Disclaimer: Yeah, you know which one's are Lucas's and which ones are mine. If not, ask and I'll clarify for ya.
A/N: I just want to absolutely thank you all for your support after that, especially those who suffered through my rant. It's so nice to know that you guys are there for me, and understand why I was doing what I did. You guys are so wonderful, I'd give you all hugs if you were here and it wouldn't be very awkward.
So here's another part. I'll try to add more 'broth' (time hasn't been on my side, so I haven't had much time for the broth, but thank you for reminding me! I do appreciate all ideas!) PS: I'll try to answer all your questions in this part, forgive me if I don't. Besides…I hated physics, does it HAVE to apply? (As well, as to whether or not Aleese is Mara's mother, I will make that really clear in the next few parts. But you guys are too smart for me. I'm also gonna repost my old story for you guys so you can re-read it!)
Broken Hearts, Shattered Dreams, Part 9By Aleese Sundancer
Mara was completely surprised. She hadn't even noticed the room didn't have the force, or the obvious figures in the hidden rooms. Usually her instincts were better than that, but her lack of attention was easily blamed on the confusion surrounding them. How the hell did the Duke find them? It was impossible. They'd done so many micro jumps, and this small planet of Naboo was a completely random planet. There was no way they could have followed them. There had to be…
"Allie!" Mara practically screamed, all her hurt leaking into her betrayed cry.
"I'm sorry, Mara." Allie said, coming out of the small bathroom. "It wasn't…"
"Silence Girl." The Duke said, shutting her up. Allie opened her mouth as if to say more, but then quickly shut it and nod. Her head faced the ground and tears could be seen dripping down. "Now Mara, come here." He said. All around her, she could hear the sounds of blasters being hefted and aimed. "I don't want to create any more of a scene than I have to."
"But, why did you do it Allie? You…I thought…" Mara said, finding herself oddly speechless. The Duke cleared his throat and stepped forward.
"Ignore the girl. She will be rewarded for her service. And you my dear, will come with me to the church down the street. WE are going to get married, right now."
"No!" Luke said, stepping in front of Mara. The sounds of clicking could be heard from the blasters Safeties being shut off. Luke didn't care and ignored the sound. "She isn't going to give into your demands. She's a free woman and she can marry who she wants!"
Mara would have laughed at the freedom fighter speech, if it weren't for the fact that every blaster in the room was hefted at the one man she loved. She put her arm delicately on his and moved him aside. She slowly reached up and kissed him passionately, then nodded at the Duke. The Duke came and took her arm, leading her out of the room. Luke was in complete shock, from the kiss, from Mara just walking away. He turned swiftly and reached out to Mara, trying to get her arm, but was promptly grabbed by the guards and thrown at the wall. He fought them until he was beyond exhaustion. Even he couldn't take on a dozen men in a forceless room. After being hit on the back and kicked to lie on the ground, he started weeping, screaming her name out. The guards stopped, and simply binded him to the chair, acknowledging the heartbreak going through his battered man. Allie knelt beside him and started tending to his wounds careful, but was stopped when Luke, with his last ounce of strength, pushed her away and called out for Mara again.
Mara's heart broke when she heard Luke's woeful cries from behind her. The Duke was holding fast to her arm, and directed her out of the building to a small church down the street. She couldn't stand the thought of Luke dying. It was just…she wouldn't have been able to stand it. She loved him, and no matter her pride and her sense of freedom demanded it, she wouldn't let him die for her sake. At least with him alive, she could still hope that they'd find a way to be together.
The street was almost empty, just a few people walking by. An elderly couple smiled at the two, and the Duke smiled back as they walked past. Mara couldn't even take her eyes off of them. Mara knew she would not be able to live to that age. She was beginning to doubt that she would even see her next birthday. No. No she had to. She had to find a way to get out of this marriage, to get with Luke. To be with Luke, and hold Luke as she'd held him on the ship. They'd find another way; after all they already did once. They'd find another way…
In the small church, she was directed to a small change room. She looked around and found her wedding dress hanging on a small hook. The stains from walking through it were still there, but it still looked beautiful. She wanted to spit on it, and run, but the room had no window and there were another set of guards outside. She stared at it, and touched the fringe gently. This was all for Luke. It was all for that future that she'd wanted with him. Whispering these soft words to herself, she put it on. She wouldn't shed a tear; she was saving Luke's life. That was all that mattered.
Allie cried gently, sitting on the floor a short way from Luke. She could feel his heart breaking with every broken cry that came from his mouth. He didn't stop moaning for her, even as he ran out of energy. The guards had tied him to a chair, and he was still struggling with what little energy he had left. Allie wanted to help him, and when she'd tried he'd pushed her away. She couldn't blame him, what she'd done was horrible. She wanted so much for Mara to be with Luke, but she couldn't let them kill her daughter. She didn't know how the Duke had found out about her little girl, but he had and was threatening to kill her. She rarely ever even saw the girl, since she'd given her up for adoption when she was newborn. She'd been too young a mother, and didn't want to raise her children on her meagre wages. It was the right thing to do, but now that little girl was her downfall. At least they'd all live. She'd be there to help Mara get over Luke.
There was nothing she could do for Luke though. He was almost unconscious now, small moans and small struggles still came from him, but he'd been tired before he'd entered the suite and having fought so hard against twelve men just wore him out. Allie longed to untie him, and help him to save Mara, but the picture of her little girl floated into her head, the small red marks from a whip on her sides, her eyes begging for her help. She wasn't lying when she told Luke she was homesick. She just wasn't telling him exactly why. Acting could be a curse.
The walkway to the altar was shorter than she'd expected, and as she stared down it, it seemed to grow even shorter. She turned and looked behind her at the exit, and her body almost turned to run, but she steeled her spine. For Luke, this was for Luke. She turned back to the altar and started walking down it. Every step was laboured, preceded with a small whisper to urge her on. And then, it seemed so quick, she was there. She was in complete disbelief. She was standing at the altar, in a wedding dress, with the Duke beside her. The tears came, just two, falling down her cheeks. Her heart thumped, and she turned again and started moving back to the door, her fear coming into play. The Duke grabbed her arm and turned her back, his grip like a vice. He turned her to face the minister and he began. She could barely even hear the words, her head turning about for a way to escape, all of her strength put into not tearing her arm away from the Duke and running. For Luke, she had to do it for Luke.
"And do you, Mara Jade, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?" the Minister said, turning to her and capturing her gaze. Mara stopped struggling and stared at him. Did she? Could she really do this? Even for Luke? This was the point of no return. She stared at him, and couldn't move her mouth. She was about to turn around again, when she felt the Duke pull at her arm painfully. Dimly she heard the sound of a blaster safety, a soft reminder that Luke was still in his control and could be killed at the slightest signal. Her eyes went back to the ministers and another tear fell down her face.
In a soft whisper she reminded herself "for Luke" and then she nodded. The Minister looked at her sadly and motioned with his eyes that she had to agree verbally. She looked at him painfully and then whispered again,
"I do."
AN: I'm just mean, aren't I. It isn't over yet (hehehe, I'm too much of an L/M fan to stop here!) so don't give up on the story! Please review me, ask me questions, give me ideas, lend support, whatever you like!! I love you all. And, I like the number…72? Yeah, 72's a nice number. But…you know…whatever ;-)