, although she isn’t sure what it looks like. She hopes it doesn’t appear to undignified, as unlikely as that is.

“None of Naboo’s recent legislation should affect them at all,” Saché speaks this time. Sanandrassa snorts.

“If you truly believe that, you are far too naive.  Everything affects the federation because they have their hands in everything.”

“Which piece of legislation do you believe they are objecting to?” Sabé cuts in before Eirtaé can say what they all see is on the tip of her tongue. Padmé doesn’t know what it is, but she suspects it will not be particularly diplomatic in this situation.

“This is surely a result of Naboo’s new diplomatic, immigration, and refugee policies.”

“Explain.” Sabé says exactly what Padmé would have said at that moment.

“As a result of this new approach, new trading partners are being developed, and now we are trading less with the Trade Federation. They are punishing us for that.”

“They’re throwing a fit,” Yané murmurs so that only Padmé and Sabé can hear her. There are similar murmurs from the other handmaidens in the room.

“What then is your advice?” Padmé speaks aloud and notices that Sanandrassa straightens up.

“Pull away from those deals. They’re new, we can say they simply aren’t working out. Naboo is currently suffering for everyone else’s sakes.” Padmé knows that Sanandrassa is famously isolationist. She just hadn’t realized until now just how isolationist the former monarch really is.

“I suppose you also think we should close our borders.” Eirtaé bites back. Padmé remembers a skit that used to be done during Reillata’s reign where they would have the queen give a speech during the show and then have a handmaiden stand behind her to act as her ‘anger translator’ and say what the queen is really thinking. Padmé thinks Eirtaé would be her anger translator.

“In fact, I do believe so. The people of Naboo stand alone against the trade federation. We cannot keep taking on the burdens of those who will not come to our aid, it isn’t sustainable. Once we end those ties, the federation will leave.”

“Just bow down to the will of the Federation, while we’re at it.” Eirtaé fires back. Amidala raises her hand, and everything her handmaidens were about to say drops off. Sanandrassa stills.

“I will not abandon our trading partners, not when the deals are hard-won and fair. Nor will I close the borders. That is not who the Naboo are.”

“You will make a mistake.”

“Look around you. The people in this room come from all parts of Naboo and are descended from those who came to Naboo from worlds across the system and across the galaxy. We are all here because we are striving to preserve the Naboo we love. The vibrant art and music and culture, which is that way because of the vibrant peoples who create it. I will not compromise what I swore to defend in order to bow to an invading force. I will stand by the promises I made to Naboo.” Amidala spoke, and it’s the most Padmé has said as Amidala in a long time. Sanandrassa’s face falls.

“I refused to compromise on my ideals as well, Queen Amidala. I refused to give up on the promises I made to Naboo as well, and look where that got me.”

“You made different promises,” Saché speaks again.

“You will be like me, then, remembered for what your choices cost Naboo and the decisions your successors undid. That is all the legacy there is for queens who stand by their ideals through their predecessor’s messes.” Sanandrassa bites out, and Padmé does understand her anger. As news of the federation’s threats spread, much of the people’s anger has been directed, largely unfairly, towards the former queen who once dealt with them. Such anger led Naboo to forgot how much Sanandrassa had fixed and repaired after she had been handed the destruction of her corrupt predecessor. Still, Padmé does not find that she agrees.

“I do not care how Naboo remembers me, so long as they are still able to do so in the ways I have long loved about Naboo – in Naboo’s art, in Naboo’s architecture, in Naboo’s music.”

Notes:

“Padmé!” A voice rings out around the mostly deserted room, and Padmé turns to see the queen elect herself waving to her. Padmé feels a grin spread across her face. The woman before her isn’t all that much older than the little girl who first came to study with Padmé, but she’s visibly more mature. The same youthful energy that has defined Apailana’s campaign is there, but it’s tempered with a new strength that Padmé can see. If Apailana was a diamond in the rough when she came to Padmé, the queen elect who stands here today has been not only polished but made into the beautiful centerpiece in a gorgeous necklace.

And Apailana does look gorgeous. If Padmé’s outfits as queen tried to capture a sense of fire and fight and sun, Apailana is the moon and the stars that counterbalance her. She has no crown yet – won’t until her coronation, but whoever does her makeup has added two little rhinestones at the inner corners of her eyes, and they, in turn, match the silver beads that are woven into and hang down from the younger girl’s hair. The patterns on her face are done in a pale blue khol which flatters the deep purples and silvers of her dress.

Padmé is so proud of her beautiful, royal, grinning student.

“Apailana! Funny meeting you in a place like this.” She says. It’s partially in reference to a joke that had developed between the two of them on coruscant, but mostly because she really hadn’t expected Apailana to meet her at the station in person. Apailana gives a cheeky grin back to Padmé.

“You taught me that when things get busy, it’s important to set aside time for self-care.”

“It’s one of the most important lessons my predecessor taught me, the least I could do was pass it on,” Padmé comments idly and decides that some time before Apailana’s coronation in three months, Padmé is going to have to find an excuse to end up in a canal with her. You know, for tradition’s sake.

“Well, this is my self-care time. I am spending time with someone I don’t get to see as often as I would like but who I love spending time with.” Apailana grins and loops her arm through Padmé’s. It’s not exactly proper conduct for a queen-elect of Naboo, but the other monarchs have always been exceptions to those traditions and rules anyway.

“Well, who am I to argue with that?” Is Padmé’s response, which earns a beaming grin. They make their way out of the mostly deserted spaceport to the streets of Theed. Between her own handmaiden training and all the time she has spent with the members of the Guard and Ani’s battalion, Padmé can pinpoint the exact moment Apailana’s new security detail joins them outside the spaceport, even though they are staying out of the way. Apailana doesn’t appear to notice. Sabé would be so disappointed in her pupil, but Padmé trusts that the 13-year-old (one of the youngest queens in modern history! Padmé’s so proud) will pick these things up in the brutal handmaiden training that is in her future. Actually, that reminds Padmé.

“Have you met your handmaidens yet?” She asks the queen elect, who beams in response.

“I did! Just three days ago. They’re all wonderful.” Padmé grins at the excitement in Apailana’s voice. Meeting her handmaidens had been one of the best parts of being queen elect.

“Tell me about them.” Padmé grins. They turn onto one of the busier streets of Theed and Apailana unhooks her arm from Padmé’s, which Padmé understands and would have done the same, but she’s a little disappointed anyway.

“Well, there are five of them, and it’s a little weird because we all look so alike, but every time we train together that gets less weird,” Padmé notes as Apailana gushes that her student has managed to break herself of her habit of gesturing wildly as she speaks. She’s growing up. “There’s- well, they all picked new names this morning.”

“That is an important moment, and a big milestone.” Padmé grins, and Apailana beams.

“I know! Okay, so, there are five of them. Maphia and Sala, who are sisters. They’re both singers, although Maphia sings ballads and Sala prefers pop songs.” Apailana’s lips twitch. “I have learned a lot about the difference between the two in the past couple of days.” Padmé snorts. She remembers that. Rabé had taught her a lot about painting, and Yané still holds many… opinions on the weavings in the palace. “Then there’s Shanta, who was raised in Otoh Gunga. Her parents moved there when she was four, and she continual expresses it is to see the sun every morning, which is equally weird for the rest of us.” Oh wow, Padmé feels old. Every now and then it happens, like when she’s reminded that Apailana was born during the reign of Queen Amidala. “And then Yimana was born on Naboo, but her parents and her brother were all born on Balmorra before they came to Naboo as refugees during the reign of Queen Reillata. And finally, do you remember Yasmin, who was in the Junior Legislative Program with me?”

“I do. The two of you were practically inseparable.” Padmé grins, remembering fondly.

“She’s taken the name Yonya, and is working alongside me,” Apailana announces, and Padmé gives her a soft smile.

“I’m glad. I have a handmaiden like that as well – Sabé was my best friend in the Junior Legislative Program as well, although we met before it, since we grew up on the same street, but she’s one of my closest confidants to this day and has stood by me through everything.”

“Really? I thought I was the only one who asked someone they knew before to join them.” Apailana sags with relief, and Padmé can’t help but laugh.

“Truly. In fact, it was Sabé who started the tradition of handmaidens changing their names alongside the monarch.” Apailana looks up at Padmé in surprise.

“Really? That kind of felt like something that… had just always been done.” Padmé squeezed Apailana’s hand quickly.

“Well, we have been doing it as long as you have been alive.” Apailana makes a face at that.

“You’re old.”

“I- thanks. Real diplomatic.”

“It’s just the truth.” Padmé restrains a sigh of amusement.

“Do you want to know another tradition that’s leftover from my reign that Sabé started?”

“You’re changing the subject.”  Apailana sing-songs, and she’s not wrong. “But now I’m curious, so yes.”

“Sabé was the first handmaiden to actually act as queen when taking on the role of the body-double, rather than just all of us wearing the handmaiden’s garb while traveling,” Padmé confesses.

“What, really?” Padmé flushes as she nods her confirmation. “Now I want to know why.” Padmé is really glad she no longer has to wear the elaborate makeup and, as such, can bury her face in her hands.

“I snuck out of a diplomatic event with a couple of the other girls, and we all got totally covered in glitter and covered dye at the party we went to. We couldn’t get it all off in the morning, and we couldn’t admit we’d snuck out of a diplomatic summit, so Sabé, the only one of us not covered in glitter and paint, was queen that day.” Apailana bursts out in laughter right there, and Padmé suspects that if the girl weren’t queen elect in the middle of the streets, she would have doubled over. When her laughter dies down, Apailana looks at Padmé with the look the older woman has come to associate with having something on her mind.

“What’s going through your mind?” Padmé probes.

“It’s just… you always sound like you got along so well with all of your handmaidens, but I don’t feel nearly that close with mine. Sure, they’re all fun people, but we just… don’t click like that.” The younger girl confesses. Padmé grins.

“We didn’t click right away either. It takes time, Apailana. It will happen. There’s no one a queen has to spend more time with or have to put more trust in than her handmaidens. At least you all get along already. My handmaidens and I could barely stand each other at first.” Padmé snorts remembering it all. “It will happen in time, Apailana, and someday, you will also have a thousand dumb stories to tell the future queens as well.”

Notes:

look, there was going to be a scene explaining why Padme had to go to a different spaceport, but it didn't flow right, so here's the deal:

Apailana is remodeling.

That's it that's the story she thinks it's about time someone did something about the carbon scoring that's been there since the invasion of Naboo when Padme was queen.

Also, here’s a collage of Apailana’s handmaidens, all of whom are my OCs.

Starting at the top left and working around clockwise it is Maphia, Sala, Yime, Yonya, and finally Shanta.

Padme stops herself mid-stride as she realizes she’s about to turn down the hallway that leads to the quarters of the current queen. That’s not Padme anymore. Logically, Padme knows she’s been not the queen far longer than she was ever the queen, but on some level, being back in the palace makes her feel like she still is. The act of turning down the hallway to the quarters provided for the senator suddenly feels overwhelming wrong, even though, logically, Padme knows that’s where her stuff is and where she’s been sleeping all week now.

“Glad to know I’m not the only one totally overwhelmed.” Padme turns in confusion to see queen-elect Neeyutnee approaching from behind her. It takes a moment for Padme to understand what the other girl is talking about, before she really looks at where she’s standing, and realizes that from the outside, it looks like she has been staring intently at the bust of Queen Yram in front of her. Padme is about to say something to correct the queen-elect, probably something about the passage of time that Padme would pray sounds wise, but instead, Neeyutnee continues. “I don’t know how you all did it – live up to their legacies.”

Padme might be in the middle of her own crisis, but it can wait. She remembers how hard it can be to be the Queen-Elect. She might not be the outgoing queen, but it is still her role to be an advisor here, right?

“That’s the thing. You’re never going to be able to live up to their legacies.” Padme starts, and Neeyutnee turns a withering glare on her. She’s going to do great in politics. Still, Padme continues before Neeyutnee can protest. “None of us will. Their legacies, the way we remember them, we’ll never be able to live up to because we don’t remember their insecurities, the mistakes they make. All we can do is just take it one day at a time, and make the best choice we can in each moment.”

That gives Neeyutnee pause.

“Is that how you did it?” She asks after a moment. Padme smiles at her.

“I was flying by the seat of my pants every moment I was queen.” That earns a small smile from the stoic queen-elect.

“I don’t know what I’m doing.” The taller woman confesses to Padme. “I don’t have King Narmlé’s drive to explore and settle all of Naboo,” She gestures at the bust of the ancient king in the corner, “Nor the brilliant mind of the scholar Queen Yram. I don’t even really have the faith in Naboo that Queen Sanandrassa had isolationist though she was, and I definitely don’t have your strength, that guided us through so much, Queen Amidala.”

“You never know.” Padme eventually decides to say. “You never know what qualities you have until you’re tested. And make no mistake, with war igniting across the galaxy, you will be tested.” Padme turned to look Neeyutnee straight in the eyes as she continues. “But the Naboo believe in you, or you wouldn’t be here. The Naboo believes in the power of your ideals. They believe in the person who ran for this position, who proved to everyone that she will fight for them and for Naboo.” And then, Padme smiles as she finishes. “When we start out that’s all any of us had. So, we can’t know who you will become during your time as queen. But I’m sure whoever it is will be exactly who can serve Naboo best.”

“That’s what it means to be the monarch of the Naboo.” Neeyutnee mutters under her breath, as though coming to a realization right there. The line isn’t familiar to Padme, but it sounds like something Jamillia would say. Still, there is wisdom in those words. Padme turns to look at the busts of old, beloved monarchs.

Padme pulls the blue-purple hood down from around her face and lets the sun shine on it. It’s immediately warm – the sun is beating down today – but Padme finds she doesn’t mind. After being inside of Theed Palace all day, it feels nice rather than unpleasant.

Padme was going to miss doing this once she was queen rather than queen elect. From what she’s seen thus far, the queen of Naboo can’t exactly get away with lying in the street. Really, Padme wasn't expecting things to get easier after she was elected, but she had hoped that maybe she would be easied into the increased workload of being queen. Padme doubts she has ever been more wrong. Padme barely feels like she has time to sleep anymore. Padme has only made time to do this by ignoring her schoolwork.

These days, Padme’s mornings are spent with her future handmaidens, undergoing extensive training in order to be able to protect themselves, conduct themselves properly, move as a team, and all the other duties that a handmaiden performed that were less publicly well know. (Spying. The handmaidens are spies.) After that, Padme has two hours for all her studies and then has to rush back to the palace to shadow Queen Réillata for the afternoon, and often for more formal events in the evening as well. Shadowing the queen is no walk in the park – she is for all intents and purposes, another one of the queen’s handmaidens, and carries herself accordingly.

 Both her parents and Panaka actually think she is with Queen Réillata right now. Padme feels a little guilt for lying to them. Not a lot though, since the water and sun both feel really nice.

“Padme?” A familiar female voice carries down the hallway, and Padme sighs.

“Go away, Sola.” Padme groans. Her sister is the only one who knows to find her here.

“Oh, is that your sister’s name? I confess I couldn’t remember other it when we spoke, so I just called her Lady Naberrie.” The voice calls back, and Padme’s brain restarts as she’s suddenly able to place that voice.

“Queen Réillata!” Padme shoots upwards into a sitting position as she catches sight of just the queen’s feet. Unfortunately, as she pulls herself up from her sprawled position, she does it far too quickly, and Padme pitches forward and with a screech, Padme falls into the canal. The water is only cold until she’s fully underwater, and when she resurfaces, finds the water a nice, cool temperature. Padme hadn’t realized how warm she was until now.

“Are you alright, Padme?” Queen Réillata moves to the edge of the canal, a concerned look on her face. Padme can’t help it. She giggles a little.

“I’m fine.” She looks down at the purple and blue handmaiden’s gown she’s wearing, which is now as completely wet as she is. “I don’t think I’ll be able to wear this tonight though.” She comments, which to her surprise, pulls a full laugh from Queen Réillata.

“Do you want a hand getting out?” The older girl asks, crossing the street to where Padme had been sitting. Padme bites her lip. She knows she really should get out. This is the queen in front of her, and she does have places to go soon. Every lesson the Diplomatic Youth Program taught her says that Padme should get out of the water now. But Padme doesn’t really want to get out of the water.

 In Padme’s moment of hesitation, Queen Réillata launches back into conversation. “Is the water in this part of Theed cold this time of year? I know some of the canals are snowmelt, but I don’t know if they are here.” Padme is struck by how much Queen Réillata knows that she still doesn’t know but answers the question anyway.

“It’s not to cold. It’s nice actually, on such a warm day.” Padme responds. “I didn’t know any of the canals were snowmelt – but I don’t think this one is cold enough to be?” She adds, her own confession. Queen Réillata nods in acknowledgment.

“Alright then.” Queen Réillata responds casually. Then, in her long sky-blue gown and matching cloak, without so much as removing her ornate gemstone necklace, Queen Réillata throws herself into the canal next to Padme. It sends ripples through the water that throw Padme around not unpleasantly, and Padme feels her grin widen even as she’s taken with shock.

When Queen Réillata resurfaces, the water and the current have washed all of her ornate makeup off, leaving only the big grin to decorate her face.

“Your Majesty!” Padme protests and Queen Réillata makes a face at that.

“Please, just call me Réillata.” She insists and then splashes Padme. Before she knows what she’s really doing, Padme splashes Réillata back. Somehow, without the elaborate makeup, Réillata feels less… untouchable. Padme supposes that’s the purpose of the makeup.

“I… okay,” Padme responds with a smile, which is brightly returned. Gently, Réillata moves through the water to where Padme has been treading and catches one of her hands.

“Padme, is everything alright with you?” Réillata asks, which catches Padme totally off guard.

“What?” Is her dignified response.

“You gave my handmaidens and I quiet a fright when Captain Panaka told us you were supposed to be with us,” Réillata says in a soothing tone of voice that places no blame, but still, Padme feels a rush of guilt.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to. I just…” Padme trails off, trying to explain what had happened without sounding lazy or ungrateful.

“You just needed a little break?” Réillata finishes, and Padme ducks her head.

“Yeah.”

“That’s totally alright.” Réillata finishes, and Padme glances back at her in surprise. “We all need that sometimes. This can be a lot, especially at the beginning.” Réillata pulls Padme into as much of a hug as she can while they both tread water. “Next time, just let me know, and I’ll cover for you with Panaka.” She whispers to Padme conspiratorially.

“Really?”

“Oh absolutely. We’ve all been there. He can be… a lot.” Réillata says as though confessing a great secret. Padme snorts.

“Definitely.” She ducks under and out of Réillata’s embrace. “We should probably go, there’s still probably time to get changed before we have to be back at the palace.” Réillata grins.