A/N: another chapter!

Please READ and REVIEW thanks!

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Chapter 2

They finally entered the Château de Bourgeois and were assisted to the ballroom. They were the grandest guests of course. It was after all a Princess of Alderaan coming over to join them. Though the entire guest list didn't know where or what Alderaan was, except for the Prime Minister of course, it didn't matter because a princess was still a princess and whoever she may be must be shown the utmost respect and honour and welcome to their society.

More like flaunt to society. Leia sneered.

Before Raoul died, he had shown her into society's circles by attending balls and parties such as this, where only the aristocrats, the glamorous and the rich were allowed in. As Christine Daae and coming from the opera, she had received strange and cold looks from the aristocrats and the gossips that were made behind her back finally reached her ears. Oh how she despaired that time! In time, she began to see past the people, past their plastic smiles and overly done makeup. Everyone had their own mask, for their own purpose, for their own greed. They were all the same to her. Cold and pretentious.

Leia thanked God as she walked in the lavish halls of the Château that she was not going to be playing Princess tonight. She walked by the side of her other Princess Leia Organa, hidden well by her veil, in an attire of a handmaiden. She was playing the part of a handmaiden tonight.

For safety purposes, the Rebel Alliance had decided that on this occasion, a decoy would be used. A lot of assassination attempts had been made on their Princess recently and they could not afford to lose her on this important mission. And so, one of Leia's loyal handmaidens, Corde, was acting as Leia, Princess of Alderaan tonight. And the real Leia…well she was a handmaiden with her former name being used, Christine Daae.

Leia felt sorry for Corde though. And a tinge of guilt. Should someone ever try to kill her, Corde's life would be on the line. She didn't like the idea at all, she didn't like losing her handmaidens in this way but there was no other choice. Handmaidens, this was what they were really meant to do. To assist and protect and care for their Lady with their life. Literally.

Leia sighed in her veil again. How many times had she sighed warily ever since she landed on this city again?

The huge doors finally opened to reveal a huge and full packed ballroom, filled with luminescent lights and candles and lampshades. An enormous and sparkling chandelier glittered above them. Soft, classical music was playing, talking and laughter could be heard everywhere, the smell of champagne wafted throughout the glorious room. The ballroom was exquisitely beautiful and intricately made just for this occasion, Leia couldn't help but feel awed and admired the person who orchestrated this grand ball.

As for the people, the women wore outrageously beautiful and lovely, expensive gowns, the designs almost rivaling those of what her Highness wore. Almost. Their jewels sparkled with the lights. Pearls, diamonds, rubies, and all sorts of rocks that glittered were all over the place. Whoever had the biggest rock seemed to be the most beautiful and the richest women in the room.

I guess Leia Organa won in that contest. She had to contain the chuckle that was about to erupt from her. She must remain quiet and demure...

As soon as her Royalties and her handmaidens with Captain Typho the Second and a couple Rebel fighters who served as bodyguards tonight entered the room, all the people from down below, stopped to take a good look at the them, especially at Corde who they thought was the Princess, eyes filled with amazement and awe at the beautiful creature that graced them with her presence.

A man with grey hair and brown eyes who wore extravagantly rich tailored bachelor clothes, made his way through the crowd, a delightful look in his features, seeing who had just entered his ballroom.

"Ladies and Gentleman," Lucien Francis Belz took his stand. "May I present to you all, the lovely and the one and only, Princess of Alderaan!"

A grand applause that echoed throughout the room was followed after the wonderfully proclaimed announcement.

Leia's counterpart nodded and smiled in her most political way, acknowledging the crowd and Monsieur Belz.

Good girl. She definitely does it the way I do. She'd make a fine Princess. Leia thought fondly to her friend, smiling despite herself.

"My dear Princess Organa, welcome!" Lucien continued. "Let this be a wonderful example to you, that Paris welcomes you!"

Another applause echoed around, cheers of delight and glee filling the air. Apparently the party didn't really start without the Princess. The entire room lighted up an extra light, signaling the official start of the party. The music sounded again, a lot joyful and louder this time, making the middle of the ballroom fill with women and their partners to dance and twirl around in celebration.

It made Leia reminisce to a time when she first experienced such a grand ball. A masquerade to be exact…

Leia walked down to the other end of the room, away from her handmaidens and Corde, to explore. She knew she would be safe as the rest of the Rebel team that had come in this mission were around here somewhere, keeping an eye on her. The only one missing was…

Luke…

She closed her eyes and felt through the Force for his presence. She felt it and was reassured he was safe. Leia worried for him constantly, even before when she still didn't know they were siblings. Maybe deep down, she had always known…

What was the first line he'd ever said to her?

Hi. I'm Luke Skywalker and I'm here to rescue you.

She chuckled softly. What a way to rescue a damsel in distress.

Luke Skywalker was not with them on this mission. He was on Dagobah at the moment, with Master Yoda completing his trainings as a Jedi. Unlike Leia, he was the one who pursued with becoming a Jedi. Leia, she was an excellent fighter now, she could handle blasters and she even had her own light saber. Luke had constructed one to her perfect fit, when she wanted to loosen up she would practice. Obi-wan had taught her enough with the Force and she was fast learner. Anything she missed, Luke would simply have to teach her.

Though through all this, instead of becoming a full-fledged Jedi, she had stuck with the politics, serving and helping the people as best as she could. Trying to make the Rebel Alliance stronger through influential speeches and talks and reforms.

She had once been told that her voice was capable of doing things great and far beyond her comprehension. Who knew she'd achieve just that without singing?

If only her Angel saw her now…

Leia sighed again beneath her veil. Thinking about him always saddened her immensely. But no matter what, she tried not to regret choosing Raoul over him. If she chose him, he wouldn't be alive anymore. The Stormtroopers still would've come and he would die protecting her and she wasn't sure she would survive if that ever happened. It was better this way…

She was so lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice the man walking across her till it was too late. She collided hard onto the tall and lean man, making her hood and veil fall loosely, revealing her face fully and her chestnut curls. She would've fallen splat on the floor, if the man hadn't balanced her on the waist with his arm. She looked up to apologize for bumping into the man.

And her eyes widened to who she came face to face with. Her eyes widened so much she felt they would pop out. Her jaw hit the floor.

A white mask…

She tried not to laugh out loud in the irony that was her life. Wonderful.

His eyes were filled with surprise as well seeing her again after 4 years. He made sure she was balanced on the marble floor once again before he stepped back to take a good look at her.

She wore foreign clothes, Parisian women were never caught dressed in what she wore now. It was a bright orange that covered her whole body, intricately and beautifully designed, a hood connected to the dress which had now had fallen off and the veil that hid most of her face had fallen as well thanks to him. If he wasn't careful enough, he would've instantly thought that her dress came straight from Persia. It seemed like it. But he was no fool. Something about the dress made him think it did not come from Persia but somewhere much further away…

He finally gazed at her face and he felt his heart stop. Even till today, she still looked beautiful. He could see that she had matured, it showed in her posture and her stance. Gone was the little child he knew. A woman stood before him now.

They stood across each other, simply staring and scrutinizing each other.

I knew something would happen tonight. And Leia resisted the urge to groan or roll her eyes, something very un-Princessy-like.

"Erik…" Well she had to speak first. She tried to keep her voice from shaking. She needed to be strong now. She brought her fallen hood over her head but she left the veil that covered her mouth fallen.

"Madame." He responded, quite indifferently. What the -?

"Mademoiselle." She corrected. And she took a small slight of glee at the look of surprise in his eyes. Yes, the night was full of surprises.

Leia sighed inwardly. Was this how it was going to be between them from now on? A tensioned formality that will never fade away. Again Leia resisted the urge to groan.

"I'm surprised to see you here." She said a little to cheerily. Where is your political Princess face now?! Her mind screamed at her.

"Likewise. You seem to have disappeared from the face of the earth." Erik remarked. And Leia almost raised her eyebrow at the irony of the statement.

"So how have you been?" She did want to know.

"Well." And Leia wanted to slap him for his cryptic and vague remark.

He did look really well. He was dressed impeccably like any other bachelor in this room, his white mask polished white and his hair slicked back. He looked really, really good. She was sure that even with the mask off, she'd still think the same way with the butterflies in her stomach intensifying tenfold.

Leia now fought the urge to drool.

"And you, my dear, how have you been?" Was that longing in his voice? He didn't seem angry with her, but she wasn't too sure.

"I've grown up."

Leia could see Erik's eyes widen slightly at her answer. Touché. He was taken aback by her answer and she could see it. But the look was gone as soon as it came. She smiled inwardly. Now she knew where she got her political face from.

And then, a woman with blonde hair, blue eyes and quite a shrill voice with a flashy gown that certainly could rival that of Carlotta's. She wore diamonds everywhere as if proclaiming to the world how rich and glamorous she was. Heavy makeup covering every inch of her face and neck. Her hair was seemingly designed in the most complicated way. This woman was followed by a dark skinned foreign man in Persian clothing, trailing after her with a worried look on his face. And Leia was certain that he feared what Erik could possibly do. She almost smiled. Almost.

"Erik! There you are!" She called, disrupting their little meeting and standing by Erik's side.

Leia hated her already.

The woman then turned to her and Leia almost caught a worried look in Erik's eyes. He'd definitely have something to worry about if she couldn't resist the urge to slap this woman's face. The woman gave her the rundown look and Leia fought for the Force to lead her out of dangerous thoughts. She did not want to become like her father…

This seemed to frustrate her even more.

If Luke was here, he would comfort me…

But he was not and she would have to deal.

"Who…is this?" She asked Erik, staring at her cruelly and accusingly as if she'd done something wrong.

Erik was about to answer before she cut him off, her game face on.

"Christine Daae. Pleasure." She smiled at her in the most political way possible, how every Princess should do it. Bail must be proud of me now. "And you are?"

The woman's eyes widened with surprises. "You are Christine Daae?" She almost screeched. "Mon Dieu! It is you! Why, you're back! Where have you disappeared to all these years? It is as if you vanished! Zapped away from the planet!" The woman, who still didn't tell Leia her name, expressed in an exaggerated, dramatic way.

Alright, alright I get it. Leia really was trying hard not to slap the woman away.

"I've been away. Starting something new." She replied cryptically, not wanting to divulge anything.

"Oh?" The woman raised her eyebrows. "Well gossips said you disappeared right after your fiancé's death. The poor young de Chagny…"

She stopped when she saw the fire in Leia's eyes.

"Madame, I would just like to request you not to mention that incident anymore." If you know what's good for yourself.

A heavy silence settled among them for awhile and Leia decided she would be the one to break it. "Madame you still have not told me your name."

A transformation seemed to occur for the woman raised her chin a little higher and she said with much pride and vanity in her. "Arabella de Giovanni." Arabella glanced at the man standing next to her. "And this is Monsieur Erik Devereaux, composer and writer of the successful opera we are celebrating tonight. I am his student and star." She linked her arm with his.

I am his student and star. This horrible woman was saying. Leia tried her best not to vomit or gag or do something to embarrass herself. But she didn't know how long she could hold it. She could really use Luke's presence right now. She groaned inwardly. Even his new surname that he had conjured up from Force knows where sounded of the most polished and well-refined aristocrat.

I am his student and star. Once upon a time, she used to be exactly that to Erik. Until she blatantly turned her back on him cruelly and left him to die. And now the karma was going back on her tenfold, right here in this very moment.

She sought for the Force to give her strength and guidance.

She needed it.

She tried her very best not to appear hurt or jealous or whatever it was swelling in her chest that she couldn't fathom. It worked. Her years in politics were really put to good use now. Thank the Lord and the Force.

"What are you doing here?" Erik suddenly spoke, cold and ice in his voice. Leia cringed inwardly, her earlier bravado wavering within. Yet, she remained strong on the outside.

"I'm a handmaiden to the Royal Highness Leia Organa of Alderaan." She gestured to Corde in the middle of the room, fawned over by the other guests. "It is my duty to be here." She emphasized in the word 'duty'. Being a handmaiden wasn't that easy. She glanced at Corde again and proved her own statement.

"A handmaiden to the Princess?" Arabella's eyes couldn't have popped out any more that instant. "How is she like?" She asked shamelessly, wanting to find the latest gossip or anything dirty about the handmaiden's supposed lady and that irritated Leia all the more.

"I am sorry Madame, but I do not feel obliged to answer any of your questions regarding my Lady. My loyalties rest in hers alone." Leia replied sternly and gave no room for question. How dare she? And she didn't feel fear from the cold stares they gave her in response to her statement. She felt satisfaction. She had won this battle.

Finally, she noticed the man behind Arabella and Leia couldn't help noticing the intense stare of the dark-skinned Persian. He noticed her discomfort and outstretched his hand to introduce himself.

"Nadir Khan."

She shook it briefly, but couldn't get his eyes off her mind. It was as if he knew something about her, as if he could read her soul and that frightened her. His weird and accusing stares made her uncomfortable. He's not Force-sensitive. Stop being paranoid, Leia.

The tension was broken by the sound of Lucien's voice, filling the entire ballroom. Everyone stopped to look upon him. Leia was grateful for the distraction.

"I would just like to announce once again how truly spectacular this night is." Spectacular, indeed. Leia thought. "And now, the cause of why we are having this special occasion, Erik Devereaux!" He pointed a hand to Erik and the crowd applauded once again.

Lucien continued, "For the marvelous opera he has just written! Yes, yes truly wonderful indeed, I must say. Genius Erik, pure genius." Erik just nodded in gratitude at the compliments. Lucien lifted his champagne, making a toast. "To more success in the future!"

And the crowd lifted their own champagne's in response and drank it in one fill. Applause erupted once again.

A walking waiter with glasses of champagne on his tray passed by Leia. She grabbed one swiftly and down it in one second and slammed it back on the tray.

"Thank you." She gurgled and the waiter carried on walking off.

I needed that.

She turned to Erik once again and caught his eye. He had a dark look in his eyes and it was obvious he was shocked and angry at her act of drinking. He disapproved greatly. It was shown in his eyes. She bit back a retort to his look and glared back at him challengingly. She was free woman and she could do whatever she wanted. She was no longer the scared and confused Christine Daae of before.

"And now," Lucien continued his speech. "I would like to give warm congrats to the star of all this success. Arabella de Giovanni!" Applause again. And Arabella squealed in delight, Leia wished the woman would topple over something already. "Madame, I would like to request for your voice to grace us tonight. Please. Wouldn't that be a delightful performance?" He asked the audience. They all nodded in agreement.

Erik's opera sure made a hit. Leia thought dryly. She wondered how his new star was like.

"Yes please." Leia encouraged. "I'm sure my Lady would love to hear it."

Bingo.

Who could ever refuse an offer to perform for the Royal Highness? Leia rocked at influencing people. She just raised her eyebrow playfully at Erik, who glared at her for even encouraging his new diva. Clearly, he didn't want her to perform in front of these people.

Leia decided though that it was better she stick around with more people she was comfortable with. She did not want Erik to see her expression as his new diva sang. She was afraid she would be good. And she didn't know what she would do if ever.

So she walked quietly amongst the crowd, making her way to Corde and her other handmaidens. Even when she was already with her dear friends, she still felt Erik's eyes on her back.

By now, Arabella had taken her place on the stage. The room dimmed and spotlight came on her. Silence reverberated throughout the ballroom and everyone seemed to wait in anticipation.

Then she sang.

And Leia thought she would faint. Thank God her handmaidens were behind her for support. Arabella was good. More than good. And Leia hated her all the more for it. She called upon the Christine within her and knew she had to agree. Heck, Arabella could really rival Christine Daae. They both had the same teacher after all. Leia didn't know what song she was singing...Erik probably composed it. Her heart ignited with jealousy once again. Oh stop it. You don't deserve to feel jealous. You left him and that's that. Her mind scolded her harshly. She silently despaired and tore apart.

At last, Arabella's song finally ended, much to Leia's relief. Light came back to the room and a roar of applauses filled the ballroom once again.

Leia just wanted to get out of this party. Thank the Force she wasn't Princess tonight and she could do whatever. "Excuse me." She bowed her head in respect to her handmaidens and Captain Typho and Corde, signaling she was leaving.

She started making her way to a door leading a way somewhere away from this ballroom until Arabella's voice made her freeze completely in her tracks.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I have a surprise for you all. I suppose you all have heard of the mysterious diva of the fallen Opera Populaire, Christine Daae?" Arabella began addressing the audience.

That bitch. Leia cursed inwardly and she felt what was going to happen, what Arabella was doing.

"Well after her mysterious disappearance almost 4 years ago, she had miraculously come back." Gasps could be heard now. "And she has graced us with our presence this evening." More gasps. She turned around to shoot fiery eyes at the bitch of a singer that stood on the damned stage. "May I present to you all, Christine Daae!" And Arabella pointed to Leia at the corner, spotlight on her, and everyone turning to her and giving her shocked looks as if she was a ghost that appeared out of nowhere.

She glanced at her small little entourage and saw they all had worried and frantic looks.

"Please Mademoiselle Daae, grace us with your heavenly voice tonight." Arabella cooed playfully as if it was all just a game. It was written all over her face, and Leia wished through the Force that Vader, her masked and dark and murderer of a father would just barge in the room and choke the life out of the bitch that was slowly humiliating her in front of a whole lot of aristocrats who all gossiped about Christine Daae back in the day.

Leia slowly walked to Corde, her eyes worried, despaired and pleading. Corde got the hint immediately.

"I am sorry Madame," Corde as Princess Leia started, putting emphasis on 'Madame' and glaring superiorly at Arabella. Leia was extremely grateful for that. "But if I may comment, I will not let my handmaiden by taken into such conduct as this. I will not allow you aristocrats judge her for her actions. My handmaidens are protected and cared for as I am. Do not disrespect them."

Lucien, seeing the uprising tension in the room, and not want to see the Royal Highness angered immediately cut in. A royal princess was much more important than a new diva.

"My Lady, your Highness, Majesty, please, we simply do not mean that…" He stopped when Corde glared at him. Her look said clearly, Speak one more word and you'll be in big trouble. Leia had got to commend Corde in playing her part. It was a wonderful show indeed.

"My Lady, it's alright." Leia as Christine Daae spoke reassuringly. "If they wish to hear my voice then please, with your permission Your Highness, let me."

Corde turned to her and regarded her worriedly, concerned for her Lady. Leia spoke through her eyes that it was really alright.

"Alright then. Please." Corde nodded solemnly to the stage.

Leia walked on the small platform of a stage and stood there to take a good look at her audience. Back in the Opera, she sung to an entire house, far more amount in number than the one presented to her now. Back in Alderaan, when she would address her people, an entire city would listen to her speak, far more than this small amount in this ballroom.

She could do this.

She glanced at the man in the white mask and her fear of something unknown returned. She forced it down in the bottom of her stomach.

Silence once again filled the enormous hall and all eyes were on her once again. But she didn't care about those eyes. She only cared about one pair of golden eyes staring at her from across the room.

She quickly scanned her brain for a song. Over the years, she had continued singing, giving her the strength she would need. Her singing skills intensified especially when she had met Luke and discovered he could sing as well as her. She started writing songs and Luke had always written songs all his life. It was a secret they shared together. And when they would take a break from everything, whenever they would feel tired, they would come together and sing their hearts out, writing a new song from their hearts.

Their music was good. Their voices together heavenly, unique and exquisite. On the Millennium Falcon, she and Luke would be the music Han had for free.

She decided to sing a song Luke wrote for her. It just popped out of her mind and it seemed the song that described the hope she carried within her amidst the growing crisis all these years.

They'll try to hold you back. Leia as Christine Daae meshed in one began, her voice as sweet and beautiful as ever and she knew she had the crowd. They will say you're wrong. But they will never understand, the journey that you're on. The orchestra had caught up with her soft melody and began to play along with her singing. Leia was eternally grateful. They'll try to change your mind. They'll try to change your heart. Ohh…yeah. But they will never understand, who you are. And you'll still believe. And you know, you must go… She didn't care about the people anymore or what they thought about her. This was her song, her feelings, her voice, her thoughts and ironically, her life. Luke really was a good songwriter. That or maybe they did really share the same soul somehow. …Where the dream takes you…(Where your dream takes your heart)..Her handmaidens had gathered in the middle and started to sing with her. Their voices meeting with hers was just more than beautiful…indescribable.

Where your heart longs to be…Leia sang, and her handmaidens added, (Your dream will lead you on… Ohh…) When you finally find that place…You'll find all you need… And they came together, like angels from above. Where the dream takes you…

"Where the dream takes you…" Leia whispered angelically to the audience, intensifying her hold on them.

There's something in your soul that won't be denied. She sang again, closing her eyes and feeling the song completely. Her feeling exposed to the whole audience, hoping they understand and get her message. It's the faith to dream that keeps the dream alive. A line Leia knew Luke wrote to show their father that the Dark Side would never take over them. Ever. So you'll still believe, and you know…you must go… Where the dream takes you… (Where your heart longs to be…) Where your heart longs to be…(Your dream will lead you on… Ohh…) When you finally find that place…You'll find all you need… Where the dream takes you… She wished her father were here to hear the words Luke wrote and she sang. Tears sprung from her eyes without her realizing it, they were falling now but continued singing with all her heart. The audience felt there was more to the song than she let on but they could never guess. Go where your heart is meant to be. And you may find somebody there. Someone to share your dream… Leia had finally reached the climax of the song, her voice perfection as she reached the high notes. Where the dream takes you…(Your dream will lead you on)…When you finally find that place…(You'll find all you need…) The song was almost finished and she reached home. The melody intensifying to her voice. Where the dream…leads you…(Your dream will lead you home)…Where your eyes can see… (your dream will lead you on…Ohh…) There's a world that waits for you… Luke had always dreamed of breaking free and doing something great and good. This was his song as much as it was hers. Can neither hold, You'll find your home…Where the dream takes you…

"Where the dream takes you…" Leia finally ended, opening her eyes and fresh tears flowing down her porcelain cheeks. The audience felt her heartfelt song and applauded, wiping tears from their eyes as well. Their applause said 'Welcome back, Christine Daae.' She was grateful they loved it. Leia glanced at Erik among the audience and she could see he was applauding as well, eyes glistening with pride at his former student. She smiled at him, more tears falling. Maybe this was their way of making peace with each other. She couldn't be sure…

Her thoughts were distracted as a voice from above resounded among the ballroom.

"Well, that was just beautiful. I'm at a loss for words now."

Everyone turned to the new voice. And at the top of the stairs, just in front of huge double-doors they had entered earlier, a man stood.

Leia's eyes widened. The man was the last person she expected to see tonight at this party, no less. The man she desperately wished would comfort her with his presence earlier. She hadn't seen him in almost 5 months… and he looked more mature now, in an all-black Jedi robe ensemble. His blonde looks had grown and it looked good on him. His blue eyes carrying a sense of new knowledge and wisdom he had learned when he was not by their side.

She missed him…And he was finally here, of all places! Her brother…

"Luke…"

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well what do you think?

Oh and btw, those who are also reading my other story, Rose Byrne who played Briseis in Troy also was in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. She played Dorme there, one of Padme's handmaidens. Yup its her! Swear. p

And so as to not confuse the readers, Christine would be refered to as Leia mostly in this story. It is her true name. So we'll stick to it.

An Erik/Christine (Leia) fic. About Han...well...i'll just have to think of something... hah.