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: okay, I give in. I didn't get the 10 reviews I had wanted but 7 is great, so I'm not complaining!! Enjoy! I know this one is short, but hopefully it'll tide you over for another 7 reviews.
Broken Hearts, Shattered Dreams, Part 3By Aleese Sundancer
As the 'big' day approached, Mara sunk deeper and deeper into her depression. The walls of her suite seemed to be growing smaller by the day, and her restlessness increased rapidly. The only things she looked forward to each day was her visit from the Duke, or as she'd nicknamed it 'daily torture', the three visits from the servant girl who brought her food, and the occasional time that the guards would knock on the door and peak in if the room seemed to eerily quiet. If not for the chain and the blaster that she'd figured was pointed at her day long, she'd have had plenty of opportunities to escape. Unfortunately, she also realised that the Duke had assassins watching over Luke, and that to escape would only kill him and leave her in worse shape.
"Ms. Jade?" came a timid call from the door. "I've come to bring you your lunch, I hope that you are decent."
"Yes, come in Allie. I'm decent." She called back. Mara couldn't help but be relieved. While Allie, the servant girl, was very quiet and timid, at least she was someone to talk to. Normally, Mara Jade wouldn't associate with a girl this meek, but she was a good listener and seemed to enjoy Mara's company as much as Mara enjoyed hers.
Allie came in and put the tray of food on the small table, and sat down across from Mara. She smiled sunnily and folded her hands on her lap. Mara studied the contents of the tray wearily and took a few bites. The chef was not original. Every day the same salt-less stew that made her nose wrinkle, but at least it was food and there was enough of it.
Allie looked around quickly, and then pulled something out of her pocket. "Ms Jade, I need to beg your forgiveness." Allie said, hiding what was in her pocket. Mara almost stood up and ducked, thinking it was a blaster, but chose instead to stare at her calmly. The Duke would not send a serving girl to do his dirty work.
"Why would you need my forgiveness?" she asked, looking her over.
"I've stolen from the Duke, and since you will be his wife, I've stolen from you too. Will you forgive me?" Allie said, her eyes looking nervous, but still calm.
"Yes, of course. Feel free to steal from the Duke whenever you want." Mara said nonchalantly, glad it was something so…non-threatening. "What did you take?"
Grinning widely, Allie produced her stolen artefact. It as a small porcelain saltshaker. Mara just about let out a girlish scream at the thought of salt in her food again. "Salt!!!"
"I didn't think you'd mind if I stole it for you." Allie said, her smile blooming on her face. Mara stood up and wandered over, and hugged her close.
"You have no idea, Allie. You've made everything so much better. Thank you."
Leia stared at Luke; he was motionless and hadn't eaten since they'd arrived. Using the family clearance code, she'd finally gotten into his apartment, and tried to talk to him. It was useless, he was worse without Mara than he was without Callista.
"Luke, please, just eat, alright? We'll take you out somewhere nice, and get some food in your stomach." Leia tried again, putting his jacket around his shoulders.
"Leia, he's not going to eat that way. He isn't even blinking that way." Han put in. Leia sighed and stood back. "Look, kid, if you wanna save your lady friend, you're going to need to eat so you don't faint."
Luke's eyes flickered to his slightly, and then back to the same spot. A small whisper escaped his lips. "I can't save her."
Leia and Han stared at him and emitted another sigh. They knew as well as he did that even trying to save her would result in both their deaths. If anyone could find a way to save her, it would be Luke. But if anyone could save Luke, it would have had to be Mara.
"Uncle Luke, Aunty Mara will be okay." Anakin said, looking up at him with the sea blue eyes. Luke's own blue eyes flickered back to Anakins, looking at him intently. "She's gotta be, so that we can have our cousins." Luke only moved his eyes back to the picture.
"The IV will keep him alive for a while, until he chooses to eat again. I still recommend hospitalization." The doctor said from the background. "I don't know how safe it is to have him here unsupervised."
"We'll watch over him. Thank you doctor."
A/N: Okay, I need another 7 reviews (aka 29 reviews) for part three, which I will be working on later today so I can post it for all of you. Enjoy