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Dance of the Dawn

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Cori'iana was no more than a few steps out of her room when the drawl of hello, cousin reached her ears. She looked over her shoulder to find her cousin Kodo dressed in all black hiding in the shadows leaning against a tall and gilded pillar. Cori'iana and her cousin had never had the closest of relationships, but they had been occasional playmates growing up. But things changed drastically when their grandmother pitted them against each other in the election to become monarch of Naboo. It had caused a seemingly unbreakable tension between the two of them when the people of Naboo had chosen her over him.

While they were often civil, their relationship could be described as frigid at best. Most of the ice was directed by Kodo, but he took Cori'iana not endorsing him for monarch against Padme Amidala personally. Cori'iana hadn't felt it right to support one candidate over the other. She thought it best to let the people of Naboo decide for themselves without her needing to sway the political fray. And the people had spoken in favor of Padme Amidala. That was more Kodo's doing than her own. Not that he saw it that way.

"Not creepy at all, cousin," Cori'iana said with a slight chuckle in her voice.

Kodo flipped his black cape with embroidered silver edges behind him before he skulked toward his cousin. He stopped in front of her and stood tall, trying to tower over her and intimidate her. But Cori'iana knew that he was no real threat to her. They were family after all. She offered him a smile.

He looked down at her coldly and then it seemed like a switch was flipped as his scowl quickly turned into a smile. He chuckled to himself. "It's probably for the best you're stepping down as queen," he drawled. "Smiling at your enemy isn't very threatening and it won't win you anything." He crinkled his nose, a Sanandrassa trait to be sure.

"I wasn't under the impression that we were enemies," Cori'iana responded to him. "Has there been some recent development I wasn't yet made aware of?"

"Of course not," he said smoothly, with his silky words that could charm most people. "But it's never a bad thing to expect the unexpected, Cori'iana. You never know what could happen."

Scerra cleared her throat and stepped forward. "You'll address her as your majesty, Kodo." Her words were spoken with venom, as would any protector, shielding their queen from any unwanted interaction. Scerra stepped between Kodo and Cori'iana, protecting her queen. "And if that was a threat to my queen, I will personally see to it that you answer for that."

Cori'iana gently pushed Scerra aside. As much as Scerra disliked Cori'iana's grandmother, she despised Kodo even more. And given his behavior, Cori'iana couldn't fault her handmaiden for that. "It's fine, Scerra." Cori'iana attempted to force a giggle to show that she was fine. "He's just being . . . my cousin."

"Exactly," Kodo responded, taking a step toward Scerra causing the handmaiden to back away. "Just keeping her majesty on her toes is all. Doing the job a brother would have done, had her majesty had one. Which her majesty didn't. Which then leaves the role to me, seeing as I'm her majesty's cousin."

"Oh, leave her alone, Kodo. She's only doing her job." She mouthed an apology to her handmaiden and gave her cousin a playful shove. Once he would have returned a shove in return in their youth but didn't now. His response made Cori'iana sigh in hopes that the old Kodo would return.

"And I'm here to do mine," he said standing up straight and brushing at the invisible dirt on his cloak. Kodo then offered Cori'iana his arm with raised brows. "I'm to escort you to today's festivities. Beginning with tea and a light breakfast with the queen-elect."

Cori'iana pursed her lips slightly. She had hoped for another escort for the day, but it appeared once again that plans had been made for her. "Grandmother?" she asked with a sigh.

"Grandmother," Kodo agreed, offering his cousin a sympathetic glance.

"I suppose you'll do," Cori'iana teased, resting her hand on her hips. She hoped that perhaps with a bit more coaxing, some more teasing would bring the cousin she knew back.

"Well, it's not like you've courted any suitors during your time as queen. Although I did hear talk that Senator Sion Kene was cordially invited to the festivities courtesy of Grandmother. He has always seemed keen on you since laying eyes on you at your coronation and I have no doubt he will request your company at some point today. It would be quite the advantageous match for you."

His words stung. He had completely dismissed her teasing for talk about potential suitors, which wasn't a subject she even wanted to broach with him. But as queen, she had learned not to always wear her heart on her sleeve. So, she responded with a bit more teasing to mask the pain. "Already planning on absconding from your duty, cousin? If the past months are any indicator, I'm guessing you already have other plans for the evening?"

Kodo grinned and once more offered his cousin his arm. "Just seeing to it that you're taken care of, cousin. Is that truly so terrible?"

"No," Cori'iana responded, pausing for a brief moment. "But I am curious. Who is the beautiful young lady taking up all your evenings these days? Or is it some handsome young man? Perhaps you've been sneaking off and attempting to broker peace with the Gungans?"

Kodo arched an eyebrow. "Are those the only three options I have to choose from?"

Cori'iana shrugged. "They're simply the first three ideas that came to mind just now. But if you'd prefer to guide me to a better suggestion, I'm open to your counsel."

He scoffed. "How's this for a suggestion, take my arm so we can meet the queen-elect. So then I can eat. I'm absolutely famished. As you've already managed to suspect, my evenings keep me quite busy."

Cori'iana rolled her eyes before reluctantly taking his arm rather roughly. Kodo stood taller and smiled darkly as he guided his cousin down the hall. Not that Cori'iana could see his face from her vantage point. They stopped for a moment as Dordirri'ih approached them, having added even more decor to her outfit and makeup since the last time Cori'iana had seen her. Dordirri'ih gently pressed a kiss against each of her grandchildren's cheeks before taking her place in the procession following them.

The queen's handmaidens followed behind two by two, with more handmaidens waiting in the wings to join the procession. It was all for show. Anyone with half a mind could see that. A show of power to the queen-elect. Or at least that was how her grandmother viewed it. The queen before her, Queen Reillata had used the light breakfast with Cori'iana to present a united front and to offer allyship. Cori'ana doubted that there would be much time for allyship with her grandmother supervising her every move during tea.

The procession came to a stop at the top of the outside palace stairs, ready to greet the queen-elect. Citizens of Naboo were already beginning to gather outside to get a glimpse of the outgoing queen and the incoming queen's first interaction in public. Cori'iana had no intention of making the meeting dramatic and something to write about for the archives. She would greet Padme Amidala as she would any guest to the palace.

With a smile on her face, Cori'iana waved to the crowd that was already gathered. Some of the younger girls screamed with glee and others waved more enthusiastically. She was certainly beloved by her people and while the Republic archives might not look kindly on her reign, Naboo's archives would.

Nervously, Cori'iana rubbed her fingers against a fold of her dress. It was a trick she had learned when she campaigned for monarch. It calmed her nerves, but to the people, it looked like she was smoothing her outfit of wrinkles. She tried to tell herself that there was nothing to worry about. That was true enough on her part, but anything was possible regarding others. There was a leak within her inner circle - another reason she had opted not to run again. She wasn't entirely sure whom she could trust and the one person she could sadly didn't reside on Naboo.

Thankfully, she didn't have to focus on her nerves for long because queen-elect Padme Amidala and her entourage came into view. While it had only been two years, it already seemed forever ago that she herself had been in Padme's position - filled with hope and hungry to do work for the people of Naboo. But Cori'iana was no longer the person she had been two years prior.

Knowing that it would likely be one of her only moments alone with Padme, Cori'iana motioned with her hand for her people to stay put as she met the queen-elect on the platform halfway up the stairs. Cori'iana then gestured toward the middle platform before Padme Amidala ascended the stairs on her own, leaving her entourage behind. The outgoing queen glided down the stairs and stopped before a bowing Padme.

"Rise, my sister," Cori'iana told the new queen before stretching out her hands.

Padme reached out and accepted the hands.  Those that had been watching from the crowd burst into cheers and applause. Cori'iana then pulled Padme in for a hug, resting her chin on the other's shoulder so that she might speak.

"My people are going to try to intimidate you. Don't let them. They're just upset that a Sanandrassa wasn't elected. They'll get over it," Cori'iana whispered through a gritted smile before adding a small chuckle. "I hope."

Padme returned the hug and mimicked the queen. "I was curious why you didn't run again."

"A story for another time, to be sure. Just know that whatever my advisors might say, you have my full support. If there is any way I might be of service to you, please don't hesitate to ask it of me.." Cori'iana then pulled away and kissed each of Padme's cheeks before she gestured up toward the palace. "Welcome home, my queen."

"I do believe you are still my queen," Padme corrected with a grin.

"Not for long," Cori'iana teased with a knowing grin. She then offered Padme her arm. "But perhaps a united front is best? For both parties, that is."

"With that, I can agree." Padme linked arms with Cori'iana and together, the two of them ascended the stairs to where the Sanandrassa court stood waiting. Padme eyed Dordirri'ih for a moment as they climbed. "Your grandmother does look rather intimidating."

"There's a reason she was one of the most feared Queens of Naboo," Cori'iana whispered. "But if you tell her that I told you that, I'll deny it."

Padme chuckled. "You're different than I expected."

"The job of being queen is as much of a mask as the ones we wear. Most people never truly get to know what we're really like and that is for a reason. Keep your friends close, Padme. You'll make new ones, to be sure, but relationships become much harder to gauge once you've been crowned. And choosing incorrectly can come at a cost."

"Speaking from experience?"

"It's the advice I received from my predecessor. I didn't want to believe her. I wanted to believe that I could be different than the rest of those who ruled before me. I simply ask that you proceed with caution. And that if you figure out how to manage what I was unable to, be sure to share the secret with whoever your successor may be." Cori'iana gave her successor a knowing glance, expecting some sort of response.

Padme nodded her head and Cori'iana patted the queen elect's hand.

"Now, brave face, my sister. You're about to enter the lion's den." Cori'iana had meant her words both as far as her own family and as the new queen of Naboo. Young Padme's life was to be different from here on out. Sometimes Cori'iana wondered if Naboo chose their monarchs too young. Most monarchs entered their reign as one person and came out as someone completely different.

The queen elect bowed her head at former queen Dordirri'ih. "It is truly a great honor to be in the presence of not one, but two great queens," Padme said smoothly. Cori'iana thought Padme chose her words wisely. While it wouldn't be enough to placate her grandmother, it was certainly a start.

"Yes, it must be an honor for someone so young.  But the pleasure is mine to greet such a youthful queen," Dordirri'ih remarked, forgetting to bow to the queen elect.

Cori'iana arched an eyebrow at her grandmother. She knew that the words spoken to Padme were meant as an insult. Not that Padme knew that. While Cori'iana hoped that would be as far as her grandmother would rudely comment, she knew her grandmother better.

"Please?" the queen mouthed to her grandmother as Padme greeted Cori'iana's handmaidens individually.

Dordirri'ih bowed her head toward Cori'iana. She still considered her granddaughter far too naive, especially when it came to trusting others. But Dordirri'ih also knew how to put a front on in public. Cori'iana seemed pleased with her response.

Before Cori'iana could save Padme from her cousin, Kodo approached the queen-elect. "No hard feelings?" Kodo drawled quite smoothly, extending his hand toward Padme.

"Of course not," Padme said with a friendly smile, shaking his hand. "You were a worthy competitor. And a great debater. It was an honor to be chosen to run against you."

The vote between Padme and Kodo had been close. Closer than the vote between Cori'iana and Kodo. There were many in Naboo loyal to the Sanandrassas. Perhaps seeing Kodo as her ally had swayed the hearts and minds of people. Enough to change their minds about him to cast a vote in his favor. But not enough for him to claim victory over Padme Amidala.

"It seems the prettier of us won," Kodo responded, which made Padme giggle. His tone was teasing, but Cori'iana knew there was venom behind his words.

After the election, Kodo had ranted about the people of Naboo being stupid enough to vote for a girl because she was pretty, not because of the policies she had campaigned on. In private, Kodo was quite vexed over the results of the election. He had even requested that Cori'iana step in and overrule the results. And he had asked their grandmother to plead his case with her. But Cori'iana maintained her stance that she had no right to meddle with the election. Needless to say, there was tension within the family. Tension that Cori'iana was ready to be done with. She loved her family, but not the drama they brought with them.

Cori'iana was about to offer her arm once more to Padme, but Kodo offered the queen-elect his arm instead. While Cori'iana's intentions were pure to present a united front, she couldn't entirely be sure of Kodo's. She wanted to believe the best in her cousin, but his actions since the election made her think otherwise. She didn't like doubting herself, but she was sure a master at it.

The handmaidens opened the tall doors and Cori'iana motioned for Kodo and Padme to proceed first. Padme looked like she was about to defer to her queen, but Kodo tucked Padme's hand further into the crook of his elbow and led her inside. Cori'iana followed after them with a sigh. Her parents would know how to handle Kodo - only they weren't there.

Kodo led them to the monarch's office which was just off the throne room. There was a table ladened with trays of pastries, fruit, and warm dishes. So much for a light breakfast. Cori'iana was sure that the staff that was to remain on wanted to make a good impression on their new queen.

Padme Amidala went first through the line for food. Kodo stood behind her impatiently tapping his foot with a scowl on his face as Padme seemed to be having a hard time choosing. If she sensed his impatience, every time Padme turned to look at him he plastered on a smile.

As if reading her mind, her grandmother leaned in and said, "He'll be fine, my darling. He's just working through a few things. This can't be easy for him, you know. Being in the same room with the two girls who defeated him of his dream of monarch."

Cori'iana sighed. Her grandmother was right. She should offer Kodo a bit of patience today of all days. She shouldn't think so poorly of him. In fact, he was quite amiable given that this day wasn't for him. "You're right," Coriana told her grandmother.

"Usually am," Dordirri'ih offered with a teasing grin.

Cori'iana chuckled softly and gestured for her grandmother to go before her. Her grandmother nodded her head before picking up a small plate. Glancing at Kodo's over-filled plate made Cori'iana smile. He hadn't been lying when he said he was hungry. She sighed once more. Just because he had been a bitter loser didn't mean that he was the mole in her inner circle. He was family after all. Maybe she shouldn't judge him too harshly.

Scerra poured a cup of tea for each of them before she turned to look at Cori'iana. "Good luck," she mouthed to her queen before she shut the door leaving the three Sanandrassas alone with the queen-elect.

Sitting behind her desk for one last time, Cori'iana shifted to get a better view of Padme. She cleared her throat. "I appreciate you taking the time to meet," Cori'iana said with a smile.

"Well, it's tradition, is it not?" Padme responded. "Not that I agree with doing things simply for tradition's sake, of course. But if the tradition is a good one, then I see no reason why not to continue it."

With her peripheral vision, Cori'iana saw her grandmother inhale sharply. But she was quite surprised when her grandmother kept her mouth shut. Even Kodo had a genuine look of shock on his face, but he just took a bite of pastry to hide it.

"While I can't say that I agreed with all your policies, I do appreciate all that you did for Naboo," Padme stated. "I can only hope that I will be as beloved as you are."

Cori'iana nodded her head before taking a bite of fruit because she wasn't exactly sure what to tell the queen elect.

"And what exactly are your plans for Naboo?" Dordirri'ih finally caved in and addressed Padme, causing Kodo to nearly choke on the bite he had taken.

For the next hour, Cori'iana attempted to intervene several times on Padme's behalf, but Padme did not shirk from a battle of wits with Dordirri'ih. This made Cori'iana certain that the people had chosen correctly in electing Padme Amidala instead of Kodo. At least for the time. It wasn't as if there was a law written you had to be under a certain age to rule. It was more a tradition and as Padme had suggested earlier, some traditions were made to be broken. Cori'iana had been too consumed by other matters for her to live by that during her reign.

A knock came at the door just as Padme was going toe to toe with Dordirri'ih for another verbal spar. It was Winni who popped her head in. "Your majesty, the queen elect's handmaiden would like to inform her that it is time for her to ready herself for the ceremony."

"Thank you, Winni," Cori'iana said. "Tell . . . "

"Sabe."

"Please tell Sabe that the queen elect will be on her way shortly."

Winni nodded her head and was about to back out of the room when Cor'iana stopped her. "And if you could see my grandmother and cousin out."

Dordirri'ih looked astounded by what she had asked. But Winni did as she was asked and approached them. Kodo simply shrugged and grabbed another pastry before leaving the room.

"My darling, are you sure you don't want . . ." Dordirri'ih began.

One of her final acts as queen was going to be sternly standing up for herself to her grandmother. Cori'iana inhaled deeply. "I gave you plenty of time to question the queen-elect, Grandmother. So much so that I could hardly get a word in edgewise. I would like a moment alone with Queen Amidala."

"She isn't queen quite yet, darling."

Cori'iana pursed her lips for a moment before continuing. "If you won't leave, I'm sure Scerra would be more than happy to assist you . . ."

Dordirri'ih held up her hand to stop her granddaughter from pressing the matter further. "I understand. I was only seeing to your safety and happiness, my darling."

"And if you find me alone in the room murdered, you'll already know the identity of the culprit."

With a bit of a huff, Dordirri'ih exited the room. Scerra poked her head in from outside and winked before she closed the door.

"She cares about you," Padme responded.

Unsure how exactly to respond, Cori'iana nodded her head. While she knew her grandmother cared for her, she also knew the great lengths her grandmother had gone to prevent the marriage of her parents. Her family was full of complications.

After clearing her throat, Cori'iana rose to her feet. She placed her hand on the ornate silver box that was left for the queen. She rolled her fingertips across the jeweled edges as she had done many times over the last two years. "In this box, you'll find all the information you need from my time as queen, as well as anything other queens found important enough to be passed down."

Cori'iana then removed a thin silver necklace with the royal crest of Naboo from her neck. "This is the key that will unlock the box," Cori'iana said as she handed the necklace over to Padme. "Keep it on you at all times. Not to sound morbid, but the only time this necklace leaves you is death."

"Or when passing it down to the next queen?" Padme asked innocently.

"Or then," Cori'iana acknowledged. She was only several years older than Padme, but her reign as queen of Naboo made her feel old enough to be the queen-elect's mother. "Now, let's put it on, shall we? It's been the private tradition of our monarchs for nearly a century. I hope you won't be too opposed to this tradition."

Padme shook her head before handing the necklace back to Cori'iana to clasp it around the younger girl's neck. The queen-elect was practically shaking. Cori'iana couldn't tell if it was from nerves or excitement.

"While you were campaigning, I kept tabs on you," Cori'ana said as she draped the necklace around Padme's neck. "While you never said much publicly on Baethea, I was informed that you were in favor of their freedom."

Padme inhaled sharply. "I never told any. . ."

Cori'iana chuckled. "When you're queen you have a few advantages. You'll probably be surprised to know that I agree with you about Baethea's freedom. This stays between you and me, but I took the time to draw up several treaties for you to look over and hopefully one will be to your liking to implement. That is, if you're up for it. They're in that box. It wasn't something I would have been able to manage in my reign, but I have hope that you will."

"Now I really feel I don't know hardly anything about you." Padme clutched the emblem of the necklace.

Cori'iana patted the girl's shoulder. "I meant what I said earlier. I want to help you in any way that I can. You and I agree on more issues than I do with my cousin, but people have preconceived notions of what a Sanandrassa stands for."

"And it seems like I have been one of those people. For that, I apologize." Padme bowed her head.

"All one can do is learn and grow when confronted with information that is contrary to what one believes without all the facts. You've just done that. You keep doing that and the people of Naboo will adore you. I will adore you."

Padme quickly turned around and threw her arms around Cori'iana's neck. Cori'iana returned the embrace, holding onto the younger girl almost like a mother would. "Now, we really should let you get ready with your handmaidens otherwise the first thing they might do after your coronation is to see to it that I'm hunted down for the crime of keeping you too long."

With a chuckle, Padme released Cori'iana. Cori'iana smiled and gestured toward the door where Padme's handmaidens were impatiently waiting.

Once Padme was gone, Cori'iana exhaled slowly. She touched the desk one last time. There certainly seemed to be a lot of lasts only to lead to a bunch of firsts.

"While you're on your last time tour there is one more last that you seem to have forgotten," Scerra said, stepping into the room. Without even waiting for her queen's permission, she took hold of Cori'iana's arm and dragged her from the office.

Once she was out the door, Winni took hold of her other arm and Jysyal and Biala gently pushed her from behind. "Where are we going?" Cori'iana chuckled.

"Not far!" Biala squeaked.

They came to a stop in front of the throne.

"Go on," Jysyal whispered, giving Cori'iana a gentle shove forward.

Cori'iana sat down on the throne and closed her eyes for a moment taking it all in. The throne room looked much smaller than it had on her first day as queen. Everything had seemed so large and daunting those first weeks. Somehow her perspective seemed to have changed and she wasn't exactly sure how or when that happened.

"I'll miss you," Cori'iana whispered.

"Were you talking to us or the throne?" Scerra teased.

"The throne, obviously," Cori'iana retorted arching an eyebrow before smiling broadly, which made her handmaidens giggle.

"Don't get all sad yet," Winni said, interrupting the giggles. It was clear she was trying to overcome any emotions that were threatening to spill from her. "We still have all day to serve you."

"We do?" Biala asked. "I thought we had a half-day." This made them all double over in giggles once more.

Once the giggles died down once more, Cori'iana sighed. "In all seriousness, your service to me these past two years has meant more to me than I could possibly even find words for." Cori'iana hugged each of them tightly, wondering what they would each do next with their lives and if she would ever see them again after today.

Then came the fanfare of the trumpets from outside. It was time. Time for the new dawn of Cori'iana's life.

_____

Author's Note: Again, Baethea is the genius of MissHiraeth98 - go read her fic Heavenly Light.

As I was writing Kodo, I realized that he's kinda like a mix of Draco Malfoy and Donald Trump and I am slightly horrified that I was able to create such a character. haha.

Next chapter we get to meet the man we've been waiting for. haha.

HUGE Thanks to those who commented on the last chapter:  Bardic_Tales, DayStorm, Megan Ridyard, Oneirataxia_Girl, penreed, Rose-Colored-Glasses,  sjlewis1995, starcrossedjedis, starryeyes2000, The-Caillic, Winter326,  wokenhardies, 12thNIghtProject - I would strongly recommend giving them a follow or for some of them finding their work on either FFN or Ao3, or following them on Tumblr. I'm truly grateful for them.