Leia saw red.
Red arcs sliced through the air— too quick for the eye to follow. Screams filled the air, distant and muffled, as if they were underwater. She didn't dare move.
He made quick work of the Tuskens, his lightsaber slicing and impaling right and left. Leia watched in mute horror as he decapitated one of them, their severed head flying through the air and landing at her feet. She scrambled back, her hands bracing against the wall as she fought off a bought of nausea.
"Leia," came a voice— not aloud, but somewhere in the back of her mind. "You need to move."
"I— Shmi?"
"Move!"
A hand wrapped around her arm before yanking her back. Shmi was evidently stronger than she looked as she dragged Leia out of the way of a red arc, narrowly missing her as it sliced through the body of a Tusken.
The other Tuskens— the ones who had been too astonished to move as they watched their companions get slaughtered brushed past both Leia and Shmi as they ran towards the door. However, they didn't get very far as the man's head snapped in their direction. For a moment that seemed to last an eternity as their eyes met (at least, she thought they did. There was no way to tell through the mask) as the hairs on the back of Leia's neck rose. Beside her, Shmi stilled. She didn't know if it was in surprise, or terror (she had a feeling it was both).
He raised his hand as Leia braced herself; waiting. Shmi tightened her grip on her knowingly before the ghost of a whisper echoed in her mind; "close your eyes."
Leia wished she hadn't, but she did.
There was another sickening crack followed by silence. The sound of breathing filled her ears, heavy and fast. She kept her eyes closed for what felt like an eternity— but what was in actuality only a few moments.
"You," he rasped, the modulator of his mask fluctuating. "What are you—"
Whatever it was he was trying to say, he never got a chance to finish before he collapsed, his body hitting the sand with a heavy thud. There was a moment of silence that seemed to stretch out far longer than necessary before Shmi turned to look at her, a thousand and one questions in her eyes that Leia knew she would not have the answer to.
But that was not what at the forefront of Leia's mind. She was more focused on the man's words, the tone his voice had taken on when he had addressed her—
He knew her, but she didn't have the faintest clue as to who he was.
And that was more disconcerting than anything.
Leia did not react at first— at least, not externally.
It was Shmi who was the first to move, hands braced against her side as she took a timid step forward. Carefully, step by step, she made her way towards the unconscious man.
"Is he—" Leia swallowed, closing her eyes so that she did not have to look at the carnage around them. "Is he alive?"
Shmi kneeled before checking his pulse.
"Yes," was Shmi's response. "But he won't be for long if he doesn't get water. He's severely dehydrated."
Frozen to the ground, Leia watched as Shmi tended to the crumpled and unconscious form of the man that had haunted her dreams, clad in a black tunic and fitted pants that were eerily reminiscent of the Imperial style uniforms, right down to the leather boots and belt. His face was covered by a mask— the same one from Leia's dreams.
She reached up and—
"Don't," whispered Leia, but Shmi didn't listen as she gingerly pulled the mask off to reveal dark curls plastered to a pale face. Even in the dimming light, Leia could see the scar that ran from his eyebrow all that way down his neck before disappearing into the folds of his clothes.
"Leia?" asked Shmi, still cupping his head in her hands as Leia felt her breaths quicken.
But Leia didn't respond. Not till the suns had completely set and the cold set in.
"I wonder who he is," mused Shmi as she watched him in the glow of the fire, her finger brushing a dark lock off of his forehead as Leia stared at the flames. Shmi's voice was concerned, and Leia couldn't fathom why.
"Does it really matter?" her voice didn't tremble exactly, but there was an edge to it. An edge that was sharp, and glistening.
"Of course it does," Shmi was quick to reply, her gaze angling at Leia. "He saved our lives."
She wasn't wrong, and Leia knew that much, she just couldn't decide whether his actions constituted as saving them. There had been nothing righteous or kindhearted by what that man had done. Only anger and rage.
But Leia wasn't going to argue with Shmi on that front.
"You disagree," Shmi said, reading the expression on her face with little difficulty. Like Anakin, Shmi too had an uncanny ability to know what was going through Leia's mind. Maybe it was because they were both observant, or maybe Leia needed to work on her poker face more.
"I don't," protested Leia. "I just think that considering the circumstances, it wouldn't hurt to be…" she turned to look at the man once more before finishing with; "cautious. We don't know him, or anything about him."
"We do know one thing."
"What?" asked Leia. "His pension for murder?"
"You know that's not what I mean," Shmi said, turning back around to look at the man.
"I know," Leia shook her head, her arms wrapping around herself. There was a chill in the air, but it wasn't from the cold. "I was just stating the obvious."
"I figured as much."
There was a moment of silence as Leia stretched out her legs so that they wouldn't fall asleep. She rearranged herself into a more comfortable position before turning her gaze on Shmi once more. "What do we know?"
"That the desert brought him to us," said Shmi, not missing a beat. "Just like it brought you to me."
He's nothing like me, Leia wanted to say. Instead, she bit her tongue.
"And Anakin," she added, thoughtfully. "The desert brought you all here for a reason. I can feel it."
She said it with such confidence that there was no doubting her words. Or rather, her faith seeing as Leia wasn't entirely sure what reason there would be to bring a random group of strangers together. Anakin and Shmi she could see, but why her? And why this man?
"We're connected," Shmi answered, her voice barely above that of a whisper. "All of us. I don't know why or how, but—"
But why?
It was a question that had been nagging at Leia ever since she had awoken. And just like she was then, she was still no closer to an answer. And now this.
She didn't know what to make of it.
"Leia?"
Shmi looked up at her, and Leia realized she had been drifting— her thoughts dragging her to a place far from the present.
"Maybe you're right," said Leia. Or maybe you're wrong. "We should go get more water. Before he wakes."
"Of course."
Shmi's back was turned to the fire, her arms wrapped protectively around her bump. Leia could tell that she was fast asleep, her breaths heavy and slow— a hairlength away from actual snoring. She had fallen asleep not long after they had collected the water, exhaustion from the day taking over.
Leia, on the other hand, knew that sleep would not come to her that night. Not after what happened earlier— and certainly not before Anakin came back. There was just too much on her mind.
Leia watched her sleep, keeping an ear on the man's breathing— waiting for a shift; for the slightest indication that he was awake. There wasn't much else to listen to, save for Shmi's breaths and the barely audible whispering of the wind against the farmhouse.
Save for all of that, it was quiet. Almost too quiet.
Not that Leia was complaining. She liked the quiet— the stillness. It helped her think.
She and Shmi had yet to resume their earlier conversation. Both women had been stealing glances at the other throughout the day, both of them on edge, both of them waiting— there was an unspoken truce between them, neither one of them willing to breach the silence and ask the question.
Maybe Shmi wished to wait for Anakin's return, or maybe she just wasn't ready to confirm Leia's fears. Either way, Leia knew that neither one of them was ready.
Least of all her.
The sound of coughing ripped her from her thoughts as her head snapped back to the now awake and sputtering man beside her, his hands grasping at his throat— no doubt dry and in dire need of water. Moving without thought, Leia grabbed the water canteen before kneeling beside him.
"Here," she said, her voice much softer than she had intended. "Let me help you."
His eyes snapped toward hers, taking in her features with thinly veiled shock as he went still. Taking advantage of the moment, Leia carefully snaked her arm under his neck as she hoisted him up. He tried to resist her, but he was too weak to properly fight her off as she held the canteen to his dry and cracked lips.
Greedily, he gulped down the water, big fat drops dribbling down his chin and onto his chest. But he didn't seem to care as he closed his eyes in thinly veiled relief— glad to finally have something wet and cold in his mouth for the first time in days.
Leia understood the feeling, but she also knew of the dangers of water intoxication, Shmi's warning echoing in her mind as she gently pulled the canteen away from him. He protested, but he was too weak to stop her as she adjusted his head so that it was resting in her lap before using her now free hand to replace the cap on the nearly empty bottle.
"You can have more later," she said as he blinked blearily up at her, his eyes growing heavier by the second. Even in the flickering light, Leia could tell that he was struggling to focus. "But for now, you need rest. You're very weak."
Then he whispered in the dying light, his voice raspy and his eyes fluttering. Leia didn't hear it, but then he said it again, this time louder.
"Mom."
His eyes closed as unconsciousness took him once again, his head lolling against her as his ebony curls tickled the skin on her arm. He looked content and peaceful, laying there. As if he knew he was safe in her arms.
Leia didn't move. Not until the shock had worn off and she could finally breathe again. Turning back, Leia could see Shmi staring at her from across the fire.
Neither one of them said anything. They didn't have to.
Leia already knew.
She left shortly thereafter, unable to continue on in that room. She needed to get away; to escape the atmosphere that had already been created.
She needed to breathe. And think.
(She wasn't sure which she needed more).
Shmi followed wordlessly, trailing behind the Princess as she made her way through the courtyard and up the stairs. The moon was bright that night, as were the millions of stars that dotted the night sky. But Leia hardly noticed as she wrapped her arms around herself, not from the cold but something else entirely.
Breathe, she told herself.
Inhale. Exhale. Repeat.
"Leia?"
The words were almost too quiet in the rustling of the wind, but at the same time impossible not to hear. There was worry in her voice, worry and—
"I'm sorry," whispered Leia. "I just needed to get out of there. Needed to think."
"I know."
There was a moment of silence. Leia was certain that Shmi was going to turn around and leave her there, but then there was a hand on her shoulder; gentle and comforting. Shmi was not going anywhere.
"I know you must be confused," she said before adding; "I know I was."
There was a calm surrender. She was resigned, and so was Shmi it seemed.
"You…" Leia swallowed. "You were?"
"Yes," she said softly. "I think I always knew, from the moment I first laid eyes on him. I didn't want to believe it at first, but I can feel it now."
"I don't know what to think," or feel, were the unspoken words on her lips.
"That's what I was worried about," Shmi continued, more softly. "It was quite a shock for me. I know you feel the same way."
And she was right. But that wasn't hard to figure out. Anyone in her position would be.
"You kept it all in," Leia said, turning around so that she could face the other woman. "All this time, you didn't say a word—"
"Neither did you," Shmi was quick to add. "And neither did Anakin once he realized. You both stayed silent."
Leia couldn't deny that Shmi was also right about that one. For as much as they had talked to each other, neither one of them had actually communicated anything important. They had been dancing around each other, holding onto information and keeping secrets.
"Anakin told me that you were his mother," said Leia. "And I knew then he was telling the truth. I just didn't—"
"You didn't comprehend what he was saying," said Shmi. "Not truly."
"No, I guess not," said Leia as she shook her head. "I kinda stopped thinking about it. It was easier that way. Less… Complicated."
"I don't blame you," Shmi said. She was telling the truth. "I think given the circumstances, that was probably a normal response."
Normal. There was nothing normal about this. Any of this.
"But I think that we are well past the point of keeping things from one another," said Shmi before adding; "promise me that from now, we'll be more honest with each other?"
Leia nodded. "Yes, I think that's probably a good idea."
Considering everything that had happened. Shmi was right. Transparency was what they needed.
Blinking, Leia shook her head. "There's still one thing I still don't understand."
"What?" asked Shmi, tilting her head as she watched Leia purse her lips in deep thought.
"You said that the desert brought us here," her, Shmi, Anakin, and now her— (She wasn't quite ready to deal with the fact that the man currently asleep inside of the house was her future son). She swallowed, "why us? What's the connection?"
As far as she was concerned, she had no connection to Anakin or Shmi. So why were they all there? What was the reason?
"Connection?"
"You and Anakin, me and—" she gestured towards the house, as if that was indication enough. "I have no connection to you or Anakin. So why us?"
It looked like Shmi was going to object, but then after a few moments of calculated silence she said; "I don't know."
It wasn't like Leia expected an answer, but she was disappointed nonetheless. If anything, this conversation had raised more questions than it had answered. But then again, Leia was starting to get used to that seemingly endless cycle…
She sighed, "you don't suppose Anakin would know?"
Shmi bit her lip, "if he did, don't you think he would've said something?"
"Yes," no (Leia wasn't sure). Then, "maybe. I don't know…"
"The man—" Shmi tried before stopping, her brows furrowing. "I think he might know something. Probably more than us. So maybe when he wakes up again… We could ask him?"
Leia swallowed, "yeah, sure."
If he was willing to talk to them.
"Good," said Shmi before adding; "I know there's much still to talk about, but I think we can hold off for now. At least, until Anakin returns," she said as her gaze fell on the horizon with a longing expression. "If he returns."
"He'll come back," Leia promised, remembering the way that Anakin had spoken about his mother. His sentiment towards her unwavering and full of nothing more than love. "I know he will."
Shmi considered her words before smiling; "you should know how glad I am to have you here with me, Leia."
There was another calm surrender as Leia found herself melting into the other woman's embrace.
"And you are a remarkable woman," breathed Shmi. "Connected or not, I am grateful to have met you."
And in the warm blanket of Shmi's touch, Leia found peace.
It was shortly thereafter— in the glow of dawn that Anakin Skywalker emerged from the desert.
Shmi was the first to notice, her head resting tiredly on Leia's shoulder. They were still wrapped in each other's arms, neither one of them having moved from their spot on the sand. Leia didn't know how long they had been like that, but judging from the warm glow on the horizon as well as her red skin, irritated from the sand, it had been a while.
Leia watched wordlessly as Shmi rose to her feet— moving as if unencumbered by the growing babe in her belly as she ran towards him. Anakin jogged to meet her, their arms wrapping around each other tightly as they held onto each other.
Leia averted her gaze, feeling very much like a stranger encroaching on this beautiful scene between a mother and her son. Carefully, with legs still asleep, she rose to her feet and dusted off her dress before turning to make her way back towards the farmhouse.
But she stopped dead in her tracks as soon as she realized that in the glow of the barely rising suns, someone else had been watching in silence.
"Mom," her memory whispered, the image of the half-conscious man at the forefront of her mind before it faded and she was left with this version of him, except this time he was not weak or delirious from dehydration. He was alert and awake, and there was a dangerous look in his eyes.
AN: Some of you guys were wondering when they would start piecing things together and whether or not Shmi knew that Anakin is her son. I hope this chapter clears things up a little bit as to how much they know (at least, for Shmi and Leia). I have big plans for the next chapter, and more things will definitely be coming to light soon for everyone, especially now that Kylo has joined the mix.
On another note, happy holidays everyone! I hope everyone is doing well and is having a good time. 2021 is fast approaching, so here's to hoping that it will be better than 2020.
And also, THANK YOU for the overwhelming amount of comments I got in the last chapter. I can tell you are all excited for what's to come, and I'm excited to see your reactions to it XD