Part Four - don't worry, i'll be posting part five very soon, this reads like a stop-gap chapter, but it is important! thanks for all your comments!
Title: Unexpected
Series: Part Four of Memories of Water and Sand
Disclaimer: i don't own anything.
It was as if time had stopped. Bail heard the Queen's words and felt their import down to his core - but his head refused to accept it. He had checked the Executor's flight plan before they'd made their way to Naboo just as he did before every jump. Vader was scheduled to be clear across the galaxy. Bail had been keeping up with Vader's movements for five years and he had never in all that time altered his path. He made unscheduled stops but he never altered course. Vader and his emperor were terrifying, ruthless and destructive...but also methodical. The newborn rebellion counted on their systematic way of accomplishing things, it was the alliance's only advantage. This move on Vader's part was disconcerting on every level.
But while Bail's mind raced to determine all the implications of Vader's visit his heart forced the most obvious, and dangerous, thought to the forefront. Vader must not find Leia. Bail still held his daughter in his arms, her tears had dried but their tracks remained on her cheek and the haunted look she'd had when he first found her in the hall still lingered. She was looking at him now, in her eyes he read his own fear and he knew she'd turned her intrinsic empathy on him. He forced his mind shut and stood. Following his lead Leia pulled herself to her full height and fell in step behind him as he moved toward the Queen.
"Does Vader know we're here?" Bail asked. It was unlikely his ship would be missed, but possible. The Queen, however, nodded and her handmaiden answered.
"He specifically requested to speak with her majesty the Queen of Naboo and her guests from the Imperial Senate. You were not mentioned by name however the ship's captain requested the starport's logs and your ship is listed." Bail nodded curtly. He would not be able to avoid the meeting, leaving would bring too much attention to his being here in the first place, too many questions. He wondered where to send Leia. He couldn't allow her to be seen by Vader but he was unconvinced sending her back to the ship alone was a better option. He wanted her as close to him as possible in case anything went wrong. Leia seemed to sense his indecision. She moved closer to him and put a hand out, afraid to distract him but needing reassurance. He took her hand and made his decision.
"Threepio, please return to the ship and advise Captain Antilles to start preparations for departure, I'd like to leave as soon as possible. The Imperials may request to inspect our logs or possibly board the ship, everything should be in order but make sure the Captain understands he is to be as welcoming as possible. Leia and I will return once this meeting with Vader is over." Threepio moved off quickly, muttering softly to himself. They'd had close encounters with the Imperials before, the droid and the crew knew what to do. Bail realized he had to keep Artoo and Threepio away from Vader as well as Leia. They'd belonged to both Skywalker and Amidala in turns and their presence would bring undue attention to Bail. "Queen Apailana, I would like to keep my daughter with me planetside, however, I'd rather she not meet Lord Vader, do you have an anteroom or office we might utilize?"
The Queen nodded again. "Of course Senator. We will do whatever is necessary to keep the Princess safe. Please follow us, our understanding is Lord Vader is already on his way." Verde ushered her Queen, the Senator and Leia out of the Hall and they swiftly returned to the Queen's Chambers.
Leia had overheard the name Vader before but her father had always made a point of hiding her from it's meaning. She knew many of her father's associates feared Vader, feared his power and his presence. Some part of Leia knew she should be afraid of Vader but she was mostly curious to see the one person her father feared. Very little frightened Leia Organa because she knew nothing frightened her father. Leia was growing up in a terribly dangerous time, in the midst of a war those in power didn't even acknowledge they were fighting. However, Bail knew, and therefore Leia sensed, the Emperor couldn't dismiss the Senate until his power was secured; he knew, and she therefore sensed, that his position gave him a certain safety and that was why he was one of the leaders of the rebellion. His hatred of the Emperor and what the Empire stood for made him strong and his strength gave Leia courage. The fact that he feared Vader's visit should have terrified Leia but instead she felt anticipation. Vader represented what they were fighting against. If she faced Vader and was not afraid, she would win.
"Wait, Papa." Leia said as Verde ushered her away from her father and the Queen and toward a small door off to the side. Bail put his hand up to the Queen and turned, somewhat impatiently, to his daughter.
"Leia. I know this is difficult for you to understand but I need you to stay in this room and I need you to stay quiet. Don't leave this room, promise?" Leia wanted to object but she didn't. She sensed something in her father, he was not afraid of Vader after all. He was afraid of Vader finding her. After one quick but lasting embrace Bail shooed his daughter into the small room, Artoo following after her. With a final glance he shut the door behind them.