"Master Tahn, I'm afraid the queen was killed in the raid."

There was a moment of greif that struck like a sharpened blade and soon it brought peace.

"What are we meant to do now? The alliance does not wish to act."

"And it is for the best, Leia may have not been able to defeat Vader with my training but she will in time. For now all we have is hope."

••••

Leia could feel herself entranced by the darkness, she could even worse feel herself liking it but even when it seemed she was far too tangled in it, it was Luke, somehow too linked to the light, that always brought her back, he was te part ir her that she could never let go of.

Months training under Vader's supervision had only strengthened her fear of seeping too deep into the darkness that she might not care for her rebellious companions but it was always the same light that brought her back.

Leia acknowledged the force seemed to be strengthening her where politics in her life had never managed to, and at the same time the two seemed to complement eachother so naturally, specially considering the focus and knowledge one should need for a debate or battle.

Still with all the strength Leia could shamelessly say she'd acquired, she couldn't manage to defeat Vader in their combat sessions. She knew at this point it was far beyond her skills as a lightsabre wielder and that if she was to win against him she should study the reasoning to his defenses as her corner Master had instructed.

They hadn't grown closer but there was regrettably something there that Leia knew had existed all along. Familial bond was undeniably stronger with the force present in her blood. The bond hadn't brought them close together but it had strengthened the invisible link they shared, even so Leia knew she couldn't get past the walls the Sith had built inside his mind. It was like a bridge between one world and another, the bridge had been there since the begining, torn and unpractical but the force was the strengthing bridge and it wouldn't bring the worlds an inch closer.

She could feel the dark figure had a protective instinct towards her, so much that he often disobeyed direct orders from the emperor soliciting that she accompany him to the core of the empire, amongst other requests that were meant to separate her from him and bring her closer to the emperor.

Leia herself had tried to platonically strengthen the bond she held with Vader by allowing herself to call him Father but that gesture only made her realize that there was no way to one sidedly reenforce a relationship— so much that his thoughts and feelings often became her unsolicited pain and anger.

There were visions of suffering and deceptions that often came to her in dreams and through these she tried to fill in the empty pieces of the puzzle that was Vader, her father.

Leia knew this particular planet held deep meaning inVader's past, and possibly Skywalker's too, through him she had learned sith trigger anger to strengthen their abilities and dispite the fact he hadn't hinted at this Volcanic palace as being one, she knew it was. This truth was carved and embedded in the walls.

There were many things Leia realized had strengthened her and would strengthen her but she made sure to stay clear of anger. The Emperor's words lingered in her mind even though he'd never repeated them in their conversations, growing the fear and extinguishing the anger.

Leia dismissed all thoughts in her head except a question, and moved against her opponent,

Why this planet?

As she flew through the air above Vader, her vision of him was replaced by the flashes of pain shed felt before but now far clearer with physical, almost unbearable pain as her throat and then her lungs seemed to burst into flames while her hair burnt into ashes.

Leia gasped for air and her eyes opened as if trying to escape a boiling hot, swallowing ocean.

The tormenting mages were pulled apart as Leia's vision focused onto the floor.

Leia had been pushed to the cold wall and Vader stood menecingly and still feet away. Before either could say anything Leia was released and Vader exited the room, revealing only then to Leia that she had finally struck him with her sabre on both his helmet and shoulder.

Leia hadn't pulled the images from his mind, that was clear but she hadn't shielded her mind to keep him from seeing the haunting visions, and he hadn't shielded her fast enough from entering his mind.

•••• Author's Note••••

Thank you for the patience and the outpouring of support and love for this story.

Updates will be more frequent!