She had run away. The strange people. The stares. The unfamiliar environment. It was too much. So Leia had left. Dodging her parents, droids and the Royal guards she had escaped to the maze and hid inside.
Her father had found her.
"There you are!" said Bail Organa. He was out of breath and flustered. He smiled when he saw Leia and held out his arms. Leia looked uncertain but after a brief pause ran to him. He scooped his daughter up and carried her out of the maze.
"Why did you run off?" he said.
"The scary man." said Leia.
"Yes, Darth Vader is scary. You have to be brave however. Not just for you but everyone. You are a Princess. You have to show our people that you are brave, that you will not be intimidated by the Empire."
"Yes father."
They reached a seat in the gardens. Bail put his daughter down on the seat and sat down.
"We have to be brave so our people can be brave. We have to show them not to be afraid. The Empire will not last forever but we Organas endure. Our duty is to rule wisely and well. We do not ever run or quit." he said.
"Yes father."
"I had hoped to have this talk later my daughter but sometimes events overtake us. You must be brave so others will be brave. You must lead even when it looks hopeless to give others hope. We do not run, we must not show fear and we do our duty because that is the burden laid upon us. Our people and the entire Galaxy looks to us. We cannot abandon them."
"Yes father."
"Do you promise that you will never give up?"
"I promise."
Her father had kissed her and carried her back. Leia had kept her promise, resisting the Emperor and becoming a Rebel leader. She had been part of the group that led, inspired and rallied the disparate Rebels into the Alliance to Restore the Republic. She had let herself become a symbol. She had, in the end slain the Emperor. Then she had let them officially crown her Queen and begun guiding her people back into the Republic. She did her duty.
Princess Leia had not run. Rebellion troops fought on when other sientients broke because they dared not fail her. Entire worlds had revolted when news how she had not broken even when Alderaan was destroyed before her eyes.
She had ascended the throne to thunderous support. She was beloved by trillions of subjects and worshipped the Galaxy over.
She had walked away from it all. She had broken her promise.
Why? For what? Some good loving? A ending out of a romantic comedy holo?
Biggs was not rom-com material. He was barely an extra by holo standards.
Except the 'extra' had decided that her losing her soul to darkness was non-negotiable.
The door opened spilling light and warmth outside.
"Leia." said Biggs.
"I, I can't stay. I." Leia paused, she couldn't go back either. "I don't know what I want."
"Right. How about a meal, clothes and a hotel booking?"
"Why do you have to be so reasonable?"
Biggs moved to hug her. "Because I promised to, love."
"I have never run away from anything since I was six." said Leia.
"What happened?"
"It was Him."
Biggs didn't need to ask further. Darth Vader. Scourge of the Rebellion. The Emperor's enforcer. Eight years dead and his name still evoked fear. He was also Leia's biological father. She had never fully recovered from the day when she ripped that knowledge from him. Vader was the symbol of how everything had almost gone terribly wrong. How it might still do.
Of course it had been Vader. Biggs didn't believe in an afterlife but felt an exception should be made for that villain. Especially since the bastard could still reach beyond the grave to terrorise Leia.
"Come, let's go inside." he suggested.
"Okay."
Arm in arm they went back inside.
Leia had to admit the bright lights of the kitchen and warmth from the cookers helped banish any dark fears. She sat in a chair as Biggs moved about preparing something.
"You better be cooking something local. None of that foreign muck." called Jarsea from the living room.
"Nothing of the sort." Biggs called back and raised his fingers to his lips. Leia smiled. He crept over to a set of containers and rummaged inside.
"Looking for this?" said Jarsea. She leaned in the doorway holding a silver sachet.
"Give that here." said Biggs reaching for the sachet.
"No." said Jarsea holding it high up.
"How did you know to take it?" said Biggs making a grab as Jarsea ducked into the room.
"Because I know you. You'ld put it in everything given half a chance you crazy sandworm." said Jarsea laughing.
"Crazy? This from the water-hoarder who boils the vegetables."
"Savage!"
"Despot."
Leia laughed as the couple chased each other. They ended up facing each other over her chair. "
"The spice extends life, it expands your consciousness."
"The spice has the worst aftertaste and it leaves your tongue orange." Jarsea looked at Leia. "Do you want an orange tongue dear?"
"Um, No." said Leia smiling.
"Well there you have it. Leia would like to maintain her composure like a member of civilization. You can use cinnamon dear."
"Yeah, okay." said Biggs. He went back to the containers and drew out another packet. He then put a small amount in the mixture.
"Does it really turn your tongue orange?" said Leia.
"No!"
"Yes! And your skin and hair if you're not careful."
"That was an accident!" said Biggs. He placed the prepared objects in the cooker. He sat down. Jarsea sat down beside him and offered the sachet.
"You can have it back. Just refrain from poisoning Leia at every opportunity." she said.
"Sure." said Biggs taking the sachet. He moved to kiss Jarsea and then paused. Both of them looked at Leia.
"It's okay." said Leia.
"But you're not. What's the matter love?" said Jarsea.
"I ran away. I promised I would never run. That I would do my duty."
Bit by bit Leia related the story. Halfway through the cooker beeped and Biggs fed the all cinnamon flavoured dough bricks. At the end Jarsea and Biggs hugged Leia.
"I'm sorry love. I wish there were some magic words to make the pain go away. I really do. But we don't regret asking you to quit." said Jarsea.
"Your people are in a good place thanks to you. They are free. Shouldn't you be as well?" said Biggs.
"Yes. No. I don't know." said Leia. "I've forced myself to be brave for years. I don't know another way."
"And you were extremely brave abdicating. It's not wrong to live for you." said Biggs.
"I know that. But still, I made a promise."
"But not a suicide pact. What you need is a little direction." said Jarsea.
She sounded so reasonable. Leia was reminded that she used to be her propaganda officer. Jarsea was used to getting people to see things her way. Again, she wondered what she did for Naboo and the Alliance.
"What is that direction? I don't know." said Leia.
"Some people never find a purpose in life. However I don't think that will be a problem for you. Stay a while. Something will present itself." said Jarsea.
Could it be that simple? It did sound good, for a short while.
"Okay." she agreed at last.
So, despite her misgivings Leia decided to stay with Biggs and Jarsea. Their peaceful routine was very soothing, The lack of dramas, emergencies or other matters demanding her attention also played a factor. The biggest draw however were their two daughters, Susa and Anya. The two girls followed her everywhere. An only child, Leia found them alternatively demanding and endearing. They had all fallen asleep together after watching a holo.
With a green flash Alderaan exploded before her eyes. She woke with a start, scaring Susa who screamed in fright.
Startled awake, Anya screamed and began crying. Biggs and Jarsea aran into the room and while the children were soothed quickly and put to bed, the same could not be said of the adults.
"That was Alderaan we all dreamed about?" said Jarsea. "It seemed so real."
"Yes. It doesn't matter what I say or do different, it ends the same way." said Leia. She had had the same nightmare for years now. In them she had tried everything, but they all ended the same. Tarkin gave the order and almost everything and everyone she knew perished in an instant.
"It's not your fault Leia. You know this." said Biggs holding her. "They were always going to destroy the major sympathetic worlds."
"I know. They were still my people, my responsibility. I failed them." said Leia.
"You also avenged them. Everyone responsible for the Death Star is gone." said Biggs.
"How often do you have these nightmares?" said Jarsea. She was still pale. She had not merely seen the planet destroyed but felt the horror felt by Leia as well.
"Not often now, but now and then." said Leia. It was true. Time and therapy were helping. It had been months since the last vivid nightmare.
"Who also experiences it?" said Jarsea.
"People I'm close to it seems. I'm sorry. I've been deluding myself. I cannot stay."
"Nonsense. You need people who love you around at all times." said Jarsea.
"But I terrified your children."
"They'll be fine." said Biggs. "You wait till morning. Our daughters will be waking you up for another exhausting day."
"You sure?"
"Positive. Now you will need sleep yourself."
"Please stay."
"Of course"
Leia wondered if she was doing the right thing as she drifted off to sleep wrapped in a tangle of arms and legs. Was she being selfish or greedy? Was she...
She awoke to Susa's demands.
"Wake up. Wake up." Susa said tugging on Leia's hand.
"Hmm?"
"Come on. You can't stay in bed all day."
Leia smiled. Contrary to what she had heard being woken up by children didn't seem so bad.
"I guess not. What are we doing today?" she said and started to move.
"Everything!" was the excited reply.
Biggs and Jarsea were also stirring. They disentangled themselves.
"Morning love."
"Morning dear."
"Morning Leia." they both said in unison.
'This is my husband and this is my wife.' Leia again tried the phrase in her head again. After a couple of days it no longer seemed so jarring. Or scandalous. Why couldn't she have both like any other Galactic?
"Good morning." she replied smiling at them.
"Mom! Come on." said Susa still pulling at her arm.
"Okay. Okay." said Leia.
'This is my daughter.' That felt a lot more easier she thought as she got up and followed Susa into a room littered with toys. Dolls, stuffed animals and model ships were prominent. One object caught her eye though. A short plastic tube. She picked it up. "What's this?" she said.
Susa beamed. "That's my laser sword. It's red, just like yours."
Leia found the activation switch. A red holo-projection of a lightsabre blade formed.
Toy lightsabres were once again popular the Galaxy over. Leia had seen many children playing with them. Red and blue were the most popular colours. Leia tried a few swings with the toy weapon. While it resembled the look and mimicked the sounds it had none of the presence of her lightsabre. That had been an extension of her will, her anger made manifest that could destroy all who opposed her. This was just a toy.
Leia looked down at Susa. She crouched down, switched the toy off and handed it to Susa. "It does look like mine."
"Where is your one? Can I see it. Please." said Susa.
"I took it apart." said Leia. Mainly for the continued peace of mind of the rest of the Galaxy who, once the Empire was gone were understandably uneasy about an absolute monarch with a red lightsabre.
"You took it apart? Why?"
"Because it was a dangerous weapon. One I, I no longer needed. They're very unsafe." said Leia. That was an understatement.
"But you still have the bits? Can I see them."
Leia needed no precognitive powers to predict what could happen if Susa got anywhere near her lightsabre, disassembled or otherwise. "No." she said shaking her head. "They are too dangerous." There. That's what a responsible parent would say, right?
Susa looked at her. "What about lifting things? Can you do that?"
Leia concentrated and several toys rose. Susa laughed and chased them round the room for several minutes. Leia wondered why everyone was so impressed with this. It didn't do anything you couldn't with a portable repulsor.
Except that her telekinetic powers were not limited to just imitating a repulsor. The toys froze mid flight and a few dropped as the realisation hit her. Susa caught one and brought it to her.
"I caught it! Can you show me how to do that?" said Susa.
"Maybe. It's something only very few people can do." said Leia. With Biggs as a parent Leia doubted Susa could demonstrate any of the showy manifestations of the Force.
"Show me!"
"Okay. Pick your favourite toy." said Leia smiling. What did she say when, as expected, nothing happened?
Susa ran and picked up the toy lightsabre. Of course that was her favourite. Very well.
Leia sat down cross legged and motioned for Susa to do the same.
"Now, concentrate on the lightsabre." she said. Susa nodded and stared intently at her toy.
"Should I hold out my hand?" Susa said.
"That helps, but concentration is more important. Now picture the lightsabre rising, see it in you head. Will it to happen."
Susa kept her had outstretched and scrunched up her face with the effort of concentration. Predictably, nothing happened. Leia breathed out in relief.
"It's not working." said Susa.
"Well not everyone can do it or in the same way." said Leia gently.
"How did you learn to lift things?" said Susa.
She had crushed several goons with a speeder. Leia decided that was probably not the best thing to bring up.
"I'm hungry. Do you think Biggs has made breakfast yet?" she said changing the subject and gently nudging her daughter's thoughts towards food.
"Breakfast!" Susa jumped up and raced out of the room towards the kitchen.
Leia followed at a more sedate pace to the kitchen. Inside the others were eating breakfast. Biggs was pouring milking into a cereal bowl for Susa. Jarsea was already dressed and attempting to feed Anya while remaining food free.
"Mom's teaching me how to be a Jedi." said Susa. The other adults looked a bit worried.
"Is that even possible?" said Biggs. He had no ability with the Force's more obvious manifestations and had assumed his children would be likewise as 'gifted'.
"We have no way of knowing. I was probably a special case. The old Jedi just never told anyone how they found recruits." said Leia. "But don't worry. Even if Susa has powers they will take time and practice to develop." Leia sat down and ladled some of the the steaming
"Well, that's a relief. Try asking the new Jedi. And don't wait up for me. There was a minor incident while we were all asleep." said Jarsea who had successfully finished with no visible spills from her daughter.
"What's going on?" said Biggs
"I'll know more once I get to work. I'll try to get a message to you two later today." Jarsea said. She rose and with a quick kiss on everyone's foreheads she left.
Leia stared at the doorway. While Jarsea's kiss had included her almost absentmindedly as she whisked out it left Leia blushing. No subject would ever be, no. Jarsea was not her subject but her, suitor? She shivered. Suitors had been at the bottom Leia's people to deal with list. She had hated enduring the long, pompous, presentations.
'Leia Organa. Will you marry me?' had been the opposite. She had commanded armies, fought wars and beheaded an Emperor. Why was this so difficult?
"Are you okay?" said Biggs.
Leia's hand went to her forehead. Why had she kissed her? "I, no wait." She closed her eyes and concentrated. After a brief pause she opened them again. "I don't think this is a minor problem. Is there a way of finding out the recent news?"
It took a few moments to find a pad and get the local news service. Leia scanned the prominent news items. None of it seemed unusual or contentious. She was about to give up When something caught her eye.
'Slaves to be settled in North Vandas.' ran the headline. It talked of the freeing of several dozen sophonts on a captured and impounded slaver ship. The newly freed beings had been granted residency and to be initially settled in a sleepy Naboo town while they got their bearings. Accompanying pictures showed locals welcoming their new neighbours with food and gifts. Leia smiled, it was good to see slaves freed and injustice fought.
"Know anything about this?" she said showing Biggs.
"Nope. I'm just as out of the loop as you are. But I'll ask around." he said and went to find a comm. He returned a while later.
"Okay. Looks like a Captain Dieke Sal tumbled onto a slaver about two tendays ago. Good work. They captured the ship and freed everyone." he said pausing
"And?" said Leia.
"The ship was registered out of Tatooine, part of the Hutt Free Economic Zone. Who are now screaming that this was an act of piracy and are demanding return and repatriation of all passengers."
"That's ridiculous! Just tell those slimy slugs to get lost." said Leia.
"Slimy Republic Slugs." said Biggs.
"What!"
"Seems The Hutt Free Economic Zone is now part of the Republic. As a result it could well be that however inadvertently, the Spindrift Alliance just attacked a Republic ship."
