Well two weeks. I've got an update! Yes! I'm so happy! I'm updating... Okay I'll stop now.
I'd just like to say that for covering three days this chapter feels too quickly paced. I have a serious pacing issue, but perhaps it's fine. There was going to be a Rogue One reference, but there wasn't room for it. So next chapter.
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Leia sat silently in her room after Vader has dropped her off and immediately departed, not allowing her the opportunity to ask the questions weighing on her mind. For over an hour she waited for him to return as she busied herself with a datapad and browsing the holonet. She grimly read the articles detailing her dad's crimes and the upcoming plans for the execution. Oh, she didn't want to, but she needed to know what was happening to her dad.
A dark presence revealed itself in the Force and Leia set the datapad aside. Lord Vader has returned. Hesitantly she slipped out of her room so that she could meet him. Waiting in front of the door, she expected him to storm out. That wasn't what happened though.
Leaning on Caden, Lord Vader limped inside the complex. Through the Force, Leia could feel his exhaustion and pain. Startled, she stepped back. A hurt Vader wasn't something that she could understand.
The helmet tilted upwards and she could feel the eyes boring into her, "Leia," he hissed, the voice strangely distorted.
His Force presence washed over her and she smiled slightly. It roamed over her as if to ascertain she was alright and wrapped around her. She could feel twinges of pain from him and wondered what was the cause. Lord Vader's hand reached forward and trailed along her face, surprisingly gentle.
Then Caden stumbled slightly and the Force presence around Lord Vader suddenly became subdued. He had passed out.
Shocked, Leia turned to Caden, "What happened?"
He groaned slightly as he attempted to drag Vader's limp body forward, "The Emperor."
Leia bit her lip slightly as she looked at him, weak for once, "Was it my fault?"
Caden gently lowered Vader to the ground and muttered to himself, "Damn, he's heavy," before turning to Leia, "I don't know what happened. The Royal Guards were carrying him back on a stretcher when I ran into them. I was about to talk to them when," he looked down at Vader, "I guess he woke up because he threw the guards into the wall before trying to walk off on his own."
Leia nodded grimly and knelt besides Lord Vader, gently prodding him with her finger. He didn't even twitch.
Caden let out a long sigh, "How the hell am I supposed to get him to his room?"
Looking up in surprise, "His room? He needs to go to the medbay."
The clone shook his head, "He's got medical equipment there and I hardly think any medbay would want him."
Both of them looked down at Vader wondering what to do. Caden arched his back and walked over to the legs, "Grab a leg Leia. I think we're gonna have to drag him there."
As they began to drag Lord Vader to his room, Leia mused that they must have made a comical sight; the fearsome Sith Lord being dragged on the floor.
Slowly they entered his room and numerous droids began to hover around Lord Vader. Caden gently guided Leia away, "There's not much more we can do Leia."
Leia threw one worried look at Lord Vader before allowing herself to be guided away. She remembered how Lord Vader has stood up for in the throne room against the Emperor. He had been willing to fight for her and while it made her happy, it also confused her. When he first entered the room he had ignored her completely, the picture of a willing and obedient servant. Perhaps, she mused it was because Lord Vader feared the Emperor, yet he had responded with violence when the Emperor threatened to refuse him custody. Nothing made sense.
"Caden," she whispered hesitantly, "What is the Emperor to Lord Vader?"
"Leia," he replied softly and in the tone of one who didn't want to offend, "You may not want to address him as Lord Vader, he's your father and he wants to legally adopt you. You need to appear to be completely loyal."
She nodded and trailed her hand over the wall, "I guess, but it feels like I'm betraying Daddy. He raised me and it feels weird to call Lord Vader father."
Caden turned to face her completely, "Leia… you're going to have to. Even if he wasn't your father you'd have to."
Feeling slightly stupid, she asked, "Why?"
Caden let out another sigh and took off his helmet, his face serious, "Because you're going to be in the Imperial court and any sign of weakness on Lord Vader's part or your's will be taken advantage of. Despite your father being convicted of treason, you're still the heir to the throne."
Leia turned away, her voice slightly cold, "You mean people want to have control over me. Through any means."
Caden nodded before putting on his helmet, "I have business to attend to. Stay out of trouble."
"Yes sir," she replied and gave him a mock salute.
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Vader opened his eyes and saw the usual world of red. Droids hovered around him and he hated them to the side. The last thing he could remember was seeing Leia. Ignoring the pain and with aid from the Force, he stood up. His legs creaked in protest and he frowned to himself as he surveyed his body. It would have to undergo major repairs. His Master had nearly destroyed it. The only thing working somewhat normally was his respirator. It wouldn't suit his Master to have his apprentice die.
Experimentally, he tried to take a step forward. The metal buckled and Vader quickly leaned against the wall. He had so much work to do. Carefully, he straightened and observed the damage.
His respirator was wheezing slightly, but that should be an easy fix. Most worrisome was the fact that his hands were unresponsive. He'd have to repair those first otherwise the rest of the suit would be impossible. Otherwise, his legs need to be reinforced and his elbows didn't rotate correctly. To completely repair his suit would take more than two days and he needed to be presentable for the execution.
As he remembered the execution his mind returned to his daughter. It had been worth it to stand against his Master for Leia. He'd do it again despite knowing that a similar punishment would definitely kill him. Reaching into the Force, he looked for Leia and felt her bright presence in her room and her distress. Figuring that his body could wait, he began to limp out of the room with blatant use of the Force to insure he didn't collapse. Slowly he approached her room and used the Force to palm open the door. There on her bed, was his daughter. He took a moment to observe her and wondered how he could have been so blind. She looked so much like Padmé.
Leia, registering his presence, turned to him and observed him in turn but her face twisted in horror. Aghast, she screeched, "Why in the world are you walking out and about. You look like hell!"
He stared at her in surprise and in a stupor watched as she walked over to him and grabbed his hand, attempting to drag him along.
"I'm fine," he wheezed as Leia tried to get him to move.
He brown eyes narrowed at him, "You don't sound fine and I didn't even know that was possible!"
"I'm fine," he reiterated and attempted to fold his arms, but the treacherous limbs locked.
Leia raised her eyebrows as she gestured to his arms resting at an unnatural angle, "Obviously."
Vader narrowed his eyes, annoyed, "Sarcasm doesn't suit you."
"You're getting your suit fixed," Leia replied.
"I will."
"Now," she hissed.
She reminded him so much of Padmé as she stood there in defiance. There was the way she scrunched her nose in annoyance and how her eyes narrowed just like Padmé. It was painful to look at her as she glared at him defiantly, so reminiscent of Padmé on a mission.
He resisted the urge to sigh and shoved the painful memories aside. It was time to put Padmé aside; she didn't matter anymore. What mattered now was his daughter and she would be his forever. No one would be able to take her from him and he'd destroy those who would. The darkside rushed through him as he thought of someone trying to take her.
"Fine Leia," He conceded and noticed the slight apprehension on her face as he drew on the darkside.
Despite living together, she wasn't used to the darkness and still recoiled from it. As he turned around to return to his room, he was pleasantly surprised that Leia followed him.
The door slid closed and he gingerly sat down. Levitating the necessary tools around him. His daughter watched in awe as he carefully manipulated them.
"Father?" The whispered query reached him.
Around him, the formerly floating tools, clattered to the ground as he turned to face Leia, his concentration broken. He looked at her stunned and a strange feeling in his chest; she had called him father.
"Daughter?" He replied, hesitant.
He could feel her anxiety and watched as she nibbled on her lip, "Did," she paused and inhaled, "Did the Emperor…hurt you because of … me?"
"No Leia, he hurt me because of my defiance," he paused and tried to soothe her through the Force, "In no way is it your fault."
She nodded, slightly reassured although her eyes trailed along the obvious damage on the suit. Leaning down, she picked up one the tools and handed it to him. He narrowed his eyes slightly as she avoided looking at him directly. There was something else on her mind.
"Leia," he rumbled, "What is it?"
Pursing her lip, she looked contemplatively at him as he began to fix his hands before speaking, "Why did Daddy get arrested?"
He quelled his anger at Leia's term of endearment for the traitor, "He found about one of the Emperor's little pet projects and had to be… taken care of."
She frowned at him, "That isn't right… you've got to do something. You need to save him."
Unshed tears glittered in her eyes and Vader forcibly extinguished the part of him that wanted to give in, "I can't do anything Leia. I know you're upset but," he glanced slightly at his suit, "I'm not able to do anything."
Even if he had been able to argue for Organa's release, not that he would like to, there was still the problem that the execution had been already announced. Regardless of the trouble it would take to get Organa pardoned, he'd be dead within a month due to an unfortunate accident. It really would have been a matter of who arranged his death first, Vader or the ISB. He wouldn't allow anyone to take Leia; she was his.
Noticing the despair on Leia's face, he used the Force to lift a box out of it's hiding place. He rarely looked inside the box but he couldn't bring himself to throw it out. Perhaps his Master was right and he was too connected to his old life. Looking at Leia and feeling her sadness, made him confident in his decision. Using the Force, he opened the box and look inside. There they were: tokens of the past.
Despite knowing what he was looking for, he looked at the other objects. His gaze traveled past the model cruiser, the data disk with designs he had never pursued, the lightsaber chassis that had somehow survived, a vial of sand that he had never had the heart to throw out, one of Padmé's jewels… His eyes rested on his Padawan's lightsaber which he had collected from Mandalore and the strand of beads..
She was shaking his hands and closing his hand over her braid. Her face shone with pain and she was walking away while he was running after her. She couldn't leave him! But… he watched her walk away.
Sorrow tore through him and his heart ached as he looked into his past. Quickly pushing away his anguish, he levitated the relevant holo out of the box. He gazed at it, tempted to look at it, but knew that he lacked the courage and fortitude. The holo contained the most painful memories, but Leia deserved to have it.
"Take it," he rasped.
Her hands curled around the holo and plucked it out of the air and whispered, "Thank you."
He took a moment to watch her inspect it curiously, "Don't turn it on here. I don't want to see it. Leave."
Though confused, she nodded and began to walk to the door and paused before it so she could look back at him in worry.
"I'll be fine Leia," he reassured her, "I have fixed my suit before on my own," he paused but something within him prompted him to say, "You can half an hour with Organa sometime before the execution. Just… tell Caden when you want to go."
A small sad smile spread on her face and he watched her leave, not sure if he was relieved that she had gone.
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Leia walked back to her room and gazed at the holo, curiosity burning through her mind. Whatever had been in that box caused Lord Vader a great deal of pain. Somehow this holo was more painful and she wondered how anything could cause such pain. It was strange not knowing anything about who her father actually was. She wondered who her mother was and who her father had been. What had happened to him?
She inspected the holo, noticing the faint traces of pain in the Force. She stared at it for a while as the room dimmed and the sun began to set. Tomorrow she'd need to prepare herself for the execution and tomorrow would be the last day she'd be know as the daughter of Bail and Breha Organa.
Hesitantly she turned on the holo and almost dropped it in surprise as a beautiful woman appeared. She was looking at something out of sight and her belly was big, heavily pregnant. Her finger moved forward as she wondered if it could be…
The woman moved and exclaimed through her laughing, "Oh Ani, what are you doing!"
A male voice responded, "I'm recording this Angel. It's not every day one finds out their wife is pregnant!"
"But is this necessary…. Why do you have to record me trying to make food?" She hissed.
"Because you're absolutely lovely and I'm going to record everything!"
Leia watched in bemusement as the woman shrieked and the holo turned sideways and flickered shut. In wonder, she opened the next recording.
This time the woman sat on a couch sipping a steam beverage, "Do we have to do this Ani?"
The male voice replied, amused, "You know I'm already recording."
The woman blushed and looked up, "Hi there my child," she paused and glared at the hidden person, "Stop laughing Ani!"
She got up and moved toward the person taking the recording as the camera jostled, "Oh no Ani, you're not running away. Give me the camera… Oh you… Agghh!"
This next recording had someone else on screen, presumably the mysterious someone.
He looked off screen and made a pleading face while the woman chided, "Now, now… I'm recording. This is payback."
He opened his mouth as if to protest and quickly shut it again. Straightening, he turned back to stare at the recorder, "Well daughter I hope you enjoy your parents make a fool out of themselves and-"
"Son," interrupted the woman's voice, "We're having a son. I know it."
The man turned to look offscreen and crossed his arms, "I know we're having a daughter."
The woman humphed, "Mother's intuition beats the Force."
"Daughter," the man replied and stuck his tongue out.
A small smile creeped onto Leia's face as she watched the man acting like a child. To think that he could've been Vader was unimaginable. The next recording began to play.
The couple cuddled on the couch watching a news report. The woman laughed slightly and murmured, "Compromise?"
"We're having a girl," her father replied, "A wonderful girl and I'm going to spoil her rotten."
The woman laughed, "It's a boy, but I'll make you a deal."
"I'm listening… I like your deals," he replied with a goofy smile.
"Oh Ani," she replied swatting him gently.
"Yes Angel?"
"You get to pick a name."
"Oh thank you, I'll pick the best name. But you get to go first."
"I will name my boy Luke, Anakin," her mother declared.
Her father laughed, "But I know it is a girl and we will name her Leia, my love."
Swatting him, "You and the force. I call it mother's intuition, it's a boy."
Together they laughed before suddenly turning to look at the direction of the recorder.
"Is that… Artoo?" her mother asked.
Her father meanwhile stood up, an unignited lightsaber in his hands, "Are you? You… you're recording this?"
"Artoo!" her mother yelled.
The recording ended and Leia turned it off reluctantly. The sun had set and bright lights flashed through the window. She wondered about her mother and what had happened. Somehow she had a feeling that… her father wouldn't be too forthcoming with information.
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Syrena… The girl shook her head and tried to rid her mind of the name that once had been hers. It had been so long since she had hear anyone speak besides her Lord and even he hadn't been around except to briefly bring her to her new accommodations. Then he had left… he never just left. For a while she had believed it to be a trick and the moment she let her guard down he would punish her. But he wasn't there and she explored the space thoroughly.
It would be nice if the girl came back, the one who called herself Leia. She was strong liker her Lord but she made her feel warm and full of life. Her Lord wouldn't be happy if he were to find out. She should tell him the next time that he came around. She deserved punishment for not telling him when he had brought her to the new room. She would do it next time, she wouldn't fail… But the girl had been kind and so, so very young. Another memory of her old life reappeared despite her best efforts. She wasn't supposed to think about her old life. Lord Vader had explained that they had been bad.
Her ears picked up the sound of the door sliding open and she tensed, waiting for the familiar rhythmic sound. She had been bad and he always knew. There was no harsh breathing, just gentle footsteps that could only belong to one person: the girl.
She watched her come forward and noticed curiously that she was dressed in red, instead of black. The scent of food drifted towards her and her stomach grumbled, destroying any uncertainty the girl could have had over her location. Annoyed with herself, she walked forward to Leia.
"Hi Syrena," she whispered, "I brought you some food. Would you eat with me?"
Not understanding why a girl so much more powerful than her would be nice, she looked at Leia suspiciously. Leia rolled her eyes and pulled something out of her bag, bit into it, and gave it to her.
"Not poisoned," she stated exasperatedly.
It probably wasn't poisoned she agreed, but… "You're weird and don't make any sense."
She gave a nonchalant shrug, "You're weirder. Most people don't stay in a dark room."
Syrena bit into her sandwich, savoring the taste. It wouldn't do waste food and the girl brought food. That was the only reason she was allowing Leia to be there, not because she wanted to play games likes last time.
"So," Leia began, disturbing the comfortable silence, "You want to come to my room?"
She looked at Leia skeptically, "You're allowed to leave your room?"
The smile on the girl's face looked rather dangerous as she responded, "Lord Vader gave me a room and I'm allowed to leave it… I wouldn't be able to get food otherwise."
The argument made sense, but she couldn't help but feel like not everything was as it seemed. It made sense for her to have a room, afterall she was powerful. Nobody had brought her food since Lord Vader had brought her here so maybe she was allowed to leave. The only problem with that theory was that the door was locked… or was she supposed to figure out how to open it to get food. All the rules were very confusing.
Looking Leia in the eyes, "We're not going to get into trouble."
"Nope," she replied cheerfully, "So are you coming? We can play even cooler games then."
Hating herself for being hooked by playing more games, she followed Leia to the door and watched as she opened it and ushered her into the hallway. Her eyes blinked rapidly and watered as it was so bright. She couldn't remember the last time she had seen something so bright. Quickly she followed Leia, copying her every move. The world outside her room was strange and it wouldn't do mess up.
"We have to avoid the security cameras," Leia confided, "Everything is supposed to be secret here and people far away can watch what you are doing, but they're not allowed to know that we can do… things."
Syrena nodded, accepting the wisdom. Slowly she noticed that the hallways became cleaner and the general feeling changed. The lights were slightly warmer and the ground more polished.
"Are you sure this is the way?" she asked as they passed a strange decoration on the wall, "This doesn't look right."
Leia nodded and ushered her through the halls, "There no video cameras here. Lord Vader doesn't allow them and I checked with Caden," Leia looked at her and waited in front of a door.
The door slid open and Leia showed her inside. Syrena frowned as she looked around. It was rather small and cramped, but there was a window and a… bed. In all, it wasn't a room.
"This isn't a room," she told Leia, crossing her arms. The girl had tricked her to get her into trouble.
Leia looked at her, "Relax and yes, this is my room. It's just a... different type of room."
She wouldn't allow herself to be tricked, "I don't believe you."
Leia smiled slightly, "Well I'm not lying… although it wouldn't be a good idea if Caden caught you in here. He was rather mad when he found out I had been with you but Artoo is keeping an eye on him and Lord Vader isn't even in the building. So we're fine."
"Caden?" she asked having heard the name multiple times now.
Leia picked up a strange object before turning to her, "He's supposed to watch me."
Perhaps she had been right and the girl was a traitor so she angrily replied, "Lord Vader watches us."
Walking over to the bed, Leia sat down, "Lord Vader doesn't have time to watch me always. He has other duties and asked Caden to keep an eye out for me. Caden runs security here to make sure that nobody attacks the palace again."
There was a bigger story there; she could sense it. Closing her eyes she tried to reach into the Force like Lord Vader had taught her. Focusing on the Force she could feel his presence coating the room and Leia… Leia felt so different and almost normal. The girl had power, but she couldn't feel it. Her eyes opened in amazement and wondered what else the girl was hiding.
Leia pressed a button and a screen flickered to life. Syrena looked at it in wonder. Her family had told her stories of such technological marvel, but it wasn't something that an outer rim world could afford.
"So you want to play?" Leia asked.
For now she would wait and observe this strange child. Lord Vader seemed to be aware of her and until she had proof, there was no reason to tell him about Leia or her excursion outside of her room. It definitely had nothing to do with Leia reminding her of her little sister, nothing at all.
Syrena smiled shyly, "Yes."
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Someone was shaking her awake and Leia blearily opened her eyes, watching Caden come into focus. He was dressed in full armor and she remembered the planned execution. Yesterday, they had found her formal clothes to wear and the main color of every single item was red. White, the traditional color of Alderaan would be seen as supporting Alderaan and her dad. Black, a color Leia honestly prefered over red, would have been seen as a state of mourning. The Emperor's message had been very clear; she wasn't allowed to mourn her dad for it would be seen as support for a traitor. In the end, to show support for the Empire, she had to wear red.
Sighing in disgust, Leia got out of bed and walked into the bathroom to prepare herself for the day. She hadn't even been made Lord Vader's ward, but already she was being dressed up as a symbol for the Empire. Tears prickled in her eyes and she hastily wiped them away. She'd show no weakness.
Finally ready, she exited the bathroom and nodded at Caden, who gave her a small bag that contained breakfast. Following Caden, she slowly munched on her food. It was time for her last goodbye with her dad. In a few hours he'd be gone forever. She swallowed again.
At last they reached the holding cell where her father was to be brought. Leia set her food down, most of it uneaten, and stared at the door feeling nervous.
"He's not going to blame you Leia," Caden whispered his first words of comfort all day, "Say whatever you want or need. The only people who'll hear them are you two. Understood?"
She nodded and whispered a soft "Thank you" before looking down at the table again. She listened to Caden's footsteps retreating and the "thud" of the door sliding shut. She would have a half hour with her dad and she'd make it count. She had too because he was going to die. A tear slid down her cheek and she wiped it away quickly. She wasn't ready for this… she couldn't do this.
The door slid open and her dad limped through. Leia looked up from the table and looked at him in amazement. He was clean shaven unlike last time and his clothes were clean, but he still managed to look sickly.
"Daddy," she choked out and not waiting for a reply, she flung herself at him. Her valiant effort to not cry became obsolete as tears streamed down her cheeks. She breathed in his scents and clung to him even tighter.
"Leia," he whispered and his arms wrapped around.
"I'm so sorry," she croaked out between sobs and then her dad was rubbing his hands along her back and whispering comforting words.
"You've nothing to be sorry for Leia," he mumbled, "It's more my fault than anything else."
She shook her head rapidly and clung to him tighter, "I'm sorry I was mad."
"Shush," he replied, petting her hair, "I shouldn't have lost my temper, but I understand you were mad. You were right to be mad at me. I've made so many mistakes."
She shook her head, "No you were right. I'm so sorry."
He pulled himself out of her big and looked straight into her eyes, "There's nothing for you to be sorry for. Understood?"
She nodded, still not entirely convinced.
"Repeat after me Leia," he ordered her, "None of this is my fault," he looked at her and his voice became sterner, "Now Leia."
The stern voice made her smile slightly in nostalgia. Some things never changed and her dad could still make her wish to obey him. He talked to her like she was adult, always listening to her side unless there was an immediate danger. Lord Vader wouldn't be like that.
"None… of this is my f-fault," she gasped out between her sobs.
"Again," her dad ordered.
"None of this is my fault," she whispered.
He took her hands and held them tightly, "Louder and clearer sweetie."
Slowly and deliberately she repeated the words again, "None of this is my fault."
Her dad pulled her into a hug and she could see the pride in his eyes. Gently, he wiped the tears of her cheeks and gave her a smile. She leaned into him and enjoyed the comfort of his arms. Slowly they began to recount stories of her childhood and Leia giggled as her dad mentioned the various mischief she had gotten into.
A timer beeped in the corner, pulling them out of their discussion. Ten minutes. She had ten minutes left with the man who had raised her. Tears began to well in her eyes again and she gave her dad another big hug.
"Oh Leia," he murmured, "I'm so sorry. I wanted you to have a childhood, but now I fear that won't be possible. Please forgive me for an old man's foolishness."
Leia pulled back and smiled at him, "There's nothing to forgive. I love you Daddy."
"Me too Sweetie," he replied.
Momentarily, his concentration slipped and he stared off into space, seemingly unaware of her or his surroundings.
"Daddy?" She whispered worriedly, "Daddy, are you still there?"
"What?" He replied seemingly shocked and shook his head slightly, "I'm sorry Leia. My mind isn't what it used to be… There are some important things I need to tell you."
Leia nodded and sat down, "Okay?"
He looked her into the eyes, "If you ever need help, you need to find Obi-Wan Kenobi-"
"-I think he's dead. Lord Vader left the Star Destroyer to hunt after him and gave the Emperor the man's lightsaber," Leia interrupted.
Her dad's father contorted in anger and he hissed, "That scumbag… He said…"
Leia looked at him in worry noticing how utterly broken he seemed and wondered why this Kenobi was that important. Her father hated him, but yet he was someone that could help her. There was history there that she just couldn't grasp.
"Leia," her father cried slightly hysterical and grabbed her hands, "Kyber crystals, kyber crystals, how could I've forgotten… the kyber crystals. They have kyber crystals… the power… the danger, kyb-"
Leia watched as he abruptly paused and stared off into the distance again, "Father what about the kyber crystals?"
"The what?" He asked seemingly having forgotten that he said anything.
"Was there something you wanted to tell me Daddy…. Before the execution?" she asked gently, clutching his hand.
"That's today?" He trailed off, "Yes, yes… Oh Leia. Remember when you snuck into the kitchen?"
Leia looked at him in disbelief as he began to ramble about her past and recounting the stories he had told her just before. Gently, she slipped into the Force and touched his mind. It felt fragile as if held together by tiny strands of spider webs. A shell of her dad remained yet there was something his mind wrapped around. He knew something and it lay in the center. Whatever he knew, he would rather risk insanity than reveal it. And it cost him.
Slowly she stood up and looked at the broken figure of her dad and a tear began to trail down her cheek, "Goodbye Daddy."
He looked up and stared at her and the tear, "Don't cry Leia… don't cry. You're of Alderaan and we'll always be strong… You're like her you know?"
"Who?"
"Your mother. She is a Senator. I've been meaning to ask her about that bill she was drafting."
"What was her name?" Leia whispered anxiously.
"Padmé Naberrie Amidala… Oh, she's dead" he trailed off and his eyes cleared slightly, "I'm sorry Leia. My memories are all muddled."
"I love you Daddy," she answered smiling and turned to walk to the door, "She'd have been proud of you… Just don't trust them."
"Who?"
He chuckled slightly, "The Empire, the whole cowardly lot of them. The Emperor wants power… Don't trust Vader. He wants you and he'll say anything and do anything to keep you."
Her heart thumped inside her chest, "Yes Daddy."
"Keep…. Keep asking questions," his eyes were becoming unfocused again and he seemed to be straining to finish his statement, "and find… find the answers, but… don't… never let them know."
The door behind her slid open and caden stepped through. The last sign of lucidness vanished and he looked at her in amazement, "You're early Padmé."
Caden gripped her by the arm and led her outside the room, leaving her dad to ramble to himself. Caden stood by her awkwardly as an attendant rushed over to her and ushered her in front of a mirror and began prepping her for the execution. She hated every moment of it.
Finally, running out of patience, Caden shooed them away and led her away. She gave him a grateful smile, but sorrow clung to her.
"I'm sorry," Caden told her, guilt pouring off of him, "Had I know that he was in that state, I'd have warned you. I'm sorry Leia, so sorry."
She could feel his honesty and wrapped her arms around him, giving him a hug, "Thanks Caden. Thank you for looking out for me."
He gently disentangled her from him and pointed her to the door, "You know what you have to do," he paused and pushed something into her hands, a medallion, "You're one of us now. Be strong and make my brothers and I proud."
Her eyes widened at the medla and she pinned it on her clothes under a fold so that it would be obscured and saluted "Aye aye sir!"
Rolling her shoulders back and keeping her head high, she walked down the hallway to the doors. She'd make Caden proud, his brother proud, Alderaan proud, and most importantly, her mother proud.
? ﾝﾄﾾ? ﾝﾄﾾ? ﾝﾄﾾ? ﾝﾄﾾ? ﾝﾄﾾ? ﾝﾄﾾ?
Bail Organa knew his mind was falling apart and his brief moment of awareness wouldn't last long. The price to keep Luke safe had been steep, but no Obi-Wan was dead… No he couldn't allow himself to think about that.
Leia was important. He had to think about her. What did Breha, his wife look like? Was she his wife?
No… no… his sanity was slipping and there were the guards. Was it the Clone Wars again? No… they were red. Who wore red? Something important was here.
Who wore red?
No… Leia, she had brown hair. Remember, Leia had brown hair.
He was being led somewhere. Oh.. that was right. His execution. Had Leia come to say goodbye? She had hadn't she or was that a dream?
Crowds were cheering and he had to focus. This was real… it had to be. He had to be aware… he couldn't live his last moments insa-
What had he been thinking about? Where was he? This looked important. Probably, he shouldn't be here, but the red men were dragging him.
Red?
Blood? No… Death? Close, what was red?
The… right, guards… Royal guards, that was red!
They tossed him onto a platform and he tried to move, but couldn't. He was chained. That was right. This was an execution.
Whose? His… it was his. What had happened? What had he done. He insulted the Empire, but no, he was already going to be executed then. Why, why?
Music began playing and he watched as… stormtroopers began marching out of the doors. Behind them came folks in fancy clothes. They were finding seats and looked familiar. Who were they?
Senate? That was right the Senate. Someone was saying something but it was too hard to listen and there was his wife. She was beautiful, but sad. Oh, how he missed her. He hadn't been able to talk to her. That wasn't right. Should he wave?
His mind hurt. It hurt to think so much or about anyone. Where was Leia? She was important and the only thing that didn't make his brain hurt. She had been there to say goodbye. Oh why hadn't he been able to keep a clear mind then! There was something so important for everybody to know. Agh… he couldn't remember and there was that weird feeling in his mind.
Through the doors streamed more Red… Royal Guards. The Emperor was coming. He had to be strong and not let the Emperor win. Where was Leia? He couldn't see her. Hopefully she was elsewhere. She shouldn't be here.
Then there was cheering and he watched Vader come on stage. The crowd was loud, which was bad. It was hard to concentrate. Vader jumped onto the platform and wasn't that amazing…
No, he couldn't be distracted. The Emperor was speaking, but the words weren't important. And then out of the doors came a little red figure… Leia!
She was beautiful and composed. The image of royalty as she walked towards the Emperor and knelt before him. Oh, his poor girl. She was wonderful. The Emperor motioned for her to sit next to him and she did.
More cheering and pain, but he focused on Leia. So beautiful and never did her face reveal anything. She looked like a warrior, waiting for battle. She looked like those in the… portraits on Alderaan. She belonged to Alderaan and despite the red, she looked like it. A bloodbathed princess.
Vader moved closer to him and suddenly his body was thrown sideways. The superficial pain didn't matter anymore and he remained silent. His people would continue to fight. One didn't steal their princess and they'd wait for her. She was theirs.
Alderaan had to be proud of his little princess…. No she wasn't a princess anymore. She was a queen… The Queen of Alderaan… just nobody knew it yet.
The red lightsaber was racing towards his neck and he with his last breath he whispered, "I'm proud of you my love."
? ﾝﾄﾾ? ﾝﾄﾾ? ﾝﾄﾾ? ﾝﾄﾾ? ﾝﾄﾾ? ﾝﾄﾾ?
How was the pacing? I experimented slightly on the last part so I'm sorry if it confused folks because it was rather fragmented. Thanks for all the reviews. They honestly make my day and I never get tired of them.
Let's see if I can update next week... Let's see.