"Bring in the prisoner." rang Dara's voice, her imperial tones filling the room. The room held councillors and aristocrats, alongside the royal guard. Dara sat upon her throne, her face painted white, her lips red, and her eyelids painted in black lines. She wore a black robe, with tight sleeves that went down over her hands. Her long hair fell down her back in a long braid, with a large crown on her head. The ruin of the left-side of her face was as intimidating as her regal bearing. Poe stood off to the side of the throne, in what was a rare and startling positioning, apparently. The doors facing the throne opened with great ferocity, as two very tough female guards dragged Dara's attacker into the room. Poe noted that he would not want to get into a fight with any woman on this planet. They were all fierce, and bigger than he was. The woman being dragged between the two guards, had a pair of black eyes and a broken nose. She lifted her chin and glared defiantly up at Dara.

"SPAWN OF DARKNESS!" she yelled, and she spat in the direction of the Princess. Of course she was too far away, but the message was strong enough. The aristocrats and councillors muttered amongst themselves in what Poe hoped was outrage.

"Be silent." Dara said, in a tone that brokered no argument. It was dismissive and cold, and it certainly shut her up. Dara stood. Another wave of muttering swept through the crowd. Poe started and was ready to move with her, his hand on the blaster at his hip. Dara moved very slowly, every step echoing around the room. She stood over the woman glaring down at her. She extended a hand forward, and the two guards held the criminal's arms all the tighter. Dara placed her hand upon the head of the woman, and closed her eyes. Poe felt that brief constriction that accompanied the impressive power of the Tempest. Dara laid her hand upon the woman for a time, the woman went very still and her eyes glazed over. Dara withdrew and returned to her throne. There was silence in the throne room. Poe wondered what Dara had seen within the woman's mind, but her face was an imperceptible mask.

"Do you have any remorse for you actions?" Dara asked. She didn't really seem to care. Poe could tell that she was upset.

"None." croaked the woman, her dark eyes glaring up at Dara.

"This woman is clearly a risk to the safety of the public. Her mindless violence cannot go unchecked. I move for imprisonment." Dara scanned the crowd of aristocratic representatives. "Those in favour." Almost everyone in the room raised their hands. Poe saw the slight twitch in her brow. It seemed she had been expecting a unanimous vote, and in truth, so had Poe. The action had been despicable and contemptable, but it would seem that Dara did not command as much love as Poe had thought. Did some people actually think she deserved what she got? Once the prisoner had been dragged away to be incarcerated. Dara stood to leave, and Poe followed her, leaving the roomful of representatives behind. Dara allowed her handmaidens to take off the more complicated garments and dress her simply, before she thanked them and ordered them away. Poe sat on a velvety armchair and watched Dara pace. He could tell she was upset. Her fingertips ran over the thick scarring on the side of her head as she thought.

Poe didn't want to ask her. He could see that she was disturbed, and he didn't want to push her.

"She knows who I am." Dara's voice was quiet and scared. "People are starting to know who he is. They know Kylo Ren is…. Ben." Dara's eyes looked soft with tears. "They see his darkness, and look for it in me! They WANT me to be evil so that they can condemn me! They know I'm descended from Anakin Skywalker. They know who I am!" Dara's voice had escalated in panic, and she was near screeching by the time Poe stood up and grabbed her arms and held her in place, and waited for her to look into his eyes.

"What did you see?" Dara, struggled against his hold and whimpered. Poe let go immediately. She was panicking. "It's okay. It's just you and me in this room, and nobody's going to come in. You're safe here. I know. I'm still here. You're a good person. It's going to be okay." He continued to speak to her in calming tones. She gulped in a few breaths, and seemed on the verge of hyperventilating, when she seemed to get more control of herself.

"That woman was a prisoner of Kylo Ren. He tortured her." Poe felt like the wind had been taken out of his sail of righteous anger. "He broke her. But she saw some of his mind too. Kylo knows who I am. He knows that the Princess of Alderaan is his twin sister. And people are starting to catch on. They're starting to turn against me." Dara clutched her own arms as though a chill had crept into her bones.

"Do you really care what people think?" She stood still and looked at him for a time.

"I don't know. Maybe?"

"Dara… I need to leave soon. I need to go back to base and prepare for the next battle…" She looked deeply upset by this. "I want you to come back with me. Join the fight. Help us. Help me." Dara looked at Poe for a moment and said nothing. She turned her back and walked away, heading into her bedroom. It would seem that Poe was not meant to get an answer. He sat in the voluminous red velvet chair, dying to go after Dara. But he understood that she wanted to be alone. That she needed to think. Poe truly wanted her to go back with him. He really hoped she would.