Title: Broken Fairy Tales
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story. They are the property of George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd.
Summary: Padmé's thoughts after Obi-Wan takes Luke to Tatooine.
I remember when I was little, the tales that my mother used to tell me. In these tales, either the handsome prince or the daring knight would rescue the beautiful princess. Then they would get married, and live forever in happiness.
I used to pretend that I was that princess. Even after I started on my training, I still wished that would happen. I got my wish, but now I want to take it back.
No, that's not true. I look down at the small bundle in my lap. As if noticing my change of focus, my daughter's face splits into a grin, and she lets out a giggle. Some things are worth it, no matter what the cost.
Her brother is safe, my darling son. Hiding in plain sight. Will my husband even consider looking there?
A tear runs down my cheek. I've lost my husband and my son. And now I must surrender my daughter. She cannot be found with me. Her life may or may not be in danger, but her soul is another matter.
Could he do that, corrupt his own children? Kill his own children? I want to say no, but after all that he has done, I am unsure. He turned on Obi-Wan, a man who was like a father to him.
He will never stop searching for me. But he cannot search for what he does not know exists. Our children will be safe, even if they never know how much I love them.
"Once upon a time, there was a beautiful queen," I said. "During one of her travels, someone decided they wanted to hurt the queen. A brave knight was assigned to protect the queen. The queen and the knight fell in love and were married."
I want to give my child something, if nothing more than a story. A slightly adjusted version of my own story is all I can think of.
"They had two beautiful children, a boy and a girl. Bad things happened, and the knight was killed. The queen went to confront the man, a dark knight, who had slain her husband. No one knows what happened to her. The girl became a princess and the boy a farmer, two very different lives. They grew up."
Where to now? I can't just leave it like this.
"The princess married a man she fell in love with and became a great leader. The boy defeated the dark knight, becoming a great knight himself. He married a beautiful and smart woman."
I don't know where I am coming up with this. It just feels right.
"And all of them lived forever in happiness."