Chapter XXX: Ward Of The Empire

"Don't go anywhere. I want to speak to you."

Luke and Leia stared at each other, for the first time eye to eye since they reunited in the castle; in synch they held their breaths, and turned to see their father.

Don't you dare say anything yet... Leia's eyes seemed to say.

Luke's complicit smile answered he wasn't thinking of doing it.

"Father," Luke calmly said, "anything you want of course—just remember," he cleared his throat, "Mother said nothing too serious for now."

"My Son," Anakin smiled, "I am so happy to have you back. I do agree with your mother. Even though your disappearance shook this family and the entire galaxy to its very core," he quickly said then stopped for a moment, "I believe I can wait to know why you left."

"Is it because you already know the reason?" Luke said, unperturbed.

Leia repressed the impulse to gasp.

"I will have patience," Anakin said, keeping his harmless, fatherly smile. "But anyway… I wasn't talking to you, Son."

"Uh?"

"I mean, I want to talk right now but not to you."

Now Leia couldn't hold it in and she gasped.

"My Princess," Anakin softly said, "neither with you."

The twins again stared at each other.

"I really need a conversation with my two oldest friends… Artoo, Threepio, would you please come with me to my office for a moment?"

"Uh Your Majesty," Threepio said, frightfully, "of course!"

R2-D2 beeped something along the lines.

"Wait Threepio!" Leia cried.

"Um, Artoo," Luke said nervously, "first I need to say something to you in private—"

"My children," Anakin smiled, "you might think of them as your droids, but I have to remind you, they've been with me for far longer. And I don't possess them—they're my friends. I think more loyal than even family."

Threepio looked less frightened by Anakin. The two droids walked amicably with the Emperor while Luke and Leia saw them till they disappeared from their sight.

"Well, who knows how that might go," Luke grinned.

Leia snapped her head; she glared at him fiercely and also walked away.

Luke stood alone for a moment, he considered what he ought to do next. He didn't want to go to his bedroom, he didn't want to see or speak to anybody. He walked to the garden and decided now would be a really good time to meditate.

On his way there, he ran into his mother.

"I can hardly believe it," Padmé said, struggling to keep her voice as far as possible from a scold. "Finally we are all together under the same roof again… and you all chose to be apart."

"I just want a moment alone, mother, that's all."

"I would think you've had ample of that," she sadly said. "Please Luke. Come and join me in whatever room you want—I'll call Leia and Anakin, too…"

"Father is occupied interrogating Artoo and Threepio- and I am sure Leia is also needing a moment alone," Luke said, unable of facing her.

"And what about me?" Padmé whispered. "I can't be alone anymore…"

Luke felt a lump in his throat, he looked up and regarded her bereaved expression. He took her hand and kissed her cheek. "I'm sorry, Mother—but you're strong enough for it. I'm sure." He turned to leave her and continue his way.

"Am I?" Padmé wondered aloud. "By the way," she said as he walked away, "There is another person in the castle who wants to see you."

Luke stopped dead.

"Will you ignore her as well?"

He said nothing and kept walking.

Padmé sighed, and feeling immensely lonesome and abandoned, she went to one of the drawing rooms where she knew she'd find company.

"Your Grace," Mara smiled upon seeing her enter, "how good to see you again!"

"My dear Mara, come child you must be very lonely, too."

The two women hugged, Padmé petting her like she wished to pet her own children.

"I am all right," Mara quickly said. "I suppose you're having another family meeting. Don't worry, I will leave immediately—"

"Don't move, Mara. In fact, let's call for some tea. No one's coming."

"Oh."

"I am sure you are as disappointed as I am. Have you spoken to him—to them?"

"Uh, yes I spoke to His Majesty, the Emperor, and to Princess Leia."

"Stop with the titles, you know you are a part of this family. Have you spoken to Luke?"

Mara was silent for a moment. "No."

"I suppose you were the last person he spoke to before he went away, though."

"I wouldn't know for sure."

"Do you have any idea of why he left?"

Mara stared down at her own lap. "Not really."

Queen Amidala stood up; she walked to the window and stared at the outside.

"Why don't you go talk to him?"

Mara Jade looked down still. "If he wanted to talk to me he would've done it by now. Besides, I don't want to leave you alone for now."

Padmé laughed sadly. "I am used to it by now, Mara. Much as I am sure you are. Come on, leave your pride. He's in the garden right now."

Mara seemed to consider this for a while. Finally, she rose to go. "Queen Amidala," she said with supreme respect and affection, "thank you for all you've done for me. I don't think a person has been as good to me as you have been. Thank you."

"Go, Mara," Padmé smiled.

The Queen closed the curtains and sat down, truthfully she knew that was right. But that really wasn't saying much, Mara Jade hadn't exactly many people in her life that were good. Even amidst—maybe specially amidst the Skywalkers.

At the Birth of the Empire the Jedi religion was immediately outlawed. Darth Vader begin a ruthless movement to erase all the Jedi. Force sensitive children were the next target. They were not part of the genocide, but many were taken away into special orphanages to prevent them from studying the Force. Parents were warned to never let a Jedi take their children, for then they would end up dead.

Mara Jade was a special case. She had been found when Palpatine was still alive, when the plan was to keep her to be trained in the arts of the dark side. After he was killed, Mara Jade fell into Anakin Skywalker's hands. He would've sent her away without a single care, but Padmé stopped him. She was a new mother, and so very sensible to the presence of a baby.

At first she considered adopting Mara, but she couldn't convince Anakin. Since Mara Jade was, even as a small innocent baby, a reminder of his old Master, the one who almost enslaved him, almost wrecked his life, Anakin instantly and naturally hated her.

Mara Jade couldn't be kept in Naboo with Padmé, Luke and Leia, so she was sent to Coruscant. She grew up in the castle with all the luxuries and safety Luke and Leia did. Except she could not be trained. She could not have a small bit of information regarding the Dark Side, or the Light, for that matter. By that time, Anakin had decided the Force would be exclusive for the Skywalkers.

It had been difficult for Mara to know her place in the universe, on the one hand, she was a highly educated lady, rich and privileged, on the other… the Emperor made sure to make her aware she was NOT a Skywalker. She was not in any way like Leia, the true Princess. Mara was obeyed by servants and imperials. Yet reduced to a ward, a sort of burden when Anakin was around. He made her believe she survived on his charity alone.

It was certainly a different story regarding the other Skywalkers. Padmé showed nothing but love and kindness towards her, and she often requested her presence in Naboo—when Anakin wasn't home. Luke and Leia spent time with her since infancy every time they went to the Capital City. They grew up together, and since she could remember Mara was great friends with the Princess, as they both had strong personalities. With Luke she used to fight a lot as children, though their quarrels were always resolved until Mara realized her friendship with the Prince was far stronger than the one she built with Leia.

Till it was more than that.

Mara had much hesitation about what she was about to do, yet she was determinate on doing it any way. She found her way to the Castle's Garden; from afar she could already see him like she so many times before did.

He was seated on the grass, his eyes closed, clearly deep in meditation. She told herself that she didn't want to disturb him and she should just leave him alone—but she couldn't fool herself, that was definitely not true.

AN: Remember I said Mara Jade's role would be further explained? Well there you go. I hope it didn't feel like it stopped the story purposelessly.

By the way, some people have pointed out this story shouldn't be called Queen Amidala since for most of it she hasn't really been the protagonist, but I can promise you in the end it will all draw back to Padmé becoming Queen of the Galactic Empire.

Thanks for reading!