#distant stars women in star wars challenge 2023

[alexversenaberrie]

The Gungan-Naboo War Unidentified Queen of Naboo (Legends)

An unidentified Queen of Naboo reigned sometime during the Gungan-Naboo War. Because the last heir of the then-current dynasty died in combat and had not decided who would succeed him, the Naboo elected a queen to lead them in the war. She died shortly after the end of the conflict in 121 BBY.

Unfortunately it is not know how her dresses looked alike and even none of her portraits survived to our times, her image and costume is purely imaginative. Presently she wears a remade royal clothes from one of future Queens. To underline her status, the lady has also the Jewel of Zenda. The red jewel is considered to be a royal jewel by the people of Naboo. She also has scars of remembrance on her face.

We can also see a Naboo royal crest on the red curtain, underlining the importance of the lady.

As the Queen ruled during the Gungan-Naboo war, she is surrounded by a Gungan energy shield, sword of Naboo Royal Security Forces and a blue boomer.

On the left, we can see a broken crest with symbol of a tree, it symbolises not only a difficult war time, during which the Queen ruled, but also that she was an elected ruler and that after her death the Naboo came to prefer an elected, rather than a hereditary, monarchy.

Queen Amidala | Queen Jamilia | Queen Neeyutnee | Queen Apailana | Sosha Soruna | Queen Réillata | Queen Mairayni | Queen Sanandrassa | Queen Kylantha | Sabé - The Decoy Queen | Queen Yram | Queen Dalné | The Gungan-Naboo War Queen of Naboo | Queen of Naboo from the New Republic | King Jafan I Star Tours Queen of Naboo | King Veruna | The First Queen of Naboo | King Tapalo | Queen Ameé | Queen Ekay | King Jafan III | The Queen of beaded emblems | King Narmlé | Queen of Naboo from High Republic | Queen Elsinoré den Tasia

#star wars paintings  |  SW Paintings | @distantstarssw

[doitinanotherlanguage]

February 2023 Wrap-up: 1910s

(You can read more about the challenge on my post introducing the challenge. Basically, Reading Through the Decades is a year-long reading challenge where we read books - and explore other media - from the 1900s to the 2020s, decade-by-decade.)

Obviously, February was a very harrowing reading month, since the 1910s are intricately tied to war. Almost everything I read or watched this month had something to do with war, or rebellion of some sort. War is a difficult and emotional topic to read about at any time, but especially this month. Inevitably, my thoughts were constantly drawn to Russia’s war in Ukraine, especially since 20 February marked a year since (the escalation of) the war started, with still no end in sight.

The Russo-Ukrainian war is a war that felt unimaginable and remote to me before Russia’s full-scale invasion into Ukraine in 2021. Having naively grown up in a bubble where war wasn’t supposed to ever affect my daily life, except as a distant terror somewhere far away, waking up to the terrible reality was a difficult and anxiety-inducing thing to face. Living in a country neighbouring Russia, it having not been even a hundred years since Russia last invaded our country, my empathy and sympathies lie whole-heartedly with the Ukrainians and their fight to defend their existence. Violence and war should never be the answer in politics, and imperialism is an evil that should be resisted with every inch of our being. Слава Україні! 🇺🇦🕊️

Many of the books, movies and shows below, which I read and watched and appreciated this month explore many of the topics and themes I’ve had on my mind recently because of the above-mentioned real-life politics. These topics and themes include war, imperialism, pacifism, nationalism, duty, independence, and self-governance. Hopefully, you can also find some new gems among them, and maybe ways to deal with the harsh reality we live in right now and the questions and feelings it provokes in us.

What I Enjoyed This Month

📺 The Crimson Field (2014), created by Sarah Phelps -> A British period drama that shows the lives of medics and the patients at a fictional field hospital in France during World War I. -> More war dramas written by women please! The first (and only) season of this show is fantastic, and I’m so sad this got cancelled because very little is tied up at the end of the first season yet it’s evident that they had plenty of plans for the upcoming seasons. The many and varied relationships (and I’m not just talking about the romantic) are the core and strength of this show to me, and I wish we got to see them develop further. (I will forever remain pissed that I will never get to see more of Peter and Flora’s friendship 😭)

📖 Testament of Youth (1933), Vera Brittain -> This first part of the memoirs of Vera Brittain (1893-1970) is celebrated as a classic for depicting the World War I from the point of view of women and the middle-class civilian population of the UK. It covers the years 1900-1925. -> Last year, I watched the 2014 movie adaptation, starring Alicia Vikander, and was very touched by it and got curious about the book it was based on. Consequently, I had such high expectations for this memoir - expectations that were more than exceeded, I am glad to say! This is such an interesting look at a young person’s coming-of-age during times of extreme turmoil and the ways in which formative experiences impact us. I found the memoir quite relatable in so many ways despite many of the things being so far removed from my own life and experiences. If feminism, the experiences of a V.A.D, anti-war sentiment and pacifism, dealing with death, and lost/missed youth as a theme sound interesting to you, consider picking up this wonderful book.

🎬 Im Westen nichts Neues (2022; All Quiet on the Western Front), dir. Edward Berger -> This impassioned, visually arresting interpretation of the classic German anti-war novel makes the pacifist case to contemporary audiences through its depiction of the horrible madness of World War I and the tragedy of a doomed generation. -> I read All Quiet on the Western Front last year, and was very impressed by it. It is a true classic, about the horror and pointlessness of war. So when I found out a new German movie adaptation was coming out, I was psyched! From the film’s chilling opening montage that emblematises the machinery of the war and the way it chews you up (it absolutely made me shiver to my core!), I knew this movie would stick with me. Well worth watching. (Although I do prefer the book to this movie, which has that familiar tendency to dramatise things for the visuality and all that.)

🎬 Suffragette (2015), dir. Sarah Gavron -> A British historical drama film about women's suffrage in the UK. -> This is a fantastic film about the suffrage movement in the UK, showing what was going on with regard to women’s rights before WWI swallowed up everyone’s attention, time, and efforts. Fantastic actresses all round, with a working-class main character as the focus.

📺 Rebellion (2016), created by Colin Teevan -> A historical mini series that dramatises the events surrounding the Irish 1916 Easter Rising. Told through the perspective of a group of fictional characters who live through the political events, the series was produced to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the 1916 Rising. -> I’ve been reading up on Irish history recently, so this was a great series to hit upon! I particularly appreciated the way that female characters were included in this and the storylines that were written for them.

📖 Ali und Nino (1937; Ali and Nino), Kurban Said -> A novel about a romance between a Muslim Azerbaijani boy and a Christian Georgian girl in Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, in the years 1918–1920. -> A super interesting book, full of ambiguity, thematising boundaries and fluidity. Taking centre-stage is the question of the often difficult-to-define boundary/limit/border between Europe and Asia. I was also quite fascinated by the way this book took up the matter of women’s place and rights. (I also checked out the 2016 movie adaptation. However, I only ended up watching the first 50 minutes or so because - while the cinematography was absolutely gorgeous! - I was not going to sit through a whole two hours of a script that... lacking.)

[alexversenaberrie]

Versé joined Senator Padmé Amidala's new cohort of Handmaidens. She was a top-notch slicer and used her talents in Amidala's service in more ways than one.

She served her lady till her death, when Padme's ship was assassinated by Zam Wesell.

@distantstarssw #star wars paintings  |  SW Paintings

[alexversenaberrie]

Ellé served as an aide to Governor of Naboo Sio Bibble. During the early stages of the Clone Wars, she became one of Senator Padmé Amidala's handmaidens.

Ellé helped when Sabé, Amidala's decoy, filled in for Amidala, shortly after the outbreak of the war. In the beginning , Ellé took on a more traditional role of a handmaiden, serving Amidala, but not working as friends and confidants, due to Amidala's secret marriage to Anakin Skywalker.

#star wars paintings  |  SW Paintings | @distantstarssw

[alexversenaberrie]

Umé served as one of the handmaidens of the planet Naboo's Royal House and at some point she was Amidala's handmaiden as well.

Umé attended the funeral of Naboo's senator, Padmé Amidala, shortly after the end of the Clone Wars. The handmaiden took part in Amidala's funeral procession through the city of Theed, walking alongside Queen Apailana of Naboo and another handmaiden.

#star wars paintings  |  SW Paintings

[alexversenaberrie]

Where is Ellé in E3? (Cut Scenes)

[alexversenaberrie]

Moteé served as a member of the Naboo Royal Handmaidens protecting Padmé Amidala during the final days of the Clone Wars.

She was discreet, able to keep the secret of the relationship between Amidala and the Jedi Anakin Skywalker.

#star wars paintings  |  SW Paintings | @distantstarssw

[alexversenaberrie]

Where is Umé in E3?

[alexversenaberrie]

Where is Moteé in E3?

[alexversenaberrie]

Amazing Versé

"You're amazing, Versé." Teckla told the handmaiden, as she completed her report in matter of minutes and quickly handled it to Dormé, who would bring it to Senator Amidala.

Versé blushed, it was clear that she wasn't used to flattery. Even if the person, who admired her was just a servant girl at Varykino estate, where Padmé Amidala and her staff came for a short visit and... a secret mission.

"I'm just doing my job..." Versé said, while not moving her eyes from a datapad.

"But it's true!" Teckla sat next to her on a sofa. "Also it takes a lot of courage to leave home and become a handmaiden of Senator Amidala."

"You're also brave, Teckla."

"No, of course not."

"Yes, you do. Just yesterday, when Naboo dignitaries visited us at Varykino , it was you, who volunteered to disguise herself as an additional handmaiden to help us in finding a spy among in theirs assistants. Without you we would have never managed. Haven't you ever considered being a handmaiden?"

"Well... It's an honour to work for Senator, no matter the position... But I do not think of myself as a fighter... or a slicer like you."

"Each of us handmaidens has a different set of skills." Versé explained with a smile. "I'm sure that you also have some amazing ability, even if you don't know what it is yet. Anyway before becoming a handmaiden, I also had to be trained in a few things."

"And it paid well." Teckla complemented her again.

"But skills are useless, if you don't have courage to do what is right." Versé added seriously and continued in the same tone. "I must tell you, that I'm worried about the future of Naboo and galaxy. Well, the future is always unknown, but if there was a person, who could make the life safer - it would definitely be Padmé Amidala. That's why I became a handmaiden, to help and protect her."

"Me, too. I do believe in Senator."

"Promise me something." Versé took the palm of Teckla in her hand. She usually didn't do such things, but the handmaiden felt a certain kinship with the servant girl, which she couldn't explain, and Versé really knew that she could trust her. "If something happened to me..."

"Don't say that!"

"... you would help Padmé as much as you can when I would be gone."

"Oh, Versé, I promise you. But I would do it even without that. " Teckla squeezed her hand back. "You're amazing and I'm sure that whatever challenges you would meet on your way, you would do just fine."

Versé wasn't able to comment on that, but for one moment the future looked definitely bright.

[alexversenaberrie]

Teckla Minnau was a servant at Varykino estate of Padme Amidala, then she became her handmaiden during the Clone Wars.

She was a quiet presence in Senator Amidala's household, often performing tasks unnoticed in the background. Despite this, she was on hand to deliver advice to the senator when needed. Amidala considered her a close friend.

#star wars paintings  |  SW Paintings

[alexversenaberrie]

Remembering Versé

"How have it happened?" Umé thought to herself.

It seemed as if a short time ago, as a handmaiden, Umé was helping Senator Amidala return back to Coruscant, but then the Clone Wars began and when they ended - she believed that all would be fine from now on, but here she was... taking a part in Amidala's funeral procession.

The handmaiden thought of herself as a down-to-earth person. She learned it in a hard way. It was sad to say that the first person, who taught her it was Versé, Amidala's handmaiden before the war.

Back then, it was Umé's first mission and she was very excited. Most of Amidala's staff didn't seem to be bothered by her enthusiasm, but Versé... she was kind and didn't chided her, but there was definitely something off. The handmaiden only advised her to be calm and do her best. Then Versé boarded her ship with Cordé and Umé joined Dormé (disguised as Padmé Amidala) on her shuttle, who were meant to reach Coruscant with an alternative way. During the journey, the young girl spent hours of thinking about the other handmaiden, but still she couldn't put a good word, which would describe what Versé meant. There was a danger, but they surely would manage in completing the mission successfully.

The realisation came few hours later, when she and Dormé landed on the capital - naivety. Senator was fine, but Cordé and Versé, with whom she talked so short time ago... were dead. What's more, a few days later, the galactic war started.

Umé could not stand it and resigned from her position. However the Naboo, to which the girl returned, started changing day by day for worse. In the beginning Umé stil believed that all somehow would be well, but it didn't. She stupidly started wishing to go back in time, but then what would she do? The Clone War would start anyway, Umé wasn't so powerful to stop it. Could she maybe save a few lives? Or maybe just one? Or maybe could she just tell Versé that she wasn't naive any more? She knew the real life now.

In the end the girl found the strength to get up, help her poor neighbours, support coming refugees and became a handmaiden of Queen Apailana.

Finally, the war ended!!! All would be fine... right?

Umé was walking behind Amidala's coffin surrounded by hundreds of people, but she could only hear Versé's advise in her head - to be calm and do her best. The handmaiden glanced at Queen Apailana, she would do just that.

[alexversenaberrie]

Where is Versé in E2?

[alexversenaberrie]

Check my stories about Padme's handmaidens for Distant Stars SW challenge.

[alexversenaberrie]

Where is Teckla in E2?

[alexversenaberrie]

From Versé to Ellé

The overview of the bill was simple - provide support to Republic citizens (including Naboo), who shortly before the war left theirs home planets and weren't able to reach them back.

What was not said was that most of poor people decided to look for help among independent ship owners (not all were trustworthy), who started charging even simple space trips very high, what caused unlucky travellers of taking loans from the Banking Clan. In the end many were left penniless and couldn't dream of even seeing their homes and loved ones.

Senator Padmé Amidala knew what should have had to be done, but unfortunately the Banking Clan also and the decision in the senate regarding the bill hadn't been decided yet. As the result, her staff had been spending days in search for all arguments, which would help her cause.

Before Ellé started serving Amidala, she was an aide of Governor Sio Bible, she was very familiar with writing reports and various documents. And Ellé had to say that she was rather proud of bringing the final file to Dormé, her more experienced handmaiden-colleague, for the review.

"The part about the Banking Clan wasn't update dmuch." the women stated concerned, which also made the younger handmaiden worried as well.

No, Ellé didn't find anything else, she could only stress in how dreadful situation were Republic's citizens.

"Are you sure that there isn't anything else?' Dormé asked again.

"No, none of official or reliable sources couldn't provide what we need."

The older woman only thanked her, but it was clear that she was a little disappointed. Dormé had to be exhausted, because in any other situation she would never allowed it to be shown. It had to be it, as then when Ellé was leaving the room, she could overhear a sentence, which she was exchanging with Captain Typho:

"Versé would know where to look..."

~~

It was told that Versé knew the machinations of that dark part of Holonet and she could recognize fakes informations from truthful ones or provide the proof that an unreliable news actually included vital facts. Versé was brilliant in that area. But Ellé wasn't Versé. She couldn't see facts in shades of grey. She based on blacks and whites.

The bill was rejected on the next day.

Ellé brushed a few tears from her cheeks. Fortunately her eyes and face stopped being red at last, but sadness remained. The handmaiden worked so hard and in the end it was for nothing. She thanked the Force that she was alone in Senator's apartment... or so she thought. Just as Ellé was entering the main quest area, she bumped into someone and all heavy holo-recordings flew down from her hands.

"I'm sorry, I didn't want to startle you." Anakin Skywalker apologised, while he was helping her to gather all datapads from the floor. "Senator Amidala's comlink seems to be switch off and just came to ask if anyone would know where she is."

Ellé informed him that her lady was meeting Senator Organa in his office, a hour travel from Amidala's apartment, a time which Knight Skywalker didn't have a lot. However instead of rushing out, as he usually did (Ellé met him quite often, too often she could say.), he asked if she was all right.

The handmaiden blinked surprised. Seeing that she wasn't inclined to reply, Anakin only said, with such earnestly, that he was sure that she was doing her best and Padmé greatly valued all her efforts, then he was gone.

Later the handmaiden had a hard time focusing on her work, so much that after hours of writing, she bumped into a second person during the same day (or first during the night?). And into Senator Amidala herself!

Her lady was also tired, but instead of chiding her, she asked if Ellé was fine, how long was she working, if she had eaten something. In the end, they both ended in the kitchen sharing a small meal. Then they talked - about the war, neverending fight in the Senate, about Ellé's position and how Padmé missed her former handmaidens Cordé and Versé...

They were so close... Dormé and Captain Typho were theirs friends as well. Suddenly the handmaiden felt ashamed that she was so jealous of Versé, who just did her job and sacrificed her life for the good of Padmé Amidala and for what she stood for. How could she think that she could replace Versé, or Cordé, just like that? If Ellé lost someone so precious to her, she would mourn that person for many weeks or even months.

No, Ellé wasn't Versé, or a slicer in that matter, but she would make sure to fight for Padmé in her own way as best as she could.

The conversation allowed the handmaiden and her lady to bond as never before. Amidala wished that they all could have more such moments as that in the future and Ellé with smile promised that she would add them into her schedule.