Disclaimer: You know I wished I owned Star Wars, but until Lucas decides to adopt me (unlikely since I'm like 19 and both my parents are alive), they're all his. The "Duke" is slightly based on the Duke from the Moulin Rouge. (Mostly just like the stature, but hey) So…I think that's it
A/N This part is especially for Brasa Boris, (but also for all my other wonderful readers cause I love you all) cause you couldn't survive on that short tidbit. (And by the way guys, I'm Absolutely flattered, and you are allowed to post as many reviews as you want {For the totals though, they gotta be real reviews and not a series of 200 reviews telling me about your dog muffy}). Any ideas or tidbits you may have for me would be totally welcome! And Windsor, You are loved J
Broken Hearts, Shattered Dreams, Part 3By Aleese Sundancer
Mara looked down at her foot and sighed for the tenth time that hour. Sure, she was expecting some precautions to make sure she avoided escaping, but a chain around her ankle…that was just absurd. Reminding herself that it was for Luke, she settled back down a bit, and tried to study her datapad some more. The Duke wanted her to be completely versed with his life, likely so that she could appear the every so dutiful wife one day. Angrily throwing the pad at the wall and watching it bounce off, Mara stood up and moved to the window. Just close enough to look out with her leg still attached to the floor; she studied the entranceway to the small fortress. Below, Mara could make out the figures of several guards standing watch in the moonlight, talking amongst themselves. Moving her head to stare up at the stars, the slight garment covering her body shifted slightly under the cool breeze, and she wrapped her arms around herself further. The stars above were shimmering, seeming to be laughing at her, mocking her misery. Screaming loudly at them, from the depths of her being, she cried. She begged and yelled, demanding that they free her, that they stop their incessant laughing. She heard the rustling of the guards below and fell against the windowsill in tears, completely drained.
Turning his head, Luke turned to look up at the windowsill where he saw the slight figure screaming, her hands waving in the air at the stars. His heart was in his eyes, and he longed to scream back at them, up at her. To tell her that he would find a way, he had to. He saw her collapse on the windowsill and felt tears slide down his cheek. If anyone could make the stars stop, it would be Mara Jade.
"She is no longer of your concern," the duke said, following Luke's heartbroken gaze. "She will be alright, and I'm sure she will begin to enjoy her stay as soon as you and your family are away."
Luke was silent, and could only look up at the windowsill, seeing Mara's shoulders shaking and quivering as she let out her tears. He was still in awe that she would allow herself to be chained to the floor up, just so that they could leave early. Mara's freedom, the one thing she'd fought her life for, and she'd given it up for him. He loved her, and he longed to climb up the tower and rescue her like a Knight In Shining Armour. If it weren't for the blaster trained at his back, and the blaster concealed in her room, hidden so that at any moment she could be shot without warning, he would have. The Force still silent, for both of them, he couldn't even reach out to her to comfort her.
"Come along Skywalker, my trigger finger is getting itchy," the Duke threatened, pressing the butt of the blaster into him slightly. Grabbing him and thrusting him into the speeder, the Duke slammed the door and peered into the open window. "She does not know when you are leaving, and I will not tell her until after our honeymoon about tonight. If I even suspect that either of you has broken your word, I will kill her. I will not allow anyone to have my Mara, especially Jedi scum like you. I have kept my end, keep yours. Adieu." He said, and walked away before Luke could get in a single word. Not that he had any to say, his eyes were still trained on the windowsill and that weeping figure. He felt Leia's frail hand reach and take his, trying to comfort him.
Luke sat in his apartment, the Comm. murmuring in the background about weather and Coruscant Traffic, but he couldn't feel anything. Focus was beyond him, and he hadn't moved since he'd arrived. All through the day, the door chime had rung, over and over, but Luke hadn't moved an inch. In front of him, a small picture of Mara was on his ledge, invisible if you didn't look for it. She was sitting on a small beach near one of the lakes on Yavin four. In her hand, a datapad with some picture of an obscure animal was scrolling across, and her hair was down and blowing in the wind. She looked so relaxed, just laying there alone under the sunlight on one of her short excursions to Yavin Four for supplies. His eyes studied every curve of her body, every small stand of her red gold hair in that invisible wind. The slight smile that curved her lips, so rare that she'd only shown it to him on two occasions that he could recall. He was glad that he had taken the picture before heading out to greet her on the beach. They'd had a wonderful conversation about water, each of them reminiscing about lakes they'd visited on their journeys, her poking fun at the desert farm boy.
That was the day that he knew he loved her. He'd looked over at her, laying there in a tank top and shorts that made her look sensual, her eyes studying his. Their eyes had met, and he had just known. He loved her, and he couldn't live without her. It was several months, almost a year before he could even think about telling her of his love. For a year he'd feared her reaction, worried that he'd loose the best friend he'd ever had. And finally, 11 months 17 days and 4 hours after he'd realized the love, he knocked on her door with that bouquet of red roses. She'd smiled as he'd opened the door, and then had quickly switched to a deep frown as she studied the flowers, understanding dawning on her as to his intent. After inviting him in and putting the flowers in a vase, they sat down and he took her hands. Looking deeply into her eyes, he kissed her knuckles clumsily and murmured a soft "I love you". Disbelieving, he felt her almost stand up and he felt his face blush a deep red, ready to bolt himself. Then, as if she'd captured herself again, she leaned in and kissed him so lightly. So shocked that he could barely move, he kissed her back, luxuriating in the softness of her lips.
That night, she'd said that she loved him back and was terribly afraid of that feeling and things that could come with it. He'd murmured in her ear as he held her close that he'd never ever hurt her, that he loved her more than life itself. That was the best day of his life, and he only wished that there could be more. He wished he wasn't so powerless to do something more.
Staring at that picture one more time, he slowly pulled it close and kissed it, tears falling from his eyes again.
A/N: I know this one was sad (I really need to stop being depressed), but you'll only see it get better (possibly, ba ba bummmm) if I get another 10 reviews (cause I know you guys are totally capable of pressing the mouse a few times). I know I'm mean, but I love getting these reviews (my other stories were flops I guess so, I quit writing until this one. Now I've got renewed vigour). TTYL!