Light Up The Dark
Disclaimer: I don't own.
Chapter 2: Arrival
After Vader had shown Leia around the Exactor, she returned to her room and replicated some food for her lunch. After she ate, she rifled through the meager amount of clothes that she and her mother had been able to fit into her suitcase. "I hope I'll be allowed to get some more on Coruscant," she muttered. Finally, she, after glancing outside of the small bedroom several times to ensure she was alone, withdrew the holo of her birth parents. "Mama was so beautiful, and Daddy, so handsome." She stared at it for several long moments, committing their faces to memory, before re-hiding it and beginning to look through the holos of herself, Bail, and Breha. The last one she held had been taken only a few months before, during a trip to the mountains. "Oh, Mother. Oh, Father," she whispered, gripping the holopic as she curled herself into a ball on the bed, sobbing until she fell asleep.
*L*U*D*
Leia slept for several hours, but she was awakened by a knock on the bedroom door. "Princess?"
She leapt to her feet and scurried to answer. "Lord Vader?"
"I'm sorry to wake you, your highness, but I came to extend an invitation to supper to you."
"I would be happy to accept, if you'll give me a moment to freshen up." She giggled.
"Of course, princess." He smiled as he closed the door. She quickly began by splashing some water on her face to wash the sleepiness from her eyes. Then, she tucked some loose tendrils of hair back into her twin buns. Glancing back at her clothes, she contemplated changing but decided against it, simply smoothing out the wrinkles from the dress she currently wore. She turned and examined herself in the mirror. "This is as good as it's going to get," she murmured, opening the door once more. Vader stood from the couch where he had been waiting. "Are you ready, Princess Leia?" He offered her his arm.
"Yes, thank you." She placed her hand in the crook of his arm, and the two went to eat.
*L*U*D*
The first few minutes of supper were quiet, but, finally, Vader broke the silence. "So, princess, what do you like to do for fun?"
"Well, I like to read. Oh, and I do have a name, you know."
He chuckled. "What kinds of books do you like, Leia?"
"Mostly historical, but they've got to be good and accurate. Lots of history books aren't both."
"Accurate according to whom?"
She froze; her parents had taught her the truth about the Clone Wars, but she knew that the Imperial curriculum wasn't exactly concerned about facts. "Isn't accuracy the same no matter who you ask?" she answered, choosing her words carefully.
"Indeed, but different people can have different interpretations of historical events, can they not?"
"I suppose so. But interpretations don't change the facts."
He cocked his head. "What do you mean?"
"Well, um, oh! One person might believe that the Jedi were traitors, and another might disagree, but neither can deny that the Battle of Christophis happened."
"Very astute. I suppose you're right."
Another silence descended, but this time Leia was the one to break it. "Do you know when we will be arriving on Coruscant?"
"I believe we will be there tomorrow afternoon."
"Oh. Thank you."
"You're welcome, princess."
Leia hesitated before deciding to throw caution to the wind and ask him the question that had been weighing heavily on her mind since she had left Alderaan. "Do-do you have any idea what will happen to me there?"
"I know nothing for certain."
"Then you have a guess?" she pressed.
He sighed. "Yes, I suppose I do."
"Please, won't you tell me? I've been going crazy, not knowing what's going to happen."
"Well, Leia, I believe that the Emperor is likely to place you in the custody of one of his most trusted men. Who that might be, I have no idea."
"But…" She bit her lip. "But, whoever he is, he's not likely to be kind to me, is he?"
"No, child, I'm afraid he isn't."
She nodded. "Well, at least I can prepare myself." She took a deep fortifying breath.
"Yes, I suppose you can."
Leia squeezed her eyes tightly shut. I will not cry, I will not cry, I will not cry. I am Princess Leia of Alderaan. Princesses don't cry, not even when they're taken from their homes and turned over to cruel men just to satisfy a sadistic Emperor's paranoia. She opened her eyes to see Vader's hooded face staring at her. Had she not known better, she would have guessed that he was looking at her with compassion. The two spent the remainder of dinner in silence.
*L*U*D*
The next day, Leia's nerves were on heightened alert as they entered orbit around Coruscant. She and Vader departed for the surface of the planet in a shuttle. He glanced in her direction as they left the Exactor. "Are you all right, princess?"
"I'm pretty nervous, but other than that I'm fine."
He gently squeezed her shoulder as they landed. He guided her to walk in front of him, and they exited the shuttle and entered a waiting speeder, which took them to the Imperial Palace. Vader then led Leia to the room where Emperor Palpatine waited. "I have returned, my master," he said, kneeling (and pulling a certain unresponsive princess down with him).
"So I see, Lord Vader. This is Organa's brat, then?"
"Indeed, master."
"Hmm. Stand up, girl."
Leia did, willing her legs not to shake.
The Emperor studied her for several long moments, his yellow eyes never leaving her. After several long moments, he nodded. "Very well. Lord Vader, I am placing her in your care."
Leia's eyes widened and her breath hitched involuntarily.
"My care? But, master-"
"Do you dare question me, Lord Vader?" the Emperor roared, frightening Leia.
"No, my master, of course not."
"Good. Now, both of you, out."
Vader rose and left the room, Leia following closely (and wishing he would go faster; she did not like the Emperor).
A/N: Whoa. I am floored by the reaction to this story. Seriously, for one chapter, I have 16 reviews, 17 favorites, and 42 follows! That is crazy, and I want to thank all of you so much! Also, I have this whole story outlined, and it will probably be about 13 chapters. That being said, if anyone has any requests for Vader and Leia scenes, let me know, and I'll see if I can incorporate them. Oh, and if you haven't voted in my poll on my profile, please go do so!
Edit: Oh, and the reason Leia didn't recognize Vader without the suit is, as I hinted at in this chapter, he always wears a hood. Sorry if that confused anyone.
