There would be no trial, Leia was told, because her adoptive father had pleaded guilty. She would get to see him today, thank the stars, but she had no idea what to say. She loved him. She would tell him that. And that she wasn't sorry he had kidnapped her, he was a perfect father. She wanted to cry. Why had he plead guilty? The penalty for treason was execution. How could he do this to her?
Leia wore white. She was still Alderaanian, at least in spirit. Venn and her team of stormtroopers were the ones to accompany her to the prison below the Imperial Senate. As prisons went, it wasn't as awful as she had imagined. The halls were white plasteel, the same color as the Stormtroopers armor.
Her father wore grey. They let her into his cell and she fell into his arms, sobs shaking her whole body.
Her father held her for a long time and she realized he was crying too. She had never seen him cry before.
"Leia, my precious daughter." He soothed, stroking her hair and holding her close. His prison garb was rough against her cheek. "I had hoped this day would never come."
"Why did you plead guilty, Father?"
Bail Organa kept stroking her hair, "Because I am guilty, Leia."
"But treason?"
"Yes, even that."
"I don't understand." Leia curled into his arms, wishing desperately that this were a nightmare so that she could wake up.
"Oh Leia, I know. I am so sorry you have to suffer this."
"Is Vader really my biological father?"
"He is." Her father told her softly. "I knew him and your mother quite well, before the Republic fell."
Leia let a sigh out, it was true then. It was all true. "Why did you do it?"
Bail Organa hesitated, "To keep you safe."
"From Vader." It wasn't a question. Leia understood.
Bail stroked her head and they sat there in silence until the Stormtroopers came and made Leia leave.
She felt hollow as she gazed out the speeder window, ignoring Venn and the stormtroopers, and trying very, very hard, not to cry.
Venn led her back to her chambers in silence and then left her alone. Leia curled in the window seat as she had on her first night here. The sun was low in the sky. It would set, and when the new day began, her father would be executed.
She was glad it would not be a public execution. It well could have been, she knew that, she had seen other senators executed for treason. It had been all over the Holonet, each time. The emperor, Vader, dignitaries, and a hooded prisoner, shot by a line of stormtroopers. There was usually a speech about loyalty and justice just after it, as if a sentient being hadn't just been murdered before their eyes. Yes, she was glad that someone had spared her all of that.
This was her fault. The tears came again as she realized it. She cursed herself for ever drawing Wilhuff Tarkin's ire. All her parents had ever wanted was to keep her safe, and far away from Vader and the emperor. She had ruined it. Why? She couldn't even remember. She guessed she had been jealous of the attention bestowed on the Moff. She had thought it would be funny. It had been funny. But nothing was worth this. Tomorrow she would wear black.
The morning was clear, and the transparasteel of the window cold against her cheek. Light was just filtering in, pale blue, sunrise. Her father was dead.
Leia trudged to the fresher, turning on the water as hot as she could bear. It was her fault. Her father was dead because of her. Because she was incapable of behaving as a princess should. Was she even Princess of Alderaan now? She wondered. She hoped not. She hoped she never had to face her mother, the Queen. Her adoptive mother. Her kidnapper? Fear cut through her then, would Vader arrest her mother, too?
She rushed to the Holonet node and typed her mother's name into the search box with shaking hands.
Queen Breha Organa to appoint new senator for Alderaan. Leia wanted to scream. That single sentence hid more than it revealed. Her mother was alive, and her father was dead, and all the Holonet cared about is who would replace him. The galaxy was an evil place, a good man, a beloved man had died, but no one cared.
She typed her own name in next. Leia Organa. There was nothing recent. Some old news clip from Alderaan from before she had ruined everything.
She turned away from the terminal, and stalked back into her room. She pulled on her black training suit. It was the only black clothing she had. She was in mourning. This is what Alderaanians were supposed to do. She owed her father that much.
Leia scanned around the room, finally finding a fire starter next to some pillared candles she had never lit. She smiled and opened her wardrobe.
By the time the Stormtroopers poured in and hustled her out of the apartment, she had a merry blaze going. No more Alderaanian white. She wasn't worthy of it.
"Are you alright, Highness?" Someone was asking. Mara showed up soon after, standing with her shoulder to shoulder as they watched troopers and fire fighting droids march in and out of her quarters.
"Shall we go for a walk?" Mara suggested, as though Leia hadn't just committed arson.
Leia nodded and followed her friend into the turbolift at the end of the hall.
"So…" Mara said slowly. "Where should we go?"
Leia shrugged, she didn't care.
"The gardens, I think." Mara decided and keyed something into the lift.
They sped up instead of down, emerging on the roof of the West tower. Leia had not known there was a garden here. She emerged into the sunlight and breathed the fresh air, laden with the scent of flowers. It was heart breakingly beautiful.
Mara threw herself down on a patch of grass, staring at the sky. "I'm sorry for your loss." She told Leia mechanically, looking up at her.
Leia lay down next to her friend. "Thanks."
Some TIE fighters flew by overhead.
"Well, that's weird," said Mara.
A few moments later, Mara spoke again. "Oh kriff."
The turbolift doors opened and the menacing form of Darth Vader stepped out, Lieutenant Venn at his heels. He crossed his arms, looking down at them both. It was strange, how the sunlight bounced off his armor. Leia knew now was absolutely the wrong time to laugh. What was wrong with her?
"Daughter." Vader rumbled. "Why did you evade your security detail?"
Leia sat up, "Oh." So that's what all the fuss was about. "I—"
Mara spoke over her, "I wanted her to have some fresh air, Lord Vader. Because of all the smoke."
Vader crossed his arms, looking between them. "Daughter." He enunciated once again. "Why did you set fire to your chambers?"
For some reason she could quite explain, Leia found this question intensely funny. She giggled. Then Mara giggled, too. Soon they were both laughing on the grass, gasping for air. Why was it so funny?
She regained control of herself only slowly. "I, um… was cold?"
Mara burst into another fit of giggles and then Leia was laughing again, too.
"You are both hysterical." Vader commented, his tone unamused. "Come, back inside."
Leia wiped at the tears of mirth in her eyes and got back to her feet.
Things were tense as they four of them rode down in the turbolift. They didn't stop at Leia's floor.
"Where are we going?" She asked.
"My residence." Vader answered curtly.
"Why?" Leia persisted.
"Because your current chambers have been destroyed."
"So I have to stay with you?" Leia bit her tongue, that had sounded like she didn't want to. Which was true, but still.
"Yes." Vader answered, his sense in the Force shielded from her. Had she upset him?
"Can Mara Jade come?" She asked eagerly, vaguely aware that this manic happiness wasn't the right way to be feeling right now.
"Your friend may visit you as often as you would like. My residence is connected to the Imperial Palace by tunnels." Vader explained, as the turbolift bottomed out far below the level of the atrium, lower, she thought, even than their training room.
Tunnels stretched out before them. Vader pointed at Venn, who seemed to tremble under his attention. "You are relieved of duty, Lieutenant."
The officer looked like she had been expecting as much. She saluted Vader crisply. Mara also hung back as Vader led Leia into one of the tunnels. 'Later' she mouthed when Leia looked back.
Leia squinted. How could Vader see in this pitch darkness?
"Use the Force, Leia." Came the instruction from just ahead of her. Leia reached out in the force, she could sense the walls of the tunnel and her father standing ahead of her, watching her steadily.
"I am sorry I set my room on fire." She offered as they set off down the tunnel.
Vader's vocoder emitted a sound like a cough. Was he laughing? "Do not apologize, Daughter, possessions do not matter."
Leia blinked in the dark, Vader was so strange.
"Although, I would caution you against lighting any fires in my residence, for your own safety."
"Okay." She replied, had that been a threat or a genuine warning? She reached out in the force, her father was amused.
"How long am I staying with you?" She asked. Glad for the darkness.
"Until your new suite is ready, Leia." Vader informed her. They started going up a set of rough hewn stairs, then there was a turbolift. The light stung her eyes after the darkness of the tunnel.
"Thank you." She said, looking up at Vader.
"Leia, you are my daughter." Vader rumbled, "I will give you the entire Empire."