All events that take place during travel on this starship will be written here

Amelia sat for what seemed like an eternity, just staring out the window. There wasn't much to see - the stars just streaked past at blinding speed, or blended with the blackness of space. But still, she was encountering something she'd never encountered before, and however mundane or ordinary this sight may seem to the others, to Amelia it was truly fascinating.

Eventually, Asané came and sat by her, and Amelia forced her gaze away from the window to instead look at her mentor.

"Is this what space travel is always like?" she asked curiously. And as if to emphasise her point, she motioned to the window. "All black and white and beautiful?"

Asané smiled, "I know, I never get used to it myself.... Well the journey to Coruscant will take a few days, I think the best thing is to focus on your studies..... You should learn a lot concerning politics during the visit which will be useful to you..... Always keep your eyes and your ears open..... During this visit our only purpose to seem as beautiful ghosts that float behind the Queen..... No one can tell from our appearance that we are all deadly and capable of harming anyone who tries to hurt her majesty....... I can say one thing, I'm certain that once we return to Naboo, it will not be long until you are promoted to a handmaiden...."

"You sound so sure. Is there something you're not telling me?" Amelia laughed, a little nervously. Did Asané really have such beliefs in her abilities already.

"Judging from my training yesterday, I'd say I have years to go before I'm even worthy of serving her majesty."

Feeling slightly depressed by her own lack of belief in herself, Amelia quickly decided to change the subject.

"So, more training?" With a huge smile and an eager glint in her eyes, she added "When do we begin?"

"Well actually, one thing you must learn is self confidence more than anything, especially where we are going now...... Everyone will be watching us and our actions will also reflect on the Queen...... You will eventually be able to speak with her alone, she always wishes to have some time with her new handmaidens to get to know them, perhaps it will even happen during this visit we are on..... Who can tell......" Asané spoke as she too gazed out of the window.

"Speak to the Queen? Alone? Wow!" Amelia couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Can you teach me the proper...oh...what's it called? Protocol? Protocol! That's it! What is the proper protocol for talking to a Queen? Having never met one before, I'm afraid that's something I lack knowledge in."

This was very true. Despite having lived on Naboo her entire life and seen three monarchs take the Throne of Naboo, she'd never once spoken to any of them, and found the prospect a little daunting. But as Asané had said, she needed more self confidence. Perhaps that was something she would learn on this trip. It was most probably he nerves that were making her lose confidence.

She didn't want to screw everything up after working so hard to get where she was now, that was all.

As she waited for Asané's reply, another thought struck her, but she decided to hold her tongue and wait to see what Asané said first.

Asané gave a little laugh, "Trust me, you don't have to worry about speaking with the Queen, remember she was once just like one of us.... In public she has to be very regal and proper, but when you speak with her alone, she is just like one of us..... Just be yourself, that's the protocol" She gave her a reassuring smile, "For now, best thing is to rest..... Tomorrow we will begin with a new training......"

"I'm just gonna sit here a while longer, if thats ok? I like looking at the stars, even if they are all odd and weird."

She grinned, visibly relaxing now that she'd been reassured about her inevitable meeting with the Queen. The more she thought about it, the more she realised that Asané was right. There was nothing to be afraid of, and no reason why she should doubt herself as much as she did. Thanking Asané and bidding her a good night, Amelia turned back to the window and propped her head in her hands, gazing out at the breathtaking scenery.

Some time later, her sleeping head lolled gently forwards and rested on the cool glass of the window, her robes pulled tight about her in a makeshift blanket.

It was now morning for the people of Naboo, but in space, it had little meaning. Asané made her way through the Royal Starship until she finally came across Amelia.

"Amelia, it is time. The Queen wishes to have a short meeting with you. Don't be nervous, each of us had to go through this as well..... You'll be fine. Just take the corridor and follow it right to the end, then you will arrive at her chamber......"

Amelia hadn't long woken up when Asané came and delivered the news.

"Now?" Strangely this news didn't actually scare her, or make her nervous, which she was surprised about. Perhaps the length catch-up on some much needed sleep had boosted her confidence a little?

"See you later then," she replied to Asané before getting up and straightening her clothes to try and make them at least look a little more respectable and decent.

Then she followed the directions she'd been given to the Queen's quarters. It only took her about five minutes to get there, but even there, standing right outside the Queen's door, the nerves still didn't hit. She only hoped they would keep away until this meeting was over. Knocking on the door, she waited patiently to be called into the room.

Suddenly the door opened and a young woman replied. She appeared to be wearing a similar outfit to Amelia's, clearly in a handmaiden attire.

"Come this way please...." The woman said, leading Amelia further into the chamber. Suddenly the woman then sat herself on the chair, after offering one to Amelia. It was clear now that this woman was in fact the Queen herself. Although she was not dressed up as usual, and without her usual traditional make-up.

"I'm glad you could come to see me. I always like to have a visit with my handmaidens, I know you are not officially one yet, but as far as I'm concerned, if you are in the company with us, then you are one. Once we return to Naboo, I will declare you a handmaiden, I promise you that. So how are you doing? I know when I was in handmaiden training, I found it extremely difficult! Especially concerning physical defense, I'm terrible!" She laughed a little, "My skills were more with blasters, but I prefer negotiation..." She waited for Amelia to speak.

"Yes, negotiation is more my strong point too, I admit," Amelia nodded in agreement. Then remembering who she was in the company of, she added, "My Lady." Then as an afterthought, said "Thank you for seeing me. It is truly an honour, Your Highness."

There was a slight pause and, feeling that she needed to say something else, Amelia smiled and indicated her hand, which had healed up immensely, but still showed a slight scar. "I'm afraid I'm not too good at the physical training either...although, having said that, I would gladly give my life for you, My Lady. And I would gladly place myself between you and danger any day."

She smiled, "You don't have to call me 'your highness', not in this place..... That's for the public only.... My name is Verlé..... Also that is the name you must call me when I have a decoy in my place..... Don't worry about all this training, it's not the training that defines you, it's your actions in between. I was in your shoes, seems a long time ago now but I remember the steps. I remember when I served under Queen Jamillia and Apailana. How things have changed since then, but how much I have learned....... We live in very difficult times..... Our ideals have become lost in an uncontrollable darkness.... I'm the first Queen to experience these dark times we live in, although Apailana suffered through the adjustment........" Verlé became quiet.

"I'm sorry," Amelia replied quietly, understanding that this was something that the Queen was troubled and upset by. "I cannot begin to imagine how you must feel...although I have suffered my fair share of loss in the past. If there is anything I can do to help? Of course, as your handmaiden, I would be giving everything 110% anyway, but if there is anything else at all, I would gladly help. You are one of the best rulers this planet has ever known, and I would hate for these dark times to cause anyone pain or suffering...especially you."

Feeling a sudden increase in confidence, spurred on by the sudden feeling of grief that both women obviously knew so well, and shared in common, Amelia leaned forwards slightly and placed a comforting hand on Verlé's. So what if this woman was the Queen of Naboo? Right now, Amelia simply saw a woman in need of comfort, and she was willing to give that comfort, despite their obvious difference in rank or class.

"Verlé," she said softly, uttering the name with compassion and sympathy. "Before my mother died, she told me something that I have never forgotten. It is better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness....At the time I didn't understand what she was trying to tell me...but these last few years the truth has finally dawned. It's silly really, but, the more I think about it, the more I understand now. Even if you cannot lift this darkness, don't curse about it and say how you wish things were...do something about it...even if its only to make life more tolerable for your people."

The Queen smiled to her, "Don't worry this won't last forever, nothing does, whether good or bad....... All we can do is take one step at a time and have faith in those around us......."

As she was about to speak again, the Captain of her security walked into the room, it was clear that he wished to speak to her.

"I'm sorry, we will have to end this meeting Amelia, it was lovely to have the chance to speak with you, even for a short time..... I wish you luck during our visit..... Don't be nervous, you are here because you deserve to be....." She put out her hand to shake Amelia's in friendship, before walking with the Captain to the back of the chamber to discuss matters. No doubt to do with the coming visit on Coruscant.

Amelia quietly left the room, not wishing to intrude any further upon the Queen's time. It wasn't until she'd left the room and the door had closed with a satisfying 'thud' behind her, did she actually breath again. That had been the most terrifying thing she'd ever done, and yet at the time it had felt so natural...like she'd been sitting with a friend, not a Queen.

Taking a deep, steadying breath, she walked back to the room she'd been sitting in before and sat herself back down on the same seat, giving Asané a quick, fleeting grin before turning to watch the stars once more.

OOC: You can continue now on Coruscant, made a post there for you: http://sw-thedarktimes.com/index.php?showtopic=623

Amelia was back by the window again...her favourite spot. She'd decided to christen this seat the Mia Seat, simply because it gave her something to do in the few moments of boredom that she experienced now and then, when she wasn't watching the stars, or chatting with the others.

She'd christened the other seats round the room, too, naming each one after a handmaiden, or the Queen. At the moment Asané was sitting on the Verlé Seat, and when she saw Amelia watching, she offered a friendly smile. Amelia returned the smile and then a thought crossed her mind...one that she'd been pondering on for some time now...since naming the seat's a few hours ago, infact.

Getting up, she crossed the room and sat down on the Asané Seat, next to Asané herself.

"I've been thinking," she started, casually. "All the handmaidens I've ever heard of have names that end with é...Padmé, Dormé, Sabé, Verlé, Asané..." She tossed a cheeky grin at Asané, then continued.

"Well, Amelia doesn't fit in with this pattern...and seeing as I'm going to be a Handmaiden soon, I thought I might make a suggestion that would help me fit in a little more. My middle name is Rose, right? Well what if people started calling me Rosé when I'm a handmaiden? Course, I'll keep my real name, and the people who know me can call me Amelia, or Mia...but...well...just a suggestion. What do you think?"

Asané smiled, "Yes we all hold similar names this is true..... Though they were all our birth names.... But if you would like to be called Rosé once you become a handmaiden, the choice is your alone..... It does mean however, that if you do become successful that it will become your name always..... Just as Padmé Amidala.... She carried the title that was given to her when she became Queen...... I hope one day I can be the Queen of a planet..... Even a Princess would do for me..... A friend of mine, Saiya, became Princess of Iziz on Onderon..... I'm so happy for her...... She was a handmaiden for the Royal House of Alderaan before that..... So as you can tell, this may be a simple occupation to begin with, but it can lead to great things......"

"Yeah...it's a hard choice to make...about the name thing, I mean. But as for the opportunities this job brings...Senator Naberrie said that she could see me replacing her before long. Do you think she was just saying that? Because personally, I'd much rather become a Princess or Queen."

She paused and looked at Asané for a moment, as if judging her. Then she nodded, as if in agreement and said, "You would make a great Queen. I know you would. And don't get me wrong, Queen Kylantha is superb...one of the best Naboo has ever had...but I think perhaps she's met her match in you. Don't ask me why I think this, because to be honest I don't know. But yes...I think you will become Queen one day...and a popular, loved on at that. Who knows...maybe I could become your handmaiden and train others like you have trained me?"

"I think Senator Naberrie was just trying to give you confidence, and to be honest she isn't as complimenting towards herself as she should be.... She always thinks there is more that she could be doing to help the people of Naboo, as well as throughout the galaxy.... But to us, we see her as one of the best Senators this planet has seen, apart from Senator Amidala..... Pooja certainly takes after her aunt.... Right, we should sleep...... I'm so tired, still from last night" She laughed a little as she made her way to the handmaiden chambers.

OOC: Next post is here