AU where Prince Luke has an encounter with a certain Emperor's Hand down on her luck...
The once royal capital of Theed had been a ghost town now for more than thirty years, ever since the Trade Federation's invasion. These days, its remnants stood nearby to Amidala Nova, the city built by Palpatine to replace it and cement his own legacy.
Sore of heart and fighting tears, the Emperor's Hand drifted amongst the crumbled ruins of the ancient Royal Palace. Only when alone in the midst of such mass destruction, death and ruin, could she trust herself to ponder what was left of her fate. Oh, how could His Majesty treat her so! How could he abandon her now, after all she had done for him?
As she walked, Mara noticed a man in imperial uniform headed towards the same direction; through the shimmer of her tears, she could only muse if he were real or a mere figment of her imagination. At first she looked around furtively for a place to conceal herself, but the man was quick and by the time she had figured a suitable location he had almost reached her.
Where at first all she could see were the whites of an Imperial Admiral, the details of his face soon swam into focus as he drew nearer. Crowned with a cap of luxuriant gold hair, his profile was at once smooth and yet beautiful, stern yet gentle, young and yet dignified; his eyes on the other hand were a perfect spring sky, and his smile warmer than the gentle Naboo sun. Mara Jade looked upon him in wonder, mouth falling open.
In truth, Luke too had needed an escape from Court; sometimes people wearied him, no matter how well intentioned their actions or unassailable their loyalty. Soaking up the sun, he lifted his face to the cloudless sky and let his mind wander without direction, something he didn't have the opportunity to do very often.
It may have been because he had permitted himself this grace of liberty that a sense of loneliness invaded him; at times in his busy life he would become conscious that no one in it was there truly just for him—he had Leia and Han of course, and yet he craved something different. A partner both in spirit and in life, like how Father had described Mother at times during his childhood…
He soon became aware that someone else was also walking through the desolate sandstone stumps of Theed, a woman who, upon the sight of him, had first looked ready to flee before finally sitting down on a broken pillar; the tears on her cheeks glinting madly in the strong light.
At first Luke thought her a mere visitation, then, pausing, acknowledged that she was real. The most bewitching face turned first to him, then stared at the ground. Where her red-gold hair glimmered as it curled around her shoulders, it was her brilliant green eyes that took his breath away; no jewels adorned her, and yet nothing else could even suggest humble origins. This was truly a unique lady before him, such that even within his bones he could feel the Force itself screaming it.
Speak to her, it told him. Break the spell!
"Am I disturbing you, my lady?" he asked, a wonderful smile etched upon his face.
"No, no!" she gasped, hurriedly wiping the last of the tears from her face. "No!"
He sat down next to her, a quizzical expression caught in his gaze; she had never seen such amazing blue eyes before. "For a moment I could have sworn you were the blessed Shiraya herself," he said, "and now I see grief that might be mourning for the fate of Theed. But you aren't a goddess—not yet at least. Perhaps one day I may turn you into one."
Mara didn't understand, thinking him slightly mad. Yet in an instant, as if the universe itself was sending her a sign, she felt a feeling in her heart so powerful it would be perilous to deny it.
"I came here because I needed a place to think," she said at last, trying to keep her voice steady. "And I've always wanted to see the ruins."
"My father once fought in a war alongside my mother here once, amidst the desolation… It wasn't long before they too were caught up in the war that spread afterwards, creating ruins like this throughout the galaxy."
"And have you done that too?" she asked, trying to make sense of him.
"Not when I could avoid it. Personally, I'd rather build than destroy… Though I swear I will never rebuild Theed… this is my monument to you."
More madness! "Now you're just mocking me…."
"How could I poke fun, when I've seen your tears?… Tell me, my lady, why is someone as beautiful as you weeping alone among these ruins?"
"Self-pity," she answered honestly "I came here alone to not burden others."
"The answer of a good imperial citizen," he remarked calculatingly, 'You are a good imperial, aren't you?"
She sighed, glancing bitterly towards her engagement ring. "I love His Majesty as if he was my own father… but sometimes it can be so hard."
"It wouldn't have to be, if I was your husband… Who is your betrothed?"
"Gallius Rax."
His breath hissed in anger. "Ah… I see. That one. And your name?"
"Mara… Mara Jade…"
His eyes flickered with recognition. "Of course. The Emperor's Hand… he's mentioned you before."
"Not anymore. He's casted me aside now."
"A mistake then, surely. Even His Majesty may be infallible in his judgment at times."
"There was once a time when I would have cursed you for saying such." Her black lashes dropped. "Now however, I'm inclined to agree with you on that," she said— Shavit, what was happening to her? What made her tell a complete stranger that?
"Do you want to escape your engagement?"
"Yes, and no."
"Why yes?"
"I hate him. I've never met him but I hate how the Emperor could offer me to him as if I was nothing!"
"…And why no?"
Mara sighed. "Because serving the Empire is all I know. The Emperor spoke to me before I came here, and threatened to cast me aside if I disobeyed. I came here afterwards to console myself."
"I've just come from Court, but I didn't see you there."
"Nor I, you."
A comfortable silence soon fell between them, honeyed and serene. Even amidst the ruins, the tranquility of Naboo could not be denied. Just being there could bring the soul into sweet surrender; and at once, a feeling of clarity and purpose seemed to descend on the both of them.
I am in the grip of an enchantment, Mara wondered to herself. "I feel as if I could sit here forever," she said with a husky drawl.
"And I too, as long as I knew you were with me."
Fearing that he would move to touch her and she would not have the strength to push him away, she broke the mood in as brisk a tone as she could dare make. "You wear the uniform of an officer, and yet you're almost as young as I am… Are you one of Tarkin's men?"
He laughed then, though not unkindly, his barks ringing among the trees. "I am no crony, Mara… my name is Luke Skywalker."
She jumped to her feet in surprise. "You're Prince Luke?"
"I decline to answer to that name," he said, but not angrily. "By His Majesty's command, one day I will be Emperor. But with you, at this moment and time, I'll prefer to just be called Luke "
"My betrothed is your sworn rival."
"Gallius?" He laughed, genuinely mirthful now. "Galli is a nothing to me."
"Not according to the Emperor. By his command, Gallius Rex is to be my husband… and the arbiter of my fate."
"We will see… truly you deserve so much better, Mara. A woman with your abilities should be armed among the Empire's best, not relegated to its shadows."
"Is that how you think of your own wife?" she asked as he stood up. "The Emperor married you to Princess Trios, didn't he?"
"We'll see how long that arrangement lasts." Turning towards her, he reached up to help her down. "I'm truly sorry to say this but I have to go now, Mara."
"I'm sorry too, Luke."
They turned to walk together towards the direction of Amidala Nova.
"I'm on my way to rendezvous with Lord Vader on Mustafar." he said at the fork in the path. "This was supposed to be a prolonged campaign, but having met you, I now know my true fate. I'll be back before Empire Day." His smile had an earnest promise to it. "And when I return, Mara… I will marry you."
The initial idea for this scene actually involved an Imperial-raised Luke grappling with the thought of joining forces with Vader against the Emperor. Of course after reading fics like Unexpected Consequences by KLCtheBookWorm, there was no way Mara Jade wouldn't be a part of this!
Also, as mentioned previously, the next chapter will be a sequel to the first one.