Title: Breaker of Chains

Prompt: chain

Summary: Jabba has caught himself a young dragon.

A Tatooine Slave Culture ficlet (once again, check out Fialleril) set during Return of the Jedi, because Leia is so very aptly named, even if she's mostly managed to avoid the sand so far. Others in this verse (although really, since I stumbled across I tend to assume it just exists in the background of whatever star wars fic I read) include cause I know I'll kill my enemies when they come from me, in this collection and The Right of Movement, which is its own fic and might become a verse in and of itself. Because that is a thing that keeps happening, apparently.


Depur has captured a freewoman. She is an angry, prickly thing, as those born free often are when chained. Has not yet learned to hide such things. Grandmother has only the time to learn her name while preparing her with food, clothing and warning enough to perhaps keep her alive. Leia. It is a good name. She shares it with the desert's eldest daughter. Strong. Perhaps strong enough to keep her alive in Jabba's palace. And if that is not the case, well ... dukkra ba dukkra. High roads and low road, sand and stars. There is more than one way to freedom.

Oola dies. Depur's favour, and it's fragile protection, fades. The rancor feasts. A kind of freedom achieved, and life continues for the rest of those in the palace. There are drinks to be served, food to be prepared, sand to be swept away. There are always more dancers. There will always be more dancers, until the mother cries and there are no more chains left to break. Until that day, their labor continues.

A stranger dressed in black arrives out of the desert at the gates of Depur's palace. Lukka, he calls himself. Skywalker. And Jedi. He arrives free, and by Depur's will his chains are remade, but the Amavikka watch. Does not Ekkreth slip themselves into Deupr's clutches? The chain has not been made that could hold the trickster.

And perhaps he is just a man.

Ekkreth in chains and the smuggler Solo taken to the great hunger. Depur takes the dragon who walked free with him, chained to his side. She has learned to hold her teeth within her mouth, though none could mistake her for one who is chained in mind.

The palace settles into the slower rhythm of absence. With the appearance of work, they find a degree of respite.

The barge doesn't return. Depur doesn't return.