Thank you so much to those who favorited and followed the first chapter! For those who reviewed, I am glad you find it interesting and I am sorry but I really view Leia as having a really strong temperament. I'm sorry if my depiction of her seems too immature right now—she's a teenager and she's going to grow up.

***I don't own Star Wars***


SHADOW OF A HERO


Chapter 2: Questions

When at last R2-D2 was repaired and almost as good as new, the Nabooian mechanic left, and Leia could lay exhausted on her wide bed, she thought she could have at least a few hours of sleep before starting her day—a day that she should've already gotten on with.

Having barely fallen into the sweet abys of slumber, she heard loud noises, as if they came from afar, till they neared, and neared and…

"Shhh," Leia muttered, rolling around her bed and putting a large, white pillow over her head.

The noise intensified till it was unbearable.

"Fine!" Leia exclaimed, grumpily. "Come in!"

Ceasing her knocking, Leia's handmaiden walked in, carrying a tray of food.

"Good morning, Princess," the handmaiden said, and annoyed as she was, Leia was pleased to see that it wasn't the old woman that loved to scold her so much.

"Good morning, Mina," Leia greeted, rubbing her tired eyes and thinking about what way could be polite yet direct enough to get rid of her. "I'm really not hungry."

Ignoring her protests, the young handmaiden walked to the bed and placed the tray on Leia's lap. "Come on," she said. ""It's the most important meal of the day!"

"Fine," Leia gave up and started eating, smirking inwardly for her young—equally young, actually—handmaiden's motherly attitude.

"How's His Excellency?" Mina asked, seating next to Leia and eating as well.

Leia looked down. "He didn't come," she said quietly. "He's not gonna be home for a few more days."

"Oh, that's too bad. Well, what do you want to do today?"

"She has lessons to attend to," a new voice said, breaking in; dark, handsome yet severe eyes staring at the princess.

"I meant after she's done with the lessons, of course, Miss Sabé," Mina said, taking a large bite at Leia's breakfast.

Sabé was not Leia's closest handmaiden, yet she wasn't her least favorite either. She was once a beauty, Leia thought, in her mid-forties she remained really lovely. She didn't speak much and she didn't pry too much into Leia's business, which the princess appreciated.

She mainly took care of making sure Leia attended to her responsibilities, especially when Bail Organa wasn't home.

She wasn't as stern as Leia's older handmaiden, yet at the moment Leia struggled to believe anyone could look at her more disapprovingly. It was more than obvious, Sabé had learned about what happened the night before…

"I'm too tired, Miss," Leia said, avoiding her eyes. "I think I'll be skipping my lessons today. Don't worry, I'll work extra hard tomorrow—"

"No," Sabé interrupted. "That's unacceptable. Viceroy Organa said earlier—"

"Wait," now Leia interrupted. "You talked to my father today?"

"He tried to reach you earlier, to apologize, Princess. But you were still occupied, with that young man."

"Young man?" Mina jumped and said. "What young man?"

"Ugh," Leia grunted. "Just some mechanic I called to fix Artoo."

"What happened to Artoo?" Mina was curious.

Leia's shame made her irritable. "Listen," she took the tray of food and laid it aside. She rose from the bed with a haughty gesture. "I'm not hungry, Mina. And I'm not going to any lesson today, Miss Sabé. Please, both of you, just… leave me alone!"

"Leia!" Mina was shocked. "What's wrong?"

In truth, she didn't really know. In the moment she thought it was just weariness and annoyance, yet deep down, something was really bothering her…

"You two can't just come into my room and give me orders!" the Princess snapped. "Mina, take the food—eat it if you want," she said, which wasn't necessary as the young girl had almost finished it all. "Miss Sabé, inform my tutors I'll be missing all day—no explanations are necessary. And also," Leia breathed nervously. "Bring me a comlink."

"Where's yours, Princess?" Sabé questioned, almost insolently.

"I don't know," Leia clenched her teeth. Laying destroyed somewhere around my Father's office... "Get me one or try to contact my father. I want to speak to him."

"I'm sorry, but Viceroy Organa will be busy all day. That's why he tried to contact you so early." Sabé said simply.

"Then just leave," Leia sighed.


Wandering around the hallways of the Palace, Princess Leia walked with her head down. She drummed her fingers on the walls, humming a little tune to give herself a bit of confidence. People greeted her like usual yet she felt something off about them; something about their eyes that resembled the disappointment earlier reflected in Sabé's eyes.

At last, bored and weary, she went to her father's office, very curious to see in what condition she'd find it.

The guards outside bowed to her like usual, and she went in alone; immediately gasping at the sight. Last night might've not happened. It looked as it always did. Perfect, clean and tidy. A small gleam of hope came to her, perhaps her father needn't to find what she did…

She sat on his big chair, really leaning in trying to find his usual scent. She couldn't. All around it smelled like cleanness. Nothingness. She called a maid and asked her to bring some flowers, give the room a nice, Alderaanian smell again.

Life was easy and comfortable again yet Leia felt an odd feeling within her. She couldn't really explain it and she didn't try to. Ordering supper, she also requested the company of her good droids, trying to get back on her routine, one she did not yet realize how much her recent discovery had affected.

Princess Leia lifted the cup of tea that by now was cold and brought it close to her lips, without taking a single sip, she just put it down again.

"Artoo, are you really okay now?" she asked, her eyes on the floor and not on the little blue astromech.

He beeped in a way that let her know he was not very pleased with her. She then heard C-3PO scold his counterpart. Their bickering usually amused Leia, but it seemed that even that had been taken from her.

"Well," she tried breaking the silence that followed a shut up! from outside. "I'm sorry for what I did to you, Artoo; but at least one good thing came out of my stupid tantrum. I got to see my Father as he was when he was young," she smiled.

"Did you now, Princess?" 3PO questioned.

"Oh yes," she nodded, thinking that finally she'd be able to create a friendly mood. "I don't know how old it was, but he and some other people were receiving a group of politicians at Imperial Center; I believe they called it Coruscant then."

"Yes," 3PO said.

"And he was with… The Emperor. Man, he was old even then," she grinned.

"Oh Princess," C-3PO sighed disapprovingly while R2-D2 beeped in a way that showed his amusement.

"But also…" Leia wandered off for a few moments. "Artoo, who is Anakin Skywalker?"

There was a moment of silence. Then the droid drifted off abruptly.

"Why… What's the matter with you?" 3PO shrieked. "The Princess asked you a question, you mindless fool!"

"Artoo, oh don't be mad with me anymore!" Leia called him but the droid moved in circles around Bail Organa's office. "Artoo!"

"Oh he's either malfunctioning or lost his damn wires!" 3PO tried to stop him, putting his golden frame in front of him, but Artoo stopped at nothing, and before Leia could try to stop it, she heard the cranking of metal on the floor and her protocol droid laid on the floor, moaning and crying insults.

"Guys stop!" Leia cried. She turned her back on the droids. "I'm going to kill him!"

At this, Artoo shrieked louder and paced towards the door.

"I don't mean you, Artoo!" Leia said. "That mechanic. He left you worse than he found you."

There were several knocks on the door, a few, "Princess, is everything all right?"

"Yes, yes!" she screamed violently. "Don't worry… Do not come in! Whoa—"

R2-D2 almost passed her by, she clumsily stepped back… holding on to nothing she fell into the floor.

"Ow," she quietly moaned.

The door was opened. Leia could guess who it was, and she wasn't really in the mood to be scolded. "Madam," she said, setting her hair in two, apart from her eyes and mouth. "I was just—"

"Just what, Leia?"

Her heart jumped all the way to her throat. It wasn't one of her handmaidens or a guard…

She looked up. "H—hi…" she muttered.

"Surprise, Princess," Bail smiled from above.

She was up in a minute, running to his arms, he picked her up like a child and spun her around. "My little girl," Bail said proudly. "I've missed you so much!"

"Oh Father," Leia couldn't stop smiling, a few tears actually sparkled in her eyes. "I'm so glad you're back. I thought…"

"Well, I wanted to surprise you, and by the looks of it, I did pretty well. Now what was the fight about?" he glanced at the droids.

"Oh you know," Leia stammered. "The usual. You know these guys."

They walked outside the office, Leia looking smaller than usual, not just because of the height difference, but because her smile was the sweet happiness of a child.

They sat on the garden for a while, talking about all she had done in the last few months she spent alone—she carefully avoided the last twenty four hours.

By dinner time Leia went down with a smile still plastered across her face, she didn't even remember what worry was— and then she saw her Father's face.

She sat down next to him, the large dining room echoing with the steps of servants and the lack of conversation. Leia stared at her lap, her hands clasped together.

"So," she said after taking a long breath. "I assume you know."

"What are you referring to?" he asked, his voice incredibly stern.

"I've been trying to be good," she said. "I want to make you proud."

"I've always been proud of you, Leia. You're brave, and smart, and kind… nothing like the immature girl that destroys her father's office, mistreats her servants, and misses her lessons!" his voice had been raised to almost screaming. Leia shrunk on her chair, her breathing suddenly very fast.

"I'm sorry," she muttered but her interruption set Bail's anger even more.

"Leia," he stood up. "I've always wanted you to have everything. Every comfort and luxury… I want you to be happy. But you can't expect to have everything in life without giving anything in return!"

"I understand that—"

"Well, of course you can!" he threw his arms up in the air, in frustration. "I've made your life so. But that ought to change," he stopped for a moment, then, "You have responsibilities. You will attend to them. There's no discussing that."

She felt he was just repeating himself now, and it bothered her. Was what she did really so bad? Of course she could see her mistake, but enough was enough!

Anger was rising within her, she felt the need to answer back. Say something in her defense. She knew it wouldn't be wise, but the words were there, at the back of her mind, almost slipping down her tongue… Yet she remained quiet.

Bail continued talking, on and on and she felt terrible for not listening but if she paid more attention she was sure she would've snapped.

"Leia," Bail called imperiously. She looked up. "Are we clear then?"

She nodded frantically.

"Good. Now finish your dinner, young lady, so you can go pack your bags."

She blinked suddenly, surprised. "Uh?"

"I say we leave tomorrow. I always thought I would give you a few more years of freedom, but you might need this now; to teach you responsibility."

But I do know responsibility! She wanted to scream. Where are we going? How am I being punished?

"You need to get to know the Senate, Leia. You've studied a lot. You're practically an expert on theory… But you'll see practice—real life, is very different."

"Father," Leia breathed, hardly believing his words and wishing she had been paying more attention. "We're going to the Imperial Senate?"

"Tomorrow."

She smiled, she had expected some terrible fate… and really she felt he had rewarded her. She had felt ready to enter the Senate for years now. And if she would've known what lay and awaited in Imperial Center, the rapidness of her heart would've been less for excitement and more for fear…

She was very careful the next day, when boarding the Tantive IV, walking by the hanger with her father, her tone of voice should be reserved, and her smile not so obvious; yet she wanted nothing more than to thank Bail for the opportunity.

She was very pleased with her father, and she wasn't entirely sure of why the question came back to her at that precise moment. Perhaps she thought that this time she'd finally get an answer. "Father," she said, her voice casual and curious. "Who is Anakin Skywalker?"


Author's Notes: I remember hearing that one of Padmé's handmaidens actually ended up serving Leia on Alderaan (probably never happened but…) so I decided to incorporate that here since it really helps the story (later).

Mina was an actual character who served Leia during the Galactic Civil War, my interpretation of her is very personal, and not that loyal to what I read of her…