PRINCESS ARCADIA
CHAPTER ONE
She awoke, excited, refreshed and eager to begin the day. Today was her birthday. Today she turned sixteen.
"Sixteen" she thought in wonder, "What a wonderful age. Finally I'll be taken seriously."
She looked around her room. The sun was beginning to stream in through her soft billowing drapes. It looked like it would turn out to be a beautiful day, "and so it should," she stated out loud. Her room was large, yet it was warm, inviting, decorated in soft whites and muted pinks. She lounged back onto her pillows in the exquisite comfort of her bed. Only the best would do for our girl. She was, after all, a Princess.
The approaching footsteps were muted in the corridor outside her room, yet she recognised them instantly. The door slid open unceremoniously and in strode her sister. Well, foster sister really, but they had been together all of Arcadia's life that she rarely thought of that.
"Good morning Cadi! How did you sleep?"
"Brilliantly of course and you my dear sweet Leia, How did you sleep?"
"Hmm" Leia's reply was a content smile. Leia as always was exquisitely dressed in a flowing white sleeveless gown. Her long brown hair brushed across her back as she strode to sit on Arcadia's bed.
"Well today's the day isn't it? Today my baby sister turns sixteen. Are you excited?"
"You know I am Leia. I've been looking forward to this day for months!" Arcadia couldn't keep the radiant smile off her beautiful face. She too had long dark hair, much darker than Leia's and where Leia's hair was reasonably straight; Arcadia's was a mass of curls. Like her sister, Arcadia had big brown eyes and a perfect figure, but at sixteen, she was already taller than Leia.
The door slid open again and in strode another beautiful figure. Her hair was also dark and curly, and her big brown eyes glinted with mirth and warmth. She was elegant and regal. She approached the girls with her arms outstretched in a welcoming gesture and took both of them in her arms for a long warm hug.
"Good morning my darlings. How did you both sleep?"
"Just wonderful, thank you mother." Arcadia's reply was animated. "But where's Father?"
"He'll be along in a minute. An urgent message came through on the communicator just as we were coming to see you." The girls nodded and continued to chat with their mother until their father arrived.
"Daddy!" Arcadia jumped out of bed and ran into the waiting arms of Bail Organa. Bail hugged his daughter tightly; she was always daddy's little girl.
"Happy Birthday Cadi!" Bail smiled at Arcadia. No matter how old she may be, she would always be his stubborn and feisty little girl.
"Thank you." Arcadia simply glowed with delight as she looked up at her father.
"Good morning Dad".
Bail looked across at his other daughter still sitting on Arcadia's bed. "My, " he thought, " they just get more beautiful by the day." Out loud he replied "Good morning Leia."
"Bail, what was the message about?" Cassandra questioned her husband.
Bail's eyes darkened noticeably. "We have a problem." He stated matter of factly. "It seems that the empire is up to its old tricks again. Cadi, I know that it's your birthday, but I am going to have to send Leia on a reconnaissance mission today. I would go myself, but I have that meeting with the Viceroy this afternoon and you know how he gets when you cancel."
"Daddy No! Can't it wait until tomorrow, or the day after? It's my Birthday! Anyway, Leia promised to take me to the opening of Andromeda tonight! You can't send her off on a mission, not today." Arcadia was incensed.
"I have no choice, Cadi. You know that if there was an alternative, that I would take it."
Arcadia wasn't about to give up, this was way too important to her.
"What about Zev, or Wedge. I am sure that one of your trusty aids could handle it!"
"Wedge is already going, but I need Leia to deliver my message personally. I am sorry Arcadia, but it has to be this way."
Arcadia knew when she was beaten. Her father had used her full name that meant there was no changing his mind. She knew how stubborn he could be; she knew all too well, she had inherited that trait.
Arcadia's head dropped and she refused to meet her father's eyes. "Its so unfair!" She muttered just load enough for all to hear.
"I'll make it up to you Cadi, I promise." Bail's voice softened. Suddenly Arcadia saw an opportunity.
"Daddy, does that mean that I can still go to the Andromeda opening?" She gave him her most endearing smile.
"No, Arcadia, I told you that you could only attend that if you are properly escorted." Bail was adamant.
"Then send an escort with me!" Arcadia was starting to get annoyed. This was supposed to be the best night of her life. The opening of Andromeda on Serillia was billed as THE event of the season. Everyone was going to be there. "Everyone but me" she thought dejectedly.
"Arcadia!" Bail's voice lowered.
"Arcadia, your father's right. You can go to Andromeda another night, with Leia and a proper escort fit for a Princess." Arcadia's mouth opened. "No, don't say a word. This is the end of the conversation."
"But Mother?" Arcadia pleaded.
She raised her hand in a final gesture, "Not a word!" Cassandra was used to people obeying her, she was the Queen of Alderaan after all and with that, the conversation was over.
Arcadia excused herself and went to get organised for the day ahead. "Damn it!" she thought "And it seemed like such a great day when I woke up."
Bail turned to his wife as they were leaving Arcadia's room "That girl is a real handful. Once she gets something into that head of hers... I really don't know where she gets it from". Cassandra smiled. She wasn't about to say anything on that subject.