Chapter 14: Fifteen

Leia thought there was no reason to be festive, yet she was still very much the young Princess of Alderaan, and the fact that another year had passed in her life was expected to be celebrated.

She had argued she didn't want a party for her fifteenth birthday, yet she was aware that were it possible, Bail would have agreed. He believed Leia didn't deserve a party, and the fact was it was a sort of punishment for everything she had done of late.

The entire process of the preparations had been incredibly tiresome. Making the guest list, deciding for the decoration, banquet, music, dress… what did she care?

Her head was much occupied with different subjects, most of them unpleasant but ever in her head.

He was married. Anakin Skywalker had married a woman named Padmé Naberrie. At first Leia didn't put too much thought into the female name, as usual focusing more in her Jedi hero, but sitting alone on the floor of her bedroom, prohibited from going anywhere else, she could do nothing more than stare at the marriage license. She took it from the priest promising to give it back after a few hours, yet so much happened in between she could hardly feel guilty for breaking the promise. Besides, it was unlikely she would set foot in Naboo again, at least, not any time soon. Bail was adamant to keep her in Alderaan. Padmé. The name kept creeping into her thoughts. Could it be…? No, that would be an incredible coincidence if it were so… Darred's father had loved a Nabooian named Padmé. She was gone too.

"Maybe the name Padmé is a very common one in Naboo, like Antilles is here in Alderaan…" Leia said to herself. She heard Artoo beeped loudly at her comment.

"What are you so startled about? And so suddenly?" Threepio scolded at his counterpart.

Leia stared at her droids, knowing within her heart that R2 was still hiding something from her. What is making him keep that secret? She thought, curiously. He is being loyal to someone. To the Jedi hero?

"Perhaps you should call the Nabooian mechanic," C-3PO suggested, interrupting Leia's thoughts.

"Yeah, that's not really a possibility anymore," Leia said, awkwardly. "I'm sure that when Artoo can trust me again… he will."

The little droid bleeped.

3PO translated, "He says he does trust you, Your Highness."

"Not enough, it seems, Leia sighed.

A handmaiden entered and called Leia to check something about the party. "Keep protecting whomever you're protecting Artoo… little loyal friend. I'm sure that loyalty will one day extend to me," the princess said as she followed the handmaiden outside.

"What do you mean it is the princess you're protecting, Artoo?" C-3PO said, confused, once the two were alone. "That does not make sense… of hush, how dare you call me that? You are the clueless one!"

Leia almost came back into the room, she heard the two droids fight, and giggling slightly, she let them have a moment alone. Not knowing that perhaps it would have done her good to eavesdrop on their seemingly normal quarrel.


Her hair and makeup were done. The dress laid on the bed ready for the princess to put it on, yet she felt a sense of dread attack her out of nowhere, which prevented her from moving. Foreboding feelings were not new to her. She could usually tell when something good or bad was around the corner. This party might suck, she thought in her innocence.

There was a knock on the door, she supposed it was a handmaiden. She was sort of correct.

Her eyes opened wide as the girl walked into her room. "Mina?" Leia shook her head. "What are you doing here?"

"Happy birthday Princess," said Mina, her former handmaiden, the very one she had scorned and abandoned in Naboo. "So do you feel any different now that you're fifteen? I also turned fifteen, a week ago."

"I know. Why did you come back?"

"I see you're still angry with me. Viceroy Organa said you could use a good influence from someone your own age."

"I highly doubt those were his words," Leia rolled her eyes. "I guess he doesn't tire of punishing me."

"Oh come on, Princess! Don't be like that. We could be friends again."

Leia thought of how lonely the last few days had been, surrounded by the older handmaidens, tutors and servants.

"I suppose… I could forgive you, if you forgive me, too," she tried a weak smile.

Mina approached her, she gave her a hug. "All's forgotten, dear friend. Let's get ready for the party!"

This time Leia smiled fully.

It was fun having another girl of her same age. A girl who was naturally cheerful and mischievous. Besides, it really seemed like Mina had a change of heart, and for someone as starved of friendship as the teen princess of Alderaan, it was hard to refuse the company. Mina helped her smooth her dress and tighten her crown braid. Leia likewise lent her one of her many dresses. Mina dressed in a silver, Leia in a clean white, the two descended as good friends to the ballroom of the palace. Leia forgot about the previous bad feeling she had before.


Leia loved Alderaan with every fiber of her being, every bit of her soul. It was heartwarming looking at all the dancers, the decoration, the classic gowns. Listening to the traditional songs. Familiar faces and smiles. She actually thought she would enjoy her party. But as time went by more guests filled the ballroom. Royalty from different planets. Senators. And of course, she sighed, imperials. Her father had taken her from the imperial senate, yet many of them still remembered those short weeks the sweet princess walked the halls, sat in an office, and shared a podium. Most were polite to the princess, a few were shocked at learning her young age.

Her face already hurt, having stretched her muscles into a permanent smile, but she well knew how to be a proper host. No one could say that Princess Leia Organa was not a sweet and charming young lady.

There was a sudden chill, a sudden cold in the room. Leia looked around, wondering if someone had not accidently opened a window, but at once she recognized the form of the Emperor, making his way, as everyone bowed and froze before him. She was at least glad to notice Darth Vader was at last not accompanying him. The red-hooded royal guards walked steadily around Palpatine. He found his way towards her.

"Princess Leia Organa," he was gracious enough to give her a small bow. "Congratulations, may you reach even more years of life, dear girl."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," she bowed, though some might say not low enough. "Thank you for coming," she kept her fake smile, trying hard not to peek at his disfigured face.

She could barely see a smile amidst the dark hooded figure.

"Senator Organa," Palpatine said to Bail, who stood tall next to Leia, looking more like a guard than the actual ones. "I do wonder about the rushed decisions you make regarding the young girl. So quickly she entered the senate… and just as quickly she's gone."

"The princess is to go to a boarding school, Your Majesty," Bail said, his voice yet steady. Leia suppressed a gasp of shock. "Of course her future is in politics, and I do want her to learn. But she is yet so young."

"Indeed," Palpatine said, slowly. "Fifteen years old. You are as old as the Galactic Empire itself, Leia Organa," Leia felt the foreboding feeling from before come back. "Well," he smiled his wicked smile. "May both you and the Empire live long!" he cried excited. People started clapping and chanting loudly. "Long live the Empire! Long live the Princess of Alderaan!" A morbid thought crossed her mind as she watched them, I wouldn't mind dying young… if only I take the Empire to its grave with me!

The dancing continued. Leia was not to dance to mere officers here. Princes, senators, dukes and such were her partners. Many were graceful, a few were charming, none really interested her.

An hour of this later, Bail, conversing with the emperor, motioned her to join them. "We'll start showing the presents Leia," Bail said. "The emperor will begin."

"I am honored," she smiled at Palpatine, so sweetly he might have thought her genuine. I'm getting good at this.

A group of young girls appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, they were exquisitely dressed. They danced a routine that was both impressive, with many spins, jumps and pirouettes; as disturbing, the dancing girls couldn't be very old, some looked small enough to be younger than the princess herself.

The smallest one, around the same height as Leia, though a little bit more built, took a big jump, spinning as she went down, landing gracefully at the princess's feet. She had a chest, which she immediately opened, revealing a beautiful diamond necklace. "From the empire itself, Your Highness," the girl breathed, waiting for Leia to take the gift.

Leia stood watching her for some moments. She did not look at the impressive piece of jewelry, but at the girl's fiery head and bright green eyes. Mara Jade. Bail elbowed Leia and made her react. "T-thank you," Leia muttered. "Beautiful gift, the best I ever received indeed!"

Mara smiled at her, she and the dancers bowed, and stealthy disappeared.

"Hard act to follow," Mina muttered under her breath.

It really was. Leia received many great birthday presents: more jewelry, gowns, devices, food and drink… nothing that she didn't have already, or that she couldn't get by simply asking. At length, though, she finally got an interesting present.

"Who sends this?" Bail asked, as nobody showed to give it to the princess.

"It is sent from Naboo," the servant said, "From the Jemabie family."

Leia was immediately interested. She had been hurt about Darred previously, and giving the way things ended with him, she really didn't expect him to send her anything for her birthday. She repressed a smile, inside she was skipping happily.

"Very well," she said, "What is it?"

The servant laid before her an array of frames, very large, and covered with embroiled sheets.

"Paintings?" Palpatine said, "Ah yes, I remember. You said the father was doing a likeness of you?"

The large crowd gathered around, excited to look at the Nabooian art.

No one was more excited than Leia. Though she wished she could have been alone when receiving Darred and Palo's gift.

"There are three of them, Your Highness," the servant continued. "Shall I reveal them one by one?"

Leia nodded.

The servant pulled the first sheet, revealing an impressive likeness of the princess. She guessed that was Palo's doing. There were a series of "whoa! Ohhh! Beautiful!"

"Remarkable," the emperor said. "I wouldn't expect less from a Nabooian. Before we continue," everyone stopped at the old Sith's words. "Lord Vader step up, here, please."

Everyone would have probably wished they stayed silent, but, just like Leia, they couldn't help but to gasp at the mention of the Sith.

The chill Leia felt when the emperor first entered was nothing compared to the icy dagger that pierced her heart as the other Sith revealed himself from the shadows. He walked steadily, seemingly uncaring for the reactions he provoked, and simply joined his master's side. He was silent as death but for the constant breathing sounds.

Leia could fake a smile towards anyone but him. She didn't even turn to see him.

"Isn't that impressive work, Lord Vader?" Palpatine said. Leia thought his words had some poisonous meaning, which only those two could understand. "What a lovely girl you have, Senator Organa," he continued. "And I must say the artist really did her justice. Have you seen a lady fairer? But let us continue, we have two more to admire. Reveal the second one," he ordered and was promptly obeyed. Leia didn't like the fact that her servant didn't turn to her first before proceeding, but she understood that for the moment neither she nor Bail ruled Alderaan. The two Sith controlled it as they did mostly everything else.

The second painting was revealed, and the moment proved to be anticlimactic. That one's definitely Darred, Leia smiled inwardly, for a moment remembering she had, though for a brief time, felt like she truly loved that boy. He was a great mechanic, not an artist like Palo. It wasn't horrible, he got the basics: long brown locks, fair white skin, deep dark eyes, regal mien. But it was no where near as impressive, detailed or skilled as the first painting. It could be any pretty girl. Some of the crowd started dispersing, as if losing interest. Leia told the servant to go on, revealing the last painting.

For a moment, Leia couldn't decide if father or son painted that one. It was too skilled to be Darred's, yet not accurate enough to be Palo's. She walked closely to examine it. There were again the dark eyes, so alike those of the princess. The hair was brown like Leia's, but instead of being silky straight, it fell down in tighter curls. The skin wasn't as fair, but more olive toned. "That's not me," Leia decided. She was biting her nails, wondering what Mr. Jemabie had meant sending her that, then stopped embarrassed, remembering she was not alone. But turning to see the people she had left a few steps back, she was surprised at seeing them a lot more puzzled than her. She could see the horrifying shock in Bail Organa's eyes, who had momentary lost all color from his tanned face. She could even tell that under the hood the emperor had been caught by surprise and left stunned, something that perhaps he had not experienced in years. She even glanced at Darth Vader, and though he had no human features she could see, no expression anyone could read, she thought he must have looked same as the others under the mask.

Leia didn't understand their reactions. "Oh, I know," she said, almost to herself. "We talked about his favorite painting. Mr. Jemabie painted this young girl in his youth," she explained, thinking she would bring clarity to the situation. "I can see the name of the painting engraved at this corner. The Young Nabooian. How pretty, isn't it?" she still couldn't understand why they all stood there mute. What is so shocking about it? Why are they left without a word to say?

"That was a beautiful gift, take the paintings to the gallery," Leia ordered the servant.

"Wait," the voice that spoke froze both Leia and her servant in their tracks. Leia couldn't remember the last time she heard Darth Vader speak to her willingly.

The emperor started laughing, nastily. Bail seemed composed. Whatever happened to them they were prepared now to put behind. Vader still seemed in that previous state.

"Why, ha ha, Princess, have you any idea of who that young Nabooian girl might be?" Palpatine walked to her, his eyes going from Leia and to the painting.

"Yes, a girl named Padmé," Darth Vader's breathing sound hurt her ears; it drummed like a fast paced heartbeat. "Mr. Palo Jemabie was in love with her when they were teenagers, and he painted her then."

"Indeed!" Palpatine sounded delighted. "Have you any idea of what happened to her?"

"I believe she passed away—"

"Leia," Bail interrupted, but it was clear he was utterly lost and didn't know what to say.

A bit of clarity reached Leia. "Did you know her?" she asked to the three man that circled both the princess and the old painting.

There was something almost comical in the way the emperor and Bail looked at each other. But simply glancing at Vader erased all humor.

"I—I will help find a place for the paintings in the gallery," Leia said, suddenly afraid and aware. "Continue enjoying the party," through an effort she smiled to the guests. She motioned the servant to take everything and practically escaped from the ballroom.

She let out a long breath. "Thank you, sir," she said to the servant. He went back to the ballroom, but Leia thought she would need a moment before returning to everyone.

She ran upstairs and hid in her bedroom for a moment. Her droids were there.

"Is the party over already?" C-3PO asked.

"N-not exactly, I just needed a moment to myself."

"Should we leave you, Your Highness?"

"No," for the first time all night her smile was genuine.

She paced around the spacious room, trying to make sense of the scene just passed.

They knew that girl, all of them, I am sure! Padmé…

It might be a coincidence, it might just be that the name is all too common amongst Naboo girls… or it might be…

She opened the hidden compartment on the wall, and pulled out the marriage license she had stolen—err, taken, from Varykino. Anakin Skywalker. Padmé Naberrie. The two names stared at her. They brought an odd feeling to her heart. She walked back into the gallery where the paintings now hung. She paid no attention to the two portraits of herself, and focused all the attention on the girl Palo Jemabie had once loved.

"Could you have been the woman Anakin Skywalker married? The one he risked everything for? The one that caused him to break the Jedi code?"

She looked but like a child in the painting, so she tried to imagine her as a mature woman. The eyes in particular called to her. They seemed so familiar. The rest of the face was a stranger, but something made Leia think she had seen it before. "But where?"

She couldn't focus on the Nabooian for much longer. Her heart, which had been racing with emotion, almost stopped beating under her chest. She froze, feeling that a single movement would bring her end. The previously silent and safe gallery turned into a cage, where the princess felt she would die. The noise was so unbearable it was temping to scream shut up! Stop that! She didn't know whether the breathing sound could be controlled.

"So it was you," a voice said under the hurried breaths. She should turn around and face him, she thought, but terror she had never known kept her frozen. "You've been investigating. Travelling and inquiring."

The voice of Darth Vader was closer with each word.

"You went to Varykino Island. You took the marriage license."

Leia's own breathing was as noisy as Vader's.

"Is it that in your hands?"

The paper trembled amidst her small palms.

She had her back on him still. She could barely see the black glove, as it tried to pull the paper from her hands. She did not know what the hell took over her, but she clung to Anakin and Padmé's marriage license, unwilling to let it be hand over to the evil Sith. Nothing but his and her breathing resonated for a moment. Then in a blink she felt her throat close as the metal hand wrapped around it. She screamed without sound, as Vader smacked her against a wall, right next to Padmé's painting. She let go of the license and let it fall to the floor, to then bring both hands to her throat, feeling that a few more moments without air would kill her.

"What ever it is you're trying to find, Princess, I would stop now before getting any closer. Any more you find will prove..." the dark voice was yet calm but it scared her more than any screaming man ever could. "Disappointing."

Her cheeks felt wet with tears as she kept gasping for air.

"Open your eyes," Darth Vader said.

Leia had shut them tight as soon as he forced her to face him.

"Open them!" he raised his voice at last, tightening the grip around her neck.

She cried bitterly, having never felt such pain or terror. She forced her eyes open and he somewhat loosened his grip on her.

"See me, Your Highness. And think about me any time you feel curious or adventurous enough to research any Jedi. The religion is outlawed, you must be aware?"

Leia barely groaned, suffocated.

Vader smacked her against the wall again. He turned those red eyes towards the painting next to Leia, then he fixed them on the princess, staring intently. He shook his helmeted head, and removed the metal grip from the little white throat.

She fell to the ground with a harsh thud.

He watched her for a moment, gasping for air, crying loudly and petrified.

The marriage license flew from the ground and to his gloved hands.

"Is there anything else you have that perhaps you shouldn't?" he asked, caressing his lightsaber, perhaps itching to use it.

Leia shook her head frantically.

"I hope so, Princess, for your sake," was his last threat as he turned to leave, the black cape flowing in her face. The coldness of the Sith remained with the princess for a long time, even after he was gone.