XLI: Traveling News And Irony

It was not often she managed to find peace in sleep.

Quite the contrary, she had found nights to be the moment most likely to suffer, as when silent they were, they allowed her long moments to dwell over everything that was wrong in life. Not just her own. This Civil War. It hurt her to know she was doing nothing to stop the conflict. I can't help it. I have to regain my children. My broken family.

Yet tonight there was no chance to think of either. Luke and Leia, the war, the Empire, were not in her thoughts.

She breathed out, loudly and rapidly.

Her hand came to rest over her chest, trying to steady the swift and violent beats her heart made.

She did not look at him as he laid beside her, yet she wondered if the threat of tears hung over his eyes. She wondered if his hair was moist with sweat. She wondered if his throat hurt from such pain…

Waking up to screams once terrified her, it once chilled her to her very core; when she thought his nightmares were the same as her own…

"They're about me," she said, oddly calm. The realization came too quick for her to be pained by it.

He said nothing, but in this silence she heard the loudest, clearest answer he could ever give.

"What is it?" she was genuinely curious. What was he seeing happening to her over and over again?

"I will not say it," he whispered.

"Anakin, please. Don't I deserve to know how am I dying this time—?"

He interrupted by brusquely pulling her arm, closer to him.

The savage manner of his approach didn't make it any less loving.

"Last time you told me, nothing happened." She insisted.

"Nothing?" his look was mad. "Weren't we separated while the world fell apart around us? Didn't you spend the cruel hours of childbirth away from me with no medical aid? Wasn't I led to believe you were dead?! My heart broke, my soul left me. I did things I hardly can now conceive how…"

Silence.

"Chase those dreams away, Anakin. We have an actual nightmare to deal with in real life."

"I am dealing with it as I can. My nightmares didn't come true last time because I did everything I could to stop them… likewise, I now have to act accordingly, Padmé. I just… I don't know how."

"I'll tell you how: Stop treating me like a child. Stop keeping me at your heel. Free me from my cage. Give me liberty to take my own course of actions. If they bring my death, they will at least keep my last days from being so anxious—"

"Stop!" he screamed. "I can't accept it. I cannot let you die… like that…"

She looked down and took a deep breath. "How?" she gulped.

His face gained a somber quality that made her lips quiver, as she continued, "Fine, don't tell me. But at least grant me what I wish."

"And what is that?"

"Let me go to Naboo, Anakin."

Now he looked down.

"I cannot."

She sighed. "I will go whether you want me to or not… I prefer we don't separate being angry at each other…"

His eyes watered when she said the word, 'separate'.

"Must you leave me then?" he said in despair.

"You must fight in the battlefields, I will delegate from the palace."

"You used to not be afraid of the battlefield," he grinned, sadly.

"And I am even less frightened by it now, having much more terrifying things surrounding me."

"Can I at least pretend you will not leave me when the morning comes?"

"And how will we know when that is? My love, we are in the middle of nowhere, the black darkness of space hold us together. No sun will come to light us any time soon."

"You are all the light I need. That I've ever needed…" he put his lips over hers.

His comlink rang.

She could tell he wanted to ignore it, but in these times, any small news or knowledge were precious.

He left her for the space of an hour.

When he came back she smiled at him, wanting to continue the previous moment they had broken. He had not the trace of a smile left. Very seriously, he informed her Luke and Leia had not only been spotted, they were making news across the galaxy.

The prince and princess killed a crime lord in Tatooine.

It was said the princess alone did it, leading a squadron of rebels.

Night was well passed; Leia was sure the twin suns would sun come out. The little bit of darkness still left was welcomed, she did not want to spend one more single day in Tatooine.

She had led the rebels with a determination borne almost exclusively from the desire of getting Han back from the mess she felt Luke was responsible. She did not look at her brother, though he walked close siding with the other rebels. When she happened to glance at him by chance, she was struck with the realization of how easily he blended with them. You could not know one of the bunch was a prince. He well enough seemed like just another rebel; and she had led them. She was leading them.

"How long do you reckon this will be, Your Majesty? Not to put pressure, but we do have a clock."

"I will put the pressure, rebel. I don't want more than a few minutes of deliberation before convincing this Jabba the Hutt of returning his prisoner."

And the rebel listened, all of them did, even the insolent ones.

The adventure had passed, and now that it was over, she could hardly believe it had happened, let alone, to her.

But it was real and there was no use hiding it.

The monstrosity that was Jabba the Hut had died at her hands, while his guards fell to the Rogue Squadron, and Luke—but why think of them separately? It was clear he was one of them. Moreover, if she had led them to battle, didn't that also make her a part of them?

Han hadn't commented on it, though she was sure he was dying with curiosity. She could see it in his face. But when at last he pulled her to question her, the response he wanted was the last she expected.

"What do you mean he's your brother?! I thought you said… the prince and you…"

She colored, unexpectedly.

"How could he not know?" Luke asked, confused.

The truth shamed Leia. "That's not important anymore… it was a… a joke."

Han didn't seem to find it funny—at first. Moments later he could hardly keep himself from smiling.

"Well, kid, I have to thank you now for saving my life. And all you rebels."

Leia didn't like seeing Han being so civil towards the Rogues. It made her feel weird.

She already felt so in debt to them…

When she parted with them, she promised she would reward them, somehow she would paid her debt, but they only laughed.

The rebels disappeared behind the rising suns, Luke and Artoo going with them.

Leia didn't want to feel helpless. But she couldn't muster the courage to go home. So Han suggested they go somewhere else… but where?

"How about Alderaan?" he suggested, and she wasn't sure if he was serious about it. "I mean, the Senator owes you for not giving him to the Empire, even though you could have accused him of treason. And you know he wouldn't hurt you, he protected you while we were in the rebel base in Yavin…"

Perhaps it could work… for the time being.

"Set course at once."

Boarding the ship, she thought of how no matter how much she despised Tatooine, she had family there, both living and passed… She waved the thought away, though knowing it would at length come back.

Obi-Wan had been sitting alone for quite some time, unsure of whether he should contact them or not. The princess travels to Alderaan right now, unaware of the plot she is about to be a part of…

Could it be the boy's plan is not so bad?

We'll see it in time—and not too long from now.

If it works, thinking positively, it might bring the Skywalker reign to an end; if not… it would drive their dark instincts to incredible heights…

And could even the Force aid them then?

Better not to dwell on that.

He had had enough time to process what he knew and yet… he couldn't. For days, he consoled himself, telling his stubborn broken heart that Leia's words were nothing but lies to spite him. The princess knew how to prey on weaknesses, on the deepest most sensitive area of his heart. And yet… how else would she think of that so quickly.

"Luke is the Jedi helping the Alliance."

A sentence so simple. So filled with sense. And truth. And pain.

And now the rumors go… the princess is with them, as well.

He called his nightmare, for the first time to ease himself.

If the rebels had planned on killing the royal family, they wouldn't dare now with two important members of it on their supposed side.

Unless Luke and Leia are part of the plot…

No. This was a thought too horrifying for even Anakin to conceive.