"Hello Mother, Father. Everything is fine here on Imperial Center. I've met with the Emperor, and even made a friend! I think everything will be okay. I get to attend classes with my friend, and even though court is boring, I am doing my best to represent Alderaan with humility and grace."
Leia switched off the holo recorder and sent the message off. She hadn't been sure what else to say. She had remembered not to mention the Jedi, the Sith, or the Force. So far so good.
She'd been here a whole week, attended four court events, and gone with Jade to her galactic languages tutorial, maths, and, unexpectedly, a dancing lesson.
Today would be their second session with Lord Vader, and again, Leia felt nervous. Just don't cry out this time, she told herself.
Mara had found Leia a black bodysuit to match her own and she loved it. She'd done her hair up like Mara's, too. Was this what it felt like to have a twin?
As before, they warmed up in the training room before Lord Vader arrived. When he did, Leia made to back against the wall, out of the way, hopefully invisible and not at all distracting for the Sith Lord.
She bowed as Mara did, but her heart froze when Darth Vader beckoned her forward. "Organa." Leia scampered forward and then stood hesitantly in front of Vader. He was so tall.
"Yes, Lord Vader?"
"I will spar with you first, then Jade."
Leia felt her eyes bug out, which couldn't have been a very flattering expression. Mara was passing her a practice blade, and Vader took one as well. That was good, she didn't want to imagine what it would feel like to get cut up by his crimson blade.
Leia couldn't help it, her blade shook in her hands, but she was determined to see this through. Surely, Darth Vader wouldn't hurt her too badly?
He stood tall and silent, except for the rhythm of his ventilator and the buzz of the practice sabers.
"Attack." He commanded.
Leia brought her blade to tap against his, shuddering at the jolt of contact.
Vader stepped back. Somehow Leia had the sense that he was amused. "Again."
She attacked Vader again, with a little more vigor, hitting her blade into his. He did not waver or move his blade at all, he just held it there, so she could swipe at it.
"Now low." He moved his blade to point at knee height. Leia brought her saber to meet it, unsure what to do with her feet.
"Good." She was surprised to hear Vader say. "Feet wider apart. Try not to close your eyes when swinging the blade." Leia was sure there was amusement hidden in the monotone of his voice.
"Again."
Leia came in slowly, trying not to blink. This time Vader pushed back slightly, through his saber, testing her balance.
"Acceptable."
Leia felt elated. She had survived a lightsaber duel with Darth Vader!
Vader seemed to stare at her for a long time before he called Mara forth to duel with live blades.
"Use the Force to push me." Vader scolded Mara.
Leia watch Mara tighten her grip on the lightsaber, her expression very serious. Then she pushed her palm toward Vader and Leia could feel something, like a breeze of wind, as Mara pushed against Vader. He didn't even take a step back.
"Better." Vader commented. "Now shield." Vader mirrored Mara's gesture. Mara slid back across the mats but didn't loose her footing. She grinned.
"Attack." Mara swung low at Vader's legs, then ducked under his blade as it came at her neck.
"Faster."
Mara moved faster than Leia thought possible. Her feet were a blur, her blade a violet streak in the air.
Vader parried easily. Leia wondered if this were terribly boring for him, showing lightsaber moves to a couple of kids. He was clearly a thousand times more powerful than Mara, and Leia wasn't even Force-sensitive. She sort of wished she was.
This time, once the sparring was done, Vader waved Leia over and the three of them knelt on the mats. This was meditation, Leia realized, Mara had mentioned it, but not really explained it.
"The point is to sense the Force." Vader's voice cut through her thoughts. "It is everywhere around you. It begs for your notice, and will gladly come at your call."
Leia tried to imagine this. She felt calm and focused. She wished desperately that she could feel whatever it was Mara and Vader were feeling.
Then a flood of energy passed over her and through her. It was not quite like an electric current, but it seemed at least as dangerous. Leia maintained her posture, not sure what was happening. Everything around her seemed strangely awake, vibrant in a way it had not been before. Was this the Force?
"Well done." Vader commented, though she wasn't sure that was for herself or for Mara. When they got to their feet Mara was staring at Leia, looking like she desperately wanted to tell her something.
They both bowed to Vader, who left them with an admonishment to continue practicing.
Alone, Mara rounded on Leia, a wide smile on her face, "You felt it, right?"
Leia nodded, "I felt something."
Mara looked delighted, "Oh Leia, why didn't you tell me you are Force-sensitive, too?"
Leia blinked, "Is that what I felt? It was like a wave, it lit everything up."
Mara nodded, "It's weird the first time. C'mon let's see if you can levitate my comlink."
They sat down on the mats and Mara slid the comlink from her wrist. "So, um, try to see it in the Force, sense its shape, and then push it with your mind."
Leia closed her eyes and breathed, trying to remember what she had felt when meditating with Vader. Everything lit up. She could sense the shape of the comlink, not quite alive, but vibrant in her mind's eye. She imagined giving it a push.
Mara gave a high pitched squeal of delight. Leia opened her eyes. The comlink had skittered across the mats and was now meters away. "You did it!"
Leia grinned, "Did I really?"
"Try it with your eyes open." Mara suggested eagerly.
Leia tried. The comlink jumped in the air as if it had been kicked by an invisible foot. Leia felt her jaw drop. "I did that!"
Mara looked intensely pleased. "No wonder my master let you train with me, you're a natural!"
Leia blushed.
Mara's expression went strangely blank for a moment and Leia felt something like a shadow pass over them.
"We need to go up to the throne room, now." Mara said.
"Is something wrong?" Leia asked nervously.
Mara shrugged, "Nah, but my master wants us there. When he calls, I come. And I guess now so do you."
"I'm not dressed for court."
Mara was on her feet, clearly eager for Leia follow her. "C'mon. We never, ever, make him wait."
The outer throne room was empty, which would have given Leia a chance to appreciate the ornate decorations which hung from arched ceiling to highly polished floor, except that Mara had her hand and was pulling her along too fast for any of that.
Then they were in the audience room, bowing, kneeling. Palpatine was there, on his throne as before. Vader stood off to the right, still as a statue.
Palpatine was looking straight at Leia and she felt naked, exposed. She wanted to look away but there was something about that sulfur gaze that held her frozen.
"Well, this is a surprise, but a welcome one, indeed."
Leia didn't know what to say, what did Palpatine mean?
Palpatine reached down, his skeletal hand cupping her cheek. "Who would have thought Bail Organa would have a Force-sensitive daughter?"
Leia remained very still. His hand was like ice but she didn't dare pull away. This was the Emperor.
"She's adopted." Mara volunteered. Leia couldn't help it, she flinched out of Palpatine's grasp and glared at Mara.
Palpatine chuckled, "Is that so? Tell me, Leia Organa, when were you born?"
Leia forced herself to meet the emperors gaze, "Two days after Empire Day, in year 1."
"Ah, nearly as old as my empire. And your biological parents?"
"I don't know who they were." Leia snapped, then hastily added, "Your Majesty."
Palpatine's smile was wide and hideous. "Very well, my child, I take it you were unaware you had the Force?"
Leia nodded, then forced herself to speak, "I didn't know, your Majesty."
Palpatine leaned back in his throne, considering her. "Lord Vader, I believe the records of this child's adoption would prove quite informative. "
"I will obtain them, Master." Vader answer in a monotone.
"Good." The Emperor peered down at Leia once again, "I suppose I must promote Moff Tarkin once again, after all he has brought me an incomparable treasure."
Leia glanced at Mara, feeling scared and confused. Mara looked smugly happy.
"Don't worry child. You are where you belong. But I must ask one favor of you." Palpatine smiled at Leia.
"Yes, your Majesty?"
"Tell no one you are Force-sensitive, not even your parents on Alderaan. We will keep it a secret.
"Okay." Leia agreed, she felt terribly tired all of a sudden.