"On behalf of the House Organa
members." Leia said, regally rising to her feet. "I excuse us for a
moment."
Leia, the House Organa members, and
their honor guard walked out, along with Luke, Han, and the other
non-Alderaanians. "Han, Luke, didn't that work like a charm." Leia
asked.
"Yup, but it was funny when Han
rose and said 'I have something that will effect all council members and
Alderaanians' I have a feeling Threkin thought Han was going to say that Han
and Leia were going to get married." Luke said.
"So you felt the same stab of
panic from Threkin." Leia said.
"Yup."
"Oh, I so want to know the type
of government they decide on." Leia said.
"An inside source tells me that
they might be thinking of a constitutional Monarchy." Aunt Rogue said.
"That means our darling Leia
will become a queen." Tia said putting her arm around Leia.
Luke thought about the wording, but
then he saw it WAS sincere, there was no sarcasm, or double meaning meant with
the word Darling.
Leia groaned, then said, "well let's
not get hasty, lets first see what they decide."
15 minutes later they were called
inside. Threkin came to the podium, "By an unanimous vote we have decided
that we are going to have a constitutional monarchy."
Leia sank in her seat. "But,
please, first here the terms, we are keeping the same House, we request the
House Organa to add power behind there throne, which would make Princess Leia,
Queen Leia, but this body, the Alderaanian council, would still exist with 2
powers, one if it unanimously votes, it can oust the monarch, at which time the
House Organa must appoint someone else as King or Queen. The second power is as
an advisory committee that the monarch can turn to for advise. Now, as we
realize that we are in a galactic government, the New Republic, and our dear to
be Queen Leia has great esteem there and with her people, so if she is voted
Councilor or...maybe Chief of State, she still must carry the duties as Queen,
but can do it from Coruscant. Going back to the Council, it will be a 50 member
body, with its members elected at-large."
Leia stood up. "I shall except
this responsibility, if that is what is wanted by this council." Then Leia
looked to every single person in the room, "And I promise I shall rule
justly."
"Thank you, for
accepting the post, now as we officially begin our mourning period whenever you
decide the coronation will probably be afterward." THrekin said,
"though the Alderaanian council has decided to shift power to you and the
House Organa immediately."
"I don't believe this."
Han whispered to Luke, "its like going back in time."
"No, actually, not." Luke
said, "look at how it was even during democracy, the House Organa members
filled every position, anyhow, so I think Threkin and the rest decided it was
time to just officially put it, plus, the council still has the power to oust
the monarch, AND it can't be disbanded by the monarch so..."
But Luke could sense that Leia had
only accepted because of her duty unto the people. Leia, though, didn't show it
in her perfectly regal face and posture. "Well, we have already decided we
should have a mourning period for the 5 people who died, as well as our planet
itself. I believe it should start tomorrow, As per Alderaanian custom it should
go for 13 days per victim, but as that is 5 people, and 65 days, and many of us
have already mourned. I believe 15 days as an OFFICIAL mourning period with a
clump of three days devoted to each victim will be enough. I emphasise OFFICIAL
as all that means is that after 15 days official businesses shall open, and the
expedition to start developing Dathomir, shall begin. "
Leia stepped down and Threkin
stepped up again. "This meeting is officially adjourned, per you
permission, your highness."
Leia nodded regally, then she walked
towards the door, followed by the other House Organa members. Everyone else
rose, ceremoniously, and then after the House Organa members had gotten half
way down, they started walking out. Luke and Han noticed that Leia's hover car,
was waiting for them as the exited. They entered. "Boy, cousin Leia, you
are now QUEEN, and there is POWER behind the title." Reeca said,
excitedly.
Leia rolled her eyes, "So, Han,
still want me to marry you, because if I do you will become king."
"Well, your Highness-ness, I
love you enough, that I can take anything as long as you are at my side."
Han said.
"AAW." Alizabeth, Saty,
Senta, Reeca, Luke, and Stephaine said.
They stopped immediately as
Alderaanian media came up to Leia. "Your highness, and her to be Majesty,
what do you think of the Council's decision."
"I believe, and hope, it was
the decision of the people, and the House Organa is bound to the decision of
the people." Leia answered.
"What does this mean for your
role as adventurous."
"It means that, I will have to
wait until I get married to take risks again, or at least try to, as I have a
knack for getting into life threatening situations." She said.
"What do you think that Bail
Organa, your adoptive father, would say."
Leia concealed surprise, the media
knew of her biology and no scandals have broken out. "I do not know, but I
know this, his spirit is watching out for Alderaan." Leia said.
"Who is your biological
father."
"You do not know." Leia
asked, as gracefully as she could."
Chapter 43: We told them half of it
"Your highness, may I have a
word." Threkin said, breaking the media's cover. He bowed to Leia.
"Of course, President of
Alderaanian council." Leia said, glad for a chance not to answer that
question.
THrekin climbed in the car, keeping
his head low. "Luke, please start the car."
Luke did so. "Princess, and to
be majesty-."
"Just Princess until the
coronation, please."
"Begging your pardon, Princess.
Your Aunt told all the Alderaanian people your biology this morning, we
decided, unanimously, not to hold it against you. Those media people just
wanted an official statement. Please inform us, when you want this statement
made."
Leia took a deep breath, "As
you know, this does not just effect me and the Alderaanian people, it effects
all New Republic people, and...another."
Threkin frowned,
"another."
"Aunt didn't tell you the
rest."
"She said, there was a portion
she was leaving out, because it wasn't her place to state that because it
didn't not directly relate to you, Alderaan, or the council."
"Well, it isn't my place to
state that without talking to this...other, Threkin, before I make a public
statement, I must take with this other, and the Provincial council. Then I will
make a public statement."
"Yes, your highness, we shall
wait. Also, I hope you don't mind the burden we placed on your shoulders, we
just felt that the people anyways trusted the House Organa, as did the New
Republic figures, this way we could avoid entanglements with either."
"I will admit,
I didn't expect this, but I will accept it."
"Your highness, I will take
your leave now."
"Let us drop you home."
"Your highness, begging your
pardon, but.."
Chapter 44: Our father is Darth
Vader
Leia put a hand on Threkin's
shoulder. Luke was already slowing the car down. Threkin stepped out, bowed to
Leia. Then the car took off. "All right, Luke, do you want me to carefully
avoid the mention of your part in all this, or..."
"Leia, I think this is the
Force's message that the right tine has come, so I shall come with you to the
Provincial council, this way if the decide to hold it against us, it will be at
least two of us standing together."
Leia reached out and put a hand on
Luke's arm. "I am with you both as well." Han said, reaching over and
covering Leia's hand with his own. Then CHewie also put his hand. Stephaine
reached over, as did Alizabeth, Senta, and Saty. Reeca was too little to reach.
Then Leia took away her hand, called Mon Mothma, who had heard about Leia being
chosen queen. Mon Mothma congradulated Leia. "Mon Mothma, there is
something i MUST say to the Provincial Council, and admsission, with Jedi
Skywalker at my side. As I also must make a public statement about it this
evening, may I have a time this afternoon."
"Leia, yours and the Jedi's
words are always welcome in this council, come on down, now if you wish."
"We shall be there in 30
minutes." Leia said, breaking the connection. She then called Aunt Rogue
and told her. Aunt Rogue wished both of them good luck.
"Well, Luke." Leia said,
taking a deep breath as they reached the Council's room, "this is it, we
either are shamed out of society or we have a weight off of our
shoulders."
In reply Luke put an arm around
Leia's shoulder. The stood there like that for a moment, basking in the
brother/sister connection for a moment. Then Leia smiled up at Luke, and Luke
withdrew his arm smiling down at Leia. The entered the room. "Leia, this
council received yours and Luke's wish to address us, and as a fellow member of
this august body yourself...and Jedi Skywalker as an esteemed persons yourself
we bid you welcome."
Luke took a deep breath. "Luke
and I came to you with an admission, as you know I am only an adoptive
princess, and Luke was only adopted by Owen and Beru Lars."
Luke took up the tale. "Our
real father was Anakin Skywalker...the man who let himself be consumed by the
dark side, and turned into....Darth Vader." Luke paused as the news sunk
in and every person in the room gasped
Leia then took it up, "We don't
know who our mother is, we are here requesting that you not hold our biology
against us, but if you do, or would like to, please state any punishment you'd
like, we shall accept it, if it be exile, we shall leave the New Republic
space, for good."
"I have one question, and call
on a Jedi oath to back it up, Jedi Skywalker, when you said it was Darth Vader
who killed the Emperor was the Filial instinct talking, or was it true."
"On a Jedi Knight's oath, it
was Anakin Skywalker who killed the Emperor. Anakin Skywalker again prevailed
over Darth Vader, he apologized before dying, for all the atrocities he had
committed as Darth Vader, and was the one who instigated his death by asking me
to remove his mask."
The Councilor who had asked this
question sat down and Jan Dadonna stood up. "Luke, Leia, many in this room
and in the Rebel Alliance knew the truth, though you were at the moment
unaware." he looked around at his fellow councilors, "if you wish to
hold Luke and Leia's biology against them, there is another part of there
biology you must consider. It wasn't popular knowledge that ANAKIN SKYWALKER
was Darth Vader, it was actually, as you all know supposed that Anakin was
killed by Darth Vader. Luke, Leia, that was also a reason many of my Colleagues
gasped..."
"...and I ask you to look at
your Data Pad's and see who Anakin was married to. I know, Ami made Mon Mothma,
Bail, Rogue, Tia, Rainier, and Garm promise on her deathbed that they would
never tell her twins who she was, but she extracted no such oath from me and I
want you two to know that there is a part of your biology to be proud of. So I
ask this council to accept this fact and move on."
"But, as the marriage licenses
would have to be accessed and it would have to be proven beyond doubt, we must
at the moment only rule on the first part. Not that I don't believe it, but
this council must put protocol and precedent before emotion." Councilor
Threkin Horm said, taking the spot for Mon Mothma, who was looking haunted, as
if by a bad memory.
In the next twenty minutes it was
unanimously voted that biology should not be held against anyone.
"Well." Leia said, "That went well, looks like we might actually
find out who our mother was."
"Yeah." Luke said, "I
think Mon Mothma knew her."
"Yeah, but until we know more
about our mother...in the public statement lets make it brief, our father was
Anakin Skywalker turned Darth Vader, we ask that you all don't hold this
against us, but if you do, please come and tell us that and what you want us to
do about it."
"Agreed, then we can ask
General Dadonna to explain more about our mother, and take care of that
angle."