A Place To Call Home
Prologue– Part 1
Darth Vader is coming… Lord Vader is coming to Alderaan…
The castle had been whispering for days. Little tidbits had reached young Leia's ears in the weeks following the announcement, curious things like 'Lord Vader didn't eat or drink', or 'He does, in fact, eat but only through a tube' and 'He won't sleep a wink or else he'll get nightmares' (which was rather silly in Leia's opinion, everyone knew that only little girls and boys had nightmares). Some of the servants had also started repeating old wives tales, like that Darth Vader ate little children who didn't eat their vegetables and that Emperor Sidious would snatch you in the middle of the night if you left the windows open in the winter.
Sometimes, Leia would hear her parents arguing about the visit; often times she heard her own name come out of their lips. Mother wanted to send her away, and she was greatly relieved when Father strongly rebutted, saying that it would seem less suspicious if their daughter stayed and didn't disappear. Why Mother wanted to send her away frightened the little girl, had she done something wrong? Didn't Mother love her? Thankfully it seemed that Father had won the disagreement, for no plans were made and no suitcases were packed.
And then the day came.
Leia fidgeted next to Father; the handmaidens had pulled her hair up too tight and she found it difficult to anticipate Darth Vader's landing while trying to ignore the slight pain.
"He's late," she whispered.
Father chuckled, "Lord Vader is never late, he arrives exactly when he plans to."
Leia frowned, if he planned on arriving later than he said then why didn't he just say so instead of making them wait for so long? Her feet were starting to hurt in time with her hair. But she tried to ignore both, she should be grateful for honor of standing besides Father while waiting for Darth Vader. Mother had been against it, Leia had been starting to wonder if throwing tantrums actually got her what she wanted at the time and instead agreed with Mother. It must have impressed her, so Leia reminded herself to try the technique a few more times in the years to come.
After what felt like several more hours (but was probably only twenty minutes or so), a large, dark ship slowly sank into a landing on the platform. The hatch opened and several storm troopers walked out, followed by a figure as large and dark as his ship. Leia gulped when she saw him and she started wishing that Mother had won, she didn't like this man, he had evil all around him, so much that she was surprised that Father didn't see it as well and bolt for the door with herself in tow. Instead, he waited patiently for Darth Vader to cross the tarmac and they shook hands, his expression welcoming, but reserved. Then Darth Vader tilted his helmet in her direction, fear shot through Leia's spine and she gripped Father's hand tighter, but after a few moments she unattached herself from Father and offered her shaking hand up towards Darth Vader. She held her chin high and tried to mask her fear of this man as best she could, she had heard that he could smell fear.
"I'm L-Leia Organa," she introduced as Lord Vader shook her hand.
"My daughter," Father explained, did Leia see a hint of fear in Father's eyes?
"Shall we convene at the Conference Hall?" Darth Vader's monotone, robotic voice was made much creepier with the loud hoo-purh of his breathing machine, "We have… much to discuss."
"Of course, My Lord," Father bowed and turned to follow Lord Vader into the palace.
Leia was about to run off into the gardens, when all three of them were stopped in their tracks.
"Father!" a voice called from the large, dark ship and a little boy ran down the tarmac towards them.
He was roughly Leia's own age and height, with cleanly cut light brown hair and big blue eyes. He wore dark robes that he tripped over as he ran into –––Leia realized the situation with a jolt a split second before it happened––– Darth Vader's arms.